A Tale of Two Friends

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I’m so excited that Let’s Fake a Deal is out today! (Look for a giveaway at the end of the post.) While I’m the one that does the writing so many other people contribute to the book. The whole fantastic team at Kensington including my editor Gary Goldstein, Larissa Ackerman in publicity, Lou Malcangi the  Art Director, the sales team, copy editors, and production team among many others. There wouldn’t be a book without them.

Then there’s Barb Goffman who is my independent editor and chief hand holder. And my beta readers including Mary Titone. (And if that name sounds familiar it should – Mike “the Big Cheese” Titone is one of the characters in the series.) They have saved me from myself multiple times.

Today I want to focus on two other people who helped shape this book—Vida Antolin-Jenkins and Bruce Coffin.

I’ve known Vida for several years. Barbara Ross introduced us and I’m so glad she did. Not only is Vida a lot of fun, she’s a big reader, and supports my series. We’ve had many happy discussions about Sarah and her turbulent personal life. Vida served in the Navy for 23 years and retired in 2013 at the rank of captain (in the other military branches that’s the equivalent of being a colonel). She knows part of each of my books includes some aspect of military life. Vida suggested that I feature a woman who is an officer in the military. This of course required meeting for lunch.

At lunch I took notes and asked lots of questions. Vida gave me big picture ideas along with a lot of personal stories. Much of what she shared that day ended up in Let’s Fake a Deal and we came up with a plot. A female officer is promoted to colonel, only someone files an IG (inspector general) complaint against her. IG complaints are anonymous and, as in real life, the promotion is held up until the complaint has been investigated and the person cleared. In Let’s Fake a Deal, Michelle has a good idea who filed the complaint. The man harasses her when Sarah and Michelle are at a bar together. Things go from bad to worse from there.

It was really interesting to use this plot line in the book and I interviewed several other women who’d served in the military to get their takes on what it was like. Their stories were vast and varied but had a common theme. It isn’t easy working in such a male-centric environment, but they loved the challenges. Each of them handled those challenges in different and fascinating ways.

Bruce Coffin is one of the nicest people on the planet. He is a retired detective sergeant with a wealth of knowledge and experience. (Be sure and read his fabulous Detective Byron mystery series.) Two years ago at Crime Bake I picked his brain. I told him about the main plot of Let’s Fake a Deal – that Sarah throws open a garage sale and right as she does the police show up. She soon discovers that everything she’s selling is stolen.

I’d vacillated back and forth trying to decide if Sarah should be arrested or not. I explained my uncertainties to Bruce and he said, “Go for it.” Then he helped me with the details. I imagine I didn’t get them all right, but they are closer to the truth than they would have been without his advice. It was interesting to try something new for this book.

Beyond that, thank you internet! I found that defense attorney’s pages provide a wealth of knowledge about the whole arrest process in any give state. It really was thought provoking  reading about what happens in Massachusetts.

I hope you check Let’s Fake a Deal out. I’m giving away a copy of it to someone who leaves a comment.

Readers: Do you like to try new things? Or just say hi!

Here’s the cover copy: SHE’S GOT THE GOODS . . .
As a former military spouse, Sarah Winston’s learned a little about organizing, packing, and moving. Her latest project sounds promising: a couple of tech-industry hipsters, newly arrived in her Massachusetts town, who need to downsize. Unfortunately, when Sarah tries to sell their stuff, she discovers it’s all stolen—and she’s the unwitting fence.

BUT SARAH’S PROBLEMS ARE JUST BEGINNING
Michelle, an old friend of Sarah’s from the Air Force base, is in line for a promotion—but not everyone is happy about it, and she’s been hit with an anonymous discrimination complaint. When one of the men she suspects is behind the accusations turns up dead in Michelle’s car, Sarah needs to clear Michelle’s name—as well as her own for selling hot merchandise. And she’ll have to do it while also organizing a cat lady’s gigantic collection of feline memorabilia, or they’ll be making room for Sarah in a jail cell . . .

 

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Published by Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris is the author of the Agatha Award nominated Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Mystery series.

124 Thoughts

  1. Congratulations! I am sometimes scared to try new things, but other times I surprise myself, I think I depends on what it is. I definitely like to stick to my comfort zone. Thank you so much for the chance😍❤️📚

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  2. I’m not big on trying new things. I’m one of those people who orders the same thing at restaurants every time. Your new book sounds wonderful, and how nice to have so many people you can consult.

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  3. So many folks at work many years ago assumed I do not try new food. I was fussier eating very little in the green category ( yet sick rarely compared to these folks- worked 15 hour days 4 days a week 5 am till ) I do – had a great Thai sandwich and told folks; they flipped . People tried to trick me into eating squid; not knowing I have been eating calm… for years. Those were the days.

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  4. So many congratulations, Sherry! I love hearing how this plot evolved (I also love Vida and Bruce) and can’t wait to get over to our indy bookstore in the next town and pick up my copy. I like trying new things but, as with Lily Gill above, I stick a little closer to my comfort zone lately. Not interested in eating crickets and you’ll never catch me bungee jumping. But in my writing? New is good!

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  5. I like to try new things sometimes. Food yes, books yes, dangerous things no, lol. Thanks for the chance to win. And happy book release

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  6. Hi Sherry,

    Congratulations on the new book release.

    As for trying new things, I can’t say that I’m an enthusiastic embracer of new things. Once I find something that works for me, I prefer to keep using or doing that thing.

    However, there are rare occurrences where I try out something new. It doesn’t always work out that I like it, but sometimes it does. I guess it is all a matter of whether the new helps enhance that which is old.

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  7. Late last night, there was a message from BN that my book was shipping! Hooray! I love this series. Congratulations on the new release. This plot sounds AMAZING!!

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  9. Congratulations on your new release! So excited for you. I do like trying new things. It’s good to change things up and step outside of the comfort zone. Have a great release day!

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  10. I couldn’t wait to read it before, and now after reading this, I REALLY can’t wait. Sounds like a very fun read, Sherry. Happy Book Release Day!

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  11. Happy release! I can’t wait to read it. (Reading cozy mysteries was new for me years ago.) thanks for the post!

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  12. Happy Release Day, Sherry! I love trying new things. That is why I belong to a bunch of survey websites so I can give my opinion of what I like or not like about new products. I would definitely love to win this new book as I love reading new series of Cozy Mystery genre books! Hugs and have a wonderful week!

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  13. Congratulations on the release of “Let’s Fake a Deal”! I know I, like many others, can’t wait for the opportunity to read this wonderful sounding book.

    On trying new things, I’d have to say that thanks to my hubby I have become more open to trying new things and/or change. Years ago I might have said why rock the boat, but now I’m like let’s do it so we know if we are missing out on something – whether it’s a new food, a new place, or even a different genre of book reading. I might find something that I can say ok done that or been there and don’t need to do it again, but I’ve found a lot more that I found that was fun, delicious or interesting and worth doing again. I’ve learned if we see it all as black and white we miss out on the beauty of purple or the many shades of green. 🙂

    Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy of your fabulous new book!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  14. I do like to try new things, especially recipes! Thanks for the giveaway and Happy Book Birthday!

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  15. Congratulations on the release! Yes, I like to try new things. I love the theme and it’s fascinating to hear about your research process.

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  16. Big congratulations on your release, Sherry! Hope you have a fabulous day with too many sales to count! I think trying new things makes life interesting. We ought to experience as much as we can while we have the chance.

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  18. I LOVE book release days! Congrats to you. I can’t wait to read it. I wouldn’t say I am super adventurous or anything, but I have been trying to break out of my comfort zone a bit… slowly. Mostly just trying new foods, trying a few new activities, things like that. Nothing like skydiving, or bungee jumping.. .. I’m not that adventurous! Renee

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  19. I LOVE book release days! Congrats to you. I can’t wait to read it. I wouldn’t say I am super adventurous or anything, but I have been trying to break out of my comfort zone a bit… slowly. Mostly just trying new foods, trying a few new activities, things like that. Nothing like skydiving, or bungee jumping.. .. I’m not that adventurous! Renee

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  20. Congrats on the release, Sherry! Bruce is a great guy.

    I’m with Edith – new things in writing? Good. But no consumable insects or bungee jumping for me these days. But maybe Sally needs to try sky diving…

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  23. I prefer to stay in my comfort zone as when I’ve tried new things, they haven’t turned out well.
    I am so looking forward your new book to see what trouble Sarah gets into next

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  24. Oh but this sounds like a wonderful story. I do like to try new things. But not outlandish new to me things.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  26. Love trying new things! I took the Auntie Mame trope to heart – Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death. Looking forward to catching up with Sarah. Congratulations on the new release.

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  27. I’ve read this book, and it is wonderful, which is no surprise.

    I am resistant to trying new things. Every so often I do and wind up finding something I love, but I’m usually very much a creature of habit.

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  28. Happy Release Day! I can’t wait to read the new ‘Sarah.’

    I like to try new foods, new countries, new genres. Some of them work out well, sometimes not, but it’s an adventure along the way!

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  29. Congrats! Enjoy the day! I love the plot for this book and this column with the the behind the scenes info was fabulous. When my husband was in the Air Force I worked as a civilian employee for a number of years. It is certainly a different life, and tough for women at times. Can’t wait to read this.

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  30. Thanks for the shout-out. I love being part of Sarah’s world (and yours!). And my favorite part of this book was the subplot about Sarah being hired to sell all the cat memorabilia. So fun!

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  32. Congrats on your new release! I do like to try new things, as long as it’s something that sounds interesting to me.

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  34. I enjoy this series and would love to win a copy of your book. Thank you for the chance.

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  35. It is hard for me to try new things, which drives my husband crazy, since he is always up to try new things and me…I like to keep things the same. Not a huge fan of change, but he is slowly getting me to be better about doing and trying new things.

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  36. The older I get, the more I am willing to try new things. Congrats. Would love to win a copy of your new book.

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  37. I have a tendency to stay in my comfort zone tho there are times I will step outside of it. My husband has been known to coax me into doing things I have doubts about

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  38. Congratulations once again Sherry on the release of your new installment in the Garage Sale series! I love love love this series! And, yes, I love trying new things. Something that I’ve never done in my 71 years is to ride a horse…gotta make sure I do it before the new year! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  39. I like to try new things in cooking, gardening, and reading. Not interested in anything dangerous. Your book is on my Nook. It sounds really good.

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  40. Congratulations on Release Day! I loved the book and can’t wait for the next installment. As for trying new things, I am more willing to do so as I progress in years. I don’t think I would skydive or go scuba diving.

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  41. Yes I do like trying new things. Not jumping of of airplanes though! Thank you for the chance

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  43. I usually do like trying new things, especially food. Thanks for the chance to win one of your books.

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  44. I sometimes like to try new things. A few years ago I tried skydiving. Looking forward to reading the new book.

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  45. Pushing the envelope! I haven’t done it lately but I used to try to acquire a new physical skill every five years. Learned to ski at 40, row at 45, distance swimming at 50, open water swimming at 55. 60 was supposed to be longer biking expeditions but I’ve had a series of mobility setbacks. But there are a whole lot of new places to go, people to meet, things tp try! Thank you so much for the note above. It is a lot of fun thinking about issues in a new way and answering questions. Getting to hang out with authors is really fun. And maybe someday, I’ll make fiction writing my “new thing!”

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  48. Love new authors. Looks like it is a good book. Cozy mysteries are my favorites. GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS.

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  49. Congrats on your release Sherry! I like to try new things, especially new foods and new to me authors.

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  50. I have gotten better at trying new things as I get older. But it really depends on what it is. ☘️

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