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!

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! 

Time off, Blog Tours, and the Uniqueness of Viniyoga

As many of you know, I’m on a five-week-long sabbatical from teaching yoga.  This isn’t a vacation—it’s a chance to devote myself to my writing. You see, writing a book (or books!) is only the first step.  Right now I’m in different parts of the publishing process for three. I’m deeply immersed in a one–month blog tour for my first book, Murder Strikes a Pose, working with my publicists to plan for the launch of my second, A Killer Retreat, and finishing up the second draft of my third book, tentatively titled Karma can be Killer.  Whew!

Part of the fun of this sometimes-overwhelming flurry of activity is getting the chance to share the principles of yoga with people who might otherwise never even consider it.  I have fans (those three words alone give me a thrill!) who have taken their first yoga class after reading my first book.  Others have recommitted to a yoga practice they dropped years ago.  Still others are asking me for coaching and yoga advice.

I’m having a great time.

This week’s blog article invites you to share in the fun.  Check out the article I wrote for The Top Shelf about Viniyoga in “Kate Davidson’s Guide to Yoga (with a little Murder on the Side).”  As an added bonus, you can enter to win a free Kindle!  Here’s a quote from the article to whet your appetite….

“The beauty of Viniyoga lies in its accessibility, which is part of what makes it so perfect for a mystery series. You don’t have to be ultra flexible or super fit to partake, just willing to be more mindful in everyday life. For those of you curious, the following four characteristics differentiate Viniyoga from other yoga styles….”

You’ll have to click on the link to the article to read the rest.  ;-)

Thanks all!  I’ll see you in September.

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 from Whole Life Yoga. MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble,  and book sellers everywhere! 

Blog Tour Final Week and a Great Big Thank You

Today marks the final stop on the Murder Strikes a Pose book launch blog tour, and the last three stops were special.  Check them out, and please visit and support the people who have supported me!

Saturday, January 11: Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading

This blog article answers the question many of you have been thinking: What kind of demented yoga teacher writes about murder?  Learn the main reasons I write the series and what I hope to accomplish through its pages.  Besides having fun, of course!

Wednesday, January 15: Killer Characters

Michael—the love interest in Murder Strikes a Pose—finally gets to tell his side of the story! Visit with Michael and learn why he thinks his new girlfriend might be crazy.

Monday, January 20: Inkspot

Inkspot is the blog created by the writers under my publisher, Midnight Ink.  Although Inkspot wasn’t an “official” stop on my tour, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge eleven of the many mystery writers that have supported me on this journey.  Take a look, check out their work, and support them by buying their books.

That’s it for this week.  Next week I’ll be back to blogging about yoga with a book stop every month or so.  Coming up in the next three months are articles on Jungle Red Writers, Coffee with a Canine, The Page 69 Test, Dog Reads and Kings River Life Magazine.

And you’ll find me every Monday at the Whole Life Yoga Blog.  Thursdays, I blog here at Killer Hobbies.

Guess I’d better get typing!

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.  MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Whole Life Yoga, and wherever books are sold.

Blog Tour Report: Week 1.



Available Now!

Hi all!  I’m deeply immersed in my first ever blog tour for MURDER STRIKES A POSE.  Check out the progress so far, and please visit the blogs to support the people who are supporting me!

Thursday, January 2:  Thoughts in Progress

It was AWESOME to have the first stop on my first blog tour ever be such a kind and supportive one.  In my first stop, Thoughts in Progress wrote a review of Murder Strikes a Pose.    Here’s a snippet to get you interested, but please check out the full review at the website. 

“MURDER STRIKES A POSE is an intriguing debut for a fascinating new series that will delight mystery readers. Combining calming techniques, dog-related frolics, mystery and laughs; Weber has crafted a story that is hard to put down.”

Friday, January 3:  Books-N-Kisses

My second stop was at this wonderful blog that highlights books in the mystery, romance, and sci-fi genres.  I wrote a guest article about my book cover and “that pose on the cover.”  Check it out and learn how to Down Dog it the Murder Strikes a Pose way!

Friday, January 3:  Shelley’s Bookcase

This isn’t an official stop on my book tour, but I’m so delighted with the review that I wanted to share it anyway.  Shelley Giusti, a fellow Sister’s in Crime member, reviewed Murder Strikes a Pose.  Here’s a teaser of what she had to say.  Please check out the full review at her website.

“Tracy Weber has a number one hit on her hands with her First in a New Series book! Her characters are strong and you will love them from the start. And Bella, the German shepherd will win your heart.”

Saturday, January 4: Readalot

The final stop this week was at Readalot, which hosted both a review of Murder Strikes a Pose and a giveaway.  There’s still time to enter the giveaway for a free autographed copy!  Here’s a teaser, but please stop by the blog to check out the full review

"Murder Strikes a Pose is entertaining. I laughed, I even shed a tear. Thought of doing yoga for a sec or two.”

I may not have completely won over a new yogi, but at least I got her to consider it!  ;-)

That’s all for this week, but lots more fun to come. See you next week as the virtual travel continues…

And, for those of you interested, here's a little more about the book.  I hope you read and love it!
 
When George and Bella—a homeless alcoholic and his intimidating German shepherd—disturb the peace outside her studio, yoga instructor Kate Davidson’s Zen-like calm is stretched to the breaking point. Kate tries to get rid of them before Bella scares the yoga pants off her students. Instead, the three form an unlikely friendship.

One night Kate finds George’s body behind her studio. The police dismiss his murder as a drug-related street crime, but she knows George wasn’t a dealer. So Kate starts digging into George’s past while also looking for someone to adopt Bella before she’s sent to the big dog park in the sky. With the murderer nipping at her heels, Kate has to work fast or her next Corpse Pose may be for real.

Praise:

 “Weber’s debut, which launches the Downward Dog series, should appeal to anyone who likes canines, yoga, and a determined sleuth. ... Cozy fans will eagerly await the next installment.”--Publisher's Weekly

“The delightful start of a promising new series. I couldn’t put it down!”—Waverly Fitzgerald, author of Dial C for Chihuahua

“Murder Strikes a Pose is a delightful debut novel . . . Namaste to Weber and her fresh, new heroine!”—Penny Warner, author of How to Dine on Killer Wine

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.  MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Whole Life Yoga, and wherever books are sold!

Happy New Year!

 

I was excited last week to be blogging on Christmas Day, and here I am blogging this week on New Year's Day.  What a kick!

Tracy Weber posted on her Killer Hobbies blog a couple of days ago what her schedule was on her Great Escapes Blog Tour.  I figured I'd do the same thing, although I'm not as tech savvy as Tracy so I'm not sure if I'll be able to add the links.  But I'm highly excited--and I've also scheduled other blogs that aren't part of the tour.  That's because my next Pet Rescue Mystery, TEACUP TURBULENCE, is a January 2014 release.

Here's my Great Escapes list: 

January 2 – StoreyBook Reviews  - Review

January 3 – Chloe Gets A Clue - Interview

January 4 – Books-n-Kisses - Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 5 – Melina's Book Blog - Review

January 6 – readalot blog - Review

January 7 – fuonlyknew - Review, Giveaway

January 8 – Brooke Blogs - Review

January 10 – Reviews By Karen - Guest Post, Giveaway

January 12- Cozy Up With Kathy - Review, Interview

January 13 – My Devotional Thoughts - Review, Guest Post

January 14 – StephTheBookworm - Review

January 14 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers - Review

January 15 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Giveaway

January 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Review, Guest Post

January 15 – Dru's Book Musings - Guest Post

 

What's TEACUP TURBULENCE about?  Well, of course it's a Pet Rescue Mystery.  It's based on a very real premise--that there are a lot of really great pet rescuers out there who are willing to fly their own private planes to move homeless pets from areas where they're not likely to be adopted to new locations where families may be eager to adopt them. 

 

Of course, the story is also based on things that aren't necessarily true, such as a lack of teacup sized dogs in Los Angeles, where my fictional shelter HotRescues is located.  There's usually an overabundance of tiny dogs here.  But in TEACUP TURBULENCE, Dante DeFrancisco, the also fictional benefactor of HotRescues, has undertaken a huge local advertising campaign for HotPets Bling, a special, cute and ornate type of doggy collar, that stars little dogs.  They're suddenly in great demand in the area, and when my protagonist Lauren Vancouver hears of a teacup dog rescue in another part of the country, she helps to get a relay going where pilots wind up bringing those rescued dogs to L.A.

 

And of course, since TEACUP TURBULENCE is a cozy mystery, someone gets murdered--and Lauren has to solve whodunit.

 

I hope you'll pick up a copy and read it.  And of course you can check in at one of the blogs where I'm guesting and see if you can win a giveaway there--or at other giveaways to come.

 

How many blogs do you usually read in a week?  Do you follow any blog tours? 

Book Launches, Parties, and Blog Tours, Oh My!

January is the launch of my first yoga mystery, Murder Strikes a Pose, and I will be going blog crazy!   Through January 20, my Whole Life Yoga and Killer Hobbies blog posts will be devoted to the blog articles and events below.  After that, it will be back to articles on yoga tips, research, practices, and techniques, with an occasional writing blog thrown in for good measure.

Murder Strikes a pose will be available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and other e-readers as early as January 1.  It will be available online at Amazon as well as retailers and bookstores everywhere on January 8. You can pre-order any time!

Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for sponsoring the blog tour below.  Each stop will provide unique content, so don't miss any.  You might just learn some of my deep, dark secrets!

• January 2 – Thoughts in Progress – Review
• January 3 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Guest Post
• January 4 – readalot- Review
• January 5 – Auntiemwrites’s Weblog – Guest Post
• January 7 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Interview, Review
• January 8 – dru’s book musing – Guest Post
• January 8 – Beth Groundwater – Guest Post
• January 9 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview
• January 10 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Review
• January 11 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post
• January 15 – Killer Characters – Guest Post
• January 20 -- InkSpot -- Guest Post

A free autographed copy of Murder Strikes a Pose will be given away at each stop!

And, for those of you in Seattle, a couple of in-person events. 

• January 25 – Book Signing at Seattle Mystery Bookshop (Saturday, noon – 1:00 PM) DATE CHANGED DUE TO SEAHAWKS PLAYOFFS GAME.  GO HAWKS!
• January 19 – Yoga Mystery Launch Party at Whole life Yoga (Sunday, 12:30 – 2:00 PM)

Hugs and prizes will be available at both events--and at Whole Life Yoga, vegan chocolate mousse cake! I hope to see you there!

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.  MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available for preorder now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Whole Life Yoga, and other retailers!