Murder InThe Winner's Circle: A Harness Racing Mystery by M.J. Evans
About Murder InThe Winner's Circle
Murder InThe Winner's Circle: A Harness Racing Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting - Pennsylvania
Publisher : Dancing Horse Press
Print Length - 257 Pages
Paperback ISBN 9798993879413
ASIN B0HLQCXS8H
Digital ASIN : B0HFQNH72C
A Birthday Celebration. A Champion Horse. A Deadly Toast. Alfred Wellington has everything he wants on his sixtieth birthday. His prized colt just won at Liberty Racetrack, the champagne is flowing, and the crowd is cheering. Then Alfred collapses. At first, everyone assumes it was a heart attack—until the autopsy reveals the truth. ALFRED WELLINGTON WAS POISONED. Former insurance investigator Callie Oaks Coffman knows Liberty Racetrack inside and out. She knows its horses, its owners, its trainers—and she knows that secrets can get someone killed. As she and her new husband, reporter Paul Coffman, become drawn into the investigation, Callie discovers that Alfred left behind plenty of people with reasons to want him dead. A beautiful young wife. A secretive trainer. A bitter ex-wife. A business partner with something to hide. But which one of them is the killer? BECAUSE IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE, EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE. Return to the world of Liberty Racetrack in the second Harness Racing Mystery, following Fire at the Track.
About M.J. Evans
M.J. Evans is the award-winning author of twenty-seven published works spanning middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction, as well as a selection of picture books. Her writing often explores themes centered around horses and equine fantasy, reflecting a lifelong passion for these remarkable animals. A graduate of Oregon State University and a former educator with experience teaching both middle and high school students, Ms. Evans brings both educational insight and storytelling flair to her work. She resides in beautiful Colorado with her husband, Tom, where they enjoy the company of their horses and Standard Poodle. She is the proud mother of five and grandmother of thirteen.
M.J. Evans was the recipient of the 2024 Colorado Authors League Lifetime Achievement Award. Literary awards include: Chanticleer International Book Awards Readers’ Favorite International Awards Eric Hoffer Awards Nautilus Awards Literary Classics awards Literary Global Book Awards Literary Titan Book Award Feathered Quill Book Awards Purple Dragonfly Awards Royal Dragonfly Awards Page Turner Award Next Generation Award Global Book Awards CIPA Evvy Book Awards Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Incipere Book Awards International Impact Book Awards Maincrest Media Book Awards Book Excellence Awards Mom’s Choice AwardsInterview:
1. I have enjoyed creative writing since I was a child. But it took a long time to actually start thinking of myself as an author. I had a serious case of impostor syndrome! It wasn’t until I was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024” from the Colorado Authors’ League that I started to really embrace the title of author!
2. Most books take me close to a year to write—from concept to opening the first box of books from the printer.
3. I commit to nearly five hours of writing a day. In the summer I ride my horses in the morning, then write in the afternoon. During the winter, I reverse that. I write in the morning and ride in the afternoon. I am so blessed to live such a fun life!
4. My one writing quirk that has led to accomplishing the completion of so many books is that I don’t look back! I just keep moving forward and not worry about making everything perfect until I have the whole book down. That is my foundation. Then I can go back and improve, edit, embellish and revise all I want. Each draft builds upon the original foundation.
5. Initially, I went the traditional route of seeking a publisher by submitting query letters and manuscripts. My first four books were done that way. I learned everything I could from them, which was a lot! Now I do it myself. I use a professional editor and cover designer. But I do all the rest myself.
6. The idea comes first. Several of my ideas have come from my readers who send me a note with: “You should write about this!” in the headline. I look into it by lightly researching the topic and, if it isn’t something that has been written about extensively before and I’m excited about the idea, my research gets more involved. I love to interview people who are experts on the subject—such as Silver Charm’s jockey, or a harness racing trainer for “Fire at the Track.” I also purchase books on the subject so that I can take notes and dog ear corners.
7. I am not counting my childhood attempts! My first published book was a non-fiction trail guidebook called “Riding Colorado-Day Trips From Denver with Your Horse.” I wrote it over the course of two years. I was in my early fifties. I had moved to Colorado and wanted to know where to ride my horse. Not finding a trail guidebook for equestrians, I decided to write one myself. It was so fun! I learned the best way to make money as an author is to write a non-fiction book that fills a need! Thousands of other equestrians needed just such a book.
8. When I am not writing, I’m either riding my horse at home or on the mountain trails or playing with my grandchildren. Life is good!
9. They are so proud of me and love getting a new book each year. My grandchildren especially love it when I read one of my books out loud to them. They also love it when I do an author visit at their school.
10. I learned that I really can write well and that I can leave something good in the world through my writing.
11. “Murder in the Winner’s Circle” is my twenty-seventh book. I have had fun writing each book but I would have to say that my favorite book is the one I’m working on at any given time. That is the one that is occupying my thoughts and energyat the moment. So, right now it is the next book in the harness racing mystery series: “Blowing the Whistle.”
12. To become a better writer, become a more critical reader. Don’t just read for pleasure. Start reading with an eye for things you like and feel have been done well.
13. It is such a great joy to get letters from my readers. Often, it is pre-teens or teens who tell me my book is their favorite. From adults it is often suggestions for my next book as I mentioned above. The most fun letters have been from people who have a special connection to the topic of the book. I heard from one man whose relative was a Sand Pounder during WWII. Another man read “The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy” and told me his grandfather was one of the soldiers who helped save the horses. And one man contacted me who is a descendent of George Beck in “PINTO!” He was so excited to find out so much about his uncle—things he had never known before.
14. Yes. But it is also fun to write for teens and middle-grade readers. I don’t want to get in a rut and I’m always trying to push myself to try new things.
15. A good story is one that gives readers a character who wants something, them make them care whether that character gets it. Ernest Hemmingway said, “There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
16. That’s a funny question. I wanted to be a veterinarian until I watched a surgery on a horse. Then I wanted to be an Olympic rider until I found out how much those Olympic horses cost. Then I decided that the most important thing I could do in my life was create a wonderful family. So, that is what I have done.
17. I want your readers to know that becoming a successful writer is 10% talent and 90% perseverance. Talent can be innate or learned, but nothing takes the place of the old fashioned hard work. I hope they will enjoy reading some of my books.
Author Links
Website:www.dancinghorsepress.com.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M.-J.-Evans/e/B004GMS014
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/margi.evans.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjevansbooks/
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 3 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 4 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
November 5 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 6 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 7 – Escape With Dollycas IntoA Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – FUONLYKNEW - SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 10 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – Book HookUp – REVIEW
November 11 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
November 11 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 12 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen- SPOTLIGHT
November 12 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
November 13 –Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
November 13 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
November 14 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
November 15 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 16 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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