Two quick items before I share the results of last month’s book cover voting, and offer my slapdash review of new murder mystery The Bone Nest:
#1 – Those of you who are aspiring authors might enjoy this Q&A I did recently with Publication Coach. It’s a two-minute read max, and covers how I write, when I write, what interferes with my writing, etc.
#2 – I love this intro to Beautiful and Terrible Things from a new reviewer in India: “A story about what it costs to let people in, and occasionally, what it gives back – Charley Byrne is 29, nursing a years-long fear she’s built an entire lifestyle around, and absolutely not looking for anyone to pull her out of it. Then Xander shows up…He’s the kind of character you don’t see coming, and neither does Charley, which is exactly the point.”
Interested in purchasing the ebook, paperback or audiobook? Here’s where to buy in the U.S. (plus Target and Walmart online).
The Results Are In!
OK, we have a decision and there was a resounding winner. Last month, I asked you to vote for your preferred book cover for my Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers Young Adult novel. While 25% of you who voted preferred the original cover, 75% preferred the new one, saying it is more eye-catching, colorful and intriguing, and makes you want to read the book. My path forward is clear now. Thank you again to all who took the time to vote and offer very insightful feedback! I hope you enjoy the free copy of Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers that I sent you on June 17 as a thank-you gift for helping with my informal market research.
And congratulations to Brittany in North Carolina, who won the full set of Bit Players novels:
- Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers
- Bit Players, Bullies and Righteous Rebels
- Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups.
Book Review: The Bone Nest
Shanessa Gluhm is one of my favorite thriller writers. We met through my first publisher and I’ve been a fan ever since. And doesn’t she have the perfect last name for someone who pens spooky stories of murder and mystery? 🙂 Here’s my off-the-cuff quickie review of The Bone Nest, which was released last week and may be her best yet IMHO:
Book: The Bone Nest by Shanessa Gluhm, new release (June 30, 2026)
Genres: Twisty murder mystery. Whodunnit.
Main Characters: Joaquin, a Latino lawyer with a heart of gold. Melrose, a tough paralegal afflicted with fibromyalgia. And Greer, an equally tough journalist at the heart of the mystery. Let’s hear it for strong female characters! 🙂
Why I Liked It: Honestly, I like-don’t-love thrillers, especially when there are serial killers involved, but Shanessa excels at centering her fast-driven plots around complex, 3-dimensional characters you care about. And the mystery itself is compelling and gripping!
Who Else Might Like It: Fans of crime and legal podcasts, shows and books. Anyone who likes seeing how a circle of friends changes over time, especially when affected by a crime.
Memorable Line: “A stiff wind swept through the courthouse parking lot, making the cardboard signs clatter like restless birds.”
Order it Here: Amazon, Bookshop, or directly from the author’s website.
