YvonneThe newest addition to my shelf, here at Fiction Books this week, coincides with a latest release, virtual tour and a great author post, all rolled into one … So without further ado!
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‘SOLOMON’S WHISPER’ … The Liv Bergen Mystery Series #5
As Liv Bergen investigates the long-ago murder of her niece, she uncovers a well-guarded secret—and stumbles into one the most prolific killer she’s faced yet.
Once an amateur sleuth, Liv “Boots” Bergen has now found her footing as an official FBI agent. It should be Liv’s dream career—she’s working closely with a bureau legend, Agent Streeter Pierce, as well as the exotic Agent Jack Linwood, with whom she shares a growing romance. Liv has proven to be an adept agent, and the whole office has been moved to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in central Denver.
And yet, doubt plagues her. Liv is tormented by the knowledge that her work with the FBI could endanger her extended family—and has almost resolved to leave the bureau as a result. Agent Streeter Pierce, who harbors an affection for Liv that sometimes transcends the professional, comes up with an unorthodox plan to keep her around: she can investigate a cold case that’s especially important to her, the kidnapping and murder of her ten-year-old niece, Brianna.
Liv jumps at the chance, but her focus on finding Brianna’s killer is soon diluted. Piece by piece, the case reveals itself to be just one point in a harrowing series of murders. Spanning decades and the country, the web of crime Liv uncovers causes her to question everything—including the integrity of her own colleagues.
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SAY HELLO TO AUTHOR SANDRA BRANNAN
Hi! I’m Sandra Brannan. I was born and raised in South Dakota, amongst a large and loving family, the seventh of nine siblings. After living in Wyoming, Washington, D.C., Washington state, and Colorado, I returned to my hometown, where I am surrounded by family, who after each having their own adventures, have all decided to return to the homelife they know and love.
I am an engineer, with an MBA and I enjoy working in the long established family mining business; living in the Black Hills with my husband, Joel; smiling with pride over the journeys taken by my four sons; doting over my three grandchildren; and appreciating all of life’s blessings, too many to count.
A 9th grade English teacher saw something in me, that I didn’t recognise in myself and encouraged me to write by nominating me for a $500 creative writing scholarship. I now carve out enough time in my busy working schedule to pursue my passion for writing, together with reading as much as I can from my favourite authors.
Write, write, write and read, read, read! Regardless of whether or not you find an agent or a publisher right away, keep writing and learn by reading the books by authors in the genre you most want to emulate in your writing.
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When I was asked to put together a guest post for Fiction Books, I turned for inspiration to Yvonne’s own ‘About’ page, so here are the top twenty ‘I Am …’ things about me, Sandra Brannan…
1) I am a writer and author of the Liv Bergen Mystery Series.
2) I am a happy girl with the open format you’ve offered me to write ANYTHING I want.
3) I am a student of everything creative, like your “About” page, using this 20 count approach of “I am a…”, because it allowed me to learn more about you and what we have in common.
4) I am a-changing your rule to drop the “a” with the hopes you accept my individuality, if needed.
5) I am a debut author as of 2010 when IN THE BELLY OF JONAH earned an ABA Indie Notable from the booksellers across America.
6) I am a fan of the law enforcement team who protect us every year in the tiny town (5,000) of Sturgis when 500,000 bikers descend and it shows when I wrote LOT’S RETURN TO SODOM, top 50 e-book mysteries in 2011.
7) I am a HUGE fan of people like you who volunteer at hospice, which is why I wrote WIDOW’S MIGHT, the ABA Indie NextPick list for 2013.
8) I am a SUPER HUGE fan of those angels who raise warriors like Noah, my 12-year-old hero in NOAH’S RAINY DAY who helps solve a kidnapping, despite the fact he has severe CP.
9) I am a book bookaholic, who does not own an e-reader, yet has an upcoming release on September 2nd SOLOMON’S WHISPER that is only being released as an e-book.
10) I am a morning person, too, and my favorite thing to do is sit on the deck in the woods with my husband drinking coffee and waiting for the sunrise over the Black Hills of South Dakota.
11) I am a curious person and want to know what a “Swindonian by birth” means.
12) I am an optimist by nature and believe that there is good in everyone… if you look REALLY hard and squint.
13) I am a lover of Disney, too, and have every VHS and DVD in my collection.
14) I am a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother.
15) I am a miner (yep, Fred Flintstone) AND an author.
16) I am a social network neophyte who still answers every message, tweet, email, and post, so be my friend and …
Visit My Website
Follow Me On Twitter
Like Me On Facebook
17) I am a trusting person so write or visit me at Sandra Brannan, 3213 W Main St #315, Rapid City, South Dakota 57709 USA.
18) I am a driven type A, who dearly wants to make you lose a night of sleep or change your life plans just to finish my book.
19) I am a deeply grateful person to all the fans who love Liv Bergen.
20) I am a huge fan of the movie THE HOLIDAY and would love to Cameron Diaz to your Kate Winslet, since you live in Somerset, UK!
As a writer, thank you for giving me the power of speech. I take that right seriously and work to entertain through the stories I tell. If along the way I open some windows to a world some may not realize exist, well then fabulous!
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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by Sandra, it has been fun discovering more about the real Sandra Brannan and I would like to wish you every success with the Liv Bergen series and any future projects you may undertake! Check out the great cover art for this series, gives me the creeps without even opening a page!
Oh! and a Swindonian by birth, means that I was born in Swindon, a large town in the County of Wiltshire, just a few miles away from my current Somerset home.
…Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house during the last week. Be warned that Mailbox Monday can lead to envy toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home, where links may be added each week. So why not stop by, leave a link to your own Mailbox Monday post, oh! and don’t forget to leave a comment for our three new joint administrators, after all, we all like to receive them … ‘Mailbox Monday’
Leslie of ‘Under My Apple Tree’
Serena of ‘Savvy Verse & Wit’
Vicki of ‘I’d Rather Be At The Beach’
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
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What a fun, informative post! I loved “meeting” Sandra here and will definitely check out her books. Thanks for hosting her, Yvonne.
One new book at my house this week: To See the Moon Again by Jamie Langston Turner
Hi Kelly,
When Samantha, from the tour promoters contacted me, I was quite up front with her, that I would be unable to complete a review of ‘Solomon’s Whisper’ in time for the tour and I would rather that Sandra wrote a guest post to be included, as I am not a huge fan of Q&A posts.
That was the last I heard until a couple of weeks back, when all the tour information came through, together with the post, written by Sandra. As the ‘I Am …’ format, is buried deep within the ‘about me’ pages, someone had obviously done some very thorough research and come up with the totally unique piece you see before you.
I still haven’t got around to reading any of the books in the Liv Bergen series, as I have since been checking out some of the excellent reviews, only to discover that, to a person, everyone recommends reading the books strictly in order.
Jamie Langston Turner is a new to me author and one which I might well consider adding to my list in the future. Whilst the storyline is very intriguing and I should imagine, offers an emotionally challenging reading experience, I was a little put off, by of all things, the cover art. I flicked through many of Jamie’s titles and ‘To See The Moon Again’, just seems so totally out of sync, almost as if it has been the work of a totally different artist, who hasn’t quite understood the themes of Jamie’s stories.
I obviously hope that you enjoy your new book and that yours is a good week.
Thanks for the opportunity to meet Sandra. I love the cover of Solomon’s Whisper, simple and yet sinister all at the same time.
Hi Tracy,
If you check out Sandra’s ‘Twitter’ or ‘Facebook’ page, you can see a much larger version of the small image I have at the bottom of the post, showing all the covers for the series, together.
As you say, simple, yet sinister and very eerie. The well placed splash of red added to each one, really makes it for me!
This is one series I wouldn’t mind owning in ‘real’ books!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you are having a good weekend.
Yvonne, thank you so very much for allowing me to do a guest post with you. And thanks for your comments about using the “I am…” format. I do my research on the kind people who invite me into their “blog” homes and I thought you were quite clever with this approach. I learned alot about you. I hope all your followers find your “I am…” page. You are a really interesting person. I do hope you get a chance someday to read one of my scary little bedtimes stories and even if you don’t, I’m still willing to switch homes with you anytime you need a HOLIDAY. Thanks again!
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
It was real fun putting this post together and your guest contribution was unique and so interesting.
I checked back over some of the previous Blog Tour dates and, I hope you will agree, ‘Solomon’s Whisper’ has certainly received some very varied and thoughtful representation.
I aim to gather together all the books in the series before I start reading, as many fellow bloggers and reviewers have been united in their opinion that this is a series best read in order.
I wish you every continued success with the series and if you ever want the opportunity to ‘have your say’, here at Fiction Books, then just drop me a line. ‘Meet The Authors’ will always be only to pleased to allocate you a slot.
I’ve seen this author’s books before. I like the fact that she is a open and approachable to her reader audience.
Hi Laura,
I’ m sorry, but I do love a good thriller and the Liv Bergen series is going to fit the bill very nicely!
I was therfore more than eager to accept the opportunity to host a date in author Sandra Brannan’s Blog Tour, when I was contacted by her promoters. I really didn’t expect the very personal guest post which they promised me on her behalf, or the fantastic blog page which I subsequently found on Sandra’s website.
As you say, discovering author who is approachable and really seems to value the readers of her books, is so refreshing. To find one who also values the role we bloggers can help play in promoting and reviewing their work, is for me, very rewarding.
Thanks for taking the time to check out this week’s post, I always appreciate your comments.
Thanks for a lively post!
Hi Mystica,
I guess it is pretty lively, now you put it like that!
There is quite a lot going on in one post and Sandra certainly sounds as though she would be a fun and bubbly person to know!
Thanks for your input to the discussion, I really appreciate that and have a good week.
Oooooo…this sounds quite good. Love the cover too.
We like the same kinds of books. 🙂
Lovely interview too. I like the “I am” too.
Thanks for sharing, and have a great reading week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Mailbox Monday
Hi Elizabeth,
I am not a huge fan of the traditional Q&A style interview, as you end up by asking every author pretty much the same questions. I am a great believer in encouraging an author to come up with a guest post on their own and those who can’t perhaps don’t want to promote themselves or their writing that badly!
I have very eclectic tastes in reading and will try just about anything I can get my hands on if I am deperate enough, with the definite exception of science fiction which I just don’t understand, and fantasy which is right at the bottom of my wish list!
My favourite genres will always be murder / mystery and suspense / thriller, so this series both sounds and looks good to me. The suite of covers when seen together on the same page, is quite impressive, I really must ask Sandra if she had a hand in their design!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope that all is well with you and have a good week.
I’ve heard so many good things about her work! I think you’re in for a treat.
Hi Kathy,
On the whole, this series is achieving some very impressive ratings and reviews and quite a lot of them, so plenty of other readers out there are obviously in agreement with you.
I am really looking forward to a marathon ‘Liv Bergen’ session, when I get the entire series together.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I always value your thoughts and opinions.
Thanks! for sharing this.
Hi Mary Ann,
You are most welcome!
If you enjoy a good mystery / thriller, you are sure to find plenty of excitement and intrigue in the Liv Bergen series.
Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.
Fun post! The Liv Bergen Mystery Series sounds like a good one. The author sounds interesting and chipper, I like numbers 12 and 13 on the list! And as for #17…that is quite brave and friendly as well…lol.
Happy reading Yvonne 🙂
Hi Naida,
I am not so sure that I would put too many of my personal details out there like that, but from talking with Sandra and checking out her blog, she comes across as such an outgoing and friendly person, that I am not really too surprised!
I’m afraid that the love of Disney isn’t enough to counteract the fact that I am probably the Worlds worst ‘eternal pessimist’ and sceptic. I am by nature often stressed and ‘on edge’, to the point where often even Disney can’t lift the mood very much. I am well known for worrying for worryings sake.
It is however, good to discover another morning person, as most folks tend to switch off when they hear 4.30-5am. The peace and quiet, the good book and a coffee, make a great start to the day, something which must be music to the ears of Sandra, who is a miner by day and still stays focussed enough (and wide awake), to write her books in the evening!
She must have some really interesting and entertaining stories to tell!
Thanks for taking the time to check out this post and for taking part in the discussion, I appreciate it.
I’m not familiar with this author. Terrific post!
2 Kids and Tired Books MM
Hi Holly,
Thanks Holly, but much of the hard work was done by Sandra herself, in providing such a great guest post.
I am not much of a one for the traditional Q&A guest posts, as I find myself trotting out the same stock selection of questions, to which often, the answers are pretty much the same, no matter which author is answering.
This way, I know that each and every article is going to be unique and personal to its individual author, whilst making things so much more interesting for the reader.
If you like a good detective series and a real edge-of-the-seat thriller, then Liv Bergen is going to be right up your street.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, it is great to hear from you.