Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Killers of a Feather (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries) by T. C. LoTempio. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Killers of a Feather (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
by T. C. LoTempio
Killers of a Feather (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Beyond the Page (June 21, 2022)
Print length : 299 pages
Shell McMillan and her feline friends must unravel a mystery where everyone’s a suspect and no one’s to blame . . .
With the grand re-opening of her Urban Tails Pet Shop just days away, Shell McMillan has her hands full planning entertainment for the festive event, including a fortune-telling parrot. But her jubilant mood is soon threatened by ominous rumors of the return of Johnny Draco, a former investment guru who swindled money from most of the residents of Fox Hollow and then vanished without a trace. And when the parrot predicts a dire future for Draco and his dead body is found just hours later, no one can say they’re surprised—but no one will say who did it.
With virtually everyone in town a suspect, the police turn their focus on a good friend of Shell’s who was seen arguing with the victim shortly before his death. Determined to clear her friend’s name, Shell begins investigating Draco’s past, his former employer, and everyone who lost money to him. And when the trail of clues suggests there may have been a completely different motive for the murder, Shell suddenly realizes she’s uncovered a secret someone would kill to keep hidden—and that if she’s not careful, the parrot may be predicting she has no future at all . . .
Guest Post: Making an Impression
The importance of a good opening line
T. C. Lotempio
The saying “You only get one chance to make a good impression” definitely applies to writing! After all, isn’t it the first line of a story that makes you want to dive in?
Which begs the question: What makes an interesting first line?
Simple is usually best, the ones where the story begins in the very first sentence. Give your reader a taste of the story immediately. If it means starting in the middle of action, then so be it. The story’s in motion and the reader’s a part of it.
Example: ‘There was a severed head on the blue patterned quilt folded at the bottom of the bed’ (Chapter One, Faux Paw, Sofie Kelly)
Right away the reader is in the middle of the action. What head? Who severed it? And what was it doing at the bottom of the bed?
You want to read more.
Conflict is another good introduction, like the first line of my latest Nick and Nora mystery, Murder Faux Paws: ‘Ya gotta watch out for those females, am I right?’
Why do we have to watch out for the females? What have they done?
How about intrigue? Take this first line from J.D. Robb’s Forgotten in Death: ‘For a homicide cop, murder often started the day.’
What cop? Whose Murder?
What do all of these beginnings have in common? The reader is asking questions. If they are asking questions after the first line, they will be curious enough to try the second.
While these methods aren’t cast in stone, they’re a good place to start. If you can hook the reader from line one, you can bet they’ll come back for more.
About T.C. LoTempio
T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net.
Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – iBooks – Kobo – Google Play – Smashwords
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Killers of a Feather TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 5 – The Mystery Section – GUEST POST
July 5 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
July 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
July 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 7 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
July 7 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
July 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
July 11 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 12 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
July 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
July 13 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
July 14 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
July 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
July 18 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
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This book sounds like a great read, just what I need!
Thanks for hosting our blog tour! T.C. and ROCCO
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping!
I have read and enjoyed books by this author in the past.
Looks like a fun book.
Thanks for the contest.