The "Gift" That Keeps on Giving

Last month, I shared a few of my favorite posts for Hurricane Crimes, Seismic Crimes, and Tsunami Crimes from my failed promo efforts in this post: Desperate Is as Desperate Does.

The annoyance I have for my failed promo efforts from this year is the "gift" that keeps on giving.

Now, I am sharing a few posts for Flaming Crimes, Frozen Crimes, and A Fighting Chance. They are clickable if you want to see the captions on Instagram.

I hope you enjoy!

Let me know your favorite quote/graphic in the comments. 😊

FLAMING CRIMES

FROZEN CRIMES

A FIGHTING CHANCE

Desperate Is as Desperate Does

In a previous post, This Promo Thing Is Crap, I talked about my failed promo attempts on social media for all of my published stories and how Instagram's algorithms are horrible and make everything worse.

That's why I've decided to share a few of my favorite posts for Hurricane Crimes, Seismic Crimes, and Tsunami Crimes right here in this post. They are clickable if you want to see the captions on Instagram.

I hope you enjoy!

Let me know your favorite quote/graphic in the comments. 😊

HURRICANE CRIMES

SEISMIC CRIMES

TSUNAMI CRIMES

Interview with a Killer / Seismic Crimes

This was a post for my blog tour years ago that is no longer on the other blogger's site (and which I had linked to on my website...bummer), so I am sharing it here on my own blog.

This interview is coming to you from a Florida prison. I’m sitting at a table, waiting for David Buckland aka Buck to be brought in by guards. I’m a bit nervous. I only have a few minutes to ask him questions and he’s not exactly warm and fuzzy. But I don’t have any more time to think about that because here he comes.

*Buck takes a seat across from me, the guard backs away after shackling buff to the table.*

Chrys: Thanks for meeting with me.

Buck: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not like I had a real choice in the matter.

Chrys: Okay. First question . . .

1. How did you get caught up in Jackson Storm’s drug ring?

*laughs* You think I was dragged into it by Chewy? I was the one who brought him into it. The narcotics kept in the department are a gold mind. All the money! Through street contacts, I linked up with Jackson. He liked the idea of cops working for him, so I approached Chewy and a few others in the department who I knew had the same hunger for money. It didn’t take long before cops from other precincts joined us.

2. But you ran into a problem; You were caught. How did that happen?

We weren’t as careful as we should’ve been. People started to notice narcs going missing and an investigation started. We thought we covered our bases by bribing the man in charge of the evidence locker, but we were wrong…he snitched.

3. So you killed him?

Yes.

4. Just as you killed the Internal Affairs Investigator who found out—Ryan Goldwyn.

We had to kill him. He put his nose in our business. We had to get rid of him to eliminate the threat of our operation going under.

5. And yet it still went under because of his brother, Donovan. Do you have anything to say to him?

Yeah. He better look over his shoulder for the rest of his life.

BLURB: An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his darkest moments.

Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she can’t deny what she feels for him. It’s her love for him that pushes her to do whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a criminal’s crosshairs.

When a tip reveals the killer's location, they travel to California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic proportions separates them. As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have to endure dangerous conditions while trying to find their way back to one another. Will they reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?

EBOOK/PRINT: Bookshop / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

Google Play / Scribd / Amazon 

AUDIOBOOK: Audible / iTunes / Amazon 

The Story Graph / BookBub / Goodreads

Why did I write a story for Thorn in the Disaster Crimes series? / NEW RELEASE / GIVEAWAY / FREE EBOOK / NEW WEBSITE

Today is release day for A FIGHTING CHANCE!!! WOO-HOO!

I am also launching a new website AND have a new short eBook for free!

Why did I write a story for Thorn in the Disaster Crimes series?

When I was writing Flaming Crimes (Book 4), which featured Beth and Donovan, I was thinking ahead to Frozen Crimes (Book 5) and considering what would come after that. I had a hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, wildfire, and would soon have a blizzard.

However, there was always one disaster I thought about and wondered how I’d handle it…a tornado.

Help! Again / IWSG Book Club News / Cover Reveal + Pre-Order Sale

HELP:

Yes, I know...I'm asking for participants yet again. This blog tour is for the conclusion to the Disaster Crimes series, A Fighting Chance (Book 6). Each post will also announce a short story (Disaster Crimes 7, an eBook that'll be free for a limited time), and I'll be launching a website inspired by this series. So, I could use all the blogs I can get to help spread the word on all this stuff. :D

There will be a giveaway you can enter that's a part of the tour. I will also do a giveaway among my blog tour sign-ups. INCENTIVE! (Bribery hahaha)

Blog Tour Dates - January 11 - 29, 2021

Whom Would You Want To Be Stuck with During a Blizzard? / Frozen Crimes Blog Hop + GIVEAWAY + FREE EBOOK

 

Frozen Crimes Blog Hop Prompt: Whom would you want to be stuck with during a blizzard, and what would you do?

My Answer: It would be a cliché to say I'd pick my own characters. No, not Beth and Donovan. Are you crazy? I don't want to go through what they go through in Frozen Crimes. Nuh-uh. Nope. 

Real-Life Memories in Flaming Crimes / Vlog

Welcome to a FLAMING edition of my vlog here on Write with Fey!

In the first video, I share the fiery memories from my childhood, which I added to Flaming Crimes.

In the second video, I talk about my first experience with fire.

In the second video, I read an excerpt.

Enjoy!

Real-Life Memories in Flaming Crimes

Length: 12:59

What To Do if an Earthquake Strikes / Vlog

Health Update: I am slowly replying back to blog comments. I will share how my surgery went and the findings on IWSG Day.


Welcome to my vlog on Write with Fey!

Here is a post that just might save your life.

What To Do if an Earthquake Strikes

Length: 8:30

Self-Defense Tips + October Question of the Month

I'm co-hosting Unicorn Bell today with: Dear Distracted Writer

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Beth Kennedy in Hurricane Crimes is a self-defense instructor. She’s strong and smart. I wish I was more like her! While researching self-defense techniques that I could describe her teaching her students, I came across easy tips everyone can do to protect themselves. Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month that I’d share some self-defense tips with you:

1. When you’re walking by yourself in a dark garage, parking lot, or neighborhood and you don’t have something that can be used as a weapon (umbrella, cane, etc.), make a fist and hold a key or pencil/pen between your fingers. If someone tries to grab you, punch him with that fist, aiming at the shoulder or other limb. You can also aim at the neck or eye to cause more damage.

2. Carry mace or pepper spray while walking by yourself, put your hand in your purse and hold it, so if someone attacks you, your hand is already on your best defense.

TIP: No mace or pepper spray? Carry perfume or hairspray.

3. Carry a taser or stun gun. And know how to use it!

4. Talk on the phone. Let someone know you’re by yourself and where you are in case something happens.

5. If you manage to get away from your attacker, run in a slight zigzag pattern so it’ll be harder for the bastard to aim at you if he has a gun.

6. Scream! Don’t let an attack silence you. Scream and yell for help. Get someone’s attention.

7. Bite, pinch, and scratch. All of these things can hurt.

8. Grab anything you can get your hands on and use it against your attacker.

9. Kick your attacker’s shins. If you’ve played a sport, you know this can hurt.

10. Hit your attacker’s ears with your fist or elbow. A good hit can rupture an eardrum.

11. Kick the front or back of your attacker’s knees. Doing so will cause him to fall.

12. Lift your arm with your hand rigid as if it is a butcher’s knife and chop (karate chop) your attacker’s neck.

13. Hit the nose. Noses are sensitive and can easily break. Give the nose a good punch or even hit it with your elbow. If you don’t know how to punch, try creating a fist and pretending it is a hammer. You can also drive his nose up with the heel of your hand.

14. Go for the throat. No, not with your teeth but with your fist. Doing so could collapse your attacker’s windpipe. I was hit in the throat with a football...it’s not pleasant. Your gasping for breath, your eyes are tearing up, and pain is radiating.

CHOKE HOLDS:

15. If you’re attacker is in front of you (choking you), take your thumbs and gauge his eyes by applying as much pressure as you can. Once he backs up and releases you, run.

16. Also if you’re attacker is in front of you, grab his shoulder and lift your knee with as much force as you can to strike him between his legs. Even if you’re aim is higher, you’ll hit him in the gut. This is my favorite one to do. ;)

17. Another technique if you’re in a choke hold is to bring your arm between your attacker’s arms and flatten your hand in the middle of his chest by his collar bones. Push hard while turning your body away from him. He should release his hold.

18. Yet another move is to swing your arm across your attacker’s arms almost like a windmill to break his hold. You can do the same thing if he’s behind you but you’ll just swing your arm back.

BEAR HOLD/WRIST HOLDS:

19. If you’re ever in a hold with your back to your attacker, lift your arms and swing your elbows back, striking him repeatedly until the hold loosens and you can free yourself.

20. If someone grabs your wrist, bend your knees so you’re in a squat, lean forward slightly while you bend your elbow, bringing your fist toward your body and your elbow to your attacker’s elbow. Doing this will force him to let go.

SHARE: Your self-defense techniques.

QUESTION: Have you ever had to defend yourself like this?

To join this monthly blog hop visit Michael G D'Agostino's blog.

QUESTION: Who would play you in a movie of your life?

That’s easy. Emma Watson. Our birthdays are three days apart and there have been times in my life where we looked alike. Take Hermione Granger from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, for instance. Our faces looked very similar. Besides that, she’s my favorite actress, we have a bit in common, and I think she could portray me very well.

Writing About: Monster Truck Driving + September Question of the Month

Please note that I am not a monster truck driver. Nor have I ever been in a monster truck or been to a monster truck show. That’s the beauty of research. With enough research, you can make anything realistic and convincing. 

Donovan Goldwyn, the hero in Hurricane Crimes is a monster truck driver and I had the opportunity to let him do his thing in Seismic Crimes, which I am still waiting to hear back from my publisher about. FINGERS CROSSED EVERYONE!

I am only going to address three main things about monster truck driving if you want to write about it:

1. The Truck

If you ever write about a monster truck, it would be smart to briefly mention the things that make it a MONSTER truck.

Monster trucks have massive tires, which are usually Terra tires, and about 4-link suspension to allow four feet of clearance when the truck moves over mounds and other obstacles. The supercharged engines (575 cubic inches) live off methanol oil. The driver is usually positioned in the middle of the cab for full visibility behind a sheet of Lexan to protect the driver from flying debris. However, it’s not unheard of for a truck to have two seats. Every truck is equipped with at least three kill switches for safety precautions. There are also safety harnesses as well as head and neck restraints, and drivers wear fire suits and helmets. Monster trucks are used for competitions and entertainment.

TIP: Don’t forget to mention the design and colors of the truck. People get really creative. You can even give the truck a name.

2. Arena

Arenas for monster truck driving are compiled completely of dirt, sometimes even mud in some areas. Small mounds, large ramps of dirt, and even cars are added to arenas for trucks to jump over or crush with their giant tires. If there’s a race, you can bet on seeing lanes, obstacles, and a finish line.

TIP: If your MC goes to a monster truck show, have him/her be in awe of the trucks and what is going on: the roar of the crowd, the packed stands, etc.

3. Stunts

Monster trucks can do quite a lot of stunts. This is called freestyle. Some stunts/tricks are wheelies, jumps, and slap wheelies/wheel stands. Donovan does a wheel stand for Beth in Seismic Crimes. It was a fun moment to write.

These stunts are judged by timing, speed, aggression, height/length/verticality of jumps, and “saves.” If there’s a tie, it is often broken by a “cheer-off” or a secret “tie-breaking judge.”

TIP: Imagine you're the driver or at the show. Show their excitement with their body language and the things they say and do.

The main thing to remember is to have fun with this!

QUESTIONS: Have you ever been to a monster truck show? What was it like? If you could, would you try driving a monster truck?

To join this monthly blog hop visit Michael G D'Agostino's blog.

QUESTION: What's the best job you've ever had?

MY ANSWER: Okay, so if I’m being honest I haven’t had many jobs in my life and that’s due to the spine surgery I had when I was fifteen. I’ve never revealed this before but I am disabled. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I struggle to do some normal things like sitting and standing as long as others.

When I was a teen, I sold Florida Today newspaper subscriptions door-to-door. I was pretty good because no one could say no to the sweet little girl on their doorstep. I was also an Avon lady. But neither of those are the best jobs I’ve ever had. My best job is being a writer, although I hardly get paid for that. It’s my passion though and that’s what makes it the best. :) 

Writing About: San Francisco + Question of the Month (June)

BLOG TOUR:

Doreen McGettigan - Author Interview

Lisa Buie-Collard - How Heroes and Heroines Meet



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If you're here for Question of the Month, feel free to scroll down to my answer and skip this rather long post.

ANNOUNCEMENT: I’ve kept it a secret, but I am now confirming San Francisco as the main setting for the sequel to Hurricane Crimes. And since I announced earthquakes as the disaster during A to Z, I will reveal the title....

SEISMIC CRIMES!

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San Francisco is a popular city in California. Several things make this city unique. If you’re writing a story set here, make sure to mention at least a few of these:

1. Golden Gate Bridge

California is known as the Golden State, so it’s no wonder why the bridge that spans from San Francisco to Marin County is called the Golden Gate Bridge, although it’s really more of an orange color. This bridge is 1.7 miles long and can withstand winds of more than 100 mph.

FACT: The Golden Gate Bridge is the most publicized suicide location, averaging one jumper about every ten days.

2. Fog

San Francisco is known for its fog that hangs over the city. If your story is set here, you should at least mention the fog San Franciscans live with everyday.

3. Cable Cars

A popular way to travel, other than walking, is the cable car system that covers nine miles. The sounds of the humming cable and the clanks of the bell accompany cable cars wherever they go. If your MC lives here, have him/her hop onto a cable car with ease. It’s $6 per ride though!

4. Chinatown

Packed with open-air markets, tea, noodle and Dim Dum shops, Chinatown is a huge tourist attraction. You’ll see racks of Chinese silks, shell fish in huge tanks, and jade trinket being sold. You could hear metal crickets and smell incense mixed with cigarette smoke and the odor of fresh fish. Portsmouth Square, a popular spot in Chinatown, is where you can find men huddled over Chinese chess tables.

TIP: Use all of the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell) capture the essence of Chinatown.

5. Union Square

At the heart of San Francisco is Union Square, where Macy’s Saks, Neiman-Marcus, and Tiffany & Co are located. Many people go to Union Square to window shop and people watch.

6. Alcatraz

The prison notorious for housing murderers like George "Machine-Gun" Kelly and Robert Stroud aka "The Birdman of Alcatraz.” Alcatraz would be a spooky setting for a horror story. They do tours there and there are many reports of Alcatraz being haunted.

7. North Beach

Your characters can enjoy a night of cocktails and live music in this small Italian neighborhood. It’s also a great place for coffee.

TIP: Some more popular places in San Francisco is the Financial District where you can find the Transamerica Pyramid, Golden Gate Park where you can find a Japanese Tea Garden, Twin Peaks, Pier 39, and Fisherman’s Wharf.

8. People

San Franciscans have a live-let-live attitude. Or so I’ve read. You can find all sorts of people here” business men and women in suits, surfers, bohemians, transvestites in evening wear, tourists, musicians, homeless people, and even Pink man, a man who reportedly rides around on a unicycle in a hot pink unitard and cape. Most people in California (not all, mind you) eat organic food, do yoga, support the Democratic party, and are environmentally-friendly.

9. Weather

San Francisco’s average high is 63 degrees Fahrenheit with an average love of 51 degrees. So dress your characters accordingly. Your heroine could wear leggings or pantyhose with her skirts/dresses. She may also keep a light cardigan/jacket with her. The warmest days are in September and October. Your heroine can take advantage of that warmth with tank tops and strapless ensembles. 

10. Earthquakes

The San Andreas Fault cuts right through most of California. Small, undetected quakes rumbled under the surface every few days in the Bay Area. Every year only a few quakes are strong enough to be felt. Most aren’t severe but there’s a chance that a quake of 6.7 or greater on the Richter scale could hit the Bay Area before 2052.

QUESTIONS: Do you live in California? Have you ever been to San Francisco? What do you like most/least about it?

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Michael G D'Agostino is starting up a monthly blog hop called "Question of the Month." On the first Monday of every month we have to answer a question that Michael picks. It sounded like fun, so I hopped on. :) 

The Question: If your house caught on fire, what's the one thing you'd grab before running out?

My Answer: (Sorry it's long...)

I recently asked this same question for my A to Z post about Wildfires. This is a tough question to answer because I’d want to save my four cats. I’m also a writer and would want to grab my writing stuff. Oh and I'm terrified of fires....

When I was a kid, a wildfire almost took my childhood home and an electrical fire started in that same house a few weeks later. In Florida, fire season is bad, especially in my city. I prepare for fires year-round by keeping all of my notebooks and flash drives in a backpack, so I’d grab that bag and open the sliding glass do to let my cats out on the porch. Usually, they are out on the porch in the blink of an eye. I just hope they’ll seek shelter on the porch instead of hiding inside, because I know they’d be frightened.

Anyway, I am panicking just thinking about this. Thanks, Michael! (Kidding!)

Paying it Forward Blog Hop

I was tagged by E.E. Giorgi, author of CHIMERAS, for the Paying it Forward blog hop created by F.C. Etier. I have to answer four questions and then tag three authors who will do the same.

*This post will reveal things I haven't shared yet about my writing. Are you ready?


Here are the questions and my answers:

1. What am I working on?

The sequel to my short story ebook, Hurricane Crimes. One reader asked me when the sequel would come out and a reviewer mentioned wanting to read a novel. At the time I thought, you're nuts! But then I realized there was a lot I didn't mention at the end of Hurricane Crimes, and that I could do far more. That thought sealed my decision to write not just a sequel but a series. Yes, a series!


2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

There are countless romantic-suspense stories, and several take place during a storm or hurricane, but not many authors have used natural disasters as a continuing theme in their books as I plan to do. Not only that, but on top of the disasters there will also be crimes of nearly every kind, which is why my collection of books will be known as the Disaster Crime series.


3. Why do I write what I write?

I don't feel like I have a choice. I do it because I love it, and also because the characters sharing brain space with me demand it. Romance is always a sub-genre in all of my stories, and I can't get enough action and suspense in the books I read or the movies I write, so writing romantic-suspense was a no-brainer. I write in other genres as well, such as supernatural and science fiction. Supernatural is the genre that actually started me out on this crazy and wonderful writing journey.


4. How does my writing process work?

A lot of my stories usually start with an idea that manifests as a dream. The characters, who are destined to be part of that story, emerge soon after. Then, if I'm not working on something else, I begin writing and I don't stop until I type "The End" at the bottom of the manuscript.


A big thanks to F.C. Etier for creating this blog hop and for E.E. Giorgi for thinking of me. :) I'm tagging Dylan Newton, Crystal Collier, and Loni Townsend! Follow their blogs so you can catch their Paying it Forward posts. :)

Alternate Ending to Hurricane Crimes

AUTHORS NOTE: No need to worry about any spoilers, as this doesn’t reveal anything that happens in the story and can easily lead into the beginning of Hurricane Crimes.

Unedited Alternate Ending:

Beth woke in the middle of her bed, beneath her sage green comforter. Sleep paralysis consumed her limbs. She blinked once, twice while her brain fought out of the fog of her dream.

God, it had felt so real. Donovan had seemed so real.

Slowly, her arms and legs revived from their stupor. She eased out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom to steam the false memory of Donovan from her mind. After she dressed, she moved through the house to the living room. The roof above her head was whole, there was no water on the ground, and the windows were letting in the October sun.

She plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV to the morning news. The weather report was on. She listened to it while she went into the kitchen to prepare a cup of coffee.

“The National Weather Service upgraded the tropical depression to a category 3 hurricane overnight, making it the nineteenth storm of the year—Hurricane Sabrina.”

Beth dropped her mug, shattering it and spilling coffee onto the kitchen floor. She rushed into the living room, and stared at the TV with wide eyes. On the screen was an image of Florida, and in the Atlantic Ocean was the swirling mass of a hurricane.

The weatherman continued his report, “Hurricane Sabrina is gaining strength and is on a fast track to Florida. The National Weather Service predicts it’ll hit land as a category 5 in just four days.”

Her jaw dropped as her dream flooded back to her.

“Donovan . . .”

THE END

Why did I take this part out of the book? Because after I read it through I thought having it all a dream ruined the whole story. And I didn’t want to upset any readers who enjoyed it by telling them, “Well, guess what? It didn’t happen.” I certainly would’ve been upset as a reader and screaming, “WHAT?! It was all a dream?? That sucks! One star! ONE STAR!!!” haha

QUESTION: Do you think I made the right call by cutting out this ending?

Donovan's Deleted Scene

When I was editing Hurricane Crimes, I cut out the scenes from Donovan's point-of-view. Why? Because there weren't enough scenes from his point-of-view and I liked the idea of him being more mysterious. Let's just say I wanted to keep my readers in the dark when it came to Donovan Goldwyn. *wink* But there was one scene I hated eliminating, so I want to share it now.

This scene starts up immediately after Donovan goes into his brother's house alone.

NOTE: This isn't an edited version.

SPOILER ALERT!

Donovan’s eyes immediately went to the spot where he had seen his brother’s dead body. Two feet of water drowned the inside of the house, but his brother’s body was no longer there. He took a couple of sloshing steps into the living room.

     “Coming back to the scene of the crime? Do you think that’s wise, Goldwyn?

     He went still as one of the officers who murdered his brother emerged from behind a wall. His hands became fists. “What did you do with my brother?”

    “Buck and I threw him out like the trash he was.”

    “You son-of-a-bitch!” He lunged. His fists cracked into Chewy’s face one at a time. He felt Chewy’s nose snap beneath his knuckles and it felt good!

With blood drizzling from his nostrils, Chewy retaliated against Donovan by tackling him into the big screen television, and pummeling him with his fat hands. His breath dislodged from his lungs when one of Chewy’s fists collided into his gut and the other connected with the side of his rib cage.

Blow after blow kept oxygen from his lungs and rattled his ribs. He did the one thing he knew could cripple any man during a fight; he thrust his knee into Chewy’s family jewels.

Chewy’s beer-soaked breath blew out of his mouth in a gust, his enraged eyes widened, and he toppled to his knees with his hands cupping his manhood. 

Donovan doubled over too. He was breathless, his intestines burned, and his ribs creaked. He struggled to pull himself straight. When he did, he came level with the gun Chewy pointed at his chest. Instinct kicked in, prompting him to grab the lamp from the stand behind him and swinging it at Chewy’s outstretched arm.

The gun went off and a bullet dived into the television just an inch past Donovan’s shoulder. A fraction of a second later, the lamp flew into the wall, causing the delicate light bulb to explode and the base to crack, splitting the lamp in half.

The gun fell from Chewy’s hand and dived into the standing water. The two men wrestled dangerously as they each tried to get to it first, but then Chewy clobbered Donovan in the side of the head with a hefty fist.

Pain was a firework show beneath his eyelids. Lenses of pitch-blackness capped his vision as sparks of electricity exploded all over his skull. He crumpled to the ground. Chewy jumped onto him and pinned his shoulders, keeping him beneath the water. He lashed out with his arms, blindly attempting to hit Chewy. His legs kicked furiously, creating a turbulent sea above his head.

    His lungs were expanded and unmoving, holding hostage his collected breath. His brain screamed for oxygen. He opened his mouth and screamed beneath the water.

QUESTION: What did you think? :)

To find out what happens to Donovan (and Beth) you can read their short story. The ebook is $1.99 on Amazon.