Greetings, Noters!
The September “back-to-school” mindset has been great for helping me meet my writing goals. After several rounds of revisions, Book One in the Book Blogger Mysteries is with my editor as we speak! It’s really happening! I’m getting so close to that finish line where I upload and set a launch date. I’m getting more excited by the minute to have you meet my new protagonist, Arwen “Winnie” Lark. In fact, today’s post offers you a sneak peek of the opening pages!
But before we dive in and I introduce you to Winnie, I have some other bookish news to share. Too Much to Candle, Book Two in the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, is now available wherever you get your audiobooks, even the library! It was so amazing to hear Hazel’s story come to life, and it certainly was inspiring as I returned to work on writing Book Three in the series. The manuscript was already 34,000 words in, and I’ve already bumped up my word count to 42,000. As you can tell, I’m loving being back in Crucible. If all goes according to plan, readers will be able to return to Crucible, as well, by the end of 2023.
In lieu of my “Make Note Of” author feature this week, I’m asking you to make note of Winnie Lark, the book-blogging, tech-savvy heroine who leads the Book Blogger Mysteries. In the special excerpt below, you’ll meet Winnie and her twin brother, Strider, as they “enjoy” a meal at Winnie’s favorite local restaurant. Strider has just arrived in town, and secrets are already beginning to pile up!
If you like what you read, make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter, as I will be doing an exclusive cover & title reveal within the next week or two!
Now, without further ado…
Book Blogger Mysteries
BOOK ONE
Chapter Three Excerpt
“What brings you to Copper Pot, Kelsey?” I asked, attempting to change the direction of the conversation.
Kelsey’s gaze cooled as she glanced toward the restaurant entrance. “Oh, I’m waiting for someone to show up.” She twisted the coral-and-grey scarf hanging from her slender neck. “I’m working on a big scoop for the paper.”
I lifted my eyebrows. Big scoop? In Copper Bay?
Strider immediately tensed across from me. “You’re a member of the press?”
Kelsey nearly doubled over in a burst of giggles. “Member of the press? Gosh, I wish.” Her laughing subsided. “No. I just work for the Copper Bay Chronicle. The local online newspaper.”
“Oh.” Strider’s anxiety melted, only to be replaced with the realization that his remark came across as patronizing. “I mean, oh, that’s really cool.”
Kelsey took his fumbling recovery in stride. “Yeah. So cool.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, it looks like I’m being stood up. Mind if I join you guys? I’ll have Julie send my food to your table. I hate eating alone.”
Before I could protest, Kelsey disappeared to find our waitress. The spunky reporter had always been friendly to me, and I to her, but we weren’t exactly buddies. I had a sneaking suspicion the real reason for wanting to eat with us sat opposite from me, and I didn’t really feel like being a third wheel while Kelsey and my brother drooled over each other.
“She seems nice.” Strider’s gaze trailed after Kelsey.
I folded my arms across my chest. “Are you sure hanging out with a reporter is a good idea? I mean, if you really want to keep a low profile while you’re here, Steven…” I gave him a hard look. “Kelsey’s not stupid. She’ll figure out who you are.”
Strider met my challenging gaze. “And who would that be a real problem for? Me or you?”
I surveyed the bustling room, wondering if the warm greetings I’d received coming into the restaurant would have felt as genuine if these people knew who my brother was. So often actors felt they couldn’t trust the relationships they had in their lives because someone always wanted something from them. The same was true for their families. Every interaction I had while living in California left me wondering if it had been real or just a ploy to get into my brother’s good graces.
My silence must have spoken volumes to Strider. “Why did you even ask me to come visit you?”
Stunned by his barbed question, my mouth dropped open, but before I could assemble a response, Kelsey slid into the booth beside Strider. “So, tell me, how long are you in town for?” She stroked his shoulder.
I took that as our cue to get out of here and signaled Julie for the check.
“Oh no, you’re not leaving, are you?” Kelsey’s worried gaze darted from me to my brother.
I summoned the most apologetic expression I could muster. “Str—Steven has had a long day of travel. We probably should get back home.”
Kelsey’s fingers circled my brother’s bicep and squeezed. “Oh, but if you leave now, you’re going to miss the dart competition Rudy is hosting. Winner gets a two-hundred-dollar Copper Pot gift card.” She wiggled her well-groomed eyebrows. “Come on, Winnie, I always see you eating here. Doesn’t that sound like a good prize?”
I had zero interest in throwing darts and even less skill. “I wouldn’t want to poke someone’s eye out.”
Kelsey traced a finger up and down Strider’s arm. “Why not have Steven play on your behalf?”
Strider chuckled. “Don’t think I’d let you win because I’m a gentleman,” he teased her.
She nudged his arm with her shoulder. “Bring it on.”
With their flirting going into overdrive, they both turned to me, waiting for my decision. As a pout formed on Kelsey’s pert, glossy lips, Strider threw me a “do this for me, sis,” look, one he’d frequently unleashed during our high school years. Suddenly, I felt like I was back at junior prom.
“Sure.” I gave in to their pleading gazes. “A few rounds can’t hurt.”
Kelsey clapped in triumph, but the realization that she’d just secured the presence of a third wheel seemed to dawn in her eyes. “If you want to head home, though, I’m more than happy to give Steve a lift once we’re done.”
I gritted my teeth. Why was I so bugged she’d given his fake name a nickname already? Oh, I knew why. I hadn’t seen my twin in three years, and in less than two hours into his visit, he was ready to ditch me to get some side action.
Whatever, I muttered to myself. I should have known Strider’s movie star ego could only sit on the sidelines for so long. “Sure, sounds great.” Tossing a twenty on the table that more than covered my portion of the meal, I headed toward the exit, my fists balled at my side. I kept my gaze locked on the door, very much aware that a few of the nearby tables had been listening to our exchange with rapt interest.
“Hey!” Strider grabbed my arm and whirled me around to face him. “Come on, don’t be like that. I’m not gonna hang here without you.”
I spied Kelsey’s prying gaze peeking over the top of the booth, as well as curious stares from Lillian Jenkins and her friends from their nearby private corner. My stomach curdled. Oh no, everyone is staring. I sheepishly waved at Jemma Patel and Opal Greene, who studied me with concern from their table. Bent bookmarks, I inwardly cursed. I’d made more of a scene than I intended to, and I was paying for it by suddenly being the center of everyone’s attention.
“It’s fine.” My brain conjured an image of Agent of Chaos lying inside my desk drawer, and my chest warmed with anticipation immediately. Was I really yearning for a book over the company of my own twin? “I have some work I need to get done. Why don’t you enjoy the local—ahem—hospitality this evening, and tomorrow we can kick off our staycation?”
It took Strider all of four seconds to make up his mind. “Well, I don’t want to get in the way of your work, so I guess I’ll chill here a little longer. Maybe win you that gift card.”
I tossed him a wave over my shoulder. “Good luck, Steve.”
Minutes later, anxiety rippled through me as I gripped the wheel of my Volvo and maneuvered out of Copper Pot’s parking area. Strider’s attempt to fly under the radar as “Steven” was bound to backfire. Picturing Kelsey ogling my brother, I sighed. No doubt, by tomorrow morning, all of Copper Bay would know whose sister I really was.