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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

People die, but legends live on - Stolen Obsession (Annalisse Series #1) by Marlene M. Bell

"Steady, exacting thriller has started and for an opening book (especially a debut) it seems sure that Marlene M. Bell has a success on her hands ." - Grady, Goodreads


Description:

Published: March 20th, 2018

PEOPLE DIE, BUT LEGENDS LIVE ON.

Manhattan antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury dreams of a quiet life on the family farm among the sheep she loves, when her best friend is murdered. The police assume robbery is the motive because her friend’s expensive bracelet is missing. But the 500-year-old artifact is rumored to carry an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family—and Annalisse believes her friend is the latest victim.

Weeks later, Annalisse sees a necklace matching the stolen bracelet at a gallery opening. Convinced the necklace is part of the deadly collection, Annalisse begs the gallery’s owner to destroy the piece, but her pleas are ignored— despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act.

Desperate to keep the gallery owner safe, Annalisse reluctantly enlists the owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped. As time lapses, the killer switches mode and closes in on the man who’s meant for Annalisse with the lifestyle she wants most.

But when it’s her turn as the hunted, will she choose to save Alec and his mother, or sacrifice everything to save herself?

Author's Q&A

Do You See Writing as a Career?
When I began Stolen Obsession, I expected the book to be a one-off. Now that I’ve spent years learning the process of how to write a compelling novel, I love it. I have at least 3 books in this series and possibly a prequel book. I’d like to write a time travel series. I have a full-time job with my mail order catalog and website and sheep operation but writing will be added to the list as well. Writing is the most challenging job I have.

What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
Keeping myself from constantly editing. I have a bad habit of going through previous chapters and tweaking sentences.

Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
My good friend Patti has been by my side as my first editor since the day I started writing Stolen Obsession in 2010. She would read chapters and we would edit them over the phone or with her sitting next to my desk with her laptop. It got a little harder when we moved from CA to TX, but by then, the book was in need of a professional editor, or two.

What is next for your writing?
I’m halfway into writing the second book in my Annalisse series, Spent Identity. I expect to have this book in print by spring of 2019.

Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
I keep about 3 books waiting at all times. I have to read in order to write worth a darn. I love the old Outlander Series and periodically pick up a book when I can spare the time. They are very windy so I prefer to read shorter novels for the most part. Taylor Adams, No Exit is a great read I just finished. I’m currently reading Karin Slaughter’s The Good Daughter.

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:
Thrown into a world of curses, art theft and murder, Annalisse and Alec travel to exotic lands to save his mother from evildoers who want their artifact.


About the author:
Marlene M Bell is an acclaimed artist and photographer as well as a writer. Her sheep landscapes grace the covers of publications such as, Sheep!, The Shepherd, Ranch & Rural Living and Sheep Industry News. Ewephoric, her mail order venture, began in 1985 out of a desire for realistic sheep stationery. A color catalog of non-fiction books and sheep-related gifts may be requested at HERE or HERE.

Marlene and her husband, Gregg reside on a wooded ranch in East Texas with their 50 head of Horned Dorset sheep, a lovable Maremma guard dog named, Tia, and 3 spoiled cats who rule the household.


Author's Giveaway

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting