Friday, March 18, 2011

FIRST ON FRIDAY FROM ANN CHARLES - NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD

Ann Charles
If you like this excerpt, leave a comment when you finish with your email address for a chance to win a copy of the e-book.


 It is our pleasure to feature Ann Charles and her new book to our blog.
Ann, a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in English resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, and a sassy cat. She has written six mystery novels as well as literary and non-fiction.

What Others Are Saying About Her Book
"This gem has a bit of everything...mystery, romance, comedy, suspense, and even a bit of the paranormal. Ann Charles has a winner in Violet Parker. I have a new favorite author in the mystery genre! ***** FIVE STARS!" ~Huntress Reviews

"Watch out Stephanie Plum, because Violet Parker is coming your way." ~Deborah Schneider, RWA Librarian of the Year 2009; author of Promise Me.
 "It's no wonder Nearly Departed in Deadwood won the best overall book for the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense!" ~Susan Schreyer, author Death By A Dark Horse

"Nearly Departed in Deadwood is a delightful mix of on the edge suspense and laugh-out-loud humor. Ann Charles is a star in the making!" ~Gerri Russell, award-winning author of Seducing the Knight

* * *
Back Cover Blurb:
The first time I came to Deadwood, I got shot in the ass.--Violet Parker

 Irony is having a big ol' fiesta and Violet Parker is the piƱata. Little girls are vanishing from Deadwood, South Dakota, and Violet's daughter could be next. Short on time and long on worry, she's desperate to find the monster behind the abductions. But with her jerkoff co-worker trying to get her fired, a secret admirer sending creepy love poems, and a sexy-as-hell stranger hiding skeletons in his closet, Violet just might end up as one of Deadwood's dearly departed.

***
Scene set up:
Characters—Violet Parker and her best friend, Natalie

Setting—Violet’s desk at her office, Calamity Jane Realty


EXCERPT
I groaned and leaned back in my chair. “I’m so screwed.”

Natalie nudged the sweating coffee toward me. “Have a hit of caffeine. It will make it all better.”

I took a drink. Icy sweet. “Yum, caramel. I owe you one.”

“No, you owe me five.” Natalie stretched out her long, bronzed legs and crossed them at the ankles. Her cutoff jean shorts, tennis shoes, and dirt-smudged tank top were typical for a pavement-sizzling summer day. “I got your message. How can I help?”

There were five people I could lean on when life kept smacking me with a flyswatter. There was Aunt Zoe, but she had already done too much; and Quint, my older brother, but he was somewhere in the Great White North taking pictures of polar bears and snow; and my parents, who were vacationing in Maine until the end of the month. That left Natalie, the sister that my real sister was too busy to be.

“I have a house to flip.” I took another swig of caffeinated courage before diving into my request. “But it needs some serious work. The kind involving the tools that you carry around in the back of your pickup.”

Natalie spent most of the year playing caretaker at a popular resort just south of town.

I leaned forward. “I’ve called every contractor and handyman in the area. Only one guy could fit me in, but I would’ve had to sell some naked pictures to Playboy to afford him, and I know how you feel about your privacy.”

She grinned. “How long do you think this will take?”

“A couple of weeks.” Or more. I crossed my toes since she could see my fingers. “I’ll give you half of my half of the commission.”

Natalie stroked her chin. “Forget the money. Make it one favor owed—no questions asked.”

“Deal.”

“When do I start? This afternoon?”

“Sure, but aren’t you going out with Mr. Clean tonight?” Natalie’s current boyfriend was draped with muscles, had a shaved head and a hoop earring.

“No. Mr. Clean cheated on me with some face-pierced whore with a tramp stamp.”

I grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. He was just another in the long line of losers I keep winding up without. I swear to you, he’s the last one. I’m taking a year sabbatical from men.”

“Me, too.”

“No, your year is over.”

The absolute tone in her statement made me blink. “What do you mean?”

“I found the perfect guy for you.”

“You mean he likes poor, desperate, chubby mothers who mooch off their friends and families?”

“You’re not chubby.”

“Okay, flabby.”

“Either put up the cash for a tummy tuck or shush up.” Natalie’s grin took the sting out of her words. “Anyway, you’ll love him. He collects Star Trek stuff.”

Ever since I wore pigtails on a daily basis, I’d had a crush on James Tiberius Kirk. Natalie had always confused my adoration for Captain Hottie for an all-things-Trekkie passion. Big difference.

I shook my head. “No blind dates. You know what happened last time.”

“How was I to know he had that open sore?”

Just the memory of it made me want to scald my hands clean. “Nat, you know I’m not interested in a relationship right now.”

“Who cares about relationships? I’m talking sex here. You need something to take the edge off.”

“That’s what yoga is for.” Not that I did that anymore. Lately, my morning sun-salute ritual involved a middle finger and several curse words as I fumbled for my sunglasses.

“Yoga is for a different set of muscles.”

“Why are you pushing me on this?”

“I want you to stick around town.”

“You think me going out with this guy will accomplish that?”

“No, but helping you find the one will. We have to start somewhere.”

She didn’t get that there was no “one” in my life, only “two,” and they didn’t leave me much time for sex. “No. Absolutely not.”

“You owe me a favor, remember.”

I could tell by the firm set of her lips that I’d have better luck stapling pudding to a wall than winning this battle. “Fine. Give the guy my cell number and have him call me.”

“I will, but I think he’s leaving soon for some comic book convention, or something along those lines, so don’t expect him to call right away.”

Never would be too soon.

***
You can purchase Ann's books at the following locations:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Nearly-Departed-Deadwood-Mystery-ebook/dp/B004JF4MME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299396550&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Nearly-Departed-in-Deadwood/Corvallis-Press/e/9780983256816/?itm=1&USRI=nearly+departed+in+deadwood+a+deadwood+mystery

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36543

It’s also available online at Borders, Diesel eBook Store, Sony Reader eBook store, and others locations. Just type in Nearly Departed in Deadwood, and you’ll find it.
***
Contact Ann at
http://www.anncharles.com/
Ann is donating an ebook copy of her book to one lucky winner, so don't forget to leave a comment. And thank you for stopping by.





















10 comments:

Lillian Grant said...

Looks like a great read. :)

JenBin said...

This has been on my wish list for awhile. For me, it's a local book! ;)

Donnell Ann Bell said...

Nearly Departed in Deadwood is a terrific read! Ann Charles has it all in this book. Already own it, so DQing myself from the drawing.

Caroline Clemmons said...

Ann, I'm so happy to find your books! I love the snappy dialogue in the excerpt and will be looking for all your books now.

caroline@carolineclemmons.com

Ruby Johnson said...

Ann:
Thanks for sharing your new book with us. I purchased it several weeks ago, and I would give it a 5-star review.

Sandra Crowley said...

Ann, I love your excerpt and your characters. Nearly Departed in Deadwood sounds like a fantastic read. I'm so happy to find a new author!

Ann Charles said...

Lillian, thanks for stopping by and saying, "Hi!" If you get a chance to read Nearly Departed in Deadwood, I hope you enjoy it!

Jen, it's "local"? Are you from the Deadwood area? Or are you from Seattle, where I am currently?

Donnell, thank you for stopping by and cheering the book on! You are so good to me! If anyone is interested, Donnell did a wonderful interview of me on her Five Scribes blog a few weeks ago (here is the addy: http://fivescribes.blogspot.com/2011/02/ann-charles-gets-candid-about-coloring.html )

Sorry for the group replies, but I just got home from work and want to catch up with you all.

Ann C.

Ann Charles said...

Caroline, I'm glad you liked the excerpt we included for today. It's a fun scene with Violet and her long-time best friend. I hope you enjoy the book. Feel free to email me anytime (that goes for everyone here). :)

Ruby, Thank YOU for asking me to share the excerpt and hang out here today. And thanks for the 5-stars! I really appreciate you being so generous.

Sandra, thank you for stopping by and saying, "Hi!" Your book CAUGHT BY A CLOWN has some great reviews. I love the title! I hope you're having a wonderful time promoting and spreading word about your book. I look forward to running into you somewhere else online again. It's always good to talk to you. :)

Ann C.

Marianne Strnad said...

WOWSERS! I loved the snappy repartee, more please! You've got a winner on your hands there Ann, and I'm not talking about the "Charlie Sheen" kind of winner either-lol!

Ann Charles said...

Marianne--

A "Charlie Sheen" kind of winner--ha ha ha ha! I needed that laugh, thanks.

Thanks for the comment!

Ann C.

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