I'm thrilled to present the latest Zoe Chambers Mystery by Annette Dashofy. Uneasy Prey is wonderful — Five Kitties!
Uneasy Prey by Annette Dashofy
Series: A Zoe Chambers Mystery, #6
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
Publisher: Henery Press
Hardcover: 284 pages
ISBN-10: 1635113237
ISBN-13: 978-1635113235
Paperback: 286 pages
ISBN-10: 1635113202
ISBN-13: 978-1635113204
e-Book File Size:585 KB
ASIN: B078RWM8S1
Publisher: Henery Press
Hardcover: 284 pages
ISBN-10: 1635113237
ISBN-13: 978-1635113235
Paperback: 286 pages
ISBN-10: 1635113202
ISBN-13: 978-1635113204
e-Book File Size:585 KB
ASIN: B078RWM8S1
The Blurb
On the way to the emergency room, an elderly woman regains consciousness long enough to inform paramedic Zoe Chambers that her fall down the basement steps was no accident. Before she can say more, she succumbs to her injuries, launching Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams into the investigation of a burglary ring targeting the area’s vulnerable senior citizens.
Zoe — in spite of Pete’s objections — takes it upon herself to act as protection detail after the con men, disguised as water company employees, set their sights on Zoe’s beloved former landlady. It’s a decision that eventually puts Zoe in harm’s way.
With Zoe already recovering from one close call, Pete must race against time to stop the crime ring — and a dangerous killer — before they strike again.
Zoe — in spite of Pete’s objections — takes it upon herself to act as protection detail after the con men, disguised as water company employees, set their sights on Zoe’s beloved former landlady. It’s a decision that eventually puts Zoe in harm’s way.
With Zoe already recovering from one close call, Pete must race against time to stop the crime ring — and a dangerous killer — before they strike again.
The Guest Post
The glamorous life of a mystery author
I’m not sure what most people imagine when they think about a writer’s life. Heck, most people probably don’t think about it at all. Those “what everyone thinks” memes always give me a good laugh. Probably because they’re painfully close to the truth.
For years, I struggled with finding time to write, just like all aspiring authors do. A couple of hours to spend with my story was a delicious luxury. I dreamed about the day I signed a mega-bucks book contract and became independently wealthy, doing what I loved.
Ha. Let me repeat that. Ha.
In reality, my dreams were more meager. I fantasized about spending my mornings writing without interruption and my afternoons reading (because reading equals research and keeping an eye on the competition. Right? Right?)
After ten years of rejections and struggle, I did sign a book contract. No mega-bucks. No wealth. But what about the uninterrupted writing and reading?
Again. Ha.
I have a few published novels under my belt now, so I have something of a routine established. I also understand the reality that my routine will be bent, twisted, and pounded into dirt at least four days a week.
Monday through Friday, I get up at 4:45 a.m. to have coffee with my husband while getting him off to work an hour later. (On Saturday and Sunday, I’m often up at 4:45 a.m. too, because my cat doesn’t understand the concept of sleeping in on weekends). Once Hubby is outta here, if I don’t have anywhere to go that day, I do yoga or workout with weights for half an hour or so before heading to my home office. I would share a photo of my very non-glamorous home office, which is smaller than some walk-in closets, but it’s currently a mess. (Who am I kidding? It’s always a mess.)
On days when I have to do glamorous stuff outside the house (like buy groceries, visit the chiropractor, have the oil changed in my car), I skip the yoga and go straight to my walk-in closet office. I write for an hour or two before the rest of the world intrudes, and that might be all the work I accomplish.
On days when I don’t have to leave the house, I still get that one- or two-hour early bit of writing done, but after breakfast, more coffee, and other glamorous stuff like making the bed and starting the laundry, I return to my office for a couple more hours of writing.
Afternoons on those days (the ones I dreamed would be spent reading) are devoted to the business end of things. Marketing, promotion, bookkeeping, editing, revising, etc. Sometimes, I’m working on more than one book at the same time. As I write this, I’m promoting the upcoming release of Uneasy Prey (#6), I’m working on my editor’s requested revisions to Cry Wolf (#7), and I’m outlining and starting to draft As-Yet-Untitled #8. For me, the drafting happens in the morning. Everything else requires more brain cells (AKA more coffee).
On a productive day, I complete my to-do list by the time Hubby returns home from work. On a crazy-busy or high-interruption day, I’ll return to my office after supper for a few more hours to catch up on any aspect of the business that’s falling behind.
Yes, this is a business. The act of writing may be thought of as an art or craft, but publication is strictly business.
Granted, it’s the kind of business where some (most) days I don’t get out of my pajamas until lunchtime, if then. It’s the kind of business where I wear moccasins instead of high heels. I may not spend every afternoon with my feet up, reading the latest bestseller, but I do, on occasion, have the honor of being asked to read and blurb advanced copies of future bestsellers!
I’m living my dream. Glamor, after all, is highly overrated.
For years, I struggled with finding time to write, just like all aspiring authors do. A couple of hours to spend with my story was a delicious luxury. I dreamed about the day I signed a mega-bucks book contract and became independently wealthy, doing what I loved.
Ha. Let me repeat that. Ha.
In reality, my dreams were more meager. I fantasized about spending my mornings writing without interruption and my afternoons reading (because reading equals research and keeping an eye on the competition. Right? Right?)
After ten years of rejections and struggle, I did sign a book contract. No mega-bucks. No wealth. But what about the uninterrupted writing and reading?
Again. Ha.
I have a few published novels under my belt now, so I have something of a routine established. I also understand the reality that my routine will be bent, twisted, and pounded into dirt at least four days a week.
Monday through Friday, I get up at 4:45 a.m. to have coffee with my husband while getting him off to work an hour later. (On Saturday and Sunday, I’m often up at 4:45 a.m. too, because my cat doesn’t understand the concept of sleeping in on weekends). Once Hubby is outta here, if I don’t have anywhere to go that day, I do yoga or workout with weights for half an hour or so before heading to my home office. I would share a photo of my very non-glamorous home office, which is smaller than some walk-in closets, but it’s currently a mess. (Who am I kidding? It’s always a mess.)
On days when I have to do glamorous stuff outside the house (like buy groceries, visit the chiropractor, have the oil changed in my car), I skip the yoga and go straight to my walk-in closet office. I write for an hour or two before the rest of the world intrudes, and that might be all the work I accomplish.
On days when I don’t have to leave the house, I still get that one- or two-hour early bit of writing done, but after breakfast, more coffee, and other glamorous stuff like making the bed and starting the laundry, I return to my office for a couple more hours of writing.
Afternoons on those days (the ones I dreamed would be spent reading) are devoted to the business end of things. Marketing, promotion, bookkeeping, editing, revising, etc. Sometimes, I’m working on more than one book at the same time. As I write this, I’m promoting the upcoming release of Uneasy Prey (#6), I’m working on my editor’s requested revisions to Cry Wolf (#7), and I’m outlining and starting to draft As-Yet-Untitled #8. For me, the drafting happens in the morning. Everything else requires more brain cells (AKA more coffee).
On a productive day, I complete my to-do list by the time Hubby returns home from work. On a crazy-busy or high-interruption day, I’ll return to my office after supper for a few more hours to catch up on any aspect of the business that’s falling behind.
Yes, this is a business. The act of writing may be thought of as an art or craft, but publication is strictly business.
Granted, it’s the kind of business where some (most) days I don’t get out of my pajamas until lunchtime, if then. It’s the kind of business where I wear moccasins instead of high heels. I may not spend every afternoon with my feet up, reading the latest bestseller, but I do, on occasion, have the honor of being asked to read and blurb advanced copies of future bestsellers!
I’m living my dream. Glamor, after all, is highly overrated.
The Author
About Annette Dashofy
Annette has spent her entire life in rural Pennsylvania surrounded by cattle and horses. When she wasn’t roaming the family’s farm or playing in the barn, she could be found reading or writing.
After high school, she spent five years as an EMT on the local ambulance service, dealing with everything from drunks passing out on the sidewalk to mangled bodies in car accidents.
These days, Annette, her husband, and their two spoiled cats live on property that was once part of her grandfather’s dairy.
Her short fiction, including a 2007 Derringer nominee which features the same characters as her novels, has appeared in Mysterical-e, Spinetingler, Fish Tales: the Guppy Anthology, and Lucky Charms: 12 Crime Tales.
After high school, she spent five years as an EMT on the local ambulance service, dealing with everything from drunks passing out on the sidewalk to mangled bodies in car accidents.
These days, Annette, her husband, and their two spoiled cats live on property that was once part of her grandfather’s dairy.
Her short fiction, including a 2007 Derringer nominee which features the same characters as her novels, has appeared in Mysterical-e, Spinetingler, Fish Tales: the Guppy Anthology, and Lucky Charms: 12 Crime Tales.
Find Annette on the web at
The Giveaway
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