S.R. Claridge's Skylar Wilson

On Day 3 of the Murder We Write Blog Tour I’m hot on the story of a cult that has infiltrated the government and wants to make zombies of Americans. My source for this one is S.R. Claridge, author of the book HOUSE OF LIES. But the person in the know is really Skylar Wilson. Skylar you are being credited with breaking this case wide open. I wish you’d called your buddy Mitch Malone, reporter extraordinaire, to break the story, but that is water under the bridge. Tell me now all the details. How did your sister, Tess, get involved with this cult?

SW:  Tess is four years older than me and when she and I were kids, cult-leader, Maxwell Sagan came into our lives.  Though he was married, he took an immediate interest in my sister; hiding his true intentions behind the deceptively harmless veil of wanting to teach her the Bible.  She was at a vulnerable and impressionable age and he was inappropriate in his pursuit for her heart.  She never recovered and years later joined his cult full-time; despite the urgings of her friends and family to stay away from him.  She believes Sagan’s words are true, despite the fact that the entire P3 movement has been built upon false prophesy after false prophesy and proven lie after lie after lie.  She can’t see it, and I spent years trying to get her to open her eyes.  We’ve been estranged for three years, until several weeks ago when she texted me for help.

Again, I could have helped you but I don’t want to dwell on my exclusive that is now gone. What was your first step? Do you have any investigative experience?

SW:  No.  I’m a photographer, struggling to get my own studio up and running.  I spent the past three years studying the P3 movement, in hopes of proving to Tess that it is a dangerous cult.  Upon receiving the strange text from my sister, I went to P3 and tried to find her; but the campus is huge and it was impossible.  I ran into Maxwell Sagan and could tell he was lying to me when I asked about Tess.  An anonymous note instructed me to contact a private investigator named Stephen Braznovich, and he’s been helping me try to find my sister.

Now sometimes siblings aren’t ready to jump in to the rescue. Why did you decide you had to help her?

SW:  Because I had been fighting for Tess for years…praying she would open her eyes and come back to me…to normal life…to her friends and her family.  Three years ago all she would say was, “we’ll have to agree to disagree” or “you won’t budge me.”  It was so maddening!  Then, when she sent me a text for help, I knew it meant something was terribly wrong and I was the only person she had left.  I couldn’t refuse her cry for help.  I dropped everything and ran to find her.

I understand you are an entrepreneur. Did that experience help you? You didn’t have any previous experience with investigations.

SW:  It helped me from the standpoint that I was able to take some photographs that ended up being helpful in answering questions and proving we were on the right path.

Did you get any good photos of the masterminds that I could run with my story in the Grand River Journal? Any tips you have for novice photographers?

SW:  I have a lot of photographs of P3 members and leaders, though because this cult reached into the upper echelon of our government, sharing those pictures could put your life in danger at this time.  Until we know exactly how high up this thing goes, my pictures have to remain in a secured location.  As for tips for novice photographers, keep your camera with you at all times.  You never know when it might save your life.

To find out more about Skylar’s story and other books by S.R. Claridge, please check out the following website: www.AuthorSRClaridge.com

SW:  It’s been a pleasure talking with you, and next time I have a mystery to solve, I come to you for help. 

A Note from S.R. Claridge: "I’d like to encourage readers to enter my giveaway contest. I will be giving away an ebook copy of TETTERBAUM'S TRUTH, book one in the Just Call Me Angel series; or if you've already read Tetterbaum's Truth, you may select another novel of your choice and receive that e-copy instead.  Leave a comment below and you're automatically entered. Include your email address in your comment so I can get in touch with you should your name be selected at random. The winner will be announced on my blog (http://www.FeelingTheFiction.blogspot.com ) on December 12, 2012. Good luck!"

My name is Susan Claridge and I write under the name, S.R.Claridge. I'm a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a niece, an in-law and friend; but no matter what hat I wear, I’m always the same simply, complicated woman beneath. I love autumn, moonlight and Grey Goose Vodka martinis with bleu cheese olives. I believe Friday nights were made for Mexican food and margaritas and Sunday mornings warrant an extra-spicy Bloody Mary. I love Jesus and know that any good in me comes from God. I believe in the power of prayer, in the freedom of forgiveness and that people can change. I have a terrible temper and a tender heart, and somehow they balance. At times I may appear teetering on the edge, but I'd rather walk dangerously where there's a view than let life pass me by. Relationships intrigue me and so does the loyalty of Mafia families, which is why I chose these topics for my novels.

BOOKS

No Easy Way (debut novel; nominated for The Molly Award from HODRW 2010)

Tetterbaum’s Truth (book 1 in the Just Call Me Angel series)

Traitors Among Us (book 2 in the Just Call Me Angel series)

Russian Uprising (book 3 in the Just Call Me Angel series)

Death Trap (book 4 in the Just Call Me Angel series)

Petals of Blood (short story; Pushcart Prize Nomination 2013)

 UPCOMING RELEASE

House of Lies (political/cult suspense, to be released October 2012)

  

LINKS

Website:  www.AuthorSRClaridge.com

Blog:  www.FeelingTheFiction.blogspot.com

Twitter:  www.Twitter.com/SRClaridgeWrite

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/AuthorSRClaridge

Evelyn Cullett's Charlotte Ross

On Day 2 of the Murder We Write Blog Tour, the reporter extraordinaire, Mitch Malone, interviews Charlotte Ross. Ross is the main character in Evelyn Cullet’s debut novel MASTERPIECE OF MURDER. I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this book but W.S. Gager has been keeping it by her bedside. I’ve agreed to take it a little easier than normal on Charlotte because Evelyn has said some really nice things in the past. Don’t misunderstand my meaning. I’m not sacrificing my stellar reputation or my journalism integrity, but I don’t want to make anyone cry today and Charlotte seems a bit weepy after her fiancé disappears. Let’s see if we can’t get some answers without the faucet being turned on. Miss Ross, can you tell me why a small-town girl without any travel experience attempted a trip out of the country to a third-world place like Argentina?

CR:  Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say I don't have any travel experience. After all, in Evelyn's first novel, ROMANCING A MYSTERY, I took a driving tour though England with two of my friends. So, catching a plane to Argentina didn't seem so daunting to me, even though I do get severe motion sickness. But then, love makes people do crazy things, especially when they're as desperate to find someone as I was to find my errant fiancé.

Now I don’t have a lot of experience in the artist community. My specialty is crime but isn’t impersonating an artist against the rules even for the out-of-this-world artsy community?

CR:  You can't really say I was impersonating an artist even though I did send in one of my instructor's paintings to qualify for taking a Master art class. Actually, I'd classify myself an art student because I'm still learning. Anyone who has studied art and taken classes can be considered an artist as long as they're  practicing the craft. So, I told a white lie and cheated a little. It seemed like a great opportunity for me to meet a world-famous artist whom I admired. Too bad he turned out to be such a womanizer and a letch.

I’ve covered a number of murders in my time and if I do say so myself, I’ve been responsible for solving a couple of them. You asked a mystery writer friend for help. Why didn’t you call on yours truly? I could have gotten a great story out of it.

CR:  Sorry Mitch, I didn't know you then. And since I had yet to meet you, I'm afraid my mystery writer friend, Jane Marshall, scooped you on the story. She's going to write a romantic suspense novel with the
information I gave her, even though after I emailed it, she thought I made it up. She's been living in the world of fiction for so long, sometimes she can't see a real murder mystery when one lands right in her lap. It wasn't until I got home and convinced her in person, that she finally believed the nightmare I went though really happened.

How about giving Mitch Malone a little exclusive here? Did you do it? Tell me about your criminal pursuits?

CR:  Honestly Mitch, it breaks my heart that you could even think a mild-mannered, hard-working, small-town girl like me would kill anyone. (Sniff!)  Do you think I have nothing better to do than walk around the woods at night with a pallet knife in my hand waiting to stab someone in the throat as they pass by? Do I seem like a maniac killer to you? (Sniff, sniff!) Of course I didn't do it! (Sniff!)

You’re innocent? Well, my apologies. Don’t get all bent out of shape. A good reporter has to ask and don’t start crying. You can’t blame a guy for trying for wanting a great front page story and this one does have international implications. Thanks for stopping by Charlotte.

CR:  You're welcome Mitch. Now that you know me a little better, you can interview me anytime. :-)

To read Charlotte's story, you can find a MASTERPIECE OF MURDER in print and ebook from the publisher at: http://www.wings-press.com/ and from http://www.amazon.com/. Also available as an ebook for the Nook at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

CR:  Mitch and I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment about his interview and you'll automatically be entered in Evelyn's book giveaway. You could win a signed print copy of  MASTERPIECE OF MURDER. One lucky winner will be picked at random, by me, and announced on Evelyn's blog, http://evelyncullet.com/blog/ on December 12th. Don't forget to leave your email address so we'll know how to contact you.

MASTERPIECE OF MURDER is a fast-paced romantic suspense novel involving a broken-hearted art student, Charlotte Ross, who is so intent on locating her errant fiancé that she submits someone else’s
painting as her own in order to gain access to a Master art class being held in Bariloche, Argentina—the place her lost love was last seen. When the painting gets her accepted into the class given by a world-famous artist and womanizer, being a novice makes keeping up with the others nearly impossible as she struggles to fake her way though, while trying to win back the man she loves. But her fiancé has his own reasons for being in Bariloche that complicate Charlotte’s life and threaten her very existence as she stumbles into a downward spiral of deception, art forgery, and murder. After accidently finding the murder victim. circumstantial evidence begins to mount up against her and the local police suspect she is the killer. Now she must use the skills she learned from her mystery writer friend, along with the help of her fellow art students, to discover who is really behind the murder. Not an easy task with a military police officer dogging her every step.

EVELYN CULLET has been an aspiring author since high school when she wrote short stories, but she didn't begin her first novel until college, later in life. Afterward, she continued to take writing classes while working in the offices of a major soft drink company. Now, after early retirement, she finally has the chance to write full-time. Evelyn enjoys playing the piano, being an organic gardener, and an amateur Lapidary. She's a former long-time member of the Agatha Christie Society, and is currently a member of Sisters in Crime. Evelyn and her husband live in a suburb of Chicago.

Murder We Write Kick Off

Welcome to the Murder We Write Blog Tour. Today is the first day of the 15-day tour and I have a bye if you will here on my blog. One author had to drop for personal reasons and I hope all is improving in her world.  My prayers are will you!  For the next 14 days, I will turn the blogging duties over to my main character, Mitch Malone. He is an expert interrogator from his experience as crime beat reporter for the Grand River Journal.

Mitch will interview characters from some terrific author’s books that would make perfect Christmas gifts for those readers who love mysteries. I’ve read many of these author’s books and enjoyed them. And better yet, you will have a chance to win free copies by commenting on the blogs. The total number of books hasn’t been added up yet, but last year’s Mystery We Write Blog Tour gave away more than 50 books with less authors participating. Each author has their own rules but mostly to enter, just comment on any participating blog.  I’m giving away three books. The winner can pick from A CASE OF INFATUATION, A CASE OF ACCIDENTAL INTERSECTION or A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES.

I hope you enjoy Mitch Malone’s savvy interview style and pick up one of the books in the series and check it out. They are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I also would be happy to send you signed copy. Email me at wsgager@yahoo.com and I will send you details. For more information on each book, check out my new and improved website: http://wsgager.com

As a side note, follow my guest blogs and you may read about the next in the Mitch Malone series: A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS that will be out in February. Here is my schedule:

Today:  Patricia Gligor

Tuesday:  M. M. Gornell

      Wednesday: MadisonJohns

Thursday: Collin Kelley

Friday:   Jean Lauzier 

Saturday:  Joyce Lavene

            Sunday:  Jean HenryMead 

Dec. 3: MarilynMeredith

Dec. 4:  Rionna Morgan

Dec. 5:  Larissa Hoffman 

Dec. 6:  Earl Staggs

Dec. 7:  Anne K Albert 

            Dec. 8:  SR Claridge 

Dec. 9:  Evelyn Cullet 

Dec. 11:  Winners announced on my blog.

Up tomorrow is Evelyn Cullet's character Charlotte Ross, the main character in MASTERPIECE OF MURDER. You don't want to miss Mitch's first interview! Comment early and often for a chance to win!

Check out Mystery Readers Journal

The latest issue of Mystery Readers Journal is out. It is the second issue devoted to all things legal in mysteries. I'm excited to have an essay printed with a host of people more famous and noteworthy than I. My article, "The Fine Print," stretches the definition of legal but talks about my writing as therapy and how killing people in print is a lot less hazardous than doing it for real.

Please check it out.

http://www.mysteryreaders.org/Issues/Legal2-2012.html

Mitch Malone Mondays: F.M. Merdith's Miqui Sherwood

Welcome to a special edition of Mitch Malone Mondays on Saturday. Today I’m pleased to have F.M. Meredith or Marilyn as she is known to her friends stop by but she usually doesn’t say much. She visits regularly and always brings the most interesting people. Today is no exception. Miqui Sherwood is featured in the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree book called RAGING WATERS. Welcome Miqui. Tell me a little about the country where you live. It is a long way from West Michigan isn’t it?

Miqui: Yes, I live in a small mountain town called Bear Creek in the Southern Sierra, that’s in California, in case you didn’t know. The town is named after the river that runs through town. I don’t know what idiot named it Bear Creek since right now it’s full to overflowing.

I understand you have an interesting hobby and it has something to do with the U.S. Mail. Tell me how it got started and why you do it?

Miqui: I’m crazy about holidays and I love to decorate my home with all my collectibles. I have some priceless and antique Christmas figurines, everything from Santa and Mrs. Claus to groups of carolers I decorate inside and out to celebrate every new season. I even decorate my mailbox.

I’ve been real nice asking you easy questions but I am a reporter and wanted to soften you up before I got to the last couple of questions. You had a criminal element surprise you? What did they want? And what did you do?

Miqui: We’ve had a rash of burglaries in Bear Creek lately. The burglar creeps into people’s houses while they are sleeping and they don’t even know until they wake and find their possessions missing. I woke up when he was in my house and my two precious dogs chased him out. I called Deputy Crabtree and she and her husband came right away but not in time to catch him.

Now if I am in the area, would you open up your home so I could stay? You had any experience with that?

Micqui: I probably would though I had a recent bad experience. More rain than we usually have caused the river to rise and threaten all the homes built near the banks. I offered my two extra rooms to couples that I know on a social level. It was not a good experience.

Thank you Miqui for stopping by. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures.

Micqui: In Raging Water Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s  investigation of the murder of two close friends is complicated when relentless rain turns Bear Creek into a raging river. Homes are inundated and a mud slide blocks the only road out of Bear Creek stranding many—including the murderer.

Please leave a comment and you could win. The person who leaves comments on the most blogs will have his/her name used for a character in my next book—can choose if you want it in a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery or a Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel.

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Raging Water from Mundania Press. Writing as F. M. Meredith, her latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel us No Bells, the forth from Oak Tree Press. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/

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