I'm thankful for much

By Gayle Carline

It’s Thanksgiving, at least for us Yanks, and I have much to be thankful for. As always, I’m thankful for my family, for the roof over my head and the food on my table. This year in particular, I’m thankful for a good health insurance, because a week ago, I had cataract surgery on my right eye. The entire procedure was paid for by the insurance company, bless their little hearts, although I had to reach into my pocket for the bionic lens. I figure I’ve got a year to pay for it before I have to have the other eye done.

I’m also especially thankful that I’ve got a new book coming out. If I wasn’t still under doctor’s orders, I’d do a little happy dance, but know I’m dancing in my head.

THE HOT MESS is the third book in the Peri Minneopa Mystery Series. The ebook will be released this Monday, November 26, and the paperback will be out on December 10 (good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, as they say). Here is the cover:

I’ve got some wonderful friends helping me launch the book with a contest. Sometime this weekend, I’ll be posting excerpts from THE HOT MESS on several blogs, and on Monday, my own blog will have some questions that can only be answered from reading all those other blogs. The first person to answer everything correctly will win a free copy of their choice — ebook or paperback.

Here are the blogs for you to visit this weekend:

Our own adorable Andrew Kaufman,http://www.andrewekaufman.blogspot.com/

The lovely and talented Jenny Hilborne, http://jfhilborne.wordpress.com/

The fierce but friendly Michele Scott, http://adventuresnwriting.blogspot.com/

A sweet cozy writer Teresa Trent, http://teresatrent.wordpress.com/

Mr. All-Things-Dean-Martin, http://ilovedinomartin.blogspot.com/

When you’ve visited them, come on over on Monday and see me at http://gaylecarline.blogspot.com/

Here’s the jacket blurb.

It’s a hot time in P-Town!

No one in the small town of Placentia, California is surprised when Benny Needles’s house catches fire. The outside hasn’t seen a paint brush in years. The inside is stuffed with Dean Martin memorabilia. It would be a simple case of homeowner negligence, except for the body found inside.

Under suspicion of both murder and arson, Benny turns to the one person who has always helped him, private investigator Peri Minneopa. Fire investigation isn’t on her menu of services, but Peri’s weak spot for Benny overrules her reluctance, and she agrees to look into things. Her investigation takes a dangerous turn as she uncovers family secrets, going back several decades.

There are skeletons in everyone’s closet, and even Benny’s bones are rattling.

 
I've never done a contest like this, so I'm interested to see how it all works. Of course, if it translated to sales, that'd be great, but I'm also hoping some readers from each blog find the others and want to read more of them (and buy their books, for the authors on this list). I'd like my friends to get something out of this, too. I'll be happy to report whether it worked to generate any interest in the book.

Happy Thanksgiving, all — Let the holiday madness begin!