Category Archives: Downward Dog Mysteries

They’re Here, They’re Here, They’re Here!

August is an exciting time for me on so many levels. I’m on sabbatical from teaching yoga, which means I can concentrate on my writing. Sounds simple, right? It’s significantly more complex than you might think. Just as I was ready to dive into the second draft of my fourth novel, tentatively titled A TWISTED DEATH, I got requests to read and endorse two new fabulous mysteries, and my second editor at Midnight Ink got back to me with edits on my current novel, Karma’s a Killer.

This is the first time I’ve worked with Sandy, and I must say she’s AWESOME! She brings an attention to detail that my work has rarely seen before. And, if I have to brag, I guess this is the time: Karma’s a Killer is my best book so far. I truly believe it. Even better, it’s definitely by far my best cover!

Just when I thought my excitement couldn’t get any higher, the advanced copies and press release for Karma’s a Killer arrived on Wednesday. I keep burying my nose in the books, inhaling their new book smell. Can you tell I’m excited or what?

Here’s an excerpt from the press release for this newest installment in the series.

The latest mystery by award-winning novelist Tracy Weber, Karma’s a Killer is a fun, fresh, feisty new mystery featuring Seattle yoga teacher Kate Davidson and her trusty canine companion Bella.

About Karma’s a Killer: Yoga instructor Kate Davidson is about to discover that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like om. When she agrees to teach doga—yoga for dogs—at a fundraiser for Dogma, a local animal rescue, Kate believes the only real damage will be to her reputation. But when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning, a few downward-facing dogs will be the least of Kate’s problems…

The police arrest Dharma, a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother, and charge her with murder. To prove Dharma’s innocence, Kate, her boyfriend Michael, and her German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them.

And if solving a murder weren’t complicated enough, Kate will also have to decide whether or not to reconcile with the estranged mother who abandoned her over thirty years ago. Not to mention having to contend with an almost-bankrupt animal rescue, a cantankerous crow, an unwanted pigeon houseguest, and a rabbit in a doga class. What could possibly go wrong?

A taut tale with more twists and turns than a vinyasa yoga class, Karma’s a Killer brims with suspense, wit and whimsy. With a to-die-for plot, sensational storyline, and charming characters—of both the two- and four-legged varieties—Karma’s a Killer is a clever, colorful, and utterly captivating cozy mystery.”

Sounds like a book I’d actually like to read. How about you?

Time to get working on scheduling those book launch events!

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Come visit Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, and check out Tracy Weber’s author page for information about the Downward Dog Mysteries series. A KILLER RETREAT and MURDER STRIKES A POSE are available at book sellers everywhere! KARMA’S A KILLER is available for pre-order now!

Fifty Ways to Show Readers Some Love (Part 2)

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Today is my weekly posting for Inkspot, the blog for authors of Midnight Ink. This week I post the second of a three-part series outlining over 50 ways authors can show their readers that they appreciate them. Check it out, please share, and add to the list. Above all else, rest assured that I love you!

http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/07/fifty-ways-to-show-readers-some-love-part-2.html

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Fifty Ways to Show Readers You Love Them

2 Replies

Today is my weekly posting for Inkspot, the blog for authors of Midnight Ink. I’m starting a three-part series outlining over 50 ways authors can show their readers that they appreciate them. Check it out, please share, and add to the list. Above all else, rest assured that I love you!

http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/06/fifty-ways-to-show-readers-some-love.html

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Seven Tips for a Successful Cover Reveal Contest

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Hi all! Today’s my blogging day at InkSpot, the blog for the authors of Midnight Ink. I’m dedicating this month’s article to helping my fellow authors learn how to host a successful cover reveal contest. Check it out! We’ll be back to yoga next week!

http://midnightwriters.blogspot.com/2015/05/seven-tips-for-successful-cover-reveal.html

And what do you think of my newest cover for Karma’s a Killer?

Tracy Weber

It’s a Cover Reveal Contest!

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I’m so excited about the cover of my next book, Karma’s a Killer, that I’ve decided to share the fun with a cover reveal contest! Here’s how it works:

Each day Monday through Friday of this week, I’ll post an element of the cover on my Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/TracyWeberAuthor. Before midnight that day, leave a comment naming the object pictured and you’ll be entered into that day’s contest. “Liking” my author page or “Friending” me on Facebook while you’re there is good Karma, but not required.

While you’re there, be sure to make a note of the object for the grand prize round.

Then, any time between when I post the final object on Friday, May 15 and Sunday, May 17 at midnight, send me an e-mail at Tr***@***********ga.com with all five objects, and you’ll be entered for the grand prize “Agatha Sweepstakes” drawing for an autographed copy of all five of the Agatha Best First nominees AND an autographed advanced copy of Karma’s a Killer when it becomes available in August.

Here are the prizes!

Monday: An autographed copy of my Agatha Nominated first book, Murder Strikes a Pose. If you already own it, remember: books make great gifts!

Tuesday: An autographed copy of the second book in the series, A Killer Retreat. If you already own it, remember: books make great gifts!

Wednesday: A Downward Dog Mysteries coffee mug.

Thursday: An autographed book bag from this year’s Malice Domestic.

Friday: An autographed advanced copy of Karma’s a Killer when it becomes available in August.

Grand Prize: Autographed copies of each of the Agatha Best First nominees AND an advanced copy of Karma’s A Killer when it’s available.

Circle of Influence by Annette Dashofy
Tagged for Death by Sherry Harris
Finding Sky by Susan O’Brien
Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran
Murder Strikes a Pose by Tracy Weber

And here’s your free example. Today’s photo is:

cover reveal1 The object is…you guessed it…the Space Needle!

Visit today’s post at https://www.facebook.com/TracyWeberAuthor and make your first entry!

NOTE: By entering, you acknowledge that Facebook is not liable for any part of the contest. The contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. 😉

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Memories of Malice

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As many of you know, I was nominated for the Agatha award for Best First Novel this year, and the convention and awards ceremony was held in Bethesda, Maryland this weekend. I didn’t win, but I had a blast! In case you were wondering what all the fuss was about, here are a few photos from the trip!

The trip began with Tasha-dog begging me with her eyes not to go.

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But somehow I ventured forth anyway. This was the view from the balcony of near my room. Notice the question marks? We filled the entire hotel.

Me and three of my fellow nominees the day before the conference. I had just arrived at the hotel.

Three of my fellow nominees greeted me when I arrived at the hotel.

And I took my first ever selfie with my brand spanking new smart phone, which was purchased specifically for the event.

I soon discovered that nothing beats jet lag better than a glass of free champagne–provided by the hotel!

My fellow nominees and I looked a little more refreshed at our panel the next day.

Then it was off to a celebration reception for the 10th anniversary of my publisher, Midnight Ink!

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Of course I signed a few books…

And dismally failed at my next selfie. Though I looked pretty hot in my first dress in almost 20 years, if I do say so myself! 😉

Before I knew it, I was off to the awards banquet,

Where some of my new friends signed up to sit at my table.

We all ate dinner and a to-die-for dessert served in a chocolate tea cup!

I was much too road-worn to take any selfies the next day, but suffice it to say that the woman at the airline check-in desk asked (in all seriousness) if I was well enough to fly.

The whole experience was amazing, but the best part by far was meeting these other incredible ladies!

Congratulations to all: Annette Dashofy, Terrie Moran, Susan Obrien, and Sherry Novinger Harris. Please, everyone, buy their books and support these fabulous, fabulous writers.

Someday I’ll be saying, “I knew them when!”

Namaste

Tracy Weber

Finding Hope

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“And as far as false hope, there is no such thing. There is only hope or the absence of hope—nothing else.” –Patti Davis

It’s been a tough year for me thus far. A year filled with challenges, some of which I’ve spoken about on social media, many of which I have not. In February, I lost a pet exactly a week after it was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. A close relative is fighting the same challenging illness. My husband’s job remains in limbo, and my own business is struggling. Writing is…. Well, let’s just say writing can be a tough business, even in the best of times.

On Tuesday, a vet who I adore delivered a harsh diagnosis for my beloved dog, Tasha. I think she’s wrong. I pray she’s wrong. I need her to be wrong. Still, according to the vet, “All we can do is wait and see.” Basically, if we have to put my dog down in six months due to a progressive paralysis, the vet will have been right. If not, hopefully we have another good year or two.

Usually, I’m pretty resilient—like a Weebles doll that wobbles but never falls down. These days, I feel more like a mosquito standing at the end of line of Dominoes, about to be crushed by forces over which I have no control. Truth is, I think I’m simply drained. There’s not enough helium left in my happy balloon to lift me up anymore.

Then, just when I was about to give in to depression, the universe gave me a sign.

I attended a book signing for my mystery series this afternoon. I usually love any opportunity to chat about my work, but today I would much rather have hid in the corner. I simply didn’t have the energy to make lighthearted small talk with strangers, no matter how much I loved the subject. I browsed around the book store, pretending to look for a book, when I stumbled across the stone pictured at the top of this article.

Hope.

Literally staring at me from an otherwise empty windowsill.

I wish I could say that seeing that rock filled me with a lighthearted joy. That it changed my attitude in some distinctly measureable way. The truth is, as I picked it up and hefted its weight in my hands, only one clear thought went through my mind.

This would make a pretty good murder weapon.

What do you expect? I am a crime writer, after all.

Still, I carried that heavy, gray, yet somehow powerful stone to the register, paid for it, and brought it home with me to serve as a reminder. Hope isn’t a gift. It’s not always pretty. Sometimes it refuses to show itself, except when you least expect it. Yet it’s always there waiting for you, if you’re willing to grasp it.

Namaste my students, my family, my friends, my loves. May you all stumble across hope when you need it the most.

Tracy Weber – Whole Life Blog

Yoga, dogs, and mysteries… what could be more fun?

Category Archives: Downward Dog Mysteries

They’re Here, They’re Here, They’re Here!

Fifty Ways to Show Readers Some Love (Part 2)

Fifty Ways to Show Readers You Love Them

Seven Tips for a Successful Cover Reveal Contest

It’s a Cover Reveal Contest!

Memories of Malice

Finding Hope

Feeling Clarity

Do Awards Boost Anything Except Egos?

A Great Big Thank You