Books & Tales

May 2025 10

Don’t Mess With Mama When Murder Is On the Menu

2025 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Linda Kay Hardie


Ask any mother what she wants for Mother’s Day, and she’ll probably say, “Nothing. Your presence is all the gift I need.” She's lying. Everyone knows what moms really want: someone to take charge of the darned household chores. We have to give Mama what she needs, right? After all, she’s the one preparing our meals, alone in the kitchen where she has access to all sorts of poisons. (Have you ever taken a look at what Mom’s got under the sink?)

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May 2025 3

KRL Vacation For San Joaquin Valley Book Festival

2025 Articles, Books & Tales

by Lorie Lewis Ham


KRL is taking a vacation this weekend! I will be at the San Joaquin Valley Book Festival on Saturday so decided to take a vacation. Come on out and see me. I will be at the Central Valley Fiction Writers table off and on in the afternoon, and will have a booksigning at 4. Both of my books will be available at the bookstore for the event. Hope to see some of you there!

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Apr 2025 30

The Journey From Paper Draft To Publication

2025 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Camille Cabrera


The journey from paper draft to perfected publication begins with unsettling blankness. Each story requires new information and copious amounts of crisp white paper. When writing a mystery novel, this process also requires answering questions. How can one not only create but navigate uncharted territory? While the answer might seem simple, it also provides a generous amount of leeway: it depends. The anticipation of the first pen stroke creates a sacred rite of passage.

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Apr 2025 26

Essence of Foul Play By Daryl Wood Gerber: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post

2025 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Sandra Murphy

by Sandra Murphy
& Daryl Wood Gerber


Emma Brennan is ready to open her new spa. There are other spas in town but Emma’s offerings differ since they focus on the mind as much as the body. Of course, there’s always one person who has to be offended at everything. Willow, the owner of Mystic Waters, offers massages, scalp treatments, and seaweed wraps but Emma’s spa offers an eatery full of healthy foods and drinks, a gift shop, sound baths, and more.

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Apr 2025 26

Hound of the Bonnevilles By Nikki Knight: Review/Giveaway

2025 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Sarah Erwin

by Sarah Erwin


Hound of the Bonnevilles is book two in Nikki Knight’s Grace "the Hit Mom" mystery series. A fast-paced plot and lots of humor await readers. This reads well as a standalone, although I’m anxious to get my hands on book one, Wrong Poison, so I can learn more about the ancient order that Grace belongs to as a “hit mom,” doling out justice to evil men.

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