Posted on November 24, 2020 Leave a Comment
Congratulations on your new book! Maybe it’s complete, maybe it’s a work in progress. No matter what phase you’re in, you’re probably wondering what you should be sharing with potential readers to get them excited about reading it.
Hopefully, by now, you’ve also established your writing platform. If not, what are you waiting for? An author website is a great way to connect with your readers and to help new readers discover your work. You can start a website in a matter of a few minutes once you’ve selected a platform. Personally, I use WordPress for my self-hosted website. The user interface makes creating the site, and subsequent blog posts, incredibly easy. They offer cost-effective options to fit any budget.
Once you’ve created your beautiful, new website, you’re ready to start telling your readers all about your upcoming book.
A snippet of conversation, a photo, a writing prompt. Writers get inspiration from any number of places. When I wrote my first book, the original idea came from a conversation with a friend. These are the kinds of stories your readers will connect with. So tell them!
This is an idea that can lend itself to multiple posts:
The list goes on. Giving your readers a behind the scenes look at your creative process helps them connect not only with your work, but also with you. They feel a part of it, giving them a feeling of being vested in your work.
Are you working on historical fiction? A story routed in ancient mythology? Tell your readers about the process of researching your story. Incorporate photos from your research trips. If you interviewed someone, publish the interview (or just a portion). Be sure to get your subject’s permission first.
This probably sounds a little odd. After all, we’re talking about fictional characters. So we’re basically talking about interviewing the voices in your head. But this is a great way to show your readers your development process without just telling them about it. Plus, it introduces your character’s voice to your readers. It gives them a feel for the tone of your story, without having to release any of it.
Think about your character as if they were an actor/actress giving an interview about their upcoming movie. What would you ask them? This is also a great exercise to identify any holes in your character development, but that’s a different discussion.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Let’s face it, handling your own publicity, as an indie author, is a challenging and time consuming process. So make use of your own author platform by conducting an interview with yourself. Build a list of questions and answer them honestly.
Giving your readers a sneak peek at a portion of your book is a great way to get readers excited about its release. Depending on the length of your chapters, you may want to select only an excerpt. Provide an introduction, setting the stage for what your readers are about to enjoy. Keep the excerpt to about 1,500 words. Enough to give a flavor of your writing without giving too much away.
Ask any writer the worst part about writing a book and I would be willing to bet many would say writing the blurp for the back cover. So use this opportunity to get some feedback from your audience. Use a call to action statement in your post to solicit feedback from your audience.
Don’t just release the cover art. Tell the story behind it. Did you work with an artist? Develop it yourself? What’s the underlying meaning behind it that makes it the perfect fit for your book? Cover art development is an interesting process. Talk about it!
You’ve made your final edits, selected your cover, perfected your blurb. Set up a countdown of posts the week leading up to your book. This is a good time to refresh earlier posts where you’ve talked about different aspects of your writing process and your story. Use your most popular posts to help create anticipation and buzz about your new book.
Do you have ideas for pre-release blog posts? Share them in the comments!
[Updated July 2, 2022] You’ve slaved away for weeks, months, possibly years creating your masterpiece. You’ve edited. You’ve proofread. You’ve tweaked the formatting. You’ve agonized. You’ve probably even cried a little. Hey, we’ve all been there! But you’ve finally hit ‘publish’ and launched your book. Now comes the hard part. Marketing. Fortunately, this article is…
Why Does Proofreading Matter? Whether you’re working on a professional document, an academic assignment, or the next great American novel, nothing kills your credibility with your reader faster than poor editing. Spending a little extra time polishing your document is worthwhile. But running a simple spell check isn’t enough. While great for catching misspelled words,…
[Content Updated July 2, 2022] Why Do Book Reviews Matter? Book reviews are an important way to support the work of authors you love. They are a simple way to thank your favorite authors for the work they do. Readers select books based on recommendations. So leaving reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads are…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Posted on November 24, 2020 Leave a Comment
My new novella, The Package: A Novella, is set for release on December 18th. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. This new e-book is a short thriller following Noa, a travel blogger who finds herself working for an international spy agency.
Abandoned by her mother in early childhood, Noa was raised by her distant, apathetic grandmother. But a trip to the library in search of her new love, spy thrillers, leads Noa to a life long friendship with a librarian. Fast forward and Noa has established a successful travel blog and her librarian friend has become more like family.
A note in the pocket of a vintage jacket turns a working trip to Vancouver into a mission for a spy international network. The mission is simple. Take a package to a hotel restroom and leave. When things take an unexpected turn, Noa suddenly finds herself in a high stakes game of cat and mouse. Noa quickly finds all the novels in the world are no preparation for the game she’s playing. Will she complete her mission?
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Pre-order you copy of my new e-book from Amazon today!
And don’t forget to check out my debut novel, The House on Maple Street, currently available on Amazon.
The House on Maple Street is now available and it is getting great reviews! In celebration, I’m offering a giveaway through Goodreads.com. Click here to enter for a chance to win a copy of the Kindle edition. Full details, terms and conditions are listed on Goodreads.com. The giveaway closes on December 5th, 2019. From Readers’…
Early reviews are coming in for The Package, A Novella. I am honored to receive a second five star review from Readers’ Favorite. From Readers’ Favorite The Package: A Novella by Heidi Slowinski is a short read packed with mystery and excitement. Noa, a travel blogger with plenty of initiative, purchases a jacket from a…
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase you make, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
The Package: A Novella was inspired by a short story, by the same name. Read the story here:
Welcome back, reader! This week, I’m excited to highlight some of my short story writing for you. First, I’d like to thank Andy Thomson at The Blogging Station for featuring my short story, ‘Ruth Long, Age 88’. This story is based on a writing prompt to write a funeral scene from the viewpoint of the…
Posted on November 23, 2020 Leave a Comment
Welcome reader! I am pleased to announce “What Is Your Emergency” was shortlisted out of 893 entries in Reedsy Prompt, Contest 67: The Great Escape. The story is based on the writing prompt: write a thriller about someone who witnesses a murder…except there’s no evidence a murder has taken place. This is my seventh entry with Reedsy Prompt and my first appearance on the shortlist.
Reedsy Prompt is a weekly short story contest with five writing prompts around a common theme. Authors are welcome to submit to any of the prompts (one entry per prompt). The site also promotes community engagement through likes and comments.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“Yes, I’m calling to report a murder,” she said in a cold, distant voice.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. Did you say you’re calling to report a murder?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes,” answered Victoria. She stared vacantly.
“I’m going to need some more details so I can send help. Let’s start with your location. Can you tell me where you are?”
“No,” said Victoria.
“You don’t know where you are, ma’am?” asked the dispatcher.
“No,” answered Victoria.
“Can you tell me what is around you? Is there anyone else you can ask?”
“No, I’m alone and it’s dark,” said Victoria.
“What’s your name, ma’am?” asked the dispatcher.
“Victoria Dawson.”
“Victoria,” repeated the dispatcher. “Okay, Victoria. Can you tell me what happened?”
“I don’t know,” answered Victoria.
“You said you were calling to report a murder. How do you know there has been a murder?”
“Because I killed him.”
“Okay,” answered the dispatcher. “Victoria, I need you to stay on the phone with me.” Clack, clack, clack. The dispatcher rapidly worked to track the location of the call. Only a general region in a heavily wooded area. The nearest county route was fifteen miles from where the dot was on the map. The dispatcher started her notes to the police. “I need you to tell me more about what happened. You said there was a murder and you killed someone one. Do you know the victim?”
“Yes, he’s my husband.”
“What is your husband’s name?”
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
“John Dawson.”
“Okay, and do you remember what happened to John?” asked the dispatcher.
“No.”
“Are you near John right now?”
“No. I’m alone,” Victoria repeated.
“Do you know where John is now?”
“No, I don’t know where he is.”
“Victoria, I’m sorry to ask so many questions but I need more information to know how best to help you. Now you said you’re alone in a dark area and there has been a murder. You said you killed John, who is your husband. Can you tell me anything else about where you are or what happened?”
“We argued this morning before he left for work and I killed him,” Victoria answered.
The dispatcher added this information in her instructions to the police unit on its way to the general area the call was coming from.
“What did you and John argue about?” asked the dispatcher. Maybe if he could keep her talking, he would get something more useful.
“He said I was spending too much money. But it was just a misunderstanding. He thought I was wearing a new dress, but it wasn’t a new dress.” Her voice trailed off.
“Okay, I have an officer on their way to your location. I’m going to stay on the phone with you until they arrive. Can you tell me anything else about what happened to your husband?”
“He was angry,” she answered.
The dispatcher entered more information to the unit on the way to the location.
Somewhere in the night, two sheriff deputies were driving down a deserted county road. A thin mist hung in the air, in the beams of the headlights. The road seemed to absorb the light.
“This sounds strange to me,” said the deputy from the passenger seat.
“What does?” answered her partner.
“Dispatch says it’s a woman, alone, who reports she killed her husband after a domestic incident. But the woman can’t tell them what happened or where her husband is now.”
“Is dispatch sure about the location? I don’t know who would be out here. There’s nothing around here.”
“Maybe she dumped the body and then decided to call herself in,” suggested the deputy.
The dispatcher was getting nowhere with Victoria. She was clearly in shock. She spoke in a flat tone. Her voice was completely devoid of any emotion.
“Victoria, do you see any cars where you are?” he asked her, hoping the squad car was close.
“No, I don’t see anyone,” she answered.
The dispatcher tapped out instructions to the dispatched car. “I’m going to ask the officers en route to you to use their lights and sirens to help you see or hear them, okay Victoria?”
Out on the road, the deputy spotted the incoming instructions.
“Dispatch wants us to turn on the lights and sirens,” said the deputy. Her partner pressed a couple of buttons on the dash. Flickers of red and blue reflected across the bare trees lining the roadway. The sirens echoed into the dark night.
“I think I hear something,” Victoria told the dispatcher. “It sounds like sirens.”
“Good,” answered the dispatcher. “Do you see lights?”
“Yes, I think I see them.”
“Are you near the road?” asked the dispatcher.
“No,” responded Victoria.
“Can you get to the side of the road? The officers will have an easier time finding you.”
“Okay.”
The dispatcher heard crunching leaves and snapping twigs. The wailing sirens were faint in the background. He sent another message to the car to slow down. They were getting close.
“We’re getting close. Sounds like she’s somewhere in these woods. The dispatcher can hear the sirens on the call,” said the deputy. Her partner let off the gas and the car slowed. The deputy scanned the sides of the road. “We may need to stop. I can’t see a thing.” Her partner eased the car to the shoulder of the road and came to a stop.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
“Tell dispatch to tell the woman to head for the car.” They got out of the car, pulling torch lights from their belts, shining them through the trees on either side of the road.
“Are you still with me, Victoria?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes, I’m still here,” she answered, slightly breathless.
“Good. Can you still hear the sirens?”
“Yes, they’re louder now.”
“Okay, good. The deputies are out near the road looking for you. Do you see the red and blue lights from the car or flashlights anywhere around you?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes, I see red and blue flashes.”
“Okay, good. You keep walking and head for the red and blue lights. I’m going to stay with you.” SPLASH. “Victoria, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay,” she answered. “I stepped in a stream or a puddle or something.”
“But you’re okay?” asked the dispatcher again.
“Yes,” she responded over the splashing of her steps in the water.
Up on the roadway, the two deputies worked slowly down both sides of the roadway, shining their flashlight beams into the trees.
“Do you see anything?” asked the deputy.
“Nothing on this side,” said her partner.
“She can’t be far,” answered the deputy. “Wait, I think I see something.” Her partner moved to the other side of the road, shining his beam to meet hers.
“How did she get way out here,” responded her partner.
“Victoria?” called the deputy. The woman stumbled in the glare of the flashlight beams.
“I can’t see,” the woman called back.
The deputy lowered her beam to the ground in front of the woman as she made her way over a fallen branch. Her partner kept his beam up near the woman’s face. He seemed frozen.
“Lower your beam,” commanded the deputy. Her partner jerked his arm down. His wide eyes never left the woman’s face.
When she finally broke through the tree line to the shoulder of the road, she stopped a moment. The deputy’s free hand went to her holster. An instinct. The woman was wearing a long, ice blue, satin nightgown with a matching floral print robe. Her long brown hair was tangled around her head. Her hands hung at her side, still holding her cell phone in her right hand. The deputy glanced to her left, noticing her partner seemed frozen.
“Victoria, can you put your hands up in the air for me?” asked the deputy.
“She didn’t kill her husband,” said her partner suddenly.
“What? How do you know?” asked the deputy.
“She’s my wife.”
Welcome back, reader! This week, I’m excited to highlight some of my short story writing for you. First, I’d like to thank Andy Thomson at The Blogging Station for featuring my short story, ‘Ruth Long, Age 88’. This story is based on a writing prompt to write a funeral scene from the viewpoint of the…
This week, I’m highlighting more of my short story work. “Room 306” appeared on Reedsy Prompts , as part of their weekly writing contests. This was written and submitted in response to the prompt: Write a short story in which the last line is the count down to midnight on New Year’s Eve Room 306…
Welcome reader! This week, I’m featuring a short story from my archives. “Down An Old Dirt Road” is based on the writing prompt: a woman is sitting on the front steps of an old, ramshackle house, in an elegant black dress. Aside from the writing prompt, this story was also inspired by an old country…
This week, I’m including a bonus post, in addition to my regular update! I’m featuring the short story that started it all, inspiring Ruth Long, Age 88 and the entire In Loving Memory series. The story was based on the writing prompt: write a funeral scene from the point of view of the deceased. Ruth…
Reedsy Prompt is a weekly short story contest with five writing prompts around a common theme. Authors are welcome to submit to any of the prompts (one entry per prompt). The site also promotes community engagement through likes and comments.
Posted on November 18, 2020 Leave a Comment
Oscar Orleans is a refugee, living in Israel, serving as a liaison to fellow African refugees, living in a slum of Tel Aviv. Orleans is called in by his friend, Inspector Kobi Sambinsky, of the Asylum unit with the Israeli police, to assist when a young man, from South Sudan, is found murdered in a bombed-out, waterfront building and no one is able to identify him. The case takes Orleans and Sambinsky into a mystery dating back to King Solomon’s time.
Fertik creates a wonderful ensemble cast of characters this is a fast-paced crime thriller. The relationship between Orleans and Sambinsky is well-developed and evolves very naturally over the course of the story. I enjoyed Angelika Cone’s character. Her technical expertise and analytical skills helped round out the Orleans and Sambinsky duo. The interweaving of modern-day with ancient legend added an interesting layer.
The dialogue was well-done and takes into consideration cultural influences from where various characters learned English. Making it true to their individual backgrounds and more unique.
This story held my attention to the point that I read it in one sitting. A must-read if you enjoy a crime thriller set in an exotic location.
Michael Fertik is the New York Times best-selling author of The Reputation Economy. He is a prize winning short story and film writer, poet, and playwright. Michael is a serial entrepreneur and venture capital investor. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, He lives in California.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Hip Set in exchange for my honest review.
Do you have a book in new of review? Would you like to be interviewed about your latest project? I’d like to work with you! Please visit my Contact Me page to complete the form with your details.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
By: Jodi Samuels Originally from South Africa, Jodi Samuels is a speaker, activist, author, and super mom. In her book, Chutzpah, Wisdom, and Wine, Jodi shares her inspiring mission to change the world. Her story is one of resilience and living Judaism in every way possible. Samuels’ memoir demonstrates the importance of living the Jewish…
By: Melvyn Westreich When a rabbi goes missing from an Ultra-Orthodox community in lower Michigan, the Rebbi asks Simon Lincoln to take the case. A former police officer and private detective, Lincoln reluctantly accepts the assistance of his fiancé, computer wiz, Dafna Lachler. When the case takes a turn, creating fear of a serial killer,…
By: Jules Brown For my second Non-Fiction November selection, I joined Jules Brown on a 9 country in 9 days train trip across Europe…in the middle of a heatwave. This adventure travels through Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Liechtenstein, Zürich, and Milan. This is the second work by Jules Brown I’ve read and it…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on November 18, 2020 2 Comments
Is your book club reading a nonfiction selection? Not sure how to facilitate a meaningful discussion with nonfiction? As it is currently, “Nonfiction November”, I’ve put together a list of questions for a book club discussion of a nonfiction book. Download a printable copy for your next club meeting.
1. What did you like best about this book?
2. What did you like least about this book?
3. Share a favorite quote from the book. Why did this quote stand out?
4. What feelings did this book evoke for you?
5. What did you learn from reading this book?
6. If you got the chance to ask the author of this book one question, what would it be?
7. How does the title relate to the book’s contents? What other title might you choose?
8. What idea(s) was the author trying to get across? What do you feel was the author’s purpose in writing this book?
9. What new questions do you now have about this subject after reading this book?
10. What aspect of the story did you most relate to?
11. What surprised you about this book or the subject?
12. What other books on this topic have you read? How does this one compare?
13. What did you already know about this topic before reading this book?
14. What other books on this topic would you like to read?
15. What about this book drew you in and kept you reading?
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
If you’re looking for a nonfiction book selection for you next club meeting, here are a few I highly recommend:
Chutzpah, Wisdom, and Wine: The Journey of an Unstoppable Woman, by Jodi Samuels
The Girl Who Said Goodbye: A Memoir of a Khmer Rouge Survivor, by Heather Allen
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Do you belong to a book club? If not, now is a great time to get your friends together for an hour or so to discuss your current reads. Not sure what to talk about? I’ve put together a list of questions, perfect for discussing any fiction book, in order to help you facilitate a…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on November 17, 2020 Leave a Comment
Early reviews are coming in for The Package, A Novella. I am honored to receive a second five star review from Readers’ Favorite.
The Package: A Novella by Heidi Slowinski is a short read packed with mystery and excitement. Noa, a travel blogger with plenty of initiative, purchases a jacket from a thrift store on a work-related trip. The jacket, while comfortable, has a strange note in the pocket. Initially, Noa simply ignores the note, but its strange aura compels her to follow its instructions. The note’s direction leads to Noa being passed an envelope and completing a delivery, for which she is financially compensated. Clearly, Noa has found herself in the middle of something she was never meant to be a part of. The situation goes far beyond making strange drops of envelopes and getting paid, and her new endeavors bring an element of danger into the equation. How deep is Noa willing to go?
Novellas by nature are succinct, often telling the story but lacking in description to show the story; The Package is different. Author Heidi Slowinski has done an excellent job of telling a riveting and mysterious adventure, while also painting a picture through the prose. The characters are real and believable. I was able to form attachments and become genuinely concerned and involved in the story. The dialogue is well-done and adds an element of reality to the story as well. Slowinski is an artist in the realm of mystery and wonder, and The Package is a prime example of that. A truly enjoyable short read, perfect for your next flight or travels–you won’t regret it!
Joshua Soule for Readers’ Favorite
The Package, A Novella is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
You read that headline correctly! I have a new novella coming before the end of 2020, official release date to be announced soon. The Package is a short thriller following Noa, a travel blogger who finds herself working for an international spy agency. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be releasing more details, including an…
Welcome back, reader! This week, I’m excited to highlight some of my short story writing for you. First, I’d like to thank Andy Thomson at The Blogging Station for featuring my short story, ‘Ruth Long, Age 88’. This story is based on a writing prompt to write a funeral scene from the viewpoint of the…
Early reviews are coming in for The Package, A Novella. I am honored to receive a five star review from Readers’ Favorite. From Readers’ Favorite The Package by Heidi Slowinski keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Noa is a travel blogger who is and has been since childhood a spy thriller junkie. On a…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Posted on November 16, 2020 Leave a Comment
Welcome reader! This week, I’m featuring a short story I recently submitted to Reedsy Prompt, Contest 67: The Great Escape. “What Is Your Emergency” is based on the writing prompt: write a thriller about someone who witnesses a murder…except there’s no evidence a murder has taken place.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“Yes, I’m calling to report a murder,” she said in a cold, distant voice.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. Did you say you’re calling to report a murder?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes,” answered Victoria. She stared vacantly.
“I’m going to need some more details so I can send help. Let’s start with your location. Can you tell me where you are?”
“No,” said Victoria.
“You don’t know where you are, ma’am?” asked the dispatcher.
“No,” answered Victoria.
“Can you tell me what is around you? Is there anyone else you can ask?”
“No, I’m alone and it’s dark,” said Victoria.
“What’s your name, ma’am?” asked the dispatcher.
“Victoria Dawson.”
“Victoria,” repeated the dispatcher. “Okay, Victoria. Can you tell me what happened?”
“I don’t know,” answered Victoria.
“You said you were calling to report a murder. How do you know there has been a murder?”
“Because I killed him.”
“Okay,” answered the dispatcher. “Victoria, I need you to stay on the phone with me.” Clack, clack, clack. The dispatcher rapidly worked to track the location of the call. Only a general region in a heavily wooded area. The nearest county route was fifteen miles from where the dot was on the map. The dispatcher started her notes to the police. “I need you to tell me more about what happened. You said there was a murder and you killed someone one. Do you know the victim?”
“Yes, he’s my husband.”
“What is your husband’s name?”
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
“John Dawson.”
“Okay, and do you remember what happened to John?” asked the dispatcher.
“No.”
“Are you near John right now?”
“No. I’m alone,” Victoria repeated.
“Do you know where John is now?”
“No, I don’t know where he is.”
“Victoria, I’m sorry to ask so many questions but I need more information to know how best to help you. Now you said you’re alone in a dark area and there has been a murder. You said you killed John, who is your husband. Can you tell me anything else about where you are or what happened?”
“We argued this morning before he left for work and I killed him,” Victoria answered.
The dispatcher added this information in her instructions to the police unit on its way to the general area the call was coming from.
“What did you and John argue about?” asked the dispatcher. Maybe if he could keep her talking, he would get something more useful.
“He said I was spending too much money. But it was just a misunderstanding. He thought I was wearing a new dress, but it wasn’t a new dress.” Her voice trailed off.
“Okay, I have an officer on their way to your location. I’m going to stay on the phone with you until they arrive. Can you tell me anything else about what happened to your husband?”
“He was angry,” she answered.
The dispatcher entered more information to the unit on the way to the location.
Somewhere in the night, two sheriff deputies were driving down a deserted county road. A thin mist hung in the air, in the beams of the headlights. The road seemed to absorb the light.
“This sounds strange to me,” said the deputy from the passenger seat.
“What does?” answered her partner.
“Dispatch says it’s a woman, alone, who reports she killed her husband after a domestic incident. But the woman can’t tell them what happened or where her husband is now.”
“Is dispatch sure about the location? I don’t know who would be out here. There’s nothing around here.”
“Maybe she dumped the body and then decided to call herself in,” suggested the deputy.
The dispatcher was getting nowhere with Victoria. She was clearly in shock. She spoke in a flat tone. Her voice was completely devoid of any emotion.
“Victoria, do you see any cars where you are?” he asked her, hoping the squad car was close.
“No, I don’t see anyone,” she answered.
The dispatcher tapped out instructions to the dispatched car. “I’m going to ask the officers en route to you to use their lights and sirens to help you see or hear them, okay Victoria?”
Out on the road, the deputy spotted the incoming instructions.
“Dispatch wants us to turn on the lights and sirens,” said the deputy. Her partner pressed a couple of buttons on the dash. Flickers of red and blue reflected across the bare trees lining the roadway. The sirens echoed into the dark night.
“I think I hear something,” Victoria told the dispatcher. “It sounds like sirens.”
“Good,” answered the dispatcher. “Do you see lights?”
“Yes, I think I see them.”
“Are you near the road?” asked the dispatcher.
“No,” responded Victoria.
“Can you get to the side of the road? The officers will have an easier time finding you.”
“Okay.”
The dispatcher heard crunching leaves and snapping twigs. The wailing sirens were faint in the background. He sent another message to the car to slow down. They were getting close.
“We’re getting close. Sounds like she’s somewhere in these woods. The dispatcher can hear the sirens on the call,” said the deputy. Her partner let off the gas and the car slowed. The deputy scanned the sides of the road. “We may need to stop. I can’t see a thing.” Her partner eased the car to the shoulder of the road and came to a stop.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
“Tell dispatch to tell the woman to head for the car.” They got out of the car, pulling torch lights from their belts, shining them through the trees on either side of the road.
“Are you still with me, Victoria?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes, I’m still here,” she answered, slightly breathless.
“Good. Can you still hear the sirens?”
“Yes, they’re louder now.”
“Okay, good. The deputies are out near the road looking for you. Do you see the red and blue lights from the car or flashlights anywhere around you?” asked the dispatcher.
“Yes, I see red and blue flashes.”
“Okay, good. You keep walking and head for the red and blue lights. I’m going to stay with you.” SPLASH. “Victoria, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m okay,” she answered. “I stepped in a stream or a puddle or something.”
“But you’re okay?” asked the dispatcher again.
“Yes,” she responded over the splashing of her steps in the water.
Up on the roadway, the two deputies worked slowly down both sides of the roadway, shining their flashlight beams into the trees.
“Do you see anything?” asked the deputy.
“Nothing on this side,” said her partner.
“She can’t be far,” answered the deputy. “Wait, I think I see something.” Her partner moved to the other side of the road, shining his beam to meet hers.
“How did she get way out here,” responded her partner.
“Victoria?” called the deputy. The woman stumbled in the glare of the flashlight beams.
“I can’t see,” the woman called back.
The deputy lowered her beam to the ground in front of the woman as she made her way over a fallen branch. Her partner kept his beam up near the woman’s face. He seemed frozen.
“Lower your beam,” commanded the deputy. Her partner jerked his arm down. His wide eyes never left the woman’s face.
When she finally broke through the tree line to the shoulder of the road, she stopped a moment. The deputy’s free hand went to her holster. An instinct. The woman was wearing a long, ice blue, satin nightgown with a matching floral print robe. Her long brown hair was tangled around her head. Her hands hung at her side, still holding her cell phone in her right hand. The deputy glanced to her left, noticing her partner seemed frozen.
“Victoria, can you put your hands up in the air for me?” asked the deputy.
“She didn’t kill her husband,” said her partner suddenly.
“What? How do you know?” asked the deputy.
“She’s my wife.”
Welcome back, reader! This week, I’m excited to highlight some of my short story writing for you. First, I’d like to thank Andy Thomson at The Blogging Station for featuring my short story, ‘Ruth Long, Age 88’. This story is based on a writing prompt to write a funeral scene from the viewpoint of the…
This week, I’m highlighting more of my short story work. “Room 306” appeared on Reedsy Prompts , as part of their weekly writing contests. This was written and submitted in response to the prompt: Write a short story in which the last line is the count down to midnight on New Year’s Eve Room 306…
Welcome reader! This week, I’m featuring a short story from my archives. “Down An Old Dirt Road” is based on the writing prompt: a woman is sitting on the front steps of an old, ramshackle house, in an elegant black dress. Aside from the writing prompt, this story was also inspired by an old country…
This week, I’m including a bonus post, in addition to my regular update! I’m featuring the short story that started it all, inspiring Ruth Long, Age 88 and the entire In Loving Memory series. The story was based on the writing prompt: write a funeral scene from the point of view of the deceased. Ruth…
Posted on November 11, 2020 Leave a Comment
By: Jules Brown
For my second Non-Fiction November selection, I joined Jules Brown on a 9 country in 9 days train trip across Europe…in the middle of a heatwave. This adventure travels through Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Liechtenstein, Zürich, and Milan.
This is the second work by Jules Brown I’ve read and it delivered in every way. Brown has a wonderful way of interjecting humor into his tales, which I thoroughly enjoy. I tend not to read travel books because they tell a very edited version of the trip, making it sound unreasonably perfect. That is not the case with Brown’s books. Especially not this one! The reader gets the real story. And told in a way that makes the reader feel as though they are enjoying a pint with a good friend, hearing him tell a hilarious story about his summer vacation.
If you’re missing travel as much as I am in the current Covid reality, I highly recommend enjoying this escape.
Do you have a book in new of review? Would you like to be interviewed about your latest project? I’d like to work with you! Please visit my Contact Me page to complete the form with your details.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase made, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
By: Jules Brown Jules Brown is a veteran travel writer, working for Rough Guide. In Takoradi to the Stars, Brown blends his love of travel with a memoir, revisiting 35 destinations, including his home town in West Africa. Brown is not only a great traveler, he’s a brilliant storyteller. Each destination is described with a…
By: Carol Sveilich Reflections from a Glass House, A Memoir of Mid-Century Modern Mayhem is an intimate and detailed story of growing up in the Silicon Valley, in the 1960s. Sveilich shares her story in incredible detail, making her very easy to connect with. In many ways, this felt like sitting down with a friend,…
By: Jodi Samuels Originally from South Africa, Jodi Samuels is a speaker, activist, author, and super mom. In her book, Chutzpah, Wisdom, and Wine, Jodi shares her inspiring mission to change the world. Her story is one of resilience and living Judaism in every way possible. Samuels’ memoir demonstrates the importance of living the Jewish…
By: Melvyn Westreich When a rabbi goes missing from an Ultra-Orthodox community in lower Michigan, the Rebbi asks Simon Lincoln to take the case. A former police officer and private detective, Lincoln reluctantly accepts the assistance of his fiancé, computer wiz, Dafna Lachler. When the case takes a turn, creating fear of a serial killer,…
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
So many books, so little time! I am an avid reader and love to share recommendations with fellow readers. My choice in books tend to vary by my mood but some of my favorites are mystery, suspense, thriller, and humor. Get my reviews direct to your inbox every Wednesday and check back here for monthly…
Posted on November 10, 2020 Leave a Comment
Early reviews are coming in for The Package, A Novella. I am honored to receive a five star review from Readers’ Favorite.
The Package by Heidi Slowinski keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Noa is a travel blogger who is and has been since childhood a spy thriller junkie. On a trip to Vancouver, Noa is caught up in a series of mysterious surprises. First, there is an upgraded flight, followed by a driver and car waiting for her when she arrives. Although odd, these unexpected occurrences are celebrated blessings. But, things become really weird when she finds a puzzling note inside her jacket pocket. After doing her morning walk through the market, enjoying her favorite places to eat, curiosity gets the better of her. Noa decides to check out the location written on the strange note. Once she arrives, everything turns into a rollercoaster of espionage. Placed in her care is a package. Is this her biggest mistake or her grandest mission in life? In an instant, Noa becomes the heroine in her own spy thrilling adventure.
Heidi Slowinski’s The Package baits you with its captivating narrative hook and then page by page reels you into the mystery. Immediately, you wonder if the female protagonist is naïve or stealthily playing a part. Nevertheless, she is fun, intelligent, and certainly intriguing. The fast-paced plot flows with ease from the backstories of the past into the action of the present. It doesn’t linger long in any one place or time setting. While the narrative unfolds quickly, it is penned with planned precision, somewhat like gingerly ripping off a Band-Aid. The conflict is controlled and without lengthy or wordy complexities. The supporting cast of characters is written with just enough description to hone and sharpen the growth of the heroine. It is a rare gift to tell a compelling story with only a few chapters. Heidi Slowinski masters the elements of a well-written novella. The Package is a thrilling adventure that leaves you catching your breath in awe and wonder.
Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers’ Favorite
The Package, A Novella is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
You read that headline correctly! I have a new novella coming before the end of 2020, official release date to be announced soon. The Package is a short thriller following Noa, a travel blogger who finds herself working for an international spy agency. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be releasing more details, including an…
Welcome back, reader! This week, I’m excited to highlight some of my short story writing for you. First, I’d like to thank Andy Thomson at The Blogging Station for featuring my short story, ‘Ruth Long, Age 88’. This story is based on a writing prompt to write a funeral scene from the viewpoint of the…
Posted on November 9, 2020 1 Comment
Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the October Short Story Contest. The 2nd place featured entry is:
First published when she was nine – a tiny story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The dye was cast. Rita Ashley has been writing all her life for business and pleasure… but the fiction has been a quiet passion.
Rita’s entry was based on this writing prompt:
Four fat seagulls screeched from their perch atop discarded barrels at the end of
gangway number three. They stretched their necks and vocalized long high pitched
cries as they surveyed the flock soaring over the incoming ships. Tired of their noises,
Ben shooed them away and took their place atop a barrel, careful to avoid their sticky
white feces.
For the next hour, Ben observed what he believed to be scam artists as they ran their
cons on the newly landed gullible Jews. He had heard tales of such things on board
during the long passage from Hamburg and was quick to identify what was going on. A
plan to make his own way easier sprang whole as he watched how easily these wolves
fleeced the unsuspecting – the refugees from countries glad to be rid of them.
Ben watched as the shipyard hustlers picked their prey clean with skill and purpose. He
kept a close eye on one well-dressed couple who wore brightly colored and carefully
tailored garments, which Ben imagined to be the latest fashions. They appeared to be
waiting for newly arrived passengers. The woman bumped, full frontal, into a newly
disembarked man. He apologized loudly in Russian, Yiddish, and Polish, and fidgeted
with embarrassment over such intimate contact with a wealthy female stranger.
The woman had removed the man’s fat money purse on contact. She deftly slipped the
unsuspecting dupe’s pocket watch into her dangling wrist purse while her ‘husband’
snagged valuables from onlookers. During Ben’s vigil, he saw the couple stealthily
unshackle one oblivious traveler from his apparently expensive leather valise. Ben
gurgled a “humph” of disbelief then grew bored watching their routine repeated as each
new group disembarked. He turned his attention to two men who were the same height
and who apparently worked the crowd together. He was mesmerized by their constant
movement, movement and the same vigilance as Ben’s own technique whilst hunting
rabbits. The men rapidly approached the third gangplank now crowded with first class
passengers who lugged ornate trunks and lavishly embellished bags as they clumsily
made their way down the steep wooden path. Ben left his post to monitor the team’s
technique.
He was within ten feet when he saw the two hustler’s forelocks and the black clothing.
Their long beards were clean; one wore the traditional black hat of the Orthodox Jew,
the other, a simple skullcap or yarmulke.
Scanning the crowd of disembarking Jews, the scammers closed in on any signs of
wealth. The ‘Rabbi’ slowly approached a couple with three well-dressed children in tow.
Ben listened to the Rabbi as he spoke in calm tones. “Welcome to your new country. I
am Reb Rabowski and this is my Cantor, Moiseh Brankowski. We have a house with
plenty of rooms not far from here and Jews from all over come to live with us while they
find their way. Would you like to join us?” The new arrivals nodded their heads in relief
and expounded in Yiddish.
“Hashem, G_od, has sent you. We will stay with you until we connect with our relatives.”
Ben was not surprised at how quickly the victims succumbed. The travelers were used
to Jews helping Jews. It was natural to find help among their own, especially from a
Rabbi.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
The scammers continued, “Let us take your bags and wardrobes for you. We can carry
them on our cart and I will take them to your new home right now. Moiseh will lead you
to us. There are many Jews from Poland and you will feel at home.” The mark said, “We
did not welcome carrying all our things, our whole life, on our backs.”
Their relief was apparent to Ben who registered the skillful way the ersatz rabbinical
leader gained their confidence and pitched solace to the unsuspecting newcomer.
“Would you like us to change your money for you? We go to the bank and change your
Zloty to American dollars at a very good rate. We will give you your American dollars
when we all meet at the house where you will find a clean bed and good kosher food for
everyone.”
It was obvious the visions of a clean bed, and for the observant men, prayers and talk of
Torah, were welcome. They handed over all their worldly goods and money with an
eagerness that caused Ben to cringe. He grimaced as he continued to watch.
The victims retrieved money hidden in their stockings, under their belts, inside the lining
of their coats or from inside their boots. The naive Jews uttered sighs of relief and
audible prayers of thanks and handed their cash to the holy man. The ‘Rabbi’ pocketed
their money, loaded their possessions onto the wooden cart, and quickly rolled it out of
sight.
Moiseh, mimicking a submissive cantor, held back to adjust his boot laces, which were
untied. He bent over, momentarily lost his balance and, after a prolonged and clumsy
effort, retied the laces. He smiled to the marks and walked with them to a crowded spot
where he quickly slipped away. The unbelieving victims searched for him, certain
separation was just an accident. Several heart-breaking minutes passed before they
were jarred by their new reality—the ‘Rabbi’ had stolen everything they owned. Seeing
their tears and knowing he could do nothing, Ben mumbled to himself to block out the
screams of the women and the men ranting to an unseeing G_d.
Ben kept his distance and followed the thieves to their carts which were sagging from
the newly acquired booty. For an imagined sense of authority, he grabbed a makeshift
weapon from a discarded pile of rubbish. He wielded an old board with six menacing
nails protruding from it.
Join 5,500+ Followers
As a thank you for registering for our email list, you’ll receive free printable reading journal templates and a bonus 100 book reading list! Members of the email list also receive an exclusive discount code for my Etsy store: MapleStreetStudioHRS.
Breathing steady and with a relaxed stride, Ben approached the men. He felt confident
he could out run them and lose himself in the crowd if there was trouble.
The thieves continued to load their ill-gotten gains onto precariously overflowing carts,
oblivious to Ben’s approach. He swooped in and summoned his deepest voice
commanding in Yiddish, “You stole money and you will give it to me. Give me what you
collected today and I am on my way. If you don’t, I will follow you every day and tell
everyone what you are doing. You will steal no more money.”
The thieves spoke in Yiddish accented English and Ben picked up only fragments. The
‘Rabbi’, angry about his options, said to his ‘cantor’, “We will lose the money from the
work we did so far, but we can get more money if we work until dark. There are two
more ships docking this night. If he doesn’t keep his word, we can get rid of him later.”
The ‘Rabbi’ raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands in a gesture
of acquiescence and nodded to Ben.
Ben pointed to an aged leather pouch nestled in the corner of one cart. “Dump it out and
put the money in that black satchel.”
Family heirlooms, pictures in carved wooden frames and silver combs clattered onto the
red brick street. The ‘Rabbi’ shook the satchel and the last bits of jewelry fell to his feet.
He stuffed Kopeks and Zloty into the bag, closed the battered case, and threaded the
worn silver buckle into place.
“Put the bag on the ground and shove it to me,” Ben said.
The ‘Rabbi’ complied immediately. Ben lifted the bag and walked backwards, eying the
thieves, defying them to move. He stumbled from the unexpected weight, righted
himself, and dashed into the crowd.
With the satchel held close and aware of his vulnerability to the myriad bandits afoot,
Ben pushed his way through the mass of new arrivals and brushed by the thieves’ last
victims. He immediately looked away from their tear-stained faces and quickened his
pace. The damage was already done and Ben saw no reason to dwell on their
misfortune; it was his job to improve his own.
Ben did not look back as he made his way to the street. He was hungry. It was time for
Benjamin Bernstein, new American, to find his dinner.
This page contains affiliate links. This means for any purchase you make, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the April Short Story Contest! The winning entry is: The Unexpected Vacation by John Scott John’s entry is based on this visual writing prompt: Please Enjoy The Unexpected Vacation By John Scott Tom and Kathy had met their freshman year of high school. Tom was brilliant beyond his…
Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the June Short Story Feature Contest. The featured entry is: Riptide by Rylee Alexander Rylee is a thirty-something-year-old author from Central New York with big dreams to travel. She has a husband, two boys, and a dog, and spend what little free time she has reading, and…
Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the July Short Story Feature Contest. The featured entry is: The Cathedral Bell by Violetta Toth About herself, Violetta says, “I consider myself a book enthusiast and budding author. i have written many short stories and other works throughout my life and career, but I have been…
Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the August Short Story Feature Contest. The winning entry is: Becoming Italian…Or Trying To by Kyra Robinov A native New Yorker, Kyra is an author and lyricist. Her first novel Red Winter was inspired by the true story of her family and their escape from Red partisans…
This month, I’m featuring a second work from the submissions in the September short story contest. The second feature is: Rough Waters by J. Trevor Robinson When J Trevor was young, he received a well-worn stack of mystery and horror novels from his older brother, and it instilled in him a lifelong desire to be…
Thank you to everyone who submitted work for the September Short Story Feature Contest. The featured entry is: The Fire Within by John Ethier John Ethier has been writing fiction off and on for the better part of twenty years. What started out as a collection of short fiction, essays and narrative non-fiction eventually resulted…
Heidi Slowinski 