Chalk Outline By: Veronica Smith

Chalk Outline

By: Veronica Smith

Let me just start out with this: if you know me, you know I am Criminal Justice Major ok? Now go look at the cover of this book. Now tell me; this cover doesn’t just make those who enjoy investigating crime or reading crime will not want to check this book out. Meaning I had to read it, right? Ok then, here’s the scoop!

Next, I learn that the book has Detectives in it, meaning yes, I am going not going to be putting this book down anytime soon. And their names are Darius and Jake, and they have been doing their jobs for quite some time, so it’s not like its nothing new to them. These guys have seen their fair share of… well you know, just about anything.

But let’s face it people, when the victim ends up being a child, the entire universe feels it, and mourns with you. Everyone will be watching, and you know it. From the victim’s parents, to the Newspapers, the TV stations, and not just the local ones either, and it will be on blast on social media. So, your best bet is to be on your best behavior and do everything you can. And God willing, at top speeds. And doing this job: isn’t going to easy….

And what’s even worse, is the person isn’t stopping with one child, no this killer is going on a vendetta for more and more children. Putting everyone on edge that have Children.

Eventually, Darius and Jake meet Jessica. A mother to one of the victims. Jessica has gifts, as she calls them. And she thinks that these gifts may be able to help the Detectives catch this morbid killer and bring him to justice.

Yes, it is Jake is in fact skeptical, but Darius, he is not. And he is going to put his faith is Jessica. And he wants to use her skills to help find this person and solve this mystery.

And when the killer finally strikes way too close to home, the team go into overdrive to solve this case. This is when Jessica will start wondering if this gift is a curse, after all. Because now her gift has bought the truth into reality right in front of her very own eyes. Is this the answer she really wanted? Is this what Darius and Jake expected too?

To get all your answers answered, you must read this book and find out. But I promise you, it is a five-star age turned that will keep you guessing with every turn of that page. So why not get your copy today and find what you’ve been wondering! I promise you an exciting ride, because this writer will give you the thrill you have been craving and much more!

Here are my questions for Veronica Smith:

1.      What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

I heard a song on the radio one day driving home from work. The line was something about being in a chalk outline. My mind took over from there. I wondered what would happen if someone could see what happens to a victim while being in the outline. I fine tuned it to where Jessica can see the last few seconds of the victim’s life. It took me over two years to write it despite it only being 30K words. At the time, that was the longest story I’d written. I’d only written short stories before.

2.     Who designed the beautiful cover?

The artist is my friend, Lisa Vasquez. Not only is she the CEO of Stitched Smile Publications, she does amazing covers. She is also a talented author as well.

3.     Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters that you can share with us?

I tend not to put too much description into my characters. When I read a book I tend to form my own ideas of what they look like. So I keep it kind of vague when I write. In Chalk Outline I did have Shemar Moore, from Criminal Minds and SWAT, in mind while I wrote the character of Darius. He’s my TV crush. He’s very hot!

4.    What are you working on now?

I’ve just have had a Collection of short stories accepted for publication with Stitched Smile Publications. It’s called Transparent Walkways and is only at the beginning stages of publication. I’m very excited about it. It had several stories in varied forms of horror. From psychological to creatures to my first dark humor; it has a little bit of everything. I’ve also put a little of my flash fiction in between the stories. My current WIP is a Young Adult zombie novel called Just Get There. This originally started as a short story called The Treehouse that was in the anthology Bite Sized Offerings. My friend, Mysti, told me many times to turn it into a novel so I’ve expanded it. I’m around the halfway point now at 40K words. And as always, I’m still writing short stories when an idea hits me. I’m currently on a new one called Retribution.

5.     What motivates you to write?

It’s like an impulse. When I get an idea (and I get them in the weirdest places, the shower, in the car driving home) I have to jot it down. Sometimes it’s just rambling; incomplete sentences, just whatever I need to get out of my head so I don’t lose it. I also keep a small audio recorder in my purse to record whatever I need to while I’m driving. I may not touch it again for weeks if ever (I have several partials that have never been finished) but at least I haven’t lost it. Nightmares make for great stories and more than one of mine as well as my husband’s have been turned into stories.

6.    If you were to get writers block, or have ever had it, what do you do for it?

Oh yeah I’ve had it. In fact, back in August of 2017 I got stuck on my WIP Just Get There. So I put it aside and went to something else, putting my Collection together. Once that was done I went back to the book and sure enough I had ideas bleeding from my ears and I’m cranking out words on it.

7.     What suggestions can you offer for the aspiring writers out there?

Never, ever give up. No matter how many rejections you get, keep submitting. I’ve had stories rejected several times only to be accepted when I least expected it. I always say that each rejection is just a stepping stone to the story’s home.

8.    How long have you been writing

My first short story was accepted into an anthology and published in December of 2014 but I’ve been writing since I was a child. When I was in Junior High (they call that Middle School now – damn I’m old!) I’d started two detective books, similar to Nancy Drew, which heavily influenced me. I’ve never seriously finished anything until that first accepted short. Once that happened I realized my dream could actually be a reality. It was the push I needed to keep going.

9.    What are your hobbies?

 Reading (when I have the time) and writing. I’ve learned to love flash fiction. It’s fun although it’s a lot harder to do than it looks. I love camping even though we haven’t been in a while. Not primitive of course (remember I’m old – haha). We used to have a travel trailer and that was about as primitive as we got. We did the tent thing for years and I’m done with that. I still enjoy cabins though. When my in laws were alive we would all go camping at Thanksgiving. So many funny things happened during these. BTW -  make sure you lock your ice chests that are outside. Raccoons can into anything that isn’t locked. Haha!

10.                        Do you put yourself into your characters?

I have several times, especially the stories based on my nightmares. Sometimes I base my main character on what I wish I could be like, more so than how I really am. Everyone wants to be brave and tough and I’d like to think I’d really do those things in real live but I would hope I’d never have to test that theory. I use friends as other characters as well and not just their names. If I use a friend or someone who wins a part in a book, then I always ask them for some of their more interesting hobbies or quirks. I like to turn the character more into them.

11.  Where is your favorite place to write?

Sometimes I write at home but I have a laptop and I REALLY hate typing on a laptop. Flat keyboards are my downfall. I can’t type worth a crap on them. I’m usually at work more than an hour before I start work (I carpool with my husband most days) and then I get an hour for lunch. So I have an hour, sometimes two to write. I have two really nice big screen monitors (I’m a drafter by day so I need big screens) and a regular keyboard so I can kick ass while I’m on it. The only problem writing at work is I’ll be typing away, my ideas flowing and I’m really into it then suddenly realize I have to start work or lunch is over. So I have to cut it off right then and there. I have to just hold in everything else that wants to spill out from my brain. That’s hard to do.

12. Please share with us your social media and book links:

All my published work is here on my Amazon page:
Chalk Outline is my novella and Salvation is my novel. The other books are anthologies that I have short stories in.

viewAuthor.at/VeronicaSmith

https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B014JCZQT4

I have a Facebook author page as well as a Twitter page (although I don't always get the Tweeting thing)

www.facebook.com/Veronica.Smith.Author

https://twitter.com/Vee_L_Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-smith-author/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/veronica-smith

https://kvzsmithwordpresscom.wordpress.com/

13. Anything to add:

I’ve been doing several cons and vendor tables in the past year and found how much fun it is. You get to meet people who want to buy your book in person. Several times it’s someone who bought one before only to come back and buy a different book because they liked the first one so much. I love that. I write because I love it. Sure everyone would love to be able to write full time and I’m no different, but until that day I’m happy to be able to write out my stories and I love to hear from readers.

Chalk Outline by Veronica Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me just start out with this: if you know me, you know I am Criminal Justice Major ok? Now go look at the cover of this book. Now tell me; this cover doesn’t just make those who enjoy investigating crime or reading crime will not want to check this book out. Meaning I had to read it, right? Ok then, here’s the scoop!

Next, I learn that the book has Detectives in it, meaning yes, I am going not going to be putting this book down anytime soon. And their names are Darius and Jake, and they have been doing their jobs for quite some time, so it’s not like its nothing new to them. These guys have seen their fair share of… well you know, just about anything.

But let’s face it people, when the victim ends up being a child, the entire universe feels it, and mourns with you. Everyone will be watching, and you know it. From the victim’s parents, to the Newspapers, the TV stations, and not just the local ones either, and it will be on blast on social media. So, your best bet is to be on your best behavior and do everything you can. And God willing, at top speeds. And doing this job: isn’t going to easy….

And what’s even worse, is the person isn’t stopping with one child, no this killer is going on a vendetta for more and more children. Putting everyone on edge that have Children.

Eventually, Darius and Jake meet Jessica. A mother to one of the victims. Jessica has gifts, as she calls them. And she thinks that these gifts may be able to help the Detectives catch this morbid killer and bring him to justice.

Yes, it is Jake is in fact skeptical, but Darius, he is not. And he is going to put his faith is Jessica. And he wants to use her skills to help find this person and solve this mystery.

And when the killer finally strikes way too close to home, the team go into overdrive to solve this case. This is when Jessica will start wondering if this gift is a curse, after all. Because now her gift has bought the truth into reality right in front of her very own eyes. Is this the answer she really wanted? Is this what Darius and Jake expected too?

To get all your answers answered, you must read this book and find out. But I promise you, it is a five-star age turned that will keep you guessing with every turn of that page. So why not get your copy today and find what you’ve been wondering! I promise you an exciting ride, because this writer will give you the thrill you have been craving and much more!



View all my reviews

Found in Understanding By: Debbie Zello

Found in Understanding

Book three of Refuge Series

By: Debbie Zello

     When I started reading this book, I think I must’ve just fell into the pages. I was right there, inside the book, and I couldn’t put it down. There was no stopping me. My husband tried to get me to do a few things, including have a conversation, and it just wasn’t happening. And it wasn’t on purpose.

     You see Firelight is a character that wants to make something of herself. And she was raised in this community that is tight knit, and lights to keep to themselves. Not many people strive to do something, or be something, or even do something different with themselves. They just want to stay within their community, where they feel safest. But Firelight had plans, and dreams. And it wasn’t that she wanted to get away from the people whom she loved dearly, it was that her dreams needed out. Her dreams required to help her make a difference. And she wasn’t going to let anyone, or anything stand in the way of her dreams. 

      She received a full Scholarship to Yale University. She ends up being a little shy at first when she ends up on the outside, in the new World so to speak. The World is a much bigger place when you can’t just jump into your bed and under covers and delve into a good book and hide. Now she must act like an adult and face her fears head on. And low and behold, there is so much to learn and do, aside from becoming educated in a School.

     Firelight ends up falling in love, and then seeing that very romance snatched right from her, in front of her very own eyes. The heart break itself will make you cry. He is a masculine man who rides motorcycles and makes her feel like she is the best thing that every happened to him. She feels safe and loved in his arms. Until finally, it is too late. This is when you want to scream at the writer and ask, ‘What were you thinking?’ and then you see, there are still a lot of pages here following this. 

     Firelight ends up walking down the street and hears a motorcycle. For some reason she decides to look up at the rider. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her. This is where she ‘Found Understanding’ and the book recovers and saves our hearts after all. 

     This book played with my feelings in oh so many ways. I yelled at the Author so many times. And I laughed, and I cried. And I my favorite book of Mrs. Zellos was: ‘Shadows of Him’ until she wrote this one. Now this one is my favorite. And not just because I edited it either. Because I could literally feel the emotions of this book as it was meant to be felt. When the writer does that, you know you have met the perfect writer. And that is why Debbie Zello is perfection in so many ways. 

     This is a five-star read, if I have ever read one. And if you have ever wanted to read something that will pull you in, and play with your emotions, this book will do just that. And by the way, you will yell at the writer. Now go on, get a copy, and tell me what you thought after you’ve read it!

Here are my questions for Debbie Zello:

1. What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

This book went very fast. I finished it in a few weeks. The story came in my usual format, in my dreams.

2. Where and how did you come me up with the name “Understanding”?

Firelight needed a man that would get not having an ordinary name. I just thought of his name one day. I think it fits him perfectly.

3. Do you have photos or descriptions of the characters in this book?

Kennedy Gilbertson, the cover model,  was my vision of Understanding. Firelight is timid and small. She’s attractive but not stunning.

4. As you write, does your imagination “see” your storyline and characters?

Very much so. I live with the characters as I write. They speak to me. I feel involved in their lives.

5. Do you ever have to stop what you’re doing to write?

Not very often but I do get up very early to write before I go to work.


6. What are you working on now?

I have several books partially done. Two completed but not yet edited. One book that will be released in July. That is an Historical Romance set in the 1830s just prior to the American Civil War. Behind the Manor Door Lies the Reckoning, is the title. It takes place in England, Boston, and Richmond Virginia.


7. What kind of books do you personally like to read?

I’m a big romance reader. I love happy endings.

8. A personal question you can chose to ignore:
Are you cancer free now? 

Yes, I am. I still go every year to see my oncologist. He released me last year but for my peace of mind, I want to continue. Thank you for asking.


9. When did you first realize you were destined to be a writer?

I’ve written several books. I’m waiting to be recognized as a writer. So far I’m just indulging a hobby.


10. What is your favorite thing about writing?

I love the words. I love researching. Looking for restaurants or local sites the characters can visit. They give me the basic story but I have to fill things in.


11. Out of all your own books, which one is your favorite?

I was fully immersed in Why We Don’t Die in Dreams. It’s my most unusual book. I guarantee it’s like nothing anyone has ever read. 

12. Please share with us your book and social media links:

Author Bio – Debbie Zello

Debbie has always been an avid reader, but writing never occurred to her. That was until an illness gave her the time and inspiration needed to begin her journey in words. After writing down a few chapters of a story that had whispered into her head, she gave it to a few friends to read. The rest became her first book, The Kiss Me Chronicles.
Debbie freely credits her stories to her muses, the characters themselves. They occupy her thoughts and dreams, presenting her with their narratives on their lives and loves. On occasion, she has tried to put her own take on their story, only to be quickly corrected by the true authors.
Debbie has traveled extensively and has a deep love of American history. Her novels are often based on historical events as well as places she has visited. She is also an amateur genealogist, having traced her own family roots.
Debbie currently has ten published books with many more in various stages of production, including a tetralogy of 'what or where is your safe place.' She is also branching out of the romance/historical romance genre to include a teenage appropriate story based on Dorothy's(The Wizard of Oz) great-granddaughter, Dee, and her shoes. Hopefully, Dee won't leave Debbie in some far off time or place.

Elizabet, Under the Back Staircase - Release Date – 1 February 2015 

Amazon - http://getbook.at/Elizabet

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/Elizabet

Elizabet learned early on in her life, to know her place in her world. As an illegitimate child of the wealthy owner of the house and his cook, she had to learn how to have one foot on the front stairs and one on the back.
Elizabet experiences love, hate, acceptance and longing as she navigates her way through the turbulence of her life with the backdrop of the Civil War.
If you enjoy determined women in historical settings, then Elizabet...Under the Back Stairs is the read for you.

Shadows of Him - Release Date – 22 March 2015 

Amazon - http://getbook.at/ShadowsofHim

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/ShadowsofHim

Shadows of Him takes the love story of Alexzander Blackburn and Aisling Coutier from the present into the past. Zan, as he calls himself, is bewitched by a Salem sorcerer, and forced to travel through time. Unable to form lasting relationships, due to his constant disappearances and inability to age. Zan comes into contact with the one woman he wants to spend his life with. But finds that undoing spells isn't as easy as it sounds.

The Middle of My Bridge - Release Date -  6 July 2015 

Amazon -  http://getbook.at/MiddleofMyBridge

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/MiddleofMyBridge

Bestselling romance author, Grace Lilith Watts, is caught in the middle, between her past and future. Unable to move forward and powerless to change what was, she goes from lover to lover.
Grace fully immerses herself in her stories. When she decides her topic, she leaves her tiny New York City apartment to live and write amongst the people in the story. She gains an insight into the lives and loves of the inhabitants. This makes her stories even more believable.
Grace leaves for Connecticut, and a sleepy small town, that housed a Revolutionary spirit so strong, that General Rochambeau lodged there on his march to meet General Washington in New York. There she meets the general’s great grandson, Etienne Rochambeau, and begins her journey to cross that bridge.
The Middle of My Bridge is a Contemporary Romance with a historical background. If you enjoy traveling and love stories, then this book was written for you.

Romancing Broadway - Release Date -  5^th September 2015 

Amazon - http://getbook.at/RomancingBroadway

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/RomancingBroadway

Samantha West is a small town girl with big city lights in her eyes. She and her BFF Gabby, live in a tiny NYC apartment, where Sam waits for her big break on Broadway. A part in an off-Broadway production brings the charismatic Cesere Bottari to her attention.

Cesere dominates her life from the beginning, keeping Sam clueless of his interference. Until a disaster befalls her friend Gabby, and a false accusation ruins things.

Romancing Broadway has a duel ending. You will have the opportunity to pick for yourself as both are in the book.

Romancing Broadway is filled with strong women, romantic men, travel and humor. If you enjoy reading those things, you will find them in this book.

Why We Don’t Die In Dreams - Release Date – 9^th May 2016 

Universal Link -  https://www.books2read.com/Dreams-1

Amazon - http://getbook.at/Dreams1

SOMETIMES NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS. 

Gavin McLean is an astute, accomplished and dedicated homicide detective. His days are filled with solving brutal murder cases, delving into the psyches of the worst humanity has to offer. His work comes first, to the detriment of his personal life. 

His sleeping hours are plagued by a reoccurring dream of a beautiful naked woman with long brown hair. He's mesmerized by her shapely backside, which is all he can see in the vision. The dream is erratic, with no patterns to help discern frequency or cause ... with one complicated exception. She is always suspended by her hands, from a meat hook, on the ceiling, and pleads for her life. 

With his personal life in turmoil and dreams shortening his sleep, he struggles to keep his world in operating order. He distracts himself by having an encounter with a frequent lover. Then fate steps in when a woman is found naked and dead, in a dumpster.

Is Gavin's dream becoming his reality. Sometimes nothing is as it seems.

See You In September – The Refugee Series Book One - Release Date – 7^th July 2017 

Amazon - http://getbook.at/SYIS

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/Refugee1

If Cheri Winslow Gates had been able to see into the future, she would have never married David. Unfortunately, she didn't have that gift.

Divorced and navigating life solo, had just begun to feel normal, when an extremely fascinating man, rented the cottage next door. Gareth Marshall certainly wasn't looking for any entanglements three thousand miles from home, but then he didn't know about the enchanting lawyer a few feet away.

They fit perfectly together in every way. They spend the fading summer wrapped in each other and happily agree to meet back there next September. Unfortunately, Cheri's ex-husband has different plans for her.

A Snow Covered Nightmare – The Refugee Series Book Two -Release Date – 20^thSeptember 2017

Amazon - http://getbook.at/SCN

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/Refugee2

As the sole witness to her bosses murder, Briah Spencer's life would never be the same again. Once she had identified the killer as none other than Denver's biggest crime boss, David Slater, her head had a price on it.

Aiden Baldwin was one of Denver's finest homicide detectives. His job was to keep Briah safe long enough to testify. His heart had plans of its own. Soon her life and his found that rock and hard place where decisions were impossible and devastating. Briah is sent into witness protection and Aiden to the bottom of a whisky bottle.

Briah felt safe in the mountains. They were her refuge from life's realities. She could lose her cares on the slopes with the wind blowing them past her. Will the mountains hide her from the two men that want her? Can the snow help her to forget Aiden? Is there a future in her new life?

Mercy: the deadliest Sin (Why we don’t Die in Dreams 2) - Release Date – 24 November 2017 

Amazon - http://getbook.at/Dreams2

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/Dreams-2

Don’t worry, nightmares won’t kill you.
Mercy, the deadliest sin is the exciting conclusion to Why we don't die in Dreams. Take the journey, and thank you.

Found In Understanding – The Refugee Series Book Three - Release Date – 2^ndMarch 2018 

Amazon - http://getbook.at/Refugee3

Universal - https://www.books2read.com/Refugee3

Firelight was raised with love and kindness, on a small farming commune, in Southern California. Her first dip into the outside world was rough, but the lessons learned from it, propelled her into Yale University, on a full scholarship.
College brought so many firsts. She blossomed under her friends, professors and her first job experiences. Her first real love fit her romance novels idea of perfection.
When a heart-wrenching turn spins her world apart, she finds herself in Understanding.

Follow Debbie on

Amazon - http://viewauthor.at/DebbieZello

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/debbiezelloauthor/

Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debbie-zello

Twitter: @ZelloDzello1

13. Anything to add:

Once again I want to thank you for your support of all authors. Without people like you, we’d struggle to be seen. Thank you so much. 

Found in Understanding: Refuge Series Book Three by Debbie Zello
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I started reading this book, I think I must’ve just fell into the pages. I was right there, inside the book, and I couldn’t put it down. There was no stopping me. My husband tried to get me to do a few things, including have a conversation, and it just wasn’t happening. And it wasn’t on purpose.

You see Firelight is a character that wants to make something of herself. And she was raised in this community that is tight knit, and lights to keep to themselves. Not many people strive to do something, or be something, or even do something different with themselves. They just want to stay within their community, where they feel safest. But Firelight had plans, and dreams. And it wasn’t that she wanted to get away from the people whom she loved dearly, it was that her dreams needed out. Her dreams required to help her make a difference. And she wasn’t going to let anyone, or anything stand in the way of her dreams.

She received a full Scholarship to Yale University. She ends up being a little shy at first when she ends up on the outside, in the new World so to speak. The World is a much bigger place when you can’t just jump into your bed and under covers and delve into a good book and hide. Now she must act like an adult and face her fears head on. And low and behold, there is so much to learn and do, aside from becoming educated in a School.

Firelight ends up falling in love, and then seeing that very romance snatched right from her, in front of her very own eyes. The heart break itself will make you cry. He is a masculine man who rides motorcycles and makes her feel like she is the best thing that every happened to him. She feels safe and loved in his arms. Until finally, it is too late. This is when you want to scream at the writer and ask, ‘What were you thinking?’ and then you see, there are still a lot of pages here following this.

Firelight ends up walking down the street and hears a motorcycle. For some reason she decides to look up at the rider. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her. This is where she ‘Found Understanding’ and the book recovers and saves our hearts after all.

This book played with my feelings in oh so many ways. I yelled at the Author so many times. And I laughed, and I cried. And I my favorite book of Mrs. Zellos was: ‘Shadows of Him’ until she wrote this one. Now this one is my favorite. And not just because I edited it either. Because I could literally feel the emotions of this book as it was meant to be felt. When the writer does that, you know you have met the perfect writer. And that is why Debbie Zello is perfection in so many ways.

This is a five-star read, if I have ever read one. And if you have ever wanted to read something that will pull you in, and play with your emotions, this book will do just that. And by the way, you will yell at the writer. Now go on, get a copy, and tell me what you thought after you’ve read it!

View all my reviews