Hard at work, or hardly working… right? Well, just because I’ve published my book, doesn’t mean I’ve stopped working away. Like a busy little bee, I always have the next projects to continue on with.
Get a glimpse into what’s next, and how I’m working right now – plus an electric typewriter. Who could resist, right?!
>>Check all about my first book – KIDNAPPED Entanglement >>>here
Have you/are you using a typewriter like me? Share your stories so I don’t feel like an old fuddy duddy…
If you want to read the book that came from a workspace just like this, head to the link >>>here for the KIDNAPPED Entanglement eBook, OR get the paperback direct from me for the cheapest price!
Don’t forget to check back every night this month for another video – there are some pretty fun things coming!
Interesting, Intense, and Excited… Three of the words that I used A LOT in this mystery books unboxing video 😛
I bought a box of 35-40 randomly selected books, and unboxed them with a camera in the room… What could possibly go wrong? Check out the video where I recorded my first “book” unboxing!
>>Check all about my first book – KIDNAPPED Entanglement >>>here
Let me know in the comments which books you’ve read, and how you found them to be! If you want to read the book that came from a workspace just like this, head to the link >>>here for the KIDNAPPED Entanglement eBook, OR get the paperback direct from me for the cheapest price!
Don’t forget to check back every night this month for another video – there are some pretty fun things coming!
Christy Grace Typewriter Logo - the best type of typing!
What would it be like to escape after several years? Enjoy this CGSP Short Story, and see what happens…
She stumbled over another tree root and braced herself for the fall. Miraculously she managed to stabilise herself, and only wobbled on her feet.
The walk seemed endless, and her hair kept swiping over her eyes. The dirty mane complimented her clothes and skin. After goodness knows how long in that dingy basement, with no windows, she knew she wasn’t at her best. There hadn’t been any sense of night or day, no radio or tv to pass the time and gather a general idea. She could have been missing for two days, or two years.
Finally, through the glint of the sun, the woman spotted what looked like a town in the distance. She pushed legs faster and started an awkward, tiring run. A rumbling behind her gave her pause, and she spun to face a strange looking car. The ones she’d remembered had looked different than this. She waved her arms above her head and the car slowed. When it reached the side of the road where she was still frantically waving, the window on the driver’s side whooshed down and a man’s face frowned at her.
“Are you okay?”
“Please, what date is it?” she croaked out. He gave her a puzzled look, then waved his hand in the air and the window whooshed back up. He squealed away from her, and she chased after the strange car until it zipped too far ahead of her. She cursed to herself as she doubled over and inhaled deep breaths.
When she’d recovered, the woman continued the walk towards the town ahead. What was that man’s problem? All she did was ask the date. Was that so crazy?
Finally reaching the outskirts of the town, she walked slowly past the unusual structures. They were all made of plaster on the outside; like inside walls. People were bustling across the street, and lights with three colours flicked on and off at various times. More of the unusual cars passed her, as she continued walking.
Stares from various people met her own gaze, but people were giving her a wide berth. Finally, someone began to approach her. The woman was dressed in slick black pants, and a tight-fitting white t-shirt, her black, curly hair falling down her back. Her makeup reminded the woman of Cleopatra, but she smiled anyway as the woman approached her.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“What’s the date? Where am I?”
The other woman frowned, then shook her head and helped her to a nearby bench.
“It’s 2023. You’re in Victoria.”
Returning the frown, she pushed her hair out of her face and shook her head. “It can’t be. It was just 2003.”
In front of her, the woman’s eyes went wide and she quickly glanced around her, motioning wildly as she spotted a man in a suit.
Instead of waiting, she stood and bolted away from the Cleopatra woman and the suited man. Rushing away, she bumped into people and ignored their shouts for her to watch where she was going.
This couldn’t be happening. Twenty years?
As she approached a small shop, she passed the window and froze. It was her own reflection. A strange woman stared back. No longer a sixteen-year-old, her face was older and more weathered. Her hair had grown much longer than she remembered, but she’d already guessed that. Her dirty, older appearance took her breath away.
Behind her, someone cleared his throat and she turned to face a man in a police uniform.
“Are you okay Ma’am?” he asked, his hand resting close to what looked like a strange gun.
She shook her head. “I just escaped. I was kidnapped, and I’ve been missing for a long time.”
The policeman clicked on his radio and asked for backup, before wrapping a hand around her shoulder and motioning her towards the strange looking police car behind them.
“Come on, we’ll get you sorted out.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. Maybe he’d be able to take her home.
“What’s your name?” The policeman asked.
She shook her head. “It’s been so long since someone’s used it. I honestly don’t remember.”
I hope you enjoyed this little story! If you want more, I release something new every week!
People go missing every day. They are taken, used and abused, and don’t get their story told. If you suspect someone has been abducted – report it.
There are so many amazing books out there. So, where do you start, and how do you find the good from the bad in the sea of confusion? According to the Goodreads List (October 2020), these were the best books in the Crime and Mystery Book section:
1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
A disappearance and unusual partnership to find the truth and expose corruption.
2. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
A curious assortment of strangers at a private island getaway. A possible murder, and every guest holding secrets that will seal their fate.
3. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
A cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist, deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church, and the Illuminati.
4. Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
Swept off her feet by a dashing widower, but a shadow of his late wife could cost their lives.
5. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
A murder in 1959, and no apparent motive for the crime with almost no clues.
6. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The Mafia underworld, first family of American crime fiction, and their powerful legacy of tradition, blood, and honour.
7. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
A home in heaven that isn’t what she expected, and life on earth continuing without her. Her killer trying to cover his tracks, and her grief-stricken family unraveling.
8. The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco
A wealthy Italian abbey suspected of heresy, and an investigation overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths.
9. Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
10. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Shutter Island is the home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. An investigation into the disappearance of a patient will reveal that nothing is what it seems.
In finding this list, there was one really important thing I learnt – I haven’t read ANY of them! I guess I have some reading to do…
How many of the above books have you read on the Goodreads List, and what didn’t make the list that should have?! Share them in the comments below.
A serial killer, technology, and a detective determined to find the truth. Come along on a murder mystery adventure, with The Murder App – Chapter four!
Ella Strong stared at the scrolling men as she flicked through her options. This dating app was like all the others. The only difference was that a killer stalked this one for his victims. Or her victims. That had been a consideration early on; that women could murder women. They’d quickly moved past it with the discovery of the ties at the crime scenes.
Her profile donned an actual image of herself, but the rest was fictional. They’d looked at the other profiles, and tried to include things that the killer would want in his next victim. Her likes and dislikes contained things like hiking in the outdoors – something she hated – and adventure sports, but also things like baking and dancing in her living room. That last one, she had to admit, was something she liked to do on occasion.
The keys jingled in the door, and Ted called out for her. She told him she was in her home office, and a few moments later, he popped his head through the door.
“Hey, hon. How was your day?” He moved the rest of his body into the doorway.
Ella sighed. “It was okay. How was yours?”
Ted frowned and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “My day was okay. It didn’t sound like yours was.”
She rolled her eyes and went back to her screen. “It’s just this murder case. It’s taking a toll.”
He moved into the room behind her and kissed the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her and leaning his chin on her shoulder.
“Oh, come on, I can’t be so annoying that you’re looking for another husband already.” The false whine made her giggle and she shrugged, bouncing his chin off balance as she did.
“I’m just checking my options, in case.”
Ted scoffed and stood straighter. She turned and smiled wide as he put his hand over his heart like he had been struck by an arrow. “Ugh! That got me, right here.”
She chuckled then shook her head. “I’ve set up a catfish profile for my killer. We’re hoping he’ll take the bait and we can catch him when he goes after me, instead of another innocent woman.”
Ted dropped his hand, and his smile and frowned. “Is that safe?” The humour was gone from his tone, but his voice was still soft and caring. One of the things she loved about him.
“As safe as any other sting I go on. We’ve got things in place to make sure of it. We need to catch this guy, and this could be the best way.”
Ted stood for a moment, staring at her, then finally nodded slowly. “You know what you’re doing.” He moved over to her and kissed her gently, then pulled back and smiled. “I trust you. Want some dinner?” he asked over his shoulder as he left the office.
“Love some,” she said, the smile still on her face. As he moved out to say hello to Samson and start on dinner. He was a better cook than she was anyway.
>>>Get all the info about my Book/Writing with my NEWSLETTER
She turned back to the screen, just as her phone buzzed with her partner, Steve Evan’s number.
“Strong,” she answered.
“Hey Ella, we got a hit on those ties.”
Her eyes shot up. “Really?”
“Yeah. You were right about bulk orders. There were only a few in recent months leading up to the first killing. Two were from clothing houses, and another was a personal buyer. We’re heading to the store where he purchased the order tomorrow. We can question the staff and get a clue as to who it was.”
“Maybe they’ll still have security footage,” Ella said as she processed the information.
Steve scoffed, “From months ago? I doubt it. At the least, we as for a description.”
She nodded and was about to request a lift to the store when a notification on her dating profile dinged through the computer.
“Hang on Steve, that’s my profile notifications.”
Steve was silent on the other end, waiting as she clicked onto the icon and sifted through to the right section of the program.
Clicking onto the notification carefully, Ella sucked in a breath.
“What?” Steve asked.
“Someone just sent me a wink.”
“Is it him?”
She rolled her eyes. There would be at least a few normal people to sift through before they found the killer, but this would be a start. “Maybe. I guess I’ll have to wink back.”
Come back next month for chapter five, in The Murder App!
When I started the Christy Grace Scarlet Pen website/blog, I didn’t realise that ‘Serial Blogging’ was a thing. Then, I started one, and I STILL didn’t realise that’s what it was called.
The Hannah Carmichael Chronicles was my first attempt at serial blogging. It was a weekly series about a super spy called Hannah Carmichael. She was searching for her missing husband, navigating conspiracies, rival spies and her complicated family.
Even though I didn’t know it was a thing, I still wrote and posted Hannah’s adventures. Eventually I complied all 70 instalments and created an eBook.
Okay, so what did I learn from the serial blogging process?
I realised:
Releasing an instalment every week, meant a cut in quality
Editing was hard – especially when putting all 70 instalments into an ebook
Creating the ebook was a challenge in itself!!
Sticking to a weekly schedule can be hard. Particularly if you’ve got a full time job as well
Falling in love with characters is easy
It’s easy to get carried away and end up writing way too many instalments.
After everything I went through with Hannah, I have a deep affection for her and those characters. The story was my turning moment – the one where I remembered my passion for writing, and found my genre.
Since writing and releasing HCC, I found myself starting another serial blogging series. It comes out every month, and combines technology with murder! The Murder App is my next series, and I’m having fun with new characters and adventures. You can check out the first chapter of the series by clicking on the image below.
What is a continuing story that YOU would want to read? I’d love to hear your ideas, or see a link to your own serial blogging story!
I know, I know… It’s October. BUT in our house, it’s the start of the Christmas decorating season… It sounds silly when you say that out loud, but I have a reason!
Yes, my family actually starts putting up Christmas decos in October. I think a little Christmas cheer a bit early is a good thing. It’s all about Joy, Hope, Peace, and a bunch of other amazing things. Who wouldn’t want that a few months early? Especially this year!
“That’s still crazy!” I hear you saying, but wait for the reasons. Granted, our reasons are a little sad, but I prefer to think of them as special. Every family has their traditions after all, and this one is ours. Of course, when you tell people about it they give you a look like you’ve either just told them that the sky is actually a soft pink colour, or that their nose is actually on their back…
Over ten years ago my Mother was diagnosed with cancer, and she was worried that it would be her final year to spend with us. So, in October she put up the decorations, and is still here 10+ years later. BUT, the decorations in October stuck! It’s a reminder of making it through a tough time, and being here with family and loved ones! It comes from a sad place, but it’s turned into a joyous tradition (all while giving everyone we know a good laugh!)
What are some Christmas traditions that YOU wish could last all year, or come a little early? Is it the Christmas tunes, dinners, or decorations (like us)? Share them in the comments below! I’d love to know.
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