QueenWriter is now Offering Editing Services!

Editing by Starr Reina

As most of you know, I have been editing for some time. I'm one of the editors for Suspense Publishing, as well as the executive editor of Suspense Magazine. While I love those positions and am not leaving them, I am adding to my repertoire. 

I am now offering both proofreading and editing services. You will find this information on the website (www.editing.queenwriter.com), but I'll summarize here.

My proofreading services include simple needs such as: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. If you feel your work requires more, such as consistency and flow, please see the Editing level.

My editing services include all of the above-mentioned proofreading services, as well as reference checks, logic, clarity, structure, flow, editor's cover letter, editor's report, and editing support for three (3) months. Additionally, the editing of (not creation of) your synopsis letter and query letter are part of this package. 

My rates are very reasonable. For more information, please visit www.editing.queenwriter.com, email me at editing@queenwriter.com, or call me at (818) 401-7854.

I look forward to being of assistance to you.

Book Review - "Remnants of Murder"

“Remnants of Murder” by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

They say ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.’ True enough and Casey shows how spot on that is and how dangerous beauty can be in “Remnants of Murder.”

Tori Sinclair is relatively new to Sweet Briar, but is accepted in this small, quaint town. That is until she gets involved in a murder plot that she can’t just sew up and move on to another project. Part of a sewing group, Tori’s help is elicited by one of the members, Dixie, to help prove that a ninety-one-year-old man’s death—Clyde—was not from old age.

With the aid of Leona, Margaret Louise, Dixie, and a few of the other sewing members, Tori tries to prove what she knows is fact. But who wants to kill a ninety-one-year-old man and why? These are just a few of the questions Tori poses to others and that are posed to her. And it troubles her that someone may get away with murder if she doesn’t do something.

Many business owners are actually celebrating Clyde’s death. It seems, Clyde was the owner of a very valuable property that the town wants him to part with; at least, part of it so they can build a resort, thus bringing in more tourists to the town, which would equal more money for the businesses. But Clyde refused to sell any acre of the property. This angered a lot of people.

Setting her sights on the murder, Tori sets aside one of the most important people in her life, her fiancé, Milo and their upcoming nuptials. She ends up not only disappointing Milo time and time again but also manages to alienate some of her closest friends in Sweet Briar. Can she salvage her relationship with Milo while atoning for her mistakes made with friends? And can she solve the murder or will he or she remain free?

Suspects aplenty and quite entertaining!

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” 

Book Review - "The Thrill of the Haunt"

“The Thrill of the Haunt” by E.J. Copperman

Copperman brings us another Haunted Guesthouse Mystery in the series. When I saw it come in, I snatched it up, eager to read more of Alison (live guesthouse owner), Paul, and Maxie’s (dead guesthouse residents) latest excursions. Just as “Chance of a Ghost” did, “The Thrill of the Haunt” entertained and kept me reading (even when I should have been working—please don’t tell my boss).

Alison owns a guesthouse in which ghosts Paul and Maxie are stuck. Well, Paul is; Maxie finally found the ability to travel outside the house. Because Paul was a private investigator before he died, he has since enticed (coerced is more the word) Alison to aid him in investigating for those alive and well…dead.

In “The Thrill of the Haunt,” Alison is hired by Helen Boffice to track her husband David’s moves. Helen believes David is cheating on her. No, she doesn’t want to divorce him; she wants to make sure he is tied to her for life. Strange reasoning, but I’d be announcing Spoiler Alert! if I said more. But that’s not enough. Alison, among trying to entertain her guests who came for the ‘spook shows’ with the ghosts, is forced to investigate a homeless man’s death.

Running a haunted guesthouse and investigating crimes with two ghosts isn’t all Alison has to deal with. The one guy, Josh, who has been worthy of Alison’s desire for him to stick around is ready to bolt. Josh wants to know what Alison is keeping secret from him. Paul and Maxie want her to acknowledge to the world that they exist and go to lengthy extremes to accomplish this, and Allison’s supposed to be learning from her mother how to cook.

This book is filled with wit, hysteria (maybe that was my hysterical laughter there), and pure entertainment. If you like a good ghostly paranormal that will make your eyes water from laughing, this one is it.

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” 

Book Review - "Buried in Bargains"

“Buried in Bargains” by Josie Belle

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘Good Buy Girls’ (GBG)? If you say a bunch of women who like smart finds, then you guessed it. But second hand shops, stationary stores, delis, and accounting are not all Maggie, Joanne, Claire, and Ginger are up to.

Much to the dismay of Sheriff Sam Collins—an ex-boyfriend of Maggie’s from her younger years—Maggie and her entourage insist on getting involved when a young girl is murdered. Joanne’s husband Michael is very protective of Diane Jenkins, his new hire at the deli, and the GBG girls can’t figure out why. Until plots, schemes, and stalkers make an appearance after Diane is murdered and Michael is knocked out and left for dead in his deli.

Maggie and Sam are lighting up their old flame again, but Maggie’s insistence in coming to the aid of her friend and getting in the way may be the one thing that may put that flame out again. But she can’t help herself when Michael becomes a suspect in Diane’s murder.

This is a tale of suspicions, Maggie’s amateurish sleuth, off-the-wall ideas, and mayhem, and it’s a load of fun! Recommended!

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story” 

Meet D.J. Swykert

Today, I'm proud to introduce D.J. Swykert to you. 

Beside being a wolf expert, D.J. Swykert is a former Michigan 911 operator living in Northern Kentucky. His short fiction and poetry has been published in: The Tampa Review, Monarch Review, Sand Canyon Review, Zodiac Review, Scissors and Spackle, Spittoon, Barbaric Yawp and BULL. "Children of the Enemy," a novel, from Cambridge Books is his latest book. His previous work "Alpha Wolves," a novel, is available on the Noble Publishing website. 

I was able to reach him for a short interview.

QueenWriter (QW): What are your writing practices? Such as, do you write each day? What 'space' do you reserve for your writing?

D.J. Swykert (DJS): When I begin a book it doesn't start with the writing. I am a ponderer. I will think on the theme of my story, what it really is about. Once I have this firmly in my head, I do generally write each day. I am a bit compulsive, once I get a story rolling I stick with it until it's finished, which for the first draft is usually a couple of months. I write a book like I was watching a movie. It’s how I move the story along, chapters being scenes, the end result being me as a director, assembling the chapter-scenes into a coherent story consisting of characters, conflict, and resolution. During the creative thinking on my plot, I have the end of my story firmly in my head; when I write the chapters I devise them so that each points towards resolution of the conflict.

QW: You can bring one book to an island that you will be alone on for 30 days. What would that book be?

DJS: I think I might reread Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls." I've always liked it, and am a believer in its theme, which is the futility of war as a way to solve problems. And it's just a strong story with powerful writing. And long enough to last me thirty days.

QW: Tell us a little about your latest book. And other than the synopsis of your book, tell us why you think readers will enjoy it.

DJS: "Children of the Enemy" is a story about innocents caught up in the Detroit drug business. It's a story I can authentically tell. There is considerable violence, but it was my feeling you could not write it any differently. My idea for the main protagonist, Raymond Little, was a man I saw running a salvage yard, which you might also just refer to as a junkyard. He was sitting on a chair outside of a house trailer, smoking a cigarette, with virtual mountains of scrap metal pieces and junk appliances surrounding him. I imagined him in real life as perhaps a cross between Dirty Harry and James Earl Jones, Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. I built the story around this image of him. "Children of the Enemy" is about justice, how the system so often fails. I worked in law enforcement. I know that only a third of all homicides are ever solved. People liked Dirty Harry because he gave them fair and immediate justice. Raymond Little in my story does the same and readers will resonate with his street smart integrity. 

 
QW: What avenues do you use for marketing? What works best for you?

DJS: I like doing spotlights on the different blogs, have done a couple that specialize in crime. You can see a review of "Children of the Enemy" on the Swedish crime blog The Crime House. Those Swedes do like their crime stories, i.e. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I also have a publicist who is the webmaster of an artistic website that goes out to news magazines, media outlets and editors. The site features not only writers, but musicians and artists, and I think this diversity will help grow its audience. I have begun a sales campaign with Indie bookstores, and plan on continuing with it and will perhaps look at a book tour in early 2013 to publicize "Children of the Enemy" and a second crime story I have coming out titled "The Death of Anyone."
 

QW: What's next on your writing list? Are you currently penning this or is this in the 'thinking' stage?

DJS: I am writing a book titled "Counting Wolves." It's about a retired cop whose wife has died and he retreats to a mountaintop cabin in a remote corner of northern Michigan to try and rejuvenate his survival skills. He encounters a pack of young wolves and begins helping to feed them through the harsh winter. I know where the story is going, but not ready to reveal a lot more about it. I hope to have it ready for the Faulkner Competition next summer and after will look for a publisher.

Thank you, D.J. for taking the time to speak to me and our readers. If you would like to find out more about D.J., you can visit his website at http://magicmasterminds.com/djswykert/ or his blog at www.magicmasterminds.com. If you have any questions for him, you may email him directly at djswykert@hotmail.com or of course, leave your comments here and he will address them.

If you would like to be featured or contribute a blog here on QueenWriter News, simply email me at sreina@queenwriter.com.

Chapter Eleven of "In the Name of Revenge"

Chapter Eleven of "In the Name of Revenge" has been released on Wattpad! Go to http://www.wattpad.com/9627694-in-the-name-of-revenge-chapter-eleven and enjoy! Please remember to vote for me!

Come Meet Author Amy Lignor

I am pleased to showcase author Amy Lignor. Her newest release, "13," is released today, December 1, 2012. Help me celebrate with her on the day of her release!

Here's a bit about her

As the daughter of a career librarian she grew up loving books. In fact, Patience & Fortitude at the NYPL are still her heroes. Beginning with her first novel of historical romance, "The Heart of a Legend," I moved into the YA world with the bestselling series, "The Angel Chronicles." Today, December 1, 2012 is the release of "13," which is the first book in a seven-book suspense/adventure series titled, “Tallent & Lowery,” and the fans went crazy for it. Reviewers have already referred to "13" as a '5-Star' read that’s “The DaVinci Code with Heart.”

Being in the publishing industry as an editor for twenty years, Amy now owns and operates The Write Companion (www.thewritecompanion.com), which offers editing, ghostwriting, and proofreading services to authors. She is also a contributor to Suspense Magazine, as well as many literary publications, such as The RT (Romantic Times), HumorOutcasts.com, Authorlink, The Feathered Quill, Random House YA, and more.

Here’s what people are saying about Amy and her Work

“This is an author to keep an eye on in the future as she takes on the big boys in publishing. With a vivid imagination, Amy always delivers!” - Dawn’s Reading Nook

“Amy Lignor has a knack for writing that many should be envious of. She has the wonderful flowing poetry style that makes descriptions of places and times play on the page like mini movies.” - Rants ‘N Scribbles

“Amy’s story is nothing but original!” - Realm of Fiction

“Amy Lignor’s novels keep you begging for more!” - Novel ‘d Tales

“I love Amy Lignor’s twists and turns…she certainly grabs my attention!” - Mocha Latte Reads

“Amy Lignor is a remarkable writer!” - YA-Aholic

“Amy Lignor has a unique way of writing. It’s beautiful, the way she writes.” - Midnight Book Thief

“Amy Lignor is a great writer. I am hooked from the prologue and ready to go wherever she takes me!” - Rampant Reads

Wicked Readings says…“This author creates wonderfully complex characters that are completely believable and truly unforgettable!”

Interview with Amy

I was able to snag a few minutes of Amy's time and asked her some questions:

QueenWriter (QW): Tell us a bit about your background that we won't find in your bio.

Amy Lignor (AL): Writing was something I always wanted to do. When I was 13 years old, we were actually given an assignment by our history teacher in high school. The class was supposed to write an essay regarding our ‘take’ on the characters of Nicholas & Alexandra. The girls headed toward the Tsarina and the boys took the Tsar and, because I love being different, I took the subject of Rasputin. That was the first time my writing achieved success – when the teacher placed it into a historical writing competition and it won. After that, writing was it! I love research; I love going back to ancient times and figuring out puzzles; and I love having fans whisked away by a story that I created. So…writing is not what I would call a ‘job,’ it is extremely personal to me, and I want to make readers happy and introduce them to characters they’ll (hopefully) never forget.

QW: Complete the following sentence: "If I had one day to do whatever I chose to do, I would ..."

AL: Oh, gosh…I would have to say that there are so many places I have written about that I would love to visit one of them for a day; most especially, Petra, which is a highlight in my new series. Just to be able to walk through these amazing places and see the ‘real’ thing up close and personal instead of researching in books, on the internet, etc., would be an absolute thrill for me.

QW: Other than the synopsis of your book, tell us why you think readers will enjoy it.

AL: "13" came from a very slow day at work, to be honest, and turned into an all-out adventure. I think the puzzle linking some of the most varied locations in the world, not to mention a main character who is beyond funny and intelligent, will have readers truly involved in the book. It’s a slice of The DaVinci Code mixed with the all-out action of an Indiana Jones/National Treasure plot. And the sites, themselves – the legends and ‘ghost stories’ - in some cases - have readers running to the internet and sending me messages already about how ‘cool’ they think these sites are. So…I think readers will be engaged by the material!

QW: Do you believe in writer's block? If so, has this happened to you? And what do you do to get past it? 

AL: I don’t know if it’s so much of a block as it is just simple exhaustion. There are so many times when I’ve heard from others that you should “sit at least an hour a day in front of the computer, or at least type five pages on a daily basis”…but if you have nothing to say about the character or the next step in their path/adventure, the pages will be something that you’ll most likely throw out later on. I say this because when the thrill is with you, when you have that passion running through you, the story takes the writer out of the everyday world and it’s a complete and utter experience. When the passion isn’t there, the pages written will be nothing more than boring words and no writer wants that for their fans. To get over the block/pause/exhaustion, I walk away from that machine. I read a book by someone I love, walk outside, enjoy the family, a friend, play ball with the dog – something that completely takes my mind away from the story I want to write. Then, when my palette is clean, so to speak, that passion springs to life again. (Usually at 2:00 AM when you have to wake up and start writing immediately!)

QW: What's next on your writing list? Are you currently penning this or is this in the 'thinking' stage?

AL: I’m having a ball, actually, because I am currently working on the third and final installment of The Angel Chronicles series, which has done amazingly well with the YA world; and I’m working on Book II in the Tallent & Lowery series, which is a whole lot of fun because I have found a way this time to connect Shakespeare, the New Testament, Petra, Noah’s Ark, and the Goddess Athena in a puzzle that’s beyond exciting…so both are being written as we speak. I also have a romance novel coming out in January, so gearing up for that as well.

I'd like to thank Amy for taking time from her busy life to talk to us. You can contact Amy and find out more about her at:

http://www.tallentandlowery.blogspot.com

http://the-angel-chronicles.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/alignor

http://twitter.com/hellowritersamy

http://ww.facebook.com/pages/The-Write-Companion

http://www.thewritecompanion.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068.Amy_Lignor

December Sale of "One Major Mistake"

For the month of December, I'm offering a special price for my latest release "One Major Mistake." This is the last in the Ivanovich series that was released on July 10, 2012. From December 1 through December 30, 2012, the ebook version will be on sale for $2.00.

All you have to do is go to this link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/180723 and use the following information:

Promotional price: $2.00
Coupon Code: MM74U
Expires: December 31, 2012

Book Review

YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, YOUR CHILDREN ALL GONE

By Stefan Kiesbye

Kiesbye’s supernatural novel speaks straight to our innermost fears. In Hemmersmoor, some children grow up and never leave while others leave by fates worse than death. Christian, Linde, Anke and Martin, four of Hemmersmoor’s children, tell a tale of a village wrought with ghosts and evil. There are dark and sinister secrets and enigmas that neither the old nor the young dare speak of.

The children were sentinels of this town’s secrets, until Kiesbye reveals all. Children are killed, beaten by their own parents and raped while adults act on jealousy, love, hatred and rage.

It’s not best to read this creepy book at night while alone. Keep the lights on and someone nearby. It’s a dark book and not one I recommend to young adults.

Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of "One Major Mistake"

Writing Quirks and Must-Haves to Write

I’m sure many authors have their own quirks, superstitions and/or must-haves in order to write. I can be counted among that ‘many.’ I’ll start with quirks.

If someone were to come up behind or near me when I’m writing a novel, I have a tendency to either close my laptop or turn the screen off if I’m on the P.C. I know, it’s not like they could read it that fast, but I don’t want to take that chance. I want them to read it when I’m ready for them to, not a moment before. Another oddity for me is I tend to look off into space while I’m typing. Most often, it’s above, as if I’m looking at the ceiling. People ask me what I’m looking at and think I’m weird, but in fact, I’m actually visualizing what I’m typing. It’s sort of like being in New York City and suddenly stopping on the sidewalk and looking up. People will stop and try to look at what you’re looking at. Before you know it, you have a group looking up. It’s the same when I’m typing and looking skyward. If anyone is in the room, they will always look up to see what I’m looking at. It’s funny. You should try it sometime.

My #1 must-have when writing is quiet. I can’t concentrate well if I have the television running and/or people talking. If they’re in the room I designate I’m writing in, they must be quiet. If they can’t be, I pick up and leave (after I get them all to look at the ceiling). Coffee is another thing I must have. I get a nice steaming hot cup of coffee and sit down at my computer. Before you know it, I’m focused on my book and it is hours later when I take a sip of a not-so-good, very cold cup of yuck. I do it every time. So, I get up and start all over again. If I’m drinking a hot cup of coffee (or warm), I know I’m not focusing on my writing. Maybe that’s more of a quirk than a must-have. Either way you look at it, caffeine kick starts and then keeps my brain into high gear.

I would love to hear what your quirks and/or must-haves are. Send a message to me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/starr.reina#!/starr.reina) or comment here on my blog.