Author Interview - Second to Nun by Alice Loweecey

Second To Nun
(A Giulia Driscoll Mystery Book 2)
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (September 22, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1941962930
E-Book ASIN: B010BUDQVI


Synopsis

The Other Side has hired Driscoll Investigations. The owner of Stone’s Throw Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast insists that a tarot reading told her to hire Giulia to evict the family ghost. Since the ghost is cutting gas lines and flooding cellars, Giulia and her husband Frank head to the B&B to discover the real perpetrator.

The client also has a family legend: A highwayman who stole a pile of gold. Giulia has a pile of suspects, including a psychic the client hired to conduct weekly séances. So much for romance with Frank at this getaway.

Instead, Giulia’s juggling arson, creepy clown dolls, and the psychic going all Exorcist on her. Then the ghost tries to push the client off the lighthouse and throw Giulia down three flights of stairs. It should’ve known better than to mess with an ex-nun. Giulia has connections and she’s about to use them.

Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), humorous murder mysteries, book club recommendations, private investigator mystery series. 

Books in the Giulia Driscoll Humorous Mystery Series:

• CHANGING HABITS (prequel short story)
• NUN TOO SOON (#1)
• SECOND TO NUN (#2)
• NUN BUT THE BRAVE (#3) July 2016

Birdhouse Books Interviews Alice Loweecey 

Birdhouse: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? 

Alice:  At age 9 I wrote a small poem about going back to school. The bug bit me then and never left. Fortunately, I shredded all my angsty teenage poetry. I’m so pleased my teen years were pre-Internet. 

Birdhouse: What was your favorite book as a child? 

Alice:  Let’s Pretend, by Nila Mack, illus. by Catherine Barnes. It’s a book of fairytales that were expanded and used for a 1940s radio program of the same name. The writer was skilled enough to make each one memorable and the illustrations were lush. I reread that book at least 50 times. I got lost in it.  I’ve unearthed my mother’s copy and will be rereading it again tonight. 

Birdhouse:  What is your writing day like?  Do you have any interesting writing quirks? 

Alice:  Work, home, supper, laundry, THEN writing. We have a pond next to our deck with a small waterfall and 9 koi. Writing by it is like a mini-vacation.

My biggest quirk is my fountain pen addiction. I have one for each book I’ve written, but I can quit any time. I swear. Really. 

Birdhouse:  What was the most surprising thing you learned while creating this book? 

Alice:  Treasure hunters are True Believers. The websites are filled with people who are convinced that one more map, one more trip, one more search with metal detectors with unearth a fortune. From stashes of stolen diamonds or gold coins or bars, they believe. Some have quit their jobs to search 24/7. It’s rather eerie. 

Birdhouse:  Who are your favorite authors? 

Alice:  HP Lovecraft, Tracy Groot, CS Harris, Kazuya Minekura, KA Stewart, Dickens. I am eclectic.

Birdhouse:  What are your favorite fictional (book or movie) depictions of nuns?

Alice:  Bahahahaha! Don’t have one. I don’t do nun movies. They give me flashbacks, even after all these years. 

Birdhouse:  What is your next writing project? 

Alice:  I’m finishing up the next Giulia Driscoll mystery, Nun but the Brave. Doomsday preppers and many online dating sites are involved. That was some eye-opening research.

About The Author –
Baker of brownies and tormenter of characters, Alice Loweecey recently celebrated her thirtieth year outside the convent. She grew up watching Hammer Horror and Scooby-Doo Mysteries, which might explain a whole lot. When she’s not creating trouble for Giulia Falcone-Driscoll, she can be found growing her own vegetables (in summer) and cooking with them (the rest of the year). 

Author Links:
Website: www.aliceloweecey.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alice.loweecey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceLoweecey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4166880.Alice_Loweecey

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N

Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books

Hi all!

I have some fun new vintage cards and children's books to share with you today.  These are all new arrivals at:  Birdhouse Books on eBay.

Tikki Tikki Tembo is a 1966 vintage Scholastic paperback by Arlene Mosel.

North Country Night is a lovely animal picture book for children.  The author is Daniel San Souci.

Something different for me!  This is a cute unused Halloween rubber stamp.

This vintage New Year postcard features a young child with a pig and shamrocks.

 This pretty 1909 vintage New Year postcard features colorful birds against a gold background.

 This lovely New Year postcard features a windmill against a silver background.

"My treasure is you!"  This is a cute unused pirate theme vintage Valentine.

 A little girl talks on an old fashioned landline telephone on this vintage Valentine.  I would date this one as 1970's.

This cute unused vintage Valentine features a baby elephant in a pink cap.  "Remember to be my Valentine.  You're nice!"

Boomer's Big Surprise is a sweet picture book by Constance W. McGeorge.  It tells the story of a Golden Retriever who suddenly gets a new puppy in his family.

The Snow Lambs is a lovely picture book by Debi Gliori.  It is a story about winter, lambs, and a beloved Border Collie.

 In the Snow: Who's Been Here? is a picture book about two children and a Golden Retriever who wander through the snow looking for animal tracks.  It has beautiful nature illustrations!

I enjoyed sharing some new arrivals with you, and will be back to visit against next Saturday.  Have a great weekend!

Dear Abby: How to Be a Dachshund

Dear Friends,

One of my good friends sent me this picture this week and I liked it so much I had to share it with you.

I have to start with a disclaimer.  I am a dachshund mix.  Our vet says I am a dachshund - Jack Russell mix.    From the Jack Russell side I got a love of running in circles, a tendency to bark with short excited yips, longer legs, and fun ears.  The rest of me?  Well the rest is dachshund.

Let's go through this fun list!  

1. Must have belly rubs daily.  Yes to belly rubs (of course!).  

2. Be as stubborn as possible.  I am not very stubborn.  Momma says I have a "pleasey" personality.  I think that means I want everyone to be happy.  And yes, I do.

3. Make you laugh when you're sad.  I am cheerful and love to make people smile or laugh.  

4. Be there for you when you're sick.  I am also a wonderful nurse.

5. Must get squeaky out of every toy.  Nope!  I don't agree with this.  My toys are lovies.  I would never hurt them.

6. Take forever to pee.  I am pretty matter of fact about potty business ... I like to get it done and then see who is outside to visit.

7. Beg for your food.  What do you mean "your food"?   Isn't it all ours?  It seems it should be.

8. Be your best friend.   Of course!

9. Sleep as much as possible.  What?  I was starting to doze off there ...

10. Be loyal and love you forever.   This is true, especially my Momma.

What do you think of the dachshund rules?  I would love to hear from you in the comments below.  Please send questions too, for future blog posts!

Have a great weekend.

Love to all,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Song for Bellafortuna by Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco

Book Description for A Song for Bellafortuna:

A Song for Bellafortuna is an inspirational Italian Historical Fiction novel concerning a young man's desire to free his Sicilian village from the domination of one family's long reign.

For years, the beautiful, yet secluded, hilltop village of Bellafortuna, Sicily, was a great producer of wine and olive oil. The entire village prospered. However, after the arrival of the Vasaio family, production dwindles and the villagers soon find themselves in crushing debt to the Vasaios. Only one family in the village remains outside the control of the Vasaios, but the reason haunts Antonio Sanguinetti every day of his life. Antonio is determined to erase this legacy by offering financial and emotional support to his fellow villagers. He introduces them to the choral song from Verdi's opera, Nabucco, which becomes the rallying cry for the villagers and offers them hope for a better life.

When Antonio's only son, Giuseppe, discovers his family's past, he becomes determined to take on the Vasaios and remove them from power. Led by the young Giuseppe, a plan is hatched that could result in either complete freedom for the villagers, or if it fails, forever solidifying the Vasaios' control. Find out what happens in A Song for Bellafortuna, a sweeping epic historical fiction tale of love, drama, sacrifice, and redemption, set among the beautiful landscape of Sicily.

Where to buy the Book: Amazon

 Author's Bio: 

Award winning and bestselling author, Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco, lives in New Orleans. His first novel, Tempesta's Dream - A Story of Love, Friendship and Opera, became an Amazon bestselling novel and was awarded the 2014 Pinnacle Achievement Award in Historical Fiction. Amazon also has named his book as a Top Rated Novel in Italian Historical Fiction.

His most recent novel, A Song for Bellafortuna, was shortlisted in the William Faulkner - William Wisdom Competition. He is an estate planning attorney in New Orleans, where he lives with his wife and two children. 

Connect with the author: 

Website Twitter Facebook

Giveaway:​

Prizes: ​Win 1 of 5 print or kindle copies of “A Song for Bellafortuna”(open to USA & Canada)

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Throwback Thursday: School Filmstrips

When I was growing up, seeing the filmstrip projector out, or seeing a box of filmstrips in colorful plastic cases was always a sign that it would be a good day at school.  The filmstrips could be about history, science, or a book from English class ... but it always was a nice change of pace.  Some also came with a record that played during the film. 

Do you remember filmstrips at school?  What are some memories you have of them?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.