Backlist Surfing: Artful Dodging and The Mason’s Mark—DC stories

 

Since  my new release won’t grace the internet until next year, I thought I’d do a little backlist surfing.

Let’s start with my two novels set in Alexandria, Virginia: Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders and the Mason’s Mark: Love & Death in the Tower.

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

Fun Fact: The Torpedo Factory was indeed a munitions factory. It closed after WWII and remained empty and derelict on prime waterfront property in Old Town Alexandria. In the 1970s a group of local women (including my aunt) got together and convinced the town to sell it to them, and thus was born the Torpedo Factory Art Center, an artists coop.

Blurb:

It’s just before Christmas, and Milo Everhart has two needlepoint stockings, a cross-stitch purse, and three canvases to finish for her clients. Waiting out the rain in a pub, she is captivated by the handsome man next to her, but blocking the road to romance are two mysterious corpses who turn up in the tower of her Torpedo Factory Art Center. As if that weren’t enough, a second crisis erupts—a proposal to gut her beloved Art Center. 

Tristram Brodie, hard-driving corporate lawyer and former Marine, is focused on his plan to convert the Torpedo Factory into a box store. He is drawn to the beautiful woman sitting next to him, but their mutual attraction will be frustrated by both the murders and his intentions. As they edge closer to love, they must find a way to overcome both their differences and the still-fresh memory of her late husband. 

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

Wild Rose Press, 7/20/2016 

Mystery/Cozy Mystery; Contemporary romantic Suspense

Ebook, 66,830 words; Print 268 p 

 

Buy Links

Books2Read

Bookbub

Goodreads

Amazon

ITunes

Barnes & Noble

KOBO

Google Play

Walmart

Indigo

Overdrive

Now for The Mason’s Mark: Love and Death in the Tower

Fun Fact: The Mason's Mark arose in part out of a true story. Starting in the 1940s an Italian named Licio Gelli embarked on a lifetime of bizarre scams and crimes. Alternately linked to rightists and leftists, he bilked or used people from Italian politicians, to the Nazis, the Communists, the CIA, even to Juan Peron, dictator of Argentina. His exploits across the globe spanned four decades. At last check, he was still alive, in his nineties and writing poetry from prison. In 1996 he was even nominated for the Nobel prize in literature.

Blurb

In both the best and worst first day at work ever, docent Claire Wilding meets the man of her dreams, but her carefully rehearsed guided tour of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial collapses when she discovers a body and is drawn into a dark world of black ops and Italian renegade masons, of secret cabals and hidden treasure. Also cloaked in mystery is handsome Gideon Bliss, a George Washington expert who haunts the Memorial, his manner evasive. What is his secret? Claire fears she'll fall in love with him only to learn he's a thief or even a murderer. Juggling two eccentric mothers, an inquisitive sister, and an increasingly smitten detective, Claire must find answers to a complex web of intrigue, including who to trust and who to love.

The Mason's Mark: Love and Death in the Tower 

Wild Rose Press, 5/6/2016; Imprint: Crimson Rose
Mystery/Cozy Mystery; Romantic suspense
79300 words; 322 pp. 

Buy Links

Books to Read

The Wild Rose Press

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

ITunes

KOBO

Indigo

Google

Walmart

Bookbub

Goodreads

 

Post-Christmas Snuggle Up Reading: Artful Dodging & the Mason's Mark

Now that Christmas is over, you probably want to curl up before the fire with a good book and hope the dishes do themselves and the house elves will pick up the mounds of wrapping paper. Since Old Town Alexandria is the quintessential Christmas town, with its cobblestones and churches and Colonial houses, I thought I’d suggest two of my novels for your reading pleasure.

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

It’s just before Christmas, and Milo Everhart has two needlepoint stockings, a cross-stitch purse, and three canvases to finish for her clients. Waiting out the rain in a pub, she is captivated by the handsome man next to her, but blocking the road to romance are two mysterious corpses who turn up in the tower of her Torpedo Factory Art Center. As if that weren’t enough, a second crisis erupts—a proposal to gut her beloved Art Center. 

Tristram Brodie, hard-driving corporate lawyer and former Marine, is focused on his plan to convert the Torpedo Factory into a box store. He is drawn to the beautiful woman sitting next to him, but their mutual attraction will be frustrated by both the murders and his intentions. As they edge closer to love, they must find a way to overcome both their differences and the still-fresh memory of her late husband. 

 

The Mason’s Mark: Love and Death in the Tower:

In both the best and worst first day at work ever, docent Claire Wilding meets the man of her dreams, but her carefully rehearsed guided tour of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial collapses when she discovers a body and is drawn into a dark world of black ops and Italian renegade masons, of secret cabals and hidden treasure. Also cloaked in mystery is handsome Gideon Bliss, a George Washington expert who haunts the Memorial, his manner evasive. What is his secret? Claire fears she'll fall in love with him only to learn he's a thief or even a murderer. Juggling two eccentric mothers, an inquisitive sister, and an increasingly smitten detective, Claire must find answers to a complex web of intrigue, including who to trust and who to love.

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders---Christmas reading at NN Light's Today

 

The holidays are in full swing at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s Christmas and Holiday Book Festival. 30 books, 23 authors, a huge giveaway plus get an inside glimpse into a holiday tradition each author treasures. Seasons Greetings!  

HERE'S THE LINK: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/artful-dodging-chbf

Tag us on Twitter: @NNP_W_Light

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders, is featured today!

Brooding on both the death of her husband and the four needlepoint stockings she has to finish by Christmas,  not to mention two mysterious murders, Milo Everhart is distracted by the handsome man standing in the pub doorway.

Tristram Brodie, hard-driving lawyer and former Marine, is focused on his plan to convert the Torpedo Factory Art Center into a box store. He is drawn to the beautiful woman watching him, but blocking the road to romance is his proposal to gut her beloved studio. 
As Milo and Tristram edge closer to love, they must find a way to overcome not only their differences but also the still-fresh memory of her loss.

Enter to win a $75 gift card. Runs through December 31 with drawing January 3. See you there!

Christmas & Holiday Book Festival features Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

 

Calling all holiday-themed readers! We’re celebrating Christmas and the holidays all month long--December 1-31--at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s Christmas and Holiday Book Festival. 30 holiday-themed books featured plus a chance to win a $75 Amazon gift card.

 

I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders, will be featured on December 13. Each author shares a family holiday tradition, including me. You won’t want to miss it.

Bookmark this event and come back every day:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/christmas-holiday-festival

Great Books for a Holiday Read: Artful Dodging & The Mason's Mark

 

Mysteries set in Old Town Alexandria are great Christmas reads. Old Town is the picture-perfect place for celebrating the yule-tide. Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders (which will be featured at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Holiday Gift Guide) is set at Christmas. Here’s the story:

It’s just before Christmas, and Milo Everhart has two needlepoint stockings, a cross-stitch purse, and three canvases to finish for her clients. Waiting out the rain in a pub, she is captivated by the handsome man next to her, but blocking the road to romance are two mysterious corpses who turn up in the tower of her Torpedo Factory Art Center. As if that weren’t enough, a second crisis erupts—a proposal to gut her beloved Art Center. 

Tristram Brodie, hard-driving corporate lawyer and former Marine, is focused on his plan to convert the Torpedo Factory into a box store. He is drawn to the beautiful woman sitting next to him, but their mutual attraction will be frustrated by both the murders and his intentions. As they edge closer to love, they must find a way to overcome both their differences and the still-fresh memory of her late husband. 

 

And The Mason’s Mark: Love & Death in the Tower, freemason, George Washington buffs, and murder mingle high above Alexandria’s cobblestone streets.

In both the best and worst first day at work ever, docent Claire Wilding meets the man of her dreams, but her carefully rehearsed guided tour of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial collapses when she discovers a body and is drawn into a dark world of black ops and Italian renegade masons, of secret cabals and hidden treasure. Also cloaked in mystery is handsome Gideon Bliss, a George Washington expert who haunts the Memorial, his manner evasive. What is his secret? Claire fears she'll fall in love with him only to learn he's a thief or even a murderer. Juggling two eccentric mothers, an inquisitive sister, and an increasingly smitten detective, Claire must find answers to a complex web of intrigue, including who to trust and who to love.

Buy Links for Artful Dodging:

Books2Read

Bookbub

Goodreads

Amazon

ITunes

Barnes & Noble

KOBO

Google Play

Walmart

Indigo

Overdrive

Buy Links for The Mason’s Mark:

Books to Read

The Wild Rose Press

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

ITunes

KOBO

Indigo

Google

Walmart

Bookbub

Goodreads

 

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders--New Graphic!

 

Milo Everhart isn’t ready for love. Nor is she ready to find a dead body in the tower of the Torpedo Factory Art Center that snowy December night. She doesn’t have time for the handsome lawyer who wants to destroy the Art Center. Nor does she have time to worry about who has murdered whom and why. She has needlepoint to do.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is a hulking former munitions factory right on the waterfront. Since the 1970s it has been host to art studios, a museum, and an art school. It’s never been renovated and is still a vast open central space surrounded by meandering corridors and rooms tucked away here and there. It is topped by a tower reached by hidden stairs. So you can imagine how our heroine, Milo Everhart, felt when she found herself alone in a dark, empty building. Alone, except for the murderer, that is.

“Hello! Hello? 911?”

“Please state the nature of your emergency.”

“A body. There’s a b…b…body.” The word came out as a gurgle.

“Yes, ma’am. Now tell me where you are.”

Milo looked wildly around the darkened corridor. “Second floor. No lights.”

“Ma’am? Second floor of what?”

“Oh, er, the Torpedo Factory. I ran downstairs. I…”

“The Torpedo Factory? You mean the building at 105 North Union Street?”

Milo almost snapped, “How many torpedo factories do you know?” but thought better of it. “Yes.”

“All right, ma’am. Now, you say you’ve found a body? Is it dead?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course it’s dead. Dead. A dead body. In the office.”

“The office?”

“The tower. Look, can you send the police? I’m all alone in the building. Except for the body, of course. I mean, it’s pitch black in here. Please?” She knew she sounded less than rational, but weren’t 911 operators trained to weed out the gibberish and cut to the chase?

“I’ve already sent out a call. The police should be arriving any minute. Now, will they be able to enter the building?”

“Oh! Er. I don’t know. Archie’s already locked up.”

“Archie?”

“The super. He’s long gone, though.”

“Can you get to a door to let them in?”

Milo’s shoes must have found bubble gum on the floor all by themselves, since they appeared to be stuck. “I…uh…I can’t get to the doors.” Nothing but silence on the other end. She must think I’m lazy. Or a coward. I’ll bet she knows how to wait people out, to force them to do her bidding. “I’m not lazy, miss. I’m just…I’m wondering. What if the murderer is hiding somewhere, still in the building?”

“Murderer? You think the victim was murdered?”

  

The Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria

You can find Artful Dodging here:

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KOBO   Google Play   Walmart

Indigo   Overdrive

 

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

Wild Rose Press, 7/20/2016; Imprint Crimson Rose 

Theme(s): Mystery/Cozy Mystery 
Contemporary romantic Suspense, M/F, 2 flames

Ebook, 66,830 words; Print 268 p 

Rating: Hot (R) 

A mystery for Christmas Reading: Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

Milo Everhart and her artist friends fight City Hall when it threatens to sell their beloved Torpedo Factory Art Center to a big box store magnate. Things get complicated when their greatest adversary turns out to be the man Milo loves, and even more complicated when too many murder victims turn up.

Old Town Alexandria at Christmas

Blurb:

It’s just before Christmas, and Milo Everhart has two needlepoint stockings, a cross-stitch purse, and three canvases to finish for her clients. Waiting out the rain in a pub, she is captivated by the handsome man next to her, but blocking the road to romance are two mysterious corpses who turn up in the tower of her Torpedo Factory Art Center. As if that weren’t enough, a second crisis erupts—a proposal to gut her beloved Art Center. 

Tristram Brodie, hard-driving corporate lawyer and former Marine, is focused on his plan to convert the Torpedo Factory into a box store. He is drawn to the beautiful woman sitting next to him, but their mutual attraction will be frustrated by both the murders and his intentions. As they edge closer to love, they must find a way to overcome both their differences and the still-fresh memory of her late husband. 

 

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

Wild Rose Press, 7/20/2016; Imprint Crimson Rose 

Theme(s): Mystery/Cozy Mystery 
Contemporary romantic Suspense, M/F, 2 flames

Ebook, 66,830 words; Print 268 p 

 

Excerpt (G): The Body

 

“Hello! Hello? 911?”

“Please state the nature of your emergency.”

“A body. There’s a b…b…body.” The word came out as a gurgle.

“Yes, ma’am. Now tell me where you are.”

Milo looked wildly around the darkened corridor. “Second floor. No lights.”

“Ma’am? Second floor of what?”

“Oh, er, the Torpedo Factory. I ran downstairs. I…”

“The Torpedo Factory? You mean the building at 105 North Union Street?”

Milo almost snapped, “How many torpedo factories do you know?” but thought better of it. “Yes.”

“All right, ma’am. Now, you say you’ve found a body? Is it dead?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course it’s dead. Dead. A dead body. In the office.”

“The office?”

“The tower. Look, can you send the police? I’m all alone in the building. Except for the body, of course. I mean, it’s pitch black in here. Please?” She knew she sounded less than rational, but weren’t 911 operators trained to weed out the gibberish and cut to the chase?

“I’ve already sent out a call. The police should be arriving any minute. Now, will they be able to enter the building?”

“Oh! Er. I don’t know. Archie’s already locked up.”

“Archie?”

“The super. He’s long gone, though.”

“Can you get to a door to let them in?”

Milo’s shoes must have found bubble gum on the floor all by themselves, since they appeared to be stuck. “I…uh…I can’t get to the doors.” Nothing but silence on the other end. She must think I’m lazy. Or a coward. I’ll bet she knows how to wait people out, to force them to do her bidding. “I’m not lazy, miss. I’m just…I’m wondering. What if the murderer is hiding somewhere, still in the building?”

“Murderer? You think the victim was murdered?”

Every CSI show she’d ever watched, plus a couple of X Files, fast-forwarded through her brain. Somewhere in the reruns she found the answer. “I don’t know. That’s for the experts to decide.” Thank you, Gil Grissom.

“Okay, ma’am. Listen to me carefully. If the building is locked, the police will have to break the door down, but first they’ll have to go to a judge and get a search warrant. So you see, the quickest way they can help you is if you let them in. Now, do you think you can go down the stairs to the door?”

Milo drew in a long, ragged breath, holding it until her head began to spin. As she let it out, she managed, “Yes. I’m on the landing. Can you stay on the line with me in case I’m attacked?”

“I sure will.”

Milo felt her way with one hand toward the middle stairwell. “I’m on the stairs now. Now I’m walking down the stairs.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The central staircase of the factory only had a single metal railing and thus was exposed to the entire main hall. If anyone still lurked in the building he could easily see (and hear) her. She stopped halfway down and looked across the main lobby to the front entrance, a set of doublewide, glass-paned sliding doors. “There are flashing lights and sirens coming from Union Street.”

“Yes, ma’am. That would be the police.”

Well, duh.

 

Artful Dodging is available in ebook and print. Find it here:

Books2Read    Bookbub    Goodreads

Amazon    ITunes    Barnes & Noble

KOBO    Google Play    Walmart

Indigo    Overdrive