Did you get a new Kindle for Christmas? I got the Kindle Fire and love it! (Yes, I’m spoiled. ) If you’ve got a new reader – or an old one – and you’re looking to fill it up, here are some of my favorite ebooks from this year:
This is geared toward the YA market but can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Our heroine is a teenager, struggling through all the things we all deal with in high school, while also trying to understand her powerful psychic powers. There is much to love about this book and Stacy’s writing.
At some point in our life, we all wonder what it would happen if we could go back in time and change one detail, one decision, one thing about our past. Maria Savva explores this and more in this fun and insightful story.
A perfect mix of historical fiction with a paranormal twist, this is a beautiful story of love and hope.
This is a thriller with substance. Not only did this book keep me on edge (I couldn’t turn pages fast enough!), but it also has an incredibly thought-provoking issues throughout.
This novella is part horror, part paranormal. James knows how to weave a tale and he sucked me right into this one.
Do you like short stories? How about edgy, dark fiction that holds nothing back when showing the not-so-pretty side of life? If you said yes to these questions, you’ll love Joe Schwartz.
This is the third and most gripping book in RJ’s Rock & Roll Mystery Series. You don’t have to read the first two in order to enjoy this one, though you might want to read them just because they’re good.
A powerful story told from the viewpoint of a young woman who’d been sold into the sex slave. This is fiction that reads like nonfiction – and, sadly, stories just like this one are truly taking place all over the world, right this minute. Sibel tells this important tale with talent and grace.
An Urban Fantasy, this vampire tale has a different spin than the typical story. Vampires and werewolves are at war. Can love cross boundaries, conquer prejudices? Gareth explores this and more, while keeping readers on edge.
Charlie Courtland’s mind is twisted and it shows in this book! This one has some graphic scenes, though they belong in the story and aren’t there for shock value. Mixed in with the creepiness is a great amount of humor. If you want to laugh and gasp, this one’s for you.
I am a sucker for characters that make me forget they aren’t real and Marty Beaudet creates them with flare. This is a psychological thriller, a mystery, and a suspense story, with a multi-layered plot and aspects that will leave you thinking about things long after you’ve read the last page.
One old man, a park bench, and revenge. The end made me cringe – but I live for that twisted stuff.
Reading anything by Joel is an unforgettable experience. In this book, we’re taken back to 18th century Italy, where we meet a young woman who teaches us what it means to truly follow your passion.
Meet Trevor Wolff, rock star with a bad boy image and a spirit struggling to soar. Susan knows about the rock world and that knowledge shows in her writing.
I could not stop reading. This is a thriller with nonstop action and characters that make you want to jump into the book to save them. Blake Crouch is phenomenal talent.
And if you still have room, you can always check out my books. You’ll find them all in the carousel to the left.
To discover more indie authors and their books, check out the ‘BsB Kindle Store‘ The link is always to the right, under the ‘Blogroll’ heading. And we add to it continually, so check back often!
Whatever your reading preferences, I hope lots of books fill your new year.
My guest today is the talented author Stacy Juba. You might know Stacy from her two mystery novels, Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim. Recently Stacy released two equally entertaining young adult novels – Face-Off and Dark Before Dawn. While these two books are in the young adult genre, they easily cross over and can be enjoyed by adults of any age. Here’s a look:
Head-to-Head, Skate-to-Skate, It’s Winner Takes All! What might have been a dream come true has turned into a nightmare. Brad’s twin brother T.J. has gotten himself out of the fancy prep school his father picked for him and into the public high school Brad attends. Now T.J., the bright light in his father’s eyes, is a shining new star on the hockey team where Brad once held the spotlight. And he’s testing his popularity with Brad’s friends, eyeing Brad’s girl and competing to be captain of the team. The whole school is rooting for a big double-strength win…not knowing that their twin hockey stars are heating up the ice for a winner takes all face-off.
When teen psychic Dawn Christian gets involved with a fortuneteller mentor and two girls who share her mysterious talents, she finally belongs after years of being a misfit. When she learns her new friends may be tied to freak “accidents” in town, Dawn has an important choice to make – continue developing the talent that makes her special or challenge the only people who have ever accepted her.
***
Stacy is here to answer my questions but first, for those of you who have yet to meet her, here’s a brief introduction:
Thousands of readers have been captivated by the books of Stacy Juba. Stacy published her first book, a young adult novel, at age 18 and she hasn’t stopped writing since. Her recent mystery novels for adults include Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim. She is also the author of the patriotic children’s picture book The Flag Keeper, which teaches children about U.S. flag etiquette, the children’s picture book Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise, the paranormal young adult thriller Dark Before Dawn, and the young adult family hockey novel Face-Off.
You wrote the first draft of Face-Off when you were still in high school. What inspired you to write a book at such a young age?
I wrote my first story in third grade, and by fifth grade, I was writing my own mystery series. I was very introverted growing up, and writing was a way for me to express myself. My elementary school teachers really encouraged the talent. I was inspired to write a full-length book after reading about a novel-writing competition for teenagers in Tiger Beat magazine. The magazine had a short article on the most recent winner and indicated that the contest was held every two years. I decided to try my hand at writing a book to enter in the next competition. I had recently gotten interested in ice hockey and started getting the glimmer of an idea. Face-Off wound up winning the competition and was published in 1992. Since the book was long out of print, I released a new paperback and e-book versions this fall.
Face-Off is about four brothers who all play hockey. I was struck by how well you handled the point of view of your male characters. What gave you such good insight into the minds of teenage boys and how brothers interact?
Honestly, I don’t know! I didn’t grow up with brothers, and I was very shy, so I certainly didn’t date any teenage boys! My friend down the street had three brothers and she read the book and offered feedback while I was writing it. I watched lots of TV shows like The Brady Bunch and movies about siblings. I just used my imagination and observed boys at school to see how they acted. I wanted the two main characters, twins Brad and T.J., to be cool jocks on the outside, but with a lot more depth on the inside. It was a lot of fun writing about the McKendrick family. One of the themes in the book is jealousy – T.J. and Brad envy one another and have a competitive relationship. I was pretty competitive in school as far as wanting to get good grades and be at the top of my class, so I imagined what it would be like to be competitive with a sibling in the same grade, who plays the same sports, and who has the same friends.
I have to ask about the hockey thing. I’ve been a huge Boston Bruins fan since about the age of twelve, even though no one else in my family has ever watched the sport. I could tell by your writing that you know the sport well. What drew you to hockey back then and do you still watch?
I got into hockey during the 1988 Olympics, watching guys like Brian Leetch and Craig Janney. That was back before pro hockey players filled the U.S. roster and I just found the whole thing exciting. After the Olympics ended, I went into withdrawal, but luckily a lot of those players went pro. I started following the Boston Bruins, and keeping up with those former Olympians in the NHL. The Bruins were stellar at that time and went head-to-head with the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals. I got swept away by Bruins fever. I was a diehard hockey fan for several years, but stopped following it as avidly in my twenties due to time constraints. I got back into it again last spring, with the Bruins’ outstanding playoff victory!
You left Face-Off with an opening for a sequel. Had you written a second book and/or do you have a sequel planned?
I wrote a sequel called Offsides when I was about 20 years old, but the original publisher had a lot of turnover in personnel and they weren’t interested in it, so there wasn’t much I could do with it. My fifth grade teacher read the sequel to his class, and the kids loved it even more than Face-Off, so I knew the book was good. It’s been in my drawer for years and years, and I’m currently giving it a rewrite. I need to do some research into college hockey scholarships as that issue is a lot more complex than it used to be, so the book needs some work, but I hope to release it in the next year or two.
Dark Before Dawn is another book you wrote at a young age. This story focuses on a teenage girl with psychic powers. Do you remember what first inspired you to write this one?
I started the original draft in my early twenties, at the suggestion of an editor from Random House who had read another paranormal YA book that I’d written. She thought my style was similar to bestselling YA author Lois Duncan and advised me to write another paranormal YA. The editor soon left publishing, but not before telling me that my early draft of Dark Before Dawn (then titled Deadly Thoughts) had potential. Over the years, editors at four different publishing houses brought the book before their publishing committees, and the manuscript went through many changes, but the timing was never right for publication until now. There was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but in hindsight, I think this book is being published at just the right time.
From the details about crystals and various techniques, I could tell that you either had a passion for the topic or had done a lot of research – or both! So I have to ask. Do you have any psychic abilities of your own? If not, would you want them?
I definitely don’t have psychic abilities, but I’m very interested in metaphysical topics. I’m trained in Reiki, a form of hands-on energy healing, and am a Reiki Master. I use angel cards to get insight into different situations and have had uncanny results, though it’s only something I do for myself, not for other people. I’ve shown a couple of friends how they can do readings for themselves. I think anyone can be trained to develop their intuition – not to become psychic, but to become more intuitive. I went through a crystal phase, where I bought all kinds of crystals like rose quartz and amethyst and put them in different spots throughout the house, but never noticed anything “unusual” about the crystals like in the book. I think developing your intuition is a definite asset in life. Doing so has given me the confidence to make quicker and more assertive decisions. For the past couple of years, I’ve been building my whole writing and publishing career based on my gut feelings and running with writing and promotion ideas that felt right. I don’t think I’d want to be psychic, though, and to have premonitions like Dawn unless there was a way I could change negative outcomes. I’ve been told by a few people who earn their livings as psychics or intuitive counselors that I’m very intuitive and could develop these skills even more if I took classes and went down that path, but like Dawn’s mother in the book, my comfort level only goes so far!
I could relate to Dawn in many ways. While I am many years out of high school, the difficulties remain strong memories. You’ve mentioned gym class being an issue for you, as it was for me and, I’m sure, countless other teens. Was writing this book in part a kind of catharsis for you in releasing those lingering feelings?
I had a lot of buried resentments about being picked last in gym class from elementary school through high school. I hated gym class, hated it with a passion. I resented teachers who assigned captains to pick teams and who didn’t bat an eye when the same kids were always picked last day after day. My mother and I even sent a Dear Abby clipping about this very subject, the unfairness of picking teams, to my gym teacher and nothing changed. I resented kids who made fun of me or got angry with me for hitting the volleyball into the net or striking out. Ironically, I majored in exercise science in college and had to take physical education classes. Although I am a big believer in the importance of exercise, that wasn’t the right path for me – I think it was more an act of defiance to prove to myself that even though I wasn’t a good athlete, I was just as physically strong as the other kids were. Writing those scenes in Dark Before Dawn was a bit of catharsis for me. I guess in hindsight, all that gym class misery was something I had to go through to find the drive and stubbornness to make it in the tough business of publishing. For years, I cried on the school bus or in the locker room after gym class, but there came a point where I said I don’t care what they think anymore and developed a strong backbone against the criticism. The ultimate irony is that the non-athletic girl who was always picked last wrote a book about hockey that was even on the recommended reading list of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Junior Education Program! And maybe that’s why I wrote Face-Off as a teenager, to show that even though I wasn’t good at playing sports, I could write about a sport.
I was right there with you in that gym class misery!
The ending of Dark Before Dawn brought us closure but also left an intriguing opening for a sequel. Do you have one planned?
I don’t have one planned at this time as I’m working on other books, but I did deliberately leave the door open in case Dark Before Dawn takes off – which I think it will!
Both of these titles are in the YA genre. (Though they easily appeal to adults of all ages.) You’ve also written two excellent adult mysteries, as well as two adorable children’s stories. Do you enjoy writing within one genre more than the others?
I started both of my young adult books when I was basically a young adult myself, so those were easier for me to write at the time. Now, adult novels are easier for me to write as I relate more to adult characters. However, I vividly recall what it was like to be a teenager, so drawing upon those experiences does help me to write YA, and I’ll watch young adult TV shows to get a feel for what today’s teenagers are interested in and their slang.
I know that you are working on another adult novel, though this new one is different from your two previous mysteries. Can you tell us a little about that?
In all of my novels except Face-Off, there is a dead body. This is my first adult book without any mystery or suspense aspect to it. It’s a blend of contemporary fiction, sweet romance, and romantic comedy and it draws upon the Cinderella tale in a very original way. I’m four chapters into the book and hope to finish it next year.
Today is about freedom and our flag is the symbol. What do you know about flag etiquette? What do your children know?
Stacy Juba, good friend and author, has written a fun book for kids that teaches all about the flag with an entertaining story. I read it and learned a few things! Here’s a look:
This patriotic book is designed to teach children about U.S. flag etiquette through an educational fiction story. It also includes discussion questions, flag facts, and an activity. Elizabeth may be a little bear, but she treats the American flag with big respect. Elizabeth wakes up the American flag in the morning and puts it to bed at night. She acts as her father’s “flag keeper,” helping him with his daily tasks of raising the flag and retiring it for the evening. She soaks up the etiquette facts that Dad teaches her, including don’t leave the flag out in the dark without a spotlight. When Dad leaves for a business trip, it frustrates Elizabeth that their flag will be stuck in a boring garage. Every flag she sees reminds her of her job as flag keeper. Elizabeth grows determined to make her father proud by proving she can raise the flag herself and follow all the rules of flag etiquette.
The Flag Keeper is ideal for military families, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, classroom and library use, and for anyone who wishes to teach a special child about American flag etiquette. It is a perfect complement to patriotic holidays such as Flag Day and the Fourth of July.
Stacy is a talented author who dabbles in many genres. Here’s a look at her other titles on Amazon, in both print and Kindle format:
Finally, I should at least introduce you to the author I’m discussing:
Although Stacy Juba specializes in writing adult mysteries, she has also authored books for children and young adults – she pursues whatever story ideas won’t leave her alone. Stacy’s titles include the Amazon bestselling adult mystery novels Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim, the mystery short story Laundry Day, the children’s picture books The Flag Keeper and Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise, and the upcoming young adult novels Dark Before Dawn, Face-Off and Offsides. She is a former journalist with more than a dozen writing awards to her credit.
A week or so ago, I was challenged by a friend – author Jason McIntyre – to carry on a blog meme. He’d written a blog post called Writing is like… and I was one of three authors he’d tagged to continue on with this analogy. If you are familiar with Jason’s writing, you’ll know that following him is a daunting task. Head on over to his blog The Farthest Reaches to read his post and you’ll see what I’m up against here.
Okay, now bear with me as I wander into unchartered territory and complete my challenge.
Writing is like giving birth to and raising a child.
Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~ Elizabeth Stone
During my pregnancies with both of my sons, I spent endless hours wondering what they would look and sound like. What would their personalities be? Would they love reading or race cars? What would they do with their lives and what kind of people would they turn out to be?
The spark of an idea is like that for me. Stories need characters. Who will they be? What will they look like? Where will they go and what will they do?
When my sons were born, they looked and sounded the way they were meant to. I couldn’t change that, even if I’d wanted to. My characters are like that. People think I invent my characters and make them who I want them to be. I don’t. They just happen. They pop into my head and say, “Hello, there. I’m Max (or Michael, Corinne, Nick, etc.). Let me tell you about myself.”
Then we go through that toddler stage together. With my kids, I had this ridiculous notion that I could help shape them into the adults they’d become. Anthony, my oldest, carried full conversations before the age of two and got angry with anyone who dared use “baby talk” with him. He was and still is impatient with life. Joe has always been the one to sit back and watch. He often seems as if he’s in his own world, oblivious to things, but the amount of information he absorbs is astounding. I’d love to take credit for their best qualities and blame their father for their worst. The truth is, I had little to do with the men they turned out to be. They came into this world with a purpose and are busy finding that direction for themselves.
I go through the toddler stage with my characters, as well. I try to force them into a direction that I think is best for them. They dig their feet in, as I drag them along. I stick one in a suit behind a desk and he balks at me. He belongs in jeans with a hammer in his hand. Another is supposed to be secondary to the story, goofy, a sort of comic relief. He grabs his leading man outfit and stomps out to center stage. No way is he comic relief in anyone’s story.
Next we go through that initial stage of letting go. With my sons, that came with kindergarten. That first day that each of them climbed on the big yellow bus by himself. I wanted to go with them, hold their hands, explain who they were to the teacher, help them make friends and protect them from the bullies. I couldn’t do that and, ultimately, they didn’t need me to.
With each book, the kindergarten stage is that first time I send a manuscript out to a beta reader or two. I want to hold on to those pages, be right there during the reading experience. I want to explain the characters to the reader, tell her all the things she doesn’t know and might not learn in that story. I want to protect my characters from the reader who might not like or understand them.
Like my children, the beta reader doesn’t need me. The reader and my book need to find their own way, just as my children did with their teachers and new friends.
The manuscript comes back to me, as my children did after school each day. I take the critique from the beta reader, I make a few changes, perform the edits. The characters fit into their story and the guidance needed from me is minimal.
Finally, we come to that point when I must set my creations free. With my children, that was both heartbreaking and exhilarating. I want them to be safe, happy, successful. I miss the babies they were but love the men they’ve become.
This is how I feel about my characters. Once their stories are complete, I need to set them free in the world and hope they will do well. As with my children, not everyone will like them. Not everyone will care who they are or take the time to get to know them. The best I can hope for, with my children and my characters, is that they make an impact on the people they interact with. That they know they matter, they are important. That the very fact that they exist makes life a little better, a little different, for someone out there.
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings. ~ Hodding Carter, Jr.
***
Now, to keep this meme flowing, I must pass the torch to three writer friends. Hopefully, they will not hate me for long.
Stacy Juba, because I’m envious of her organizational skills and I’m hoping to learn something.
Susan over at West of Mars, because she has rock stars living in her head and I want to know what it’s like to write with all that noise.
Alexander Zoltai, because he has a unique way of seeing the world and I believe his analogy will be enlightening.
Stacy, Susan and Alexander, the torch is now yours to carry.
If you missed last Wednesday’s post, I’ve started a new weekly feature in which the guest is a character from a novel. Each guest is given ten descriptive words, all starting with the same letter, and is asked to Tell me one thing about you that is…
My guest for today’s feature is Cassidy Novak from the novel Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba. Cassidy appeared on a reality TV show, which is also the title of her book. But we’re not going to make her talk about that show or that book right now. Honestly, I think she’s probably a little tired of it, considering all the publicity she’s gotten. Instead, we’re going to get to know a different side of her.
Cassidy, tell me one thing about you that is:
Bashful – I would NEVER prance around nude in the women’s locker room the way women do at the health club where I work.
Brilliant – I made Dean’s List every semester in college, where I studied exercise physiology and management.
Batty – My mom, Pepper Maguire, is a bit batty. She’s got this head of blonde hair that she wears in a sprayed cone on top of her head and she still likes to go clubbing with her friends. She used to date my teachers, in between marriages. She drives me nuts, but I love her.
Boring – My social life. It feels as if I’m always working. I have full-time hours at the health club, plus personal training clients. I don’t remember the last movie I saw.
Bewildering – How Reggie Elliott got picked as the winner of Sink or Swim and I had to walk the plank.
Bizarre – I’ve gotten some bizarre fan letters from someone named Miles who was obsessed with watching Sink or Swim. I’m a little uneasy about it. I hope he means me no harm.
Bold – My decision to try out for the new reality show Sink or Swim was bold. My kid brother talked me into it. I had to serve as a crew member aboard a Tall Ship and every week, someone had to walk the plank.
Broken – My dad took off on my mom and me when I was four and we never heard from him again. I understand people getting divorced, but I don’t understand just taking off on a child that you’ve bonded with and who has grown to depend on you.
Believable – My family has struggled with finances, like a lot of families in this economy. Not for essentials like food and clothes, but I had to pay my way through college. That meant holding down a job while I was going to school and taking out student loans, which I’m still paying off.
Bitter – I’m bitter that the health club offer tanning beds, a ticket to skin cancer, just so my boss can make extra money in his pocket. You shouldn’t call yourself a health club and offer something dangerous. I want my own chain of health clubs so that I can do things my way.
***
You can find Cassidy Novak in the pages of Sink or Swim.
Now a brief introduction to Cassidy’s creator, Stacy Juba:
Stacy has published two adult mysteries, two children’s books and will soon have a YA novel available as well! You can learn more about Stacy and her work on her website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog
Here’s a look at Stacy’s books on Amazon, in both print and Kindle format:
I hope you’ll take the time to check out Stacy’s work. In the meantime, Stacy and I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions and all your ‘B’ words here with us.
I’ve got a new blog feature that I think (I hope!) will be as much fun for you as it has been for me. As you might have guessed, it’s called Quirky Questions Monday! This is my of introducing you to some of the brilliant authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading, meeting and networking with. Each author will receive one quirky question to answer. Along with the answer, each will share a one-line bio.
Some of these answers will be silly, others serious. A few might be a combination. That’s all up to the author!
My first question goes to Stacy Juba:
If you could go back to any time and place in history, where would you go and why?
I would love to travel back in time and see Ancient Rome in all its glory. My husband and I viewed the ruins about a decade ago and it was mind-boggling to see the remnants of this amazing architecture from an ancient civilization.
To see the Roman Forum, the ceremonial, legal, social, and business center of ancient Rome, as something other than ruined arches, temples and basilicas, would be fascinating. I’d love to witness 55,000 people gathered in the Colosseum to watch a gladiator fight, or to meander around the Baths with their hundreds of bathers and their gym, art galleries, gardens, and shops selling food and drinks.
On our trip to view the ruined stone blocks and temples, I felt very pensive. I’ve never been anywhere that made me experience such a whirlwind of emotions – I felt awestruck, impressed, small and insignificant all at the same time. I had to use my imagination to envision what these structures looked like thousands of years ago, but this culture left their mark on the city. I certainly wouldn’t want to live in ancient Rome, but I’d love to visit it for one day!
Before publishing her mystery novels Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and Sink or Swim, Stacy Juba once had another mystery to solve – how to find her hotel after getting lost on the Appian Way, an ancient historic road in Rome. Stacy is currently found hanging out at: www.StacyJuba.com/blog
Next up is Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick:
What one superpower would you like to have and what would you do with it?
I’ve wanted to give a humorous response to this; wasted nearly a week trying to be funny about it. The answer I really feel, isn’t funny at all. I would desire the power to end pain.
You don’t want the essay, which could easily come with this answer. Know only that, it is very personal, and lingering, because I experienced one night of another’s torment, and could do nothing to help. That night was filled with many emotions, but has become the deepest sadness I’ve known. Peace, in those last hours, should have been in someone’s power to grant. I didn’t even know the person, who lay dying beside me.
Both of these authors are brilliant. Honest, I’ve read all three of Stacy’s books and I’m working my way through Joel’s four. Each is unique and gifted! Here they are on Amazon:
You can also find their books on Smashwords, in formats for all eReaders and computers:
There you have it – 24 separate prizes for 24 winners! Now, as much as I dislike rules, a few need to apply here:
You must live in the U.S. or Canada
You must be 16 or older
You must have a passion for indie authors (Okay, this is negotiable, though appreciated.)
You must enter before midnight EST on Monday, February 28
That’s it for the rules. Now all you need to do to enter is leave a comment, along with a valid email address. Please keep an eye on your spam folder to be sure your prize information doesn’t get lost there.
I’m excited to present something a little different today. My good friend and fellow author Stacy Juba has recently released her brand new mystery Sink or Swim. Rather than the typical interview, Stacy had a unique idea. We hope you enjoy this crossover scene between burned out hairdresser Skye Summers from my novel The Cutting Edge and personal trainer/former reality show contestant Cassidy Novak from Stacy Juba’s new mystery novel Sink or Swim. In Stacy’s book, Cassidy has gained fame for starring on the hit reality show Sink or Swim. Not only does she lose and have to walk the plank, but upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she is being stalked. As her former competitors get killed off, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. She wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be as nice as he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must walk the plank again – this time for her life.
***
“Congratulations for being on that reality show,” Skye said over her shoulder, leading Cassidy to a styling chair. Soft rock music drifted from the radio. “That must have been quite an experience.”
“That’s for sure. I just wish I could have won.” Cassidy sank into the chair and Skye slipped a cape over her customer’s short-sleeved Spike’s Muscle Madness shirt.
“It’s still quite an accomplishment,” Skye said. “Reality shows aren’t my thing, so I never watched a whole episode, but I caught bits and pieces of Sink or Swim and you looked great. How did that show work anyway? I know you were on a Tall Ship and there was a plank….”
Cassidy groaned and shook her long cherry red hair out of her elastic. “Don’t remind me. Basically, there were 12 contestants competing in four teams. We served as crew members and did all the grunt work, like mopping the deck and washing dishes. Every week, someone got sent packing and had to walk the plank.”
“You lasted till the very end, though. Good for you.”
“It was tough losing to Reggie Elliott. He’s such a jerk. I was tempted to feed him to the sharks a few times.”
Skye’s eyes widened and then she laughed. “I hear you. There are some clients I wouldn’t mind feeding to the sharks and having them chewed to pieces.” She fingered the back of Cassidy’s soft waves. “So what are we doing?”
“I’m thinking of going blonde.”
“Cassidy! Tell me you’re kidding. You have the most beautiful red hair.”
“I wouldn’t really dye it, but I have this aggravating client at the gym.” Cassidy frowned. “She was addicted to watching Sink or Swim – or rather, to watching ME on Sink or Swim. She actually had the nerve to copy my hair style. I’m not just talking about a haircut, Skye – I mean, this nutcase colored her hair red! I told her I was thinking of going blonde, just to mess with her.”
“Maybe you could wear a different wig every day,” Skye said with a grin. “Either that, or kill her. I take it that fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?”
“Not exactly. Going back to work has been weird. It feels like everyone is staring at me.” Cassidy hesitated. “And I got this letter from a guy named Miles. He was talking about giving a Raggedy Ann doll to our daughter. I know it’s nothing, but it creeped me out.”
“I’m sure all celebrities get that kind of mail. That’s what you are now, Cass. A celebrity. Let’s head over to the sink.”
Skye spent the next fifteen minutes washing and trimming Cassidy’s hair. Afterwards, Cassidy left her a much higher tip than she could afford.
As Skye swept stray red locks off the floor, something caught her attention on the radio.
“Reggie Elliott, million dollar winner of the reality TV show Sink or Swim, was found murdered today in his New Jersey home,” the announcer said.
Skye froze, her hands clenched around the broom. It sounded as if Cassidy wasn’t the only one who had it in for Reggie Elliott.
***
When reality TV turns to murder, it’s sink, swim or die. Ambitious personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained national fame for starring on Sink or Swim, nicknamed SOS, a hit reality game show set aboard a Tall Ship. She hopes the prize money will help to launch her dream of owning a chain of fitness centers. Not only does she lose the competition and have to walk the plank in the finale, after the game show ends, the terror begins. Upon returning to her small Massachusetts hometown, Cassidy discovers she has attracted a stalker masterminding his own twisted game. She struggles to focus on her health club job and celebrity endorsement opportunities, but her stalker has other plans. As her former competitors get knocked off one-by-one, Cassidy refuses to play by his bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by hunky photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for a spread in the local newspaper. She wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be the nice guy that he seems. With or without Zach’s help, when the stalker forces a showdown by threatening her family, Cassidy must once again walk the plank – this time for her life.
Stacy Juba is also the author of the mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and the patriotic children’s picture book The Flag Keeper. For more about her books, visit her web site http://stacyjuba.com/blog/.
Here are all of Stacy’s books on Amazon, in both print and Kindle format:
Stacy and I would love to hear your thoughts on Skye’s chat with Cassidy! Feel free to leave your comments and/or questions here. And be sure to check out Stacy’s books. Her two mysteries are excellent reads and her children’s book is both fun and educational.
I’m excited to have my good friend Stacy Juba here today to discuss her new children’s book The Flag Keeper! Stacy has also generously offered to provide a free e-book download of her mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today to one lucky commenter! Read on for the details!
Before we talk about Stacy’s new book, I should introduce you:
Award-winning writer Stacy Juba has published books for all ages, including the brand new patriotic children’s book The Flag Keeper. Her recent mystery novels for adults include Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and the upcoming Sink or Swim. Stacy has written more than 2,000 articles and won over a dozen writing awards. Her young adult novel Face-Off was published by Avon Books when she was 18 years old. After years of working as a reporter, Stacy now concentrates on writing fiction and freelancing.
Elizabeth may be a little bear, but she treats the American flag with big respect. After Dad leaves for a trip, Elizabeth pledges to raise the flag all by herself and create her own Independence Day. This patriotic picture book is designed to teach children about U.S. flag etiquette through an educational fiction story. It includes discussion questions, flag facts, and an activity. The Flag Keeper is ideal for military families, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, classroom and library use, and for anyone who wishes to teach a special child about American flag etiquette. It is a perfect complement to patriotic holidays.
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Stacy took time out of her crazy schedule to chat with me about The Flag Keeper and her foray into writing for children. Here’s what she had to say:
What prompted you to write this particular book?
I wrote this story about seven years ago and got the idea after seeing how patriotic my husband was. He has always loved flags, and after we moved into our house, I encouraged him to buy a flag pole. Once we had the pole installed, I was intrigued by how he always carried the flag outside every morning and brought it inside at night. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t just leave the flag outside in the dark. That would have been a lot easier. He explained to me about U.S. flag etiquette and how the American flag should be brought in at night unless it’s under a spotlight. I never realized that and asked him about other aspects of U.S. flag etiquette. I found out, for example, that if your flag gets worn out, you should give it a proper retirement and get a new one. Every couple years, my husband purchases a new flag and brings the worn one to the local VFW as the post properly retires worn-out flags in a special Flag Day ceremony. I remembered learning about Betsy Ross and the history of the flag in elementary school, but I’d never heard about any of these flag etiquette rules before. I don’t think this is something that’s taught in most schools and decided to fill a niche by writing a children’s book about it. The overall theme is that while you won’t go to jail for breaking these rules, following them displays your respect and makes us all better Americans.
The artwork was done by your father. Is this the first picture book he has seen his work published in?
Yes. Initially, I submitted the story to children’s book publishers, just the text of the book, before he ever did illustrations. Publishers want to use their own illustrators for picture books. I was frustrated that all I got were form rejection letters on the story. With my young adult and adult manuscripts at that time, I had an agent and had some close calls. Even before that, I’d get some personal rejection letters from publishers on my novels, but with The Flag Keeper, it was 100 percent form letters. There was absolutely no interest in a fiction book about flag etiquette. Eventually, I gave up and it became a family project. I had envisioned Elizabeth as a young girl, but my father likes drawing animals and made her into a bear. I thought that added a dimension of sweetness and gentleness to the story. I never intended to independently publish the book, but then I found out how easy it was, especially because my husband is a talented graphic designer.
How do your children feel about being able to sit and read one of mom’s books?
They aren’t that curious about my adult books, but they thought the picture book was neat. I have a college friend with two children and they were fascinated when my first adult mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today was published. They were asking her questions about the cover and the book trailer video, but she didn’t want to give them much detail since it is a murder mystery. I recently sent them a copy of The Flag Keeper in the mail with a note that said “Here’s a book from Auntie Stacy that you don’t have to wait 10 years to read!” So, it’s nice to share a published book with young readers.
Any plans to write another children’s book?
My father and I did another children’s picture book for fun, but I’m not sure whether I will publish it or not. I don’t foresee myself writing more picture books as I want to focus on launching an adult mystery series. I initially wrote the picture book manuscripts around the time I discovered that I had hypothyroidism. I was absolutely exhausted and was in a brain fog much of the time, and couldn’t focus on writing a novel. Once I finally went on the medication, it took awhile to feel back to normal, but I missed writing. I decided to write a couple of picture book manuscripts as I had several friends who were children’s book authors and it seemed more manageable as I’d be focusing on a much shorter story. I shared the manuscripts with them in online critique groups and they worked with me to make the stories stronger.
I do have a young adult paranormal thriller Dark Before Dawn which I expect to be published within the next couple of years, and within the next five years I plan to reissue an updated version of my 1992 young adult hockey novel Face-Off and possibly publish its never-before seen sequel Offsides. So, I will have future books coming out for a junior high and high school audience.
You typically write in the mystery genre. What did you enjoy most about breaking out of that mold and writing for kids? What did you find the hardest?
I enjoyed analyzing a lot of picture books to get a feel for the genre. It was fun sharing The Flag Keeper manuscript with my critique partners and using my journalistic skills to convey factual information about the flag code into a fiction story. I enjoyed doing the research and compiling the flag facts at the end of the book. My published children’s author friends believed the book was strong enough to be published, so even though I put it on the shelf for a few years, I never forgot about the manuscript. The most rewarding part for me was seeing it brought to life with illustrations, then seeing the terrific job my husband did with the graphic design. He used whimsical stars and stripes lettering and really dressed up the book with small touches here and there.
Even though it was easier for me to focus on a short manuscript at that fatigued time of my life, writing a picture book manuscript was far from easy. The hard parts were using a vocabulary at a child’s level, making sure every paragraph or so gave enough visuals to inspire an illustration, and cutting, cutting, cutting so the story didn’t get too long. I love describing characters and scenery in novels, but in a picture book, it’s the illustrator’s job to convey those details. I had to cut most of my descriptions as they bogged down the story. It’s challenging to write tight, yet give the illustrator enough detail to create the pictures. I also wanted to make sure that the book would be a valuable teaching tool for teachers, school librarians and troop leaders, so that they could read the story to their group and then have a discussion about flag etiquette to help reinforce the information. An educator friend tested the pre-published version on an elementary school class and gave me input on the topics they discussed and a flag-folding activity that the class did. I used her feedback to create discussion questions and include a suggested activity in the book. So, a variety of people lent their feedback to The Flag Keeper to make it as strong as possible. I am excited to finally share the published book with young readers!
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I’ve read The Flag Keeper and it is truly both fun and educational (for kids and adults)! You can check it out on Amazon:
I’ve also read Stacy’s mystery Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and loved it! Now here’s your chance to win a copy! Stacy will give away a free email version of her mystery novel Twenty-Five Years Ago Today to one commenter. The winner will receive a Smashwords coupon code to download a free copy of the book in the format of their choice.
Curious? Here’s a glimpse at both the print copy and Kindle version:
For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson’s killer has gotten away with murder. When rookie obit writer and newsroom editorial assistant Kris Langley investigates the cold case of the artistic young cocktail waitress who was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, she must fight to stay off the obituary page herself.
Leave a comment here before midnight EST on Saturday, October 23. I’ll randomly pick the winner and announce it here. Be sure to use a valid email address and watch your spam folder. I’ll pass the winner’s email address on to Stacy and she’ll provide that lucky person with a free download code!
Want to learn more about Stacy Juba and her books? You can find her in the following places:
Synopsis: Brittany Camp flees to a short-term shelter for battered women when the worst snow storm in 50 years hits Seattle. She must draw hidden courage from within and fight for her family’s safety but finds herself only one step ahead of her volatile husband who’s bent on killing her.
What makes this work of fiction different than most about domestic violence? Shelter from the Storm has very little actual violence and has an underlying theme of hope for a woman who is running for her life. Brittany Camp is not a woman of revenge, she is a woman who hopes to find inner strength for the toughest thing she’s ever done.
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Duncan’s Diary by Duncan Moron
Synopsis: Duncan is in the throes of a mid-life crisis and searching for his own identity. His problems seem no different than other men facing the same issues, but as he struggles through a divorce and the challenges of co-parenting his children, Duncan soon realizes that he feels complete inside only when he begins to secretly explore a world of torture and death-a world that only he controls. Suddenly, Duncan’s life is no longer normal at all.
As Duncan deals with his newfound guilty pleasure of destruction and wickedness, his diary entries reflect a roller coaster psychological journey. Duncan grapples with the ramifications of what he is becoming, but at the same time, graphically describes the deaths of several of his victims. Clearly a man caught between his morals and an evil calling, Duncan leads a seemingly typical life during the day, but in the dark of night becomes a monster. Only one man suspects what Duncan is capable of-his best friend, Sudhir, a detective in the Palo Alto Police Department.
Despite Duncan’s cries for help penned on the pages of his diary, he becomes a master at hiding his transformation from “the guy next door” to a masterful serial killer.
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Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male by Philip Nork
Synopsis: The journey we are on is a difficult one, even more so for those of a broken family. Follow the adventures of one such boy as he searches for the two desires we all have in common: to be accepted by others and to be truly happy.
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Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba
Synopsis: Obit writer and editorial assistant Kris Langley feels like the newsroom slave – that is, until she stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling “25 Years Ago Today” items from the microfilm. Determined to launch her reporting career, Kris investigates the cold case of Diana Ferguson, an artistic young cocktail waitress obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology. She soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday’s headline is tomorrow’s danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris’s present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.
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Imagining The Future by Magdalena Ball & Carolyn Howard-Johnson Synopsis: As part of the special celebration gift book series, Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball have produced a new poetry chapbook focusing on fathers, husbands, and men in general. This makes a wonderful gift for Father’s Day or anytime you want to say something unique in a way that only poetry can to a special male in your life.
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600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster
Synopsis: Edward Stanton, a middle-aged man with Asperger syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, lives alone in a small house in Billings, Montana, where he has managed to keep the world at arm’s length. He sticks to things he count on, like his nightly viewings of the ’60s cop show “Dragnet,” and things he can count, like the days of the year and the daily temperatures. But in a 25-day slice of his heavily regimented existence, the world turns the tables on Edward and forces him to confront life in all its beauty and ferocity.
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Joe’s Black T-Shirt: Short Stories About St. Louis by Joe Schwartz
Synopsis: St. Louis is an amazing city where elitists, idealists, and pacifists co-exist with the disenfranchised, the amoral, and the secretly racist. Ignored, except by the brave who decide to live here or the damned with no other choice, come thirteen stories that prove there is nowhere in the world like it.
) If you’ve got a new reader – or an old one – and you’re looking to fill it up, here are some of my favorite ebooks from this year:
You’ll find them all in the carousel to the left. 
in both paperback and Kindle format on 
Anthony, my oldest, carried full conversations before the age of two and got angry with anyone who dared use “baby talk” with him. He was and still is impatient with life. Joe has always been the one to sit back and watch. He often seems as if he’s in his own world, oblivious to things, but the amount of information he absorbs is astounding. I’d love to take credit for their best qualities and blame their father for their worst. The truth is, I had little to do with the men they turned out to be. They came into this world with a purpose and are busy finding that direction for themselves.
by Stacy Juba. Cassidy appeared on a reality TV show, which is also the title of her book. But we’re not going to make her talk about that show or that book right now. Honestly, I think she’s probably a little tired of it, considering all the publicity she’s gotten. Instead, we’re going to get to know a different side of her.
along with a new hat 
by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
, 
, and 
and 
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and personal trainer/former reality show contestant Cassidy Novak from Stacy Juba’s new mystery novel ![](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098279522X?ie=UTF8&tag=quiboo0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098279522X"><img border="0" src="51DL2XNFmLL._SL160_.jpg"></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=quiboo0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=098279522X" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> "SOS")
! Stacy has also generously offered to provide a free e-book download of her mystery novel 
to one lucky commenter! Read on for the details!![](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1453753052?ie=UTF8&tag=quiboo0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1453753052"><img border="0" src="61kq2CHw87L._SL160_.jpg"></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=quiboo0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1453753052" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> "Flag")
