Eclectic writer

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Friday, December 22, 2023

Talking About writing with a reluctant character with Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #mystery #short story #illness

Katherine Miller is my character in a series of mysteries. Six books later and Katherine asked to retire to enjoy her life. Then I was asked to produce another story. After many quarrels with Katherine, we decided to start a book. The planning don and myhealth took a nose dive and I was forced to put the story aside for a time. When I returned to writing six weeks later, Katherine was stubborn. The story had begun and I was in tune with the character but the story ended as a short story. I sent it off to my publisher with hopes she could come up with ways to make it longer. This didn't happen so a number of the short stories that started me on my writing career were added to make the story longer. The one thing I'll say is I learned something wwhile typing the stories into the manuscript. The stories were good and if the short story market hadn't gone soft, I would never have written novels. The comment from a magazine editor sent me to turn to mysteries and Murder and Mint Tea, a short story became Katherine's first adventure. So Murder and Iced Tea is her last. There will be other mysteries and also some romances to come.

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Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Murder and Iced Tea #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #short stories #collection #mysteries

Join the authors at MFRWHooks here for some great excerpts. Mine is found at eclecticwriter.blogspot,com from my new release - Short stories including mysteries and other

Blurb:

Excerpt:

Maude, There’s A Body on The Lawn

“What’s a nice girl like me doing in a dump like this?” Maude Forest laughed. At her age, thinking of herself as a girl was foolish, but describing her present domicile as a dump said it all. She shifted position on the moth-eaten sofa and grabbed her cell phone. Maybe her best friend had returned from her latest jaunt. Maude was in dire need of diversion. Why would a self-made millionaire want to find his roots? She looked at the faded, water-stained wallpaper and prayed her husband of thirty-five years would come to his senses. He’d dragged her to this farmhouse on the edge of nowhere because his father, grandfather, and who knows how many greats had lived here. What was wrong with a cruise or a visit to Broadway? Even a golfing vacation would have been more fun. No, George had to see the home of his ancestors, his unexpected inheritance and the place his mother had fled when he was a few months old.

She dialed a familiar number and heard her friend’s voice. “Sue Ellen, regale me with tales of civilization.”

Sue Ellen Pinewood laughed. “The Parker wedding was a gross extravaganza.”

“Was I missed?”

“Absolutely. Without your caustic comments, I was bored. Let me tell you about the dust-up at the Women’s Club luncheon.”

The phone crackled. Maude couldn’t hear her friend.

“Sue Ellen, are you there?” “Sorry. My driver hit a rut. Where was I?”

“At the Women’s Club.”

While Sue Ellen gave a blow by blow, Maude felt envy blossom like the roses on the trellis outside the window. She’d give almost anything to walk on concrete instead of dirt, but budging George was impossible.

“Ma, Ma, git out here,” George bellowed.

“I’m not your mother.”

Sue Ellen chuckled. “Is Ma his new pet name?”

Maude sighed. “Since he’s in the hills, he’s turned us into Ma and Pa Kettle.

“Where are you?”

“Midway between Luke and Stumpy Point.”

Sue Ellen giggled. “So when will you be home?”

“Who knows when Pa Kettle will find the roots his mother severed when she left his father.”

“Have you done anything interesting?”

Maude rolled her eyes. “We appeared at a strawberry festival. Shame I’m allergic.”

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Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Murder and Iced Tea #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Cozy mystery #Robespierre #Main Coon Cat #Halloween Parade

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some intriguing excerpts. Mine is found at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com and is from Murder and Iced Tea, a collection of short stories

Blurb:

Sarah gathers signatures on a petition she presents to the mayor. Mayor Bloom, refuses to acknowledge the gesture. Sarah vows she will find a way to thwart the over-weight man she calls Mayor Lard.

Kate receives a phone call from a friend in Vermont. The town where her friend lives has recently purchased some lamp post decorations that look like those she remembers from the Hudson River village. Are they the same. Kate sets out to learn.

While exploring the basement storage room at the town hall, Kate discovers the decorations for all the holidays are gone. She also discovers the body of the mayor. He has been hit over the head and also stabbed. Kate wonders who was so furious. Suspicion falls on her friend, Sarah. Kate sets out to find the killer and prays it’s not her friend.

EXCERPT:

Mayor Bloom straightened in his seat. “Greetings, Ladies. What a beautiful day for a ride around our marvelous town.” He smiled. “I’ve heard you’re planning a neighborhood feast to celebrate the end of COVID.”

Was he aiming for the invitation I knew wouldn’t be offered? Since his election as mayor, Sarah has turned cool.

Nothing special,” Sarah said. “Just a few neighbors.”

His smile brightened. Did he intend to claim a spot? He and his third wife lived three miles from here. He wasn’t part of the neighborhood.

Sarah stepped closer to the car. “Why are you riding around in an irreplaceable antique car?”

For a moment there was silence. I edged away.

The mayor leaned forward. “We’re honoring Labor Day.”

Sarah placed a hand on the car. “A parade would have been a better way to honor the day. Crowds would have brought customers to town and helped the merchants and the restaurants.”

“Assembling a crowd isn’t good. Too soon. Maybe next year.”

Sarah stiffened. “You won’t have a say if you’re not re-elected. A thought. What happens to the money allocated for parades when the money isn’t used?”

“Saved to build a surplus for something important.”

“Like what?” Sarah’s hands fisted.

“I haven’t decided.” She scowled. “I’ve heard a rumor that troubles me.” What had she heard and when? I couldn’t recall hearing any new rumors pointing to trouble. I waited for an answer. Sarah straightened her shoulders. Her expression changed to one of determination. A chill rolled down my spine. Was she inventing the rumor?

Mayor Bloom laughed. The sound emerged thin and strangled. “There are always rumors.”

Sarah’s hands tightened into fists. “I heard you’re cancelling the Halloween parade.”

His lips formed a tight line. “There’s no reason to have one. Three years have passed since the last one. No one is pushing to restore the event. I informed the committee there is no reason for a parade.”

“You’re wrong.” Sarah leaned forward and raised a fist. “Kate, how do you feel about there being no parade this year?”

Before I had a chance to answer, the mayor spoke. “There’s no reason to have one. No one has pushed for a Halloween parade. The town council agrees with me. There’s no need.”

I grasped her arm to stop the attack. “I feel sad to see a tradition ended. I understand why there’s been no parade for several years. To prevent the spread of COVID crowds were to be avoided.”

Harold Bloom nodded. “How true. We don’t need to spread the disease among the fine people of our town.” Sarah’s face reddened. “You’re breaking a tradition for no good reason.”

“I am not.” The redness of the mayor’s face matched hers. “COVID achieved that goal. We will have a new tradition.” He leaned forward and touched his friend’s shoulder. “Time to move on. We’ve wasted enough time here.”

Was he angry about no invitation to our dinner? With a jerk, the ancient car moved. The mayor grasped the seat to keep from being propelled. “Be careful,” he cried.

I watched the car chug away. What had the meeting accomplished? Nothing that I could see. “Good riddance,” Sarah said.

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Thursday, November 30, 2023

The Amber Chronicles is featured with Thursday's Opening Scene #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #romance #fantasy #short stories #novellas

Strains of music wafted from the ball room of the Amber Palace into the garden. Emme tapped her foot against the flagstone walk in an angry counterpoint to the dulcet tones. With each passing moment, the realization of another failure strengthened. Four times a prince had appeared at the palace seeking her hand in marriage. Four times the prince had chosen one of her younger sisters. Tonight the last prince would name her youngest as his chosen bride.

With great effort Emme capped her anger. Lysanda would pay just as her other sisters had. As the oldest, she should have been the first to find a bridegroom. Envy twisted with jealousy to form a rope binding her thoughts. This prince should be here for he was the last of the eligible ones in this world called Amber suited for training as a wizard and destined to sit on the amber throne beside Emme’s.

The scent of roses, jasmine and bluet filled the air with their sweet breath. The heavy aroma pressed against her forcing Emme to gasp.

She heard light tapping of slippers on the stones and knew Lysanda approached. Her sister expected to find Prince, what was his name, waiting to declare his love. Then amber lights would radiate across the night sky announcing Emme had failed again. That would not happen.

Lysanda came into view. Her hair, a few shades darker than Emme’s pure amber tones, hung in ringlets down her back. “Where is Rendel?” she asked.

“Looking for you,” Emme said. “I sent him to the Tower of Sighs.”

“Why?”

Emme stepped toward her sister. She smiled at the alarm in Lysanda’s pale blue eyes. Only Emme’s matched the blue of a summer sky. “You stole him. He was to be my prince.”

Lysanda asked. “He fell in love with me. His heart once given can never change.” She stepped closer. Don’t think to take him from me. That is impossible.”

Emme fisted her hand on her hips. “I have no desire for a man who chose another over me. I’m sure he believes he will be able to rule you for your power is small and you can never sit on the amber throne. You have taken my last chance for love and rulership. I will take from you.”

Lysanda tore her gaze from Emme’s face. “What do you mean?”

“Face me, sister. Power against power or are you afraid?”

“I fear no one. I am a witch with power equal to yours.”

Emme heard a slight tremor in her sister’s voice. Knowledge filled her. She would drain Lysanda and leave her week. Three times before she had faced a sister and won.

She drew the wind to eddy around Lysanda in wispy bands and sped and tightened them. One by one Lysanda broke the restraints. With each snap, Emme absorbed the power of the breaking.

Emme set the torches of the garden blazing. Tendrils of fire flowed toward her sister.

Lysanda gathered the flames and sent burning orbs toward Emme. “You will not win.”

Emme pulled water from the fountain. Fire and water met turning to steam shrouding the air with sizzling vapor. With slow steps Emme moved through the mist. The earth shook beneath her feet. Lysanda’s body wove in an attempt to remain standing.

Emme grasped her sister’s wrist. “Cede to me.” She drained the essence of magic from her sister’s cells.

“A curse I cry.” Lysanda’s shrill voice pierced Emme’s concentration. “Long will you search. Until you can give with forcing and demanding you will be alone.”

Those words forced Emme to release her sister. Lysanda slumped to the ground. Four times one of her sisters had said the same curse. Four times a sister had survived. She raised her hand and released all she’d taken from Lysanda. Brilliant flashes of light colored the night sky with all the colors possible except for amber.

She heard the sound of pounding boots. The prince stepped into view. “What have you done?”

“What I had to. Lysanda remains a witch and in a hundred years or so she will recover. You will never become a wizard. You will never rule the world called Amber.

The prince drew his sword and stalked toward her. “Why have you done this to my beloved?”

“You chose the wrong sister as those before you have done. Take her. Announce your betrothal. You can’t defeat me. You are the last to try.”

The sword slipped from his hands. Lysanda stirred. He lifted her to her feet. “My love.” He glared at Emme. “You will never find love until you love another more than you love yourself.”

Emme turned and strode from the garden. Why didn’t triumph fill her? Her life had been destroyed. There would be no chance to take her rightful place. She hurried to her tower. Why did the shimmer amber walls seem cloaked with gray? Instead of going to her room at the tower’s peak where the city spread before her, she fled to the dark basement and sat in a dark corner.

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Janet Lane Walters does it again.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

The Amber Chronicles is featured today as Sunday's Book #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #romance #fantasy #short stories and novellas

Amber Chronicles Collection: Emme, a witch and the heir to the throne of the world called Amber is banished from her home to find love. She believes she can command a man to love her but this does not work. Angry at being told no by the crown prince of Rivand she casts a spell on the Riva family. Every hundred years when the moon is full at the summer solstice she will call the crown prince. If he refuses to cede his love to her he will enter the amber orb and vanish. Four times she fails and the princes find adventure on other worlds. One turns an enchanted amber dragon into a princess. The second is imprisoned in an amber tower and must select a bride. The third must free the heroine from an amber cage. Emme slowly learns her lesson and returns to spend her childhood with the fourth prince. Hoping knowing each other will help. She has fallen in love with the crown prince and enters the amber orb in his place. Can Emme who is Cast in Amber be freed and gain the love she has sought for all those years?

Reviews:
FOUR STARS! The witch's curse of zapping princes into an amber orb is one of my favorites. This story is the fate of the very first prince. It reads much like a fairy tale, where at least one moral is to be learned. An enchanting fantasy. **** Detra Fitch

Kat Taylor

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2014

JLW has written another winner. Her talent for world building has

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