Elizabeth Kracht will be in Madison for the Writers' Institute this weekend.

Our own Liz will be attending the Writers' Institute Conference, in Madison this weekend. The 2014 Writers' Institute is the Midwest's premier writers' conference, filled with 3 days of education, entertainment, and writing inspiration. Say hi if you are attending. 

Follow Liz on Twitter: @ElizabethKracht

April Book Release Announcement: Janet Hubbard's BORDEAUX: THE BITTER FINISH

Deep, intense, and full-bodied, Jannet Hubbard's latest novel brings readers murder, mystery, and wine.  The author recently celebrated pre-release with a book reading at the Book Passage in San Francisco's Ferry Building.  Kimberley Cameron was there to support her client along with intern Emily.

Janet Hubbard & Kimberley Cameron

Intern Emily & Janet Hubbard

See Janet's events page on her personal website for future readings, book signings, as well as wine tastings.  Follow her on twitter for information direct from the author.

Bordeaux releases Tuesday, April 1 and is ripe for reading and storing in any good book collection -- pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound today to get a copy.

Posted by self-proclaimed Book-Nerd and Wine-Snob Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

More Outstanding Reviews for Vaughn Entwistle's THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL

Recently released in the US and soon to be released in the UK, The Revenant of Thraxton Hall has already received glowing reviews by critics and everyday readers alike (click here, here, and here to read a few), and the praise just keeps coming.

Amy Eller Lewis (@amyellerlewis), from CriminalElement.com says this book checks off all the things she's looking for in a quality Holmsian murder-mystery:

"19th Century London? Check. A Crumbling Gothic Mansion? Check. Murder? Seances? Underground crypts?  Arthur Conan Doyle hallucinating the ghost of Sherlock Holmes? Oscar Wilde and fabulous outfits? Check, check double check."

Read the full review here.

And Steve Taylor-Bryant (@OpinionGeeks) from TheCultDen.com finds himself engrossed in the scenes, settings, and characters:

"Doyle is well written and Oscar Wilde, in the almost Dr. Watson role, was a brave and exciting choice which works incredibly well. The setting itself is reminiscent of any ye olde gothic ghost story and Entwistle proves himself a very capable provider of atmosphere."

Read the full review here.

Super excited to read this book and learn more about this gargoyle-sculpting author?  Visit his personal website and follow him on twitter.

Posted by KC&A Intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Garrett Calcaterra's KNIGHT'S DOG: "Fans of George R.R. Martin will enjoy this gritty fantasy..."

And now you can enjoy this novelette on Wattpad.com for free.  Click here to read and find out why this epic fantasy novel has already gotten over 18,000 reads.

SYNOPSIS

When Dern encounters a dying knight, he forsakes his life as a thief to do the honorable thing and deliver the knight's weapons and orphaned dog to the king. Civilized life is nothing like he imagined it, though. At every turn, someone is trying to swindle him or cut his throat. Everyone but the surly dog that now looks to him as his master.... 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Garret Calcaterra is an established author of "dark, speculative fiction."  In addition to The Knight's Dog, Calcaterra has an online library of eBook singles to view and purchase.  His latest complete novel, Dreamwielder is now available in both print and ebook editions.  For more information about the author and his work, please visit his official website.  And don't forget to follow him on twitter and 

Facebook.

Post Brought to you by Game-of-Thrones-Geek and Intern, Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Save the Date: Author Janet Hubbard Brings Murder, Mystery, and WINE to San Francisco's Ferry Building March 26

Bordeaux: The Bitter Finish won't be released until April 1, but Author Janet Hubbard will be launching her new novel with a book reading at the Book Passage in San Francisco's historical Ferry Building next Wednesday, March 26.  Click here for details.

Synopsis

"NYPD detective Max Maguire returns to France as bodyguard to a famous American wine critic. Max's mother is French--so Max is not only bilingual but blessed, or cursed, with disapproving (and devious) French relatives. Max is not just escorting the critic, she's also keeping an eye on a very expensive bottle of wine whose authenticity is in dispute, a pawn in cut-throat wine wars involving critics, wine collectors, and auction houses. Checked into their Paris hotel, it's not long before Max discovers her client dead in her room and the bottle stolen from the hotel's safe. So she has no choice but to team up with examining magistrate Olivier Chaumont, the man she had fallen in love with the year before while solving a murder in Champagne. Olivier's sidekick, Commissaire Abdel Zeroual joins in. Max has no police role in France but she stays a step ahead of the French investigators using tactics learned back in New York, while Olivier weaves in and out of Bordeaux society where he is certain the murderer lurks. Is this something local, or is there really a counterfeit wine operation in play? Moving back and forth from Bordeaux to Manhattan among vintners, "restaurateurs," auctioneers, collectors, the rich, as well as among less privileged players, everyone is propelled towards a shocking climax."

About the Author

Editor and writing instructor turned successful novel writer fell in love with food and wine when visiting Champagne, France.  Putting her passions together, she wrote her first full-length novel, Champagne: The Farewell: A Vengeance in the Vineyard Mystery. 

For more information about Janet Hubbard, visit her personal website, or follow her on twitter and Facebook.

Cin-cin! Here's to fine wine and a good read!

Posted by the self-proclaimed book-nerd and wine-snob intern, Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Philip Donlay's DEADLY ECHOS -- a "ripsnorting adventure"

Deadly Echos is Donlay's fourth thriller featuring Donovan Nash -- and it definitely doesn't hold back on the action, adventure, and "science possible" thrills readers of his previous works are used to.  As writer-editor-publisher-book reviewer David Marshall says in his blog Thinking About Books:

"...a rip snorting adventure [...] I’m not entirely sure what gas emerges from the rip but, when you snort it, it gives you extraordinary vigour as a reader."

Read the full review here.

Marshall points out readers will better enjoy the novel if they read the preceding books before-hand.  For more information on The Donovan Nash novels including Deadly Echos, visit Philip Donlay's personal website.  And don't forget to check out his blog and follow him on Facebook for more
personal information.

Posted by Intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Professor Moriarty is Back in Michael Kurland's WHO THINKS EVIL

It's taken a few years, but Author Michael Kruland's fifth Professor Moriarty finally released just last month, and it's proving to be worth the wait by critics and fans alike.

When Sherlock Holmes is unavailable to solve a crime, who do you call?  Professor Moriarty.  And, as Meredith Frazier says in a new review from ReviewingtheEvidence.com, 

"...whether or not you're a fan of that famous detective - or even if you're unfamiliar with Conan Doyle's work - Kurland's plotting and wit will go a long way toward convincing you to become a fan of Moriarty, and he's done it in such a way as to please both those who have been eagerly awaiting the latest Moriarty mystery and those who have just discovered this unexpected hero."

Read the full review here.

Need to catch up on the other Professor Moriarty cases before reading this thriller?  Visit Kruland's personal website for a list of all his books including the Professor Moriarty series.

You can also check out his personal notes and thoughts on his blog or follow him on twitter @mjkurl.

Posted by Intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

DP Lyle's RUN TO UNDERGROUND - Still Receiving Positive Reviews

Author DP Lyle has assisted writers of popular TV shows such as Law and Order, CSI:Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Judging Amy, Peacemakers, Cold Case, House (a personal fav), Medium, and the recent successful Pretty Little Liars -- no wonder his latest original work, Run to Underground is receiving such excellent reviews from professional critics and book-nerds alike.

Here's another positive blog post from Mama's Book Corner, who says she "had a hard time putting it down."  Read the full review here.

Visit DP Lyle's personal website to learn more about his books, special events, and radio blog.  And don't forget to check out his book review blog The Writer's Forensic Blog.

You can also follow him on twitter @DPLyleMD.

Post Brought to you by Stacy Briscoe -- Intern and self-proclaimed book-nerd -- follow @SLBriscoe

Joe Clifford Discusses Strong Female Characters and "Heaving Breasts"

KCA agent Liz Kracht often "receives an obscene number of submissions from male writers referencing, in one form or another...'heaving breasts,'"discloses author Joe Clifford in his self-publised blog page.  And ever since she pointed out his version of this literary cliché, he's been more sensitive to the fact that "men writing about women from a male perspective often get it...wrong."

True Detective, Catwoman, and comics are all discussed in this amusing and insightful post.  Read the full article here.  Men, writers or not, take some notes and women...be patient while the guys figure this all out.

Joe Clifford is the author of novel Junkie Love.  For more information about him, his writing, music, and events visit his official website and follow him on twitter @joeclifford23.

Post Brought to you by Intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Fiction Reboot's Daily Dose Friday Fiction Feature: Vaughn Entwistle's THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL

Fiction-DailyDose.com celebrates "Adventures at the Intersection of Medicine and Literature," and have listed Vaugn Entwistle's The Revenant of Thraxton Hall as a Friday Fiction Feature.

For more information about Vaughn Entwistle, including other novels and short stories, please visit his official website.

And follow him on twitter @VaughnEntwistle.

Post brought to you by intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Arthur Kerns Featured In 'The Big Thrill'

My author Arthur Kerns is featured in The Big Thrill, the online publication of ITW (International Thriller Writers). In the write-up Art talks about the experience of getting his first novel published, THE RIVIERA CONTRACT.  Art's second book in the Stone series, THE AFRICAN CONTRACT, will be out through Diversion Books soon!  

To read Art's article in the ITW online publication, click here.  For more information on Arthur Kerns, visit his website at www.arthurkerns.com

For those of you who are thriller writers, become members of ITW so you can maximize your author platform when your book is published!

Diversion Books Blogs: "Garrett Calcaterra on DREAMWIELDER and the Magic of Books"

Get the inside story from author Garret Calcaterra in his guest blog for Diversion Books.  He discusses his latest release, Dreamwielder, and his experience as an emerging science fiction and fantasy writer.  Click here to read the full post.

Dreamwielder is now available in print, eBook, and audio.  Get your copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the iBookstore, Kobo, or Audible today.

For more information about Garret Calcaterra and his other works, please visit his official website.  You can also follow him on twitter @GCalterra.

Post brought to you by intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe

Entwistle Tweets, "Funniest book review I've received so far"

Vaughn Entwistle's THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL: THE PARANORMAL CASEBOOKS OF SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE is still "Making Waves Through the Bloggesphere."

Buy It

GoodReads provides a place for readers to post their own reviews.  Click here to read what Entwistle calls his funniest review yet.

For more information about the author and his books, visit his official website or follow him on twitter @VaugnEntwistle.

Post brought to you by intern Stacy Briscoe @SLBriscoe