Tag Archives: thriller

Happy Halloween from Transylvania! (for real!) 🎃

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Hello, friends!

Most of you celebrate Halloween tomorrow, and I can’t tell you how lucky you are. I live in Romania, and sadly, Halloween isn’t a local tradition (imagine that, in the land of Dracula!).  Although, if one wants to dress up there’s always a club or party where, for one night a year, we can be whoever we want to be.

One of my favorite characters is the classy, timeless Morticia Addams, because, like her, I have a strong dose of cynicism and a macabre sense of humor at times. And I even found a man who appreciates this stuff. What more can one wish for?

I’ve always been fascinated by Halloween as a holiday, which is why I am already writing my second book that takes place around this time of year. The first one is Killer Score, a novel from the Irish Garda Files, which won the RONE award for Best Suspense/Mystery of 2021.

In Killer Score, psychologist Chelsea Campbell explains the meaning of Halloween to Evan Gallagher, an ex-FBI agent recently transferred to work as a detective for the Irish police.

“Halloween really is a big deal around here, too,” Evan observed while driving.

“Sure it is. Don’t you celebrate it in America?”

“We do, big time. Somehow, I’ve never gotten the spirit of it. Maybe it’s because in modern times it’s more of a commercial holiday than a true celebration of… the spirits’ world—or whatever its meaning. To be shamefully honest, I never knew exactly what this holiday was about.”

Chelsea shifted her body to make herself more comfortable. “Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is a Celtic holiday that marked Samhain, the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. The Celts thought this was the darkest time of the year, when the boundaries between this world and the otherworld thinned, and the spirits or fairies could come into this world more easily. The souls of the dead were also said to revisit their homes seeking hospitality. Places were set at the dinner table and by the fire to welcome them. The belief that the souls of the dead return home on one night of the year and must be appeased has ancient origins and is present in many cultures throughout the world. This is what Halloween is really about.”

This explanation takes place while they drive to a Halloween party. As I wrote this scene I could almost hear Chelsea’s voice and Irish accent, that seems to enhance a good storytelling on a cold October night.

And because my books mirror life as much as possible, we also have a romantic scene at the club. Let’s see who else listens to my kind of music! 😉

The music changed and the DJ dedicated the slow version of Santana’s Black Magic Woman to all the ladies in the place. As the exotic guitar filled the air with magic, Chelsea smiled, closing her eyes and letting her head fall back. Evan couldn’t resist. Unthinkingly, he drew her into his arms, moving his body in tune with hers. Their shoulders glided together, their hips undulated close together. The music was like a drug. His hands tightened on her hips, traveled up her back, enjoying the exquisite caress of her hair. Her fingers sunk in the muscles of his chest, clutching handfuls of his shirt. As the music grew more intense, so did their dance, the friction, the heat, the closeness. Evan buried his face in her hair, hoping for solace, finding none. The fresh, spicy scent of her was maddening, promising things beyond his imagination. He didn’t want to want her, but his body burned to touch her, to have her, to possess her. She had a magnetic quality he’d never encountered in any other woman. Maybe because she wasn’t just a babe with a stunning body. She also had a powerful and intriguing mind. She constantly challenged him, and he never backed down from a challenge.

If that got your blood warm, this next—and final teaser—should make it run cold again, because alas, the killer strikes again. And what better night than Halloween?

“Bad doings tonight, Yank. All Hollow’s Eve should be a night for bringing back lost life, not taking it. I don’t know what’s going on in this city, but you have to stop it. We can’t have any more lassies killed and discarded like rag dolls.”

 Well, you tell me guys: was this a trick or a treat?

Happy Halloween from Transylvania! (for real!) 🦇

Fondly,

Melinda

KILLER SCORE WON A RONE AWARD! 👑

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𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝙍𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨, 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝙄𝙣𝘿’𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘻𝘻.

𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘿𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙂𝘼𝙈𝙀 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙆𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝘾𝙊𝙍𝙀 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥! 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘴, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳 9𝘵𝘩, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦—𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 4 𝘢.𝘮. 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘰𝘯𝘦 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦: https://indtale.com/rone-eligibility-and-rules), 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤.

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 3 𝘢.𝘮., 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦, 𝘴𝘮𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘶𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥…

𝘉𝘺 𝘵h𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 TJ MacKay 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝙄𝙣𝘿’𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚/𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯. ⏳ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯… 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳. 𝗠𝗬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞, 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚! 𝘐 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥! 𝘏𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, “𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯!” 😲

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧—𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝙄𝙣𝘿’𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵… 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝙄𝙣𝘿’𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘧!

𝘚𝘰, 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵—𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘵? 🙈—𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥-𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝙍𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 (𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚).

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 InD’Tale Magazine 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴! 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥. ❤️

𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥! 🤩

In order to receive the firsthand news and a FREE book as a welcome gift, subscribe to my newsletter at https://melindacolt.com/

In the meantime, I have another wonderful piece of news, and a favor to ask of you: the cover for Silent Strike has been selected to compete in the Creme dé la Cover contest at InD’tale Magazine! In order to make it to the next round, it needs YOUR votes. It’s quite easy to vote, but you must be a subscriber and logged into your account. If you don’t have one, it takes only a few seconds to create it, and then you’ll be subscribed to the most awesome indie literary publication, and you’ll be able to vote for this baby here: https://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-cover-contest

I really could use your help, so thank you in advance for your time and effort!

❤️

 

 

Yours,

Melinda

Where nothing bad ever happens…

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Imagine a nice neighborhood of fancy high-rises lined along the seashore, each looking like a picture perfect resort, with a private beach and a pool sparkling under the blazing sun. I am sure you must have received postcards from well-intentioned friends, rubbing it in that they are sunbathing in Florida while you are freezing in arctic weather.

When you visit friends living in a high-rise, you have to sign in at the front desk. Security officers would check with the people you are visiting before directing you to one of the elevators. In other words, high-rises benefit from a tight and reassuring security.

Nothing bad could ever happen in these places. Right?

Wrong! This crime occurred in a neighboring building. A friend related the story before it was printed in the local newspaper.

The couple have been married for a year. Picture her tall, artificially blond, fashionable with tight dresses and high heeled-sandals. It’d be difficult to guess her age, anywhere between 40 and 50. Her husband, well-tanned, rugged, often looking younger. He likes the beach and often swims. She protects her face with a wide-rim hat when walking to her car. The neighbors regularly see her taking her daily jog in the morning and the security officer at the front desk greets her with an appreciative smile. Mrs. X. is wealthy and gives generous Christmas bonuses to the building employees.

So when Mrs. X didn’t show up for her daily walk for three consecutive days, security got worried. Her car was still in the parking lot but not her husband’s. Security called her apartment several times. No one answered. Having an extra key, the security officer knocked on her door and opened when receiving no answer. The apartment was empty. Maybe she was gone with her husband.

Mr. X returned from his trip in the night and two days later called the police saying that his wife was missing.

The police found her purse and car keys at home. So where was she?

A day later, a woman body dressed in bra and bikini, and high-heeled sandals was found lying on the sand of a beach at a two-hour distance. The woman was identified as Mrs. X.

Mr. X collapsed, crying that his wife has committed suicide.

What is your verdict? Who killed Mrs. X and why?

Police suspected everyone. Husband, security guard, creep from outside, Mrs. X committing suicide.

Then police looked at motives and alibis.

1-Creep from outside could have killed her while she was on the beach but would have thrown her in the ocean in front of her building. Why take extra chance in moving her elsewhere?

2- Security guard had no serious motive to kill her. In the contrary he benefited from her gifts when she was alive.

3-Suicide: how could she have gone to that faraway beach without her car? The way she took care of herself was not characteristic of a depressed woman.

4-husband had a great alibi. He was on a trip and proofed that he met with people, but the fact he took so long to report the crime incriminated him. Also the fact that her car keys were in the purse left at home.

Police report said that the husband killed her by strangulation, shoved her in his trunk, then went on his trip, came back to dump her in the ocean, then went back to meet again with his partners, there by consolidating his alibi.

His motive: Money. Police discovered he had taken an insurance on his wife, and claimed she was depressive because she often visited a friend who was a psychiatrist, but they were friendly visits, not professional. He is in jail, awaiting his sentence. The apartment was sold.

Think you know your neighbors? Reviewed in the United States “This is an enjoyable cozy mystery, its emphasis on the romance between the main characters, Alexa Partson and Dante Cantari. The Italian hunk is every woman’s dream – smart, attentive and a dynamo in the boudoir. As well as on the beach! When Alexa is accused of killing her neighbor and nemesis, Steve Bairey, Dante steps up as her lawyer and protector, too. Through it all, the author skillfully weaves in the high life of condo living on the sands of Fort Lauderdale. And it’s dangers. Because someone in the building wants Alexa dead. And won’t stop until she is. There’s a host of interesting secondary characters, who become suspects in Alexa’s eyes, as she and Dante play amateur sleuths in order to catch the real murderer. The conclusion is fast-paced and the mystery kept me guessing right to the end. I will definitely be reading more from this writer.“

“Her French Count is a great romance with an excellent mystery.” ~Publishers’ Weekly
“This is a wonderfully exciting romantic suspense novel. The characters are appealing and the setting is very romantic, a chateau in the Loire Valley. There is an interesting cast of characters. The plot is full of action and the reader is never sure who is on the side of good or evil.” ~ Romance Studio
“Murder, mystery, and intrigue seem to follow Cheryl as she assists Francois on his project. A great contemporary romantic read.” ~Review Your Book
“Mona Risk brings old-fashioned romance back into style… full of mystery and intrigue.  I loved Ms. Risk’s injection of humor into the story. A sweet mystery romance you’re guaranteed to enjoy.” ~ Two Lips Review
“Ms. Risk does a nice job of building the relationship between the main characters while exploring the mystery of the lost statue.” ~ Simply Romance Review
“Mona Risk will pull you in with her amazing characters and in-depth twisting suspense. She takes armchair travel to whole new heights as her characters travel to their heart wrenching and spine tingling doom.”~ Night Owl Romance Book Reviews
“A great romance with an excellent mystery. The instant attraction is met with a slow and sure build up of emotions. The couple are very complementary, compelling, and wonderfully romantic.” ~Coffee Time Romance

Bittersweet Beginnings 🍂🍁

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Have you ever wanted something so badly that when you finally got it you didn’t know how to react? Well, it’s happening to me now. For weeks, I’ve been wondering what to write in this post, and here I am now, living my big day and not knowing what to say.

2020 is one of the most difficult and controversial years in our contemporary history—I know some of you survived much more difficult times. All of this year, I tried not to complain, not to despair, not to fear the future. I faced it with a smile on my face and forced optimism, immersing myself in work. Because, like everyone else, I had plans for 2020.

Today is the launch of my new pen name and the release of my first book in a new genre.

It’s the beginning of an era for me.

I’ve been planning this moment for a whole year. I’ve poured so much heart, sweat, tears and sleepless nights into this project, trying to perfect every single detail of my new adventure. I’ve agonized for months before I decided to start writing under a new pen name, because I wanted to keep my audiences separate and not mislead my romance fans by giving them mysteries and thrillers.

For weeks I’ve studied potential pen names before I chose Melinda Colt, a name that is actually close to my own, Melinda Coliolu. It does sound better though, and it evokes action, danger, hopefully a little sexiness—all that I try to include in my books. Plus, it’s easier to pronounce. 😊

During the past year I have worked relentlessly to write the first three novels in my new series, The Irish Garda Files. I have researched, hunted for information, knocked on doors, and even reached out to An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s police force, to assist me in my writing. With every sentence, I struggle to offer my readers the best product, the most authentic and heartfelt journey. Of all my hobbies, reading has been my favorite since I was four years old. Escaping into books and living along my favorite characters is such a fantastic experience it’s impossible to describe. I want to give that to my readers. If only one of you escapes in my stories and loves them so much you wish they never end, then my mission as a writer is complete.

I spent the past few months preparing frantically to launch Dare Game, the first book in the series. My hands still shiver with anxiety as I check my sales and reviews. What if readers won’t like it? What if people won’t buy it? What if it will get buried among the millions of books on Amazon and no one will find it?

I’ve never been this honest and open about my feelings in a public post. I’ve learned the hard way never to show vulnerability, because in this day and age a lot of people prey on it just for kicks. I know I will get some hate for this post. I know I will get some indifference. But, most of all, I hope I will get some love and understanding.

Because launching a dream of this magnitude during a frigging pandemic sucks!

I know you’re well aware of that. All over the world people lost their jobs, cancelled their weddings, went bust in their businesses, got separated from their families, lost loved ones, or lost their lives prematurely.

We’re living some crazy times. It seems that everything is trying to kill us—Covid-19, the weather, the worldwide political and financial crisis, and pretty much everything we eat, drink, or breathe. Everyone is affected by some or all of this.

To me, September 22nd 2020 was all about me and my new book—the light at the end of the tunnel. I literally survived this entire year dreaming and dreading this day. Well, today isn’t about that anymore. According to Google, on this fall equinox we’re celebrating a number of things: Falls Prevention Awareness Day, National Elephant Appreciation Day, Hobbit Day, National Ice Cream Cone Day, National Singles Day, National Temperature Control Day, National Voter Registration Day, National White Chocolate Day.

All of these things are more important than one book. Because while this book might be valuable to me, those things up there are valuable to all of us. All I can hope for is that one day, maybe decades from now, my writing will matter enough to be included in a list like that—maybe somewhere between ice cream and chocolate.

For today though, I just want to share my joy with you, and hope you won’t judge me too harshly because of my weaknesses.

And if you’re wondering what I’ve been talking about for the last ten minutes, feel free to check out the infamous—not yet famous—Dare Game. I would be honored to hear your opinions.

 

Stay healthy and safe,

Melinda