Deadly Receptions: The Debut of Castlewood Manor By Veronica Cline Barton

2/13/2019

Award-winning, multi-volume author, Veronica Cline Barton, introduces us to the third volume in the “My American Almost Royal Cousin Series”, Deadly Receptions:
The stakes have never been higher for American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips, now firmly ensconced as both resident and employee of her ancestral estate, Cherrywood Hall. Together with her cousin Evan, 8th Marquess of Kentshire, and her boyfriend Kyle, the estate manager, Gemma wants nothing more than to pull off the royal wedding of the season while planning the premiere and U.S. tour for the period drama series, Castlewood Manor, and attending the Telly Tiara awards show. But an ex-love threatens Gemma's and Kyle's relationship, while the reveal of explosive secrets has the potential to shatter Gemma's relationship with her cousin and her future at Cherrywood Hall.

Jealousy and revenge mix with royal drama, power plays and scandal as the Tellys grow closer—with deadly results. Will Gemma, with the help of Scotland Yard, be able to put a stop to the mayhem? Or will the wedding, the tour, the Tellys—and Gemma's life—be ruined?

The story of the transformation of Cherrywood Hall into a highly popular British period drama, ala Downton Abbey, continues. The first season of the television series is completed and there are hints of awards being won in many categories.
Now, Gemma, Sir Kyle and potential award winners relocate 1/3 the way around the world for pre-award shows and celebrations.
I love the way Veronica weaves so many different elements into her stories. She is a star in her dialogues, the settings are marvelous and the action is easily visualized. I am enjoying her costuming and menus more and more. She makes me hungry at times.
The non-stop cross-country train trip was a lot of fun. The perfect setting for dastardly deeds, as used by another female writer in the past. The tension of traveling with an unknown killer was tantalizing!
I loved the story and the writing. “Deadly Receptions” gets 4.9 stars.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp-deadly-receptions
https://www.goodreads.com/-deadly-receptions
https://www.bookbub.com/books/deadly-receptions-by-veronica-cline-barton

You can follow Veronica Cline Barton:
https://twitter.com/VClinebarton
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/veronica-cline-barton

Here is the review of the first book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-crown-for-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the review of the second book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/cast-crew-and-carnage-the-filming-of-castlewood-manor-my-american-almost-royal-cousin-series-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the review of the fourth book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/mistletoe-and-mayhem-yuletide-at-castlewood-manor
Here is the review of the fifth book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/double-trouble-showtime-at-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton

Tags: mystery, suspense, traditional detective, cozy, murder, castle
Copyright © 2019 Mark Schultz not including the author's blurb

49 Comments

Veronica Cline Barton link

2/24/2019 08:18:51 pm

Many thanks for the glowing review, Mark! It's very much appreciated. Deadly Receptions; the Debut of Castlewood Manor is one of my favorites in the series--lots of adventures, great cities, and of course, plenty of mayhem! :)

I look forward to the Q&A this week, welcome back to Cherrywood Hall!

Mark

2/24/2019 09:04:47 pm

I certainly enjoyed reading Deadly Receptions. My enjoyment is the primary criteria for scoring a book.
Thank you for allowing Grizz and I to join you in Cherrywood Hall. He normally likes to explore a place even if he has been there before. This time is nervous about Pippa, I guess he doesn't like ghosts.
Since this is the third book in the series, how about a quick rundown of the other two? I have reviewed those also previously.

2/24/2019 10:13:59 pm

Everyone loves having Grizz roam the corridors at Cherrywood Hall! (Pippa's put some comfy pillows by the fire for him---she loves dogs).

My books are part of My American Almost Royal Cousin Series, and include:

The Crown for Castlewood Manor: In book one of the series American heiress Gemma Lancaster Philips, newly armed with a PhD and a broken heart, goes over to the UK to help her cousin in a new potential business venture. Evan Lancaster, 8th Marquess of Kentshire, has entered his estate, Cherrywood Hall, in a contest for the set location for the new television period drama series, Castlewood Manor. He, along with his estate manager, Kyle Williams, have made it to the final four estates being considered. Evan and Kyle want Gemma's assistance to secure the win, bringing a great economic boom to the local community and the estate. The competing estates and their owners are anxious to win as well, and someone will use any means necessary to secure the win...The royally glamorous events are plagued with 'mur-dah' and mayhem, and bring some close calls to Gemma and crew. Gemma comes to know and love her British family history, and the sparks of a new romance emerge. Will they be able to find the killer in time? Or will Gemma's visit to Cherrywood Hall come to a deadly end?

Cast, Crew, & Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood Manor: In book two, season one production of the Castlewood Manor series begins, bringing the cast and crew to the Cherrywood Hall estate in full force. Word on the street for the new series is off the charts and the producers want to strike while the buzz is hot! Gemma is in charge of several new marketing ventures for the show, including 'The Fashions of Castlewood Manor', photo shoots, a fabulous hot air balloon event, and a fashion show at the Queen's palace. Her romance with Kyle heats up, but will it be threatened by a new writer on the scene or Kyle's new project manager? Sabotage at the events turns deadly--someone wants season one of Castlewood Manor to end before it begins. Will Gemma and crew stop the mayhem before it's too late?

Your reviews of the first two books were wonderful and very much appreciated, Mark. I am happy to announce that I just received word that both books have received a major recognition from New Apple Literary's 2018 Excellence in Independent Publishing Awards! The Crown for Castlewood Manor received an Official Selection in the Mystery category. Cast, Crew, & Carnage; the Filming of Castlewood Manor, received an Official Selection in the EBook Mystery category.

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have my first two books both be recognized--truly wonderful!

2/24/2019 10:34:49 pm

Congratulations! That is very wonderful news! When you get stickers on the covers send me a new photo and I will change out the covers on my reviews. Well done!
For new visitors, please share a little bit about yourself.

2/25/2019 12:06:53 pm

Thank you, Mark--very honored!

A bit about me: I'm a full time writer/reader/reviewer these days--I spent 30 years in the engineering/enterprise software industries. I love being part of the #WritingCommunity, so many brilliant folks filled with inspiration (yourself included!).

I started writing my series in 2016 and have been blessed to have the first two books published in 2018, and the third released in February of this year. I love researching my stories--which for me means I get to travel to some of the fabulous locations my characters go to in my stories. I enjoy getting a first hand view of the different sights, imagining them in the eyes of my characters--what they do, what they think. To me it gives me the vivid descriptions of settings, meals, drinks etc that I use in my books.

I have a very supportive Hubby and 2 cats, Daisy and Ebbie, that keep me in my place, LOL. My friends and family have become some of my biggest reader fans and my writings have resulted in many new friendships as well. I'm very happy and grateful for this latest career, I can't wait to see what happens in 2019!

2/25/2019 01:57:31 pm

Very good. I bet those cats keep you busy. I have had cats and dogs, most of my life. I have had both at the same time also. I have observed a significant difference between cats and dogs; cats think you are staff, dogs think you are god.
New questions.
If I remember correctly, you changed publishers with this volume. Why the change?
How did you pick your publisher?
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?
Will you stick with this publisher for your next books?

2/25/2019 03:11:07 pm

#Catsrule, no doubt about that!

I did change publishers for Deadly Receptions. for the first two books, I worked with CreateSpace for the editing, cover details, formatting, POD services. They were owned by Amazon, who decided to terminate their service offerings, which is a real shame, IMO. I like having a 'one stop shop' for these type services--writer's have so much to take on when publishing, for me it was a relief to just have one provider to work with.

I researched a number of companies who provided various levels of production services, and in the end selected BookBaby. Their production package included formatting, final cover design, POD services, and they had a number of ebook and print book sellers to distribute to, unlike CreateSpace, who worked with Amazon pretty much exclusively. I won't see sales results for about another 60 days--it will be interesting to see the difference! For editing, I worked with Theresa Snyder for content and proofing. She was fabulous to work with and caught me with several 'no-no's', LOL. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a professional's eyes read your works! She caught things that had slipped by me even after I had read over myself 8-10 times. Invest in editing and proofing!

I'd stack my self-published books up against a traditional publisher path anytime. :) I will likely remain with BookBaby for Book 4 production if the sales results pan out in the next 60 days. I invested in their marketing service pack ($399)--I will not be using that service again.

I'd like to give a shout out to my step-daughter, Danielle Gregorio. She did the cover design for all 3 books and a short story I have as a give away. I think her work is exceptional and I'm very proud of her!

2/25/2019 03:37:38 pm

You are not alone in being mystified by Amazon's move to get rid of CreateSpace. It sounds like BookBaby was a good choice. Do they offer foreign markets also? I think that is the one big mistake that Amazon is making in their quest for world domination. They are ignoring many foreign markets. Many of these markets are hungry for English books, ebooks seem to be very important in this mix also.
New questions.
How many titles are you thinking for this series? You certainly have a lot of personalities to work with.
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

2/25/2019 04:06:47 pm

BookBaby does serve foreign markets--my books are available, but they are just in English at this time.

When I started the series, I was thinking 7-8 titles. Based on how the series is developing, it could go one way past that. There are major changes coming (dun, dun, dun...) that will provide new twists and challenges for the series, and perhaps some new characters to keep Gemma on her toes. :)

For my series, I use excel as my tool of choice to keep track of characters, settings, events etc. I'm 95% plotter--need to be to make sure things don't fall through the cracks. However, no matter how much you plan and plot, sometimes things pop out of nowhere when you're writing. I take their lead, they're usually spot on!

I us MS Word for my manuscripts. I know it fairly well and it seems to be the universal choice of the publishers. It has some great features that I learn more about every day. I am going to check out some Grammar tools in the next few months that writers from the #WritingCommunity have recommended, I'll take all the help I can get!

2/25/2019 07:13:25 pm

Many people in foreign countries are looking for English books to help them improve their knowledge of English. Some are also looking for audio books to help them improve their speaking ability. I think these markets are ripe for big sales as they have been underserved in the past. The internet has made acquiring books, especially ebooks and audio books so much easier.
Attention to detail makes for great reading and is very important to a lot of readers, being a hybrid plotter/pantser is a good idea.
There are many tools in the market that will add on to Word.Grammarly comes to mind, but Like President Reagan said, "Trust, but verify." They will lead you astray but can be good for catching things that might need attention. I tested Grammarly for a few weeks and decided I could live without it. It missed a lot of stuff I caught.
New questions.
Have you ever killed off a character unwillingly because it fit the plot?
With sequels, how do you handle the wishes of readers compared to your original ideas?

2/25/2019 08:00:48 pm

In Cast, Crew, & Carnage, there was one character that was killed that was really hard for me to write. I am so sorry for the character's demise, but that scene really pushed me as a writer and was a correct choice for the storyline. It caused a few tears I've been told, which is great to hear--the emotion of the moment came through!

I have major choices to make in book 4 as to the future of a few major characters. I am going back and forth with this decision---it's very hard! I want to improve the storyline but at what cost? My mind still goes back to the death of a beloved Downton Abbey character, Matthew Crawley--it broke my heart when he was killed at the end of season 3, but it added to the drama, no doubt! But was it the right thing to do??? Pros and cons...

I always try and listen to my readers--they're the 'buyers' in the writer's market! I take their feedback very seriously--if someone takes the time to give you advice, listen! At the end of the day I have to make the judgement call on their recommendations for I'm the only one who knows the 'big picture' of what's to come book to book. I incorporate some ideas, and others go into the archives--they may be used later!

2/25/2019 09:11:16 pm

I am not surprised it was hard for you to write. Emotion has a tremendous amount of impact on our lives.
I bet those choices are hard to make.
I watched all of the episodes of Downton Abbey with my wife, that was a pivotal moment, so gut-wrenching. It set a major arc in the series.
Never waste a good idea. That's a good plan.
New questions.
Is there a particular type of scene that is harder to write than the others?
Do you use music or some other stimulus to cultivate a feeling within that will help you write certain types of scenes?

2/25/2019 09:39:00 pm

I think building suspense in the storyline is one of the harder aspects. You build things up as different aspects of the storyline unfold and characters are introduced, giving hints and clues here and there to give the reader some thoughts of what might be coming. You don't want to give too many clues and spoil the outcome, but you want to keep a few things dangling out there to keep up the interest. it's a fine line and I try to keep things moving scene to scene, hopefully making sense in the end.

You'll laugh to learn that a lot of the 'background' stimulus for Deadly Receptions were the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, LOL. I admit it, I do love those movies. They start at the end of October, playing 24/7, and in my house, they're on! It's kind of like comfort food for me, they do the mind and soul good.

Right now I'm playing the Grammy/Oscar winning song from Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, 'Shallow', over and over. I'm trying to figure out how to capture the essence and love from their electrifying performance and put it into words describing the romantic emotions/scenes in Book 4. That song has captured my mind for the moment--I've got to figure out a way to transfer the feelings it evokes into the storyline.

2/26/2019 11:05:46 am

That makes a lot of sense. As a reader, I love trying to figure out who is the next victim and who did it. I am usually wrong. Which means that the writer did a good job of leading me along without revealing too much. I love the surprise at the end.
I admit a fondness for the Hallmark movies also. They are fun and lighthearted. They also offer a measure of hope and the possibility of a HEA.
I am sure you will find a way to make it work.
New questions.
Is it hard or easy to connect with your muse, why do you think it is that way?
Is there any particular time of the day that ideas usually hit you?

2/26/2019 12:58:33 pm

Connecting with my muse is usually easy--although there are time when I think she's taken a trip around the world without telling me, leaving me high and dry! For Book 4 in progress now, my muse was incessant in getting my attention--she wants this story told! I don't know if it's because of the major changes coming from the ending of Deadly Receptions or if she's just on a roll. I do know this, when the muse wants to talk, it's best to listen, LOL!

If I had a dollar$ for every time an idea has hit just as I'm shutting my eyes at night I could buy Cherrywood Hall (and a few more crowns :) )! I think ideas hit me at night because when you're thinking and doing all day long, pretty much non-stop, you aren't giving the ideas a chance to emerge. The good news is as they're churning during the day, by the time they do emerge they're fairly good and insightful. I always keep a notebook and pen by my bedside, and if I'm in a pinch I'll send myself a text or email on my phone to make sure an idea is captured. I tried one of the little voice recorders, but physically writing/typing ideas down works best for me.

2/26/2019 02:33:55 pm

I think your muse likes you.
I understand about night inspirations. There is one author I know, her muse wakes her at around 2am almost every night with an idea. She keeps her pad and pen right beside her on the nightstand.
I have learned to be patient and have had some of my best ideas while doing something completely irrelevant to the problem at hand. Doing something that requires little to no thought such as raking leaves is ideal. I have to wait for the baking to complete to have a finished cake of ideas.
New questions.
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or print books?
What books are you reading at present for your business and for pleasure?

2/26/2019 04:19:54 pm

For the most part I prefer eBooks--for me they're the best way to have plenty of reading material close at hand, especially when traveling (more room for boots, lol). I buy print versions of cookbooks (I collect them, love reading the recipes and it's great material for my books--Gemma has quite the appetite!) and 'coffee table' books with lovely pictures (I have several of the Downton Abbey books, and some on fashion history and design).

I try and read 1-2 books per week from the #writers in the Twitter #WritingCommunity. There's so much talent out there, and some amazing reads! I cross many genres, getting out of my #cozymystery comfort zone, but it's been fascinating. I leave reviews on the seller site, Goodreads, and BookBub--it's my small way promoting the authors.

For work I've been entrenched in following Rachel Thompson's 30 day Book Marketing Challenge. She has some very helpful tips that make sure your book marketing infrastructure is set up correctly to help maximize the outreach potential. #AmMarketing is a major task for any writer, I want to make sure things are done right, and done well.

2/26/2019 05:04:33 pm

I am a fan of ebooks also. I have so many books on my Kindle it's starting to get heavy. ;-)
That is very kind of you to read and review indie authors, there is some amazing talent out there.
New questions.
What marketing strategy has had an immediate impact on your daily sales?
What are the three most important considerations for an independent author to be certain of when self-publishing?

2/27/2019 03:01:44 pm

Being active on social media has been very beneficial--writers need to get their name out there in the world so that readers (the buyers of your books) know about you! I just started my social media journey last year right around this time. You need to establish your brand, your messaging, and start tweeting and posting away!

I also began my blog (myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com) to post about things that interest me and give readers a chance to get to know me and what drives me in my writings. I started out posting 3 times a week, but quickly found out that there just isn't enough time to do 3 quality posts/week, be active on social media, write & market your books, and oh, have a life! I've finally found a blogging formula that works for me--1 post/week (Wednesday mornings); updates on my writing/marketing journey; reviews of books I've read; travel news every now and then, and usually a bit of humor.

I strongly encourage writers to participate in forums like yours, Mark. Q&A sessions like these are fabulous and do have a big impact. There's no one thing that magically results in increased sales (at least I haven't found it yet, we'll have to get Grizz on the hunt!). It's good ole perseverance, hard work, and putting yourself out there. Slowly but surely, you will see results if you stay consistent in your efforts.

3 most important considerations to be certain of when self-publishing?
1. Have the financial and time resources you need to put a quality product out in the market. Quality matters--not just a good storyline, but an edited, polished work. This will involve having the financial resources to pay for the services required for production and marketing, and the time to do the work. I know this isn't a message folks want to hear necessarily, but it's a fact.
2. Make your marketing and branding efforts as effective as possible. A tweet a day won't cut it. The more outreach paths you have, the better. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, and be sure and do some vetting before you plunk down large amounts of cash.
3. Don't forget to have some fun! Writing and selling books is not only hard work and time consuming, you're putting your cherished work out there for all the world to see, read, and like/dislike. Emotions run high at times. Take some time for you to rest and re-charge. To me, taking the time to do the things I love pays off in spades. You get your energy and focus to once again go out and charge! :)

2/27/2019 03:47:48 pm

You are so correct, Veronica! Promoting your brand and books require daily effort. There are so many different venues to deal with. Social media is one only one piece of the puzzle. Indie bookstores, local book clubs, book fairs, conventions, local b&bs, motels, restaurants, gift shops, speaking to different civic groups, high schools and colleges, libraries, and more. I understand that for a lot of writers these things are the opposite of the natural bent of writing which is a lot of solitary effort. If readers can't find you and your book, they will never buy it.
As you have learned, balance is critical. Doing a little bit each day will make the difference in the long run. It's not a sprint, every author is running an ultra-marathon.
Thank you, I enjoy supporting authors. I like providing this opportunity to get your name and brand out. Another opportunity I offer is guest blogging. I invite authors and anybody in the business to be a guest blogger on my website. The only restriction is that the blog must be about books or the business of books. I am pleased that there is a wide range of quality information on my guest blog pages. I offer a good amount of visibility, averaging 400 unique visitors daily to my website.
Your advice is rock solid! Indie books have gathered a bad reputation in the past because so many authors rushed their book to market and didn't take the time to edit and clean it up. Good covers, good blurbs and clean writing is essential now, to rise above the mediocre offerings of the past.
New questions.
Have you ever thought about doing a book trailer?
How do you relax when you're not writing?

2/27/2019 04:34:11 pm

Ooh, love the guest blog opp, I'll be talking with you!

I love book trailers and will be doing a few this year. I think they add so much to the marketing of your book--readers get a chance to visualize the character, settings, and the 'gist' of the storyline. I think Martha Perez, Bibiana Krall, Marcee Corn and Lori Katherine have put out some amazing trailers that I've seen on Twitter this past year, to name a few. It also gives you a means to market your books on YouTube and Instagram, expanding that outreach!

I'd also add that putting some GIFs in your tweets and posts that reflect characters, themes, events etc is effective too. On Twitter I do it all the time--Jennifer Lawrence and her "Is there food here?" question on the red carpet is my perfect, fun example of how I imagine Gemma and her never ending appetite, LOL. The more you can help your audience visualize your characters and book materials the better, IMO.

My favorite way to relax when not writing is traveling. Near or far, a get-away is my perfect thing to do. I love going to new places, seeing the sights and meeting the locals. It's always exciting and usually gives me great ideas to work with when I return. I particularly love going to very cold climates as I've said before. Knock wood, we're scheduled to be in Banff next week in the Canadian Rockies, if the Polar Vortex doesn't decide to release a blizzardly fury that cancels all flights! We've had the trip cancelled once, hopefully 2nd time is the charm. :)

2/27/2019 05:32:48 pm

I am excited to hear that you are planning book trailers. Martha's trailers really stand out in my mind. You have done a great job with gifs and photos on your tweets. I love that JL gif!
I have been meaning to ask about the non-stop train trip from New York to Colorado. Was that an homage to one of the grand dames of murder mysteries, Agatha Christie and the Murder on the Orient Express?
More questions.
Have you ever thought about doing an audio book?
What is your favorite motivational phrase that keeps you going?

2/27/2019 06:27:15 pm

Yes my fictional Vail Line was an homage to Dame Christie' s Orient Express and believe it or not, a Hallmark movie from 2 years ago called the Christmas Train. I love both of the storylines that take place aboard a cross country trip, it seems so enchanting (well except for my story and the Orient Express--the bodies do seem to put a damper on things..) I took the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Orange County to San Francisco last summer just to get a feel myself for what a long train trip is like. It was a great experience and gave me lots of ideas for the Vail Line trip. :)

I would like to do an audio book one day. I know many people listen to books while in their car, and I have some visually impaired friends who would love it. I haven't explored what it would take to produce one. I listened to H.E. Wilburson's Martian Diaries and loved it--the narration and background music really sets the stage for each scene.

My favorite motivational phrase is one from Winston Churchill--'If you're going through hell, keep going!' To me these words ring so true, best not to get mired down in negativity or situations you can never change. Life's too short--have fun and experience all the good that you can!

2/27/2019 07:06:37 pm

I have ridden trains all over Western Europe, in 1974, and recently on the west coast. I like traveling by train quite a bit. It's so much more relaxing than flying these days.
I am glad you mentioned Wilburson's audio book, the next one will be done soon. Anita Dow, Wilburson's assistant, could give you some pointers I am sure. Her twitter handle is @AnitaDow.
I love that quote from Churchill also. He had a way with words.
New questions.
What famous person living or dead would you like to meet? A famous author? An indie author?
What are your thoughts about mentoring beginning writers?

2/28/2019 01:10:20 pm

I'm very excited to listen to H.E.Wilburson's new story, he tells a great tale! I'll follow up with Anita, that's a great suggestion.

I would love to meet Dame Agatha Christie someday. I love her books and stories so much (and her plays!)--the details, settings and characters are so vivid to me. I feel like I'm right there, shadowing Miss Marple or Poirot or Tommy & Tuppence. Her books definitely influenced my writing style--I'm very grateful. And I have to ask her the one question that has driven me bonkers all these years--which suitor did Lucy Eyelesbarrow choose at the end of the '4:50 to Paddington'???? LOL

I think mentoring is a fabulous idea. I've done it during my engineering and software sales careers and try to do my part in the #WritingCommunity. It's always good to give folks a boost of confidence or share your knowledge and opinions if asked. I know I need it myself! I'm going to try and reach out here in my town at our library, in an 'Ask the Author' type forum. I'm sure there are lots of budding writers out there(young and old)--if I can do it, they can too. :)

2/28/2019 01:39:44 pm

You are welcome for the suggestion.
Agatha Christie writes a great story, I am sure. I haven't actually read any of her work. I have watched a number of her movies with my wife.
I think mentoring is a great idea also. I look for opportunities anywhere to provide encouragement and positive feedback. The library is a great idea for promotion also.
New questions.
Have you ever thought about speaking to a college or high school writing class?
Have you ever contacted a book club and offered your book to them and also offered to speak to them?

2/28/2019 03:55:30 pm

I think speaking to a high school class or college is a great idea and such a good way to get some local exposure. I have a couple of high schools nearby and a community college, added to my to-do list! Thanks, Mark!

I haven't done the bookclubs yet. I thought by connecting to my local libraries I'd find some local clubs to connect with. There's small mystery bookshop that holds regular events featuring authors in the area--I'm trying to get a date for mine.

2/28/2019 06:01:43 pm

You are making all the right moves. Ask your muse, I bet you will think of many more places to share your book with.
New questions.
Have you ever felt like giving up or taking an extended break?
What books do you think every author should read, and why?

2/28/2019 06:32:33 pm

Just the opposite, I love what I'm doing now and pretty much write everyday, either for my books, my blog, or social media. I feel like a kid in a candy store--there's always something new and exciting to do and learn. Writing a series keeps me on my toes--I'm just as anxious for the new book to come out as my readers--I want to find out what's happening next, lol!

I think it's good to take some time to do other things you love so that you don't get in a rut or become discouraged. As I mentioned before, for me traveling is my way of staying energized. It's good to get away and explore new places every now and then to recharge and reboot.

I think it's good for authors to read other author's works, both in your genre and branching out to others. For me it's a great way to stay fresh and current. I also think it's important to read up on the topics you're incorporating into your stories. For Deadly Receptions, I read books on the Oscars to understand how shows are nominated and all the behind the scene efforts required. I also looked up several interviews with nominated stars for the PR scenes in Deadly Receptions--they can be pretty cut throat as Ma-ma finds out in the story, lol. For book 4, there is a rumor that Cherrywood Hall will be adding a gin distillery to the estate, so guess who's reading all about gin production? :)

2/28/2019 08:34:47 pm

That sounds like you have found a balance among writing, promoting and living life. As much fun as the virtual life can be, we are creatures in the real world.
I am glad to hear you say that bout reading, some authors are afraid to read the works of others in their field.
Research is the best part of writing according to some authors. I know it would be easy for me to get lost in research, following that rabbit down the hole.
New questions.
Do you write poetry?
Is there a genre you have secretly wanted to try your hand at, but haven’t?

2/28/2019 09:10:04 pm

I don't write poetry, but thanks to some fabulous poets I follow on Twitter I am reading it now. I love the emotions and memories it induces, very magical reading experience!

I haven't thought about branching out of my #cozymystery world--yet. I have a fascination with ghost stories, I love the idea of ancestral ghosts roaming the halls of their former estate (hhhmmm, sounds a bit like Pippa, lol). Is there such a thing as a cozy paranormal genre? Might have to give that a try!

Eileen Omosa link

2/28/2019 09:38:59 pm

Hi Veronica,
Congrats, I have read blurbs of your books and the reviews by Mark which got me lining up your book for my future reads. I write in the women's fiction and food stories but I read widely, in many genres. As you said in one of your responses to Mark, reading widely is of benefit to writers.

Question: Are your mystery books standalones or does one need to read book one to follow events in book three?
You mentioned that you like to travel partly to enrich your stories, which in your opinion (between writing and travel) should come first. Should one travel to a place before they write the book, or write the first draft, travel and return to perfect the book settings?
Thanks

2/28/2019 10:49:34 pm

Hi Eileen, Thanks for dropping in and many thanks for putting my books in your #TBR!! Very much appreciated :)

My books can be read stand-alone. I put in some background, character intros and quick recaps of anything a reader needs to know in each book as part of the dialogue in Chapter 1. I love series myself and have often started in the middle of a series with a book that sounds interesting to me. If I like it I usually end up going to the start and working my way through. I hate it when I reach the end and have to wait for the next release, lol.

I don't think you need to travel first and then write. There's so much information and pictures available on the internet these days. I use Pinterest a lot to research different locations and have a board called Set the Scene that has a ton of pics on locations, castles, fashions (Gemma likes to dress well :) etc. I love seeing the images--I keep them at hand when I write to bring in detailed descriptions in the storyline.

If I see a location I like, I try and visit and take loads of pics. Travel books like Frommers and Rick Steves (and the ones at AAA if you're a member) are very useful too. Google maps is another great tool, you can zoom in and get a birds eye view of a setting, giving you the lay of the land until you can visit.

Thank you for the questions, Eileen!

3/1/2019 07:32:59 pm

Thanks Veronica
Since I have not read any of your books, I will start with book one.

On travel to places where our books are set, I have traveled a lot in the past, to 24 countries to date. But since 2016 when I started to write books for publication, I keep telling myself, "I should go back to such and such a place, now with a writer's lens to capture certain issues. An example is in 2017/2018 when I traveled to Nairobi where my book, "Ignited by Education," is set. I rode in a matatu around the city and picked more insights I could use to enrich the book, than if I had learned from photos and other online tools.
Does that happen to you?

3/1/2019 11:26:36 am

Hi Eileen, thanks for dropping in. Do you have another book in progress?

3/1/2019 07:40:21 pm

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the good work you do to our books - proofreading and marketing through your website.

I finally found a second editor to polish-up the book. Two days ago I published "Propelled by a Job" on Amazon as a print book. I will need you to review it - let me know how long the line-up is. Thanks

3/2/2019 12:00:25 pm

Thank you, Eileen for starting with book 1, welcome to Cherrywood Hall!

Definitely traveling to a location is a wonderful way to bring in more details. I love going to locations where my characters go to in the stories. In Deadly Receptions, I used many locations in London, New York City, Vail, and Malibu that we had been to. Right before Christmas we took a trip to NYC to see the Christmas lights and locations that had been detailed in my book (including eating and drinking some of Gemma's favorite foods). I was delighted to stand on the stairs of the Plaza Hotel in just about the same location as MC Gemma does on the cover--I was so excited!

3/1/2019 11:24:33 am

I was surprised how poetry affected me also. I reviewed two different books of poetry by Wendy E. Slater. They were very similar at first blush, but I discovered the differences as I read.
If cozy paranormal isn't a thing then create it. Your books would rank #1 on Amazon! It could be a lot of fun. Maybe Pippa encounters all manner of spirits that are trying to derail Gemma and company.
New questions.
Is there something, as a writer, you feel you need the most improvement in?
Have you ever needed to pattern characters after people you have known or met?

3/1/2019 11:49:28 am

Ooh, I love that idea, Mark! Got my wheels turning with that one my friend!

Editing, definitely editing. I can read something umpteen times and miss a glaring oopsie staring me right in my face. Theresa and my beta readers had a field day---every other sentence started with 'Well' and every other scene had someone 'squeezing a knee'...#UhOh Once they pointed things out, I immediately saw the errors. Amazing how your mind doesn't catch the obvious.

I do put bits and pieces of people I know in the characters. Gemma and Ma-ma have a lot of me (I do wish Gemma would give me her magic metabolism!). Kyle has some Hubby. Pippa has some Sissy...and for the villians, #Bwahahaha! All kinds of folks I've known in those little darlings. :)

Be forewarned, sometime when you least expect it, you might find yourself thinking 'Wow, that character could be me...' Hint, hint, Mark (book 4, Gemma really likes your dog) #UhOh

3/1/2019 08:44:53 pm

You have experienced the same as many other authors. Our brains lie to us. Our brain shows us the thing it knows we want to see. Not the reality of what is there. This is coupled with eye fatigue, our eyes get tired of seeing the same thing over and over. This is an important reason to have beta readers, critique partners, an editor and a proofreader. The more fresh eyes you can get on your manuscript, the better chance of finding those invisible-to-you errors.
That is really funny! I have not been in a book before, to my knowledge. I am looking forward to that.
BTW, Gemma and I have more in common than you might know. We both share a magical metabolism.
New questions.
Have you ever gone on an organized writer's retreat? If so, how was it? What did you gain?
Have you attended a seminar or lecture to improve certain skills a writer needs to know?

3/1/2019 10:28:21 pm

Just wait, my friend!

I haven't gone on a writers retreat yet. I'm looking into some back east that my Twitter friends have recommended. I think it would be a lot of fun. I just hope my muse doesn't decide to take a hiatus then. #Embarrassing

I have attended seminars here in southern CA. There are some great sessions hosted by GLAWS in the LA area. I just saw a list yesterday of some online courses as well. I think a mix would be good. It's always fun to meet other writers and socialize. :)

3/2/2019 11:45:45 am

That sounds great! The writer community on Twitter is very helpful. I think meeting fellow writers, sharing knowledge and socializing is an enriching experience, for all involved.
I have been very blessed to meet some local writers here is Portland. We have another meetup scheduled for later this month, James McCrone is going to be in town, plus AWP#19 is in Portland this year and month also. This conference moves around the country.
New questions.
What are the easiest parts of writing for you?
Are you a plot-driven writer or a character-driven writer?

3/2/2019 12:48:47 pm

I love writing dialog once I have the outline detailed. It's fun having these fictional conversations as the characters get exposed to different events and new characters. I always pretend to be standing in the room with them, listening and watching their reactions. It helps me figure out what they're going to say and do next. I try and bring in as many details as I can so that readers feel they're in the room too with room descriptions, fashion, food, cocktails...details matter and make the conversations seem more real, IMO.

I'm 50/50--to me a great plot with meh characters and vice versa is not a good thing. I think about plotlines with the existing characters in mind, and when introducing new characters I think about what they will be like personality wise and how they'll react, influencing the plot. It's an equal mix for me, for I think one needs and relies on the other. :)

3/2/2019 02:15:20 pm

I do feel like I am right in the room when reading your books, so you are doing it right.
Both are important, I think you have a good balance.
New questions.
You mentioned using spreadsheets to keep track of certain things. I don't know much about a spreadsheet. What kind of things can you track?
On average, how many words do you write at a time or how long do you spend writing in one stretch, in one day?

3/3/2019 12:31:23 pm

You can track anything really--I use excel to track characters (new and recurring book to book), their traits/personalities; events/locations; outfits/jewels; menus/cocktails (a biggy with Gemma as you know); accidents/mur-dah methods. And finally how they ended up at the end of the story, which for some, being in a #cozymystery, isn't the best, LOL--I include relationships, what's coming in the next book too.

When I'm in book writing mode I have a self imposed production schedule that includes completing 1 chapter/day--usually 4500-5500 words/chapter--my books are 20 chapters. This can take 5-10 hours/day depending on the flow. I make myself finish--we can clean-up and revise later. I don't like disappointing myself. :)

3/3/2019 06:43:53 pm

Thank you, Veronica, for joining me for this third interview. I have really enjoyed having you as a guest. I am very much looking forward to the next book.
For our visitors, I have links to the other book reviews and interviews just above all of these comments.

Jena C. Henry link

3/3/2019 08:10:19 am

Excellent book review, questions, answers and camaraderie! I have read the first book in the series- well done Veronica. I like the mix of American and British life, as well as the mix of appealing characters. You may not know the answer to this yet Veronica, but are you contemplating a new series after Cherrywood, or will you keep adding to the series? (No wrong answer here- your fans will be happy either way). And thanks to Mark, too- I’ e learned from you!

3/3/2019 12:41:43 pm

Thank you, Jena, for the kind words and for dropping in! Right now I'm just concentrating on the current series--I hope to do 8-10 books, maybe more...I'm going to try and release a short story each quarter that picks up on some of the history of Cherrywood Hall and the Aunt Pippa character, so she can tell her story and what she experienced as a new bride who moved from America to the UK. Expect some tie-ins with the short stories to events in the books. I have a short story titled 'Yuletime at Cherrywood Hall; Pippa's First Christmas' available to anyone who would like to read it (DM me on Twitter or message on FB). It gives the history to one of the storylines in Deadly Receptions.

I do know how the series will end one day, which I think will surprise everyone! Now we just have to see if that ending comes about in book 10 or 20! :)

3/3/2019 06:40:27 pm

Thank you, Jena, for popping in. I really enjoy Gemma's observations of the British life, including the occasional royal and near-royal contact.
Thank you for the compliment. I will see you around the Twitter corral.

Deadly Receptions: The Debut of Castlewood Manor By Veronica Cline Barton

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