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!

Launch Week Interviews and Articles: Tracy's Top Ten

My third written child, Karma's a Killer, was officially released Friday, January 8, and the busy push of parties, appearances and publicity has taken over my life--in a good way!  Here's a sampling of some of my favorite articles, interviews, and reviews from the first week of the book launch.

Launch Week Articles: Tracy's Top Ten:

1. Cozy up with Kathy: Yoga for Dogs? "The practice of Doga actually has many benefits. Yoga practice in the presence of dogs is calming to both man and beast. Dogs are sensitive creatures—highly attuned to human energy. Anything that makes humans more peaceful also brings calm to their canine companions."
2. Examiner.com:  An interview with me about writing, yoga and Karma's a Killer:  "I wrote this story, at least in part, to help readers truly get to know and understand Kate. Through this case, Kate discovers the origins of her pogonophobia—the irrational fear of beards—and learns why she has, at least up until now, has been so terrified of commitment. Although most of the book is about Kate’s sometimes-inept attempts at murder investigation, the most satisfying part of the book is rediscovering Kate."
3. Dru's Book Musings: An interview with Blackie (a crow!) who has a very important role in Karma's a Killer:   "I sure wish I could speak English. Not only was I here at Green Lake the day Kate overheard a fight between two women, but I saw one of those women get murdered later that night! I’ve been trying to tell Kate what I saw, but she doesn’t understand me. Bella, her crazy German shepherd, ignores me. Probably because I eat all of her cookies.If I leave Kate a clue, do you think she'll figure it out?
4. OmniMysteryNews: I interviewed yoga teacher/sleuth Kate.   She had this to say on behalf of her dog Bella.... "As for your canine readers,[Bella would] tell them to stay the heck away from her house, her yoga studio, and me. I'm her best-trained slave, and she's not willing to share me. And Bella gave me a special message for the brown-suited, box-carrying psycho-killer that drives the UPS truck. She has her eye on you. One false move, and she'll eat delivery man for dinner."
5. Musings and Ramblings:  I talk about Seattle and what makes it the perfect setting for a mystery series:  "Seattle gets a bad rap for being gray and rainy, but the flipside is that you’ll never see a place greener or more lush outside of the tropics. Within an hour or two, you can visit a major university, climb a mountain, go boating, dip your toes in the ocean, ski, attend live theater, shop in a quaint island town, and hang out with a troll holding onto an actual Volkswagen. And don’t get me started on the annual nude bicycle parade…"
6. Blog Critics:  An interview with me in which I talk about research, writing, and the writing life.  "An important character in the book, Blackie, is a crow that was raised as a fledgling and released back to the wild. I have been fascinated by crows since my own German shepherd, Tasha, befriended a crow in our neighborhood. Learning more about these intelligent, highly social, and quirky animals was one of the biggest joys of writing the book."
7. The Story Behind the Book About how a pigeon I rescued at Whole Life Yoga made an impact on this book. "There are so many stories behind Karma’s a Killer. The story of the neighborhood crows that have befriended my German shepherd, Tasha. The story of fractured family relationships. And of course, story of solving a murder. But the story closest to my heart is that of a pigeon I saved over three years ago..."
8. The Dark Phantom Review: An interview in which I discuss the craft of writing:  How to create compelling characters and settings:  "I use all five senses when describing a setting: smell, sight, taste, sound, and touch. I also use a sixth sense that I can only describe as energy: Some places feel light; others heavy; still others, prickly. And the energy of a space changes based on the perspective and mood of the character inside it."
9. As the Page Turns: Yoga, writing, and persevering practice. "Slogging through a first draft often feels less like making love, more like walking through hardening cement. When things get tough, I remind myself of one of yoga’s most important principles: persevering practice."
10. The Writers Life: Writing, reviews, and author egos.  "Being a writer is a lot like being a Hollywood movie star. There are a few that make it big. The rest wait tables at your local Applebee’s. If making money is your goal, try something easier. Like brain surgery."

That's just a sampling, and lots more is scheduled to happen the rest of this month and in February.  Next week I'll share a few more!

Thanks for your support, and I hope you check out the series!

Tracy Weber



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

Dedications, Thank Yous, and Acknowledgements, Oh My!

Until I was a writer, I rarely read the acknowledgements section at the beginning of a book, but I know now that it represents the village of people it takes to write a novel. So, for your reading pleasure, here is a pre-view of the kudos coming when my book is released tomorrow. I'm sad that my mom never got to see the dedication, but I was able to tell her about it before she passed. 

Dedication:

To my mom, Marcia. Your support of my writing means the world to me.

Acknowledgements:

First of all, I’d like to thank every reader who has contacted me to tell me that they enjoy my work. Each e-mail, Facebook post, and letter makes my day. Without you, I’m not sure I’d have the fortitude to continue writing.

Karma’s a Killer has a special cast of supporters I want to acknowledge.

My yoga students continue to listen to my grumblings, join in my cheering, attend my events, and support my writing in more ways than I could ever have hoped for. Special thanks to Katie West, who addressed and mailed a seemingly infinite number of packages to my street team members, and Katie Burns, who proofed the manuscript before I submitted it to Midnight Ink.  Thanks also to my agent, Margaret Bail, editors Terri Bischoff and Sandy Sullivan at Midnight Ink, and freelance editor Marta Tanrikulu, who all continue to give me invaluable help and feedback.

Special thanks go to Michael Westerfield, author of The Language of Crows. Michael graciously answered my many questions about crow behavior. His insights about crows raised as fledglings and released to the wild were invaluable.  Of course, if there are any errors in this work—about crows or anything else—they are completely mine.

My husband, Marc, and my real-life Bella, Tasha, continue to be the lights of my life. Anything I accomplish is only possible through their love and support.  Marc gets extra kudos for designing and maintaining my author website.  Tasha gets credit for introducing me to her crow friends and fueling my fascination for these intelligent, underappreciated creatures.

Finally, thank you to all of my street team members. These dedicated individuals spread the word about my writing, pass out my bookmarks, and make me smile on days that otherwise seem glum.  The best part of writing has been connecting with all of you.

Tracy Weber

You can purchase 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

Happy Birthday Hubby--And A Free Advanced Copy of Karma's a Killer!

Today's blog post will be short, sweet, and full of good wishes.  First of all, happy birthday to my lovely hubby, Marc Martin.  I won't tell everyone how old you are honey, but know that I love you!

And next, a contest!

I have a very limited supply of advanced copies of Karma's a Killer, and I'm holding a sweepstakes to give one of them away.  I will personalize and autograph it even! Enter to win by signing (or re-signing) up for my mailing list at the link below.  winner will be drawn on Wednesday, September 16.

 

Enter the contest at the link below:

http://s.heyo.com/8fb546

Good luck!  May all of your karma be killer!

Tracy Weber

They're Here! They're Here!

A quick note:  Want to win an autographed, advanced copy of Karma's a Killer for your very own?  Sign up for my mailing list before Friday at 11:59 PM and you'll be entered to win!  Contest details at http://s.heyo.com/8fb546.  Good luck!

 

August is an exciting time for me on so many levels. I’m on sabbatical from teaching yoga, which means I can concentrate on my writing. Sounds simple, right? It’s significantly more complex than you might think. Just as I was ready to dive into the second draft of my fourth novel, tentatively titled A TWISTED DEATH, I got requests to read and endorse two new fabulous mysteries, and my second editor at Midnight Ink got back to me with edits on my current novel, Karma’s a Killer.

This is the first time I’ve worked with Sandy, and I must say she’s AWESOME! She brings an attention to detail that my work has rarely seen before. And, if I have to brag, I guess this is the time: Karma’s a Killer is my best book so far. I truly believe it. Even better, it’s definitely by far my best cover!

Just when I thought my excitement couldn’t get any higher, the advanced copies and press release for Karma’s a Killer arrived on Wednesday. I keep burying my nose in the books, inhaling their new book smell. Can you tell I’m excited or what?

Here’s an excerpt from the press release for this newest installment in the series.

The latest mystery by award-winning novelist Tracy Weber, Karma’s a Killer is a fun, fresh, feisty new mystery featuring Seattle yoga teacher Kate Davidson and her trusty canine companion Bella.

About Karma’s a Killer: Yoga instructor Kate Davidson is about to discover that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like om. When she agrees to teach doga—yoga for dogs—at a fundraiser for Dogma, a local animal rescue, Kate believes the only real damage will be to her reputation. But when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning, a few downward-facing dogs will be the least of Kate’s problems…

The police arrest Dharma, a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother, and charge her with murder. To prove Dharma’s innocence, Kate, her boyfriend Michael, and her German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them.

And if solving a murder weren’t complicated enough, Kate will also have to decide whether or not to reconcile with the estranged mother who abandoned her over thirty years ago. Not to mention having to contend with an almost-bankrupt animal rescue, a cantankerous crow, an unwanted pigeon houseguest, and a rabbit in a doga class. What could possibly go wrong?

A taut tale with more twists and turns than a vinyasa yoga class, Karma’s a Killer brims with suspense, wit and whimsy. With a to-die-for plot, sensational storyline, and charming characters—of both the two- and four-legged varieties—Karma’s a Killer is a clever, colorful, and utterly captivating cozy mystery.

Sounds like a book I’d actually like to read. How about you? Time to get working on scheduling those book launch events!

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!

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!

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!