Book Signing Alert

 

This just in - I'll be signing books during the Chapter Crafters Holiday Market at the Mobile Public Library West Regional Branch from 10am to 1pm along with a passel of other great local and regional authors. It will be a great time to pick up that last minute Christmas gift for the reader in your life, or yourself.

Going to Press

 

I just received the final cover design for my new book, "The Pig War and Pelican Girls" and I couldn't be more pleased with it. I think the bright colors and graphics will make it stand out on book shelves. And with that, that's a wrap. The book heads to printing. Pre-sale orders ship in February, the book hits bookstores in April.

Weddings in World War II

 

Good Monday morning, FB friends. It was a gloomy, rainy Sunday yesterday and looks like the rain is carrying over into Monday, perfect writing weather (I don't feel so bad about not doing any chores around the house). Made some great progress on my new History Press book, "Notable Women of Alabama," and while I wait for replies to my proposals for my mystery, "Dead Air," I started work on the sequel.

As I mentioned, Dead Air is set in a Gulf Coast radio station in the 1940s. Our sleuths are a couple of the station employees who attempt to solve a tricky murder at the station. I completed my beat board for the sequel (went through many sticky notes until I got it just right), wrote up biographies for new characters that will join our sleuths, and learned a lot about weddings in the 1940s.

One thing that puzzled me is what did they do for a wedding cake in 1943 since sugar was being rationed. Well, I found out there were many recipes that used little or no sugar. I've posted two below. Red Velvet cake was one of the most popular of the day. To get the red color, they used crushed beets. Wonder what that tastes like?

   

Also, fabric was being rationed. Many women simply wore their normal everyday attire. Some were lucky enough to obtain used and discarded parachutes to stitch together their own unique dress.

Guess I need to come back to the present now and continue writing. Until next time...

A Weekend with Old Friends

 

When you're on a roll, you keep on rolling. I asked a few fellow authors to preview my cozy mystery, "Dead Air," before sending it out to publishers and agents. After reading it, their first words were, "will there be a sequel?" Oh yes, there will be. As a matter of fact, most publishers ask for a series in this genre, a tidbit I wasn't aware of. But, I was already thinking of a sequel and I spent the weekend outlining how radio station WRCB and our sleuths, Judy Campbell and Art Foley, get mixed up in another murder investigation.

I have a long way to go with it but I couldn't stand it and dove back into the world of 1943 Crystal Bay to revisit my friends Judy and Art. I became so involved I had this urge to keep writing so I ditched the outline for a bit and ended up spending the weekend immersed in writing a full first chapter setting up the next book.

I feel very comfortable writing in this genre now especially since the first manuscript is receiving good reviews. Hopefully from publishers and / or agents who are looking at it right now.

New Video Release

 

Happy Friday, everyone! Just a quick note here to announce that I have just finished producing the first book trailer for my upcoming book, The Pig War & The Pelican Girls. Hope you enjoy it.

Don't forget, while the book will not be released until April, you can pre-order copies by visiting Bookshop.org. A portion of the proceeds helps support independent booksellers worldwide.

The Party's Over

 

Turn out the lights, the party's over. Historic Oakleigh House Museum Literary Lawn Party was a great success! It was a pleasure meeting everyone who came out and catching up with some old friends. Thank you to the staff and volunteers who made it happen. The good / bad news is that I was so busy meeting and greeting that I didn't have time to take any pics. These are courtesy of the Oakleigh House Museum. I do have to mention the Mobile Belles who were in attendance. This group of young ladies are ambassadors to the museum who greet visitors. I was so impressed with their knowledge of Mobile history and their goals in life to become historians, political science majors in college, and more. Hats off to you!

And by the way, I have added an extra freebie to my website's giveaway page. Click here to to visit the Giveaway Page or click the individual links below for your freebies:

* The Pig War & Pelican Girls Preview Chapters

* Dead Air Cozy Mystery Preview

* My Favorite Shorts (as in short stories )

* JUST ADDED: Space Oddities Audio Book Sampler read by Tim H. Dixon

Join Us, Won't You?

 

What are you doing tomorrow? I know where I'll be - the Oakleigh Literary Lawn Party from 11am to 4pm with over 30 amazing authors from around the region. Come on out and join us! I'll have copies of my books Everyone's Gone to the Moon, Hidden History of Mobile, and a History Lover's Guide to Mobile and the Alabama Gulf Coast. Visit the Historic Oakleigh House Museum Facebook page for more details.