Puppies are Killer!

Today's my day to blog at Inkspot, the blog for authors of Midnight Ink.  I'm discussing My puppy love, Ana, and how she has influenced my writing in  A Fatal Twist.

http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2017/01/puppies-are-killer.html


Enjoy!

Tracy Weber



All four books in the Downward Dog Mystery Series are available at booksellers everywhere!

Inspirations in Fiction

I recently blogged at Inkspot, the blog for authors of Midnight Ink, about two of my real-life character inspirations for the Downward Dog Mystery Series, including my most recent installment, A Fatal Twist.

http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2016/12/inspirations-in-fiction.html


Enjoy!

Tracy Weber



All four books in the Downward Dog Mystery Series are available at booksellers everywhere!

The Final Press Push!

 

Hi all!  Today's my blogging day at Inkspot, the blog for writers of Midnight Ink, and I'm using it to highlight some of my favorite articles and interviews from the final press push for my third Downward Dog Mystery, Karma's a Killer.  From insider tips on writing and the path to publication, to photographic tours of pivotal settings in the book, to a character interview with Kate, the yoga teacher/sleuth in the series.  I've had a blast connecting with all of these bloggers and editors!

 

Check them out at this link  and conduct your own interview by asking questions in the comments!  I love chatting with readers!

 

See you next Monday!

Tracy Weber

PS--all three books in my Downward Dog mystery series are now available!  Learn more at http://tracyweberauthor.com.  Thanks for reading!

Presenting...An Excerpt from KARMA'S A KILLER!

Today is my monthly posting at InkSpot, the blog for the writers of Midnight Ink.  You don't want to miss this one--it's a preview of the first chapter of my next book, Karma's a Killer, which will officially be released on January 8!  Enjoy, and let me know what you think! 


http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/11/i-present-to-youkarmas-killer.html 
 
PS--You still have to pre-order Karma's a Killer and e-mail me at Tracy@WholeLifeYoga.com to receive an autographed bookplate!

Tracy Weber

Preorder my newest mystery, KARMA'S A KILLER, now at Amazon Barnes and Noble or a bookstore near you!

Check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere

The Joys of Jury Duty

My husband and I suffer from what we’ve dubbed “The Vacation Curse.”  Whenever we go on vacation—as soon on we go on vacation—bad things start happening.  We’ve endured pretty much everything:  multiple business disasters at my yoga studio, car breakdowns that stranded us for several days, personal illnesses, several veterinary emergencies. I was even notified that my father had been hospitalized with a serious health condition—when I was literally halfway to Mexico. My studio assistant quit the day I came back from my one and only week-long cruise, saying that she couldn’t handle the stress of dealing with everything that went wrong while I was gone.

Welcome to my life.

Jury duty this past week proved to be no better.  By 9:30 AM on my first day, I was already desperately trying to find out why the instructor hadn’t shown up for our morning class and  scrambling to deal with a mistake by my publisher that forced me to pull back and re-write several newsletters, e-mails, and other marketing materials that were scheduled to automatically post later that day.

Before I go on, let me say that this is my fifth time on jury duty, so I have plenty of experience to put in my novels.  I’ve served on three trials—two of them about two weeks long. I’ve experienced the grace and the challenges of reaching a verdict, as well as the frustration and heartbreak of being a member of a hung jury. I’ve done my time. I’ve given to the system.

Yet the next time I’m called, I’ll do it again.  Happily.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a survivor of a violent crime that happened about twenty years ago.  The person who committed that crime was sentenced to seventy years behind bars. Seventy years during which I can have a happy, productive, fear-free life.  Seventy years during which I don’t have to worry about him harming me again.  Seventy years during which he can’t harm anyone else.

That gift was given to me by twelve jurors and two alternates who donated close to three weeks of their lives to a trial.  Fourteen people who had business fires to put out, sick kids to nurse, life hassles to deal with, and lord knows what else.  Fourteen people who probably didn’t want to be there.

Fourteen people who will never understand how important their time was to me and to the other women my assailant hurt.

And those fourteen people were there for him, too.  They listened to make sure that justice prevailed for him, too.  In some ways, that’s even more important. If I’m ever accused of a crime, I hope busy people (most of whom would rather be doing anything else) will temporarily put their lives on hold for me again.

So you see, in spite of the hassle, in spite of my frustrations, in spite of the curse that seems to follow me, I will never say no to jury duty—not if I can help it.  I hope you don’t, either.

As for vacations, well, that’s still to be determined.

Namaste

Tracy Weber

You can preorder Tracy's newest mystery, KARMA'S A KILLER,now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Yee haw, yippee, and yahooey!

Late Night Musings--Friends, Characters, and Other Unpredicable Things

I've been using my blog posts on Killer Hobbies lately to support other mystery writers--specifically by hosting them here on Thursdays.  What fun to see the diverse mysteries out there and learn about the interests of the authors that create them! 

Meanwhile, I've been heads down writing the first draft of my fourth Downward Dog Mystery, tentatively titled A TWISTED DEATH.  So heads down, in fact, that it's 11:30 at night on Wednesday, and I just realized I need to write a blog post by midnight! 

Since the only thing I think about right now is book 4, that's what I'll share.  It's fun to revisit Kate and crew and to see how Kate's life continues to unfold.  Much to my surprise, a minor character has forced herself into a larger role in the book and is transforming under my very fingers.

Tiffany--Kate's arch nemesis who has been vying for boyfriend Michael's attention--is unbelievably emerging as a teacher of sorts for Kate.  Even more surprising, she's wiggling her way into Kate's heart.  A few pages ago, Kate even called her a friend. (GASP!)

None of this is a spoiler, and you'll have to get through book three, KARMA'S A KILLER, to see the start of this relationship unfold, but I'm continually surprised at how characters seem to write themselves, and how they often refuse to follow the path I've set for them. Kind of like my friends in real life, darn them anyway.

Since  characters come from the minds of their creators, I have to wonder:  Is Tiffany teaching me something, too?  is something in me changing so that I see her in a new light?  Only time will tell.

The draft is currently at about 65,000 words, so there is still time for Tiffany to change her mind.  And, of course, all of my characters morph significantly in drafts two through thirty. If anyone knows how the story will end, I sure wish they'd tell me.

My goal is to have this first draft finished by July 31, and (knock on wood) I think I'll make it.  You, my lovely readers, won't get to witness the birth of my 4th  written child until 18 months later.  I promise, it will be worth the wait.

In the meantime, you can preorder book three, KARMA'S A KILLER and catch up on Kate, Bella, and the rest of the gang.  I'm hesitant to say it, but KARMA'S A KILLER is my favorite book of the series so far. I hope you agree with me.  Writing it has been as healing for me as living it has been for Kate.

The next three weeks' posts will be back to guest writers, but I promise you'll hear from me again soon.  In the mean time, wish me luck writing!

Happy reading!

Tracy Weber

You can preorder KARMA'S A KILLER, book three of the Downward Dog Mysteries now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Yee haw, yippee, and yahooey!

Research Proves It: Yoga Benefits Seniors!

A recent study at UC San Diego showed once again the many benefits of yoga, this time for older adults. The study followed yoga students with a median age of sixty-nine.  Students took weekly one-hour yoga classes held at local community centers for three months. The classes included gentle yoga postures designed to be accessible to all functional levels. Students who completed the study experienced the following benefits.

• Statistically significant decreases in pain
• Decreased fatigue
• Increased mobility
• Statistically significant decreases in symptoms of depression.

The study was small, (thirty-one students) and more work is needed to verify these results according to rigorous Western research standards.  But the initial results are encouraging and prove what the ancient yogis knew all along.

Yoga works!

Yoga is always best studied with a teacher.  In older populations, I think working with a trained teacher is essential.  Yoga for seniors is widely available at aging facilities, senior centers and community centers.  Check it out and see if you can find a yoga class appropriate for seniors near you!

Namaste

Tracy Weber

          

Check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere!

Seven Tips for Hosting a Cover Reveal Contest

Hi all!  Today's my blogging day at Ink Spot, the blog for the authors of Midnight Ink.  I'm dedicating this month's article to helping my fellow authors learn how to host a successful cover reveal contest.  Check it out!  Talk to you next week!

http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/05/seven-tips-for-successful-cover-reveal.html

And what do you think of my newest cover for Karma's a Killer?

Tracy Weber

It's a Cover Reveal Contest!

I’m so excited about the cover of my next book, Karma’s a Killer, that I decided to share the fun with a cover reveal contest!  The first three days have passed, but you still have four more days to join in the fun!

Here’s how it works:

Each day Monday through Friday of this week, I’ll post (or have already posted) an element of the cover on my Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/TracyWeberAuthor.  Before midnight that day, leave a comment naming the object pictured and you’ll be entered into that day’s contest.  “Liking" my author page or “Friending” me on Facebook while you’re there is good Karma, but not required.

While you’re there, be sure to make a note of the object for the grand prize round.

Then, any time between when I post the final object on Friday, May 15 and Sunday, May 17 at midnight, send me an e-mail at Tracy@WholeLifeYoga.com with all five objects, and you’ll be entered for the grand prize “Agatha Sweepstakes” drawing for an autographed copy of all five of the Agatha Best First nominees AND an autographed advanced copy of Karma’s a Killer when it becomes available in August.

And the prizes!

Monday: An autographed copy of my Agatha Nominated first book, Murder Strikes a Pose. If you already own it, remember:  books make great gifts!
Tuesday: An autographed copy of the second book in the series, A Killer Retreat. If you already own it, remember:  books make great gifts!
Wednesday: A Downward Dog Mysteries coffee mug.
Thursday:  An autographed book bag from this year’s Malice Domestic.
Friday:  An autographed advanced copy of Karma’s a Killer when it becomes available in August.

Grand Prize:  Autographed copies of each of the Agatha Best First nominees AND an advanced copy of Karma’s A Killer when it’s available.

• Circle of Influence by Annette Dashofy
• Tagged for Death by Sherry Harris
• Finding Sky by Susan O'Brien
• Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran
• Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber

Missed out on the first three days?  No problem!  Here's your cheat sheet:

Day 1:

 

Day 2:

 

Day 3:

 



Visit today’s post at https://www.facebook.com/TracyWeberAuthor and make your first entry!  GOOD LUCK!

NOTE:  By entering, you acknowledge that Facebook is not liable for any part of the contest.  The contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.  ;-)

Namaste

Tracy Weber

          

Check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere! 

Connecting with your Inner Geode

Yoga isn’t about the body. Not really.

Sutras 1.2 – 1.4 discuss the true purpose if yoga.  Errors in interpretation and translation are strictly mine.

Sutra 1.2 provides the definition of yoga.

Yogas citta vritti nirodhah

Yoga is the process of learning to control the random fluctuations of the mind.

Sutra 1.3 tells what happens when we achieve that state.

Tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam

Once we have achieved that state, we are connected with our own true nature (we can see clearly).

Sutra 1.4 tells what we can expect if we don’t.

Vritti sarupyam itaratra

Otherwise, what we experience in life is a product of our own conditioning, not reality.

If that doesn’t make sense, try this Tracy translation on for size.

Yoga is the process of learning how to control our mind, so it doesn’t control us.  In doing so, we finally overcome our conditioning, and we see things, including ourselves, as they truly are.  Otherwise, we remain trapped in the muck of our own emotional quicksand.

Conditioning isn’t all bad. It keeps us safe. It provides the intelligence, the character, and the beauty through with we experience the world.  But it also clouds us, holds us back, and feeds into feelings of jealousy, prejudice, attachment and fear.

The sutras promise that no matter what happens to us—or in the world around us, for that matter—we each have a perfect, clear core somewhere deep inside.  A spirit of wisdom, kindness, compassion, truth.  The tools of yoga—asana, pranayama, meditation, chant and ritual—help us peel away, layer by grimy layer, all that obscures that beautiful being inside us.

The ancients symbolized the mind as a crystal.  I like to think of it more as a geode, each with its own emotional fingerprint.

The outer layers of our awareness are dark, clouded and dull.  Like the rings of a tree, our inner layers vary and have been formed by influences starting when we were young. Some layers are bigger—more impactful—than others.  Some layers are dark and stressful, others bright and happy.  But all of us, deep in our core, possess the same inner clarity.  All of us, deep in our core, know truth. All of us, deep in our core, are perfect.

Yoga helps you connect with your true self. It’s not easy. It’s often not fun. It usually has nothing to do with stretching your hamstrings. But those moments when you glimpse into that perfect, clear space?  They make it all worth it.

This simple meditation practice can help you get started.

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere!

A Meditation to Deal with Difficult People

We all have people who challenge us in some way, often those closest to us. The yoga teachings say that no matter how much we'd like to, we can never change  someone else.  All we can change is how we react to them.

Fortunately, that's usually enough.  I learned the wonderful meditation below when I took yoga therapist training many years ago.  Give it a try. You might be surprised at the results!

Pratipaska Bhavanam Meditation: Replacing with the Opposites,

1. Sit comfortably, with your spine erect and the crown of your head floating up to the ceiling.  Sitting either in a chair or on the floor is fine, as long as you are physically comfortable and your spine is in “neutral." 
2. Allow your eyes to close and your focus to go internal.
3. Notice your breath—without intentionally trying to change it.  Feel the warmth and coolness of the breath at the tip of your nostrils.  Allow your mind to focus on and pay attention to this feeling of the breath.  This will be your anchor and where you will invite your attention whenever your mind wanders.
4. Bring to mind an interaction that was stressful or contentious in some way in a relationship that’s important to you.  Something that challenged you and in which you reacted with anger, fear, stress or frustration.
5. Try to really feel and “re-live” that interaction.
   
   • What did you feel in your muscles?
   • How did your breath change?
   • What sensations did you feel in your jaw and face?
   • Were you hot or cold?
   • What sensations did you feel internally in your throat, your stomach, your chest?
   • Were your hands, toes, or teeth clenched?
   • What facial expression do you imagine you wore?
   • What was your “inner dialogue” like?  Did you attribute intentions or motives to the person with whom you were interacting?
   • What message did your energy send to that other person?
6. Now, imagine what it would have felt like—been like—had you instead reacted to the other person with the energy of love, light, and understanding.  
   
   • What do you feel in your muscles?
   • What is the rhythm of your breath?
   • What sensations do you feel in your jaw and face?
   • Are your hands, toes, and jaw relaxed?
   • What sensations do you feel internally in your throat, your stomach, your chest?
   • What facial expression do you imagine you are wearing?
   • What is your “inner dialogue” like?  Do you attribute intentions or motives to the person you are interacting with?
   • What message does your energy send to the person with whom you are interacting?
7. If your attention wanders (and it will!) just notice it, and invite your attention back to the sensation of the breath at the tip of your nose.  Then return to your peaceful place and begin again.
8. Continue this meditation for 10 minutes or longer if you’d like.

Namaste

Tracy Weber


          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere!

Research Proves It! Yoga Benefits Seniors

A recent study at UC San Diego showed once again the many benefits of yoga, this time for older adults. The study followed yoga students with a median age of sixty-nine.  Students took weekly one-hour yoga classes held at local community centers for three months. The classes included gentle yoga postures designed to be accessible to all functional levels. Students who completed the study experienced the following benefits.

• Statistically significant decreases in pain
• Decreased fatigue
• Increased mobility
• Statistically significant decreases in symptoms of depression.

The study was small, (thirty-one students) and more work is needed to verify these results according to rigorous Western research standards.  But the initial results are encouraging and prove what the ancient yogis knew all along.

Yoga works!

Yoga is always best studied with a teacher.  In older populations, I think working with a trained teacher is essential.  Yoga for seniors is widely available at aging facilities, senior centers and community centers.  Check out what's available in your area, and give it a try!

Namaste

Tracy Weber

          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere!

Do Awards Boost Anything Except Egos?

Hi all!  Today is my monthly blogging day for my publisher, Midnight Ink.   I'm writing about my series, winning the Maxwell Award for Fiction, and why I think the two things together may save lives.

Check it out at http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/02/do-awards-boost-anything-except-egos.html.  I'll be back here next week with a new yoga article!

Tracy Weber

          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere! 

Agatha Nominees--OMG--I'm one of them!

Who ever would have believed that Kate and Bella's
first story would be up for an Agatha?

I'm still in a state of disbelief.  The Agatha nominations were announced on Saturday, and my first book, Murder Strikes a Pose, is up for best first novel!  I'd had a very rough week, for a number of reasons, and this was the news that pulled me out of my funk. 

There are four other fabulous writers on the list with me, and I have no expectations about winning.  But being on the list with such talent makes me finally believe I'm a writer.  Please take a moment to look at the other Agatha-nominated authors and check out their work!  And if you plan to come to Malice Domestic this May, please come see me and give me a hug!

Best Contemporary Novel
°	The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews
°	A Demon Summer by G.M. Malliet
°	Designated Daughters by Margaret Maron
°	The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
°	Truth Be Told by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Best Historical Novel
°	Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
°	Wouldn’t it Be Deadly by D.E. Ireland
°	Murder in Murray Hill by Victoria Thompson
°	Hunting Shadows by Charles Todd
°	An Unwilling Accomplice by Charles Todd

Best First Novel
°	Circle of Influence by Annette Dashofy
°	Tagged for Death by Sherry Harris
°	Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran
°	Finding Sky by Susan Obrien
°	Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber

Best Short Story
°	“The Blessing Witch” by Kathy Lynn Emerson   Rogue Wave
°	“The Shadow Knows” by Barb Goffman   Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays
°	“Just Desserts for Johnny” by Edith Maxwell
°	“The Odds Are Against Us” by Art Taylor     Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
°	“Premonition” by by Art Taylor   Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays

Best Non-fiction
°	The Poisoner: the Life and Crimes of Victorian England’s Most Notorious Doctor by Stephen Bates
°	Death Dealer: How Cops and Cadaver Dogs Brought a Killer to Justice by Kate Flora
°	400 Things Cops Know: Street Smart Lessons from a Veteran Patrolman by Adam Plantinga
°	Writes of Passage: Adventures on the Writer’s Journey by Hank Phillippi Ryan
°	The Art of the English Murder: From Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock by Lucy Worsley

Best Children’s/Young Adult
°	Found by Harlan Coben
°	Andi Under Pressure by Amanda Flower
°	Greenglass House by Kate Milford
°	Uncertain Glory by Lea Wait
°	The Code Busters Club, Case #4: The Mummy’s Curse by Penny Warner I don't know about you, but I've got some reading to do.  Good luck to all of the nominees!   Namaste   Tracy Weber Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere!

Liftoff Success!

Tracy MacDonald and Fiona

Today is my blogging day on Inkspot., the blog for the authors of Midnight Ink.  And it seems only fitting at the end of my book launch to thank some of the great people who have helped me make it such a success.  Even better--I have never met any of these people in person!

The gifts of yoga live everywhere--even in people who've never done a single pose.  Check out some of my favorites at http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/01/liftoff-success.html

Tracy Weber

          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere! 

A Killer Retreat Book Launch Summary!

 

Fiona had to wait so long for the book launch that she outgrew her shirt!


My book launch actually extends well into February, but the craziest part is finished.  Here are some of places you can still join in the fun:

Interviews: I’m continually surprised by the diversity of questions I get asked by interviewers.  There’s a tiny bit of overlap in the interviews below, but not very darned much.  I’ve highlighted some of the unique questions in each.

• Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows:  This one is a lot of fun, because I got to write it from Bella’s (The German Shepherd in my series) point of view!
• Edmonds News: Artfully Edmonds:  This local arts columnist asked some great questions about how to “make it” in the writing business.  Truth be told, I haven’t made it yet.  But if I ever do, it will be because of support from readers like you!
• Christa Reads and Writes: In this one, you can read about my yoga teacher/sleuth Kate and how she compares to me.  Spoiler Alert!  We have some similarities!
• Thoughts in Progress:  Learn about my writing process (or lack thereof, if the truth be known).  I’m not exactly known for my organized desktop.
• Cozy Up with Kathy: This interviewer asked me to talk about my work, of course, but also two other topics in the series I feel passionately about:  EPI (the digestive disease my own dog has) and reactive dogs.
• Omnimystery News:  This interviewer  asked lots of fun questions about my life, my characters, and my genre.  My favorite question, however was to complete this sentence… I am a mystery writer and thus I am also… How do you think I answered it?
• Radio Interview on Conversations Live with Cyrus Web.  Cyrus hosted me on his program last launch and it was a thrill to talk with him again this year about my new book, getting to know my characters and encouraging other writers.
• Radio Interview on My Mama’s Kitchen (Aired Tuesday, January 13) This interview was special because it spoke primarily about yoga and why I love it so much.

Guest articles: In addition to this writing blog, I was a contributing author for several other blogs in the past few weeks. 

• Writers and Other Animals:  This is actually an excerpt from the book—a scene in which Kate discovers Suicide Bluff, an area that will later become much more frightening than she could ever imagine.
• Sequence Wiz:  Read about finding your passion by sharing yoga in unusual ways.
• Kelly P’s Blog:  Yoga for Mystery Readers. Yoga is good for everyone! In this article, I discuss the key benefits of a consistent yoga practice for mystery readers.
• Dru’s Book Musings: A Typical Day in the Life of Yoga Instructor Kate Davidson.  Typical?  Really?  What’s so typical on a day you’re about to get arrested for murder? Kate will tell you all about it!

Reviews from Mystery Blogs:  Check out the fun reviews from posted by the bloggers below:  If you’ve seen any reviews that I haven’t listed here please let me know!

• Booklady’s Booknotes:  "A Killer Retreat is a humorous mystery that will give the reader page after page of stress free enjoyment."
• Shelley’s BookCase: "This is such a fantastic read. One that will have you reading until the last page."
• Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows: "Kate's dedication to Bella and her serious medical issues are just one reason why I consider this a must-read series. Whether you are a yogi or not you will enjoy spending time with Kate, Bella, and their friends."
• Readalot:  "Lots of mystery, lots of suspects, lot of Yoga, interesting characters and cute animals."
• Fresh Fiction: "Ms. Weber mixes up a delightful whodunit that sends the  reader down false trails much like Bella the dog and her search for rabbits....Readers  of  cozy mysteries will enjoy this mystery and look forward to  the next installment."
• Cozy up with Kathy "A Killer Retreat, is the best sort of book. It's one that raises awareness of important societal issues, explores the difficulties relationships present, makes us worry about the people and other animals who inhabit its pages, and, while doing all of that, still makes us laugh!"
• Thoughts In Progress: "A Killer Retreat is a charming cozy that provides relaxation and entertainment. This is a tantalizing series with the promise of more capers in the future."
• Just One More Paragraph:  "Another great humorous and quirky mystery that is sure to not only to draw you in but entertain you from the first page."
• Traci Andrighetti’s Blog "As both a yogini and a dog lover, I particularly appreciated the way that Kate’s yoga practice and Bella (and her medical condition) were incorporated into the plot."
• WV Sticher: "Tracy Weber provides a page turning read with Killer Retreat, the second book in the Downward Dog Mystery series."
• Read Your Writes Book Reviews: "A Killer Retreat is told in first person, which gives you a great look into Kate’s crazy personality."
• Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book: "The story has it all, action, drama, humor and romantic tension
• Libriamorimiei:  "If you love dogs and cozy mysteries is absolutely a book to read."

Yikes!  Just looking at all this makes me tired.  I can't wait to continue the fun and start writing the next book!

Tracy Weber

          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere! 

Houston, We Have a Book Launch!

Mystery writer and Reader Amber Polo at the Greyhounds of the Verde Valley Picnic

 

It’s here, it’s here!  It’s finally here! 

I’m so excited that launch day for A Killer Retreat has finally arrived. Please join me for virtual champagne and chocolates, and some very real party favors at today’s Facebook launch celebration from 5 PM – 7 PM PST.

During the party, I’ll give away prizes (AKA party favors) including A Killer Retreat t-shirts and book bags, Amazon gift certificates, and even a couple of autographed books from some of my favorite mystery writers. I’ll also share some photographs of locations that inspired settings in the book, answer questions, and accept virtual hugs.  We might even play a game or two.

Please drop in for five minutes or the entire two hours, and invite your friends!

Remember, A Killer Retreat is now available online, and in most brick-and-mortar book stores. The first few months of a book’s sales largely determine its fate. Please send my newest written child into the world with all of your good wishes.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support!

Tracy Weber

          

Check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book stores everywhere! 
 

Yoga Mysteries, Imperfect Sleuths, and Book Launches!



Rene de los Santos waiting patiently for his copy of A Killer Retreat at Whole Life Yoga



Happy holidays, Readers!

Today is my blogging day on Inkspot., the blog for the authors of Midnight Ink.  As the publication date of my second book approaches (January 8!) I took some time to reflect on my beginnings with Viniyoga and how it can help heal wounds that are both physical and mental.  Check it out at  http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2014/12/yoga-mysteries-imperfect-sleuths-and.html

Rutledge, waiting not so patiently....

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!

Namaste

Tracy Weber

          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT is available for preorder now. MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available at book sellers everywhere! 

Inviting Peace to All Parts of Your Life

This is the final of three blog posts that details practices mentioned in A Killer Retreat.   This poem can either be used as a chant, a daily intention, or a mantra for meditation. May we all find peace this holiday season.  

Like me, my yoga teacher protagonist Kate Davidson wants to live a meaningful life. She wants to be a good person. Heck, she’d even settle for being downright boring every now and again. But that’s harder than it sounds when you’re the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

You see Kate—like most yoga teachers I know–isn’t perfect. Not even close. But when she publicly threatens to strangle a woman who gets murdered less than an hour later…

Suffice it to say that some days Kate should keep her big mouth shut.

Kate is admittedly shaken by both the murder and the accusation, so she practices yoga to remain calm. One of her go-to practices is a beautiful chant I learned almost twenty years ago. Conveying the tune is difficult without teaching chanting notation, but saying the words or mentally reciting them in meditation should be equally effective.

A Poem for Full-System Peace

Anamaya Shanti—May my body have peace.
Pranamaya Shanti—May my energy system have peace.
Manomaya Shanti—May my mind have peace.
Vijnamamaya Shanti—May my personality have peace.
Anandamaya Shanti—May my spirit have peace.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti—Peace, peace, peace.

There’s nothing magical about the Sanskrit words; the English translation has just as much power. Try setting this intention every day for the next week or mentally reciting it the next time you feel stressed.

I hope it benefits you as much as it does Kate.

Namaste

Tracy Weber

          

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series.  A KILLER RETREAT is available for preorder now. MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available at book sellers everywhere!