Her two gangster novels earned her Top Notable Indie Book awards. Author Betty Passick shared her passion for writing historical fiction in a very candid down-to-earth interview. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse.
“Research comes first,” she said. “If you don’t like doing research, historical fiction is not for you.”
Unlike most authors of historical fiction, Passick does not change the names of people or places in her historical crime novels. She has always been fascinated by the story of the Italian American “mystery man” who first came to her Iowa hometown in the early 1920s, and the rest is history. No pun intended.
Now, it’s up to us to find out what was in TheBlack Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie her second historical crime novel that earned her the second Top Notable Indie Book Award in 2021 after Gangster in our Midst in 2019.
“This crime mystery novel captures its audience’s attention with the delicious historical detail from this time period in early America’s burgeoning settlements… Who knew there was such a criminal element lurking on our prairies?”
Discover the full author line-up under the umbrella of Great Lakes Writers in this podcast, and at the Expo.
Find your next favorite read by Michigan authors at the West Michigan Women’s Expo this weekend starting on Friday at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.
Seventeen Michigan authors will be grouped under the umbrella of Great Lakes Writers, and they will be located in booths 110-118.
I have one free ticket left to the show for the lucky winner. Listen in to the podcast for details of the giveaway, as well as the author line-up and instructions for participating authors.
Come, bring a friend and have fun with us. We’re going to have a blast together.
Stop by the West Michigan Women’s Expo in DeVos Place this weekend starting Friday through Sunday, March 17 through 19 to pick up your next favorite read at Great Lakes Writers located in booths 110-118. See attached floor plan below.
The authors from all over Michigan represent different genres, and they will be available to chat about their books.
I have one free ticket left to the show for the lucky winner who listens to this podcast and emails me at emmapalova123@gmail.com
2023 West Michigan Women’s Expo
Great Lakes Writers (17)
Andrew Allen Smith
Ingar Rudholm
Jean Davis
Tina Lonski
Melanie Hooyenga
Wendy Thomson
Janet Vormittag
Emma Palova
Susan Maciak
Rhonda Accardo
Jules Nelson
Joan Young
Sue Merrell
Brenda Hasse
Sabrina Wagner
J Arens
Norma Lewis
Nicole Wilson
Attached is a floor plan for the expo and a handbook that has a ton of information including details on parking.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Each author (there are 17) gets half of an 8-foot table and a chair. The table will be covered and skirted, but you can put your own decor on top of the tablecloth. (Sherry gets a whole table.)
2. Our booth numbers are 110-118. If you want to share a table with someone let me know. If I don’t hear anything, you’ll be randomly paired with someone.
3. I ordered badges for everyone. They’ll say “Great Lakes Writers.” If you come Thursday to set up, you pick up your badge at a booth somewhere on the floor that says Exhibitors. If you come early Friday to setup, go to the main entrance and look for the Exhibitors’ doors to the hall where there will be a table with people handing out badges. You’re with Great Lakes Writers.
I ordered a few extra badges so if you have a helper to load in or out they can come through the exhibitors’ entrance and ask for a badge. Ask them not to keep the badge—they need to return it when they leave.
4. In the handbook it mentions the need for insurance. I bought a policy that covers us all under the umbrella of Great Lakes Writers.
5. The load-in information in the handbook only pertains to those who want to use the loading dock. I usually park underneath the hall (entrance on Michigan Street by the river) and take the freight elevator up—it has an operator. The underground parking is a huge maze—here’s a hint: as soon as you pull in from Michigan Street and turn left—you’ll see people unloading and using the elevator. Park and follow someone.
The freight elevator should be operational Thursday afternoon and Friday before the show and Sunday after the show.
You can park anywhere downtown and carry your stuff in.
6. I’ll be there Thursday around 2 to make sure everything is set up.
7. When the show closes on Sunday they have people at the exits ensuring vendors don’t leave early. They won’t let you carry anything out early. Again, the load-out schedule is only if you are using the loading dock. Once it’s 4 p.m. on Sunday you can leave, if you’re not using the loading dock.
8. I did not order Internet—it’s usually extremely expensive. Hopefully, you have service on your own phone, tablet or laptop.
If you have any questions, please email or call.
Again, let me know you received this.
Thanks!
Janet
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I am pleased to announce the March guest lineup that features a variety of genres and authors. If you would like to be a sponsor or a guest author, comment below or email Emma. I am now scheduling May and June.
FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS PODCAST with host EMMA PALOVA
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy in the podcast book giveaway.
It’s the last day of February and the best one yet. I am in Paradise aka Venice. The day started on the beach to the sound of waves and ended on the beach to the sound of crashing waves. Their relaxing rhythm soothes nerves like nothing else.
In the morning it was yoga with the sound of bongs, followed by a walk through the historic downtown Venice, topped with a cappuccino at Venice Wine & Coffee Co.
I love the core of this tropical town in southwest Florida with amazing architecture untouched by chains and corporate structures.
Then we shopped with mom Ella the souvenir shops on Venice Ave. I found what I was looking for twice today. The first time at Green Parrot and the second time at Nest on Miami Ave.
We changed for a farewell lunch on the town- the coveted Bromdon Mediterranean restaurant on Miami Ave. My parents had classic gyros and I had a salmon gyro.
I found this community located on an island very diverse with a strong Italian influence. It wasn’t unusual on any given day to hear people speak Russian, French or Spanish.
The social time in Venice was also a time to test our @Moravia Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com cocktails made with our apple brandy.
Where else would you want to pilot this delicious refreshing cocktail than in Paradise?
Jack Rose made with apple brandy.
I still managed to pop in to the Great Reveal Party by Pages Promotions. Who did the deed and why? Find out on the replays posted on Facebook.
To be continued..,,
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
During Lent, I like to start my day with Lenten readings and meditation no matter where I am. Most of them focus on the ancient disciplines of Lent- fasting, almsgiving and prayer.
I was surprised to see two young pastors from the Epiphany Cathedral in Venice at Croissant & Co., French patisserie in downtown. Well, I know I shouldn’t have been there either and none of us should be blasting to the world that we’re fasting each in our own way with ashes on our forehead.
It was a loud Friday on the beach with the northern wind howling that lifted the waves sending them crashing onto the shore. Behind my back, private jets were landing and taking off, others starting their descent over the Gulf of Mexico.
A waiter at the sandbar handed me a Margarita on the rocks with “Here you go, Love.”
I am indulging in the sounds of the beach: Russian to the right, laughter to the right, kids straight up front and the crashing waves as far as I can see. The sun is warming my legs while my feet dig deep into the hot sand. It’s 82F and the sun is high above my head.
Lemonade Razzonade Bait Bucket Margarita
My backpack has everything I need: notepad and pens, suntan lotion, water, cash for a Blue Bait Margarita and magazines about living in Paradise.
I cannot omit the price this Paradise had to pay during hurricane Ian in September. Crews are still fixing the roofs and some signs have not been replaced. Otherwise you would not believe a hurricane blew through; just south of town.
Dad Vaclav and mom Ella
We spent a great morning on the town starting with yoga with Elin on the beach to the sounds of Ukulele Thursdays. We took a walk on Miami Street in search of the Greek restaurant Bromdon. We browsed through the Island View Boutique with beautiful blings and resort wear. Hasta La Vista.
Mom Ella is doing much better today after her surgery. With strength she’s also getting back her attitude, just a tad.
I have to pick up on chapter Mara and the Revelation of the Great Singapore secret in the sequel to The Lost Town. More later.
I am meeting with Maple later today and mixing up some cocktail recipes.
Well, the meeting with Maple didn’t happen, but I met Pat, the board secretary instead. YAY!
To top off this incredible productive day, I managed to pop into Pages Promotions Winter Book Festival. I am still clueless as to who murdered author Andrew Allen Smith who stole the Sardonic Manuscript, but did he really or was he just framed?
To be continued…,
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I think this is the first time I’ve ever worked on a book on the beach. I’ve written on beaches before, but never a contiguous piece of an actual manuscript, the sequel to Shifting Sands: The Lost Town.
“What’s lost can be found even on a beach or underneath the singing sands.”
Scuba Divers
It’s very fitting to write the sequel on the beach amidst the little dunes with the wind blowing from the south. The life saving wind is cooling down the air temperature that reached 82 F. It’s 90F in Orlando. I am savoring the warmth of these moments as a major winter storm is whipping the Midwest.
It’s been quite an experiment that I started aboard the Allegiant two- hour flight to Punta Gorda, FL to see if can pick up writing whenever or wherever I leave off. So far it has been working out despite all the beach distractions.
The Pavilion
Epiphany Church
Yes, there has been plenty of distractions from the posted Red Tide caused by red algae, private jets taking off behind my back, to the falling umbrella, cute divers with oxygen tanks, a screaming kid and the glistening waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Then yesterday I broke my eyeglasses, forgot my card and much more.
After mom’s surgery this morning, a cup of coffee and two cups of Earl Grey, I regained some composure still undecided whether I should go for the Ashes in the morning by myself, or wait the outcome of the surgery. Mom was recovering well so I went for the gold- that is what I call going to the beach.
The improvement since yesterday was remarkable; no more coughing caused by the Red Tide or smell from the dead fish washed ashore.
“It comes and goes,” mom said about the unwelcome visitor to the Florida beaches. Regardless, the Red Tide the beaches of Venice are busy with tourists and snowbirds. Yoga on the Beach with Elin in the mornings enjoys around 200 yogis of all ages.
But back to the manuscript. I am about five to six chapters away from the end. Do I know the ending? I don’t and I like it that way as it keeps me on the edge, and probably preventing me from sleeping too.
What are the major forces in the story now? Well, the secrets of Singapore remain covered with sand. How will they emerge? Who will help uncover them? That remains unknown.
To be continued…
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
In her ‘A Tryst of Fate’ author Diana Kathryn Plopa takes on one of the most desired genres – romance. It is the story of a newspaper reporter Thomas and Gillian who restores art for a museum.
“Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.”
– Groucho Marx
Her past is blurred, and her heart is lost to a child she cannot reclaim. Although he aches with the same loss, his stories bring light to a love that never truly died, restoring the art she thought was lost.
But a secret past threatens their future. Can Thomas solve the mystery of a hidden joy that binds them together? Can they rescue their love..together, forever?
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of ‘A Tryst of Fate’ and more.
