EXCERPT FROM “BETRAYED”

Sherry and Tommy both stood there staring at me as though I was a piece of meat in the butcher’s case. My eyes darted around the room frantically looking for
anything faintly familiar. The pounding of my heart echoed in my ears. I told myself it was okay and tried not to be so afraid. After all, the walking dead aren’t supposed to care about anything, are they? It didn’t work. I was petrified.
Tiny blood red specks blinked furiously, growing larger and larger on the dark blanket inside my head. Then everything turned pitch black.

CLICK HERE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE KINDLE EDITION. PAPERBACK COMING SOON.

Paperback cover

DOUBLE TROUBLE ON OCTOBER 11-12

I will be one of the writers signing at the ATOMIC LIQUOR BOOK SIGNING on Oct. 11 5:30-7:00 pm - 917 Fremont St., Las Vegas. On October 12 I will give a workshop "Marketing in the Digital Age" at the CONFERENCE at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and also participating on "Small Press Author Panel"

THE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER ISSUE OF WRITERS' TRICKS OF THE TRADE JUST PUBLISHED

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
The September-October issue of the Writers' Tricks of the Trade eZine was just published
Great articles by some of our wonderful contributing authors and a short story from one of my favorite storytellers, Lawrence Elliott
CLICK THE COVER TO OPEN THE ISSUE

PODCAST OF OUR AUGUST 10 APPEARANCE ON "IT'S A CRIME" NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO NOW AVAILABLE

THE PODCAST OF OUR APPEARANCE ON MARGARET MacLEAN'S "IT'S A CRIME" RADIO SHOW ON AUGUST 10, HEARD IN BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA AND LOS ANGELES ON NBC NEWS, IS NOW AVAILABLE.

http://www.itsacrimeradio.com/podcasts/
The clock is ticking!  JUST 1 MORE DAY UNTIL PRESALE LINKS POST FOR AMAZON AND HOUDINI PUBLISHING

All copies ordered directly from Houdini Publishing
l
from August 15 until October 14 will be fully autographed. RELEASE DATE OCTOBER 15
Your credit card will not be charged until the book is shipped in October.

PRESALE FOR "LA BELLA MAFIA" BEGINS IN TWO DAYS

The clock is ticking!  JUST 2 MORE DAYS UNTIL PRESALE LINKS POST FOR AMAZON AND HOUDINI PUBLISHING

All copies ordered directly from Houdini Publishing
from August 15 until October 14 will be fully autographed. RELEASE DATE OCTOBER 15
Your credit card will not be charged until the book is shipped in October.

*****
Bella and Morgan will be on the "Aspects of Writing" radio show today in Las Vegas -       KLAV 1230am at 2:00pm PST - Also live on the internet at www.klav1230am.com
Archived shows can be seen at the Vegas All Net Radio Website

I'll be on the Vegas Unwrapped radio show tonight at 9 PST in Las Vegas with Bella Capo. We will be talking about our upcoming book, La Bella Mafia, Bella's shocking true story co-authored with Dennis Griffin. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Not in Las Vegas? Listen on the internet at http://www.vegasallnetradio.com/Shows/Vegas-Unwrapped.html Just click the LISTEN LIVE button at 9:00. The call-in number is 702.483.4444

SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME!

Well, I'm finally learning not to wait until the last minute to complete a project, even though I work well under pressure. It is so much more fun to have the pressure removed and really enjoy what you're doing without the clock ticking.

That said, this month I started well in advance to produce the July-August issue of the Writers' Tricks of the Trade eZine, and I'm happy to say that it was ready right on time--actually last night! It's a great issue, too, filled with articles and stories by contributors that are new to the publication from all over the U.S.

As a writer, it is so challenging to find all the places you can get some attention, that it makes me happy to offer this opportunity to others to be published in Writers' Tricks of the Trade. First I set up the blog and my personal newsletter by the same name followed. It didn't take long for me to realize I could maintain all of my own input, but make it an eZine and include pieces by other authors.

After writing 10 published books with one more to be released in October plus two more in the works (including the new Silver Sisters Mysteries caper), my work is never done. Writing the book is the easy part. Getting it out there and getting attention is the hard part. Check my own PR schedule on my main website.

We now include a short story in each issue as well as all the other features. 

Have a great day, download your copy of the current issue of Writers' Tricks of the Trade. Keep writing and reading.

Morgan

HOW MYSTERY WRITERS CAN USE PACING AS A TOOL

I'm over at the Crime Writers Chronicles blog today as the guest blogger. Some books zip along at a great pace, while others have that "ho-hum" factor. You know, the ones where you read for awhile, then put the book down to do other things. The experience is nothing like reading a page-turner.

There are times, though, that you wish the pace would slow down a bit to let you catch up or savor a particular passage. Another reason to slow things down is to heighten tension.

Today's post, HOW MYSTERY WRITERS CAN USE PACING AS A TOOL, discusses all of that and more.

Visit me there and join in the conversation.

NEW REVIEW FOR "LA BELLA MAFIA"

June 27, 2013

This story is riveting, painful to read, but imagine the Bella Capos of this world who weather this sort of physical and emotional abuse and come out on the other side willing to help others and educate the world! I cringed at the stories, the worded visuals, the turmoil this poor child and women endured. What kind of strength that must take! Amazing recollection of a life nobody should have to experience.

~C. Hope Clark, Author The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, Bell Bridge Books - www.chopeclark.com
Editor, FundsforWriters, www.fundsforwriters.com
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, 2001-2013

SEVERAL UPDATES TO MY MAIN WEBSITE TODAY

So many changes going on. Here is my latest bio photo and I've redesigned the home page of my main website www.morganstjames-author.com.

There will always be updates on it as far as news, awards, release dates for new books, promotions, etc. plus lots more. 

Since many people never get past the first page of websites, it was important to include this information right at the "get-go." At this point I don't sell my books from my website, but they are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and many other online bookstores. You can order them from your favorite local bookstore as well.

Now that La Bella Mafia is finished and in the publishing queue, Dennis Griffin and I are starting another true crime book. Details soon. La Bella Mafia will be available for Presale on Amazon, from Houdini Publishing and other sites on AUGUST 15, 2013. All Presale copies will be autographed by me, Dennis Griffin and Bella Capo. The official RELEASE DATE is October 15, 2013.

CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? - FREE JUNE 20 AND 21

Today is the first day of the TWO DAY FREE OFFER for the Kindle edition of Rosetta Schwartz's charming memoir CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? She was the youngest of ten children, born into a zany immigrant family in 1909, and throughout her long life (almost 97 years) she was an ordinary woman with the extraordinary ability to make people believe in themselves---and no matter how bad things got, she always got through it with humor. When she was a child, there was so much laughter in her family, neighbors knocked at the door to ask if they could come in and laugh too. It is currently at #25 in Kindle Store Memoirs. DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY NOW.

I WAS A GUEST BLOGGER ON MORGEN BAILEY'S WRITING BLOG JUNE 18

Today I am the Guest Blogger on Morgen Bailey's Writing Blog in the UK. The topic is "Location, Location, Location."
    When writing, locations are important whether the book or story is light and funny or technically detailed. Get it wrong and you have a problem.
    There is an interesting irony in this. When I wrote "Confessions of a Cougar" the locations were all from my memories of several trips to England including ones after the experiences in the book. To be sure I double checked everything that I referred to by searching the internet.
 The book got a sort of snarky one-star review on Amazon, while the others were 5 star. One of the things the reviewer said was, " I'm wondering if the writer did any actual research on England, because it sure sounds like she didn't ever visit."
   This really gave me a chuckle and made me think that perhaps that reviewer had never been there or was British and didn't like my descriptions for some reason. I've made about 8 trips to England and visited many parts of the country plus double checking everything in my memory to make sure I hadn't garbled details. Oh well, like the saying goes, "You can't please all of the people all of the time," but I sure gave it the old college try. That's what I mean. 
   Even if they're wrong, some people must find things to complain about, so read the article and be very diligent in getting location descriptions and ambiance right.

   VISIT THE BLOG AND READ THE ARTICLE http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/guest-post-location-location-location-by-morgan-st-james/    
   FIND 39 Chapters about Writers Tricks of the Trade in my book, Writers Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction

ANOTHER EXCERPT FROM "A CORPSE IN THE SOUP"

FROM THE AWARD-WINNING "A Corpse in the Soup"
FIRST BOOK IN THE SILVER SISTERS MYSTERIES SERIES

Manicotti’s face turned beet red. “He’s where? He’s what? But that can’t be. He’s a Gourmet Gladiator. He’s due on stage at the Kitchen Coliseum in ten minutes. We can’t hold up the show for him.”

“You don’t understand Mr. Manicotti,” he squeaked. “The man is dead as a mackerel. D-E-A-D. He can’t come to the Kitchen Coliseum, he can’t cook on your show, and he’s not goin’ anywhere except the morgue.”

Large patches of sweat appeared on the producer’s shirt. His eyes bulged and his mouth opened and closed like a carp out of water. “You’re sure? You touched him? He’s dead?”

“Yes, Sir. I’m still on his set. I’m about to call the police, the medics, the swat team, the FBI, I don’t know what all. I’ve never seen a corpse in a soup bowl, ya know.”

My new book, "La Bella Mafia" is moving along right on schedule

Things are rolling along right on schedule. Yesterday I approved the PDF proof of the book which means we should have Advance Review Copies (ARCs) to be sent to true crime reviewers, newspapers, media, etc. The interior design of the book looks great and Dennis and I have gone through it so many times looking for possible errors I can probably recite chapters from memory. We want this book to be as perfect as possible, so even after the editors and proofreaders, Dennis and I have done our own multiple readings of it.

The more I read it, even though I co-authored it, the more I realize what an incredible tale of courage and inspiration this is. For those who have only seen the type of abuse and survival skills that were Bella’s life it is a look beyond what you see on TV or in the movies, because it is REAL. Yes, this really did happen and happens in many families behind closed doors. Maybe not to this degree, or sadly, maybe even more, but it does happen. Instead of letting it beat her down, Bella used these awful experiences to counsel and inspire others who suffer silently.

For those readers who have endured unspeakable traumas caused by similar treatment or the need to survive, this book sends a message loud and clear. “Hold your head up and believe that YOU can make things better.” If you are in the clutches of an abuser, run—don’t walk—as far away from them as you can. Bella talks about this extensively in the last section of the book, Part 3 La Bella Mafia.

Anxiously awaiting the next step in the publication process—the cover. After that Houdini Publishing will be able to produce digital and print Advance Review Copies and we will be reviewing the list to determine exactly where to send them for reviews.

Morgan St. James

LONG OVERDUE UPDATE

So much has been going on since my last post in December I feel like that juggler with too many balls in the air. On a positive note, none of them have hit me on the head yet.

We moved into our Las Vegas house full-time in February and there was so much confusion it was like a Keystone Kops comedy. One thing after another happened but the real challenge was getting our wonderful antique Mexican buffet down from a mezzanine in the California townhouse so it could be moved to Las Vegas. It is one of the few pieces of furniture we will never give up. 

The problem was that it is a solid 10 feet long and could not go around the turn in the stairwell, so it had to be lifted through a space between a railing and dropped soffit.  Even by turning it on its side, there was only about 1 1/2 inches of clearance. You can see how small the opening was and the buffet weighs hundreds of pounds.

I couldn't watch. It took six movers to heft it up to that space, slide it through and lower it to the next level. 

Hubby and my three cousins had arranged chairs on the lower level so they could sit comfortably and watch the show like it was a "headliner attraction.". Not me.
I had visions of the whole thing crashing to the ground, so I hid out at the top of the townhouse until I got the all clear signal.

When it arrived in Las Vegas it took two men (who were huffing and puffing) to get it into the living room (on the ground floor) and arrange it. in place. One big guy wiped the sweat from his brow and the smaller one put his hands on his knees and took deep breaths.

I said, "At least you weren't the ones in L.A. who had to get it down from a mezzanine." The larger one rolled his eyes and said, "Maybe not, but we sure heard about it!"

More about what's been happening since February in my post next week. Check back to find out.

Meanwhile, check out my main website www.morganstjames-author.com.