Tag: Sybil Johnson
Ghosts of Painting Past (An Aurora Anderson Mystery) by Sybil Johnson #Review / #Giveaway @HeneryPress – Great Escapes Book Tour
Ghosts of Painting Past (An Aurora Anderson Mystery)
by Sybil Johnson
About Ghosts of Painting Past
Ghosts of Painting Past (An Aurora Anderson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Henery Press (November 19, 2019)
Paperback: 264 pages
ISBN-10: 1635115590
ISBN-13: 978-1635115598
Digital ASIN: B07XC3DXGN
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It’s Christmastime in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, home of computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson. The magic of the season fills the air as residents enjoy school concerts, a pier lighting ceremony and the annual sand-snowman contest.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Rory plans on painting ornaments to sell at the local craft fair and joining in on the holiday fun. But she finds the season anything but jolly after the house across the street is torn down, revealing a decades old crime. Past meets present when her father is implicated in the murder.
Fearing for her father’s future, Rory launches her own investigation, intent on discovering the truth and clearing his name.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Christmas in California should be bliss for Rory Anderson but all the holiday magic is sucked out of the atmosphere when a skeleton is found on the property across the street from her house and another is found on the beach. It appears the deaths are connected and Rory’s father is right in the middle of it. Rory is bound and determined to show her father is not involved. Clearing his name means digging up his past which he has always painted with a pretty broad brush. She learns a lot about her parents but knows her father is no killer.
____
This time Rory’s family, friends, and neighbors all get in on the investigation. There were a few funny moments as Rory and the rest of the nosy neighbors tried to see what the big discovery was on their street. When they found out it was a skeleton and again when the skeleton was identified the story took a more somber tone. The situation really tugged on this mother’s heartstrings.
Ms. Johnson has created a wonderful cast of characters. The recurring characters continue to grow while the new characters bring new energy to the story. I really enjoyed reading about how Rory’s parents met and their love story. Rory has the perfect job for an amateur sleuth, working from home, in charge of her own time, allowing her to drop everything at a moment’s notice to follow a lead.
The story was filled with twists and moved along nicely. I loved that the past and present were tied together in a top-notch mystery.
Celebrating Christmas without any snow would be hard for me but it was fun to read about all the festivities. The author does an excellent job of bringing the various scenes to life. The lighted trees lining the pier, the snowman contest on the beach and even the craft sale.
Ghosts of Painting Past
About Sybil Johnson
Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
Author Links
Website Facebook Author page Twitter
GoodReads Publisher
Purchase Links – Amazon Kindle – Amazon Paperback – Kobo
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops.
November 18 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 19 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
November 21 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
November 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 22 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 23 – My Reading Journeys – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 24 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 28 – Thanksgiving
November 29 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW
November 29 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
November 30 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW
December 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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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.”
#Review / #Giveaway – Designed for Haunting (Aurora Anderson Mystery) by Sybil Johnson – @HeneryPress – Great Escapes Book Tour
Doing an incredibly rare review this Sunday for this book tour 😀
Designed for Haunting (Aurora Anderson Mystery)
by Sybil Johnson
About the Book
Designed for Haunting (Aurora Anderson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – California
Henery Press (October 9, 2018)
Hardcover: 276 pages
ISBN-10: 1635114055
ISBN-13: 978-1635114058
Paperback: 276 pages
ISBN-10: 1635114020
ISBN-13: 978-1635114027
Digital ASIN: B07FSYFM8Q
October brings a message from Beyond The Grave…
Halloween is fast approaching in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, home of computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Rory Anderson. While her painting chapter prepares to open its annual boutique house, Rory receives an unexpected email from Beyond The Grave, a company that automatically sends out messages when someone dies.
“I think I have a stalker,” the message reads. “If you’re reading this I’m either missing or dead. My life may depend on what you do. Please find out what happened to me.”
Haunted by her friend’s disappearance and possible death, Rory begins her search with the help of best friend and fellow painter, Liz Dexter. Can they discover who has designs on the missing woman and uncover the truth before one of them becomes the stalker’s next victim?
Halloween is just a few days away and so is the annual decorative painting open house. Rory’s group has been working hard to get everything ready. But an unusual and scary email has Rory Anderson concerned about a friend. The company, Beyond the Grave, offers a service that sends out a prewritten email if their member fails to respond to their check-in emails after a set number of days. Rory has received an email from Zelena, “I think I have a stalker,” the message reads. “If you’re reading this I’m either missing or dead. My life may depend on what you do. Please find out what happened to me.” Zelena was at the recent painting meeting, so she must have disappeared shortly after that. Rory asks her best friend Liz to help her try to find Zelena, hopefully, alive and get to the bottom of this haunting email.
This fourth installment to the Aurora (Rory) Anderson series evokes the Halloween theme very well. In addition to the missing woman, there are pranksters creating havoc with each prank worse than the last, a craft sale open house I would love to attend, and rumors of a ghost appearing nightly on the beach. All of which are drawing Rory’s attention.
The core characters of Rory and Liz are strong. They have each other’s back and Liz is still doing her best to push Rory to be a little more adventurous. Not quite Thelma and Louise and not quite Lucy and Ethel, but they do share characteristics of these famous duos. They do make a great team of sleuths.
We did meet some new characters this time. They were interesting in their own ways and added so much to this story. I did miss some of the usual characters from previous stories though.
I did enjoy the open house charity event. Set in an actual home that was on the market, each room set up to show wares decoratively painted for the different upcoming holidays. There was even a special escape room experience where entrants are given a set limit of time to “investigate” the room and its contents to solve a mystery. What a fun addition to a craft sale.
With three mysteries to solve, revealing the pranksters, the “ghost” on the beach, and Zelena’s disappearance, readers are kept on their toes. Rory is asked by her detective boyfriend to let him handle things but Rory just can’t do that even when things take an ominous turn. I always have fun tagging along with these amateur sleuths. Rory has a way of getting to the truth and the closer she gets the faster the pages were flipping. Hold on tight for that ending.
Another great story from Ms. Johnson and a fine addition to this series.
About the Author
Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
Author Links
Website Facebook Author page Twitter
GoodReads Publisher
Purchase Links
Amazon
More praise for Designed for Haunting (Aurora Anderson Mystery)
by Sybil Johnson
. . . kept me engaged the entire way through. The climax is very suspenseful and perfectly wraps everything up.
~Carstairs Considers…
I enjoyed the layers in this book. The mystery is well thought out and keeps the reader engaged through the entire reading experience.
~A Cozy Experience
It’s a fast-paced mystery with many puzzle pieces to put together.
~Socrates’ Book Reviews…
Within the first couple of paragraphs, the words “I think I have a stalker” pulled me right into the story and pulled me right along throughout the entire book. That was a great opening.
~MJB Reviewers
A complicated entangled mystery that will keep your interest all the way through.
~Laura’s Interests
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 9 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
October 9 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
October 10 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW
October 11 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 13 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
October 14 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
October 15 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
October 16 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
October 16 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST
October 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – The Montana Bookaholic – GUEST POST
October 18 – A Chick Who Reads – SPOTLIGHT
October 19 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
October 19 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 20 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
October 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
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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.”
20 Quick Questions with Sybil Johnson – Plus #Review / #Giveaway – A Palette for Murder by Sybil Johnson – Great Escapes Book Tour
I am wrapping this tour up today!
Sybil Johnson
Favorite Color – Blue
Favorite Candy – Frango mint chocolates
Favorite Snack – Popcorn
Favorite Soft Drink – diet Coke with Lime
Favorite Hard Drink – Toss up between Pinot Grigio and Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor – Mint chocolate chip
Favorite Movie – Gone With The Wind
Favorite TV Show – Good Witch
Favorite Book – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Favorite Fictional Character – Miss Marple
Favorite Super Hero – Batman
Favorite Singer/Group/Band – I don’t really have a favorite group or singer. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, old and new. Currently, I’ve been listening to The Carpenters. Karen Carpenter had a wonderful voice.
Favorite Carnival Ride – Ferris Wheel
Favorite Spring Activity – I have a spring birthday so I enjoy making myself a birthday cheesecake. I love to experiment with new recipes. Peppermint Bark and Oreo cookie are my current favorites.
Favorite Summer Activity – Sitting out on our deck and reading or working on a story.
Favorite Fall Activity – Disneyland! I love the Halloween decorations and how they change the Haunted Mansion every year.
Favorite Winter Activity – Walking down to the beach. There are fewer people around and it’s cooler though not cold. Very soothing.
Favorite Place to Read – Any place in my house that is quiet and sunny.
Favorite Place to Write – Same as above. Any place in my house that is quiet and sunny.
Dream Vacation Destination – Australia/New Zealand (taking a cruise ship to get there and get back)
Thanks Sybil for playing 20 Quick Questions!
About The Author –
Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
Author Links
Website Facebook Author page Twitter
GoodReads Publisher
A Palette for Murder (An Aurora Anderson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – California
Henery Press (January 31, 2017)
Paperback: 268 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635111415
E-Book ASIN: B01M74ZIL3
A killer heat wave settles over Seagull Lane…
Summer’s sizzling in Vista Beach, the home of computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson. The abnormally high temperatures are hard on everyone in the quiet Los Angeles county beach community, especially the city’s homeless population. Residents are doing everything they can to stay cool, including leaving windows open to catch the faintest breeze. Not the best idea when a string of burglaries is plaguing nearby towns.
Still, Rory doesn’t expect to find her neighbor’s body just a few doors down. When suspicion falls on a friend and fellow painter, Rory must discover the truth before the police paint the wrong picture and send her friend away permanently.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Book 3 in this series takes us to California is heat of summer and some thieves are taking advantage of residents leaving their windows open to catch an ocean breeze. Sadly one robbery leaves behind a body. Rory finds her neighbor dead of an apparent attack. Police quickly focus in Rory’s friend Dawn so Rory does a little investigating on her own but she may be painting herself into a corner.
What a perfect read while it is winter in Wisconsin. The heat seeped right out of the book and made me feel the warmth and enjoy the breeze. I could almost smell the ocean and hear the waves as Rory chased down clues both in the murder and trying to find out who hurt a homeless man. A man who Rory has sort of taken under her wing.
The author really shined with this mystery. Willow, the woman who died, had secrets and quite a past. We keep learning more and more as the story continues and there are some surprising twists that paint quite a picture of who Willow really was. Ms. Johnson set a nice quick pace to this mystery. One that made the book very hard to put down, I did read it all in one sitting. One part even made me shed a tear or two.
I really enjoy the characters she has created. Close friends Rory and Liz, not quite Thelma and Louise, but they have a special bond. Rory’s romantic life is still in flux but I do enjoy the way the author is not rushing it, leaving it to evolve naturally and in a very believable way. Of course, there are always those bumps in the road that twist things up a bit. I think I know where she is headed and it is fun to watch it all play out.
Each story in this series is better than the last. I hate to think I have to wait a year for my next visit. Thank you Sybil for another perfect escape.
More Praise for A Palette for Murder
by Sybil JohnsonThis is an enjoyable read with interesting characters and plot turns… Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy this one.
~ Christa Reads and WritesWith the help of friends and friends of friends, this neighborhood mystery reveals itself at a comfortable, steady pace.
~Laura’s InterestsThe author does a great job creating a world that grabs the reader and pulls them in, keeping them engaged from start to finish.
~Sapphyria’s Book ReviewsI really liked this book, the story is interesting, the mystery keeps you guessing all the book and the characters are lovely and friendly.
~Varietats
Purchase Links
Amazon
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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.”
Flashback Friday – Paint The Town Dead by Sybil Johnson #Review / #Giveaway @HeneryPress
On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Paint the Town Dead
(An Aurora Anderson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – California
Henery Press (December 8, 2015)
Paperback: 264 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1943390335
Kindle ASIN: B0156W71GW
The Ocean Painting Society invites you to join the painting wave…
It’s June in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, the place computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson calls home. Decorative painters are flocking to the newly built Akaw hotel to attend the Ocean Painting Society’s inaugural convention.
During the weeklong event, Rory plans on shopping the trade show floor, working in her mother’s booth, taking classes and connecting with other decorative painting fans. She doesn’t expect to witness her childhood friend collapse in class and die. When the police find no evidence of foul play, Rory embarks on her own investigation. Can she brush aside the lies to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Rory has her hands full this week helping her mother at the Ocean Painting Society’s inaugural convention. She is excited to be able to spend some time with her friends, especially Jasmine, who has moved back to the area. She is devastated when Jasmine collapses and dies during one of the painting classes. The police believe the woman took her own life but Rory isn’t buying that at all. She immediately starts her own investigation.
Sybil Johnson has given us quite a twisted up mystery. Someone attending the convention wanted Jasmine dead and they had to be very sneaky to bring it all about. You see she had a condition that the killer had to know about to pull off their crime and not too many people knew about it. In fact that is why suicide was the immediate cause of death determination. Thankfully Rory was ready to fight to prove that wrong.
I reviewed the first book in this series a couple of weeks ago and I had a problem with the flow of the story. Well I did not have that problem with this story at all. The flow was steady from start to finish. There are several things happening. We start with a brick through a window, then on to protesters picketing the damage the new hotel did to the area, to all the snafus that can go wrong at a big convention, and even Rory’s mom pushing her to get a man in her life. Yes, there is some romantic tension too as we meet someone special in our dashing detective’s life. But all may not be what it seems…..and then of course there is the murder.
I like these characters, Rory and Liz’s friendship is fun and they have each other’s back. I like where the author is heading with all of the characters. The story is very well written and the mystery makes sense. Rory’s job as a website consultant and helping out at her mother’s tole painting and scrapbook store’s booth at the convention give her plenty of opportunity to follow clues and hunt down leads and get herself is some dicey situations too.
This was a strong addition to this series. I am looking forward to the newest book in the series, A Palette for Murder
About The Author –
Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
Author Links
Website Facebook Author page Twitter GoodReads Publisher
I am giving away 1 e-copy of Paint The Town Dead.
It will be sent directly to your email from Amazon.
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
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.
Click the Like Button at the top of this post for a Bonus Entry.
Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries.
Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End February 9, 2017 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Click Here For 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.”
Flashback Friday – #Review / #Giveaway – Fatal Brushstroke by Sybil Johnson
On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Fatal Brushstroke (An Aurora Anderson Mystery)
by Sybil Johnson
Cozy Mystery
1st In Series
Setting – California
Henery Press(November 18, 2014)
Hardcover: 270 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1940976525
Paperback: 276 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1940976495
Kindle – ASIN: B00N265TVY
A dead body in her garden and a homicide detective on her doorstep…
Computer programmer and tole painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson doesn’t envision finding either when she steps outside to investigate the frenzied yipping coming from her own backyard. After all, she lives in Vista Beach, a quiet California beach community where violent crime is rare and murder even rarer.
Suspicion falls on Rory when the body buried in her flowerbed turns out to be someone she knows—her tole painting teacher, Hester Bouquet. Just two weeks before, Rory attended one of Hester’s weekend seminars, an unpleasant experience she vowed never to repeat. As evidence piles up against Rory, she embarks on a quest to identify the killer and clear her name. Can Rory unearth the truth before she encounters her own brush with death?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Rory Anderson is a computer programmer that works from her home in sunny California. As a hobby she enjoys tole painting. Sounds like a quiet idyllic life to me. But when a body is found buried in her garden things become chaotic as Rory is a suspect trying to clear her name.
This was an interesting debut. Rory has a past that the author explains over the course of the story that makes her a very vulnerable main character. She spends a lot of time with her mother but their relationship felt a bit off until more of Rory’s past is revealed and things start to fall into place. At first I thought maybe I missed a novella or a previous story in this series but after double checking found that was not the case I soldiered on. I feel if her past would have been addressed in full at the beginning the flow of the book would have been better and not so choppy.
Disregarding the flow, the theme and substance of the mystery was enjoyable. Painting instructor, Hester Bouquet, killed, but by who? The author gives a several viable suspects, and I had both of my prime suspects cast aside when additional facts were revealed. The police seemed determined Rory was the killer, what they lacked in evidence was trumped by the location of the body and they seemed satisfied. We do learn why the police chief is so determined to prove Rory guilty rather than really investigating the crime, but I really didn’t like him as a character from the start. Thankfully Rory kept digging and digging to prove him wrong. She does hold things back from him and was not always forthcoming but that is just a normal part of cozy mysteries.
I always say first books in a series are difficult because the author has a heavy lift, introducing the characters and giving us a mystery that grabs us and holds us to the last page. While the character introduction was a bit murky at first, the mystery was skillfully composed. The description of the setting, Vista Beach, was pleasing as well.
Now that I have gotten to know Rory’s backstory I am really looking forward to the next book in this series, Paint the Town Dead
About The Author –
Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
Author Links
Website Facebook Author page Twitter GoodReads Publisher
I am giving away 1 e-copy of Fatal Brushstroke.
It will be sent directly to your email from Amazon.
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
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.
Click the Like Button at the top of this post for a Bonus Entry.
Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries.
Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End January 20, 2017 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Click Here For 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.”
Special Guest – Sybil Johnson – Author of Paint the Town Dead – #Giveaway too! – Great Escapes Book Tour
I am so happy to be part of this tour and to welcome Sybil to Escape With Dollycas!
Food That Fuels the Imagination
by Sybil Johnson
Agatha Christie was known to eat apples while plotting murder. Victor Hugo swallowed two raw eggs before beginning his writing day. And I learned from a post the Awl had a few years back on food and writers (http://www.theawl.com/2012/08/writer-food-from-a-to-z) that Neil Simon rewards himself with a bag of Fritos after completing a difficult scene.
After reading the Awl article, I was curious if the writers I know have their own food rituals so I posed the question to some of them recently with interesting results.
Not everyone I informally polled noshes while working, but a large number of them mentioned snacks they enjoy as they write. Not surprisingly, chocolate is a favorite, all types from milk to dark to those that include nuts, bacon, raisins… I even got a peek inside Phoebe Fox’s desk where I found, you guessed it, chocolate (Madagascar) as well as Jolly Rancher lollipops. She tells me she also likes Cheetos.
Ellen Byron finds herself craving Cajun food while writing her Cajun Country series while Sarah M. Chen prefers black tea with milk and honey, Marilyn Meredith Chai lattes. Shawn Reilley Simmons craves brie and pretzels while Wendy Tyson enjoys ginger snaps.
Larissa Reinhart confesses to always being hungry while writing, something that I’ve noticed about myself. I’m a nibbler when I’m working on a story, especially when the words aren’t flowing, not the best thing when you’re trying to maintain or lose weight. I have a particular fondness for mint chocolate items. Thin Mints and Frango mint chocolates are special favorites, though I try not to indulge too often. And diet Coke, preferably with lime, helps keep the words flowing. You’ll see my protagonist, Rory Anderson, consuming all three of these in FATAL BRUSHSTROKE
I’m not the only one whose own food likes make their way into their work. Larissa Reinhart’s character, Cherry Tucker, loves Southern food just like her creator does. And LynDee Walker’s Nichelle drinks Moscato and often eats Mexican food or barbecue, all favorites of the author herself. For Maria Alexander, her love of peanut M&Ms ended up playing an important role in a YA novel she’s currently working on.
For me, sometimes it’s not the eating of a food, but the making of it that gets my creative juices flowing. I love baking all kinds of things, but my special love is cheesecakes—trying out new recipes, modifying ones I’ve used before, creating new ones. While working on my sweet creations, a solution to a plot problem often pops into my mind.
After a lot of trial and error, the following has become the base for my cheesecake experimentation. As you can tell, I like things on the lighter side. For me, it’s less filling and just as flavorful. Just add a crust of your choice and play around with different flavors/additions, then bake at 300 degrees F for an hour and twenty minutes until it jiggles only slightly at the center when shaken.
4-8 oz. packages light cream cheese
1 c. sugar
1/3 c. fat-free evaporated milk OR whipping cream
1 1/2 c. egg substitute
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons vanilla
So there you have it, food habits of some of today’s writers. What about you? What food fuels your imagination?
~Sybil
Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family.
Author Links
Website Facebook Author page Twitter
GoodReads Publisher
Paint the Town Dead
(An Aurora Anderson Mystery)
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (December 8, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1943390335
E-Book ASIN: B0156W71GW
Synopsis:
“Johnson paints characters with a folksy charm that makes them feel like family…Color me a fan!” – Diane Vallere, Author of the Material Witness, Style & Error, and Madison Night Mystery Series
“Rory is definitely a quirky character; she has the ability to draw the readers in so that they want to follow her through her adventures.” – Suspense Magazine
The Ocean Painting Society invites you to join the painting wave…
It’s June in the quiet Los Angeles County city of Vista Beach, the place computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson calls home. Decorative painters are flocking to the newly built Akaw hotel to attend the Ocean Painting Society’s inaugural convention.
During the week-long event, Rory plans on shopping the trade show floor, working in her mother’s booth, taking classes and connecting with other decorative painting fans. She doesn’t expect to witness her childhood friend collapse in class and die. When the police find no evidence of foul play, Rory embarks on her own investigation. Can she brush aside the lies to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice?
Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), amateur sleuth books, book club recommendations, craft and hobby mysteries.
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