Mystic Mayhem
A Mystic Isle Mystery
Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens
Humorous Cozy Mystery – Gemma Halliday Publishing
Melanie
Hamilton is not your average artist. She brings home the bacon by inking
tattoos at New Orleans's Mansion at Mystic Isle, a resort in the middle of the
bayou that caters to fans of the peculiar and paranormal, but her true passion
comes alive when she volunteers restoring Katrina-ravaged landmarks. Between
her day job, her restoration work, and selling her paintings in Jackson Square,
Mel's life is more hectic than Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday. But when a guest
of the resort, a millionaire's widow, is poisoned, and Melanie's close friend
is arrested for the murder, things go from hectic to downright dangerous.
Mel joins forces with the resort's delish manager, Jack Stockton, to prove her friend's innocence. Soon they find themselves dealing with séances, secret passages, the ghost of the millionaire himself, gators, swamp rats, and a sinister killer who proves that not everything is what it seems in the Louisiana bayou.
Come on along, and get your creep on.
Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRca7hgX0-8
* * *
* *
The Inspiration for our Mystic Isle
Series
The Magic Castle in the
hills above Hollywood Boulevard is the headquarters and private clubhouse for
the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc., a worldwide organization devoted to the art
of magic. Its membership consists of magicians as well as those who just love
magic. If you ever have the chance to go there, DO. It’s mysterious, haunting,
spellbinding, and a little creepy.
The Magic Castle was the
inspiration for Mystic Isle Mysteries, our new series debuting September 15th
from Gemma Halliday Publishing. Our series takes place in the bayou near New
Orleans, Louisiana on Mystic Isle where The Mansion at Mystic Isle is now open
and taking guests. It’s a place similar to the Magic Castle only Mystic Isle is
dedicated to all that’s magical and paranormal. Its guests experience the
skills of magicians, mediums, fortunetellers, astrologers, and much more. Of
course, none of it is real—or is it?
Excerpt:
Séances were held in a small but lovely room where
Miss Marple might serve tea. Burgundy drapes swagged corner to corner. Blue
flames flickered low in the fireplace courtesy of a special-effects chemical
log Fabrizio swore would bring up the ambiance.
A medium-sized round table sat smack in the middle of
the room, seven chairs around it and a purple cloth covering it. The lights
were low. So many candles were lit that the place was warm enough for bread to
rise.
Fabrizio was already there, looking nervous as a
crawfish next to a pot on the boil. He knew, and I knew, and he knew I knew he
wasn't exactly what you'd call a genuine medium, but I had to give him credit.
He looked like one, every inch, from the top of his turbaned head to the
bottoms of his white patent-leather boots. His long face glistened with
perspiration.
"Fabrizio," I said. "Why don't we blow
out a few of these candles? Your makeup and eyeliner are going to run."
He nodded, and I set about doing it. The poor guy had
to be pretty warm. His long-sleeved white jumpsuit was layered under a
full-length sequined white cape. A cross between the Great Houdini and
Liberace.
Within a few minutes, Mrs. Cecile Elway and company
arrived. Five in all, just like at dinner the night before. There were low
murmurs of appreciation as they glanced around the room, taking in the whole
experience.
About the Authors:
Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens, are
partners in crime—crime writing, that is. They live in the Valley of the Sun in
Arizona, awesome for eight months out of the year, an inferno the other four.
They write bloody murder, flirty romance, and wicked humor all in one package.
Website: http://www.smithandsteffens.com
Email: smithandsteffens@cox.net
Two
great giveaways going on right now !!
To celebrate the release of MYSTIC MAYHEM on September 15, Jean and Sally are giving away an
awesome New Orleans Café du Monde basket full of goodies from the Big Easy—13
ounces of French Roast coffee, 13 ounces of Chicory Coffee, a box of their
world famous Beignet Mix, and two gorgeous Café du Monde mugs to put you in the
mood while you’re visiting Mystic Isle. Entering’s a breeze. Just go to the
ABOVE LINK between now and September 30, & sign up! Winner to be selected
via random.org.
* * *
* *
#2 Giveaway:
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Thanks for hosting us!
ReplyDeleteJean Steffens and Sally J. Smith, Authors
Mystic Mayhem
Sally & I loved writing Mystic Mayhem. Creating the memorable characters in the series was fun. Without you readers, we couldn't do what we do!
ReplyDeleteJean Steffens & Sally J. Smith (Author)
Mystic Mayhem