TGIBBF #24 - Book Blurb Friday, August 12

Well, I'm on time this week. I was three days late last week, so I hope you all get a chance to see that blurb as well as this one. I'm on time, although barely! But, I hope you like my efforts.

As usual, Lisa Ricard Claro hosts this writing meme wherein we are offered a photo as our inspiration for a book blurb for an imaginary book cover featuring that photo. The challenge is open to anyone who wants to participate, so please join us.

Here is our "book cover" for next week's Book Blurb Friday #24, provided by Sioux Roslawski. 

Dealing Death's Hand

“You never get used to it, he thought. “Being shot is a pain.” Serge chuckled at that thought despite his agony. He didn’t have much farther to go to reach help. Just through the archway and his favorite “private” physician would treat his wounds without alerting authorities.

“Who was it this time?” Serge wasn’t sure, but he knew who he’d been investigating and was sure there was a connection. “One of these days you’re gonna end up dead!” “Well, if I do, you’ll be the first to know, Doc.” “I mean it. You’ve got to stop doing this kind of work. I appreciate the business, but not that much.”

He couldn’t stop. Not yet. Too many hands in the pot and one of them was trading secrets. Secrets that could tear the country apart. He had to finish this job.

TGIBBF, July 29 - Through the Peephole

Every week, Lisa Ricard Claro provides us with a photo that represents a book jacket of an imaginary book. We are to write the cover blurb for this book that will prove so interesting to potential buyers that they will clamber to buy the book.

Here is our "book cover" for next week's Book Blurb Friday #22, provided by Lisa's daughter, Christina.

The first time Rob saw her, it was through the peephole of his front door. What struck him was her electric blue eyes and blonde hair. He had answered a knock and, out of habit, looked out before opening it. She appeared to be looking in to see who was coming. He had no idea who she was. He still didn’t because he forgot to ask her before she left. But, he did know she was staying in Apt. 5E. She had used his phone to call the super in order to be let in.

The next day, another knock at his door, Rob looked through the peephole, hoping it was the mystery woman. Instead of blue eyes, he now saw blue uniforms. The police! They asked if he knew who lived in 5E. The male tenant had been found dead and the woman was now missing.

TGIBBF July 15 - Adventure Island

If you are new to this writing challenge, please click HERE for details of the Book Blurb Friday meme.  The abridged version:

Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book.

This is our "book cover" for Book Blurb Friday #20, provided by Lisa Ricard Claro’s daughter, Christina.

Alexis had found the perfect place for their romantic getaway. A secluded island hideaway with a picturesque wooden bridge that connected it to the mainland resort that owned it. She just knew Jared would love it. There were horse trails, a picnic area, private beach and a gate they could lock to keep the curious at bay. She’d made reservations a year ago, and that only because of a cancellation.

Jared didn’t know where they were going or how long Alexis had been planning this trip. But, he didn’t mind not knowing. She always arranged the best adventures for them and he expected that this trip would be no exception.

He was right. The location was fantastic. But, the adventure really began when they arose the first morning and found a still warm corpse outside their door. 

Web of Deceit - TGIBBF June 24

OUR MISSION: Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book.

OUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: Here is our "book cover" for next week, provided by the talented artist and writer, Sandra Davies.  Thanks Sandra! 

OUR HOSTESS: Lisa Ricard Claro

Thank you for participating in Book Blurb Friday. If you haven't yet attempted a book blurb, I hope you'll join in. The blurbs are fun to write, and it’s fun reading what others have written.

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary when Kate arrived at her exhusband’s place. The truck was where he always parked it, the lawn was mowed and the hedges trimmed. Yet, she just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong. As she approached the house, she noticed the frost-covered spider’s web that was attached to the truck’s sideview mirror and driver’s door. She then knew her feeling was right. Dave was a fanatic when it came to his truck. One speck of bird poop and it required a complete detailing. This spider’s web wasn’t new and shouldn’t still be there. But, could she call the police with only that to go on? She doubted it. She knew she was going to have to go inside the house…despite the intense feeling of dread that had overtaken her.

Chocolate Charade - TGIBBF June 17

Our mission: Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book, sponsored by Lisa Ricard Claro.

Our visual: This is the photo on which we base our writing, provided by Sioux Roslawski.

Jacques Gendarme is back on the case, this time hired by the niece of the head of the Groupe Casino, one of the world’s leading food retailers. She believes the man purporting to be her uncle, Pierre Renoir, is an imposter and that he is in danger. Asked how she came to believe this, she said, “He has always called me Petit Chou, but he didn’t know who I was when I phone him at the office. He then pretended to be distracted as an excuse.” The evidence was flimsy, but he needed the work. What Jacques would find would lead him directly to the files of INTERPOL and put even his employment benefactor at risk. 

Book Blurb Friday - June 10 "Puss in Blue"

Each week, we are challenged to "write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book."

Here is this week's "book cover" photo, provided by Lisa’s young 'un, Joey.

PUSS IN BLUE

This was no ordinary crime. And, Al E. Katt was no ordinary detective. His black tuxedo glistened in the sunlight as he followed the trail of clues through the apartment complex where Gary Kramer was murdered. The local CIS thought they had a handle on things, but they didn’t have the same perspective that Al did. In fact, because of Al several crimes in the past year had been successfully prosecuted. Of course, Al received no credit for his part in the pursuit of justice. That’s because Al is a cat. If he hadn’t dug up the evidence, sometimes literally, the police would still be investigating. And today was no different. As Al decided to “play” with the beer can on which he’d detected a droplet of blood, the OIC took note of the disturbance and walked over, picking up the can. “What do you have here, puss?” 

Book Blurb Friday - May 20

Lisa Ricard Claro has given us a tough one this week thanks to Sandra Davies' photo. Book Blurb Friday requires that we "write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book." Whether or not I've done that is up to you.

Brass Knuckles

Woodland Hills has had an interesting crime log lately. A rash of burglaries has taken place throughout the area. The only things stolen have been musical instruments…brass instruments. So, when local artist, Phillip Sousa, is found dead in his studio full of brass sculptures along with a French horn, police think they’ve solved the burglary case. But, have they? The set of brass knuckles lying next to the body says something else to local PI, Rick Tracy. Phil was his friend and “he was no burglar”, Rick tells investigators just before being forced to leave the scene.

Are the two crimes coincidental? Or is there a connection? Rick plans to find out, whether the law wants him to or not.

TGIBBF - Book Blurb Friday, April 29

Thanks to Lisa Ricard Claro for her hosting of TGIBBF (Thank God it’s Book Blurb Friday). We are to write a book blurb of 140 words or less appropriate for the book we imagine being behind this fake book jacket photo. My entry is below the photo.

A South Beach Body (a Kat Kimball Mystery)

Kat was thrilled about relocating to Florida. She was tired of the crime and seedy atmosphere that surrounded her in Philadelphia. Bodies were turning up everywhere. And the things people tried to take in their carry-on luggage! It had to be better somewhere else. So, when an opening was announced at Miami International for a TSA Security Checkpoint supervisor, she applied and was thrilled to be offered the transfer.

South Beach was definitely living up to her B-list requirements. You know: beach, body surfing, beautiful weather, bars, and a boardwalk. Unfortunately, there was another item on her B-list she hadn’t planned for or wanted. 

A body.

Book Blurb Friday - April 22

Every Thursday evening Lisa Ricard Claro posts a photo that we are to pretend is the cover of a book, along with her 150 words-or-less blurb to match. We are then invited to post the photo on our sites along with our own 150 words-or-less blurbs, and encouraged to leave our link in the Mr. Linky widget that will be available at the end of the blog.  A link from our sites back to hers would also be helpful to encourage readers to visit the other Book Blurb participants via Mr. Linky. 

Here is the "book cover" for today's Book Blurb Friday, courtesy of Sioux Roslawski.

A Night in the Art Museum

The night began as any other Scout outing would have: excited girls camping out, full of energy that needed tempering. For some, this was their first time away from home; for others, their first time in a big city. But, for all of them, it was simply an exciting adventure doing something they'd never done before. They were working on their “Art in 3-D” badge as a troop. The museum had given them exclusive access to the museum after hours. They would leave in the morning at opening. Now, though, it was time for sleep. Hard to do when the shadows of sculptures seemed to be everywhere.

When they awoke, it was to pandemonium. An extremely valuable piece of art was missing and the girls were sleeping in the room where it had been. Had they seen anything? Did they know anything? Were they suspect?

A writing challenge I've decided to join. (SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011)

This challenge is hosted by Lisa Ricard Claro at ‘Writing in the Buff’.

Each week a photo is posted that pretends to be the cover of a book. The idea is to:

Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book. 

I have done just that. I hope you like it.

Photo copyright Sandra Davies

The Meetings

Ivan wondered what he should expect this time around. These meetings, which took place in various obscure parts of the city, were straight out of spy novels. Each time, he was given a new assignment and told to keep all information to himself. Each time, he was led to believe that his mission was of the utmost importance. So important that they couldn’t risk his knowing why he was assigned these tasks. So important that he didn’t even know who “they” were. Only his contact was known to him. 

So far, everything had seemed fairly benign. Deliver a letter to a diplomat at the embassy. Deliver flowers to an elegant (and alluring) woman staying in the penthouse at the St. Regis Grand Rome. Ride the Metro to the Villa Pamphili to pick up a car to drive to a specified address in Florence with a rail pass to return.

Yet, each delivery seemed a bit edgier. Each one seemingly more important, more secretive than the one before. The pay was good. Maybe too good. Maybe it was time to bow out. But, should he? Could he?