Interview with a Ten-Year-Old Author #kidlit #puppylove

Today, I have a special guest, Sadi Belle. Sadi and I (writing under the name of Brenda Sue) collaborate on our children's literature series about a little girl named Sadi and her dog Max. Sadi brought the idea to me last year, and I liked what she had in mind. I hadn't written kidlit before, but she had faith in me. I had faith that with her gigantic imagination, she could create the stories for me to write. We released the first book October 10, 2023. The book is beautifully illustrated by Terri Schultz. sadi and max Have the Best Christmas in the Entire World is an illustrated chapter book for children ages six to ten. Sadi agreed to do an interview for us:

Brenda: Hi Sadi. Tell us, how did you come up with the idea for your first book? 

Sadi: I don’t really know. It just kind of came to me You know I was happy about getting a new puppy and just let my imagination flow. 

Brenda: Max is the special puppy in your book. Tell us two fun facts about the real Max. 

Sadi: Well, first of all he thinks he’s human. He likes to sit on our patio chairs even though we have dog beds outside. And he has this real special toy he loves. It is a little hedgehog that is gray just like him, and he hasn’t destroyed it yet. He definitely thinks that toy is the best toy in the entire world. 

Brenda: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book? 

Sadi: Oh, that’s a hard one…but if I have to pick, I would say how breeds of dogs with bad reputations, especially pittys, aren’t all bad. I like to say it depends on the owner. If, take a golden retriever, is put in a bad situation where a person is mean to him or he is taught to be mean, he will be mean because he’s an animal. Pit bulls, the bully mixed breeds, are good protection dogs. They might look scary because they have muscular necks and big, strong looking jaws. But they are good family dogs too. So the next time you see a dog and you think he might be mean, well, don’t judge a book by its cover. 

Brenda: Can you tell us one thing readers can look forward to in book 2? 

Sadi: Max will be growing definitely as a bigger dog and a better dog. And seeing his relationship with his two sisters, Gabby and Xena. He calls them his sisters. You’ll see how Max and Gabby love each other and they play and go on walks. Gabby seems kind of rough, oh, she is a softy for Max. 

(Brenda aside: Max and Sadi have something special happen to them in book two which will cause some amazing adventures. Maybe Sadi didn’t want to give away her latest great idea, but I had to clue you in to be looking for a twist in this story.) 

Brenda: What do your friends and family think about you publishing a book? 

Sadi: My friends did not believe me at first. They said things like “I’ll believe it when I see it” and “your nana is not an author” and boy did I prove them wrong. They are now really happy for me, and my teacher reads the book to the class every day.

 Brenda: You’re in 5^th grade. What’s your favorite thing and your not so favorite thing about school? 

Sadi: My favorite thing…I mean, does anyone really LOVE school? But I have to say science. We always do fun projects. My least favorite thing—that’s easy—HOMEWORK. 

Brenda: What do you like to do when you aren’t creating stories to write about Sadi and Max? 

Sadi: Uh, I like to play video games like Sims 4 and Roblox and obviously play with Max. I also play with my dolls and enjoy basketball and whether I like it or not, HOMEWORK. I mean, I don’t like it, but it has to get done. 

Brenda: Is there anything you’d like to tell us that I didn’t ask? 

Sadi: Oh, yeah, a little more about my dogs. First up, Gabby. Gabby is related to Xena and they are fourteen years old. Gabby loves to follow my mom around and whines when Mom leaves the house. Xena, like I mentioned, she is fourteen and enjoys eating, sleeping, and swimming. Oh, and barking. Max just turned two only a week ago. He enjoys going on rides and anything that involves water. And anything with me even when I don’t want him involved. He loves to play fetch.

Brenda: Thanks for being my guest today, Sadi. Let's tell everyone where they can find our book.

Sadi: It was fun! Our book is on Amazon, and you can get the print book in color or black and white. It's in eBook too. 

You can find the book here: BRENDA SUE'S AMAZON PAGE

You can find us on BookBub: BOOKBUB

BIOS:

Sadi Belle is a young lady of grade school age with an imagination beyond her years. She lives in Arizona with her dad, mom, and three dogs. When she isn’t playing with her dogs or championing their causes, she enjoys drawing, playing basketball, dolls, and world-building computer games.

When Brenda Sue isn’t writing children’s stories, she is Brenda Whiteside, the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

Never Look Back by J. L. Regen

Please welcome back J. L. Regen to Discover... Muse Monday. 

I would love to start a blog for those wishing to take a second chance on love—be it widowed, divorced, separated, or first time around but with disappointments that I hope have faded. 

NEVER look back on what was unless it is of loving memories. 

Move forward with confidence. 

Send me your stories of hope the second time around. Your posts will inspire others. 

Book Blurb 

Nothing in Margo Simmons’s life comes easy. She can’t claim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left to her until she is gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man of her dreams but anguishes over a loving relationship because he is still emotionally tied to his deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the guardian to a recently orphaned child she had been tutoring.   Margo evolves from an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a woman determined to fulfill the secret desires locked in her heart. My story speaks to anyone who has suffered a loss and had to start over. 

Excerpt:

MARGO SIMMONS GRIPPED THE EDGES of the leather

chair, waiting for details from the family lawyer about her

Uncle Harry’s death. She hoped it would be shorter and less painful than the reading of her father’s will.

An older gentleman extended his hand. “I’m sorry your mother

couldn’t be here.”

Margo looked up from her reflections to acknowledge him.

“Thanks, Mr. Steinberg.”

“You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.”

Margo blinked back tears at memories of good times shared

with Uncle Harry. “Not so young. I’m twenty-three.”

The portly man squeezed himself into a swivel chair and peered

at her over wire-rimmed bifocals. “I’m ancient compared to that

number.”

Margo gripped her knees to steady her nerves. “My mother

wanted to come with me, but they’re downsizing at her dress

shop. She was afraid to leave early. My stepfather is furious because

Uncle Harry didn’t leave him any money.”

Mr. Steinberg saddened at the sorrowful expression on the

young woman’s face. “It pains me to hear Jerry hasn’t changed

his ways. However, since you’re the only one present to hear your

uncle’s will, I’ll get to the point. Harry has left you his Riverside

Drive condominium apartment and the sum of two hundred and

fifty thousand dollars.”

Margo jumped up from the chair and hugged the man. “This is

a miracle. I can’t wait to tell my Mom. She’s wanted me to get out

on my own. Now I can. Though I wish it hadn’t come with the

loss of my uncle. I adored him.” 

Buy links

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Desires-J-L-Regen/dp/099840991X/ 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-desires-j-l-regen/1125516296?ean=2940165390814 

Bio

J.L. Regen’s book was inspired by a real-life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. She lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published four other books and is crafting a historical suspense series set in World War II. 

Contact: joan@joansbookshelf.com

 

 

Fearlessly Facing Paradise by DK Coutant

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Please welcome DK Coutant to Discover... Her Fearless Friday post starts more like a dream, but moving across a body of water so far from home can be a frightful adventure. 

Moving to Hawaii… 

Sounds like a dream, right? And it is. But a lot of people don’t live there more than a year before packing up and returning from whence they came. The reality didn’t live up to their dream. And this has some consequences as mentioned in this article… 

https://www.hawaii-guide.com/moving-to-hawaii

“Malihini (newcomers) to the islands are generally not taken very seriously in their first year because many return to the mainland not long after arrival. In classic Catch-22 fashion, this may affect getting a job, getting a reasonable price on an apartment, and many other things. This isn't meant to discourage you but to keep things realistic when moving to the state.” 

When my husband got a job offer at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and I found at least a temporary position on the faculty, we decided to made the jump. We did our research, and tried to keep our expectations realistic.  We had spectacular encounters but also some obstacles to overcome. 

It was hard being away from family. And a feast or famine situation developed. Most of them lived on the East Coast of the US. That meant flights of 14-16 hours one way. (It would have taken less time if we had lived in Europe) We would have long periods of time when we didn’t see our loved ones, but when they came, they stayed for weeks. And beyond family, everyone we had ever known, decided to visit us those first couple of years. I don’t think we went more than 3 days without visitors for almost a year. We loved our company but it was a struggle to keep up with our new jobs and trying to make new friends. 

Luckily with luscious beaches, tropical jungles, waterfalls and Volcano national park, it was easy to keep guests happy and busy. And who wouldn’t want an excuse to hang out at the beach or hike to a favorite waterfall? 

People sometimes underestimate how homesick people can get for familiar food. As a vegetarian, it was tough to find veggie dishes when we first moved there.  Loco moco, laulau, and Kalua pig were the local favorites, and those dishes were heavy on pork. My husband and most of our guests loved the food, but I learned to eat more fish, poke and green papaya salad, yum. And the longer I lived there, the more veggie options began to appear on menus. 

When collecting information before the move, we found two of the biggest reasons, newcomers didn’t last long were 1) the cost of living, and 2) difficulty making new friends. We prepared for both those challenges. For the first, we had two salaries when we landed, so that helped with the cost of living, but we also made lifestyle changes. Locals didn’t dress up, so we lived in a few sets of casual clothes, flip-flops aka ‘slippers’ were accepted everywhere, and very inexpensive. Locals didn’t compete to see who had the latest technology or fancy car, and we embraced that philosophy. While prices at the grocery could be shockingly high, and shipping costs from online purchases often cost more than the item you considered buying… we made it work and easily lived within our budget. 

The second reason people turn tail and head home: 2) Difficulty making new friends, as described in the moving to Hawaii guide (above). That also required a strategy. 

We benefited from our jobs at the University. We found other newcomers among the faculty, staff and students, and long-timers who had once been newcomers like us. That helped. But, I wanted to break out of the University bubble, so I joined an out-rigger canoe
club or Halau. I started with the University club, but when it closed for the summer, I joined a local Halau. It gave me a chance to absorb the local culture and touch the ocean every day. Fortunately my novice crew was pretty good. To this day, I keep the medals we won in a special carved box. When we qualified for state championships on Kauai it was a huge thrill. For state events they bring out the old Koa canoes which are named and tracked historically.  It was an honor to paddle in one of those boats and I’ll never forget that day.

 

I paddled canoe for many years and branched out into open water swim races. I wrote about both of those experiences in Evil Alice and the Borzoi. I loved reliving the paddling scene with with Cleo, but the open-water race section was fictionalized - thank goodness! The years I spent participating in ocean sports in Hawaii was a beautiful time in my life and I’m overjoyed we made the leap. 

After 16 years though, my parents were getting older and our kids were settling down to start families. It was time to move back to the mainland. Saying goodbye to the island I had come to love, was heart wrenching. But new adventures awaited me. And I hope that will always be the case. 

You can read more about life on the Big Island of Hawaii in my first Cleo Cooper Mystery, Evil Alice and the Borzoi. Available wherever books are sold online.

Paradise is shaken when the body of a young woman is dragged onto a university research vessel during a class outing in Hilo Bay. Cleo Cooper is shaken when she finds her favorite student is on the hook for the murder. Danger lurks on land and sea as Cleo and her friends are enticed to search for the true killer. In between paddling, swimming, and arguing with her boyfriend, Cleo discovers all is not what it seems on the Big Island of Hawaii. But will she figure out the truth before she becomes the next victim?

BUY LINK: Evil Alice and the Borzoi 

DK Coutant was a Social/Cross-Cultural Psychology professor in a previous life. Now, she write mysteries, and forecasts geopolitical events. Her mysteries are much more cheerful than her forecasts. She loves to travel with her husband and a dog. One Old English Sheepdog in particular. WEBSITE

Instagram: @DKCandDog for pictures of my travels and my Old English Sheepdog puppy.

DK Coutant twitter: @dkCoutant

The Mysterious Waukau #recipe

Back by popular demand! My cozy mystery writing partner for The Chocolate Martini Sisters Mysteries has a terrific recipe that appeared during our blog tour for the first book, Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder. I've been asked to share it again, so here it is. Thanks, Joyce!

Years ago, a sibling was kind enough to share with me his recipe for a raspberry pancake called a Waukau. I was intrigued with the unfamiliar name. Waukau? Was the word European or Native American? Curious, I prepared the batter following the simple directions. Once in the oven, a golden pancake arose, its edges crusty and slightly browned and filled the kitchen with a delicious aroma. Spread across the top like scarlet jewels, the berries glistened in their syrupy juices. What an impressive sight. My husband and I sat at the kitchen table, eager to have a bite. How yummy. We loved it. The sweet yet slightly tart berries against the spongy texture of egg gave a bright taste to breakfast. The best part, according to my husband, is the buttery edge. Soon the Waukau pancake became our Sunday morning go-to item.

So where did the name come from? I did a Wikipedia search. Outside the town of Rushford, WI is an unincorporated area called Waukau. According to the census taken in 2000, 178 people live there. Perhaps this is where the pancake evolved.  

At any rate, I’m certain The Chocolate Martini Sisters would have delighted in the unusual dish. Emma, one of the sisters and known for her sweet tooth, would savor the mix of sugary and tart berries. Too bad it wasn’t on the menu at the Dulce Inn where they stayed in Candy, Cigarettes and Murder.

The following recipe is one that I’ve adapted over time in response to my particular taste. It takes only minutes to prepare. Eaten alone or paired with bacon or sausage, it feeds about three or four adults. Give it a chance. You won’t be disappointed.

 Waukau (Berry Pancake)                                   

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

½ tsp vanilla

3 T butter

Pint of raspberries

1/3 cup sugar

Oven heat: 375 degrees. Heat pan with butter in oven. (I use a heavy 10” stainless steel fry pan suitable for the oven)

Whisk flour and salt in medium bowl. Whisk milk, eggs and vanilla in small bowl.

Make a well in center of the flour mixture and add the milk mixture to the well. Whisk until combined. (A fork works well)

When pan is at oven temperature, pour batter into the oan. Scatter the berries over the batter, leaving one inch border around the edges. Sprinkle sugar over the berries, again avoiding the outer 1-inch border. Bake until the edges are puffed and deep golden brown, 40 – 45 minutes. 

Be careful not to burn your fingers when you take it from the oven.

Enjoy!

Joyce 

When Sisters Emma and Nic check in at the storied Dulce Inn for a relaxing, birthday weekend, they don’t expect a madhouse of temperamental artists or getting entangled in two murders. Using their love of all-things mystery, and despite a surly detective who stands in their way, can the Chocolate Martini Sisters tackle the caper, unsnarl the web of secrets, lies, and vengeance to catch the killer?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQ9T7ZBX

 

The Proverbial “Novel in the Drawer” by Topper Jones

MUSE MONDAY

Talk about putting your muse on hold. Topper did just that, but wow did he pen a novel once he started down the path. Welcome my guest Topper Jones with tale of idea to book.

When I tell people I’m a novelist, one of the questions I’m often asked is:

“How long did it take you to write your first book? A couple of months? Six maybe?”

“Longer,” I say. And then I tell them All that Glisters was 45 years in the making.

I got the initial idea for ATG in 1977 after reading Robin Cook’s medical thriller Coma. I thought: If a physician can write a bestseller, why can’t a certified public accountant? We were both professionals. All I needed was a preposterous premise.

Rather than have my protagonist discover [Spoiler Alert] human organs being illegally harvested for the black market as in Coma, I decided to have my main characters discover “something” equally chilling regarding the financial markets—a disturbing “something” that would upend everything. Total economic meltdown and the consequences! Banks failing, riots in the streets, and breadlines stretching from coast to coast.

A few years later, while working as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, I penned the first draft of ATG on my morning commute into downtown Boston. Fortunately, that draft never found a home. The writing was amateurish and unschooled. So, I took classes in creative writing and kept plugging away at craft.

When I retired from my day job some forty years later, I pulled out my abandoned proverbial “novel in the drawer” and with the help of a developmental editor specializing in mysteries, I rewrote the thing from scratch. All except the preposterous premise.

What’s the premise, you say?

You’ll have to read the book to find out. 😉

Further Exploration

For another writer’s perspective on what to do with that novel you may have tucked away in a drawer somewhere, see The Novel in the Drawer by Gayle Abrams (Jul 20, 2018). Click the highlighted link or point your browser to: 

https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/the-novel-in-the-drawer

Book Blurb: 

All That Glisters is an edgy contemporary whodunit involving financial skullduggery, high-level political intrigue, and a behind-the-scenes view of cyber sleuthing. Here’s the pitch:

When the facts don’t add up in his surf buddy’s bizarre death, forensic consultant (and daddy-to-be) Thaddeus Hanlon investigates, volunteering to go undercover to pick up where best friend Rafi Silva left off in a secret probe of the U.S. gold stockpile—every last bullion bar.

Rafi’s spunky fiancée, Bri de la Guerra, has suspicions of her own and soon joins Thad on the hunt for answers. Together, the two amateur sleuths delve deep, stumbling onto a financial a-stock-alypse in the making, triggering a brutal manhunt along the Eastern seaboard meant to silence anyone looking to set the ledger straight.

Book Excerpt: 

Rafi, Bri, and I had been good friends throughout college. Marissa entered the picture a few years later but was no less committed to our bond as besties. There was nothing fake about our relationship. It was solid. Genuine. 

“Okay, Bri,” I said. “You made your point. You feel Rafi had too much to live for, that suicide is implausible.” 

“Impossible. And I can prove it, Thad.” Bri sounded certain like she possessed facts in evidence, that we didn’t have. 

Marissa picked up on Bri’s assuredness, following up with questions of her own. “So, Rafi was murdered? You can prove that?” 

“Not directly.” Bri leaned forward and got as close as she could to Marissa and me. “What I said was that I can prove Rafi did not kill himself.” 

“We’re listening.” Marissa pointed to herself and then at me. 

I made the left-hand turn from the Pacific Coast Highway onto the California Incline, a slanted road that connects PCH with Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. 

Bri started fidgeting with her engagement ring again. “Remember the Dodge Whitney staffer who conference-called us Thursday night with the news?” 

I nodded. Marissa nodded. In my mind, I replayed Jenny Yu’s livestream of the crime scene. Her failed CPR attempt. And then my crazy request for her to rummage through Rafi’s pockets to look for a suicide note or some kind of clue. 

“That night Jenny said something that didn’t quite make sense,” Bri said. 

Book Link: https://topperjones.com/product/all-that-glisters 

Find Topper here:

Website: https://topperjones.com/ 

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-g-jones-a566253/

Why Write a Kid's Book by Brenda Whiteside

Today is the worldwide release of my first children's book. A children's book? Yep. A genre I'd never considered. But then my granddaughter got a rescue puppy who was some sort of bully breed. At eight years old, she's a pretty smart little gal, and she'd heard about the reputation of these dogs. Of course, if her parents didn't buy into it, she didn't either. So she knew all about her puppy. And she knows I write books...

The birth of a children's chapter book...

One morning, on the way into town to get donuts, Sadi expounded to me about how special her new puppy was, a blue nose Pit Bull, although he might be a blue Staffy. She also related her knowledge of the bad rap these dogs receive and why. An idea popped, and she was soon bouncing on her seat while chewing her chocolate iced donut. We could write a book about Max and all his wonderful characteristics. 

As the months marched on, the idea took shape, expanding and twisting with imaginative tales. This is the first of those stories. I have no idea how many there will be—that depends on Sadi. She’s growing up, evolving, and although her passionate love for dogs will never change, the amount of time she’ll spend with Nana weaving stories might. We’ll see. 

I learned a great deal about pit bulls, which by the way isn't an actual breed of dog but more a description of how certain dogs look. Their history is fascinating. Sadi would like me to tell everyone to do your research. These are two sites you might want to check:

World Animal Foundation:

Nanny Dogs: Debunking Myths In The Debate About Pit Bulls https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/nanny-dog/

American Kennel Club:

https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier/

BLURB:

Eight-year-old Sadi wants to find a puppy under the Christmas tree this year. She loves her two old dogs, but they don’t run and play anymore. How can she convince her parents she’s old enough to care for her own doggy? When they surprise her with a trip to the rescue home of Talia Wagger, it’s puppy love at first sight. She gets the best present in the entire world—Max. 

Max wants to be one of the lucky puppies who gets adopted. He cuddles up to his sister in the playpen to stay warm in the cold garage waiting for the humans to visit and hopefully choose him. When he sees the little human, he knows his wish has come true for the best home in the entire world—with Sadi. 

A car ride, missing his sister, meeting Sadi’s friends, learning what no means, and finding a way to get along with the two old dogs are only some of the adventures this puppy has once he’s in his new home. But when he listens to Mom, who laughs all the time, and Dad, who likes to tease, and his little human Sadi, who gives him hugs and kisses, he understands—he’s the luckiest puppy in the entire world.

sadi and max Have the Best Christmas in the Entire World

BUY LINK Black and White Illustrated Edition

BUY LINK Full Color Illustrated Edition

Honor and Recognition by Randy Overbeck

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome back Randy Overbeck to Muse Monday on Discover... He has some fascination information on his latest novel. Enjoy!

Cruel Lesson is an atmospheric, amateur sleuth mystery, the first in a new series set in schools called “Lessons in Peril.” The story involves a rogue, hallucinogenic drug being pushed in a middle school and, after it results in the death of four students, the rush to stop the drug pusher before more children die. The narrative takes place in a small Midwest town during October, 1994. All of these literary choices—the year at the height of the “Just Say No” Anti-Drug campaign and right in the middle of time for the D.A.R.E. program, the anonymous Midwest setting and the school as the battle ground—are deliberate and carefully chosen.

 This novel is a work of honor and recognition as well as a work of art. As a long-time educator, I saw the ravages of student drug abuse and addiction up close. Over more than three decades as a teacher and school leader, I witnessed kids’ lives shattered and ended from their abuse of drugs, both legal and illegal. I crafted this story—while completely fictional and about an imaginary drug—as an homage to those educators who battle this very real problem everyday in our schools. Though set in the recent past, the scourge of student drug abuse today is frighteningly similar to my tale, only with a new generation and new drugs. In addition to being a pulse-pounding thriller, I wanted the narrative to honor the children we’ve lost to drugs in the almost thirty years as well as those educators committed to doing everything they can to rescue kids at risk. 

I don’t want to give the wrong impression. This novel is hardly didactic. According to early reviews, Cruel Lessons is “Brilliant from start to finish…Impressive storytelling left me with a racing heart and shivers. One of the best thrillers I’ve ever read.” ★★★★★+++—N.N. Light’s Bookheaven. ReaderViews called the novel “a thrilling murder mystery…with an immersive plot, steady pace and stellar character development…one of the best mysteries of 2023.” ★★★★★ Literary Titan wrote “Cruel Lessons is “masterfully written…Each new revelation adds to the suspense and keeps the reader on edge, eagerly anticipating what further secrets the story holds…a gripping crime thriller and amateur sleuth mystery.” 

Wow! I am thrilled and humbled by these incredible reviews. Still, I hope the message about saving children will come through loud and clear. Check out Cruel Lessons yourself and let me know what you think.

EXCERPT: 

From the bend, the road descended quickly and Amanda felt the car picking up speed as gravity and its powerful engine propelled it downhill. As she approached the next turn, she realized she was coming in a little too fast. She slid her foot to the brake. Her concentration on steering the twisting road ahead, at first it didn’t register. She dared to take her gaze off the road and look down at her feet before she understood. When her right foot depressed the brake, the pedal glided all the way to the floor. No friction. She pulled her foot back and slammed on the brake again. The pedal slid all the way down. Unbelieving, she pumped it, again and again. 

There was nothing there.

She jerked her eyes back. The hairpin turn hurtled at her. On instinct, she kept jamming on the pedal. It was supposed to work. She turned the wheel wildly. The big car shuddered as it tried to negotiate the turn. The two rear wheels slipped off the pavement, spinning in space. With the front wheel drive, the front two tires managed enough traction to catch. The car veered around the curve and headed down the next straight incline. The heavy vehicle rolled faster again as gravity pulled it down the hill.

Amanda’s mind reeled. What was she supposed to do?

Struggling desperately to force her mind to think, Amanda tried to consider her options. It was all happening too quickly. The next treacherous turn came at her fast. She had no way to slow down. White knuckles gripped the steering wheel.

The bend ahead showed a hard curve to the right, not quite as tight as the last one, but steeper. And she felt the car accelerating, though she hadn’t touched the gas pedal. Right before the car hit the curve, Amanda spun the steering wheel. The car lurched around the bend. The driver side of the car lifted up. Halfway through the long bend, Amanda watched the hood tilt in the turn until it was almost vertical. No seat belt on, she was catapulted down the leather seat, crashing into the passenger door. 

“Hell!” she cried, reaching to grab her bruised shoulder.

She froze as the two wheels still on the ground shuddered in the gravel, sliding off the small road. Slammed against the side door, she heard the tall weeds and low branches whip against the body. But the car didn’t slow. Blood streamed from a gash on her forehead. For an instant she lay there stretched across the passenger door, holding her breath.

Then she sensed the car teetering. The front tire bumped something hard. Amanda stared, unbelieving, as the car began to flip. As the Regal made the first revolution, she screamed.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a best-selling author of the award-winning series, The Haunted Shores Mysteries, the three entries earning such national awards as the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Mystery of the Year from ReaderViews, and Best Book from Chanticleer. He hosts a new podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual backstories of famous authors, directors and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night”  and “A Few Favorite Haunts” with audiences all over the country. Dr. Overbeck is also an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com .

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

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

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1658371317&sr=8-1 

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

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135 

Buy Links:

https://books2read.com/u/4Ne56z