The Mystery of Love's Manor
by D. W. Thompson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Cozy Mystery

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BLURB:

Emma Love never thought she'd return to her hometown after years away from her estranged family. But when her sister-in-law is kidnapped, Emma puts her life on hold to help an old flame, Deputy Sam Mattingley, solve the case and bring Gwen home. With a degree in Criminal Justice and part-time experience working at a detective agency, Emma's skills are tested. As the layers of secrecy are peeled back, Emma realizes the mystery shrouding Love's Manor and her brother's marriage is more intricate than anyone could have fathomed. Can she navigate the convoluted trail of clues and locate Gwen before it's too late? And what of her long-suppressed feelings for Sam Mattingley…are they merely a product of nostalgia…or something more?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT THREE:

While we waited for our food, Sam started the same game we enjoyed together years ago.

“What about the lady with the blue windbreaker, Emma?”

“Hmm, let’s see. She’s a practical woman judging by the windbreaker over the dress clothes she has on under it. It is a brisk day today. I think she is having marital problems or thinks her husband is cheating. She keeps twisting her wedding band around her finger. She may be plotting an indiscretion of her own by the way she keeps looking nervously over her shoulder at the entrance. She’s expecting someone she probably shouldn’t be seen with. That’s why she picked the shadowed booth in the corner.”

“Not to mention the sunglasses worn inside?”

“Exactly. How about that guy across from us with the pin-striped suit?” I whispered.

“Despite the cheater’s ring around his finger, I don’t think he’s cheating, but the lady with him isn’t his wife. I’d say a first or second date after his divorce, perhaps. Wearing a suit, even a threadbare one, in a very casual restaurant, he’s trying to impress her, and she’s laughing too heartily at his jokes. She’s nervous as well. I’d bet she’s been on too many crappy dates since her divorce. They’re both trying too hard.”

We both laughed when a man entered with dark glasses, ducked his head, and made his way to the first lady’s booth.

It was a good lunch. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as sharing a meal with a good friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST:

My Biggest Writing Mistake and the Most Valuable Lesson It Taught Me

I was pitching my first novel many years ago (in a galaxy far away—or so it seems). It was historical fiction based on the nearly mythological life of our local witch, Moll Dyer. Moll’s life has been a subject near and dear to my heart since I first heard her story around a late-night campfire. Her tale was told to children as a cautionary tale in those days, and I believe the novel I wrote, “Sister Witch, The Life of Moll Dyer,” did a lot to dispel that point of view.

With the novel written and edited, and edited again and …, you get the picture. When I thought I had polished my manuscript into a literary jewel, I set about researching publishers. I’m not an exceptionally patient somebody, so waiting months to hear back from an agent wasn’t happening. I picked a half-dozen publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts and previewed some of their offerings to see if we might mesh well. Copy, paste, see attached, hit send, etc. My masterpiece was out in the world.

I’m sure at least half of those queries were never opened, but the rejections came in quickly. All were form rejections with one notable exception. One senior editor wrote back that she loved the story but could not use it at that time. I didn’t realize that her publishing house was about to fold, but I did take her advice to heart. She said my manuscript had too much backstory in the style of earlier writers. She said modern readers need the inciting incident front and center to maintain interest.

By now, all my queries had born fruit, decayed and rejected, but the rotted harvest of my labor was in. I set out to implement the change that my one “positive rejection” suggested. I soon completed that task, but the rejections were still too fresh, and my ego was too bruised. The manuscript fermented in my “unpublished” folder for several months, hoping again someday to see the light of an editor’s desk.

It likely would have remained in that folder for all time, but my mother, whom we’d lost years before, wouldn’t have it.

“Moll’s story needs to be told,” she told me in a dream. “It’s time. Send it out again.”

I did so. The manuscript went out to four publishers the next day. In time, I received contract offers from three, and when I picked one I thought I could work with, I withdrew my submission from the fourth.

So, what did I learn from this first publishing experience?

1.) The most obvious one? Never give up!

2.) Some paranormal spice can flavor almost any genre (you’ll find some in “The Mystery at Love’s Manor,” too).

3.) Don’t be afraid to mix it up. Life doesn’t unfold as a single genre.

4.) Always listen to your mom even if (no, especially if) her advice is from beyond the veil. Love you, Mom!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

D. W. Thompson is the mystery genre pen name for award-winning author David W. Thompson. As a multi-genre author, he's been awarded membership in the Horror Writer's Association, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and the Mystery Writers of America. David lives in picturesque Southern Maryland with nearby family and dear old friends.

When he isn't writing, Dave enjoys time with his family, kayaking (flat water, please), fishing, hiking, archery, gardening, winemaking, and pursuing his other "creative passion"- woodcarving.

He'd love to hear your thoughts on his tales that he describes as occasionally twisted, but always honest and original!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~