Author Guest Post
The
Hardest Part of Writing: Release Day
I love writing. The entire process from creating new
worlds and characters to building relationships and causing troubles I can
resolve is exhilarating. The whole shebang from “What if…” to “The end” is my
kind of good time. I wake up each morning excited about the day and eager to
take my fictional friends on new adventures. It’s wonderful. A real delight! The
only problem with this writing-high is that it always ends.
Eventually, I’ve done all I can, and I have to admit
that I can’t make the novel any better on my own. So, I hand the file off to my
agent, then my editor, and they each give feedback. They request revisions.
They see things I can’t because I’m too close. Slowly, the story changes. A
little here. A lot there. Until my story becomes something more, and for a
minute I feel excited again because it’s better than ever and reader will enjoy
it so much more. I hope.
Then it’s released. Suddenly, the book I loved and
cherished and toiled over ten hours a day for weeks on end is loose in the
wild. It is no longer safe in the hands of my team – people who love me and
want me to succeed. Now, it’s out *there*. In readers’ hands. And I have no
idea or control over what they will think about it.
None.
This is my definition of terrifying. If you’re
imagining me, knees hugged to chest, eating TUMS from the bottle, you’re pretty
close. There’s a lot of fear in judgement. As an author, I have the added
internal pressure of trying to make people happy. Not because all authors do,
but because this is the reason I write. I write to make readers smile. I write
to make them happy. When I fail, it’s crushing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m far too
hardheaded to give up, but that just makes each book more nerve wrecking. Will THIS be story that pleases them? I
wonder. Have I finally gotten it right?
Have I given them a proper escape? Have I
refueled them?
I know, of course, that I can’t please everyone, but
it doesn’t stop me from trying. That’s my insane author goal. I want to provide
my readers with the same wonderful feelings that my favorite authors give me. I
have a long way to go. I know, but until then, I’ll keep trying. And keep that
five-gallon jug of TUMS on my list of regular Amazon deliveries.
About The Author
Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey.
Author Website
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Book Review
Cat Got Your Diamonds by Julie Chase
Book 1: A Kitty Couture Mystery Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Format: Paperback - 352 pages
Kindle - 2894 KB
Nook - 5 MB
ISBN: 978-1683311973
ASIN: B01H082DOU
BNID: 978-1629538433
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy The Book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million
IndieBound
Goodreads
Buy The Series: A Kitty Couture Mystery Series
Book 1: Cat Got Your Diamonds
Book 2: Cat Got Your Cash (Pub Date: April 11, 2017)
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million
IndieBound
Goodreads
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker’s dream come true–until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1.
Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk?
Witty and whimsical, Cat Got Your Diamonds, the first in a new cozy series by Julie Chase, will be the cat's meow for fans of Rita Mae Brown and Miranda James.
My Book Review:
In Cat Got Your Diamonds, the first book in A Kitty Couture Mystery Series, author Julie Chase weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of pet boutique owner Lacy Crocker, when she finds herself a murder suspect after she stumbles upon a dead body in her pet boutique.
Set in the Garden District section of New Orleans, Louisiana, fashion designer Lacy Crocker moved back home from Washington D.C. after breaking up with her cheating ex-fiance Pete, and opened Furry Godmother, a couture pet boutique and organic gourmet treat bakery. Lacy's business is starting to get noticed and taking off, but when she stumbles upon a dead body in her shop, and one of her glitter guns is the murder weapon, Lacy suddenly finds herself a prime suspect in the murder. And to make matters worse, Mr. Tater, Lacy's store investor now wants to back out, plus there has been a series of jewelry store heists in the Garden District with possible ties to the murder, and add into the mix Detective Jack Oliver who is hounding Lacy and not very thrilled with her amateur sleuth investigation into the murder case. Nonetheless, Lacy is determined to find the real killer, clear her name, and save her business before it all goes down the drain.
Cat Got Your Diamonds is a captivating and fast-paced cozy whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the killer cat burglar. You can't help but get caught up in the drama, calamity mayhem, and cat-n-mouse games that ensues as Lacy tries to solve the murder and clear her name. Lacy's amateur sleuth adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful new cozy mystery series!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I liked the delightful pet treat recipes that were included at the end of the book, two paws up!
Cat Got Your Diamonds is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that pet lovers will enjoy reading!
RATING: 4 STARS
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Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
November 15 – The Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW
November 15 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW
November 15 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
November 16 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 16 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – REVIEW
November 16 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT
November 17 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
November 17 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW
November 18 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 18 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
November 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 19 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – SPOTLIGHT
November 19 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW (not posted), SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – Michelle’s Romantic Tangle – GUEST POST
November 20 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 21 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW
November 21 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 21 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
November 22 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – REVIEW
November 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 22 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Book Babble – REVIEW
November 23 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 23 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
November 24 – THANKSGIVING
November 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
November 25 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
November 26 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
November 27 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 27 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
November 28 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW
November 28 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
November 28 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
November 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
There is so much to like about this book. I loved spending time with these characters. Cat Got Your Diamonds is so entertaining with such a nice even flow that I read it in one sitting. Of course, I wanted to find out the “who and why”, but, mostly, I just thoroughly enjoyed being part of Lacy’s world. This is a fun debut, and I’m looking forward to reading Book 2. Happy reading!
ReplyDeletePenelope
South Bend Clutch
Hi Penelope! Thank you for visiting my blog, I appreciate it. I agree, this was such a fun and entertaining story to read, I can't wait to read the second book in the series. :)
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