A quirky detective tackles a haunting family mystery.
Vex Not Her Ghost
The Purebeck Mysteries Book 1
by Gill Calvin Thomas
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Caitlin was four years old when her mother died in mysterious circumstances. Thirty years later she comes into possession of her family home in Dorset. As she slowly recovers memories of her past, she becomes convinced that her mother’s ghost is warning her of impending disaster.
Aided by Charlie Bond, a private investigator, an enthralling story of deceit and deception unfolds as Caitlin and her friends expose the ultimate truth.
Gill Calvin Thomas is a retired academic who lives with her husband in Swanage , UK. She finds inspiration in the landscape around her – the Isle of Purbeck has a spectacular coastline and beautiful beaches, and it is whilst walking here, that Gill develops characters and plots the twists and turns you will find in her books.
Gill’s life experiences have informed her writing. For example, her mother’s death when she was a small child, influenced her first book, Vex Not Her Ghost, where the heroine has to delve into the past to uncover the real circumstances of her mother’s death, the cover up and the ongoing corruption.
Her experiences as a social work academic governs the plot of her second book, Sister Olive Wouldn’t Hurt a Fly. In this book the fatal combination of a researcher’s mental collapse and a sociopathic opportunist give rise to a cliffhanging finale.
Reviewers have said that Gill writes the sort of books in which you find yourself racing to the end, whilst not wanting to finish. Her characters are compelling, well-drawn and sensitively portrayed. In her books bad people get what they deserve, but it is never quite what it seems.
In 1926 St. Paul, a determined female private investigator uncovers deadly secrets behind a debutante’s suspicious death in this twisty Prohibition-era cozy mystery.
The Nightingale Detective Agency
A Charlotte Van Elsberg Mystery Book 1
by Denise Devine
Genre: 1920’s Historical Cozy Mystery
St. Paul, 1926—where ambition comes at a cost, especially for a woman.
Charlotte Van Elsberg is determined to become the city’s first female private investigator and help women in need. She’s already landed her first case: a grieving mother who wants answers about her daughter, Eleanor Kimball, a debutante killed in a suspicious car crash. Was it truly an accident or something more sinister? Char intends to find out. There’s just one hitch—Char’s husband.
Will Van Elsberg, a seasoned investigator, knows the job too well. It’s no profession for a petite young lady, and he’s not about to let his wife charge headfirst into danger. Char has other ideas. She agrees to hire bodyguards to satisfy his objections.
However, despite the addition of her “new team,” she soon learns that this job is a lot harder than it appears. Doors slam in her face, alibis don’t add up, and everyone appears to be hiding something. Does she have the grit and determination it takes to solve this case?
The more she digs into Eleanor’s carefully polished life, the more she uncovers the young woman’s secrets. Hidden truths that someone is desperate to keep buried. Evidence worth killing for. Now that Char is asking questions, who is determined to stop her from revealing the missing pieces?
If you love Prohibition-era intrigue and twisty whodunits, dive into this 1920s cozy mystery filled with clever clues, hidden secrets, and a bold female sleuth. Grab your copy today and start sleuthing!
“Last night went well,” Will said, commenting on my new bodyguards the next morning as we lingered over strong black coffee in the breakfast room. Golden sunlight filtered through the tall windows from the sun streaming between the mature oaks on the edge of our property. “Sean and Alice seemed to get along fine. What do you think?”
Sean’s manners had come across as overly polite compared to his outburst in the den and I suspected that he was playing to an audience of one. The real test would come when Alice was alone with him. Would he be respectful or try to boss her around? I had my doubts about the former.
“I think I need to let them two sort it out and get going on my investigation,” I replied staring into my glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. “The truth is, I don’t know where to start.”
“Get to know your victim,” Will offered. “Learn everything you can about her—where she lived, her friends and relatives, the places she liked to frequent. The information will provide valuable clues about her life and possibly reveal why she was killed.”
Will set down his cup and leaned back as Gerard approached the table and placed a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast in front of him. Will looked at me curiously. “You said she was engaged?” He paused to grab a bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Gerard wincing at the idea of smothering one’s eggs with that vile concoction. I agreed but kept my opinion to myself. Will loved ketchup, especially this brand, and poured it on his breakfast nearly every morning.
“Take a good look at her fiancé,” Will said seriously. He shook the bottle, poring ketchup all over his eggs and filling the air with a pungent tomato aroma. “In my experience, when you’re investigating the murder of a woman, the guilty party is quite often someone close to the victim. That doesn’t make the fiancé automatically guilty, but it does make him a primary suspect until your investigation proves otherwise.”
“Okay,” I said, jotting down his instructions in my journal as Gerard set a plate of poached eggs and toast in front of me. Interviewing everyone who knew the deceased would be a huge undertaking. Was I up to the task? More importantly, would I gain anything useful from it? The thought exhausted me, and I hadn’t started yet.
“Go back to the scene of the crime,” Will continued and scooped up a forkful of eggs. “Study it, leaving no stone unturned. No detail is too small. Sometimes I find evidence that the police missed.”
I picked up a slice of toast and concentrated on smothering it with Welch’s Grape Jelly to avoid watching Will eat his red eggs. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Read the autopsy report,” he added as he picked up a crisp piece of bacon with his fingers. “The family might have requested their private physician to look it over and interpret it for them but unless they knew medical terms they wouldn’t have a copy of it themselves. You need to grease a palm or two at the coroner’s office to obtain a look at it.”
Oh sure, I’ll just drive to downtown Minneapolis and find someone in the coroner’s office to give me a look-see at that report.
I let out a sigh and took a bite of my toast, pondering how I would actually go about getting someone in the coroner’s office to give me access to the report, much less interpret it for me. I had no idea. “Do I need to read the autopsy report? Is it imperative to my case?”
“It’s another piece of the puzzle, darling,” Will said, his voice softening at my frustration. “If the police ruled her death an accident, the family would want to know if she’d suffered a medical issue at the time, causing her to lose control of the car. If there is a report, you should find out what’s in it.”
Folding my arms, I sat back and stared at him as discouragement began to seep into my mood. Had I made a mistake wanting to become an investigator? The job was clearly more than I’d bargained for.
About the Author
Denise Devine is a USA Today bestselling author who has had a passion for books since the second grade when she discovered Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote her first book, a mystery, at age thirteen and has been writing ever since. She loves all animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses, and they often find their way into her books.
She has written twenty-two books, including books in the Beach Brides series, Moonshine Madness series, and West Loon Bay series. Her books have hit the Top 100 Bestseller list on Amazon and she has been listed on Amazon’s Top 100 Authors.
cozy mystery series historical cozy mystery 1920s cozy murder mystery series female detective series Prohibition era mystery first in series series starter
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For self-published authors releasing books into a saturated book market, the hardest part often isn’t finishing the manuscript, it’s earning book visibility once the launch buzz fades.
Indie author competition is relentless, and publishing industry trends reward the titles that look familiar, signal value fast, and stay discoverable across multiple touchpoints.
That leaves many strong stories overlooked while their creators wrestle with author marketing challenges that feel vague, noisy, and never-ending. With the right focus, visibility can become a repeatable outcome instead of a lucky break.
Build a Brand-and-Audience Plan You Can Start This Week
Crowded marketplaces don’t reward “best”, they reward “most clearly understood.” A simple, repeatable brand-and-audience plan helps the right readers recognize you faster, trust you sooner, and stick around longer.
Write a one-sentence author brand promise: Draft a single line that combines who your stories are for + the feeling you deliver + the kind of books you write. Example: “Cozy mysteries for cat lovers who want clever clues and comforting small-town vibes.” Use that sentence to guide your cover look, back-cover blurb, bio, and even your posting topics so you’re not reinventing your identity every time you market.
Identify one “primary reader” and one “secondary reader”: Pick one main audience segment you’ll serve first, then a second that overlaps. Define each in 5 bullets: favorite tropes/themes, comparable authors, what they want to avoid, where they hang out online, and what would make them join an email list. This focus is how you avoid getting lost, general marketing disappears in a sea of other general marketing.
Plan social engagement as a weekly routine, not a performance: Use a 20-minute schedule three times a week: 5 minutes commenting on reader posts, 10 minutes posting one valuable nugget, 5 minutes replying to any responses. Aim for “conversation starters” over announcements, polls about tropes, a short passage with a question, or a behind-the-scenes choice you’re making. Readers bond with consistency and accessibility more than volume.
Add one email-list entry point you can maintain: Create a simple reader freebie or “welcome bonus” that matches your brand promise: a prequel scene, a bonus epilogue, a character dossier, or a first-chapter sampler. Put the sign-up link in three places this week: your social bio, your Amazon Author page, and the front/back matter of your ebook. A small list that actually opens emails beats a big list that forgets you.
Choose a content marketing lane you can repeat for 6 weeks: Pick one format you won’t dread, short posts, a monthly article, or a weekly email, and lock in 3–5 repeating themes (tropes you love, research rabbit holes, “if you liked X, try Y,” character spotlights). The fact that 97% of marketers use content marketing as part of their strategy is a good reminder that attention is built over time, not with one big launch-day push.
Optimize your Amazon author presence for clarity and conversion: Update your author bio to match your brand promise, then add a short “start here” pathway: best series order, a recommended first book, and what readers can expect. Refresh your author photo and banner so they visually fit your genre, and keep your book descriptions aligned with the same promise. Treat your cover and page as “packaging” that must signal the right story fast, using a product launch strategy mindset to highlight what makes your book the obvious choice.
Create Consistent Promo Graphics
Once you know the vibe you want readers to recognize, your marketing visuals can reinforce it everywhere you show up.
Using FREE graphics from sources like Pixabay, you can quickly visualize ideas for social posts, ad images, and reusable graphics, then iterate until the look feels like your book world.
When you keep creating toward the same style cues (mood, color palette, setting, typography space, or recurring visual motifs), those custom assets start to look like they belong together, which helps your promos feel cohesive across channels.
If you’re not sure what to use to get consistent results, try browsing Canva. This website can help you find graphics and photos that translates your concept into images faster.
With visuals handled, the next step is making sure readers help carry the message through reviews, smart promotions, and community-building connections.
Self-Publishing Marketing Questions, Answered
Q: What beginner marketing mistake stalls most self-published authors? A: Waiting until launch week to start talking about the book is the most common momentum killer. Getting the word out works best when you build familiarity early with short, repeatable posts and a clear reader promise.
Q: How can I get honest reviews without feeling pushy? A: Start with people who already like your genre, not just friends and family. Offer a free copy with a simple ask: “If you finish, an honest review helps other readers decide.” Make it easy by sharing one direct review link and a deadline.
Q: What should I do if my sales flatline after the initial buzz? A: Pick one channel and run a two week experiment: 3 posts, 1 email, and 1 small promo tied to a single hook. Track one metric like clicks or wishlists so you know what to repeat.
Q: Can networking work if I am introverted or short on time? A: Yes, keep it light and specific: comment thoughtfully on three authors’ posts each week and recommend one book you genuinely enjoyed. Consistency builds recognition faster than big, one-time outreach.
Q: Should I pay for self-publishing marketing services? A: They can help when used selectively and with clear goals, like running ads for a proven blurb or polishing your back cover copy. They are rarely a substitute for an author platform, so pair any spend with ongoing reader connection.
Finish-Strong Marketing Checklist
This checklist turns good intentions into repeatable habits, so your book stays discoverable long after launch. Use it weekly to focus on what moves readers from curious to committed.
✔ Confirm your reader promise in one sentence across bio, blurb, and posts
Compounding Your Personal Brand Into Reliable Long-Term Book Sales
Self-publishing can feel like shouting into the void, especially when strong books don’t instantly translate into steady sales.
The way through is author empowerment: treat effective book promotion as a practice of personal brand growth and genuine audience connection, not a frantic scramble for attention.
When that mindset guides consistent, trackable actions, each review, conversation, and campaign becomes a small signal that stacks into long-term marketing success and steadier momentum.
Small, consistent signals build the visibility that lasts. Choose one checklist item to complete this week and let it be enough. That rhythm builds resilience, motivation, and a career grounded in connection, not luck.
An Aeon by birth, Diane Butler knew when she walked away from her fellow Aeons that she wanted certain things: wealth, power, acceptance. But she’d come to realize she didn’t belong with Dark Sides and joined in the battle to save Auralia from darkness. But when her past comes after her, she understand that she can’t escape it with a simple name change.
A surprise encounter that turns ugly pits lone Emmett Forrest against thugs determined to hurt Cassie. With each threat out cold on the ground, he believes he’s done. But when the men report the incident to the Auralia Police Department, he can’t avoid the drama or the intrigue surrounding her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
“Anyone else bored as sin? We stopped the Irish mob and Dark Sides from taking over Auralia in December. January and February, we took some time to recover from Dark Sides’ Project Reckoning. I know you all have been tending to your personal lives, your relationships, and your careers, but for me, those two months were the epitome of boredom. Now March is almost over, and still boredom reigns.”
“Diane—” Braden started.
“Cassie,” she interrupted. “Try to remember, Braden. I’ve told you so many times that I’m using my middle name now. I’m not Diane anymore.” She pouted her lips.
“Cassie. I told you, Cassie for short.” She swept her gaze around the living room at Braden and Payson’s house and flung her hands up.
“I swear, it’s not that hard to remember my name. I made a change, I’m not Diane. I’m not that woman any more. I’m aligned with light and love. I’m Cassie. Cassie. Cassie Butler. Gauzy, gossamer, and open, not rigid, harsh, or angry Cassie.”
The rock lodged in her gut weighed her down. Was she different? Truly? She’d been putting in the work with her counselor, Claire Eve Kelly, to make the change permanent.
But with the chaos of the past not far behind, she ached for the excitement of the life she had. The parties, the conniving to get what she wanted. It had all been so mesmerizing.
About The Author:
After cutting her writing teeth as a feature writer for commercial and trade magazines, a reporter for newspapers and radio, and an executive editor for a communications company, award-winning author Lynn Crandall tuned her voracious appetite for stories to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, women’s fiction, and romantic suspense.
In her books, she enjoys taking readers on emotional journeys with relatable characters who refuse to back down, and face challenges and tribulations with heart and soul.
She believes every love has a story, and hers is with one handsome husband and a large, beautiful circle of family, including her cat Winter.
The Super Seeders is based on first-hand accounts from the scientists, breeders, and curators who have built the seven pillars of today’s plant genetics revolution. It begins with the guardians of global gene banks, conserving the rare and diverse crop genes that form agriculture’s safety net. From these collections, plant geneticists are now unlocking hidden traits with fast-moving genome technologies, transforming the possibilities of crop improvement.
International research centres and the groundbreaking Plant Treaty have opened the floodgates for the free exchange of genetic material, enabling a new wave of discovery. Crop breeders are translating these breakthroughs into reality, delivering drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and higher-yielding varieties for farmers.
The book raises a pressing question: will this revolution reach the 70 percent of Africans who still depend on subsistence farming? The answer will shape not only the future of food in Africa, but the future of food security worldwide.
A story of ingenuity and urgency, The Super Seeders captures the hopes and challenges of the women and men driving a genetic transformation of agriculture—and the farmers whose lives depend on its success.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
In the cool, rolling hills of southern Ethiopia’s Wolaita Highlands, the sun crested the teff and barley fields and coloured the red soil with long shadows. Selam, widow and mother of four, wrapped her scarf around her tightly and came out into the morning light from her thatched tukul house, her hands clasped around a woven basket.
She headed for the community seed bank, a mud-brick hut just outside the school, amidst the eucalyptus trees. Inside the hut, the scent of dried grain and neem leaves filled the air. Wooden shelves ran around the room, where clay jars and gourd containers were labelled neatly in Amharic: Aba Dula wheat, Dabo barley, Red sorghum of Wando. Each had a history, some passed down from grandparents, others brought by farmers like her.
“Selam, good morning!” said Abebe, the seed bank coordinator and the village elder. His weathered face creased into a smile behind his grey beard. “We’ve just finished processing the new batch of the sorghum seed. Strong stalks. Early maturation. Your father preferred this variety.”
Selam smiled. She remembered sowing that very same red sorghum as a child alongside her parents. It had been gone for years only to reappear thanks to the gene bank.
About The Author:
Miles Hillmann is a lifelong entrepreneur with a career that bridges scientific curiosity and hands-on innovation, from his early work at the Kabanyolo Agricultural Research Station in Uganda during Idi Amin’s fall to experiencing food shortage and famine in the Ethiopian Central Highlands. His work encompassed everything from agricultural development to building flash flood irrigation food-for-work systems.
His first company developed processes for food industry materials. Concurrently he pioneered real-time organic material analysis. He then created one of the UK’s major pollution control companies supplying specialist materials to companies in Europe, Nigeria and the Middle East. This led him to establish companies in e-commerce, accredited pollution control training and flood control.
This book is the story of the scientists, curators, and plant breeders leading this movement, told in their voices, through his lens.
A scandalous Top Secret Facility built on Sacred Ground triggers an ancient Cheyenne curse.
The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon: Cheyenne Spirits
Dead Horse Canyon Saga Book 1
by Marcha Fox & Pete Risingsun
Genre: Native American Cross-Cultural Conspiracy Thriller
GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION TRIGGERS AN ANCIENT CHEYENNE CURSE…
Greed and corruption have infiltrated the once-pristine Colorado Rockies, echoes of years past when silver miners swarmed the area like vermin, precipitating a 19th Century curse. Now a new generation delivers a different form of pollution, among them the most corrupt entity of them all.
All Sara Reynolds remembers of the wreck that slammed their Silverado to the depths of Dead Horse Canyon is Bryan’s dying plea to expose what he found. Why did they kill him? What happened that fateful spring day? Will she and her dead husband’s life-long Native American friend, Charlie Littlewolf, discover his secret?
Ceremonies taught by Charlie’s Northern Cheyenne medicine man grandfather decades before can connect with the spirits and reveal all things. He shunned them then. He needs them now, like never before. Coupled with Sara’s ethereal clues from the heavens can they find answers in time? Or will the same black ops raiders murder them, too?
READERS’ FAVORITE 5-STAR REVIEW
“Infused with a sense of danger, the intricate plot and dramatic storyline create a breathtaking and intense story.…An exceptional novel complete with conspiracy, intrigue, and murder that will enthrall everyone who has an affinity for suspenseful thrillers with just a smidgen of the paranormal.” –Susan Sewell
THE BOOK COMMENTARY 5-STAR REVIEW
“A fascinating blend of historical mystery and the supernatural that is as suspenseful as it is entertaining. How the past affects the present is a cleverly handled theme, and the narrative highlights the enduring consequences of greed and disrespect for the land. Boldly written, tautly plotted, and expertly delivered.” –George Buehlman
AWARDS
Page Turner Book Award Silver Medal Global Book Awards Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Book Excellence Award Finalist Readers’ Favorite 5-star Review
“I went into ‘Return to Dead Horse Canyon’ not having read the first book and while it does read comfortably as a stand-alone, after just a couple of chapters I actually went back to read ‘The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon’ before restarting book two. It was an excellent decision. The building of the Cheyenne history is critical to the story and had I not understood Sara’s complete motivation and Charlie’s fully fleshed-out roots, I’d have missed out on so much more than just a good read. My gosh, the depth of ethnology packed into both novels is meticulously researched and beautifully detailed. Co-authors Marcha Fox and Pete Risingsun are a dream team with this saga and I’m really looking forward to the third and final installment of their trilogy.” — Asher Syed
This epic modern Native American saga continues in this sequel to “The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” where Charlie Littlewolf and Sara Reynolds discovered why her husband, Bryan, was murdered, changing their lives forever. While Charlie swore to avenge his white brother’s death, the path to do so remains unclear.
His job with Lone Star Operations allows him to use his college education and earn a generous income. However, it conflicts with everything he knows to be right, especially as he returns to the teachings of his medicine man grandfather. Is violating the Earth wrong or not? Little does he realize that his work will ultimately return him to the Northern Cheyenne reservation where his true destiny will manifest in ways he never imagined.
Sara is determined to fulfill Bryan’s last request to expose the government corruption coupled with the lethal forces that stole his life. Releasing the scandalous Top Secret data via WikiLeaks infuriates those with much to lose, who place a high price on her demise. When her response gets too personal, the next attempt to silence her forever comes close to home.
While miles apart, each struggles with life-threatening situations as a result of their dedication to Bryan’s legacy. Their lives remain entangled through a series of fateful decisions and circumstances that define a future fraught with dangerous unknowns for them both.
AWARDS
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Firebird Book Award Book Excellence Award Finalist 5-star Readers’ Favorite Review Page Turner Award Finalist
The Revenge of Dead Horse Canyon: Sweet Medicine Spirits
Dead Horse Canyon Saga Book 3
The DEAD HORSE CANYON Trilogy’s explosive conclusion! Picking up where “Return to Dead Horse Canyon: Grandfather Spirits” left off, we find that much to her enemy’s dismay, Sara’s life is spared, but with a steep price. A million dollar bounty remains on her demise, motivating another to threaten her life. Paralyzed by the last attempt to eliminate her, her Native American friend, Charlie, promises to help restore her health so she can walk again. Before he can accomplish that, however, the unthinkable happens, which disrupts and redirects their plans.
To fulfill his promise to his Northern Cheyenne Grandfather to complete a four-day ceremonial fast at the Sacred Mountain, Charlie journeys to Bear Butte in South Dakota, known to his tribe as Novavose. A series of startling visions reveal the full scope of his destiny. Of prime importance is to restore the ancient Earth Giving Ceremony known as the Massaum, originally revealed thousands of years before by their prophet, Sweet Medicine.
Has the time come at last for Native People to unite and fulfill Black Cloud’s curse on Dead Horse Canyon? And what about those other 19th century prophecies directed to the 7th Generation by Black Elk and Crazy Horse?
Phase I of the PURF complex is complete. A gala open house to celebrate is scheduled around the same time as the Gathering of Indigenous Leaders. While the underground facility is filled to the brim with corrupt lobbyists, contractors, and government officials, not far away a host of First Nation Americans is entrenched in a ceremony that promises to restore them to their land.
What could possibly go wrong?
5-STAR EDITORIAL REVIEW FROM READERS’ FAVORITE
“The Revenge of Dead Horse Canyon by Marcha Fox and Pete Risingsun stands out for its sharp writing and complete ability to immerse readers, especially in Charlie’s spiritual transformation. Poor Sara just cannot get a break. Attacked, paralyzed, kidnapped, and then labeled a domestic terrorist and sanctioned! This isn’t just a fight for survival; this is about the power of truth in the face of overwhelming opposition. Charlie fits into this description, with a spectacular ceremony for Sara’s healing, but also as a powerful catalyst when he is in the presence of Grandmother Earth and the consequences of his actions. Fox and Risingsun are a dream writing team in every way, and, culturally, this portrayal of Charlie’s heritage is painted from the sky to the smallest pebble and the fire burning in between. The pacing is elevated by point of view shifts and all the drama, but also a surprising relationship transformation as well. Ultimately, this finale succeeds with a perfect 10 landing. Very, very highly recommended.”
AWARDS
Reader’s Favorite 5-stars Book Excellence Award Pinnacle Achievement Award
A sweetgrass braid ordered in 2019 connected a NASA physicist in Texas with a Cheyenne elder living on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana. That relationship evolved from a transaction to a consultation to a co-authorship that produced a culturally meticulous, spiritually grounded, award-winning conspiracy thriller trilogy.
Before publishing “The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” Marcha wanted to confirm her portrayal of Native American culture and the story’s protagonist, Charlie Littlewolf, was accurate as well as respectful toward indigenous people.
Synchronicity intervened via that sweetgrass braid and connected her with Pete Risingsun, an enrolled member and elder in the Northern Cheyenne tribe. He offered insights and changes, but best of all, was so taken with the story he ultimately became its coauthor.
Marcha’s experience as a retired NASA engineer and seasoned author of The Star Trails Tetralogy science fiction series, melded perfectly with Pete’s knowledge of his tribe’s history and ceremonies.
The pair, who has never met face to face, collaborated via phone calls, text messages, and snail mail between her home in the Texas Hill Country and his on the reservation in Montana.
It took five years to produce the trilogy that comprises “The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon Saga,” the three books of which have collected a total of 13 awards.
In preparation for writing the saga’s explosive conclusion, Marcha and Pete conducted extensive research. In so doing, they were delighted to uncover fascinating details of Norther Cheyenne history and ceremonies that dove-tailed perfectly with the complex story’s plot, tying it back to numerous events in the 19th Century.
Beth Clark has not returned to her hometown in decades, since the childhood she survived there nearly destroyed her.
When her estranged mother dies, Beth comes back to rural Alberta for a funeral that feels carefully rewritten. The eulogies are tidy. The past is sanitized. But inside the abandoned bungalow where she and her brother once lived, Beth finds objects that shatter the illusion—and awaken memories of abuse, neglect, and the systems that failed to protect her.
When Beth’s younger brother is critically injured in a sudden accident, the present collides with the past. Keeping vigil at his hospital bedside, Beth is drawn back into the summer that changed everything: the violence in their home, the silence of those who should have intervened, and the foster family whose quiet faith offered the first real safety either child had known.
Told across dual timelines, What Remains After is a literary psychological suspense novel about trauma and memory, belief and betrayal, and the long, unfinished work of survival. It asks what it truly means to forgive—and what remains when the truth is finally spoken.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Coverville Baptist Church smelled musty and old, like the memories trying to escape the recesses of Beth’s mind. That’s all that remained now of her mother. Like her life, nothing at the church had changed in over forty years. It had simply aged, with splintered oak pews and grubby carpets that had been there when she was growing up.
It was unnaturally quiet in the church, which she remembered used to almost roar after a service with the lively voices of congregants discussing the sermon or what was coming up in their week. Children used to run around, shrieking and squealing in both joy and frustration. Now, it was still. Eerily so.
Beth ignored the stares from the other mourners who had arrived early for the service. When she tried to meet their gazes to say hello, they looked briefly, with pity, before looking away. She stopped looking at people. She had only arrived when she had to so she could find Otto and talk to him before it started. He wasn’t in the lobby. Maybe he was in the sanctuary.
She waited in line at the guest registry, attended to by one of the funeral directors. When it was Beth’s turn, her hand trembled as she picked up the ridiculous feathered pen and hesitated before writing down her name. Should she use her married name or her maiden name? Her ex would have a conniption if she wrote down his, and she was changing her name back anyway, so she entered “Elizabeth Clark.”
When Beth had seen her mother’s obituary on Facebook, she’d realized that, despite her hesitation, she would go to the funeral. The only other attendees were townsfolk—mostly members of Virgie’s church—and family. She suspected that most came out of curiosity rather than grief. Beth’s reasons were less clear. Her hatred for her mother had lessened over the years, but had never completely gone; still, she felt an odd urge, almost a duty, to attend. She told herself it was just an excuse to see her brother, Otto, not the urn.
About The Author:
Pauline J. Grabia is a Canadian novelist whose work explores trauma, memory, faith, and the moral consequences of silence. Writing under the Stories of Consequence banner, she is drawn to stories that face difficult truths without spectacle and seek light without sentimentality. What Remains After is a literary psychological suspense novel rooted in rural Alberta and shaped by questions of survival, forgiveness, and what endures.
