Tonight was the last episode of Season 2 and we must wait an entire year for Season 3. Shirley MacLaine is joining the cast and I can not wait to see her up against Maggie Smith.  If you love Maggie as much as I do check out this video on pbs.org

Having said that, I would like to introduce today’s guest blogger Lois Winston. Her latest book Death by Killer Mop Doll is now available.

Lois Winston is the author of the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting
Mysteries. The first book in the series, Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun,
received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist and was recently
nominated for a Reader’s Choice Award by the Salt Lake City Library System.
Lois is also an award-winning author of humorous women’s fiction and romantic
suspense, an award-winning designer, and an agent with the Ashley Grayson
Literary Agency. Visit Lois at http://www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at http://
www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com.

 What genre do you write in? If you write in more than one genre is it under

different names?

I’ve always written under my own name, no matter the genre. began my career
writing romance. My first published book, Talk Gertie To Me, is humorous
women’s fiction. My second book, Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception,
is a romantic suspense. Then at the suggestion of my agent, I tried writing an
amateur sleuth mystery and found my true calling as an author. My Anastasia
Pollack Crafting Mysteries have received critical acclaim, and I’ll be writing them
for at least the next few years, having just been offered a contract for books #4
and #5 in the series.

Is there something you definitely need around when you write?

Coffee. Coffee. More coffee. Plus the occasional piece of chocolate. Did I
mention coffee?

. Music? TV? Or Silence when you write.

I need to write in total silence. Even soft background music is too distracting
to me because I find myself humming along. No way could I write with the TV
on! I have a friend who can only write while watching TV. She’s published over
25 books and is a bestselling author. I don’t know how she does it. I also can’t
imagine writing at a coffee shop like some people do.

How do you feel about writing contests?

Many authors got their first publishing break as a result of winning or finaling in a
contest. I’m one of them.

There are two different types of contests for unpublished authors, those run by
writing organizations and those run by publishers. The ones run by organizations
usually have entry fees. Too many people become addicted to entering these
contests and wind up spending more on entry fees than they’ll ever receive in
the way of an advance on a first sale. When it comes to contests, you need to
employ common sense.

Set yourself a budget and stick to it. Study each contest to determine whether it’s
a good one for your particular book.

If you’re entering contests in order to get feedback, keep in mind that the people
judging your work may not be the best people to offer you constructive criticism.
You have no way of knowing how knowledgeable or qualified they are. You may
be better served by hiring a freelance editor.

 Do you have a favorite of your characters? Why?

I’m definitely Team Anastasia because she’d kill me if I claimed any other
character as my favorite! Seriously, though, I think she’s my favorite because
we have a lot in common. (Disclaimer: what we don’t have in common is a dead
louse of a spouse. My husband is very much alive and unlike Karl Pollack, he’s a
nice guy who hasn’t gambled away our life’s savings.)

Blurb for Death By Killer Mop Doll, the second book in the critically acclaimed
Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries:

Crafts editor Anastasia Pollack’s stress level maxes out when her well-
intentioned mother meets and seduces TV producer Lou Beaumont. Suddenly,
Anastasia and her fellow American Woman editors find themselves roped into
unpaid gigs for a revamped morning TV show. However, not everyone involved
enjoys the idea of the overhaul, and a disgruntled staffer takes action by trashing
the studio set. When that doesn’t halt production, vandalism escalates to murder,
and a member of the production team is found with one of Anastasia’s knitting
needles plunged through his heart.

The network decides the show must go on, but morning TV turns crime drama
as a blackmail plot is uncovered and another body is found. Because Anastasia
fears the killer might go after her and Mama next, she has no recourse but to
launch her own investigation. Unfortunately, her snooping lands her directly in
the killer’s unforgiving spotlight.

 A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad.  ~Albert Camus

While all those are nice and I wouldn’t say no to any of those. (hint hint to my husband:)) My favorite thing in this campaign is the cookie cutter in the shape of lips or the muffin/cake tin with all the little hearts. Perfect for little cakes or even for whoopie pies or cookies, For those of you who like to bake goodies, for the kids to take to school, you to take to work or for desert after dinner with your significant other. Check it out at www.youravon.com/echarton

The general public knows her as Josie Dupree, Best Selling Author of Romantic Suspense. What the public doesn’t know is she is an Elite Faerie Warrior, currently undercover to find the leader of a gang of thieves that is stealing antiquities and selling them on the black market. Gaston Marchand, vampire and New Orleans Police Detective, is assigned to get close to Ms. Dupree who is suspected of being part of the gang.
When Josie and Gaston meet at the Annual New Orleans Black and White Ball, sparks fly. Jose doesn’t have time for a quick fling, but is tempted except that Gaston Marchand is a vampire and an immortal enemy.

See an excerpt below, after the interview Enjoy!

Jackie James lives in the Southwest with her cat Sammy.  Besides writing she hikes in the beautiful mountains that surround the valley she lives in. She is a member of the Saguaro Chapter of the RWA.  Masquerade is her first published book. Stay tuned for more stories about Faeries, Vampires, Shifters, Demons and Witches, her favorite subjects.

Q&A with Jackie

   When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Plotter or Panster or both?

“It is impossible to discourage the real writers—they don’t give a damn what you say, they’re going to write.”
—Sinclair Lewis

Avon has a new campaign beginning in C-2 which is currently out. In the C2 book, p4-45 if you make a purchase of $14.99 of beauty products You will receive the make up bag shown here.

There are other fabulous deals as well, including the Anew Ultimate 3 piece skin care collection for $45.00.

Check out my online store at www.youravon.com/echarton

You can have your order delivered to you anywhere in the United States and if you live near me you can order on line and I will deliver.

Check it out.  www.youravon.com/echarton

ISBN 1463778449

First a little bit about Michael from his Amazon page

My wife suffers from night blindness so I had to drive her to any nighttime meetings of her writers groups. I should have realized it would only be a matter of time before I got bit by the writing bug. I was born in Brooklyn New York My wife is from Boston Massachusetts. We have a mixed marriage. She’s a Red Sox fan and I’m a Met Fan. We’ve been married for over twenty five years so I guess I’m doing something right.

Now I’d like to introduce Professor James Moriarty.  Thank you for agree to this interview.

PM- I’m delighted to be here, my dear. Michael speaks highly of you.

Thank you  First question, can you tell us where you were born and when?

PM: I was born in County Kerry, Ireland in 1835.

Thank you. You go by the title of Professor, What sort of education did you have.

PM: My parents educated me in Ireland, when my mother and I arrived in London, the local clergy took care of my education.

You’ve had a hard life. How do you feel that your upbringing affected your life and what you do?

PM  It’s everything!  The Great Hunger turned my life upside down, showed me the cruelty of the British Empire .  Hatred of Britain and Sherlock Holmes as a representative of that evil empire drive everything I do.

You have been called “The Napoleon of Crime” by none other than Mr. Sherlock Holmes. How do you feel about that title?

PM:  I’m flattered by it.  I despise the adversary, but appreciate the > fact he sees me as someone to be reckoned with for I am!

What do you think of the biography recently written about you by my husband? Are you a Criminal Genius as the title of the book implies?

PM: I’m a criminal in the eyes of a nation, whose authority I do not recognize.  I obviously have a  genius I’ll use to bring the rotten bastards down.

There is a new moving picture in the theatre about your nemesis Sherlock Holmes. Have you seen it? What do you think of them?

PM: I daresay, I’ve not seen it.

Thank you again, Professor for taking the time to stop by and answer a few questions for me.

MORIARTY THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A CRIMINAL GENIUS ( ISBN 1463778449)  is available on Amazon.com as well as Smashwords and B&N. POD is also available from Create Space.  Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a copy of the  Electronic version of this book! I’ll put the names in a bowl and let Yerbie the Wonder Cat pick the winner

Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.
Ronald Reagan