9.18.15 - Introducing my newest venture - THEWINEVIXEN.COM

For many, many years, every Friday on Murderati, I gave a wine recommendation at the bottom of my blog post. Wine of the Week, it was called, and I had a great time finding new wines, seeking out excellent vintages and vineyards, learning all I could about the wine industry. When I stopped my weekly blog, I also stopped the official wine recommendations. I’ve missed it. I love good wine, and love to find great wine buys.

I have always wanted to find a way to resurrect the Wine of the Week. But I wasn’t blogging regularly, and life got in the way, as it so often does. Other than the occasional declaration of Facebook, I've been largely wine silent for far too long.

In 2012, I was on a tour in Dahlonega, Georgia, and went into a wine shop after dinner. I saw the cutest wine plaque—Tip the Wine Vixen, it said. 

The Wine Vixen. Now that had a ring to it. 

An aside. When I was growing up, CB radios were a big thing. We were out in the country, in the woods, and you needed a reliable form of communication. So my dad would take us out on the roads and let us talk to the truckers on the CB so we could learn how to call for help if we needed it. BJ and the Bandit, and all that. I know, I know. 

The deal with the CB was, you had to have a handle. I floated between Baby Yellowjacket (my dad, the Yellowjacket, is a Georgia Tech Rambling Wreck) and Little Vixen (my mom was the Vixen, because she was a total fox.) 

So I come to the title of The Wine Vixen honestly—a love of wine, and a former play on my CB handle.

Back to Dahlonega. I tried to buy the plaque but was refused. So I ran home (actually, back to the hotel), snapped up the URL, then sat on it for several years until the right moment, which is now. 

In THE END GAME, you will find an oblique reference to thewinevixen.com. It was meant to be an inside joke, but the closer we got to release day, the more I realized it could be a great break through the 4th wall, a fun nod to all my loves.

My right hand, Assistant Amy, loved the idea. And since she’s such an amazing Amy, she set up the site—which is lovely, by the way—and when I saw how gorgeous it was, I knew the time had come to resurrect the wine of the week.

So welcome, friends, to The Wine Vixen. Stop by, bookmark us, and follow along with our recommendations on Twitter and Facebook. I’m red, Amy is white, and we’ll split the rosés between us. There will be a mix of old and new wines, some travelogues, recipes and pairings, and some sillies, just for fun. 

Cheers—or, as my family puts it, Ching Ching!

9.17.15 - 7 Minutes With... Chris Goff

Chris Goff has a delicious new thriller out—DARK WATERS—that I think you will love. I sure did! The setting, Israel, completely drew me in; the story clips along; the characters are fascinating, and Raisa Jordan kicks serious ass. It’s a wonderfully crafted book, not a surprise to anyone who’s read Chris in the past; her Birdwatcher mystery series is highly acclaimed. And, she’s from Colorado, which should say more than anything I ever could. I know you’re going to love her.

Welcome, Chris!

_________

Set your music to shuffle and hit play. What’s the first song that comes up?

Tracy Byrd's "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo"

Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?

RED SKY, the sequel to my first thriller, DARK WATERS. It's a book set in Ukraine, and with the changing landscape there, I might really need the Cuervo.

What’s your latest book about?

DARK WATERS is a thriller set in Israel. It introduces Raisa Jordan, a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent. She is the new ARSO in Tel Avi, when a shooting happens in Dizengoff Square, killing a Palestinian with ties to the Palestine Liberation Committee and her predecessor at DSS. She is sent to investigate and to protect a federal judge and his daughter who were caught in the crossfire. During the course of her investigation, she uncovers a plot years in the making—one that leaves millions of lives hanging in the balance.

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?

I have a great little office with an eight-foot picnic table as a desk and a view of the backyard and the tomato plants. I love pens and pencils. I use a fountain pen, lots of markers, a dry erase board, a large foam board for plotting and my trusty PC.

What was your favorite book as a child?

SILVER PENNIES. It's a collection of Modern Poems for Boys and Girls published in 1925 by Blanche Jennings Thompson. My favorite poem was one about a little doormouse who takes refuge under a mushroom during a rainstorm – "and that's how umbrellas first were invented."

What’s your secret talent?

I knit. I love to knit, especially baby sweaters. I think my favorite to date was one I made for my niece, Evelyn. My family name is McKinlay (Scottish) and I took the family tartan, graphed it for a sweater and knit it as a baby shower gift.

What book are you reading now?

CRASH AND BURN by Lisa Gardner

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

It sounds cliché, but I made the decision in third grade after writing a "book" as a school assignment, and my grandmother told me I should be a writer. The book was entitled "The Haunted Mansion," and it was about these kids who discovered a haunted house. They would wait for the witch to go out at night and fly on her broom, and then they would sneak inside and play with her Eye of Newt. That is, until one night when the witch came home early and . . . 

Who is your writing idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool?

I have a lot of writing idols, and I've been fortunate to meet a lot of them. But the first big name writer I ever met was Mary Higgins Clark. I had read her first suspense novel, Where are the Children, my first year in college and loved it. I remember being really inspired by her personal story, too. Years later, I met her at my first Malice Domestic conference. Of course, I had every intention of playing it cool, but I'll admit it—I went totally fan girl.

What’s your favorite bit of writing advice?

A workshop instructor once said, "Never forget that your villains are the heroes of their own story." It stuck. It helps me keep my villains real. While I may not like what they do, my villains aren't just evil. They have strong motivations for what they do.

What do you do if the words aren’t flowing?

Not writing isn't an option, not when you're on deadline. So, I usually go back a few pages, maybe a chapter, and work through the pages until I'm back into the story and can move forward. Usually if I'm stuck it's because something is wrong with how I'm laying the story out on the pages. If I can just figure that out . . .

Are you creatively satisfied?

Yes. There have been times in the past when I would have said no, but right now I'm writing what I want to write, and I have a publisher who's publishing my books. It doesn't get much better.

What would you like to be remembered for?

Professionally? For telling a great story. Personally? For being a great mom. I have one son and five daughters. I hope I've taught them by example to follow their dreams and to know they can be anything and everything they want to be.

Alright, now for the really important questions:

• Beach or mountains?  Beach, though I've lived in the mountains all my life.
• Coffee or tea? Coffee
• Skydive or bungee jump? Neither. I'm terrified of heights. If you made me pick, skydive. Death would be less immediate.
• Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate
• Winter or summer? Summer, though I love to ski.
• Cake or pie? Cake
• Cats or dogs? Dogs
• Pens or pencils? Pens
• Truth or dare? Dare
• Print or ebook? Print

_________

Chris Goff is an award-winning author of international thrillers and the Birdwatcher's Mystery series. She began her career as a newspaper columnist, and has written for local, regional and national publications. She has edited rock and ice-climbing guides for Chockstone Press, worked in graphic production for a division of The Morehouse Publishing Group, taught writing workshops and served on the board of Mystery Writers of America. She lives in Colorado. DARK WATERS is her first thriller.

You find out more about Chris at ChristineGoff.com.

And here's a little more about DARK WATERS!

Raisa ''Rae'' Jordan, an agent for the United States Diplomatic Security Service, isn't in Israel for more than a day before her predecessor is gunned down in a Tel Aviv square by a sniper. Assigned to investigate the assassination of one of her own, she must also protect Judge Ben Taylor and his teenage daughter. A desperate cadre of terrorists has their sights set on the secretary of state's upcoming visit. But is an attack on the secretary of state just the beginning?

With millions of lives hanging in the balance, Dark Waters, Chris Goff's explosive new thriller, is a series debut that mirrors the headlines around the globe and will have readers frantically turning pages.

And you can pick up a book and meet Chris at these signings:

September 24, 7:00 p.m.
Tattered Cover Bookstore
2526 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO

October 8-11
Bouchercon
Raleigh, NC

October 21, 7:00 p.m.
Author's Night at the Douglas County Parker Library
10851 S. Crossroads Dr.
Parker, CO

November 18, 12:00 Noon
Moby Dickens Bookshop Book Club
124A Bent St.
Taos, NM
 

9.15.15 - THE END GAME Is On Sale Today!

There's nothing more exciting than a book's birthday -- and today, we welcome THE END GAME into the world. The latest Nicholas Drummond and Mike Caine thriller is as topical as you can get, and a fun, fast ride that I know you're going to love. Here's some supporting material -- y'all grab it today!

Print

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound
 

e-book

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

FBI agent Nicholas Drummond and his partner, Mike Caine, are deep into an investigation of COE—Celebrants of the Earth—a violent group known for widespread bombings of power grids and oil refineries across the country. While investigating a tip from a civilian who’s overheard about a possible bombing plot, the Bayway Refinery in New Jersey explodes. Nicholas and Mike race to the scene and barely escape being killed by a secondary device.
 
Returning to the civilian’s home to continue their interrogation, they discover the tipster—and the FBI team left to guard him—dead. While Nicholas calls in the assassinations, COE strikes again, this time launching a cyber-attack on several major oil companies and draining their financial and intellectual assets.
 
But COE has been infiltrated by a deep-cover counterterrorism agent named Vanessa Grace. A bomb-making expert, Vanessa must leave COE and join forces with Nicholas and Mike to stop the organization’s devious plan to assassinate the President. But there’s an assassin on the loose who could tip the scales in COE’s favor, and no one knows his ultimate target, or who has contracted his services.
 
Working with the CIA, the Secret Service, Mossad, MI-5, and even Savich and Sherlock, Nicholas and his team put their lives on the line to prevent another conflagration—and save the President.

Publisher's Weekly ★

“Intense, captivating…Nicholas and Mike work in perfect sync, never missing a beat…Their relationship leaves much room for developments in future installments of this excellent suspense series.”

Booklist ★

“In nonstop action covering less than a week, Caine and Drummond are challenged as never before, taking both their personal and professional relationships to new levels. This third in the series is an adrenaline-fueled caper that’s hard to put down. Another hit for the team of Coulter and Ellison"

RT Book Reviews - Top Pick!

“Suspense lovers can rejoice at the third fantastic installment of the A Brit in the FBI series…incredibly complex, filled with layered characters and heart-stopping suspense.”

Kirkus Reviews

“The third in the series featuring the brilliant Brit adds scary technology to physical action to produce a tip-top thriller.”

9.13.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Hi there! Assistant Amy here once again, filling in for JT as she (tearfully, I'm sure) bids goodbye to Europe. 

How was your week? Is it cooling off in your neck of the woods. I think fall is peeking around the corner here in Nashville--the high was a glorious 69 yesterday. I can feel the crisp breezes, boots, and warm mugs of tea calling my name!

I found a bunch of fun bookish (and not-so-bookish) things this week that I think you might like:

Of course, we first have to talk about JT (hey, boss, your ears burnin' yet?). I am having all kinds of food envy while she's in Italy, and have been coveting everything on her Instagram feed. If any part of your soul loves pizza, avert your eyes, lest you be consumed with jealousy. 

Nerd alert: Game of Thrones fans, we may be in luck! The next installment of A Song of Ice and Fire, THE WINDS OF WINTER, may be due out next year—barring a meteorite crash. Sidenote: is George R. R. Martin’s brain insured by Lloyd’s of London? Because it should be. 

The Morris Book Shop in Lexington, Kentucky, has combined two of my favorite things—books and food—into one delightful experience: The Pen to Plate Dinner! Chefs cook bookshop patrons a dinner based on a book. Heaven. You should check it out if you’re closeby. 

In more book news, Barnes & Noble has just released a new Samsung Galaxy Nook. Do you think this will help Nook sales? I’m skeptical. But it’s pretty, though. 

In the midst of a crazy work/life day, how many times have you thought I’m just going to move to an island and be done with it? This guy actually did it. 

I am a sucker for a good cartoon, and Kate Beaton’s wit in Hark! A Vagrant strips have made me laugh for years. Beaton’s got a knack for satirizing your favorite characters from history and literature, and she’s dipped her toe into children’s books for the first time. I really enjoyed her Q&A with Publisher's Weekly.

Who loves to ask their friends what they’re reading? *raises hand* This map takes that question to a nationwide level—and shows the most popular library books by state.  

Why do humans do the things they do? My favorite weekly segment on NPR, Hidden Brain, explores why we make the choices we do, and the consequences of individual actions on larger society. You can imagine my excitement when I learned Hidden Brain is becoming a podcast! Like the Serial and Invisibilia podcasts before it, it’s sure not to disappoint. 

That’s all I’ve got this week, folks. JT will (finally) be back next Sunday, so I’m sure she’ll regale you on all her European-filled activities. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you.

I leave you with this Faulkner quote, which I'm making my creativity mantra for life.

See you soon!
Assistant Amy

9.6.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Hi there! Assistant Amy here, filling in once again for my fearless leader while she's busily researching and writing the next Nicholas Drummond novel. 

Did you guys have a good week? I think Fall Fever officially struck me--the leaves are ever-so-slightly turning here in Nashville, which doesn't coincide at all with the soaring 90+ temperatures. But the heat doesn't negate the fact that I want everything to be apple, pumpkin, cinnamon and clove. Oh well. Soon enough!

Let's jump in, shall we?

First of all, let’s talk about my boss’s writing perch in the Piazzo San Marco in Venice. Man. Poor, J.T. I hope she gets a better view soon. 

I’m guessing most, if not all, of you are voracious readers. How much is that is due to your parents’ influence? My reading gene comes from my mother, who devours at least three or four novels a week to this day. Ever since I can remember, Mom filled my world with books: reading with me every day until I could do it on my own, taking me to the library every Friday growing up and getting a Wendy’s Frosty afterward, always getting me books as gifts. I can’t thank her enough—which is why this article on 12 Ways Your Parents Turned You Into a Book Lover hits so close to home. 

Along with the autumn spices, fall also means breaking out belly-warming soups! You can imagine my quandary when Saveur posted this delicious Mexican Tortilla Soup this week. I don’t care if it’s 94 degrees outside. I want that soup! 

Have you guys seen the trailer for the new Macbeth movie starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard?! This. Looks. Epic.  

And the Internet basically exploded this week upon the official notice of Albus Severus Potter’s first day and sorting at Hogwarts on September 1. 

And speaking of more Harry Potter (it’s always relevant), this amazing teacher turned her classroom into the stuff of my childhood dreams. Ten points for Ravenclaw! (with that creativity, she’d have to be a Ravenclaw, right?) 

And to bring it closer to home, a new month means a new contest on JTEllison.com! Enter for your chance to win a trio of paperbacks from legal thriller author Joseph Teller. You won’t be disappointed.  

Oh, and some great news: you guys made The Lost Key paperback jump to #6 on the New York Times Best Seller List! Thanks for reading and making that happen!!

Until next week, lovely people. Your comments have made me feel so welcome, and I’ve so enjoyed interacting with all of you! Have a great week, and dream of sweater weather.