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!

Announcing A KILLER RETREAT!

Hi all!  I'm absolutely delighted  to announce the cover and publication date of my second Downward Dog Mystery, A KILLER RETREAT.  The book is in the final stages of editing now, and my publisher has finalized the cover.

What do you think? 

Available January 8, 2015 from Midnight Ink!

Leave a comment about the cover in the next week for a chance to win a Downward Dog Mysteries coffee mug!

The book will be out January 8, 2015, but I'll likely have copies again in late December.  Why wait?

Pre-order your personalized, autographed copy from Whole Life Yoga now, and I'll mail you a signed bookmark as soon as they are available!

ABOUT A KILLER RETREAT

Six months after solving her friend’s murder, commitment-challenged Kate Davidson has recovered from her injuries and settled into a relatively calm life with rambunctious German shepherd Bella. Now, if only her relationship with boyfriend, Michael, would slow down to match her laid-back yogic lifestyle…

When Kate gets an offer to trade teaching yoga for a weeklong stay at a newly reopened vegan retreat center, she jumps at the opportunity, even though it means being forced to endure the wedding ceremony of the center’s two caretakers. Avoiding the M-word turns out to be the least of Kate’s problems when a wedding guest is found floating face-down in the resort’s hot tub, shortly after a loud, public (and somewhat embarrassing) fight with Kate.

The police pick Kate as their number-one suspect, so she’s forced to join forces with Michael, best friend Rene, and sidekick Bella to find the real killer. But they’ll have to solve the murder before the police arrest Kate, or her next gig may last a lifetime—behind bars.

 

REVIEWS

“An engaging mystery full of fun and fascinating characters and unexpected twists.  An intriguing read that includes yoga lessons and feisty dogs.”

Linda O. Johnston Author of the Pet Rescue Mysteries
 

“Fans   of Tracy Weber’s charming Murder Strikes a Pose have eagerly awaited   the return of yoga instructor Kate Davidson and her challenging yet   lovable German shepherd, Bella.  Happily, Weber's second yoga mystery, A Killer Retreat, is as delightful as her first. Readers will love the   setting, the complex mystery, and the romance of Kate’s second   adventure. Especially noteworthy in this popular series is the appealing   combination of strength and vulnerability that Kate and Bella share.   Enjoy!”

Susan Conant     Author of the Dog Lover’s Mysteries
 

“Whether yoga instructor, Kate Davidson, is wrestling her hundred-pound dog, her new love life or trying to solve a murder, A Killer Retreat is simply a killer read! Witty, fun and unpredictable, this is one cozy mystery worth barking about!”

Shannon Esposito   Author of the Pet Psychic Mysteries

Thanks!

Tracy
 

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. The first book in the series,  MURDER STRIKES A POSE is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble,  and book sellers everywhere!

A Breath Practice to Ease Holiday Depression

If you’re feeling a little down and blue this time of year, you’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 Million adults, or 9.5% of the US population are affected by depression in any given year. Those of us who live in the Northern states are especially impacted by seasonal depression, sometimes referred to as SAD.

If depression is impacting your ability to function, a visit to your health care provider is in order. Yoga can, however, be an effective part of your recovery. Breath-centered movement, pranayama and meditation are all wonderful tools to bring your entire being--body, mind and heart--into balance.

I include the breath practice below in my series Overcoming Depression with Yoga. The word “krama” simply means segmented. In this practice, we segment the inhale portion of the breath into two parts, with a short pause both between each part and at the end of the inhale.

This very simple, very gentle practice increases energy, promotes balanced alertness, and over time can help ease depressive symptoms. Because this is a subtly energizing practice, please be sure to practice it earlier in the day; if you practice it shortly before bed, it may cause interruptions in sleep. For a wonderful practice to overcome insomnia, please see my earlier article titled “Tracy’s Sleeping Pill.”

Two Part Krama Inhale Breath Practice:

1. Come to a comfortable sitting position.
2. Notice how you feel before beginning to practice, in your body and in your breath. Then notice how you feel in your thoughts and emotions. Don’t worry if you don’t feel as you think you “should.” Just notice whatever comes to mind and be grateful for the awareness.
3. Gradually, over 6 breaths, lengthen both your inhale and exhale, noticing the natural pause at the end of your inhale.
4. Maintain the breath in Step 3 for at least 6 breath cycles. Then, break the inhale portion of your breath into two equal parts, with a natural pause both between parts and at the end of the inhale.
5. Maintain the breath in Step 4 for at least 6 breath cycles. Then lengthen both the pause in the middle of the inhale and the pause that follows the inhale to a count of 2. You will maintain this count for the rest of the practice.
6. Continue this breath for at least 12 breath cycles. Do not strain the breath. If you do start to feel strain, decrease the lengths of both pauses. Then continue with that new breath for the rest of the practice.
7. Once you finish 12 or more complete breaths at Step #6, shorten the pauses to a natural length and take 6 more breaths.
8. Release the pauses completely and breathe for several breaths. Then gradually allow the breath to come back to a normal rhythm.
9. Notice any changes you feel after this practice, without trying to judge them as “good” or "bad".

I hope you have a wonderful , depression free holiday season!

Namaste

Tracy Weber