Thursday, December 20, 2012

Scarletta, a Minnesota Independent Publisher

Since its founding in 2005, Scarletta Press has been known for having a quality eclectic publishing collection. Recently, Scarletta Press has rebranded itself as simply "Scarletta".

The company now features four imprints: Scarletta Press, Scarletta Junior Readers, Scarletta Kids, and Red Portal Press. Scarletta Press, the original flagship, continues to feature adult titles while narrowing its genre focus to autobiographical fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoir. The Junior Readers imprint focuses on fiction and non-fiction books for middle-grade readers, while Scarletta Kids sparks imagination with engaging picture and story books for ages 0 to 8. Red Portal Press, a hybrid self-publishing imprint involving trade distribution, started this past fall with its first title Knives on the Cutting Edge by Bob Macdonald.

Scarletta started publishing children’s titles in 2011 when they acquired their first middle-grade fiction, Lost in Lexicon by Pendred Noyce. The Ice Castle, Noyce’s second book, came out in August 2012 as their second children’s title.

Besides expanding from 2–3 titles annually to 10–12 titles annually, Scarletta has also created a new online store. It has partnered with ABDO Publishing Group for various titles in each season, allowing Scarletta to redesign institutional titles and place them in the trade, special, gift, and mass merchandise markets.


Scarletta’s spring 2013 title list features six titles across three of its imprints, with the majority of authors being from Minnesota. Determined to Matter by Jen O’Hara, an adult nonfiction about facing the loss of a child to an inoperable brain tumor, will be published June 1 in the Scarletta Press imprint. Scarletta Junior Readers features The Mighty Quinn by Robyn Parnell (May 2013), a humorous fiction story about growing up in the fifth grade, and Cool World Cooking by Lisa Wagner (July 2013), a cookbook for young chefs. Their three Scarletta Kids titles Nalah and the Pink Tiger by Anne Sawyer-Aitch (March 2013), A Day at the Lake by Stephanie Wallingford and Dawn Rynders (March 2013), and Betsy’s Day at the Game by Greg Bancroft (April 2013), will all feature ancillary products and interactive activities.

The company’s fall 2013 title list features a similar mix of authors across imprints withan adult fiction title, two junior readers, and three kid’s books.

Scarletta can be thought of as a new company, one with fresh and vibrant ideas driven by consumer-dedicated market strategy. “Publishing is challenging, complex, yet exciting,” says publisher Nancy Tuminelly. “Our goal is to positively and effectively impact our readers’ lives. Our tagline sums it up for us: Publishers by trade. Readers at heart.”

Want to find out more? Check out Scarletta's website.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Stake & Eggs - Laura Childs

Stake & Eggs

by Laura Childs

New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs offers up Stake and Eggs, the 4th installment in her Cackleberry Club Mystery series.  This “Queen of the Cozy” knows how to pour on the suspense!

Ice runs in this killer’s veins!

A snowstorm rolls through the Midwest, flash-freezing everything like a package of Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks.  Tucked inside the cozy Cackleberry Club café, Suzanne and her two partners hear the crash of a snowmobile and nervously decide to investigate.  But a foray into the raging storm turns up a headless rider and a wire stretched between two stakes.

Who would murder their new bank president in such a grisly manner?  Someone gunning for his job or an unhappy customer whose property has been foreclosed on?  Suzanne and Sheriff Doogie put their heads together to investigate this murder and turn up more than a few wild card suspects – even as the temperature drops and Suzanne’s romance with the local doctor heats up.

Based on a fictional Minnesota town, Laura Childs has filled Stake and Eggs with a raft of small-town characters that make you chuckle and yearn for simpler times.  The main character (Suzanne) isn’t your basic cozy heroine either.  She’s recently widowed, just launched her café, is “mom” to her aging dog Baxter, and (good heavens!) is a little past forty.  She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on “coincidences” or inept police work to solve crimes.  In fact, she’s buckthorn in the side of Sheriff Doogie, who does his small-town best to solve the grisly murder.

Halfway between a cozy and a thriller (a thrillsy!) Stake and Eggs offers an exciting read with tea, knitting, romance, a dash of spirituality, and good sleuthing with three women who are over forty and proud of it.  You’ll also flip over Cackleberry Club recipes such as lemon cornbread, dirty fried chicken, and red velvet chocolate chip pancakes.


BIOGRAPHY

Laura Childs is the author of the Scrapbook Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries and Cackleberry Club Mysteries.  Her books have been named to the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller Lists, and have been featured selections in the Literary Guild’s Mystery Book Club.  She is a former Cleo Award-winning ad writer and CEO of Mission Critical Marketing.

WEBSITE
http://www.laurachilds.com

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


BOOK SIGNINGS

Once Upon a Crime
604 West 26th St., Mpls. 
Phone 612-870-3785

Saturday, November 10 from Noon to 2

OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED
Tea Shop Mysteries
Death by Darjeeling
Gunpowder Green
Shades of Earl Grey
English Breakfast Club Murder
Jasmine Moon Murder
Chamomile Mourning
Blood Orange Brewing
Dragonwell Dead
The Silver Needle Murder
Oolong Dead
The Teaberry Strangler
Scones & Bones
Agony of the Leaves


Scrapbook Mysteries
Keepsake Crimes
Photo Finished
Bound for Murder
Motif for Murder
Frill Kill
Death Swatch
Tragic Magic
Fiber & Brimstone
Skeleton Letters
Postcards from the Dead

Cackleberry Club Mysteries
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggs Benedict Arnold
Bedeviled Eggs
Stake & Eggs


PUBLISHER
Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN 978-0-425-25557-5

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Fallout - Colin Nelson

Fallout

by Colin Nelson

He’s your average, ordinary neighbor, but he’s going to kill you.  He’s the homegrown fanatic next door with a plan and a group of true believers prepared to do the unthinkable—mass murder—to bring about a new world of peace and justice.  A county prosecutor, attempting to convict a murder suspect, stumbles upon the conspiracy.  Sounding the alarm to the authorities, no one believes her.  She risks everything—even her life—to expose the plot.  Will she be able to prevent annihilation?

BIOGRAPHY

Colin T. Nelson has been a criminal defense lawyer for over thirty years.  He’s married, has two adult children, and plays saxophone in a jazz group called, Blue Mood.

WEBSITE
http://www.colintnelson.com/

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

Reprisal (Thriller)

PUBLISHER
North Star Press

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Postcards from the Dead - Laura Childs

Postcards from the Dead

by Laura Childs

New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs offers up Postcards from the Dead, the 10th installment in her Scrapbook Mystery series.  This “Queen of the Cozy” knows how to pour on the suspense!

Murder, Madness, and Mardi Gras . . .

Amid gigantic floats, colorful beads, and dizzying lights, Kimber Breeze, a prominent New Orleans anchorwoman, is strangled and hung from the balcony of the Hotel Tremain.  Scrapbooking maven Carmela Bertrand was supposed to be the woman’s next big interview, but now she’s up to her eyeballs in murder!  And Carmela can’t seem to escape more strange goings-on, because someone is sending cemetery-inspired postcards to her – signed by the very dead Kimber!

A cross between a cozy and a thriller – a thrillzy! – Postcards from the Dead delivers quirky characters, lots of action, humor, and scrapbooking tips.  As an extra bonus, there are New Orleans recipes such as Chicken Jambalaya, Sweet Potato Biscuits, and Cajun Meatloaf.  If you’re looking for a delicious Halloween read this is it!


BIOGRAPHY

Laura Childs is the author of the Scrapbook Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries and Cackleberry Club Mysteries.  Her books have been named to the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller Lists, and have been featured selections in the Literary Guild’s Mystery Book Club.  She is a former Cleo Award-winning ad writer and CEO of Mission Critical Marketing.

WEBSITE
http://www.laurachilds.com

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED
Tea Shop Mysteries
Death by Darjeeling
Gunpowder Green
Shades of Earl Grey
English Breakfast Club Murder
Jasmine Moon Murder
Chamomile Mourning
Blood Orange Brewing
Dragonwell Dead
The Silver Needle Murder
Oolong Dead
The Teaberry Strangler
Scones & Bones
Agony of the Leaves


Scrapbook Mysteries
Keepsake Crimes
Photo Finished
Bound for Murder
Motif for Murder
Frill Kill
Death Swatch
Tragic Magic
Fiber & Brimstone
Skeleton Letters
Postcards from the Dead

Cackleberry Club Mysteries
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggs Benedict Arnold
Bedeviled Eggs
Stake & Eggs
(December 2012)

PUBLISHER
Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN 978-0-425-25275-8

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Beagle Books & Bindery

Beagle Books & Bindery
112 - 3rd St W
Park Rapids, MN 56470

Owners: Bob and Sally Wills
Managed by: Jennifer Wills Geraedts

Book discussion groups are an important part of Beagle Books. The Women's Book Club meets once a month on the third Thursday at 6:00 PM, the Men’s Group meets the third Tuesday of every month at 8:00 AM.

Special events from book signings to celebrations and book-related adventures are announced here and in the e-Newsletter we share with Sister Wolf Books.

Beagle also carries beautiful, unique Inuit art pieces, and Scandinavian books, music, and maps.

Our July events include the Sunday Classic Series at the Y-Steak House (a collaboration between a local restaurant & Beagle Books) - ticketed event which includes a full supper & talk by an author (or performance by a musician). Our July guest authors will include:

7/8 - Paul Sailer

7/15 - Douglas Wood

7/22 - Jim Proebstle

During the month of July, Beagle Books participating in the Where's Waldo Find. If you're unfamiliar with this promotion, 250 indie bookstores were chosen across the U.S. to participate. Those 250 bookstores are coordinating with 19 (or more) other businesses in their communities to do a scavenger hunt for Waldo in the participating businesses. There will be prizes and of course, a party.

Check out  Beagle Books & Bindery today!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Niobe's Tears - Tynan A Stone

Niobe's Tears

by Tynan A. Stone

In the throes of another dreary, cold Minnesota winter, a young prostitute is ritually murdered in a room of one of Saint Paul’s most prestigious hotels. One word is scrawled on the victim’s back, “NIOBE.” Saint Paul detectives Kelly Abner and Alan Matthews, former lovers, are struggling with the recent breakup of their romance while being confronted with one of the most bizarre murder scenes in Saint Paul history.

The murder hits a little too close to home when Detective Abner discovers her own personal connection the victim. Her partner must find the killer without her and decipher a mystery created by a serial killer bent on revenge. The contemporary myth of Niobe is played out on Saint Paul’s frozen streets, and the detectives must find the killer before one of their own is killed. Sympathy for the devil? Hardly, but the killer may just have a point.  
BIOGRAPHY
Tynan A. Stone is the pen name for Troy A. Stein. Troy Stein graduated with a BA in Human Services Administration from Metropolitan State University and currently works as a software developer with the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Originally from North Dakota, he has fallen in love with his “new” home state of Minnesota. When he’s not writing, you may find him geocaching or hiking in one of the many Minnesota State Parks. Niobe’s Tears is his first book. Whipfinish, a sequel to Niobe’s Tears is due out in June 2012.

WEBSITE


PURCHASE
Amazon

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Found and Destroyed - Danelle Helget

Found and Destroyed

by Danelle Helget

Normal?  What’s that?  Sara’s life is anything but normal.

To start, her delicious, new boyfriend, Derek, needs her help. Sara was a witness to his sister’s shooting; when she uses herself as bait, all goes wrong. Now Sara’s life is in danger, and she fears Derek, may not find her in time.  And that’s just the beginning!

The fabulous, rich, and beautiful, Miss Kitty also needs her assistance.  Sara tries to tell her that she has none of the skills needed to help her, but Miss Kitty insists.  And what Miss Kitty wants-Miss Kitty gets!

When Sara’s new friend Tannya, the sassy waitress at the local diner finds out, she wants in. She lives for the excitement that seems to follow Sara.

All Sara wants is one drama free weekend.  What she gets is just another day of, criminals, drugs, guns, knives…. and hot, sexy cops.  Ya know… all the normal stuff.
  
BIOGRAPHY
Danelle Helget grew up in small town Milaca, Minnesota. In the summer she loves to spend her weekends outdoors on the lake, camping, boating, and hiking. She now resides in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota with her husband and two daughters.

WEBSITES

Author page: www.danellehelget.com
Facebook: Author Danelle Helget
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danellehelget

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.

OTHER WORKS
PUBLISHER

North Star Press of St Cloud, Inc

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Come Back to Me - Jay Little

Come Back to Me

by Jay Little

I died on Tuesday afternoon, May 24th, 2011.

I had just suffered sudden cardiac death. Yet somehow, I was revived, shocked back to life. Afterwards, a combination of amazing doctors, nurses, and technology worked on restoring my physical body. Even after resuscitation, I was in critical condition, hanging on by a thread. Meanwhile, my mind wandered aimlessly through the dark corners of oblivion for weeks. Against all odds, I survived. Looking back on it now, I’m convinced my survival all started with a kiss and a whisper … come back to me.

This is my story. It is a story about a 38-year-old man who suffered a massive heart attack – my second in eight months – followed by a number of serious, life-threatening complications. It is a story of the frightening obstacles and powerful miracles encountered along my path to recovery, using a unique blend of perspectives. Throughout my recovery, my wife kept a detailed journal chronicling the objective aspects, such as specific dates, medical issues, and milestones. Kept under sedation for several weeks, and still groggy from the medication and physical ordeal for months afterward, I provide a very different, subjective look at my recovery – how I was feeling, what I experienced, and what I’ve learned from these events.
  
BIOGRAPHY
Born somewhere in California as Jason Little, the author prefers to go by Jay. He has been an avid reader, writer, and gamer for as long as he can remember. Jay has fond memories of playing games and wiling away the weekends with a good book while growing up.

A boardgame and roleplaying game designer by trade, over the years, Jay has had the opportunity to work with a number of awesome people and has more than thirty nerd-worthy publications to his credit. He has had the chance to work on some amazing licenses and titles like Major League Baseball, Warhammer, and Star Wars. This is his first non-gaming related publication.

Jay is also a self-proclaimed geek and proud of it. Thankfully, his wife supports/enables his geekiness. Jay and his wonderful wife live with their two sons and their cats Jedi and the Meeple in Minnesota. During the winter, Jay wonders why they ever moved to Minnesota. The other four months of the year, he wonders why they didn’t do it sooner.

WEBSITES

Author page: www.PaintedThumb.com

PURCHASE
Lulu, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.

OTHER WORKS

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Starvelings - S. D. Hintz

Starvelings

by S. D. Hintz

Looking for inspiration, New York Times Bestselling author Pratt Paget moves his family away from the city. Their new home seems peaceful, a breath of fresh air.

Then their Golden Retriever disappears.

And 12-year-old Parker is convinced something in the abandoned barn beyond the grove took her.

As the sun sets, the bloodthirsty stalk the land. And the Pagets soon find themselves fighting for their lives.

Readers beware!
Lock your doors and close the curtains before you brave this novella of nightmares.  
BIOGRAPHY
S.D. Hintz is a published author and CEO/Editor-in-Chief of KHP Publishers, Inc. He also produces book trailers in his spare time. He currently resides in Minnesota with his wife and two children.

WEBSITES

Author page: http://sdhintz.com

PURCHASE
Amazon


OTHER WORKS

Thursday, May 24, 2012

The Days of Song and Lilacs - Beth Obermeyer

The Days of Song and Lilacs

by Beth Obermeyer

The Days of Song and Lilacs begins in the heat of spring, lilacs raging, 1954.  Twelve-year-old Mary Beth dances almost every night, her beloved accompanist, Mabel, at her side.   But when Mabel suffers a paralyzing stroke on the eve of the big day of the year, the North Iowa Band Festival, Mary Beth fears Mabel’s music has died, along with her own dance stills. 

Mary Beth stays fast by Mabel, and heeds the resolve of Mabel’s former student, Meredith Willson, as he makes a difficult path from Iowa to Broadway.  By the end of the journey, the Music Man and Mabel confirm for all: music never dies.

The book is a slice of Americana, an early peek at Mason City, the town that would become a Midwest destination.  1954 was pre-television for most, and the town served up live entertainment like dessert. With Vivian’s Bridal Shower, Farmers’ Round-Up, Stunt Night at the Parks, this is a fascinating primer for today’s performing arts kids. 

BIOGRAPHY
Beth Obermeyer used her journalism/telecommunicative arts degree and a lifetime of dance and music to start her own public relations company.  TA DA! Special Events produced and promoted many showstoppers, ranging from six that went into the Guinness Book of World Records—to directing statewide, the first Minnesota Festival of the Book.

Beth has been profiled in US Magazine.  Three events of her events have won her city’s Committee for Urban Environment award for improving the quality of life. 

On the faculty of the Minnesota Dance Theatre, the largest center for dance in the Midwest, Beth appeared solo on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and opposite Christopher Plummer and Gregory Hines.

Beth has done seminars to business and professional groups, including Public Relations Society of America.  Her journalism degree is from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.  She has three books published with North Star Press of St. Cloud in the year 5/2011-5/2012.

WEBSITES

Author page: http://bethobermeyer.com

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.


OTHER WORKS
PUBLISHER
North Star Press of St. Cloud

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Father Tierney Stumbles - John Shekleton

Father Tierney Stumbles

by John Shekleton

In the blink of an eye, everything has changed for Father Joe Tierney. He feels trapped. He needs to get away-far away. Dressed in disguise, he opens the door of the STD clinic and runs until his sides hurt and he is gasping for air. Father Tierney, activist pastor of a large Catholic parish and closeted gay man, has just learned he is HIV positive. 

As if the diagnosis were not enough, a big city newspaper has just published an exposé on Catholic priests with AIDS. Father Tierney must guard his secret with his life or become the victim of a witch hunt, or worse yet, a public scandal of monumental proportions. Desperate to confide in someone, Father Tierney finally reveals his secret to Pascal LaVigne, his openly gay friend. But when Pascal hears from his ex-boyfriend, a freelance writer who wants to write a similar story with a local angle, Father Tierney and others in the Catholic Church fear the worst. 

As guilt, shame, and a desperate struggle for redemption plays out in the lives of clergy, friends, and the media, Father Tierney struggles to keep a secret that has the potential to destroy everything-including his own soul.

BIOGRAPHY
John Shekleton is a former Jesuit of the Wisconsin Province who has spent years writing fiction set in a contemporary Catholic setting.

Two of his essays have appeared in Commonweal magazine. For several years he wrote for the magazine of the Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis and for Equal Times, a Twin Cities GLBT newspaper.

WEBSITES

Author page: http://www.johnshekletonauthor.com/

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.


OTHER WORKS
PUBLISHER
iUniverse: http://www.iuniverse.com/

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Rudy O'Tooty - Stacy Waibel

Rudy O'Tooty

by Stacy Raye Waibel

The latest offering in the Rudy's Little World series finds our little friend at an Irish Fair.  This beautifully illustrated book features the sights and sounds of a grand celebration!  It includes a song written just for Rudy.

BIOGRAPHY
Stacy Raye Waibel is the creator of Rudy’s Little World.  Type I diabetes caused her to go blind.  She has experienced kidney dialysis and three transplants (1 pancreas - 2 kidney).  The pancreas transplant cured her diabetes.  On July 16, 2009, Stacy received a life saving kidney from her husband Wayne.

She started writing about Rudy and his little world in 2005.  Stacy shares her stories with groups, mainly children.  Using her books, subjects are more understandable and less scary.

WEBSITE

Author page: http://www.RudysLittleWorld.com
Blog: http://www.rudyslittle.blogspot.com
Video: http://youtu.be/PF973PvMlAc 

REVIEW

"As a children’s librarian and storyteller, I’m always on the lookout for picture books which tell well for my preschool storytimes.  I was so pleased with Stacy Raye Waibel’s newest book, Rudy O’Tooty.  The story sprightly tells of little poodle Rudy’s trip with his “parents” to the local Irish Fair, and his jolly time with all the dancing and celebration of Irish heritage.  Michelle Gruebele’s lively and festive artwork matches little Rudy’s exuberant tale of this memorable day.  It fit perfectly with a green-themed storytime, invoking the merry mood of St. Patrick’s Day.  Needless to say, it comes highly recommended!"
David Coward, Librarian
Wescott branch, Dakota County Library

PURCHASE 

www.RudysLittleWorld.com - PayPal purchase buttons on the home page


PUBLISHER

Purple Cow Press

UPCOMING SIGNING

  • June 26, 2012 @ 10:30am - Farmington Library

OTHER WORKS
  • Rudy Gets A Transplant
  • Rudy's Check Up
  • What's On My Nose? 
  • Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Review: Cul de Sac by Scott Wrobel

Bottom line: Great read for those looking for realistic characters, warts and all.

Scott Wrobel's debut is a series of short stories about men linked by a common thread: not just the fact they live in the same cul de sac, but also their struggles with depression and unfortunate life events.

These stories are character-driven and show the sometimes harsh realities that men commonly deal with. Also, this is definitely a book for adults--it concerns adults in adult situations.

Likes:
* The characters feel like real men: those struggling with identity in a world that's rarely fair. Wrobel pulls no punches in showing us these men's dark sides.
* Each story is the perfect length for a bedtime read.

Things that may concern some readers:
* These stories are a study in character. Many of the stories are left unresolved, which allows the reader to make his or her own conclusions.
* The stories sometimes include sexual deviancy--the most vivid of which involves a jar of mayonnaise.
* The characters aren't shining heroes. In fact they're mostly the opposite--the dark side of life.

I look forward to seeing Scott's next literary work(hopefully soon!)

Purchase link:

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Sundogs: Journey to the Great Windmill - Kay Elliot and Barb Bjornson

Sundogs: Journey to the Great Windmill

by Kay Elliott, illustrated by Barb Björnson

When there's a special dog in your life, oftentimes it feels so right that it’s like they chose you.

Sundogs: Journey to the Great Windmill brings dogs to life in a way like never before, taking the reader on a journey to Planet of the Sundogs where every dog’s unique personality shines through the vibrant color of their fur. Based on the bright spots of light in the sky called sundogs, author Kay Elliott imagines a magical place where dogs play freely, but dream of riding the Great Windmill to their perfect homes. Join SuSu, Yogi, Harley, Bo, Zeke, and Juno as they search for the Great Windmill and are sent to Earth to “love and be loved beyond their wildest sundog dreams.

AUTHOR'S BIOGRAPHY

If you find Kay Elliott daydreaming, she is walking with her dogs on a sunny beach somewhere! She appreciates all things colorful, and relaxes by knitting and reading. Retired after thirty years of traveling as a flight attendant, she is most happy at home with her dogs, Zeke and Juno. She and her husband, Pat, have raised three children and five dogs in Richfield, Minnesota. Sundogs: Journey to the Great Windmill is her first book.





ILLUSTRATOR'S BIOGRAPHY 

Barb Björnson is a published illustrator living in New Brighton, Minnesota. She loves creating characters that come alive on the page as was the case with Sundogs: Journey to the Great Windmill. Barb recently became a grandmother and can’t wait to introduce the arts to her new grandson (he already loves books). More of her work can be viewed at http://www.barbbjornson.com.

Barb Björnson has illustrated several children’s books through Tristan Publishing, Lerner Publishing, Teach Me Tapes, Compass Publishing and Beaver’s Pond Press.

WEBSITES
Author page: http://www.kdelliott.com
Illustrator page: http://www.barbbjornson.com
Illustrator blog: http://www.barbsdailydoodles.blogspot.com

UPCOMING EVENT

Dog Days of Stockholm
Saturday August 4, 2012
Stockholm, WI

Booksigning with author Kay Elliott and illustrator Barb Björnson

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Beaver's Pond Press, and wherever books are sold.


PUBLISHER
Beaver's Pond Press

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories - Mike Kalmbach

Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories

by Mike Kalmbach

When all you have is a blank page, it's often tough to begin writing.

Writing Advice for Teens: Creating Stories aims to help you overcome that initial hurdle by making it easy for you to write down simple, focused ideas and craft them into stories.

However, coming up with ideas is not enough. Teen writers need to understand basic story structure so they can avoid typical writing problems.

Filled with plenty of tips, advice, and examples to help any teen writer, the first book in the Writing Advice for Teens series focuses on getting ideas down quickly and pounding out that first draft. After following the advice and using the techniques outlined in this book, you should understand how to bring the stories locked in your mind to the surface.


BIOGRAPHY
Mike Kalmbach has a Master of Science degree in software engineering from the University of Minnesota. Moonlighting as a freelance editor, he has edited numerous full-length manuscripts as well as countless shorter works. He also teaches several seminars targeted toward helping teen writers develop strategies to create captivating stories.

He also leads the Rochester MN Writing Group and is a founding member of the Rochester Writers Collaborative. He is a strong believer in the power of community, and has led online writing groups and forums for over ten years. Mike enjoys writing for his blog and interacting on Twitter.

Mike currently lives in the Rochester, MN area with his wife, son, and two cats.

WEBSITES

Author page: http://mikekalmbach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekalmbachauthor
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/mikekalmbach
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mikekalmbach

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.


OTHER WORKS

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Machina Viva - Nathaniel Hicklin

Machina Viva

by Nathaniel Hicklin

In a distant world where work is done by machines with the faces of humans, one man has changed what it means to be a robot. But before the new robot can make her mark on the future, she must first survive the present.

Thus was born the city of Tetropolis, one of the oldest mid-atmosphere arcologies. The word is a combination of “architecture” and “ecology,” and such constructions are rarely accidents. Tetropolis fits the requirements of a city, with a central government, police force, utilities, and even a nice park. It also fits the requirements of a building, being a unified structure with a single framework. In this case, the single framework was a series of large interlocking tubes that formed a pyramid nearly a mile high. The taller buildings in the city connected directly to the outer pyramid, strengthening the whole structure while ensuring their own stability. Public transit vehicles traveled through the tubes, intersecting at large spherical nodes and creating a very stressful job for any human who was crazy enough to work in traffic control. The job usually went to a robot, because unlike the vast majority of people, a lot of robots actually enjoy that kind of insanity.

BIOGRAPHY
Nathaniel Hicklin studied engineering in college, but graduated with a degree in theater arts. He has parlayed this background into a portfolio of science fiction and urban fantasy storytelling. His first novel, Seekers of Truth, tells the story of eight people who form a team to combat corruption and evil in a multifaceted world of magic and secrecy. His second book, a novella called Machina Viva, describes a distant world in the empty depths of space where humans and robots walk side by side that explores what it means to be human.

WEBSITE

Author page: http://OfficeOfTheCurator.blogspot.com

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ebooks for Pleasure, and wherever books are sold.


PUBLISHER
4 Square Books

OTHER WORKS

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Hurricane - Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Hurricane

by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Adriana couldn’t decide what was worse—that Hurricane Katrina was heading for New Orleans, or that she might not survive her kidnapping to see its potential effects. She had trusted Hayden, even fallen for him, and now he and his brother Luke were taking her deeper and deeper into the Bayou. Why had two of her classmates, the mysterious Boudreaux brothers, kidnapped her? Why had Adriana’s dreams started predicting the future? Most importantly, would she make it out of the Bayou alive…

A portion of the sales from 'Hurricane' will be going to the New Orleans Area Habitat Humanity for Humanity.

BIOGRAPHY

Jenna-Lynne Duncan graduated from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in Political Science, International Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. Hurricane is her debut novel and she is planning a series. She welcomes those to contact her at Jenna-Lynne@DivertirPublishing.com.

WEBSITES
Author page: http://www.Jenna-Lynne.com
Book page: http://www.Hurricanethebook.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JennaLynneD
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/Jennalynneduncan and http://www.Facebook.com/Hurricanethebook

BOOK TRAILER







PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.


PUBLISHER
Divertir Publishing

Friday, March 30, 2012

Sleeper - Joan Sween

Sleeper

by Joan Sween

Public Play Reading
March 31, 7:00 pm

at Rochester Repertory Theatre
103 Seventh Street NE
Rochester, Minnesota 55906
Sponsored by Minnesota Writers' Alliance

A public reading of the play, "Sleeper," is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, 7:00 pm at Rochester Repertory Theatre.  Written by Rochester playwright Joan Sween, the play is a three-woman narrative thriller.  Reading the play will be Rochester veteran actors Lindsay Beach, Suzanne Dreesman, Dawn Miller, and Aaron Rocklyn.

The goal of the reading is to receive reactions from the audience which will aid in the play’s development into a viable theatrical event.  An open-forum discussion will follow the reading of the play.  Admission is free and open to the public.  Seating is limited; early arrival is advised.

This will be the first in what Minnesota Writers' Alliance hopes will become a regular play-reading series.  Discussions are in progress with The Playwrights Center in Minneapolis to cooperate in presenting readings of new plays.

The reading is sponsored by Minnesota Writers' Alliance.  Area playwrights are encouraged to contact the Alliance for more information about the readings.

BIOGRAPHY
In Joan Sween's pre-teen years, she wrote short stories about fairies, and learned to play the piano accordion.  Her father was a construction engineer; they moved a lot. The accordion was easier to move than a piano.  As a teenager in high school she was in the class plays and wrote pep skits.  Pep skits taught her about mystery writing–the home team, like justice, always had to triumph.  In college she was in a multitude of plays, wrote poetry, edited the college newspaper, and got engaged 16 times. 

She credits her wacky rites of passage as excellent background for writing a novel about perfectly nice ladies who refuse to behave like vampires She's a member of  Sisters In Crime, former Regional Vice-president of Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas, and founder of Minnesota Writers’ Alliance.  Her other books can be found on Amazon.com and her plays with Eldridge Plays & Musicals. Joan lives in Rochester, MN, with two cats who are exasperating and a husband who is wonderfully supportive.


WEBSITE
http://www.rochesterrep.org/Welcome_To_The_Rep!.html

OTHER WRITTEN WORKS
Nice Girls Don't Bite: A cozy mystery where "Transylvania Nasty" collides with "Minnesota Nice".
Dealer's Choice:  A collection of humor columns on antiques and collectibles.
Deathblow:  A detective novel with a serial killer.
Southern Surrender: A one-act farce.
Murder By Accident: A full-length farce.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Bloomington Writers' Festival and Book Fair

It’s time for the 2012 Writers’ Festival & Book Fair held at the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 24 and plan to submerge yourself in the world of books, authors, workshops. Plus, get your chance to hear from Minnesota native, TV, film and comedy legend, Pat Proft!

Every day 800 books are published in the United States, and if you love to read, write or talk about books, the Book Fair is a great place to get new information, meet local authors, find the next good read for your book club, or just browse. 

Several authors who have been featured on Reading Minnesota will join the dozens selling and signing books at the event. Many of the authors, including me, will present live readings of their current works throughout the day. Over 80 authors and resource agencies will be available.     

Keynote speaker, Pat Proft, began his lifelong career early—as a high school student in Columbia Heights, MN. Receiving recognition in radio and stand-up comedy, he branched into theatre, TV sitcoms, and eventually films.

Proft’s humorous talent can be witnessed in his screenwriting for The Smothers Brothers Show (1975), The Carol Burnett Show (1976), and television programs like Welcome Back Kotter and Police Squad. In the last thirty years, he has enjoyed great success by scripting comedy hits in feature films such as Police Academy, Bachelor Party, Real Genius, The Naked Gun, Hot Shots, Brain Donors, Wrongfully Accused, and several installments of the Scary Movie series.

Admission for keynote, workshops, and panels is $12 each and pre-registration is required. The Book Fair is free.  Hear Pat at 9:30 am, then starting at 11 am attend your choice of the workshops and panels led by local experts and leaders in various aspects of writing, publishing, promotion, social media, poetry, publicity, the future of publishing, etc. Lunch is also available for purchase.

For additional information and to register for the keynote presentation, workshops, panels or to order lunches, go to www.BloomingtonArtCenter.com or call 952-563-8575.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Lost and Found - Danelle Helget

Lost and Found

by Danelle Helget

Danelle Helget, a writer who grew up in Milaca and now lives in Sauk Rapids, has launched a new mystery series set in her home state of Minnesota. Lost and Found (North Star Press, 2011) the first book in a series that will be called “The Sara Martin Mysteries,” is filled with interesting characters, familiar Minnesota settings and dramatic events.

Sara Martin had hoped the vacation at a tranquil cabin in northern Minnesota would be the perfect getaway. Instead, she discovers that her husband is carrying on an affair with her childhood friend, Lily. To make matters worse, Lily goes missing shortly thereafter and Sara starts having haunting dreams of a young girl in a white dress who urgently needs her help.

BIOGRAPHY

Danelle Helget grew up in Milaca, Minnesota. In the summer months she enjoys spending her weekends like many Minnesotans--on the lake, camping, boating and hiking. She resides in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. North Star Press of St. Cloud published her first novel, Lost and Found in 2011. Her second novel, Found and Destroyed will continue to follow Sara Martin and is due to be released in June 2012.

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Danelle-Helget/102890406465130
http://twitter.com/danellehelget

PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, and North Star Press of St. Cloud


PUBLISHER
North Star Press of St. Cloud

Friday, March 9, 2012

Agony of the Leaves - Laura Childs

Agony of the Leaves

by Laura Childs

If Murder’s Your Cup of Tea . . .

The opening of Charleston’s Neptune Aquarium is a major event, and Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, SC, has been hired to cater tea, scones, and finger foods for the private party of big buck donors.  But when Theodosia slips away to view the Ocean Wall exhibit, she discovers the body of a man, tangled in a net, drowned in this state-of-the-art tank.

To make matters worse, the victim is Theodosia’s former boyfriend Parker Scully.  The EMTs on the scene say he drowned, but Theodosia spots defensive wounds on his hands and realizes someone wanted him dead.  Even though the police aren’t keen on her theory, Theodosia chases down a raft of suspects that include a shady lawyer, an extravagant lady restaurateur, and an aquarium board member.  Complications ensue when Theodosia is also tapped to compete in a charity scavenger event, cater a tea luncheon at her Aunt Libby’s plantation, and host a Chado ceremony at the Heritage Society.

This clever amateur sleuth’s investigation leads her from high tea into high drama and a surprise cemetery shocker at the end!  So cozy up for a smart good read, then enjoy the recipes for Charleston Pecan Brownie Bars, Honey Bee Scones, and Sweet Potato Butter.


BIOGRAPHY

Laura Childs is the author of  14 Tea Shop Mysteries, 10 Scrapbook Mysteries, and 3 Cackleberry Club Mysteries.  Her books have been named to the USA Today and The New York Times Bestseller Lists, and have been featured selections in the Literary Guild’s Mystery Book Club.  She is a former Cleo Award-winning ad writer and CEO of Mission Critical Marketing.

WEBSITE
http://www.laurachilds.com

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtCSYWUiS98

PURCHASE
Amazon
Barnes and Noble


OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED
Tea Shop Mysteries
Death by Darjeeling
Gunpowder Green
Shades of Earl Grey
English Breakfast Club Murder
Jasmine Moon Murder
Chamomile Mourning
Blood Orange Brewing
Dragonwell Dead
The Silver Needle Murder
Oolong Dead
The Teaberry Strangler
Scones & Bones
Agony of the Leaves


Scrapbook Mysteries
Keepsake Crimes
Photo Finished
Bound for Murder
Motif for Murder
Frill Kill
Death Swatch
Tragic Magic
Fiber & Brimstone
Skeleton Letters
Postcards from the Dead

Cackleberry Club Mysteries
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggs Benedict Arnold
Bedeviled Eggs
Stake & Eggs
(December 2012)

PUBLISHER
Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN 978-0-425-24553-8