Insecure Writer's Support Group

 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG

Hashtag: #IWSG 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah-The Faux Fountain Pen.

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional.

August 7 question - Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for  your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio

I use IA for guest posts on specific topics and I have one audio that's AI. What about you?

AND

 

July/August Reviews in no particular order

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

CATCH A TIGER BY THE TOE by Joe Congel

This is book twenty-six of twenty-seven in the Magnolia Bluffs Series and the second focused on Brandon Turner retired NYPD police officer.

In book twenty-six, there’s a serial killer on the loose, in this small Texas town, that has killed two young children and has his eye on a third. Beside each victim he leaves a stuffed toy tiger and a nursery rhyme. Brandon comes out of retirement to help the Magnolia Bluffs’ police catch the killer.

If anyone but Joe Congel had written this, I probably wouldn't have read it because of the subject matter: child murder. But being a Congel fan this was not an option. The story, as expected, was a riveting tale.  The author handled the subject matter with sensitivity and didn’t get bogged down with macabre details. The tension builds through the book and ends with a high-octane chase to catch the killer before he kills again AND offers some unexpected twists at the end.

If you are a murder mystery aficionado, a Congel fan or just appreciate a good tale I think you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did. 

Available at Amazon

 

THE SILVER LEOPARD by Zoe Cass

This is a classic example of the romantic suspense genre written in the 70s.

Caroline has escaped a lonely and unhappy childhood by moving to London and developing a successful career buying and selling antiques. With her mother's death, she is called back to Scotland where danger and evil linger.

Recommended for those that enjoy classic romantic suspense.

Available at Amazon

 

LEGEND IN GREEN VELVET by Elizabeth Peters

Elizabeth Peters at her best.

This is an enjoyable read about a young American on her way to work at a Scottish archeological dig when she gets embroiled in a murder. Sprinkled throughout with laugh-out-loud moments, this is a must read for Elizabeth Peters fans.

Available at Amazon 

 

AND 

New Releases

BECAUSE NO ONE NOTICED by C. Lee McKenzie

 

(Editors Pick)

 

Five juniors at Las Animas High have a long history together. They love, dislike, or tolerate each other depending on the day. Occupied with class assignments, career choices, family disharmony, and the usual teen turbulence, none of them thinks seriously of the danger lurking in their near future or how fragile and temporary life is.

Inspired by real-life tragedy, the story unfolds in alternating points of view as the characters explore the resilience of their hearts and their ability to rebuild their lives after a shattering tragedy.

Available at Amazon

MATEO'S WOMAN by Sandra Cox

Delilah is dead.

With her demise, everyone should be safe, but something insidious is happening to Mateo’s town and to the woman he loves. People are dying and Blair is changing, taking on mannerisms that are clearly not her own. Becoming a danger to herself and others. He has no idea what is happening to the town’s people but he has an inkling of what is happening to Blair and what he’s thinking just isn’t possible. But whether it’s possible or not, he has to pry Blair from the evil that’s sunk its fangs into her. Now it's a race against time to save the woman he loves and get to the bottom of who is killing Grizzly’s citizenry. And if that’s not enough of a challenge for the shapeshifting sheriff, his future mother-in-law has come for a visit.

Available at Amazon 

NOW OPTIONED FOR TELEVISION!
Every book can be read as a standalone mystery - hop in anywhere in the series!

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Amy Vansant has her cast of characters embroiled in three Halloween hijinks --- a murder, a robbery, and a ghost story!

 Available at Amazon

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Did you know, Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel)  was credited for inventing the term nerd?

 

For more information: 20 Dr. Seuss Facts - Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Dr. Seuss - Parade