Nancy Thompson book release

        Due to an illness in my family I am away from my blog this week.  Fortunately Nancy Thompson is here to stand in for me.  She's got a new book out.  For the buy links be sure to go to her blog.

Thank you, Arlee, for allowing me to ‘jack your blog.  You’ve given me the perfect opportunity to share with all your peeps and bird watchers something I’ve wanted for many months but didn’t have the tech skills to pull off myself.  All the credit for this little production goes to Carrie Butler.  She impressed me with her own book trailer, and, after some major sucking up on my part, offered to make me one of my own.  I provided the script, the music, and an idea for the background and Carrie did her magic like only she can do. 

So without further ado, I give you the book trailer for my debut novel. THE MISTAKEN, a psychological thriller released October 18, 2012 from Sapphire Star Publishing…

Visit Nancy’s blog, follow, and leave a comment during her book tour for a chance to win an ARC of The Mistaken.  Plus, 5 runner-up winners will each receive an ebook.  See Nancy’s blog for current buy links.  

You can also find her on her publisher’s website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Early praise for The Mistaken:

“A deliciously slow burn that builds to a ferocious crescendo, Nancy S. Thompson's THE MISTAKEN kept me riveted until the very last page. Tyler Karras is a complex and flawed protagonist, and his redemptive journey makes him the perfect anti-hero. This psychological suspense is a standout, and I can't wait for Thompson's next book.”

~ Jennifer Hillier, author of CREEP and FREAK

“Nancy S. Thompson's debut novel, The Mistaken, is a first-rate thriller full of hair-raising twists and turns.  Pursued by the police and the Russian mafia in San Francisco, brothers Tyler and Nick Karras are fascinating, fully-drawn, desperate characters.  The action is non-stop.  Thompson's taut, intriguing tale of revenge, mistaken identity, kidnapping and murder will keep you enthralled and entertained.” 

~Kevin O’Brien, New York Times Bestselling Author of DISTURBED and TERRIFIED

“Fast-paced and emotionally gripping - once the ride begins, you won't stop reading until it ends."  ~Alex J. Cavanaugh, author of CASSAFIRE and CASSASTAR

The Mistaken Blog tour:

10/18: Mark Koopmans

10/19:  Alex J. Cavanaugh & Arlee Bird

10/22:  Carrie Butler & Jeff O’Handley

10/23:  Julie Musil

10/24:  Donna Weaver & Melissa Maygrove

10/25:  Matthew MacNish

10/26:  LG Smith

10/27: Aimee Jodoin

10/29:  Heather M. Gardner

10/30:  Lisa Regan

10/31:  Jennifer Hillier

11/1:    Angela Peart & Livia Peterson

11/19:  Arlee Bird

No Controversy from Carol Kilgore (a guest post)

Photos and maps related to Padre Island. Padre Island National Seashore - sand dunes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         I'm away from my desk due to an illness in my family.  Thankfully Carol Kilgore is here to fill in for me and perhaps bring a touch of sanity back to my blog page.  You probably need a bit of a breather after my recent rantings.  Carol will brighten your day a bit.

If you've visited my blog, Under the Tiki Hut, you spotted the differences between it and Arlee's Tossing It Out right off. All the same, I love visiting here. Opposites attract.

True to its name, a lot of controversy has been tossed out on this blog recently, but I promised Arlee I wouldn't go down that path. If anyone wants to be a contrarian over my little bit of fluff here, go right ahead. I'll just smile and say something I hope is funny enough to defuse the issue.

If you couldn't tell from the Tiki Hut, I totally hate controversy. I don't like debates, arguments, tension between disagreeing people and groups, or clashes of any sort. I do enjoy discussion among participants with differing viewpoints as long as the discussion doesn't escalate and no one employs bullying tactics.

I inherited my love of harmony from my mother. My dad, however, loved a good argument.

That said, I have no problem heaping trouble, misunderstandings, arguments, and conflict on my characters. But it hasn't always been that way for misunderstandings and arguments.

Hailing from the overall mystery/suspense genre, I learned early how to create suspense, tension, and conflict. But those don't necessarily stem from controversy. I like crawling into the criminal's creepy little mind and learning the why.

My first published short story several years ago was from the POV of the chairman of the largest bank in London … who was kidnapped by a gang of hoodlums. The bank chairman had plenty of problems, and they didn't all come from the thugs. There was much tension, but no real controversy. No debate that a phone call couldn't settle. The story even won an award.

In my recent novel, In Name Only, there are two honest-to-goodness arguments between Gabe Duran and his father, Charlie. Each character believes he is correct, of course, and is the hero of his own story. I tried my best to cut the arguments short, but my critique partners said no way. I was sure I had worked the arguments into great clashes until I got the manuscript back from my editor. She said I made it way too easy on the characters. I needed to flesh it out, make it last longer, make them angrier, dig more deeply into their emotions.

She was right.

As I worked on following my editor's suggestions, I learned that angry exchanges are almost as fun to write as the scenes from the bad guy's head.

But controversy in real life about real things is still not for me. Life's too short to spend it being angry or upset about something you can't control. I'll take Bobby McFerrin's words any day – "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

In Name Only--a synopsis

No home. No family. No place to hide. For Summer Newcombe, that's only the beginning.

The night Summer escapes from a burning Padre Island eatery and discovers the arsonist is stalking her, is the same night she meets Fire Captain Gabriel Duran. As much as she's attracted to Gabe, five years in the Federal Witness Security Program because of her father’s testimony against a mob boss have taught her the importance of being alone and invisible.

No matter how much she yearns for a real home, Summer relinquished that option the night she killed the man who murdered her father. But Gabe breaks down her guard and places both of them in danger. Summer has vowed never to kill again, but she's frantic she'll cost Gabe his life unless she stops running and fights for the future she wants with the man she loves.

Author Bio:

Carol Kilgore is a Texas native who has lived in locations across the U.S. as the wife of a Coast Guard officer. Back under the hot Texas sun in San Antonio, Carol writes a blend of mystery, suspense, and romance she calls Crime Fiction with a Kiss. She and her husband share their home and patio with two active herding dogs, and every so often the dogs let them sit on the sofa.

Learn more about Carol and follow her here:
Blog:   http://www.underthetikihut.blogspot.com

Website:  http://www.carolkilgore.net
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/carolkilgore.author
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/#!/carol_kilgore
Goodreads:   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094110.Carol_Kilgore

Amazon Link:    http://www.amazon.com/author/ckilgore

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Hold The Controversy For Today

 Flag at Half-Staff (Photo credit: mlhradio)

              I want to thank all of you who have contributed to the discussions so far in the beginning posts of my controversy series.  The real controversies have not exactly begun yet, but we've gotten some good exchanges going so far on the posts that have been laying the groundwork for controversies to come.  And please keep in mind that I'm not trying to turn any readers off with my discussions.  I am merely attempting to stimulate our brains.

            These controversial posts will be starting up in the next couple of weeks.  However, I am currently in mourning as I take a trip to Tennessee for a short while to be with family after the passing of my stepfather, George Lechelt, on Saturday October 13th.  This is a sad time, but I look forward to spending time with my mother, daughters, granddaughters, and the rest of my immediate family.   I will probably be away from blogging much of the next couple of weeks.

           I do have some back up who will be covering for me.   On Wednesday I'll be joined by Carol Kilgore of Tiki Hut fame.  I wonder how controversial she will get?  Then on Friday Nancy S. Thompson will be celebrating the release of her new book The Mistaken.  I want to thank both of these fine ladies for standing in for me during my time away.

             Next week we'll have to see what happens.  If nothing happens on this space, bear with me--I'll be back soon.  Then again maybe I'll get something up by that time.

            In the meantime, watch the presidential debates if you can so you can get ready for the topics to come on Tossing It Out.

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