Buddies since we both won the War of 1812! I was honoured to be asked by seven American author friends to join their blog tour, and what a great time it’s been. The mystery-crime writing community has always been amazingly generous, offering help and promotion and moral support.

            The legendary Earl Staggs led off my tour, the lucky rooster in the hen house. Earl won the Derringer Short Fiction Award. You won’t soon forget his Memory of a Murder, nor the gems in his collection of short stories. Visit his corral at http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com/

            Next up was Utah’s Mary Martinez, a grandma with murder on her mind. Disappear will send chills down your spine. Sip a tea in her garden at http://marysbooksblogger.blogspot.ca/

            Marja McGraw sent her characters time-travelling to an 1880 ghost town. Learn why Old Murders Never Die. Then stroll back to the Old West with her at http://www.marjamcgraw.com/

            Make way for Marilyn Meredith, an icon of romantic suspense, mystery, and even a stab at religious horror in over thirty books. Her latest, No Bells, is from award-winning Oak Tree Press.  Ring her up at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

            Clocking in fifth was Anne K. Albert. A spinner of bold tales, she’s also a winner at titles with Frank, Incense, and Muriel, which also won the 2011 Holt Medallion Award. Discover the wisdom at http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com/

            Yet another M initial doubled is M.M.Gornell. With several novels under her belt, she’s looking for mystery kicks on her Route 66 series with Reticence of Ravens. Cruise on over to http://www.mmgornell.wordpress.com

            Jean Henry Mead,  RVing in the sunny desert, steps in as the final seventh. Her award-winning photojournalism along with the latest of seventeen novels, A Village Shattered, can be documented at www.jeanhenrymead.com/

            Every author included a free book draw, and the winner of my And on the Surface Die, which kicks off my Vancouver Island series starring  RCMP Corporal Holly Martin at the Fossil Bay Detachment is….drum roll…..

Janet Kerr! From her comment, Janet seems to live “around the corner” from my magical island where only yesterday I had a “long flight” of cider tastings at the Sea Cidery in Saanich. That means eight ciders, from dry to liqueur.  We also have tons of wineries and even a meadery on the magical island.Today it’s back to walking the clear cuts with an eye open for bears and cougars.

Thanks, everyone, for joining the tour. If you’ve missed any of these blogs, scroll back and pay a visit.