Monday, August 19, 2013

DIAL M FOR MURDER - MADNESS - AND - LOVE! ...

"BREAKING NEWS! BLACK WIDOW STRIKES!" Calls out from a newscaster as customers gather around a big screen TV at the local coffee shop in downtown Anchorage.

"Suspected of murder, Local business man's wife is the only suspect in his death ..."


On the other side of town, Sarah rips a brush through her hair, listening to the same story. Crimson streaks her face and a ruby lip trembles. The brush drops onto the dressing table.

A faint, spicy perfume lingers behind, as she storms out her front door.

Trudging through the knee-deep snowdrifts, she arrives at a quiet park. A kaleidoscope of shimmering colors dance on each crystalized flake and a smile crosses her lips. Childhood memories flood her mind, as she nestles into the newly fallen snow, like a dove into its nest.

Unnoticed by her, a man watches. His hardened Tlingit Indian features are shadowed by a tangle of raven hair. His dark eyes follow her every movement. His palms sweat inside heavy leather gloves.  He takes a step toward her, but recoils an instant later.

Who is he? What does he want?

She leans back into the delicate flakes and creates an angel. His heart races. He swallows hard, turns, and leaves mysteriously.

Time passes quickly in Anchorage. Ten days before Christmas another murder is committed. A young woman. The second. With features not unlike the girl before her. A serial killer is on the prowl.

Will Sarah be his next victim?

Will the mysterious stranger come to her aid? Or is he the serial killer?

Sarah's time may be running out ...


MURDER, MADNESS, & LOVE. A debut novel 
by Yolanda Renee'





AVAILABLE TODAY On AMAZON ....

Well. Can you imagine the suspense of this story? I can't WAIT to get my hands on this book! How about you? Yolanda really knows how to spin an intriguing plot. Doesn't she?

I hope you all enjoyed my intro. Yolanda is an amazing writer, with amazing insight into the human psyche. Just see wait and see what she has planned for book two! WOW!

Yolanda has also honored me by becoming my first blurb client. I thoroughly loved working with Yolanda on this blurb and I hope you all like it as much as we do ...

The Blurb:

Sunlight blazes on an empty canvas.
Arctic winds gather snowflakes on a frosty window ledge as a statuesque form appears. She moves past a table littered with papers. Headlines splash news of murder, but it's the photo of another young woman with features mirroring her own that draws her attention.
A different headline peeks from underneath the Anchorage Times.
Wealthy Businessman Dies in Car Crash ... BLACK WIDOW SUSPECTED!
Graphic images swirl through her head and a tear rolls down her cheek. She drifts toward an easel and a trembling hand dips a sable brush into a palette of paint.
The Westminster doorbell chimes. The brush slips and blood-red paint stains the floor. 
Detective Steven Quaid waits. His Tlingit, Indian features carved from granite, mask his Irish passion ...
Will he arrest her this time? 
All fingers point to her guilt. 
But, is she guilty of this cunning plot? Or, just a victim of circumstantial evidence?
The door opens ...
His eyes lock on hers ... 
His heart races ...
Hers skips a beat.

Let's all spread blogger love and congratulate Yolanda on her amazing debut novel! Raises bubbling glass of champagne... HERE'S to YOU! All the best, Yolanda! May you top the Amazon charts!

Thank you everyone for dropping by and wishing Yolanda well. I hope you get a chance to drop in at her blog too! Defending the Pen ...

We're off to an AMAZING week! Pop by Wed, for something quite unusual... I hope to see you then!

As always, your blogger friend, and always here for you ...

Michael

35 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That was a powerful introduction, Michael! Yolanda will dig that. Excited for her and hosting her today.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats to Yolanda! Loved your intro and her blurb.

Yolanda Renée said...

Michael you never cease to amaze me and you definitely made my Monday morning re-release day for Murder, Madness & Love. Thank you so very much for that awesome introduction! It is on Kindle now and I was so thrilled to see it there, but this introduction is so very amazing!
YOU ROCK MICHAEL!

Unknown said...

Wonderful blurb Bro! Congrats to Yolanda on her book. Looks like a fantastic read that I will have to check out!

Melissa said...

Love the intro and the blurb.
Best of luck, Yolanda! :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

What if he's both?

Great intro, Michael.

Summer Ross said...

Love it! Great reveal- as always. and that cover is stunning!
~Summer

Yolanda Renée said...

Alex, Natalie, Siv, Melissa, Diane, Summer - thank you all so much, I've seen numerous comments on several sites I'm hosted on today, and keeping up is with it all is fun, and challenging, but I've always loved a challenge!

Michael, you did do a great intro - I owe you big time!

Julie Flanders said...

Love the intro and I'm so happy for Yolanda. Can't wait to read this one. :)

VR Barkowski said...

What a compelling introduction. Beautifully done as always, Michael. Yolanda's book sounds awesome - murder, mystery, and dark suspense. Right up my alley. :) I have to add, that cover gave me pause. *shudder* We used to have black widows in our basement, and I'm not a big spider fan.

~VR Barkowski

Jemi Fraser said...

Yay for Yolanda! Sounds like a fantastic story!! :)

Samantha May said...

Such an amazing intro! I've seen the cover everywhere today :)

Johanna Garth said...

Michael, that was a great introduction! Completely hooked me!!

~Sia McKye~ said...

Nicely done, Michael. It's a story I want to read.

Go Yolanda!

Sia McKye Over Coffee

Yolanda Renée said...

Julie, VR, Jemi, Samantha, and Johanna,

Thank you all so very much for stopping by and the lovely comments. I'm not a spider lover either, but the cover really made my day, and Michael's intro topped it off!

cleemckenzie said...

You definitely piqued my interest! I love that cover, too!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

This is just the kind of book I love to read in the evenings with a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Yolanda, may your sales be the highest ever. Michael, your intro was a beautifully crafted and suspenseful as always. :-)

Linda Gray said...

Definitely attention getting and peaked our curiosity--both the intro and the story. Well done!!

Carrie Butler said...

That was fantastic, Michael! :) And congratulations to Yolanda!

The Words Crafter said...

Great intro!!! This books sounds soooo good :)

Yolanda Renée said...

C Lee, Susan, Roland, Linda, Carrie, Thank you all so very, very much. It's wonderful to have such lovely support - and Michael so deserves the kudos, he's an amazing artist and wordsmith. I'm honored to have been so blessed with his talent, but especially his friendship!

Denise Covey said...

Michael, loved your intro and blurb for Yolanda's book. You have weaved magic yet again. I was the first to buy it off Amazon. Feel quite chuffed. I told you I was hovering on the 'buy' button and it paid off. Started reading right away and LOVING it. It is good to back a winner occasionally!

Your business can only go from strength to strength, brother.

Ella said...

Wonderful blurb Michael-you did a fabulous job on Yolanda's book~
What a wonderful collaborated effect!!
Off to get my copy~
Congrats to you both!

Michelle Wallace said...

The cover, the title, the blurb...I love everything about it. This is my type of story!
Congrats to Yolanda!
And you did an amazing job Michael. I can see your business really taking off-----
Writer In Transit

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Denise, Ella, & Michelle, your opinions mean a lot and Michael worked miracles for me. But to be honest the accomplishment really hasn't sunk in yet. This is years in the making and it's just today finally hitting me at how truly awesome it is, and how truly blessed I've been!

Morgan said...

You know what I've decided, Michael? Is that you'd be a GREAT director. These visual scenes you paint... I can see them through a camera lens--and with the way your brain creates these moments, I think you'd be able to translate that to film really well!

(But writing works too!)

Soooo excited for Yolanda. Loved the introduction and blurb. All wonderful!

Misha Gerrick said...

This definitely sounds like something I'd like to read. :-)

Unknown said...

Wow! Great introduction. This is a have-to read!
Anna
ox

Yolanda Renée said...

I agree Morgan, he does an awesome, awesome job!

Morgan, Misha, and Anna so appreciate the kind words. I'm on the other side of the publishing journey and finding a whole new world!

mshatch said...

Very intriguing! And congrats on your first client!!! I'll be back...Wednesday :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

THANKS SO MUCH, everyone for sending so much blog love our way!

Your support means the world to me, and I never would have been here now without all of you!

SENDING you all a CYBER HUG!!!!!!!


Yolanda,

Congrats again. You comment choked me all up. Yes, we are FRIENDS!!!!! I feel very blessed knowing you, too!

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

This book looks great and I love the cover. Been seeing it everywhere- so wonderful! Hope things are good on your end. Best to you :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Michael .. what a wonderful introduction to Yolanda's book .. the title drew me in, as well as the first line Black Widow strikes again .. the setting for a murder - and Anchorage must be fascinating to read about ..

Sounds a very good read .. cheers Hilary

Nicki Elson said...

Fa-bu-lous! That is quite the cliffhanger on the blurb. Great hook and beautifully written. The intro. was pretty awesome too. Combines so beautifully with that wicked cover.

Congrats to Yolanda! And well done to you, Michael.