Blog
May 10, 2022
My New Book
I’m excited to announce my second novel, First Comes Baby, will be available on Amazon July 5, 2022 at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09ZZS7YMQ
A Goodreads Giveaway of first 100 ebook copies is pending.
No mysteries this time, just a sweet romantic comedy.
Below is a plot synopsis. Hope you enjoy!
They say first comes love, then comes marriage. But what if first comes baby? That’s the question going through Ella’s mind, a goal-driven, yet semi-impulsive heroine who doesn’t let dating woes interfere with her plan to have a baby by thirty-five. Her plunge into motherhood via sperm donor leads her to navigating the unfamiliar waters of baby care, until she meets Scott, a reserved winery owner, who of course thinks she’s a nanny… and never plans to have children. But could that change?
July 1, 2021
Catch Handle, the Screenplay
Happy Summer Everyone! I can’t believe how time is flying. I wanted to share that I have been trying my hand at screenplay writing as a fun side project. After finishing a romantic comedy, First Comes Baby, to test out this new format, I am now working on Catch Handle – The Movie! Many thanks to everyone who has provided a review of the book. I welcome constructive feedback and will keep it mind as I work on this new project. Film is obviously a very different medium, so I am currently cutting and reworking a lot of the plot so that it will translate to film. If any readers have suggestions, I am all ears. Feel free to shoot me a message. What did you like best about the plot? Which parts do you think could be cut in movie format? Hope you are all enjoying your summer reading and the lovely weather!
February 16, 2021
Motive
I listened to the audio version of this entertaining thriller after receiving a free copy in exchange for an honest review. The plot features a rare antagonist, a female serial killer. Particularly chilling, this blonde bombshell gets a thrill out framing those who had a motive to kill her victims.
The book weaves the stories of multiple interesting characters, including the villain, who is introduced while executing a brutal and methodical killing. Other characters include an unassuming, love-struck man with a disability, a police officer who is troubled by an apparently air-tight murder charge against his colleague, and an undercover agent trying to take down an organized crime boss.
I enjoyed the different points of view but was starting to wonder at a certain point if the story lines would intersect. Rest assured, the puzzle pieces fit. They all come together suddenly in an “Aha” moment as first one and then the rest of the plot points start to form a pattern. You also feel a fleeting moment of sympathy for the villain, but it is short-lived as the action ramps up for the finale.
The characters are well developed, and the plot is intriguing. I particularly enjoyed Andy Stevenson’s narration. He has a soothing voice, reminiscent of some of my other favorites like British narrator Tony Britton. He gave the characters distinctive voices that were easily recognizable. He kept me fully engaged in the plot.
February 16, 2021
2nd Award News
Excited to announce that Catch Handle was a finalist for the 2020 Indies Today Award!
January 8, 2021
Award News
Excited to share that Catch Handle won the 2020 Audio Book Reviewer Best Mystery Award. The announcement will appear on the website shortly.
January 4, 2021
You're Next
I found this fast-paced thriller while skimming through Amazon. Truth be told, it reminded me of a solid Harrison Ford movie like The Fugitive. The action is pretty much non-stop after the main characters’ back stories are established. I had never read any of Hurwitz’s work and was immediately impressed.
The story primarily follows Mike, a man haunted by a memory of his father abandoning him at the age of four. Mike’s abandonment issues predictably make him an extremely protective father to his own little girl when he is grown up. A respectable family man, Mike must put to use some long forgotten skills he picked up as a juvenile delinquent when a group of vicious hired thugs unaccountably target his family.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat as Mike fought to uncover the mystery behind these sudden attacks along with his stony but loyal foster brother, Shep. I did not see the big twist coming but was intrigued when it was finally revealed. Fair warning, any parents will likely feel high anxiety over the abandonment themes and threats against Mike’s child. One particular scene with a baby monitor conjured up some of my worst nightmares. Hurwitz also punctuated the book with some of the most spot-on descriptions I have ever read about what it’s like to be a parent.
I definitely recommend this one if you are in the mood for a thriller. Please be advised there is some graphic violence several times in the book when the hired thugs are trying to torture information out of someone or to “set an example.”
December 21, 2020
Meerkat Murders
I stumbled upon this gem in an online author review group and loved it! This story is exactly my cup of tea, and I suspect it will be yours as well if you love cozy mysteries, animals, and a bit of adventure. The story follows Kea as she visits her friend at a remote research project site in Kalahari. A group of professors and students monitors the every move of the local meerkat colonies, providing for both high hilarity and sobering moments of nature taking its course. As a complete sucker for adorable animal observations, I was immediately drawn in by the descriptions of meerkat eccentricities and by the little outcast meerkat who Kea seems to view as a kindred spirit.
Corgan excellently builds up a cast of relatable and entertaining characters before the first murder occurs. His story delves into the dynamics of a remote site that even those not as familiar with academic research will appreciate. He punctuates the story with well-timed moments of high-stakes action, including an epic scene with a spider that had this arachnophobe cringing. Additional murders of both humans and meerkats (brace yourself!) culminate in a terrific ending. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
I noted after I started that this was actually the second book in the Kea series. I will be delving into Cold Flood, a frosty adventure, soon.
December 5, 2020
My Top 4 Agatha Christie Novels
Agatha Christie is an icon for good reason. Her cleverly crafted mysteries have stood the test of time and remain the gold standard to this day. When I was a young bookworm, my grandmother suggested I pick up my first Christie novel. I quickly devoured the rest of her works from there. Aside from a few of the short stories, I believe I have read all of her books. While I completely understand why “Murder on the Nile” and “Murder on the Orient Express” are the among the most popular and best known of her novels with multiple big budget movie versions apiece (as a side note, I am excited for the upcoming remake of the former with Gal Gadot), these aren’t my top picks. Much as I enjoyed them, here are my favorite four:
November 13, 2020
Dick Francis Tribute
Anyone who has read Catch Handle will have guessed that two of my favorite subjects are horses and murder mysteries. Unsurprisingly, the works of Dick Francis, who also combines these themes are some of my all time favorite reads. As a retired British jockey, Francis had a solid knowledge of horses that wound its way through all of his novels, some to a greater degree than others. However, his trademark seemed to be researching other walks of life to add as themes to each of his novels. His protagonists were often similar – usually mild mannered but highly intelligent observers of human nature. They were sometimes jockeys or sometimes had other primary professions with racing as a hobby. What I loved about his novels was the combination of the familiar, steady protagonists but the unique new lens through which his characters viewed the world in each book. Whether his heroes were investigating wine fraud, flying horse transport planes, buying gold, or cooking for a five star restaurant, Francis never failed to delight.
November 2, 2020
Guest Article
I had the opportunity to write a guest article on writing recently for one of my favorite literary blogs, “Review Tales.”
November 2, 2020
Audiobook Preview
I am excited to announce that the audiobook for Catch Handle is being finalized on audible.com. It will be available for pre-order starting November 13, 2020. You can find it starting November 27, 2020 at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.
August 15, 2020
Audiobook Underway
Production is underway for Catch Handle – the audiobook! I have been a happy customer of audible.com for a number of years, listening my way through various adventures when on my commute or puttering about. They are particularly valuable when doing house or yard work. After publishing my first novel, I eagerly started looking into the process of turning it into an audiobook for anyone to enjoy on the move. I assumed it would be a complicated process, but ACX through Audible has made everything easy! We are now in progress with the very talented Stephanie Richardson producing. The audiobook should be available approximately end of October. More updates to follow!
August 8, 2020
Alan Rickman Tribute
This is not a bookish blog post I know, but after re-watching Sense and Sensibility the other day I was reflecting nostalgically on one of my all time favorite actors, Alan Rickman. Like many of the greats, he was taken well before his time. In his varying roles, he made me laugh, cry, and swoon. I must admit I shake my head a bit that people seem to associate him primarily with Harry Potter. While he played the role of Severus Snape with his usual skill, he had so many more amazing roles throughout his career.
August 2, 2020
Goodreads Giveaway
I’m excited to announce that Goodreads will be running a giveaway for Catch Handle from August 4 – September 2, 2020. Enter to win one of 100 free kindle copies.