Interview with Joanne Phillips, author of Murder at the Maples

Photo Credit: Escape With Dollycas

Today’s interview with Joanne Phillips, author of Murder at the Maples is part of the MURDER AT THE MAPLES blog tour that is an Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book sponsored blog stop! Read about Joanne here and be sure to visit other stops on the tour for more interviews, reviews and giveaways! Read on for giveaway info!

Interview with Joanne Phillips, author of Murder at the Maples

Joanne- thank you for agreeing to be interviewed at Traveling With T!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog for the very first stop of the tour J

“A reluctant sleuth” is part of the tag line for Murder at the Maples, which I find interesting, because most cozy mysteries I read have a sleuth who is definitely not “reluctant”. How did you decide on a “reluctant sleuth”?

This is the first in a series, and when we meet Flora Lively she has no idea she’s going to end up investigating a murder! In fact, if you told her what she’d soon be up against she’d probably run screaming – Flora has enough on her plate recovering from the loss of her parents and taking over the running of her dad’s pride and joy, Shakers Removals. The odd happenings at the Maples could easily be written off as the ravings of an old lady, and at first Flora is reluctant to see any more to it than this. Of course, once she’s got the bit between her teeth she’s absolutely determined to solve the mystery, and is no longer a reluctant sleuth. By the time book two comes along I’ll have to think of a very different tag line!

Murder at the Maples is the first book in the Flora Lively mysteries. When writing this book, did you know how it would end? Or did the ending reveal itself as you wrote?

I didn’t know how it would end when I started writing – I just had Flora’s character and the initial scene, and an idea of a sixty year old secret that would rear its ugly head. When I got to the end of the first draft I saw that the ending I’d arrived at wasn’t powerful enough and it needed a completely different ending, and that was when I had the most fun, planting clues and plotting the trail that would lead to the new climax.

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I have a lovely office in my home, but I’m also really lucky to have a brand new summerhouse that we’ve just built in the garden where I can go and write. I plan to get it set up so I can write out there all year round – blankets and a heater a must! My routine is fairly flexible as I have a five year old daughter to look after too, and I work part-time as a freelance indexer for publishers, but I do write every day, or work on some book-related task like marketing or reaching out to readers.

If Murder at the Maples was made into a movie- do you have a dream cast in mind?

I think it would make a great TV series J Well, we can dream … But no, I don’t have a cast in mind. I see Flora as very petite and quite quirky-looking, physically a lot stronger than she looks, pretty but also someone who doesn’t try too hard with her looks. Marshall – one of my favorite characters – is gorgeous, a real charmer, but scruffy as they come. That said, I like for my readers to imagine characters for themselves, and I expect any TV producers would reinvent them completely anyway!

What can readers expect next from Flora? Can you give any hints about the next book in the series?

The next book is called ‘A Date With Death’ and is due out next year. Flora’s best friend Celeste returns from her travels abroad, but when her new boyfriend dies in mysterious circumstances, Celeste is under suspicion and Flora finds her investigative skills in demand once again. I’m really excited about Book 2 because I think in the first book of a mystery series there’s a lot of setting up to do – particularly with characters who aren’t actual private detectives or police officers: you have to explain why they would even be investigating in the first place. But with the rest of the books in a series you can just dive right into the action! In ‘A Date With Death’ I’m planning an Agatha Christie-esque set up, where the reader has to try and work out who’s guilty from a narrow cast of characters all holed up in one place. Oh, and Flora goes undercover, which should be a lot of fun.

*Special thanks to Joanne Phillips for agreeing to be interviewed!

Photo Credit: Escape With Dollycas

Joanne is hard at work on the second book in the series- A Date With Death! Look for it in 2014! Joanne can be found on Twitter and Facebook, as well!

*Giveaway: 1 Lucky winner will win a copy of Murder at the Maples by Joanne Phillips. Just comment, leave you email (you may us the AT and DOT) and GOOD LUCK! Giveaway runs from October 8- October 14th at 11:59pmEST. Winner will be notified October 15th. **NOTE: This is an e-book giveaway!

Looking for more stops on the tour? Here is the list! Want to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Visit the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Interview with Suzanne Redfearn, author of Hush Little Baby

A few weeks ago, through a set of happy circumstances for a California friend of mine, I was asked to consider for review Hush Little Baby. Intrigued, I looked for information- and was quite pleased by what I saw. Mother-bear? Good vs evil? A mystery/suspense story? Yes, please!

I’m reading Hush Little Baby right now- and it is very good. My review will be posted in the next few days, but I have an interview with Suzanne Redfearn to get you, my readers of Traveling With T, interested in Hush Little Baby!

Interview with Suzanne Redfearn

Suzanne, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed!

Thank you for asking me.

What was the inspiration for Hush Little Baby?

A friend of mine was going through a divorce. Until she separated from her husband, the two seemed like the picture of happiness. But the story she told over drinks one night of the abuse and cruelty she endured behind closed doors was so frightening it made me wonder how many other marriages are not what they appear.

The curveball came about a month later when we went out again and my friend’s story had changed, the tale altered and now with glaring inconsistencies from the earlier version that caused an alarm to blare in my brain. What if she was making it up? Custody of the kids was at stake. Could she be setting her husband up? For over 10 years, I’d known her husband as a stand-up guy, the baseball coach who never yelled, the neighbor who happily carted your Christmas tree home in his truck, the kind of guy who always showed up and did his part. Yet, how quickly I dismissed all that based on a story over drinks; how quickly everyone dismissed it, so easily accepting that he was abusive and dangerous.

So I got to thinking; how easy it is to sabotage a life, that if my husband set out to destroy me, to preemptively strike before I realized what was going on, he could do it. He knows my weaknesses, my failings, my vulnerabilities. If he had the inclination, he could easily undermine my reputation and portray me as unstable or a bad mother, ensuring that if we divorced, he’d get custody of the kids.

My friend loves her children above all else, three beautiful boys. At the time they were 4, 9 and 12, and their futures, as well as her own, hung in the balance. To this day, nearly three years later, I don’t know if she was telling the truth or manufacturing lies. Either way, her story was a captivating cautionary tale that made me wonder how far someone might go to keep their spouse from getting custody of their kids, and then, if the kids were in danger, real danger, how far the other spouse might go to get them back.

Hush Little Baby is your debut novel. As a debut author, are you finding social media as a powerful tool in connecting with fans or potential readers?

Absolutely. It is an amazing way to reach out to your audience. Blogs, Facebook, and Twitter allow me to get the word out. It’s grassroots marketing at its best. I love the enthusiasm of the readers and how they share their perspective and spread the word. It’s extraordinarily powerful. I feel like I’m connected to this incredible community and they’re connected to me, both of us able to interact at the click of a button.

What is the best advice that you have received in the course of writing Hush Little Baby?

I stumbled upon this quote, “Drama is anticipation with uncertainty.” I was about halfway through the novel and I pasted the saying to my computer. It drove the novel.

Domestic violence is a part of Hush Little Baby. As a woman, did writing about something serious as domestic violence trouble you ?

I did extensive research on the subject of domestic violence and it was very troubling. What I found most disturbing was the psychological subterfuge that creates the entrapment. It made me realize that every woman is susceptible to that kind of fear and manipulation, and that any woman could be a victim. I became incredibly sympathetic to the victims and much more understanding of their plight.

How do you create characters? Are the characters based on people you know?

The story was inspired by a couple I know and the difficult divorce they were going through, but Jillian and Gordon are not them. I keep photos from the internet beside my computer to give me a physical reference for my characters, but aside from that, the characters evolve organically. There are lines I’ve taken from people I know as well as ticks and habits, but each character is a compilation of different characteristics that emerge as the story develops and meld together until the character is as real and unique as any actual person I know.

When writing Hush Little Baby, did you know how it would end? Or did the ending reveal itself as you were writing?

I never have any idea where my stories are going to lead. I start with a big idea, “How far will a woman go to save herself and her children from her abusive husband?” then I begin. I was right there with Jillian throughout her struggles, and there were nights I couldn’t sleep as I wondered how I was going to get her out of the trouble she was in.

Any ideas as to what the next book will be about?

I am working on an exciting new story about another mother protecting her kids. Though the mother-bear theme is similar to HUSH LITTLE BABY, the story is entirely new and the protagonist wonderfully different from Jillian. She is more of an every-woman – a young, single mom, bumbling her way through life who finds herself in an extraordinary circumstance that quickly spins out of control. One kid thrives while the other two struggle, and difficult choices need to be made, this mild-mannered mom faced with the daunting challenge of taking the reins of the her runaway life before they all go over the edge, and she loses everything.

*Thanks to Suzanne Redfearn for agreeing to this interview!

Want to connect with Suzanne Redfearn, author of Hush Little Baby? Here is Suzanne’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Linky Love Party hosted by Love at First Book!

The genius behind Love at First Book (you might know her as Rebecca!) is spreading linky love this week. Linky Love- it’s a good thing!

Here is the post and the guidelines for joining in the fun!

I couldn’t decide which 1 to post- so I posted 2. One is a personal thought, making you think about blogging post- A Million and 1 Ways to be a Blogger.

The other- my book-ish friend, Keetha, gave me the nudge to add my link- she commented on my review of The Husband’s Secret– telling me I did a “masterful job with the review”!

Be sure and check in this week at Love at First Book- see what links are getting some love!

Literary Friday ya’ll….

It’s Friday- what’s your weekend plans?

1. Deep South Mag and their #literaryfriday: Fannie Flagg, Vampire Books, Lee Smith, book festival news and so much more!

2. #giveaways this week include:

Always With a Book is giving away the latest Laura Childs book, Gilt Trip!

Book-Alicious Mama is giving away Grounded by Angela Correll!

Traveling With T is giving away Strangled by Silk by Barbara Jean Coast!

3. Traveling With T was visited this week by Angela Correll- her debut novel, Grounded, was released this week! Read the Interview or Author Spotlight about Angela for more information!

4. Reviews posted this week on Traveling With T: Grounded by Angela Correll, Wedding Belles by Beth Albright, The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty & Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber.

5. Book Lovers Unite is reading The Life List for October! Here is Week 1 questions!

6. Another AWESOME blogger: Helen at My Novel Opinion!

7. Yesterday, I posted a blog post that I had written- A Million and 1 ways to be a Blogger. In it, I consider things that bloggers think about- but mainly, the question is “Am I Blogging Right?” Is there a right or wrong way to blog? I don’t know- but I’m loving hearing what others are thinking!

8. Bloggers Recommend just posted their October newsletter: 26 Must Reads for October 2013. Check it out and find you a read!

9. My #fridayreads The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P.D. Viner. At first it was hard to get into- but I hit a groove the other night. Let’s hope that continues!

10. October 10th come chat with Literary New England and myself- it’s a combo chat between Literary New England and She Reads- we’ll be discussing The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill. There will be giveaways! 8pmEST #LNEChat

Author Spotlight: Angela Correll

Today Angela is back to reveal her #literaryconfessions and her #literarycrush (it’s 1 that readers of Traveling With T have seen before- but no one ever complains 🙂

Author Spotlight: Angela Correll

What are some of your favorite books, Angela?

So many! Wendell Berry’s Port William novels, Jan Karon’s Mitford books, the Believers by Janice Holt Giles and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

If you could choose to be a character in a book- who would you choose?

Dorothy Gilman’s Emily Pollifax. Mrs. Pollifax is always getting into something while traveling the world.

If you were not an author, what would you like to be?

A history detective. I love unsolved mysteries and history is a passion, so what could be better than combining the two?

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I must confess I am a southerner who has never read William Faulkner. Absalom Absalom! Is on my bedside table, does that count?

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I wish I could be more original but it’s always been Fitzwilliam Darcy.

What is your favorite song?

Have I told you Lately by Van Morrison

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I love the reality show, Flying Wild Alaska!

*Special thanks to Angela Correll for agreeing to this author spotlight!

Want to connect with Angela Correll? Here’s the information: website, Facebook and Twitter.

Book Lovers Unite Week 1 Discussion Questions: The Life List

It’s time! It’s here! All October long we will be discussing The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman- a fantastic debut novel that is heartwarming and made of wonderful!

This is Week 1 of the discussion- here is the Reading Schedule! Need to know more about Lori Nelson Spielman? Read the interview and author spotlight that was featured on Traveling With T over the summer!

Questions for Week 1:

1. Did you ever make a “life list” for yourself? If so (and if you feel like sharing) what were some of the things on the list?

2. When The Life List begins, we know that Brett has lost her mother. Brett is filled with grief and sadness- but does have to smile a bit that her mother has taken some steps to make this day easier (the champagne and the journal for later). Would you read the journal today or wait?

3. “Who’s going to boost my confidence now that my mom’s gone?”- Brett, pg 7. Is this a normal mother-daughter relationship? Or an extra-special relationship?

4. Is it cruel or loving what Elizabeth has in mind for Brett to receive her inheritance?

5. Brett’s friends try to think of ways that Brett can technically complete the list- is this what Elizabeth was thinking when she stipulated the list in her will?

6. Why is Brett so hesitant to contact Carrie?

7. Elizabeth asks “Where did she go, that fearless, self-assured girl who loved to entertain?” Why is Elizabeth so worried about this? People change- so why can’t Elizabeth accept this is not part of Brett’s personality anymore?

8. Elizabeth gives Brett a deadline as to when to finish the goals. Why? Should the deadline be negotiable? Shouldn’t Brett have time to grieve?

9. Brett loves Andrew. Can she cross the “falling in love” off her life list?

* These are just some questions to get you thinking- feel free to answer all or just some! If you have a question ask- just don’t ask about anything that did not happen between pages 1-96 #nospoilersplease!

A million and 1 ways to be a Blogger….

Some of the things in this post have been on my mind for awhile- I don’t have all the answers (nor do I pretend to).

My first book love was The Monster at the End of the Book- Grover is worried about the monster- and as you turn pages, he tries to prevent you- because there is a MONSTER at the end of the book. My fav kid book- and one that I still remember fondly because it was time spent with my dad.

When I was 9-ish, I was introduced to the Babysitters Club series- and thus a real love of reading began. I still remember how my mom told everyone in the family “If you are going to the library, pick T up a couple of BSC books” because there was 2 book limit (which proved to be a cross for my mom to bear during the 3 weeks of school I missed with chicken pox). Hence the pleas to family members about the books. Other books came and went in my life- Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley Twins and on and on- even Fear Street. I was a reader- and was proud of it!

I don’t think if you told the 9 year old me that one day I would be a blogger who received books for review that she would have believed you. My 9 y/o self would have thought that I had to live in the big city (that is NYC, btw) and have a connection with the publishing world. To be honest, sometimes, my adult self tends to not believe that I get to read and review books as part of my blogging hobby.

But, I do. I’m not saying the road has been easy (it hasn’t). I didn’t start this blog and instantly get 1 million followers. The New York Times is not quaking in it’s boots about my reviews.

I still remember the first request from a big NYC publisher- to this day, I have no idea how they found my book blog. But I have loved it- and look forward to each email I get from them!

There are 500+ million blogs in this world (I don’t know- I’m just guessing) and with each blog, people have things to say. Books, fashion, make-up, personal lives,- blogs are devoted to topics (and the sky is the limit when it comes to topics for your blog). When I first started Traveling With T– I wanted a place to talk about book signings, road trips, fun events and more. I had considered opening another blog devoted to books- and then decided 2 blogs would be more trouble, Hence, Traveling With T became a book blog (with talk of book signings and fun events mixed in). Some days, I’m personal- talking about the loss of my beloved dog or the happiness of seeing my baby brother getting married. In just a few months, I’ll be a first time aunt- that’ll be an experience.

What I’m saying is this- my blog is a mix. Mainly books- but other things get mixed in. Life gets mixed in. It works for me.

My 2 year blog anniversary is fast approaching. December will be here before I know it. But, I still feel like such a newbie in some ways regarding my blog. And I am. I’ve been book blogging for a year- give or take a couple of months. How did I start book blogging? First, I started just talking about books that I LOVED- I basically took what I was doing on Twitter and expanded it into a more than 140 character version! Then, through a series of good luck and serendipity, I was able to become a She Reads blogger- a group of women bloggers who I adore (and frequently support!) Then I slowly started receiving requests from others about reviewing books, made some connections with people who I really admire, and just focused on making Traveling With T fun.

Blog tours are fun ways to connect with other bloggers- and I enjoy them quite a bit. Sometimes, though, for certain reasons- your blog is not a fit for them. Maybe you don’t have enough followers, maybe it’s other reasons. It sucks (it really does when you want to be a part of a certain tour), but it happens. Pull your chin up, and just move on. It’s happened to me before and it’ll happen again. You, as a blogger, won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Just remember that. And when you find some blog tours that you do fit in with- well, that’s a beautiful thing.

I used to would not ask for interviews from authors- I thought “why bother? My blog is just teeny.” Bother to do it. The worst they can say is no- and it will happen. But not as much as you think.

Over the summer, I had the great fortune of interviewing more than half of the Deep South Magazine Summer Reading List authors. My blog was BUSY- interviews and giveaways going on- which made me happy. I like to have things posted pretty much everyday (and yes, there are days when I post multiple times). Did I over-schedule my summer? Maybe. Maybe not, though. A Summer Reading List interview would have looked silly being posted in the fall for the first time, am I right?

After talking to many blog friends (but 2 in particular- that I owe a depth of gratitude to for all they do), my head spins a bit from all the rules and guidelines they use for their blogs. Some post 1x a day. Some will only read 1 post a day per blog they follow. Some do not read interviews. Some only read interviews. Some read only book reviews. Some like reading book reviews, but will only read if the sky is blue that day 😉 Each person has their own rules and ways- what works for them and what does not. What works for me? I like to schedule a set amount of posts per week- a mix of reviews and interviews. On Tuesday and Thursday, I like to have a mashup- it’s news about giveaways and other things going on in the internet world. Some days, there is not enough to post about- if not, I just don’t worry! Friday is my #literaryfriday- it’s where I support my fav online magazine, my #fridayreads and other things. Some days, I have a chunk of time and a pile of reviews to catch up on- and I just blog, baby, blog. Because, while one day I would LOVE to be a part of the publishing world- maybe a publicist- at this point, I blog in my spare time. I look over the blog for a month or 2 ahead of time and try to plan posts. Most of the time it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Here, though, is what I wonder some days: Am I blogging right? And the answer is: YES! Maybe some days there is an interview and a review- and maybe you only like to read reviews. So, read the review, ignore the interview. Or vice versa. The thing is, the thing that 2 people helped me realize is this: IT’S YOUR BLOG. Blog how you want, how you feel. If 1 post a day, feels good- do it. If you only want to post 3 times a week- hey, it works. There are going to be people who don’t like the way you do things. There are going to be people who love the way you do things. There are going to be people who don’t care either way.

I’m not saying there is (or isn’t) a right or wrong way to blog. I’m sure people who have been blogging a lot longer than me have more of this figured out. Maybe in a year, I’ll have a different idea about blogging. However, I think that the most important thing about blogging is this- be comfortable with your blog. Love your blog. If you don’t, change it up.

You, as a blogger, can drive yourself nutty looking at statistics- blog views, comments, and more. Some days, you’ll be on top of the world with X amount of visitors. Some days you’ll have so few that you’ll be convinced the internet is broken. You can’t go into blogging expecting the be the next big thing- you can hope; but for all the stories you hear about “this blogger turned her blog into a book deal”- it happens. It just does not happen all the time. For me, blogging is a fun way to connect with others. To find people with similar reading tastes, to find books that I may not have known about- to expand my reading taste.

At the end of the day, what I hope people think of me as blogger is this: A fun place to chat about books. An enthusiastic book worm. A proud supporter of various blogs and book-ish things.

Blog because you love to blog. Support other blogs. Comment. Retweet. See a blog you love? Share that! Be a blogger who cares.

Interview with Angela Correll, author of Grounded

Angela Correll is a debut author- her first book is GROUNDED. One of the best things about blogging is finding debut authors (or having people assist you in the finding of new authors!) Angela graciously allowed me to interview her at Traveling With T- so here is the interview. Check back later this week- because even the debut authors have to answer the #literarycrush and #literaryconfessions questions at Traveling With T!

Interview with Angela Correll, author of Grounded

What was the inspiration for the book Grounded?

Fifteen years ago, I left Lexington to marry and move to a farm outside of a small town. This was like coming home for me since I grew up in a neighboring town and most of my family members farmed. However, I hadn’t lived on a farm since I was five years old, so this was a new experience for me as an adult. My recent city mindset made me see the differences in rural and urban environments, city vs. small town, and the value of both. That experience was the original inspiration for Grounded.

Angela– Grounded is your first book. As a debut author, is social media playing a role in promoting your book?

Facebook has been huge for getting the word out to friends from different seasons of my life. I can’t imagine doing this without it. I am blogging and tweeting, so yes, it is important. Part of me wants to retreat to a time when there is no technology and I am pecking away on an aged typewriter, but in order to be relevant in today’s age, it’s important to do.

What is the best advice you have received in regards to writing?

It’s a little talent, but mostly perseverance. Stay with it day after day, learn, grow, improve, and always be willing to revise. In the beginning writers want to know if they have enough talent to invest a huge chunk of time writing. That’s not the question as much as do you want to put the time and effort that it will take to do this? Can you persevere?

Do you have a writing space? Or a writing routine?

The early morning is my favorite writing time. I sit in my den with my feet propped up on an ottoman, a laptop in front of me, a lapdog beside me, and a steady stream of coffee.

Will you be going on a book signing tours for Grounded?

Yes! I have lots of dates lined up in Kentucky and friends in Texas, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina are working on dates there. You can check out the events page on the website for updates (www.angelacorrell.com).

The characters in Grounded– are any based on people you know or are they created from your imagination?

They are all based on parts of people I know or have known in my lifetime. Each character is like stained glass, a melding of this piece and that piece, to make something unique.

Do you have a favorite character in Grounded?

I have always been partial to Beulah. She was the easiest to write.

If Grounded was made into a movie- do you, Angela, have a dream cast in mind?

I don’t watch enough of TV or movies to know the possibilities, but I hope whoever is picked will come to Kentucky and soak up the culture and the accents before taking on the job.

Can you give any hints about what you are working on next, Angela?

My hope is to continue to write about different characters from Somerville so that when readers invest in the place, they will get to visit it over and over through the eyes of different characters. Next up is a sequel for Grounded.

*Special thanks to Angela Correll for agreeing to be interviewed!

Angela Correll is working on her second novel- which is a sequel to Grounded. When not writing or reading- Angela can be found on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

Bloggers Made Of AWESOME: Helen @ My Novel Opinion

Another AWESOME blogger! Helen @ My Novel Opinion is a relatively new blogger, but I started seeing her reviews popping up here and there (mainly because we like a lot of the same books). I started checking her blog out and liked what I saw. Read on to find about #literaryconfessions and is Helen a book shelf kind of girl or not?

Bloggers Made Of AWESOME: Helen @ My Novel Opinion

Helen- when did you begin blogging?

I started blogging at the beginning of April this year, so I’m relatively new.

How did you come up with the name My Novel Opinion?

Lots and lots of brainstorming! I wanted to incorporate books and thoughts/opinions into the name so I opened a word document and started going through the thesaurus. One option was The Book Hoarding Magpie since I treat books like shiny objects that I just have to have and then never get rid of them. I like that ‘novel” has the double meaning though – it fits well!

What are your thoughts on blogging today in an ever-changing book-ish world? Are blogs helping other readers connect with good books?

I think that blogs absolutely help to connect readers with good books. It now only helps new and upcoming releases but also older books. I just recently read and LOVED Looking for Alaska by John Green as a direct result of the adoration of many book bloggers!

When you are not blogging (or reading!)- what do you like to do?

Usually spending time with my children, husband and puppy.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I’ve never read anything by Austen or any of the Bronte sisters, it’s actually quite shameful!

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I’ve never really thought of this! You had me going through my Goodreads list to try and recall if there ever has been one…maybe John from Nicholas Spark’s Dear John, and that may or may not have something to do with Channing Tatum playing the part in the movie 😉

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2013?

Well 2013 is almost over, but there are still a few books which I am looking forward to being published: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, Sycamore Row by John Grisham and The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks.

In your opinion, what book has been the best book you have read (so far!) in 2013?

Of those published in 2013 it has to be The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty or Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman. Otherwise it would be 11/22/63 by Stephen King.

You have a beach vacation planned. What are the 3 books that you must bring?

3 books that I have yet to read (I seldom reread books), they would have a beach/summer theme. Or something lighthearted by a favorite author Sophie Kinsella, Lisa Jewell or Cecelia Ahern.

Are you an e-book or tree book lover? Or does it not matter?

I was against ebooks for so long, I felt like I was cheating on paper books but I am now well and truly converted! I love my Kindle and probably couldn’t live without it (I know right) but it is just so convenient and lightweight for those mammoth 1,000+ page books! But I still love real books, and will always buy them and read them. I don’t really think it matters which you prefer as long as you are reading…it’s the same words!

Do you stack your books on the nightstand or are you more of a bookshelf person?

Definitely a bookshelf kinda girl. My husband would go crazy if I had a stack lying around on the nightstand. It’s bad enough when I have a few lined up on the coffee table!

To connect with Helen @ My Novel Opinion, visit her blog or follow her on Twitter,

Guest Post: Barbara Jean Coast, author of Strangled by Silk (+ giveaway!)

Photo Credit: Escape With Dollycas

Today, I’m a stop on the Strangled by Silk hosted by Escape With Dollycas blog tour! My stop includes fun for the readers of Traveling With T in the form of a guest post by Barbara Jean Coast to introduce you to the book, Strangled by Silk, plus a giveaway! Want to visit more tour stops? Here is the list of where the Strangled by Silk tour will be visiting!

Guest Post by Barbara Jean Coast- Introduction to Poppy Cove Mystery series!

Hi there, guys and dolls! It’s so wonderful to be able to introduce myself to you! As Barbara Jean Coast, I’m actually the shared pen name of co-authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff. They reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada, but I exist in Santa Lucia, California (which is eerily similar to Santa Barbara). I’ll take you on a little tour of my time and toddling little town. So sit yourself down, pour yourself a long, cool beverage of your choice and we’ll get to know each other a little better!

The Poppy Cove Mystery Series is set in the late 50’s/early 60’s, as it was an amazing time in North American culture. The continent was still feeling the glow of having “won the war” and with it came a booming economy and an unsurpassed radiant confidence and idealism that nothing could go wrong. Women’s clothes were feminine and colorful, men dressed sharply in suits and hats, consumerism was at its peak of big, bright and shiny homes and cars. But at the end of the 50’s, and start of the 60’s, there was an underlying change — cold war, McCarthyism, women questioning their roles in society and teenage rebellion were starting to crack through the veneer. It makes for an intriguing setting for telling tales. My cozy series is character driven, revealing the lives and secrets of the residents, how they evolve, change and what they’ve lived through, rounded out with the Poppy Cove creations and daily workings of the town, with a little murder and mayhem tossed in the mix.

The first novel of the series is STRANGLED BY SILK. It begins at the opening ceremony of the new Stearns Academy, an exclusive girls’ boarding school, founded by the town doyenne Constance Stearns-Montgomery. She is nowhere to be seen until found dead in the rose bushes, clad in the dress and strangled by the silk scarf she had commissioned from Poppy Cove, the two and a half year old atelier in the center of town. It’s where Poppy Lane and Cove Street meet and caters to a host of colorful customers. The two main characters, shop owners both in their mid 20’s, are Daphne Huntington-Smythe, a born and bred fun-loving California blonde is the accessories buyer and Margot Williams, a recent arrival with a contemplative nature, is the custom designer of the store’s apparel.

Santa Lucia, population 50,000, just within arm’s reach of Los Angeles, is a bucolic setting of endless possibilities and temperate climate which draw the rich, glamorous and dangerous to its natural charms. Poppy Cove itsself is known to appeal to a starlet or two, including an impromptu fashion show by Joyce Jones, as revealed in the debut novel. It is the place for the elite to get gorgeous and catch up on the latest gossip.

There are other places worth mentioning, starting with Antonio’s, a fabulous little Italian restaurant run by Antonio and Maria Chelli located on the main Cove Street. It’s darling with checkered tablecloths, a vine covered loggia, Chianti bottle candles and pasta, pasta, pasta!!! Another darling location is the Poppy Lane Tea Room, which is a great spot for breakfast or a little nibble. Lana’s homemade muffins, soups and sandwiches in this bright and airy café make it a delightfully perfect place for ladies who lunch.

Right in the center of town is the meeting place known as Avila Square. It has a beautiful fountain and Spanish terracotta and mosaic tiles. If you are lucky enough to be there on a Saturday, it’s the spot for the Farmer’s Market which is a feast for the senses with colorful produce, charming hardworking locals and lively music. Another great place to watch the world go by is the Santa Lucia Fisherman’s Wharf. Located at the foot of Cove Street, there’s something for everyone — the Penny Arcade for the teenagers, the Sand Dollar with fresh take out fish and chips and ice cream delights from the Milky Way. With all the artists offering their wares and busking musicians to accompany the sounds of the ocean waves and fresh sea air, there’s no better way to while away the day from sunrise to sunset.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my kind of town. Why not pick up a copy of STRANGLED BY SILK today? It’ll get you all set for the next in the Poppy Cove Mystery series, currently being penned as you read, where poor Miss Santa Lucia doesn’t know what’s coming!

Toodles,

Barbara Jean Coast

Photo Credit: Escape With Dollycas

Andrea and Heather (Andrea is on the right!) are the dynamic duo writing under the pen name of Barbara Jean Coast. Strangled by Silk is the first book in the Poppy Cove Mystery series- to connect with the authors- visit Twitter, “friend” Barbara Jean Coast or “like” Poppy Cove Mystery series!

For more information, including where to buy Strangled by Silk- visit here!

*Giveaway information! For a chance to win a copy of Strangled by Silk, just comment on this post! Giveaway is open to US only (sorry!) and will run from October 2-October 14th at 11:59PMEST. Giveaway winner will be announced Oct 15th.