Buy Falcon’s Prey, Help The National Multiple Sclerosis Society

 Thanks so much for inviting me to share my newest release, Falcon’s Prey, the 8^th book in my Blackthorne, Inc. romantic suspense series. If you’re not familiar with my Blackthorne, Inc. series, you can read the first book, When Danger Calls, for FREE via links at https://terryodell.com/when-danger-calls/

Behind the public façade of a private investigation firm–Blackthorne, Incorporated–lies a band of elite covert operatives. In Falcon’s Prey, Marv “Fish” Frisch is one of Blackthorne’s newest recruits, and there’s a funny story about his name.

In the 7^th book, Identity Crisis, I needed to name an “extra” operative, and the nickname “Fish” popped into my head. He hardly appeared on the page, but he needed a real name, and “Frisch” seemed logical, and Marv seemed to be a suitable first name. Romance hero? Not really, but at the time, he was only an extra. When he demanded his own book, I was stuck with the name.

Then, a few months ago, I was in Los Angeles for an event, and one of my elementary school friends wanted to put together a mini-reunion of sorts. I thought it would be cool to see these people after about 60 years, so six of us met for lunch. One man I didn’t remember introduced himself as Marv, and I laughed and told him I was using that name in my book. Then I asked him what his last name was, and he said, “I changed it, but when I was in school, it was Frisch.”

Small world, isn’t it!

On a more serious note, about 4 years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I do what I can to make people aware of the need for a cure, and one of the things I’m doing is sharing my June royalties for Falcon’s Prey with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Here’s her story:

In early Feb 2014 (watching the Super Bowl) my left eye started to hurt when I moved it. A few days later my vision started to get funky in that eye. I ended up in a ophthalmologist’s office on a Sunday morning who told me I needed a brain MRI ASAP and asked if I had a family history of MS. (Nope.) Three months later, after that brain MRI, a spine MRI and a spinal tap, I was told I have MS. Multiple Sclerosis. A wacky, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Something that a triathlete/cyclist/runner/endurance coach really doesn’t want to hear.

And here’s more about Falcon’s Prey:

Heroes aren’t fearless. They just don’t let fear get in the way.

Police officer Lexi Becker is being targeted. When her husband was murdered three years ago, Lexi moved to a small town to get away from the memories, to get away from the pain. But she can’t get away from the gut feeling that a drug lord, known only as the Falcon, was responsible for her husband’s death. As she quietly conducts her own investigation, it becomes clear to Lexi she could be the Falcon’s next victim. Afraid her local police department has been infiltrated by the Falcon, she turns to the only man she can trust for help: her former patrol partner.

When ex-cop Marv “Fish” Frisch is assigned bodyguard duty instead of a covert ops assignment, he fears he’s being punished for a failed training mission. The last assignment he expected was Lexi Becker. Now he’s forced to deal with the attraction he felt when they worked together. As they go into hiding, Fish can’t keep his feelings hidden from Lexi. It seems she feels the same, but danger is everywhere. Someone’s bugged her house. An illegal opioid network. People dying. And an even more sinister plan is being put into action…

When Lexi is torn between hiding or coming to the aid of an orphaned child, Lexi leaves Fish’s protection. Now she’s on her own, a prime target for the Falcon…unless she can outsmart him.

Will Lexi survive long enough to tell Fish how she feels?

Read more, including an excerpt of the full first chapter at https://terryodell.com/falcons-prey

You can buy the book at any of these etailers: https://books2read.com/b/bzPLz2  Remember, you’re not only getting a good read, you’re helping a good cause.

From childhood, Terry Odell wanted to "fix" stories so the characters would behave properly, although it never occurred to her to write her own. Once she began writing—which didn’t happen until her AARP card was well-worn—she found controlling her characters wasn't always possible, as evidenced when the mystery she intended to write turned into a romance, despite the fact that she'd never read one. Odell prefers to think of her books as "Mysteries With Relationships."

She writes the Blackthorne, Inc. series, the Pine Hills Police series, the Triple-D Ranch series, and the Mapleton Mystery series. Her newest release, Falcon’s Prey, is the 8^th book in her Blackthorne series.

Her short story collection, Seeing Red, is a Silver Falchion winner. Where Danger Hides, the second book in her Blackthorne series is a HOLT Medallion winner.

You can find her high in the Colorado Rockies (that's altitude—she lives at 9100 feet!) watching wildlife from her window when she should be writing, or at her website, https://terryodell.com

SHERRY ISAAC

A CHANGE OF PACE WITH SHERRY ISAAC
STORYTELLER
In Our Words, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-92626-06-3

Tales of life, love and forgiveness that transcend space, time, and even the grave.

SHERRY ISAAC is the winner of The Alice Munro short story contest with The Forgetting in 2009. Her work appears online and in print with her first collection of shorts, Storyteller, debuting this month.

PICKPOCKET IN PARIS
Short Story Excerpt

Abby turned to leave then swiveled on her heel. She laid her hand on the mark’s arm. “About that coffee?”




His eyes lit up. “Oui?”

She let her fingers caress the back of his hand, the blonde hairs stirring under her touch. “What if we made it a drink? Later? A glass of wine? There’s a bar at my hotel...”

Abby let the suggestion fall. He picked it up in a heartbeat, even after betraying her to the city, a ginger waif who’d lost her way.

He smiled and edged closer. Perfect. She stepped in meet him, her plump breasts thrust gently forward as if serving them on a platter. After agreeing on the time and place, Abby’s fingers traced their way down his left arm, lingered at his wrist. “Bye,” she bid him, the word barely more than breath yet heavy with the weight of a promise already broken.

She turned and made her way through the morning crowd of pedestrians. A few meters later, she ducked into a doorway and peered after him. Sure enough, he looked back.

A tinge of regret tip-toed through her heart. He was handsome. And he smelled so good. Still, she had people to rob, wallets to lift. She checked the time on the gold watch that had slid so easily from his wrist to her own.

Rolex.

Some labels were worth knowing.

~ ~ ~ THE SHORT & SWEET OF IT ~ ~ ~

ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
SHERRY: Not as often as I’d like. A few years ago I started to read outside my usual picks, authors I’d never read before and other genres, and started to keep track of what I read. 2008 was my personal best--I got lost in over 30 stories that year! I’m writing more, and that means I’m reading less. My dream vacation is my backyard with a stack of paperbacks!

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
SHERRY: There was a book about a racehorse, Old Bones, and a non-fiction on the life of Helen Keller that read like fiction. The first book that made an impact was ‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’ by Judy Blume.

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?
SHERRY: More wine? No, that’s two words.

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met? SHERRY: Son #2, when he was about 9 or 10, was with some friends. I was collecting our mail and from where I stood he couldn’t see me. There was a mentally challenged man that lived on our street. Some of my son’s friends made fun of him, as nice kids do when they are trying to impress the crowd. My son stood between the boys and the man, explained that God made this man slow to teach us to be kind.

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
SHERRY: Cinderella. Odds are stacked against her, she could give up and fall into the role of victim. Instead her attitude shines, she makes the best of what she has, she has faith, and when things get tough, she doesn’t crumble. Locked in the dungeon, she found a way out, and wasn’t too stubborn to ask for help from the mice and birds when she needed it. And glass slippers? That girl is all about the shoes!

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
SHERRY: Scooby Doo. He’s kooky, but honest and true. What I aspire to be. (I’ve got the kooky already covered.)

Regulars on GLIAS know that SCOOBY DOO is my all-time favorite --I knew you were a woman of great taste, Sherry!

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
SHERRY: Liars

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
SHERRY: Whoa. Gotta put on my thinking cap. It’s a collection, so definitely a variety. Let’s see... A little prohibition-era jazz for A Love of Reading. The Bee Gees, Abba and Queen for Blue Velvet. Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson) and Would I Lie To You (Eurythmics) for A Pickpocket in Paris. The musical score from the movie Sense & Sensibility starring Keira Knightley for As It Should Be. When I said variety, I meant variety.

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?
SHERRY: I always have a book with me so where could be anywhere. In the doctor’s waiting room, in the car between appointments (safely parked with e-brake engaged). Choice places to read is in the big comfy chair beside the fireplace, on my front porch or propped up in bed with a cup of Earl Grey.

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
SHERRY: Birds chirping outside my window as I awake. My husband’s voice when he’s sleepy and vulnerable. My singing voice is FANTASTIC in the shower.

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
SHERRY: Why can’t I have both?

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
SHERRY: As in a non-assignment? In grade seven (age 12) I had an exchange teacher from the UK, Mrs. Hurring. Loved her accent. Loved her. I became enamored with all things British, and in geography learned that the English channel was, what was it? 26 miles wide? That sparked my first story idea about 2 sisters, 12 and 8, who go to the English coast for a family picnic. Their dingy drifted from shore and they ended up in France. Had no idea what they would do once they got there--and no idea what I’d gotten myself into trying to write a novel--so I didn’t get very far. Hmm. Not a bad premise.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
SHERRY: Princess Bride. It has everything, I tell you. Everything. Humor. Gallantry. Romance. Honor. Vengeance. Justice. True love. Fairy tale/action/adventure (see answer above).

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
SHERRY: It’s a toss up between Wile E Coyote and Yosemite Sam.

ANGI: Be honest, when reading...do you put yourself in the heroine’s role?
SHERRY: YES! If I were Claire, I’d have brought Jamie Fraser through the stones with me. And, I’d have brought him to Canada before the war broke out, but that’s my Canadian showing.

ANGI: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
SHERRY: To me, writing and storytelling are the same thing. Even if I’m writing non-fiction--a blog post, a review, an article--I’m telling a story. Sometimes the story is true, like a Christmas letter to family, and sometimes it’s fiction, which, for me, anyway, is always littered with nuggets of truth.

ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
SHERRY: Storyteller will make a great gift so buy lots and lots of copies! Seriously, though, I write the kinds of stories I like to read, or hear. I like ghost stories that make me shiver in fear, in wonder or both. I like stories that make me think. I like stories that make me cheer for the underdog. I like stories that elicit emotion, be it falling in love with the hero, or feeling sad when a good story ends, not because the ending wasn’t happy, but because the story is over. If those are the kinds of stories you like, then look no further.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: So Sherry, which of the stories in the book is your favorite and why?
SHERRY ‘S GOTTA ANSWER: Smiling here. I was asked this question the other day. My answer is the same, but different. Same: Depends on the day you ask. Different: A Pickpocket in Paris. Why: There is just something so darn fun about Abby. I love her sense of adventure and her uninhibited spirit. She’s a criminal, but a sweet one. I love the way it ends, but the hero is just so tantalizing, and her lusty craving so strong (and hilarious), there just has to be more. I’ve always felt there is a book to follow, and that this short story is really chapter one.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
Does anyone have a good salsa recipe? And on my Wildflower blog I feature fellow authors. Anyone you’d like to see featured?

YOU CAN FIND SHERRY on her website. Contact her by email: sherry.isaac@yahoo.com OR visit her blogs: Wildflower & Romance & Beyond.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join me Friday when I host Karilyn Bentley. And come back tomorrow when Jill hosts Sandra Sookoo. And Thursday when Olivia Gates will be Cat’s guest. ~Angi