Meet the Author Podcast Show

 

Wednesday, January 18th I spent a wonderful hour and a half with Rob and Joan Carter on their Meet the Author podcast.

We talked about books and life and the writing life. The experience was fabulous. They are wonderful hosts.

If you missed the live show, you can listen to the audio on their website: https://indiebooksource.com/podcast/

Just scroll down until you find my episode, which is number 92.

You’ll also find all the links for the show and you can also explore their website. They have shows for other authors; books for sale; merch you can buy to promote reading, writing, and authors.

You can find links to my books as well — and merch featuring some of my book covers.

You can also download the podcast at this link if you want your own copy:  https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/52480191/download.mp3

And finally, if you want to watch the program, you can do so on the Meet the Author YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/RBXLAGwCxAc

As a Meet the Author bonus, I’ve discounted the book I read from, Death Makes a House Call, to 99¢. The discount is good through Sunday, January 29th. Pick up your copy on Amazon!

One of the things I appreciate most about being an author is that I’ve met some of the most amazingly wonderful people over the years.

Rob and Joan are certainly on that list. I appreciate them having me on the show. I had a blast.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Meet this Author

 

Tonight, Wednesday, 18 January, I’ll be the guest on the Meet the Author podcast; hosted by Rob and Joan Carter.

The time is 7 pm EST. You can watch on the following channels:

WATCH HERE:

FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/MeetIndieAuthors

https://www.facebook.com/WLFEdbradio

https://www.facebook.com/varietyunlimited

LINKEDIN

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rc-and-jp-carter-16260590/

YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEx5QG9vXdxpNjqfne3M59A

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjn4IXRvc7AhhDXTVeqp5DQ

Link to all previous episodes at: https://indiebooksource.com/podcast/

I’m very excited about this opportunity. Rob and Joan have a super podcast, and are huge supporters of the indie author community.

Their show gives readers a chance to meet new authors and gives authors a chance to meet new readers and visit with current fans.

I’ll be giving away some books on the show, doing a reading from a scene in one of my books, and you can ask questions.

So, if you have Wednesday evening free, and would like to meet this author — join me on the Meet the Author podcast show. See you there!

One Of My Favorites

 With my own contribution to the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles, Death Wears A Crimson Hat, leading the way as the top sales getter of any book in my oeuvre since its publication in April, I thought I’d give a shoutout to my own Justinia Wright mystery series.

It is obvious readers enjoy mysteries, if sales of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles is any indicator.

So, if you have read Death Wears A Crimson Hat and/or any of the other books in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles, then I encourage you to take a trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota and spend some time with Tina and Harry Wright.

The Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries are classic whodunits just like  many of the Magnolia Bluff stories.

If you enjoyed the sleuthing of Harry and Ember, or Graham Huston, or Caroline McCluskey, then you will enjoy the escapades of Tina and Harry Wright.

Each Justinia Wright mystery is a standalone. But since there are overarching character arcs, you may want to start at the beginning with Festival Of Death.

Or you might start with one of my favorites: But Jesus Never Wept.

Before I tell you why I like the book, let me share with you two reviews.

From Mark Scott Piper:

Great Characters, a Complex Plot, and Plenty of Surprises

But Jesus Never Wept is the third book in CW Hawes’s Justinia Wright Investigator Mysteries series. You don’t need to have read the first two to understand the characters and their steady and unsteady relationships. This one is a good read all on its own.

The title implies the focus of the novel may be about exploring the basic tenants of Christianity, but it’s not. Yes, there is an ongoing dialogue between the characters about whether Jesus ever existed in physical form, but this issue doesn’t carry the novel. In fact, the question of faith works more as a metaphor for examining and trying to understand what’s real and what’s not with the gory crimes and relentless criminals the characters must face. Like life, there are always questions here. And not all of them are answered by the end of the book.

The plot is at once intriguing and complex, and Hawes seamlessly mixes the basic murder investigation with an unexpected profusion of other themes and references including, the basics of the Christian religion, family dynamics, love relationships, high-end online prostitution, and the wrath and violence of the Yakuza crime syndicate. Not an easy task, but Hawes pulls it off with aplomb. And by telling the tale from Harry Wright’s point of view, Hawes provides some humor, even occasional sarcasm to the narrative. A nice touch, especially given the gruesome murders and constant threats from powerful enemies.

Hawes’s characters are memorable but never “average.” Justinia, Harry, Bea, and Cal all have their quirks and unique abilities. The relationships between all four have been established before in the series, and we can assume they develop further in this one. Even the minor characters and victims prove to be much more complex than they seem. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the bone-chilling weather in Minnesota. Dealing with the ice, snow, and painfully low temperatures colors the action and the attitude of the characters in the book.

The descriptions of the weather also help pull the reader into the novel, even those of us who’ve never been to Minnesota. That’s also true of the detailed descriptions of the many meals Justinia, Harry, and Bea share. Harry is a gourmet cook, and you’ll often feel the compelling desire to sit down with them and get a taste or two of his latest culinary delight.

Jesus Never Wept is a good read, and the skill and insights of Hawes turn the standard murder mystery plot into something more—and something better. Highly recommended.

And from Joseph A Congel:

Another GREAT, 5 STAR read! This series just keeps getting better!

This is the third book in the Justinia Wright Private Investigator series, and it is a top-notch addition to a top-notch series, written by a top-notch author. If you’ve been following the brother/sister PI team, you already know this series is rich in storyline and character development. If you are discovering the Wrights for the first time in this book, you will not be disappointed. However, treat yourself, and go back and read the first two books in this wonderful series.

In this installment, the author mixes religion, the Japanese mob, and high-end prostitution, and wraps it all up in a very engaging murder mystery. But what truly drives this story is the relationship between the main characters - Justinia, Harry, Bea, and Cal. The subplot of their lives is intertwined masterfully with the main plotline of the book, which is the mystery that needs to be solved. And although the idea of an intriguing mystery may have brought you here, the well thought-out, fun, realistic, characters is what will bring you back for more. A great murder mystery will make a great book, but a deeply developed cast of reoccurring characters is what makes a great series... and this is a great series.

I loved the first two books, and this one is no different. It’s why I bought the whole series. I look forward to seeing what the Wrights get themselves into between the pages of the next book. But don’t take my word for it, try them for yourself - just don’t be surprised if you become addicted.

Reviews like those two, really lift a writer. They are a light to illuminate the dark days that touch every storyteller.

So why do I like But Jesus Never Wept? I love the characters.

If I do not like the characters, then the book, movie, TV series, short story, or stage play are dead to me. It is as simple as that. I am there for the characters. And I love Tina and Harry. They are my children.

Characters aside, I also like the storyline in this novel. It touches on religion, something important in my life. The story also asks us what is of importance in our short lives. What’s life all about? Is love the answer? Or is it something else? Or maybe there is no answer.

As both Raymond Chandler and Erle Stanley Gardner noted, the murder mystery is the simplest of stories.

A kills B. The police think the killer is C, until the sleuth shows them the perpetrator is A.

The task of the writer is to use style to turn a very simple story into one that is not only complex, but beautifully satisfying; perhaps even elegant.

I think But Jesus Never Wept is a cut above. And I ask you to give it a try. Pick it up at Amazon.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Born and Bred Texan Review

 

2022 closes with the publication of the 9th book in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series: Born and Bred Texan by Jinx Schwartz.

Ms Schwartz poses the question: can we ever truly return home? And she answers the question by giving us the delightful story of Blue Bonet.

Blue returns home to Magnolia Bluff, after an absence of many years, to take possession of the home and land left to her by her grandmother.

A widow, who’s not sure what she wants to do with her life now that she’s single and back home, Blue sets out to first modernize the old house and rejuvenate the surrounding land.

One day, while out exploring the back forty, she discovers a body in an old shack. Then it’s determined the man was murdered. And after that, bones begin popping out of the ground due to a freeze.

All of the above is going on while Blue is attempting to make a new life for herself in Magnolia Bluff, and getting re-acquainted with old friends.

Ms Schwartz’s style is as easygoing as small town life and is laced with plenty of humor and a bit of suspense.

If you’re a fan of happy endings, then Born and Bred Texan is definitely for you.

The book is available from Amazon. As is the entire Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series.

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles at Amazon.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles 2022

 Nine authors. Nine books. One town. Magnolia Bluff, Texas.

What an amazing year this has been for the Underground Authors. There were times when I didn’t think we’d do it. Working with 9 creatives is a challenge. But we did it, and that makes me feel very good. We successfully published this multi-author crime fiction series over the course of 9 consecutive months.

And now Book 9 is live! Born and Bred Texan by Jinx Schwartz.

I’m a bit behind on my reading, but a review will be up soon. In the meantime, here is the blurb to wet your whistle:

Blue Bonet, widowed and in mourning, returns to Magnolia Bluff in her home state of Texas. Her grandmother had bequeathed an old lake house to her, and she cherishes childhood memories there. She arrives at the lake and finds the house she remembers as being grand, is now in disrepair.

She tackles the repairs, and is determined to make a new life for herself. It seems like an uphill battle.

A rollercoaster of ups and down conspire to destroy her dream, and she begins to wonder if you really can’t go home again.

That is a good question: can you ever truly go home? I’ve pondered that question myself, and am looking forward to finding out what Blue has to say about it.

Pick up your copy on Amazon!

Here are the first 8 books in the series. They are available on Amazon.

Death Wears a Crimson Hat by CW Hawes

Secrets, gossip, and a murder that could reveal all.

Eulogy in Black and White by Caleb Pirtle III

Death stalks Magnolia Bluff every May 23rd. When will it end?

The Great Peanut Butter Conspiracy by Cindy Davis

Can lyrics from Jimmy Buffet songs help a ghost find justice?

You Won’t Know How… Or When by James R. Callan

Will the confessional give a killer license to kill?

The Flower Enigma by Breakfield & Burkey

What happens when death interrupts the ideal vacation?

The Shine from a Girl in the Lake by Richard Schwindt

A serial killer’s at work. But can a clinical psychologist stop him?

The Dewey Decimal Dilemma by Linda Pirtle

How are poodles, ghosts, drugs, and Ponzi schemes connected with a serial killer — and can he be stopped?

Justice by Kelly Marshall

Is justice possible for one dead Mexican child, a victim of sex trafficking?

Nine marvelous books. Enjoy them today!

Get them from Amazon!

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Christmas with the Wrights: What the Readers Say

 

The stories in Christmas with the Wrights started out as gifts to my mailing list. If you want to get in on the fun, click or tap on this link: https://BookHip.com/BMNGDTB

When you do, the link will take you to BookFunnel, where you’ll get a free copy of Vampire House and Other Early Cases of Justinia Wright, PI (a $3.99 value), and join my mailing list. I’d love to see you at the party!

I’ll admit short stories are a hard sell for indie authors. And I don’t know why. They’re perfect for the person on the go.

Our schedules are busy. A short story can fill those odd moments of the day: waiting at the doctor’s office, commuting to work, lunch or coffee breaks. Or any other time when you are in between things.

I love short stories. A well-crafted short can be as satisfying an experience as a novel — only you get that experience of satisfaction faster. And more of them.

Christmas with the Wrights sees Tina and Harry dealing with 3 very different cases.

There’s Cordell Oscar Hellman, a conservative political pundit, who’s recreational morphine use has come to the attention of a vicious blackmailer.

Mrs. Solberg’s dope of a husband is being hoodwinked by the office minx and the Missus doesn’t like that one bit. But what can Tina do about it? She’ll have to get very creative.

Finally, there’s Emil Papenfuss. He’s homeless and a millionaire. Only he doesn’t know he’s millionaire. But Tina has to find him first before she can deliver the good news.

Three cases. Three chances to do a good deed. And with the inducement of three big, fat fees, and Harry’s help, Tina delivers the goods. But not without difficulty. A lot of difficulty.

So what do the readers say about all this? Let’s take a look.

If you like a story with fascinating characters and a good plot, as well as clever dialogue, check this one out.

That is a very satisfying review for an author to receive. Especially since it comes from another writer: Maryann Miller.

Here’s another review:

CW Hawes has done such a marvelous job of creating Justinia & Harry Wright, brother-and-sister sleuth team, that I keep coming back for more. I had just finished reading a story by this author when this Christmas book caught my eye. The characters were still in my head, and I decided to see what good deeds (hopefully) they might be up to during the Christmas season.

This book was as delightful as it promised to be … with three feel-good stories driven by Hawes’s exceptional characters of whom I’ve grown quite fond. The stories were great fun – the last one being my favorite.

Although this book offers Christmas cheer, it’s a great read for any time of the year, and again … just like the other books in this wonderful series.

Such a delightful review.

Fellow mystery writer, Joe Congel had this to say:

I have enjoyed CW Hawes’ Justinia Wright series for a long time, and this short story collection has arrived just in time for the holiday season. If you’ve followed the progression of the series, you’ll be delighted to know that the three stories in this volume have all the fun, mystery, and mayhem that you love in the full-length books. And if you’re new to the world of Minneapolis’ top private sleuth and her equally talented brother, Harry, then you are in for a real treat!

The stories are told through the eyes of Harry, which lends a bit of the whimsical to the narrative as Harry pulls no punches regarding his sister’s down falls as well as why she is the best PI for any client looking for justice in a cruel world. You can feel the love, trust, and admiration between the two characters as Hawes has done a superb job allowing the dialog to show the reader the tight, though somewhat flawed relationship between a brother and sister.

Hawes is a master of his craft, and these three tales pack a lot of surprise and intrigue inside each crisply written mystery. One of the things I like best about this collection is that even though the common thread throughout the book is that it’s the holiday season, these are not stories about Christmas mysteries, but rather good old fashion mysteries that happen to take place during Christmas time. It’s a wonderful blending of a magical time of year and the realization that mystery, bad decisions, and crime do not take a break during the holidays.

Do yourself a favor, and pour a cup of eggnog (spiked if you prefer), get cozy in front of the fireplace, and enjoy some of the best storytelling you’ll find between the pages of a book.

Now that is high praise, indeed — especially coming from a peer, who is no slouch when it comes to spinning an engaging yarn.

Richard Schwindt, another writer, who I think is one of the best storytellers writing today, wrote:

Christmas with the Wrights is the mature Hawes at the top of his form.

Now that comment is the best award I could have ever won.

Enjoy some Christmas cheer. Christmas with the Wrights is available from Amazon and is only 99¢. Which makes it the perfect stocking stuffer for that mystery reader on your list. As well as for yourself!

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Christmas with the Wrights

It is no secret that Tina and Harry Wright are my favorite fictional children.

They first appeared in my life way back in 1982. It took 32 years for them to find their way out into the world.

Doing so first in Festival of Death, and then in Trio in Death-Sharp Minor.

To date, there are 22 investigative adventures featuring Tina and Harry. Over half of my total published output. Yes, indeed, my favorite children.

Christmas with the Wrights, which I published last year, is a collection of 2 novelettes and a short story, which I originally gave to my mailing list as Christmas presents.

The stories are delightful and suspense-filled tales that intertwine a good mystery with a bit of holiday cheer.

The book is only 99¢, which is a good deal for the the holidays. The perfect stocking stuffer. The book is available at Amazon.

Even more than the royalties, actually much more than the royalties, I love to get positive feedback from my readers. That can be in the form of reviews, emails, tweets, or Facebook posts.

That feedback lets me know I’m achieving my goal of giving good-value entertainment, making the reader’s life just a little bit better.

GP Gadbois posted the following review on Amazon:

CW Hawes captivated my attention with realistic plots. From the process in which Tina and Harry Wright choose a case right up until it’s solved. Every detail matters. The interaction between brother and sister, and all the other characters is also delightful. A great read.

Bri had this to say:

I enjoyed all three stories which were told by Harry, Justinia’s brother. His storytelling, the characters, and the jumbles they get themselves into made for a few laughs. 

I love these characters. The author has done a great job of bringing them to life in the stories, along with the setting. I felt the cold. The second story had me wondering how in the world Justinia was going to solve the case. 

The stories are quick, enjoyable reads. I highly recommend sitting down with Justinia and Harry at the little mansion on West Franklin in the Minneapple while she has a cigar and a glass of Madeira, and he plays online chess, and they work through the case and a bit of sibling rivalry. Justinia keeps secrets. :)

I laughed when I read the next review by night owl, but also felt good because they had a satisfying experience reading a short-form mystery.

I didn’t think he could do it.

When I heard this was an anthology of Justinia Wright stories, I didn’t believe the author could pull off the feat. After all, the other stories were full-length books. To take detective plots and fit them into a smaller format... I was wrong.

Nuff said?

Want some feel-good holiday cheer? Need a stocking stuffer for the mystery reader in your life? You can get it — for only 99¢ on Amazon.

Christmas with the Wrights. Not like any Christmas you’ve ever experienced.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright, award-winning poet, and a fictioneer, with a bestselling novel. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes