When Did We Lose Sylvia? #NewRelease by @VeraDayAuthor

Hey, Readers. I’m happy to announce a new release, the debut novel of author Vera Day. I say debut because this is the first she’s written under that pen name. Most of you know her as Priscilla Bettis, author of several horror novels. Vera is now writing Christian Cozy Mysteries.

Blurb

Southern humor, faith, and murder intersect in the tiny town of Tulip, Texas.

Betty Bell is a famous poet, or at least a local celebrity, in the tiny town of Tulip, Texas. Gossip runs amok when a Goth teenager, Sylvia Smith, and her elderly grandfather arrive. Even worse, they’ve moved into the creepy, old Sanchez place on the outskirts of town.

Betty volunteers to teach a summer poetry class to restless Tulip teens. Soon, the kids are expressing themselves in stellar stanzas and heart-rending rhymes. But what was supposed to be a summer of ministering to the teens becomes a season of sleuthing when one of Betty’s students, the spooky Sylvia, goes missing.

When Sylvia turns up dead, suspicions point to Sylvia’s reclusive grandfather. Deputy Miller is a good man and excellent investigator, but after a second death shakes the small town, Betty is convinced the deputy is after the wrong suspect. Betty, her left-brained husband Larry, and her quirky friend Flora must use haunting haikus, couplet clues, and lots of prayer to track down the real killer.

Author Bio

Vera Day is an avid reader and a joyful writer. After decades coasting along as a lukewarm Christian, and after a few more years of writing in a secular genre under a different pen name, she experienced a series of events that can only be described as epiphanic… in the God sense, not the light bulb sense, though that also applies.

Now Vera Day writes in a new genre, the faith-inspired cozy mystery.

Vera lives in small-town Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members. Her neighbor is a cow, but as far as neighbors go, Daisy is a good ’un!

When Did We Lose Sylvia? is Vera’s first cozy mystery novel.

Vera is a member of The Well Read Fish Christian fiction book review team.

Connect with Vera: https://twitter.com/VeraDayAuthor


Vera is traveling today so I’ve closed comments, but I hope you’ll help spread the word and check out her new book. Available on Amazon through this link.

Menagerie Book Tour: Day Thirteen With Teri Polen

Hey, Readers. Today is the thirteenth and final stop of the Menagerie book tour. As you know, it’s a collection of thirteen stories, released on Friday, January 13. (And no, I’m not superstitious.) Today’s story is titled “Mystery Woman.” It’s in the supernatural suspense genre.

My host today is Teri Polen. Many of you know her for her annual month-long feature, Bad Moon Rising, but she is also the author of several YA books. Don’t let the genre fool you, adults can enjoy these books as well. Teri also contributed to the time travel anthology, Quantum Wanderlust which I was also a part of. You can view a list of all her stories by visiting her Amazon Author page.

Like me, Teri is a cat lover and often posts about her fur baby, Bond. Yes, Bond, as in James Bond.

If you missed any of the stops, a list is below. I’ve closed comments here, but I hope to see you on this final day at Teri’s site.

Menagerie Book Tour: Day Twelve With Judi Lynn

Hey, Readers. Welcome to stop number twelve of the Menagerie blog tour. At each place, I feature a different story in the collection and tell what inspired the idea. Today’s story is titled, “Seven Days,” a contemporary fiction piece that almost everyone can relate to these days.

Judi Lynn is my host today. She is a USA Today best-selling author for her book, The Body in The Attic. She began her writing career with urban fantasy, then switched to romance, and now cozy mysteries. Judi is a busy writer with her popular series, The Jazzi Zanders Mysteries as well as The Karnie Cleaver Mysteries. You can find all her books on her Amazon author page.

Below is a list of the stops. Links will be updated as each post goes live. Comments are closed here, but pop over to Judi’s site and visit me there.

Menagerie Book Tour: Day Eleven With Marlena Smith-Burris

Hey, Readers. We’re nearing the end of the Menagerie blog tour. I’d like to thank each of you who have joined me along the way. At each stop, I feature a different story in the collection and tell what inspired the idea. Today’s story is “The Dare,” a ghost fiction story.

Marlena Smith-Burris is kind enough to host me today. She has two blogs, Scribblings of a Southern Belle and Lore and Curiosities. Like me, Mar is fascinated with legends and stories of the unexplained. She’s also written a few books of short fiction. Her most recent release is a short story titled The Power of Love.

Below is a list of the stops. Links will be updated as each post goes live. Comments are closed here, but I do hope you visit me at Mar’s site.

Menagerie Book Tour: Day Ten with Stephen Geez

Hey, Readers. The tour continues today. Only three more stops after this one. I’m grateful to all of you who have visited me along the way. Today’s featured story is “Stony Creek,” another contemporary piece. As you probably know, I love small towns and while growth is inevitable, sometimes it’s not always for the best.

Stephen Geez is the newest member of Story Empire. He is a prolific writer having several published books under his belt, including a series of “How To” books on writing. He’s a retired TV producer and composer/producer of music for television and is now a publisher for Fresh Ink Group publishing.

Below is a list of the stops. Links will be updated as each post goes live. Comments are closed here, but if you haven’t already, I hope you’ll join me today at Stephen’s site.