Logo design by Kiersten Foster.
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In this newsletter ...
Welcome to all new subscribers!
This month's newsletter features Jamie Lynn Hendricks, author of IT COULD BE ANYONE, a thriller that releases May 31. Read my interview with Jamie and find out more about the April 12 release of NEVER BROKEN in this issue. Keep scrolling and you will find updates on my own writing journey and on the happenings at the Foster homestead as well. Look for a complete list of book launch events below.
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NEVER BROKEN: Releasing April 12 |
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“A dark, gripping plot and a daring main character you can’t help but
fall in love with. It’s my first Lisa Jamison mystery but it won’t be
my last!”
– Steve Hamilton, Edgar-Winning Author of The Lock Artist and the Alex McKnight series
“Smart, brave, and filled with compassion,
journalist Lisa Jamison is the perfect sleuth for these challenging
times. Add in a plot that keeps readers guessing, and you get Never Broken, the stay-up-late-can’t-wait-to-read-the-next-chapter latest release by Lori Duffy Foster.”
– Elena Taylor, author of All We Buried and the Eddie Shoes Mysteries
“Kindhearted, tenacious, and fearless newspaper reporter Lisa Jamison wants answers no matter the cost. Lori Duffy Foster’s Never Broken
is a compelling mystery that explores the resiliency of the human
spirit. A page-turner with a protagonist we can all root for.”
– Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries
More early reviews from readers:
"This one will keep you on the edge of your seat." - Elaine, Goodreads
"This novel is truly un-putdownable, with each chapter compelling you to read the next. Beautifully written, dramatic, and exciting to the end." - Cathi, Goodreads
"This was a really gripping read, with so many well developed characters, and an amazing storyline." - Melanie, Goodreads
"This was a fascinating, consciousness-raising novel." - Patricia, Goodreads
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If you read and enjoyed my books, please consider clicking on a rating or leaving a review on your favorite website, such as Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Book Bub. Reviews are important to newbies like me, who are also published by small presses. We greatly appreciate them.
A DEAD MAN'S EYES, book 1 in the Lisa Jamison mystery series and now an AGATHA AWARD nominee, is available through any of these links or from your favorite book store.
Contact me at lori@loriduffyfoster.com for a signed copy.
Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Bookshop.org Apple Books Kobo BAM Walmart Powell's
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Meet Jaime Lynn Hendricks
Jaime Lynn Hendricks's debut novel, Finding Tessa, was called "an anxiety fueled ride rife with unexpected left turns" by Publishers Weekly, and won a "Best of 2021" in the debut category from Suspense Magazine. It is also available in UK & Commonwealth under the title His Missing Wife.
It Could Be Anyone, out May 31, 2022, is described as "Riveting from its opening scene" by bestselling author Robyn Harding. NYT Bestselling author Mary Kubica said it "starts with a bang and never lets up."
Jaime spent over twenty years in the printing industry before becoming an author, and now divides her time between NJ and FL with her husband and dog.
About It Could Be Anyone
Murder
motives abound when the groom dies at a destination wedding in this new novel
by the author of Finding Tessa.
To
anyone on their flight out of New York, they appear to be five best friends excited
for a destination wedding in Miami. No one would guess that each of them has a
reason to want the groom dead.
Trevor
Vaughn, the groom in question, wooed his bride-to-be by first becoming close
with her friends—which is to say that he learned all of the five’s darkest,
most dangerous secrets and blackmailed them into convincing Fiona to say “I
do.” The friends were forced to convince a doubting Fiona to go through with
the wedding, no matter what, and now the charade is set to continue all the way
to the altar.
Trevor
has his own reasons for wanting to marry into Fiona’s family, and he’ll stop at
nothing to make his plan a reality. But when he dies of an apparent allergic
reaction at the wedding, surrounded by such close enemies, the possibility of
murder isn’t far behind. And for the authorities investigating the case, anyone
present could be a suspect...
A
suspenseful tale of a deadly destination wedding, It Could Be Anyone is
a twisty domestic thriller that will appeal to readers of Liane Moriarty, May
Cobb, and Lisa Jewell; its unforgettable characters and unpredictable plot will
stay with you long after the last page.
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Q: What inspired you to write your first novel?
Jaime: My FIRST novel or my first published novel? There was a long ride in between those! I wrote the very first around 2012-2013, one hundred percent fiction but based on something that happened to me that could’ve turned out a very different way. It was women’s fiction with a twist. The problem was, I finished, edited it once for grammar, sent it to my friends who loved it. Then I sat back waiting for the agents to fight over me, a book deal at auction, and movie rights. Well, any published writer will tell you that’s the very worst thing you can do. I knew how to tell a story, but I didn’t know how to write. That was something I had to learn. I didn’t get agented until my fifth novel, and I learning everything you need to along the way—reading in my genre for structure and pace, critique partners, classes, conferences, and making friends with other authors going through the same journey. That was the most beneficial—helping each other.
Q: Why thrillers?
Jaime: I like surprises and having my mind blown. Reading had become hard for me once I became a serious author since I was always looking for the twist. When someone can throw in a plot twist that I never see coming, I appreciate that. In my first women’s fiction, I ended up having someone killed, so I realized I like murdering characters too! Thrillers all the way.
Q: How do you feel when you write your most suspenseful scenes?
Jaime: I don’t plot, so those scenes are the most fun. I get an idea and kind of just flow with it. Sometimes something suspenseful starts to happen and I didn’t even realize it was going to go that way, so I immerse myself into the world I’d created. I let my characters shock me. Most times, I don’t even know who my bad guy is because things change so much along the way.
Q: In a previous interview, you say you read two to three suspense novels a week. How do you find the time? Do you read other genres as well?
Jaime: I'm lucky enough to have a supportive husband and writing is my full-time job. If I'm not actively writing a manuscript, I'm reading a book. I keep up with all the new releases because it’s research. Because of this, I stick to thrillers only. However, if an author friend of mine writes something that deviates, I’ll buy and read to be supportive, but in general it’s all thrillers. Thankfully they’re in abundance! Such amazing books coming out every week. I can hardly keep up (but I do!).
Q: We all get negative reviews now and then. Do you read them? How do you deal with them?
Jaime: No one is going to like every book. Some of my favorites get horrible reviews, so I keep that in mind—subjective! At first, I read them obsessively—like, obsessively—hitting refresh every ten minutes. That’s not the way to handle stress levels! I think every first-time author does that though, because our first reads are always critique partners and trusted friends who will always give us great reviews to start off. It’s when complete strangers get the book in their hands that we start to worry. With Finding Tessa, I stopped reading them after about 100 reviews. I already bailed on reviews for It Could Be Anyone after about 20. I think most authors are like that too—one negative review can instantly cancel out the ten amazing ones that came before it. It’s not worth it. Industry professionals (my agent and my editor) thought it was publishable, so I can't worry about everyone else’s opinion.
Q: Your debut novel released almost a year ago. How is the experience different this time around, or is it?
Jaime: It’s different in the fact that I'm getting more support from strangers—strangers who have become friends over the last year. I truly believe the Bookstagram community on Instagram is the best. First time around, I didn’t know anyone, and this time around everyone is blasting the title and the cover beforehand, so it’s an amazing feeling.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?
Jaime: Yes, for anyone who wants a traditional publishing deal, I say this because I already went through it, so they hopefully won't have to: publishing is a business. Full stop. You may love your project, and your friends and family may love it, but unless you learn the business side of publishing, you're climbing an uphill battle. Do everything you can to make sure your book is its best version before you go hunting for an agent or a small press. Rejection is paramount in this business—I had hundreds of rejections on my first four manuscripts—and a bunch on my fifth! Even when you finally land your dream agent, then the rejections start pouring in from editors. Perseverance is key, chin up, and you’ve got this!
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This is where you will find me virtually and in person!
(For the always-updated website version, click here.)
News and Events
Never Broken is only a week away from finding its place on bookstore shelves! Here is a calendar of book launch events. I would love to meet you or see you again if you have a chance to stop by.
For signed copies of books, please email me at lori@loriduffyfoster.com.
April 11, The Knoxville Public Library, 112 E. Main Street, Knoxville, PA, 6:30 p.m. NEVER BROKEN book launch celebration!
Get your copy of book 2 in the Lisa Jamison Mystery Series one night
before the official release. I will be reading from NEVER BROKEN and
selling and signing books. Refreshments will be available. I hope to see
you there!
April 22 – 24, Malice Domestic 2022, Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. I
can’t wait! I will be celebrating the release of NEVER BROKEN at this
conference and my debut novel, A DEAD MAN’S EYES, since last year’s
conference was cancelled. The slate of honored guests is amazing. Malice
Domestic is for both writers and fans of mystery fiction of all sub
genres. There is still time to register!
April 29, Barnes & Noble, Consumer Square Plaza 821, County Rd 64, Elmira, noon to 2 p.m.,
book signing. Our local store is once again hosting book signings and I
am thrilled to be among the first authors to do a live event since the
pandemic began! Copies of NEVER BROKEN and A DEAD MAN’S EYES will be
available. I hope to see you there!
April 30, Barnes & Noble, 3956 NY-31, Liverpool, NY, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Book signing. I am excited to return to Central New York, the setting
of the Lisa Jamison Mystery Series, and to the bookstore I frequented
most often during my reporting days for a book signing.
May 7, Sabinsville Spring Fling, Sabinsville, PA, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This
was so much fun last year that I can’t wait to do it again! Sabinsville
is tiny community, but the festivals draws more than forty vendors and
loads of people, many of whom are looking for unique, last-minute
Mother’s Day gifts. So, if your mom loves mysteries, I’ll be there to
hook you up!
May 14, Dormann Library, 101 West Morris St., Bath, NY, 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by and visit with fellow mystery authors Carol Pouliot, Lissa Redmond and I. We will be selling and signing books, and we would love to meet you!
May 18, Bradford County Library, 16093 Route 6, Troy, PA, 6 p.m. Join me for a night of mystery as I read from NEVER BROKEN,
talk about my books and my publish journey and answer any questions you
might have about the books, writing or publishing. It will be fun. I
promise!
June 11, Local Author Day, The Windmill Farm & Craft Market, 3900 NY-14A, Penn Yan, NY, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This
is a new event for The Windmill, which is host to over 175 indoor and
outdoor shops filled with hand crafted items too numerous to count on
Saturday and Sundays from April through November. It’s a awesome venue
and I am thrilled to take part in this. I will selling and signing books
with lots of other authors from the area.
September 8 – 11, Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN.
Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery
and detective fiction. This will be the first in-person Bouchercon since
Covid and I cannot wait! I hope to see you there!
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The strange weather patterns made for light syrup production this year. This photo is of the last batch of the season. We made enough to last us until the next season and to give away a few bottles to family and friends, but that's it. It's a bummer because we enjoy giving lots of syrup away throughout the year. Fingers crossed for better production next year. This is probably a good thing though. Making maple syrup is time-consuming and I have a book launch coming up. :)
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What's up with my books?
Launch time!
NEVER BROKEN launches next week!
Can you believe that?
Next week!
On April 12.
Less than two weeks later, I head to Malice Domestic in Bethesda, Maryland, where I will find out whether I won an Agatha Award for my first novel, A DEAD MAN'S EYES. I am not holding my breath. The other novels up for the Best First Novel award are amazing and one, in particular, has had much more exposure than my book. But I don't mind at all. Just having my novel nominated has been a tremendous honor. While I travel and work to promote NEVER BROKEN, I am also working hard on two other projects. I am putting the finishing touches on my debut thriller, NEVER LET GO, before submitting the manuscript to my editor, and I am nearly done with NO TIME TO BREATHE, book three in the Lisa Jamsion Mystery Series. NEVER LET GO releases in December. NO TIME TO BREATHE will release a year from now in April. I am already thinking about book four in the Lisa Jamison series.
More on that another time!
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What's up at home?
Maple syrup season is over, so it's time to focus on the garden, track meets and the school musical. It's been a strange year for our two youngest, who are in the ninth grade. Their high school in Jasper, NY, was destroyed by floods in the fall, so they are in an old school building, lent to our district by another district. It has no track and the stage is not usable right now. So guess what I am doing a lot of?
Driving!
We live out of district (out-of-state, actually), so no bus transportation for my kids. The drive to the temporary school is more than forty minutes round-trip. Thankfully, my husband is able to pitch in with that. Then there is the drive from school to the elementary school for play rehearsals and from the elementary school to a neighboring district track for track practice (They kindly let us use it a few evenings a week.). I spend a lot of time on the road, but that means I have a lot of time to mull over plots and listen to audio books.
So there is a positive side to all this.
Between driving, my part-time job and my books, I haven't been a lot of help to my husband, who has been cleaning out his mother's house in the evenings so we can renovate and rent it out. It is amazing what one can collect in 73 years of living in one house. Every day, he comes home with new photos, ancient letters, and all kinds of things that give us new glimpses into his family history. It is strange to think that she is gone. My mother-in-law lived 93 wonderful years, but we still miss her.
Soon, the older kids will wrap up another year of college. The oldest will remain in State College, working and taking classes. The daughter will come home and try to earn money for her semester in Japan. They are growing up on me and that is exciting to see.
That's it for us!
I am really looking forward to warmer weather, our first campfire and s'mores!
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The Lastest: Interviews, reviews, articles and podcasts |
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Here are the most recent interviews, reviews, articles and podcasts. For a complete list, click here.
Dru’s Book Musings, review, Never Broken
Wellsboro Gazette, article, Agatha nomination
Dark and Stormy Book Club, podcast, Agatha nomination
WETM, television news story, Agatha nomination
My Twin Tiers, article, Agatha nomination
ThisorThatThursday, interview
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Happy writing and reading. Just one week until the release of NEVER BROKEN! |
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