Archive | March 2020
Murder on Tyneside
Book blurb found on Amazon:
“Recently widowed Agnes Lockwood is spending a few days on Tyneside in Northeast England, catching up with her past. When expensive jewelry is stolen at the hotel, Chief Inspector Alan Johnson gets on the case.
After Alan recognizes Agnes as a friend from schooldays, they rekindle their friendship and Agnes bombards him with questions about the case. But after dinner one evening, they find a body lying on the roadside.
Fearing for her safety, Alan warns Agnes to stay away from the case. But being an inquisitive woman, Agnes cannot resist getting involved… too involved.”
My review:
This is the second book I’ve read by this author. Having always loved Nancy Drew books as a child, I was anxious to get this book started. I wasn’t disappointed, and yet I was disappointed. The errors didn’t take away from the story and I found the interwoven mystery complex and interesting. I found Agnes interesting, but nosy and always trying to be where the action was at the moment and that was dangerous. The chief inspector was even worse as he let Agnes get to him which hindered his job and her safety. I would dislike seeing innocent people without police training, such as Agnes, get involved with more than one murder and the main inspector allowing his attentions to leave the job at hand just to think about Agnes. Murder/mystery persons will like this book.
Highway Twenty
INTERVIEW – MICHAEL J MOORE
Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.
I am Michael J Moore. I live in Seattle with my partner in life, author Cait Moore. I grew up an hour north of Seattle, in a small town called Mount Vernon, Washington but as far back as I can remember, though, I’ve always had an infatuation with bigger cities. Cait and I have five children. My spare time is spent at the gym, reading or watching Breaking Bad with Cait.
Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
I remember writing a short thriller in the fourth grade, and the school librarian was so impressed that she encouraged me to enter into some young authors’ contest. I never did but all my English teachers pushed me to write so it was always in the back of my mind. After working for years as a personal trainer, it occurred to me that something was missing from my life, so one day I picked up a pad of paper and started writing the first draft of my first novel. Three months later, I wrote “the end” on the last page of my manuscript and put it away happier and more complete than I could remember feeling in a very long time
How difficult was it writing your first book?
The words just flowed out of me, like they had been there all along. I did not find it difficult to write at all and it surprised me. I was always good at putting words on paper, and I always sensed that it was my calling, but never took the time to explore it.
Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
I have never wanted to give up because I have felt it in my bones that I was meant to write. I wrote and wrote and kept all of my manuscripts, but I never got any support for the work I did. Family members were always too busy or not interested so I really didn’t think that anyone would read my books. It wasn’t until I met my wife and she encouraged me to submit to publishers that I actually thought my dream of writing might become a reality. In fact, she submitted my book Highway Twenty to publishers without my knowing as I did not think it was worthy of publication. She proved me wrong as it was placed on the Preliminary Ballot for Superior Achievement in a Novel in the 2018 Bram Stoker Award.
Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
That is easy. Without doubt, my wife, Cait Moore. Not only is she my second pair of eyes, she keeps me on my toes on the marketing front. Actually, Cait does most of my marketing and that is very time consuming, so I say it’s a labor of love.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Look me up on my various social media sites. Read my book and short stories. Check out reviews of my recent horror novel Highway Twenty and don’t forget to leave me a review. I love reading what people think about my book. Every time a review is left, Cait and I and the kids spend a lot of time discussing it. It’s a highlight of our day. Recent reviews can be found on:
Highway Twenty Book Review (Darkbites.ca) –
https://darkbites.ca/reviewing-highway-twenty-by-michael-j-moore/
Highway Twenty Book Review (IseultMurphy.com) –https://iseultmurphy.com/2020/01/05/highway-twenty-by-michael-j-moore/
What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
“Instead of trying to be better than everybody around you, just strive every day to be better than the guy in the mirror.” This advice was actually given to me by the guy in the mirror.
What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
I write in a few different genres: horror, thriller, literary, YA so my target audience differs for each book. Those who have reviewed for example Highway Twenty have commented that it is a cross-genre novel so essentially, it could be targeted to adults who like horror or adults who like romance or adults who like thriller stories. So when I hear people say, “Oh I don’t read horror,” I always respond that they should just give a book a go and then make up their mind.
Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
I have two covers done so far. One was done by my wife Cait Moore after many different options were presented to me. The cover for Highway Twenty was done by HellBound Books perfectly in accordance with my ideas. I selected the train and the rest was the superb vision of Hellbound. Cait and I really love that cover.
What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
I just tied the bow on my recent horror novel with a working title of Cinema 7. So far, I feel like it’s my best book but Cait has yet to read it and let me know her thoughts. The prologue for the book is called “Kimberley’s Bed” and it’s about to be published in Soteira Press’s Anthology What Monsters Do for Love. I recommend you get yourself a copy.
Any last words before we wrap things up?
Tomorrow I’m going to start working on Book Two of After the Change, a post-apocalyptic YA series about three teens who set out to rebuild society inside of a prison. Book One is available on Amazon and Audible. Read it and let me know what you think.
https://www.amazon.com/After-Change-Michael-J-Moore/dp/1795491671/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=after+the+change+michael+j+moore&qid=1580212793&sr=8-1
The link to my books and website:
https://www.amazon.com/Highway-Twenty-Michael-J-Moore/dp/1948318806/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=highway+twenty+michael+j+moore&qid=1580212815&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/After-Change-Michael-J-Moore/dp/1795491671/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=after+the+change+michael+j+moore&qid=1580212793&sr=8-1
https://michaeljmoorewriti.wixsite.com/website
My social media links are as follows:
https://michaeljmoorewriti.wixsite.com/website
https://www.facebook.com/michaeljmoorewriting
https://twitter.com/MichaelJMoore20
https://instagram.com/michaeljmoorewriting
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-moore-28b800178/
#COVID19 – My Son Got It!
COVID-19.
One virus brought the world to its knees (and hopefully everyone is praying). My only living son, only living child, lives in Los Angeles, half a country away from me. He’s never been this far away for this long – he moved out there in August 2019. Even with precautions in place, he had to work due to his specific job at an aerospace company I shall not name. My son picked up the COVID-19 virus and was sick, quite, but on the mend now. His age is mid 30’s. As a mother who lost her first born to cord strangulation, and youngest to effects and damage of chemo due to cancer, I prayed my son would be spared. Eight days post initial knowing he had it, he told me about it. Per his own words, he said that if I’d known, I’d be too worried and anxious and that is true, but I should have known… I’m his mom… I’m a ex-registered nurse. I know infectious disease. Since my son has recovered well, I’m over being upset with him not telling me. His work falls in two of the must work sectors drawn up by the USA, and it’s not a work from home job. He must be onsite, segregated, so he can make the calculations and program a machining center for parts used by the military. I’m rambling now… but my point is, no one is immune to COVID-19. Stay home if at all possible, be safe, let’s stop the spread of this contagion. Can we pray for the entire world?
My son and I, fall of 2018.
Infographic: Selling your Business with Ebooks — Nicholas C. Rossis
Did you know that a great way to promote a business is through an ebook? As regular readers of this blog know, I have been focusing on freelance writing this past couple of years. So, this is a tip that may be of particular interest to non-fiction writers and anyone else who is looking to […]
via Infographic: Selling your Business with Ebooks — Nicholas C. Rossis
6 Ways to Help Anxious Children during Coronavirus — Behaviour101
Do you have an anxious child right now? Will they benefit from direct strategies to combat this feeling or will a subtle approach work better? This article provides both.
via 6 Ways to Help Anxious Children during Coronavirus — Behaviour101
Much Needed Poetry
Break the Silence: An Anthology Against Domestic Violence is a wonderful book on poetry dealing with domestic abuse of women, and men. While reading through the poems contained herein, one realizes the true travesty of domestic violence and how that violence spreads past the home life and into the community and world. Instead of Silence, time has long come for speak up, and write out about this world wide issue. Each poem is special and unique, stressing real life, and what happens to both men and women, as well as even the worst part of being murdered. I am honored to be the first reviewer on Amazon for this Five Star read. My contribution below:
While He Lay Passed Out
There he lay in a heap on the couch,
Speaking in a slurred voice slouch;
Earlier, her head smashed through plaster,
The kitchen wall left in disaster;
Both her boys bore wide eyewitness,
While her broken body lay listless;
“Mom, please wake up! He is asleep”,
She struggled as her blood did seep;
And hugged her boys close to her side,
Mustering strength, her eyes she dried;
She packed boxes with clothes and toys,
While telling her sons to not make noise;
Quietly they helped load the old car,
As she drove away, she saw the house from afar;
Never again would she allow this abuse,
It was time now for no disuse;
They fled during the night,
Safe from the monster’s bite;
Arriving safely to their new house,
She locked the door from her spouse;
The law officers kept them safe,
No longer was she just a waif;
A happy home she did make,
She was strong and did not break. © Mary Schmidt 22 Feb 2020
Mary L Schmidt aka S. Jackson is a retired registered nurse noted for nursing academic excellence, community involvement, graduating with high honors and inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She has written 18 plus books from memoirs, children’s books, and part of several anthologies. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
#Abuse #domesticabuse #murder #rape #fear #hopeless #lost #angermanagement
Prom and Graduation Amid COVID-19
PROM: I have a solution for prom in a small town and it can be lots of fun.
1. Promenade: can be done out of doors (if no rain), in a city park, one couple at a time walking using Social Distancing. No parents or family present! TWO adults present to take videos and pictures for all prom goers to share with family and friends. This CAN be done safely. ONE adult present to make sure Social Distancing is practiced!
2. Dance and Food: parents can host four couples each in their home providing music for dancing and food to eat. Finger foods and disposable utensils, plates, sanitizer wipes for all present. This is a 10 (TEN) person, or less, event in the host home. Cozy but can be lots of fun and a memorable prom.
3. Decorating: teenagers can be quite creative in designing fun decorations in host home. Make a fun and snazzy spot for couples to have pictures taken.
4. I think you get the idea and can come up with wonderful ways to make Prom 2020 a huge success. © Mary L. Schmidt 18 March 2020
High School/College Graduation: in a small town this is easy to have a solution that works. Kids – be creative.
1. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian can record their speech and comments for each class member to have.
2. Pictures can be taken in homes or outdoors with groups of 10 or less. Use sanitizer. Decorate your caps and create!
3. No stage walking, no shaking hands, have diplomas mailed out. Even with sanitizer wipes, walking a stage and shaking hands is a bad idea. Even walking a stage with Social Distancing is a bad idea.
4. Plan graduation parties of 10 or less people in parents homes. Have fun, eat food, just be careful. This is doable and fun. You make it fun. Honestly, this can be fun and memorable. Play Pomp and Circumstance in the pre-selected homes for groups of 10 or less. Create an area for graduation pictures with diplomas to be taken. Share the pictures with family and friends.
5. COVID-19 won’t change but senior students can make this a fun and great event if they choose to do so.
6. I have more suggestions, but I think the students should have input.
7. For all high schools and colleges do a Facebook live speech. Get the interactions from classmates, friends, and family and the comments. We are digital age. © Mary L Schmidt 187 March 2020
#Prom #Graduation #parties #covid19 #coronovirus #becreative
18 Common Word To Leave Out of Your Writing — Shirley McLain
It’s a familiar scene: you’re slumped over your keyboard or notebook, obsessing over your character. While we tend to agonize over everything from structure to backstory, it’s important to weigh how you write something too. A perfectly constructed world is flat on the page if you use feeble, common words. When you’re finished constructing your […]
via 18 Common Word To Leave Out of Your Writing — Shirley McLain
When Angels Fly 