The Stranger You Know (Forensic Instincts) by Andrea Kane

Someone is murdering red headed women in New York City. Someone who has an axe to grind against a particular red-headed woman. Can the Forensic Instincts team find the murderer? Before he attacks the target of his obsession, their leader, Casey?

Casey has assembled a team of the best of the best. Some might call it a dream team of investigators. Casey calls it Forensic Instincts. With each person on the team having a specific set of skills, collectively- they solve cases others can’t. But there is one case, Casey has never been able to solve. A case that haunts her to this day. The case of her missing friend, Holly.

When Forensic Instincts is hired by a man searching for his missing daughter, Casey knows it’s a long shot to find the daughter. The case is 15 years old, and cold cases are tough to solve. However the man is dying and Casey wants to try to give him peace of mind. Casey also has an ulterior motive- the details from the missing girl Jan’s case are eerily similar to Holly’s case. Casey wonders if the two could be linked.

While the team is searching for clues about Jan’s disappearance, a man is setting other plans in motion. From his jail cell, he is keeping tabs on the case and making plans. And he has plans for Casey- plans that involve pain and torture.

At Columbia, a young petite red-head is raped and killed. Right after, Casey gets a call taunting her about the murder and the plans for her. Casey knows of 1 man who wants to torture and kill her- but he’s in jail serving a 30 year sentence- so it can’t be him. Can it? And if it’s not- does he have something to do with the phone call? As more red-heads are being killed, Casey gets calls from the killer- taunting her, letting her know he’s getting closer.

With each call, Casey knows he’s getting closer to his ultimate goal- and she’s ready. Casey refuses to change her life, refuses to be a victim. Instead she puts herself in the hot seat and goes to the prison to visit the man in jail. There, Casey finds a tie between the killings happening and the man in prison. She wonders how things are tied together- but does not have to wonder long- as the master plan becomes apparent quickly.

Will Casey and the Forensic Instincts team be able to solve the case? Will Casey ever get peace about Holly? And will the plan, the plan of evil, torture, and pain beyond all measure happen to Casey? And if so- who’s the person inflicting the pain- the man that Casey thinks or a stranger she knows?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

This is a series (although this is the first I’ve read). Casey and her team set out to solve crimes that the police cannot solve- due to limited resources. The team is a merry band of folks- with each person having a skill that comes in handy. Twists and turns throughout the novel, but the ending is not quite as good as earlier in the book. Some red-herrings, some misdirection to throw the reader off the scent of who is the mastermind- but, some readers will be able to guess. Still enjoyable and worth a read.

*This book was requested through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Sometimes family is found in the most unexpected places…..

When Emmalee meets Leona at the shirt factory, neither knows how much their life will change. Leona is gruff with Emmalee at first, but soon takes her under her wing- showing her tips and tricks to sewing the collars and other things. One day, Leona asks Emmalee to bring her baby to live with Leona and Curtis, her husband. The next day, their life is changed forever.

Leona has been busy sewing slipcovers and getting Emmalee’s and Kelly Faye’s room ready- so the last thing she needs is a delay in cooking her famous hashbrown casserole for the church. But, it happens and Leona is busy rushing to get things ready for church. On the way to church, while Leona is worried about being later, her husband does not see the log truck drifting in his lane. When he does see the truck, he tries to move over, but moves too far- then loses control. Curtis and Leona die on the way to church.

Emmalee knows that when Mr. Fulton comes to the house, death is in the air. Her daddy, Nolan, helps Mr. Fulton with transporting of the bodies. Emmalee is trying to get Kelly Faye to sleep, and hates to hear the arrival of Mr. Fulton- but especially hates to hear that the bodies are Leona and Curtis. Emmalee mourns the loss of Leona, the one person who believed that Emmalee could be a good mother. Emmalee decides to make her friend a funeral dress, something nice and wonderful for her dear friend, Leona.

Many in the town are against Emmalee, unmarried with a baby, making a funeral dress for Leona, a woman who was church-going. Emmalee is determined to make the dress, though, and she sets out to do just that. Emmalee knows that her friend deserves a beautiful dress, and Emmalee knows that despite her background- the dress is for her to make. No one else would take the time or the care with the dress the way she will.

While Emmalee is making Leona’s dress, she begins to learn more about Leona’s life- the hopes and disappointments- and why Leona decided to ask Emmalee to live with her. Emmalee also begins to realize how much she wants to be a good mother- to provide Kelly Faye with the life she did not have. People in the area, though, have other plans for Kelly Faye and those plans do not include Emmalee. Can Emmalee find the strength to stand up to the town? With the help of an unlikely ally, Emmalee might just be able to.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

The Funeral Dress weaves together themes of loss, hope, desire for a better life, finding strength and faith to create a story that is heart-warming and an intimate look at life for women working in a factory. Susan Gregg Gilmore takes two characters that, at first glance have nothing in common, and creates a story where they both play a pivotal role in the others life. Highly recommended for book clubs and fans of Southern Lit.

*This book was requested through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Author Spotlight: Peggy Sweeney-McDonald

Monday, Peggy was at Traveling With T for an interview. Today, she’s revealing her #literarycrush ( a “Grey” literary crush!), showing her Southern roots, and telling us what type of food she would be (if possible!)

Author Spotlight: Peggy Sweeney McDonald

Peggy, when not working- what do you like to read?

New Age Spiritual books (anything by Marianne Williamson, Wayne Dyer and Neal Donald Walsh) and any Oprah picks.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

I’m a magazine junkie! I have to keep up on Hollywood scoop as I live in L.A.!

Do you have a #literarycrush?

Christian Grey – Fifty Shades of Grey (I can’t believe I am admitting it! Don’t tell my husband!)

What are some authors you really enjoy?

Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Kate Chopin – my southern roots are showing!

If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would you pick?

Judy Garland. I’m a huge Wizard of Oz fan!

If you could be any food in the world, what would you pick? And why?

We ask this question in the shows and the book to all our storytellers and it’s always so much fun to see their personalities shine through. I say I would be a Godiva chocolate, sometimes bitter or sweet or nutty or a tasty combination, but always a treat!

*Special thanks to Peggy Sweeney-McDonald for agreeing this Author Spotlight!

To connect with Peggy, please visit her website or Twitter page!

Bloggiesta- Accomplishments!

Another Bloggiesta has come to an end! While I did not accomplish all my goals, I did get some finished that I’ve been putting off for some time- so yay me! Plus, I have a set of tasks to continue working on in my free time. #winning!

Here is my goals when I started Bloggiesta!

This is what I accomplished:

Interview Archive
Author Spotlight Archive
Review Policy

While I’m sad that I did not manage to find time to post my review archive, the 3 tasks I accomplished were time consuming.

Other things I learned this weekend: how to make a button (hopefully!)

From my perspective, Bloggiesta was a success!

Interview with Peggy Sweeney- McDonald, author of Meanwhile Back at Cafe Du Monde

Last year, I had the pleasure to meet Peggy Sweeney-McDonald at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS. I had won the book from Deep South Magazine in a contest- but since Peggy was so close by, I decided to drive over and meet her. And I’m so glad I did! Peggy is vivacious, entertaining, and just plain fun! Chatting with her about her book was the best way to spend an afternoon.

When I met Peggy, my blog was a year old; but still getting it’s feet on the ground. And I regretted the missed chance at interviewing her (as we just talked and talked that afternoon!) However, Peggy was kind enough to grant me an interview after I contacted her- and now readers of Traveling With T will be able to find why she’s a success- and how dear Café Du Monde is to her heart and soul.

Interview with Peggy Sweeney-McDonald

Peggy, Meanwhile Back at Café Du Monde originally was a show. Now it’s a book. What is next?

It has been an incredible journey from inspiration to idea to shows to book and beyond. I’m now trying to pitch it as a television idea and would love to do a radio show too! I’m being asked to write for food magazines and to present Meanwhile, Back at Café Du at conferences. I’m scheduled to do the show at the Chili Pepper Extravaganza in New Orleans September 27-29^th and will have some of the “Pepper Heads” on board to share their food stories.

How did you transition Meanwhile Back at Café Du Monde from show to book? What was the process?

This was a “learn as you go” experience with lots of ups and downs. I had never thought about writing a book before. I had the idea for the coffee table book of the stories from the shows when I was getting ready to go on stage for the first show. I was in the gift shop/kitchen of the Myrtles Plantation and there were coffee table books on a table for sale. I thought to myself, “This would be a great book with the stories, recipes and pictures”, I turned one of the books over and saw Pelican Publishing had published that book. I invited Pelican Publishing to come to a New Orleans show the next month as I knew they would be a good fit. They came to the show, loved it and gave me a book deal. Soon I had a literary agent, entertainment attorney and was learning the ropes of a book contract. At times it has been very overwhelming but thrilling. I’m trying to stay centered, focused, excited and enjoy the ride. The book has received rave reviews from Emeril Lagasse, Chef John Besh, Rex Reed, Pulitzer Prize winning author Jeffrey Marx and more. It has been reviewed in newspapers and magazines including Southern Seasons, Texas Home and Living, Louisiana Cooking, Flavors, Chili Pepper Magazine and more.

Did you have better luck with having Meanwhile Back at Café Du Monde becoming a book because it’s about food and has great pictures?

I think the publisher liked the idea that it wasn’t just a cookbook and it was unique in that the stories originated from a live show and were shared by people from all walks of life not just chefs, restaurant owners and typical foodies. We have the Mayor of Baton Rouge (Kip Holden) to a college student (Hannah Blomquist) and a Broadway theatre actress (Savannah Wise) and more that aren’t typical “foodies”.

Or does a book like this present it’s own unique challenges? I had a 3 month deadline after signing the contract and trying to gather stories, pictures and releases from 67 people over the 2011 Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays was a huge challenge. I know everyone was tired of getting my calls and emails but I wanted the book to come out the Fall of 2012 and so it had to be turned in by January 2012. It was a crazy time and so many days, I didn’t think I could get it accomplished but a day at a time, I did! It was such a great feeling to turn in my “baby” to my publisher. You think you have done the hard work at that point, but it has only just begun with the editing over the next 6 months and then planning the promotion. I feel like I learned so much about publishing, myself, and life! It was a wonderful time in my life.

Is Meanwhile Back At Café Du Monde a “foodie” book? Or is it an “everyone who likes food book”?

It is a book for anyone that loves stories about life, love, family, friends, joy and sorrow and if you are a foodie, you will treasure the book as you will relate to something in every story!

Peggy, are you working on more books? Another show?

I just finished a round of shows in Los Angeles and went back to Baton Rouge for the 3 year anniversary shows. I’m taking a break from the live shows now as I’m concentrating on meetings with production companies to pitch the television idea. I am planning on writing a book about my journey of Meanwhile, Back at Café Du Monde… and the spiritual and life lessons I have learned along the way. When you listen to divine inspiration and start taking the steps toward your dreams despite your fear, life gets bigger and better in so many ways.

What is your absolute favorite food that makes you think of life back home in the South? How is the food different in California than New Orleans?

Of course it would have to be beignets and Café Au Lait from Café Du Monde! The sweetest thing in the world! As I say in my title monologue, “no matter where I live or what is going on in my life, I always end up at Café Du Monde… taking life one beignet at a time!”

We have great food in Los Angeles. You can dine internationally here without ever leaving the city. However, New Orleans food has soul and there is something about the food that once you have tasted it, you just want more. I go back to Baton Rouge to visit my family and once I have the first taste of good Louisiana food, all bets are off and any thought of dieting or eating right is down the drain . It’s off to the races. It’s like the first bite explodes my taste buds and I’m once more I’m awakened to how fabulous Louisiana cooks are! I have to come back to Los Angeles to eat right and exercise so that I can go back to Louisiana a few months later to eat again! It’s a vicious cycle but so worth it!

What is the best “foodie” story that you’ve experienced?

It would have to be my own story as it comes from my heart . My story begins when I left New York to move back to Louisiana with my New York fiancé and all the amazing years we lived in New Orleans eating our way thru the French Quarter and always ending up at Café Du Monde! Everyone has a “Café Du Monde” or Café of the World – a metaphor for your favorite comfort food place. Everyone has a food story…. life spun around a thread of food!

*Special thanks to Peggy Sweeney-McDonald for agreeing to this interview!

Peggy loves food and stories about food! To connect with Peggy, please visit her website or Twitter page!

It’s time to Bloggiesta! List of goals…

It’s time to Bloggiesta! For people who don’t know what Bloggiesta is- it’s 3 days of working on your blog, participating in mini-challenges, networking with other bloggers and just having fun!

Because I’d already planned to do quite a bit of reading this weekend (Bloggiesta totally surprised me this weekend!), my goals are going to be simple-ish; yet important things for my blog.

1. Begin a Review, Interview, Author Spotlight, Book Lovers Unite tab and archive.

2. Update my Goodreads page.

3. Post my Review Policy.

4. I plan to participate in a couple of challenges, as well!

I stay pretty busy with my blog, connecting with readers and friends on Twitter- and yet, lately, I’ve been feeling a need for a shake-up. Bloggiesta may have arrived just in time!

Literary Friday ya’ll…..

Friday, Bloggiesta, and lots of reading! What’s your Friday plans?

1. Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday: News of James Franco as Faulkner, SoFest of Books in Nashville, 11 scariest mothers in books, upcoming book signings, what Erin is reading now (some good looking books that *may* be on the upcoming Fall Reading list!) and much more!

2. Bloggiesta is happening this weekend! Basically, it’s a 3 day weekend to work on your blog, make connections and visit the other blogs hosting the mini-challenges. It’s blog love, baby! I don’t always participate in Bloggiesta- but I try to do some work when I can during these 3 day blog-love weekends! This time, I’m REALLY trying because 2 of my fav blog buddies- Rebecca @ Love At First Book and Allison @ The Book Wheel are both hosting mini-challenges (Whoo, Rebecca and Allison! Proud of you girls!)

Here are some interesting Bloggiesta-related things I’ve found today:

Love At First Book: How To Host (and participate) in a Digital Book Club & Giveaway!

The Book Wheel: 50 Bookish Things

Always With a Book: Bloggiesta.. My To Do List and Updates

Books Speak Volumes: Ten Things Every Book Blog Needs

3. Did you know that I’ll be co-hosting the Hank Phillippi Ryan chat with Literary New England on September 25th at 8pmEST? You didn’t?! Well, I am! Be there as we talk about THE WRONG GIRL and giveaway some books! Use hashtag #LNEChat to join I the fun! This will be the first of 2 scheduled Literary New England/She Reads chats- and everyone is very excited!

My blogger friend, Always With a Book, got to meet Hank Phillippi Ryan this week (and was kind enough to pick me up a signed book!) Read about K meeting HPR- Author Meet and Greet: Hank Phillippi Ryan

4. This isn’t Bloggiesta related, but Ivory Owl Reviews blogged this week about what she learned in her first year of blogging- and it’s worth a read!

5. #giveaway: Have you heard of The Returned by Jason Mott? The blog-osphere is all a-twitter about this book! And you are in luck! Luxury Reading is giving away a copy! Need more of The Returned? The Book Wheel was lucky enough to get an interview with Jason Mott (that girl is a mover and shaker- folks!)

6. 2 reviews posted this week on Traveling With T: Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand and What A Mother Knows by Leslie Lehr.

7. Holly Goddard Jones, author of The Next Time You See Me, stopped by Traveling With T this week for an Interview and Author Spotlight.

8. Book Lovers Unite September read Astor Place Vintage is still going on at Book-alicious Mama and October’s book has been announced for when it returns to Traveling With T: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman I’m very excited for this discussion- and I hope you will join in the fun! Reading schedule to be posted next week!

9. Catching up on posting about 2 fab authors I met over the summer: Meeting Anton DiSclafani and Meeting Susan Crandall

10. Another Blogger Made of AWESOME: Drey @ Drey’s Library!

11. My #fridayreads: Astor Place Vintage, Wedding Belles by Beth Albright, and maybe 212 by Alafair Burke! What are you reading for #fridayreads?

Happy Reading and good luck with Bloggiesta if you are participating!

Meeting Anton DiSclafani, author of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

The Yohnalossee Riding Camp for Girls was on many people’s lips over the summer. Quickly catching the hearts and attentions of various book clubs, Yohnalosse for debut author Anton DiSclafani was a book that was enjoyed by many. I met Anton at Lemuria Books in Jackson over the summer- and enjoyed listening to her talk about the writing process. Anton and I may not have met, though, if her book signing tour had not been extended past the original 14 locations- but as the summer went on, her tour was extended! I was super excited to see that Lemuria made the list for the extension because everyone had been telling me “you have to read this”! Confession: I’m blogging about meeting Anton- and yet still haven’t read her book. However, it’s coming up fast in my TBR list!

Anton talked of how she was interested in the Great Depression after doing a bit of research on YRCFG. When asked if she has read the book since she wrote the book, she confided that she had not read Yonahlossee in over a year (since final edits). Someone in the crowd questioned Anton on the best parts of the book tour- and Anton says ” The audience, the interaction is the best part. The traveling is the annoying part.”

Anton has started writing a new book- but talks of how different the writing process is since she’s published. When she was writing YRCFG, she did not get many opinion of feedback (well at least till the editing part). Now, she has people that have opinions and suggest feedback- which makes writing a different process for her. Anton started YRCFG when she was 24- she’s now 32. Writing YRCFG was a process- and one Anton enjoyed!

When asked if she had a #literarycrush or #literaryconfessions- Anton confessed that her crush is Mr. Rochester and that her confession is that she did not like War and Peace (however, she loved Anna Karenina). Anton’s pick for best book of 2013: Brewster by Mark Sloulka.

Meeting Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past The Graveyard

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past The Graveyard at TurnRow Books in Greenwood. Funny, charming, and kind enough to pose for a picture, Susan’s book signing was a good one. She had a nice crowd, and was chock-full of stories about her book, writing, and other things.

Whistling Past The Graveyard is Susan Crandall’s 10th book, however, it is her first book published in hardcover. A book that made several reading lists, and was highly publicized for being a book to read for book clubs, fans of The Help or several Southern books- “Whistling” is no stranger to praise- even making TurnRow’s Top 20 list.

Susan began talking about Whistling Past the Graveyard happened- and it happened quite by accident. She started writing a suspense novel, but because she kept hearing a little girl’s voice- she quit that and decided to listen to the girl. The girl, who we all know and love, is Starla.

“Writing about a character that is so unlike you is usually a hard thing”, Susan confides to the crowd as we listened intently. But with “Whistling”, she did not feel this problem- even though in past, she might would have inserted parts of herself into the character- but with Starla, the little spit-fire, she felt content to let Starla be Starla.

One of the audience members asked “Why did you choose Mississippi as the background for the book?” Susan Crandall replied, “I know about Mississippi. The story line worked for Mississippi.” Part of the reason “Whistling” was based in 1960’s was not so much because of the Civil Rights movement, but more because Susan needed a time frame for this story before things such as Code Adam and Amber Alerts- as that Starla runs away, and a later time frame, she would have to allow for things of that nature.

Whistling Past The Graveyard is potentially being considered to be made into a movie- and when asked more about a cast, Susan says she does not have a cast in mind. However, because of her disappointment over The Thorn Birds mini-series (in the movie Meggie has different colored hair than the book)- Susan tried to keep her characters looks vague as possible.

Questioned about the person she would love to meet in history and Susan just smiled for a bit, and said “Normally, I have trouble with these type of questions. But I’ve decided it would be Mark Twain”.

To read my review of Whistling Past The Graveyard, visit here.

Author Spotlight: Holly Goddard Jones

Today, Holly Goddard Jones is back to reveal her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush!

Author Spotlight: Holly Goddard Jones

What are some of your favorite books, Holly?

Felicia’s Journey, by William Trevor, anything by Margaret Atwood, several Stephen King novels but especially The Stand, Faulkner’s Go Down, Moses, Cloud Atlas, State of Wonder, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Serena, by Ron Rash. A recent favorite is Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life.

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

Most characters in books have it pretty hard—much harder than I have it. If I’m being realistic, I’d choose a boring character with a nice life, which would mean someone on the periphery of a good story. But if I mean a character who has qualities I admire, and I wish I could respond to adversity with the wisdom and grace that they do? The first two to come to mind are Elizabeth Bennet and Daenerys Targaryen. Ha!

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

I have a layperson’s interest in criminal psychology, which is pretty analogous to what I do as a writer. Or I’d like to be in some zoological field and work with primates.

Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

God, too many to own. I haven’t read tons of things I’m supposed to have read, like Moby Dick and Mrs. Dalloway.

Do you have a #literarycrush?

I’m still smarting over the fact that Cassandra spurned Stephen Colley in I Capture the Castle.

What is your favorite song?

It depends on the day. But because I love The Beatles best overall and have a sentimental attachment to it, I’ll say, oddly, “You Never Give Me Your Money.”

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I don’t feel guilty about any of my pleasures, except the time I waste on the internet. Just because it’s more habit than pleasure.

What books are in your to be read (TBR) pile?

I just started Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. I’m also in the middle of the fifth book from A Song of Fire and Ice. I’d like to read Alyssa Nutting’s Tampa and Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings. Oh, and Stephen King’s Joyland.

* Thank you Holly Goddard Jones for the author spotlight!

To connect with Holly, please visit her website or Facebook.