Category Archives: Terry Odell

Adventures at Book Signings

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Adventures at Book Signings
Terry Odell

Table display of books written by Terry Odell

First, forgive my absence here at TKZ. We were away for a week, and I was off the grid, and coming back to “real life” is a slow process.

I’m an indie author. The vast majority of my book sales are ebooks. But every now and then, I have the opportunity to get out among real life people who like to read print books. They refer to them as “real” books, but I’m not going to get into my feelings about that here.

Most of my signings are either at conferences or at library author events. As an indie author, I have to supply the books, usually sold on consignment if it’s a conference, or I handle the sales at libraries.

I’m not a big name. Occasionally, I get seated to a Big Name Author, and spend most of the time chatting with their long lines of people wanting their books. Craig Johnson, Julia Quinn, and Brenda Novak come to mind.

Once, back in the day, when I was with a small publisher, they sent the books to the conference. Twenty of them! I’m not a big name, and if I sell five, it’s a good day. I asked the organizers why they ordered so many, and they said, “Oh, you can just return the unsold ones.” What they didn’t know was that the publisher charged for returns, and I was out a bunch of bucks because I wasn’t going to ship them back to me, and they wouldn’t fit in my luggage.

But, last weekend was different. Our neighborhood/development/community has an annual Holiday Bazaar, and I have participated for the last three years. I set up a table with my books on display, and try to remember I’m supposed to be outgoing and personable. I ‘bribe’ people to my table with a bowl of chocolate, my lip balm, and post-it notes.

It’s an interesting event. Vendors sell jewelry, baked goods, photographs, and lots of other handmade craft items. I’m the only one selling books. Unlike a writer’s conference or library event, people aren’t coming predisposed to buy books.

I had one woman approach my table and ask if I’d read all the books I had on display. I smiled and told her I’d written them. She leaned forward and said, “I’m 73 years old, and I’ve never read a book. I don’t know how I graduated from high school.” I told her she had the opportunity to make one of my books her first, and she actually bought one.

Another woman approached with an image of the books she’d bought last year. She’d given them to her 99 year-old mother who loved them, so she bought some more.

I had one woman tell me she wrote a novel during the pandemic but didn’t know what to do with it, and could she pay me to help her get it published. Ummm… not sure I can be much help. I’ll wait to see if she contacts me.

**Note to self: Rookie mistake. Next time make a sign that says “Meet the Author.” Too many people looked at the books on display and it took them a while to realize they were all written by the same person, at which point they asked if I was Terry. (Except for the one guy who asked if I was Dan’s wife—he’s much more outgoing and involved in the neighborhood, and people know him. Me, I’m an introverted writer who likes sitting in my office with my characters, so I’m not known to many people, nor do I know many of them.)

Another mistake. I forgot to bring my business cards. Thought they were in my purse, but after all the switches because of our travel, they weren’t. Fortunately, my lip balm and my post-it notes have my contact information and website on them.

Since almost everyone who comes to the bazaar lives in the ’hood, they know each other, so a lot of their “shopping” time is spent chit-chatting and catching up. The noise level in the small building/room gets high. It’s as much a social event as a sales event.

I had people come up to my table who told me they were so glad I’d come back—but they didn’t buy. Others marveled at my output. Most of them didn’t buy, either. But I did make enough sales to make it a respectably profitable day.

This year was the first time we could take credit card payments. (The building now has wifi). Technology! I have a Square card reader, but it’s old, and I haven’t used it in a couple of years. Turns out my new phone has a different plug in thing (I don’t speak tech), but I have an older iPad mini that uses the same connection, so I figured I’d be able to keep up with the times. However, I thought I’d try to be more up to date, so I ordered one of the new gizmos that could take chips and tap to pay. It was supposed to be delivered the day before the bazaar, but of course, it was delayed, so I was back to using my iPad mini.

Once at the venue, the woman at the table next to me told me if I had the Square app on my newer iPhone, it would take charges without needing a gizmo, and she walked me through using it. When my gizmo finally shows up, it’s going back to the store.

Something else that I think helped sales. Most of the people who came to buy were used to paying with cash, so although I’d bumped up my prices a little to cover fees, I told them I’d discount cash sales. People love a bargain.

  • To recap. My takeaways:
  • Make it obvious you’re the author.
  • Have swag to attract people to your table.
  • If you’re indie and can set your own pricing, make things look good. I had a ‘bundle’ price, and a lot of people bought three books when they saw they were getting a bargain.
  • Stand, don’t sit all day. Initiate conversation. It’s hard for me, but got easier as the day went on. One lead-in that worked for me (and killed more than one bird), was to ask if I could answer any questions about my books.
  • If you have more than a couple of books on display, get ready to talk about which one(s) you’d recommend. When people ask which is my favorite book, I ask if they have children, and if they say ‘yes’ I ask which is their favorite. I try to find out what their interests are, or point out things about my books–especially the ones based on my travel–that might engage them.
  • Think of it more as introducing yourself and making contacts, not sales.

Anything you have to add?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Deadly Ambitions
Peace in Mapleton doesn’t last. Police Chief Gordon Hepler is already juggling a bitter ex-mayoral candidate who refuses to accept election results and a new council member determined to cut police department’s funding.
Meanwhile, Angie’s long-delayed diner remodel uncovers an old journal, sparking her curiosity about the girl who wrote it. But as she digs for answers, is she uncovering more than she bargained for?
Now, Gordon must untangle political maneuvering, personal grudges, and hidden agendas before danger closes in on the people he loves most.
Deadly Ambitions delivers small-town intrigue, political tension, and page-turning suspense rooted in both history and today’s ambitions.

Preorder now

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

Lighting

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Lighting
Terry Odell

Light and Color

Image from Wikimedia Commons

In a couple of hours, the Hubster and I will be heading out on a vacation. I confess I’m a food junkie, and watch a lot of cooking show, so when I saw there was a “Chefs Making Waves” cruise where TV celebrity chefs would be taking over the restaurants, I didn’t need a lot of virtual arm-twisting to sign up. Once we board, I’m going off the grid (the cruise line wants $30 or $40/DAY for ONE device for their internet package) and I’m too cheap for that.
I should be around today to respond to comments, but between having edits for Deadly Ambitions to finish and being in travel mode, I hope you’ll forgive a rerun of a 2020 post I did on dealing with light in your writing.

Light is important when we’re writing—and I’m not talking about having enough light to work by. I’m talking about how much we can describe in our scenes. One of my critique partners questioned a bit I’d written (yes, it’s from one of my romantic suspense books).

She stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Placing her forefinger over her lips, she shook her head before he could speak. She unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. Then walked her fingers to the second, sliding the disc through the slit in the fabric. Then to the third, then the next, until she’d laid the plaid flannel open, revealing the tight-fitting black tee she’d seen at the pond this morning when he’d given her the shirt off his back.

His comment: “It’s night. Do you need to show one of them turning on a light?” Maybe. More on that in a minute.

In a book I read some years back, the author had made a point of a total power failure on a moonless night. There was no source of light, and the pitch-blackness of the scene was a way for the hero and heroine to have to get “closer” since they couldn’t see.

It didn’t take long for them to end up in bed, but somehow, he was able to see the color of her eyes as they made love. I don’t know whether the author had forgotten she’d set up the scene to have no light, or if she didn’t do her own verifying of what you can and can’t see in total darkness. Yes, our eyes will adapt to dim light, but there has to be some source of light for them to send images to the brain. If you’ve ever taken a cave tour, you’ll know there’s no adapting to total darkness.

In the case of the paragraph I’d written, the character had seen the man’s clothes earlier that day, so she’d probably remember the colors, especially since the tee was black. And you’ll note, I didn’t say “red and green plaid shirt.”

I won’t delve too deeply into biology, but our retinas are lined with rods and cones. Rods function in dim light, but can’t detect color; cones need more light, but they can “see” color. (All the “seeing” is done in the brain, not the eyes.)

We want to describe our scenes, we want our readers to ‘see’ everything, but we have to remember to keep it real. This might mean doing some personal testing—when you wake up before it’s fully light, check to see how much you can actually ‘see’. The ability to see color drops off quickly. So even if you see your hands, or the chair across the room, or the picture on the wall, how much light do you need before you can leave the realm of black and white? What colors do you see first? When it gets dark, what colors drop off first. Divers are probably aware of the way certain colors are no longer detectable as they descend.

Here’s a video showing what happens.

And another quick aside about seeing color. Blue is focused on the front of the retina, red farther back. This makes it very hard for the brain to create an image where both colors are in focus. It’s hard on the eyes. For that reason, it’s probably not wise to have a book cover with red text on a blue background, or vice-versa. You can look up chromostereopsis if you like scientific explanations. For me, I’m fine with “don’t do that because it’s hard to read.”

How do you deal with light and color in your books? Any examples of when it’s done well? How about not well?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Deadly Ambitions
Peace in Mapleton doesn’t last. Police Chief Gordon Hepler is already juggling a bitter ex-mayoral candidate who refuses to accept election results and a new council member determined to cut police department’s funding.
Meanwhile, Angie’s long-delayed diner remodel uncovers an old journal, sparking her curiosity about the girl who wrote it. But as she digs for answers, is she uncovering more than she bargained for?
Now, Gordon must untangle political maneuvering, personal grudges, and hidden agendas before danger closes in on the people he loves most.
Deadly Ambitions delivers small-town intrigue, political tension, and page-turning suspense rooted in both history and today’s ambitions.

Preorder now

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

Creating Buzz

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Creating Buzz
Terry Odell

Buzzy Bee toyIn my last post, I talked about how the cover for Deadly Ambitions came to be. I mentioned in a response to a commenter, that with the book in the hands of my editor and an extended period before the book will go live, I need to put on my dreaded marketing hat and come up with ways to generate some buzz.

Unless you can afford to hire a publicist, I don’t think it matters whether you’re indie or traditionally published—you’re still going to have to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Publishers don’t fork over the big bucks for most of their authors.

If you’re working with social media platforms, you’re going to want visuals, be they ads, memes, or whatever you call them. I’m not a graphics designer, so I rely on other programs.

I’ve found two resources that have helped me: Mockup Shots and Canva. (I do have paid accounts at both.) I know a lot of authors use Brush instead of Canva, but I found it too limiting since I create images for a lot more than book promo (like for my blog, newsletter, and TKZ).

Mockup Shots is very easy to use to generate images featuring your book. You plug in your cover, and it creates a huge number of choices. These are just a few.

You pick the ones you like and download them. Here are a few I picked.

Next, I take the mockups, and any images of my own I might want to use, and upload them to Canva. From here, it’s a lot of playing around with all the options and tools they offer.

My go-to design template is their landscape Facebook size, but you can choose your own dimensions. From there, it’s a matter of dragging the image(s) onto the template, and adjusting the size using the “handles” for lack of what I’m sure is a more correct term.

Next, I add the text. I have several tag lines so my projects won’t all be the same. I also have snippets of text from the manuscript. Canva gives you the opportunity to choose fonts, size, color, outline, shadows … more features than I need.

Another handy feature is the transparency adjustment. I tend to use this for my backgrounds so my text is more conspicuous. There’s also a position feature, so you can move your additions forward and backward. You go to the ‘text’ on the left sidebar and play around from there.

Another thing I like about Canva is they have people who will help you. I’ve used them. A lot!

Once I’ve finished, I download the file as a jpg (best for sharing). Rinse, repeat.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

I’m not fond of the marketing side of publishing as an indie, but at least playing around with these sorts of images is something I enjoy. Now, it’s a matter of deciding how to put them to best use. Suggestions welcome!

Oh, and before I forget. I’ve set Deadly Ambitions up as a preorder. The ‘go live’ date is January 14th, so I have plenty of time to work on honing my marketing skills.

What marketing/promotion tools do you use? Likes? Dislikes?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Deadly Ambitions

Peace in Mapleton doesn’t last. Police Chief Gordon Hepler is already juggling a bitter ex-mayoral candidate who refuses to accept election results and a new council member determined to cut police department’s funding.

Meanwhile, Angie’s long-delayed diner remodel uncovers an old journal, sparking her curiosity about the girl who wrote it. But as she digs for answers, is she uncovering more than she bargained for?

Now Gordon must untangle political maneuvering, personal grudges, and hidden agendas before danger closes in on the people he loves most.

Deadly Ambitions delivers small-town intrigue, political tension, and page-turning suspense rooted in both history and today’s ambitions.

Preorder now.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

 

Edits and Covers

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Edits and Covers
Terry Odell

I’ve been focused on getting my new book, Deadly Ambitions, ready to meet the public. Given scheduling conflicts between my editor and my own travel, plus not wanting to compete with the barrage of holiday books, I’ve decided to put of the release until early next year.

Does that mean I can relax until then?

(Sputter, Snort, Guffaw.)

The first complete draft came in at about 85,000 words, which was longer than I wanted, so when I did my first read-through, I looked for excess. I talked a little about my process in my last post. Plot threads, scenes, and just plain wordiness. SmartEdit makes it easy to find these culprits, although it’s a tedious process. I’ve managed to cut about 4,000 words. One “thing” I’m doing this time around is opening the manuscript to a random page and looking at random paragraphs and sentences. Taken out of context, I’m finding places where my penchant for rambling shows through, so I’ve done some microsurgery using that technique.

But Wait. There’s More.

As an indie author, I wear many hats. My least favorite is the marketing chapeau, but it’s a necessary evil. I’m no marketing guru, but I know enough to know people want visuals. That meant a cover.

What did I want on the cover? I had plot threads running through the book that I considered. . One revolved around a construction project. A half-finished remodel wasn’t likely to entice readers. Or it would make them think it was a DIY book.

Another thread began with a traffic accident. A little more compelling, but I was having trouble finding images, not to mention Deadly Puzzles already had a similarly-themed cover.

A car tipped down a snowbank with an overlay of puzzle pieces

I regrouped (after a few nudges from one of my critique partners).

Since my Mapleton Mystery series is set in Colorado (although I’ve never pinpointed  where), I decided on a Colorado image for the background, something many of the other books included. But what? The book is set in December, so snow-capped mountains? Been there, done that.

Wait. We’d been up to a couple of old mining towns recently, and I’d decided to go along with the Hubster when he pulled onto a side road, saying “he just wanted to check something out.” Of course, that meant a hike along one of the old mine trails. I finished the hike with a bunch of pictures of old mining equipment.

What a coincidence. There’s a plot thread relating to an abandoned mine in the book. I browsed through some stock images on the site my cover designer, Kim Killion of the Killion Group, prefers and found one or two that might be acceptable. However, after going through my own images, I found one I thought had promise for the background.

Turned out, that’s the one she preferred. Yay me!

But the book is a mystery, and it’s not actually set in a mine, or even a mining town. How to let potential readers know it’s a mystery? I followed that plot thread (don’t want too many spoilers here), and sent Kim some more ideas.

This is what she came up with. I hope you like it.

Cover of Deadly Ambitions by Terry Odell

What’s your favorite and/or least favorite “non-writing” part of getting a book published? Do you like having creative control, or would you rather turn everything over to others?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

Finished the Draft. Now What?

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Finished the Draft. Now What?
Terry Odell

marked up manuscript printed in 2 columns

Since my last post, I reached “the end” of the current manuscript. Yippee! Of course, now the real “fun” begins. Editing. Previously, I’ve talked about how I attempt to fool my brain with printing the manuscript in columns and in a different font. You can find that post here. That’s what I’ll be doing for the next several weeks before sending it off to my editor.

One thing I’m super happy about is that I found a title. I know some authors can’t start writing without one. For me, it’s usually the last thing I come up with. I can think of only two exceptions. What’s In A Name? got its title when I was forced to fill out an entry sheet for a RWA chapter contest. There was this big, blank line that said “Title.” The title was almost a placeholder, but I realized that it actually fit the story. Subconscious at work? Maybe. Probably.

The other one was Starting Over which is exactly what I was doing. It wasn’t so much a name of the manuscript, but rather the name I gave the folder in my computer where I would be saving drafts, chapters, notes, etc. The title worked, for the book, too, as it turned out.

When rights reverted, indie publishing still wasn’t a thing, so I approached another publisher. They accepted it, but didn’t want the same title, so it became Nowhere to Hide, which I kept when rights from that publisher reverted to me.

What was I talking about? Right. The new book and its title. It’s part of my Mapleton Mystery series, and the pattern for titles throughout has been a two-word title, the first word being “Deadly.” You’d think coming up with one word would be easy. Ha! Not for me.

Since I had finished the draft, I had some idea of a theme (I don’t think of those when I start, either). It came to me. Deadly Ambitions. It worked, my writing buddy liked it, and my editor liked it.

That puts me one step closer to publication.

But first, I have to whip this draft into shape.

We talk about first pages a lot here at TKZ. They’re important. Very important. It’s been months since I’ve written my first chapter, and there were changes as there always are when I’m starting a new book. Am I starting in the wrong place? Am I info dumping? Will it entice new readers to keep going? (The current wip is the 9th novel, and the 12th work in my Mapleton mystery series.) I write them so they can be read as stand alones, but there’s always the temptation to make sure new readers don’t feel confused when I introduce recurring characters. I know that bugs the heck out of me, which is the main reason I prefer to start with book one in a series. JSB is always saying readers will wait for answers, but how long?

My Mapleton books are small town police procedurals. Sort of. I’ve had reviewers comment that there’s a “cozy feel” to them. But they definitely do not fit the rules/guidelines/expectations of a cozy.

When I’m reading, I like seeing the off-the-job side of my protagonist. Through the series, Gordon has dated, become engaged, married, and is now at the “newlywed phase is starting to wear off” point. Angie, his girlfriend-fiancé-wife has been with him in some capacity since book one.

My dilemma, as is frequently the case, is how much page time she gets, along with how much page time Daily Bread, the diner she runs, gets. Are readers going to want to skim those scenes to get back to the Cop Stuff and Chief Stuff Gordon has to deal with? In the current book, she’s playing a significant role and is personally involved in one of Gordon’s cases. (No spoilers.) She’s part of the opening scene, but is it too much? Not enough? I’ll pose that question to you, TKZers.

These were the opening paragraphs in my first draft.

Gordon Hepler, Mapleton, Colorado’s Chief of Police, moseyed over to Jerry Illingsworth, newly elected mayor of the city. This was Jerry’s night, and it was in full swing. The event room at the Community Center was filled with his supporters, all enjoying the food and drink.

Angie, his wife, was in charge of the food, and she’d done a great job, deviating from the usual fare at Daily Bread. Jerry had requested something more upscale, and she’d been happy to comply, especially since her restaurant was closed for remodeling. The extra work provided much needed income.

Gordon snagged a shrimp-topped canape—Angie’s term. Gordon called them nibbles—from a passing server. The group around Jerry wandered off, and Gordon moved in to congratulate the new mayor.

“Would it be inappropriate for me to say It’s about time?” Jerry gave a quiet laugh. “Three recounts before Nelson Manning accepted—reluctantly is too kind a word—defeat.”

When I started my edits, I thought I’d devoted too much ‘dumping’ of who Angie was and her role, so I tightened it to this. (Only the second paragraph was changed.)

Gordon Hepler, Mapleton, Colorado’s Chief of Police, moseyed over to Jerry Illingsworth, newly elected mayor of the city. This was Jerry’s night, and it was in full swing. The event room at the Community Center was filled with his supporters, all enjoying the food and drink.

Gordon snagged a shrimp-topped canape—his wife Angie’s term—from a passing server. She was the chef, so she would know. Gordon called them nibbles. The group around Jerry wandered off, and Gordon moved in to congratulate the new mayor.

“Would it be inappropriate for me to say It’s about time?” Jerry gave a quiet laugh. “Three recounts before Nelson Manning accepted—reluctantly is too kind a word—defeat.”

What’s your take? Too much? Too little?

~~~~~

woman pouring a smoked Manhattan into a glassOh, and for those of you who are interested in my images from our anniversary getaway last month, you can find them here.

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

Making the Best of Chance Encounters

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Making the Best of Chance Encounters
Terry Odell

Writing often means dealing with things you don’t know much about. Or anything about. Now, while I write fiction, which means I get to make stuff up, I strive to have everything in the realm of plausibility. The line between “that could never happen” and “that might happen.”

Searching the interwebs can help, but talking to real people can get you tidbits that make for a more interesting scene.

Where do you find these people? Just about anywhere, it turns out.

Online, perhaps. I was following a blog written by an army guy. I left the occasional comment, and I felt comfortable approaching him electronically with questions about terminology, and he was happy to answer, even calling me on the phone (with a very strange Caller ID number that had the Hubster wondering what was going on) to go into more detail.

Another writing acquaintance’s husband was also military, and has been willing to answer questions and make suggestion to add authenticity to my scenes.

I was participating in a Civilian Police Academy in Orlando, and after a talk by a homicide detective, I approached and asked if I could get in touch if I had questions. He said it would be fine, so I gave him a call and offered to buy him a cup of coffee. He asked if there was an Ale House near me, and if he could invite some friends. Best money I ever spent, and one of those friends (now retired) is still my go-to guy for cop stuff.

Likewise the SWAT commander who taught a workout class at the Y I belonged to. I made my “cup of coffee” suggestion, and we met at a local Starbucks (where he drank tea—not what you’d expect from a SWAT guy, but it adds character depth). Since I was writing a book set in Orlando at the time, I needed details, so I called and asked him what color the carpet and walls were in the Orlando Police Department Headquarters. Despite working there, he was clueless, but he invited me down for a tour. I was there in under half an hour. Got some great details.

I belong to an online group called Crimescenewriters, and it’s full of people in law enforcement-related fields. They’re always happy to share their expertise, and I’ve filled in many a gap with their answers. People you know, either in person or virtually. One TKZ contributor gave me plenty of information when I needed to blow something up. I’ve picked the brains of my medical professions when in their offices for appointments.

But sometimes, it’s a personal chance encounter that gives the information I need. Years ago, while visiting our son in Colorado Springs, well before we moved to Colorado, I was seated next to a couple of military guys. Given how many military facilities are in Colorado, it’s likely you’ll find several on most flights.

I am not a military person. Make Love, not War was the slogan circulating when I was in college. But, since I was writing one of my early Blackthorne, Inc. novels about a covert ops team, I needed some information about where my characters might be hiding out. The man sitting next to me went on to explain about a vast number of tunnels. Were they exactly where my scenario was taking place? Not quite, but close enough to feel comfortable writing a “that might happen” scene.

On another flight, I noticed the man next to me was reading a airplane pilot-related magazine. I asked if he was a pilot, and he said he was. I proceeded to give him a scenario and he filled in details. (Note: if you want “Bad Stuff” to happen on a flight, it’s best not to ask any of the crew.) On yet another flight, I was marking up my manuscript with my trusty red pen, and the man sitting next to me, in a pilot’s uniform, asked if I was an author.  He started that conversation, but he gave me plenty of information for the book I was working on at the time. Turned out he wasn’t just flying commercial jets, but he also had helicopter experience. More fodder.

Just last week, I was wandering the aisles of Walmart, and there was a group of firefighters shopping throughout the store. One man’s shirt said Paramedic, so I stopped and asked him if he had a moment to answer some questions. He said, “of course” and I fleshed out a troublesome scene I’d been writing. He gave me his phone number and told me to get in touch if I had more questions. I did, so we had a few text exchanges, and I think I’ve fixed that scene. Even named a character after him, with his permission, of course.)

One caveat. With any research, you should verify the information. Often, sources, be they human or cyber bots, don’t agree. For example one of my medical people told me the paramedics would probably administer a specific drug. When I asked my paramedic, he said they used to, but it’s no longer approved, and their list of “dos and donts” is updated annually.

But, that’s where the “I get to make stuff up” comes into play.

And, I’ll add that for me the hardest part of research is knowing what you don’t know. I can look up what constellations will be visible at a certain date and time at a specific locations because I know I don’t know that. But I never thought to look up whether a make and model of car came with a manual transmission option, because I thought all cars gave buyers that choice. Fortunately, one of my early readers pointed it out before it was published.

OK, TKZers, Where do you get your information when you’re stepping into waters uncharted for you. Anything you thought you knew, but turned out you were wrong?

TKZ:

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

Conference Words of Wisdom

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Conference and conventions can be an important part of a writer’s development, helping with craft, connecting with both readers and other authors, and recharging your creative batteries.

Last week my wife and I attended the 83rd World Science Fiction convention, held in Seattle this year. World Cons run for five days, and are packed with programming, including a writing and publishing track. Around 7700 people attended. I moderated a panel on crafting a sustainable writing career, and was also on the “Writers Workshops: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” panel, and sat in the audience for a number of other panels, including an excellent one on the state of the science fiction magazine market in 2025 and another on British mysteries and what makes them different from American ones.

While I’ve been to numerous science fiction conventions and several writers conferences, my one mystery conference so far was Left Coast Crime 2024, also held in the Seattle area, which I found to be equally engaging. I had the privilege of moderating a panel and being on another one, and also met a number of fellow authors and also avid readers.

Today we revisit three posts by Michelle Gagnon, Laura Benedict and Terry Odell that provide advice on attending conferences. All three are worth reading in full and, as always, are linked from their respective dates.

  • What do I hope to get out of it? Mind you, I love hanging out with fellow writers and fans, but it’s hard to justify spending a thousand dollars over a weekend to do that (especially in this economy). So ideally, I hope to get on at least one good panel, and to network with people I haven’t met yet. There’s always a lot of debate on the lists about which conferences are worth attending, and I’m certain that everyone has a different experience. You might sell more books at smaller regional ones where you’re one of a handful of authors, whereas at larger conferences you might get lost in the shuffle. Yet at those big conferences there’s an opportunity to meet domestic and foreign editors, booksellers, and agents, and to get your name out to a larger cross-section of mystery fans.And sometimes the regional conferences are skewed toward local authors, so if you’re not from the area, you might find yourself relegated to the panel on bug detectives (not a well-attended one, in my experience). So it largely depends on what your career goals are at that given moment. Personally, I’m doing the same thing with conference attendance that I do with my financial portfolio: spreading it out between smaller conferences like Left Coast Crime (they had me at “Hawaii”) and big ones like Bouchercon (which I always seem to get a lot out of).
  • Is it a fan conference, or a writing one? Not that writers aren’t fans- we all are, obviously. But some conferences specialize in helping new authors hone their craft and pitch agents- which is invaluable for them, but I’ve discovered that at those conferences, I spend most of my time dodging requests to pass a manuscript on to my agent. I’d much rather go to a true fan conference, where most of the attendees are readers who want to meet their favorite bestselling authors, and who might be persuaded to try a new one as well.
  • Which genre does the conference emphasize? I’ve gone to a few romance conferences, and so far haven’t had much luck with those (although I know my friend Alex Sokoloff has had a much more positive experience). For me, going to RWA felt like starting over again; I didn’t know the lingo, and since romance isn’t a major component of my books, I drew a lot of blank stares. I’m considering giving Romantic Times a shot when it lands a bit closer to home, but flying to Orlando isn’t a possibility for me this April.

Michelle Gagnon—February 5, 2009

Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to pop out of your writing cocoon and go to a conference or other gathering of industry folk:

Be confident.

This sounds difficult, I know. Sometimes you just have to fake it until you feel it. The NYT bestselling writer waiting in the coffee line ahead of you sits in front of the same blank page that you do every day, thinking, “What comes next?” You have that in common. You’re there for a reason, so act like it.

Be professional.

This is part of your job. Be sure you note the name of the person you’re talking to. It’s okay to ask, and asking is far preferable to ending up halfway through an impromptu lunch, petrified that you’ll be called on to perform introductions if someone else shows up. If small talk is required, talk about a panel or interview you just attended, or a book you recently read. Not your gallbladder, kids, or most recent tooth implant.

Be ready to learn.

Immerse yourself in the conference agenda. People who are interested in the same things you’re interested in put the panels and events together. It’s not all about networking.

Be curious.

Most people love to talk about themselves. Ask questions about their work, their pets, their hometown, their (professional) passions. Most wildly successful authors are good at making other people feel special in a short space of time. Really.

Be modest.

We’ve all gotten the FB messages: “Hey, we’re friends now. Buy my book!” Every writer wants other people to know about their work. But don’t make that your main goal. Your goal is to learn things, make new friends, and reconnect with old friends. There’s always a good time to exchange cards or bookmarks or websites. Name-dropping is a bit gauche, but allowed in small doses if it’s relevant to the discussion—or makes a better story.

Be gracious.

Be as nice to the mid-list or self-published writer standing beside you as you are to the editor you would kill to have publish you. Chances are you’ll have far more contact with that writer in your career than you will the editor. Not everything is about getting ahead. It’s about being a decent human being. Few things are uglier than people who spend their professional lives sucking up and kicking down.

Be generous.

You didn’t get to where you are as a writer all by yourself. I guarantee that someone around you has less experience. Introduce yourself to someone who looks as uncomfortable as you feel. Make them feel special. It won’t cost you anything, and the benefits are precious.

Laura Benedict—September 21, 2016

Left Coast Crime is a reader-based conference, which means the focus is on connecting writers with readers. The panels will be aimed more at “tell us about your book” and they’re a great way to meet readers and let them know what you have to offer. In a writer’s conference, a workshop on setting would tell you how important it is, and would give you a “lesson” in how to develop setting in your book. At a reader’s conference, the panel will be a discussion of where each author sets his or her books, and why they chose that setting. Same goes for characters, or genre, or anything else.

This year, I’m on a “Romance in Mystery” panel and who knows where that one will go! Ultimately, the goal is to entice readers to pick up the books, and also to let them know you’re a real, live, person. It takes a different mind-set when you attend a conference like this as an author. You’re wearing a marketing hat, not a writing hat.

However, no matter what kind of a conference you attend, there are some “survival” techniques I’ve picked up over the years, listed in no order of importance.

  1. Have copies of your receipts. Nothing like finding out they’ve lost your registration or meal choices or room reservation to start things off on a stressful note. Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
  2. Bring your own tote if you have one.Although most conferences hand out tote bags, they all look alike. If you bring one from a different conference, you’re less likely to have it picked up by mistake. (I also bring my own badge holder—the kind with compartments from another conference, just in case they give you a simple plastic one. This way, I’ve got a secure place for my badge, meal tickets, a little cash and other vitals—like business cards or bookmarks.)
  3. Don’t be afraid to meet people.It’s not required that you travel with a glued-to-the-hip companion. Take an empty seat, smile, hand over your business card, bookmark, or simple swag, and introduce yourself. This is one place where there’s an immediate conversation starter: “What do you write?” Or, in the case of a readers’ conference ‘read’? On the flip side, be polite and invite people to join you, include them in conversations. There’s a popular author who ignored me at a conference lunch table, and I haven’t bought any more of his books. Another good way to “mingle” is to volunteer. Most conferences are always looking for help.
  4. Bring comfortable clothes, especially shoes.You’ll be doing a lot of sitting, and a lot of walking, depending on how far apart the meeting rooms are. Also, bring layers. Regardless of the outside temperatures, meeting rooms can be meat-locker cold or steamy hot.
  5. Pace yourself.You’re not obligated to participate in every single event. Take breaks. Hide in your room for an hour if you need to. I long ago stopped feeling guilty about crawling into bed with a book at a decent hour. A lot of action takes place in the bar, so think about leaving some time for a visit there. Prioritize. Returning home with “conference crud”, or these days, the nasty virus, isn’t the souvenir you want.

Terry Odell—March 15, 2023

***

  1. Do you attend writing / genre conferences? Do you have a favorite?
  2. If you attend a conference, what do you hope to get out of it?
  3. Any advice on getting the most out of your conference?

Writing Process Problems

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Writing Process Problems
Terry Odell

Skimmer standing on a beach, beak wide openI’ve finally reached the “I’m home” mindset. Dealt with all the administrivia, household chores, and feel like I’m back in my routine. Which means it’s time for serious work on the wip.

This one’s given me more trouble than usual. Normally, my “organic” writing process means I start at the beginning, let things unfold until I hit “the end.”

To quote E.L. Doctorow”

“It’s like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

“Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you’re doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.”

Not so this time. I was approaching the 50K word count when I realized the “Bad Stuff” that I’d been writing about happened way to soon, at least for a novel-length work. Even a short novel-length work.

What to do?

I went back and looked at my plot threads and realized I’d left a lot of them hanging around waiting to be dealt with later. I figured I’d better deal with them sooner. Trouble was, fitting chapters (which turned out to be nine) into points well ahead of chapters I’d already written led to continuity inconsistencies.

I’d added the death of a character. That’s what you do when you get to the muddled middle, right?

Unless he shows up alive five or six chapters down the road.

I liked the new chapters and they were moving things along. Until I ran into other inconsistencies. I ended up having to look at my chapter summaries to see when and where things happened. Of course, as expected, things I thought unimportant when doing my summaries turned out to be information I needed later.

Then, there were the decisions to make. Move things around? Leave things where they were but adjust bits and pieces for continuity. Scrap things altogether?

Writing out of order has never been part of my process, but every book is different, and now I had to deal with going back in page time, write the scene, and deal with reweaving the changes into the book so that it would appear seamless.

Of course, the organic writer in me found that one fix led to an entirely new plot thread, which then had to be worked in, often going way, way back in the manuscript to lay some foundations, with slight detours along the way to research things for the new threads. The book covers quite a time spread, much of it not on the page, but accuracy counts.

Also, probably due to my Mississippi River cruise and my recent birding trip, my ability to recall details seems to have left the building. A character talking on the phone to another is noting facial expressions? A character appears riding in another character’s car after said character told him to meet at the house?

Other things I seem to have lost track of. Who said what to which character, and when? Who was in the scene when it was said? It’s as if when the text scrolls off the screen, it leaves my memory, too.

Could it maybe have something to do with time spent processing my birding images? That’s an entirely different skillset, and my brain can’t seem to handle both.

Nevertheless, I persevered, and over last weekend, I had caught up to where I noticed the structure failure and am now working to finish the book. I’m still dealing with the right time to wrap up each thread.

I know I’ll have to be very diligent when it comes time to do my first editing pass. There may be some serious restructuring going on.

And, because I promised to tell you about my birding trip, here’s a link to my Substack, where I did a brief recap.

And a “bird foodie” post on my blog.

If you’re interested in more pictures, you can find them (another work in progress) here.

Your turn. Has your basic writing process ever had to change? How did you deal with it?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

What Could Go Wrong?

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What Could Go Wrong?
Terry Odell

As you read this, I’m probably prone on a Long Island beach attempting to take decent photos of nesting shorebirds. (I was going to say I was shooting birds, but that could be misinterpreted, especially in this group.) I’ll try to check in and respond to comments, but please don’t let my absence keep you from expressing yourself.

I normally keep my own blog, my Substack, and my TKZ posts separate, but given that I’ve been trying to prepare for the trip and deal with major rewrites on the current wip, I took the liberty of repeating myself here.

When I learned that it would be better to have my Triple-D Ranch Series published before my scheduled BookBub Featured Deal on July 9th, I set the wip aside while I created the ebook. No worries. I’ve done this many times before.

I had the manuscript put together and used Draft2Digital to create the epub. I downloaded it, and it looked fine, but wanting to make sure I had some time to make sure it was really ready, I scheduled it to release on July 1st, a few days in the future. I use Draft2Digital to get my books onto Apple because that used to be the only route unless you used a Mac. Being lazy, I never changed once Apple allowed PC users to upload directly.

Next, I figured I’d go to Barnes & Noble, which is one of the ‘easier’ places to upload a new book, because they don’t have territorial pricing, which is always a challenge for me. Before I’d gotten more than a couple of steps into the process, they asked, “Does your file include the cover?”

Dang. I’d added the individual covers for each title into the manuscript, but had totally neglected to include the one I’d created for the book.

Back to the manuscript, add the cover, then back to D2D to reupload the file. Checked to make sure no gremlins had crept in, and approved it for publication. Back to B&N, and finished jumping through their hoops. Checked the final review. How had I chosen my Mapleton Mysteries as the series this Triple-D Ranch book belonged in? Probably because I’d just adjusted the pricing on one of the Mapleton bundles, and that was where my brain remained. Edit. Reupload.

Kobo was straightforward enough, although they have a bunch of territorial pricing options, too.

Then, onto Amazon. By now, it should have been easy, right?

I got as far as uploading my manuscript file, which seemed to be taking much longer than usual to load. It finally did, I went through all the other steps, and downloaded the file to make sure their software hadn’t messed anything up.

What? Where was all the back matter I’d added through D2D’s options. My author’s note, all my other books, my teaser? I went back and looked. Somehow, I’d managed to upload my Word file, not the epub I’d created. So, once again, I upload the file, and this time, everything seems to be right. Amazon has territorial pricing, but not as many venues, so it didn’t take as long. But wait. I’d recently changed the pricing on a Mapleton bundle, and I was using those prices, not the ones based on the pricing for the Triple-D book. Go back to the Kobo pricing page, screenshot those prices and enter them at Amazon. Except … Amazon has price ceilings that are lower than Kobo’s for some of the territories, so in reality, most of my prices were already where they had to be.

I’m thinking all is well at last, and I still had a couple of days before the book goes live. But I need to add a page for the book on my website. I’ve done this before, too, so it shouldn’t take too long.

My web designer has things set up so if I create the page by cloning a previous book’s setup, I can just make the necessary switches. The cover and other metadata. All is going along swimmingly … until … I look at the home page and notice there’s something different about the cover for this one.

Check out the first cover from my cover reveal blog post. Then look at my book page. Can you tell what I did wrong?

So, back to Canva, make the changes, and get the website done. Almost. Turns out the cloning process only works properly if you clone a book from the same series. I hadn’t. I’d just used my most recent release, Danger Abroad, which is a Blackthorne title. So, the automatic populating of the page pulled the Blackthornes, not the Triple-Ds. Delete that file and start over, this time with a Triple-D title. Took a little longer because there was a section I wanted to be on the new book’s page that wasn’t on any of the other Triple-D titles, and I had to figure out how that worked by trial and error. (Because I wasn’t going to pay my web designer to change it unless I was totally out of my depth. Money, either incoming or outgoing, is a great motivator for me, and I did manage to figure out how to add that section.)

Only one more thing I had to do—change the cover everywhere—but I couldn’t do that until the book was live, because you’re not allowed to touch things when it’s that close to release.

So, a half day project ended up taking about three days, not counting the waiting for release so I could swap out the cover.

Anyone else have as many brain lapses on one project?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

The Latest in Marketing Ploys

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The Latest in Marketing Ploys
Terry Odell

I’m sure we’ve all seen requests to feature our books hitting our inboxes, often several a day. Until recently, they’ve been straightforward, like this one:

I’m a content creator (not a marketer) who helps authors bring their books to life through cinematic trailers—whether it’s fantasy, romance, thriller, or memoir.
I’ve had the chance to read your book, and it truly resonated with me.
New release or backlist, a powerful visual hook can instantly boost engagement and reach.
I’ve created trailers that connect deeply with readers and stand out across platforms.
Happy to send a few samples so you can see the quality firsthand.
Let’s chat and explore how we can make your story unforgettable.

Note that it says “read your book.” No mention of which one. Sometimes they do pick a book from our publication list, sometimes, like the one above, they just say “a book.”

Others want to “help you sell” your book. They go on to tell you where they’ll promote it, and how many followers or subscribers they’ll reach.

If I’m in a snarky mood, sometimes, I’ll reply with a “You want to feature my book? Go ahead. You have my permission” as if I didn’t realize (gasp) that I had to pay for the service. These all end up trashed.

Most recently, I got one via the Author’s Guild that starts out “Dear Great Author.”
Yeah, right. I’m going to hire you when you don’t know who I am. Not.

My website says “I’d love to hear from you,” and I do try to respond. When this email hit my inbox, it seemed legit.

Hi Terry,
I came across your book CRUISING UNDERCOVER and after reading the synopsis, it truly caught my attention.
I’m a big book lover and was curious to ask, what inspired you to write it?

I answered his question (it came from and was signed by a person’s name, not a company), and got this response (copied and pasted; typos are his)

Yes sure its enjoyable
You can feel it in the book — that it came from somewhere deep.
It’s not just a story. It feels like a message that needed to be heard.
If you don’t mind me asking, did you write it more for yourself, or for someone else to finally get it?

Still sounded enough like a reader to offer another answer, albeit a brief one. And then … the real reason he sent the message:

This is actually the kind of work I do. I help authors like you give their book more life after it’s published — so more readers actually feel what you wrote.
There are a few simple ways to do that:
I can help you get Goodreads reviews (which link to Amazon)
Create a short, powerful book trailer
Improve your Amazon listing so it stands out
Build your social media or help you launch the book properly
Even make you a clean author website or help with email marketing
You don’t need everything — just whatever feels right to you.
Would any of that help right now?

Off to the trash with you!

That one was initiated by a person, with some generic but potentially believable comments about the book/my writing. But lately, things have taken a different turn. These solicitors are using AI to make it sound as though they’ve actually read the book, and they’re pulling people in. Are they scammers? Or just misleading the people they’re targeting? Or is there a difference?

I’ve had my share of these, and they’re increasing.

There was this one:

Subject line: Truly Inspired By Your Work.
Hello there,
I hope this message finds you well. I recently came across your work while doing some research, and I have to say—it immediately drew me in. Your story resonated with me on a deep level, and I truly admire the incredible effort and creativity behind it.
I’d love to know—what first inspired you to start writing? Also, are there any upcoming releases or current projects you’re excited about? I’m really looking forward to following your journey and staying connected to your work.
Thank you for sharing your voice with the world.
Julian Creativity

The signature and the lack of a specific book reference were enough for me to send this straight to trash.

One of the groups I belong to has a thread of people reporting how their no-longer-active Instagram accounts have been scraped for solicitations. Others are getting emails that are up front about their goal—get you to pay for their services, but they are getting far more personal.

Some examples from friends willing to share:

I just finished reading about The Smiling Dog Café and felt like I’d stepped into something quietly magical one of those rare places where story, heart, and healing intersect. The blend of grounded human grief and otherworldly comfort, paired with canine intuition and coffee that stirs memory, is a truly special formula. This is the kind of book that readers discover and share because it speaks to something deep, universal, and comforting.

I’m Elijah, a book marketer specializing in indie authors who tell stories with soul. I’d love to help amplify the reach of The Smiling Dog Café through a campaign that honors its tenderness while putting it in front of the exact readers who will embrace it.

The recipient did pay for this service, and did get some reviews, but he reported “Several reviews followed quickly, all of them sounding like they were written by AI, and from reviewers with only one or two reviews under their belt.”

Another friend shared this with me:

Reading Return to Hoffman Grove felt like stepping into the messy, tender terrain of old friendships, unspoken regrets, and the quiet bravery it takes to begin again. You’ve written more than a romance. This is a deeply human story of emotional reckoning, healing, and the powerful grip of the past.

What stood out to me most is how honestly you portray the layers between Cinda and Brody. Their bond is more than romantic; it’s threaded with loyalty, betrayal, and the kind of childhood closeness that never quite lets go. The way you let their tension simmer beneath every interaction makes their slow reconciliation all the more rewarding. And Cinda’s emotional arc, especially her instinct to go it alone, even when she’s surrounded by people who care feels true to life and beautifully nuanced.

But Return to Hoffman Grove isn’t just about relationships. You weave in mystery and quiet suspense with a deft hand. The house fire, the mounting threats, and Brody’s unraveling career all add urgency and depth without ever distracting from the emotional core. It’s that balance of plot and heart, of past and present that makes this story so compelling.

This was followed with a plug for the sender’s company, with the offer of a ‘snapshot’ of what they could provide, which turned out to be quotes for 3 levels of service, ranging from $150 to $400 on Goodreads Listopia lists.

My friend didn’t bother responding.

What about you, TKZers? Any of you being hit by these AI generated marketing ploys as well as the ‘old-fashioned ones? Do you respond? Have you tried any with good results?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”