This evening, I was honored to be one of the first guest on author/host Samara King’s premiere show on BlogTalkRadio, inCharacterN10. Samara is already well known for her writing and for her hit BTR show SoundNOff with co-host Chamsil, and with inCharacterN10, Samara wants to go behind the scenes on the books authors write to delve into the characters they create.

Tonight, I talked about Jovan Parham-Anderson, the main character of Death at the Double Inkwell. I’m last in the lineup, but the entire show is top-notch and worth the listen.

Check it out below.

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Like most of my stories, a title usually presents itself before I start writing the book. Characters will be invading my mind, their lives playing on my mind’s screen, and while reveling in their lives, an “essence” of their stories will develop. That essence ultimately becomes the title of the story. And if I’m lucky–as I have been thus far with publishers, the title I come up with initially gets to STAY.

In my first DDIW Chronicles podcast [link], I talk about how DDIW came to be. At the very beginning, I knew a few things about the story: there would be twins mystery novelists and there would be a death–and I had an idea of who would be the one to die.

So, the title, Death at the Double Inkwell isn’t a metaphor or some deep thought of the book; it literally arose before of the death and because the two main characters were twins (double) and writers (inkwell).

Sorry to disappoint those who thought I might be deeper than this. LOL Sometimes, I’m so not.

When LLP accepted my book for publication, there was a chance that the book wouldn’t be called DDIW. I can’t even remember the other suggestions, but I stuck with championing for Death at the Double Inkwell as the title even when my pubber said, “But there is more than one death in the book.”

And there was. LOL In a revision, I had added a few more corpses, this is true. But as I argued, there was one big death that moved the main characters’ through their storylines (though I have to shake my head now because what death is “little” – such the thoughts of a writer).

Learn more about Jovan and Cheyenne and the trouble that follows them by picking up Death at the Double Inkwell.

It’s available NOW at Amazon.

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All the Blog’s a Page is all about MYSTERIES and THRILLERS for the month of July! This week at AtBaP, our featured author is award-winning journalist, editor, novelist, and occasional standup comic, L.J. Sellers, who stops by to talk about her upcoming release, Thrilled to Death, the third in her Detective Wade Jackson series.

When asked, The first book of your series—what came first: the main character of the series or the main situation that arises in the first book, L.J. replied, When I wrote The Sex Club, it was simply a story I was compelled to tell. I felt very passionate about the subject of abstinence-only sex education and the damage it could do to teenagers. But I’m a practical person, so I figured I might as well create a character, a detective, that I could base a series on—if I was fortunate enough to sell the book and readers wanted more.”

Come by AtBaP to read more about L.J.’s novel Thrilled to Death, to get her advice to aspiring mystery novelists, and to have a taste of Thrilled to Death!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

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“Writing is not in my blood…it’s my DNA.”

These words come from our latest featured author at ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING, a woman who has always made me laugh and always made me feel in her desire to be an inspiration to others, Tracy Spence-Banks. She comes to CLG this month to talk to us about her book, Super Woman: A Guide to Tapping Into Your Divine Super Powers.

About Super Woman

As women, we wear many different hats within the family structure. Wife, mother, sister, businessperson, cook, maid, chauffeur…the list never ends. So how can we tackle so many different aspects of our lives and not get beaten down by them?

Super Woman will take you through the seven divine super powers needed to live a fulfilling and peaceful life through heart-warming anecdotes, off-beat humor, and of course, the proven Word of God.

It finishes up with a small bible study, which is easy to follow, yet thought-provoking. It asks questions that allow you to dig deeper in order to tap into your own divine super powers.

When asked, Now, we know the super woman is constantly on the move. And we know that the only way a super woman can be such a mover and shaker and give to everyone is to first give to herself. A super woman is only as good as her ability to take care of self. What advice do you give to the super woman who needs to nurture her own spirit and interests, Tracy replied:

“Spend time in the presence of God. There is no other way to become a super woman and maintain your God-given powers. We have to understand that these “powers” are not by our own hand or by being born on the planet Krypton or being bitten by a radioactive spider. They are given to us by the Father in order to keep us focused, grounded, and prepared for whatever comes our way. They were instilled in ever woman at birth and began when Eve was cast out of the Garden of Eden. God put enmity between us and the devil, so he has a special hatred for women. We ratted him out and now he’s out to destroy us. God made certain that we are well-equipped to defeat any attack he has waiting for us, but if we don’t tap into those divine super powers, the enemy will ultimately defeat us.”

Definitely stop by ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING, where Tracy talks more about the Super Woman Syndrome, our need to connect to the divine, and more.

ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING

Chocolate-caramel lattes + Women writers = ONE GREAT TIME!
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Last night, I had the pleasure of talking with Ananda Leeke on her show, Sisterhood, the blog radio. She’s doing a women in social media series, and I was honored to be considered cool enough to be a guest. We talked about a slew of things in 30 minutes — from the social media tools that I use to why women should take on social media tools. Have to say the end is pretty funny as I got Ananda to try to multitask while conducting the interview. Check it out!

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All the Blog’s a Page is all about MYSTERIES and THRILLERS for the month of July, and our second feature this month introduces you to a new mystery novelist on the scene–one with an engaging character who plans to be around for a while (the author and the character!): Ronald S. Barrios.

When asked, Who are some of your favorite mystery/suspense novelists, and why, Ronald replied, “My absolute favorite was Robert B. Parker, the ‘Dean of Crime Fiction’. He was and remains the best to ever do it, period. I was introduced to his Spenser series in the ‘80’s and quickly realized we had similar styles in writing even though I had never read him before then. He then became my role model for writing much in the way Raymond Chandler influenced him. I used to say that if Robert B. Parker read one of my manuscripts and threw it on the floor and spit in my eye and told me to never write again, I would have stopped writing at that moment. That’s how much I admire him. Now since his passing, there isn’t another writer alive whose opinion means that much to me.”

Come by AtBaP to read more about Ronald’s novel Blood Drops, his advice to aspiring mystery novelists, and more!

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All the Blog’s a Page is back, and for the month of July, we’re talking MYSTERIES and THRILLERS with four authors who know a thing or two about dead bodies and solving crimes. To kick-off the month is an author I have known for years and have always enjoyed her Kendra Clayton Mystery series: Angela Henry. Angela’s fourth novel in the series, Schooled in Lies, is out, and she comes to AtBaP to talk about her love of mystery writing and more!

When asked, Who are some of your favorite mystery/suspense novelists, and why, Angela replied, “Agatha Christie because she’s the queen of the whodunit. I’ve modeled my Kendra Clayton series after the village cozy mysteries she’s famous for. Ruth Rendall because she’s so good at psychological suspense. Walter Mosley-Easy Rawlins, need I say more? Janet Evanovich-because she’s hysterical. JK Rowling-because she sure knows a thing or two about world building.”

Come by AtBaP to read more of Angela’s thoughts on mysteries and thrillers. Also, while there, read an excerpt of Schooled in Lies!

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Jovan and Cheyenne are the major chicas of Death at the Double Inkwell, but several men play integral roles to the telling of this story, and each man is his own man, too, with unique personalities that range from the misguided to the strong Alpha male.

Cordell Anderson is the love of Jovan’s life. The two met in college, and Cordell was quick to pursue her and make her his wife. He’s the founder and CEO of Anderson Technologies, a thriving technology company…or is it? So many secrets surround Cordell it’s hard to figure out just who he truly is. And as the story moves on, so many of those secrets are revealed that it takes Jovan’s memories of the good times for us to see that he wasn’t always an ass.

Timothy Anderson is Cordell’s younger brother. He and Cordell get compared to one another all the time–in looks alone. Their lives are as different as sun and moon. Whereas Cordell is a take charge, get what he wants when he wants it kind of man, Timothy is quiet, reserved, timid. He has collected some demons over the years, and in the past, he has used harmful means to eradicate those demons. He’s now trying to be on the up and up and make his life right, but a tragedy soon unravels his progress and his life.

Jimmy Devane is an associate of Cordell’s, which would be fine if he wasn’t A) an “associate” of a lot of Cordell’s competitors and B) an absolute slime ball. His allegiance is to the thing or the person that can get him the most money, damn the consequences.

Detective Ian Davenport is “the” man of the pack. He’s strong, confident, caring, and determined to right wrongs and put wrongdoers where they belong: in prison. When tragedy strikes Jovan’s life, Ian is quickly immersed into both Jovan’s and Cheyenne’s lives, much to Cheyenne’s chagrin. And despite the fact that he needs to be impartial to solve the case, Ian quickly finds himself drawn to the twins…one in particular.

Mark Brockman is a do-gooder, but when it comes to dealing with a serious situation in his life, he decides to “do him” instead of handling the situation, which leads to consequences he’s not prepared to handle. When his world is turned upside down, he finds comfort in the most unlikeliest place.

Each of these men has an agenda when it comes to Jovan, and she has to figure out which ones mean to do her harm and which ones mean to help her out of the darkness she’s cast into.

Learn more about these men by picking up Death at the Double Inkwell.

It’s available NOW at Amazon.

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Urban. Drama. Romance. Mystery. Sci-Fi Fantasy Western. Suspense. Thriller.

For the month of June, ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING shines the spotlight on an author who is as eclectic as the varied genres she writes in: Michelle McGriff. Michelle brings her sassy self to CLG to talk about writing and her latest novel, Swerve, a departure from her previous works.

About Swerve

Romia Smith is a misunderstood cop. Tall, beautiful, and lethal, her martial arts skills are off the board. During an after-hours gathering with her fellow law enforcement officers, she is accosted by a stranger who, within moments, ends up dead—apparently shot with her service revolver.

Romia has an alibi, but it’s one that is less believable than the lie she’s being framed with—murder! In her quest to prove her innocence, Romia finds herself stepping further and further out of line with the law and into a world she never would have believed existed—into a past she didn’t know she had.

The Phoenix is a secret agency of international spies working both sides of right and wrong. Romia becomes the target in a deadly chase to the top of the Phoenix’s nest. It will take everything she ever knew to find out what everyone thinks she already knows.

Author Michelle McGriff broadens her reach to touch the secret world of spies and covert operations.

Based in conspiracy theory and fast action fiction, Swerve is book one of The Stone Series.

Definitely stop by ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING, where Michelle talks about her love of writing and the joyous and not-so-joyous parts of being a writer.

ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING
Chocolate-caramel lattes + Women writers = ONE GREAT TIME!
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They say that behind every great man there is a great woman.

I really think that saying is beside every great woman is a great sister who always comes with the straight, no chaser advice, warm hugs, and a ready-to-take-on-all-challengers stance when things get a little sticky.

Every woman can recall at least that one sister—from birth or from another mother—who has been there to listen to her frustrations over a relationship, her aggravation over a job, her devastation over a loss, and her infuriation over being done wrong. And she can recall that sister railing with her over her man and then getting real to show her where she went wrong. She can recall the friend telling her to look for another job, to find something that will make her happy and keep her living well. She can recall sistergirl sharing tissues with her as they both cry over the emptiness she feels at having lost someone. She can recall sistergirl saying, “OK, where’s my Vaseline and sneakers?” when it time to crack a skull or two open on her behalf.

There are a plethora of self-help books written about how women can find the man of their dreams and keep him, but we often forget about the importance of having a great sisterfriend, that woman who can see you bare, ugly truths, lies, secrets, and all, and who will still stand beside you, like a trooper, helping you to grow into the strong woman you are destined to be. There are many components to a person, and a romantic relationship can satisfy many of those components; however, nothing can replace the relationship of sisterhood and how it, too, can feed your soul.

Jovan Parham-Anderson from Death at the Double Inkwell [Amazon] has a sister like that: her twin, Cheyenne.

These two may look alike, but their personalities are polar opposites. Whereas Jovan is often quiet, reflective, and quick to find fault with herself, Cheyenne is loud, opinionated, and always ready to put blame on the right person.

Despite their differences, the two connect in powerful ways when the other steps up to be there for her sister.

When Jovan thinks her husband Cordell is having an affair, who does she run to? Cheyenne

When Jovan suffers an unimaginable tragedy, who does she run to? Cheyenne

When Cheyenne’s temper places her in harm’s way, who comes to protect her? Jovan

When Cheyenne catches feelings for someone who seems to be her arch-nemesis, who does she spill the beans to? Jovan

Even when Jovan’s and Cheyenne’s lives are put in danger, they rely on one another to make it through.

As betrayals and lies surface, and the twins find themselves in peril, will relying on their sisterhood keep them alive?

You’ll have to read Death at the Double Inkwell to find out.

It’s available NOW at Amazon.

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