Chocolate and Coffee Field Trips
Come see all of the Coffee and Chocolate Field Trip Videos!
A Study in Chocolate
January 12 – Meg’s Cozy Corner Facebook Takeover (through Facebook group)
January 17 – Cozy Mystery Party Facebook Takeover (through Facebook group)
January 19 – Fresh Fiction Guest Post
January 21 – Book Warriors Zoom Event (through Facebook group)
January 23 – Romancing the Story – Making a Cozy Mystery Cozy
A STUDY IN CHOCOLATE GREAT ESCAPES BOOK TOUR STOPS
January 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
January 16 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
January 17 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
January 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 18 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 19 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 20 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT
January 20 – The Mystery Review Crew – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
January 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
January 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
January 23 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
January 24 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
January 25 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
January 26 – Sneaky the library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
January 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
January 28 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
January 28 – My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT
January 29 – Girl with Pen – SPOTLIGHT
Facebook Launch Party with tastings from French Broad Chocolate!
Dru’s Book Musings – Cover Reveal
February 28 – Chapter Break Book Blog – Series Spotlight
February 28 – Hall Ways Blog – Bonus Promo
March 1 – Reading by Moonlight – Review
March 1 – The Real World According to Sam – Review
March 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads – Review
March 2 – LSBBT Blog – BONUS PROMO
March 3 – Sybrina’s Book Blog – Guest Post
March 3 – It’s Not All Gravy – Review
March 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
March 5 – Carpe Diem Chronicles – Review
March 6 – The Clueless Gent – Scrapbook Page
March 6 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – Review
March 7 – All the Ups and Downs – Playlist
March 8 – Writing and Music – Review
March 8 – Rox Burkey Blog – Review
March 9 – Forgotten Winds – Review
March 9 – The Book’s Delight – Review
The more I think about it, the more I realize that some of my favorite movies involve writers and writing. (Which, as an author, is only natural.) I thought I’d share some of my favorites. This is not an exhaustive list. It’s just the ones I could watch over and over. You may have already seen many of these films, but I hope there’s at least one or two that are new to you!
A Shot in the 80% Dark Blog Tour
Read the first chapter of A Shot in the 80% Dark
Meg’s Cozy Corner Facebook Takeover! – July 14
Cozy Mystery Party – July15
Fresh Fiction Guest Article – July 19
Lonestar Literary Blitz – July 22
August 17 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
August 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 18 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
August 19 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
August 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
August 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE RELATED POST
August 25 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
August 26 – My Journey Back – RECIPE RELATED POST
August 27 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
August 29 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 30 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
August 30 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
August 30 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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Book Reviewers! Review copy available at Netgalley.
Readers! Goodreads Giveaway
A Shot in the 80% Dark: Book Launch Eve Post
Cover Reveal: Dru’s Book Musings
Bonus Recipe: Ropa Vieja
70% Dark Intentions Book Trailer
Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand is bringing in plenty of customers – in part due to the notoriety of the recent murder of one of her assistants, which she managed to solve. Things seem to be taking a turn for the better. Her new assistant, Mateo, even gets along with Carmen, the shop’s barista turned pastry chef. Felicity thinks she’s learning to cope with change – right up until one of her friends gets engaged. Everyone’s expecting her to ask Logan, her former bodyguard, to be her plus one. But even the thought of asking out someone else still makes her feel disloyal to her late husband’s memory — so maybe she hasn’t moved on from her husband’s death as much as she thought.
Felicity isn’t planning to contact Logan any time soon. Only, Felicity finds ANOTHER body right outside her shop – making it two murders at Greetings and Felicitations in as many months. That night, Mateo disappears, leaving Felicity to take care of his pet octopus. The police believe that Mateo committed the murder, but Felicity is convinced that, despite the mounting evidence, something more is going on, and Mateo may actually be in trouble.
When Logan assumes that he’s going to help Felicity investigate, she realizes she’s going to have to spend time with him – whether she’s ready to really talk to him or not. Can Felicity find out what happened to Mateo, unmask a killer, and throw an engagement party all at the same time?
See the book trailer on Youtube.
Out of Temper Book Tour
OUT OF TEMPER TOUR PARTICIPANTS
January 24 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
January 24 – Novels Alive – SPOTLIGHT (BookBlast)
January 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
January 25 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
January 26 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
January 26 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
January 28 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW
January 29 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
January 31 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
February 1 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
February 1 – Ascroft, eh? – GUEST POST
February 2 – My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
February 2 – Love is in the Air – FEATURED AUTHOR
February 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST
February 3 – My Writing Journeys – INTERVIEW
February 3 – Fresh Fiction – GUEST ARTICLE
February 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 4 – Baroness’ Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 5 – Dear Reader – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 6 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
February 6 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
February 23 – Chapter Break Book Blog – Playlist
February 23 – Hall Ways Blog – BONUS Promo
February 24 – Missus Gonzo – Review
February 24 – LSBBT Blog – BONUS Promo
February 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
February 26 – All the Ups and Downs – Scrapbook Page
February 27 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – Top 10 List
February 28 – Bibliotica – Review
March 1 – Reading by Moonlight – Top 10 List
March 2 – Forgotten Winds – Review
March 3 – Book Bustle – Guest Post
March 4 – Carpe Diem Chronicles – Review
Resources for Bookclubs
If you have a book club, check out my page for chocolate-related book club meetings. There are suggestions for snacks to serve (a couple of them have recipes attached). I’ve also included discussion guides for each of my books. The one for Out of Temper is available now.
New Recipes Incoming
We’re adding recipes from Out of Temper to the Bonuses page. The first one: Texas Brisket. Check back for more ramping up to the book’s release on February 1.
Out of Temper up on Netgalley
Hey book reviewers! If you’re looking for a little sun, fun and warmth to get you through the winter, Out of Temper (Book 3 in the Bean to Bar Mysteries) is available now on Net Galley.
Check it out at: http://netgal.ly/3RFRik !
Out of Temper Cover Reveal
Check out the cover reveal over at Dru’s Book Musings.
Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand has been the scene of two murders – both of which she has been instrumental in helping solve. So when she gets invited to demo her chocolate skills aboard a cruise ship sailing out of the local port, she’s excited at the chance to get away from the shop long enough to regain her equilibrium. She even brings her best friend along, and makes plans for time at the spa. But when she gets on board, she finds out that she’s been booked for a mystery-themed cruise, and said best friend, Autumn, has to finally deal with the real reasons she quit writing mysteries. Only – if that wasn’t stressful enough – it doesn’t take long before there’s a real murder on the cruise, and someone Felicity knows becomes the prime suspect. When said suspect asks her for help, she can’t exactly say no, can she?
Felicity finds herself surrounded by cruise goers who all had connections to the victim – and finds that both Logan (her business partner, whom she recently kissed) and Arlo (the cop who was once Felicity’s first boyfriend, before she moved away from Galveston) are dealing with the case until more official help can arrive. How will Felicity survive the ensuing awkwardness?
One thing that helps: the retired police dog turned therapy dog she meets on board. Satchmo helps Felicity deal with being back on the water after tragedy in her past – and also helps her uncover a vital clue to the case. Can Felicity unmask the killer and keep a friend from being framed before all the suspects leave the ship?
How to Use Story Like a Journailst for NANoWriMo Preptober
Whether it is your first time trying to write a novel in November, or if you%u2019re a veteran looking for ways to make the process go smoother, don%u2019t overlook the benefits of planning in advance. If you come into NaNo with a reasonable idea of who your characters are, where they live, and where your plot is headed, you will be ahead of the game, and ready for success.
The idea of using October as NaNo #PREPTOBER , taking time each day to plan, makes sense. Some of y%u2019all have been telling me that you%u2019re using Story Like a Journalist to do your prep work. I am so excited! I know it is a hefty workbook, and that 100 worksheets may be unrealistic to get through in a month. (I%u2019ve always been of the idea that series and complex novels may need all of the worksheets, but sometimes it is better to have all the worksheets at hand so you can find the ones you need to do to uncover the information you need to get past stuck points and to deepen your understanding of specific elements of your book.)
Book Blog Tour Resources
Have you considered doing a book blog tour, but aren’t sure where to start? I have a new article up over at Eat Like a Writer that should help you get organized. Check it out here: https://www.eatlikeawriter.com/post/how-to-plan-a-book-blog-tour
If you want to talk to me about your blog tour questions, comment below — or come check out the presentation I’m doing for Unleashing the Next Chapter (FB Group) on November 3. Learn more about the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/UnleashingTheNextChapter
70% Dark Intentions Blog Tour
Check out all of the stops on the 70% Dark Intentions Blog Tour
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 29 – Mystery Fanfare — Guest Post — Learning about Sea Turtles — http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2021/06/learning-about-sea-turtles-guest-post.html
July 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST — https://christyscozycorners.com/2021/…
July 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW — https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs…
July 13 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT —http://www.brookeblogs.com/70-dark-in…
July 13 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT — http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.c…
July 14 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST — https://novelsalive.com/2021/07/14/gu…
July 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT — http://fuonlyknew.com/2021/07/14/70-d…
July 15 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, EXCERPT — http://myreadingjourneys.blogspot.com…
July 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT — https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2021/…
July 16 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT — https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.c…
July 17 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST — https://ireadwhatyouwrite.com/2021/07…
July 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW — https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/…
July 19 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT — https://www.literaryau.com/2021/07/70-dark-intentions.html
July 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW — https://storeybookreviews.com/2021/07/review-giveaway-70-dark-intentions/
July 20 – Interview With Felicity through Dru’s Book Musing — https://drusbookmusing.com/2021/07/20/felicity-koerber-2021/
July 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW — https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2021/07/20/70-dark-intentions-bean-to-bar-mysteries-by-amber-royer-authorinterview-giveaway-great-escapes-book-tour/
July 21 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT — https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2021/07/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours_0950942472.html
July 22 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST — https://terryambrose.com/2021/07/dark-intentions-by-amber-royer/
July 22 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT — https://baronessbooktrove.com/70-dark-intentions-by-amber-royer-spotlight/?unapproved=3643&moderation-hash=dbad4d31a62c6861bc52d10c94bb316f#comment-3643
July 23 – ebook addicts – REVIEW — https://ebookaddicts.net/review-70-dark-intentions/
July 24 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST — http://myjourneyback-thejourneyback.blogspot.com/2021/07/cover-model-clive-meet-new-character-70.html?m=1
July 25 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT — https://www.instagram.com/BookishKelly2020/
July 29 – Fresh Fiction – GUEST POST –
https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=11407
July 29 – Dying for Chocolate – GUEST POST –http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-history-of-cocoa-powder-recipe-for.html
70% Dark Intentions Book Launch
There’s a number of cozy mysteries coming your way in July. Check out the multi-book launch event on the Book Warriors Facebook Group at 7 PM on July 20. Featuring me, @bookishly_cozy and @dianekellybooks !
Find the event at: https://fb.me/e/3ScHcVe2r
Or follow the link off my bio.
I’m really excited to take all of you back to my fictionalized version of Galveston, where Felicity and her friends get involved in solving the murder of a visitor to the island. If you liked Felicity’s bunny Knightley, just wait until you meet Clive the octopus!
Productivity Articles at Eat Like a Writer
I’m doing a couple of articles on writing productivity for @eatlikeawriter . The first one just went live today.
Check it out at: https://www.eatlikeawriter.com/post/how-to-use-mind-mapping-and-spider-webbing-in-your-writing
Or off the link in my bio.
Today I’m talking spiderwebbing and mind mapping as always to brainstorm and plan both fiction and non-fiction writing.
For the writers here: what are your favorite tools for idea generation and story planning? For the readers: do you use these techniques for other tasks in your life?
Goodreads Give Away
70% Dark Intentions
Want to win a copy of 70% Dark Intentions? Enter my contest on Goodreads! Winners will be announced on July 18.
Check it out at: Goodreads.
Crank the Tunes
Spotify Playlists
Here are the links to the Spotify playlists I mentioned on Instagram.
The first one is a list I made and the second one a list I found.
70% Dark Intentions Sample Chapter
If you want a preview of the second book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries, grab Chapter 1 of 70% Dark Intentions here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/1gp5b386va This is such a fun series to write. While Grand Openings Can Be Murder had a lot to do with Galveston weather, this one has more about the island’s wildlife.
Upcoming Writer’s Challenge
For the writers in my audience: looking for a fun way to get to know other writers and let readers know more about you? I%u2019m teaming up with @bookishly_cozy to present a writer%u2019s challenge in June. (Preview the prompts on the second slide.). This should be a ton of fun. If you want Melissa to send you daily reminders of the prompts, follow the links below.
Challenge runs June 1 through the first day of summer.
Challenge hashtag: #SpringIntoSummerWriters .
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/60ac5e51eacf9e314e504e10
https://melissabourbon.com/springintosummerwriters-challenge/
Bean to Bar Mysteries Bonus Recipes
A couple of people have asked for the lemon herb truffle recipe that Felicity makes in Grand Openings Can Be Murder. I just added it to the bonus recipes page. That’s one reason I set up a dynamic page, instead of printing the recipes in the back of the books. There’s a QRR code in the back of the books that takes you to the recipes page — where you can access recipes from the whole series, along with photos and video snippets. You can also get to it directly at http://amberroyer.com/bean-to-bar-mysteries-bonus-recipes.
This truffle is something Felicity puts together while noodling around with flavor, and she comes out with something special. I hope you enjoy it too.
Behind the Book: Nature on Galveston Island
Galveston island has an abundance of seabirds and is a nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. All of these creatures wind up mentioned in my Bean to Bar Mysteries, which are set on Galveston Island. (In them, a craft chocolate maker becomes an amateur sleuth after one of her employees is killed.) There’s even an alligator that shows up in a hotel on the Island (long story!). This is such a fun series to write, in part because I grew up so close to Galveston. I always loved riding the ferry as a kid, and feeding the gulls at the back of the boat (which is where I took those slow-mo gull shots I used in this video.