Guest Post: Wayne Zurl, author of A New Prospect

by Carol3 Comments
Today, I am happy to welcome Wayne Zurl to my notebook. He is the author of A New Prospect and is here to talk a little about his book. The Road to New Prospect When I began writing the story of ex-New York Detective Sam Jenkins becoming police chief in Prospect, Tennessee, I used the working title, Murder in the Smokies. After my second major rewrite, I changed it to A New Prospect. I hope changing titles isn’t bad luck like changing the name of a boat. The first title focused on a murder, and for a new author writing a murder mystery today, he had better produce a body and start an investigation right up front if he wants to please an agent or editor. I didn’t do that, nor did I intend to. Never being one to do things the easy way, I wanted the book to be more about people than the crime or the big question, “Who dunnit?” A commissioner...
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Review: A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl

by Carol5 Comments
1. Why I chose this book When I was contacted about the tour for A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl, I jumped at the chance to review it. Finding a killer in a small Appalachian community doesn’t look that difficult to gritty ex-New York Detective Lieutenant Sam Jenkins. Adjusting to the culture of rural Tennessee , dealing with shady politicians, powerful rich families, and colorful residents, makes Sam feel like a fish out of water, or a cop out of bourbon. I read and enjoy a variety of mysteries, but it was the Appalachian setting that really drew my attention. It's one of my soft spots. 2. Reasons I liked the book This is a mystery at heart. Who killed Cecil Lovejoy? Granted, the man was a horrible, nasty person and the murderer was probably doing the world a favor, but the suspect list is long and Sam is not getting much help form the deceased's family or the local politicians. The plot was well-done,...
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Thursday’s Tale: Into the Woods

by Carol7 Comments
Today's tale is a little different than my recent posts. Last weekend, the three of us and my mom went to see Into the Woods at the Brooke Hills Playhouse. What a fun re-telling of some of the classic fairy tales. If you're interested and local, it's on again this weekend. Times and ticket prices are listed on the website. The musical, with lyrics and music by Steven Sondheim and book by James Lapin, opens with four characters, each of whom have a wish: Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's festival; Jack, a simple young man who wishes that his cow would give milk; and the Baker and his Wife, who wish they could have a child. While Little Red Riding Hood buys bread from the Baker to take to her grandmother's house, Jack's weary mother nags him into selling the cow, and Cinderella's stepmother and sisters tease her about wanting to attend the King's festival. The Baker's neighbor, an ugly...
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Teaser from Murder on the Orient Express

by Carol9 Comments
By the step leading up into the sleeping-car stood a young French lieutenant, resplendent in uniform, conversing with a small man muffled up to the ears, of whom nothing was visible but a pink-tipped nose and the two points of an upward-curled moustache. It was freezingly cold, and this job of seeing off a distinguished stranger was not one to be envied, but Lieutenant Dubose performed his part manfully. (Tuesday Teaser from pg. 3 of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie)...
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“Bronsky’s Dates with Death” by Peter David

by Carol4 Comments
"Bronsky's Dates with Death" is an unusual story. Bronsky is a retired salesman. He's a talker, but he always tells the truth, tells his honest opinion. He can't help it, even if he might hurt someone's feelings. And now he can't help talking about death. He's fine with it, with the knowledge that he's nearing the end of his life. It doesn't bother him, but his constant talk about it is wearing thin on his wife and grown daughter. And making Death uncomfortable, too, which leads to the "dates" of the story's title. The story has some very funny moments and Bronsky's a great character. The end however was quite touching, if a little long. You can read it on-line here. Published in the July/August 2011 issue of Fantasy and Science Fiction 4 out of 5 stars John hosts Short Story Monday at The Book Mine Set. Head over there to see what he and others have been reading. I read my copy online and...
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