Thursday, August 28, 2014

Dianne Harman - COYOTE SERIES BOXED SET is featured in the HBS Author's Spotlight Showcase

Today the HBS Author's Spotlight is showcasing Award-Winning Author Dianne Harman and her Boxed Set entitled the COYOTE SERIES. She is a Bestselling Mystery, Suspense and Romance author.

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COYOTE SERIES

(BOXED SET)


Author: Dianne Harman

Price: $ 2.99


AVAILABLE at Amazon


Set Includes the following full-length novels:
Blue Coyote Motel
Coyote in Provence
Blue Coyote Motel

Discover why this trilogy of fast–paced suspense novels has received over '175' five star reviews on Amazon, has been a Chanticleer CLUE award finalist, a Quarter finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award contest, been featured in the Top Ten Books at Authorsdb, been the Book of the Month at several Book Clubs and is at the top of a few good lists on Goodreads.

The story revolves around the rags to riches rise of Maria Brooks who marries a deranged genius working in the pharmaceutical industry. Drug addiction, anti-aging, art theft, murder, and the reader's favorite - Slade Kelly, a flawed, noirish undercover detective makes this an engaging and entertaining read. The action spans the globe – from the barren deserts of California to the snow-capped Himalayas, with stopovers in breathtaking Provence, ritzy New York and windy Chicago.

Sweet, orphaned Afghan girls, dreaded gangsters in the mafia, dirty politicians and unscrupulous businesses make their presence felt as the series weaves along at a sprightly pace. Will Maria go to prison forever? Will Slade die in a gun battle with the FBI? Will the motel guests be able to break the inadvertent drug habit they picked up at the Blue Coyote? Who are those little Afghan girls in the barn in Provence? Will Jordan and Maria ever find happiness?



Author Genre: Romance and Literary Fiction

Website: Dianne Harman Author
Author's Blog: Dianne Harman Author
Twitter: @DianneDHarman
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Facebook: Check Out Facebook
Pinterest: Check Out Pinterest
Post with Profile + Interview: HBS Author's Spotlight

Author Description:
Dianne Harman draws her stories and characters from a diverse business and personal background. She owned a national antique and art appraisal business for many years, leaving that industry and opening two yoga centers where she taught yoga and certified yoga instructors. Dianne has traveled extensively throughout the world, most recently dividing her time between Huntington Beach, California and Sacramento, California, where her husband was a Senator. An avid reader, Dianne brings the richness of her life experiences to her novels, Blue Coyote Motel and Tea Party Teddy.

An Award Winning Bestseller, Blue Coyote Motel was selected as a quarterfinalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest and Goodreads Psychological Thriller of the Month Book.

Her second novel, Tea Party Teddy, is a multicultural romance set against the political background of California. It is the story of Nina, who husband succumbs to the power of his office. Bigoted and biased, the ultimate irony occurs when she becomes romantically involved with the founder of the Republicans for Latinos and in the process, discovers herself.


CORNERED COYOTE

Coyote Series Book 3


Author: Dianne Harman

AVAILABLE at Amazon


Maria is tired of running from the law and comes back to the US from France. She murdered her husband, a deranged genius in self-defense and is arrested on arrival. Will she come out unscathed or will this be the biggest mistake of her life? Will she taste freedom or will she remain behind bars forever?

Follow the loveable yet eccentric private investigator, Slade Kelly, (a readers' favorite), as he tries to save Maria from seemingly insurmountable odds.

The story moves at a rapid pace, from the ghettos of Chicago to the beaches of Florida, from the streets of Los Angeles to the lush gardens of New York city. Each twist and turn comes with its own cast of colorful characters, from sleazy men in the mafia to hot, desperate women, who will do anything to make it big, in a world that is always trying to keep them small."



Coyote in Provence

Coyote Series


Author: Dianne Harman

AVAILABLE at Amazon


Just Announced! A finalist in Chanticleer's prestigious CLUE awards contest!

COYOTE IN PROVENCE (A COZY MYSTERY) #1 on 12 Goodreads Top Books Lists

>>>>>What happens when the very beautiful and sexy Maria Brooks, now Elena Johnson, a woman hiding out in Provence, France, from the California legal authorities, meets Jordan Kramer, a handsome art theft detective from Los Angeles?

>>>>>He's looking for stolen California paintings reportedly for sale in Provence. She's trying to stay under the radar. Both share a love of food and wine.Will Jordan find Pierre, the French chef who's suspected of being the art theft? And who are those young Afghan girls hiding out in his parents' home?

>>>>>If you liked Dianne Harman's award-winning novel, Blue Coyote Motel, you don't want to miss Coyote in Provence. Great mystery, wine, food, and art in romantic Provence!

>>>>>Blue Coyote Motel, the first book in the Coyote Series, was a quarter finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest, a Goodreads Psychological Thriller Book of the Month, and an e-thriller Book of the Month. Coyote in Provence continues the story of Maria, the captivating character in the trilogy.




Blue Coyote Motel

Author: Dianne Harman

AVAILABLE at Amazon


Would you take an anti-aging hormone? What if you could keep your youth? If someone you knew was terrified of aging, and you'd invented the hormone, would you give it to them? Even if it meant discovery would cause you to lose your chance of winning the Nobel Prize?

An Award Winning Best Seller, Blue Coyote Motel was chosen as a quarter finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award contest in the mystery/thriller category as well as a Goodreads Psychological Thriller Book of the Month.

Blue Coyote Motel is a suspenseful love story which begins in the barrios of Southern California and spans the globe in such diverse locations as Provence, South America, and the Himalayas. The beautiful Latina, Maria, and her husband, Jeffrey, a scientist fired from a prestigious laboratory, struggle to build a new life in a remote Southern California desert area as owners of the motel.

Along with the anti-aging hormone, Jeffrey invents a "feel-good" wonder drug to help Maria with her depression. As Jeffrey becomes insane, he begins to experiment with the wonder drug. Six wayward travelers, including an alcoholic priest, a couple who own gold mines in Brazil, a depressed widow, a struggling salesman, and a Native American pediatrician, find themselves spending the night at the small motel. The next morning they wake up feeling better than ever. Has Jeffrey's miracle drug delivered? Or is the nightmare of addiction only beginning?

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Jenny Hilborne - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Jenny Hilborne. She is the author of the Jackson Mysteries and Thrillers Series.



Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Literature & Fiction, Psychology

Author's Blog: Jfhilborne's Blog - Author of mystery and suspense
Twitter: @JFHilborne
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Author Description:
I'm a native Brit and the author of psychological thrillers and mysteries, including the Jackson series set in San Francisco. I divide my time between California and England, plotting, researching and writing.

My titles include: MADNESS AND MURDER (Jackson 1), NO ALIBI, HIDE AND SEEK (Jackson 2), STONE COLD, and THE BLACKEST NIGHT (Jackson 3).

My background is in real estate and finance which provides much of the inspiration for my stories, as does my love of travel and ex-pat status. I've practiced martial arts in the form of Shotokan Karate and hold six belts.

A little secret about me: Unlike the fiends wandering through the text in my novels, I'm afraid of the dark.


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

First things first. Do you have another book on the horizon? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?

My next book is a mystery/suspense called Easy Target and is the sequel to No Alibi. In Easy Target, a suspect in a murder investigation forces a homicide detective into dark territory with both his son and the woman he loves. The anticipated release date is the end of 2014.

You have a great following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? How did you build your following in your niche? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?

Social media is essential for building relationships first, and then sharing news about my work. I've met some terrific people and made some lasting friendships. Like most authors, I use social media to enhance not just my career but the the careers of others, sharing their successes and challenges. It's a great online community.

Do you maintain a reader list? What are the methods you use to find your readers and create the list and the relationship? Do you use social media, forums, newsletters and/or support groups to build your list?

My reader list consists mostly of people I meet at book events who sign up voluntarily to be added to the list. I send newsletters about twice a year about new releases or significant book news.

Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?

I've participated in a number of signings, interviews, and speaking engagements, plus given workshops to upcoming authors in the UK. My most active online pages for news on my work are my author page: and twitter:

You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?

I use a professional for my covers. I'll have a basic idea of what I want and I give her free reign to work from there. If I have difficulty choosing from the terrific designs my designer presents, I've been known to ask readers for their help in deciding.

Several of you novels have been converted into audio books. What has been the impact on your regular sales? Has the audio books gained a new audience?

It's difficult to measure the impact of anything on book sales, including audio books. What works one month may not work the next. I do get a number of requests for my books in audio, so I'd like to think it's helped.

You have published a short story (False Pretense – see below). Can you tell us if they had an impact on the sales of your novels? Are shorty’s one of your styles of writing or are they created to give readers a sample of your work?

False Pretense is loosely based on a real life event. It's very short and carries a powerful message. I think readers have bought the short based on the strength of the novels rather than the other way around. Shorts are a great way to sample an author’s work and perfect for those with a busy schedule.

What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

Free is still popular among readers, though I think less so among authors. As artists, it's difficult to give our work away free, but when you're trying to build recognition, it does provide some visibility, though perhaps with diminished results compared to a couple of years ago. Goodreads giveaways are a way to boost a new title and achieve legitimate reviews.

You have a great blog. You do a great job keeping readers informed, marketing your books and providing useful information to other writers. What is your primary goal? And where in the world do you find the time to create great novels, take care of the social media and maintain your blog?

As recommendation is one of my primary sources for buying books and trying new authors, I use my blog to spotlight my own work and that of other authors, and also to help readers find great books. I'll often post book reviews on my blog to share with readers who enjoy the mystery/thriller genre.

What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?

I use the old fashioned method of waiting for readers to post reviews. If someone sends me a message to let me know they enjoyed the book, I will ask if they'd be kind enough to share it on Amazon and review sites to help me spread the word.



Author's Book List
The Blackest Night - Jackson mystery series volume 3
Thirteen years ago, William Law went to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Six years after his release, he is still struggling to put his life back together. Despite losing everything, he has his innocence...and his hope of reconnecting with his wife. But life takes another bad turn on the night he is attacked in an alleyway. With the real perpetrator now behind bars, is the violent encounter connected to Law's former incarceration or to his release?

Meanwhile, Homicide inspector Mac Jackson is leading inquiries in a murder investigation. When he receives an anonymous phone call with some startling information, he learns that one crime is connected to another, and that the wrongfully convicted ex-con might be the only person who can lead him to the truth.


Order the Book From: Amazon
No Alibi
When an international pilot goes missing and his girlfriend is found murdered, homicide inspector John Doucette is assigned the case. As Doucette digs in and uncovers the dark secrets surrounding the case, he faces difficult moral decisions when his investigation forces him to unearth his own past.

His main suspect, Isabelle Kingsley, unnerves him. Could she be innocent? If she is, how did the murder weapon end up in her possession? Doucette must set aside his own personal fears and follow the clues, even though they may lead him to the one person to whom he owes so much.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Stone Cold
In the competitive world of advertising, Charles Dean is a ruthless boss driven by results. When a scandal threatens to ruin his company, he is determined to identify the culprit and handle it his way. Mara Mann has other ideas, and her own reasons for bringing him down. Then the murders of two senior corporate executives stun the Oxfordshire community.

Mara's hatred for Dean leads her into the dangerous and twisted world of Vice President, Reid Dalton, and to the discovery of a forgotten grave. As she uncovers more truths about her boss, and learns the secret he has kept hidden, she is drawn deeper into the mind of a killer and puts her own life at risk.


Order the Book From: Amazon
False Pretense
Liv's friend loved to flirt, to dance, to be a girl; until three years ago, when a night out almost got her killed. After a long and difficult recovery, she returned, ready to forget and reclaim her life. But life will never let her forget. Nothing has changed, except her, and nothing will ever be the same.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Hide and Seek - Jackson mystery series volume 2
The book begins:

“You have committed the most heinous of crimes, and you have shown no remorse. The court imposes the maximum sentence the circumstances will allow…life without parole.”

Many readers asked for the return of Homicide Inspector, Mac Jackson. He is back in HIDE AND SEEK and thrust into the middle of another complex mystery:

HIDE AND SEEK: A guest disappears from a private party and blood is discovered on the grounds. Abducted, murdered, or did Abby McCabe fake her own disappearance? San Francisco homicide inspector, Mac Jackson, is called out to investigate.

As Jackson questions the guests, he uncovers old hostilities and learns the details of an unusual death. He centers his investigation on the lingerie bar, where Abby once worked and where the other women are afraid to talk. His best chance at solving the case hinges on an uncooperative source and Jackson must work fast, before his source also disappears.

Ready to pit your wits against those of a killer? Download a sample or buy your copy of HIDE AND SEEK today.


Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
Madness and Murder - Jackson mystery series 1
Homicide detective, Mac Jackson is on a collision path with a civilian in his hunt for a killer. A lack of evidence leaves him frustrated. With the body count rising, he questions his own ethics when he considers risking the life of an innocent woman to put the killer within reach. The stakes are high if his gamble fails.

Jessica Croft begins a new life in San Francisco, ninety miles from the sinister secrets and the madness that destroyed her family. She hopes to find tranquility, maybe even love, but her chance for happiness is threatened when she finds herself the target of a madman. Unwilling to live a life of fear, Jessica takes a bold risk to draw him out; unaware of the trap he has already set for her.


Order the Book From: Amazon
Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
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eBook Author’s Corner and
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