tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75119158883095360262024-03-12T20:06:31.555-07:00Wordlovers by Melissa BowersockDoing what writers do best ...Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-91999227522989664252024-01-29T14:15:00.002-07:002024-01-29T14:15:44.609-07:00<p> I've found I no longer have the time to keep my blog up to date; too busy writing, editing and publishing. So I will not be adding anymore pages to my blog, but the archive will still be available. If you have any questions, you can always reach me through my webpage: www.newmoonrising.net. </p><p>In the meantime, I'm still working on my paranormal mystery series, <i>The Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series</i>. You can see all those books <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753GYH77" target="_blank">here</a>. Many of my books are now also audio books, and can be found on <a href="https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=Melissa+Bowersock&k=Melissa+Bowersock&crid=c7cf30833a02402b9cab88eb9e18ee8f&sprefix=melissa+bowqer%2Cna-audible-us%2C217&i=na-audible-us&url=search-alias%3Dna-audible-us&ref=nb_sb_noss" target="_blank">Audible</a>. </p><p>Just know that I appreciate all you readers and listeners, and welcome any comments or suggestions for new book ideas. I feel like the connection between me and my readers is a two-way street, so I'm always happy to hear from you. You guys rock! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-752772178359992332022-10-22T13:39:00.002-07:002022-10-22T13:39:26.048-07:00Catch-Up Time<p> <span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A lot's been going on over the past few months, and I've been remiss to keep you updated. Since I released Hopi Walk, Book 33 of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series, I've also finished Book 34 (Healing Walk) and Book 35 (Trojan Walk), and I'm almost done with Book 36, Betrayal Walk. Whew! Sometimes it's hard for ME to keep up with the paranormal duo! </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtZQRwY95otVrX6QH0l9tn1zHM7CxYWt9mQ9z7RCQKManfiybXwy0NlO3A6KjyCvuTPlP5qqfBJIdqIcr8nSEJG_BG-71EMJl2ITUIM2n0lIjF2CzbWAx2r3PQSP5UPHqhzZuXyoMx5UvZd3sjVSDKUvr3LPYyV6WolvtFrGoBRPCGNwIBl9VWduS-w/s553/healing-trojan-betrayal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="553" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtZQRwY95otVrX6QH0l9tn1zHM7CxYWt9mQ9z7RCQKManfiybXwy0NlO3A6KjyCvuTPlP5qqfBJIdqIcr8nSEJG_BG-71EMJl2ITUIM2n0lIjF2CzbWAx2r3PQSP5UPHqhzZuXyoMx5UvZd3sjVSDKUvr3LPYyV6WolvtFrGoBRPCGNwIBl9VWduS-w/s320/healing-trojan-betrayal2.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>On top of that, my new narrator, Julie John, has been working hard on the audio versions of the books. If you recall, Laura Wilson had recorded the first 11 books in the series, but when Covid hit, her time as a voice artist was severely limited by her other essential work. When I found Julie John, I hit the jackpot. Julie has done a fabulous job taking over the series, and has let her creativity loose in the way she portrays the characters. She's excellent at using different voices for the different characters, which means it's much easier for the listener to keep track of who's talking. In addition, she's also introducing subtle but very effective sound effects into the stories--not enough to interfere with the narration, but just enough to set the mood and give the audio experience an extra bit of oomph. If you like audio books, I think you'll love what Julie's done with the latest books. She's already finished 12, 13 and 14 (Fire Walk, Revenge Walk, Gangster Walk), and is currently working #15, Karma Walk. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Check out the entire series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks">here</a>, and of course the ebook of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks">Ghost Walk</a> is always only 99 cents.</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-89624176409435234562022-02-21T08:37:00.001-07:002022-02-21T08:37:55.218-07:00New Release: Hopi Walk<p> Happy New Year, Friends! Hope your holidays were all good ones and that the year looks promising ahead. We've got to get out from under this Covid stuff sometime, right?</p><div style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzei4E0dTFd56XxJ3zzg1PQp13iFhFuQQ2gRZ3getoEuJ2oEGiDyRN1qKDh5fos7gcTZyJp2c3kwhUpLzhkwuiVtLV6Q0aTNy444kPIj4Lyr3ZjVGk1KBmzIIJPROWIuJGbwfI8XQaWhhihvgsAsbIdk-sADIo17HpxVtF5o7Bl2a1z5PGyMbI2_5aLw=s461" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzei4E0dTFd56XxJ3zzg1PQp13iFhFuQQ2gRZ3getoEuJ2oEGiDyRN1qKDh5fos7gcTZyJp2c3kwhUpLzhkwuiVtLV6Q0aTNy444kPIj4Lyr3ZjVGk1KBmzIIJPROWIuJGbwfI8XQaWhhihvgsAsbIdk-sADIo17HpxVtF5o7Bl2a1z5PGyMbI2_5aLw=s320" width="200" /></a></div><br />I'm happy to announce the release of book #33 of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SYFSM6J/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1645406839&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Melissa+Bowersock"><em>Hopi Walk</em></a>. This is another adventure out on the reservation, which seems to be a favorite locale for most of my readers. Here's the blurb:<br /><br /><em><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em style="text-align: left;">Navajo police officer John Stoneburner is a tough cookie who hates to rely on anyone else, especially Sam Firecloud with his “woo-woo” abilities. So when John asks Sam to investigate the death of his own brother, Sam knows John is totally out of ideas. The investigation centers on Blue Canyon, a scenic and spiritual area of the Hopi reservation. When Sam walks the location, he not only connects with John’s brother, but also with other enraged spirits that are out for revenge, and that don’t care who they exact it from.</em></div></em><br />Sound interesting? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SYFSM6J/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1645406839&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Melissa+Bowersock" style="font-size: 16px;"><em>Hopi Walk</em></a> will be priced at only 99 cents through February 28, 2022. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks"><em>Ghost Walk</em></a>, Book 1 of the series, is always only 99 cents, so if you want to start at the beginning (encouraged, but not necessary), you can dive in on the cheap. <br /><br />Enjoy the new book, and stay safe!<br />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-53626952070992269822021-10-21T07:38:00.002-07:002021-10-21T07:38:45.481-07:00New Release: Redemption Walk<p> <strong>Happy Fall to all! Hope you're all ready for the fall season (except my friends in the Southern Hemisphere!): the chill winds, the colored leaves, the hot drinks by the fireplace. Here in Southern Utah, we've already had our first snow! Didn't last long, but it was beautiful.</strong></p><strong><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><img class="tl-email-image" data-id="4383970" height="470" src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/e782b3f4-ce90-c513-287d-1ebb4b19282e.jpg" style="max-width: 300px; width: 300px;" width="300" /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I'm very happy to announce the release of the latest Sam and Lacey book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Walk-Melissa-Bowersock-ebook/dp/B09J9YFBV4"><em>Redemption Walk</em></a>. This is Book #32 in the series. Here's the lowdown:</strong></div><br /><em>When medium Sam Firecloud and his partner, Lacey Fitzpatrick, are called in to investigate a haunting, they find out very quickly that the spirit is their client’s mother—and she is a poltergeist. The recently departed soul moves random objects around the house, seemingly without purpose. Sam knows the ghost has a story to tell, but it’s hidden deep in the past. Although the secret threatens to tear the family apart, if Sam and Lacey can’t figure out the clues and uncover the whole truth, the ghost will be bound in agony to the earth plane—forever. </em><br /><br />To celebrate, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Walk-Melissa-Bowersock-ebook/dp/B09J9YFBV4"><em>Redemption Walk</em></a> will be priced at just <u>99 cents</u> until October 31st. Consider it my Halloween gift to you! What better way to celebrate Halloween than with Sam and Lacey and another anguished ghost? Oh, and by the way: hanky alert! Keep them handy. This is quite a different journey than the one in the last book, <em>Twilight Walk</em>.<br /><br />As always, you can see the entire series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks">here</a>.<br /><br />As we head into our second Covid winter, I sincerely hope you're all staying safe and will be able to gather with friends and family around the holidays. I've been fortunate enough to get with family a couple of times already, and it was delightful--and sorely missed. Grateful that we've been able to stave off the virus that's affected so many. Wishing the same for all of you.</strong>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-13077184908184287072021-07-25T14:29:00.000-07:002021-07-25T14:29:41.955-07:00Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>The concept of self-publishing has changed dramatically over the past 40 years; I should know, because I have been involved in publishing in one form or another for that long. My first two books were traditionally published by a NY house, meaning my agent sent them the first manuscript, they read it, they liked it and they decided to take a chance on an unknown and publish it. I even got a small advance on it. When they saw my second book, they snapped that one up, too, and both books had several runs over the ensuing few years. When the publishers decided the books had run their course, they took them out of print and reassigned all rights to me to do as I wished. Well, what I wished was to keep the books viable--but how? </b></span></p><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />Enter self-publishing. Yes, there was a time when self-published meant your old weird uncle wrote down his ideas about UFOs and how they came from the center of the (hollow) earth to monitor our burgeoning nuclear capabilities, books that no traditional publisher (at that time) would touch. Back then, many of those books probably had bad spelling, bad punctuation and a dicey plot line. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />In the intervening years, self-publishing has become the method of choice for many, but not because they write like your uncle. The truth is, traditional publishing has gotten very conservative, and the big houses will very seldom, if ever, take a chance on an unknown. If they're not convinced the book will be a best-seller (and who can predict that?), they will likely pass. Luckily, self-publishing has become not only an option but even a preferred method. Why self-publish? There are many reasons, but I'll tell you why <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;">I</u></em> do it: (1) Total control--I control everything about my book: the title, the cover, the editing, the way it's packaged and the way it's marketed. I don't have to worry about my book fitting into the latest trend, and I don't have to worry about a page count. I write what I want to write (and read), and don't have to worry about getting approval from anyone. (2) Time--it's a fact that traditional publishers move slowly. </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I'd always heard that publishing was like mating elephants: It's done at a high level; it's accomplished with a great deal of roaring and screaming; and it takes two years to produce results. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important;">With self-publishing, I can release a book almost instantly, as soon as it's edited and done. Additionally, if I need to make changes, if I find one of those horrid little typos, I can fix it and upload a new version immediately. No traditional publisher has that kind of response time. (3) Royalties--it's not my goal to become a zillionaire, but neither is it my goal to be a starving artist. With self-publishing, I set the retail price for my books based on the production cost, and while I keep the price low so I'm not gouging my readers, I still make more than I ever did with traditional publishing. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />All that being said, some people still regard self-publishing negatively, which is why I was very pleasantly surprised to see that some bloggers/book reviewers had banded together to create <a data-cke-saved-href="https://imavoraciousreader.blogspot.com/2021/07/self-published-authors-appreciation_20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20ImAVoraciousReader%20(I%27m%20A%20Voracious%20Reader)&fbclid=IwAR0fFOWH92-nyU37soMaHPeo8raNn1Xt29GMNyyvSJVgNVd59KEQUtGQq6c" href="https://imavoraciousreader.blogspot.com/2021/07/self-published-authors-appreciation_20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20ImAVoraciousReader%20(I%27m%20A%20Voracious%20Reader)&fbclid=IwAR0fFOWH92-nyU37soMaHPeo8raNn1Xt29GMNyyvSJVgNVd59KEQUtGQq6c" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week</a>. Bloggers and book reviewers are worth their weight in gold. Most of them read a crazy number of books, they have a very good idea of what makes an enjoyable read, and they share their insight with anyone willing to follow them. I was humbled and grateful to find my name on their list of worthwhile authors. Now you, dear readers, can read a long list of reviews of my books and decide if they're your cup of tea, plus I have a feeling you just might find some authors new to you that also fit the bill. I hope you'll check out all the posts during Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week, and I send out a hearty <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">thanks</em> to those bloggers that participated. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /></b><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><img class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/cebe5b30-40c2-42e8-8da0-d9fd28ecb9dd.jpg" data-id="3734002" height="199" src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/cebe5b30-40c2-42e8-8da0-d9fd28ecb9dd.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; cursor: default; display: block; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 640px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 640px;" width="640" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-12089461839843716732021-06-10T09:11:00.001-07:002021-06-10T09:11:50.677-07:00New Release: Twilight Walk<p> </p><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 42px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">How's everybody doing? Excited about having the Covid restrictions starting to loosen up? I sure am. It feels good to be able to walk around without a mask, to actually see people's faces, see them smile. After so long <em>with</em> the masks, tho, it feels funny to go without... a little. But I'm sure we'll get used to it.</span></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.66667em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 42px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>I'm also excited to announce Book #31, a new adventure in the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096X2ZDLF?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_30&storeType=ebooks" target="_blank"><em>Twilight Walk</em></a>. This one takes the paranormal investigators into places and situations they've never been before, with unexpected results. I think you'll really want to sink your teeth into it!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7VkhFSwo3M/YMI2MiX6iDI/AAAAAAAARro/pw2QcN2zcCsWgJJz0DeLDf-fhqFtHe-AgCLcBGAsYHQ/s519/twilightmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7VkhFSwo3M/YMI2MiX6iDI/AAAAAAAARro/pw2QcN2zcCsWgJJz0DeLDf-fhqFtHe-AgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/twilightmed.jpg" /></span></a></div><br /><strong style="font-size: medium;"><br /></strong></div><div><b style="font-size: large;">Here's the deal:</b></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /><em>Paranormal investigators Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud have their lives turned upside down by a sudden medical emergency that sidelines Lacey for the foreseeable future. At the same time, however, the LAPD is stymied by what appears to be a serial murderer, and not just the ordinary garden variety. This one leaves teeth marks on the victims’ necks. Is a vampire loose in LA? Sam intends to find out, and must plunge alone into the dark underground of bloodlust culture. Can he track down the evidence by himself, and can recalcitrant Lacey follow doctor’s orders long enough to let her body heal?</em><br /><br />To celebrate the new release, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096X2ZDLF?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_30&storeType=ebooks"><em>Twilight Walk</em></a> ebook will be only <u>99 cents through June 30, 2021</u>. <br /><br />Not familiar with Sam and Lacey? The first book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i17">Ghost Walk</a>,</em> is always just 99 cents. You can see the entire series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks">here</a>.<br /><br />And have you ever wondered what goes on in an author's brain? Where we get all our crazy ideas? Well, I'll show you mine. Here's an <a href="https://www.nfreads.com/interview-with-author-melissa-bowersock/">interview </a>I did recently. Some of the answers might surprise you.</b></span></div><div class="boxwrap rounded pad-left" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Volkhov Regular"; line-height: 1.33333em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 42px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="above-below15 above0" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.33333em; margin-bottom: 15px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe id="message-content" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 969px; line-height: 1.33333em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 767px;"></iframe></div></div>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-32930535632700502662021-05-15T09:51:00.000-07:002021-05-15T09:51:12.800-07:00News and Views<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Since my move to a new town in a new state last September, my writing schedule has pretty much gone to hell. Luckily I am getting my stride back, and I've been working on Book 31 of the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks" target="_blank">Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series</a>, <i>Twilight Walk</i>. Here's a preview and the cover:</b></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Paranormal
investigators Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud have their lives turned
upside down by a sudden medical emergency that sidelines Lacey for the
foreseeable future. At the same time, however, the LAPD is stymied by what
appears to be a serial murderer, and not just the ordinary garden variety. This
one leaves teeth marks on the victims’ necks. Is a vampire loose in LA? Sam
intends to find out, and must plunge alone into the dark underground of
bloodlust culture. Can he track down the evidence by himself, and can
recalcitrant Lacey follow doctor’s orders long enough to let her body heal?</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2B_JNfVttuU/YJ_5QMyf1eI/AAAAAAAARrQ/Rs2ATKkWNjgseDz-kYmGGrr4rJu8cswswCLcBGAsYHQ/s519/twilightmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2B_JNfVttuU/YJ_5QMyf1eI/AAAAAAAARrQ/Rs2ATKkWNjgseDz-kYmGGrr4rJu8cswswCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/twilightmed.jpg" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>I'm not quite done with this one yet, but will be soon, and I think you'll enjoy the ride.</b></span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Meanwhile my cover designer has been redoing more of the covers of the series, and they are looking fabulous, if I say so myself. Here's a sample:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZXGqW8nZ5s/YJ_5ofpo2lI/AAAAAAAARrY/fboA5ePjAkQ5ntfxIGLegT4iOUbLGQCcACLcBGAsYHQ/s3965/9books-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="3965" height="123" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZXGqW8nZ5s/YJ_5ofpo2lI/AAAAAAAARrY/fboA5ePjAkQ5ntfxIGLegT4iOUbLGQCcACLcBGAsYHQ/w619-h123/9books-new.jpg" width="619" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>I think they look pretty nifty, don't you? It'll take a while to get them all redone, but it'll happen.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>And finally, one more announcement. There's a beta program that's now allowing us to publish hardback books, and I was quick to jump on that and try it out. I've released my non-fiction, the biography of my aunt who was a prisoner-of-war, as a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Marcia-Gates-Bataan-Melissa-Bowersock/dp/B0949CVLQM/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">hardback</a>. Now that book is available as an ebook, a paperback, a hardback and an audio book. Whew! I think we've got everyone covered there, whatever your choice of format might be.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SyeuKnIOwhk/YJ_7Qwm8dII/AAAAAAAARrg/DVRjSiOMIpQAnh98FiKGE8mhodNWAPqfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s506/Marcia-cover-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SyeuKnIOwhk/YJ_7Qwm8dII/AAAAAAAARrg/DVRjSiOMIpQAnh98FiKGE8mhodNWAPqfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Marcia-cover-med.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b>Meanwhile, I hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying some of the newfound freedom we're seeing as we're getting this virus under control. It's been a long haul, but we're definitely seeing some progress. Together, we can beat this. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><div><br /></div>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-69824573441384429952021-03-21T15:23:00.000-07:002021-03-21T15:23:08.690-07:00New Release: Suicide Walk<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Spring has spring. and Sam and Lacey are on another difficult case in <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZM6DHCP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=suicide+walk+bowersock&qid=1616351305&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Suicide Walk</a></b></i>. This one has a double whammy to it, a stubborn case coinciding with stubborn family issues that the pair are trying to solve.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZM6DHCP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=suicide+walk+bowersock&qid=1616351305&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oV3e8-edGu0/YFJrjkjNUfI/AAAAAAAARqg/nfNXx-FyjbM9ck-aCSIb6NDBYzey9YnSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/suicidewalk-front-med.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Raising
teenagers is tough. Medium Sam Firecloud and his partner, Lacey Fitzpatrick,
have that brought home to them in spades when Sam’s sixteen-year-old son,
Daniel, calls a sudden family meeting to make an unexpected, and unwelcome,
announcement. Not only are Sam and Lacey struggling to deal with the development,
they’re doing it in different ways, adding to the tension. At the same time,
they are hired to investigate the death of a fifteen-year-old girl who chose to
tragically end what was a privileged but tragic life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Sam’s usual methods for dealing with a
tethered soul go stunningly wrong, he and Lacey are left to wonder if they can
ultimately help either of the two teens—living and dead—to find peace.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is Book #30 of the popular series, and to celebrate this milestone, I am reducing the price of ALL ebooks in the series to just 99 cents each. If you've been waiting for a reason to grab up an armload of Sam and Lacey, or if you've read them through Kindle Unlimited only and want to own them so you can re-read them anytime you want, now is your chance. The books will be on sale through March 31, 2021, so get 'em while they're hot... eh, cold. Follow the paranormal pair on all their adventures, from California to New York, from the US to Ireland to Israel. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And as always, I hope everyone is staying safe. We're making it through the tough challenges we're facing all around the globe. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel!<br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-Book/dp/B07D8SMZDG/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CAAX7PZE28TMVBZN480E">See the full series</a></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-Book/dp/B07D8SMZDG/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CAAX7PZE28TMVBZN480E"><span style="font-family: Arial;">
here.</span></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-17780519036039313602020-10-26T10:06:00.001-07:002020-10-26T10:07:00.171-07:00New Release--Finally!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll bet some of you thought I'd fallen off the planet. Over the past
three or four years, I've been releasing a new book about every 6 to 8
weeks, and now all of a sudden I dropped out of sight for months. Well,
I've been busy--moving. This summer in AZ was too brutally hot, so my
husband and I moved to Kanab, Utah. Kanab sits at 5000 feet and is
easily 10 to even 20 degrees cooler than where we were. It's a charming
little town set smack amid red rock canyons, and is close to Zion
National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Lots
of amazing places for us to explore.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqkYZPdKckI/X5cBmubOhII/AAAAAAAARos/d0lspBS-Yz45dr_CpCIp98stg7xnfD0lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s545/execution%2Bwalk-e.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqkYZPdKckI/X5cBmubOhII/AAAAAAAARos/d0lspBS-Yz45dr_CpCIp98stg7xnfD0lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/execution%2Bwalk-e.png" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>But during all that time of packing, moving, and unpacking, I left Sam
and Lacey working frantically to solve serial murders in the tony
community of Huntington Beach, California. Luckily the pair of
paranormal investigators were up to the challenge of not only pursuing
the murderer, but staying on track even as I was busy elsewhere. Now,
finally, I am happy to announce the release of Book 29, </span><a href="http://mail01.tinyletterapp.com/MelissaBowersock/new-release-finally/18180246-www.amazon.com/dp/b08ltqtlzq/ref-sr_1_1?c=b4144b12-6ef2-4ae3-a1e8-02c07cb03300" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><em>Execution Walk</em></strong></a><span>. Here's the scoop:</span></span><p></p><div><em><span style="font-size: medium;">On a lazy morning, paranormal investigators Sam Firecloud and
Lacey Fitzpatrick take some rare time off and head for the
beach—Huntington Beach, to be exact. What they don’t expect is to wander
onto the scene of a brutal murder committed the night before. When
Sam’s initial impressions are surreptitiously recorded by TV cameras at
the same time that a local psychic named Anubis makes startling claims
about the murder, news journalists smell a ratings bonanza—the battle of
the psychics. All Sam and Lacey want to do is stop the killer from
killing again, which turns out to be more complex than they’d
imagined—especially with the annoying distraction of being partnered
with Anubis.</span></em></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
<br />
Sound interesting? I think so. It's Sam and Lacey doing what they do best. To celebrate the new release, the ebook of <strong><em><a href="http://mail01.tinyletterapp.com/MelissaBowersock/new-release-finally/18180246-www.amazon.com/dp/b08ltqtlzq/ref-sr_1_1?c=b4144b12-6ef2-4ae3-a1e8-02c07cb03300" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Execution Walk</a> </em></strong>is only <strong>99 cents</strong> through <strong>November 1, 2020</strong>. If you still haven't been introduced to the ghostbusting pair, <a href="http://mail01.tinyletterapp.com/MelissaBowersock/new-release-finally/18180250-www.amazon.com/gp/product/b01muczr5t/ref-dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4?c=b4144b12-6ef2-4ae3-a1e8-02c07cb03300" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><em>Ghost Walk</em></strong></a>, Book 1, is always only 99 cents. And, I'm happy to report, I've started working on Book #30.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, my wonderful narrators have been busy, as well. The
first 10 books in the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series
are now on audio, with 11 soon to come. In addition, both books of the
No Time for Travis time-travel series are now on audio. You can see all
my audio books <a href="http://mail01.tinyletterapp.com/MelissaBowersock/new-release-finally/18180254-www.audible.com/search?c=b4144b12-6ef2-4ae3-a1e8-02c07cb03300" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">here</a>.
If any of my audio books look tantalizing to you, let me know. I have
free promo codes to give away, and you can download and listen to any
(or all) of those books for free! Just shoot me an email and let me know
what books you'd like to have and I will send you the codes. I have
codes for both US and UK available.<br />
<br />
I hope you all have a safe and scary-fun Halloween. What could be better
for Halloween than ghosts and more ghosts? After all, it is the day
when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. And
when those ghosts become troublesome, or in need of redemption, who you
gonna call? Why, Sam and Lacey, of course! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Halloween! </span></strong></div></div>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-67136503733749852252020-05-21T10:23:00.001-07:002020-05-21T10:23:30.321-07:00New Release: Stone Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Are you ready for summer? It's almost here and I know we're all hoping for some normalcy, for some relaxing days in warm sunshine after being closed up all spring. I don't think we're out of the woods yet with the virus, but it would be nice to be able to recapture some of the usual routines we've done without for so many months. Still staying safe, of course.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088WQR7FT/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-moURxHJ62pY/Xsa4TJQ3arI/AAAAAAAARm4/V1yVgE2_b7M25IKD9TKOaysXWZbrupNjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/STONE%2BWALK-med.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />Looking for that perfect book to read on the beach or at the park? (For my friends in the Southern Hemisphere, how about a good book to read sitting by the fire with a cup of tea?) I just might have a suggestion for you. <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088WQR7FT/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1">Stone Walk</a></em>, Book 28 of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series is out, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Here's the deal:<br /><br /><em>Who knew there was a Scottish castle hiding on a high promontory over Monterey, California? Lacey Fitzpatrick and medium Sam Firecloud certainly didn’t; not until they were called in to investigate ghostly manifestations. The Gold Rush-era castle is being restored as a museum, but the most important plans have been derailed due to the refusal of frightened workers to trespass onto the outraged spirit’s territory. When Sam and Lacey attempt to unravel the truth behind the angry ghost, they are plunged into a grisly, hidden culture of unspeakable rituals.</em><br /><br />Sound like it might give you chills on a warm afternoon? It could. If you want to find out, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088WQR7FT/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1">eBook</a> is on sale for just 99 cents through May 31, 2020. And of course, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUCZR5T/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1">Ghost Walk</a></em>, Book 1, is always just 99 cents. </b></span>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-90271696973144401832020-04-27T08:55:00.000-07:002020-04-27T08:55:28.748-07:00New Release: Night Walk<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">How's everybody holding up out there? Getting used to this low-key, stay safe, stay at home stuff? It's heartening to see the numbers slowing down, the curve flattening, perhaps even falling off a little. When I have ventured out, I've noticed that probably 95% of the people I see are wearing some sort of mouth and nose covering, so that's good. We're adjusting. We'll get through this. My heart still aches for the families that have lost loved ones, but for those of us left behind, we will meet this challenge and learn from it. Grow from it. I'm sure of that.</span></b></span><img class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/94230c53-0ca9-4ef6-a5ad-0bed8dc8b53c.jpg" data-id="3553566" height="513" src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/94230c53-0ca9-4ef6-a5ad-0bed8dc8b53c.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; display: block; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 321px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 321px;" width="321" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">So in the meantime, Sam and Lacey have been busy, as always. Luckily their universe doesn't have a pandemic in it, so they can concentrate on their specialty--ghosts. Here's the story behind </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087PLK3P2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1587939950&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Melissa+Bowersock">Night Walk</a></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">, Book 27 of the series:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When medium Sam Firecloud first hears about an Amber Alert on the Navajo reservation, he is stunned to realize the missing girl is his own young cousin. He and his partner, Lacey Fitzpatrick, rush to the scene in an attempt to help find the girl, aided by Sam’s grandfather Ben. When the Fireclouds are dismissed by the FBI agents that are working the case by standard means, Sam takes measures into his own hands, and finds the pathway before him leads into the depths of the supernatural… and death.</em><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">If you need a good story to pass the time while you're stuck at home, this just might be it. </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Night Walk</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"> is only 99 cents thru May 10, 2020.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">Again you'll notice the new cover layout. My cover designer, Alex of The Cover Genies, is working hard at transforming all the old covers at the same time that he's creating the new covers. It's a process, but we're getting there. There are now four updated covers, the first two books, </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ghost Walk</em></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"> and </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXPRW3S/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXPRW3S/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Skin Walk</em></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">, and the latest two, </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086HXM2GZ?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_25&storeType=ebooks" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086HXM2GZ?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_25&storeType=ebooks" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Heart Walk</em></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"> and </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087PLK3P2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1587939950&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Melissa+Bowersock">Night Walk</a></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">. They look pretty cool all lined up together, don't they? I'm really happy with them. Definitely easier to read and you can tell right off which number book they are.</span></b></span><img class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/4174b42d-575c-48c4-8c3e-bf1db0a87e2d.jpg" data-id="3553150" height="252" src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/4174b42d-575c-48c4-8c3e-bf1db0a87e2d.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 640px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 640px;" width="640" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">Also... the audio book of </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Walk-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery/dp/B086R8NL66/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" href="https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Walk-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery/dp/B086R8NL66/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Castle Walk</em></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;"> is now available. If you'd like a free promo code in order to download the audio book for free, just let me know if you need a US code or a UK code. In addition, there are still codes available for the first 8 books, as well. You want 'em, you got 'em. Just tell me which one(s) and what country code. </span></b></span><img class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/6d0c6cf9-eabd-4699-8b24-845e29c7b25f.jpg" data-id="3555790" height="516" src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/7bda8eef8d3938acda9f7c6f72c20bada0b3a716/images/6d0c6cf9-eabd-4699-8b24-845e29c7b25f.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; cursor: default; display: block; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 400px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 400px;" width="400" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">And, as always, if you haven't "met" Sam and Lacey yet, Book 1, </span><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ghost Walk</em></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">, is always just 99 cents. </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555;">In the meantime, stay home, stay safe, stay sane.</span></b></span>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-11808738791843202462020-04-17T14:34:00.000-07:002020-04-17T14:34:50.471-07:00Stay the Course<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How is everyone doing? Adjusting to the new normal? Figuring out how best to use all that extra time on our hands? I do hope so. This experience is one I think none of us ever thought we'd see--and probably hope we never see again.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's a sorrowful time. Every time I see the updates on the news, the new numbers, I can't help but think that every number of those thousands of dead represent one human being, one family member: one parent, one child, one sibling. And I am so sad for those families. Not only losing a family member, but losing them in such an alien fashion, perhaps not being able to be present, not being able to find closure in familiar, respectful customs. To each and every one of those families, my heart reaches out in sympathy.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's also a promising time. We are seeing some leveling. We are seeing some downward trends. Just the other day, I braved going to Costco during one of their "senior hours," and I was heartened by the fact that the crowds were smaller, people were calmer, and the whole process worked without panic or dispute. I do believe that people are relaxing somewhat, realizing this is not the end of the world, that there will, in fact, be toilet paper in their futures and they needn't rush or grab or hoard. That alone is heartening.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>There's an excellent Facebook group called COVID-19 Acts of Grace and Generosity, where you can see uplifting and heartwarming stories of the best ways people are responding to the crisis. Check it out.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And it's a time for gratitude. I'm so grateful for what I have, what we have. When many others are going through such tragedy, I am grateful for a small, calm, out-of-the-way life. It's quite amazing that just going to the store and finding my favorite butter on the shelf feels like Christmas. Maybe that's part of this: having much that we have taken for granted taken away, leaving us with a better appreciation for the things we have, even the small things. Maybe especially the small things.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, to you, friends, family, fans and readers, I wish you all the best in this unfamiliar time. I wish you health, peace of mind, Christmas in the grocery stores. We will get through this. My wish is that we all come out better human beings on the other side.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Annie, however, is not at all happy about wearing a mask!</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slCkVuBt7tk/Xpogs3ws3JI/AAAAAAAARl4/vvX7mxKNx60uccKKDu5U7BGvS1NLG0NogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Annie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="641" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slCkVuBt7tk/Xpogs3ws3JI/AAAAAAAARl4/vvX7mxKNx60uccKKDu5U7BGvS1NLG0NogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Annie2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-79178486321652786532020-03-06T09:52:00.003-07:002020-03-06T09:52:55.306-07:00Best Books on the Planet<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I know a lot of you out there read voraciously; I know that because
we've connected through Voracious Readers Only. I'm afraid I don't have
near enough time to try many new books or even keep up with the latest
best-sellers--too busy with my own writing, my editing work and
marketing. However, I do have some favorite books that I highly
recommend, and if you're not familiar with them, you might check them
out.They're not new, but I definitely think they'll be worth your time.<br />
<br />
Speaking of time, two of my all-time favorites are time travel stories. I
love time travel, as you may have noticed from my back list. Both my #4
and #3 favorites are time travel novels, done so superbly that I often
re-read them and they inspire me in my own writing. Let's dive in.<br />
<br />
#4 - <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EU50HY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">The Rose Garden</a></em> by Susanna Kearsley<br />
<br />
I first read this at a time when I had tried numerous books--too many to
count--that failed to grab me or pull me into their stories, and I was
beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with me. If I had
become jaded, or immune to the stories that other people were touting.
For some months, this really bothered me. But then I read <em style="color: #555555;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005EU50HY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">The Rose Garden</a></em>. Ha! Here was a book that grabbed me. Here was a story that compelled me to keep reading. Yippee! It wasn't me!<br />
<br />
I think the most marvelous aspect to this book is the sense of time and
place. Kearsley does an excellent job of setting the stage, describing
the old English home so that you can feel it, almost smell the age. I
was so deeply engrossed in the book that, after I'd read a while and
returned to life around me, I almost felt like my daily life was the
fiction, and the story of the book was the real thing. It's a wonderful
story, very well done, and something I can read again and again.<br />
<br />
#3 - <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1504049330/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">The Mirror</a></em> by Marlys Millhiser<br />
<br />
<em style="color: #555555;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1504049330/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">The Mirror</a></em> might
be the first time-travel novel I read that made me fall in love with
the genre. It's a story done in three parts, following three generations
of a family that interlock in surprising ways. The time-travel
mechanism in this case is an ugly magic mirror that swaps present-day
Shay Garrett with her own grandmother, Brandy McCabe. While Shay must
come to terms with living in a past that she's heard about but never
experienced, Brandy must figure out where (and when) she is with
absolutely no foreknowledge of how the future (to her) evolves. In the
middle is the story of Rachel, Brandy's daughter and Shay's mother, and
how she copes (or not) with the unbelievable stories of her mother and
daughter. I'm sure I've read this book 20, 30, maybe 40 times, and I
still read it occasionally.<br />
<br />
#2 - <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTBW2NP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i39" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Six of One</a></em> by Rita Mae Brown<br />
<br />
Rita Mae Brown broke into the reading public's attention with her infamous <em>Rubyfruit Jungle</em>, a groundbreaking novel that brought the subject of homosexuality to light. I'm guessing when <em style="color: #555555;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTBW2NP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i39" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Six of One</a></em>
was released, the shock value had worn off, and besides, this novel has
an entire ensemble of quirky, memorable characters of various sexual
persuasions. So while this book seemed to fly under the radar for most
people, it's an absolute gem of a story. It's about a rather
schizophrenic town of Runnymeade, which is perched directly on the
Mason-Dixon Line between Maryland and Pennsylvania and so half of the
town lies in one state, half in the other. As you might imagine, the
North and South are still debating the Civil War, even as they move into
modern times, often with hilarious results. The story concentrates
primarily on Julia (Juts) and her sister Louise (Wheezie) as they grow
up and find their place in the world, all the while fighting with each
other like only sisters can. Their vicious efforts to get back at each
other will leave you chortling with delight, while the times they unite
for a common cause will bring a tear to your eye. This is a marvelous
book: funny, heartbreaking and oh so human.<br />
<br />
#1 - <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062204092/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">A Prayer for Owen Meany</a></em> by John Irving<br />
<br />
Most people know John Irving from <em>The World According to Garp</em>, but I believe <em style="color: #555555;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062204092/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0" style="color: #3466cc; text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">A Prayer for Owen Meany</a></em> is his absolute masterpiece. If you've seen the movie <em>Simon Birch</em>,
you may know that it's based on this book, but it only tells part of
the story. The full story is much richer, more complex, and absolutely
stunning. It's difficult to describe this book. It might be easy to call
it a coming-of-age story, but it's so much more than that. It's
hilarious and heart-breaking, full of human foibles and divine
intervention. It follows the lives of two boys, Johnny Wheelwright and
Owen Meany, as they struggle to understand the vagaries and mysteries of
life. It's at once a very earthbound story, full of the weaknesses that
lead to human tragedy, but at the same time, it reaches for the
absolute apex of the divine in all of us.<br />
<br />
So have I whet your appetite for any of these great books? I hope so.
These books continue to inspire me, even decades after my first reading.
I think, because they are older, they are badly underestimated. I'd
love to hear what you think of them. </b></span>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-43995854725757342142020-02-17T08:28:00.003-07:002020-02-17T08:28:35.531-07:00Milestone! Book 25 and ALL on Sale!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I actually never imagined this day would come. Didn't plan on it, never considered it when I started on <em>Ghost Walk </em>over three years ago<em>. </em>But here it is. Book 25 of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084V92YY6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dead+sea+walk+bowersock&qid=1581888477&s=digital-text&sr=1-1"><em>Dead Sea Walk</em></a>. And it's a humdinger of a way to celebrate this milestone. This might be Sam's most amazing walk yet! </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GcDPHr09V8/Xkqw-qZMsBI/AAAAAAAARes/9wYtDiZu7fEhH1B4w2CPaNwva1SFw1hEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DeadSeaWalk-front-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GcDPHr09V8/Xkqw-qZMsBI/AAAAAAAARes/9wYtDiZu7fEhH1B4w2CPaNwva1SFw1hEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DeadSeaWalk-front-med.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>In 1947, the first Dead Sea scrolls—parchment containing 2,000-year-old versions of Biblical text—were discovered in caves above Qumran, Israel. Archaeological study of Qumran suggests it was a community of Essenes, ascetic monks whose teachings influenced the earliest Christian thought. When medium Sam Firecloud is invited to walk the ruins to connect with a spirit there, he wonders what—or who—he’ll find. The executive director of Qumran has a guess; he believes the soul who dwells there could be no less than the ghost of Jesus Christ.</em><br /><br />To celebrate this momentous occasion, I'm putting ALL 25 books in the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks">series</a> on sale for just 99 cents each through February 29, 2020. If you need to catch up, now is the time. If you haven't taken the plunge into Lacey and Sam's adventures, now is the time. And if you're worried about running out, I've got Book 26 in the hopper and working on 27.<br /><br />All my books, as always, are Annie-approved. Below, she's saying, "What's that blue thing? Oh, it's an award! Cool!" (She would have thought it was cooler if it was something to eat.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZs3j231JKI/XkqxEye7TaI/AAAAAAAARew/ghQtUbH36yoC5AiHfAnVa6Fw_vYjnzfvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/annie-award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZs3j231JKI/XkqxEye7TaI/AAAAAAAARew/ghQtUbH36yoC5AiHfAnVa6Fw_vYjnzfvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/annie-award.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-9900266055846438262020-01-28T15:09:00.002-07:002020-01-28T15:09:55.820-07:00Typos in My Manuscript — Betrayed by My Own Body<div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); box-sizing: inherit; float: right; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; width: 594.078px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
<img alt="Cheeto, the typing chimp" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2179" height="119" src="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/chimp-write.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 1.75em 1.75em 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="160" />It’s really nice to have support when I write. My entire body supports me. My spine keeps me upright in my chair. My butt anchors me there (sometimes too long), and of course my hands and eyes connect me to my computer via the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Obviously, I could not write without the aid of my body, but sometimes it takes that support too far and ends up causing me trouble with typos. How so?</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
<img alt="Fast typing" class="alignright size-full wp-image-43967" height="194" sizes="(max-width: 259px) 85vw, 259px" src="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Fast-typing.jpg" srcset="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Fast-typing.jpg 259w, https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Fast-typing-200x149.jpg 200w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 0px 1.75em 1.75em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="259" />First it’s my fingers. They’re very helpful. I should provide a little backstory and say that I learned to touch type in high school — home row, QWERTY, and all that. I never have to look at the keyboard to type, just keep my eyes trained on the screen and go. Because of that, I type fast, and my fingers know whole words after so much repetition. I rarely have to think about typing H-E-A-D, I just think about <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">head</em> and my fingers do the rest.<span id="more-65830" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
Unless they don’t. Sometimes my fingers think they know what word I want, and they type <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">heat</em> instead. Or <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">hear</em>. And the trouble with this is that spell-checker won’t catch it. It’s a good word. It’s just not the <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">right</em> word.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
Then, to compound the problem, my brain gets into the act. My brain is also very helpful. It knows what words I want to write. After all, they start there, right? So as I’m reading over what I’ve just written, my brain scans the words via my eyes and says, “Yep, looks good. A-Okay here.”</div>
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Except it’s not. I’ve just written, “She blushed from her neck to the top of her heat.” Lovely. Paints a picture, doesn’t it? And these parts of me, my fingers and my brain and my eyes, are all just glowing with giddy pleasure because they’ve helped me write my magnum opus. Or maybe that’s <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">right</em> my magnum opus. At any rate, while I appreciate the effort and the thought, it’s just not enough. This is why I have to call in more eyes. <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2012/06/07/a-fresh-set-of-eyes/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Fresh eyes that don’t have expectations</a> based on what’s in my head. Fresh eyes that will actually see what’s on the paper instead of thinking they already know what should be there.</div>
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All I can say is, thank god for <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/resource-beta-readers/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">beta readers</a> and <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2014/03/04/editing-for-indies-part-1/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">editors</a>. When my own body conspires willingly against me, I need all the outside help I can get.</div>
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We’ve had lots of articles on this topic at Indies Unlimited. The Evil Mastermind wrote about the dreaded <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2012/10/18/typopotamus/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Typopotamus</a>. Our Fearless Leader lamented about <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2014/04/15/letting-a-manuscript-sit/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">letting a book sit</a>. Even world-renowned reviewer Mr. BigAl wrote about <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2012/11/07/why-proofreading-matters/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">why proofreading is important</a>. No matter which won of us ewe listen too, getting another set of eyes on your work is paramount.</div>
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Originally published by <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2015/09/08/typos-in-my-manuscript-betrayed-by-my-own-body/">Indies Unlimited on 9/8/2015</a>.</div>
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Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-1102214602973761752020-01-01T15:34:00.000-07:002020-01-01T15:34:20.419-07:00Start the New Year with Monster Walk!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nothing like starting out the new year with a brand new book, right? I'm happy to announce that I've released Book 24 of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083C4WBV5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=monster+walk+bowersock&qid=1577830482&sr=8-1">Monster Walk</a></i>. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Two recent murders have rocked the small town of Chinle,
Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation. Navajo Tribal Police have found no
connection between the victims even though both were killed the same way and
brutally mutilated. Lieutenant John Stoneburner has no choice but to call in
medium Sam Firecloud and his partner, Lacey Fitzpatrick, to see if they can
make sense of the grisly facts. When it becomes clear to Sam that the murders
are related to ancient Navajo mythology, he enlists the help of an elder, his
grandfather Ben, who leads them all into the perilous realm of gods and
monsters.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Two things many of my readers have particularly enjoyed are the fascinating traditions of the Navajo, and Sam's grandfather, Ben. The positive comments inspired me to look deeper into the Navajo's mythic past, and who better to lead the way than Ben? If you enjoyed <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B06XXPRW3S/ref=sr_1_13?qid=1577830646&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-13&text=Melissa+Bowersock">Skin Walk</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1984979760/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i22">Blood Walk</a>,</i> and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NJKTWXM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i20">Bordello Walk</a></i>, you'll like this one. I guarantee it. Just to sweeten the pot, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083C4WBV5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=monster+walk+bowersock&qid=1577830482&sr=8-1">Monster Walk</a></i> is available for just 99 cents now through January 12, 2020.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Meanwhile, if you haven't plunged into the world of Sam and Lacey yet, let me remind you that <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1">Ghost Walk</a></i>, Book 1, is always only 99 cents for the eBook. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And, in addition, Books 1 through 7 are also available as <a href="https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=Melissa+Bowersock&ref=">audio books</a>! </b></span></div>
<br />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-85929349767530517722019-11-03T16:23:00.000-07:002019-11-03T16:23:26.507-07:00New Release: Innocent Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-db-y4FUfn5U/Xb9bqrjZZZI/AAAAAAAARcY/jzv0jTFHxZsEDzZE1Ba_PqWAdevfbCv_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/InnocentWalk-front-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-db-y4FUfn5U/Xb9bqrjZZZI/AAAAAAAARcY/jzv0jTFHxZsEDzZE1Ba_PqWAdevfbCv_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/InnocentWalk-front-med.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yikes! The hits just keep on coming. I'm not sure how long I'm going to be able to keep up this pace, but as long as Sam and Lacey keep finding new ways to use Sam's talent, I'll keep writing about them.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The latest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZY83MYH/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1572821946&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Melissa+Bowersock"><i>Innocent Walk</i></a>, is Book 23 of the popular Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series.</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><b>Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud know that Kenzie, Sam’s eleven-year-old daughter, has inherited his mediumistic abilities. The duo has tried to shelter Kenzie from the emotional and physical violence that often accompany their cases, but when a school bus crashes directly in front of Lacey and Kenzie, the girl is plunged into the heart of the tragedy. Some children survive, but many don’t. Kenzie wants to help both the living and the dead, but some selfish and self-centered adults threaten the process. Can Kenzie free the young, trapped souls, or are the children doomed to purgatory?</b></span><b> </b></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sound </b><b>intriguing</b><b>? I think it is. As a matter of fact, I think this is my favorite story so far. The ending kills me, but in a good way. I think you'll enjoy it.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>To celebrate the new release, </b><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZY83MYH/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1572821946&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Melissa+Bowersock"><i>Innocent Walk</i></a></b><b> is only 99 cents through November 10, 2019. If you're staying up to date on the adventures, grab yours now.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still haven't taken a walk on the ghostly side with Sam and Lacey? Book 1, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01MUCZR5T/ref=sr_1_31?qid=1572823119&refinements=p_27%3AMelissa+Bowersock&s=digital-text&sr=1-31&text=Melissa+Bowersock">Ghost Walk</a></i>, is <span style="color: magenta;">always only 99 cents</span>. </span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>This is a well paced, well written book with characters you won't forget and is a wonderful start to a great series.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>This story grabbed me from the very beginning.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I will definitely be reading more of this series, and from this author.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I think this is going to be an enthralling new series to follow and I am looking forward to more from Lacey and Sam’s new partnership.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I have now read all in this series which I seldom do.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I loved this book.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<br />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-46463103768114947772019-10-16T08:15:00.000-07:002019-10-16T08:15:14.189-07:00New Release: Deception Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xzfaK7kGi88/XaZM6NHO1QI/AAAAAAAARaQ/hiuKLMBVGtMTZ_vBgcwJr5tnCjQ7Y5oBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Deception-front-med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="341" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xzfaK7kGi88/XaZM6NHO1QI/AAAAAAAARaQ/hiuKLMBVGtMTZ_vBgcwJr5tnCjQ7Y5oBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Deception-front-med.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Summer is gone. Was it a good one? I hope so. But here we are in the land of pumpkin spice and thinking about the holidays. Before you do that, though, you might want to think about Sam and Lacey. Their latest adventure, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07Z5JT749/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=deception+walk&qid=1571238853&s=digital-text&sr=1-1">Deception Walk</a></i>, is a tough one, in more ways than one.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The paranormal investigative duo of Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud are doing fine, but when an ex-girlfriend of Sam’s shows up, Lacey feels uneasy. Sam has never talked much about his past, so the sudden arrival of a beautiful blonde is disturbing. However, when that same blonde disappears without a trace, and Sam is the last person to see her, Lacey realizes her worries are just beginning. The LA County Sheriff’s office and the LAPD know more than they’re saying—and they both consider Sam a suspect. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This marks Book 22 of the popular series, and to celebrate the new release, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07Z5JT749/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=deception+walk&qid=1571238853&s=digital-text&sr=1-1">Deception Walk</a></i> will be just <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;">99 cents</span></span> until October 27, 2019. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If you still haven't joined the growing community that follows along with Sam and Lacey on their ghostly cases, don't forget that <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4">Ghost Walk</a></i>, Book 1 of the series, is always only 99 cents. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>All the Sam and Lacey books are, of course, Annie approved!</b></span></div>
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Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-33817289810913672032019-09-14T10:08:00.002-07:002019-09-14T10:09:32.111-07:00Traveling to Where Your Characters Live<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you ever written (or read) a character that becomes so real, they are like a best friend? And, like a best friend, you want to know who they are, how they became who they are, and where they grew up? I've found that writing a character like that actually transforms the area where they "live." Let me give you an example.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b75Pg2L3QTg/XX0YJ3J2f3I/AAAAAAAARWo/nruyZjPPp9YtVXi8PBqr3kWBNO90HiY3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2books.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="842" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b75Pg2L3QTg/XX0YJ3J2f3I/AAAAAAAARWo/nruyZjPPp9YtVXi8PBqr3kWBNO90HiY3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2books.gif" width="320" /></b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">When I wrote my two-book time-travel series <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FG9CSS6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6">Finding Travis</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HGY7YHO?ref_=dbs_pwh_calw_1&storeType=ebooks">Being Travis</a></i>, I was very familiar with Fort Verde, the location where Travis lives in the present and spirals down</span> to in the past. The fort is the best-preserved Indian-War-era fort in Arizona, and is comprehensive in its scope, being both fascinating and educational. As I was researching my books, I was given full access and roamed at will to take pictures and make sure I was describing the fort authentically in my stories.</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But a funny thing happened when I was done with the books. After that, every time I went to the fort, I thought, "Travis was here. Travis walked here, worked here, went through his dark night of the soul here." It put the fort in an entirely new light for me.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I'm deep into a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks">paranormal mystery series</a> where the main characters are a female ex-cop (Lacey) and a male Navajo medium (Sam). Together they solve murders by talking with the victims, and they release trapped souls. Although the series is based in Los Angeles, Sam was born and raised on the Navajo reservation in northeastern Arizona. He still has family there, and occasionally he and Lacey go back there to visit and to solve mysteries. Very often his traditional Navajo mythology and magic come into play.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently I made a trip to Monument Valley, the quintessential representation of Navajo land. The high desert there is harsh, unforgiving, and stunningly beautiful. Knowing Sam as I do, it's easy to see how this land shaped him, and still shapes him, as he delves deeper into his ancestors' ways. As I toured the valley and gazed at the buttes, the arches, the ever-changing sky that goes on forever, I imagined Sam growing up with this as his back yard. As his foundation. And it's easy to understand where his very natural but very deep spirituality arises from.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-34503472132841643172019-08-12T01:00:00.000-07:002019-08-12T01:00:00.213-07:00New Release: Mind Walk<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Are you ready for more Sam and Lacey? Then I've got a deal for you. I'm pleased to announce the release of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07W62VNYP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mind+walk+bowersock&qid=1565538469&s=digital-text&sr=1-1">Mind Walk</a></i>, Book 21 of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series. </b></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Sam Firecloud’s job as a medium is pretty straightforward:
along with his partner, Lacy Fitzpatrick, he investigates hauntings, researches
the ghosts to find out what keeps them tethered to the earth plane, and he
releases them. But a new call for assistance brings a surprising request: a
neurologist wants to study Sam’s brain as he’s connecting with lost spirits.
The study is one thing, but when Sam and Lacey look deeper, they soon realize
the doctor has a hidden agenda, and it’s not scientific at all. </i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>To celebrate the new release, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07W62VNYP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mind+walk+bowersock&qid=1565538469&s=digital-text&sr=1-1">Mind Walk</a></i> will be just <span style="color: #cc0000;">99 cents through August 18, 2019.</span> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Want to read <u>all</u> the Sam and Lacey books? Amazon has the whole series listed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks">here</a>. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And remember, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUCZR5T?ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks">Ghost Walk</a></i>, Book 1 of the series, is <span style="color: #cc0000;">always only 99 cents</span>.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And all my books are, of course, Annie-approved!</b></span></span></div>
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Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-41702103540512229982019-07-29T09:24:00.002-07:002019-07-29T09:24:51.229-07:00Now Available: Dragon Walk on Audio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5A5NX4XcB-E/XT8dRZKoufI/AAAAAAAARRI/AlqcBFXCvAUGu5L9AuWDOPKPmjWQLdAKACLcBGAs/s1600/Dragon%2BWalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5A5NX4XcB-E/XT8dRZKoufI/AAAAAAAARRI/AlqcBFXCvAUGu5L9AuWDOPKPmjWQLdAKACLcBGAs/s320/Dragon%2BWalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>If you've been following the development of the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series, you probably know that I've been converting the early stories into audio books even as I'm writing new stories. I've recently released Book 20, <i>Prayer Walk</i>, as both an ebook and a paperback, but meanwhile the conversion to audio books continues. I'm happy to announce that <i>Dragon Walk</i>, Book 5 of the series, is now available as an audio book.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Four months ago, a pretty young marathoner disappeared while training on the isolated trails of Griffith Park in Los Angeles. The police have few leads, no witnesses, and no results. As a last resort, they call in private investigator Lacey Fitzpatrick and Navajo medium Sam Firecloud to pick up the rapidly cooling trail. Sam and Lacey, however, are on the outs. Their efforts to take their relationship to the next level failed miserably, and now they must redefine their working relationship, as well. Can they find the murdered girl and her killer, and still hang on to their partnership?</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i>You can see all my audio books <a href="https://www.audible.com/author/Melissa-Bowersock/B002BLJON0?pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=WRC8PNCBTY1VSWJ80ZV7&ref=a_search_c3_lAuthor_1_1_1">here</a>, as well as on Amazon. Additionally, you can sample each book for free. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And remember, Book 1, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01MUCZR5T/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1564417438&sr=8-1">Ghost Walk</a></i>, is always only 99 cents for the ebook. </b></span>Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-52859266063357629822019-07-03T12:02:00.001-07:002019-07-03T12:02:50.056-07:00<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: Montserrat, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 2.5rem; line-height: 1.225; margin: 0px 0px 1.05em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
What Makes a Great Character?</h1>
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<img alt="character from pixabay" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-65321" height="200" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px" src="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/character-300x200.jpg" srcset="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/character-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/character-451x300.jpg 451w, https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/character.jpg 640w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.375em 1.75em 1.75em 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="300" />With all the reading I do, I’m very aware of how I feel about different characters in different books. There are times when I’ll go weeks — months, even — and not read a book that knocks me out. I begin to wonder if I’m getting jaded, but then, suddenly, a book comes along that I simply love and the characters are more like dear friends than two-dimensional sketches. These characters really grab me: make me laugh, make me cry, make me bite my nails with worry over their challenges. But they’re rare. Rarer than they should be. So it got me to thinking, what makes a really, really great character? Here’s my list, in no particular order.<span id="more-65053" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Intelligence</span>. One thing that drives me crazy is a character who repeatedly does stupid things. I’m talking the twenty-something cheerleader-type who’s alone in an isolated cabin with a chainsaw murderer on the loose, and she goes outside with only a dinky flashlight to check on a weird noise. <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Really?</em> That’s a special kind of stupid and she deserves everything she gets. No, I want my characters to be smart — smart but, for whatever reason, boxed into a corner, forced to make hard decisions, forced to really reach inside and find out what they’re made of.</div>
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Rhett Butler is a smart guy. He understands economics, he understands war, and he’s good at keeping his head when everyone else is panicking. So he’s not so smart when it comes to falling in love, but we’ll get to flaws later on. Overall, he’s smart, he’s capable, and he’s effective. Quite the catch.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Sympathetic</span>. A good protagonist has a good heart. Okay, sometimes it’s buried under a ton of stuff: mistrust, betrayal, abuse, defense mechanisms. Sometimes the character has to assume a tough exterior, a hard-guy persona, in order to battle through his own demons, but underneath it all, he’s a good guy. Someone to root for. Someone to care for. We may only see glimmers of it from time to time, but it’s there. We know it.</div>
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One of my books is a fantasy about a young peasant who gets pulled into the middle of the classic battle between good and evil. In the beginning, he takes on a purely personal quest, albeit an altruistic one, and that is to free his family from slavery. He’s very single-minded about this, and objects to being pulled into the larger conflict. On my first re-read, I realized he was <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">too</em> single-minded, and he showed a distinct lack of compassion for the people around him. He had nothing but petulant disdain for the hardships of others. I had to go back and write him softer, more empathic. Having him be more sympathetic to others gave him a deeper dimension, and also heightened the tension in his decision to press on with his own quest. It made him more human.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Strengths</span>. Our characters don’t have to be super-duper X-men to be interesting. Sometimes strengths come in very subtle packages: perseverance, support, encouragement, patience. Personally, I like willingness in a character. They may be up against a wall, their quest may be a longshot, but they are willing to go the distance.</div>
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In one of my romances, the woman has been a doormat all her young life, but the threat of having her marriage fall apart spurs her to a newfound strength and conviction she never manifested before. It’s not courage in a grand, epic sort of way, but it’s still courage. Sometimes the subtle strengths can be the most profound.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Weaknesses</span>. All great characters have flaws. Secrets. Pasts that haunt them. The flaws make them human and provide tension — will he be able to do what he needs to do, or will the flaws be his undoing? Will his tragic past dictate his future? These weaknesses can take two tangents in stories; they can be things the character needs to overcome, or they can, surprisingly, become strengths, become the tools the character needs in order to accomplish his goal. Either way, they add a great deal of texture to the character and the story.</div>
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Remember what I said about Rhett Butler? He’s smart, but he falls for Scarlet O’Hara, god knows why. He can handle himself confidently in business around town, on a profiteering ship and at a dance, but he can’t keep himself from wanting the stubborn and selfish woman who taunts him. This is the kind of flaw that must, eventually, be overcome. Sadly, regretfully, but yes, he must finally walk out the door. Not giving a …</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Motivation</span>. What drives the character? What pushes him forward? This needs to be very clear. If a character has little or no motivation, it will be hard for us to believe he’s going to do what he says he’s going to do.<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"> I think I’ll go climb Mt. Everest. Why? I dunno; just seems like a good idea.</em> Yeah, no.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Growth</span>. To my mind, this has to be at the end of the journey. What has the character learned, understood, accomplished, gained? With all the ups and downs our characters endure, all the hoops we put them through in their story, they have to end up different in some way. They have to be affected by what they’ve seen and done. If there’s no growth at the end of the story, I have to wonder if the character is just a blockhead after all.</div>
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In one of my historical romances, the woman has led a very sheltered life as a pampered only child. When she travels to the wild west of Arizona to find the father she never knew, she’s faced with some very rough experiences, including time in an Apache village. While she’s repulsed at first by the primitive ways, she learns — reluctantly — that the Apache methods are exactly what are needed in the harsh landscape. It’s a lesson she thought never to learn — didn’t want to learn — but it stands her in good stead by the end of the book.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Complexity</span>. No human on earth is all good or all bad. I call this the Disney Syndrome. In Disney movies, we know who the good guy is, who the bad guy is, and neither will ever, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">ever</em>, be anything else. This works for six-year-olds, but as adults we need more than that. We need complexity in our characters. We needs shades of gray (no, not <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">that</em> kind). This is where the flaws come in. Our guy is fighting a secret organization bent on controlling the world, but he’s also fighting his own fears, his own tendencies to give up and run and hide. The complexity of his character keeps us wondering which side will win out.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Consistency</span>. This can be a tough one. The character needs to stay in character throughout the book. If a guy has been a selfish S.O.B. all through the book and suddenly at the end he turns the other cheek and becomes Mr. Niceguy, are we going to buy that? He’s had no life-altering experience, no dark night of the soul, yet he just decides to be a good guy? I don’t think so. The characters have to stay true to their inner core, although obviously their experiences can lead them to do some heavy-duty soul-searching. I’m not saying they can’t change, only that if they do, there has to be a good reason for it.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Physical Presence</span>. Now that we have all these qualities, we need something to hang them on. We need just a pinch of physicality, something we can picture in our minds. I don’t need a full page of description down to the number of pores on the face, just a brief mention of the character’s defining qualities: ice-blue eyes, tall and lanky body, a shock of wild brown hair. I’ve read some books where I’ve gotten absolutely no indication at all what the character looked like, and while I could certainly conjure up something on my own, I noticed that I had a hard time imagining the dialog, the expressions, the carriage of the body. Just having a small bit of distinct description can move the character from words on a page to a visual, relatable image.</div>
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These are the things I work to build into the characters I write, and the things I look for in the characters I read about. What about you? What do you look for in a memorable character? What are the make-or-break qualities that elevate a character from cartoon to real-life, three-dimensional hero?</div>
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Originally published by <a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2015/07/14/what-makes-a-great-character/">Indies Unlimited on 7/14/2015</a>.</div>
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Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-84916844325879671552019-06-23T11:14:00.000-07:002019-06-23T11:14:19.100-07:00New Release: Book 20, Prayer Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>When I started writing the Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud Mystery Series over two and a half years ago, I never for a moment imagined it would grow to what it is today. I had ideas for two, maybe three, books, but no more. Of course, it went far beyond that. I'm pleased (and surprised!) to announce the release of Book 20, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Lacey-Fitzpatrick-Firecloud-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07TBTCNJW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=prayer+wall+bowersock&qid=1561313566&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-fkmr0">Prayer Walk</a></i>. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Based in sprawling Los Angeles, medium Sam Firecloud and
his partner, Lacey Fitzpatrick, never seem to run out of hauntings to
investigate and resolve, but when they get two separate calls from two frantic
customers, they realize they’re getting stretched pretty thin. How are they
going to handle two cases at once? Daniel, Sam’s fifteen-year-old son, has a
solution, but they quickly discover that solution could lead to serious injury—or
worse—for the supernaturally talented boy. </i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>One of the best parts of writing a series is seeing how the characters develop, how the relationships evolve, and how these "friends" continue to grow and expand. For those loyal readers who have followed the series, I think you'll be pleased with Daniel's progress in this book. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>To celebrate this milestone book, I'm putting ALL ebooks in the series on sale for just 99 cents each. If you haven't already boarded the Sam and Lacey train, or if you've fallen behind on their progress, here's your chance to catch up on every book for just pennies. Get the entire series, and be all set for your summer reading, for less than $20! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GYH77?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks">series</a> will be on sale through June 30, 2019. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And don't forget that these same fast-paced, paranormal mysteries are also being converted into audio book format. So far we've got Books 1-4 complete, with more to come. Take Sam and Lacey with you on your summer travels, or just keep current during your daily commute time. Sam and Lacey are always the best carpool partners. </b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">To listen to samples of the current books, check out my <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-813461091">SoundCloud page here</a>.</b></div>
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<br />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-15779675745642619542019-06-20T10:19:00.001-07:002019-06-20T10:19:06.112-07:00Listen Up! New Audio Book of Sonnets for Heidi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Family secrets; every family has 'em. What was the real story about your great uncle who moved to Alaska and was never heard from again? Why doesn't your cousin ever get invited to family get-togethers? Whose picture is that in the shoebox with no name on it?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Sonnets for Heidi</i> is a book about just such a secret. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Trish Munroe never planned to be a caregiver, but circumstances have conspired to make her responsible for her elderly Aunt Heidi. Trish does her best to balance the demands of her job, her love life and Heidi's advancing Alzheimer's, but the pressure is taking its toll. When Heidi passes away, there's a bittersweet reprieve until Trish uncovers a family secret of forbidden love that takes her on a tragic yet triumphant journey of the heart.</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Sonnets</i></b></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> for Heidi</i> was a Finalist in the </span></b><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2016 </span></b><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, and is now available as an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sonnets-for-Heidi/dp/B07T7L8VFX/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sonnets+for+heidi&qid=1561050719&s=gateway&sr=8-1">audio book</a> as well as a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sonnets-Heidi-Melissa-Bowersock/dp/1519356897/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1561040607&sr=8-1">paperback</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sonnets-Heidi-Melissa-Bowersock-ebook/dp/B01AS0SEXG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1561040607&sr=8-1">eBook</a>. You can listen to a <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-813461091/sonnets-for-heidi-sample">sample of the audio book here</a>.</span></b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I have to warn you, read (or listen to) this book with plenty of Kleenex! When I was writing the last few chapters, I had to stop periodically to mop myself up, because I was crying buckets. I think this is the most heartrending yet emotionally satisfying book I have written. If that sounds like your cup of tea, I hope you will check it out. You'll be glad you did.</span></b><br />
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<br />Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511915888309536026.post-67738555592889764842019-06-03T07:21:00.001-07:002019-06-03T07:21:12.822-07:00Write Your Story Even if You Can’t Write<div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); box-sizing: inherit; float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; width: 594.078px;">
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<a href="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1449505600-frontcover-204x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The View from the Summit" border="0" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-65118" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 204px) 85vw, 204px" src="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1449505600-frontcover-204x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1449505600-frontcover-204x300.jpg 204w, https://www.indiesunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1449505600-frontcover.jpg 453w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin-top: 0.375em; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" title="" width="204" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A while back, I was working with a 90-year-old woman on her memoirs. If you just glanced at the small, frail woman, you would never guess what she’s seen, where she’s been or what she’s accomplished in her life. Like most older people, she doesn’t carry a sign saying who she is, and those who don’t look beneath the aging face miss a lot.</b><span style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin-bottom: 1.75em; margin-right: 1.75em; margin-top: 0.375em;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>To add to the complexity, she’s always been dyslexic. Like most differently abled children of her time, she didn’t get any support or sympathy for her difficulty with learning, or even a diagnosis that she could understand. She was labeled “stupid” for a large part of her early life. Because of that, she has a decidedly low confidence in her ability to write.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So how did she start working on her memoirs?<span id="more-65116" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Not by writing. She kicked off the project by sitting down for interviews with a friend who recorded every word. In this way, she could simply answer the questions put to her, talk easily and simply about the way her life unfolded, and not worry at all about the commas or the way words were spelled. Later, in the editing process, we went back through it and cleaned up the little bits of ramble here, repeating there, and we filled out the episodes with more structure and detail. I have no doubt we crafted a professional and fascinating book of a story well worth the time and trouble.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I know not everyone loves to write like I do. I know some people actually dread it. For some, the idea of sitting down and writing their personal story might feel more like sitting down in a dentist’s chair for a root canal. Yet I sincerely doubt these same people would object to pulling up a chair with a friend and just chatting about their lives. How threatening is that?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But where to start, you might ask. What questions should the interviewer ask?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I have a suggestion for that, as well. I believe almost every household has, somewhere in the dark corners of a closet or tucked away behind the Christmas tablecloth, a shoebox of photos. You know, those loose, grainy black and white photos that never made it into a photo album? They might be photos that seemed inconsequential at the time they were developed, or they could even be hand-me-downs, their context blurred by time. Drag that puppy out of the shadows and start laying photos out on the dining room table. I guarantee you’ll hear more than once, “Oh, I remember that. That was when …”</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Just remember to have a recorder going when you do this.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I think you might be pleasantly surprised by the richness of the recollections. I was lucky. My father wrote his autobiography over the last twenty years of his life. After he died, I scanned in all the typewritten pages, added pictures, and published his story. I had no expectations for selling books or for making money. I just wanted his story out there. It’s the story of our family. It’s the story of America from 1911 to 2002. It’s history. And it’s a rare treasure more valuable than any other.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do you or a family member have stories that get trotted out every Thanksgiving? Stories of childhood antics and family sagas? Stories of love and loss, of friendship, of heartbreak, and adventure? I strongly urge you to capture those tellings before the opportunity is gone. This is one time when I will say, with all confidence and encouragement, you don’t have to be a writer to write. Forget the commas, forget the sentence structure. Trot out that old cassette recorder and start talking, start asking questions. Just start. These stories won’t be available forever.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Grab them now. Before they’re gone.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Originally published by <a href="http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2015/06/30/write-your-story-even-if-you-cant-write/">Indies Unlimited</a> on June 30, 2015.</b></span></div>
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Melissa Bowersockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003269136098700063noreply@blogger.com0