Support a struggling author – buy my books for the holidays!

For my recent Blog Book Tour, Maryann Miller invited me to post on her blog, It’s Not All Gravy, about why my mystery novels would make good holiday gifts. I decided to quote my own reviews. As a self-published author in the early phase of building my career, I treasure each and every sale, and I believe both my novels, Eldercide (2008) and Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders (2006) would make marvelous gifts. But how to toot my own horn without being overly obnoxious? Here’s how I did it, and what some of my writing colleagues had to say:   

ELDERCIDE

Not Just for Old Folks

You don’t have to be elderly to connect intellectually or emotionally with this book. The story offers something for everyone: for readers of mysteries, a good story; for readers of medical thrillers, authentic (but not too clinical) health care scenes; for readers of literary fiction, an accomplished novel with believable, fully developed characters. And for all of us living in modern society: a contemporary exploration of unavoidable end-of-life issues. The narrative flows smoothly. The dialogue is always on the mark. The editing is sharp, uncommonly good for alternatively-published books. I read the book twice, appreciating its qualities even more the second time. And after finishing the last page, I couldn’t wait to talk about it with my husband. What higher praise for a book than that it provokes discussion?

                                                            Therese Broderick, poet

A Maven of Mayhem

In addition to the joys of combing through the characters and plot to untangle a mystery, Eldercide addresses the moral issue of euthanasia. Homicide – unfathomable. Mercy killing – a very real topic for discussion. Julie Lomoe braids compassion with murder in this page-turning whodunit. As a retired home-care physical therapist myself, I related completely. Ms. Lomoe’s experience as a home-care agency administrator gave depth to these defenseless patients and their caregivers with true-to-life dialog. Her artistic talents are apparent in the vividly painted scenes simultaneously combined with her suspense-heightening skills. She blurs the edges just enough where the answers to your questions reside. Colorful in all respects. I look forward to Julie Lomoe’s next work of art.

                                                            Fay Rownell, author of Death Straight Up

 MOOD SWING: THE BIPOLAR MURDERS

Mood Swing is a Marvelous Mystery!

I began this novel with trepidation – like many others, I’m a little in awe, a little uncomfortable with people with “mood swings.” But as I read this terrific novel and got to know the myriad characters, my own mood swung a good ninety degrees – all earlier perceptions altered. This writer is a true professional, a bright, fun-loving, compassionate human being. I admire the high quality of the writing, the in-depth characterizations (often delightfully quirky); the fascinating setting (I love the details of the Manhattan Lower East Side); the realistic dialogue, the plot – all of it brilliant. I found myself going back to reread sections, to laugh (the author has a great sense of humor), to despair when the gifted WellSpringers die, to rage when the adversaries exploit Erika, the savvy but frustrated director. This is what a mystery should be: unraveling like a colorful tapestry until it is all in pieces – and in the end, put back together with love and with craft.

                                        Nancy Means Wright, author of the Ruth Willmarth series

Mood Swings to Murder

Julie Lomoe’s Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders is an excellent read, a well written and exciting page turner. . . it took me into a world I know little about, people with mental health problems and how they cope with extraordinary character. Yet it did not sentimentalize these problems, which were clearly secondary to the plot. Lomoe knows the streets and the squats of a big city and the menacing characters that may wear Mafia black or Wall Street Armani. . . Lomoe’s main character, Erika, is believable as a savvy and smart denizen of the city who also has her vulnerable side. She may be Scandinavian, but she’s no ice princess.

                                        M.E. Kemp, author of Death of a Bawdy Belle

Rereading these quotes and typing them into this post did wonders for my self-esteem, and I hope they tempt you to buy my books. You can read the first chapters of both right here on this blog. To bypass the giants and support small business, you can order directly from my publisher, Virtualbookworm. You can also order online from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, place an order at your local (and hopefully independent) bookstore, or ask your library to order copies of both books.

Thanks again to Maryann Miller for hosting me on November 10^th. My Blog Book Tour ran from November 9^th through November 20^th, and I encourage you to visit the excellent sites that hosted me. You can find the links by checking my own posts during that time period. I’m still planning to post a summary of what I learned on the tour, with links to all the authors, but frankly, I needed a week off! I’ll get it up here this week, after tomorrow’s trip to New York City. I’m treating myself to a day at the Guggenheim, visiting my old haunts in SoHo, then going to the MWA New York Chapter’s holiday shindig at the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park South.