Fearless or Not? A Fearless Friday post by Randy Overbeck

FEARLESS FRIDAY

We are lucky to have Randy Overbeck back on Discover... He's not sure he's fearless, but I'll give him that description when it comes to leaping into writing...and succeeding. Enjoy his post!

I’m not sure I’ve ever been fearless.

Fearful, yes, brave, probably, foolhardy, most likely, but fearless?

At this point in my life, I have a considerable amount of lived experience and somewhere along those years, I must have shown courage—though at the time, it hardly felt like it. I served children for forty years as a teacher, a college prof and a school leader and during that time pushed through quite a number of challenges including stepping between very angry teen girls fighting, facing down a student with a gun and managing bomb threats. But I don’t know if I’d describe my actions as fearless.

In analyzing these years, I believe I possibly approached “fearless” twice. In my position of assistant superintendent—a role I held for more than 20 years—I was, for lack a better term, second banana. I was not the ultimate decision maker, but the person charged with providing final input and raising concerns. Most of these years this relationship was a harmonious one and my counsel was welcomed and sought. On two occasions, it was clearly not. I raised questions the superintendent and the board did not want to face—“Why would we do budget cuts at the expense of the students with the greatest need?” and “What you’re planning to do is not ethical and may not be legal.” I recognized I was treading in dangerous water and, as the saying goes, “speaking truth to power.” Both times I paid the price and both times my objections cost me my position. Was this fearless or foolhardy? Looking back, I’m still not sure but I know I did the right thing.

After I retired from education, I jumped into the world of writing and publishing and haveenjoyed a modicum of success. With six published novels, two bestsellers, more than a dozen national awards, hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and book sales of more than 12,000, I count myself fortunate and blessed.

And then I messed with success. The previous six titles all reside in the mystery and thriller genre, a genre I’ve become quite comfortable with. I’ve developed characters readers can relate to and appreciate, even cheering for them—from Darrell, the OCD history teacher haunted by ghosts to Stacy, the fourth grade teacher who would do anything for her students even get framed to Erin, Darrell’s rock steady wife and confidant. Why would I abandon all this?

And yet I did. My newest novel, ABIGAIL TRENCH, a Novel of Washington’s Spy Ring, was released just this week, published and distributed by Diversion Books and Simon & Schuster and it is quite a departure from my earlier work. It is a historical suspense about the Revolutionary War and the key role the Culper Ring—Washington’s personal spy ring—had in winning the war. Though  it has been extensively researched so readers will feel like they are walking the streets of 1776 New York, ABIGAIL TRENCH is a work of fiction. And, like my other works, my hero is again a dedicated teacher, well in 1770’s a tutor.

Will my readers make the jump with me to historical fiction? I’m not sure but I’m certain, if they do, they will like what they find. They will have a chance to meet famous figures from the Revolutionary War like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Nathan Hale and even Benedict Arnold and learn what they were really like. More important, readers will experience the dangers and horrors, the tragedies and triumphs of our fight for independence through the eyes of an everyday woman.

The early reviews have been astounding and I can’t wait to see what my readers think. ABIGAIL TRENCH, a Novel of Washington’s Spy Ring is available everywhere you buy books in both print and ebook. The audio version is coming soon.

“With an eye for remarkable detail clearly anchored in deep historical research, master storyteller Randy Overbeck delivers a rousing, top-notch tale of courage amid our nation’s struggle for independence.”—William Kent Kreuger, author of the Edgar award winner This Tender Land and the NYT bestselling Cork O’Connor series

“ABIGAIL TRENCH is an accessible, vivid piece of historical fiction that blends Revolutionary War intrigue with a personal story of survival and self-invention. What I liked most…was the book’s sense that history is lived at street level by people who are frightened, resourceful, wounded, stubborn, and often underestimated. It’s a story with grit, momentum, and real affection for the people history usually leaves at the edges.★★★★★--Literary Titan GOLD AWARD Winner 

Purchase Link : https://books2read.com/Abigail-Trent

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, bestselling author, popular podcaster and speaker in much demand. After serving children for almost four decades as teacher, college prof and school leader, he used those experiences and skills to craft captivating mysteries, thrillers and historical suspense. His novels have earned more than a dozen national awards including Thriller of the Year, Best Book Award, the Gold Award and Mystery of the Year and have garnered hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and BookBub.

His newest novel, ABIGAIL TRENCH, is a historical suspense about the Revolutionary War, released June, 2026 by Diversion Books and distributed by Simon and Schuster.

Dr. Overbeck is also the host of the popular podcast, Great Stories about Great Storytellers, which reveals the little known backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and ranks among the top 50% of all podcasts in the US. When he is not writing or podcasting, he is in much demand as a speaker, sharing informative and entertaining programs to more than 300 groups all over the country.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/randy-overbeck-41965446

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck

Love, Mystery, Danger

It's The MacKenzie Chronicles month. In between moving, having Mom move into our new place, doc appointments, and being the summer taxi for my granddaughter I'm teasing up a new story for the series. Finding the time to get it onto the page is the kicker. In the meantime, if you haven't read the series, here is a good place to check it out: N. N. Light's Book Heaven

SECRETS OF THE RAVINE 

Lies can haunt, but the truth will kill. 

Magpie MacKenzie doesn’t believe in coincidence. But when a ringer for her long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are unearthed, she’s convinced the universe is sending her a message. Fearing her father will be accused of the crime, Magpie will do whatever it takes to find the truth. Even risk her heart on this familiar stranger who may hold critical clues to the unsolved mystery. 

While visiting purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona, lawyer Zack Peartree is instantly drawn to the free-wheeling shopkeeper. His attraction propels him on a collision course between past and present, where digging up secrets could prove fatal. 

Using decades-old clues and Zack’s déjà vu moments, the couple embark on a treacherous race to prove her father’s innocence before Magpie becomes the next victim. Can they save her from a murderous fate, or will love be the final casualty? 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GPRFJBT/

 

 

MYSTERY ON SPIRIT MOUNTAIN 

The past never sleeps, and the truth never dies.  

Only Harlan MacKenzie can sense the troubled history of the Big Purple House. When he's hired to restore the historical mansion, he doesn't foresee the insidious secrets—secrets that entangle his family in deceit and murder.  

Phaedra is selling the house that has been in her family for decades. As her friends-to-lovers relationship with Harlan escalates, she’s forced to choose between her way of life or his, even though she risks losing him forever.  

After a stranger comes to town, weaving her web of deception, hell-bent on correcting an old grievance connected to the house, dark revelations of the past implode the present. Harlan and Phaedra are plunged into a dangerous mystery, risking their love, their future, and their lives. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CP3BXVG/

 

 

CURSE OF WOLF FALLS 

Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy.  

Elidor MacKenzie has a gift she can't return—the ability to absorb the joy, pain, and suffering of others. She's spent her life running from what she considers her curse. Now, her best friend is dead, and she alone holds the key to an archaeological discovery that could destroy a culture. With newfound inner peace, Elidor has returned home to make amends and guard the secret revelation. But greed-driven scavengers have followed her. Once again, the energies of Joshua will stir the hurricane, with her at the deadly center. 

 Jules never got over Elidor. Twenty years and a famous journalism career later, he's back in Joshua—and so is his first love. If his heart can stand the torture, he'll risk reviving their relationship. But saving Elidor from herself and the secret she won't give up may be the death of them both.  

With Jules by her side, Elidor is determined to outrun the scavengers, guard the secret, and renew their love. But fate is coming after her, and there's nowhere the couple can hide. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B663MY1D

Wicked Without Chaos: The Mind of a Conqueror by Kayelle Allen

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Villains are wicked of course, but a my guest, Kayelle Allen, has a villain with more depth than most. Enjoy her Wicked Wednesday post! 

Pietas, known as the Bringer of Chaos, doesn’t create chaos by mistake. He creates it on purpose.

When we talk about chaotic villains, we often mean unpredictable. Reckless. Destructive for the sake of it.

Pietas is none of those things.

That’s what makes him dangerous.

He doesn’t lash out. He doesn’t lose control. He doesn’t act without purpose. Every decision is measured. Every action has intent. He doesn’t need permission to take control of a situation—he simply does.

There’s a kind of wickedness that comes from excess. And then there’s the kind that comes from certainty.

Pietas knows exactly who he is.

He was born into power, raised to command, and forged in a system where loyalty wasn’t optional—it was enforced. Structure defined everything. Authority wasn’t questioned because it didn’t need to be.

Until it was gone.

Exiled to a world where none of those structures exist, Pietas doesn’t lose power.

He loses the safeguards that kept it contained.

On this world, there are no institutions to enforce loyalty. No systems to define right from wrong. No one to step in when a decision goes too far.

And Pietas still believes he’s right.

That’s the kind of wickedness that doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t roar or burn or destroy everything in sight.

It simply… acts.

And expects the world to adjust.

But power without structure isn’t stability. It’s pressure. And pressure reveals.

Especially when he’s forced into an alliance with a person who has every reason not to trust him.

Because Pietas doesn’t see himself as the villain.

He sees himself as necessary.

And that’s where things get complicated.

Watch Your Six, the last book in the Bringer of Chaos series, releases this August.

If you’d like to see how that kind of power behaves when the rules disappear, you can start the series here, with Lights Out. If you’re already familiar with the story, you can access a sample of Watch Your Six here.

Kayelle Allen is a worldbuilder who writes with a scalpel, a strategist of tenderness, and who understands that the most dangerous thing in any universe isn't power—it's attachment. To sum it up: “Epic scale. Microscopic pain. Absolutely intentional.”

Claim your immortality and enter the Empire https://kayelleallen.com/immortality
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kayelleallenbooks
Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/kayelleallen.bsky.social

Redford Falls By Darlene Fredette : Romantic Small-Town Magic

Romance in a Small Town: The Charm and the Challenge 

Small‑town romance has a magic all its own. There’s something irresistible about a place where everyone knows your name, your history, and sometimes even your business. In Redford Falls, that closeness creates the perfect blend of charm, tension, and heart. The charm comes from the community, the familiar faces, the shared traditions, and the sense of belonging that wraps around every story. But that same closeness can stir up trouble, too. Secrets don’t stay hidden for long. Old flames cross paths. And one unexpected moment can ripple through the whole town before lunchtime.

 

That’s what makes writing romance in a small town so much fun. The setting naturally pushes characters together, challenges them, and gives them a place to grow. Every interaction matters. Every choice echoes. Redford Falls thrives on that balance, the sweetness, the complications, the laughter, and the heart. And that’s exactly why I keep returning to it.

A Redford Falls Story

Nestled in the heart of Redford Falls is a charming small town that captures the warmth of close-knit community life, where friendly faces greet you on Main Street and every shop holds a story. Redford Falls offers the perfect setting for heartwarming moments against a bustling ski resort, quaint local businesses, and the town’s picturesque park, complete with winding trails and cascading waterfalls. Whether it’s family bonds that grow stronger, friendships that withstand the test of time, twists that intrigue, or love that blooms in the most unexpected ways, this series celebrates the beauty of connection in a place where everyone feels at home. 

One Sweet Christmas

More than a few pieces of chocolate are essential to fill this Scrooge’s heart with Christmas cheer.

Jackson Frost wanted to spend Christmas on a beach, instead, he’s home in snowy Redford Falls dressed in a Santa suit. Will the temptation of delectable chocolate and Candice Cane lure him to stay? 

Winter’s Kiss

Her high heels flattened the snow, and his defences didn’t stand a chance.

As chilly glares between Danielle Lerato and Andrew Bailey thaw into cozy glances, Danielle suspects the town’s snowy landscape is warming more than her toes. Maybe this snowy wonderland isn’t a detour. Maybe it’s destiny. 

Broken Branches

Some branches break, but where hearts once shattered, love dares to bloom again.

Years ago, a devastating family tragedy forced Maripier Nadeau to leave Redford Falls, leaving Tyler Kringle to pick up the pieces of their broken relationship. Now she’s returned, reigniting memories and emotions Tyler thought he had buried. 

Secret Recipe

In the heat of the kitchen, one woman’s secret recipe blends danger, deception, and desire.

Jess Robinson is desperate for a fresh start, but an unexpected call drags her back into the dangerous world she thought she’d escaped. As drama simmers, Jess and Travis Cooper are caught in a game where Jess must execute the perfect con. 

Legacy Lies Loyalty

When loyalty is tested, and lies run deep, the legacy they inherit could cost them everything.

A string of mysterious accidents pulls Jordan McKenzie into a web of danger. When long-buried secrets emerge, and danger looms, Jordan and Logan Crane must decide what—and who—is worth fighting for.

Derailed Hearts

With a matchmaking grandmother and a mythical rabbit at work, two hearts on a cross‑country train are destined to collide. 

A cross-Canada train trip for Ethan Marley and his young daughter seems like the perfect fresh start—until Jenn Martini, a captivating woman on board, steals his breath. But Ethan and Jenn must decide whether the truth will shatter their fragile new beginning…or save their future. 

Trickster

Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?

Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, Eric Martini masks his heart. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade Parsons, will Eric and Jade find the courage to trust the mythical and smoky signs before their paths are severed forever? 

Amazon Book Series Page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMPGZ5ZQ?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin 

YouTube Series Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/CYm07_X5fj0

 

Author Bio:

Darlene Fredette is a multi-published author of contemporary women’s fiction that celebrates resilience, romance, and the small-town magic woven into ordinary days. Step inside her world for heartfelt stories, character-driven moments, a touch of charm, wit, twists, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Residing on Canada’s scenic Atlantic Coast, where summers are too short and winters too long, she finds inspiration from family, nature, and the quiet moments that ignite the imagination, and enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and two large dogs. 

Social Media

Website: http://www.darlenefredette.com/

Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenefredette1/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/darlenefredette.bsky.social

Revisiting My First Book Written

The first book I wrote was turned down by numerous agents and a couple of publishers. I stuck it away and went on to write and publish other books. At some point, I pulled it out from the dust bunnies and rewrote it. And published! It's not like any of my other books and for the most part languishes at Amazon, hardly noticed. But I'd like to spotlight Post-War Dreams today.

I grew up listening to my mom recount memories of growing up in the 1940s. I fell in love with the era and with the love story between my mom and dad. Although I write romantic suspense for the most part, my historical romance, Post-War Dreams, is the book of my heart.

 

I’m sharing two short excerpts today.

 

ONE

Claire shook her hair back and lifted tresses the color of a summer sunset from her neck with a flourish. “I’d definitely like to pursue a career in the movies.” The word theatrical came to mind while her smile dazzled him. “This contest should be a lot of fun.” She stared directly into his eyes, the dark brown of hers simmered. “Do you go to the movies?” 

“Now and then.” 

She dipped her chin and gave him a beguiling upwards glance. “I bet you’re a Rita Hayworth man.” When he only shrugged, she continued, surprising him with her flirtatious tone. “Come on, now. We all have our favorites.” 

“Yeah, she’s…okay.” The words he could use for the sexy, red-haired actress he’d leave unspoken to the young Claire. “Do you dance and act in addition to singing?” 

Teenage Mom dancing with her brother

“I will.” She nodded, quite serious. “I think it’s best to be well-rounded, if you’re going to have a chance in Hollywood. I don’t exactly have any credits to my name yet, still, I’m pretty sure I could act, if given the chance. As far as dancing, yes, a few lessons will be in order, eventually.” 

“So, it’ll be off to Hollywood for you after graduation?” Unusually confident for a high school girl, he could imagine her hopping on a bus to follow her ambitions. Pity. “Not interested in hanging around Phoenix to raise a family?” 

“Oh goodness, lots of time.” Once again, she pushed the hair from her silky-smooth neck with a flip of her fingers. “Following your heart should be first.” 

And who will steal your lovely heart, lovely Claire? 

 

TWO

“But…but you can’t love Susan.” My voice, soft as a whisper, didn’t betray the rising fear boiling up from the pit of my stomach. 

He gripped my arms with emphasis. “No, I don’t.” 

My stomach calmed a bit, the fear at a simmer. “Does she love you?” I had to convince him his thinking had clearly gotten off course. 

“No. I mean I don’t think so.” 

“Is she demanding you love her?” Love was everything. Without love, this wasn’t our problem. 

“No…”  

His hesitation cheered me on. My panic churned barely below the surface as I led him down the path of reason. “Well, then, Benjamin, why—” 

“Claire, she’s pregnant. I’ll have to marry her.” 

“Marry?” I choked on the word. Fear and panic erupted. “Oh, God, no. Benjamin!” The tears toppled and flooded my cheeks. “This is her problem.” 

“You know it isn’t, Claire.” His words were thick and strained. “I have to take responsibility.” 

“No, Benjamin, no!” I slapped my palms to his chest as if I could stop this madness with a physical barrier. “No, you don’t.” 

He encircled my waist, gently caressed, but held me firm until my tantrum played out.

I folded into his chest, but my anger still had some steam. I balled one hand into a fist and hit his chest. “Why? Why do you always have to do the right thing? Why?” I swiped away tears so I could see his reaction when I glared into his face.

His chest heaved as he stared into my hostility with calmness. “You wouldn’t love me if I didn’t.”

BUY LINKS:

https://www.amazon.com/Post-War-Dreams-Brenda-Whiteside-ebook/dp/B015AO6B1M

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/post-war-dreams-brenda-whiteside/1122626545?ean=2940151181877

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Brenda_Whiteside_Post_War_Dreams?id=oW-5CgAAQBAJ

Life's Adventures: Changing Latitude and Attitude

I'm compelled to do a personal update here when I see how long I've gone without blogging. Spring has sprung (as a dear uncle used to say) with new beginnings for sure.

Changing Latitude: FDW and I made a leap to split our time between Tonto Basin (fishing and the RV life) and being landlocked in an apartment in Scottsdale. The move was more complicated than I imagined it would be. If the paperwork didn't get me down, the dividing household items between two places had my head spinning. 

When we sold the farm in 2016 within three days of listing, we were smacked with not knowing where to go next. So we retreated to the Lazy JR Ranch and the RV life. Suited FDW to a T so he could rise and go fishing every morning if he wanted. I can write anywhere, so there we stayed. But we grew somewhat disenchanted after all of these years. And we wanted to be closer to family, so this is our solution...half the year in Scottsdale and half the year in Tonto Basin.

Of course, there are other family matters that have been brewing...that's the way life is. I've barely written any words since December because of all the hullabaloo. We're still getting settled in, which means those two books I'm working on are lingering, waiting for my attention.

Another ingredient in the pot is moving my 95-year-old mom in with us. She'll be spending our Scottsdale months here. When we head back to Tonto Basin, she'll be with my brother in the valley. 

Changing Attitude and more author news: I've discontinued my Brenda's Newsletter Group. I hope any of you who were part of the newsletter readers will come on over to Facebook and join me there for news, fun, and an occasional giveaway. My author page needs love. Facebook shut me down for crimes not committed two years ago. I'm building the page again. That's where I do the giveaways and more author news than on my personal page. But you are welcome to be part of both:

FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/brenda.whiteside.58/ 

or Personal Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571687885846

Other places to find Brenda Whiteside author:

Webpage: https://www.brendawhiteside.com

X: https://x.com/brendawhitesid2

She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-whiteside

Stay tuned. More blogs to come!

Reading and Reviews (Culiner, Bennett, Kelly)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Words for Patty Jo by Jill Arlene Culiner 

A passion for books creates a lasting bond between teenage Patty Jo and David, but small-town prejudice and social differences doom their romance.

After a summer of reading and falling in love, David heads for university, foreign adventure, and a dazzling career; Patty Jo marries slick, over-confident Don Ried.

Yet plans can go horribly wrong. The victim of her violent husband, Patty Jo abandons her home and children to live on the streets of Toronto. David, a high-ranking executive in Paris, is dismayed by the superficiality of corporate success.

Forty years later, Patty Jo and David meet again. Both have defied society; both have fulfilled their dreams. And what if first love was the right one after all, and destiny has the last word? 

My Review

Ms. Culiner has succeeded in writing another story that will draw you in and keep you reading. Only this time, she had me so involved, I could swear I was reading a memoir. That doesn’t even quite say it. The depth of the two characters’ points of view came through emotionally real. Patty Jo is a complicated young woman. David is a man we’d all love to know. How their lives intersect, diverge, and come back together is such a smooth transition of storytelling, the reader feels as if they are reading two books at the same time. Class differences, spousal abuse, dreams won and lost…are all woven with an expertise of wordsmithing. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GCV4D86P/

 

 

Widowhood: The Next Chapter: I'm Still Here - Now What? by Bobbie Bennett 

The personal narrative begins in the dark world of organized crime, where the author’s first husband brings a sense of danger into their lives. Dinner guests are asked to check their firearms at the door. She then stepped into an unexpected relationship with a younger man whose charm proved timeless, even if his ID was still getting doublechecked.

Through three marriages, two funerals, and one divorce, she discovers that love comes in the most unexpected forms, including a methodical engineer who fell head-over-heels for a free-spirited former go-go dancer.

This raw, candid memoir transforms heartbreak into hope, offering both laughter and practical wisdom for anyone rebuilding after loss. But make no mistake, these aren’t your typical fresh starts. Bobbie has rebooted her life from places most people wouldn’t dare enter, making her perspective not just credible, but hard-earned. More than a love story, it’s a survival guide for life’s most unpredictable chapters. She believes if you can’t be a good example, you might as well be a colorful one. Her stories offer humor, heart, and the kind of wisdom you only earn the hard way. 

My Review

On one level, this is the extraordinary memoir of a woman who has led and is living an adventurous, full life. On another level, this is a “how to” book with advice on dealing with heartbreak, surprises you’d rather not face, and rebuilding a life. 

https://www.amazon.com/Widowhood-Next-Chapter-Still-Here/dp/B0FLVTB7FM 

 

 

JIMI: Journey of a Wounded Warrior as told to Kathleen Kelly 

Jimi’s story invites you to join him on a healing journey of hope and courage. The Cherokee tribe, as seen through his youthful eyes, celebrates the People's coexistence with creation in traditional ceremonies and vibrant rituals, sharing wisdom passed down from generation to generation. He brings to light the challenges of living with polio in the 1950s and takes you with him through the formative years after his mother died tragically. He is thrown into the white man’s world, where he spends the rest of his childhood in Ohio orphanages. From there, he will take you along the road of a musician, magician, Vietnam veteran, and one man’s inspirational search for meaning. 

My Review

What an extraordinary life Jimi has led. I found it particularly interesting because of his Cherokee upbringing early on. My grandmother was Choctaw. Racism, abandonment, war, and so many other challenges faced him. But there are triumphs and adventures to keep you turning the pages. Ms. Kelly has done an excellent job of bringing this man’s story to life. 

https://us.amazon.com/JIMI-Journey-Wounded-Warrior-Kathleen/dp/B0GNZ8X1L1