Beginnings - Blog-Letter

 January 2 2022

A New Year always seem to call for a fresh start, new beginnings and the dreaded "R" word. You'll find no resolutions here, only aspirations, accomplishments and news of the write kind. 

As you can see from the banner above, Jamie Tremain is taking advantage of the New Year and new beginnings with a new Blog-Letter. A combination blog post and newsletter. We hope to do a Blog-Letter monthly, but lest this hope fall under the umbrella of failed New Year's Resolution, no more shall be said. In addition we'll still provide blogs with interviews and posts on the writing world as we have done in the past.

How did you celebrate or observe your year-end?

Year End Thoughts

Liz

Christmas 2021 has passed. How I had planned to spend it and how it actually turned out are two different things. After another frustrating year with COVID our family planned, and anticipated, a long over due Christmas gathering. There would be about 16 of us. Food contributions and gift ideas were organized and all was good until about 8 days before. Then Omicron numbers grinched our Christmas. The gathering was reduced to 8 in number. My husband and I had the day to ourselves. Although we did enjoy a fun, but all too brief, visit from my daughter and her family early Christmas Day. Greetings and love exchanged outside our apartment door. We talked with everyone throughout the day, and even though there were only two of us, we ate way too much!

A planned Christmas Eve with my sister and her husband was also nixed when three of us felt we might be coming down with something. So better safe than sorry, and another visit rain-checked until today, when it is hoped they will visit with us for a spaghetti dinner.

Although I am truly disappointed at not having the Christmas with family as hoped for, I’m still grateful that everyone is well and that I’m blessed beyond words with a close family and loyal friends.

2022 promises to be busy for Jamie Tremain and perhaps, fingers crossed, we may see a return to some book events where Pam can unleash her sales skills. She is the people person of this partnership and will keep Jamie Tremain front and forefront wherever she goes. And I'm glad she does! 

I hope 2022 is a Healthy, Happy, and safe one for all!

                               

                                       Even Mary B. Eyes came along for the brief visit.

Pam

As one half of a writing duo called Jamie Tremain, I’m more than thrilled to have a partner that is so tech-savvy. 2021 saw our jump to being Indie authors and published two new books.  In August “Beholden to None”, the third in the Dorothy Dennehy mysteries, was published and in October a new series began with “Grant's Crossing-Death on the Alder”. We have big plans for 2022 and would like you along for the ride. 

 

I have written before about change and generally, I accept what is happening around me as progress. But this year I believe we are all somewhat weary and now we have waves with this new variant. If we are to see the light at the end of the tunnel we have to accept and adapt. Some friends have been affected by Covid and I wish them a speedy recovery.

 

Ontario loosened up restrictions at the beginning of December, so I went to the theatre with my daughter-in-law to see “Come from Away” in downtown Toronto. Tickets were bought two years ago! Dinner at an Italian restaurant sitting miles from any other customers and then a dress circle seat to watch the show. Fantastic performance for the next two hours. Highly recommend it, but I gather it is now closed due to the new variant. 

 

I’ve always enjoyed Christmas. The shopping for gifts, the eating of course, and the family getting together. That was my biggest disappointment. I did see one son and his wife and her mother. No, I didn’t cook the usual turkey etc. I’m waiting on a new oven but supply chain woes mean late January. But we still had our turkey. My local supermarket did a fine job and delivered a turkey already cooked with all the veg, gravy and stuffing, (not as good as mine though) and they didn’t forget the cranberry sauce. 

 

Being at home so much during this time means getting a grip on eating. A cookie here, a cookie there. What's a girl to do? No, I don’t bake but it's all Liz’s fault as she delivered to me last month a huge tin of Belgium chocolate biscuits.

On Boxing Day, a friend from Kelowna, BC came to stay for a few days. We drove around but didn’t venture far and no crowded places. Oh yes, we managed the liquor store for replenishments. So, for three days we ate, drank and bored each other silly. But as the temperature is -31c (-22 F) in Kelowna, she liked our temperatures much better.

 

December the 31st where I come from (Scotland) is called Hogmanay. Many traditions surround this night. But that would be harking back to the old days, and we need to look forward. A lump of coal to heat your fire, some black bun for sustenance and of course whiskey. Oh, and the Scots make the best Shortbread.

 

I’m looking forward to 2022 and Liz and I will continue to give you more of our stories. We were planning and brainstorming this morning so look for more of Grant’s Crossing and number four in the Dorothy Dennehy Mystery series.

 

Health and Happiness and a Happy New Year to all.

And now onto Jamie Tremain related items.

We are being featured on two upcoming blogs - January 7 and January 25. Details to follow.

Are you interested in being a Beta Reader for Jamie Tremain? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at jamietremainJT@yahoo.com

Can we ask a favour? If you're not already following us, would you mind giving us a follow, or like, at any of these sites? There's also a follow button at the top right hand of this page to keep in touch with us here.

Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/jamietremainwrites

Twitter    Jamie Tremain🇨🇦 (@PamLizWrites) / Twitter

Goodreads       Jamie Tremain (Author of The Silk Shroud) | Goodreads 

BookBub       Jamie Tremain Books - BookBub

Instagram       Liz and Pam (@jamietremain_mysteryauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

 And as always, you can find Jamie Tremain books here:

Amazon

Google Play

Apple Books, Kobo, etc

Before we go!

We know trivia occupies far too much of our brain cells, but like jello there's always room for more - here's something to add.

Cheers!

Pam & Liz

The Journey Continues

 June 18 2021

When we first started this blog (back in 2008!) its intent was to share with you our journey of writing. The steps Pam and I would take as we began to get serious about bringing Jamie Tremain to life.

We wrote together every chance we got, hatching plots, developing characters, and researching background information. Oh, how we loved to research! A rabbit hole most writers probably understand all too well.

We started out writing two stories, side by side. What - were we crazy? No, just didn't understand what we were getting into! Ah, the bliss of ignorance.

Madelaine - Shadows and Light sits on our shelf. Not forgotten, just on hold. We finished that story first, with Body Perfect close behind. Body Perfect became our focus of endless revisions, and tinkering. The biggest change came with the name. Body Perfect  evolved into The Silk Shroud. Then came the never ending round of query letters to potential publishers. While we waited, we built our brand and roughed out a sequel. If nothing else, Jamie Tremain knows how to multi-task.

 THEN

                     

                    Released in 2017

 

 Released in 2019

                                      

Our persistence paid off and The Silk Shroud was picked up by a traditional publisher and in 2017 we held an actual book in our hands! To see "Jamie Tremain" in print was such a reward after years of hard work.

Lightning Strike soon followed. A sequel, but also a very emotional tale, especially for Pam. We feel because some of the writing hit close to home, it added a layer of authenticity to our protagonist, Dorothy Dennehy. 

Then came Beholden to None, along with bumps in the road with our publisher. I'd been investigating the merits of indie publishing, but Pam was reluctant. Understandably so. Beholden to None is our brand new book in the series.

But, as life often does, circumstances pushed us into making a change. And after a steep learning curve, we are beyond pleased to say we've gone full indie. With new art work for the covers - huge thanks to Jennifer Gibson - and generous help and advice from our Genre5 Author group, we now have The Dorothy Dennehy Mystery Series available on Amazon, and other online retailers. (Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, etc)

AND NOW

Brand New Covers!

The e-books can be pre-ordered, in advance of the July 1 release, and paperback versions of each book are now available on Amazon.           

The Dorothy Dennehy Mystery Series (3 book series) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)

Jamie Tremain (books2read.com)

We posted a YouTube trailer, in which Dorothy Dennehy, and Rolin Montase, are 'interviewed' about The Silk Shroud, Lightning Strike, and Beholden to None.   

There may be future interviews with some of the other characters who are fan favourites. Max Dennehy and HB, to name just two. Or suggest a character you'd like to know more about!

But at the end of the day, none of this would matter without you - our readers. Over the years so many of you have been faithful supporters and encouragers. Without readers, why would we bother to write?

We're not finished with Dorothy - she has more cases to solve! For now, though, we are busy developing a second series, called Grant's Crossing. The first in the series, Grant's Crossing - Death on the Alder - is close to publication. Summer's end or early fall - stay tuned! A second in the series, Grant's Crossing - Resort to Murder is well underway.

Our sincere hope is that you will continue this journey with us. We love to write and feel we have so many stories waiting to be told.

We'd love to hear from you. If you buy a book, would you consider posting a review? Or give us feedback - jamietremainJT@yahoo.com. Send us a photo of you with one of our books and we'll feature you in an upcoming post, or on social media.

Have a safe, healthy, and happy summer - what better time to read a book!

Cheers!

Liz

Now Hear This

May 15 2021

Busy, busy, busy!

Lately it's been non-stop activity for Jamie Tremain. Despite the ongoing lockdown here in Ontario (now till June 2!) Pam and I have not allowed that to get in the way of moving Jamie Tremain forward. 

Many will know of our challenges with the publisher who launched The Silk Shroud and Lightning Strike. We are in the final steps of having all book rights revert back to us, and are this close to self-publishing both of them, plus Beholden to None. This will complete, for now,  our Dorothy Dennehy Mystery series.

Also on board to join those three titles will be Grant's Crossing-Death on the Alder. New series, new characters, new setting. Grant's Crossing-Grave Mistake is also about one quarter written, and words are flying off the page as we create, plot and see what our characters are involved with.

Along with writing, we've also been involved with new book cover creations. Maybe a logo as well. Oh, and a newsletter, too! Not to mention the possibility of assembling a collection of short stories and memoir pieces.

The Author Survival Network enjoyed it's first Zoom meeting today as well. We are glad to welcome any published author, who would like to be part of an enthusiastic and supportive group of authors, and can be found on Facebook as a private, member only, group.   

And if all this wasn't enough, our Genre5 Authors Group continues to flex its collaborative writing muscle with our five-author work of fiction. Tentatively titled, Crime is Relative, we've created a colourful cast of characters, and maybe even a ghost.

Pam and I strive to video chat each morning for at least an hour. But really, brainstorming works so much better in person. We can't wait until we get the all-clear to visit again!

We've both had our first vaccination dose, and the sooner we receive the second one, the better! This has gone on long enough. No book clubs, no signings--will we even remember how to conduct ourselves at those in person?

But now, a warm afternoon on my balcony beckons. Trees are almost fully in leaf, robins cheerfully sing each morning, and at the moment, all is right with the world.

Cheers!

Liz

ADIOS 2020!

 

Not sorry to see the end of 2020! Vaccines are here so perhaps the end of COVID’s stranglehold on our lives and economies is nearing an end.

Christmas and other holiday times with family and friends to gather have been disrupted and put on hold. But I am grateful to say that my family and friends have been kept safe from the virus. Understandably, though, patience with restrictions is wearing thin. Cracks, often quite large, are showing up with our compliance efforts. I will continue to play nice and abide by best medical advice, but long for the day when I can grocery shop sans mask or no regard for “senior hours”. 

Pam and I still await word from our publisher on the status of Beholden To None,  the third (and last for a while) in our Dorothy Dennehy mystery series. We are anxious to move forward with our next series under development – Grant’s Crossing.  The first book tentatively called Grant’s Crossing – Death on the Alder is now undergoing beta reader testing and final edits. Then begins the process of shopping for a new publisher or taking the plunge and self-publishing.

I’ve been polishing up my short story skills, venturing submissions here and there, and a contest or two. Nothing COVID related either!  Although, never say never.

Baking has become my second most prolific past time, next to writing, this year.  My sister and I have partnered together to produce Christmas fruit cakes and assorted cookies and treats to package and distribute via porch drops to family and friends over the next week or so.

 

                                             

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I love traditional English Christmas Fruitcake!  My sister, Michele, faithfully follows our Mother's recipe every year.

Where would we be these days without video options to keep in touch with family, friends, and for me, the writing community.

Netflix, Prime, Crave, and Acorn TV platforms have kept me entertained. Among shows I had to binge are The Sounds and Queen’s Gambit. Loving Season 3 of Star Trek-Discovery! I'm also watching Castle Rock now, which seems appropriate as evenings are dark and the balcony has gone into hibernation. I’ve  been trying to read more, which helps me, as a writer, become more aware of writing styles, likes and dislikes.

So, I wonder what 2021 will have in store for Jamie Tremain?  For you, I wish health, happiness and an appreciation for all that is still good in this world. Oh, and keep reading, too. Please!

Until next year, this half of Jamie Tremain wishes you a Merry and Blessed Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all things good for this holiday time of year.

See you in the New Year!

Cheers!

Liz

 

Four Favourites

As a writer, one piece of sage advice stuck with me; to write well, one must also read. If you know me already you know that books are my passion. I have changed genres over the years but usually arrive back at crime/ mystery/thriller/suspense. After I retired, not surprisingly,
my to-do list was to read all the classics. That never happened. By then I was writing with Liz Lindsay as Jamie Tremain.

This week on Jamie Tremain's blog I have featured four different authors. Two are crime/mystery fiction, a comedy/farce series and a literary drama of the domestic and family life genre. I don't discriminate. These books all had a different location so, I travelled vicariously with these characters.
Reviews are not my forte, so I keep them short and sweet. If you see a book here, you know I like it. I hate to give too much away as that annoys me when I spy a spoiler for a book I want to read. But saying that, reviews are so crucial to a writer so please let the author, or where you purchased the book, know you enjoyed the book or didn't. Feedback is important.


Launched a few weeks ago, the always funny Melodie Campbell has one more in the Goddaughter series. 'The Goddaughter Does Vegas.' This time Gina Gallo has eloped from 'the hammer,' Hamilton, Ontario to Las Vegas. What could possibly go wrong after they discover a double of Gina is front-page news where fraud and her wacky family is involved.
For a fun and quick read try The Goddaughter Series from Orca Book's Rapid Reads.





The next book I enjoyed is a prequel to the first in the Austin Starr Mystery series. The first two were placed in the sixties, but this book features Austin’s grandmother at twenty-three in prohibition America. ‘After You’ve Gone’  written by Kay Kendall takes place in fictitious Gunmetal, Texas. Bootleggers, flappers, and floozies with lots of adventure for Wallie McGregor when she lands in the sin city of Galveston. Loads of characters with shady pasts, an ornery aunt, and a romance. Oh yes, and a couple of murders. Published by Stairway Press.

Louise Penny can do no wrong in my book. Pun intended. We all have our favourites, and I have been in love with Chief Inspector Gamache of the Quebec Surete for many years. But is he still the Chief Inspector? You will have to read the 'Kingdom of the Blind' to get the answer to that question. I want to live in her fictitious town of Three Pines. Her understanding of human nature and interpretation of the foibles of her characters is brilliant. This is the fourteenth book in this series. Did I mention I loved Louise Penny's books? There will be a new book out this fall.

This author is new to me. We met at a book signing for her book "Neighbors" that launched in 2018. Hannah Mary McKinnon is from the UK via Switzerland and now lives here in Canada with her family. "Neighbors" is her second book with a soon to be released book  'Her Secret Son' next month.
'Neighbors' deserves all the accolades it has been getting as this is what I would call a domestic suspense novel. Loads of twists and turns and the edge of your seat prose. And that surprise ending. WOW! Looking forward to her next book.

Published by Mira Books.


Next month I will have four more books for you. I have quite a pile on my bedside table. Not the least will be Jamie Tremain's new book in the Dorothy Dennehey Mystery series. 
"Lightning Strike" was a labour of love for Liz and I as we continue with our protagonist, Private Investigator Dorothy Dennehy. As soon as we receive a release date from our publisher, Black Opal Books, we'll let you know. Stay tuned for an invite to the launch.

I think Spring is finally here. Enjoy the sunshine.

Slainte,

Pam

Books, Old and New

I cannot live without books. 

I've always been surrounded by books of all kind. My father, Alister William James, wrote poetry and many articles. 







I cherish his Writers and Artists Yearbook, circa 1974.



My H.G.Wells "The History of the World" volumes are falling apart but still have a place in my many bookcases. Our home always had a set of encyclopedias ( you know, the Google and search engines of the day) and we used the library often.


In 1963,  my boyfriend, (later my husband)  gave me a gift of a copy of NJAL'S SAGA. It was a Penguin Classic costing 5 shillings.

In the introduction, it claims to be the mightiest of all the Icelandic Saga's. It was written by an unknown author in the last quarter of the thirteenth century- somewhere around the year 1280. My copy is brown with age and the front cover has torn off. No, I've never read it. At seventeen I was not so interested in the middle ages. My interests were in the Beatles' latest song. But after thanking him profusely I stashed it in my bookshelf where it has languished for fifty-six years.

 I did read with great delight the latest book from 
Gail Bowen. 
 "A Darkness of the Heart"

The Queen of Canadian Crime fiction is a well-deserved title. I have read many of the Joanne Kilbourn books in this series and you will not be disappointed. As a master storyteller, the tension builds with many references to contemporary Canadian life.
I adore her husband (Joanne Kilbourn's husband) who always has a martini ready for her at the end of the day after she has been out sleuthing. She trained him well! This is Gail's 18th book in this series.


My next author is the irrepressible Ian Rankin.  His latest book in the Rebus series "In a House of Lies". The author of twenty-three books in this series alone, I was expecting Rebus to be put out to pasture. But no, he is now in retirement but still manages to interfere and get himself involved with the cops in the Leith and Gayfield Square police stations. I am always intrigued by his books as he wanders around my home town of Edinburgh and mentions many landmarks and pubs I know well. (Not the pubs so much but I know of them) Gayfield Square police station was a walk away from where I was brought up and my husband was a policeman at Leith station many years ago. This book is a trip down memory lane for me.
An award-winning author, he has done it again with a thrilling story right to the end.

Barbara Fradkin is a fixture as a  Canadian crime writer with her award-winning series featuring Inspector Green. Her new series,  the Amanda Doucette Mysteries are equally compelling. I have just finished Prisoners of Hope. The location is the beautiful Georgian Bay and the Thirty Thousand Islands area of Ontario. An intrepid amateur sleuth, a handsome RCMP boyfriend and some interesting characters make up this mystery and highlight the plight of foreign domestic workers. Oh yes, and a murder. 






The Girls Whispered Murder is the 2nd book in the Izzy Walsh Mystery series. Set in the '50s this cozy mystery is well researched for accuracy and is a fun read. We can look forward to more Izzy escapades from Lynn McPherson in the future.






While working on book three in the Dorothy Dennehy Mysteries, Liz Lindsay and I, as 
Jamie Tremain are looking forward to launching book number two Lightning Strike soon. Date to be determined. 

Check back next week for a few more books and their authors.

Slainte,

Pam