BOOK OF THE DAY: Killer in Sight by Sandra Carrington-Smith

Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery)

by Sandra Carrington-Smith

(Click here for UK Download)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When a young woman is found murdered in a public park, it is up to RPD detective Lt. Tom Lackey to locate her killer. With the help of his longtime girlfriend and professional photographer, Kathy Spencer, Lackey unravels a mystery laden with psychosis and unexpected revelations. While Tom is busy following the multiple clues pouring in from different directions, Kathy gets to work to prove her own theory: The last image viewed by the dying person can be lifted from the eyes of the victim to identify the murderer. Using her background in photography and her passion for iridology, Kathy enlists the help of Dr. Greer, a snow-haired medical examiner who allows her to take shots of Tracey Newman’s eyes. Her findings are puzzling, but they are supported by Alexis Howard, the dead girl’s ten-year-old half sister who volunteers information she claims was delivered to her by her imaginary friend Lily. With multiple suspects floating up to the surface and skeletons yanked out of unlikely closets, Tom must rely on his methodical expertise and on Kathy’s insight to find the killer before tragedy strikes again.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF FOOD-AID.ORG: 10% of net sales from Killer in Sight will benefit Food-Aid.org, an organization whose aim is to fight world hunger and provide relief to disaster-stricken areas.

AUTHOR BIO

Sandra Carrington-Smith is an Italian-born author who relocated to the United States in the late 80's after marrying a US soldier who was serving overseas. Although writing was Sandra's deepest passion since childhood, her dream of becoming a published author had to be placed on hold for several years. Moving to a new country provided several challenges, the biggest one being the language barrier she encountered when she first arrived. In order to become fully integrated, Sandra tapped into her love for reading, and over time her vocabulary grew extensively. She gave birth to three children and devoted most of her time to raising a family. By the time she was in her late 30's, Sandra decided to revisit her old passion for writing, and penned a novel of paranormal suspense, The Book of Obeah, followed by a self-improvement book, Housekeeping for the Soul: A Practical Guide to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary. Both titles were sold to the same publisher and released in 2010, and The Book of Obeah went on to win an international book award. Sandra Carrington-Smith lives in Raleigh, NC, with her husband, children and three cats.

REVIEWS

5.0 out of 5 stars "Killer in Sight" | Book Review May 21, 2012

By Milena Rimassa

Format:Kindle Edition

Sandra Carrington-Smith's latest novel opens with a kaleidoscope of rapid-fire images that viscerally transport you through the last moments of a dying woman's life. Impossible to put down from word one, I had to - if only briefly - to get a glass of water, a slug of Scotch and make a call my own daughter, roughly the age of the book's victim, Tracey Newman. I also had to come back. Immediately.

The same morbid curiosity that compels every one of us to rubberneck for glimpses of details at the scene of a horrific car wreck had me retrace Tracey's last jog in the North Carolina woods into the arms of her killer with a second reading of the first page. My ankles burned with her cuts. My stomach curdled as she observed her own impending demise depicted in the author's hyper-real montage of Tracey's final random thoughts, sensations and emotions. I strained to see the killer through her fading eyes and thought to myself, "Great set-up, Sandra, you really got me." Tracey was dead and the story begins.

Ms. Carrington-Smith weaves together multiple back-stories that cannot be taken at face value. First, there is a love story between the detective handling Tracey's case and his long-time photographer girlfriend. Through their relationship, we peek into a complex and inspiring dynamic between these two people. Secretly, I couldn't help say a prayer that the detective would not be killed in the line of duty. Then, there is a universe of brilliantly crafted who-coulda-done-it characters. As the story unfolds, we learn that each has intersected with Tracey in unexpected ways. The author delves into universal themes ranging from the complexities of infidelity, abandonment, sexual orientation, victimization, redemption - and perfectly weaves each character's back story into the context of this murder/mystery. Magically, each character's demons are exorcized through their relationships with Tracey.

Then, there is the author's unmistakable moniker - the other realm. In this book, Lily, a spirit stuck between this world and what lies beyond, holds the key to solving Tracey's murder.

OTHER WORKS

The Book of Obeah (The Crossroads Series)  
Housekeeping for the Soul

BOOK OF THE DAY: Killer in Sight by Sandra Carrington-Smith

Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery)

by Sandra Carrington-Smith

(Click here for UK Download)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When a young woman is found murdered in a public park, it is up to RPD detective Lt. Tom Lackey to locate her killer. With the help of his longtime girlfriend and professional photographer, Kathy Spencer, Lackey unravels a mystery laden with psychosis and unexpected revelations. While Tom is busy following the multiple clues pouring in from different directions, Kathy gets to work to prove her own theory: The last image viewed by the dying person can be lifted from the eyes of the victim to identify the murderer. Using her background in photography and her passion for iridology, Kathy enlists the help of Dr. Greer, a snow-haired medical examiner who allows her to take shots of Tracey Newman’s eyes. Her findings are puzzling, but they are supported by Alexis Howard, the dead girl’s ten-year-old half sister who volunteers information she claims was delivered to her by her imaginary friend Lily. With multiple suspects floating up to the surface and skeletons yanked out of unlikely closets, Tom must rely on his methodical expertise and on Kathy’s insight to find the killer before tragedy strikes again.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF FOOD-AID.ORG: 10% of net sales from Killer in Sight will benefit Food-Aid.org, an organization whose aim is to fight world hunger and provide relief to disaster-stricken areas.

AUTHOR BIO

Sandra Carrington-Smith is an Italian-born author who relocated to the United States in the late 80's after marrying a US soldier who was serving overseas. Although writing was Sandra's deepest passion since childhood, her dream of becoming a published author had to be placed on hold for several years. Moving to a new country provided several challenges, the biggest one being the language barrier she encountered when she first arrived. In order to become fully integrated, Sandra tapped into her love for reading, and over time her vocabulary grew extensively. She gave birth to three children and devoted most of her time to raising a family. By the time she was in her late 30's, Sandra decided to revisit her old passion for writing, and penned a novel of paranormal suspense, The Book of Obeah, followed by a self-improvement book, Housekeeping for the Soul: A Practical Guide to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary. Both titles were sold to the same publisher and released in 2010, and The Book of Obeah went on to win an international book award. Sandra Carrington-Smith lives in Raleigh, NC, with her husband, children and three cats.

REVIEWS

5.0 out of 5 stars "Killer in Sight" | Book Review May 21, 2012

By Milena Rimassa

Format:Kindle Edition

Sandra Carrington-Smith's latest novel opens with a kaleidoscope of rapid-fire images that viscerally transport you through the last moments of a dying woman's life. Impossible to put down from word one, I had to - if only briefly - to get a glass of water, a slug of Scotch and make a call my own daughter, roughly the age of the book's victim, Tracey Newman. I also had to come back. Immediately.

The same morbid curiosity that compels every one of us to rubberneck for glimpses of details at the scene of a horrific car wreck had me retrace Tracey's last jog in the North Carolina woods into the arms of her killer with a second reading of the first page. My ankles burned with her cuts. My stomach curdled as she observed her own impending demise depicted in the author's hyper-real montage of Tracey's final random thoughts, sensations and emotions. I strained to see the killer through her fading eyes and thought to myself, "Great set-up, Sandra, you really got me." Tracey was dead and the story begins.

Ms. Carrington-Smith weaves together multiple back-stories that cannot be taken at face value. First, there is a love story between the detective handling Tracey's case and his long-time photographer girlfriend. Through their relationship, we peek into a complex and inspiring dynamic between these two people. Secretly, I couldn't help say a prayer that the detective would not be killed in the line of duty. Then, there is a universe of brilliantly crafted who-coulda-done-it characters. As the story unfolds, we learn that each has intersected with Tracey in unexpected ways. The author delves into universal themes ranging from the complexities of infidelity, abandonment, sexual orientation, victimization, redemption - and perfectly weaves each character's back story into the context of this murder/mystery. Magically, each character's demons are exorcized through their relationships with Tracey.

Then, there is the author's unmistakable moniker - the other realm. In this book, Lily, a spirit stuck between this world and what lies beyond, holds the key to solving Tracey's murder.

OTHER WORKS

The Book of Obeah (The Crossroads Series)  
Housekeeping for the Soul

FREE BOOK FIND: Parallel Spirits by T.S. Welti

FREE to download TODAY is Parallel Spirits (A Paranormal Romance) by T.S. Welti (Click here for UK download).  Why not grab a copy of this today?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

BELINDA WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD...

Sixteen-year-old Belinda Stiles has dreamed of making the world a better place ever since her father was killed while rescuing a stranger from a burning truck. While the hours she spends volunteering at the library and the woman’s shelter are fulfilling, she still feels her life is missing a greater purpose. After she becomes possessed by a spirit who lost her body in a terrible tragedy, Belinda decides to help this spirit earn her body back–by allowing the spirit to get handsome Conor to fall in love with Belinda. If Mara, a 372-year-old carrier spirit, helps Belinda fall in love, she’ll win her body back and Belinda will have truly made her mark on the world.

...MARA WANTS TO EARN HER WORLD BACK

When Mara, an immortal carrier spirit who has wandered from body to body for hundreds of years, possesses sixteen-year-old Belinda, Mara discovers a way to earn her body back. But helping Belinda fall in love proves more complicated than Mara had imagined when they both fall for Conor. Belinda and Mara are both enchanted by Conor’s awkward humor and dazzling smile. It seems Mara’s feelings for Conor are the only obstacle standing between her getting a body and an eternity spent as a wandering spirit—until Mara suspects that a spirit with whom she shares a dark history is possessing Conor and another spirit is trying to lure Belinda away.

FREE BOOK FIND: Parallel Spirits by T.S. Welti

FREE to download TODAY is Parallel Spirits (A Paranormal Romance) by T.S. Welti (Click here for UK download).  Why not grab a copy of this today?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

BELINDA WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD...

Sixteen-year-old Belinda Stiles has dreamed of making the world a better place ever since her father was killed while rescuing a stranger from a burning truck. While the hours she spends volunteering at the library and the woman’s shelter are fulfilling, she still feels her life is missing a greater purpose. After she becomes possessed by a spirit who lost her body in a terrible tragedy, Belinda decides to help this spirit earn her body back–by allowing the spirit to get handsome Conor to fall in love with Belinda. If Mara, a 372-year-old carrier spirit, helps Belinda fall in love, she’ll win her body back and Belinda will have truly made her mark on the world.

...MARA WANTS TO EARN HER WORLD BACK

When Mara, an immortal carrier spirit who has wandered from body to body for hundreds of years, possesses sixteen-year-old Belinda, Mara discovers a way to earn her body back. But helping Belinda fall in love proves more complicated than Mara had imagined when they both fall for Conor. Belinda and Mara are both enchanted by Conor’s awkward humor and dazzling smile. It seems Mara’s feelings for Conor are the only obstacle standing between her getting a body and an eternity spent as a wandering spirit—until Mara suspects that a spirit with whom she shares a dark history is possessing Conor and another spirit is trying to lure Belinda away.

FREE BOOK FIND: Parallel Spirits by T.S. Welti

FREE to download TODAY is Parallel Spirits (A Paranormal Romance)by T.S. Welti (Click here for UK download).  Why not grab a copy of this today?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

BELINDA WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD...

Sixteen-year-old Belinda Stiles has dreamed of making the world a better place ever since her father was killed while rescuing a stranger from a burning truck. While the hours she spends volunteering at the library and the woman’s shelter are fulfilling, she still feels her life is missing a greater purpose. After she becomes possessed by a spirit who lost her body in a terrible tragedy, Belinda decides to help this spirit earn her body back–by allowing the spirit to get handsome Conor to fall in love with Belinda. If Mara, a 372-year-old carrier spirit, helps Belinda fall in love, she’ll win her body back and Belinda will have truly made her mark on the world.

...MARA WANTS TO EARN HER WORLD BACK

When Mara, an immortal carrier spirit who has wandered from body to body for hundreds of years, possesses sixteen-year-old Belinda, Mara discovers a way to earn her body back. But helping Belinda fall in love proves more complicated than Mara had imagined when they both fall for Conor. Belinda and Mara are both enchanted by Conor’s awkward humor and dazzling smile. It seems Mara’s feelings for Conor are the only obstacle standing between her getting a body and an eternity spent as a wandering spirit—until Mara suspects that a spirit with whom she shares a dark history is possessing Conor and another spirit is trying to lure Belinda away.

BOOK OF THE DAY: Return of the High Fae by Tom Keller

Return of the High Fae (Vegas Fae Stories)  

by Tom Keller

(Click here for UK purchase)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Ex-Cop turned Private Investigator Robert Hoskins always enjoyed the stories his grandmother told him as a child, stories of the Dryad that lived in the tree, the Faeries in the garden, and the magical world that was created in his imagination. He always enjoyed them; he just never thought that they were true.

Robert is about to encounter a variety of mythical beings. From Faeries and Norse legends to the Oracle at Delphi, from Mermaids to Werewolves to everything in between, Robert's world has definitely changed. While his path through that world appears chosen he soon learns that the beings that reside in the world of his grandmother's stories aren't that much different than those of the mortal world. Good and evil still battle one another and it's time to take sides.

What should Robert do when the world around him stops making sense? When he has to find out from a Dwarf that his dog is descended from Fae hunting dogs. When he finds out that corporations and even the mob don't run Vegas, it's the Fae. When the prettiest girls he meets are over 3,000 years old and some of them drink blood. And that stripper, is she really a Faery? Let's not even go there. What can Robert do when he learns that strength in his new world is measured in magic, and he doesn't have a clue how to wield it?

Do Demons, Gods, Elves, and Faeries really exist? Are Vampires truly the children of Lilith? Robert didn't believe it at first either.

AUTHOR BIO

Not the sort of person you'd want to let too close to your computer, unless you need it fixed, Tom Keller is a former computer forensics expert and retired police sergeant now working as a defense investigator. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his family, two dogs, and a mystical black cat that has decided to rule them all.

He is currently working on the second book in the Vegas Fae series.

http://www.tomsbooks.com

REVIEWS

5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Hoskins is not your typical PI! 2 Sep 2012

By Kathy - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is not just another typical PI mystery story. Robert Hoskin's character is well written, entertaining and gripping. Each character introduced into the story is vivid and the writer evokes graphic clarity throughout the book. The story takes a hold on your mind and you start wondering where you're going next. Like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, this is a great book for younger audiences and would make a good movie. It has all the positive elements of a mystery with energetic and forceful action. A spellbinding fantasy with the action of natural forces...good v. evil. It was difficult to put the book down. In my opinion, it won't disappoint. P.S. Can't wait for the sequel.

FREE BOOK FIND: Jack MacFadden and the Faerie Realm by D.M. Andrews

FREE to download TODAY is Jack MacFadden and the Faerie Realm  by D.M. Andrews  (Click here for UK Download).  Why not download it before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Since he was a young boy, Jack MacFadden's imaginary friend, Puck, has always been around, but now Jack's thirteen, and Puck's still shown no sign of leaving.

And, if that wasn't enough, Jack's also been targeted for assassination by a faerie death squad...

Audience/Genre: Middle-grade-through-early-young-adult contemporary fantasy
Word count: 25,000 words (novella)

99 CENT BOOK FIND: Rex Rising by Crystalla Thoma

Available for JUST 99 CENTS is Rex Rising (Elei's Chronicles)      by Crystalla Thoma (Click here for UK purchase) .  Why not download this  before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life -- until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side. Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren't inclined to sit down and talk, although that's not the end of Elei's troubles. The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows. It won't be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret - a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known - or die trying.

Dystopian Science Fiction novel. 76 thousand words/approx. 300 pages

Winner of position #6 on the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll in the category of Fantasy and Science Fiction Novels published in 2011.

Warning: Some profanity and violence. 

Find all titles in the Elei's Chronicles series at bit.ly/elei-chronicles.
Get "Hera" for FREE!

FREE BOOK FIND: Jack MacFadden and the Faerie Realm by D.M. Andrews

FREE to download TODAY is Jack MacFadden and the Faerie Realm  by D.M. Andrews  (Click here for UK Download).  Why not download it before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Since he was a young boy, Jack MacFadden's imaginary friend, Puck, has always been around, but now Jack's thirteen, and Puck's still shown no sign of leaving.

And, if that wasn't enough, Jack's also been targeted for assassination by a faerie death squad...

Audience/Genre: Middle-grade-through-early-young-adult contemporary fantasy
Word count: 25,000 words (novella)

FREE BOOK FIND: Mantis (Fogarty-Tanaka Series) by Richard La Plante

FREE to download TODAY is Mantis (Fogarty-Tanaka Series)  by Richard La Plante  (Click here for UK Download) .  Why not download it before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In recent weeks, three young women have been brutally assaulted and murdered in the city of Philadelphia. Lt. William Fogarty, a time-toughened cop, hardened by personal tragedy, is shocked by the brutality of the crimes. His only lead comes from medical examiner Josef Tanaka. Half Japanese and half American, Tanaka, a skilled practitioner of the martial arts, claims to recognize the method used in the attacks: a karate strike known as nukite, or spear hand. Fogarty has nowhere else to turn.

An unlikely combination, Fogarty and Tanaka, forced together by circumstance and neither completely trusting the other, they conduct a desperate hunt, trawling the city streets of Philadelphia and into the dangerous underbelly of the killing arts. 

Pursuing the Mantis, a creature who uses the flesh of his victims in a sadistic, macabre ritual of self-purification, while Fogarty and Tanaka endanger the lives of those closest to them as they inch perilously close to the precipice of their own worst fears and weaknesses.

FREE BOOK FIND: Mantis (Fogarty-Tanaka Series) by Richard La Plante

FREE to download TODAY is Mantis (Fogarty-Tanaka Series)  by Richard La Plante  (Click here for UK Download) .  Why not download it before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In recent weeks, three young women have been brutally assaulted and murdered in the city of Philadelphia. Lt. William Fogarty, a time-toughened cop, hardened by personal tragedy, is shocked by the brutality of the crimes. His only lead comes from medical examiner Josef Tanaka. Half Japanese and half American, Tanaka, a skilled practitioner of the martial arts, claims to recognize the method used in the attacks: a karate strike known as nukite, or spear hand. Fogarty has nowhere else to turn.

An unlikely combination, Fogarty and Tanaka, forced together by circumstance and neither completely trusting the other, they conduct a desperate hunt, trawling the city streets of Philadelphia and into the dangerous underbelly of the killing arts. 

Pursuing the Mantis, a creature who uses the flesh of his victims in a sadistic, macabre ritual of self-purification, while Fogarty and Tanaka endanger the lives of those closest to them as they inch perilously close to the precipice of their own worst fears and weaknesses.

FREE BOOK FIND: Mantis (Fogarty-Tanaka Series) by Richard La Plante

FREE to download TODAY is Mantis (Fogarty-Tanaka Series)   by Richard La Plante  (Click here for UK Download) .  Why not download it before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In recent weeks, three young women have been brutally assaulted and murdered in the city of Philadelphia. Lt. William Fogarty, a time-toughened cop, hardened by personal tragedy, is shocked by the brutality of the crimes. His only lead comes from medical examiner Josef Tanaka. Half Japanese and half American, Tanaka, a skilled practitioner of the martial arts, claims to recognize the method used in the attacks: a karate strike known as nukite, or spear hand. Fogarty has nowhere else to turn.

An unlikely combination, Fogarty and Tanaka, forced together by circumstance and neither completely trusting the other, they conduct a desperate hunt, trawling the city streets of Philadelphia and into the dangerous underbelly of the killing arts. 

Pursuing the Mantis, a creature who uses the flesh of his victims in a sadistic, macabre ritual of self-purification, while Fogarty and Tanaka endanger the lives of those closest to them as they inch perilously close to the precipice of their own worst fears and weaknesses.

INDIE NEW RELEASE: An Order of Coffee and Tears by Brian Spangler

We are happy to announce as an INDIE NEW RELEASE and BARGAIN BOOK:  An Order of Coffee and Tears  by Brian Spangler (Click here for UK purchase).  Why not grab a copy of this today? 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A New Contemporary Women's Fiction
Approximately 66,000 Words, 280 Pages.

Angela's Diner has the reputation of a safe haven where patrons find a moment of peace as they linger over coffee and tears. For one young runaway, Angela's is more than a place to tell your tale -- it's a place where with the magic of chicken and waffles, and a little bit of trust, may just save your life.

Gabriella Santiago used to be a typical teenager who enjoyed the usual teenage things. That is until a single tragic day ended who she was and within hours she ran from home, never to look back.

Only when Gabby is cold, hungry and at her lowest, does she find Angela's Diner. Gabby embraces her new life and the family she has found in the midst of strangers and obscurity. 

Acceptance is what she craves, but before long, Gabby realizes she's not the only one in the diner with something to hide. Her new family has a secret too, and some secrets refuse to stay buried.

BOOK OF THE DAY: Killer in Sight by Sandra Carrington-Smith

Killer in Sight (A Tom Lackey Mystery)

by Sandra Carrington-Smith

(Click here for UK Download)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When a young woman is found murdered in a public park, it is up to RPD detective Lt. Tom Lackey to locate her killer. With the help of his longtime girlfriend and professional photographer, Kathy Spencer, Lackey unravels a mystery laden with psychosis and unexpected revelations. While Tom is busy following the multiple clues pouring in from different directions, Kathy gets to work to prove her own theory: The last image viewed by the dying person can be lifted from the eyes of the victim to identify the murderer. Using her background in photography and her passion for iridology, Kathy enlists the help of Dr. Greer, a snow-haired medical examiner who allows her to take shots of Tracey Newman’s eyes. Her findings are puzzling, but they are supported by Alexis Howard, the dead girl’s ten-year-old half sister who volunteers information she claims was delivered to her by her imaginary friend Lily. With multiple suspects floating up to the surface and skeletons yanked out of unlikely closets, Tom must rely on his methodical expertise and on Kathy’s insight to find the killer before tragedy strikes again.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF FOOD-AID.ORG: 10% of net sales from Killer in Sight will benefit Food-Aid.org, an organization whose aim is to fight world hunger and provide relief to disaster-stricken areas.

AUTHOR BIO

Sandra Carrington-Smith is an Italian-born author who relocated to the United States in the late 80's after marrying a US soldier who was serving overseas. Although writing was Sandra's deepest passion since childhood, her dream of becoming a published author had to be placed on hold for several years. Moving to a new country provided several challenges, the biggest one being the language barrier she encountered when she first arrived. In order to become fully integrated, Sandra tapped into her love for reading, and over time her vocabulary grew extensively. She gave birth to three children and devoted most of her time to raising a family. By the time she was in her late 30's, Sandra decided to revisit her old passion for writing, and penned a novel of paranormal suspense, The Book of Obeah, followed by a self-improvement book, Housekeeping for the Soul: A Practical Guide to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary. Both titles were sold to the same publisher and released in 2010, and The Book of Obeah went on to win an international book award. Sandra Carrington-Smith lives in Raleigh, NC, with her husband, children and three cats.

REVIEWS

5.0 out of 5 stars "Killer in Sight" | Book Review May 21, 2012

By Milena Rimassa

Format:Kindle Edition

Sandra Carrington-Smith's latest novel opens with a kaleidoscope of rapid-fire images that viscerally transport you through the last moments of a dying woman's life. Impossible to put down from word one, I had to - if only briefly - to get a glass of water, a slug of Scotch and make a call my own daughter, roughly the age of the book's victim, Tracey Newman. I also had to come back. Immediately.

The same morbid curiosity that compels every one of us to rubberneck for glimpses of details at the scene of a horrific car wreck had me retrace Tracey's last jog in the North Carolina woods into the arms of her killer with a second reading of the first page. My ankles burned with her cuts. My stomach curdled as she observed her own impending demise depicted in the author's hyper-real montage of Tracey's final random thoughts, sensations and emotions. I strained to see the killer through her fading eyes and thought to myself, "Great set-up, Sandra, you really got me." Tracey was dead and the story begins.

Ms. Carrington-Smith weaves together multiple back-stories that cannot be taken at face value. First, there is a love story between the detective handling Tracey's case and his long-time photographer girlfriend. Through their relationship, we peek into a complex and inspiring dynamic between these two people. Secretly, I couldn't help say a prayer that the detective would not be killed in the line of duty. Then, there is a universe of brilliantly crafted who-coulda-done-it characters. As the story unfolds, we learn that each has intersected with Tracey in unexpected ways. The author delves into universal themes ranging from the complexities of infidelity, abandonment, sexual orientation, victimization, redemption - and perfectly weaves each character's back story into the context of this murder/mystery. Magically, each character's demons are exorcized through their relationships with Tracey.

Then, there is the author's unmistakable moniker - the other realm. In this book, Lily, a spirit stuck between this world and what lies beyond, holds the key to solving Tracey's murder.

OTHER WORKS

The Book of Obeah (The Crossroads Series)  
Housekeeping for the Soul

FREE BOOK FIND: Bargello Quilts Photo Gallery by Joyce Zborower

FREE to download TODAY is Bargello Quilts Photo Gallery (The Kick-Start Creativity Series)  by Joyce Zborower  (Click here for UK Download).  Why not download it before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

What You’ll Get Inside These Pages 

The four books of The Kick-Start Creativity Series are primarily photos of my work in the areas of metal (gold and silver and semi-precious stones), wood (rare, exotic woods with semi-precious stones), and fiber (bargello technique for wall hangings and bed quilts) over the years (1975 – 2012) to hopefully give you ideas for your own work.

Hello. Thank you for being interested in my work. I had a lot of fun creating it and am now having a lot of fun sharing it.

I guess you could say I came to doing art work by the back door. My formal schooling was in the area of clinical psychology . . . Bradley University, B.S. 1965 and M.A. 1969. But even as a child I wanted to grow up to be a jeweler. I was always fascinated by pretty stones. I would pry them out of old pieces of costume jewelry and squirrel them away in a small, fuzzy, green velvet box lined with cotton and have fantasies about whether or not they were real.

I was a stay-at-home mom when we lived in Chicago’s Hyde Park district so I had a lot of time on my hands. I started buying and studying jewelry design books and set up a small studio in the sun room of our apartment and showed my wares at street festivals. The University of Chicago offered a class in welding so my friend, Annie Kleboe, and I decided to sign up. Annie was doing stone sculpture at the time; she’s now into collages.

We moved to Arizona in 1975. I wanted to learn casting and was very fortunate to find excellent instructors. Bob and Gina Winston were veteran designers selling out of a gallery in California but their studio where they held classes was only ten minutes from my house. I truly lucked out. I stayed with them for five years

Also, during this same time period, I wanted to learn how to cut gem stones . . . another excellent instructor was fortunately available. Martin Koning, a cutter whose skills were respected internationally, had his shop right off the highway near Wickenburg, Az. He agreed to teach me.

Wickenburg was a two hour drive from my house. Every Saturday for two years my husband would take care of the kids to give me a day off. I’d leave my house at six a.m. to be at Martin’s by 8 and usually not get home until dinner. It was a beautiful drive; I absolutely loved it.

My other crafts include woodworking and sewing (quilt design and construction). I owe whatever sewing skills I have to my mother. She was very patient with me. Sometimes I’d get so frustrated at not being able to do it I’d be ready to quit. But she sat with me and she showed me and finally I’d settle down and try again. Another skill this taught me was how to follow directions. 

Woodworking is still another kind of puzzle only in order to put this puzzle together, you first have to design and make the pieces. It’s fun. I definitely recommend any kind of craft as a worthwhile pastime and learning experience.

The unifying factor with all of these seemingly diverse crafts is that they are all puzzles where you first need to create the pieces before you can build the puzzle. I find that fascinating. It’s kept me involved for the past 40 years.

My professional writing career began in 1980 with the publication of Jean’s Arizona Fan Palm, cutting directions for a 3.2 carat citrine (you can see it in the Handcrafted Jewelry Photo Gallery book in this Kick-Start Creativity series), in the January issue of the Lapidary Journal Gem Cutting Magazine. Many years later I was submitting step-by-step articles for original jewelry designs to various international magazines.

And now, 2012, I’m enjoying the writing and publishing of various kinds of books for Kindle. I’ll be 70 years old this year. It’s been quite a ride. I hope you enjoy my offerings.

Again, thank you for your interest.