Birthing Another Baby

Birthing Another Baby by Debra H. Goldstein

When my first book, Maze in Blue, was published, it was a freak accident. I’d written the manuscript on and off for almost a decade. When I finally decided it was finished and I should figure out what to do with it, I moderated a panel featuring four woman authors who wrote very different types of books. Near the end of the presentation, I opened the program up for questions. The first question was directed to me rather than the panelists.

“Tell us what you’re writing.”

I blushed. “Well, I guess you’re referring to the short essay I wrote, “Maybe I Should Hug You,” that won a prize in the Alabama Writers Conclave’s contest and was published in MORE Magazine online. Thank you. Now let’s get back to our panel.”

“Tell us what else you’re writing.”

“Well, I have a mystery that’s ready to see the world.”

That, I thought, was the end of it until a few hours later I received an e-mail message from a co-owner of a publishing house. A dear friend of hers had been in the audience. Afterwards, she contacted the publisher and told her there was a judge with a mystery. Because of her friend’s recommendation, she asked if I wanted her to read it.

I said, “Yes,” and offered to gift wrap it for her.

She must have laughed, but I don’t know. The next e-mail said to send it by email with a certain title in the heading box. I surmised if she didn’t like the manuscript, she'd hit delete, but two weeks later, I received another e-mail:

“My partner, Joy, and I have read Maze in Blue and would like to offer you a contract.”

When I picked up my jaw from where it had dropped to the floor, I said “Yes.”

Maze in Blue, a mystery on the University of Michigan’s campus set in the 1970’s, was published in April 2011 and won an IPPY award in 2012. In between its publication and the award, it was orphaned. Advised to write something new, I wrote: Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery. Published in 2016, it, too, was orphaned. So, I came up with a new idea—the Sarah Blair series.

One Taste Too Many was published by Kensington in January 2019 followed by Two Bites Too Many in October 2019. Three Treats Too Many will be released on August 25. Although the pandemic has made launching it quite different, I am as excited as when I opened the email about Maze in Blue.

There’s nothing better than birthing a new baby!

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Three-Treats-Sarah-Blair-Mystery/dp/1496719492

Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/three-treats-too-many-debra-h-goldstein/1135275342?ean=9781496719492

As a special treat, Kensington is reducing the e-book price of 2020 Silver Falchion Finalist Two Bites Too Many to $.99 from August 21-August 24.