Do You Judge a Book by Its Cover?

Writing a book is hard. Thinking of a title and a book cover is sometimes harder. Especially because those are the first two things that readers are influenced by. For some of my books, like The Cavanaugh House and The Last Crossing, Boris (my muse) whispered the inspiration for the title and cover in my ear. I knew what they would be from the get-go. But Boris must have been on vacation in the Bahamas when it came to Buried Secrets and Exposed The initial title for Buried Secrets was The Mystery at St. Bartholomew’s. It sounded like a Nancy Drew Read More

What Makes a Good Book Title?

Have you ever chosen a book based on its title? I’ve always wanted to title a book with some literary or religious allusion, like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Or even a musical or cultural reference like Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin. Titles, by the way, are not copyrighted, so I could have titled my book To Kill a Mockingbird. I also like titles that are a pull quote about a major theme from the book.   So, my original title for The Last Crossing was All Read More

5 Topics to Know About Before You Read THE LAST CROSSING

The Last Crossing Book 3 in The Finger Lakes Mysteries Release date: Nov. 30, 2018 Paranormal mystery, paranormal romance, mystery Click to order What was going on in Jesse Graham’s world in 1969, the setting for The Last Crossing? Vietnam War protests were at an all-time high, lots of people were getting high, the Women’s Liberation Movement was making gains, though meeting with derision in many quarters, and Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon.   Amid all this social upheaval, people were still pursuing normal things like …   Books Jesse is an English teacher, Read More

Four Mysteries I Couldn’t Put Down

When I was a media specialist (school librarian) I always planned special “March is Reading Month” activities to promote reading and books  for my students. To celebrate Reading Month this year, I thought I’d share some book recommendations with you.  When my friends tell me about a book they’ve enjoyed, I put the title and author in “Notes” on my iPhone. That way when I go to the bookstore or the library, I have great recommendations at my fingertips. Go ahead, write these down. Then leave me a comment with one or two of your favorites. The House on Tradd Street Read More

The Cavanaugh House Audiobook is on Tour and You Could Be the Winner!

  AudioBookworm is featuring the audiobook version of The Cavanaugh House on a tour from May 3-12. Join the fun and enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card! See the tour schedule below.   About the Narrator: Amy McFadden  has narrated over 250 titles in many different genres with a focus on Comedic Fiction, Romance, and not-super-violent Thrillers.  She is an Earphones Award winner, and a four-time Audie Award finalist in Humor, Mystery/Thriller and Literary Fiction.     What readers are saying about the audiobook version of The Cavanaugh House: “The Cavanaugh House is one of the best audiobooks Read More