Brenda Whiteside – Nomad Authors Blog

An unsolved murder and the disappearance of her love decades ago
are back to haunt Magpie MacKenzie.

Solve the murder or become the next victim…

Have you ever walked into a room and felt you’ve been there before? Or have you met someone and instantly thought you’ve always known them? Have you made plans, but you hesitate to see them through, and you don’t know why you have such an ominous feeling?

I can say yes to all of these. Maybe because I’m a child of the sixties, a wannabe hippie, my mystical beliefs are strong. Auras, déjà vu, intuition, crystals, empathic visions, and the universe all speak to me. I’m not gifted, I believe whole heartedly.

A couple of decades ago, we were gathered in a room with other parents and a group of Austrian boys who had come to our town to play hockey. We were going to house one of the young men in our home. I glanced at the group and immediately locked gazes with the blue eyes of Harte, and I experienced a moment of feeling like I’d known him forever. When they drew names, Harte was chosen for us. Coincidence? I think not. We’ve been fast friends from afar ever since. And I’m convinced we knew each other in another time and will again.

In my latest novel (released on 9/15/2020), Secrets of The Ravine, book one of The MacKenzie Chronicles, my characters use a little bit of the mystical to solve a decades old murder and prevent their own demise. The series is set in present-day Joshua, Arizona, an 1800s mining town, turned ghost town, turned hippie haven, and now a tourist town, hanging on the side of Spirit Mountain.

The mystery and suspense unfold in present-day Joshua, using three points of view. Within this present-day story is a tale that chronicles the life of Magpie’s father, Frank. Clues to the present are found in Frank’s past from the time he settled in the hippie haven, The Ravine, on the outskirts of Joshua, to the present when he is likely to be charged with murder.

Have you ever experienced déjà vu or an empathic moment? Intuition? I’d love to hear.

Blurb:
When a ringer for her long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are found at the edge of town, Magpie MacKenzie can’t ignore what the universe is telling her…solve the mystery, or become the next victim.

Lawyer Zack Peartree’s life is orderly and entanglement-free until he visits purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona, and meets free-wheeling shopkeeper Magpie. Despite experiencing troubling visions and odd moments of déjà vu, Zack’s instantly drawn to Magpie and to the unsolved murder which troubles her so.

Using clues from her father’s past and Zack’s déjà vu moments, Magpie and Zack race to solve the mystery, avoid a murderous fate, and to discover their future…together.

About Brenda:
Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure stories with a touch of romance. Mostly. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart, splitting their time between Central Arizona and the RV life. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes.

Visit Brenda at https://www.brendawhiteside.com

Or on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2

She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-whiteside

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendawhitesideauthor/

Blurb:
This Christmas, Penny Spark’s desire to reconnect with family causes her to expose her true identity—a secret she’s hidden for thirteen years from the political powers who murdered her family.

Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets Penny, he believes this holiday season could be the start of life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world.

With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.

Buy Links:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-power-of-love-and-murder/id1175786605?mt=11
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Love-Murder-Book-ebook/dp/B01M3YVO4H/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-power-of-love-and-murder-brenda-whiteside/1125058047?ean=2940156875115
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-power-of-love-and-murder-1
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Brenda_Whiteside_The_Power_of_Love_and_Murder?id=__-yDQAAQBAJ
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-power-of-love-and-murder
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Power-of-Love-and-Murder-eBook/763278682

Excerpt:

Jake nodded, but all he could concentrate on were Penny’s last words before the officer appeared. When they were alone again, he threw up his hands. “What do you mean, go back to Phoenix? Why the hell would I do that? My sister’s been murdered, and I want to find out why.”

She turned her back on him, went to the open door of the bathroom, and lifted her clothes from the hook. Beneath the thin, hospital gown her spine was straight, her movements tight, as if coiled and ready to spring.

“Penny, I know how much she meant to you.” How much she meant to both of them. He wanted to hold her, share their loss. “I’m not leaving you.”

Untying the gown, she let it drop around her feet, and sidestepped out of the heap. She pulled the dark gray sweater over her head then stepped into black velvet jeans. She wouldn’t make eye contact, wouldn’t speak as she sat on the green plastic chair.

This was killing him. He needed to hold her, help her with her pain—his pain. Haltingly, he made his way to her, touched her head, and waited while she zipped her boots. “Penny.” She resisted, but he tipped her chin, forcing her to look up. “Come on, baby. You don’t have to worry about me leaving you.”

“You will.”

“No—”

“When I tell you the truth, you will.”

Let’s meet Brenda!

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?

BW: This is the fourth book in the series. One of my critique partners loved a minor character in book one who was nicknamed The Black Fairy because of her penchant for Goth dress and her small stature. She insisted she needed her own book. I liked the idea and The Power of Love and Murder was off and running.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?

BW: This research was fun. I knew nothing about the FBI, but I needed to. One of the villains is an FBI agent turned bad. I also needed to research downtown Phoenix, which I should know about having been born there and lived there for many years, but I didn’t. I also had to research mob murders and corporate structure. The story takes place during the Christmas holidays, which I love and required no research.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.

BW: The hero spends a really awful night in a cheap hotel. This is based on fact. My brother had the experience. When he told us the story many years ago, I laughed so hard. I knew I would some day use that scene in a book.

NA: Do you have a day job?

BW: I am retired from the day job. What was your job before you started writing full time? For many years, I worked in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. I assisted Child Care Providers with nutrition and training.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer?

BW: It isn’t all about writing. So much of the time is spent on promoting my books and myself. If I don’t, then no one knows I exist. Ah, if we could just write and write and write!

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?

BW: I started as a pantser. But as my book plots became increasingly more complicated, I found it necessary to do quite a bit of planning ahead of writing. I don’t outline exactly. I might not know everything that is going to happen, but I have a good rough notes page and detailed character sketches.

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write?

BW: Action, dialogue, sex?

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

BW: I spend time with family. My mom is going to turn 89 in December. We live three hours apart so I make a point of spending three days every three weeks with her. I have one granddaughter who is six. FDW and I try to get her for a few days a couple of times a month. I also love to take long walks and go to the movies.

NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?

BW: The first several books in the Outlander series, Shogun, A Circle of Friends. By the way, this was a difficult question. Another day might find me answering differently.

NA: A pet peeve.

BW: People who don’t listen, like they ask me a question and interrupt me or gaze off into the distance as if I’m the most boring person in the world.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?

BW: I live in Arizona and by noon, I have to take off the sweatshirt and put on a sleeveless tee shirt. So, here I sit in shorts and a tee.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?

BW: I don’t mind cleaning up and washing dishes after a meal, but for some reason I’m totally annoyed by putting dishes back in the cupboard.

NA: What are you working on now?

BW: I’m so excited about a series set in the fiction town of Joshua, Arizona. If you are familiar with Arizona, you’ll recognize the ghost town of Jerome. It is a tourist town, hanging on the side of a mountain where gold and copper were mined back in the day. The hippies moved in to the nearly dead town in the 60s and now it is a destination. My characters are quirky, the suspense is thrilling, and the setting inspires me.

I’m also starting the process to have The Power of Love and Murder made into an audiobook.

NA: Do you have free audio codes for your audiobooks?

BW: Yes! Comment here that you are interested or send me an email.

Say hello to Brenda!

Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure romance. Mostly. She signed her first book contract in 2009. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart. After three years on a small farm in Paulden, Arizona, they retired to their RV in Tonto Basin to think about their next move. Three years later, they’re still there. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.