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Alexandra Amor | Mystery Author

Mysteries with character.

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Straight Into The Deep End with PA Wilson

01/25/2021 By Alexandra Amor Leave a Comment

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Another Vancouver private investigator series!

Straight into the Deep End PA Wilson

Perry (PA) Wilson writes about a Vancouver private investigator named Charity Deacon. I said to Perry at the beginning of our interview that I feel like Charity and my own heroine Freddie Lark are PI sisters; they’re both in Vancouver and they’re both independent women living the lives that suit them, not to mention solving crime.

Perry writes in several genres so if you enjoy reading outside the mystery genre I highly recommend you check out her other books. She is also in the process of narrating her books for audiobook. It’s a laborious process but she’s making progress and you can buy those audiobooks, including the one for Dreams, directly from her on her website.

Selling ebooks and audiobooks (not paperbacks) directly to the reader is one way independent authors like Perry are able to earn a living from their writing. When you buy directly from an author’s website, she doesn’t have to share the royalties for her books with the online vendor.

Last week on the podcast intro I mentioned a survey I had going about audiobooks. It was Perry who inspired that survey. She gave me some tips about the equipment she was using and after we stopped recording the podcast interview we talked about audiobooks and selling direct.

The survey results looked like this:

  • 37% of people surveyed read between 1 and 5 audiobooks a week; and
  • 58% of respondents DO prefer it when a narrator does character voices

I wanted to know how audiobook readers feel about narrators doing character voices because I’m debating about narrating my own novels, but I’m not sure I could do different voices for each character. But now I have some information about readers’ preferences and that’s good to have. I don’t have the bandwidth right now to add narrating to my plate, but maybe one day I will be able to pick up that project.

Today’s show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor

Patreon

This week’s mystery author

PA Wilson

PA (Perry) Wilson lives in New Westminster BC and writes while looking out over a busy arm of the Fraser river.  Nothing like watching a tugboat pull a barge to inspire you.

She worked in project management for several years after a long stretch at a local credit union. Always a writer, she found National Novel Writing Month in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since. She writes mystery fiction with a thriller vibe and a few other genres which she admits are just mystery books with an other world backdrop. 

To learn more about Perry and all her books visit PAWilson.ca

[Read more…] about Straight Into The Deep End with PA Wilson
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Filed Under: Author interviews, Podcast Tagged With: mystery

Mysteries in Canada’s National Parks with George Mercer

03/05/2018 By Alexandra Amor 1 Comment

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In George Mercer’s mystery novels predators can be both human and animal.

George MercerGeorge seems to be the quintessential Canadian author; he worked as a Park Warden for Canada’s national parks system and now he writes about the fictional mysteries that take place in those parks.

George and I live on the same island off British Columbia’s coast and it was great to chat with him about his career, his books, and his inspiration for more stories about the wild, sometimes forgotten places, in Canada’s wilderness.

In the introduction I mention that this is the final episode of It’s a Mystery Podcast for a while. I have enjoyed myself enormously in the last two years interviewing nearly 70 authors from around the globe.

When I had the idea for show in late 2015 it seemed like it would be a win for everyone: for you, the listeners, who would learn about new books and authors; for the authors themselves who would have an opportunity to shine a light on their books; and not least of all for me. My intention was to meet other authors and create a community of people I knew who are as passionate about writing as I am. I’m happy to say, that’s what happened.

I keep in touch with many of the authors I’ve interviewed over these last two years. It has been a joy getting to know a bit about all of them through our interview together. There is a wealth of creative talent and energy in the world, and I’m so grateful, as I’m sure you are, that these writers take the time, effort and energy to bring us stories that touch our lives.

Thank you for being a part of this adventure for the past couple of years. It has been tremendous fun for me. I hope you enjoyed the interviews as much as I did. 😉

All the episodes from It’s a Mystery Podcast will remain available from the podcast page, and also on iTunes and YouTube, so if you happen to find the show after we’ve gone off the air, never fear! You can still learn more about the authors I’ve interviewed, and about their books of course.

Water Horse Alexandra AmorThis episode of It’s a Mystery Podcast is sponsored by the brand new Town Called Horse short mystery, Water Horse.

The Town Called Horse is reeling when its connection to the outside world is cut off. Arthur ‘Sully’ Sullivan’s passenger and freight ship has burned in the night. There are no witnesses, no clues, and any evidence that might have existed has been swallowed by the lake.

You can find out more about today’s guest, George Mercer, and all his books on his website GeorgeMercer.com. You can also find him on Twitter @egeorgemercer.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

  • Click on any of the book covers to go to George’s books on Amazon
  • We mention Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon series and also Paul Doiron’s Maine game warden series
  • George mentions some of the parks he’s worked in, including Cape Breton Highlands, and Wood Buffalo.
  • You can read the prologue of George’s next book, Fat Cats, here, and also Chapter One here.
  • Geroge’s site about nature, WriteNature.com

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.
[Read more…] about Mysteries in Canada’s National Parks with George Mercer

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Filed Under: Author interviews, Podcast Tagged With: author interview, Canadian mystery, mystery

One of the 5 Best Mysteries in 2017 with DM Quincy

02/19/2018 By Alexandra Amor Leave a Comment

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Library Journal has named DM Quincy’s mystery, Murder in Mayfair, one of the best mysteries of 2017!

DM QuincyWhat an honour for me to have the Emmy Award-winning journalist and celebrated author on the show. You’ll hear us chat about her love of traveling, the intriguing ‘auctions’ that went on in the Regency period that DM writes about, and her plans to travel to London in May 2018 to visit some of the places she’s been writing about.

DM Quincy’s next book in this series, Murder in Bloomsbury, was released last week, so it is hot off the presses.

Water Horse Alexandra AmorThis episode of It’s a Mystery Podcast is sponsored by the brand new Town Called Horse short mystery, Water Horse.

The Town Called Horse is reeling when its connection to the outside world is cut off. Arthur ‘Sully’ Sullivan’s passenger and freight ship has burned in the night. There are no witnesses, no clues, and any evidence that might have existed has been swallowed by the lake.

Learn more and purchase for less than the cost of your morning latte.

You can find out more about today’s guest, DM Quincy, and all her books on her website DMQuincy.com. You can also find her on Twitter @DM_Quincy.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

  • Click on any of the book covers to go to DM’s books on Amazon
  • As we mention early on in the show, DM’s book Murder in Mayfair was named one of the 5 best mysteries in 2017, along with titles by Craig Johnson and Louise Penny!
  • More about Diana’s Regency Romance novels

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.
[Read more…] about One of the 5 Best Mysteries in 2017 with DM Quincy

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Filed Under: Author interviews, Podcast Tagged With: Historical mystery, mystery, mystery novel

George Bernard Shaw, Teddy Bears, and Historical Mysteries with Meg Macy

02/12/2018 By Alexandra Amor Leave a Comment

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Meg Macy writes all the way across the mystery spectrum.

67 Meg MacyWhat a treat to chat to Meg Macy, who writes historical mysteries, cozy teddy bear mysteries, as well as co-writing an Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mystery series with her friend Sharon.

This idea of Eliza and Henry solving crime thrills me. What a great premise for a mystery series!

Listen in and hear how Meg came up with the idea and how she got her fellow author and friend on board to write the series, which was accepted by an agent just hours after they pitched it.

You can find out more about today’s guest, Meg Macy, and all her books on her website MegMacy.com. You can also find her on Twitter @MegMimms.

Click on any of the book covers to go to Meg’s books on Amazon

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.
[Read more…] about George Bernard Shaw, Teddy Bears, and Historical Mysteries with Meg Macy

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Filed Under: Author interviews, Podcast Tagged With: cozy mystery, Historical mystery, mystery

The Pitfalls of Social Media for Those Who Want to Disappear with Laura Oles

02/05/2018 By Alexandra Amor Leave a Comment

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Have you ever wondered what it would take to disappear from your life entirely?

Laura OlesI’ve been thinking about this conversation with Laura since we recorded it in late December, 2017. How does a person go about disappearing?

Laura’s detective in her debut mystery novel, Daughters of Bad Men, is a skip tracer; she finds people who don’t necessarily want to be found. In our wired world it must be increasingly difficult for those who want to disappear to do so. Toward this end of this interview, you’ll hear Laura touch on the idea for her next book featuring skip-tracer Jamie Rush, which asks the question, what if it’s better for one of Jamie’s targets to remain unfound?

You can find out more about today’s guest, Laura Oles, and all her books on her website LauraOles.com. You can also find her on Twitter @lauraoles.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

  • Click on any of the book covers to go to Laura’s books on Amazon
  • Laura belongs to a group called the Austin Mystery Writers. Click here to learn more.
  • Book People bookstore in Austin, Texas

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher.

You can also click here to watch the interview on YouTube.
[Read more…] about The Pitfalls of Social Media for Those Who Want to Disappear with Laura Oles

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Filed Under: Author interviews, Podcast Tagged With: author interview, mystery, Writing

New Mystery Release – The Outside of a Horse

02/03/2018 By Alexandra Amor Leave a Comment

Secrets. Lies. Family.

Outside of a Horse v2June 1889. When Pastor Thoreson’s sister-in-law arrives in the town called Horse she immediately becomes the victim of a crime. With Constable Jack Merrick deep in the early stages of grief over losing his wife, his good friend Walt is pressed into service to try to solve the mystery.

With assistance from close friends, Walt must find a way to help the Thoresons before Merrick’s superiors discover his absence.

The Outside of a Horse is part of a new series of short historical mysteries from award-winning author Alexandra Amor.

A cross between the gentle rhythms and supportive relationships of Call the Midwife and the historical charm of Little House on the Prairie, the Town Called Horse stories are perfect for readers who like their mysteries with well-drawn characters and a lot of heart.

***
To celebrate the release of my brand new short historical mystery I thought I’d share a story about nails.

These are no ordinary nails. And they’re not the kind you have at the end of your fingers.

These are nails forged by hand in a small blacksmith shop in a town called Horse.

Let me start at the beginning

In 2014, I travelled to a historical ranch in central BC called Hat Creek Ranch. The ranch is a living museum, like Blackcreek Pioneer Village in Ontario (only smaller) or Barkerville, also here in BC.

Hat Creek Ranch
Riding shotgun on a stagecoach at Hat Creek Ranch, June, 2014

Hat Creek Ranch was a working ranch in the 1860s, and a place for those on the gold rush trail to stop and buy supplies. All the original buildings have been maintained and restored and it is a fascinating place to go to get a glimpse of what life was like in BC in the 1800s.

Basically the perfect place for me to go and do some research for my Town Called Horse mystery novels, which were just a glint in my eye at that time.

The entire ranch was an amazing experience, and I even got to ride upfront with the stagecoach driver, while he taught me how the rig for the horses works. He also explained the ingenious way the brakes on a stagecoach work so that when it is traveling downhill, it doesn’t push the horses from behind.

Meet the Blacksmith

If you’ve read any of my historical mysteries, including Charlie Horse, you’ll know that the main character – the amateur sleuth – is a schoolteacher named Julia Thom.

I have set myself a writing challenge for 2018 to release a new short mystery each month this year. And one of the reasons I’m doing that is that I’d like to write a few of these shorter mysteries from the point of view of others in the town called Horse. Others who include one of Julia’s new friends, Walt Sheehan, the town blacksmith and livery owner.

blacksmith Hat Creek Ranch
The blacksmith hard at work at Hat Creek Ranch, June 2014

Walt was calling to me. When I finished writing A One Horse Open Sleigh I knew that the next book would feature him as the protagonist. And in fact, the book is set a year before Julia arrives in town to start her new job as schoolteacher.

Luckily, I had made the trip to Hat Creek Ranch a few years earlier and had an up close and personal experience in an 1860s blacksmith shop.

Nails, nails and more nails

The blacksmith, whose name I didn’t catch, unfortunately, gave a mini lecture on what life was like for a blacksmith in the 1800s. The backbone of that business, it turns out, was nails. Each and every nail used to build the buildings and barns in a town or on a ranch, was forged by hand.

Blacksmith's nail
Hand forged blacksmith’s nail

At left you’ll see an image of the nail he made for me there in the ranch smithy. I’ve put it beside a pen so you can see the scale. It’s freaking huge! Can you even imagine hammering that thing into a log or piece of wood? The strength it must have taken.

The fellow working as the blacksmith at Hat Creek Ranch said that a blacksmith could churn out dozens of these in an hour. And that they were the backbone of the business. The constant building going on on the frontier required a continual supply of nails.

And this is why I write about a time that is so foreign to us now. Tiny details like this are so fascinating to me.

The lives we lead now are SO much easier than at any time in history. I’m obsessed with how difficult life was for millenia until very, very recently.

The Outside of a Horse

The Outside of a HorseSo when you read this, my latest mystery from the British Columbia frontier, you’ll notice I mention Walt Sheehan and the nails that he’s working on. And also that he’s constantly interrupted in that task during the few days the book takes place because of a small detail.

…he needs to solve a mystery. 😉

The Outside of a Horse is available now at all online retailers

Click an icon below to go to your favorite online bookstore.
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Filed Under: New Releases Tagged With: Historical mystery, how to write a book, mystery

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