Veronica's Writer's Diary: Back in the Saddle. Again.

'Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.'

Mark Twain

Well, hello, September! Miss me? Have to say, it's good to be back from my unexpected two-month hiatus. The male residents here in our western abode were feelin' poorly this summer, causing us to drastically shift gears. And destinations. And mindsets. We didn't get to go to Washington DC for the America 250 fair, and there was no cruise to Iceland and Norway. Deep sigh. Boo hoo. Get over it. The good news, the XYs of the house have made full recoveries. Yay! Applause! Knock wood.

So, what does one do when the best laid plans go astray? Well, if you're a writer, you start thinking. And re-thinking. And changing plans. And coming up with new storylines. And, and, and...

I had the best of intentions this summer to write a novella. The book cover was designed. The plot was cemented. The characters defined. Then whoosh. La fin.

Until...

A new idea started to gel in my little gray cells.

What, you may ask?

💡✍🏻📚🔎💡✍🏻📚🔎💡✍🏻📚🔎

A new cozy mystery series. Set in the southern USA (I'm going back to my roots). Loads of eccentric characters (sometimes lethal--a few traits never change). A brazen raven. Improbable situations. Bourbon. Lots of TEA: served iced, hot, and when spoken, often delivered with not-so-nice intentions. But I digress. Mystery. Mayhem. A dash of romance. And of course, mur-dah most foul! Dun-Dun-Dun

And like all good writers, I have been immersing myself in all-things-Southern--architecture, recipes, witticisms, history, folklore, and of course, vocabulary... My southern transformation is in full 'swang'. Hold my sweet tea, Katie Scarlett O'Hara. Stay tuned, this story is developing...

Life comes at you fast, a delinquent teen once opined. When you're older, don't blink. Because things are gonna change. In a heartbeat. If you get lemons, make a lemon drop. Make it a double. Eat the cake. Watch the sunset. Jump in the pool. Naked. Talk with a twang. Giggle. Sneak a smooch. I'm even thinking about smoking a cigar. Well maybe. Cherish each moment. XO.

Wishing you and yours a splendid September. It's almost FALL Y'all!

It's Wednesday, time for Dear Diary:

The Crown for Castlewood Manor Receives a LITERARY TITAN AWARD!

My crowns were spinning in August when the folks at Literary Titan contacted me to let me know my first book in my mystery series had received a gold Literary Titan award! This was a huge honor, and I can't thank them and the readers enough. Check out the other books that received this fabulous award here:

Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction | LITERARY TITAN

Literary Titan also gave the The Crown a cracking review:

There's also a fab oral review of the book on Spotify:

If you're a writer, I'd highly suggest submitting your book for a review--for me it was one of the best decisions I've made. It certainly made a few dark days much brighter! You can find out more about Literary Titan and their author/literary services here:

LITERARY TITAN | Connecting Authors and Readers

V's Reads

A chilling thriller and a globetrotting adventure this month from the writers on X...

A gruesome murder rocks the town of Badger Ridge when the body of a young teen is found. Detective Ashley Barrett leads the case, one whose revelations and accusations pit two families who had been friends for years against one another. As one mourns their daughter's death and deals with an explosive father, blame and doubt run rampant in the other.

Ashley and her team gather clues and sort through the evidence; it's apparent the families are swathed in secrets and lies. As their deceptive actions are exposed, the foundations of both homes begin to fracture at an alarming rate. Corporate crime and dark deeds from the past surface. Will the disclosures lead to the killer before he strikes again?

Author McNiven weaves a first-rate thriller that will keep readers on the edge. The tragedies are heartbreaking and chilling. I enjoyed the characters and their down-to-earth, professional resolve, even when having to deal with their own tumultuous, life situations while staying focused on solving a brutal crime. This is a top-notch, small-town murder mystery with many twists and turns. Highly recommended for fans of suspense-filled mysteries!

Buckle up--you're about to take an adventurous jaunt around the globe! The 1920s are roaring, giving Alexandra Illyrya Bathenbrook a rousing send-off. She's dutifully fulfilled her family's expectations. The college degree is in hand, her inheritance is in good standing, and her quest to photograph and experience the wonders of the world is about to begin.

With each chapter, we're drawn into her latest exotic locale, wrought with the perils and excitement of the region. Fans of history, fiction, and the big screen will chuckle at times as our adventurous heiress goes toe to toe with the best of them, giving readers a new twist on characters/people we thought we knew. Expect the unexpected as Alexandra braves the mysterious, sometimes precarious, and always intriguing situations.

Author Michael weaves a lively story that gives a new twist to globe-trotting adventures. Our heroine is an inspired mix (IMHO) of the daring Phryne Fisher, with the spirit of a young Indiana Jones as she bravely travels the world. I thoroughly enjoyed this vibrant tale with its unexpected twists and turns. It's a treat to read with surprising segues--highly recommended!

Time to Revisit a Grand Lady of the South

Double-knock-wood, the OH and I will be visiting the halls of Biltmore House in North Carolina later this month. I adore this grand manor and grounds; it's truly a lovely place to roam around and dream. The manor provided inspiration (and gargoyles) for book 9 in my mystery series, Behind the Scenes: The Exhibition of Castlewood Manor, and I'm kinda thinkin' it may stimulate my little gray cells for the new series too, LOL. There's something about those Blue Ridge Mountains... Stay tuned, pictures next time!

Welcome to my world, it's good to be back! Wishing you and yours a fabulous fall! Y'all.

Crowns and Kisses,

Veronica

P.S. The OH and I will be celebrating our 27th anniversary on the 9th. Our plans are to go to our fav spot on the SoCal coast, the Ritz Carlton in Laguna. Fingers crossed, SoCal may be getting a hurricane around this time--let's hope it blows away before our evening celebration! Gemma and Rikkhe (and ?????, the new girl on the mystery block--you'll learn more about her soon) approve. 💖👑

P.S.S. Stay tuned for next month's post--The Crown for Castlewood Manor has just received another fabulous literary award! My crowns are definitely spinning! 💖👑