Beachin' It, and Debut Authors

Ann Parker here, every other Thursday at the LadyKillers. I find it amusing that, with this week's topic of "Beach Books," so far, no one likes to read at the beach! And that includes me! Priscilla's comment about reading in the mountains (on Camille's post yesterday) got the nod from me: Mountains are definitely more my speed.

Summer is a great time for reading, no matter where, and a great time to try something new. Sooooo, in that spirit, I'm going to recommend a couple of debut authors, whose first books are coming out THIS SUMMER (and who also just happen to be my critique partners as well).

Staci McLaughlin (who is also a LadyKiller) is author of GOING ORGANIC CAN KILL YOU, coming out in July. It's a fun cozy, set in a fictional town in Northern California. And now, here's a review quote, just to whet your (summer reading) appetite:

After being unemployed for a year, Dana Lewis receives the perfect marketing job offer from a well-known company, but turns down the position. Instead she returns home to Blossom Valley, California to live with her still grieving widowed mom and her sister Ashlee.....

The first Blossom Valley Mystery is a great regional cozy due to the strong cast struggling with the Great Recession. The heroine understands surviving in this downturn means embracing other duties as assigned as she goes the extra kilometer beyond blogging and other marketing tools. Readers obtain a close look at living in a small town during terrible economic times through mostly the Lewis females but also other townsfolk out of work. —The Mystery Gazette

Carole Price's TWISTED VINES is set in my own backyard of Livermore, California. Wine and Shakespeare ... the perfect combination for a summer read! Twisted Vines comes out in August. Now, from Publisher's Weekly:

Regional theater fans will welcome Price’s engaging first mystery featuring Ohio crime analyst Caitlyn Tilson Pepper. When Cait receives word from a lawyer that she’s inherited from her father’s twin sister (a relative she didn’t even know existed) a vineyard and two Shakespearean theaters in northern California, she at first can’t believe it. But the chance that she is indeed this unknown aunt’s rightful heir is enough to prompt her to fly to California, where she soon finds herself, with the aid of Royal “RT” Tanner, a Navy SEAL and stage manager of the theaters, looking into her aunt’s mysterious death as well as other suspicious recent deaths. Despite attempts on her life, Cait decides to give up her job and relocate to California in order to ferret out the truth.... — Publisher's Weekly

 

And now, for those of you who have to have a little beach with your books...

 

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

I could definitely read with that sound in the background, Ann. Preferably like this, on YouTube, or a CD!

[Carole Price]

Whoa, Ann. What a happy surprise to open LadyKillers and see Twisted Vines mentioned in your post of summer reading. Thank you, thank you! That was so thoughtful of you. The sound of the ocean reminded me that it's time for my Carmel fix.

[Ann]

Hi Camille!
No blasting sun, no sand between the toes... just the visual and the sound. Pretty nice, eh? :-) I'm bookmarking it myself.

[Ann]

Hi Carole!
You're absolutely welcome! I think TWISTED VINES is a great read... summer, fall, winter, any time. :-)

[Camille Minichino]

Priority Interrupt to say CONGRATULATIONS on the Macavity nomination for Mercury's Rise!
C*E*L*E*B*R*A*T*E!

[Ann]

Aw, thank you, Camille! :-}

[Staci]

Thanks for mentioning Going Organic Can Kill You, Ann!
On a side note, I just got back from San Diego, and while I never made it to the beach, I was definitely happy to have a "beach book" for the hotel room.
Congratulations on your Macavity nomination!

[Michael A. Black]

Hi Ann. Congratulations on the Macavity nomination. This is your second nomination this year, isn't it? That's outstanding. You're making the rest of us Ladykillers very proud.

[Ann]

Thank you, Staci and Michael! Actually, this is my fourth nomination. I guess Mercury's Rise really struck a chord with readers... :-)