Wednesday 28 December 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Jeff Brackett

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Jeff Brackett.

Jeff is the author of the Half Past Midnight tales, the Amber Payne series, Chucklers, Volume 1..., Pangaea: Exiles, and a variety of other stories and novellas published in magazines and anthologies.  After having lived almost his entire life in and around Houston, Texas, 2014 presented several life changes that brought him, his wife, and their dogs to Claremore, Oklahoma. There they found a nice little house with a much larger yard, and have adjusted to the new lifestyle quite well. Jeff has even begun learning to garden.

His writing has won Honorable Mention in the action/adventure category of the Golden Triangle Unpublished Writer's Contest, first place in the novel category of the Bay Area Writers League Manuscript Competition, and was a finalist in the science fiction/fantasy/horror category of the Houston Writer's Conference manuscript contest.

His proudest achievement, though, is in having fooled his wife into marrying him more than thirty years ago and in helping her to raise three wonderful children. He is now a grandfather five times over.

And his gardening? Well, let's just say he still has a bit to learn in that area.

What kind of books do you write?

I do my best to evoke emotion of one sort or another, whether it be humor or sorrow. I want to force them to question… to think. And I do it by writing stories in which people are thrown into extra-ordinary situations that force them to push beyond their limits.

Can you describe your writing why?

This one will sound strange, but much of my “why” is because of my martial arts background. I often saw people who had been pushed out of their comfortable lives by the harsh realities of a cruel world around them. I like to empower my readers… make them consider the idea that we are all capable of doing so much more than we think. Success at any endeavor is often as much a matter of determination as it is skill.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Together, Richard and Henderson escorted Amber down the hallway to Kevin’s room. As they passed, each detective came to attention, dropping into a resting stance once she went past. It was a tradition hundreds of years old, and the show of respect touched her… that her coworkers—no, her family—had taken it upon themselves to support her.
But all too soon, she came to the door, and her legs froze. That’s not Kevin. Kevin’s already dead. It’s not Kevin.
As if they knew what she was going through, Richard and Henderson waited patiently. She didn’t want to go in there. Once inside, the med-techs would perform their final duty to her partner, and he would be gone.
No! That’s not Kevin.
Once inside, there was no more pretending that there was a possibility that Kevin could somehow wake up. Once inside, she would have to watch her partner die. And she didn’t know if she could do that.
He’s not there, Amber! That’s not Kevin. Kevin died four days ago. This is just making it official. Finally, she took another deep breath and nodded at her escorts. Henderson stepped back into the hallway, but Richard hesitated.
“It’s okay, Richard. I can do this.”
He gently squeezed her arm and then left as well, and it was just her, Chief Fischer, a med-tech, and Kevin in the room.
Even then, she had trouble approaching the bed, but Fischer came and took her hand. 
“Come on, Detective. He needs us one last time.”
Unable to speak, she nodded, sniffed, and allowed Fischer to lead her to Kevin’s side.
The tech busied himself with disconnecting various tubes and wires, while Amber tried her best to ignore him. She knew each action brought the moment she dreaded closer, and she simply didn’t want to accept it.
The tech eventually addressed Chief Fischer. “Are you ready?”
“Payne?” Fischer asked. He wasn’t going to let her avoid it. “Do you need any more time?”
Of course I do. I need the rest of his life, damn it! She looked up with barely controlled fury, and her retort died on her lips as she saw his face. Somehow, she’d never thought about how it would affect him. He was the Chief. Chief with a capital C! He seldom showed much emotion. It was rare enough that she’d been shocked to find him smiling at her when she’d returned to work after her stay in the hospital. That she might ever see him with such raw sorrow in his eyes was beyond belief.
But she saw the anguish that she felt reflected in his haggard face, and the first tear as it rolled down his cheek. He wiped it self-consciously and swallowed before he found something that required his attention on the wall at the head of Kevin’s bed. But before he turned, she had seen it. His pain matched her own, and that realization damped the fire of her anger, replacing it with compassion. She shook her head and realized with the motion that her nose was running. That’s not Kevin. That’s not Kevin.
She envied Fischer his tears. She missed being able to cry. Sure, she felt the tightening in her heart and the tingling in her sinus cavities. And she even broke down at times with an exhausted dry sobbing in her throat that she simply couldn’t escape. But without tears, she never felt cleansed. It was as if the tears leaving her eyes were a necessary catharsis, easing a spiritual pain. Without tears, that pain, that pressure of emotion, remained trapped within her, and she feared her soul would one day simply wither and die, leaving her as machine-like as her cybernetic eyes.
She sniffed again, then turned to the tech. “Let’s do it.”
Kevin wasn’t there. But Chief Fischer was. Richard was. Henderson and Jenkins, and Walker, and Stacey, and all the others who had shown up… they were there. And they all hurt, not only at the loss of one of their own, but also at the sight of how it pained her. So she wouldn’t let them see it. She would be strong.
For them.
And for Kevin.
She squeezed Fischer’s hand. “That’s not Kevin, Chief.”
He looked at her quizzically.
“Kevin’s already gone. You told me that the other night. It just took me a while to accept it.” She looked down at the body on the bed. “This is just a shell.” Then she looked up at Chief Fischer and repeated it more strongly. “That’s not Kevin.”
Fischer swallowed and nodded. Then he turned to the tech, and though his voice cracked, he gave the man the word. “Do it.”


Tell us about your latest project

The above scene is from Streets of Payne, the first book of the cyberpunk Amber Payne series. I just published Book #4 (Payne of the Past) in July of this year. From the back cover:

In February of 2236, rookie detective Amber Payne was ambushed by organ jackers who took her eyes and left her for dead. Cybernetics allowed her to see again, but she had nightmares for years… nightmares in which she relived that horror… saw the faces of the men bent over her as they applied gruesome devices that ripped her eyes from her skull without benefit of anesthesia.

For fourteen years Amber has seen those men in her sleep. One man with piercing blue eyes, the other with a jagged scar running from his left temple to a ragged split in his nostril.

And now, all this time later, she stumbles onto a case where the victim is a young woman who has a similar experience. When the woman describes her attackers, Amber knows she has to take the case. For one of her assailants has a long scar on the left side of his face, from his temple down to his nose.


What is your favourite cake?

My wife makes an absolutely amazing Lemon Cheesecake. It’s the perfect blend of tart lemon, sweet pudding, and of course, cream cheese. I look forward to it every year for the holidays. Luckily, it’s something she only makes for the holidays, or I would be too large to fit through the front door!  LOL


You can connect with Jeff here:


Join me next week when I will be having
a slice of cake with Melinda Kucsera. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me virtual tea & cake with Kofi - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Thursday 22 December 2022

A Slice of Cake With... 2022

Another year of interviews and cake and it really does feel like it has flown by! 

I interview a grand total of 49 wonderful authors this year missing one week due to being super poorly at the end of October but that's still 49 delicious slices of cake.







Once again chocolate cake was the favourite very closely followed by coffee & walnut cake and strawberry cheesecake. 


I was introduced to several new cakes this year - Ekmek Kataifi, Brockle Cake and Bougatsa - very excited to give those a go.

The most popular interview was with Dani Mathioudaki.

If you would like A Slice of Cake With... author interview - get in touch! 

Have a wonderful cakey Christmas and I'll see you next week with my last Slice of Cake of the year with author Jeff Brackett. 


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Friday 16 December 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Michelle Cook

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Michelle Cook.

Michelle lives in Worcestershire, UK, with her husband, Daniel, and their two young children.

Her first joyful steps into creative writing were at the age of ten, when the teacher read out her short story in class. A slapstick tale of two talking kangaroos breaking out of a zoo, the work was sadly lost to history. Still, Michelle never forgot the buzz of others enjoying her words.

More recently, she has had several flash pieces published, was longlisted for the Cambridge 2020 prize for flash fiction and placed first in the February 2020 Writers’ Forum competition with her short story The Truth About Cherry House. She signed with Darkstroke Books in June 2020 and her debut novel Tipping Point was longlisted for the 2022 Page Turner Awards. The sequel, Counterpoint, is out now!

What kind of books do you write?

I write all sorts of tales, but they mostly turn out dark, sometimes despite my best efforts! They are usually “what if?” stories – taking something from life around me and moving it on a step or two to see what happens. I’m also interested in resilience, and how people deal with extreme situations with a wider context. 

My debut novel, Tipping Point, and the sequel, Counterpoint, are eco-thrillers. The main character, eighteen-year-old Essie Glass, discovers a conspiracy to suppress climate-saving technology in order to protect energy companies’ profits. Little did I know when writing it in 2018 what was in store for us in the real world…

With problems and pain of her own, Essie must decide how much she’s willing to risk to expose it. Her choices set off a series of events which land her in terrible danger, caught in a web of political games and deceit, with the fate of the globe in her hands.


Can you describe your writing why?

When I was ten, my teacher read out a story of mine in class, and I suppose that sense of achievement and kudos must have stayed with me. It’s weird, because there were many years after that when I wrote very little, and never seriously. I lacked confidence in my work and would not have shared it. 

Our family was going through a tough time a few years ago. I took up writing again as a release from the stress, and that’s when Tipping Point was born. There was something about the story, which kept me going through the inevitable ups and downs of writing a novel. In retrospect, I might have chosen a more relaxing hobby.

There are moments where I have a scene develop so clearly in my head. Not always the words, but the feelings, tone, and texture. Sometimes when you come to write it, the words form the way you want them to, and you recreate that scene entirely the way you imagined it. Those moments are why I write, and I can’t imagine not doing it now.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

This is a passage from one of the pivotal scenes in Tipping Point, which was my first novel and therefore will possibly always be my favourite!

As I stare at the scarf, the green glimmers, and there’s something else too. I know it’s not real, but I see it.

E… S…

She was alive down in Langford’s cellar. How long did they leave her, when she could have been saved? What did they do to stop her crying out? Screaming for me.

Alex Langford is a respected businessman…

Me and him in a room with no windows? He'd be a dead businessman.
I need to breathe the river again.
My keys, a torch and a knife go into my pocket. The knife that gouged BITCH into my table. I stuff Maya’s scarf in my bag and escape into the damp, foggy air.
River Street is a whirl of celebration. Snowflake-shaped illuminations hang from the streetlights and glowing silver bells drape over my head.
I forgot. Christmas is the day after tomorrow. Seth’ll be frantic trying to get everything done at church now. He lost a day to come with me to the funeral, and I never even thanked him. Just muttered a terse goodbye and turned away towards the flat.
I buy cigarettes at the shop next to Kiss. Another bottle of gin.
Bank Lane is empty of sleeping bags. Their occupants have been arrested, harassed or just moved on so many times they’ve given up and sought somewhere else to carve out their days. I think of Andy, and I wonder where he is. I hope he found shelter from the storm.
But he’s dead, I know that. Like Maya. Mum… Dad… Willow… Darya.
All the people on that train.
All the other trains.
The sleeping bags. The cellars.
And the people who speak out.
The vibration in my head resolves itself into a thrum of fury.

Tell us about your latest project

The sequel to Tipping Point, Counterpoint, is out now. It continues the story of Essie, what happens to her as she grows older in a world scrambling to survive climate and societal collapse. I did say I do dark! 

I wrote it because I needed to see a way through all the trouble we’re in—and the trouble I left Essie in—so I hope it strikes an optimistic note in the end. To say anything else would risk spoilers for the first book, but you can find out more about the series here: 



What is your favourite cake?

Ah – cake is what I came for. So many to choose from… I will leave aside the chocolate options for a moment and go carrot cake please! The spices; the sumptuous cream cheese icing. Oh heck, looks like Slimming World will be starting next week, then.


You can connect with Michelle on her Linktree: linktr.ee/michellecookwriter

Join me next week when I will be looking back at all the delicious cake and lovely interviews we've had this year. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Wednesday 7 December 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Jess B Moore

Today I am delighted to be having a slice of cake with author Jess B Moore.

Jess is a writer of love stories. When she’s not writing, she’s busy mothering her accomplished and headstrong children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she’ll likely never finish.   

Jess lives in small town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family. She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does. She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved.   

The Fox River Romance novels combine her interests in family, music, and small towns into thoughtful tales of growing up and falling in love. These books can be read as stand-alone, or as a series starting with The Guilt of a Sparrow

What kind of books do you write?

My books are primarily character driven and are about the complexities of relationships. From family and friends to lovers and enemies, I like to explore the way people form bonds and how they interact with each other. All of my books are in small towns, which have their own special influence on relationships, with the lack of privacy and the tendency to spread gossip. Each of my books also explores real life issues, including grief, mental health, and substance abuse.


Can you describe your writing why?

I started writing as a way to find myself after many years devoted to being a stay at home mom.  Characters and their stories invaded my mind, and I enjoyed untangling their paths, then getting them written down. After a couple years of finding my voice and writing half-stories, I participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and dedicated myself to completing an entire book start to finish. It was then I found a community of romance authors, started sharing my work, and really focused on becoming a writer. 

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

How does one choose a favorite!?  

One of the most difficult for me to write was The Heart of a Peach – it’s the book I went back and changed/rewrote the most. The leading lady, Olivia Hamilton, ended up being far more complex than I’d anticipated, and it was emotional to delve into her life and the changes she wanted (needed) to make.  

"I wasn’t the scared little girl, perpetually worried about messing up.
Neither was I the defiant teen, desperate to dull the fear inside me.
I certainly wasn’t the bottled-up young woman of the last few years, compensating for the wickedness inside me.
None of those identities existed anymore ..."
Olivia Hamilton, The Heart of a Peach


Tell us about your latest project

My latest release is Claiming Grace, the conclusion to the seven book Fox River Romance Series.  (It can be read as a stand alone, if you’re not wanting to dive into an entire series). 

The blurb:  Kensie Lawson is a devoted daughter, a loyal sister, and a lover of animals. She spends her time knitting nerdy scarves, fostering furry friends, and reading romance novels. Painfully shy, highly anxious, and battling depression, Kensie has put her love life on the back burner. Not that she hasn’t noticed the hunky single father who frequents her family’s hardware store.

Hudson Grace is a young widower, a single father, and a stand up guy. He divides his time between building his construction business, keeping tabs on his younger brothers, and raising his precocious daughter. Carrying too much on his broad shoulders, and determined to provide the best life he can for his family, Hudson has sacrificed having romantic relationships. Until he can’t ignore his growing interest in the compassionate and kind Kensie.


What is your favourite cake?

Humming Bird cake!  Three layers with bananas, pineapples, and cream cheese frosting.  Often described as carrot cake meets banana bread.


From Southern Living magazine:  When the Hummingbird Cake was first submitted to Southern Living in 1978 by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina, we had no idea the cake would become our most popular and beloved Southern cake recipe ever. 


Connect with Jess on social media @authorjessb

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Michelle Cook. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Monday 5 December 2022

My First Open Mic Night!

I have always been in awe of poetic performers able to stand up in front of strangers and perform their poetry. After all, it's a lyrical collection of words that deserves to be listened to. 

Pen to Print, the organisation that created and runs Write On! magazine, where I am Deputy Editor, and for whom I run regular workshops designed to help new writers, put on a Christmas party - of sorts. They set up a festive open mic night and invited us all to attend with a poem to read and some mince pies to scoff. 

And so... there it was, my first open mic night. Naturally I had to write a poem especially for the evening.

Bring a poem, she said
It's open mic, she said
It'll be fun
She said

I said
OK

It's the usual gang, she said
Laughs will be had, she said
Open to the public
She said

I said
Um

Wear a santa hat, she said
If you do I will, she said
Festive wotnots
She said

I said
(nervous laugh)

It's Christmas, she said
There'll be mince piesm she said
All together
She said

I said
Nice

No judgment, she said
Read if you want to, she said
Love a poem
She said

I said
...yes!


The poem went down well - people laughed which is always the intention and the relief. I admit, my hands were shaking while reading the poem and when I'd finished and sat back down, my heart was thumping out of my chest for at least five minutes afterwards. 

The main thing I was struck with at the evening was the range of poetry that was spoken. I often think that my poetry doesn't stack up to others - it's not as... posh. My poetry is usually amusing, usually short and usually rhyming. But, when the other attendees said it reminded them of Pam Ayres, well... my day was utterly made.


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Wednesday 30 November 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Kathryn Gauci

Today I am having a slice of cake with author Kathryn Gauci.

Kathryn is a critically acclaimed international, bestselling, author who produces strong, colourful, characters and riveting storylines. She is the recipient of numerous major international awards for her works of historical fiction.

Kathryn was born in Leicestershire, England, and studied textile design at Loughborough College of Art and later at Kidderminster College of Art and Design where she specialised in carpet design and technology. After graduating, she spent a year in Vienna, Austria, before moving to Greece to work as carpet designer in Athens for six years. There followed another brief period in New Zealand before eventually settling in Melbourne, Australia.

Before turning to writing full-time, Kathryn ran her own textile design studio in Melbourne for over fifteen years, work which she enjoyed tremendously as it allowed her the luxury of travelling worldwide, often taking her off the beaten track and exploring other cultures. The Embroiderer is her first novel; a culmination of those wonderful years of design and travel, and especially of those glorious years in her youth living and working in Greece. It has since been followed by more novels, set in both Greece and Turkey.

What kind of books do you write?

My books are historical fiction based on real events. I have two eras of interest. The first is Greece/Turkey from the Greek War of Independence (1821) through WWI to WWII. The other area is WWII Europe, which so far has included several books set in France and one in Vienna, Austria. 


Can you describe your writing why?

I have always loved history, particularly these periods which I came to know better because of living and working in the areas. I was a textile designer for many years and never thought I would end up becoming a writer, so it was a case of write what you know, but that’s only the beginning as there’s always research to do. I find writing very creative, and for me it’s a way of remembering the places and people I’ve been too, and also a way of honouring their history. In a way, writing is just as creative as being a designer and the thought process is similar. 

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

A difficult one. This is the beginning of The Poseidon Network.

Cairo, June 1942 
One never knows where fate will take us. Cairo taught me that. Expect the unexpected. Little did I realise when I left London that I would walk out of one nightmare into another. In Cairo, the incessant noise of London’s air-raids heralding the arrival of Goering’s Luftwaffe was replaced by the jingling cacophony of Egyptian street-life: the call of the Muezzin, the braying of donkeys, and the honking of a thousand horns from dilapidated vehicles, as tired and worn-out as the animals that sauntered through the streets at a leisurely pace. The city was an assault on the senses, a pungent mixture of incense, sweet-smelling sheesha, animal dung, and petrol fumes. Added to this was the ever-present musky odour of dust from the Western Desert – the smell of a long-buried civilisation.


Tell us about your latest project

The Song of the Partisans begins in Paris in 1944 but moves to Reims and the champagne region. My protagonist, Simone – alias, Martine Dumont – is sent to work with the Resistance and Maquis in the area. All she is told is that it is an important mission, sanctioned by the British and de Gaulle, and that it is extremely dangerous. Under the care of a Maquis leader, she excels as a saboteur and sniper, skills that will enable her to carry out her secret mission. Like many of my books, it’s an emotional roller-coaster with lots of twists and turns. Historical fiction that reads like a thriller.


What is your favourite cake?

Greek Bougatsa.


You can connect with Kathryn here:


Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Jessica Moore. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!



Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Wednesday 23 November 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Maurice Alvarez

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Maurice Alvarez.

Maurice X. Alvarez was born and raised in New York City. He began writing fiction at an early age, taking events in his daily life and altering them to fill the pages. He quickly developed a fascination with science and technology, and his reading interests shifted into the realms of science fiction and fantasy as a result. His writing soon followed suit.

When Maurice isn't writing he can be found cruising around the county on his bicycle, experimenting with DIY projects around the house or building his amateur carpentry skills.

What kind of books do you write?

My goal is to write stories that are character-driven and thought-provoking.  Typically they are set in a sci-fi or sci-fan environment because that kind of escapism has been my go-to choice since I was a kid reading the likes of Philip Dick and Isaac Asimov.  But I do like to mix in some levity now and then, drawing from my enjoyment of Harry Harrison and Douglas Adams.  If I’m not having fun writing, I can’t expect my readers to have fun reading what I write.

Can you describe your writing why?

Honestly, when I was a child, writing just seemed natural.  Other people wrote stories that I read and enjoyed, therefore I should be able to write my own so other people could read and enjoy them too.  I was also fortunate to have had some great friends growing up with whom I’d have imaginary adventures, each building on the other’s plot points until we had full 3-act stories without even realizing it.

I’m a very visual person, meaning that I think in images first and then break those down into words.  This has been the flow of most of my writing since I was in my single digits.  I started with a drawing toy I had that let me mix and match legs and torsos to create monsters, and based on those drawings, I wrote simple horror stories until I was twelve years old.  That’s when my cousin gave me a treasure trove of sci-fi books, and I fell in love with that setting.

Years later, a drawing that my wife and co-author drew when we were in college became the source for our trilogy, The Trouble With Thieves.  Immediately upon seeing her drawing, the three people depicted started telling me their names and backgrounds and how they’d arrived at that scene.  By the end of the day, I had a basic plot outline.


Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

In this scene, the main character, Kormèr is back on the planet Averia for the first time in six years. He’s received word that a local he’d fallen madly in love with six years earlier is waiting for him in the lounge of the hotel at which he’s staying.  They’ve both grown while separated, and it’s their uncertainty as they come back into each other’s lives that really makes me like this scene.

Freshly groomed, Kormèr anxiously strolled into the lounge.  He hadn’t felt this nervous about meeting a woman in a very long time.  But Sylvestra was no ordinary woman.  And he had left her somewhat unexpectedly.  The fact that she was here now, that she had come knowing he too would be here was promising.  But he couldn’t be sure of the reception; she could be here to start over or just as easily to slap him.

He spotted her perched at the bar, and his heart leaped.  Until that very moment, Kormèr’s presence here on Averia had been surreal.  Seeing Sylvestra, resplendent in her snowy-white plumage, solidified the reality of the moment.

He approached her from the side, not wanting to sneak up on her.  She noticed him almost immediately, her glittering black eyes turning to meet his, questioningly.  He realized she probably didn’t recognize him with his moustache and beard.

||Hello, Sylvee.||

She glanced down at the dozen red hwyiite he offered her, then her eyes widened with recognition.

||KL!||  She stood and embraced him warmly.

Tell us about your latest project

We are a team of two, often with multiple works in progress at the same time, so we’re not a fast operation cranking out a half-dozen books a year, unlike some.

We’ve just finished the final edits on a prequel to The Trouble With Thieves trilogy. The trilogy begins with the book Return to Averia. So the prequel, titled The Trouble With Love, tells the tale of our protagonist’s first visit to that planet.  He’s younger and rougher around the edges, but no less prone to stumbling into situations that are sometimes over his head, especially when he falls head over heels for a local.

The synopsis is:
Teenage thief, Kormèr Lezàl, tumbles through his inter-dimensional portal to the distant future and into the middle of a fire fight on a far off world. Swept into a web of industrial espionage, an impossible jewel heist and romantic intrigue, there's trouble at every turn, but he'll do whatever it takes to win over Averia's beautiful chief of police... if she doesn't arrest him first.


What is your favourite cake?

Hands down, Italian cheese cake.  It’s not as creamy but also not as cloying. And ricotta cheese has less calories, so I can indulge in a larger slice without guilt.


You can connect with Maurice at the following places:


Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Kathryn Gauci. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Wednesday 16 November 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Jessica Thompson

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Jessica Thompson.

When Jessica discovered mystery novels with recipes, she knew she had found her niche.

Now Jessica is the author of the Amazon best-selling culinary cozy mysteries A Caterer's Guide to Love and Murder and A Caterer’s Guide to Holidays and Homicide. She is active in her local writing community and is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas and the Storymakers Guild. She received a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University but has always enjoyed writing and reading mysteries.

As an avid home chef and food science geek, Jessica has won cooking competitions and been featured in the online Taste of Home recipe collection.  She also tends to be the go-to source for recipes, taste-testing, and food advice among her peers. 

Jessica is originally from California, but now has adopted the Austin, Texas lifestyle. She enjoys living in the suburbs with her husband and young children, but also enjoys helping her parents with their nearby longhorn cattle ranch. 

What kind of books do you write?

I write cute and clean whodunnits that center around food, so then I include the recipes for the food they just talked about.

Can you describe your writing why?

I do enjoy it, but I’m trying to play the long game. I’m not trying to get famous, in fact I would hate being famous, but I want to get enough of a foothold in the publishing industry to make a living in a few years. Maybe like by retirement. This is my retirement planning. I’ve heard that by the time you have 25 books published, then you are actually making enough money to make writing your day job. If I put out one book a year, then I should be there by the time I retire.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

I loved the end the most, but I can’t give away the mystery! So here is a small part of the end:

Just then, the view of two bright headlights and two higher spotlights came over a rise. The lights blinked between trees as a wide, yellow plow appeared where Violet had expected to see a front bumper.

“Oh, my goodness! We’re saved!” Violet exclaimed as tingles shot from her throat out to her extremities.

After the hairpin turn in the driveway and the crime scene where Dr. Yang held his vigil, Jake raced ahead of the plow and parked the snowmobile next to Violet.

“I found them just coming up the main road,” Jake said as he swung his leg over the snowmobile.

“My hero!” Violet cried as she jumped into his arms. “You saved us!”

“Well, just a little.” Jake spoke into Violet’s coat as he hugged her and spun her around. “I might have helped them find the turn, but that’s it.”

Jake set her down and pulled back to look into Violet’s eyes. His forget-me-not blue eyes shone with excitement and pride as Violet basked in his signature crooked smile as he said, “No, you already saved us.”

They kissed until Violet was ready to tell him her big news.

“Well, I have a surprise, too.” Violet could feel her coy smile morph into a manic grin. “While you were gone, I had to go to the bathroom.”

Jake’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion, then rose in understanding. “Oh, for the first time this morning? And?”

Violet nodded with such vigor that her vision blurred with a delirious joy.

Jake threw his head back and let out a call that echoed around the clearing and off the house and Willem’s cabin, “WAHOOOOO!”

Tell us about your latest project

A Caterer’s Guide to Holidays and Homicide is so fun! It’s a holiday sequel to my first cozy mystery, A Caterer’s Guide to Love and Murder, and to be honest, it’s much better.

Our main character, Violet, and her husband have been hired at personal chefs for the week before Christmas at a remote cabin. During the same big snowstorm, one member of the party dies and they all get snowed in. They’re stuck and Violet is asked to investigate. They have their supplies so they think they’re all set, until it becomes clear that it was murder. Suspicion jumps from person to person until another person dies, driving everyone into their rooms as Violet continues to work on discovering the guilty party.

What is your favourite cake?

Maybe devil’s food, maybe a chocolate cheesecake, or a flourless chocolate cake. Basically it has to be chocolate. I would even go so far as to say that if it doesn’t have chocolate then it is not worth the calories.

You can connect with Jessica on her website Jessicathompsonauthor.com and on social media:

Instagram: @jessicathauthor
Facebook: facebook.com/jessicathauthor
Twitter: @jessicathauthor
TikTok: @jessicathauthor 
Goodreads: goodreads.com/jessicathauthor
BookBub: bookbub.com/profile/jessica-thompson-ede71ffc-5762-4778-a116-3c3a048cb45f
Amazon: amazon.com/author/jessicathompsonmystery

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Maurice Alvarez. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Wednesday 9 November 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Anne Coates

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Anne Coates.

Reading and writing has been Anne's passion for as long as she can remember. Inspired by her mother who taught her to read before she went to school and by the Deputy Head at her secondary school in Harlow, Essex who encouraged her hunger for reading by granting her free access to the books not yet in the school library – she feels still grateful for this, in her eyes, amazing privilege. 

After her degree in English and French, Anne moved to London where she has lived ever since. During her career, she worked for publishers, as a journalist, writer, editor, and translator. The birth of her daughter, Olivia inspired her to write non-fiction books, such as Your Only Child (Bloomsbury, 1996), books about applying to and surviving university, NeedtoKnow 2013, but also short stories, tales with a twist, and stories exploring relationships, published in in various women’s magazines including Bella and Candis. 

After working on Woman’s Weekly and Woman & Home, Anne went freelance and found herself interviewing all types of people from those working on gas rigs to prostitutes and some of their situations made her think “What if…” And so, investigative journalist Hannah Weybridge was born.

The Hannah Weybridge series was first published by Urbane Publications who ceased trading in April 2021. New editions of Dancers in the Wind, Death's Silent Judgement, Songs of Innocence plus Perdition’s Child have been released by Red Dog Press in preparation for the publication of the latest, Stage Call on 18 January, 2022.

Anne Coates lives with three demanding cats and enjoys reading, going to the theatre and cinema, wining and dining and time with her family and friends.

What kind of books do you write?

I write the type of books I enjoy reading. My current series featuring freelance journalist and single parent Hannah Weybridge is set in the 90s so not quite historical. The crimes Hannah investigates involve injustices (as well as murder). Sadly many of the themes are pertinent today like trafficking, child abuse and forced marriage.

Can you describe your writing why?

My motivation comes from the stories in my head, which have to be told. Much of my inspiration for my series (and short stories) comes from my earlier journalism. I take the kernel of an idea and begin the “what if” process. There are lows and highs in being an author sometimes the lows prevail but when the highs hit there is no better motivation.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

Always difficult to make such a choice but here’s the opening paragraphs from Perdition’s Child.

The stairwell echoed with the ungainly clump of her footsteps. Her weathered walking boots with unmatched laces knotted and frayed were far too hot and heavy for summer—even with the flow of air offered through various holes—and these last few weeks had been sweltering. Her feet were hot and clammy; a blister had formed where the back rubbed her heel. Whenever she removed her socks, layers of skin flaked away. Her feet, more than any other part of her body, disgusted her. Between her toes were signs of an infection. She’d tried talking to the chemist in Boots down The Marsh, but he wanted to see her feet. Her embarrassment overcame her discomfort, so she left without showing him. But these boots were the only footwear she possessed. Flip-flops, she thought. Or those plastic sandals. What were they called? Jellies. Silly name. They were cheap. She should store these bloody boots somewhere or better still, get rid of them. And her feet could heal in the sun and air.

Her clothes, which had long since lost any of their original colour or shape, stuck to some parts of her body and hung from others. Beneath her skirt, the flesh at the top of her thighs was rubbed raw. There were times when she wished she could peel off her skin and start again. In the depths of night, when no one could see her, she wept. Tears were sometimes the only liquid to touch her face for days on end. A caress no person would give.

She paused at the second landing, breathing heavily. The smells of leftover food wafted over from the waste disposal chute with its ornate black front, which opened but never completely closed on what had been thrown into it. Lucy wondered if anyone ever cleaned it. Her mother used to. Not here, but in the similar block of 1930s flats they had lived in nearby. Her mother had scrubbed the steps as well. The steps she used to run up two at a time in her eagerness to get home. How long ago was that? Too long ago to think about. A lifetime ago.

On the third floor she rested against the wall, rubbing her hand, sticky from the balustrade, on her skirt. One more bit of dirt wouldn’t show. She stared out over the sun-dappled square. Everywhere looked so much better in the sunshine. Strangely, there was no one around. No kids on skateboards. No dealers loitering in the shadows. No one screaming obscenities from an open window. An enormous ginger cat, balancing precariously on a window ledge, stared at her disdainfully for a moment, then carried on with his meticulous grooming. Everywhere seemed still and quiet. Unnaturally so. Maybe the heat had sucked out the energy from the residents. 


Tell us about your latest project

My latest Hannah Weybridge, Stage Call, was published in January by Red Dog Press who have just published new editions of the previous four books originally released by Urbane Publications. Stage Call is my lockdown book. I had started writing a standalone psychological thriller but was finding concentration difficult. Then I had a “vision” for another Weybridge investigation (the inspiration for my books often begins with an image or scene). This one was on stage in a theatre. I chose The Old Vic as it is a theatre close to my heart; somewhere my mother went with her mother as they lived in Waterloo.

In Stage Call, Hannah was helping to write the autobiography of a leading actress, a “national treasure” who is found dead on stage. Suicide is suspected but her son, another actor, is convinced otherwise and sharing his concerns with Hannah, begs her to help. Once again the journalist steps into a minefield of corruption. 


What is your favourite cake?

I have a problem with finding cakes I can eat as I am dairy intolerant and also aim to be gluten free (as my daughter is allergic). However I have a great recipe (gluten and dairy-free) for lemon drizzle cake, which has become a firm favourite.


You can connect with Anne at the following places:

Twitter: @Anne_Coates1
Instagram: @anne_coates1

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Jessica Thompson. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.

Wednesday 2 November 2022

A Slice of Cake With... Lisa Stanbridge

Today I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Lisa Stanbridge.

Award-winning Australian author Lisa Stanbridge has been writing ever since she could string sentences together. As a child, it started off with princesses in castles being rescued by Prince Charming. As a teenager she moved on to angsty teens struggling through life with raging hormones. Now, as a semi-mature adult, she writes sweet contemporary romances about real people going through real struggles who want their HEA.

In 2019, Lisa won the Romance Writers of Australia Little Gems short story contest with Clarity, and was shortlisted in the RWAus Emerald Award for unpublished manuscripts for Abandoned Hearts where she ranked second place. Abandoned Hearts was published the following year by Boroughs Publishing Group. 2020 saw Lisa shortlisted again in the RWAus Sweet Treats contest with The Cupcake Catastrophe.

In 2021, Lisa came fifth place in the RWAus First Kiss Award, and was shortlisted in the RWAus Sapphire Award for unpublished manuscripts for Oceans Apart where she ranked third place. Abandoned Hearts also won ‘Best First Book’ for Romance Writers of New Zealand Koru Award of Excellence.

When she’s not writing, Lisa works full time as a Software Tester. She reads anything she can sink her teeth into, and occasionally binges on the latest Netflix series. Lisa loves lazy days at the beach reading or writing, but rarely swimming, and loves spending time with her husband and her friends.

What kind of books do you write?

Sweet and heartwarming stories with vivid locations, and in-depth characters on a journey of self-discovery while trying to find the love of their lives.

Can you describe your writing why?

Multiple reasons! But I think the main reason is that I absolutely love creating stories for people to enjoy. The characters become my friends and I love seeing them grow. All that aside, I also view writing as an outlet... an escape from reality. When I don’t write, I feel really antsy and on edge.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

This is from my debut novel, Abandoned Hearts. This book wrote itself so easily. I knew where I wanted the story to go, and the characters carried it for me. I had so much fun writing it. This scene is where the hero and heroine have finally let down their guards to fully embrace their feelings for each other:

Winding her arms up and around his neck, she held him close, their warm breath mixing with the salty spring breeze. She held on so tightly, almost afraid of letting go. This kiss was so different to their first one—rather than being tentative, it was lively. Passionate. It spoke of promises, of a future with no fear, no pain, no suffering.

She sighed into the kiss and Michael tightened his hold. His soft lips caressed and massaged hers in such a sensual way, sending her heart beating rapidly against her ribcage. He held her so close she could feel his heartbeat against her own. Two abandoned hearts beating together…healing together.

Tell us about your latest project

I wrote a novella for a Paris Anthology that released in September 2022. My story, Lonely in Paris, is all about an Aussie girl working in Paris for six months. She hasn’t had a very good time so far and is feeling lonely. Until she meets the enigmatic Frenchman, Jacques, who shows her what Paris really has to offer. She only falls in love with Paris, but with Jacques too.

What is your favourite cake?

Black Forest Gateau.

You can connect with Lisa at the following places:

Website: lisastanbridgeauthor.com
Newsletter: hdl.bookfunnel.com/aq98k4c5gw (receive a free short story when subscribing)
Instagram: instagram.com/lisastanbridgeauthor
Facebook: facebook.com/LisaStanbridgeAuthor

Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Anne Coates. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours through Kofi and buy me virtual tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop. Never miss out on future posts by following me.