BOOK: March Blues, A Cat Collier Mystery, by Caro Ann Kauffman

  

March Blues

 Small-town red-head Cat Collier runs an private investigation service called Red Cat Investigation out of her office in the beautiful Palazzo Castellano in downtown Heaton Valley, Ohio,  with the help of her secretary, Nola White, an ex-client Cat took in because she had nowhere else to go, her boyfriend, Erick “Carter” Larsen, and Carter’s father, the wealthy, influential, and shady lawyer, Detrick Bittmor.

In this third installment of the Cat Collier Short Story Mystery series, after escaping from captivity in an abandoned train car, Cat stumbles upon a homeless man at the long deserted train station, who helps her get home to Carter. 

Detrick discovers he knows this homeless man as the one-time legendary saxophone player who played in the downstairs bar when they were both young, crazy guys and the family embarks on rehabilitating the sax player and reopening the bar, “The Blues.”

September Solitude and October Masquerade are out now, although October's cover is slightly different. 

The final two books in the Cat Collier Mystery series, November Chill and December Wish, with any luck, will be out in 2023, ending the Cat Collier series.

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TV TIME: Black Crab (Netflix)

Dark. Bleak. A Sweden you’ve never seen before. 

Earth is in civil war with an unnamed enemy. Six soldier are picked to carry a canister with unknown contents to a restricted government facility across a massive frozen archipelago— on skates. They believe the contents of this canister will end the war.

One of these soldiers is a woman who had her daughter ripped away from her as they were fleeing in a car going through a tunnel. Cars piled up, shots fired. Scary scene. 

Now, the film is dark, and shot darkly on purpose. The premise is dark. Earth is in big trouble and may not make it. And yet, people are still shooting each other. Go figure.

And then you see six soldiers gracefully gliding along these frozen lakes and trails, sometimes stopping to look down at frozen corpses under the water.

Macabre, but something silently beautiful in those strong-legged glides  and twists and turns. 

This was not a bad movie. After I got into it, it was gripping. A mother’s love for her child. Lies from those in command. And the canister? It will end the war all right. 

 

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INTERVIEW: Fantasy Author Hannah-Louise Smith

 

Hannah-Louise Smith

Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

United Kingdom

Good morning, Hannah-Louise and welcome to Vision and Verse.What have you written? 

I have written two books, Awakening and Darkness, the first two books in the Mythics and mortals trilogy 

 

What is your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy 

 

Favorite food.

Chinese food, especially salt and chilli chicken

 

Tea or coffee?

Tea

 

Pizza or ice cream?

Pizza

 

Wine or beer or soda or what?

Soda, I prefer diet coke.

 

Where would you like to visit?

Paris, I know it’s predictable but I would love to drink hot chocolate on top of the Eifel tower.

 

Favorite musical artist.  

I’m a fan of fall out boy, but I like a little bit of everything. 

 

Do you listen to music when you write?  What?

Definitely, my playlist is always set to random, mainly 80s rock music. 

 

What makes you laugh?

Animals doing funny things.

 

Favorite work of art or sculpture.

Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, it’s so peaceful.

 

How old were you when you started writing?

I was 24 when I started writing my first book Awakening. 

 

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 

I write a rough chapter plan first, then I start writing by hand.

 

Describe your perfect evening.

My perfect evening is a cup of hot tea, a good book, and a blanket.

 

Where do you get your inspiration?

I listen to music and the ideas just flow.

 

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

When I get writer’s block,I type up what I’ve written so far to clear the cobwebs.

Who is your favorite author?

George R.R. Martin. I think it’s brilliant that he is able to multitask points of view while keeping in mind the story.

 

Best book you ever read.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I try to reread it at least once a year. 

 

I like that one, too! Last book you read.

Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. I love that kind of period drama romance.

 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

Well, I already have a job in retail so I’m covered.

 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

My mum. She is always there with truthful advice and has my back. 

 

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

I’d like to talk to future me and ask her a few things.

 

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

You won’t know unless you try, what you write on paper doesn’t have to be perfect and things change 

 

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

https://www.facebook.com/hannahlouisesmith19

https://www.instagram.com/hannahlousmith/?hl=en

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22231590.Hannah_Louise_smith

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09S41F58W/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BNW36LZ5?notRedirectToSDP=1&

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BOOK REVIEW: Southern Bound, A Max Porter Mystery, by Stuart Jaffe

If you’re looking for a mystery with paranormal

flair, look no further. This Max Porter mystery

Is exactly the right mix! Well written with characters

that jump off the page.

 

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Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.

ART: Great Republic, World’s Largest Clipper Ship Model, Butler Museum of Art

This gorgeous model of the Great Republic was built by Donald McKay in 1853. The scale is one eighth inch equals one foot. 

It has captivated visitors to Butler Museum of Art for generations. 

I remember bringing my class of first graders to the museum and watching the little boys light up when they saw it. 

It still fascinates me today. 

If you find yourself in the downtown Youngstown area, stop in and enjoy this crown jewel of the area. 

They have an outstanding permanent collection as well as traveling exhibitions and cultural events. 

Make time for the gift shop and the restaurant.

 

The Butler is never the same place twice! 🥰

P.S. That's me behind the Great Republic. I spent the afternoon of my birthday at the wonderful Butler.

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SCHEDULE: March 13 - 17, 2023

 Mon., March 13 - ART:

Great Republic Clipper Ship Model

at the Butler Museum of Art

Tues., March 14 - BOOK REVIEW:

Southern Bound, A Max Porter Mystery

by Stuart Jaffe

Wed., March 15 - INTERVIEW: 

Fantasy Author

Hannah-Louise Smith

Thurs., March 16 - TV TIME:

Black Crab

(Netflix)

Fri., March 17 - BOOK:

March Blues

A Cat Collier Mystery

by Carol Ann Kauffman

VISION AND VERSE DISCLAIMER

Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.

 

VISION AND VERSE DISCLAIMER

Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.