My Critic Group is the BEST!

Today is a beautiful day! I mean that literally in that the temperatures are in the 80s with little humidity and a great breeze. I also mean that figuratively, emotionally and physically. For the last few months I have felt like I have been under a giant thunderhead. I thought it was my looming book deadline but have learned it was a multitude of things and too many to go into in a blog.

However I would like to say to my critic group that I love you guys dearly and thank you for letting me talk on Friday. I know we didn’t get any work done but you don’t know how much it meant to me to be honest and vent. Between that, my first great nights sleep in months and the medication that I think is finally fixing my debilitating headaches, I may not only survive but thrive. I can’t tell you how good that feels. I also feel energy and ambition that I haven’t felt in way too many months.

It also doesn’t hurt that I know where I’m going in the short term and can plan. You know how I like to have the details in order or I go crazy! So the next time we meet, I promise we will get some work done and I will be a regular member  You guys are the best.

Not only that they are each published! Check out their varied works. You won’t be disappointed. How could great friends not write great books? Click on their name to see them on Amazon!

Joselyn Vaughn

Tess Grant

JQ Rose

Summer Reading Plans

This week I'm starting off the start of summer with my wonderful critic buddies doing a blog hop. This is my first blog hop but not my last. Joselyn Vaughn, Tess Grant and JQ Rose know my worst mistakes, my greatest fears and my best writing moments. If you like my books, check out theirs. I love them. The are teh best. I mean both the authors and their books) Add them to your summer reading list.

Summer: It should bring images of hot, lazy days at the beach, long bike rides and kayaking across lakes. It should be a slowing of activities, communing with nature and enjoying ice cream, lots of it…I mean all three. That doesn’t seem to happen in my life. If anything with longer hours of daylight, I try and pack in more.

My dream day would be watching the sun rise and walking along the beach and then a late morning nap with a warm breeze. The afternoon would be spent reading a great book and then getting dressed for dinner with the love of my life. I doubt I’m going to get my dream day but what I am going to make a point of doing this summer is getting in some reading time. It is hard for me to read for pleasure when I’m writing. I analyze the books instead of getting lost in the story. That is the one thing I don’t like about being a writer is that reading books has now become work. Kind of like the reading you had to do in your high school English classes. Took all the fun out of the story when you had to figure out the character’s motivation and what setting added to the plot.

So I am going to give myself permission to read, just jump in and read. On my list for reading is my favorite author, Catherine Coulter’s latest in her FBI series, “Split Second” and “Back Fire.” (I’m a little behind in the series.) A new favorite author is also on my to-be-read pile, Julie Hyzy’s latest in her White House Chef series, “Affairs of Steak.” If I get those three done, I may read some classics that my daughter has to read for school so we can discuss them. I will be happy if I can get my fun three done but I am determined even if I only get in five pages a day.

What about you? What books are on your list for this summer?

Let me know your reading plans and you will be entered for a chance to win one of my books, your choice. Check out these blogs for other great giveaways:

My critic buddies' blogs:
JQ Rose: http://jqroseauthor.blogspot.com/
Tess Grant: http://tessgrant.wordpress.com/
Joselyn Vaughn: http://joselynvaughn.wordpress.com/

Stop By Art Hop

I'm crazy. My son is graduating from high school and the open house is Saturday. Instead of getting ready, I'm trying to sell books at the ‎1st annual Art Hop tonight in downtown Fremont MI (6/3/11) from 4-7 pm. Lots of artists will be showcased including fellow writing buds Joselyn Vaughn and JQ Rose. We will be at the White Agency, at 52 W. Main St., kittycorner from Veterans Park. Come say hello! Buy a book. Hear all about the new one due out in a month! I've just goten the cover. It's really cool!!!!

Mitch Malone Mondays - JQ Rose

Today I'm interviewing JQ Rose. Her debut book, "Sunshine Boulevard," was just released.

Thanks so much, Mitch, if I may call you Mitch, for taking your time to interview me. You have a reputation as a hard-hitting journalist with your byline on the front page nowadays. It is a pleasure to be here with you.

"Sunshine Boulevard" is a strange name for a mystery. Why would you name it that?

Think sunny Florida, the location of the story. The action takes place on Sunshine Boulevard, the main boulevard circling the Citrus Ridge Senior Golf and Retirement Resort.

In your book, there is a TV reporter. I'm not a big fan of TV reporters. Does this one get the story or is she scooped by a newspaper reporter like myself?

Oh yes, Heather is a TV reporter who is right on the scene of every death reporting all the information about the decomposing yellow bodies and the acrid odor. She tries to help her viewers understand what is going on, but of course, there is no explanation. A killer? An environmental problem? A new virus? Nobody knows for sure what is killing the seniors on Sunshine Boulevard. It is a mystery…of course. Sorry, there’s no way she’s letting a newspaper reporter get in on the information first…nope, no way, Mitch.

This book takes place in Citrus Ridge Senior Golf and Retirement Resort? I can't believe there was a big mystery there? Aren't they just boring places where people drive around in golf carts all day?

To the contrary, Mr. Malone. The people living in these retirement communities aren’t in God’s waiting room. It’s an active, vital group of seniors and boomers who know how to enjoy their retirement. Dances, golf, bowling, well, alright there is shuffleboard, bocce ball, and horseshoes, but very competitive. The golf cart drag races are exciting…no, I’m kidding there!

Jim and Gloria Hart are snowbirds who annually migrate to Florida for warm sunshine, fun, and golf with friends in snow-free winters. However this season, Jim Hart, a volunteer First Responder in his retirement community of Citrus Ridge, is drawn into the investigation of the mysterious deaths. Even in the midst of the unfortunate demise of the residents on Sunshine Boulevard, the Harts try to enjoy get-togethers with friends. They don't realize that their friends are getting together for their own kinds of affairs with each other. The neighbors are in a dither over the deaths, but perhaps more intrigued by the gossip about the affairs and why the naked lady was found lying in the geranium bed.

Now that you got your first book out there, what are you working on next? Something happening in a cemetery maybe? Will they all be about retired people?

A cemetery sounds intriguing. Hmm I wonder if that would work in my next story. I am working on a mystery/romance this time with a professional woman and a cop. No, not a woman from the oldest profession. I wrote a short story with the same characters as in Sunshine Boulevard. It’ll probably show up at Muse It Up Publishing as a free read sometime. I am polishing a non-fiction book for girls and will submit it to a publisher soon. I am researching a story for girls about the first woman to drive cross country before there were any roads. It’s fun having all kinds of writing projects.

Where can my readers find out more about you and your book?

"Sunshine Boulevard" is available through my publisher’s bookstore at http://tinyurl.com/2c53noz

Please visit me at my website http://www.jqrose.webs.com
And drop in at my blog to keep up with current news and topics at http://www.jqroseauthor.blogspot.com

For a fun scare go to the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ttwC03EkcE

You heard it here first. Check out Sunshine Boulevard for no other reason than the creative use of flamingos. Yup, I said flamingos! Okay, there is another reason. Seems she is giving away a book to the lucky person who comments on one of her blogs this week. Leave a comment and it could be you. (Leave an email so she can notify you.)