15 Things about My Sleuth - Jules Keene

Jules Keene is the owner of the Fern Valley Camping Resort, home to vintage trailers and tiny houses. She first appears in Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers. Here are 15 things that you may not know about my amateur sleuth.

1. Redhead

2. Drives a Silver Jeep Wrangler

3. Born in 1983

4. From Fern Valley, Virginia

5. Graduated from James Madison University in 2004

6. Degree in Interior Design

7. Likes hiking and camping

8. Named after Demi Moore’s Character in St. Elmo’s Fire

9. Named her dog after the classic Bijou movie theater in town

10. Divorced the Idiot in 2010

11. Her parents bought the Fern Valley Camping Resort in the 1970s

12. Her boyfriend Jake is named after the character in 16 Candles

13. Crafts in her spare time

14. Savvy with social media

15. Appears next in Film Crews and Rendezvous (October 2022)

Book Links

Apple Books: ‎Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers on Apple Books

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Trailers-Blackmailers-Heather-Weidner/dp/1685120369

Barnes and Noble: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

BookBub: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery by Heather Weidner - BookBub

BookShop: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers a book by Heather Weidner (bookshop.org)

Booktopia: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers eBook by Heather Weidner | 9781685120375 | Booktopia

Goodreads: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner | Goodreads

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vintage-trailers-and-blackmailers

Target: Vintage Trailers And Blackmailers - By Heather Weidner (paperback) : Target

Thalia: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers von Heather Weidner - eBook | Thalia

 Summary

There is nothing like finding a dead body, clad only in a red satin thong, on your property to jolt you from a quiet routine. Jules Keene, owner of the posh Fern Valley Camping Resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is thrust into the world of the Dark Web when one of her guests, Ira Perkins, is found murdered in the woods near her vintage trailers. Jules quickly discovers that the man who claimed to be on a writing retreat was not what he seemed, and someone will go to any length to find what he left at her resort. Jules, along with her Jack Russell Terrier sidekick Bijou, has to put the rest of the missing pieces of a blackmailing scheme together before her glamping business is ruined.

Jules’s resort, set in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville in the quaint town of Fern Valley, offers guests a unique vacation in refurbished and upcycled vintage trailers. Hoping to expand her offerings, she partners with her maintenance/security guy to create a village of tiny houses, the latest home DIY craze, but a second murder of a reporter interrupts Jules’s expansion plans. Curiosity gets the best of her, and she steps up her sleuthing to find out what Ira Perkins was really up to and what he was really hiding at her resort.

Author ABCs - Names to Add to Your TBR List

Here’s a list of authors to add to your spring reading list. I challenged myself to find at least one interesting author per letter.

A: Amy Reade, Alice Adler, Annette Dashofy

B: Bree Baker, Bethany Blake

C: Colleen Shogun, Cathy Maxwell, John Copenhaver

D: Diane Kelly, Donna Andrews

E: Ellen Bryon, Edith Maxwell

F: Joanne Fluke

G: Garbriel Valjan, Debra H. Goldstein

H: Hank Phillippi Ryan

I: Michael Innes, Karen Irving

J: Joanna Campbell Slan, Julie Hyzy, Jackie Layton, J. C. Kenney, Jennifer Chow

K: K. L. Murphy, Kellye Garrett, Krista Davis

L: Libbie Klein, Lane Stone

M: Marilyn Levinson, Mary Feliz, Mary Lee Ashford, Misty Simon

N: Nancy Cole Silverman, Nancy Coco

O: Kelly Oliver, Alan Orloff

P: P. M. Terrell

Q: Ellery Queen

R: Ruth J. Hartman

S: Sherry Harris, S. A. Cosby, Sue Grafton

T: Tina Debellegarde, Tina Kashian

U: Robert Upton, Nicola Upson

V: Vicki Delany

W: LynDee Walker, Tina Whittle

X: Xiao Bai

Y: Joyce Yarrow, Sheila York, Kate Young

Z: M. J. Zellnik, Jean Zimmerman

In Honor of World Book Day - 50 Authors to Add to Your Book Shopping List

World Book Day is the week! Here is my list of 50 Mystery and Thriller Authors to add to your book shopping list. They are in no particular order.

• Libby Klein

• Mary Lee Woods

• Raquel Reyes

• Sherry Harris

• Diane Kelly

• Kellye Garrett

• Gabriel Valjan

• Hank Phillippi Ryan

• Ellen Bryon/Maria DiRico

• Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day

• Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook

• Annette Dashofy

• K. L. Murphy

• J. D. Griffo

• Debra Sennefelder

• Tina Kashian

• Misty Simon

• Debra H. Goldstein

• Sparkle Abbey

• J. C. Kenney

• Lane Stone

• Bree Baker

• Bethany Blake

• Kate Young

• Maya Corrigan

• Liz Milliron

• Kelly Oliver

• Lena Gregory

• Ruth Hartman

• Jackie Layton

• Dane McCaslin

• Sarah Burr

• Grace Topping

• Susan Van Kirk

• Lida Sideris

• Lori Duffy Foster

• Nancy Cole Silverman

• Mary Burton/Mary Ellen Taylor

• Mary Miley

• James L’Etoile

• Jeanne Adams

• Frankie Bailey

• Lynn Cahoon

• Judy Penz Sheluk

• Katherine Bruns

• Rosalie Spielman

• Deborah Coonts

• Jennifer Chow

• Grace Topping

• Vicki Batman

Humorous Mystery Series for Your Reading List

I am always on the lookout for funny mysteries. Here are ten (in no particular order) that you need to add to your reading list.

• Misty Simon - The Tallie Graver Mysteries

• Larissa Reinhart - Maizie Albright Star Detective Mysteries

• Spencer Quinn - The Chet and Bernie Mysteries

• Janet Evanovich - The Stephanie Plum Novels and the Fox and O’Hare Novels

• Libby Klein - The Poppy McAllister Mysteries

• Elle Cosimano - The Finlay Donovan Mysteries

• V. M. Burns - The Mystery Bookshop Mysteries

• Kellye Garrett - Detective by Day Mysteries

• Becky Clark - The Mystery Writer’s Mysteries

• Diane Kelly - House-flipper Mysteries

• Ellen Bryon - The Cajun Country Mysteries

Who else would you add to my list?

What I Learned from My Favorite Characters

We celebrated National Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’s birthday this week. Here’s what I’ve learned from some of my favorite characters through the years.

Charlotte and Wilbur - Everyone needs friends. Treasure the special relationships. Writing is a solitary venture. Make sure you have a crew to share celebrations and road bumps with.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy - Everyone needs a sidekick. Our pets are our family, and they are our special protectors, comforters, and friends.

Nancy Drew - The girl sleuth had a car, good friends, and the curiosity to solve problems that adults couldn’t. Always be curious and ask questions.

Hermione Granger - Study hard and learn your craft. Do your homework. Hard work pays off.

Stephanie Plum - Perseverance is necessary. You may not succeed at something during the first (or the fifth) attempt but keep at it. This is especially true if you’re on a writing journey.

Grover (from the Monster at the End of the Book) - It’s okay to be a little scared sometimes, but often you’ll find that the thing you’re scared of isn’t as bad as you imagine it.

Sam-I-Am - It’s always a good idea to try new things. Be open minded and give new and “strange” a chance. You may find out that you just might like it.

Discussion Questions for Your Books

Book clubs, whether in-person or virtual, are great ways for authors to reach readers. It’s a good idea to provide discussion questions on your website. Many authors and publishers also include them at the back of the book. Here are some ideas that can help as you think about your book from a reader’s perspective.

• It’s good to provide readers with 6-10 discussion questions about your book and its characters.

• Try to avoid spoilers as you craft your discussion points.

• These are to spur discussion and thought, so avoid ones that can be answered with a yes, no, or quick fact.

• Look for themes in your book that you can highlight for readers.

• Make a list of pop culture and other references in your book. These can be incorporated into discussion items.

• Google '“book club questions.” There are lots of sites with generic questions that you can sprinkle in your list.

• If you have different books in the series, make sure that your questions vary and aren’t the same for each book.

• Create a page on your website for book clubs with the discussion questions.

• Think like an English teacher as you compose your questions. Look for items to compare, contrast, or explain.

Secrets from VINTAGE TRAILERS AND BLACKMAILERS

I had so much fun researching and writing VINTAGE TRAILERS AND BLACKMAILERS, and here’s where some of my ideas came from for this book…

Vintage Trailers and Tiny Houses

My husband does a lot of home renovation projects. He also restores classic cars, campers, and boats from time to time, so we watch a lot of videos and shows on YouTube and Discovery+. A while back, I ran across shows on restoring vintage trailers, and I decided that would be a perfect job for Jules. She uses her interior design experience to restore and decorate the trailers they saved from scrap heap. Jules themes each of the campers with special décor like the 1947 Robin Hood Trailer that is decked out in honor of its namesake, the 1959 Sunliner Caravan that sported a posh pink Barbie fashion design in honor of the year that the camper and the doll debuted, and the 1953 Redman New Moon, decorated in honor of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s movie from the same year, The Long, Long Trailer. The tiny houses all have a book or author themes and fun amenities like a revolving bookcase or a reading nook for the guests to enjoy.

I am fascinated with the tiny house craze. People are so creative, and they maximize space and storage in buildings that range from 400 to about 1,400 sq. ft. If the houses are built to be transported, then they need to fit within a car lane on a standard road. I would love to have one of these for a writing retreat.

Campgrounds

My aunt and uncle owned a traditional campground in Nelson County, Virginia near Crabtree Falls in the 1970s. We had so much fun visiting there in the summer, even if the mountain stream was freezing in June. She had a game room, and that’s how I learned to play pinball. Jules’s resort is based on some fond memories of Crabtree Falls.

My Love of All Things 80s

Jules is named for Demi Moore’s character in ST. ELMO’S FIRE. Her last name is a tribute to all the women who wrote the Nancy Drew mysteries under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene.

Jake is named for Jake Ryan from SIXTEEN CANDLES.

Bijou the Dog

Bijou, the energetic Jack Russell Terrier, is based on the sister-half of the dynamic duo that live at our house. Disney, even though she just turned eleven, is still spunky and keeps her brother Riley on his toes. They love snuggles on the couch in front of the fireplace, any kind of snack, and chasing the squirrels and chipmunks in the woods near our house.

Book Links

Apple Books: ‎Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers on Apple Books

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GGBFWT5

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Trailers-Blackmailers-Heather-Weidner/dp/1685120369

Barnes and Noble: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

BookBub: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery by Heather Weidner - BookBub

BookShop: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers a book by Heather Weidner (bookshop.org)

Booktopia: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers eBook by Heather Weidner | 9781685120375 | Booktopia

FNAC: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers - Dernier livre de Heather Weidner - Précommande & date de sortie | fnac

Goodreads: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner | Goodreads

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vintage-trailers-and-blackmailers

Target: Vintage Trailers And Blackmailers - By Heather Weidner (paperback) : Target

Thalia: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers von Heather Weidner - eBook | Thalia

The second book in the series, FILM CREWS AND RENDEZVOUS will be out in October 2022.

How to Make a Writer Happy - Tips for Readers

There are so many things readers can do to help writers spread the word about their books., and most of them are free. If you like a book or a series, help create a buzz on social media and other places for an author. It’s the the easiest way to make a writer’s day.

Post a Review - Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, and other book sites help expand a writer’s reach. You don’t have to do a book report. A one-line “I liked it statement” is enough. All of the online sites have algorithms, and the number of reviews do matter to the amount of exposure a book gets.

Buy the Book/Share the Book - Buy a copy of the book for yourself or a friend. And if people ask you want for your birthday, books are always great gifts.

Recommend it to Your Library- Most libraries have a process where residents can request books for the library to purchase. If you like a series, make sure your librarian knows.

Share it on Social Media - Take a picture of the book when it arrives or one of you reading it. These make great social media posts. And don’t forget to tag the author. Instagram has some great hashtags (e.g. #bookstacks, #bookstagram, #prettybookplaces). I love seeing folks reading my books in different places. I also like it when readers spot my book “in the wild” at a library or store and send me a picture.

Recommend it to Your Book Club - Recommend reads to your book club or group. Many authors love to attend in-person or virtually to chat. You may want to reach out to see if the author could attend to talk about his/her book.

Add it to Your Shelf on Goodreads - If you use Goodreads to track your books or yearly challenge, add a book to your “want to read” shelf.

Follow the Author- Follow the author on book and social media sites. This will help you stay current with new publications and updates.

Subscribe to the Author’s Newsletter - This is a good way to ensure that they author has you on his/her fan list. It’s also a great way to get regular updates and information on special events and giveaways.

Attend Book Events - Support your local book stores, libraries, and authors when there are readings, book launches, and signings.

Authors love their readers. And a quick review or shout out will definitely make them smile.