Facebook

04 August 2018

Saturday Spotlight | "Numbers Never Lie" By Diane Burton

In addition to the usual blog posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday about our eccentric travel adventures and day-to-day life living aboard a sailboat, I also occasionally post on Saturdays, focusing on things related to writing such as cover reveals, book launches, reviews, interviews with authors etc. So if you're a bit of a book nerd like I am, check in on Saturdays - you never know what might pop up.

* * *

Today I'm featuring Diane Burton and the release of her romantic suspense book, Numbers Never Lie. I love suspense and I'm a sucker for romance, so this sounds like a great read.




Thank you so much Ellen for inviting me to your blog. I’m hoping to meet Simon the Time Traveling Cat. Is he around? [Editor's Note: Sorry, Simon isn't here today. He's off chasing lizards. I'll tell him you said hi.]

Ellen and I are members of the Insecure Writers Support Group that meets on the first Wednesday of each month. We can write about our insecurities and successes, ask or give advice. Each month we have an optional question, in the event we can’t think of something. This month, I wrote about Life changes—how Life can throw you a curve and set you on a path you didn’t expect and probably didn’t want to be on. It happens. How we deal with it is more important.

On Monday, I was on Maureen L. Bonatch’s blog and talked about this very thing. Not to repeat a post, I’d like to touch on a slightly different aspect. When the stresses from family and/or the paying job get you down, when you had your path all planned out, suddenly everything changes. You try to handle everything. After all, you know authors who get up at five in the morning to write, you know or have read about writers who keep going no matter what Life throws at them.

Some of us just can’t do it all. Stress can keep us from sleeping. So while we’re dealing with family issues, a spouse losing her/his job, whatever, we find we can’t write. Your creative muse went on vacation without you. You don’t have the energy to do it all.

That’s when guilt sets in. You should be writing, but you can’t. You’re beyond tired, you’re exhausted. “What’s the matter with me?” Others can do it, why can’t I? Here’s a news flash: you aren’t other writers. None of us know what they’re going through and what sacrifices they are making. You are you. Put guilt aside. Don’t worry about the unfinished manuscript. If you’re under contract, talk to your editor. They’re understanding. They’d rather know sooner than later. If the deadline is one of your own making, do yourself a favor and postpone it. Most importantly, shove guilt out the door. The story will be there, even fifteen years later.

Does it sound like I know about this first hand? It should. And I had the guilt that accompanied all that stress. But, as I just said, the story will be there. Fifteen years ago, I started NUMBERS NEVER DIE, a romantic suspense. Life threw me one of those curves. No, make that three nasty curves. The story had to be set aside—no energy, creative or otherwise. This winter, I dragged that story out of floppy disks (remember those?) and finished that story. I think it’s even better than it would have been fifteen years ago.

NUMBERS NEVER LIE
A Romantic Suspense
By Diane Burton
Release Date: July 9, 2018
Length: approx. 80,000 words
Available at Amazon http://a.co/gUmO9wZ
Free with Kindle Unlimited

BLURB

A shocking secret brings danger to Jack Sinclair and his sister Maggie.

As kids, they were the fearless threesome. As adults, Jack's an accountant; Drew, a lawyer; Maggie, a teacher and camping troop leader. Upon returning from a weekend camping trip, Maggie receives horrifying news. She refuses to believe her brother Jack’s fatal car crash was an accident. If the police won’t investigate, she’ll do it herself. Convincing Drew Campbell to help is her only recourse.

Drew Campbell was too busy to return his best friend’s phone call. Too busy to attend a camping meeting important to his teen daughter. Too busy to stay in touch with Jack. Logic and reason indicate Jack’s accident was just that--an accident caused by fatigue and fog. Prodded by guilt, he’ll help Maggie even if he thinks she’s wrong.

A break-in at Jack’s condo convinces Maggie she’s right. Then her home is searched. What did Jack do that puts Maggie in danger?

EXCERPT

During lunch, Jack asked about the camping equipment in the garage. “I thought your camping days were over when Trish moved away.”

As it often did, Maggie’s eyes teared up at the thought of Trish Morrow. They’d been best friends since kindergarten. A natural born leader, Trish could get anybody to do anything—like conning Maggie into helping with the group of pre-teen campers. Last summer, after eight months of unemployment, Trish’s husband took a job in Denver. Trish and the kids followed, and there went the leader of the group.

“We’ve been meeting,” Maggie said around the lump in her throat.

“Suck-er.” Jack grinned. “How many volunteer jobs do you have now? Little League umpire, peewee hockey ref, high school girls’ baseball coach—”

“I get paid for that one,” she interrupted. “Can I help it if the girls wanted to get together to talk?”

“From the camping equipment you were loading into your SUV, it looks like you’re going to do more than talk.”

She shrugged. “They still want to go to Isle Royale. Their theory is if they practice camping all summer and into the fall, Trish will come back for the trip next summer. We’re going on an overnight camping trip tomorrow.”

“You got another mother to help chaperone?”

Maggie grimaced. “Not exactly.”

He dropped his sandwich. “You aren’t taking the girls by yourself? That’s crazy.”

“Add in irresponsible, brother dear. Which I’m not. I’d never take kids on a trip without another adult.” She eyed him with an appraising expression.

Jack held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I’m up to my eyeballs in work.”

“Don’t worry. I wasn’t going to ask you, although it did cross my mind.”

“So, who’s helping you with the troop?” Jack pulled a couple of grapes off the stems and popped them into his mouth.

“Ellen’s dad.”

Jack started to choke. She jumped up ready to do the Heimlich until he laughed. She considered whacking him on the back on general principle.

“Drew? Drew Campbell? The guy whose idea of casual is loosening his tie?”

At least, Jack’s tired expression was gone. She tapped her short, no-nonsense fingernails on the table. “I’m so glad I could provide entertainment with lunch.”

He continued to laugh—almost braying.

“I’m loaning him your sleeping bag and backpack.” She worked hard not to smirk.

“What! You’re loaning out my camping equipment?”

“He’s your friend. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Jack started to laugh again. “Oh, God. I wish I could be there to watch.” He went off again, laughing so hard tears formed until he wiped them away. “Drew Campbell wimped out of Cub Scouts.”

Numbers Never Lie is available at Amazon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides writing science fiction romance, she writes romantic suspense, and cozy mysteries. Diane and her husband live in West Michigan. They have two children and five grandchildren.

For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com







Connect with Diane Burton online at Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Sign up for Diane’s new release alert: http://eepurl.com/bdHtYf


Do you like romantic suspense? Are you going to pick up a copy of Numbers Never Lie? What have you been reading lately?

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi.

19 comments:

  1. Thanks for having me here, Ellen. I'm sorry to miss Simon. I hope he doesn't bring any lizards inside. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was lovely to have you here :-) Simon says hi and wants to know where he should leave your lizard for you.

      Delete
    2. Can Simon ship the lizard to Michigan? Tell him thanks so much.

      Delete
  2. I loved the excerpt! This books sounds so great!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great advice! Loved the excerpt. Best of luck with book!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the reminder, Diane -- we each need to honor our mind, body and spirit and not compare ourselves to others!
    Good luck and God's blessings
    PamT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so right, Pam. We need to remind ourselves of that. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  5. No one knows the whole story about another person, so you are right about doing what’s best for yourself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sort of like the old Native American saying about how we don't know a person until we've walked a mile in her/his moccasins. Thanks.

      Delete
  6. You know that old saying, never judge a person until you walked a mile in their shoes or something like that. I have to admit that I enjoy my life now, more than I've ever enjoyed it the past 22 years married to my husband. We've been through it all. But we still love each other, and that's what counts. I can't wait to read your book, Diane. You write terrific stories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG, Connie. I just responded above and said the same thing. Thanks so much!!!

      Delete
  7. Great advice from Diane! A story doesn't have a time limit and it's wonderful that we can pick something up again and make it even better through life experience. Guilt and worry will only detract from that and sap your energy. Congrats on the release.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nick. It's a lot of work rewriting or finishing an old story. This one was worth it.

      Delete
  8. How fantastic you didn't let the story die! This makes me very happy. Best wishes and Happy Writing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Daria. Some books just take longer than others. BTW, I named the main character in my 1st romantic suspense, One Red Shoe, Daria. I've never known a Daria before. Glad to meet you.

      Delete
  9. I'm so happy that your story, and you, persevered!

    ReplyDelete

We LOVE when people leave comments. It's so much more fun hearing what you have to say. If you have a blog, make sure you leave a link and I'll be sure to pop on by.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.