Events

Cleveland Rocks Writing Conference August 10, 2024

| authorbarbarahoward

I wanted to share about our Great Lakes Fiction Writers upcoming annual Cleveland Rocks Writing conference. If you’re located near or are traveling through the NE Ohio region, I’d love to meet you there!

The Cleveland Rocks Writing  Conference is a one-day event aimed at writers of any genre in all phases of their career. Great Lakes Fiction Writers is thrilled to be partnering with the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Writers’ Center to host this event.

WHEN:  August 10, 2024, from 9:00am to 4:30pm

WHERE:  William N. Skirball Writers’ Center, Cuyahoga County Public Library, South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch, 1876 South Green Rd., South Euclid, OH 44121

COST:  FREE

Presenters:
Patricia Sargeant, “Storyteller’s Toolkit: Using High Concept and Conflict to Boost Your Story Premise”
Tiffany Graham Charkosky, “The Magic of Revision”
Denise Crittendon, “Writing From The Subconscious Mind”
Donna MacMeans, “Making Your Copy Come Alive”

Local Authors Meet & Greet

Open for Submissions:
Meet with small press representatives to learn about publication opportunities, gain insights into the submission process, share your work. Available throughout the entire day for your convenience.

Rachel DiScipio Ketler and Katarina Kelley from Queen Anne’s Lace Publishing, LLC
AJ Skelly from Quill & Flame Publishing House

You can find more info and register here: https://www.greatlakesfictionwriters.com/2024-cleveland-rocks-writing-conference/

A Match Made in Murder Book Tour Giveaway

| authorbarbarahoward

I’m on a virtual book blog tour with A Match Made in Murder, The Clover City Files #3. And each blog stop is participating in the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the first two stories in the Clover City Files series. There are 12 days left to enter and you can make multiple entries. Here is the link to get started. Stop by and say “Hello!” Good luck to all.

The Spice Code, The Clover City Files Series Book 2

| authorbarbarahoward

In the heart of a quiet college town, restaurant owner and chef, Raphael Parera, finds himself entangled in a web of deception that threatens not only his culinary career but his very life. Charmed by the enigmatic beauty of his new girlfriend, Isabella, Raphael is unaware of the darkness lurking beneath her captivating smile.

As their relationship deepens, Raphael suddenly disappears without a trace, leaving his cousin, Amira Cooper, frantic with worry. Unbeknownst to Isabella, he manages to send a cryptic message through a seemingly innocent bag of groceries to his restaurant – a silent plea for help hidden within a recipe’s ingredients.

Desperate to save her beloved cousin, Amira embarks on a perilous journey to decipher the clues concealed within the grocery bag. Each ingredient holds a vital piece of information, pointing to Raphael’s whereabouts and the sinister truth behind his disappearance.

Will Amira decipher the ingredients’ hidden meanings in time to rescue Raphael, or will Isabella’s twisted game end in a tragedy that will forever alter their lives? Get ready to indulge in a mystery where every twist and turn will leave you craving more.

🥂 Get Your Copy Today! 🥂 If you crave a mystery that’s as rich and flavorful as a perfectly crafted dish, “The Spice Code” is the ultimate indulgence. Dive into a world where passion and danger collide, and where the art of cooking becomes a lifeline in the battle against a cunning killer. Order your copy now and join Amira on a relentless quest to solve the clues, rescue her cousin, and uncover the truth before time runs out.

EVENT: New Book Release – The Taste Of Rain

| authorbarbarahoward

The Taste of Rain by Barbara Howard

Release Date: June 6, 2023

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

ADDITIONAL RETAIL STORES

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

College student and part-time health aide, Amira Connors, wants nothing more than to graduate and successfully launch a non-profit with her latest crush, Attorney Darius Browne. But when a nursing home patient (Claire Stewart) shares shocking details surrounding her husband’s death, Amira pieces together the fractured memories and helps law enforcement identify the actual killer. But is he? Or have Claire’s ramblings entangled Amira into becoming the next target?

LONG DESCRIPTION:

In “The Taste of Rain”, we follow the story of Amira, a college student who works part-time as a health aide at a local nursing home. One day, she meets an elderly resident, Claire Stewart, who confides in her that her husband was killed years ago, but nobody believed her.

Amira is hesitant to believe Claire at first, but as she gets to know her better, she realizes that there might be some truth to her story. Amira decides to investigate the case and help Claire find the killer.

She must navigate through the complexities of the past and present to find the truth and bring justice for Claire.

Along the way, Amira faces challenges both personally and professionally. She must balance her college studies with her part-time job and her investigation. She also learns to confront her own biases and assumptions about aging and the elderly.

“The Taste of Rain” is a mystery that explores the themes of trust, aging, and justice. It is a heartwarming tale of the unlikely friendship between a young college student and an elderly resident, as they work together to uncover the truth, and solve a decades-old murder.

https://youtu.be/B4FtnTZdWx4
THE OPENING SCENE READ BY THE AUTHOR
THE TASTE OF RAIN BOOK TRAILER

New Crime Fiction Anthology – Malice, Matrimony, and Murder

| authorbarbarahoward

I’m thrilled to announce that I have a new short story coming out this year. It will be included with the Malice, Matrimony, and Murder anthology along with a bunch of other brand-new cozy mystery and cozy crime fiction stories written by my author friends.

The anthology will be starting off as a Kickstarter campaign, and I’d love to invite you to back it. Why would you want to? First, you will have early access to the anthology, which won’t publish until late this year. But Kickstarter backers will receive the ebook version at least two months prior to its public release. These are all brand-new stories, so you won’t be able to find them this early anywhere else.

Second, the Kickstarter gives you access to a bunch of extras, like a chance to have your name included in the book’s Acknowledgments section, and an exclusive guide to help you solve the overarching Wedding Whodunit woven throughout the anthology. You could also choose to have one of the Wedding Whodunit characters named after you or a loved one! These rewards won’t be available to anyone besides our Kickstarter backers.

Third, you’ll get to be a part of our publishing process. The Kickstarter not only comes with rewards for you, but for me and my fellow authors as well. A successful campaign will make it possible for us to publish a paperback version of the anthology and to pursue some advertising opportunities to help connect us with new readers.

So how do you support the campaign? It’s easy! Visit our Kickstarter page and click “Notify me on launch” so you’ll be informed when our campaign goes live in May. You may need to set up a free Kickstarter account if you don’t have one already, and clicking that “Notify” button in no way obligates you to anything. All it means is you’ll receive an email when our campaign launches. Since this opportunity will only be available for a limited time and once the Kickstarter is over so is access to all of the campaign extras, this will just help to make sure you don’t miss out. You can decide whether you’re truly interested in backing the campaign once it’s live and you can see all of the details for yourself.

Thank you for your interest and support! I’m excited for you to be a part of this journey with me.

Smashwords Read an Ebook Week Promo

| authorbarbarahoward

We are fast approaching Read an Ebook Week, a week that encourages readers to pick up the digital device of their choice and download a new book to read.

I’m excited to announce that my book series, Final Harvest, Charlotte’s Revenge, Milo’s Journey + Cup of Secrets and Trace of Lace, will be available as part of a promotion on Smashwords to celebrate Read an Ebook Week 2023! This is a chance to get my books at a discount so you can get right to reading.

You will find the promo here starting on March 5, so save the link:
https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek

Thank you for your support and Happy Reading!