Donna Crow's "A Tincture Of Murder" and scroll to the next post for your chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card and download of Something Beautiful

Title: A TINCTURE OF MURDER, A Lord Danvers Victorian True-Crime Mystery
Publisher: Greenbrier Books

Cover blurb: William Dove, the notorious “Leeds Poisoner” is on trial for murdering his wife, so he can’t be poisoning the fallen women at the Magdalen Asylum run by Danvers’ young priest brother. But who is? Is another madman stalking the streets of York? And what is causing the foul stench at the orphans’ school?

Lady Antonia is at her most superb in this intricate tale that weaves fact and fiction to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

1) How did this story come to you?
All of my Lord Danvers stories have an historical crime with a fictional one woven around it, so I must start with the true crime. I found my Tincture of Murder story when my research turned up the case of the poisoner William Dove in mid-Victorian York— one of my all-time favorite cities. And then I got a bonus when I found another true crime that is truly more bizarre than anything Charles Dickens wrote.

My additional inspiration was the opportunity to tell the story of the work of the Victorian slum priests who defied the strictures of society to build beautiful churches in the midst of the worst slums in order to bring beauty and a concept of heaven into poor people’s lives. And then, (gasp!) they dared to start asylums to care for fallen women and starving orphans. One of the major reasons I write history is because I believe the work of people like this shouldn’t be forgotten.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This was one of those delightful, all-too-rare times in my career when my publisher came to me for a book. When the first three titles in the Lord Danvers series: A Most Inconvenient Death, Grave Matters and To Dust You Shall Return proved to be popular with readers Ron Benrey at Greenbrier Books asked me for another in the series. I was only too happy to comply!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Because I am known for my love of English history and giving tea parties, people are surprised to learn that I was a terrible tomboy. As an only child I was my father’s son and grew up riding horses, hunting and fishing with Daddy. When I wasn’t doing girlie things with my mother, that is. I can hope that people might be surprised to learn that I’m compulsive about time and am always worried I’m not accomplishing enough fast enough— but I have a suspicion my friends might rather suspect that already.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently writing A Jane Austen Encounter, Book 3 in my Elizabeth and Richard Romantic Suspense Series. Elizabeth and Richard are on sabbatical in England visiting all the places Jane Austen lived. It’s an idyllic adventure— until the dead bodies start turning up.

Next thing out will be An Unholy Communion, Book 3 in my Monastery Murders. It will be released March 22 as part of Lion Hudson’s all-new Lion Fiction Line. I’m really excited to be part of this new venture.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share with your readers, K Dawn. I am so grateful to be working in such a wonderful field with such great people. Every day I tell the Lord “Thank you for letting me do what I’m doing!”

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
To read more about all of my books and see pictures from my garden and research trips go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/  
I would love to have you follow me on Facebook at: http://ning.it/OHi0MY

Donna Fletcher Crow's "A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Myrders 2"

Title: A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Murders 2
Publisher: Monarch Books, an imprint of Lion Hudson in the UK. My American publisher is Kregel Books.

Cover blurb: Felicity can’t possibly help Father Antony find the valuable missing icon. She’s off to become a nun. Then her impossible mother turns up unexpectedly. And a good friend turns up murdered. . .

Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes through remote waterlogged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy women, and the arcane rites of the Knights Hospitaller keep the pages turning. Will Felicity choose the veil— or Antony?

1) How did this story come to you?
I have wanted to tell the stories of the mystical medieval women writers Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe for years. When my daughter, whose experiences studying in a monastery in Yorkshire provided the background for The Monastery Murders, told me about visiting an ancient abbey in Norfolk in an area so soggy the ruins were said to have sunk into the ooze and a beautiful church that survived Cromwell’s destruction because it was so wet his soldiers’ horses sank in the marsh I knew I had my setting. Then I visited the church myself and experienced climbing the bell tower. I knew I’d found the perfect spot for a chase scene.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The real journey was getting A Very Private Grave, the first book in the series published because, although I had published 30 books in the 1980’s and ‘90’s, I had been out of the publishing loop for 10 years. I found Janet Benrey in a listing of agents online, but it wasn’t until I spoke to her on the telephone that I realized she is English. She was able to sell the book to an English publisher who appreciated the English background. Each book is a challenge, though, because they wait to contract a new book based on the American sales record of the current title.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Although my favorite activities are growing roses, drinking tea and reading Jane Austen, I was a tomboy growing up. As an only child I was my father’s son, which led to many adventures on horseback and becoming Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up to Miss Rodeo America. I am also an intrepid researcher and will do whatever I have to do for a book. One of the biggest challenges was rappelling into a lava cave even though I’m claustrophobic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
An Unholy Communion, The Monastery Murders 3, is almost complete. It’s based on a research trip I took to Wales and England last spring which included walking 126 miles from London to Walsingham. I’m also looking for the perfect Victorian murder to use in book 4 of my Lord Danvers true-crime series and planning book 3 in the Elizabeth & Richard Murders which will have Jane Austen as the background literary figure.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today, Kdawn. I love meeting readers. If anyone has any questions for me please leave them below and I’ll drop by to answer. Can’t wait to see who wins the free copy of A Darkly Hidden Truth!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Please visit my website at http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/. I have trailers for both of the Monastery Murders on my homepage, an album of photos from each of my research trips, a lot of information about all of my books and a slideshow of my garden.

Donna F. Crow's "The Shadow of Reality" and "A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare"

Thank you so much for inviting me back to your blog, K Dawn. I was here only a few months ago, but things have been happening so rapidly that I’m really excited to be able to share my latest news. You know how it is, one can go for years without seeing any progress, then suddenly the Heavens open. At least that’s the way I’ve always found it. I hope this is an encouragement for all of us to hold on for God’s timing and not give up.


Title: My newest release is A Midsummer Eve’s Nightmare, book 2 in my Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries. I wrote the first draft almost 10 years ago as the proposed second book in a romantic intrigue series I was doing for another publisher. The series didn’t work out. The manuscript went to the Boise State University Writers’ Archives and I spent the advance. Now, here it is— fully rewritten and with a stunning cover. Talk about a resurrection story.

Publisher:I so admire writers who have the savvy to publish their own books, but I need a support team. This series is with an Indie publisher, though. StoneHouse Ink is new and vibrant and believes in “embracing the technology.” This is just what someone as stuck-in-the-mud as I am needs.

Cover blurb:Elizabeth and Richard want nothing more than a quiet, romantic honeymoon— with a touch of literary charm. So they have chosen the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Perfection. Until they find that Desdemona’s brilliantly acted death scene wasn’t acted and Elizabeth’s costume designer sister and her actress roommate are terrified that they are slated to be the next victims.

1) How did this story come to you?
The Oregon Shakespearean Festival has always been a favorite destination for my husband and myself so when it came time to send my newlywed English professor team on a honeymoon Ashland was as perfect for them as it was for me. The plot developed naturally from the setting and from the Shakespeare plays which form the framework of the story. The theme, which explores the true meaning of marriage, was also natural in a honeymoon story but really plays out more when Elizabeth gives advice to her younger sister who is dazzled by the company’s leading man.

2) Tell me two things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
People are often surprised to learn that I’m an introvert, especially those who have been to a conference with me. But, as much as I enjoy meeting people and helping other writers, at the end of the day I’m exhausted and I need lots of down time to recharge my batteries. I’m also what the Regency writers would call a nip-cheese, but my mother taught as good economy. Of course, today it’s entirely PC to recycle everything, so for once in my life I’m in line with current thinking. I love dollar stores and charity shops.

3) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just returned from a trip to Wales where I did the research for the next book in my Monastery Murders. Book 2 in the series A Darkly Hidden Truth will be out this fall, so my challenge will be to promote one book whilst writing another.
And then another Elizabeth & Richard. Since they all have literary figures in the background Jane Austen is up next. And that will entail another research trip. . .

4) Parting comments?
Follow your passions and hang in there through good times and bad. That’s true for any aspect of life, but I can’t think of a business where one needs it more than on the roller coaster we call publishing.

5) Where can fans find you on the Internet?
To see pictures from my garden and research trips go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/.
My blog is at: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php and you can follow me on Facebook at: http://ning.it/eLjgYp