WICKED WEDNESDAY

Join me in welcoming Doug McPheters to Discover... He has some wicked things going on in his novels for Wicked Wednesday.

Novels by Doug McPheters (@McPheters1) involve exciting and unexpected action but no cupcakes or unicorns.

 

Doug’s first thriller, “Goshawk,” is about a Manhattan lawyer who started a loan-sharking operation in what was left of the Soviet Union after the Berlin Wall came down. The fund became so successful that the Iraqis tried to steal it to get out from under biting international sanctions. Iraqi assailants killed his Finnish girlfriend and others kidnapped his two sons. The drama played out in the Manhattan courts. 

In his next novel, “Stepping on Fingers,” Lea Holderness, a young teacher in far Northern New York was sent to a penal colony on a remote island in the Chukchi Sea, north of Russia, by an American religious court for speaking out against intrusive new Federal laws. The Movement, which fights attemptsof the Federal government to infringe on basic freedoms, helped her escape from the prison colony. Upon her return to America, Lea rescued her young daughter from Federal clutches. In return, she joined the Movement’s drive to stifle the Federal government’s unpopular plans to erase many Constitutional rights, often in dangerous ways. 

Doug’s third novel, “Criminal Opera (a work still in process),” is about applying the punishments of the Nuremberg trials to those who organized and managed the phony pandemic they called Covid, and gained enormous wealth from those heinous activities. The Nűremberg Codex demands that no one be given medical treatments without fully informed consent and no coercion of any kind. As “Criminal Opera” demonstrates, and important evildoers have admitted, the ‘vaccines’ were neither safe nor effective, and demands such as ‘keep 6 feet apart’ and ‘no groups of more than 10 people’ were complete fabrications with no scientific basis.  Now that fewer and fewer people are watching the MockingBird Media, more truth is seeping out to people too lazy to make their own decisions. And more patriots are starting to take matters into their own hands.

 

Doug McPheters is a native of the Northeast but lives in Arizona where he plays tuba in the Central Arizona Concert Band. He served in the US Atlantic Submarine Force where he was Chief Engineer of Tigrone (AGSS-419) and was qualified as Officer of the Deck, both surfaced and submerged. 

You can find out more about Doug’s books, both present and in process, by visiting www.mcphetersbooks.com or by message at rdouglasmcpheters@gmail.com or @mcpheters1 on X."

Dance, Dance, and Write by Chelsey M. Ortega

MUSE MONDAY

I love to dance, but I don't have the talent my guest, Chelsey M. Ortega, has. Enjoy her delightful post today on Discover... for Muse Monday.

Nothing opened up the U.S. to ballroom dance like “Dancing with the Stars”. But in my corner of the world, Utah County, ballroom had been popular years before; and popular at Brigham Young University decades before. And with such a long history, it’s not surprising that a handful of DWTS pros every season hail from Utah County; including one of the judges and co-hosts. 

My mom danced through the BYU ballroom program in the ‘80s, and my dad provided the sound system for a local high school’s ballroom concerts in the ‘90s and early 2000s. So, with that as my background, I wanted to be a ballroom dancer. 

My mom signed me up for my first class when I was eleven. My teacher was a lady in our neighborhood who had refurbished her garage into a small dance studio. After a year with her I went on to another studio owned by my dad’s friends. After a year there, I entered secondary school, where ballroom classes and performance teams were offered as elective classes. I spent 7th-12th grade taking technique classes through my school and performing and competing on the school teams. I danced for two years in college, and then chose to focus on starting my family and finishing my academic degree. 

I was good enough to make the teams, but I wasn’t the best dancer on the team. Trying to keep up with
the girls who did have natural raw talent taught me hard work and dedication. Most of my time I started out as an alternate and worked my way onto the team and competition routines. And my Senior year in high school, I made all three competition routines the first time, without needing to start as an alternate. It felt good to earn those spots; and the years of never giving up have bled over into my writing career as I took rejection after rejection, and worked on my writing craft before The Wild Rose Press said yes.  

Today, a little over ten years after I stopped dancing, ballroom dance is still something that I cherish. I cheer on teammates who turned dance into their career, religiously watch DWTS, and dance in my kitchen while I’m cooking and cleaning. Latin is my favorite style: Cha Cha, Samba, Rhumba, Paso Doble, and Jive. With my very favorite Latin dance being the Samba. I discovered my Senior year that I also had a talent for American Smooth: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz; with Viennese Waltz being my favorite -though based on the judges scores, Waltz was my best dance of the four. 

Since dance is no longer a huge part of my current life, I have chosen to live vicariously through my fictional characters. When I was creating Annamaria’s social life, I put her on her high school dance team. But since I placed her in a tiny fictional town in Wyoming, the chances of it being realistic for a ballroom team to be at her high school were slim; so she is on a dance company which covers jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. Later on in the story, Annamaria meets two professional ballroom dancers… who are also vampires. The three become good friends, and Annamaria joins their online dancing channel. 

These scenes were some of my favorites to write. I chose the type of dance, picked a song with lyrics that matched the planned message, and choreographed it in my mind. Then, I had to sit down and write it in a way that the reader would be able to see what I saw. And I would like to share with you the Viennese Waltz: 

The first routine was a Viennese waltz. They told the story of a man and woman meeting and falling in love. Tyler and Annamaria portrayed a couple starting off as shy, then blossom into comfortable and loving. The entire process had been so fun, like swaying through clouds. 

The TV showed the preview screenshot of Annamaria with her right arm around Tyler’s neck, the left trailing behind her with her left foot popped. Tyler’s right arm was around her waist, his left trailing behind him. Both leaned away from each other in a frozen twirl. 

The music started, and Annamaria danced into view. Tyler danced in from the opposite direction and the duet began. They spun and swayed, Annamaria’s light blue dress swirling around her, the rhinestones catching the light. For the last verse of the song, Annamaria completed a seamless onstage costume change by using magic to replace her blue dress to a flowing white gown. Their human audience would think it was just superb editing. 

BONDWITCH

Eighteen-year-old Annamaria Lyons has never left her small hometown of Harrison, Wyoming. She has lived with her aunt, Trinity, since her parents died when she was two years old. Trinity has been a wonderful guardian with one exception—she won’t allow Annamaria out of the house after sunset. That is, until the night of senior prom. Annamaria's long-lost sister arrives, bringing with her a world full of hidden family secrets and the supernatural. 

Forced to flee her childhood home without a proper goodbye to her human life and first love, Annamaria immerses herself in the magical world. New friends and a new suitor challenge her original dreams for the future, and when she finds herself caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict, Annamaria must decide to rise above it or give in to the darkness. 

Bondwitch can be purchased here:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Bondwitch-Chelsey-M-Ortega-ebook/dp/B0CF6H8NYC?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143894193?ean=9781509251940

Bio:

Chelsey M. Ortega is a teacher by day and award-winning author by night. History is her first love, and any story involving magic and romance, her second love. She especially loves witches and is still awaiting her acceptance letter to a well-known school. Chelsey received her Bachelor's in History Teaching from Brigham Young University. In addition to writing, Chelsey teaches high school U.S. History and ELD. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and two cats. Follow Chelsey at www.chelseymortega.com.

 

 

 

 

Girls Just Want to Have a Fearless Adventure by Terry Segan

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Fun and Fearless both start with F...hmmm...I think my guest, Terry Segan, might have something. Enjoy her Fearless Friday adventure on Discover...

Girls just wanna have…a manatee adventure! When my traveling partner suggested our next girl’s trip be to Crystal River, Florida, to check off an item on her bucket list, I dove right in—literally. In the winter months, Crystal River is home to many of these sweet mammals. So, a few years ago, we traveled to Florida in mid-January to see for ourselves.

 

While the hotel we stayed in was dated (think 70’s—I’m sure the bedspreads and shag carpeting were time-warped in nightly), all the rooms faced the bay. The gorgeous view was worth putting up with the ‘vintage’ furnishings and dim lighting.

 

Since the manatees were more active in the morning, we booked an early tour. We tried not to think that 7 a.m. translated to 4 a.m. for our west coast bodies. At the dive shop we watched a short video on manatee etiquette, a.k.a. how not to get arrested for disturbing or tormenting the docile creatures. We then donned wet suits—no easy task unless you have feline flexibility. The tour guide claimed the water remained a comfortable 72 degrees, and he wasn’t kidding. Wearing a mask and snorkel, we slipped into the river using a pool noodle for buoyancy. The water felt like a warm bath.

 

These creatures were amazing! They’re like giant puppies with sweet faces that drift through the brackish water. And yes, they are roughly the size of a cow! We got to bob around and observe several, some getting playful and bumping into us, despite our trying to stay out of their way. The last ten minutes of our hour-long swim, I had one following me. I finally named her Louise and dubbed her a member of our girls’ trip. 

The second day’s tour consisted of kayaking. I originally suggested renting kayaks and going on our own. My friend pointed out that she would prefer NOT to get eaten by alligators if we got lost. Never thought of that! I booked a tour. Being led by a guide, I was sure he would sacrifice himself if we were set upon by alligators. Luckily, we didn’t have to test this theory. Our guide used a stand-up paddle board to easily spot manatees for us. In one area, a manatee nosed our guide along by pushing his board from behind. 

This trip became the inspiration for my recent release, Manatee Soul, The Marni Legend Series Book 2. The main character, Marni, drags her reserved sister into similar tours and other sketchy situations as they assist a lost soul who’s looking for closure. While most of the setting is fictitious, establishments were inspired by my experiences in Crystal River. 

Book & Bio info: 

MANATEE SOUL by Terry Segan – Release date: October 16, 2023 

Blurb: 

Marni Legend has embarked on the most perilous journey of her life—a vacation with her sister. The women are like two peas in a pod, providing each pod came from a different mother ship. One day into their Florida adventure, Marni questions her choice of travel partner. Gloria strives to understand her carefree younger sibling while kayaking and snorkeling without chipping a nail. 

With nothing but eternity on his hands, Phil insists the sisters resolve the circumstances of his untimely demise. The wise-cracking spirit leads them on a trail filled with bartenders, bikers, and the promise of a hidden treasure. 

Her greatest challenge will either be enduring a week with Gloria or surviving the thugs searching for the stolen booty. Can Marni figure out who to trust, who to avoid, and who she’d most likely want to be trapped alone in an elevator with? 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Manatee-Soul-Marni-Legend-Book-ebook/dp/B0CF6HFHKD

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143894199

Author Website: https://terrysegan.com/ 

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerrySegan

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeganTerry

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorterrysegan 

Terry Segan, originally from Commack, NY, now resides in the desert where she’ll never require an ice scraper or snow shovel again. The beach is her happy place, but any opportunity to travel soothes her gypsy soul. The stories conjured by her imagination while riding backseat on her husband’s motorcycle can be found throughout the pages of her paranormal mysteries. Growing up immersed in sarcastic humor and science fiction movies, Terry’s goals are to cause her readers to laugh out loud, cry with joy, or cower under the covers wondering if the noise under the bed was real or imagined.

Reading and Reviews (Gallant and Black)

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. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Desperate Alliance by Jannine Gallant

A stolen painting leads to a second chance at love—if they survive.

When Annalise Quintrell discovers a painting at the Philadelphia museum where she works—a masterpiece she authenticated—is a forgery, her career is on the line. Confident she didn’t make a mistake, Annalise is convinced someone stole the original. But with no proof, will anyone believe her? The only way to salvage her reputation and her future is to find the missing painting. The problem is, she has no one to turn to for help—except her ex-fiancé.

Rory Cavanaugh made the worst mistake of his life, not when he got caught robbing an art gallery, but when he withheld the truth about his past from Annalise. Unable to forgive his lies, she cut him out of her life—and her heart—for good. But now she desperately needs his help, and Rory will do anything to make amends for hurting her. Because convincing her to take him back seems like a fantasy.

As Rory and Annalise work together, following a trail of clues in their search for the lost painting, long-suppressed feelings bubble to the surface. Can she get beyond her anger and heartache and find a way to forgive him? Or will the criminal determined to stop them at any cost make them both pay the ultimate price for love?

My Review:

Jannine always delivers a good story. This one felt a little different than her regular suspense plots as we made our way through the artworld instead of the wilderness. But she navigated the landscape convincingly. The story was good, and her characters imperfect. And that’s a good thing. Rory has led a less than honest life, but he had his reasons. Annalise is stubborn and unforgiving. They have depth and that added a good dimension to the story.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Save Me by Molly Black 

FBI Special Agent Katie Winter is no stranger to frigid winters, isolation, and dangerous cases. With her sterling record of hunting down serial killers, she is a fast-rising star in the BAU, and when a woman is discovered in the middle of a frozen lake, Katie is the natural choice to partner with Canadian law enforcement to track the killer across the brutal and unforgiving landscape.

But tensions run high between Katie and her new Canadian partner, and time is running out before the killer’s trail goes cold. The case also conjures the demons of her own past: Katie’s younger sister, vanished years ago on the shore of the very same lake, a case that remains unsolved.

Can Katie keep her demons at bay long enough to enter a killer’s mind and stop him before it’s too late?

Or will this diabolical monster outwit her in his game of cat and mouse?

My Review:

This story held my attention most of the time. The problem between Katie and her new partner, and the why of it was so vague I had trouble understanding. The disconnected plot lines with the partner and her sister bothered me. Small stuff like typos were also disconcerting. It wasn’t a bad story but could definitely have benefited from a good editor. And by the way, I'm in the minority in my opinion of this book, so if you're a Molly Black fan you won't agree. If she's new to you, I encourage you to check the page on Amazon and the reviews there.

AMAZON BUY LINK

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