Poisonous mushrooms

All artists are aware of the potential for their work to influence others--a power that is sometimes the most significant reward they receive.  This influence usually only makes the headlines when dastardly deeds are done in supposed response to song lyrics or movies or such. At those times, I always give sober second thought to what I'm publishing.

amanita muscaria

I'm especially aware of the power of the pen because my crime novels are addressed to teens and young adults, who may be particularly volunerable to the influence of the written word. I want to inspire my readers to lead better, safer, more meaningful lives--not criminal ones.

My BackTracker novels are action-packed, to be sure, and many teens are thrill seekers. To prevent the drug-dealing gang life from appealing to that quest for excitement, I focus the novels on the exhilarating and dangerous lives of the crime-fighters, rather than the criminals. My hope is that I may influence my young readers to become officers of the law rather than gangsters.

Whereas I do want to educate my readers about the dangers of gang life, I don't want to teach them how to perform illicit  acts. In The Traz, I mention Lukas is making Ecstasy but you won't find any recipes. Katrina hacks into computers, but my readers won't learn how she did that. Shrug seals a massive cocaine deal, but we're not privvy to the details.

But, then there is the amanita muscaria. My first versions of The Traz didn't include the name of the poisonous mushroom young Katrina fed the bikers to disable them as the police moved in on the heavily-armed compound. Several editors and beta readers questioned whether or not such a mushroom even existed. And if so, would it be found in the area where the story took place, at that time of the year.

After soul searching, I decided using the name of the mushroom definitely added credence to the story. I realized information about poisonous mushrooms is readily available to everyone with today's technology. So, yes, The Traz ends with Katrina treating the bikers to nibbles of her amanita muscaria, a toxic psychotropic mushroom, available throughout the world, that is known to be temporarily disabling but seldom fatal.

I've come to believe naming the mushroom was no more irresponsible than mentioning the brand of pistol used in the murder scene. A crime was committed and the weapon identified, vital components in any crime novel.

So far, I've heard of no  amanita muscaria poisonings as a result of The Traz, so hopefully my young readers are all  playing safe!

Poisonous mushrooms has been brought to you by THE TRAZ

 “Raw and emotional..." 

"A book full of action and adventure..."

“I loved this first book in the series...” 
"Exciting, powerful, and tragic..."

“My weekend was gone cuz I couldn't put it down!”



Eileen Schuh, Author
DISPASSIONATE LIES
FIREWALLS
FATAL ERROR
Schrödinger's Cat
THE TRAZ

Crime Writers join celebration!

Crime writers are joining author, Eileen Schuh, as she celebrates achieving 500 facebook 'likes' and 5,000 Twitter followers within days of each other. Although this doesn’t make her famous, it has put her in the festive mood.

"I'm looking to get at least 500 entries," Schuh says of the massive multi-author give-away she organized. "Five thousand would be awesome!"

Twelve authors came together to provide 16 prizes ranging from short stories, to entire series, from ebooks to paperbacks, from kids’ fantasy to contemporary adult romance, crime fiction, scifi, and everything in between. The Rafflecopter draw offers something to suit everyone’s reading pleasure.

For crime fiction fans, there's Luke Murphy's brand new release KISS & TELL. New releases aren't  often offered as prizes, so this is special!  Reviewers call it "a real page turner" and "a suspenseful crime novel".

Perhaps you'd like to win a hard-copy of A WORK OF ART  by Melody Maysonet "Tera's hopes for the future explode when the police arrest her dad for an unspeakable crime..." Teen lit at its best.


Schuh is offering two winners a pick of her novels in their choice of eBook or paperback format. That includes the four books in her ongoing BackTracker series which follows the life of young Katrina Buckhold. At age thirteen she falls in with a biker gang, is eventually rescued, testifies against the bikers, and grows up to pursue a career in law enforcement. Her traumatic past haunts her as do those seeking revenge. The BackTracker Series includes: THE TRAZ Book 1, THE TRAZ School Edition, FATAL ERROR  Book 2, FIREWALLS Book 3.

Crime also plays a role in her two Science Fiction novellas, DISPASSIONATE LIES or SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT 

SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT explores what it would be like to live in alternate universes--two worlds, two lives, too much for one woman and includes a bitter custody battle and perhaps murder.

DISPASSIONATE LIES is a near-future tale about computers,
conspiracies, and female sexuality.Exactly who stole the libido of an entire generation of females?

A summary of all the prizes along with the contest entry form can be found on Schuh’s blog, Magic of the Muses.  Entry forms are also on her website and below.

Scroll down to where it says to log in to enter this giveaway. Sign in with either your facebook account (just click the facebook icon) or your email address as she does need to know who you are and how to contact you should you win! If you leave a comment below this post, you'll earn an extra entry. If you are a Tweeter and click the tweet icon to promote this giveaway, you'll get an extra entry. Click across the series of little circles to see all the prizes.

In keeping with the spirit of the festivities, entry into the draw has been made easy. Everyone is invited to enter and enter often. She will be drawing a different winner for each prize so the more often you enter, the better chance you have of getting the book/s you want.

Entries will be accepted until midnight September 3, 2015. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

A couple of Chill with a Book authors are joining fellow member, Eileen Schuh, in celebrating her social networking successes! Schuh recently received over 500 likes of her facebook author page and 5,000 followers on Twitter.

To commemorate the occasion, Schuh organized a massive Rafflecopter giveaway and enticed a dozen authors to contribute prizes.

From short stories, to entire series, from ebooks to paperbacks, from kids’ fantasy to contemporary adult romance, crime fiction, scifi, and everything in between, the draw with a chance to win one or more of 16 prizes offers something to suit everyone’s reading pleasure.The rafflecopter draw which runs for month includes books from

Research: Guest Authors Mel Bradshaw and Eileen Schuh

Where the heck would one look for a copy of the 1927 Criminal Code of Canada? Where would an author safely go to get the scoop on modern biker gangs? Find out on these two guest posts on KATY'S WORDS. 

Research Part 2, Subsection B: Guest Authors Mel Bradshaw and Eileen Schuh 



 Eileen Schuh,Canadian writerwww.eileenschuh.com

Imajin Books: 'Share the Imajin Books Buzz' contest

  Imajin Books: 'Share the Imajin Books Buzz' contest: July 1-31, 2015: Share our events on Twitter and Facebook, and share pics of our books on ereaders or you holding one, and receive entries into our Summer Sizzles Giveaway!

Grand prize winner: 12 free ebooks (winner’s choice). Plus 10 winners of
single ebooks. Open to anyone 18+. Void where prohibited. Draw will
take place the first week of August. Be sure to share it with your
friends.