Tule Author Q&A: Fortune Whelan shares advice on storytelling, drawing inspiration from furry friends, and making meaningful connections

August 30, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Your books have been praised for their fast-paced plots. What’s your process for maintaining such a dynamic storyline? I feel like my brain is running a million miles all the time. My editors are constantly reminding me to slow down and tell the story. Believe it or not, my fast-paced plots are actually the slowed down versions.

As an Amazon bestselling author, what has been the most surprising or rewarding aspect of your success? The mere fact I’m a published author is wild to me. I find the most rewarding aspects of being part of the Tule family and the larger romance writing community is being surrounded by fierce, bad-ass women who are articulate, generous, and empowering. I always talk about my publishing fairies who helped me along the way, and I’m usually on the hunt for ways I can pay it forward too. Rarely, have I had a job where my co-workers were constantly rooting for one anothers so consistently.

You mention working at a standing desk while fending off feline invaders. How do your cats influence your writing routine or creativity? I only talk about my cats but I have dogs too, but they are more patient. I’m grateful for my furry friends because they keep me company, encourage me to take walks where I work out a lot of story and character questions in my head, and keep me humble because they don’t care about me at all.

Yoga seems to be a big part of your life. How does your practice impact your writing? I have a tendency to work too much which cycles into inevitable burnout. Yoga keeps me limber, reminds me to breathe, but most of all, practicing yoga for many years has taught me to put myself in someone else’s shoes. Crucial for writing fiction!

Working at a local library must provide a unique perspective. How does shelving books inspire or inform your own storytelling? Like most authors, I’ve had my nose in a book for as long as I can remember. It’s inspiring the amount of stories that are being told. But I’m being super honest, working in a library gave me the push to publish because not every book is amazing. What I mean is, I could write a mediocre book and it might end up on a shelf somewhere because I’ve shelved plenty.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to achieve a similar level of success in the literary world? There’s only one way to make it and that’s to finish writing the damn book.

Can you tell us about a moment when you felt particularly proud or excited about a reader’s response to one of your books? Truthfully, my favorite comments are from the production team in my track changes. They read so many books for work and enjoyment, it makes me feel good to stand out. I love comments where despite having read my manuscripts only slightly fewer times than I did and they are still surprised. “I screamed!” is a standout favorite for me.

You’re active on social media as @fortunewhelan. How do you engage with your readers online, and what role does social media play in your career? I’m not great at engaging anyone online. I love talking to readers in person. At the library, I facilitate book clubs, give in-person presentations for best practices, that sort of thing. Just an old social person.

What can fans expect from you next? Are there any upcoming projects or new releases on the horizon? I have some extra Tule-cular releases on the horizon. As for in-house activities, I’m working on continuing my Dorseys of Conception Bay series.

What is one book that you consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for? Non-fiction. I’m a sucker for a good memoir. I do re-read Stephen King’s On Writing fairly often and if I don’t know what to read, I’ll pick up a Stephen King book.

Tule Author Q&A: Elsa Winckler discusses family, inspiration, feisty heroines, and her deep love for classic authors

August 23, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Your love for classic authors like Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters shines through in your writing. How have these literary giants influenced your own storytelling style and themes? I think one of the main lessons I’ve learned while reading the classics is the importance of the setting and how characters are moulded/influenced by the people around them. Another lesson is of course that mankind hasn’t really evolved since the time Jane Auster wrote her stories!

It’s clear that family plays a significant role in your stories. Can you tell us more about how you incorporate family backgrounds into your characters’ development and the overall narrative? The older I get the more human behavior interests me. Why are we the way we are? Why do we behave a certain way? For me it all starts with the family, or sometimes the lack of family. Most of the wounds we carry with us through life, stems from childhood wounds and overcoming those, I’ve found, is the key to growing. So that’s why I love to write about families – we are who we are mostly because of where we come from.

Your husband sounds like a supportive partner in your writing journey. How does his encouragement and feedback contribute to your creative process? I’m really one of the lucky ones who married the bad boy who turned out to be a really good man. We got married so young, neither of us had a clue what it all meant, we just knew we wanted to be together! He’s a wonderful dad, a supporting husband and my best friend. He encourages me all the way and bonus, he doesn’t mind if I need to practice on him to try and get a scene just right. :)

You describe your heroines as beautiful, feisty, and independent, and your heroes as strong yet sensitive. What inspired you to create characters with these qualities, and how do you ensure they come to life on the page? I love reading about a fiery heroine, willing and able to do her own thing. These days heroines doesn’t sit and wait for a hero to rescue her, she’s quite capable of doing it all on her own, thank you very much. I like the heroes to have a sensitive side, even though they’re strong probably because my husband and both our sons don’t mind showing theirs to the world.

As someone who has been reading love stories for as long as you can remember, what do you think sets a truly memorable romance novel apart from the rest? When sparks literally jump at you from page one! I don’t mind kissing and sex scenes, I love writing those, but it’s the slow burning that gets me every time!

Your Honors studies introduced you to classic authors. Can you share a specific moment or book from that time that left a lasting impact on you as a writer? George Eliiot’s Middlemarch. It’s such a richly layered story, I try to read it every other year, there is also something new to take away. George Eliot (her real name was Mary Ann Evans, but she had to use a man’s name to be published) includes real historical facts with several storylines – it’s a work of art and I’m in awe every time I read it.

How do you approach crafting the perfect kissing scene in your novels? Are there any particular techniques or considerations you keep in mind? I love writing kissing scenes! When you kiss THE ONE for the first time, something extraordinary happens (or should happen, otherwise walk away!) It’s a sensory explosion! And that’s what I focus on when writing kissing or love scenes – it’s more about the feelings, the emotion than the body parts. :)

With three grown-up children, do you find any aspects of their lives or personalities sneaking into your characters or plotlines? I don’t think it’s a conscious decision, but watching them do life, handling problems, loving their significant others, do sneak it at times.

What do you find most challenging about writing romance, and how do you overcome those challenges? I’ve written 70 stories up until now, 14 of those are in English, the others in my mother tongue, Afrikaans. The challenge is to keep the stories fresh, to keep up to date with technology because the characters should know about all of it, to keep thinking of ways to give your reader the tropes they love but to find different ways in which to do it.

Looking ahead, what themes or story ideas are you excited to explore in your future writing projects? I’m writing a series for Tule about cowboys and I’m really enjoying writing something new! I’m also considering a cozy mystery series …

BONUS: What is one book that you would consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for? Happy ever after – Nora Roberts. There is just something about Malcolm Kavanaugh, the hero!

Author Raemi A. Ray Stops by The Tule Mystery Blog to Chat With Us About Author Life, Real Life, and Mysteries!

August 22, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Welcome to the Tule Blog. How have you been? What have you been up to?

Thank you for having me. Since A Chain of Pearls released in April, I’ve been kept very busy
working on marketing, and the release of book two, The Wraith’s Return and book three later this year. It’s been a rollercoaster in the best way.

That’s right, Book Two in your first series the Martha’s Vineyard Murders is releasing today, August 22! What’s this one about?

It’s another whodunnit. Kyra returns to the island from London and has to solve two mysteries: what happened to a centuries old lost pirate treasure ship, and the suspicious deaths of the people trying to find the treasure.

Oh, so the same characters are featured in Book Two, The Wraith’s Return. Do you have a favorite one you like to write? Why?

Yes, the same main characters all make appearances: Kyra Gibson our protagonist, her detective Tarek Collins and of course the cat, Cronkite return. The series is really about them – a sort of modern-day Nick and Nora Charles. Side characters you may recognize pop in and out, as well as some new faces. My favorite to write? Honestly, it’s probably Cronkite. He’s a quintessential cat. He’s not bound by morality or social mores. He’s hardly even bound by the laws of physics (as people who live with cats know). He can be an unrepentant little terror and still be lovable. Originally, he was intended as a plot device so Kyra wouldn’t have long internal monologues weighing down the narrative, but along the way he developed a devious personality and now he’s an integral part of the story.
It’s a bit of a spoiler, but I love how his primary human isn’t Kyra. She’s been relegated to spare and it irritates her to no end, as I’m sure anyone in similar shoes could relate.

But you didn’t write a book about fictional cats. You wrote a mystery series. There must be a reason you find the genre compelling?

I do. I like that mysteries in many cases invite the reader to participate. Often in books, and all consumptive media really, the audience is a spectator. Their role is one of passive observer. But in mysteries, the reader can be asked to solve the mystery alongside the main character. I try to craft my narratives, so the main characters learn with the reader. In some cases, the reader might be able to figure out the killer even before Kyra. The clues are all there. The reader can play the game as well.

That’s interesting. Do you have some past experience that makes you good at solving
mysteries? Are you able to incorporate that previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?

Oh no. I’ve zero qualifications that would make me suited for actual detective or crime fighting work. I do occasionally use my own experiences as a quick and lazy fix. I gave Kyra my day job so I wouldn’t have to research a profession for her. Cronkite is a cat because I’ve always had cats and know their behaviors. The characters all drive cars that me or my family have owned over the years, so I didn’t need to research those either. My real life plays a very dull role in my books.

But you do research?

Oh yes, extensively. Especially because so much of my plots derive from real life events. In The Wraith’s Return the pirate ship Keres is based on the real-life shipwreck discovered off the coast of Wellfleet, MA, the Whydah Gally and its captain Black Sam Bellamy. I’ve also had to research lots of creative and complex ways to kill people and how one would cover it up. My Google search history is terrifying. I’m positive I’m on an FBI watch list at this point.

Really? What’s the strangest thing you’ve had to research for the Martha’s Vineyard Murders?

Strangest? When you deal in death, it’s all a little strange, I suppose. But the most obscure? Probably the deep dive I did on the Welsh whisky trade. It’s not particularly interesting, and there are few distilleries in Wales, less than ten, but I now know a lot about all of them. It was for a two-sentence anecdote in Book Three. It’s possible I went overboard there.

It sounds like it. Is that what you enjoy doing when you’re not writing, or do you have other pastimes?

I have a bad rabbit hole habit, but it’s not an intentional hobby. I don’t consider working my other job a ‘pastime’ and I suspect they wouldn’t either, but that does take up a fair amount of each week. I read a lot, too. But if I’m taking time off, I’m getting on a plane. I want to see the world. I’m always preparing or planning my next trip. I’ve been to some amazing and wild places, but there’s so much more to see.

Are you heading anywhere spectacular soon? Does it influence your stories?

I’ve a few trips planned in the near future and if you follow me on social media you’ll probably see photos. Traveling influences my stories in subtle ways. It gives me perspective, mostly.

That’s exciting and thank you for stopping by. It’s been nice chatting with you. We have one more bonus question. What is the one book that you consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for?

Oh. It’s hard to pick just one since I’m a serial re-reader, but perhaps Jane Eyre. I read it every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas and have since I was a kid.

Thank you for having me Tule Mystery.

Congrats on your release of The Wraith’s Return, Raemi!

About the Author

Raemi A. Ray is the author of the Martha’s Vineyard Murders series. Her travels to the island and around the world inspire her stories. She lives with her family in Boston.

Eve Gaddy shares that her story inspiration for “The Wrong Brother” came from her daughter.

August 20, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

I was thinking about what sparked the idea for my new book, The Wrong Brother. My daughter has been married for quite a while but I’ll never forget when she met her future husband.

She was living at home in between teaching jobs. One of her college friends set her up on a blind date with an old friend of hers. He asked one of his friends to go and my daughter asked one of hers so it was a double (blind) date.

When my daughter got home I asked her how it went. She started talking about the guy she didn’t have a date with. Not just mentioning him but it was clear she was really interested in this guy. So I said, “Wait. Didn’t you have a date with the other guy?”

“Oh, yes. He was nice.” And she continued talking about the other one. So it wasn’t a huge surprise when the other one called her for a date. That evening he’d called my daughter’s date and asked if he minded if he asked my daughter out. He said no, that was fine. As they say, that was the start of a beautiful relationship.:)

And her original blind date? He told the story at their wedding.

So I asked myself what would happen if my heroine went to Marietta to meet a man she met online? And what if instead of falling for the one she went to meet, she falls for his brother?

Logan and Cici’s story doesn’t go nearly as smoothly as my daughter’s did. Even though Liam, Logan’s brother and the man she met online, agreed they were better as friends, that sure didn’t solve all the problems. (Liam has his own story in The Christmas Cowboy – releasing November 7th of this year.) You’ll have to read it to see what happens!

About the Author.

Eve Gaddy is the award winning, national bestselling author of forty novels. Her books have sold over a million copies and been published in many countries and several languages. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, romantic mystery, and a bit of paranormal romance as well.

Eve’s books have won and been nominated for awards from Romantic Times, Golden Quill, Bookseller’s Best, Holt Medallion, Daphne Du Maurier and many more. Eve was awarded the 2008 Romantic Times Career Achievement award for Series Storyteller of the year, and was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Innovative Series romance. She loves her family, books, electronics, the mountains, and East Texas in the spring and fall. She also loves a happy ending. That’s why she writes romance.

Tule Author Q&A: DeAnna Drake talks cozy mysteries, strong feisty heroines, and writing what you love

August 16, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Your work spans cozy mysteries, young-adult fantasy fiction, contemporary romances, and historical novels. How do you manage to switch between such diverse genres, and do you have a favorite? My favorite genre always tends to be the one I’m working in at the moment! As you mentioned, I’ve written across several genres, and I love them all for different reasons, but the cozy mystery genre has really captured my heart and imagination in an amazing way. It allows me to combine all my favorite elements—smart heroines, intriguing sidekicks, mystery, whimsy, a touch of romance, and even history. It has everything!

Your cozy mysteries often feature magical animals. What inspired you to incorporate these elements? I suppose I’ve been drawn to magical animals because I enjoy imagining the world the way I wish it could be. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with an immortal talking cat who once lived with Queen Cleopatra? Or a socially anxious little mouse who is determined to hide his power of speech from the world but realizes he’ll need to use his voice to save his best friend? I love slipping into story worlds where whimsical things like that can happen and then sharing those adventures with readers.

Your heroines are known for their strong, feisty personalities. How do you go about crafting these characters, and what qualities do you believe are essential for a memorable heroine? I love my strong, feisty heroines! I like to think of them as being the kind of women we all wish we could be, while also having some of the same insecurities and baggage we all tend to have, which is what makes them relatable. I can see parts of myself in these women, and I hope readers see a bit of themselves as well. Sometimes my heroines make mistakes, but they always learn from them, and they never give up. That’s what I hope makes them memorable to readers.

The theme of balancing justice is prevalent in your mysteries. What draws you to this theme? I want to live in a world where the bad guy—or gal—is always caught and must face the consequences of their crimes. That doesn’t always happen in the real world, but I can ensure it happens in my stories. I suppose that’s what draws me back to this theme again and again.

What fascinates you about the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and how do you ensure historical accuracy while keeping the stories engaging for modern readers? My love for those eras originated with research for a novel I wrote that is set against the backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and then grew with another novel set in the vaudeville world of Old New York. I fell in love with the fashions of the time and the aesthetics, but I also was fascinated by the strict social conventions people endured—especially women. As an author, I found it deeply satisfying to write about female characters who rebelled against those conventions to find freedom and happiness. For each of those novels, I spent about a year researching the time, place, and historical figures I wove into the stories and then another year writing and doing additional research. All that research might drive some writers nuts, but as a history buff, I loved every second of it!

The bits of ancient Egyptian history that appear in my cozy mysteries comes from my lifelong love of that era, and I’m thrilled to be able to put some of what I’ve learned over the years into the pages of my stories.

You mention being a craft addict. What are some of your favorite crafts, and do they influence or inspire your writing in any way? My favorite crafts are usually the ones that incorporate elements of whatever novel I’m working on at the moment. Lately I’ve been making ribbon bookmarks adorned with teapot charms, mouse charms, or cat charms. Since writing books can take weeks or even months, it’s so rewarding to be able to make something from beginning to end in one sitting. While I’m crafting, I usually think I’m giving my brain a break, but inevitably I end up working out a story issue that has been hounding me or thinking up something entirely new for a future story. My story brain never seems to turn off.

How does binge-watching crime dramas influence your writing, particularly your cozy mysteries? Do you have any favorite shows that have inspired your work? I’m inspired by so many crime shows. I love the humor of Psych and Monk. I admire the clever deduction of Elementary and Endeavor. I learn so much about forensic evidence from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Bones. But I’d say the ones I’m most drawn to are the British mysteries, such as Midsomer Murders and especially Agatha Christie’s Marple. It’s always fascinating to see how the bad guy or gal tries to hide their crime, how clues might be discovered, and what ultimately gives them away.

You escape to Disneyland whenever you can (love this!). What is it about Disneyland that you find so inspiring, and does it play a role in your creative process? Disneyland is an idealized version of real-life, sort of like the world of my cozy mysteries. It’s filled with fun things to do, interesting things to see, happy people, and of course the Dole Whips, which are my personal favorite Disney treat! I’ve been going to Disneyland since I was a child, so there’s also many wonderful childhood memories I’m able to revisit each time I’m there. I also love that I’m now adding to those memories with new ones that include my hubby, daughter, and friends.

How does living in Southern California with your family (and pampered border collie!) influence your writing routine and the themes you explore in your books? Living in Southern California has had a tremendous effect on my cozy mysteries. Each story is set within Orange County in towns I’ve either lived in or worked in, or both. There are so many interesting and quirky aspects to this area that often go unnoticed by outsiders, and I love pulling some of that into the stories.

What advice would you have for aspiring writers who wish to write in different genres like yourself? I would advise any writer to write stories they love, and if that means dabbling in different genres, go ahead and do it, even if more business-minded folks caution against it. I’ve been in this business a long time, and I know so much about the world of publishing lies outside the author’s control. The only thing truly in your control is deciding what to write, so you might as well write what makes you happy. Also, I believe something wonderful happens when a writer is writing a story they truly love. The enthusiasm fuels the story, and that energy or spark or whatever it is, makes the story extra special for the reader.

BONUS: What is one book you consider to be a comfort read that you reach for all the time? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

BONUS 2: What is your FAVORITE ride at Disneyland? Haunted Mansion

“Book people are my kind of people” – a special note from Janice Lynn to Tule readers for her Wrapped Up in Christmas series

August 14, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hello Tule Readers. I’ve said it before and I imagine that I will say it many times in the future—Book people are my kind of people. So, it’s a joy to be with you today.

My Wrapped Up in Christmas series originated with Hallmark Publishing, but with their closing, I’m thrilled that Tule is continuing these special stories. I love everything about my Wrapped Up in Christmas series—the small town, Christmas, the military connection, quilting, and the characters. Oh, how I love the people in Pine Hill, Kentucky, especially the Butterflies-a group of older women who are lifelong friends, town matriarchs, a bit zany, and wannabe matchmakers. Think Golden Girls meets 80 for Brady.

When I wrote the first Wrapped Up in Christmas book my goal was to write a story that gave all the warm fuzzy Hallmark feels, but had deeper, sometimes heart-wrenching, backstories. I wanted my readers to feel as if they’d stepped into the world of Pine Hill and to feel the emotions the characters were feeling—the heartache, the laughter, the holiday spirit, the healing, and especially, the love. My goal with each new book has been to continue those things, and to, hopefully, improve with each story. I am still striving toward that goal with the fourth book, Wrapped Up in Christmas Love, which will be out November 12, 2024, and with book five coming your way Christmas 2025.

Here’s the back cover copy for Wrapped Up in Christmas:

This Christmas brings an unexpected gift…

For years, quilt making has been Sarah Smith’s creative outlet. When she starts donating her one-of-a-kind quilts to hospitalized wounded warriors, she hopes her artistic designs will bring the soldiers peace and the knowledge that their service is appreciated. But this holiday season, Sarah finds herself mired in an arm-length repair list for the B&B she’s hoping to open.

Former Army Ranger Bodie Lewis knows he’s lucky to be alive. But he’s struggling to adjust to civilian life after his injury and mired in survivor guilt. Needing a distraction, he sets out on a private mission to thank the quilt maker for her gift that comforted him during his recovery. He’s hoping he can do a good deed in return. Bodie’s stunned the artist is a young, beautiful woman and amused she mistakes him for the handyman.

Bodie works on Sarah’s home repairs and soon her sweetness and Christmas spirit imbue him with something he thought he left on the battlefield…hope.

And here’s a snippet from where Bodie has first arrived in Pine Hill to thank whomever Sarah Smith is for making his Quilts of Valor. Sarah is at a church gathering to make Christmas ornaments for a fundraiser at a town festival and is surrounded by Butterflies, of which her late aunt was one. Her aunt had left her a large older home that she’d dreamed of turning into a bed and breakfast, but never had. Sarah’s dream is to make that happen—somehow.

“Aunt Jean’s house isn’t crumbling.” Not anymore, thanks to Sarah’s bank loan and her having spent every spare moment over the past year working on restoring the outside and the downstairs to their former glory. “It just needed some TLC.”

And a repair guy to stick around to finish up the job. Hopefully God would answer her prayers and the right person would respond to her help wanted ad. Otherwise, she’d have to delay her planned grand opening of Hamilton House.

The thought of that made her heart hurt a little. She wanted to do this for Aunt Jean.

Please, Lord, let them respond.

The door to the community room opened, and all heads turned to see who’d shown up to join their ornament-making festivities.

Sarah’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar six-foot-plus man wearing jeans and a sherpa-lined blue jean jacket. He rubbed his hands, warming his bare fingers from the chill outdoors as he surveyed the Christmas chaos Sarah adored.

Ask and the Lord shall deliver.

Literally.

Okay, so she didn’t really believe the stranger was there to answer her prayers, but still, his timing was impeccable. Who was he?

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one wondering. It wasn’t that you could hear a pin drop—not with the holiday music playing—but there was a collective curiosity pervading the now-muted room that had been loud with chatter prior to his arrival.

“I’ve been extra-good this year and Santa’s delivering early,” Rosie whispered under her breath, elbowing Claudia. Her lively eyes sparkled with mischief. “That’s exactly what I asked for.”

Giving the newcomer a once-over, Maybelle snorted. “You ain’t been that good your whole life.”

Claudia snickered. “That’s the truth.”

“That one there makes me wish I had been.” Rosie sighed, fanning her face. “He’s easy on these old eyes. A few years back, I’d have invited him over for some of my grandma’s cinnamon bread. That never fails to warm a man over to my way of thinking.”

Still amused at the timing of the man’s arrival, Sarah’s lips twitched. Rosie’s grandmother’s cinnamon bread was the stuff legends were made of. Women had been attempting to copy the recipe for years without success. Rosie closely guarded the recipe as she swore it was guaranteed to put a sparkle in a man’s eye. She wasn’t about to let the other town women in on her little secret.

With almost every eye on him, the man scanned the room, apparently searching for something, or someone. He didn’t look impressed—more like he didn’t belong in the room or around happy people in general. With his observant, stern expression, he stuck out like a pumpkin on Christmas morning.

Despite the stranger’s serious demeanor, Rosie was right that he was easy to look at. Give the man a smile and he’d make women of all ages swoon.

Who was he and why was he there?

Y’all will have to let me know what you think of Bodie and how Sarah brings Christmas back to his life. And, if you love Pine Hill as much as I do, be sure to check out Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy, Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope, and coming in November, Wrapped Up in Christmas Love. The stories are stand-alone but do feature reoccurring characters and sequential events.

Take care and much love as I extend Christmas in July out to Christmas in August with the release of the first three stories in this series.

– Janice

About the Author.

USA Today Bestselling author Janice Lynn strives to write characters who evoke strong emotions and make readers want to go along on their journeys. She writes sweet contemporary Christmas stories for Tule and contemporary Medical Romances for Harlequin. Her books have been best sellers on numerous platforms and have won numerous awards, including the National Readers Choice Award, the Golden Quill, Romantic Times Magazine’s American Title, and the Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

Janice lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who’s the true princess of the house and a bunch of unnamed dust bunnies who took up permanent residence after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama and a member of and supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen.

The Story Behind “The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman”

August 13, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman is the third book in my Lady in Blue series. The series was inspired by the brave suffragettes, who began volunteer patrols to support the police, when war broke out in 1914. Dorothy Peto, my main character, was a real person who went on to become the first female superintendent at the Metropolitan Police.

At the beginning of The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman, Dorothy has been seconded to
Scotland Yard to work with Inspector Derwent and his team of detectives. They are investigating a string of burglaries in London, where wealthy victims have had their valuable jewels stolen. However, their work is interrupted by the arrival of the handsome and charming Colonel Lamarchant, who works for the Deuxieme Bureau (the French secret service). The colonel hopes the team at Scotland Yard will help him discover what has happened to his cousin, the Marquis de Nagay, who has gone missing after arriving in England with some priceless sapphires.

They visit Stray Park, a large country house in Yorkshire that has become an army hospital
and was the last place the marquis was known to have visited. During the war, many large
country houses were turned into hospitals for injured soldiers returning from the front.

One of the most well-known was Wrest Park (my inspiration for Stray Park). It was partly funded by the famous playwright, J M Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan. At Stray Park, Dorothy meets Lady Birbeck. The elderly lady is in mourning for her grandson, who was a friend of the missing Frenchman. She assures Dorothy the marquis was safe and well when he left her house for a business appointment.

While Dorothy is away in Yorkshire, a body is discovered close to Kings Cross station in
London. Although the dead man is wearing the clothes and ring belonging to the missing
Frenchman, he turns out to be an Englishman, who worked for a heating company. Dorothy begins to wonder if there could be a link between the jewelry thefts and the missing young man. She tries to confide in Raymond, her brother, who works for British Military Intelligence, but she soon finds herself tangled in a complicated web of communist agitators, pacifists and Irish republicans. It becomes impossible to know who she can trust.

As always, when writing a Lady in Blue Mystery, I needed to spend hours researching the
First World War. In particular, for The Mystery of the Missing Frenchman, I focused on
subjects as diverse as early central heating systems, the Communist Party, Irish Republicans, army hospitals and military intelligence in France and Britain. I found this last subject particularly fascinating.

It was widely supposed by the rest of Europe that Britain had an extensive spy network in
place and that it had been operating since the days of Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster to Queen Elizabeth I. However, this wasn’t the case. At the outbreak of war in 1914, the Secret Service Bureau, which came to be known as MI5, had only sixteen employees. Like the police, with so many men fighting abroad, MI5 had to look to women to solve their problem of staff shortages. MI5 recruited their female staff from leading girls’ schools and universities such as, Cheltenham Ladies College and Somerville College at Oxford University. These women played a more important role in the Security Service than in any other wartime government department. According to recruitment records from the time, they were required to possess, ‘intelligence, diligence and, above all, reticence’. I am sure Dorothy and the other members of the Women Police Volunteers shared the first two qualities but perhaps not the third.

About the Author

H L Marsay grew up binge-reading detective stories and promised herself that some day, she would write one too. A Long Shadow was the first book in her Chief Inspector Shadow series set in York. Luckily, living in a city so full of history, dark corners and hidden snickelways, she is never short of inspiration. She has also written The Secrets of Hartwell Trilogy and The Lady in Blue Mysteries. The Chief Inspector Shadow Mysteries have recently been optioned for television.

When she isn’t coming up with new ways to bump people off, she enjoys drinking red wine, eating dark chocolate and reading Agatha Christie – preferably at the same time!

Tule Author Q&A: Experienced Tule Author Megan Crane talks about partnership and the endlessness of creativity

August 9, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

With over 150 books under your belt and counting, what drives your seemingly unstoppable creativity, and how do you maintain such a prolific output?

Let’s see… panic?

More seriously, someone told me once that creativity is endless and I’ve taken that to heart. There are so many ways to love and so it makes sense that there are so many ways to tell stories about love, too. I approach stories through the characters, always, and there are always infinite complexities and shades to each person. There’s no end in sight!

You write across a wide range of genres, from romance to women’s fiction, young adult novels, and even paranormal rom-coms. How do you navigate the differences between these genres, and what do you enjoy most about exploring such diverse storytelling? I just love telling stories. I’m not sure that different genres require navigation so much as wonder. The more I ask myself what if, the more I can find my way where I need to go in any given story.

As Caitlin Crews, you’ve built a loyal fanbase with Harlequin Presents, Dare, Historical, and contemporary cowboy books. What do you think it is about your writing that resonates so strongly with readers across these various sub-genres? I think that romances require a certain fearlessness in the writing. What I mean by that is vulnerability. Romances are all about characters and the various ways they reveal themselves to each other, so writing them means throwing yourself headfirst into the tender places of the human heart—and that’s not easy! I like to think that readers love that they can expect a full-on emotional journey in my books. Whether you like what I’m doing or not, I like to think that I commit fully to the ride and then take you on it, all the way.

Partnering with Nicole Helm as Hazel Beck for witchy rom-com novels adds another layer to your already diverse portfolio. How did this collaboration come about, and what do you enjoy most about writing paranormal romance? It was never a goal for either of us to write together. The story presented itself to us on a trip, we both wanted to write it, and we figured out how to do it. Now Hazel is an ongoing joy, if I’m honest. She has a very specific voice and sensibility and she’s neither of us, she’s herself, and we can only get there together. Hazel books are really so much fun.

As for paranormal romance, what’s not to love? All the angst and drama of any romance except when you think, I will DIE if he doesn’t kiss me—well. You also might die if he DOES! The stakes start high and only get higher!

Your academic background in English Literature and experience teaching creative writing classes at UCLA Extension’s Writers’ Program are impressive. How has your education influenced your writing process and the themes you explore in your novels? I am a huge fan of liberal arts educational experiences. Getting the opportunity to read, write, and think critically is a gift, and the more widely-read anyone is, the more the stories they’ve read can inform their own writing. Ultimately, the writing of stories in any form is an exploration of humanity, and more than that, I think humans need stories to live full lives. I love that I get to enjoy both sides of the equation!

Living in the Pacific Northwest with your comic book artist husband sounds like an artistically vibrant environment. How does your surroundings influence your creativity and storytelling? My husband is phenomenal with plotting. We spend a lot of times talking about stories and storytelling, and I think we make each other better at what we do. I feel very lucky!

You mention enjoying huddling in coffee shops and traveling the world. How do these experiences inspire your writing, and have you ever incorporated elements from your travels into your novels? Oh yes. The more places I can put into my books that I’ve actually been, the better!

Winning awards and earning critical acclaim must be validating. What have been some of the most memorable moments or achievements in your writing career so far? Honestly, what makes me the happiest—and the most astonished, to be honest—is that 150 books in, readers are still picking my books up and letting me tell them stories. No award or bit of acclaim could ever be more amazing than that!

Given your extensive experience, what advice would you give to aspiring authors who are looking to break into the publishing industry and establish a successful writing career? The key thing is to listen only to the advice that resonates, and always find a way to tell your own story your own way. Only you can. Everything else is either noise or something you can pick up as you go. But it had to start with the story and your need to tell it.

Looking ahead, what exciting projects or collaborations do you have in store for your readers, and what can they expect from Megan Crane, Caitlin Crews, and Hazel Beck in the future?

The best way to keep up with my books is my website: https://megancrane.com/

I keep my upcoming releases here, and put them up as soon as I know about them. Hazel included!

BONUS 1: What is one book that you would consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for? If Jane Porter wrote it, I want it. Again and again and again.

BONUS 2: We know you’re a die-hard Swiftie…what’s your favorite album and why? THANK YOU FOR ASKING THIS IMPORTANT QUESTION.

1989 is what made me a fan.

Reputation is what made me OBSESSED.

And The Tortured Poets Department is a masterpiece in every regard, the end.

Hanukkah in August with Tule Author Stacey Agdern!

August 8, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hanukkah in August.

Sounds like a good idea right ? I mean if we’re going to pair summer months with winter holidays, August and Hanukkah work perfectly. The 8th month would seem like the perfect match for a second snippet of a holiday that famously lasts 8 nights long. It’s the perfect way to share the dream of cold in the depths of summer as hot as August can be.

In the Jewish calendar, there’s somewhat of a precedent for this. Pesach Sheni, literally translated as second Passover, is an extra Passover seder that takes place about a month after the night before Passover begins. This allows people who missed Passover because they were overseas, for example, to experience the holiday.

Over the years, my dad put this particular bit of religious knowledge to good use. The first time was when I was in university and unable to come back to New York to join my family’s Passover seder. But by the time Passover Sheni came around, I was home and ready to celebrate the holiday the way I knew it. Since that first time, my family has observed Passover Sheni a few times since, welcoming relatives and friends when circumstances kept us from having them for Passover (when it was originally held).

In 2020 and 2021, my family wasn’t able to gather in person for Passover, but by Passover Sheni 2022, we did. That year we had three seders- two virtual and the third in person.

This way, following the precedent of second Passover, people who missed celebrating Hanukkah the first time, can gather with friends and family in August to celebrate. We can put out menorahs once more, make the traditional hanukkah foods, and dream of dreidls in the snow….while it’s almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

About the Author.

Stacey Agdern is an award-winning former bookseller who has reviewed romance novels in multiple formats and given talks about various aspects of the romance genre. She incorporates Jewish characters and traditions into her stories so that people who grew up like she did can see themselves take center stage on the page. She lives in New York, not far from her favorite hockey team’s practice facility.

Finding love through Grit and Grace…and maybe the encouragingly strong words of a dear editor.

August 8, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

“A group of women succeeding in a man’s world.”

That single phrase, uttered by my dear editor, Sinclair Sawhney, was the seed from which grew my new Tule series, Grit and Grace. Admittedly, an Aperol Spritzer might have fueled some of my inspiration on that lovely day last summer, but the rest was pure magic.

Peyton Halliday, my heroine in The Cowboy Doctor, the last book of my previous series, Rodeo Romeos, sort of kicked things off by introducing us to her friends. Sammie Abel, Emma Barrett, Beth Dawson, Laura Senske, and Meira Ware along with Peyton all bonded while riding ranch saddle broncs competitively and being filmed for a made-up reality TV show called Buckin’ Babes.

But the friends were destined for something more. They left the world of reality TV and competitive bronc riding behind to take a crack at rodeo rough stock contracting, specializing in, you guessed it, bucking broncs. Thanks to Peyton’s wealthy family, specifically her oldest brother, the newly formed Grit and Grace Rodeo Roughstock Company find a home on a ranch outside of Last Stand, Texas, to raise and train the animals used in professional rodeos.

All’s Fair in Love and Rodeo is Sammie Abel and Alec Neisson’s story, where they see if they can come together while going after the same rodeo rough stock contract. And more than just success in the rodeo world is at stake…

Sammie waited until the group was well past them before turning to him. “Alec! Seriously, what are you doing here?” she hissed.

“Why haven’t you answered my calls or texts?”

“Stalker much?”

“Come on, Sammie. You didn’t even say goodbye. Did I do something?”

“No. Well, yes. I mean, we did something.”

The very clear memory of all the things they’d done together that night raised his temperature faster than the Texas summer sun on pavement. “Damn straight we did something. We did a lot of something.”

She shifted away from him, looking everywhere but at him. “That’s not what I mean. But it is why I didn’t say goodbye. I never expected spending a night with you to be so . . . so . . .”

“Good?”

She met his gaze. “Yes.”

Alec softened his tone. “So you freaked out and ghosted me.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I freaked out a little and just left. But now . . . I have been meaning to call you. Really.”

“Because?”

The blue of her eyes swam beneath the sheen of tears. “Because I’m pregnant, Alec.”

The women of Grit and Grace are determined to make it in a man’s world, but unexpectedly find love along the way. I hope you enjoy their stories!

About the Author.

Having never met an unhappy ending she couldn’t mentally “fix,” Leah Vale believes writing romance novels is the perfect job for her. A Pacific Northwest native with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington, she lives in Central Oregon, with a huge golden retriever who thinks he’s a lap dog. While having the chance to share her “happy endings from scratch” is a dream come true, dinner generally has to come premade from the store.