Dear Readers, here’s another
author to welcome to our blog for the first time. You know how much you love contemporary
suspense.
Bio: Leeann Betts
writes contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter,
pens historical suspense. No Accounting for Murder and There Was a Crooked Man, books 1 and 2
in her By the Numbers series, recently released. Book 3, Unbalanced, releases in January, with plans for Book 4, Five and Twenty Blackbirds, due in
April, with more planned for later dates. Leeann and Donna have penned a book
on writing, Nuggets of Writing Gold,
and Donna has published a book of short stories, Second Chances and Second Cups. You can follow Leeann at www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
and Donna at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com
. All books are available at Amazon.com in digital and print, and at
Smashwords.com in digital.
Welcome, Leeann. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I think it depends on the book. Carly is an accountant, and
I am an accountant. Carly likes mysteries, and so do I. Carly isn’t a joiner,
and I tend not to be either. Carly is married to a computer programmer, and
guess what my hubby does—right, he’s a programmer. Apart from that, I don’t
live in a small town. I do have step-children, but two daughters not a son and
a daughter. And as much as I love a good mystery, I’ve never found a body or
identified a murder suspect.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I guess that depends on your definition of quirky.
Co-writing a book with my real self would probably count.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I’ve loved to write ever since I was a kid, and I could fill
a page with words in a flash. However, it wasn’t until about ten years ago that
I knew I had at least one book in me. When I began writing No Accounting for Murder,
I hoped I had at least one book.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I enjoy mysteries, suspense, and almost any genre that
includes either mystery or suspense.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I have a husband who is very calming. I also make lists so I
don’t have to keep everything in my head. And I like paper files so I can
capture stuff inside the covers.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
Carly’s name came from my step-mom’s name which was Carrie.
Mike is my husband’s brother. Other characters sometimes come from people I
know that I like. If I don’t like the character, I use a name dictionary that
includes character traits, and I look for negative traits.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I think that changes with time. I was very pleased that I
had one book in me. And then when I finished the second, wow! Third—you’re
getting the picture. I’ve completed more than 20 novellas and novels, so I
guess that’s a good accomplishment. Being published in devotional books—a dream
come true. And now I’m independently published—never thought I’d go this route.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A cat. Stress free. Do what you want when you want, and
ignore people who are asking you to do something J
What is your favorite
food?
Chocolate. If I could eat it without any negative health
repercussions. As it is, I eat it sparingly.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I think my greatest roadblock was thinking anybody but me
would want to read what I was writing. I took a chance and sent the first book
to ten people I didn’t know (they volunteered through a couple of online
writers groups I belong to) and when I got their responses, I saw they laughed
where it was funny, cried where it was sad, couldn’t figure out whodunit but
were very satisfied with the conclusion.
Tell us about the
featured book.
No Accounting for Murder features Carly Turnquist, forensic
accountant. While this is her first book, this is not her first mystery. If
readers would like to read a prequel short story to this book, they can go to http://www.leeannbetts.com/2.html
and read “Roasted Bean Counters.” In the first book, Carly’s daughter is
suspected of embezzling money, and a disreputable business receives a building
permit under the table, threatening the peace and quiet of Bear Cove, Maine . When Carly
investigates both situations, she receives threatening faxes, she has an
accident that was no accident, and a key witness goes missing, only to turn up
dead in yet another suspicious accident. Can Carly figure out who is behind all
of these events, or will the killer succeed in keeping her quiet—for good?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Bear Cove, Maine ,
population three hundred and twelve souls at the height of the lobster season,
was normally a sleepy little town, just the way Carly Turnquist liked it.
But not this morning.
Faintly at first, building in volume, came sounds not
normally heard in quiet Bear Cove. Horns blared, voices shouted, and bass music
boomed, rattling the pictures on the walls. Carly pressed her face closer to
the windowpane, tipping her head first right, then left, determining the
direction of the commotion.
"Sounds like it's coming from downtown," she
muttered to no one in particular. "I hope it's not one of those Watkins
boys joyriding again."
Not wanting to be left out of the loop, she took the stairs
two at a time up to the bedroom she shared with her husband Mike, arriving at
the top landing slightly out of breath. Deciding what to wear to check out the
blaring horns and loud voices wasn't difficult. As a forensics accountant who
worked out of her home, Carly had a handy wardrobe replete with sweats, jeans,
t-shirts, and hoodies.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
and Facebook and TwitterThank you, Leeann, for sharing this new book with us. My blog readers will love it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
No Accounting For Murder: Book 1 (By the Numbers)
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
27 comments:
Thank you, Lena, for hosting me today. And thank you, readers, for taking the time to visit. Carly is one of my favorite characters, and yes, she is somewhat autobiographical. As readers, do you tend to prefer characters who are more like you, or less like you?
Hi LeeAnn and Lena. LeeAnn, I enjoyed getting to know you and I look forward to reading more if this book. In answer to your question, I think it is 50-50 as to my preference of the character. I prefer that they have some of my moral character and this is why I read Christian fiction but I enjoy someone who is braver and more adventurous. I can enjoy the danger and thrills vicariously and that is why I enjoy romantic suspense. Thanks for sharing this first page and giving us a chance to win your book
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
I wonder how you coauthor a book with your main character. Sounds interesting. The start sounds good. Tell me more.
Linda in California
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Hi Connie: Thanks for your comment. I like to write from a Christian worldview, too. I've tried writing more of a "Christian" book with salvation scenes and Bible verses, but for me, it always sounds contrived. So I prefer to have my characters discover their need for God in a more subtle way. Good luck in the drawing. Leeann
Hi Linda: I think I don't co-author as much as I insert the parts of me that I like (my love of numbers, my propensity to ask too many questions and poke my nose in where it doesn't belong), but then, like Connie said, I want my characters to say and do those things I either wouldn't or wouldn't be quick enough to say or do. That's one advantage of writing -- it gives you time to come up with the quick comebacks :) Let's see, more about the story -- well, Carly believes this company is buying a property just outside town to move in a nudist colony, which she is against. So she starts asking around, like who would approve such a permit. The mayor did, under the table, so to speak. And when she tries to ask him questions, he avoids her like the plague. Then her daughter calls and says money is missing from the school account where she volunteers, and they board thinks she took it. Can she come help? Then begins a series of accidents, threats, and mishaps, that instead of deterring Carly, make her more curious. So she keeps asking questions. And then not one but two attempts to kill her occur before she figures out who is behind all this. Hopefully that's enough for you to want to read more :) Leeann
I would love to read No Accounting For Murder! I love working with numbers/accounting and love reading suspense stories. This sounds like a very interesting book. Donna from Illinois d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com
A great first page thank you. Love the cover.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Hey Leeann, Great interview with Lena! You're a new-to-me author and I hope to read one of your books soon. I have always loved mysteries, ever since devouring The Dana Girls books when I was a young girl. I read them like they were chocolate candy!
I once told DiAnn Mills (during an author FB chat)that if I could be anyone in another life, I would want to be an FBI agent. That's about as far from what I do in real life, as possible. So to answer your question, I guess I prefer characters who are less like me. :-)
Anne ~ VA
I usually prefer characters who are less like me. I tend to be quiet and not take too many chances. I love to read about daring characters!
Beth from IA
Oh, this book has such a great storyline, I would enjoy reading it very much.
I live in Canada .
Hi Donna: Thanks for the encouragement. If you don't win the free copy, I hope you'll read No Accounting for Murder anyway. And the good news is, if you like it, Book 2 is out, There was a Crooked Man, and Book 3 comes out January 31, Unbalanced. And more are planned!
Hi Mary:
Thanks. I love the cover, too. My husband and I design our own covers, and the photography is mine, too.
Hi Anne: My first career choice was to be a veterinarian, and I almost pursued that in my later adult years, but God had a different plan. I'm an accountant by training, a detective by aptitude, so I guess if I was considering a career change, it would be to specialize in forensics accounting. If you don't win, I hope you'll check out the series some other way. Good luck!
Hi Ruby: I think a lot of us live what we'd consider boring lives. But to others, our lives may be exactly what they wish theirs was like. The grass is always greener, and all that. Maybe in your next book, choose a secondary character to be the opposite of what you are. That might provide a great counterpoint to your main character. And that daring character doesn't have to be an antagonist, either. Good luck in the contest.
Hi Marjorie: Thanks for the encouragement. I was actually born in Canada -- Newfoundland, to be precise. Funny thing is, in my first draft, Carly made a comment she was "as full as an egg". But my critique group had never heard that saying. Have you? Good luck in the drawing.
I am not an accountant but I studied accounting years ago. I believe I could relate to the lead character in this book. It sounds interesting.
Edward A in VA
sounds intriguing thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
Enter me!!
Conway, SC.
Love Mysteries! Please enter me!
Blanch NC
Love Mysteries! Please enter me!
Blanch NC
Hi Edward, Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Good luck in the drawing. And I think accounting is like riding a bike -- you never really forget :)
Hi Apple Blossom: Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Good luck to you. And I hope if you don't win, you'll still snag a copy and read it.
Hi Sharon: Consider yourself entered! Good luck in the drawing.
Hi Abigail: Glad to hear from another mystery-lover like myself -- and Carly. Good luck!
Yay! A great looking read!
Tammy in East Texas
Sounds interesting and like one I would enjoy.
Brenda in VA
I, too, am a great fan of suspense books. Would love to try out this "new-to-me" author's work.
Pam in OH
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