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Author Interview

Something to talk about!

This is an excerpt from an interview I prepared for an author’s platform. I hope you enjoy the backstory!

The questions were about my latest mystery thriller, ONE, the 3rd in the Sydney Jones Series.

Questions and Answers Below:

What is your book all about?

ONE, Sydney Jones Series Book 3 is the dramatic conclusion to the mystery series. The novel highlights the life of ace attorney Sydney Jones whose personal life is in shambles after learning the father of her son was killed in an accident. Now, she’ll never know the answers she was seeking.

Her law practice is flourishing and she along with her son, David took a much-needed break to their island villa. Little did she know but old enemies and an impostor friend were checking out the island. 

They returned to their home in Atlanta and Sydney was looking forward to meeting her friend Special Agent Thomason for coffee near her office. On the drive down GA 400, a grenade was lobbed into her sports car. Thomason was several car links behind her and sped to the explosion. He was the first official on the scene and quickly put their worst-case exit plan in motion. According to his report, Sydney was pronounced dead at the scene.

Will she survive to have the chance to get targets off her back and raise her son? Would the love for her son and desire to be reunited tilt her chances of recovery to die another day?


Inspiration for ONE – A Novel

Writing ONE was a natural progression from the previous novels in the series, Primed for Revenge and Chance – A Novel. Sydney Jones is fearless in taking on cases most attorneys would run from and it put a target on her back. The depths of feelings of betrayal, grief, and passion for living her life on her own terms was a motivating force behind the story.

Target Audience

Mystery lovers who love twisty-turny psychological fiction are the target audience for this book. The underlying theme of romance adds a spark to the story and captures your heart.

Takeaway from ONE

Every person has their own unique understanding of life. How one sees themselves and others is seen through a kaleidoscope of personal life’s experiences and their environment. For instance, Sydney’s grief when learning of Walker’s death and coming to terms with it fit her personality. My desire is that we learn to practice compassion for others walking their own path.

Future Goals – ONE

This is the latest release in the Sydney Jones Series, and I plan to market this novel to mystery-thriller readers at every opportunity online and in person when possible (Zoom).

About the Author

CAROLYN BOWEN is a mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous, imaginative spirit to inspire and entertain. Bowen uses travel as a muse to explore cultures and dialogue to bring her stories to life.

Her writing credits include Cross-Ties, a romantic adventure; The Long Road Home, a contemporary crime fiction mystery; The Sydney Jones Series Mystery Thrillers; Book 1: Primed For Revenge, Book 2: Chance, and Book 3: ONE.

Author Website: carolynbowen.com

Author Website: (blog) – https://cmbowenauthor.wordpress.com/

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AmazonCMB

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CMBGoodreads

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CMBowenAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolynBowenAuthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cmbowenauthor/

Instagram: http://bit.ly/BowenInstagram

YouTube: http://bit.ly/CBowenYouTube

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Great News for Historical Romance Readers

Limited Offer: Cross-Ties Giveaway

Today we’re celebrating a limited offer for Cross-Ties by Carolyn Bowen. This giveaway is for folks who don’t have access to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited where it’s always available for download.

Special Announcement!

You can download FREE during this giveaway and I can’t wait for you to read this historical romance tapping into the immigration experience of early frontier American founders.

We hope you’re staying safe during this global pandemic. Take care — Carolyn Bowen.

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All Hands on Deck

Quote of the Day: We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. – Dakota

We’ve kicked off the promotions for the Sydney Jones Series and want to say thank you for supporting our new mystery series. If you want to be one of the first to know about future releases, sign up below. Here’s a snippet about the Sydney Jones Series Books 1 & 2.

Exciting news

Chance – A Novel is available for download FREE with Kindle Unlimited or purchase as a  paperback or ebook.

From the back cover

Walker didn’t plan to fall in love with Sydney. He blamed their closeness in proximity, horrid circumstances in her life, and no friends but a paid confidant to comfort her. There was no one to hold her in their arms, and that’s what the lady needed—to cry and release the pain in her life.

Sydney struck a chord in his heart. Her beauty, along with her spark to keep going through the hell in her life, enamored him even more. Did he love her? Yes!

The government had him now. It didn’t take him long to realize they’d framed him for Roxanne’s murder, then got his case dismissed when he agreed to become their agent.

The problem was, Sydney may still think him guilty of murder. The agency didn’t give him time to discuss the dismissal of charges against him. All he could tell her was the government needed him and he was catching an early morning flight.

Primed For Revenge, Sydney Jones Series Book 1 is available online and at your favorite bookstores in ebook and paperback format now! 

Amazon

B&N

Books-A-Million

Google Play

KOBO

Smashwords

Foyles – UK

Book Blurb 

Practicing law in a large partnership, Sydney Jones was primed for making partner. Then her life turned upside down after a disagreement with her boss at Birdman & Birdman.

Leaving the office, she was swiftly kidnapped and taken to her assailants’ hideaway, beaten, and raped. With no memory of whom she has put her at a disadvantage with her captors. Through gritted teeth, she promised a day of repercussions for their actions while mentally visualizing her revenge.

Warned by her assailants to keep her mouth shut or else, she was delivered to her home. Not recognizing her former living quarters, she was careful in exploring her options for regaining her memory.

Piecing together the reasons for her kidnapping brought her into contact with people, some she could trust and others risky. The problem was the amnesia prevented her from recognizing the difference.

Tapped for a crime once nudged her toward caution for something afoul was going on at Birdman & Birdman. She prepared for a fight. With a vision of fury, she made a chilling decision – never to be a victim again.

Sign me up!

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New Mystery-Thriller: Chance A-Novel

Quote of the Day: “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” Ernest Hemingway

Latest News

Chance A-Novel is now available at Amazon and you can read FREE with Kindle Unlimited. For mystery lovers who enjoy reading paperbacks, order yours here.

Thank you to all the readers and fans that supported this new release. You made the birthday celebration for Chance A-Novel a wonderful success. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Chance A-Novel Paperback Preview
Chance A-Novel Paperback Preview

For Mystery Lovers

You can download and read this new mystery-thriller, Chance A-Novel today, and be ready for some juicy conversations during the holiday season.

About Chance A-Novel

Walker didn’t plan to fall in love with Sydney. He blamed their closeness in proximity, horrid circumstances in her life, and no friends but a paid confidant to comfort her. There was no one to hold her in their arms, and that’s what the lady needed–to cry and release the pain in her life. Sydney struck a chord in his heart. Her beauty, along with her spark to keep going through the hell in her life, enamored him even more. Did he love her? Yes! The government had him now. It didn’t take him long to realize they’d framed him for Roxanne’s murder, then got his case dismissed when he agreed to become their agent. The problem was, Sydney may still think him guilty of murder. The agency didn’t give him time to discuss the dismissal of charges against him. All he could tell her was the government needed him and he was catching an early morning flight. When Sydney Jones’s bodyguard and lover, Walker, is framed by the CIA for the murder of a has-been rock star he once guarded, he has to leave the only woman he ever truly loved and go undercover for them or be found guilty and thrown in jail for life. He’s not even allowed to tell Sydney where he’s going or what he’s doing; he just has to…disappear.

Goodreads Giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chance by Carolyn M. Bowen

Chance

by Carolyn M. Bowen

Giveaway ends December 01, 2019.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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Reader’s Fun Giveaway

Reader’s Favorite Fun Giveaway

Book Blogger, Summer Giveaway

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Quote of the Day:  “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Spring is about new beginnings and having fun with beach season right around the corner. The days grow longer when the summer solstice arrives June 21st.  I can’t think of a better way to kick start the season than with a fun giveaway for loyal and new readers. Let the fun begin!

Game Plan

Hit the subscribe (follow) button and share on Twitter tagging me with your favorite quote, scene, or why you like a certain character from any of my novels. Use hashtag: #ReadersGiveaway

Novels by Carolyn M. Bowen

Cross-Ties, The Long Road Home, and Primed For Revenge, The Sydney Jones Series Book 1.

For example Cross-Ties – quote “Bless Your Heart,” Leah figured out the southern meaning behind the phrase. It wasn’t as expected. #ReadersGiveaway

Winner Prizes

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Carolyn Bowen’s book of your choice and a $25 gift certificate. The winner is selected by the most tweets with the hashtag #ReadersGiveaway – Deadline midnight June 21st.

Deadline: Midnight -June 21st

Thanks for following my blog/newsletter. I hope to see you on Twitter soon sharing this fun giveaway.

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Book Review: Livia Lone by Barry Eisler

Quote for Today:  “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.” —Norman Vincent Peale

Spring 2019

Spring is in the air and I’m enjoying my writing life – reading and working on book 2 of the Sydney Jones Series. As you know, I rotate my reading from craft, marketing, to the mystery-thriller genre. This is my latest read. Hope you’ll give this gripping fiction a shot!

Livia Lone (Livia Lone, #1)Livia Lone by Barry Eisler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Livia Lone opens the dialog for talking about human trafficking. It’s a worldwide criminal operation partnering for taking and fulfilling orders for people, against their will, to be distributed worldwide. This fictional account shows the political corruption and horrors associated with this heinous crime.

The psychological effects of abuse take on many forms and we get a front row seat to seeing Livia deal with years of childhood and early adulthood abuse. The suspense of not knowing if her sister is dead or alive after both were sold by their parents in Thailand haunts her.

The love for her sister keeps her going. Learning how to defend them both was her objective. She excelled at martial arts, studied criminal justice and became a cop with one purpose in mind – find and free her sister. What she did with her new found knowledge crosses the line, but it fit her agenda – vendetta against those who caused their suffering.

Barry Eisler weaves a tale of deceit that’ll keep you turning pages. In the end, you’ll be ready for the next in the series.

View all my reviews

I look forward to this new season and connecting with mystery lovers here and on social media. Carolyn Bowen

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Valentine’s Day 2019

Valentine's Day 2019, Carolyn M. Bowen
Valentine’s Day 2019

Quote for Today: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Lao Tzu

A simple definition for Valentine’s Day: A holiday for expressing love to the one you have an intense feeling of deep affection. This translates to one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, florists, and chocolate companies.

History of Valentine’s Day

The auspicious beginning of this holiday has been filtered through the ages. The lasting legacy is about Saint Valentine. It is the story about a romantic priest who defied Roman Emperor Claudius II’s order that all marriages and engagements be canceled so he could fill his army.

The ruler believed the difficulty in recruiting soldiers was because the men were married. When he discovered that Valentine was secretly marrying couples, he was beaten and put to death on February 14 (circa 270 A.D.). 

Through the ages, Valentine’s Day celebrations have changed and some would argue its luster has been lost. Yet, love never fails. Share your love with someone special this Valentine’s Day.

Suggested Reading

Carolyn Bowen, Cross-Ties

Cross-Ties – Adventure/Romance

“Great epic story of love, life, and loss” Amazon Reviewer

Follow my blog for the latest about my new releases, giveaways and more! Thank you, Carolyn Bowen

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Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success!

Quote of the Day: It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. Herman Melville

Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success, Carolyn Bowen Author
Photo credit: Pixabay

I was reflecting on my self-help personal development book, Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success, and decided to lower the paperback price to $7.99 as a limited offer.

I realized early on there are many people who aren’t computer savvy or just prefer a book in their hands. This is the reason it’s offered as a paperback. For ebook readers, it’s available FREE with Kindle Unlimited and just $2.99 to download and read.

This bite-sized personal development book was originally conceptualized as an e-book but shortly after beginning the dedication, I realized the person referred to would prefer to hold the book. And, come to find out, many more people would enjoy the same privilege. And, unfortunately, these people aren’t reviewers but they let me know on a personal level how much the book meant to them. Thank you!

Although reviews help sell books, personal comments are more than welcome and keep me energized for writing more. Changing lives one step at a time for the better is my goal for writing personal development books.

Many folks considered elderly by some standards are no different than as any other segment of our society. They can begin again. My life experiences have shown you’re alive for a reason. So, never give up! You’ll find in Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success examples of many who didn’t find their true purpose in life until their later years. Don’t let age be a detriment. Hit the refresh button and begin again!

For the youthful readers, thank you for letting me be on the sidelines of your personal journey. I’m cheering for you! Finding your place in this world seems overwhelming at times, but if you break it down to the basics you’ll find your way. Having made more mistakes than a few in finding my path, forgive yourself when you blunder – that’s life. Just think how exciting your memoirs will be!

Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success, Carolyn M. Bowen

I’m considering writing a sequel to Cross-Stepping and would appreciate knowing the problems you’re facing and the successes you’ve experienced. What seems to be the problem (s) for your experiencing your best life now? Fill in the contact form below to start the discussions. I can’t wait to commence this dialog.

Thank you for reading and sharing Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success! In developing this transformation book, I thought if just one life was changed from reading it, I was a part of a breakthrough for that individual. This is truly a happy place to be!

About Cross-Stepping Your Way To Success!

When surfers hit the waters, they use a technique called cross-stepping or moving their weight forward and backward to stay standing. Cross-stepping isn’t just a good idea for surfers, though – you, too, can metaphorically use the same strategy of zig-zagging motions to achieve success.

In “Cross-Stepping Your Way to Success,” career coach Carolyn Bowen shows you how to zig-zag your way to success one step at a time. She examines grieving, life planning, owning your power, becoming health conscious, learning to love again, and more.

With “Cross-Stepping Your Way to Success,” you’ll discover how to maintain your balance on the choppy waters of life!

CAROLYN BOWEN was into life planning and career development before it was cool! With extensive advanced studies in psychology, adult learning, and career development, she has the background to guide you in becoming the best possible you! She’s not only walked the walk but perhaps can save you a few steps in finding your niche – your purpose in life. She knows how to master cross-stepping as a surfer and life coach. She can guide you in avoiding wipe-outs while discovering your niche – your purpose in life. She’s a well-read and beloved mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous imaginative spirit to create entertaining novels. Her writing credits include “Cross-Ties,” a historical romance, and “The Long Road Home,” a contemporary crime fiction mystery.

Thank you for following my blog and connecting on social media. I appreciate your support. Carolyn M. Bowen

Let’s Connect on Social Media!

These are a few of my favorite social media hangouts! Drop by and say hello!

Goodreads

Twitter

Love picture ideas? Me, too.  Pinners Follow Here!

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Holiday Greetings 2018

Quote of the Day: “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ― Hamilton Wright Mabie

Happy Holidays 2018, The Writing Life, Carolyn M. Bowen

Are you counting down to celebrating this holiday season? Excitement is in the air as we approach Christmas Day. Families’ traveling home for the holidays makes me feel warm and fuzzy. What are your Christmas plans?

Happy Holidays 2018, The Writing Life, Carolyn M. Bowen

How are you traveling this season? Whether by train, plane, or automobile always carry a great mystery read with you. Look no further than books by Carolyn M. Bowen for entertainment.

Mystery Book Reviewers Wanted

Carolyn M. Bowen, The Writing Life, books

Are you a book reviewer or blogger? Here’s a chance for the first glance of my new mystery available for pre-order after the New Year. Sign up here to receive your free ebook.

From my house to yours – happy holidays! Carolyn Bowen

Thank you for following my blog and connecting on social media. I appreciate your support. Carolyn M. Bowen

Let’s Connect on Social Media!

These are a few of my favorite social media hangouts! Drop by and say hello!

Goodreads

Twitter

Love picture ideas? Me, too.  Pinners Follow Here!

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The Modern Rules of Marketing for Writers

Quote of the Day: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Modern Rules of Marketing for Writers, The Writing Life, Carolyn Bowen Author
Photo credit: Pixabay

Yes, I’m hyper anticipating my new mystery novel coming out soon. So – I read – and read more to make my jittery nerves relax.

This book got my attention – maybe because I love Hemi trucks – they can pull a boat so I can ski on any lake/river/ocean accessible by land. I think you get it – crazy about water sports. And, I love knowing the latest marketing news! But, can I do what’s recommended?  Stay-tuned.

Today’s book world is about learning and using the right communication and tools to reach your audience. The creative process and techniques for delivering the best marketing campaign to boost book/s to the bestseller list is a long and curvy road. I have been fortunate – just plain lucky in some instances in the past. However, going forward I will be on a steep learning curve to develop innovative ways to get my stories to be read and reviewed.

I’m old school with Hemingway influence where if you write a great novel everyone should want to read it – right? Times have changed and my writing reflects the current state of affairs in the criminal world. I think people still want to know the interworking of a character’s mind. And, that I can deliver. Maybe market – we’ll see.

Today’s review fits squarely into the marketing model I discussed earlier. How to Sell Books by the Truckload by Penny C. Sansevieri is a keeper. See my review from Goodreads below.
How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon.com - Book One and Two: Get More Sales - Get More Reviews!How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon.com – Book One and Two: Get More Sales – Get More Reviews! by Penny C. Sansevieri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Back your Hemi right on back and fill your truck bed with the best information for promoting your book. This book gives you the nitty-gritty about marketing both fiction and non-fiction.

It’s the equivalent of having your personal marketing expert working for you. The downside – you’ve got to learn the ropes and do it yourself.

I’d love an app that embodies everything this book describes but we all know advertising isn’t stagnant, always moving forward. Yet, you can benefit today from using these carefully researched and proven marketing techniques. Get ready for a mind-blowing experience! Follow this author to keep abreast of the changing marketing environment. Thanks, Penny!

View all my reviews

If you’d like to be an advance reader for my upcoming new mystery, complete the information below and an ebook will be made available for your reading pleasure. Thank you!

December Holidays, Carolyn Bowen Author, The Writing Life
Photo Credit: Pixabay

I share on social media daily. Hope to see you there, too!  Carolyn Bowen

Social Media Hangouts!

These are a few of my favorite social media hangouts! Drop by and say hello!

Goodreads

Twitter

Love picture ideas? Me, too.  Pinners Follow Here!

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