Romance Versus Mystery! by Linda Weaver Clarke, Author of Mayan Intrigue

Today we are featuring an article from our special guest, Linda Weaver Clarke. Linda is the author of A Family in Bear Lake, Idaho series and her new mystery novels, Anasazi Intrigue and Mayan Intrigue, which are from The Adventures of John and Julia Evans series.

Romance VS Mystery! by Linda Weaver Clarke

I have written five historical romance novels but have changed to mystery. The writing process between romance and mystery is quite a change with a completely different mindset. It's so different from telling a love story. With romance, you plan out the plot around the meeting of a couple. As you write, you develop some sort of charisma between the characters, making the reader feel excited that one day they're going to hit it off and fall in love. You, as the reader, know what the outcome will be. But with a mystery, the reader is in the dark. The author has to come up with a plot that no one knows about until towards the end of the story and hope they haven't figured it out. In a mystery, you may or may not allow your reader to know who the bad guys are, according to whether it's just a mystery or mystery suspense. Do you know the difference between a mystery and a mystery suspense novel? In a mystery, when a knock is heard at the door, the reader doesn't know who's behind it. With mystery suspense, the reader knows who's behind the door and yells to the heroine, "Don't open the door!"

Anasazi Intrigue is the first book in a mystery adventure series called The Adventures of John and Julia Evans. It's about a devastating flood that takes out several homes in a small town, the importance of preserving ancient artifacts, and a few puzzling and mysterious events. Julia is a reporter, and when she finds out about a possible poison spill that kills some fish and neighbor's pets, she has a feeling that something isn't quite right. Before she realizes what is happening, Julia finds out that this incident is much bigger and more dangerous than she thought. With dead fish, a devastating flood, and miscreants chasing John and Julia, they have their hands full.

Artifact theft is a very intriguing subject. That's why I call it the Intrigue series. In my research, I found that archaeological thievery is becoming more and more of a problem every year. Did you know that looting is only second to selling illegal drugs? While researching the second book in this series, Mayan Intrigue, my eyes were opened to the problems they have in southern Mexico. When an ancient ruin is discovered, it doesn't take long for thieves to take it apart. The reason why is because the Mayas used astrological alignments when planning their city. Looters have learned the layout of the Mayan cities so they know where to dig. With this knowledge, they can loot a sacred temple in a few days. I also found that artifact theft in Mexico has been taken over by drug dealers from Columbia. In other words, since organized crime has taken over, there is also an increase of violence.

Mayan Intrigue will be released on August 30th and I'm having a week long celebration with a book give-away at my Blog at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com. Mayan Intrigue is about the discovery of a priceless artifact that puts Julia's life in great danger. While on assignment for the newspaper, John and Julia try to enjoy a romantic vacation among the Mayan ruins, but when Julia accidentally comes upon a couple of suspicious men exchanging an item, she quickly turns and leaves but it's too late. Before John and Julia realize what's going on, they find themselves running for their lives through the jungles of the Yucatan. To read an excerpt from each of my books, you can visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com.



Linda Weaver Clarke was raised on a farm surrounded by the rolling hills of southern Idaho and made her home in southern Utah among the beautiful red mountains and desert heat. She is happily married and the mother of six daughters and has five grandchildren. Linda travels the United States encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of A Family in Beak Lake, Idaho series, and The Adventures of John and Julia Evans mystery series. Her latest release is Mayan Intrigue.

Author Spotlight: Mayan Intrigue by Linda Weaver Clarke

The discovery of a priceless artifact puts Julia’s life in great danger! From valuable artifacts to shady businessmen, the Yucatan Peninsula becomes a dangerous vacation spot for John and Julia Evans. While on assignment for the newspaper, the Evanses try to enjoy a romantic vacation among the Mayan ruins, but when Julia accidentally comes upon a couple suspicious men exchanging an item, she quickly turns and leaves but it is too late. The men have seen her. As a reporter, Julia does not easily give up and her curiosity gets them in a mess of trouble. Before John and Julia realize what is going on, they are both in danger and find themselves running for their lives through the jungles of the Yucatan.

Read an Excerpt!

Chapter 1


Julia strode down the well-traveled path. Her heart was beating rapidly and she had a feeling of urgency as she hurried along. She stopped and looked around. The trees on both sides of the trail were so thick that she couldn't see beyond them, and a canopy of branches overhead was hiding the sun from view. Thick vines and vegetation had crept up the trunks of many trees and were hanging over the limbs. She heard the chatter of monkeys and a few tropical birds communicating with each other, but other than that, it was peaceful and serene. So why had her pulse rate accelerated?

Julia continued on for a ways until she came to a fork in the path. The trail on the right was trimmed and well-worn but the one on the left was less traveled and narrow. Not only that, a large fat snake was hanging from a branch. The snake's head lifted and followed her every movement. This sent a chill up her spine and Julia shivered involuntarily. Snakes had never bothered her before but this one was much larger than an ordinary garden snake. Whether or not it was poisonous, she didn't know.

Julia bit her lip, wondering which path to take. The one on the right seemed more inviting, but she was curious about the other and where it led. After a few seconds, she headed down the well-trimmed path. For some reason, she felt a deep foreboding with each step she took. Had she chosen wisely?

It did not take long until she came upon an opening in the thick forest. Julia's eyes widened at the beauty, so green and lush. A magnificent aqua-colored lake stood out from this forest and peacefulness seemed to rein over this area. As her eyes scanned the beauty of this land, she heard crunching of debris from behind her.

Instinctively, she knew that her life was in danger. Why, she did not know. Julia's heart pounded furiously. Beads of sweat formed on her brow and her chest tightened. Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned and found herself face to face with a large burly man that had an angular scar across his cheek. His piercing dark eyes were hard and cold as he glared at her. His contemptuous smile told her that he had been hunting her like prey.

Julia was helpless. She was in a remote area by herself. When the man saw her fear, he grinned, accentuating the scar along his cheekbone. As he slowly approached her, to her horror, she could not move an inch. She was frozen to the spot. So she did the only thing she could think of. She let out a blood-curdling scream that echoed in her ears.

Instantly, John bolted upright from his bed, his heart pounding erratically as he awoke from a deep sleep. He blinked his eyes a couple times, trying to come to his senses when he finally realized that Julia had awakened him, screaming at the top of her voice. He leaned toward the nightstand, switched on the light, and then turned toward his wife. When he saw how pale she was, John realized she had had a nightmare. Was it the same dream again? He took her hand and squeezed it lovingly as he watched her chest rise and fall in quick breaths. After a few moments, her eyes flickered open and met his. When he looked into her hazel eyes, he knew she was frightened.

"You had another one, didn't you?"

Julia nodded.

"The same one?"

She nodded again, her eyes wide with fear.

"It's been a month now and you've had this same dream once or twice a week. Does it ever vary or is every detail the same?"

"The same," she answered as she pushed her fingers through her rich auburn hair. "There's no variation."

John slid next to her and pulled her into his arms. How he loved this woman, his wife and companion! And it wrenched his heart that she had to endure such dreams. What had caused them in the first place? He wrapped his arms around her in a protective manner as she snuggled in his embrace. She gave a sigh of relief as he tightened his arms around her.

Julia was an investigative reporter for the Dixie Chronicle in St. George, Utah. She was a stubborn, determined woman but her pleasant smile was genuine, which warmed the soul of those she met. She, also, had a deep faith in God but she had her mischievous ways. For fun, she would introduce herself by using her first and middle name, just to see the surprised look on people's faces. What was her middle name? Roberts. That's right. Julia Roberts! In fact, she almost laughed out loud when someone actually asked for her autograph. She didn't even look like the movie star. Not wanting to embarrass the poor man, she gave him her autograph. Julia vowed that one day she would ask her father why she had been given such an unusual middle name.

She was stunningly beautiful, a farm girl at heart with a touch of grace and elegance, when needed. Her husband cherished everything about her, even her strong will and stubborn ways. She was completely opposite from John, which made his life with her even more intriguing. They had been married for twenty-one years. She was forty-one and he was forty-three.

Right now they were in a hotel in Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula on assignment for the Chronicle. Needless to say, they decided to make it a vacation and stay two weeks instead of one.

As Julia heard the deep breathing of her husband, she knew that he had fallen asleep again. She smiled. This vacation was a much-needed one for both of them. John had been working extra long hours lately and she had greatly missed his presence at home.

Julia had longed for his attention and loving ways, even his teasing, for the past six months. She longed for that affectionate kiss as he passed through the kitchen, holding hands during a movie, and words of communication while lying in bed. It sort of rekindled the fire that may have been forgotten from every day life in a busy world of responsibilities.

Julia knew how important it was to keep a romantic relationship with her husband. She liked a romantic evening best when it was spontaneous rather than planned. But who had time to even plan lately?

It had been quite a while since Julia felt her heart beat rapidly as she felt her husband's arms tighten around her waist and she desperately missed it. She felt a need to renew those special feelings as often as possible, to keep their love alive. So, here they were in Mexico, and finally taking time for one another.

The only thing that confused her was why she was having these dreams. They were the same exact dreams every time. As she lay staring at the ceiling, Julia knew that she could not fall back to sleep so she very quietly slid out of bed.

She walked to the dresser and slipped on some clothes, brushed her hair, and put on some makeup. Then she turned out the lamp beside the bed and slipped out the door to take a relaxing walk. It was six o'clock in the morning and not a soul was up and stirring on this Sabbath day. This was a perfect time to meditate and think of all her many blessings, for her husband and their three daughters.

Julia walked out into the cool morning air and breathed in the fresh fragrance. As she slowly strolled down the sidewalk, she thought about her assignment for the Dixie Chronicle. She was supposed to write about the ruins of the ancient people of Mesoamerica. What an exciting assignment! She was so thrilled when her boss had given her this important project, the first one he had ever given her since her promotion as an investigative reporter. She smiled with contentment as she walked toward a bunch of tall thick shrubs next to a park.

As Julia stepped around the shrubs, she saw a short pudgy man with wisps of grayish brown hair surrounding his balding head. He was smiling as he admired something in his hand. The man beside him was an unusually tall Latin. His short sleeves revealed his tanned arms and he had dark curly hair that touched the collar of his white shirt.

As the balding man pulled a large envelope from his jacket and handed it to his companion, he exclaimed, "Beautiful! It's simply..."

His words trailed off when his eyes met Julia's. As if startled by her presence, he froze, staring at her with widened eyes.

Instantly, his companion turned around and looked over his shoulder to see what he was staring at. But it did not take long for the Latin's dark eyes to quickly change from surprise to irritation. Julia noticed that his eyes were hard and cold and his jaw was rigid. A chill went down her spine as a feeling of apprehension crept inside her. Something told her to leave and to leave now. She was not about to question those feelings, so she instantly turned on her heels and strode toward the hotel.

Why had these men acted so strangely? If they had wanted privacy, why did they meet at a public park? But as she thought about it, it was only six o'clock on a Sunday morning. Why would they expect anyone to be wandering through the park at this time of day? What surprised her most was their attitude and the way the Latin had reacted to her presence, as if he were angry.

Feeling uneasy, Julia dared not turn around and see if she was followed but quickly picked up her pace. She quickly strode up the stairs of the hotel and ran head long into the chest of a man standing near the door.

"Whoa, there, Julia!" Paul said with surprise as he grabbed onto her shoulders. "Why are you in such a hurry? And where's John?"

Feeling startled, it took a few seconds to catch her breath before she could answer. Julia quickly turned around to see if she had been followed, and seeing no one, she sighed with relief.

Paul took her arm and led her to a sofa in the waiting room and sat across from her. "So, what's up? You look as if something's troubling you."

Julia tried to smile reassuringly, but it was more of a forced one instead. "Oh, I was just taking a walk. I couldn't sleep in. You know, the excitement of being here and all."

Paul smiled back, his eyes full of joy. "I know exactly how you feel, Julia. I couldn't sleep, either. I'm so excited to be here. I really want to thank you for allowing me to come along on this trip. When John told me about your assignment, I just had to invite myself along. This is like a dream come true for me. Man, to be able to see the ruins of Mesoamerica! That's every archaeologist's dream."

Paul was a dear friend who taught at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. He not only taught American history and archaeology, but he was also a dyed-in-the-wool archaeologist and was constantly involved in restoring the past.

Paul was a serious sort of fellow. He was lean and tall with blond hair and large blue eyes. He had glasses that were set on his long, slender nose, giving him the distinguishing look of a professor. He was thirty-nine years old and still unmarried. As an archaeologist, digging in the dirt was the most exhilarating part of his life and he had not found a woman who could stand digging beside him all day long. Until then, he would remain single.

"So, where's John?" asked Paul with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Still sleeping. I was just headed back to the room to wake him and..." Julia's eyes widened in surprise.

The Latin whom she had seen at the park was standing beside the desk, talking nonchalantly to the clerk and staring straight at Julia. There was no mistake about it. He was the same man, all right. The tall Latin's eyes seemed to penetrate right through her as he smiled but Julia instantly averted her eyes and looked down at her hands lying in her lap. What was he doing here? Had he followed her?

After a moment, she berated herself for being so paranoid. The man probably had a room at the hotel and was just chatting with the clerk. The young boy was very friendly and he had talked with her for some time last night, asking where she was from and so forth.

When she felt Paul touch her hand, she jumped.

"Julia," he said with concern. "What's wrong?"

She leaned toward him and whispered, "I saw a couple men at the park this morning and something about their conduct gave me the willies."

"What do you mean?"

Julia bit her lip nervously and leaned closer to Paul. "I can't describe it exactly, but inside I have an anxious feeling and I don't know why."

"What are you talking about?"

"He's standing at the desk," she said, keeping her eyes glued on Paul.

He turned toward the front desk and asked with puzzlement, "Who? The desk clerk?" "No, the other one."

"There isn't anybody else, Julia."

She looked up toward the desk and saw the clerk busily working. "He's gone."

"Shall I ask the clerk about this man? If he's bothering you, we should report it."

Julia shook her head, feeling ridiculous. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just being paranoid in a strange land." She stood and gestured toward the dining room. "I'll see you in about an hour for breakfast."

Linda Weaver Clarke was raised on a farm surrounded by the rolling hills of southern Idaho and made her home in southern Utah among the beautiful red mountains and desert heat. She is happily married and the mother of six daughters and has five grandchildren. Linda travels the United States encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of A Family in Beak Lake, Idaho series, and The Adventures of John and Julia Evans mystery series. Her latest release is Mayan Intrigue.

You can find Linda online at http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/index.html and at her blog found at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com/. She is having a week-long celebration at her blog that includes a book giveaway, so make sure you stop by.

Purchase Mayan Intrigue today!

April Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to our winners in the April Giveaways!

Esther Y.M. is walking away with a copy of Melinda and the Wild West by Linda Weaver Clarke.

My Heart and Soul by Marilyn Randall is going out to fredamans.

I'll be emailing these people soon. They have until Friday, May 7th to supply a mailing address before I select new winners.

Thanks to all who participated. Check our sidebar to see what current giveaways are running.

Melinda and the Wild West by Linda Weaver Clarke -- Book Review and Giveaway

A sweet historical romance is what you'll find in Melinda and the Wild West, the first book in Linda Weaver Clarke's A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho series.

It is 1896, and elegant, naive Melinda Gamble decides to give up the comforts and pleasures of the east to become a schoolteacher in the untamed Wild West. Paris, Idaho is everything that Boston isn't: peaceful, simple, and dangerous.

Melinda loves teaching. When she takes Jenny Roberts under her wing, she opens up a world to the child that Jenny's former teachers never cared enough to share. Jenny begins to blossom and Melinda is happy to see she is having such a positive impact on her students. Dealing with Jenny's father, however, frustrates Melinda to no end.

Gilbert Roberts has been raising Jenny by himself since his wife died in childbirth. Running his cattle ranch and providing for Jenny have left him too busy to consider courting. And even if he had the time, the secret that has plagued him for years, quells any desire he might have to marry again. He resents Melinda's initial accusations that he is neglecting his daughter. As they get to know each other better, Melinda's self-willed nature leaves him shaking his head more than once.

Can two people who are so different truly have a future together?

Melinda and the Wild West is a great start to what I hope will be a wonderful series. Five books are now available in A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho series. The others are:

Edith and the Mysterious Stranger

Jenny's Dream

David and the Bear Lake Monster

Elena, Woman of Courage: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho.

The strength of this book lies within its well-developed characters. Melinda is self-willed (a term she despises), with an elegance one would expect of a well-bred young lady. Melinda certainly doesn't see herself giving up teaching to get married and take care of some man for the rest of her life. She is frustrated by Gilbert, which makes her attraction to him that much more difficult to bear.

Gilbert, on the other hand, has dealt with the loss of his wife alone. He keeps more than busy raising Jenny and operating his cattle ranch. He's not prepared for someone like Melinda, and he certainly can't understand his attraction to her.

Melinda's Aunt Martha and Uncle William, who she boards with in Paris, Idaho, are not complex characters, but the story wouldn't be the same without them. Martha is the matchmaking half of a couple that has been married for many years and remains as in love now as they were back then. They provide a sense of belonging to Melinda in her new home. They are sweet and funny, and are the perfect surrogate parents for Melinda.

Several true experiences from Clarke's family members and ancestors make their way into the book. She lists them in a note at the end of the book. Clarke also does an excellent job of dropping the reader right into the time period with many historical details.

Memorable characters, an engaging plot, and the heartbeat of the untamed west combine to make Melinda and the Wild West a book that historical romance readers will enjoy.


Title: Melinda and the Wild West
Author: Linda Weaver Clarke
Publisher: American Book Publishing
ISBN-10: 1589823672
ISBN-13: 978-1589823679
SRP: $22.00





Now that you've read all about Melinda and the Wild West, I'm sure you'll want to add it to your historical fiction collection. The author has generously agreed to allow The Book Connection to offer a giveaway. Find the details below on how you can enter for your chance to win a copy of this wonderful book.

How to Enter:

1) Mandatory: Follow this blog or let us know you are already a follower. Comment must include a working email address so that we can contact you if you win.

2) Get three additional entries for blogging about this contest. Leave a comment (with link) here telling us where you blogged about it.

3) Get two additional entries for tweeting about this contest. Don't forget to let us know here that you tweeted and leave us a link.

4) Get two additional entries for posting about this contest on Facebook. Leave us a link here.

5) Get two additional entries for following Book Tours and More and leaving a comment on one of our posts. Let us know here that you became a follower and which post you commented on.

This giveaway will run from today until 11:59 p.m.(Eastern) on April 30th. A winner will be announced in early May.



* This contest is open to all residents of the United States and Canada.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!

“Mystery and Adventure” is Theme of New Novel: Anasazi Intrigue by Linda Weaver Clarke

Stolen artifacts, the Santa Clara/Virgin River flood, a snoopy newspaper reporter, and mysterious events begin to unfold with Anasazi Intrigue.

When a devastating flood wipes out homes in a small town, residents are shocked by the news of a possible poison spill that also kills many of the fish and neighbor's pets. The people don’t know what to think or do, until Julia, the town's newest reporter, jumps into action and begins her investigation. Quickly Julia realizes the story is much bigger and more dangerous than she thought. As information unfolds, Julia and her husband find themselves on the run, trying to save their lives while finishing the story of a lifetime. She never realized that being a reporter could be so dangerous. With artifacts, dead fish, a devastating flood, and miscreants, John and Julia have their hands full.

In Anasazi Intrigue (ISBN: 978-1-58982-587-1), Clarke creates a story based upon an independent, educated, and strong woman character. Suko’s Notebook Reviews said of Clarke’s writing: “Linda Weaver Clarke is outstanding at presenting the characters' thoughts.”

There are two subjects discussed in this novel: The Santa Clara/Virgin River Flood and stolen artifacts. The mystery of the Anasazi Indians boggles the minds of many archaeologists. Ancient dwellings, petroglyphs, and pottery found in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico are fantastic and part of Anasazi history. When an ancient ruin is discovered, it doesn’t take long for thieves to take it apart. Archaeological thievery is becoming more and more of a problem every year.

The second subject brings out what really happened during the flooding in southern Utah. Lost homes can be replaced, but it’s impossible to replace precious treasures that had no value to anyone but the owner, such as photos and memories of the past. The stories of hope, charity, and little miracles seem to uplift others and have a wonderful effect on people during a crisis such as this. Clarke’s novel brings out what really happened in St George, Utah but the mystery is just beginning.

About the Author:

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop,” encouraging others to write their family history and autobiography. Clarke is the author of the historical fiction series, A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho, and the new mystery series, Anasazi Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans.

Anasazi Intrigue (ISBN-13: 978-1-58982-587-1, American Book Publishing, 2010) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com. Publicity contact: www.american-book.com.

St. Patrick's Day Giveaway for Melinda and the Wild West at Suko's Notebook

Over at Suko's Notebook, you'll find another chance to win a copy of Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho by Linda Weaver Clarke.

But wait, I've put the cart before the horse (sorry, I couldn't resist). The first thing you're going to find at Suko's Notebook is a review of Elena, Woman of Courage, which is the fifth and final book in this series.

When a woman settles into a strict conservative town as the newest doctor, a slew of problems begin to arise. The town is not ready for a female doctor, let alone one so strong and independent.

Elena Yeates, the town’s newest doctor, must struggle to prove herself in this western town, while keeping her composure, poise, and femininity. As she fights to prove herself, the town’s most eligible bachelor finds it a challenge to see if he can win her heart. With the 1920’s rise of women’s rights, this novel gives you great insight at the struggles women had to go through, all the while watching a young love blossom!

While all of the books in this series sound fabulous, and I have Melinda and the Wild West in my TBR pile, as a fan of the 1990's television series, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, the fifth book will probably be my favorite.

Here's a blurb from Suko's review:

"This story features members of the Roberts family and has many of the same elements I enjoyed in the author's previous books; it introduces a strong, independent protagonist, Dr. Elena Yeates, and includes an ardent romance between John and Elena. These books are enjoyable to read...Linda Weaver Clarke is outstanding at presenting the characters' thoughts...and she captures the highs and lows of romantic life rather adeptly."

You can read the full review here.

Check out the review at Suko's Notebook to find details on how you can win a copy of the first book in this historical series, Melinda and the Wild West.


In 1896 Melinda Gamble—a very elegant, very naïve young woman from Boston—decides to give up her life of monotonous comfort for the turbulent uncertainty of the still untamed Wild West. Driven by her intense desire to make a difference in the world, Melinda takes a job as a schoolteacher in the small town of Paris, Idaho, where she comes face-to-face with a frightening bank robber, a vicious grizzly bear, and an intense blizzard that leaves her clinging to her life. But it is a ruggedly handsome and very mysterious stranger who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared—love.


This giveaway ends at 5 PM PST on Sunday, March 7, just in time for St. Patrick's Day (March 17th). "Remember the luck of the Irish! Perhaps your luck will double if you find a four leaf clover. Good luck, everyone!"

Other books in this series include:

Edith and the Mysterious Stranger

With mysterious letters, cattle rustlers, a spunky woman, the liar's fire, Halloween, and young love, there is always something happening. It is 1904 and Melinda is "with child" and threatening to miscarry. Her cousin Edith, a nurse, moves to Paris to care for her. Edith has wonderful qualities but never gives a man a second chance because her expectations are so high. However, all that changes when a mysterious stranger begins to write to her. For the first time, she gets to know a man's inner soul before making any harsh judgments. Whoever he is, this man is a mystery and the best thing that has ever happened to her. The question that puzzles her is whether or not he's as wonderful in person as he is in his letters.

Jenny's Dream

When Jenny Roberts arrives home from college in the summer of 1908, she yearns to escape her small hometown of Paris, Idaho, and accomplish something remarkable in the world. She develops a promising friendship with Will Jones, a young farmer who is new to the area and has secretly fallen in love with her. Meanwhile, her father, Gilbert, attempts to catch a legendary giant grizzly bear that has devastated the community with its haunting elusiveness and slaughter of the local sheep. In the third installment of A Family Saga in Bear Lake Valley series, Jenny finds herself in the middle of drama, adventure, and romance as she struggles to gain the power of forgiveness and the ability to face new possibilities.

David and the Bear Lake Monster

Deep-rooted legends, long family traditions, and a few mysterious events—Bear Lake Valley is a wonderful home to the Roberts family. Once again the Roberts family is reunited with David trying to solve personal issues and overcome his troubles! Without meaning to, David quickly becomes one with the town and its folk and finds himself entranced with one very special lady and ends up defending her honor several times. After a few teases, tricks, and mischievous deeds, David begins to overcome his troubles and figure out what he needs to do, but will it be too late for David? Will he lose the one thing that will help him get over his worries? Will David be happy again?

You can visit Linda online at www.lindaweaverclarke.com, and if you simply can't wait to own a copy of these books, they are all available at Amazon.com or through Publisher Direct.

Review and Giveaway at Suko's Notebook

My friend over at Suko's Notebook is hosting another giveaway for our author friend, Linda Weaver Clarke. Suko reviewed the fourth book in Linda's historical fiction series, David and the Bear Lake Monster: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho.

"Once again, I ventured back in time, to the 1920's, when the land was vast and untamed, and life seemed full of promise and possibility. It was also the time of the Indian legend of the Bear Lake Monster."




To read the rest of Suko's review and to enter the giveaway for a copy of Melinda and the Wild West: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho, the first book in this series, visit Suko's Notebook. This contest runs through 5 PM PST on January 24th.

You'll find our interview with Linda here.

Christmas Season—A Time for Giving - Book Give-Away at Linda Weaver Clarke's Blog

Here's a note I am copying from Linda Weaver Clarke's blog:

"Christmas is a season of giving, so I would like to show my thankfulness to all my friends by giving a few books away for Christmas. "Melinda and the Wild West" and "Edith and the Mysterious Stranger" are the first two books in this series: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho. I will pick three winners and whoever is picked will have a choice of which book they prefer. To find out what each book is about, visit my website and read the synopsis and a sample chapter at Make Believe. (To have your name put in the hat twice, become a follower of my blog.) I will announce the winners on December 16th."



So wander out to Linda's blog today and enter to win a copy of one of her books this Christmas! Be sure to leave your email address so Linda can contact you if you win!

Good luck to all who participate!

Interview with Author Linda Weaver Clarke

Today we welcome author Linda Weaver Clarke. Her book, Melinda and the Wild West was chosen as a semi-finalist in the 2007 Reviewers Choice Awards in the Reader Views Literary Contest. Her latest book is titled, David and the Bear Lake Monster: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho. We’ll talk to Linda about her work, some of the other amazing projects she’s involved in and what her fans can look forward to in the future.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Linda. It’s wonderful to have you here. Let’s start off by having you tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

I was raised on a farm surrounded by the rolling hills of southern Idaho and have made my home in southern Utah among the beautiful red mountains. I am happily married and the mother of six daughters and several grandchildren. I travel throughout the United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop” at libraries, encouraging others to turn their family history and autobiography into a variety of interesting stories.

When did you first begin writing and when did it turn into a career choice?

I have always loved writing but I didn’t really do anything about it until my children were mostly raised. When my youngest was in high school, I finally sent my work to publishers. After about a year of searching, a publisher finally got in touch with me and I signed a contract.

How many of your books have been published?

Seven books have been published but the last two won’t be released until the professional reviewers have reviewed them. That’s their policy.

Tell us about your Family Saga in Bear Lake Valley series.

I love inserting real ancestral or family experiences into my novels. To me, their experiences have always intrigued me. It brings a story to life. In my family saga series, I have set my story in Paris, Idaho. It’s the place my ancestors settled in 1863.

Where did the inspiration for these books come from? Did you plan them as a series when you began that first book?

My inspiration came from true experiences and every day life. After discovering how much fun history was in this area, I decided to make it a series. My first book, Melinda and the Wild West, was inspired by a true experience that really happened within my family. A former teacher labeled a young girl as a troublemaker and put her behind some bookshelves so she wouldn’t be a menace to anyone. I told my husband that I wanted to base my story after this experience, teaching others that negative labels tear down and positive labels build up, but I also wanted it to be a love story. After discussing it, he said to me, “Then have this young girl be a child of a widower.” Thus, my story began to unfold. This book eventually won an award as one of the top ten semi-finalists for the “Reviewers Choice Award.”

In Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, I based this story around the courtship of my parents. They didn’t meet the conventional way. They wrote letters to one another before they ever met. She said that she fell in love with the soul of my father, what was deep down inside and they didn’t even know what one another looked like. The day they met, my mother told me that her heart leapt within her and a warm glow filled her soul and she knew she would marry this man. I knew this would be the basis of my next novel, but there’s one difference. In my story, you don’t know who the mysterious stranger is until the end of the book. Some readers guessed correctly while others were pleasantly surprised.


Jenny’s Dream was inspired by events that happened to me in my youth. I learned that forgiveness was essential for true happiness and well-being. I have a lot of myself in Jenny. She must learn to forgive and put her past behind her. While Jenny is trying to pursue her dreams, she realizes that her kindred friend means more to her than she thought. He isn’t the stereotypical handsome man that writers portray. I believe it’s important to get to know a person deep down inside first, to get to know a person’s inner soul. That’s what matters. Now Jenny has to make a decision whether to follow her dream or matters of the heart. This story is about accomplishing one’s dreams and the miracle of forgiveness.


My great grandmother, Sarah Eckersley Robinson, was my inspiration for David and the Bear Lake Monster. Sarah lost her hearing as a child but she never let her deafness stop her from developing her talents. I took a lot of her experiences from her biography and gave them to my heroine to bring some reality into my story. Sarah was known as one of the most graceful dancers in town. She was known for gliding across the floor with ease, with just a touch of her partner’s hand. Sarah had such agility and gracefulness while swimming, that people would actually throw coins in the water so they could watch her dive after them. Once an intruder hid in her bedroom under her bed, thinking he could take advantage of her since she was deaf. He must have thought she was an easy victim but was sadly mistaken. She swatted him out from under her bed with a broom, and all the way out of the house, and down the street for a couple blocks, whacking him as she ran. What a courageous woman!

What was it like to have Melinda and the Wild West be a semi-finalist in the 2007 Reviewers Choice Awards? Did you do anything special to celebrate?

Oh my! I never expected it to win because there were hundreds of books to consider. Since I was a first time author and it was my first book, I was surprised. I remember feeling stunned at first and then I called my husband. We had a delicious meal that night and he prepared it.

What about book promotion? What have you done to promote your books in the past and what are you doing to promote David and the Bear Lake Monster: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho?

Interviews from radio and TV stations are the best promotion. Being interviewed online is very good, also. It’s a good way to spread the word.

Let’s move away from your books for a minute and talk about your workshop. You travel all over the United States with your Family Legacy Workshop. Why don’t you tell our readers a bit about this.

It’s important to teach our children their heritage. Who are your ancestors? What were their traditions? Each of us has a story from our ancestors or even our own story to tell. If these stories are unwritten, then how are your children going to know of their parentage? It’s up to us to write these experiences down. For a sample of what you can do with your family histories, read the short stories on my website.

And this workshop is totally free, correct?

Yes. The libraries sponsor it and it’s free to the public. If a library has a supportive Friends Group, they try to give programs like this to their community.

Do you have people from all walks of life attending these workshops?

Yes. The ages have ranged from ten to ninety. All ages have attended this workshop. I’ve also taught the bereaved and the abused as part of therapy. Writing helps to express one’s innermost feelings. To write can be a healing process.

What is it that motivates you to keep traveling and offering free workshops to people?

The comments that people make! That’s what keeps me going. For example: At the Idaho State Historical Society Library, a patron said to my daughter who travels with me: “I felt as if I had handcuffs on my wrists and your mother has just unlocked them.” That’s only one comment out of bunches that I get, and every time it touches my heart.

How would a library go about contacting you to host a workshop for them?

The Adult Programming Director usually e-mails me and I arrange it with them.

Where can readers find you online?

They can read sample chapters of my books or go to Upcoming Events and see if I’ll be in their area at http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/.

Is this also where they can order copies of your books?

Yes. They can also order them from Amazon or any local bookstore that orders from Baker and Taylor.

What is up next for you? Any exciting news your fans can look forward to?


Elena, Woman of Courage is the last in this series and should be released soon. It’s set in 1925. It was a blast to research. I found out about words that I didn’t even know such as: Cat’s pajamas! Ah, horsefeathers! Attaboy! Baloney! You slay me! When referring to a woman, they used doll, tomato, and bearcat. When a person was in love, they were goofy. If a person was a fool, they were a sap. And when a woman wasn’t in the mood for kissing or romance, she would say, “The bank’s closed.” I was able to use all these words and much more in my book. The language was great! It’s about a “Happy-go-lucky Bachelor” who is completely fascinated with a woman doctor: Elena Yeates. Of course, women weren’t encouraged to go to college back then, let alone become a doctor, and this fascinates him to no end. With the 1920’s rise of women’s rights, this novel gives you an insight at the struggles women had to go through, while watching a young love blossom!

Thanks for spending so much time with us today, Linda. We look forward to seeing you again when your next book comes out. Good luck with your work!