My Adventures – Murder In The Children’s Section – Alex Kava and Erica Spindler

Murder In The Children’s Section is an adventure into the minds of two fantastic MURDER novelists, Alex Kava and Erica Spindler.

I received a phone call from my hubby, which is not unusual, but this time he had some really great news. Alex Kava and Erica Spindler are here in Pensacola being interviewed at the WSRE PBS station at Pensacola State College. I jumped in the shower, grabbed a couple books from my shelf and ran right out to buy their latest releases. Thus, the bad hair day. LOL I love both authors, so there was no way I was going to miss this.

Erica Spindler, Alex Kava and Me by Sherry FundinErica Spindler, Alex Kava and Me by Sherry Fundin

Both authors were friendly and in no hurry. They were willing to answer all our questions and sign, not just their new releases, but the additional books we brought in for autographs. Of course, we all wanted photos with them. ^_^  They complimented each other very well.

Erica Spindler and Me by Sherry Fundin

Erica Spindler and Me by Sherry Fundin

Erica Spindler talked about her writing regimen. She gets up early and goes to her local coffee shop to write for a couple of hours. She finds it less distracting, even with all the activity going on around her. Could it be because of the bats that have moved into her home? She waits til the pressure is on and a deadline looms, then takes off, just her and her dog. She spends the time writing and walking. She prefers writing over research. Erica used to write romance, then felt a need to add suspense. Now she can’t imagine writing a book without a murder in it. She feels she has found what she was meant to do in life – writing suspense novels. She talked about how green Pensacola is compared to the New Orleans area, due to the loss of the trees since Hurricane Katrina. She wasn’t sure if she had written thirty or thirty one books and has one in the works.

 Alex Kava and Me by Sherry FundinAlex Kava and Me by Sherry Fundin

Alex Kava’s favorite part of writing is the research. She does marathon writing sessions with her dogs at her side. In Stranded, she made Creed like herself, surrounded by the dogs that they love. She divides her time between Nebraska and Pensacola. She loves to write about places and settings she is familiar with. Alex talked at length about the FBI’s Highway Serial Killings Initiative and Cadaver dogs. She also talked about the research she did into the trucker culture and how her and Erica would be stopping at rest areas while on tour, looking for a Lot Lizard, a truck stop prostitute. She talked about how the Black River State Forest is an excellent dumping ground for bodies a murderer wouldn’t want found. The critters and weather would eat up the body quick, not like the refrigeration of the cold north. I couldn’t help but laugh. She has written thirteen books and has one in the works.

Neither author can imagine writing a book without a murder in it. By the time they tour and promote a new release, they are already writing another novel. Both like to stand when they talk, pacers, making it easy for all of us to see them.

Be sure and check out their websites to see if they will be touring in your area!

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I know Alex’s books are always quick and easy reads. The words flow smoothly off the pages making them perfect summer reads. No question in my mind about picking up my copy of her new release – Stranded. I am familiar with a lot of the settings and that makes it even more readable. I’ve stopped at many rest areas and truck stops and never really thought much about it – day or night. Now I will be keeping my eyes open. I want to see a Lot Lizard too.

The big question now is which book do I read first!

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Stranded (Maggie O’Dell, #11)Stranded by Alex Kava

4.01  rating details

168 ratings  ·  41 reviews

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Pick up your Amazon copy HERE.

New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava returns with another action-packed thriller featuring special agent Maggie O’Dell, who is on the hunt for a “truck stop” serial killer.

Tired travelers and weary truckers have stopped at rest areas on the nation’s highways for decades to refuel, grab a bite, and maybe get some shut-eye, but one man’s rest stop is another’s hunting ground. For decades the defenseless, the weary, and the stranded have disappeared along the highways and byways, vanishing without a trace, but these seemingly unconnected incidents are no coincidence, and a madman stalks the freeways.

When FBI special agent Maggie O’Dell and her partner, Tully, discover the remains of a young woman in a highway ditch, the one clue left behind is a map that will send Maggie and Tully on a frantic hunt crisscrossing the country to stop a madman before he kills again.

As the body count rises and Maggie races against the clock to unmask the monster who’s terrorizing the nation’s highways, she turns to a former foe for help since he seems to know just what the killer’s next move will be. As she gets closer to finding the killer, it becomes eerily clear that Maggie is the ultimate target.

Turn the tables on Alex Kava and stalk her by following the links below:

Website  /  Goodreads  /  Facebook /  Twitter

Grab your copy from Amazon by clicking on the cover.

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Erica’s books seem to be more about feelings and emotion, delving into the psychological aspect of the story, making them a little heavier. Her new book, Justice for Sara is a perfect example. The writing also flows smoothly and I would not have to think twice about picking up a book with her name on it.

Justice for Sara

Justice For Sara

by Erica Spindler

4.41  ·   rating details

27 ratings  ·  11 reviews

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Pick up your Amazon copy HERE.

When seventeen-year-old Katherine McCall awakened one morning to find her beloved sister, Sara, brutally murdered, her whole life changed in the blink of an eye. Kat was named the prime suspect and, on a string of circumstantial evidence, charged and tried. While the jury found her innocent, not everyone else agreed, and her only choice was to go into hiding. But she carried a dark secret with her, one that made her worry she might actually have had something to do with Sara’s death . . .

Now, years later, Kat is still haunted by her sister’s unsolved murder and continues to receive chilling anonymous letters, but she has tried to move on with her life. Until, on the tenth anniversary of Sara’s death, she receives a letter that makes the past impossible to ignore: “What about justice for Sara?” What about justice for Sara? And for herself? Kat realizes that going back to Liberty, Louisiana, might be the only way to move forward and find some peace. And there’s a killer out there who was never caught.

But the town she’s come back to is hardly different from the one she left. The secrets and suspicions still run deep. Kat has an ally in Detective Luke Tanner, son of the former Liberty police chief, but he may be her only one. With plenty of enemies, no one to trust and a killer determined to keep a dark secret buried, Kat must decide if justice is worth fighting—and dying—for.

To keep up on Erica Spindler’s latest, follow the links below:

Website  /  Goodreads  /  Facebook  /  Twitter

Grab your copy from Amazon by clicking on the cover.


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Heartsearch: Found: Book II by Carlie M A Cullen

 

This is Book II, Heartsearch: Found by Carlie M A Cullen. I have so many things I want to tell you, but I am going to try my best to keep this spoiler free for those who haven’t read Heartsearch: Lost, Book I.

To see my 5 STAR Review of Heartsearch: Lost, Book I, go HERE. The ending for Heartsearch: Lost was awesome! I could rant and rave more, but I would really like you to pick up the books and enjoy the read without me ruining it for you.

If you love Vampires, this is a must read trilogy. Carlie’s take on Vampires is unique and original. I didn’t think anyone could come up with a new twist, but Carlie did it and did it extremely well.

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Jakki was psychic and worried. Something wasn’t right.

She read the tarot cards.

A man with green eyes.

Children’s hands colored red.

Objects floating in the air.

Remy distraught.

Death.

MY REVIEW

First off, let me say, that raving about this series makes me laugh. I love thrillers, suspense and mystery, with a little paranormal on the side. I have only started reading Vampire books since I started blogging, which was a little over a year ago. My sister, Laura, over at fuonlyknew, got me in to all this and for that I THANK YOU, Laura. I had no idea what I was missing.

Book II, Heartsearch: Found picks up the action from the very first page.

I fell in love and hate with the characters, regardless of them being ruthless, blood thirty killers.

I hate Samir – egotistical and selfish – everything you think a Vampire would be.

I love/dislike Joshua – almost human in his feelings for Remy.

Remy – what can I say? I love her. Strong female protagonists are my favorite characters. I like to think I would deal with things the way she does, but no one ever really knows what they will do until the time comes to do it.

The suspense and anticipation drove me to read faster, resisting the urge to skip ahead.

Carlie’s writing is nothing less than amazing. I am having difficulty in describing how amazing this story is. I am going to have to start studying my Thesaurus to expand my word selection. I have never read a Vampire novel like this. Carlie’s description of the horrific and excruciating pain one endures when changing into a Vampire was fantastic.

Sometimes I forget the characters are Vampires. Evil, gross, disgusting, selfish, giving, loving, passionate, sexy…….

I want it to end – happy ever after – but they’re Vampires. Is that even possible?

I love how Carlie’s mind thinks. She is a superb storyteller.

Sometimes the second book in the series is not as good. All I can say is, the story keeps getting better.

Oh no, I didn’t see it coming. The book ran out of pages. I DEMAND Heartsearch: Betrayal, Book III.

I want it and I want it now!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review for Heartsearch: Found. Thank you Carlie for the opportunity to participate in the release tour for Heartsearch: Found, Book II. I look forward to working with you again, when Heartsearch: Betrayal, Book III comes out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo_of_CarlieCarlie M A Cullen

Carlie M A Cullen was born in London. She grew up in Hertfordshire where she first discovered her love of books and writing. She has been an administrator and marketer all her working life and was also a professional teacher of Ballroom and Latin American dancing until recently.

She has always written in some form or another, but Heart Search: Lost is her first novel. This was launched 8th October 2012 through Myrddin Publishing Group and book two, Heart Search: Found, is due out early July 2013. She writes mainly in the Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genres for YA, New Adult and Adult.

Carlie is also a professional editor.

Carlie also holds the reins of a writing group called Writebulb. Their first anthology, The Other Way Is Essex, was published September 2012 under Myrddin Publishing Group. Their second anthology is in editing.

Carlie currently lives in Essex, UK with her daughter.

For stalking purposes, find Carlie M. A. Cullen at the links below:

Website  /  Twitter: @carlie2011c  /  Facebook  /  Linkedin  /  Amazon  /  About.me

Wattpad  /  Goodreads

To get your copy or learn more about Carlie Cullen, check out my reviews and the book links below.

Review of Heartsearch: Lost, Book I

Guest post for Heartsearch: Found, Book II

Review of Heartsearch: Found: Book II

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