April Book News

Posted on April 2, 2018 by MontanaWomenWriters under Book News, Book Signing, Fiction Writing, Glacier National Park, good books, Inspiring Places, Leslie Budewitz, Libraries, Montana, Montana Women Writers, Nature, new novel release, short stories, snow, spring, Uncategorized, words, writers

LESLIE BUDEWITZ: Oh, April! Such a tease of a month in Northwest Montana. Days can be wintry or warm, snowy or sunny, often all within a few minutes!

April is also home to National Library Week, April 8-15. The Montana Library Association is hosting its annual meeting in Bozeman, April 11-14, and I’m delighted to be the Author Brunch Speaker on Saturday, April 14. I’ll be talking about the cozy mystery — the light-hearted side of the genre — what it is, a few trends, and some author recommendations.

I‘m also pleased to say that my historical short story, All God’s Sparrows, will appear in the May-June issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, available mid April, by subscription and in bookstores and newstands. Set in 1885 in Montana Territory, the story features Mary Fields, also known as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary, who was born in slavery in Tennessee in 1832 and later worked for the Ursuline Sisters at St. Peter’s Mission near Cascade. On a trip to the mill to pick up lumber for the girls’ school, Mary encounters a young family in trouble, and uses all her wits—as well as the skills of young Sister Louisine—to save a child and mete out justice, or as much justice as can be had in this fallible world. Look for another Mary Fields short mystery next year.

Happy reading!

March Book News

Posted on March 5, 2018 by MontanaWomenWriters under Book News, Book Signing, Fiction Writing, Glacier National Park, good books, Leslie Budewitz, Montana, Montana Women Writers, Nature, new novel release, snow, Uncategorized, Winter, writers

LESLIE BUDEWITZ: Cookie Crumbles What a winter! Cold and snowy, calm and lovely. We are all delighted to see the days grow longer and the light stronger. And I’m thrilled to share some Very Big News! My Seattle Spice Shop series will return in early 2019 with CHAI ANOTHER DAY, from the wonderfully excellent Seventh Street Books , named for the street Edgar Poe lived on. Meanwhile, the fifth Food Lovers’ Village Mystery, AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES, will be out in June, in paperback, e-book, and audio.

My first mystery publication ever was a short story, and I’ve been rediscovering my love for the short form recently. “With My Eyes” appeared in the February issue of Suspense Magazine, one of the premier short story publications. Subscription only, but it’s such a great magazine that I’m sure you’ll love it. My story is set in Seattle and Athens, and was inspired ages ago by our honeymoon trip to Greece. The Greek gods and goddesses were often tricksters, and if one still roamed the earth, she might be called Melina…

Stay warm, and curl up with a good book!

January Book News

Posted on December 31, 2017 by MontanaWomenWriters under Book News, Book Signing, Fiction Writing, good books, Holidays, Inspiring Places, Montana, Montana Women Writers, Nature, new novel release, New Year 2018, Photographs, snow, Uncategorized, Winter, writers

: Montana Welcomes 2018

January Book news from Betty Kuffel

Happy New Year to all!

After writing diligently for many years, I’ve made progress toward completion PyreCoverKA and final editing of three novels. The first is Deadly Pyre, book one in the Kelly McKay medical thriller series. With Debbie Burke’s success and assistance, I submitted Deadly Pyre to the Amazon Scout program.

Kindle Scout is a reader-powered publishing contest for new books. If a book is selected, it will be published by Kindle Press with favorable royalties and a small advance. You can check out my book and see how the program works by clicking on this link: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/UP3KDBM7PVVU

I would appreciate your nomination. It would help my success, and if chosen, you’ll receive a free e-book copy.

My second book in the series, Deadly Spin is set in Alaska and is also ready for publication. If Deadly Pyre is not chosen, my plan is to indie-publish both of them later this month.

AKFlilghtCoverK7 In a few days, Alaska Flight, a romantic medical thriller will be available on Kindle. My husband is in the process of formatting and uploading the manuscript to Kindle. When it’s ready, I will let you know.

My fourth book is Fatal Feast a biological thriller set in Montana. I have nearly finished a major rewrite following input from two beta-readers. I will be submitting it to a professional editor in about a week, so watch out! It will be finished soon, too.

Deb Burke blogs regularly on Kill Zone and wrote an excellent article about Kindle Scout that you may be interested in reading. https://killzoneblog.com/2017/04/kindle-scout-a-two-year-performance-review.html

I would also suggest you follow her blog at: http://www.debbieburkewriter.com

Deb’s Scout winner, Instrument of the Devil is on sale for the month of January for $.99. It’s action-packed. Her second book in the series is ready to publish. Both are great reads.Instrument of the Devil

For more information on Kindle Scout check out this link: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/about

Note: Tom will format and upload manuscripts to Kindle and Create Space for paid members of Authors of the Flathead. He does not do covers, so you need to have one ready if you want him to help you indie-publish.

Join Authors of the Flathead at: https://www.authorsoftheflathead.org

Check out the weekly meetings and join the group of writers helping writers.

Best wishes and happy writing in 2018.

Betty

February Book News

Posted on February 1, 2017 by MontanaWomenWriters under Book News, Fiction Writing, Glacier National Park, Montana Women Writers, Nature, Photographs, reading, education, kids, snow, Winter, writers, Writing Skills

LESLIE BUDEWITZ: Ah, winter. We love it, but right about now, most of us wouldn’t mind a bit of a thaw! At least we are blessed with many sunny days here in Northwestern Montana — and many good friends and books!

I’ll be talking about writing, publishing, and using my hometown as a setting at the Bigfork Rotary Cl Butter Off Dead (final) ub at noon, Wed Feb 8, at the United Methodist Church in Bigfork. And on Saturday Feb 11, at 1:00, I’ll be chatting about cozy mysteries — the lighter side — at the Mineral County Library in Superior.
The first grown-up mysteries many of us read were those of the great Agatha Christie. I’ll be talking about her continued influence on mystery writers at the opening of the Bigfork Community Players’ production of “Murder on the Nile,” based on her book, Death on the Nile, on Saturday, Feb 18, in the Bigfork Playhouse, the setting of my third Food Lovers’ Village Mystery, Butter Off Dead. Showtimes and dates on the Players’ website.

Read — it’s the best way to light a fire in your brain!

Marie F Martin enjoyed her time at Flowers by Hansen. Here are a few photos taken by Lucinda of Crown Photograpy so you can see how nicely the authors were treated and what the public enjoyed at the First Night Event.