Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The clock is ticking…

Can a dead child’s cross-stitch pendant find a missing nun? Is revenge possible in just 48 minutes? Can a killer be stopped before the rescuers are engulfed by a city ablaze?Who killed what the tide brought in? Can a soliloquizing gumshoe stay out of jail?

Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of Gwen Gardner, Rebecca M. Douglass, Tara Tyler, S. R. Betler, C.D. Gallant-King, Jemi Fraser, J. R. Ferguson, Yolanda Renée, C. Lee McKenzie, Christine Clemetson, and Mary Aalgaard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these eleven tales will take you on a thrilling ride into jeopardy and secrecy. Trail along, find the clues and stay out of danger. Time is wasting…

TICK TOCK A STITCH IN TIME

ANTHOLOGY INTERVIEW WITH ELEVEN AUTHORS

1.       What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process? 

I used an incident from my own life and the writing technique known as the ‘what if’ factor. In other words, this happened, but what if this ‘a murder’ happened instead?

2.  Who is your favorite author and why? You can only pick one. 

Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone with the Wind. Her determination and talent but more so the obstacles she had to overcome. Her short story Lost Laysen was a significant influence on my own short story writing. I loved the ending, even though I changed it during a fan-fiction challenge.

 Bio: Cypress, Like the Tree – Yolanda Renée

Looking for a new adventure, Renée moved to Myrtle Beach South Carolina. A storyteller from a very early age, an avid reader, and with an education and background in business and accounting, becoming a writer only made sense. And writing mysteries pure logic.

That some of her stories mirror her life, only coincidence. Honest!

Amazon Author Page  –Blog: Defending the Pen  –Facebook –Twitter @yolandarenee –Pinterest

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process?

Every mystery has an element of the time theme. You know, find the killer before he/she has a chance to kill again. But cozy mystery readers and writers tend to like a series, and the series has a theme as well. Sue Grafton used the alphabet, each new book beginning with a letter of the alphabet. Or a more cozy theme, with its small-town atmosphere, would be a location or a hobby that allow for characters to meet and share information, such as a bakery (Joanne Fluke), a tea shop (Laura Childs), a library (Charlaine Harris) or quilting (Elizabeth Spann Craig).

In my particular short story, besides the ghost element, I used a cross-stitch theme. My character is learning to cross-stitch at the beginning of the story, and the cross-stitch theme comes full circle at the end of the story when a cross-stitch pendant holds the clue to solving the mystery.

 2. Who is your favorite author and why? You can only pick one. 

Only one? This is tough! It changes depending on my frame of mind. I’m going to stick with a mystery author, just to narrow it down. Hmmm. Right now I’ll say Jacqueline Winspear. She writes the Maisy Dobbs series, historical mysteries that take place post WWI and spans to her next book with the start of WWII. I’m fascinated with the World War I and II eras. When you think about it, it’s less than a hundred years ago. My grandparents lived through it. I’ve heard stories. Winspear is an excellent writer and storyteller, her mysteries intricate with twists and turns, and always amidst the post and pre-war atmosphere.

BIO: Gwen Gardner writes clean, cozy and quirky mysteries and don’t be surprised if you meet a few ghosties along the way.

Since ghosts feature prominently in her books, she has a secret desire to meet one face to face – but will run screaming for the hills if she ever does. Gwen adores travel and experiencing the cultures and foods of different countries. She is always up for an adventure and anything involving chocolate – not necessarily in that order.

Gwen Gardner, Author-Gwen Gardner, Blog-Gwen Gardner, Amazon-Untethered Realms 

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process:

For my story Center Lane, I set out wanting to find the truth for my main character Hammond Stone. Soon though, it became the secrets around him that inspired me to dig deeper. Finding clues that come up during the writing process is the most exciting part!

2. Who is your favorite author and why?

My favorite author is Stephen King. I love his ability to bring characters to life.  When I first read his short story The Mist, I was drawn into how these characters were going about their regular daily shopping, and then all of a sudden being forced into survival mode. Now, every time we have thick fog or mist outside, I don’t just think of the storefront or the monster, I think of the memorable characters he created.

BIO: Christine writes psychological thrillers and suspense. She earned her degree in Literature/Language and went on to pen stories that send you running for the covers. When she’s not writing, you can find Christine at the park with her family, grabbing lunch at her favorite diner, or pampering her basset hound Molly. And always with a coffee in her hand! 

Goodreads–Website

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process?

I used the Chicago Fire and the devastation that it caused. I saw an opportunity to use this disaster to add a larger context to the story of a hideous crime. I also looked at the strict moral code of the nineteenth century and thought it would be interesting to have a fiend loose during a time unmarried men and women couldn’t even ride in a carriage unless it was an open one. What a contrast, heh?

2. Who is your favorite author and why? You can only pick one.

That’s impossible, but since I’m reading Margaret Atwood at the moment, I’ll pick her. It’s her way with the language. She can make people breathe on her pages. When an author can do that, she has to be a favorite.

BIO: C. Lee McKenzie has a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural Communication, but these days her greatest passion is writing for young readers.

Some Very Messy Medieval Magick is the third book in the time-travel adventures of Pete and Weasel, with Alligators Overhead and The Great Timelock Disaster being the first two. Sign of the Green Dragon, another book for young readers, jumps into ancient Chinese dragon myths and a quest for treasure.

Her young adult work is represented by Italia Gandolfo. McKenzie has published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative, and Sudden Secrets. When she¿s not writing she¿s hiking or traveling or practicing yoga or asking a lot questions about things she still doesn’t understand.

Blog – Twitter – Goodreads

BIO: Mary Aalgaard is a freelance writer and blogger. Her words stretch across the globe through her blogs and articles. Mary is also a playwright who works with both children and adults to create original dramas. She gives private piano, and writing lessons, and theatre workshops for kids at Central Lakes College.

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process?

My story was written a good while ago, tweaked and updated over the years to make it current. Back then we lived in a small Louisiana town. Video stores were abundant but one in particular caught my eye—a “men’s entertainment” video store on I-10. There was also a political feud going on between the police department and the sheriff’s office. All I had to do was play the “what if” game and The Little Girl in the Bayou evolved. Note: that video store is still in business on I-10, thirty-something years later!

2. Who is your favorite author and why? You can only pick one.

I’ve read Terri Blackstock for years and she has yet to disappoint me. I like her voice, her writing style, and I think she’s a master at characterization and plotting. Plus, I learn survival skills if ever I should need them. J Terri’s books keep me on the edge of my seat. I wish I could be inside her head when she comes up with an idea and takes it all the way to fruition.

BIO: My name is Jess, Jessy, Jessica and I’m a co-owner/co-editor of Swamp Lily Review, A Journal of Louisiana Literature & Arts. I’m also a staff writer for Southern Writers Magazine. I do author interviews. Back in 1996 I sold a novel to Silhouette Romance. It was about an Elvis look-alike who tangles with the daughter of an Elvis fanatic. The Groom Wore Blue Suede Shoes was originally called Love You Tender. My pen name Jessica Travis was originally Jessica Chaney. Oh yeah, publishing was a learning experience. Silhouette turned down my option book so what did I do? I became a realtor! Selling houses is a lot like selling books.

Facebook– Blog

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process? 

 The prompt from the contest really had my brain ticking (yes, pun intended!) and as I saw the clock in my head I also saw a prisoner pacing behind bars, waiting to be released. It’s always fun to write from the villain’s point of view, and this was no exception. This man helped me out as he let me know all of the people who were angry about him being released.

2. Who is your favorite author and why? You can only pick one. 

 Only one? That’s so hard! Let’s see… 

 I think right now I’d choose Jill Shalvis. Jill writes amazing contemporary romances that combine humour, heat, and lots of tension. Her characters are very true to life. They have lots of flaws, but always have good hearts. Reading one of Jill‘s books is always so much fun, and I usually end up staying up way too late at night to finish them. 

BIO: Jemi Fraser lives in beautiful Northern Ontario where she works hard and plays harder with both her family and her students. Holding an ever-present mug of Chai tea, she spends her free time baking cookies and writing Happy Ever Afters. The world can always use more of both

BIO: Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. She has two novel series, Pop Travel (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World, Broken Branch Falls (fantasy adventures), plus the UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She’s a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife. Make every day an adventure!

Blog– twitter – @taratylertalks- Facebook– Really Real Housewives of America

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process?

I took my inspiration for “The Tide Wait” both from an existing bit of flash fiction featuring the main character (I liked her and wanted to do more with her) and from my own upbringing on an island, in fact right on the beach for several years. Because of that, I thought I knew tides—but it turned out I needed to get a lot of help to get the tides right for the story!

2. Who is your favorite author and why? You can only pick one.

*One* favorite author? Then I’ll fall back on the one I think is the best wordsmith, never fails to grab me, and to both inspire me to greater heights and to plunge me into despair over how I will never, ever, be as good a writer as he was (and the fact that he has died and will write no more books makes me very sad): Ivan Doig.

BIO: Rebecca Douglass grew up in Idaho, Arizona, and Washington states, and now lives near San Francisco. Her passions include backpacking, hiking, books, and running and biking. She works at the library, volunteers in the schools, and is hard at work on her next book.

Goodreads–Website

1. What other inspirations did you use for your short story besides time in the Muse process?

S. R. Betler

BIO: Born and raised in New York, S. R. Betler now lives in Kentucky, where she passes her days collecting stray animals, torturing her characters, and inventing new worlds while attempting to keep her husband and offspring from destroying this one.

Facebook–Amazon Page–Website

C.D. Gallant-King

BIO: Writer, gamer, pro-wrestling aficionado. Dad.
I claim to write stories, but really I just find them in The Closet, dust them off, add a few commas and send them out into the world.

Proudly Canadian, born and raised in Newfoundland, fine-tuned and educated in Toronto and currently residing in Ottawa with a beautiful wife, two wonderful children and various furry four-legged companions.

Amazon Page–Website

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