Tristi Pinkston announcement

Author Tristi Pinkston is excited to announce the release of the third novel in her Secret Sisters Mysteries series.

Titled Hang ‘em High, this novel takes place on a dude ranch in Montana. When Ida Mae’s son invites her to come for a visit, of course she brings Arlette and Tansy along with her. They are expecting to spend the week looking at horses, avoiding the cows, and making amends in Ida Mae’s relationship with her son. What they don’t expect is to be stuck on the ranch in the middle of a blizzard and to be thrust headlong into the middle of a mystery.

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Help Tristi celebrate her new novel in two ways. First, come participate in the two-week-long blog contest, where you can win a book nearly every single day! All the details are up on Tristi’s blog.

Second, come to the book launch!

You are invited to an

August Authorama!

Saturday, August 13th

Pioneer Book, 858 S. State, Orem

12 – 4 pm

Games, prizes, balloons, face painting,

and Dutch oven cobbler

prepared by world champion cook

Keith Fisher.

Authors Tristi Pinkston, J. Lloyd Morgan, Cindy Hogan,

Nichole Giles, and Heather Justesen

will all be there to sign books.

This is one book launch event

you will not want to miss!

Review of "Dearly Departed" by Tristi Pinkston

Dearly Departed is the second book in the Secret Sisters Mystery books. It's not your typical murder mystery--and that's what makes it so special.

When someone sits down to write a mystery novel, I doubt the first thing that comes to their mind is "I know! Let me write it where the hero is an old, er, "mature" woman. And, I'll have it take place in a rest home!"

However, Tristi makes it work.

I was going to write a synopsis, but Tristi did such a good job, I'm just going to post hers:

"Ida Mae Babbit has done her community service and is a reformed woman--no more law-breaking for her. But when Arlett's granddaughter Eden discovers a mystery in a fancy nursing home, Ida Mae--with the perfect excuse of a broken wrist and a broken ankle--checks herself into the place. After all, it is for the greater good. Soon she's buzzing around in her motorized wheelchair, questioning the residents and swiping files from the office. She's bound and determined to get to the bottom of this case. But can she solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim?"

The story is very character driven and extremely clever. The writing flows well and keeps the story moving along. I actually found when I read the book that I laughed more than biting my nails. Sure, there are times in the book when things get a bit hairy for the heroes, but overall, it's a fun read.

Now here is the true sign this is a must read: I gave it to my wife after I finished it. From the moment she opened it, the vast majority of her free time was in her reading chair, completely engrossed in the book. It's during these times I say to the kids, "Mommy's in her happy place, come bother Daddy with anything you need."

It can be purchased here.

**Special note: This was an honest review and was in no way influenced by the fact that Tristi edited the second edition of my book The Hidden Sun, due out July or August of 2011. (See how I included a shameless plug for myself in a disclaimer? Now that's talent!)

Drumroll please. . .

In a recent blog, I noted that my novel, The Hidden Sun, will no longer be available for sale in any format--and that this news was a good thing.

I can now explain why that's a good thing.

There were a few technical issues with The Hidden Sun when it was released. Most people glazed over them, so it wasn't that big of a deal. However, while I was writing the follow up, The Waxing Moon, I referred back to my first book often and more and more the issues started bothering me.

So, I took time away from The Waxing Moon, and with the help of bestselling author Tristi Pinkston as editor, cleaned up the book. I officially dubbed it the "second edition" and started looking at different options.

My original publishing contract didn't really allow for changes like this, but I did have a clause where I could back out of the deal if certain conditions were met. I had met those, so I severed ties with them.

I really wanted this version to be out there, so I looked at doing a self publishing deal. I had started down that road, but hadn't fully committed to it yet.

And that is when something amazing happened.

On the same day I got the proof of the self published book, I got an email from my previous publisher officially stating that I was free of my contract.

Now, this is the trippy part: the very next email was from the publisher Walnut Springs Press, saying that they were interested in publishing the second edition of The Hidden Sun. Wow!

What makes this story even more freaky is that Walnut Springs Press had sent me an email the week before, but I had been having trouble with spam emails, so I cranked up the security, basically stopping anyone from sending me an email I didn't know. I realized later I could tone it down a notch, which I did, and that is when they sent a follow up email asking if I had gotten the first one.

At the time the first email was sent, I didn't have the official word that I was out of my contract, so I would have had to tell them it wasn't available at that moment, but hopefully soon. It probably wouldn't have been a deal breaker, but still, it was so nice to respond to them and say , "Yes! It's available!"

There isn't an official time set for the release of the second edition. It looks like it will be summer of this year. It is my hope that I can build an excellent relationship with these folks so that I can get The Waxing Moon out soon as well. I'm super excited to have people read that one.

Lastly, there is one more tease I can't quite share. I mentioned earlier I was given the green light to work on a dream project of mine, and I've started working on it. As I've started to develop it, I believe it is turning into something quite special, and a little more than I first envisioned. As soon as I get all the legal stuff in order, I'll share what it is about.

Until then, stay tuned for the release of the second edition of The Hidden Sun with what I hope to be some fun extras.