Emily Taylor from The Bridgeman

Tonight we welcome Emily Taylor from Burchill. Ms Taylor is the principal of a small school in, what she describes as, “a sleepy little village.” More like the stuff of nightmares by what I've read in Catherine Astolfo's The Bridgeman. The sleepy village is rocked when the body of the school caretaker is found in the basement. He has been shot and has left behind a diary. Inside these pages, Ms Taylor discovers a very different character from the person she thought Nathaniel Ryeburn was: the writer is angry, cruel, and perverted.

You look uncomfortable Mrs. Taylor. Is there anything wrong?

This brings back memories of a time I'd rather forget. When the police questioned me about Nathaniel and his diary, I was reminded of the tragedy that befell my husband and me in Vancouver in 1980. I was plunged back into the terror, the disbelief, the injustice of it all. My poor husband languished in jail for years. We were deprived of children.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Taylor.

Bad things can happen to good people. Trust me, I know.

Sometimes good people go through more because they get involved more -- as you involved yourself in the investigation of Nathaniel Ryeburn's murder. How did that sit with the police?

Chief Superintendent Edgar Brennan of the OPP is not very happy with me, but it's not my fault. How could I explain my desire to chase down the truth? I'd have to reveal my husband's real name. You can imagine the response!

I'm not sure I can, but I see that you put yourself at risk.

I know I put myself in danger, but I certainly didn't plan on that. After all, something good did come out of my meddling. I am still quite nervous about the media presence in our village, but my husband has made me promise not to get involved any more, so I won't.

So, nothing bad happened to you...?

I thought I had gotten out of harm's way. It's not my fault that there was another nasty surprise awaiting me.

So who is your husband really, Mrs. Taylor?

You know I can't answer that. Not yet, anyway. We're not ready for the notoriety. We had enough of that in Vancouver. I'm developing a wonderful friendship with May. Langford, my husband, has a career in art that's taking off. We don't want to jeopardize any of that. We have no reason to open that Pandora's box.

Fair enough, but... well, you know things like that rarely stay buried.

I know. I have the feeling it ain't over yet. I am nervous and afraid. I like my life here in peaceful Burchill, surrounded by wonderful people and beautiful scenery. But it seems to me that the universe is conspiring against me. Events have caused me to feel restless, dissatisfied and suspicious. What's going to happen next? How will I cope? Will I ever be happy again?

Not for a few books, anyway. 

Find out more about the Emily Taylor Mystery series at Imajin Books or www.catherineastolfo.com. Better still, go buy The Bridgeman. Available in Kindle eBook and trade paperback.

Jarrack from The Havenshire Resistance

When chaos erupts in the kingdom, Havenshire falls to Jarrack. Krystal must devise a plan to rescue Donovan and keep her daughters safe. She forms an underground black market to finance her “resistance army” of ragtag peasants, Samurai women, and renegades among the gentry. Can willpower and fortitude defeat Jarrack?

They say one man's villain is another man's hero. With that in mind, let's welcome Jarack to the studio.

How did I get here? Last I remember I was entertaining two of my wives and now I’m cast into this dingy, windowless room filled with archaic looking equipment.

I'm Nighthawk and this is my virtual radio station.

Radio equipment? I read about such devices in history books as a child, but since the Institute spread through civilized space, we’ve used hyperlink communications. I knew Drako was a backward planet, but employing radio to broadcast messages? Ridiculous!

Be that as it may, you've been invited here for an interview. Inquiring minds want to know your side of the story.

Ask me what you must, but your ploy won’t work! I know you’re in league with Krystal’s underground resistance. No matter how long you interrogate me you won’t learn how to release your precious King Donovan from my stasis device.

Not my king. Not my problem. But maybe this is a good place to start. Why do you have King Donovan in a stasis device? What is him crime?

(Gasp) Did I see one of those blasted telepathic wolves staring at me through the door? Keep them away or I’ll make you sorry you cast eyes on me.

I'm sure you're mistaken. We only brought you through. Look can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? ... I'm not sure if you really want ...

(Sigh) Yes, thank you for that draught of whiskey, I feel much better.

Actually, that was my colon-cleanse. The doc thinks I've been eating too much fast food lately and...

You know my breeding program would not have been necessary if Donovan and Alexander allowed me access to their hidden Transfer equipment. I can’t stand the thought of aging for another span!

Breeding program? Span?

Span? It’s usually a period of fifty years, but as a valuable officer working for the Institute, I was granted Transfer more often. I’m proud to say that I’ve undergone twelve Transfers over the spans.

(Shuffling papers) Ah yes. The transfer system allows human consciousness to be transferred into a clone. With that technology, you could be immortal. I understand it has other benefits too.

Yes. I developed the ability to use mind control due to Transfer. No one is supposed to know about the side affects (chuckle) and I make sure they forget.

Yet, your adversaries must be aware of the side affects. Donovan, Alexander and Krystal all have enhanced abilities. 
No comment? How about the cloning program -- or lack there of? It must be awkward not having clones at your disposal... but that's why you've got a harem isn't it? To breed children to be your future hosts.

What? As King these wives and children are my property and I won’t explain my future plans to an underling like you. On the other hand, you could be quite helpful. Do know where Krystal hid her precious daughters? If you answer willingly, I can summon a chest of gold for your trouble.

So you can use them too? I don't think so.

No? Perhaps you’d like to feel my mind painfully strip the information! Weak minds like yours take less trouble to control, just look into my eyes.

Hey! That's enough of that!

Too bad you didn’t explain about your ignorance before I expended valuable energy. Let’s finish this sham interrogation.

Feel free to leave any time, Jarrack. Could someone get me an aspirin? This guy has given me a headache.


A headache is the least of your problems. Your army will never catch me and if it does I have a secret plan that will rock this world to its core. I need not wait forever, you know, since Institute’s battle drones will eventually hone in on this backward planet. I’ll be restored to my proper rank. (Laughing followed by screaming) I told you to keep those wolves away from me! Don’t come near me….


Well, maybe we brought a few wolves through as insurance.

If you want to find out more, I suggest you leave Jarrack alone and go straight to the source. Heirs to the Throne Series by Diane Rapp -  Book 1: Howl of the Wolf and Book 2 The Havenshire Resistance. If you want to learn more about the author, check out Diane's website: www.quicksilvernovels.com

Igor Thorsen from Deadly Legacy

I usually leave this blog up to Nighthawk, but I thought you might be interested in knowing a bit about Igor Thorsen's origins. He was inspired by the picture of a viking on a gift bag from York, UK. I visited the newly found viking digs with my parents in 1976. Getting that close to an active archeological site was amazing. And that viking on the bag... well I developed quite a crush on the guy. 

Someday I'd like to go the Jorvik Viking Centre and see how the place has changed over the years... but mostly I need to replace my bag.

I'm Nighthawk and this is no place for authors. Instead, I have a real character: Igor Thorsen, Chief of Detectives, City Police Services, brought back from the future. 


Welcome Chief. You're a close friend of Joe Garrett, our previous guest, right?

I’ve known Joseph most of my adult life. He was a community cop back when I was partnered with him as a rookie. Even then, everyone knew Joe and Joe knew everyone. He wasn’t so much older than me, but it took me a while to figure it out. He seemed like he’d been a cop forever.

You also know Joe's daughter Kate.

I’ve known Kathleen all her life. I drove Joseph to the hospital so he could be there when she was born. He was so proud and he wanted her to be proud of him. She was the reason he took the detective’s exam. I don’t think he was all that ambitious for himself. He preferred dealing with people over collecting evidence.

Is it true that Joe pushed Kate to follow in his footsteps?

He was pleased when she chose to become a police officer. I think he wanted her to become a detective. He never came out and said it, but he was always setting her puzzles to solve and playing observation games with her when she was growing up. I know that’s what she thinks he wanted.

Kate didn't get a lot of time to process her father's death.


Life doesn’t stop just because you lose someone you love. You know about the murder of Delano Gage, but my detectives had another dozen or so violent crimes to investigate at the same time. Even so, I gave Kate time off.

I soon saw that wasn’t what she needed. She needed distraction and I needed the manpower. Having her babysit one of the potential targets of our killer seemed like a good idea at the time. To be honest, I didn’t take the threats against him seriously. He was like the boy crying wolf to get attention. But there’s always a real wolf eventually.

In your future, police sometime use consulting detectives. How do you feel about that?

Funnily enough, Joe was one of the biggest opponents of the consulting detective idea. He embraced community policing – not all our colleagues were on board with it – and like I said, he didn’t originally want to be a detective. The hours stink. You’re always on call, even when you’re not supposed to be. You’re always having to upgrade your skills... and it’s nowhere near as glamorous as say Tactical. Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on a rant. The point is that Joe didn’t like the idea of consulting detectives until he became one.



That's not what I asked, Chief. What do you think about consulting detectives working with the police?

The reality is, we don’t have the budget a big city has to have all the detectives we need all the time. Even the OPP is stretched with the cutbacks we’ve had over the years. Like the idea of consulting detectives or not, there are times when I need to engage them. Most of them are former cops, which takes the sting out. Joe’s the only one I’ve brought in on violent crimes though.

You must really miss your friend.
<grunt> I’m really pissed off at Joseph. Not only have I lost my best friend, but because of his death, I’ve had to give up one of my most promising detectives... temporarily. Kathleen Margaret Garrett will be back in my department, legacy or no legacy. You can count on it.

Will she? Maybe we'll ask Kate Garrett that question. Later.

Deadly Legacy, by Alison Bruce, is available in Kindle format and paperback.

Alison Bruce is on a virtual mystery tour of blogs for the coming week. Check out links here. 

Nighthawk is seeking interesting new characters to interview. Direct message @alisonebruce on Twitter if interested.

Joe Garrett - Deadly Legacy

Welcome back! It's been a while, I know, but I had to go beyond the veil to get our next guest. Joe Garrett, formerly of the City Police Services, more recently the principle of Garrett Investigation, is dead but far from forgotten. His shade is felt throughout Deadly Legacy. Now it's here with us in the studio.

Hi Nighthawk. Thanks for inviting me.

Perhaps you could start by telling us how you died.

Well, er... that's a bit embarrassing. I was tailing a client at his request. He thought someone was after him and it was my job to spot the perp. I spotted the guy - it was someone I knew. In my surprise, I wasn't paying attention. Neither was the driver of the HSUV who hit me. Evidently I died in hospital, but I don't remember much. Maybe I don't want to.

HSUV?
Hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle. I think they were around now - maybe we didn't call them than then.

That's right, we didn't just bring you back from the dead, we brought you back from the future.
Ah, Back to the Future - I loved those movies. Yeah, your present is my past. Right about now I'm getting shot in the hip defending an abused wife. Or maybe I'm in rehab already.

That's the wound that led to your retirement from the police and you becoming a private eye.
<laughs> Not that I mind, but the PC term is "private investigator". I'm also a consulting detective.

What's the difference?
A thousand dollar bond and second license that qualifies me to be hired by law enforcement agencies. It wasn't a big deal for me because I had twenty plus years in service before I went private. It was a bit more difficult for my partner Jake. He was a detective with the military police, but that doesn't have as much sway. Kate might have trouble getting the license. She's only been a cop for five years and she's a rookie detective,


What do you think about your daughter Kate following in your footsteps?
Couldn't be prouder or more worried.


Worried for her safety?
No! Well maybe a little. I'm a father after all. I'm more worried about living in my shadow. I've lived in my own shadow long enough, I know it isn't easy. I guess I haven't helped things by leaving her half my business. In fairness, though, I wasn't planning to die so soon.

So what's it like in the future?
You'll have to wait and see... or read the book. I'm outta here.

You can find Deadly Legacy on Amazon.com. Guess I better go get my copy now.

In 2018, rookie detective Kate Garrett lives in the shadow of her near-legendary father Joe. When Joe dies unexpectedly, he leaves Kate half interest in Garrett Investigations, his last case that ties to three murders, a partner she can't stand and a legacy to live up to.

Please join Alison Bruce on Twitter and Facebook - she's trying to get as many friends as Joe.

Elk Runner From Yellowstone Heart Song

When nurse and avid backpacker Aimee Donovan encounters a patient who tells her he can send her two hundred years into the past, it's a challenge she can't refuse. She'll get to spend three months in the rugged Yellowstone wilderness at the dawn of the mountain man era. The only requirement: she cannot tell anyone that she’s from the future.

Aimee is transported back in time to the Yellowstone wilderness of 1810, a time when very few white men have ever seen the area. A local Indian, Elk Runner, sees her wandering in the wilderness, apparently lost, and reports back to his white adopted brother. Together, they return to find her clinging to life on a ledge. 


Welcome Elk Runner. You are a Shoshone, right?
I am a hunter of the Tukudeka clan of mountain Shoshone. To the white man, we are known as the Sheepeaters, but our name means "eaters of meat."We are known for our skills at hunting the bighorn sheep, and making fine hides and bows. My people have lived in the sacred Yellowstone Mountains for thousands of years, becoming one with the spirits of the sky, earth, and water.

Tell us about Daniel.
My adoptive white brother - we call him White Wolf - is my best friend and his own worst enemy. He never knows what is good for him, even when she falls out of the sky. He has always been much too serious about life. Even growing up as children, he would get mad at the practical jokes I played on him. To this day, he blames me for a mishap with a skunk.

Skunk?
<laughter>

Maybe you better tell us about Aimee Donovan instead.
One day, while on a hunt with several other members of my clan, I saw the strangest thing. A white woman was wandering through the forest. She wore odd clothes, and chanted strange words. We all thought she was crazy in the head, but we knew nothing of white women. Perhaps they all act the way she did. I saw it as an omen. I went to White Wolf's cabin to tell him of this woman. He didn't believe me, even calling me the crazy one. He relented and went with me to find her again. I told him the spirits must have brought her to him, since he obviously could not find a woman on his own.

What did you make of her?
She is the strangest woman I have ever met. No meat on her bones, and disrespectful to a hunter. White Wolf will certainly have his hands full with her. She does not understand our ways, but she is brave and has the gifts of healing. We all suspect she is a puhagant, a person endowed by the spirits with magical powers. Once she learns to be respectful, she will make a good wife.

Dosa Haiwi - that is the name we have given Aimee Donovan. It means white dove, because she is like a dove that flew from the sky to rescue my brother from a lifetime of loneliness. She saved my life when some dirty Blackfoot warriors ambushed me. An arrow to the gut is fatal, but she used her magical healing powers to save my life. I will always be in her debt. The hungry look on my brother's face when she examined my healed wounds with her hands will always stay in my mind. <chuckle>

Hey, it was his own fault. He refused to claim her as his wife. Her hands could have been all over him, too, if he wasn't so stubborn.

So, Aimee caused some friction between you two.
The more I told him he needed to take Aimee as his wife, the more he seemed to fight the idea. I don't think this will affect our relationship. I know she will make my brother a better person, which will be a good thing for all of us. If only the stubborn fool realized this sooner.

Are you glad she "fell out of the sky"?
Well, I am alive because of Aimee, so yes. The best women sometimes fall from the sky. <chuckle> Little Bird, my wife, can't read, so I'm safe to say this.

Where do you see yourself in the future?
The future? Some say Aimee came from the future. I prefer to stay right where I am.

Fair enough. Do you have any final words for our audience?
The advice I gave my brother - a man cannot live without a woman. The spirits have brought this woman to him, and only they know the ultimate reason.


To find out more about Elk Runner, White Wolf and Dosa Haiwi, pick up Yellowstone Heart Song by Peggy L Henderson.


Find Peggy and other fine western romance authors on Cowboy Kisses.

Arvid Nielson - Logger in Petticoats

When Hank Halsey follows through on his dream of logging the family mountain he employs a family run logging outfit headed by Arvid Nielsen, whose crew includes three strapping sons and daughter.

Hank Halsey believes he’s found the perfect logging crew—complete with cooks—until he discovers Kelda Nielson would rather swing an axe than flip eggs. As he sets out to prove women belong in the kitchen, he’s the one in danger of getting burned.

To find out more about this Logger in Petticoats, we have her father, Arvid Nielson.

Arvid, your name and accept tell me you aren’t originally from these parts.
My wife Ingrid and I rode a boat from our home in Norway to find a place to raise our children where there would be room to grow. We began a logging outfit when the children were small. Ingrid cooked for the crew and as the children grew they became skilled at various logging jobs. Kelda, our daughter also helped her mother in the cookhouse. Now they are wood bosses and help take the load off my sagging shoulders.

Tell us about Kelda.
Kelda is my daughter. She is skatten min, my treasure. I wished her happiness as I have found with her mother. To help her along I found a man who would love and cherish her. Only I didn’t realize he wanted her on a pedestal and she refused to be anything other than herself.


How do you feel about Hank Halsey?
He is a rare man. I was honored he treated my Kelda so well. Treating like a lady. No one ever had because of her stubborn determination to best all men in the woods. But when they started butting heads, I was beginning to think I’d made a wrong choice.

When did things start to go wrong?
When Hank threatened my boys after they’d given their sister a playful spanking. Then, my Kelda, she hires a cook so she can sneak out and work in the woods. I tried to help them work it out but...

What happened?
I learned you can’t make people love one another  – but things work out in the long run if you leave them alone.

What do you see for the future?
Visiting relatives in Norway before my wife can no longer remember them.

I mean about the romance between your daughter and Hank?
Always listen to your wife and let your daughter pick the man who steals her heart.

Hmm. I wonder if Mr Nielson deliberately misunderstood my question. We’ll have to find the answers in Logger in Petticoats, available through Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Find out more about author Paty Jager at patyjager.blogspot.com

Also find Paty and other fine western romance authors on Cowboy Kisses.

Kea Alwang-Treehugger

As Monty Python used to say, "And now for something completely different." We have a young woman with us who... Who are you again?
Who am I? I am Star of Earth. I am a Jacondorian sentinel, an agent of a super-micro organism called the Ethimarrow. My purpose is to assist the Ethimarrow and the leader of Jacondor in tipping the scales of good and evil in favour of the good. I do so with just over 1,000 other sentinels who represent their own homeworlds.

Star of Earth?
My name is Chloe, but I prefer to be known by my nickname, Star. I'm fourteen, starting high school and my home planet is Earth. See, I lead a double life between Earth and Jacondor thanks to a near-infinite network of time lines, shifting dimensions, and folding sheets of space stuff that Earthen scientists haven't come close to picking at. I'm strong, bright, courageous, quick, and...  well, at least I was all those things until my best friends disappeared. For someone supposedly so smart, I've done some pretty stupid things lately.And some pretty stupid things have happened to me too!

Like?
This guy, Sal Rodoso, stole my underwear and wore it on his head. It was a stupid prank meant to embarrass me and make him look like the life of the party. He was right on both counts. For me, the whole situation was a wicked-blatant statement that nobody cares that I'm a loving, do-anything-for-you type of person who busts my butt trying to promote peace. Truthfully, they know nothing about me, so why should they know any of that? Still, the whole act caused my fear of being around them to morph into something close to hate. And that was before my bra went slingshotting across the room.


I'm confused. This happened because your friends were missing?
My best friends. CK and Leada, my soul mates, disappeared about a year ago. Somehow my confidence, strengths, and usually cheerful nature went with them. Tarthimum, my Jacondorian guardian, refused to tell me what happened to them. Somehow between the bullying on Earth and feeling two-thirds short of whole on Jacondor, I guess I became a bit unglued.

Anyone would guess that being kidnapped at age 7 by an insane genius and experimented on would have been the end of me or anyone else. Nope. That wasn't it. Despite years of nightmares, I lived through that time thanks to the unconditional love of CK and Leada who lived through it with me. They "got me" in every way. Never had to pre-plan my words around them, hide anything from them. No, their disappearance was my undoing. Apparently, they knew me way better than I knew myself.

So what are you doing about it?
I always assumed that friendship was the most important part of life. When people that love you have your back, what can't you do? I was so busy marveling at how CK, Lea and I were three parts that made an incredible whole that I forgot how to work alone. I forgot how to strengthen myself from within. I intend to learn how to do that.

And after that?

I'm not sure. The mad scientist who kidnapped us when we were kids might be back. If that monster has raised his ugly head again, I'm going after him.

That girl is as good as her word. Which means if we want to find out more, we'll have to read Treehugger by Kea Alwang.