In the first novel of Stella Bixby’s RILEY COOPER series, CATFISHED, Bixby’s protagonist is at her lowest point: living in her parent’s basement with no prospects for employment — until she becomes a park ranger. And that’s when the fun — and the murders — begin

Stella and I discuss how her former careers as a park ranger and firefighter molded her plots, Riley’s her love-hate relationship with the cop on the beat, Luke Hannah, and the changes in Riley’s future, now that the 16th novel of the series will soon be released. There’s still a lot ahead for this former prom queen, and you’ll want to hear all about it.

Stella Bixby's CATFISHED is free now at your favorite digital bookstore. Josie is running a contest this week for a $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice. No purchase necessary. To enter, just correctly answer the question posted here about this podcast.

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In FIELDS' GUIDE TO ABDUCTION—the first novel of Julie Mulhern’s POPPY FIELDS funny mystery series—Hollywood influencer Poppy Fields’s trip to Mexico, is much less relaxing than sunbathing by breathtaking infinity pools or attending glittering parties on patios overlooking the Pacific. Instead, she’s got to placate a drug cartel boss whose infatuated with Poppy’s movie star mother. With death lurking around every corner, Poppy will need more than her smarts, acting skills, and a lot of luck to make it back to Rodeo Drive.

Julie and I talk about how the character of Poppy came to her, the added layer that fame puts on the already complex dynamic of mother-daughter relationships, and how Julie’s world travels have been incorporated into Poppy’s life—all great stuff for a heroine whose whirlwind life is already 8 novels and counting.

Julie Mulhern's FIELDS' GUIDE TO ABDUCTION is free now at your favorite digital bookstore. Josie is running a contest this week for a $50 gift card to the bookstore of your choice. No purchase necessary. To enter, just correctly answer the question posted here about this podcast.

This is a copyrighted episode of Author Provocateur.

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In ONE HIT WONDER, the first novel in Kristi Roses’s Samantha True funny mystery series—her heroine, rookie forensic photographer—discovers that her small Washington town of Wind River has a sinister underbelly when it is hit with not just one murder, but two. And what does a Sasquatch sighting have to do with it? Well, you’ll have to read it to find out.

Kristi and I talk about the fun she has surrounding Samantha with a marvelous cast of quirky characters; how Samantha’s dyslexia forces her think outside the box; and how Kristi plots her books so that, even six books later, the twists and turns keep on coming.

JB Lynn’s mystery, THE HITWOMAN AND THE FAMILY JEWELS, is free now at your favorite digital bookstore.

FOR A CHANCE TO ENTER JOSIE'S 5 DAYS - 5 AUTHORS - 5 BOOKS CONTEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 BOOKSTORE GIFT CARD, HERE'S THE LINK:

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When Maggie Lee — the heroine of JB Lynn’s novel— THE HITWOMAN AND THE FAMILY JEWELS — is asked by her mob boss employer to kill a cop, she wants to say no—especially when she finds out the cop in question is someone she once dated—

Until that former date—Patrick Mulligan, whom she still cares about—tries to kill her too.

JB and I talk about her wild-and-crazy cast of characters—mobsters and off-the-wall-family to boot, including a prison escapee father; JB also explains how Maggie’s menagerie —a talking lizard, a grumpy cat, and a primadonna Doberman—make a fitting conscience for this accidental hitwoman. We also discuss the joys and challenges of writing a long-running mystery series with a beloved lead character.

JB Lynn’s mystery, THE HITWOMAN AND THE FAMILY JEWELS, is free now at your favorite digital bookstore.

FOR A CHANCE TO ENTER JOSIE'S 5 DAYS - 5 AUTHORS - 5 BOOKS CONTEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 BOOKSTORE GIFT CARD, HERE'S THE LINK:

This is a copyrighted episode of Author Provocateur.

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In the first novel in Camilla Chafer’s sixteen-book Lexi Graves series, a boring temp job immediately becomes exciting—and deadly—when Lexi finds one of the company’s bosses face down in a pool of blood. When it’s discovered that millions of dollars missing from the company’s coffers, Lexi is also the chief suspect. Throw in the fact that her sexy new boss is not all he seems to be, and you see why Lexi may be in over her head.

Camilla and I discuss Lexi’s trajectory from aimless gig worker to sexy intelligence operative with the international organization tracking the money —and the killers who leave numerous bodies in their wake. Camilla also tells me how, sixteen novels later, she keeps her globe-trotting private investigator constantly in danger—and how much fun it’s been upping the romance quotient with the spy guys who love her—while keeping readers on edge to see who wins out.

Camilla Chafer’s ARMED AND FABULOUS is free now at your favorite digital bookstore.

FOR A CHANCE TO ENTER JOSIE'S 5 DAYS - 5 AUTHORS - 5 BOOKS CONTEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 BOOKSTORE GIFT CARD, HERE'S THE LINK.

This is a copyrighted episode of Author Provocateur.

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IT COULD BE WORSE, Dara Levan’s heartbreaking debut novel, is a tour de force chronicling a woman’s journey through the anxieties, trials, and tribulations with pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood—all the while addressing one parent’s toxic narcissism and the other’s enabling of it.

Despite the dark circumstances that propel her protagonist Allegra’s anxieties and fear, Levan provides the necessary crises that provoke several insightful reckonings and allows her to open up to her husband and friends.

But it is Allegra’s own unique parenting skills that provide needed proof that clarity comes at all ages and stages of life. The climax makes for a fabulous ending.

In my discussion with Dara, we discuss what drove her to write it, how she was able to draw such strong pathos out of certain scenes that certainly had me biting my nails, and how she was able to use the actions of parents who, wittingly or not, could harm their children. Truly a must-read.

Dara Levan’s IT COULD BE WORSE IS IN BOOKSTORES NOW.

Check out Josie's website at https://josiebrown.com

This has been a copyrighted episode of Author Provocateur with Josie Brown.

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A pending divorce. An estranged child. Eden Miller, a 45-year old realtor, finds her life crumbling, her heart broken, and her ego bruised—

Until a chance glance at the Facebook page of her senior-year college crush has her sending him a friend request—

Which is answered.

And so it begins. A passionate communication with the sexiest man she’s ever known, who, it seems, is also soon to be single.

Is it too good to be true?

Best-selling author Samantha M. Bailey’s latest thriller, A FRIEND IN THE DARK, isn’t just a rollercoaster of passion and deception, but a deep dive into the psyche of a woman whose hope for a new start comes at a big price: one that may cost her everything.

Samantha and I discuss how she conceived such a vulnerable protagonist, how she ratchets up the tension for Eden, and how Samantha has honed the reputation for delivering thrillers about women whose trusting natures allow others to infiltrate their world with the intent to destroy their lives.

Check out Samantha M. Bailey's latest novel, the mystery A FRIEND IN THE DARK, in Amazon now.

Check out Josie's website at https://josiebrown.com

This has been a copyrighted episode of Author Provocateur with Josie Brown.

AI was not used in the creation of this podcast.

In the Movieland — the fourth book in the Eve Ronin thriller series — bestselling author Lee Goldberg’s plot, parallels a true and recent ongoing investigation that concerns a shooter whose stalking ground is a national park in and around Malibu Canyon. As always, Lee peppers the plot with several possible suspects, dirty politics, investigative shenanigans, and plenty of great detective work by Sherrif Detective Eve Ronin and her soon-to-be retiring partner, Duncan Pavone.

And, as always, you’ll be at the edge of your seat until the very last plot twist.

Lee and I discuss the depth of his research, his always great dialogue; his spot-on pacing; and how the tension that exists between Eve and her family and her department is the driving force to making her the best investigator she can be. He also brings great insights on ageism in Hollywood (it’s not just against actors); And, should your book get optioned for TV or Film, the best answers to give producers as to how much you’d like to be involved. What he says may surprise you.

Lee Goldberg's novel, the mystery MOVIELAND, is in bookstores now.

Check out Josie's website at https://josiebrown.com

This has been a copyrighted episode of Author Provocateur with Josie Brown.

AI was not used in the creation of this podcast.