May News

It’s been a busy couple of months but things have finally settled down a bit – at least when it comes to promoting my newest release, Marnie Malone. I don’t have any events or interviews scheduled for this month but of course, like everyone, there are always things that come up in my personal life that take me away from my desk. 

As I write this, I'm struggling to care for my eighty-seven year old mother. Mom just got home from a two-day stay in the hospital and she's having a hard time. I'm doing everything I can to help her. So, for right now, my writing is on hold. But, even when I’m not actually writing, my work-in-progress is constantly on my mind and I jot down ideas I have for the book.

I’m looking forward to getting back into my writing routine. I’m a morning writer. That’s when my mind is the clearest and I’m the most creative. I love when I can get up in the morning, have coffee and breakfast and then sit down at my computer. When I’m able to, I like to write every day. It helps me to stay in the story - to keep the momentum going. But sometimes that’s not possible. Sometimes, other responsibilities have to take precedence and I need to put my writing temporarily on hold. That happens to all of us; that’s reality.

But it can be true in fiction too. In my WIP (work in progress), a standalone romantic suspense novel,  the main character, Kate, is a single mother who longs to be a published novelist. In her words, “I want something on my tombstone besides Mother, daughter and sales clerk.” But, for years, Kate has put writing the novel she’s been plotting on hold as she deals with all of the other responsibilities in her life.

Sometimes, our lives and the people we love have to be our #1 priority. Maybe, like Kate, we’re raising a young child and working full-time or we could be caring for an elderly parent. Perhaps we have some health issues that are holding us back. No matter what the reason, we need to be careful that we don’t let anything stop us from pursuing our dreams.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

and

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

April News

This month is the five year anniversary of the publication of my first Malone mystery, Mixed Messages. I can’t believe so much time has passed and that, since then, I’ve added four other books to the series.

On April 1^st and 2^nd, author Marilyn Meredith will host me on her blog. My topic is “The Last Malone Mystery.” 
http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

On Saturday, the 15^th, I’ll participate in the Get Lit festival hosted by my publisher, Eric Beebe, of Postmortem Press. If you're in the area, I hope you’ll stop by to visit. I think it will be a lot of fun!

Update 4/11: I'm thrilled to be a guest on Sharon Vertetis Aguanno's blog. Sharon is an avid reader (not a writer) and she posts author interviews and book reviews. She does a fantastic job and I hope you'll stop by. https://newyorkarmymom.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/i-have-met-yet-another-i-must-read-everything-she-writes-author

And, of course, Easter is the day after the event, which reminds me to mention that my third Malone mystery, Desperate Deeds, takes place at this time of year. Since each of my books may be read as a standalone, this might be a good time to pick up a copy for yourself or as a gift.

As Ann Malone Kern starts her new business as an interior decorator, the temperatures have risen, tulips and daffodils are in bloom and there’s a feeling of endless possibilities in the air. She has no idea that her world is about to be turned upside down.

When Janis Riley, a woman for whom money is no object, contacts Ann to redecorate her house, she is elated. But the initial visit with her first client leaves her with mixed emotions. Why did Janis react so strangely to seeing a photo of Ann’s six-year-old son?

But Ann has bigger problems. Her husband, David, a recovering alcoholic, has lost both his mother and his job and Ann worries that he’ll start drinking again. To add to her concerns, their next-door-neighbor, Dorothy Baker, is severely depressed but Ann’s efforts to help her are rebuffed.

Ann is terrified when she wakes up the day before Easter to find Davey gone. Another child, Kelly Kramer, has been missing since December. Where are the children? And what, if anything, can Ann do to get her son back?

http://tinyurl.com/k5uh5jm

HAPPY EASTER!

And, as always, HAPPY READING!

March News

All writers know the feeling of anticipation that comes when we finally have a release date for our new book. After all, we’ve spent months and months plotting, writing, editing and proofreading our manuscript. Then, we either send it off to our publisher or we begin the process of self-publishing. Either way, it’s a long road.

So, when we finally get to the end of that road, we feel an unbelievable relief but also a lot of apprehension. Will people buy our book? Will they like it? Will they review it? The list goes on and on and I’m not even mentioning the time and effort we put forth to promote our book, which starts before its publication and continues, well, forever.

Which is why I’m thrilled to tell you that this is going to be a very exciting month for me! Here’s a list of this month’s events:

On March 6^th, I will be a guest on author Marilyn Levinson’s blog. My topic is “How one book became a series.” makeminemystery.blogspot.com

March 11^th, I will be signing and selling copies of Marnie Malone, my fifth Malone mystery, at Colerain High School in Cincinnati.

On March 12^th, my post on author Madeline (M.M.) Gornell’s blog will give an overview of my Malone mystery series and, of course, I talk about my new book. https://mmgornell.wordpress.com/

March 13th I'll be featured on author Marja McGraw's blog. "Just in time for St. Patrick's Day."
http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/ 

March 14^th is the day that Marnie Malone will officially be released.
Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/8sd2cz4
Barnes & Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Patricia+Gligor/_/N-8qa?_requestid=305533

Here's the direct amazon link for Marnie Malone: http://tinyurl.com/gnvn4kq 

It’s also the day that author, Amy Reade, is interviewing me on her blog. https://amreade.wordpress.com/category/guest-blogger/

March 20th - author Jacqueline Seewald is interviewing me on her blog.  
http://jacquelineseewald.blogspot.com

March 27 - author Jean Henry Mead has invited me to do a post on Mysterious Writers. My topic is "Why I became a mystery writer." http://mysteriouspeople.blogspot.com

March 17^th – St. Patrick’s Day. I’m including this date because Ann and Marnie, the two main characters in my series, are of Irish descent. And, the holiday has a very special significance in Marnie Malone.

Until next time:

“May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

February News

I'm thrilled to announce that my publisher, Post Mortem Press, will release "Marnie Malone," the fifth Malone mystery, in early March! (I'll update this post when I know the exact date.) Update: Marnie Malone will be released on March 14th! Here's the link to pre-order the Kindle version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WP28GGF

When my first Malone mystery, "Mixed Messages," was accepted for publication, I was ecstatic! Finally, after many, many years, my "baby" was going to be "born." And, when I held a copy in my hands for the first time, I remember cradling it to my chest, as if it were a real baby. With each new book, my excitement returns.

Although Ann Malone Kern is the main character in the first four books, her sister, Marnie, plays an important part in Ann's life and in two of the books. At some point, I realized that Marnie deserved to have a leading role in a book. So, that's how "Marnie Malone" came about. Here's a preview:

Someone is stalking Marnie.

It’s Marnie’s last week at the law firm of Cliburn & Reeves and she feels like she’s riding an emotional roller coaster. Up when she wins the divorce and custody battle for Callie Jackson against her abusive husband, Jed. And plummeting down when one witness after another decides not to testify against Mark Hall, an attorney at another Charleston firm and an “alleged” serial rapist.

Marnie receives one threat after another and she constantly feels the need to look over her shoulder, convinced that someone is stalking her. With Sam out of town on business, she’s alone in the big, old farmhouse and strange things are happening. Noises in the attic, creaking floorboards and someone watching her from the woods.

As she tries to determine the identity of the stalker, the list of men who have grudges against her grows longer each day. In her line of work she’s made enemies. Is the stalker someone from the past or one of the men on her list? And, how far will he go?