I’m honored to annouce that Her Alibi was a Finalist in the IAN book Awards under Non-Fiction/Relationships. If you would like a copy of this impactful book of 69 pages, let me know.
Short Blurb:
No! This can’t be! Not after the joking around at my home last night. NO!!!!Did she use me last night? She’d never use her scapegoat child. No, she couldn’t! Even Marguerite wouldn’t sink that low! Or would she? Marguerite had always been abusive and vile to most people,and especially to her children and husbands, but would she shoot Harold?
Editorial Review:
Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers’ Favorite
As a child, Mary could not figure out why her mother’s behavior toward her tended to be either violent or angry. As she got older the relationship between them only got worse, so much so that she could not wait to get out of living under her mother’s control. Her siblings were not immune and even her mother’s partners bore their fair share of her vitriolic attacks. After she had moved out, got married, and started her own family, you would expect that Mary would be free of her mother’s machinations. Then she received a call about her stepfather’s death which coincided with her mother’s strange late-hour visit. Could it be that her mother somehow found a way to rope Mary into her fiendish scheme? One so unbelievable it could involve murder?
Mary L. Schmidt tells a compelling story in her book. Her accounts are detailed and graphic, leaving precious little to the imagination. She explains her family history thoroughly, making it easier to understand her story. It is difficult to believe that some of the events transpired in the way she recorded them, but the waythe details come together in the latter stages gives the reader ample opportunity to draw conclusions as to the mental state of Mary’s mother and her capabilities. Her Alibi is another example of where reality trumps fiction and Schmidt must be commended for finding the courage to pen this book.
She risked everything for her country, now she’s fighting for her life.
A gripping WWII novel of love, espionage and courage in Occupied France, inspired by true events.
February 1933: When twenty-year-old Nancy receives an unexpected inheritance, she embarks on a world cruise that changes her life forever. After a whirlwind voyage, her journey ends in London, where she trains as a journalist, eventually finding herself in the glamorous, bustling city of Paris—a haven for journalists, artists, and refugees.
While covering assignments across Europe, Nancy catches the eye of wealthy industrialist Henri Fiocca. Though love is the last thing on her mind, fate intervenes, and their lives become intertwined.
As World War II looms, Nancy is appalled by the Nazi atrocities she witnesses in Vienna. Determined to resist the enemy, she vows to fight back. When Paris falls, a chance encounter with a British officer draws her into the dangerous world of the French Resistance. With courage and determination, Nancy plunges into a high-stakes game of espionage and sabotage.
Dubbed “The White Mouse” by the Gestapo, Nancy becomes a target of a relentless manhunt. As the iron grip of the enemy tightens around her, Nancy and Henri are forced to make a heartbreaking choice—what price will they pay for freedom?
My Review:
This is such a moving and unforgettable biography that reads like a memoir. Nancy Wake, aka Madame Fiocca, is a character of substance. Real substance. The protagonist has been researched well, and this amazing woman was brought to life. The story is well written and centers around WWII. She was a writer and journalist who fell in love with a wonderful man, who loved her just as deeply.
Our Halloween weaves an intricate web of mysteries and surprises. Once again, the authors Derek R. King and Julie L. Kusma give your family a book that teaches and inspires imagination. Every page offers beautifully designed illustrations accompanied by a story, poem, or the history behind the object portrayed. Also included in this book are excerpts from various prior publications, as well as original shorts stories from both authors. You’ll be excited by the colors, photos, and puzzles from the first page to the last. Monsters find their way into your line of sight throughout the book. But, don’t worry, there’s a story behind each one. You and your family will find yourself reading and re-reading this Samhain treasure.
This is a fun yet scary book centered around Halloween. Included are illustrations, photographs, and puzzles with many different Halloween activities. Historical references are included. The one that touched me most was the child crying in the house when no children were home. Furthermore, the adult was on the phone at the time, and that woman also heard the cries.
Sonny’s husband dies shortly after inheriting his wealthy grandmother’s large farmhouse and entire estate, so she, in turn, gets it. The young widow now has the means to support herself while she launches her career as a watercolor artist. Besides the hours she spends painting, she begins to make some changes in the peculiarly decorated house, searches for a key to open a locked door in the basement, and hires a ruggedly handsome man, Clark, to repair some damages on the building. She meets her two nearest neighbors—Justine, a cheerful middle-aged woman and Rolf, a handsome author who requires solitude in which to write. In spite of a few nasty glitches, Sonny’s life is moving peacefully along, with romance possible in the near future. A mile away, however, is a top-secret laboratory, located on three lower levels of an old, underground mine, where microbiologists are putting the final touches on a malignant virus they call CONTROL, which they plan to first release on two European countries, eventually infecting the population of the entire world. This dangerous information becomes known to the four acquaintances and puts their lives in jeopardy in this contemporary tale of romance and suspense, lightened up with humor.
This book made me laugh out loud mutiple times, the sci-fi aspects were cool in a unique manner, the romance slowly blossomed into hormonal rip-the-clothes-off but sexually explicit at all. This book has a bit of everything mixed into the story, woven tightly, and I loved this book.
A Yorkshire orphan struggling for opportunity against 18th-century odds reluctantly transforms into a Venetian courtesan during the Empire’s last days.
Sixteen-year-old Renna Covert toils away in the shadows of a Yorkshire workhouse, her days filled with the mundane task of shelling cotton and the dangerous duty of scouting for punters. One fateful night, she crosses paths with two sailors and finds herself thrust into the heart of a chilling encounter at the local asylum.
These harrowing experiences catalyze Renna’s journey, promising newfound opportunities and revealing long-buried family secrets. Yet, at every turn, powerful forces conspire to thwart her quest for truth, forcing her to abandon her scullery work and embark on a daring escape to Venice alongside her steadfast companions.
In the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, Renna’s fate takes yet another twist. She is ensnared by a cunning Madam who trains her as a Venetian courtesan. But beneath the veneer of luxury lies a world fraught with danger, where Renna must rely on her witts and resilience to navigate the treacherous waters of deceit and betrayal.
Set against the backdrop of Venice’s tumultuous Napoleonic invasion of 1797, this is a tale of a girl’s struggle for survival. It is a story of resilience, defiance in the face of adversity, and, ultimately, one young woman’s determination to reclaim her identity.
THE CURSE OF MAIDEN SCARS is a coming-of-age, women’s fiction novel with gothic flair set in the tradition of Victoria Mas’ THE MADWOMAN’S BALL, and Sarah Dunant’s IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN, with the sensuality of LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER.
Nicolette Croft can’t remember a time when she was not creating imaginary worlds inspired by her Hungarian and American ancestors. As a neuro-divergent learner, however, putting those stories to paper proved more challenging than imagining them. Because her determination would not allow her to settle, she pursued an English B.A. to improve her writing.
Young motherhood also brought unexpected challenges, which motivated her to pursue graduate work in twice-exceptional learners and education. She would later add an M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in neurodivergent people, trauma, and grief. Nicolette uses her natural gift of storytelling as an exploratory method for her clients.
The Curse of Maiden Scars is also an outgrowth of her personal journey and marks her first publication as a novelist, having previously published short fiction. When not at her counseling practice or researching historical facts for her latest story, Nicolette shares treasured time with family, friends, and her husband. Whether writing, cooking, traveling, or learning, the act of creation is always at the center of her colorful life.
Fresh Ink Group invites you to tune in to Episode 223 of our Voice of Indie podcast featuring Mary Schmidt on November 6, 2024, at 8 pm EST. Just click here: Voice of Indie. Spread the word! Be sure to share this link on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and all of your social media! Below you will find information about Mary Schmidt. Scroll to the bottom and find an excerpt from her book, Christmas in Evergreen! (Gmail users need to click a tiny prompt at the bottom to see the entire newsletter.)
Please call during the show with comments or questions for Schmidt at (516) 453-9902, or talk to us live on Twitter by putting #Freshinkgroup in the body of your tweet. We will read your note on air.
Please welcome J.P. Reedman to my blog. Good morning, Janet. I’m happy to have you on my blog today. Shall we get started?
Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.
I’m J.P. Reedman, and I am a full-time writer of historical fiction and historical fantasy. I was born in Canada, daughter of a Canadian soldier and an English war-bride who met in WWII but have lived in the UK for over 30 years. Home is a few miles from Stonehenge. There is a missing queen buried in my local town; her grave lost in time. Historical inspiration lies all around me!
Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
I began writing very young—age five. The first story was a typical adventure tale, but that was quickly followed by one on Cleopatra, which stunned my grade 1 teacher. I seem to have been born with an innate love of historical subjects; this deep passion showed up by the age of four. I began writing book length stories in my teens. At that time, I wrote mainly high fantasy. However, in 1992 I moved from Canada to the U.K. and for about 10 years wrote very little. I began writing again after a serious illness that left me partly sighted for around 3 months. It was a wake-up call for me that if you truly want to do something, you cannot keep putting it off saying ‘maybe tomorrow.’
How difficult was it writing your first book?
My first published book was called STONE LORD, and it is a historical fantasy set at the time of Stonehenge. I worked at Stonehenge at the time and the story was not terribly difficult to write as I had daily inspiration! I knew what it was like out at the Stones in rain, mist and sun. I saw solstices and burning sunsets and walked in the stones at dusk. I even found a buried human tooth!
Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
I never wanted to give up, but as I mentioned, I stopped writing for quite a while. I was busy with other things, travel and photography mainly. I must admit I had become a bit disillusioned in the late 80’s after sending out a large fantasy manuscript many times. ‘Classic’ fantasy wasn’t so popular at that time (it’s come back again, hurrah!) and it was costing loads querying and sending out sample chapters to the big Trad publishers (all before email was used so it had to be sent by snail mail.) When indie publishing became popular, it was like a whole new world of opportunities opened. It was now a case of ‘talent wills out.’
Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
All my friends have always been extremely supportive, but it is my partner Dan who is my rock. He listens to all my writing (and selling) woes and drives me to various events and historical places connected with my books (so I can film them—and to just get ‘the vibes’.)
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Just that I am glad of their support. They helped me achieve what at one time seemed an impossible dream—to write full-time. I hope they’ll stick with me!
What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
When I still lived in Canada, I was a member of a Science Fiction group. They published short stories in their zine, and that was where my first published work appeared. One chap, Garth, gave me some criticisms. I did not take umbrage at in the least—for I realized his critique was right. Too many adjectives! I do have a descriptive style, and reviewers have said that ‘visual imagery’ is a strong point in my books, but I learned to ‘hold back’ and edit out what wasn’t necessary.
What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
My target audience for my main two series is anyone who enjoys historical fiction set in medieval times. The first series, I, Richard Plantagenet, is about the Wars of the Roses and Richard III, told in 1st person from Richard’s viewpoint. It seems to appeal to both men and women; it’s not ‘romancy’ and it doesn’t shy away from battles, though it does have some dry, sometimes black, humour.
My other series, Medieval Babes (yes, deliberately something of a joke title!) is a collection of 12 titles (and growing) biographical fiction about lesser-known medieval queens and nobles. It is popular with the same readership as Philippa Gregory, Jean Plaidy etc.
Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
My covers are a mix. Sometimes I purchase them and sometimes I create them myself. It is quite hard to get ready-made covers which have images on them that resemble the historical figures I write about.
What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
My current book, late but coming soon, is ‘The Melancholy of Winter.’ It is about Richard III’s older brother, the little-known Edmund, who was killed at the Battle of Wakefield, aged just 17.
Here’s an excerpt from the book. Edmund and his older brother Edward (future King Edward IV) are in Ireland as young boys: ‘St Brigid’s procession swirled by the drums and the pipe and the singing gradually fading away.
The rain stopped and a huge rainbow, the sky behind it black as pitch, arched across Dublin town, while the heavens brightened in the west, and burning golden light splashed over the walls and towers of monasteries and churches, wiping the dirt and dung from the damp, streaming cobbles and dancing off the crenels of the castle.
Dublin was indeed a strange and wondrous place, I decided, as our chariot rolled stolidly through the golden glare of storm-light to the castle’s gate, gaping a wide welcome beneath the banner of the Falcon and Fetterlock.
It might not be for long, but for now, this place, this sturdy fortress beside the Black Pool, was our home.’
Any last words before we wrap things up?
Advice for new writers—believe in what you are doing and don’t give up. If someone gives you a critique, don’t feel crushed. Try to look at it dispassionately and see if something can be learned from it. Also, remember, different books appeal to different people. Not everyone will like what you write—it doesn’t mean you are not a good writer.
BIO: J.P. Reedman lives in Wiltshire near to Stonehenge. Born in Canada, she has had a lifelong interest in ancient and medieval history, and is often found lurking around prehistoric sites, ruined castles and abbeys, and interesting churches with camera in hand. She became a full-time writer in 2018. Series include I, Richard Plantagenet, 5 books chronicling Richard’s life from childhood to Bosworth, and Medieval Babes, a set of standalone novels about lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen. Her most recent release is Princess in the Police Station, the tale of little Anne Mowbray, wife of the younger ‘Prince in the Tower’ whose grave was unexpectedly found in the 1960’s. The next book to be released will be The Melancholy of Winter, which is about Edmund of Rutland, Richard’s tragic elder brother.
BOOK I AM PROMOTING: Medieval Babes 12: THE PRINCESS IN THE POLICE STATION: A TALE OF LITTLE ANNE MOWBRAY
After forty disastrous dates, Elsie Goode decides she’s kissed her last frog and turns to focus on salvaging her business that’s close to bankruptcy.
New-to-town veterinarian, Dirk Lovett, prefers the company of animals—they don’t crush your heart by lying and skipping town with another man.
In a twist of fate, Mr. Purrfect veterinarian hires Elsie to plan a birthday party. Her hopes for a happily-ever-after spike, but her conniving business partner promises to sign over her half of the company—if Elsie helps her become Mrs. Dr. Lovett.
Sole ownership will save the business, so Elsie takes on a dubious matchmaking role requiring lies and deceit. Trouble is, the pet whisperer falls for Elsie.
Now she must make a choice: continue to lie and save her company or give up and tell Dirk the truth—which will destroy his heart all over again.
Life on Molly is a travel and lifestyle blog. I am a normal girl with many passions. I am an explorer of new places, a learner of new languages, creator of my ambitions, blogger, and a good pal. This blog is my little corner of the world where I am able to share my adventures with you and inspire you to live a life full of purpose.
When Angels Fly 