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Where There’s Smoke, There’s Trouble

January 8, 2018 by debigrahamleard

Back in October, a week after I returned to Massachusetts from my 50th Class Reunion in Delaware, I tumbled from my bicycle into some frightful bushes edging a bike path and broke my wrist in three places. This injury put a big dent in my plans to place Gwen’s second story into the hands of readers.

Burdened with a purple cast, a swollen hand, and not a little pain, I chose to cancel three author events in November with great sadness. One of them will be rescheduled. The other two were unfortunately one-time events.

My cast is now gone, and I’m regaining strength and flexibility in my right hand. I’m finally able to grasp a pen, although a signed autograph still appears a little funky with the restriction of three stiff fingers.

For those of you who enjoyed Gwen’s debut mystery, ‘The Uninvited Guest’, you may want to follow her next adventure in ‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Trouble’, which takes place the following spring. As the story creator, I imbued Gwen with my personal dislike of cigar smoke and built a story around that aversion.

Here’s a link for your convenience:

Thanks to all of you who continue to support my writing journey!

Debi Graham-Leard

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Debi Graham-Leard, J B Moore High School, Marketing, Massachusetts, Norton, Published, Smyrna, Uncategorized, Where There's Smoke There's Trouble | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments »

Return to Smyrna Library!

October 8, 2017 by debigrahamleard

For those of you who live in mid-state Delaware, I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be returning to my hometown of Smyrna for my 50th J.B. Moore High School Reunion next weekend.

I’m traveling south a few days early to present my Author Talk to the Bon Ayre Complex in Smyrna on Wed morning, as well as the Nobles Pond Complex in Dover on Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday evening, October 12, at 6:30 pm, I’ll be sitting in with the Book Club at the Smyrna Public Library. We’ll be discussing the writing process for my debut mystery ‘The Uninvited  Guest’.

The Book Club meeting is open to the public, and promises to be an interactive session of questions and answers about my writing journey, the story specifics, and plans for future books in the Gwen Andrews series.

After the meeting, copies of ‘The Uninvited Guest’ will be available for purchase and autographing.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

Posted in Author Talk, Book Signing Events, DE, Debi Graham-Leard, J B Moore High School, Smyrna, The Uninvited Guest | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

MANSFIELD WOMEN OF TODAY.

September 18, 2017 by debigrahamleard

 

 

 

Do you live in the southeastern Massachusetts area?

If you have no plans for this Wednesday evening, September 20, join me at the 7pm meeting of the Mansfield Women of Today, HarborOne Bank, 131 Copeland Drive, Mansfield!

I’ll be presenting my author talk about the writing process as I created my debut mystery ‘The Uninvited Guest’. Hope to see you there!

Posted in Author Talk, Debi Graham-Leard, Mansfield, Massachusetts, The Uninvited Guest, Women of Today | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colonial vs. Victorian?

September 2, 2017 by debigrahamleard

As I’ve been creating mystery #3, taking place in mid-December New England, I discovered I was mixing up Colonial timelines and character names with the later Victorian architecture.

I had to make a decision so I could write the opening scene in the appropriate location.

Victorian period would allow the story to unfold in a beautifully appointed bed & breakfast, converted from a generations-old family home.

Colonial architecture would age the bed & breakfast, allowing centuries-old family history to filter into the story.

Earlier this week, my husband and I visited the Daniel Webster Estate in Marshfield, MA, to help narrow my choice. And yesterday, I stopped by the Society of Mayflower Descendants in Plymouth, MA, for a nice chat with the two women behind the desk and a man sitting at a research table.

In the end, because my fictional Harbor Falls series is located on the coast of Massachusetts, I settled on a Colonial backstory. Connections to the Mayflower pilgrims, a sad eighteenth century ghost, and parallels to current times will round out the main mystery plot with ghostly connections to my amateur sleuth’s personal subplot.

Such fun!

Posted in Massachusetts, Merry Christmas, Story Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

SECOND STORY IN THE WORKS!

August 17, 2017 by debigrahamleard

So excited! My second story ‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Trouble‘ was submitted a few weeks ago to my publisher Riverhaven Books in Whitman, Massachusetts.

In addition to editing and formatting, Stephanie has already created the cover, which I’m showing you here. She suggested a continuation of the 3-word title to coordinate with my debut mystery ‘The Uninvited Guest’. After consulting several trusted readers, I tend to agree. The full title will probably be spelled out on the inside cover and tops of the story pages.

I still owe Stephanie the map of Harbor Falls, the acknowledgements list, and the back cover blurb. All are in the works and simply need some fine-tuning before I send them along.

Fingers are crossed that the finished book will be available this September as scheduled.

Posted in Book Cover, Cover Blurb, Debi Graham-Leard, Editor, MA, Massachusetts, Norton, Publishers, Where There's Smoke There's Trouble | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Local Author Showcase at Ventress Library

July 12, 2017 by debigrahamleard

Looking for something to do this Saturday, July 15?

Come to the Ventress Library in quaint Marshfield, MA, to meet and greet seven local authors, including me!

Author Line-up:
R.J. Petrella              “Days of the Giants”
Elizabeth Bates        “History of Pembroke”
Kim DiLoreto           “Back to School with Mac”
Kevin V. Symmons   “Out of the Storm”, “Solo”, “Rite of Passage”,   “Chrysalis”
Robert Knox              “Suosso’s Lane”, “Gardeners Do It     With Their Hands Dirty”
Debi Graham-Leard   “The Uninvited Guest”
Robine Andrau          “Bowing to the Emperor: We Were C
aptives in WW II”

Each author will have the opportunity to speak about their story and their writing process. Books will be available to autograph.

This free event will take place between 2-4pm @ Library Plaza, 1837 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA.

Hope to see your smiling face there!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Author Panel, Author Talk, Book Festival, Book Signing Events, Debi Graham-Leard, Marshfield, Massachusetts, The Uninvited Guest, Ventress Library | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

The importance of Research

June 28, 2017 by debigrahamleard

As I finish my next story, set on the coast of Massachusetts, I’ve added a scene where two characters take a drive in a red Corvette. I thought a lighthouse would be a good destination. After climbing the steps, my characters could comment on the view from the top.

And so after writers group in Plymouth last Saturday, I took a drive to the Scituate Lighthouse to check out its details. To my surprise and disappointment, the only entrance to the lighthouse came through the private home sitting next to it. I approached two ladies in the parking lot and learned that climbing the lighthouse is possible only during the few open houses held during the summer. Since this story occurs in April, I’d never get away with faking the climb. Unfortunately, the area around the lighthouse was sparse with very few interesting attributes. Bummer.

When I arrived back home, I googled a list of coastal
lighthouses and checked their details. More disappointment…none of them are open to the public.

What to do? A different search brought up the Myles Standish Monument in South Duxbury. This looked promising! I convinced my husband to take me for a ride in… guess what? his red Corvette!… to check it out. As I suspected, the monument would not open until the first Sunday in July, Regardless, we parked at the lower entrance, walked up the steep road, and wandered around the outside of the monument. Although no climb was involved, I gathered terrific details to write into my story.

Research is not only required, but can be fun!

Posted in Debi Graham-Leard, Massachusetts, Myles Standish Monument, South Duxbury, Story Research, Where There's Smoke There's Trouble | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments »

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