News, Schmooze, and a Chance to Memorialize Your Relatives

Author

Saralyn Richard
July 01, 2025

June has flitted in and out of my life like a colorful butterfly. I’ve enjoyed the moments, but they’ve been way too transitory and swift.

After all the book events in May, I found a little time to entertain family visitors, read some great books, and start researching and writing my next book. Like MRS. OLIVER’S TWIST, the book is a mystery set in Galveston, Texas, but the rest is a huge departure—the book begins in 1904, after the Great Storm of 1900. The city is in recovery mode, immigrants are arriving constantly at the port, and the progressive grade-raising project is in full swing.

 

And here’s where you can help me and memorialize your relatives at the same time. I’m going to need some character names from the early twentieth century. If you’ll send me the names of your grandparents or great-grandparents who lived at that time, I’ll keep a list going. When I need a new name, I may choose one you sent. How fun to have character names that connect me to your relatives!

 

In other news, MURDER OUTSIDE THE BOX has recently won two very prestigious awards to add to the two previously won. The first is a finalist award from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for best suspense. The second is a finalist award from the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion in the category of best investigator.

The latter contest winner will be announced at the Killer Nashville conference in August. I’m hoping to attend the conference, and I’m honored to be a finalist among four other fantastic authors.

Mostly, I’m thrilled that Detective Parrott resonates with readers. MURDER OUTSIDE THE BOX has received accolades from all of the writing contests in which it’s been entered.

Soon it will also be in contention for the Killer Nashville Readers’ Choice book of the year. If you would do me the honor of voting for it when the ballots come out, I’d be most grateful. With your help, two of the other Parrott books have taken home the gold in this contest in previous years. I’ll send the link when it is available.

 

Meanwhile, if you’ve read MRS. OLIVER’S TWIST, please consider rating and reviewing it on Amazon. All that’s required is a click on the number of stars you want to give it, and a few words about what you enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) about the book. The Amazon algorithm pays attention to how many ratings and reviews the book receives, and when the number reaches 50, 100, 150, etc., the book is shown to new readers. This exposure is critical to the book’s success, and I would greatly appreciate your help. Here is the link to use: https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Olivers-Twist-McFarland-Mystery/dp/B0F26PDMS4/ref=

And here are some virtual Mrs. Oliver’s cookies to enjoy while you help out. They are poison-, carb-, and calorie-free. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by for some real ones!

Wishing you a healthy, peaceful, and fun month of July, and, as always, much love,

Saralyn