Welcome to this Special Thursday Edition of Cozy Wednesday!
I hope those of you in the U.S.A. had a wonderful holiday and those of you hailing from other great places forgive me for pushing the festivities off for one day.
We had a wonderful holiday but I really can’t wait to share this book with you. Joelle has given us a mystery every “GLEEK” can love! I was in Chorus in Junior High and High School but was far from a shining star. I was one of those in the back row that sang just enough to pass the class and did my best to not ruin the songs we were singing. Today I sing-a-long with the radio and my kids and grandkids cover their ears. So I promise not to burst into song today. I will just sit here quietly with my glass of lemonade and let Joelle tell you all about her new series and Murder for Choir (A Glee Club Mystery).
Mr . Dollycas in on vacation this week and he made some yummy cookies for me to share. So help yourself to a glass of lemonade and enjoy the cookies, then relax and help me welcome Joelle.
Hi Joelle!
Hi Everyone!
I’ve had lots of opening nights. Standing on stage behind the closed curtain you can hear the buzz of the audience. The orchestra tunes up. The energy is electric. No matter how many rehearsals you’ve had or how well you know the show, there is a rush of nerves. A burst of adrenaline. Under the excitement there is always the worry that the show might not be ready for the audience – the press – the world.
Then the curtain goes up. The orchestra plays and there is no time for doubts. No time to worry about whether you’ll remember your lines, lyrics or dance steps. The show starts and there is nothing to do but enjoy the ride.
July 3rd was opening night (or day as the case would be) for Murder for Choir,
Don’t you hate when that happens? I know I do.
This is only my third opening curtain in the publishing world and I think I’m more nervous this time that I was for the other two.
Why?
Because when writing this book I used my own life for inspiration. Oh, my heroine Paige doesn’t look a thing like me. My students are a joy to teach and I don’t have a large standard poodle threatening to starve me. But the core of Paige – the performer searching for a way to deal with rejection and still remain hopeful that someday she’ll get her big break – that’s me. I can’t tell you how often I sat near the phone after an audition. Sometimes it rang. More often it didn’t. Rejection is part of the business. I knew that going it. So did Paige. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when the part goes to someone else and when your dreams don’t look like they will ever come true.
So, on this opening of this Murder for Choir
~Joelle
Joelle, I am so happy you could be here with us today! I am positive readers are going to absolutely love Paige. I hope you will come back when she puts on her next performance!
About This Author
Joelle Charbonneau has performed in a variety of opera and musical theatre productions across Chicagoland. She now teaches private voice lessons and uses her stage experience to create compelling characters in her books. She is the author of two mystery series: The Rebecca Robbins mysteries (Minotaur Books) and the Glee Club mystery series, Murder for Choir (Berkley)
Murder for Choir
(A Glee Club Mystery)
Brand New Series
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Paul Hess
Cover Design by Rita Frangie
Available Now!
Paige Marshall has taken a job as a Glee Club Coach at Prospect Glen High School as she waits for the next big break to come along in her opera career. She thought professional auditions were rough but she quickly learns how cutthroat competition is for high school show choirs. These students expect to win a championship and don’t believe Paige is the right coach for the job.
Finding a rival coach dead does not help matters. Then one of her students becomes the prime suspect in the investigation. Paige decides she must do everything she can to help clear his name even if it means never hitting a high note again.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a musical debut! This story has the perfect tempo and deserves a standing ovation.
Like Glee, you will love this book!
Like cozy mysteries, you won’t be able to put this one down!
Hate your choir director, this is the book for you!
You can tell the author is very familiar with this subject matter, it just sings with that personal touch.
Joelle Charbonneau has created a great cast of characters in a high school setting which as anyone knows is always full of drama. Paige has her hands full not only with the show choir kids, but her boss Larry, the Costume Designer Felicia, Detective Mike Kaiser, and her Aunt Millie too. Aunt Millie’s antics will have you laughing until you are crying. Who knew one little cosmetics party could get so out of hand? Paige is also trying to make friends with her aunt’s standard poodle that she calls “Killer”. She has to get him to like her if she ever expects to eat again. Good thing she is a very determined woman. It will take more than a dead body and a dog poised to attack to knock her out of the spotlight.
I am hoping Murder for Choir (A Glee Club Mystery)
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for Joelle for 5 Bonus Entries !
If you publicize the giveaway anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End July 18, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTRY FORM!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Joelle, You are a professional singer & voice lesson teacher & still find time to write books? That’s amazing! I can’t wait to read it!
Ha! Well, I don’t know if I sleep near enough….I also have a 4 year old son, so I have to work when he is asleep. Thankfully, he still takes naps. I hope you like the book!!!!
Sound like a great start to a new series. Dee
I used to be in the Glee Club in high school and college and would love to read this cozy!
This sounds great…
Looking forward to this series!
I’ve read your skating series and love it… I’m sure this new series will be as well thought out and just as funny, and entertaining.
Thanks Nora! I hope you like Paige just as much as Rebecca:)
Many of us should be able to relate to Paige because of our own glee club or choir experiences. Good luck with the new series–I’m looking forward to reading it.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I work as a high school librarian, and I can totally relate with this book. Show choir is intense there! Sounds like a fun book.
I luv your work
Ok – you just made my day! Thank you!!!!
SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT BOOK. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I’m impressed you’re a professional singer, teacher and writer, when do you have time for yourself?
Glorwal64@gmail.com
Joelle-
It sounds like you’ve had adequate time for rejections, on the musical front as well as the literary one! Congratulations that you have had success in both fields!
Funny you should mention the rejections…because yep, I’ve had more than my share. However, it means I’m really good at recognizing that rejection isn’t always about my work and often leads to other opportunities I might never have seen otherwise.
Joelle- I think I would like this book. I love cozy mysteries and have watched Glee and had sung in a Choir long ago.
To Mrs. Dollycas (Lori) I just received the copy of Murder on Fifth Avenue that I won. I love the new bookmark and card design. The biggest surprise was a bookmark from the Scarlet Pepper which I am currently reading. Thanks for having the giveaways.
Enjoy Rachelle!!!
I love show choirs and cozies so I’m putting this one on my TBR list. Those cookies look yummy, too!
Hi Joelle and Lori,
I really enjoyed the synopsis of Murder By Choir. I also enjoyed learning about Joelle. It’s fun knowing what parts of you are in a character or characters and what is totally imagined. Thanks for entering me.
This book looks wonderful!
I would love to read this. Sounds awesome!
Welcome Joelle! The book looks great, I love finding new cozies and this as a fun premise. Thanks!
I look forward to reading the book. It sounds terrific.
Many, many, many years ago I sang in school and church choirs so I think this should be a great series! I expect we’ll find bits and pieces of you in the stories.
Joelle, this sounds like a good start to a great series! Congrats!
Thanks for the giveaway. I can’t wait to read this book. It sounds very good.
Joelle, This series brings back memories.. singing in a church choir. I cannot say I can sing well but I admire you for your vocal talent! Do you want to write songs? Maybe one of your characters will?
Thanks for the interview! Dolly~ I look forward to Wednesdays;not because Friday is coming. I can’t wait to read this selection!
Singing is always lots of fun for me. Since my husband is a composer, the two of us have written a few songs together. I tend to do the lyrics and leave the melodies to him, but occassionally, I come up with a fun tune. I hope you like reading about Paige and company!
I just finished Murder For Choir and Joelle has nothing to be nervous about. This book is good and I see more Paige stories in her future.
I sang in choir in elementary school and by the time I got to middle school I could no longer hit the right notes, but do enjoy a really good voice. I thisnk this should be a really good book.
Nancy,
It’s interesting that you mention that you had trouble singing by middle school. This happens a lot with singers and it has nothing to do with skill and everything to do with confidence. Often, an elementary school teacher can make one off-hand comment about someone being out of tune in a certain section of the choir and a singer assumes it is them. They become self-concious and that’s when singing becomes much hardere for them. In singing, confidence is a huge part of the battle. You have to know you are going to hit the note for your body to cooperate!
I love mysteries. This sounds like an awesome read.
I have had high hopes for this promising new series from the word go. I first noticed it when I wrote a new release post. I love these theme based cozies and this one is so original. Thank you for the informative post. I am looking forward to reading the book myself.
Eek! I hope the series lives up to your expectations:)
Joelle,
Murder for Choir interests me so much because when I was in high school I took a number of different choir class. I had chorus and Madrigal Singers/Show Choir. Anyone could sign up with the chorus class, but I had to audition to get into the Madrigal Singers/Show Choir class. My senior year was the best though. I’d taken those two classes plus made it into the County, District and Regional Chorus festivals. Sadly, I haven’t been apart of a choir in years, and I really miss it.
Thank you so much for the giveaway! No matter what though, I look forward to reading your book. 🙂
Auditions are always nerve-wracking Especially in high school. I’m so glad you had such great experiences and who knows…you might find a great local choir to sing with or even start your own. I have several friends who used to sing with me in school that now do Christmas Caroling during the holidays. They sing at a hospital or two and have a blast!
I hope you like MURDER FOR CHOIR!!!
I really want to read your book! I used to work as an Intern to counsel students in the university. The kids who feared rejection the most were in the opera program. I would love to read this about a glee club counselor.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Carol,
I can believe that the opera kids were the most terrified of rejection. Opera is a tough career path, especially for girls. Because of the way female voices mature, it actually takes until a lady is 36 or 37 to be considered a true opera singer. Until then they are just young artists. Male singers go through a much faster voice chance so while it causes them problems earlier on, they are much more prepared to be cast in leading roles at a younger age. The waiting for directors to think you are “mature” enough to sing a leading role can be tough—especially on the girls!
I like Glee and cozy mysteries so this sounds like the perfect book for me! I can’t wait to read this book!
Sounds like so much fun…and the TBR list grows again! 🙂
Sounds like such a good book. I have been in a choir but I stink as a singer so my one time was probably one too many!!
I love her other skating rink series- cant wait to read this one
follow via email- drakebdog@gmail.com
I love to read mystery books!
I was always in the high school musicals, but the music director was so obnoxious that I chose to dance rather than sing or play an instrument. They made us sing en masse in the finale anyway.
This sounds like a marvelous cast of characters. I love mysteries that are out of the ordinary. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
love to win this sounds like a great read
I love reading a good new book!
Murder for Choir sounds like a real page turner! Joelle, how do you ever find time for writing?! What a busy person you are with giving voice lessons and your daily routine.
Blessings to you!
Judy
Joelle,
You are remarkable! What is your secret for doing everything?
I love books about music. I’d love the change to read yours! Thanks for the giveaway!
I enjoy your work.