Thursday, July 3, 2025

Airplanes, Atlanta, & an Assassin

 

 Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries, Book #10

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 07-10-2025

Publisher: Secret Staircase Books



A National Competition and a Deadly Detour

High school teacher Katie Wilk is thrilled when her students qualify for Mock Trial America, a prestigious courtroom competition in Atlanta. Alongside her best friend and fellow teacher Jane Mackey, a team of eager teens, and a crew of devoted chaperones, Katie boards a flight from Minnesota—ready for a week of intellectual showdowns and Southern hospitality. But things go sideways before the plane is even off the ground.

With canceled flights, endless delays, and one particularly obnoxious passenger stirring up trouble, the trip turns into a logistical, almost deadly, nightmare. When that same rude traveler turns up later in Atlanta, the chaos takes a deadly turn—and suspicion lands squarely on the Mackey family.

As Katie digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets: stolen documents, corporate espionage, dangerous toxins, and enough motive to make her question everything. Can she untangle the truth before the killer strikes again?

Luckily, she’s got help—from Maverick, her sharp-nosed, loyal Labrador retriever and trained search-and-rescue dog, who’s always ready to sniff out danger.

Smart, suspenseful, and full of heart, this latest installment in Mary Seifert’s charming cozy mystery series delivers Southern intrigue, tricky puzzles, and the kind of dogged determination only a Lab (and a resolute teacher) can provide.



Excerpt


Weather delayed the incoming plane. We had boarded thirty minutes behind schedule, and forty-two minutes later, after anxious bouts of fits and giggles checking watches and phone screens, we saw our pilot step out of the cockpit to make a brief announcement.

“Good morning, folks. Sorry for the delay, but due to mechanical issues, we’ve had to cancel our non-stop flight to Atlanta.” As the air around me took on a rumble, he smiled uneasily and took a big breath. “We apologize for any inconvenience, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you and get you to your final destination as quickly as possible. Please gather your belongings and check the seat pocket before disembarking. See the gate attendant for more details.”

We exited the aircraft. Our students crowded around me, and I said decisively, “We’ll catch another plane soon and still arrive in plenty of time to take advantage of everything we’ve planned before your competition begins in three days. Don’t worry.”

Famous last words. I hoped I wasn’t constructing a false narrative for our future.

I massaged my temples as we waited our turn and inched our way to the desk for information. The smile glued to the young man’s face never wavered as he checked our tickets. “It’s a very busy Memorial weekend.” His fingers flew over the keys. “It’ll take a bit of maneuvering to get your entire group in the sky, but we’ll get you on the next available flight, however ...” He looked up at me, and one corner of his mouth turned down in a bit of alarm. “The operative word is available.

My heart leaped to my throat, and I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“And a nonstop will be impossible.” His eyebrows, cheeks, and lips morphed into one big apology. “You’ll be rerouted first through Detroit.”


About the Author


Mary Seifert is the author of the Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries 2024 International IMPACT Award winner for books in a series, a collection of fun and thrilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Her books, including the 2023 American Fiction Award finalist Maverick, Movies & Murder and the 2024 Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem finalist Santa, Snowflakes & Strychnine, are must-reads for cozy mystery fans who enjoy a good puzzle wrapped in a heartwarming story.

Set in the charming landscapes of West Central Minnesota, where the lakes begin and the criminals are caught, Mary’s stories transport readers to a world of intrigue, humor, and small-town charm. Each book is a delightful mix of suspense and warmth, featuring memorable characters, ingenious puzzles, and clever twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

Busy crafting her next mystery, Mary indulges in her love of research, currently studying the flora and fauna of the Nantahala National Forest and the magnetic call of Atlanta for the upcoming installment of her series. She believes that every great mystery starts with a curious mind and a love for uncovering the truth, but scrupulously scrubs her browsers history of any hint of crime.

Join Mary on her literary journey, where a good story is always paired with a cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a touch of mischief!


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Instagram: @maryseifertauthor

Threads: @maryseifertauthor

LinkedIn: Mary KG Seifert

BlueSky: @mkgsei.bsky.social


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ANGUS & ROBERTSON


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Blindsided The Queen Series Book 1 by Em J Bakker Genre: Paranormal Romance

 


When fate and magic collide, all will witness the rise of a Luna like no other.


Blindsided

The Queen Series Book 1

by Em J Bakker

Genre: Paranormal Romance



A world of danger, desire, and heart wrenching secrets. Turning 18 is a milestone for members of the pack, marking the age when they meet both their inner wolf and their fated mate. But when Nyx comes of age, she is thrust into a chaotic world of romantic and physical trials, forced to navigate the uncertainty and heartache of being fated-mates with five powerful alphas while training to become the perfect Luna.


Driven down a path of heartbreak and rejection that threatens to tear her apart, Nyx is haunted by her mates’ secrets and the hidden truths behind the prophecies that bind her to an unknown and ever-watching intruder. In a tale woven with passion, intrigue, and mysticism, Nyx’s destiny unfolds in ways she never imagined.


Will she unite her mates and fight to fulfil her destiny, or will the rejection and shadows consume her?

 

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Em J Bakker is a passionate romance writer based in Victoria, Australia, where she draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the countryside. With a deep love for romantic narratives, both in her own life with her doting partner and within the pages she reads and writes, Em has dedicated the past 5 years to craft her debut trilogy.

Known for her eclectic writing style, Em J Bakker's projects span from light-hearted comedic romances to gripping tales of the underworld. Her writing reflects a blend of creativity nurtured by the serene landscapes and outdoor adventures she enjoys, including days on the lake, exploring snowfields, and off-road journeys through picturesque terrain alongside her loved ones.

 

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Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The Whistle of Revenge Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries Book 4 by KD Sherrinford Genre: Historical Mystery Romance

  


The jaw-dropping, exciting follow-up to The Hound of The Baskervilles will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Hold onto your hats; it's going to be a bumpy ride.


The Whistle of Revenge

Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries Book 4

by KD Sherrinford

Genre: Historical Mystery Romance


Sometimes, our deepest fear is not the darkness but the light that blinds.

If you loved Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the Baskerville, prepare to be enthralled by KD Sherrinford’s captivating follow-up, The Whistle of Revenge.

The deadly antagonist, Jack Stapleton, makes a spectacular return to the city of Milan in pursuit of his old nemesis, the celebrated Detective Sherlock Holmes.

Adopting the enigmatic persona of Janus, a vengeful Stapleton, along with the Italian mafia, wreak havoc on the Italian horse racing fraternity and fledgling car manufacturing industry, and kidnapping Holmes’s beloved son as part of their evil and well-executed master plan—Operation Whistle.

Will Holmes, Irene Adler, and their trusted ally, Inspector Romano, crack the code, rescue the boy, and unmask the deadly Janus?

Set against the backdrop of modern Milan, mind games and misdeeds of the highest order play out as the story reaches its thrilling and memorable conclusion.

 


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Meet Me in Milan

Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries Book 3


The deepest secrets are often to be found out in the open, if you only know where to look.

While her husband, Sherlock Holmes, is off playing detective in London, Irene Adler finds herself having to turn investigator when her friend Renata becomes the prime suspect in the attempted murder of her husband, Luigi Amato. How can she refute the testimony of a credible eyewitness, even though her heart tells her that Renata is innocent? What she needs is tangible evidence, and she’s willing to do what she must to obtain it.

When Sherlock finally arrives on the scene, Irene seeks his counsel, and he agrees to assist with her investigation. However their relationship is called into question by Irene’s dear friend Sophia, who is not overly fond of Irene’s husband nor approving of the way in which they conduct their marriage. Will Irene be able to prove her friend Renata’s innocence, or is there a more tangled web of deception at play? And will Sophia’s misgivings regarding her marriage bear unfortunate fruit?

 

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Christmas at the Saporis

Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries Book 2


First place, and best in category at the Chanticleer International Book Awards for Shorts and Novellas

What will the Saporis find under the tree this year—Christmas presents, or family skeletons?

In the spirit of the holiday and a wish for familial harmony, Irene Adler persuades her detective husband to invite his brother Mycroft to Christmas luncheon. Holmes had cut ties with his brother when he discovered the machinations Mycroft employed that drove Sherlock and Adler apart for four years. He isn’t really sure this reunion is a great idea, but he can deny his wife nothing.

Of course, they can’t tell the children what Mycroft is to them, as that would entail learning that their father is the celebrated detective when they know him simply as Lucca Sapori. And just when they think things may be going better than expected, ghosts of the past crop up in unexpected ways and threaten to ruin the holidays for everyone.

 

 

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Song For Someone

Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries Book 1


Finalist at The Chanticleer International Book Awards for Romantic Fiction- The Chatelaine— Proud Recipient of The Editors Gold Seal.

Love is the aria of the soul.

Charlotte Sapori has led a wonderful life, safely tucked in the bosom of her family. Her mother, Irene Adler, is a renowned opera singer, while her father, Lucca Sapori, does important government work that frequently takes him away from them. Charlotte is close to her older brother, Nicco, and they are both doted on by their parents. All is well until her mother receives an unexpected diagnosis which shakes the family to its core.


Knowing herself to be dying, Adler confesses to Charlotte things that have long been kept from her, telling her to find and read her diary. A distressed Lucca Sapori tells his daughter to read his as well. And by the way, Lucca Sapori is not his real name. In fact, she may have heard of him—he is actually the world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.


Charlotte finds both diaries and plunges into the hidden world of Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes as she discovers what brought them together, and how they managed to stay together for thirty years despite having to battle the odds.

 

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KD Sherrinford is a multi-award-winning International author. She was born and raised in Preston, Lancashire, and now lives on the Fylde Coast with her husband, John and their two children—an avid reader from an early age. KD loved the mystery writers Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie was her favourite. She read the entire Conan Doyle canon by age 13.

KD had a varied career, working with thoroughbred horses and racing greyhounds. To mix things up, she joined Countrywide and became a Fellow of The National Association of Estate Agents. Retirement finally allowed KD the time to write her multi-award-winning debut novel, " Song for Someone." KD got the idea for the story after a visit to The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street in 2019; KD has always wanted to write about the iconic character Irene Adler. A talented pianist from age six, the music from some of KD's favourite composers, Beethoven, Wagner, and Stephen Foster, all feature strongly in her writing. ." Song for Someone "was awarded The Editors Choice Gold Seal Medal in 2022 and received critical acclaim from Book Viral, Readers Favorite, Literary Titan and The Historical Fiction Company, which described" Song for Someone" as an evocative masterpiece and a book that stands out in contemporary literature. The novel was a recent Finalist at The Chanticleers International Book Awards- The Chatelaine. " Christmas at The Saporis" was published last December. The third book, " Meet Me In Milan", went live on the 29th of September 2023. This thrilling Trilogy was Shortlisted for The CIBA's Series Book Awards in Genre Fiction.KD Sherrinford is a member of The CWA, the RNA and the LWA. Her short, cosy mystery " A Bit of a Do" was published in Marla Breeden's Limited Edition Anthology, entitled " Malice Matrimony and Murder "On the 13th of November 2023. Twenty-five original short, cosy mysteries from international authors, including Deringer and Agatha Finalists, CWA members, and recipients of The Editors Gold Seal, KD is very proud to be a part of this fabulous collection. Book four of the Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysters, the much anticipated " The Whistle of Revenge" was just released in 2025. You can reach KD on her Facebook author page.

 

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Monday, June 30, 2025

The Brothers Brown

Native American Literature, Family Saga Fiction, Western, Biographical Fiction, Western

Date Published: 06-01-2025



You can almost feel the red dust clinging to your skin and catch the faint scent of jasmine in the air. This is Indian Territory at the edge of everything—law and lawlessness, hope and heartbreak, where the lines between right and wrong blur with every sunset.

Told with vivid detail, this is the story of a man caught between loyalty and his past, between a brother’s shadow and the light of his own becoming. A tale of love, betrayal, and the quiet courage it takes to change your fate.

From a stagecoach town in Tennessee to the first railroad towns of the Indian Territory, we delve into the lives of the charismatic and flawed brothers, Matt and Robert. Their sibling dynamic shapes the lives of the entire Brown family, steering them down a road of familial struggles and cultural clashes.

Matt always idolized his oldest brother, Robert – a smooth-talking charmer who taught him at a young age to live hard and win big. Following Robert’s footsteps, Matt is drawn into a life of high-stakes games and deception. Then he meets Milla. Sharp-eyed, brave, and unafraid to speak the truth, Milla is a woman rooted in her Choctaw heritage, carrying both strength and sorrow in equal measure. For the first time, Matt imagines a different future. But the past doesn’t let go easily and buried secrets never stay buried for long, clawing their way back to the surface when you least expect it. Now, Matt must choose between what consumes him and the life he wants to build. 

Set against the raw beauty of the Choctaw Nation, this is a powerful story of blood ties and hard choices, of the people we love and the ones we betray. Gritty, tender, and unforgettable—this is where redemption begins.


Excerpt

 

Albert kicked the door once, twice.

The window lit up with the light of a lamp. Through the window he saw Milla jump out of bed. He kicked the door harder.

Milla wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and stood at the bedroom door. “I told you I don’t want you here anymore,” she yelled. “You can just go...”

“Milla, open the door! It’s Albert!” He kicked again, struggling to hold Matt upright. “Matt’s hurt bad!”

She dashed to the door and let her brother-in-law in.

Albert held Matt tight around the waist and draped Matt’s left arm over his shoulder as the pair stumbled across the threshold. “Help me get him to the bed. I’m going for Doc Poor.”

Milla lifted Matt’s other arm over her shoulder and sat him on the bed, holding him steady. “Hurry,” she gasped.

Albert grabbed the coat hanging by the front door and ran out of the house.

“What have you gotten yourself into, Matt?” Milla pulled his coat off and unbuckled his holster, laying it on the nightstand. The sight of his shirt and pants covered in blood and dried mud sent a chill through her veins. He fell sideways on the bed and then she saw it—the cut on the back of his shirt.

“Owww!” Matt cupped his hand protectively over his wound, but the pain was too intense. He cried out again.

“You hold on, Matt. Albert went to find Doctor Poor. You just hold on now.” It was an order.

Matt gasped for air, then spoke in fits of agony. “They... got... Robert.” He strained to sit up and failed. His body fell limp, then he fell silent.

“Who got him?” Milla tried to roll Matt over, but he wouldn’t budge. Gasping at the sight of the blood on the bed, she backed away, hands trembling.

Is he dead?

Did he die?

Albert bolted straight up in bed and strained to listen. What was that? He thought he heard a horse neigh, but all he heard now was the creaking of the loose shutter and his own breath. But there it was again, the sound of a horse.

He stretched to look out the window. And there it was, the shape of a horse in the front yard.

Throwing off the blanket, Albert fumbled for his pocket watch on the nightstand and held it to the window. In the moon’s light, he saw it was near two in the morning. The horse was neighing again, louder and longer this time.

Albert glanced out the window as he slipped on his pants; it was Matt’s horse, Girl. The moon lit the corner of the yard where she stood, stomping her front right hoof on the frosted ground in distress.

In his bare feet, he flung open the door and rushed to the panicked horse. Matt sat slumped in the saddle, unconscious or dead. He couldn’t tell.

“Matt?” Albert touched Matt’s leg, but he nearly slid from the saddle at Albert’s touch. “Matt?”

The blood on his coat and shirt told Albert all he needed to know. It was bad, and it looked like he’d been bleeding for a while.

Without thinking, Albert mounted the horse, wrapping his arms around Matt to hold him steady, and rode as fast as he could to Matt’s house. Doc Poor lived on the back side of the field behind Matt’s place. He would take Matt home, then go wake the doctor at once.


About the Author


Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed everything.

With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.


Contact Links

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Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/TheBrothersBrown

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Grave Wind by Janice Tremayne

Haunting Dahlia Series, Book One
Horror, Supernatural, Paranormal

Date Published: June 30, 2025



A cursed lighthouse, a malevolent shapeshifter, and a deadly game. One life-altering decision could seal their fate.

In Solitary Island, Australia. A malevolent shapeshifter haunts a storm-battered lighthouse. When Dahlia confronts an ancient secret, she must make a life-or-death sacrifice to save herself and Paranormal Jack from a terrifying entity trapped between worlds.

Caught in a twisted game, Dahlia is forced to make an impossible choice—one of them must die for the other to survive.

As Paranormal Jack fights to escape the lighthouse's sinister grip, he must explore the human fear of death and what lies beyond to uncover the horrifying truth. Betwixt has been claiming the souls of those who enter the lighthouse for centuries, and its curse runs deep.

As fate hangs in the balance, Dahlia must uncover the dark history of the Island and make a desperate bid before the evil grave wind takes hold.

Grave Wind is the first book in the Haunting Dahlia series. This riveting tale, packed with unforgettable characters, heart-pounding paranormal investigations, and shocking twists, will leave readers spellbound. If you were hooked by the eerie tension of Dean Koontz's Phantoms, this electrifying story is must-read.


About the Author


Janice Tremayne, hailing from Australia, is a celebrated author specializing in supernatural horror. Her novel "Haunting in Hartley" achieved finalist status in the Readers' Favorite 2020 International Book Awards in the category of fiction-supernatural, clinching the prestigious Distinguished Favorite Prize for paranormal horror at the New York City Big Book Awards. Janice's literary prowess was further acknowledged with the silver medal at the IPPY Awards 2021 in the Australia/New Zealand/Pacific Rim – Best Regional Fiction category, as well as the Bronze Award in Adult Fiction at the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards 2020. In 2023, she secured the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, a testament to her excellence in writing.

Residing in Melbourne with her family, Janice intricately weaves cultural superstitions into her narratives, drawing from her upbringing where such beliefs were deeply embedded in daily life and customs. Her bestselling series, "Haunting Clarisse," has consistently soared to the top of Amazon Kindle rankings, captivating readers with its blend of occult supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses, and British horror.

Janice's journey as an author began with a simple cup of coffee, sparking the inspiration to translate her fascination with cultural superstitions into gripping tales of horror. Her books are renowned for delivering heart-thumping, bone-chilling, and thought-provoking paranormal experiences, each narrative offering a fresh twist that keeps readers enthralled worldwide.

Stay updated on Janice Tremayne's latest releases by following the author.

 

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Timeless Beginnings Time Flies Book 1 by Jill Wallace Genre: Time Travel Paranormal Romantic Mystery

 


FIVE 80’s air hostesses had dreams about their SOULMATES centuries before in a 747 crew rest at 36,000 feet. Awake, their forever-loves are gone for good. Decades later, ONE is a physic sleuth for the FBI. She invites FOUR still-yearning ex-hosties for SIX days together for past life regressions to find those soulmates in THIS lifetime. BUT Time Flies...and ONE murderous bastard could be on the loose....


Timeless Beginnings

Time Flies Book 1

by Jill Wallace

Genre: Time Travel Paranormal Romantic Mystery



Avid dog lover, law enforcement psychic and former Air Baobab air hostess Lucky van Niekerk has a gift for sniffing out answers. From helping to solve cold cases to reliving past lives, she’s torn between worlds—the past and the present; the dead and the living.


She’s helping agents track a dangerous killer. But there are some things she can’t find. Her soulmate, for instance.


Determined to solve her own mystery, Lucky learns she must first help others to help herself. She’s sure she isn’t the only one whose life has been touched by the past, so she sends out a call to her former colleagues. Four other air hostesses answer—and they’ve all experienced past-life dreams in the crew rest aboard the same 747 jumbo jet at 36,000 feet. Can Lucky help them solve the mysteries locked in their dreams, or will they be destined to make the same mistakes they made in a previous life?


Discover the power of uncorking past lives and start the journey with Lucky in this first book in the Time Flies women’s fiction series, as five virtual strangers are drawn together in their quest for fulfilment and love.


Author's Note: If you're drawn to time travel women's fiction that seamlessly blends psychic mysteriespast-life explorations, and the adventurous world of aviation, Timeless Beginnings is a journey you won't want to miss. Fans of Kate Morton and Susanna Kearsley will appreciate the intricate weaving of reincarnationfriendship, and self-discovery that propels this story across time and continents. Join Lucky van Niekerk and her companions as they unlock the secrets of their past lives to illuminate their present.

 

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Timeless Pirouette

Time Flies Book 2




A vivid dream of the past. A desperate hope for the future.

My name is Brie Lenz.

In the hushed sanctuary of a Boeing 747’s crew rest in 1983, amidst the hum of engines and the dance of distant clouds, I lay my head down as a South African Airways air hostess. I dream of a beguiling beggar, his eyes a mesmerizing shade of emerald, who ignites a flame in my soul. His ambitions for my ballet career in 1887, take me higher than I ever dreamed. He is my anchor, my guiding light, my inspiration, my love.

But as reality pierces through the veil of slumber at 36,000 feet, I am jolted awake, haunted by the echoes of Tchaikovsky and the lingering mystery of that enigmatic beggar. With the pulse of an odd drumbeat echoing in my ears and a shiver coursing through my veins, destiny delivers, this time, in real life. Is it too good to be true?

Fast-forward to the present, and though embers of that centuries-old connection still smolder within me with the man I adore, I cannot deny there is something missing and something amiss. When an unexpected invitation to a transformative retreat arrives, I am torn between fear and fervor. And amongst women I barely know, I find myself in a magical odyssey of self-discovery and a crossroads filled with pitfalls and shrouded in guilt.

Can I reclaim the lost magic of 1877 and weave it into the fabric of my present, or will the past that lurks beyond that crew rest dream continue to cast its long shadow over my future?

With my heart suspended between two worlds, I brace myself for the ultimate reckoning.

Author's Note: If you're captivated by time travel romance novels that intertwine past-life memoriesballet, and the allure of aviation, Timeless Pirouette will transport you through a tapestry of love and destiny. Fans of Susanna Kearsley and Diana Gabaldon will appreciate the seamless blend of historical depth and supernatural intrigue. Join Brie Lenz as she navigates the echoes of a bygone era, seeking to reclaim a love that transcends time itself.

Jill Wallace was born and bred (her mother would prefer ‘brought up’) in South Africa, and lived the second half of her life in America. She feels like the African baobab or “Upside Down Tree”, with roots that look like branches. Like the confused baobab, she no longer knows where the South African ends and the American begins. She’s comfortable in her duality and hopes like hell it affords her some degree of complexity. A girl can always hope :o)

Sometimes, she loves dogs more than people, chocolate more than good sense, and Netflix binge-watching more than house cleaning (well… make the latter ALL the time!)

Jill’s addicted to writing. Expect her novels to have a South African flair, and no matter the century of her characters, she’ll strive to keep their situations relevant and their emotions real.

Wallace listens to the voices in her head which describe their dilemma and state of chaos. Then she waits, pen poised, to see what they’ll do about it. She records how they find the courage and strength to attain what they really want—be it friendship, peace, acceptance, or everlasting love. That’s the magic that keeps her heart pounding in her throat and her fingers flirting with keys.

Jill started her writing career as a screenwriter. Her first script was twice optioned by producers for movies. When disappointment flooded in and dreams collapsed, an author friend said, “To hell with them all. Write a book.” So, she did. It took her three years.

War Serenade is inspired by a true story about a bon vivant Italian opera star forced into WWII, who is shot down, captured by the allies and sent to a run-down POW camp in South Africa. Broken and longing for death, he sees a spunky red head through the barbed wire and when their eyes meet, she becomes his reason to live. But he is a prisoner, and she, his enemy…

War Serenade won a number of awards, the most recent are the Golden Quill Contest Winner Desert Rose RWA, Maggie and Rone Awards 2020, for best audio book.

Zebra is Jill’s second novel and largely based on her husband’s experiences. Athol grew up in a remote resort in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa during the apartheid era and fought in the Bush Wars in the 60’s and 70’s. This literary fiction/historical/action adventure/coming-of-age saga spans 4 decades. Though the times are incendiary, Zebra is not about politics but a divine, true bond of friendship. Zebra. Friends by Fate. Enemies by Destiny proudly wore the Amazon Banner for #1 New Release and is also a ***** Reader’s Favorite.

Time Flies is Jill’s first series. The common threads with her stand-alone books are the South African infusion, the dog-hero, friendship, impossible challenges and complex timelines.

Timeless Beginnings is Book 1 of the series has multiple and it’s the story of how five ex-air hostesses end up at the home of Lucky, now a FBI psychic, who’s keen to try -as a last resort - past life regression to find the soulmate she lost after she dreamed about him in the crew rest of a 747 in the 80’s. Four other ex-hosties are just as anxious to find their centuries-ago soulmates.

Timeless Pirouette is Book II and the story of Brie who dreams she was a beautiful ballerina who fell in love with a beggar in 1887. Though she believes she met and married the perfect man for her, she fights an incomprehensible guilt and can’t help yearning for her beggar. She is compelled to go back a century before she can go forward.

Jill is in the process of finishing up Athol’s companion novel to Zebra. Titled Leopard Crawl it’s the true-story-inspired missions of one man on a solitary spying sojourn in the heart of the Southern African Bush Wars.

Learn more about the author and her books at http://www.jillwallace.com

  

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Saturday, June 28, 2025

Lost Before I Could See

 

Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness


Self-Help

Date Published: March 28, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media



Victoria Molta is a person who has lived with a diagnosed serious mental illness for over forty years. But more than that, she is a writer who has chronicled her life journey in her book, "Lost Before I Could See: Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness." In her book, she has chosen to write about her adventures and challenges, and though there have been setbacks, losses, and failures along the way, she never gives up. She continues to grow and learn, no matter how terrifying it can be to start new episodes of life with very little knowledge or experience, as well as a disability. She never ceases to go forward, with strength and courage, and wants the reader to know that whether living with a disability or not, life is hard. But the main point she wants to make clear is that she never gives up and never loses hope.

Victoria takes the reader on a kaleidoscopic tour beginning with her childhood in southern California, living in the San Gabriel Valley with her family. She describes her father's mental illness and alcoholism, and how, eventually, she succumbs to mental illness as well, as a young adult. She describes her family as one born of privilege and wealth, though definitely not exempt from tragedy and dysfunction. Through all her breakdowns and setbacks, she continues to rise and find meaning from chaos. From that, she develops empathy for people who have been marginalized by society and finds deep connections. In her 30s, she marries Bill, a man she had met in a halfway house where they both were living during the 1980s. It turns out to be a wonderful life partnership where they support each other in their work experiences as well as find joy in adventurous travel experiences.

Later in life, they buy a house and settle down near the shore of Long Island Sound with their rescue dog, Mandy. They appreciate the simple things in life. Peace that once seemed boring is now so appreciated because drama, which had dominated her life for so many years, no longer matters to her.


About the Author


Victoria Molta is an author, mental health advocate, and television producer at East Haven Connecticut Public Television. With over four decades of lived experience with serious mental illness, Victoria brings a deeply personal and empowering perspective to her work. Her memoir, Lost Before I Could See: Navigating My Way Through Mental Illness, chronicles a lifetime of challenges, recovery, and hope.

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Vermont and has written extensively about mental health recovery, housing advocacy, and social inclusion. Her essays have appeared in mental health journals, anthologies, and newspaper editorials across the country.

She was the first person in recovery to be openly hired by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Connecticut, where she coordinated over 130 public presentations in a single year. She later worked as a peer mentor at the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health and held support roles at mental health clubhouses, warmlines, and public housing sites.

Victoria also created and hosted the award-winning cable show You and Your Mental Wellness, highlighting the voices of Connecticut’s mental health leaders and community members. The show became a valuable resource and was featured on the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website.

She lives with her husband of over 30 years and their rescue dog, Mandy, near the tranquil shores of Long Island Sound. Today, she continues to advocate for awareness, dignity, and healing for all those impacted by mental illness.


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