Posts Tagged ‘fiction’
Authors in the Sun
Posted on: July 3, 2026
- In: Amanda Travels | Books | short stories
- 52 Comments
Sally Cronin is an amazing author, blogger, and supporter of other authors. Recently, she has been running a series on her blog called Authors in the Sun and has invited us to send in a short story to share with her readers. I wrote this little story based on a prompt and was delighted that she agreed to post it. I know many of you have already read it and commented, but for those who haven’t, please check it out and let me know what you think. She has also included a wonderful review by Balroop Sing for Amanda in Spain: The Girl in the Painting. It’s so nice to get reviews for some of my earlier books.
Sally Cronin is skilled at writing compelling short stories. Her latest book is Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces
About the book
In the Irish Garden there is fantasy, magic, friendship and love to be found in this green and welcoming haven. For some of those who find their way to the garden there is a renewal and an awakening of the spirit and special gifts lost through tragedy. For others it is the end of a long and arduous journey to find their soulmate.
The Irish garden has been a sanctuary for centuries for those escaping persecution, invaders and grief. Its guardian is the storyteller, a man who has lived for hundreds of years and who is part of a network of guardians around the world, offering a safe haven to those worthy of their protection.
It is not only humans who travel from afar to this garden, but animals which are hurt or lost. One creature in particular has travelled across time following the elusive melody remembered from its time in an ancient civilisation, a cat who has reached its ninth life.
You are welcome to join the storyteller, Finn, Lilah, Ramon, Michael, Bebechat and Flaco in the garden to enjoy their company, discover their stories and be amused at some of the antics they get up to as they finally find a peaceful home to call their own.
A Five-Star Review by Jacqui Murray
I have yet to read one of Sally’s books that doesn’t leave me fulfilled at the end. Tales From the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces is no exception. We follow the ageless Storyteller as his magical garden empties of those who filled it for so long and he must readjust to a quiet peace or refill his surroundings. He seems content either way, but fate intervenes. First, there’s Flynn who’s lost his family and having trouble adjusting. Then, there’s Lila, a mystical healer who also lost her family and is persecuted by those who don’t understand her skills. Then, there’s the cat, displaced from her Egyptian home and needs a new place to settle, the dog no longer wanted but still has a lot to offer, the young boy who feels his life is over though it has barely started, the beautiful singer who responds to the tragedy in his life by losing his vision. I think I might have missed some.
As always, Sally shows us how to find the good in life when it seems to elude us. I couldn’t have enjoyed this story more. 5/5
Other books by Sally Cronin
They are all available at these places:
Amazon: Amazon US – Amazon UK: Amazon UK – More reviews : Goodreads
- In: Writing
- 51 Comments
Pip: Every good episode starts with a door — sometimes literally, as Darlene Foster’s blog will demonstrate today.
Mara: We’re covering two distinct territories: a short story born from a creative writing challenge, and a book excerpt paired with a review. Let’s start with the challenge that turns a photograph of a door into fiction.
Creative Writing Challenge
Pip: The premise here is elegant — Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge asks writers to pick a submitted door photo and let it spark something. The question the story has to answer is: what lives behind that door, and what does it cost to step through it?
Mara: The door chosen was submitted by Yvette Prior, and the story it unlocks opens quietly: “Good days were rare for Erin. The new medication was working.”
Pip: Those two sentences do a lot of heavy lifting. We understand immediately that Erin is managing something — anxiety, OCD, something unnamed — and that today is fragile in the way that good things are when you’re not used to them.
Mara: The story builds that fragility carefully. Erin dusts invisible crumbs, wipes an already clean table, times her tea steep to the exact minute. Every detail is precise and earned.
Pip: And then the teapot drips, and she has to talk herself back from the edge — three attempts to pour without spilling. It’s a small, tense, completely believable scene.
Mara: Then the blast hits. The window shatters, the flamingo flies, and the last line lands hard: “She knew something like this would happen. The day had been too good.”
Pip: A whole character arc in under six hundred words.
Mara: From a story sparked by a single image, let’s move to a book that’s been out in the world long enough to earn a review.
Book Excerpt And Review
Pip: The Amanda in Ireland post is a two-for-one: an excerpt from Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog, shared on Sally Cronin’s platform for indie authors, alongside a review.
Mara: Sally Cronin runs what the post calls a space for “book marketer and indie supporter extraordinaire” work — her Smorgasbord blog is a regular home for authors sharing their writing directly with readers.
Pip: Putting an excerpt next to a review is smart positioning — the excerpt shows the voice, the review supplies the credibility.
Mara: The full excerpt and review live over at Smorgasbord Invitations, which is where readers can dig into the actual prose and see what a bog in Ireland does to a plot.
Pip: A door that hides a disaster, a bog that hides a body — there’s a theme here about what’s waiting just out of frame.
Mara: Next time, we’ll see what else is lurking just around the corner.
Myths and Magic Blog Tour
Posted on: May 23, 2026
- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | reviews
- 75 Comments
What I like most about blogging is the amazing people you meet. Esther Chilton is one of them. Not only is she a great writer and supporter of other writers, but she also provides wonderful writing prompts on her blog. She is writing a series of delightful books for children called Saffy’s Secret Quest under the pen name Esther Moonstomp and has just released book #2, Myths and Magic. I loved the first book, The Secret Dragon.
My review of The Secret Dragon:
This is a delightful read with magic, plenty of action, and a dragon! Not a regular scary dragon, but a beat-up, bedraggled, unattractive little thing. Saffy finds the dragon and learns some surprising things about herself. Kids just starting to read chapter books will enjoy this story. The illustrations are fabulous. I felt the story ended a bit abruptly, with many questions left unanswered. But there are five more books in the series, so I’m sure all will be revealed. A wonderful book to read with the young ones in your life.
I am happy to be stop #10 of the blog tour for Myths and Magic
The blurb:
Saffy has solved the first clue in her quest to save the magical world of Mandoreum from danger. Now it’s time to find the second.
She isn’t alone. Her new friend, Lily, a dragon from Mandoreum, wants to help. Together, they take a trip and uncover special stories and unexpected surprises.
But Saffy soon learns that first appearances are not always what they seem. And plotting in the background is a witch who will do everything she can to stop them…
Extract:
“It’s still raining,” Mum said, looking out the window. “I think it’s going to rain for the rest of your school holiday at this rate. Harry’s bored, so I thought we could take a trip to the museum this afternoon. They’ve got a new section which only opened this week.”
Saffy’s shoulders slumped. The museum was very interesting and she would like to see the new section. But she needed to find the book. She also didn’t want to be anywhere near Harry. He knew something strange was going on and he was determined to find out exactly what.
“We’ll set off in a few minutes. Okay?” Mum turned from the window and looked at her, eyebrows raised in question.
Saffy nodded. She knew she didn’t have much choice.
“Good,” Mum said and smiled. “See you downstairs.”
Saffy held her breath as Mum left the room. “We’ll never find the book,” she groaned.
“Yes, we will. You’re just trying too hard. Perhaps we need a break. What’s a museum?” Lily turned her head to one side, looking puzzled.
“It’s where you learn all about the past. There are lots of exciting things to see and do there,” Saffy said, cheering up a little.
“I’d like to learn about the human world in the past,” Lily said. “I think your past is very different to my past. Even the time is different.”
Saffy nodded thoughtfully. Lily had said something about ‘Mandoreum minutes’ when they had been looking for the first clue. She was just about to ask her what she meant when the dragon started bouncing up and down. “Lily, what’s wrong?”
Author bio:
Esther has been a freelance writer for over twenty-five years, regularly writing articles and short stories for magazines and newspapers such as Writers’ Forum, Writing Magazine, The Guardian, Best of British, The Cat, This England, Yours and The People’s Friend.
Winner of several competitions, including those run by Writing Magazine and The Global Short Story Contest, she has also had the privilege of judging writing competitions and relished being given the role of head judge of the Writers’ Forum monthly short story competition.
Esther loves writing but equally enjoys helping others, which she achieves in her role as a tutor for The Writers Bureau. Always on the lookout for a new challenge, she is taking the distance-learning college over at the end of July.
She has had two how-to books on writing published, with a third due out later this year, as well as two collections of short stories. Her second children’s book is coming out in May, where she writes under the name of Esther Moonstomp.
Blogs: https://estherchilton.co.uk
https://esthermoonstomp.co.uk
Buying links:
Amazon UK:
E-book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX6T5C6R
Amazon US:
E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX6T5C6R
Book Blog Tour for Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet: An Anthology of Short Stories & Poems
Posted on: March 18, 2026
- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | short stories | Writing
- 122 Comments
I am excited to introduce the international literary anthology Story Chat Digest: Where Stories Meet, edited and compiled by Marsha Ingrao.
Now in its third volume, Story Chat Digest continues its tradition of bringing together international voices in short fiction and poetry. What began as an interactive online literary challenge has grown into an established anthology series and ongoing writing-and-reading community built around thoughtful conversation, continuing a tradition of collaborative storytelling.
In this volume, writers from around the world contributed short fiction and contemporary poetry inspired by the Story Chat community at AlwaysWrite.blog. I am delighted to have two stories included in this volume.
Each piece stands alone, yet together they form a tapestry of voices exploring memories, mysteries, resilience, humour, faith, family, and the quiet complexities of ordinary life — with a few science fiction pieces woven in for imaginative contrast. This anthology captures not just the stories themselves, but a sampling of connections that inspired them.
This is what differentiates the Story Chat anthology from a typical collection. Story Chat began as a blog-based literary program in which writers submitted original fiction and poetry, and readers responded thoughtfully in the comments. Those conversations became part of the creative process. Readers engaged like live beta readers. Writers refined their work. Sometimes a reader’s insight sparked a second or even third story. The anthology grew organically from that global interaction — preserving both the writing and the spirit of conversation that shaped it.
You can find out more about Story Chat Digest as well as how to submit your stories and/or poems here: https://alwayswrite.blog/join-story-chat-digest-2026-an-online-writing-community-for-all-authors/.
Reader Testimonials
- “This is what I like about Story Chat, Marsha — the perspective of different people. It would be very dull if we all thought the same thing.”
- “You have given me an idea on how to make my character more three-dimensional… It is amazing how little additions like that might enhance the experience for readers.”
- “I enjoyed being here. Thank you so much, Marsha. It was a memorable experience — a great confidence booster.”
I enjoyed being part of this project. It was fun to write a couple of short stories for the collection, but even more fun to read the comments from fellow writers and readers. The experience motivated me to write in genres new to me. Thank you, Marsha Ingrao, for creating this fabulous opportunity to showcase our work and obtain valuable feedback.
My 5-star review for Story Chat Volume II
Many brilliant writers in this volume provide great examples of various writing skills and styles. This is the second volume of Story Chat, and I love this idea. Not only does the reader get introduced to several authors, but following most of the short stories are critique notes that make you think about the story more. For example, the brilliant author, Diana Peach, writes The Grand Adventure, an engaging tale about best friends with a fabulous twist at the end. This is what critiquer Balroop says: “Diana is a master crafter; whatever she writes, she never disappoints. I love her style of saying a lot, without going into any unnecessary details, and that shows how much she respects the intellect of her readers.”
The stories include humour, juvenile, coming-of-age, family drama and sci-fi. The book is bookended with writing tips on How to Write Fantastic Stories that Will Impact Readers by Hugh Roberts, and comprehensive Tips on Point of View by Diana Peach. Not only is this an entertaining read, it’s a writer’s manual as well. Well done, Marsha, for putting this informative and entertaining volume together.
Story Chat Digest: Where Stories Meet, Volume III
Purchase Links:
About the Editor
Marsha Ingrao is the founder and online host of the Story Chat community and the compilation editor of the Story Chat series. A lifelong educator, she continues to foster global literary conversation through blogging, collaborative anthologies, and virtual gatherings.
After retiring from public education, she expanded her work into writing, photography, and publishing. She believes strongly in lifelong learning and the power of shared storytelling to build connections across cultures.
Blog:www.alwayswrite.blog
After Christmas Sales
Posted on: December 27, 2025
- In: Amanda Travels | Book Sales | Books | reviews
- 49 Comments
I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Even though it rained all day, unusual for Spain, we had a lovely time in our cosy house with our sweet doggies. We ate too much, but isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Did you get money for Christmas? When I get money for a gift, I usually spend it on books. The good news is that the Smashwords Sale is on until January 1. Three of my e-books are on sale for $1.99. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DarleneFoster8118
Reviews by Dawn Pisturino
Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones by Darlene Foster (2025). Available on Amazon.com.
This book deserves a 5-star rating for the extensive historical research done by the author to deliver an entertaining and educational middle-grade mystery novel to children 9–12 years old. Young readers, as well as adults, will learn about the history, culture, and mystery of the Scottish Isle of Arran. A missing father, hidden rooms, and a strange, disappearing woman make for a fun book.
Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog by Darlene Foster (2025). Available on Amazon.com.
I love everything Irish, so I was more than happy to read this book. Irish history and culture leap from the pages in this children’s adventure that involves a missing bride, a lost horse, lurking bad guys, abandoned ruins, and a twelve-year-old sleuth determined to solve the mystery. This delightful book, so reminiscent of Nancy Drew, will entertain and educate any child or adult. I happily give it 5 stars.
And a review from Joy Kidney
You Can Take The Girl From the Prairie
Heartwarming stories of immigrant ancestors, life on the prairie, and family members. I especially enjoyed the one called “A Hero in a Pickup Truck,” about the author’s father.
Here are some other authors I admire, featuring their awesome books on sale as well:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1785493
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Debra_PurdyKong
Check out many more titles! http://smashwords.com/sale
I love a bargain!! A perfect time to load your e-reader for the winter months, or summer months for those of you in the southern hemisphere. Happy reading!!
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
Happy Birthday, Jane Austen
Posted on: December 21, 2025
- In: Books | History | quotes | Writing
- 81 Comments
One cannot have too large a party. ~ Jane Austen, Emma
On December 16th, we celebrated Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. I’m sure she never dreamt people would be reading and discussing her books two hundred and fifty years after she was born. She is one of my favourite authors, I have read her books many times over and have seen all the movie and TV adaptations. Hubby says I could speak along with the characters and I often laugh before the clever lines are spoken. Like this, one of my favourites.
An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do. ~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
I am a true Janeite and have been a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, attending interesting and informative conferences where we discuss her work and times. I’ve been fortunate to meet Joan Austen-Leigh, a great-great-grandniece of the famous writer. Visiting Jane’s cottage in Chawton and her grave in Winchester Cathedral have been among my highlights, and viewing her writing at the British Museum sent chills through me.
Besides her books, I’ve read many biographies of Jane Austen, her published letters, and her juvenilia. I don’t have a favourite Jane Austen novel as I love them all, for different reasons.
Rebecca Bud is running a series of posts on the gifts Jane has given us. Please check them out as they are excellent. https://rebeccasreadingroom.ca/2025/12/20/jane-austen-at-250-pride-prejudice-and-the-power-of-wit/
One of my favourite quotes: My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company. ~ Jane Austen, Persuasion
Do you enjoy reading Jane Austen? What is one of your favourite quotes? Why do we still enjoy her books?
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | Christmas | reviews
- 69 Comments
I am pleased to be part of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two blog tour, another wonderful book by fellow blogger and author, D. L. Finn. I enjoyed the first book and look forward to reading this one. I will turn it over to Ms Finn.
Thank you, Darlene, for having me on your amazing blog today to share the release of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two. I’m SO very grateful for your support!
Katie lost her mom as a teenager. Since she had no other family, she was put into the foster care system in “A Gift to Katie.” A few years later, she receives a call from a lawyer, someone has left her something in their will. Curious, she takes time off work and hops on a bus to meet with this lawyer. She can’t believe what the lawyer is telling her, and she’s tempted to just leave. But she decides to think it over and come back in the morning with an answer. With just enough in her purse for a motel and food, she heads out into the chilly night. It begins to snow, and what happens next leaves her stranded without any place to stay. What will the cold night bring her, and how will she answer the lawyer?
BLURB:
Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays. Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.” She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself? In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find. “Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa. Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.
EXCERPT FROM: A Gift to Katie, 1969
Katie Lawson sat in a tasteful beige chair in the attorney’s office that smelled of cigarettes and spicy aftershave, staring at the official document in her shaking hands and trying to understand what it meant.
Only a week ago, she got a call from this fancy city lawyer, Mr. McGovern, about a will in which she was the beneficiary of a Mr. Cooper. They set up an appointment, and he hung up. Her first thought was perhaps that one of her foster parents left her something, but she went over every house she had lived in, and not one of them was a Cooper.
“Do you know who this Mr. Cooper is, Mom?” Katie stared at the old black-and-white photo of her mom holding her as a baby.
She wished the smiling, beautiful young woman in the picture with long black hair and bright green eyes, who had died of breast cancer several years ago, was still with her. Maybe her mom could have explained what was happening, but that wasn’t Katie’s reality. Instead, alone, Katie had been placed in foster care. All her family was gone, including a father who had died before she was born. He didn’t have any family either.
“This has to be a mistake or something. But guess it can’t hurt to go find out.” Katie shrugged and headed to her low-paying cashier job.
Although Katie was able to get the days off she needed to travel, she knew Miss Baker, who had a permanent sour expression, didn’t believe she was meeting a lawyer.
“Don’t make it a habit to go running off like this with such short notice, but this one time, I’ll permit you the days off. I expect you to make it up in double shifts and anytime I need you when you come back from seeing this lawyer.” Miss Baker shook her head and went back to eating her powdered donut.
Miss Baker would choke on that donut if she could see Katie now. Even Katie didn’t believe it. Her existence had been flipped upside down.
Mr. McGovern tugged at his collar and cleared his throat. “I understand this must be a shock, Miss Lawson, but let’s start with the will.”
I, Hurbert Charles Cooper, being of sound mind and body, authorize my lawyer, Daniel McGovern, to sell my business, Cooper Industries, and apply the proceeds to any outstanding debt. The remaining will go to my only living heir, Katherine Marie Lawson. If she is under thirty years old, the proceeds will be placed in a trust to be managed by Mr. McGovern until her thirtieth birthday. It is my wish that she use this to create a charity fund of her choice. I have worked with Mr. David Frost and recommend to Katherine that she keep him on to advise her. He has my complete trust. All the rest of my possessions, including my savings, stocks, house, and its contents, which include artwork, jewelry, and an extensive coin collection, I leave to my daughter, Katherine, effective immediately. It is my hope that this makes up for the fact that I wasn’t in her life. May my daughter find it in her heart to forgive me and find pleasure in what I offer now.
Katie set the paper down and met the cold stare of her father’s attorney.
FUN FINN FACTS
- Nothing like taking a stroll when it first starts to snow.
- I watch Christmas movies anytime of the year.
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
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D.L. Finn blog
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D. L. Finn’s Gratitude Store
D. L. Finn is a prolific author who writes in a variety of genres. I loved her first collection of Christmas stories, Miracles and Ghosts. Here is my review:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful Christmas read.
This is an enjoyable collection of stories centred around the Christmas season, a magical time of miracles and the occasional ghost. The author is obviously a fan of Christmas. The characters are believable, and I like how most of the stories include an animal or two. I love all of the stories, but my favourites are The Christmas Eve Walk and The Red Truck. Short stories are not easy to write as the writer has to use an economy of words. D.L. Finn succeeded in using just the right words to convey the messages and make me feel Christmassy.
Both books would make perfect gifts for the holiday season.
- In: Amanda Travels | Books
- 117 Comments
I am pleased to announce that we have a cover for Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog!
I’m delighted with the end result. If you need a cover designer, I would be happy to pass on Annie’s details. She is brilliant and so easy to work with. The book is scheduled for release on October 1 and should be available for pre-order soon.
The Blurb
Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding, in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.
Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?
A Short Excerpt
The setting sun cast odd shadows. She shivered. Soon a mist rolled in and something screeched. Trembling, Amanda thought of the banshees Taylor told her about. In the distance, she saw what looked like little glowing fairies dancing on top of the grass.
I wonder if this is a bog? No one knows where I am. I could die out here and no one would find me for years. I would just be another body in the bog.
What a beta reader had to say:
Another richly layered book full of mystery and intrigue! I’m constantly amazed at how the author blends suspense with history in such an engaging way. Every twist and turn is a delight, and the historical elements always spark my curiosity. As someone who has visited Ireland, I loved the setting even more. Thank you for sharing with your readers, no matter what age, stories that entertain, inspire, and educate all at once.
Copyright ©2025 darlenefoster.wordpress.com – All rights reserved
SISTERS BOOK LAUNCH BLOG TOUR
Posted on: August 13, 2025
- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | Writing
- 134 Comments
I am delighted to feature two talented sisters on my blog as they are both launching new books! Please welcome authors Jan Sikes and Linda Brody as they discuss writing and their books.
We are deeply grateful to you, Darlene, for offering to host us on your wonderful blog site today!
When we decided to launch our new books together on the same day, Linda and I wanted to make it something special. It feels like we are making publishing history, and perhaps we are.
For this blog tour, we’ve chosen questions and answers designed to give the readers a deeper look into who we are, our background, and how we ended up where we are today, launching books together.
Question: What is the earliest piece of writing you can each remember doing?
Linda: I think the first thing I really remember writing was a short story for English class. It was about a group of ants playing football in the Sugar Bowl. The teacher gave me high marks for that. I also recall a story about a squirrel and an aggravating dog that wouldn’t leave it alone. You know—stories worthy of the Nobel Prize in Literature! That was very gripping prose.
Jan: The earliest thing I can remember writing is a gospel song. I was probably around eight when I wrote it. Linda and I had an uncle who lived with us for most of our growing-up years, and he was an alcoholic. I loved him so much, and the song was my way of expressing the hope that he would find Jesus.
Question: Are there any commonalities between these two books?
Linda: Both of our heroes are on a quest. Mine (Cade McIntyre) is searching for his family after they were all split up as kids. Jan’s (Jack Blaine) keeps his eyes open for opportunities. He’s so thirsty for life and he loves helping people, but he has no clear path to his goals.
Jan: As Linda said, both of our characters are on quests of some sort. Besides that, both stories have animals that play an important part in the plots. In Linda’s story, there is a horse with a big personality, while in mine, it’s a dog and a baby bobcat. We both almost always include animals in our writing.
Question: Do you inspire each other when writing your books?
Linda: Jan always inspires me with her unique ability to be authentic and genuine. She faces each day with such joy and optimism, and she projects that to everyone. When I’m down, she encourages me and gets me going again. This is a hard business and people are not always friendly, so Jan is my rock. I can tell her my darkest secrets, and she doesn’t judge. Although I’ve been at this longer, Jan often surprises me with her depth of book smarts.
Jan: That’s high praise from my sister and I can add a big amen to what she said. We definitely support and encourage each other. Because writing is a hard business, you really need someone in your corner that can talk you down off the ledge.
Question: Do you discuss each other’s WIPs?
Linda: Yes, most definitely. This is the best part. We bounce ideas off each other and critique online. If we get stuck, we talk until we get the problem solved. It’s really helpful to have someone who is always a phone call away. It’s really nice to have a partner I can reach out to, and Jan always has the best suggestions for ways to improve my story.
Jan: I’ll add another hearty YES to this question. For years, Linda and I have had a Sunday morning ritual where we make coffee, then talk on the phone. Everyone in the family knows not to call me on Sunday morning. Sometimes we talk for thirty minutes and sometimes for two hours. Then, of course, at any time during the week, we know we can bounce ideas off each other, especially when one of us writes ourself into a corner and needs a different viewpoint to get out. Without Linda as a writing partner, I know my stories would languish. I think that makes me very lucky!
PURCHASE LINKS:
CADE’S QUEST: https://www.amazon.com/Cades-Quest-Western-Romance-McIntyres-ebook/dp/B0FD7X4H5D/
A BOLD BARGAIN: https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Bargain-Bargainer-Book-ebook/dp/B0FD7VSY68/
JAN SIKES SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: https://www.jansikes.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorjansikesbooks
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Blog Tour for Poetic Justice
Posted on: July 9, 2025
- In: Blog Launch Tour | Books | guest posts | Writing
- 166 Comments
I’m always excited for my blogging/writer friends when they have a new book out. This one is extra special as it’s a collaboration between two of my cyber pals. Check out the excerpt and the Q & A. Note that the Kindle version of Poetic Justice is on sale today through Saturday for $0.99.
The Blurb.
Trevor Barcroft is convinced that mystery/true crime author Brody Thompson wrote the scene in which Trevor’s father Wilson Barcroft was murdered. What should be a simple answer to this five-yer-old crime is one that neither the police nor the FBI want to uncover; and one Bernie Bouchard doesn’t want his young investigative reporter, Rascal Todd, digging into. Warned to stay away from the investigation.. Brody and Trevor begin a dangerous quest, led by the musings of a mysterious poet who has been hiding in plain sight for decades. What does the Poet know that keeps him in hiding? What did Wilson Barcroft know that got him killed? Why can’t Brody walk away from a meaningless and dangerous pursuit?
Kindle – https://relinks.me/B0FBLH5YKB
Paperback – https://relinks.me/B0FBRCQSHQ
Audio – https://relinks.me/B0DP5FR58S
Video Trailer: https://youtu.be/PLUZ9wwyQnA
Excerpt from Poetic Justice
Trevor took another drink and remained quiet for a moment. “Brody. I can accept what you say
about this being fiction and coincidence, but my story is true. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I came
here hoping to convince you to help me solve my father’s murder.”
“T-Bar, you don’t understand. I’m not a detective. When a detective needs a clue, he looks around, digging here and there, asking a lot of questions. When one of my detectives needs a clue, I write one for
him.”
“I understand, but at least you know what real detectives do. I can’t afford to hire a detective, and I can’t get the police interested in revisiting this case.”
“What makes you think you can afford me?”
“I was hoping you’d help me for free. Maybe you could work this into a different story. Or get some publicity — Famous Mystery Writer Solves Real-World Crime — Think of it as a short vacation in Pittsburgh. I’d pay for your expenses.”
“My expenses might include going to a Steelers game, although I hope we’d finish before football season starts.”
“I inherited my father’s season tickets. I’ll take you back down.”
Brody rubbed his forehead. “What the hell? My work-in-progress isn’t going anywhere. Maybe a change of scene would be good for me. Since you’re paying my expenses, you can start by buying me dinner. You can tell me more about your family. The lasagna here is excellent.”
Trevor smiled. “Joy, we’d like two orders of lasagna.”
In between bites, Trevor explained that his mother had been institutionalized with early-onset dementia. Trevor remained close to her, but he was angry with his father. He thought he could have put her in a better nursing home. “I hadn’t seen my father in months when the police called to tell me he’d been killed.”
“Did you meet with the police?”
“I did. I drove to Pittsburgh, identified the body and listened to their theory of the crime.”
Brody finished a bite of lasagna. “What, exactly, was their theory?”
“They said it was personal.”
“Personal?” Brody asked with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. “Personal murders rarely happen on a dark street after midnight.” He took a drink of beer. “Well, at least not in my books.”
Trevor smiled and shook his head. “He was shot at point-blank range, and he still had his wallet, his watch, his phone and his keys when they found him.”
Brody nodded. “So, your dad knew the shooter. Was your dad into anything the police would care about?”
“Like I said, he was a gambler.” Trevor let that sink in. “They didn’t think that was a factor — I do.”
Brody was making some notes on a napkin. “If someone owes you money, killing them isn’t your best choice. You can’t collect from a dead man.”
“My father was a successful gambler, Brody. What if someone owed him money? Someone told me at the funeral that he’d placed a large bet and won a lot of money that weekend. They didn’t find that money. Someone might kill him rather than pay him, right?”
“No. Look, I’m working from experience, research and my imagination here.” Brody
paused for a drink. “Bookies and the organizations they work for usually pay.”
“Even if the bet was for a lot of money?”
“Sure. First off, they don’t take bets they can’t cover. Second, they don’t want to scare off other gamblers, and finally, no offense, eventually your dad would have lost it back to them.”
Trevor considered those answers. “But if it’s not related to gambling, what motive would someone have for killing him?”
Brody squeezed one last note on his napkin. “T-Bar, that’s not the question you should ask yourself.”
“I don’t understand?” Brody looked him straight in the eyes.
“The question you need to ask is, are you willing to find out?”
Dan’s Bio
Dan is retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology and began writing his first book the next day. He’s married, the father of one child, and although there are no pets around today, he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats over time. Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries. When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera. He also might be having a beer with friends, and some of those encounters have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog—NoFacilities.com.
Author page: http://relinks.me/DanielAntion
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Willow’s Bio
London-born Willow Willers is retired and lives in Berkshire, Southern England. Along with her husband and a steady stream of foster dogs, mainly Guide Dogs for the Blind. Willow is mother to three sons, all grown and flown, and two fast-growing grandsons. Writing, poetry and prose have always been her passion in fact, she wrote her first pieces before she was eight. After two life-changing accidents, Willow started writing in earnest and has found it a lifesaver. You can find Willow at willowdot21.wordpress.com
Author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Willow-Willers/author/B0DZD1TNZX
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/16AwsHVCqk/
Blog at WordPress: https://willowdot21.wordpress.com
Q & A
Darlene: What made the two of you decide to collaborate on this book?
Dan: Once I realized that I needed some poetry for this book, I knew I had to collaborate with someone. Given the nature of the poetry, Willow was my first choice. I reached out to her, and I was thrilled when she agreed.
Willow: Well, Darlene, I was hooked the minute I received Dan’s email. I was so impressed that here in the centre of a political, murder-mystery, thriller, Dan wanted a poet. Dan is definitely a writer I admire, and I really love his other books …that’s what made me decide to say yes!
Darlene: What are the pros and cons of writing a book together?
Dan: It was all pros on my end. In fact, it turned out better than I had imagined. I thought I would be getting poems-on-demand, for lack of a better term, but Willow’s poetry quickly started influencing the plot. It was like having another writer providing constant input. I was surprised by her interest and passion for the story, but that translated into an interesting and passionate character.
Willow: This is more a question for Dan because he has written five previous books solo. I was worried that I might be an impediment to something that Dan had always done so well. But we seemed to work well; we could discuss the plot, exchange ideas and express details. We used Trello and Email, and later on, Box. Personally, I saw no cons, and the pros were many. I learnt a lot about writing, working with Dan.
Darlene: Would you do this again?
Dan: I would, without question. Willow was so easy to work with, and we ended up with a much better book.
Willow: I definitely would, no hesitation. Dan was a pleasure to work with.
Thank you both for answering my questions. I’m pleased to hear that the collaboration went so well. Good luck with this book!
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