Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Holiday Gift Suggestions



Please welcome my guest, Julie Lomoe, as she introduces you to her books.

Julie: I’m delighted that Maryann has invited me to write about my mystery novels as potential holiday gifts. 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 and Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders would make marvelous gifts. But how to toot my own horn without being overly obnoxious? The answer is obvious: quote my own reviews. Here’s 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

Julie: Rereading these quotes and typing them into this post does wonders for my self-esteem. If my books are this great, why are they self-published? I’ll take up this question in a post later on in this tour. Meanwhile, to learn more about me and read sample chapters of both books, please visit my blog: Julie Lomoe’s Musings Mysterioso. To buy my books and support small business, you can go directly to my publisher, Virtualbookworm. You can also order online from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Be sure to visit me tomorrow at the next stop on my tour, Karen Walker’s Following the Whispers, where I’ll be writing about the stranger-than-fiction tale of my golden retriever, Lucky.

11 comments:

Jean Henry Mead said...

The members of my senior sleuths group will certainly be interested in Eldercide. And a bipolar mystery sounds fascinating, Julie. Congratulations on your award! I look forward to hosting your tour on Thursday at: http://advicefromeditors.blogspot.com/

Jean Henry Mead

Maryannwrites said...

Senior sleuths are becoming more and more popular, and I really do like that. Proves older people can do more than knit and rock or rock and whittle. :-)

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Congratulations on the great reviews, Julie. I hope they keep pouring in!

Julie Lomoe said...

Thanks for your comments, Jean, Maryann and Jane. I confess that Claire Lindstrom, the nursing supervisor who's the amateur sleuth in Eldercide, isn't yet a senior, and the agency's administrator, Paula Rhodes, is fiftyish. But there are lots of fully realized seniors in the book, and I'll probably have at least one of them take on a more active sleuthing role in the next book in the series.

Jean, I'm looking forward to visiting you Thursday. I'm working on the post right now!

Maryannwrites said...

Julie, having central characters in their forties and fifties is not real common, either. I like reading books where the women are a bit older and perhaps wiser. :-)

Morgan Mandel said...

Great reviews, Julie. Also, worthwhile book topics.

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Julie Lomoe said...

Maryann, I'm glad you like "mature" protagonists. I'm going to give Paula a bigger role in my next novel in the Kooperskill series.

Morgan I'll see you at your blog next Wednesday! Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you'll all follow me to today's post about the tragic saga of Lucky, my golden retriever. I'm over at Karen Walker's blog, Following The Whispers. Please go to my blog for a live link.

Julie Lomoe, who is feeling the way I did decades ago during final exam week at Barnard!

Julie Lomoe said...

I just found out that if you click on my name at the beginning of comments, it takes you to a Google account page I haven't developed yet. If you want to visit me for real, please go to Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso at http://julielomoe.wordpress.com. This stuff is so confusing - arrgh! (uttered like a snarling pirate)

nancyden said...

Kudos to Julie not only for her fine writing and two terrific novels, but for garnering many fans on her own blog and for adding her own wise words on this excellent blog. And thanks, Julie, for adding a link to my website! Very thoughtful of you.
With admiration, Nancy

Maryannwrites said...

Julie, I know what you mean about the technology challenges. Writers are supposed to write, not become geeks. :-)

I am so grateful that I have kids who can help me when things get too challenging.

LK Hunsaker said...

Beautiful reviews. I very much look forward to reading your work.