This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fave Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.
NAME: Lois W. Stern
CREDENTIALS:: Author, Editor, Publisher
TITLE(S) OF BOOK(S) YOU SUCCESSFULLY MARKETED: Tales2Inspire ~ The Jewel Collection (Emerald, Topaz, Ruby, Sapphire, Pearl, Opal, Crystal, Garnet, Jade, Moonstone 1, Moonstone 2, Agate); Tales2Inspire ~ The Diamond Collections - Series I, II, III, IV, V, VI)
MARKETING TIP ITSELF, of course!
Since each of my twelve Jewel Colletion books is named for a different gemstone, (with a little nudge from Carolyn), I came up with the idea of timing the marketing of each book to the Zodiac gemstone of that time span. Lucky you! You can now order the paper edition of any Jewel Collection book for that special person in your life for only $10 (US shipping and handling included). But you must time the order of any Jewel Collection book to match its astrological time period. Just check out my handy-dandy Zodiac chart, below, and pick out one of the titles based on the gemstone representing the birthdate of someone special in your life.
This Zodiac chart below is a way to mark the birthdates of all the special people in your life. For example, if your sister was born under the sign of Aries, you could have ordered the Ruby Collection book (Gifts of Compassion), paperback edition for $10, or a free ebook of the same title if I received your order between March 21 an April 19th.
SIGN UP HERE: Stay informed of Tales2Inspire Freebies and Specials.
IMAGES:
Save this gem chart to record the birthdays of all the favorite people in your life.
ABOUT ME, THE MARKETING GURU: I am an Associate & Review Coordinator for TheNewBookReview. But another hat that I wear is that of creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest, to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. And best of all, it’s Free. I have now published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Jewel Collection anthologies (as well as six Tales2Inspire 2-in-1 Diamond Collection anthologies). I am a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review coordinator, I serve as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.
Get a FREE Tales2Inspire book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts
Visit my Tales2Inspire blog HERE.
For some lively conversation, join me on my Facebook page HERE.
MY FAVE LINKS: https://www.tales2Inspire.com/; https://www.Facebook.com/tales2Inspire/; https://www.amazon.com/tales2inspire/; https://author.amazon.com/home
MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: tales2Inspire2@gmail.com
Do you want this email to be included with your marketing tip?
X Yes ___ NO
Lois W. Stern, TheNewBookReview Associate and Facilitator, is the founder, editor and contributor to Tales2Inspire, an authors helping authors project to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. As such, she has now published twelve award winning Tales2Inspire® treasured gem collection anthologies of her contest winners' stories, republished in her double 2 for 1 Diamond Collection books. If you would like to participate in this No Fee contest, CLICK HERE for all details. Lois is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review coordinator, Lois serves as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.
CLICK HERE to get a FREE Tales2Inspire book with six of those award winning stories.
Join me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/tales2inspire
MY NAME: LOIS W. STERN
CREDENTIALS:: Author, Editor, Publisher, Associate at TheNewBookReviewBlogspot, Founder and editor of the #Tales2Inspire Series of anthologies, Contributing #AuthorsHelpingAuthors associate here and on the #SharingwithWriters Blog
TITLE(S) OF BOOK(S) I SUCCESSFULLY MARKETED: 12 Tales2Inspire Anthologies, 6 Tales2Inspire Diamond Collection Anthologies, Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour
MARKETING TIP ITSELF: By Lois W. Stern,
If you haven't yet read my article about Zelle, a popular tool for making online payments with NO additional charges, check it out here..
A BIT OF BACKGROUND:
First you need to know that each book in myTale2Inspire Jewel Collection is named for a specific Zodiac gem, and there's a specific reason for that pairing: The stories in each individual Jewel Collection book are theme based to match the symbolic meaning of that particular gemstone. For example, the Emerald is the gemstone symbolizing psychic powers. It’s named for the Tales2Inspire collection filled with Beyond Coincidence stories.
MY CREATIVE MARKETING IDEA: In marketing my books, here is one idea that has worked so well for me.
I'd like to invite all my Tales2Inspire fans to go to https://www.tales2inspire.com/gifts to downlod a free Zodiac chart, an enlarged working copy of the miniature one you see below. Then add the name of each person special in your life to the line corresponding to their specific birthdate.
Then, if looking for a unique way to let those near and dear know that they are indeed special to you, consider presenting some on your list with a gem collection book - one named for a gem listed under their Zodiac sign. (See column two on this chart for easy reference.)
What thoughtful little 'Thinking of you' gifts these Jewel Collection books make when paired to the Zodiac sign of one of your friends and/or family members. And here is a little bonus tip I learned from one of my authors: Write one sentence inside each book cover telling that person why they are special to you.
Thank you, Adrienne Drake, MD
Can you just imagine how thrilled you would be to know that someone cared enough to think of you in such a speclal way!
I often run specials, announced through my monthly newsletter, and encourage my readers to use my Jotform at: https://form.jotform.com/260094023611041 to stock up on these little gift books at bargain prices.
ABOUT TODAY’S CONTRIBUTOR
ABOUT MARKETING GURU, LOIS W. STERN
Lois W. Stern, TheNewBookReviewBlogSpot Associate, is the founder, editor and contributor to Tales2Inspire, an authors helping authors project to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. She has now published over a dozen Tales2Inspire® treasured Jewel Collection anthologies and award winningsi award winning Diamond Collection anthologies of her contest winners' stories.
Lois is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review associate, Lois serves as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.
CLICK HERE to get a FREE Tales2Inspire Sampler book.
MY FAVE LINKS:
https://www.tales2inspire.com
https://www.Facebook.com.tales2inspire
https://www.youtube.com/winningtales
MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: tales2Inspire2@gmail.com
Do you want this email to be included with your marketing tip?
X Yes ___ NO
Lois W. Stern is an Associate & Review Coordinator for TheNewBookReview. She is also the creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. And best of all, it’s Free. Lois has now published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Jewel Collection anthologies and six award winning Tales2Inspire 2-in-1 Diamond Collection anthologies. She is a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review coordinator, Lois serves as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.
Get a FREE Tales2Inspire book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts
Visit her Tales2Inspire blog HERE.
For some lively conversation, join Lois on her Facebook page HERE.
Lois is an associate of TheNewBookReview, working with a passion to help other authors strengthen their visibility on this blog and elsewhere. Through her annual Tales2Inspire contest, a labor of love that has received worldwide recognition, she accepts entries from talented newbies and accomplished authors alike, and continues to feature her winning authors on an ongoing basis. True to her 'Authors Helping Authors' philosophy, she charges no submission fee for folks to enter her contest and receives no remuneration for any of her services. She hopes those who benefit from her efforts will express their appreciation by purchasing Tales2Inspire anthologies and writing reviews. In her continuing spirit of “Authors Helping Authors”, Lois provides several tips on how authors can help promote themselves while writing honest reviews for others. To read her article, Be a Hero: Make Some Magic for Yourself. CLICK HERE..
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love.
Please see submission guidelines in Lois W. Stern’s silver circle icon in the right column of this blog, in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the submission guidelines at https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews . Find her guidelines in the right column of this blog’s home page (a silver and gold badge with three silver- circle icons beneath it.
Carolyn Wilhelm is our IT expert, an award-winning author and veteran educator, she also contributes reviews and posts on other topics related to books.
Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at #SharingwithWriters and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing Learn more about Carolyn’s services at HowToDoItFrugally https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews.
BOOK TITLE: OVERTURE TO MURDER
AUTHOR OF BOOK: ERICA MINER
GENRE: MYSTERY/THRILLER
ISBN: 1685127819
SERIES: JULIA KOGAN OPERA MYSTERY SERIES
PAGE COUNT: 300
PUBLISHER: LEVEL BEST BOOKS
AMAZON or FAVE LINK to BUY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Overture-Murder-Julia-Kogan-Mystery/dp/1685127819/
REVIEWER’S NAME AND PERMISSION TO REPRINT:
JESSICA FAHEY, THE SAN FRANCISCO BOOK REVIEW
Heidi K. Rojek, Owner
THE REVIEW ITSELF:
By Jessica Fahey, The San Francisco Book Review
FULL REVIEW HERE
(https://sanfranciscobookreview.com/product/overture-to-murder/)
Erica Miner’s Overture to Murder is an absorbing and intelligent addition to the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series, combining the rarefied world of grand opera with the satisfying architecture of a classic whodunit. As a longtime lover of mysteries, I found this novel very rewarding.
Set against the formidable backdrop of Wagner’s Ring cycle at the San Francisco Opera, the novel opens with an atmosphere of tension and grandeur that immediately establishes both scale and stakes. The prologue, reaching back to 1922, lends the story a sense of legacy and continuity, while the present-day chapters immerse us in the complicated machinery of mounting Das Rheingold. Miner’s familiarity with the operatic world is evident from the first pages; the rehearsal dynamics, the politics between stage director and management, and the physical layout of the opera house feel authentic and meticulously observed.
Julia Kogan, the protagonist, is a particularly appealing heroine. Now serving as interim concertmaster after a suspicious hit-and-run injures her predecessor, Julia must navigate not only the technical demands of Wagner’s monumental score but also the fragile egos and rivalries that inevitably simmer behind the curtain. Julia’s relationship with her partner Larry and their precocious daughter Rebecca adds warmth and dimension to the narrative. The scenes of Julia teaching Rebecca violin, complete with the child’s imaginative interpretations of the strings, provide a tender counterpoint to the darker events unfolding at the opera house.
One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is Miner’s portrayal of backstage tensions. The abrasive stage director Yves Chauvet is drawn with sharp precision: ambitious, temperamental, and dismissive of others’ expertise. His public berating of Julia during rehearsal is both shocking and believable, and it sets the emotional groundwork for the tragedy that follows. When a fire alarm disrupts opening night and Chauvet is discovered dead in his dressing room, the transition from artistic drama to criminal investigation feels organic rather than contrived.
I especially enjoyed the way Miner layers professional hierarchies into the mystery. The general director, the orchestra manager, the house head, and the union dynamics; each plays a role in shaping both motive and opportunity. For readers like myself who relish procedural detail, these elements enrich the story rather than slow it down. The author’s background as a violinist shines through in the descriptions of rehearsal pressures, bow strokes, and the unique responsibility borne by a concertmaster. Those passages lend the book a gravitas that elevates it beyond a standard cozy.
In all, Overture to Murder is a polished and engaging mystery that will delight opera aficionados and general readers alike. It offers intellectual intrigue, vivid characterization, and a richly textured setting that lingers long after the final page.
Blurb:
"Divas and deadly secrets share center stage in Erica Miner's Overture to Murder, a classic mystery tale set at the San Francisco Opera House. Underpinning the plot of this delightfully twisty novel is a full-scale Wagnerian opera production that provides an apt metaphor for the action and a chilling backdrop for murder. The stakes could not be higher for violinist Julia Kogan, whose pursuit of a killer is rendered with all the immediacy of a live performance. Precise details, inside information about the glamorous world of classical music, and a cast of finely drawn characters propel the action from the opening curtain to the final bows. The suspenseful and surprising finish to this tale of mystery, music, and mayhem is a page-turner. Highly recommend." - Lori Robbins, author of the Master Class and On Pointe Mysteries
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Former Metropolitan Opera violinist turned author ERICA MINER now has a multi-faceted career as an award-winning author, screenwriter, journalist and lecturer. Winner of the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards for her debut novel, Travels With My Lovers, Erica has received kudos for her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series published by Level Best Books, based on her experiences at the Met: ARIA FOR MURDER (2022); PRELUDE TO MURDER (2023); and OVERTURE TO MURDER (2024).
Erica writes music criticism for websites such as US Bachtrack; Classical Voice of North America; Broadway World and LA Opus. Her lectures and seminars on writing and opera have won praise at numerous arts and academic organizations including: the Seattle Symphony, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of San Diego and University of Washington; and Wagner Societies across the US and in Australia. Erica’s writings also can be found in publications such as Leitmotive, the magazine of the Wagner Society of Northern California; Italian American Magazine; San Diego Jewish Journal; Del Mar Lifestyle; Opera+ St. Petersburg Music & Art Magazine; Vision Magazine; WORD San Diego; and Istanbul Our City.
