B is for Bullet and Blood and ....

B is for Bullet or Bribe or Bed and Breakfast Murder

Just because your sleuth finds a bullet casing or shell, and what the medical examiner or forensic scientist says it matches the hole in your victim doesn't mean one size fits all. The detectives work has just begun regarding the weapon and the murder. 

A mystery writer needs to know the different kinds of weapons. What they do when they are used to kill and more. If no one sees the murderer enter or exit or a murder occurs with everyone in the room, was a gunshot heard? Or, was the victim stabbed?  Was there a gunshot but the gun wasn't the murder weapon after all?

If you have an AK47 as the murder weapon, does your diminutive, hundred pound, paraplegic woman have the wherewithal to fire it? Can she control the bursts the weapon may produce?  Is she capable of steadying the weapon's repercussions? Of course you could prove she could and did, foreshadowing the event –showing her strength somewhere earlier. Remember motive and opportunity aren't enough. Plausibility counts with your reader or, your willingness to like and trust the narrator you, as the reader, hear. 

Bullet and blood are only half the puzzle, but they are extremely important when the sleuth finally reveals what the weapon was and who wielded it.

Bullets of different types do different kinds of damage, blood patterns tell distance from the victim and so much more.  A bullet could become a bribe, a bullet could end a quiet stay at a Bed and Breakfast with murder—or a bullet could trip up the criminal depending on how you use it. Know your weapon, know your trajectory, know what the body and the scene will reveal and your reader will be hooked to follow you, perhaps not just to the end of the story but even from book to book. 

For the next stop on your A to Z reads visit click on the side bar at the top right of this blog A-Z Challenge

 

Here's Owen - and Marvin - We found them!!!!! Owen Fiddler Interviewed

(Owen walks in, followed by Marvin.

Marvin reminds Owen to

snuff out his smoke, which Owen does reluctantly. They both take a seat.)

(Billie) - Hi Owen, Marvin.

(Owen) – Hey.

(Marvin) – Hi Billie, good to see you again.

(Billie) - I hope your day goes well. Thanks for coming, have a sip of ice tea or lemonade and chat with us. How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? How’s your investment portfolio doing? Getting any writing done? How’s the wife and kids?

(Owen looks at Marvin, confused. Marvin says to Owen) – Small talk, Owen, relax, that’s just Billie – she can get a bit facetious at times. (Marvin turns to Billie, says) – Weather’s fine, the investments are as falsely inflated as the stock market, the writing never stops, and the wife and kids’re – well, speaking for me, doing just fine. C’mon, Billie, I know you didn’t ask us here to discuss our favorite colors. (smiles and chuckles)

(Billie laughs with him) – Yes, well - now that we’ve got the chatty ‘how’d ya be’ stuff done lets get to some questions that I’ve been dying to ask and I know my Printed Words readers are holding on with their fingernails white with anticipation. Let’s start with this:

My definition of Irony: All is not as it appears to be. Is Owen a definition of irony? Does the braggadocio, full of himself, acerbic wit, curmudgeon cover insecurity or lack of self-confidence?

OWEN: Yup. All that. You pegged me right good, Ms. Williams. Hey, where have I seen you before … Playboy, right? March issue, 1997? So what’re you doin’ later?

(Marvin) Owen! For god’s sake, stow it, will ya? Jeez-o-Pete – sorry, Billie.

(Billie) Oh, no harm, Marvin. Owen, you DO live up to your rep, don’t you? My, what a charmer. But on a more serious note, and I’m talking to Owen now - by your own admission you take no responsibility for your actions, YOU SAY—and yet you do. You seem to be trying to set the record straight. You seem to be saying – “Hey, I fell off the turnip truck but it wasn’t the end of my life - it was only the beginning.” Isn’t that taking responsibility in some fashion?

(Owen lifts his eyes to the ceiling, stares for a moment, then sighs with a fall of his chest, looks pleadingly at Marvin who just stares at him, then looks at Billie) – Yeah. I guess you could say that. But really I’m not all that comfortable calling all this attention to myself. The only reason I agreed to let Marvin write my story was I figured maybe I’d get ahead some, you know – maybe make some money. Am I taking responsibility for my life by sharing my story with others? If I am, that’s just a plus for me according to you, I guess. ‘N thank ya kindly, Ma’am.

(Billie) - Do you believe in the oft-quoted message that ‘nothing happens by accident’? Do you think perhaps you were chosen to trod the path you trod in order to better understand the message that you were to write to others?

(Owen looks at Marvin as if to ask if he should answer – Marvin nods yes) – Okay, Look. There’s all this fuss bein’ made over my life story. I can’t figure it. I mean, there’s tons-o-folks you could write the same book about. Marvin picked me, he says, cuz I’m like some kinda average example. So, all this heavy stuff about troddin’ paths and all that (bleep)? I really don’t know. I’m just Owen Fiddler – nothin’ more, nothin’ less.

(Billie) - The things we see and dislike in others is a mirror of ourselves – or reflects what we don’t like in ourselves to put it another way or so I’m led to believe. You say in an interview I read recently that You (Owen Fiddler) represent those aspects we often abhor in others but fail to recognize in ourselves. Can you expand on this—I mean how do you mean this phrase? Do you mean if I hate my sister for being gorgeous that I have these same traits that make her appear gorgeous to me? Or because I joke that my other sister is a motor mouth that I am one?

(Owen) – Well, if the bra fits, wear it. Or, lie about it and stuff it with tissue. Gorgeous sister, eh? Think I could meet her?

(Marvin) – Oh-when! … we’re not on The Dating Game, pal. Keep it relevant, will ya?

(Billie – chuckles) – You guys’re a stitch. You know, the name Owen seems to say “ow(e)n up to your mistakes, ow(e)n what you say, ow(e)n what you write, ow(e)n what you project,” at least in my mind. Is that what you intended with the title of this book, naming it after yourself? Or do you mean you own the Fiddler?

(Owen turns to Marvin, perplexed, says) – She’s getting’ a bit deep for me. You named me, what the (bleep)’s she talkin’ about?

(Marvin) – Hmmm – actually, Billie, you are close in your assessment of the meaning of Owen Fiddler’s name. In a certain way, you are right on. However, the real meaning of the name, the more succinct interpretation as I intended it is … oh, how can I say it without unbagging the cat? Put it like this: Owen likes to dance, but he never pays the fiddler. Therefore, he is in a constant state of Owen Fiddler.

(Owen) – I’m getting’ a (bleep)ing headache. Is this all you got – ice tea and lemonade? I need a beer and a shot of tequila.

(Marvin) – Knock it off, Owen. Sorry again, Billie.

(Billie) – Quite all right. Now, you say that Owen Fiddler is not a religious book, but a highly spiritual book. Isn’t religion about inspiring, enlightening? And isn’t religion spiritual? Isn’t this just a fine/very thin line you are choosing so as not to believe in anything but yourself? Are you saying that all religions are nothing more then doctrine, rules, regulations and sermons of what not to do and how bad we are?

(Owen) – Well, I never been inspired by religion. Religious people’ve always struck me as robots. Reciting scriptures, all actin’ the same, rigid in their ways and habits – and super judgmental about anyone who isn’t exactly the same as they pretend to be. Bunch o’ nicey-nice folks afraid to have any real rip-roarin’ fun ‘n lookin’ down their noses at people that do.

(Marvin) – I’d like to interject a comment here. Because this is an important point. In fact, Billie, you touch on a few important points with your insightful inquiry. There is a radical difference between religion and spirituality. Allow me to explain with an example. Jesus was divine spirit incarnate. However, Christianity, the organized religion as we know and experience it today, two thousand years after His crucifixion, is for the most part a sham of a representation of what He taught and pointed His followers toward. Now before you denounce me as a heretic and organize an Owen Fiddler book burning with me strapped to a stake in the middle, please just stay with me for a minute.

Jesus did not found Christianity – His followers did, long after his death and resurrection. Jesus just loved people – He loved everyone equally without judgment and led them to the truth. And he bade us to follow His example. Can we say this of the religious community we have today? Is forgiveness, compassion and non-judgmental love for everyone the hallmark of the church that goes by His name? No. Never has been, at least not for sixteen hundred years or so. Wars are fought; throngs of innocent lives are slain, in the name of Christianity. Can there be any more supreme irony, any more of an obtuse oxymoron than the concept of a “Holy War?” Remember, it was the religious people of Jesus’ time that had Him crucified. They chose to liberate Barabas – a murderer, rather than let Jesus live. If Jesus were alive and walking the streets today, the religious would kill Him again. His spirit is too radical – too free – too liberated - far too spontaneous and wild to be confined by an organization. Religion fosters fear – fear of unbridled freedom, the kind of limitless freedom that Jesus was and is. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who could fast for forty days and rebuke the devil and then turn around and have a feast with thieves and hookers while enjoying a healthy wine buzz. I tell you, the Church would not recognize its own savior if he were to return today. He’d be declared the Anti-Christ and assassinated by the clergy.

And I’m not just picking on Christianity – the same can be said for Judaism and Islam. You asked earlier about irony. How’s this for even more irony – Judaism, Islam and Christianity, their devout followers all believe in and worship the same One God of Abraham. The Old Testament and the Koran are (in large part) just different scriptings of the same stories, parables, and theological tenets. So why then, are they killing each other? Put Moses, Mohammed and Jesus in a room together. Do you suppose they would argue, come to blows and try to murder each other over their different interpretations of The Way? I think not. Yet their so-called followers do just that.

(Marvin notices Owen has fallen asleep, snoring) Owen! Wake up! Show a little respect, for heaven’s sake.

(Owen jerks awake) Huh? Wha?

(Billie laughs) - I think I see what you’re saying. But let me ask you this - do you think by saying it’s not a religious book that readers will take a chance on reading it and find out too late that they have been touched by religion? That they believe in a higher power and perhaps even the good of most if not all mankind given the right chances?

(Owen) – I’m sorry, what’re we talkin’ about?

(Marvin looks at Owen as if he were a used cud of chewing gum) – That’s all right, I got this one. Ahem. Yes. Absolutely, that is my hope and intention. OWEN FIDDLER is a brave book, if I do say so myself. I took a chance on publishing it. The strictly religious community will probably eschew it as being mere filth. I mean, Owen cusses, gets drunk regularly and is prolifically promiscuous. I’m a writer of truths, and that’s just the way he is. And conversely, the book runs the risk of being considered (ironically) by the secular community as too “religious.” The book has characters in it drawn from Christian theology. Again, I’m being true to myself. I am a Christian – albeit a rather non-religious Maverick spiritualist version of the faith – in the eyes of traditionalists, at least. But the book is not preachy - it’s engaging, entertaining, sometimes humorous, often it tugs at the heart, sometimes it gets irreverent and even sexy. I would think that anyone of any faith or path or no particular path at all can enjoy and appreciate the story. The message is universal.

In my perfect world, OWEN FIDDLER would come to be known and appreciated as a valuable “crossover” book. A modern day parable that has meaning to everyone, whether they are “religious,” “Spiritual,” or follow the Law of Attraction, or even just honestly agnostic. I’m all about bringing people together in love. It’s a form of worship for me.

(Billie) - What does Owen like to do when he is not writing and thinking about where he has been, what he has done, and what he will do next. Waking up on any given morning what are your thoughts? Going to the grocery store – what do you contemplate buying? What is a typical Owen Fiddler day?

(Owen yawns – awake now, somewhat) – Most mornings my first thought is I need to puke. I hate getting up, having to go to my (bleep)ing job, working with those (bleep)ing (bleep)holes, bringin’ home less money than I got bills. My daily life sucks. I live for quitting time, getting drunk and scoring on whores. Cheap thrills.

(Billie) - I watch Judge Judy, as millions of other people do, nearly every late afternoon. She gets really upset that so many people don’t take responsibility for their own actions — everything is someone else’s fault – Owen, you are so typical of today’s society - what made you decide to jump on a band wagon and fess up to all that’s happened in your life and try to make everyone else see – you are what you chose?

(Owen) – Fessin’ up was Marvin’s idea. I only went along with it for the money. I ain’t to blame for all the (bleep) that’s happened to me. Uh–uh. No (bleep)ing way. (bleep)

(Marvin) – Owen! The language? Billie, can I jump in again right here? Nowadays everybody has some syndrome or another. No matter how stupid, wicked, spiteful or hateful the action taken, it’s because the perpetrator suffers from some syndrome or another. Not their fault, the “Devil made them do it.” Nobody’s taking responsibility for their actions anymore. Am I right? Isn’t that why Judge Judy is so popular? We’re all sick and tired of this blame-game finger-pointing society, but everybody figures it’s the other person, not themselves, that’s behaving irresponsibly. Well, take a good look at Owen Fiddler, ladies and gentlemen, because he’s the eclectic synthesis of all syndromes, the mother of all fault-finders. Mark my word, eventually some attorney will get his client exonerated of a rape or murder charge by using the “Owen Fiddler Syndrome” argument.

(Billie) – Owen, I can’t help but mention, and I hope you won’t mind sharing the spot light with Marvin Wilson – that you were awarded the Silver Avatar Award for excellence in spiritual books. Congratulations! Tell us a little about this award and how it makes you (Owen) feel after what you said about your book not being religious?

(Owen) – Well, yeah – thanks. I never had no award or nuthin’ before. Kinda surprised me, be honest. Marvin tells me I’m gonna have some kinda spiritual experience, meet up with God or some (bleep). And so the story goes, I guess, there’s supposed to be a purpose to my life that has some kinda spiritual message in it. For the life of me I don’t know what the (bleep) that could be, but Marvin swears by it. I ain’t read the book yet myself – not very big on reading – too much work. If they wind up makin’ a movie out of it, I’ll go see that. Marvin networks with lotsa writers, he got hip to this AVATAR website, or organization, whatever – supposed to be pretty prestigious if they grant your writing an award. Has to be a work with clear and insightful spiritual content. Well, we won the silver – which is pretty darn good for a novel, from what I hear.

(Billie) - Thank you so much for allowing me to put you in the hot seat and for answering my questions. I must mention one more thing. The video trailer up on One True Media.Com is absolutely beautiful. The soul of the characters, the mood or essence of the characters portrayed from Frenda to Kris to the devil grab the viewer as much as the beautiful musical backdrop. You did good Owen! Please give our readers a link to that video as well as some idea where they can buy your book – and check in on Marvin Wilson – the string master who helps you keep your truth for the rest of us.

(Owen) – Sure. And thanks. For the compliment. Ahm, just click on Owen Fiddler is Here! for the video. It’s pretty cool – won the New Covey Award, the trailer did. You can buy the book on www.amazon.com or www.cambridgebooks.us or at your favorite bookstore. For reviews, excerpts, info, and even a short live talk I do, go to: www.owenfiddler.com

(Marvin) Yes, and both Owen and I have MySpaces. His is at: www.myspace.com/owenfiddler and mine is www.myspace.com/Paize_Fiddler - drop in and leave us a note, we’ll get back to you. Also, I LOVE getting emails from my readers, I’ve made so many wonderful friends since taking up writing – mail me at: marvwilson2010@gmail.com

(Billie) - One final question, Owen. Even though you say you have a selfish point of view, that you have been a fool, I think it is all a charade and you are one heck of a decent, loving, and wonderful kind of guy —who has so much to offer. A clue to this is you are doing it in such a non-threatening way that you reach out and grab people and get them to listen. Do you agree that you are WAY smarter then you give yourself credit for?

(Owen) – I guess I’m not sure what you mean. Hardly nobody’s ever said such nice things about me before. (face reddens) ‘S why I do what I do. All the stupid (bleep), you know. I’m afraid of real intimacy. Not sex, y’know, I mean real love – all intimate and the heart laid open and exposed. I never liked myself, figured nobody could really love the real me, so I put on this macho tough guy loner image and stay toasted most the time. A guy’s gotta feel good somehow. Tell ya, though – it’s a lonely life, bein’ selfish. Marvin tells me I’m gonna wind up happy and really be all those nice things like you said. Seems too impossible to believe.

(Billie) - Well, believe it. I know what I believe, and your curmudgeonly old self really is, after all, just a cover up. Hey, you guys, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with you and you are welcome on my blog any old day. So, do come back—ya hear?

(Marvin) – Thanks so much, Billie. The feeling is mutual. You’re good people.

(Owen) – Yep, I’d have to admit I actually had me a good time. And with nothin’ but a lemonade to drink at that! Ain’t that somethin’? Hey, Billie - speakin’ of good times – can I get your number? Call ya later?

(Marvin buries his face in his hands)

IT'S TIME TO PARTY!!! Jordan Dane

We've been following her blog tour - we've been reading her excerpts and chapters now it's time to have some fun:

Are We Ready to P-A-R-T-Y!?!

The “Show—Not Tell” Virtual Book Tour is almost a wrap and we’ve been gearing up all month for the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” for debut author Jordan Dane. Be here Sunday March 30th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern US time. (The virtual bar will be open, but feel free to BYOB.) The place: The Writer’s Chatroom, of course!

Since March 5th, “newcomer” Jordan Dane has been the guest of honor at 7 virtual book tour stops sponsored by The Writer’s Chatroom. She’s been open to all questions and has shared personal and business information with anyone who stopped by. The last stop on the tour is hosted by Glenn Walker, founder of TWC, on March 29th at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

There will be prizes galore up for grabs at the P-A-R-T-Y. Every person who interacted with Jordan at the VBT stops, except for the host at each tour stop, is eligible to win one of FIVE gift cards to B&N bookstores. (If the hosts stopped by at other tour stops, they are eligible and entered there.) The more comments left by each person, the more chances to win. So far, Tina M. Russo holds the record for having the most entries. Her prize for that? Just click on her name/hotlink to her website. It’s all about the marketing, folks. (Tina has a very nice website, btw.)

More opportunities to win prizes:
The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x)
Jordan’s contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

And … there will be even MORE prizes given away during the P-A-R-T-Y!

Jordan sold SIX books to Avon/HarperCollins before the first one, No One Heard Her Scream, was released on March 25th. She has back-to-back releases in April and May for the next two! And, she’s currently at work on her next series.

Don’t know about you, but I wannabe like Jordan! I want to learn just how she managed to do that, how she markets, how she plans her stories, how she sells them, and how she plans to get to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list! If you’re a Jordan wannabe like me, check out what she had to say at the VBT stops:

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com
Renee’ Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/
Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

See you at the “Launch P-A-R-T-Y!” on March 30th at TWC!

Linda J. Hutchinson
TWC team member/moderator
Freelance writer/copywriter
www.lindajhutchinson.com

You Won't Want to Miss This!!

WHAT A TRIP!

If you’ve been reading these announcements you’re aware that we have been conducting a Virtual Book Tour for debut author Jordan Dane for over a month.

We’re down to the final stretch—and who better to bring it home than The Writer’s Chatroom’s own—Renee’ Barnes and Glenn Walker!

Stop by these last two stops on the tour to find out even more about our featured author—who sold SIX books to Avon HarperCollins before the first one hit print.

Jordan is a dynamo! She not only writes well but understands the publishing industry and knows how to market herself. Learn from her while imagining yourself in her position. She is one to watch, one to learn from, and one to emulate if you want to be a successful novelist. “If you can see it and believe it, you can achieve it!”

Every comment you leave at a tour stop enters you to win one of many fabulous prizes!

March 26 Renee’ Barnes at http://msqtpi.livejournal.com/
March 29 TWC founder Glenn Walker at http://www.monsura.blogspot.com/

More opportunities to win prizes:
The Browse Inside Link: http://tinyurl.com/28nd9x)
Jordan’s contest page: http://www.jordandane.com/contest.php

And then GET READY TO P-A-R-T-Y! Sunday, March 30th is the date and you are invited! The party starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern US time. http://writerschatroom.com

If you’ve missed any of the tour stops, please stop in before the P-A-R-T-Y! to read the interviews with Jordan. Be ready to L-A-U-N-C-H your burning questions at her this coming Sunday.

Billie Williams at http://printedwords.blogspot.com
Linda J. Hutchinson at http://reviewhutch.blogspot.com
Kim Richards at http://kim-richards.livejournal.com/
Lisa Haselton at http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/reviewsandinterviews/
Cricket Sawyer at http://www.Cricketshearth.blogspot.com
Diana Castilleja at http://dianacastilleja.blogspot.com

Dr. Capista's Blog Tour Update

I thought you might like to know how successful Dr. Capista's blog tour was, when I hosted him it was a brief stop on his very busy tour - and it paid off.

Dr. Joe's book, What Can a Dentist Teach You about Business, Life and Success? made it to #1 for hot new releases in both Entrepreneur and Motivation categories on Amazon.com on March 2, 2008 . The book also made it in the top 10 in three categories. Your blog postings contributed to the success of the book.



The page acknowledging all the bloggers involved in the tour is located at http://www.joecapista.com/blogs.htm

New Virtual Book Tour Site Launch on Feb 1, 2008

New Virtual Book Tour Site Launch on February 1

Many people have heard about virtual book tours, sometimes called virtual author tours or virtual blog tours. They are a new and exciting way for authors to "tour" the internet - without leaving their home.

Imagine... you can meet potential readers from all over the internet and potential all over the world and you don't need to leave your home and family. In addition, a virtual tour is much more reasonably priced than the plane tickets, hotel rooms, meals etc that you need to buy for a book tour on the ground.

Authors and readers are all invited to visit the new virtual book tour site. There are over 100 articles and interviews to help authors learn more about book promotion. There are a number of web pages that were created by our tour site sponsors - they offer many products and services that could be beneficial for you. (If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com for more information.)

What's different about this book tour option? While our featured authors will visit other blogs throughout the month, each tour stop will be posted on the book tour site. Visitors who come to the site have the option of reading any or all of the information about the books and the author in one central location. So, whether you arrive at the tour on day 1 or the last day, you can easily catch up on all the details that each author wants to share with you. Each visitor has a choice about how they want to learn about the feature authors. I encourage you to visit the site frequently to find out what new information has been posted. The links which are posted below, take you to each author's tour page. All posts about their books are linked to these pages and are easy to access.

So, what books are we featuring in February? Here's some information about the authors you will meet during the month. They have all posted some information on the site and much more will be posted throughout the month.

Earl Ofari Hutchingson - The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Earl+Hutchinson+-+Feb+2008
The Ethnic Presidency is an explosive look at how racial and ethnic conflict has openly and covertly played a crucial role over the past three decades in influencing, shaping and ultimately deciding who bags the world's biggest political prize, the White House. It explains how racial politics is playing an even bigger role in the 2008 presidential election and future elections.

Steven Clark Bradley - Nimrod Rising
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising

Have you ever felt that the world was guided in ways that are beyond man's control? The constant changes in the world since the time of Nimrod 4000 years ago until today and all the events that have shaken the world have been to bring the universe back into the hands of the Prince of Darkness, Lucia, a world that he had ruled with his Watchers before it was all ripped from his grasp when man was created. Nimrod Rising paints a diabolical picture of how the Prince of Darkness executes his evil plot to take the world back by force and destroy civilization in the process. From the Great Builder Nimrod in 4000 BC to today, 666 generations later, you can ride the storm of Nimrod Rising and experience the death of a world and the birth pangs of another. You will swear it is really upon us!

Virginia Vassallo - Unsung Patriot: Guy T. Viskniskki How The Stars and Stripes Began
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Virginia+Vassallo
The Unsung Patriot is the biography of Guy T. Viskniskki, the dynamic first officer-in-charge and editor-in-chief of The Stars and Stripes newspaper. Based in part on Guy's unpublished autobiography describing the first difficult months of the paper, his granddaughter's knowledge of the family verbal history paints a picture of a complex man. A devoted husband and father, Guy was unable to show the love he felt for his family. Guy poured his time and talent in the newspaper business. His knowledge and energy made the Army's newspaper a reality and his doctrine of "by and for the soldiers" still is the guiding light of the Stars and Stripes.

I want to extend an invitation for each person to visit the site and learn more about each of these authors and their books. I invite readers and authors to register on the site and create a profile page to tell us more about yourself. Also, feel free to post a comment about any of the posts or post an introduction on the forums. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com.

I look forward to meeting many new people.

Nikki Leigh
Author of the Book Promo 101 Series
www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

I've been What?

Yup that's what she said - Me Me'd That's what I've been - but who wouldn't want a chance to brag a bit - give up a few inconsequential things about one's life ...LOL
Well, How many Sandy? Thanks so much for tagging me with this. Let me see!
1. I have a collection of teddy bears, puppies, and creatures from The National Wild Life Federation, The Humane Society of the U.S, and more decorating my writing area freebies from the donations I made to them.
2. I have the covers of all my published books (paperback ones anyway)framed and decorating my writing area walls.
3. I have three new to die for book covers you can see on my website at http://www.billiewilliams.com
4. I want to change my name because it's too hard to type billie williams without leaving out an 'L' some where -- and that makes URL's wrong LOLOLOL.
5. I love listening to Kenny G or Four Play Jazz CD's while I write -
6. I love classical music
7. My favorite Musical of all time is South Pacific followed close on the heels is The Sound of Music.
8. I always wanted to dance in a chorus line
9. I intend to be the cover story of Writer's Digest Magazine's December 2008 issue.
10. I intend to make the New York Times Best Seller List this year.
So okay now you know how fanciful I can be but as it says in South Pacific "You've Got to have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true"

So who would I tag with my own ME Me'd list
Janet Elaine Smith
Pee Wee SK Hamilton
Joyce Anthony
Marvin Wilson
Ron Berry
Kristie Leigh Maguire

So now you all can pick your six people's blog and link their names to their blogs after you list 6 things about you that not any, or many people know. Have fun!
Billie

Crusin with Kristie Leigh Maguire

The retired (she's way to young to really retire - with social security and all that -) but she has recently given up the helm of Star Publish to pursue her own writing career
and yet she always has time to play hostess to aspiring writers - and on January 15th she will host me - Billie A Williams...so come on by and read a bit, chat a bit, comment and receive a gift just for showing up. Here is the link.
Kristie Leigh Maguire http://kristieleighmaguire.blogspot.com/

This was Fun - Marvin is such a neat guy!

But now lets move on to the next blog on my tour - here you will find lively questions and I hope entertaining answers - Don't forget to leave a printed word or two - comment that is, for your chance to win some great prizes and also just for commenting you will get a download copy of The Golden Kettle Cafe Cookbook. The cook from Small Town Secrets, Chaneeta Morgan and I created just for you {smile}- Thanks!
Here's the link Elaine: aka Ashley Ladd http://ashleyladd.blogspot.com/

So come on over and visit.
Billie

Free For All Friday

Hi Everyone,
to thank everyone who helped me with my little "Hook" project - I'm declaring FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL Party Day!!!
Come on over to my blog at http://printedwords .blogspot. com I will have a whole raft of prizes to give away. I will list them early in the morning and then all day long I'll be drawing names from those who leave a comment on my blog and you will get your choice of one of those prizes...So get there early and come back often. Just leave an email addy with me so that I know where to get in touch with the winners.
It's gonna be a fun day....So COME ON DOWN!
Billie
http://printedwords .blogspot. com
www.billiewilliams. com
billie@billiewilliams.com

Oh and the top three picked winners of the hook project were:
1. Tung Umolomo
2. Skull Music
3. Death by Candlelight
In that order and all three of them were able to go on to the person who wanted to see them - she would accept three So MEGA THANKS EVERYONE!! I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
***************************************************************************

FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY PRIZES:
January 11, 2008 Friday Blog Tour Break

**************************************************************************
1. The best question of the day will receive a download copy of Small Town Secrets
The rest of the prizes - will be picked by you from these. When you comment your name will go into the hat and each name drawn sometime during the day will get to pick the prize they want. So Come early and post to get first dibs on the prizes. = )
2. Download copy of Spice Up Your Writing! Write to Entice
3. T-Shirt with the cover art for Small Town Secrets (size M) (1)
4. Writing Wide Mouse Pad (1)
X Vicki chose this as her prize. The Artist’s Way Workbook (1 )
6. Wolf Hot pad set (1 set of two hot pads)
7. One wolf oven mitt
8. Gardening tote bag (1)
9. Dolphin Beach Towel (1)
10. Tiny pink Valentine Unicorn (1)
11. Dream catcher charm (1)
12. Valentine Pencils 2 ea. (6 total)
13. Hand made jeweled Snowflake bookmark 1 each (5 total)
14. Hand made snowflake charm bracelet 1 each (5 total)
15. Hand made snowflake pin 1 each (5 total)
16. Hand made snowflake key chain 1 each (5 total)
X Classic Elegance Lady’s Wrist Watch (1)[Gone- Sandra picked this pize]
18. Peach nectar Bath/Shower gel (1)
19. Black Berry Nectar Bath/Shower gel (1)
20 Dolphin small plate/knick knack (1)

Guess who's coming to Dinner????

Well, okay so I'll be going to dinner - well maybe not dinner but entertainment is sure to be available.

I am honored to say I will be visiting none other than Ron Berry's blog tomorrow on my tour. Please stop by and say Hey! I'm sure it will be a fun time...you never know what Ron is going to cook up.
See you http://unwriter. blogspot. com/ here where the action will begin on Monday January 7....And thank you Ron!

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT

Owen Fiddler - aka Marvin Wilson will share some printed words with you tomorrow on his blog - but he will be here on the 12th - be sure to stop by both places to learn more.
Announcing OWEN FIDDLER January 12 2008 Blog Tour Prizes!


To all you wonderful hosts!

1) Please announce to your readers that everyone who leaves a comment on your blog-interview with Marvin D. Wilson will receive downloadable PDF file sample first chapters of both my published books, I ROMANCED THE STONE and OWEN FIDDLER. Make sure to keep a list of all commenting visitors – come Feb 1, send me the list and I'll send them the thank you gift.

2) All commenting visitors are eligible for a drawing from which I will select three winners.

* 2nd runner up will receive (his/her choice) either a print copy of I ROMANCED THE STONE or a downloadable PDF copy of OWEN FIDDLER.
* 1ST runner up will receive the same option/choice.
* Grand Prize Winner will receive BOTH books.


The drawing will take place during the first few days of February, as soon as I have received the lists of commenting visitors from all the hosts.


Also (and this is for you guys) – whichever host receives the most comments on their blog-interview will receive from me (your choice) – either a print copy of I ROMANCED THE STONE or a PDF copy of OWEN FIDDLER or a copy of my CD, The Average Praise Band – RHYTHM & TRUTHS (We'll Praise the Hell out of You!)


Let's have some fun with this!

Marvin {-:>




--
Book websites at: Owen Fiddler and Rock of All Ages
Got MySpace? MySpace at: Marvin the Martian
Big ol' blogs at: Free Spirit







--
Visit my websites at: Owen Fiddler and Rock of All Ages
Check out my MySpace at: Marvin the Martian
And read, share, and comment on my blogs at: Free Spirit

A Break From the Blog Tour

A couple of days off from the blog tour. It has been quite interesting. Not that I am interesting, but the questions I've received sure have been. It makes me think about what and who I am, what my printed words say to others. My novels appeal to many people and says things I never knew they said.

January first Small Town Secrets , my latest mystery/suspense was released. The ads connected to my blog and Google adsense alerts went on a search for the title, unfortunately it latched on to gays as a community that my Small Town Secrets was directed to. My Small Town Secrets is not at all about gays.

A couple friends came to my rescue when I was considering jumping off a bridge and offered some terse printed words to correct the misnomer or the mistake in Google guidance that has occurred.
"There is nothing gay about burning down a town",says Ron Berry and a serial arsonist is on a mission in Nettlesville in my Small Town Secrets.

Berry also suggests, "The secrets in these closets are not at all gay". The secrets uncovered in my Small Town Secrets have the potential to destroy lives. They are about some powerful women at odds with each other because one has won the coveted prize of Nettlesville's Town Chair Woman designation. The other is the powerful owner of the Daily Nettle Newspaper. It is essential that these two women work together if they are to save Nettlesville from the arsonist. Yet when Olga digs up a skeleton in Chaneeta's past, hoping it will destroy her -- something happens...will it destroy Chaneeta or as sometimes happens will it make her stronger?

A larger question still is, will they be able to bury their rivalry long enough to save the town from becoming more than a heap of ashes.

What else is going on in Nettlesville?
Be sure to join the blog tour and hear more - or buy the book at http://www.wings-press.com and find out for yourself about these Small Town Secrets that are different from those others.

Thanks for stopping buy and be sure to come back on the 12th to visit with Marvin Wilson - a delightful man, with a great story or two and some video trailers that will knock your socks off.

The latest on the Printed Words -Blog Tour

The blog tour is going along just wonderful - so many nice people so much fun information and questions -- you would not believe what gets printed about me--you will see I'm not just another pretty face LOL. But there is more news afoot as the week continues Marvin Wilson is going to be a guest right here on my printed words blog on January 12th -- here is a bit of a preview about Marv
============================================================
Dear Blog Hosts-

Here's some cool stuff to help raise interest and drive more readers to your blog for our interview dates. Hats off to Billie Williams, btw, she started this and I just HADDA follow suit! LOL - Incentives are attached and also pasted here for your convenience.

Announcing OWEN FIDDLER January 12, 2008 Blog Tour Prizes!


To all you wonderful hosts!

1) Please announce to your readers that everyone who leaves a comment on your blog-interview with Marvin D. Wilson will receive downloadable PDF file sample first chapters of both my published books, I ROMANCED THE STONE and OWEN FIDDLER. Make sure to keep a list of all commenting visitors – come Feb 1, send me the list and I'll send them the thank you gift.

2) All commenting visitors are eligible for a drawing from which I will select three winners.

* 2nd runner up will receive (his/her choice) either a print copy of I ROMANCED THE STONE or a downloadable PDF copy of OWEN FIDDLER.
* 1ST runner up will receive the same option/choice.
* Grand Prize Winner will receive BOTH books.


The drawing will take place during the first few days of February, as soon as I have received the lists of commenting visitors from all the hosts.


Also (and this is for you guys) – whichever host receives the most comments on their blog-interview will receive from me (your choice) – either a print copy of I ROMANCED THE STONE or a PDF copy of OWEN FIDDLER or a copy of my CD, The Average Praise Band – RHYTHM & TRUTHS (We'll Praise the Hell out of You!)


Let's have some fun with this!

Marvin {-:>




--
Book websites at: Owen Fiddler and Rock of All Ages
Got MySpace? MySpace at: Marvin the Martian
Big ol' blogs at: Free Spirit

Get ready to check him out. I'm sure he'll be posting links to some dynamite video trailers with music and all - you are gonna love this - take my word for it.
Billie

The Blog Tour for Small Town Secrets

Won't you please join me and the wonderful people who will host my blog tour this entire month below are the dates, names, and blog sites of those involved. Come along and join us. Everyone who comments will get a PDF copy of The Small Town Secrets cookbook titled The Golden Kettle Cafe - so be sure to leave your email address.
Thanks
Billie A. Williams
Printed Words Blogger/author of Small Town Secrets
JANUARY 2008

Blog sites:
Joyce Anthony-http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog

January 1

Marvin Wilson : http://inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com
January 5

Nina Osier –http://ninaosier.livejournal.com/
January 6

Ron Berry – http://unwriter.blogspot.com/ and
http://here-it-is.tripod.com/kritterwriter

January 7

Sandra Cox – http://sandracox.blogspot.com
http://wings-authors.blogspot.com
January 8

Bryn Colvin –http://www.myspace.com/brynneth_n_colvin
January 9

Nikki Leigh – http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/author+promo+interviews
January 16

Elaine Cantrell – http://www.myspace.com/elainecantrell
January 20

Janet Elaine Smith http://www.janetelainesmith.blogspot. com
January 31


Vivian Zabel - blogs: http://viviangilbertzabel.com/blog.html and http://vzabel.multiply.com/
January 26


Pamela Thebideau – http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com
January 25

Angela Verdenius -

Beckie Joki - http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chevynova71us
January 2 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKIE

Karina Fabian www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com
January 21 & 22

SK Hamilton, (Pee Wee) www.whispersatwillowwalk.blogspot.com
January 30

Mary Emmons http://www.authorsandreviews.blogspot.com

Kim Richards (waiting for link)
January 28 & 29

Bob Blackburn (waiting for link)
January 23

Dawn Mork (waiting for link)
January 14