Michael Alvarez, PCC writing instructor and long-time SSA member, has written and published numerous short stories, essays, poems, and articles on writing. His work has appeared in various publications, including The Arizona Daily Star and Writer's Digest. Several of his short stories have been included in anthologies. Although Mike usually writes mystery/suspense fiction, he would like to let folks know that his works also include the following stories:
A House Named Henry (great for kids of all ages, especially grandkids!) and available as a Kindle Single on Amazon. Nothing is more powerful and joyful than a child's imagination. A House Named Henry is not only a house, but also a friend…at least it is to the youngest member of the household.
When Jenny and Karen Walker's parents decide to move the family to another city, Karen worries about her friend Henry whom she will leave behind. He will be left all alone, but maybe Karen can help Henry understand why she is leaving.
And perhaps Henry will help Karen realize the gift of true friendship.
Also, available as an original Amazon Kindle Single is The Christmas Visitors, a heartwarming tale of three childhood friends who learn the true meaning of love and friendship from the town recluse. "From the award-winning imagination of Michael M. Alvarez comes a simple, yet evocative story that proves the most powerful force in the universe is the triumph of the human heart."
Mary Ann Carman had two new books come out in September oddly enough written at the same time, medieval and contemporary:
Up To No Good, Book 3 in the Clan Hewit Trilogy and Something Old, Book 1 in the new series Love After Life. You can get more information at www.MaryAnnCarman.info. Book 2 of the Love After Life series will be out before the end of the year.
Ed Harter (aka Emory Cosgrove) has a new book out, Taking Names, that deals with both white-collar crime and violent crime.
An explosion at the home of the Copper State University CFO kills four people, including the CFO himself, James Donner. Sunset Hills police determine that Donner had been shot dead prior to the explosion. Acting on an anonymous tip, they find the murder gun in the office of the University Registrar, Ms. Audrey Simmonds—the romantic interest of Scottsdale Police Detective, Manny Acosta.
Ms. Simmonds's fingerprints are found on the gun; tell-tale signs of bomb-making materials are found in her garage; and she was known to be in very bad terms with Donner. Sunset Hills police arrest her on suspicion of quadruple homicide.
Detective Acosta is convinced that Ms. Simmonds is innocent, but the Sunset Hills police aren't interest in the theories of a Scottsdale detective. Acosta enlists the help of this friends, Jeff and Connie Fletcher, to help him uncover the truth.
Taking Names is available in print through Amazon and other booksellers. It is also available as an ebook through Amazon/Kindle, SmashWords, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and most ebook outlets.
Duke Southard's Live Free or Die, released in March, was a finalist in the 2015 New Mexico / Arizona Book Awards. Winners were announced at the annual banquet in November and Duke was runner up again. "The book joins my first two novels, finalists in 2013 and 2014 respectfully. (Haven't won yet but maybe next year with my new novel, Cracks in the Wall, which should be out by the spring, 2016.(-:)"
Stuart Watkins has a new book, Short Stories to Stimulate, Excite, and Make You Smile. This book will take the reader into the mystery of dead lumberjacks in Oregon, the disappearance of two lovers in Charlottesville, Virginia, an attempt to high jack an airplane, a visit to Tucson, Arizona by God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, a dad explaining buffalo wings to his son, a teacher who has a run in with a Chinese businessman in Tucson, a student from Phoenix, Arizona who sets up a scam against her teacher, and a money laundering set up in Kona, Hawaii. It is now available at Mostly Books and Antigone Books in Tucson, as well as amazon.com. Buy local if you can.
Betty Webb's new Gunn Zoo mystery is The Puffin of Death. In it, California zookeeper Theodora "Teddy" Bentley is sent to Iceland to pick up an orphaned polar bear cub to bring back to the Gunn Zoo. She almost immediately stumbles across the cooling body of Simon Parr, an American birder—and the winner of the largest Powerball payout in history.
Those of you who have enjoyed her posts about spending two weeks in Iceland will love reading about that gorgeous country and the reviews for Puffin have been terrific, with Publishers Weekly saying, "Iceland's rugged and sometimes dangerous landscape provides atmosphere, while Magnus, the polar bear cub, appears just often enough to remind us why Teddy's in Iceland."
"Webb skillfully keeps the reader guessing right to the dramatic conclusion."
Library Journal agrees, "This charming series doesn't fail to please. Teddy is delightful as she copes with the Icelandic penchant for partying hard."
To read the first two chapters, check out her web site at www.bettywebb-zoomystery.com
The Puffin of Death is available at all fine bookstores (plus the usual e-outlets). If your neighborhood bookstore doesn't have it on the shelves, or has already sold all its copies, they will happily order one for you.
To find out about Arizona signings, check her Events Page at http://bettywebbssignings.blogspot.com/
Ron Wick's new Santiago Mystery #4, Quantum Kill is now available. It was highlighted on Facebook and launched at a book signing in October in advance of its target date.
Michelle "Mitch" Santiago is caught in a web of suspense, sabotage, revenge and corruption triggered by the murder of Tony Mercedes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Washington Mall. Quantum Kill takes Santiago undercover from DataFlex in Chandler, Arizona, to New Orleans and Palm Springs in this fast paced thriller seeking Mercedes killer, exposing domestic terrorism, and making her a target.
All the Santiago Mysteries: Gold Coast Murder, Desert Kill, Killer Disc and Quantum Kill are available in print at Createspace.com, Amazon.com and soon available by special order in all book stores. They are also available in e-book format from Smashword.com and Amazon.com.
