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Groundhogs, Valentines, & Dead Presidents

February 9, 2022 By Barbara 4 Comments

February is the deepfreeze month stuck between New Year’s and the March of Leprechauns. Although the shortest of months, it has three auspicious days of note.

Groundhog Day leads the way on the 2nd! This is the day big fat rodents determine the length of our suffering in cold and darkness. Not strange at all, right? Apparently, Pennsylvania and Nova Scotia are the main areas where this weather forecasting animal is used, but regardless of its superstitious origin, someone managed to get this bizarre date included on the national calendar. Having their own day must really puff those little diggers up. I bet from their exalted status, they look down upon all the moles, voles, prairie dogs, and gerbils with utter disdain.

On the 14th, February is suddenly all about romance and love, full of chocolate hearts, flowers, and insanely priced cards. Some people claim Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday, as though a day to celebrate rodents is completely legitimate but a day to celebrate the one you love is a government conspiracy.

And finally on the 21st, we have President’s Day. I’m old enough to remember it being called George Washington’s Birthday, but apparently it became a birthday celebration for George and Lincoln ( who both had February birthdays) and then finally in the 1970s was officially changed to President’s Day. Probably because the other dead presidents felt slighted. Or more likely, the live ones did.

In Minnesota, February is basically the beginning of our second winter. We get about 4 days of above freezing and then we’re back to black-ice, frost-bite, and a drop in crime as all the criminals head south.

With winter feeling extra long this year and February being a tri-celebration month, I am gifting a book for you! From my own experience, cold months are great reading months! So…

February 11th-28th, ENTANGLED (A Fredrickson Winery Novel) will be FREE at all online stores! Pick up a copy if you haven’t read it yet, and tell your book-loving friends and family members to download a copy too!

Get it here> ENTANGLED

Thanks for stopping! Leave a comment and tell us which February holiday you enjoy celebrating the most, or do you have another one I don’t know about??

Barbara

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Barbara Ellen Brink, Entangled, fiction, Free book, Groundhogs, mystery, Presidents Day, ValentinesDay

Creme de menthe bars and a free book!

December 2, 2021 By Barbara Leave a Comment

Christmas is almost upon us.

I have so much I want to do, and so little time left to do it. My organization skills stink. I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. Baking with chocolate. Yes, I am the number one taste-tester around here. Actually, the only taste-tester. So, I get a lot of tastes. It’s a very satisfying job. I could do this all year.

Sadly, it has taken me an entire week shuffling boxes, finding the right ornaments in each, fluffing the fake tree, putting on the lights, and finally hanging and placing each star, ornament, angel, or bow with precision accuracy. You guessed it. I have a mother who is gifted at this stuff. Living up to her example is not only time-consuming but, if I’m honest, a bit mind-numbing. Decorating does not come naturally to me. Writing is my “gift” and I’d much rather be indulging my imagination making up stories than decorating the halls or fluffing throw pillows.

That being said… I have not finished the new book I am working on, and so the only gift I have to present you with this year is a free copy of Christmas in Port Scuttlebutt.

Grandbaby approved

Not to downplay the awesome entertainment value of this Double Barrel contribution. It is truly full of enough suspense, romance, and holiday spirit to satisfy. Add a mug of hot cocoa and a candy cane stirrer and you are on your way to mystery heaven.

Get your free kindle copy December 2-6 only! Don’t wait or procrastinate. Download today> CPS

Leave a comment and tell us one of your favorite Christmas traditions or Christmas cookies/bars. Recipes are welcome. Especially if they involve chocolate. Scroll down for the secret family recipe of my favorite holiday bars.

Thanks for stopping!

Barbara

Creme de Menthe Bars

1st layer> Melt 1/2 cup butter & 1/2 cup cocoa until blended. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla and 2 cups graham cracker crumbs. Mix well & pat into 9X13 pan.

2nd layer> Melt 1/2 cup butter. Add 1/3 cup green creme de menthe & 3 cups powdered sugar. Mix well until smooth. Spread over 1st layer. Chill for one hour.

Top layer> Melt 1/4 cup butter & 1 and 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spread over top and put in refrigerator.

I usually cut them within an hour, so the top doesn’t set so hard that it cracks instead of cutting smoothly. Then keep them in the fridge because they do contain egg and butter. Wouldn’t want you to blame me for salmonella. They also freeze well.

Ps. Eat and enjoy! Merry Christmas!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Barbara Ellen Brink, Christmas recipe, ChristmasInPortScuttlebutt, Free book, mystery

Podcasting for the fun of it!

August 21, 2019 By Barbara Leave a Comment

http://anchor.fm/barbara-ellen-brink

I very recently joined the podcast revolution. Yes, I know, I’m late to the game. Apparently, the revolution has been going on for quite some time. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have some fun with it anyway. Since I’m just learning at this stage, I thought I’d start by reading through one of my novels. So, that’s what I did.

Entangled is now available for your listening enjoyment, in ten episodes, two chapters at a time, on my podcast, Lazy Green Mysteries. I hope you will check it out and get listening. Whether you are relaxing in the backyard hammock, doing laundry, or driving to the grocery store, you can be enjoying a good book. Pure reading enjoyment without actually having to read. Also, you can rest easy that no trees were killed in the audio process. This recording is as green as green can be. So, enjoy!

Go to anchor.fm/barbara-ellen-brink and listen or download the Anchor app. You can also find Lazy, Green Mysteries at Spotify, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic, and Breaker. Other places coming soon!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Are you a regular podcast listener? Do you enjoy listening to a story while you are busy doing other things?

Thanks for stopping!

Barbara

Barbara is the author of The Fredrickson Winery Series, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, Second Chances series, and The Double Barrel Mysteries series. She lives in Minnesota and yearns for Hawaii.
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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: author reading, book podcast, fredrickson winery series, mystery

and the winner is… Much Ado About Murder!

June 8, 2017 By Barbara 18 Comments

And the winner is…

For those of you who watch award shows and love to see all the celebrities in their fancy dresses and tuxedos strutting down the red carpet, posing for paparazzi and answering inane questions from entertainment reporters, The Grace Awards may seem a bit lame and lacking in glitter. But for a writer who does her best work alone in a tiny home office and rarely gets asked for an autograph other than when her husband hands her the tax returns to sign… it’s AWESOME!

I feel like a star. I may not have my own star on the walk of fame, but my dad did let me put my handprint in the new concrete he poured for our porch steps when I was eight. Does that count?

So let’s imagine I’m wearing strappy, silver, three-inch heels and a navy colored gown with a lacy top. Oh wait, you don’t have to imagine. I just wore that for my daughter’s wedding, so here you go.

(You WILL have to imagine the red carpet, flashing cameras, screaming fans, and me sitting in the audience with my dear friends and fellow writers, Mary Higgins Clark and Stephen King.)

The big moment is here…

The audience collectively holds its breath in anticipation as Iris Johansen rips open the envelope and reads the embossed words on the card. “And the winner of The Grace Award in the mystery/suspense category is… MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER!!” {massive applause as the orchestra plays Get Up And Boogie}

I climb the steps to the podium – elegant, cool, and poised – and take the golden Grace Award from Iris’ hands. She smiles and nods toward the microphone.

(Every winner gets to make a speech and since this is my blog and I’m the winner…)

“First of all, I would like to thank my readers for nominating MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER for this award and for believing in the characters of Port Scuttlebutt as much as I do. I also want to thank Blake and Shelby Gunner, Alice and Tucker, Evelyn, Jack, Pete, and every one of the players who have taken up residence in my head and make Double Barrel Mysteries such a joy to write.” {orchestra strikes up the get off the stage music but I keep going, talking fast} “I would also like to thank my beta readers, editors, cover designer, my husband for bringing me coffee and chocolate while I write, my dog for giving me walk breaks, my hairdresser, Internet provider, and the UPS man.” {skinny model tries to tug me away from the microphone but she’s weaker than me because she doesn’t eat meat. I stand my ground and keep talking.} “Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank Microsoft Word program, for without your spellcheck, formatting, layout options, and imaginative fonts, I would be lost.” {three skinny models surround me and collectively pull me from the stage as I yell out my last words} Thank you, thank you all. I will finish the 3rd book! I will! I promise!  

~~

Praise from the Grace Award judges:

MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER is a well-written, entertaining cozy mystery. The characters are believable and feel like people you might know in your own town. Blake and Shelby are charming main characters, just the right mix of strengths and weaknesses to keep the pace moving and the plot plausible. Alice and Tucker provide a light, romantic thread while Jack and Oliver add a touch of humor. The setting is presented well and the mystery progresses at a steady pace that keeps the pages turning.

See the winners in all categories at the Grace Awards

Haven’t read The Double Barrel Mysteries yet? Check out my bookstore page or click on the titles below.

ROADKILL #1

MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER #2

~~

Thanks for coming to my award show! Hope you had as much fun as I did. Don’t forget to leave a comment and say hi!

Barbara

Barbara is the author of the Fredrickson Winery Novels, the award winning thriller, Split Sense, The Second Chances series, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, and The Double Barrel Mysteries, Roadkill and Much Ado About Murder. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and pups.

 

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Your middle-of-the-week mystery fix!

August 3, 2016 By Barbara Leave a Comment

DockedSailboats2

Looking for a fun, new series with plenty of mystery, murder, and romance to go
Roadkillsmallaround? Check out my Double Barrel Mysteries series. If you want to start at the beginning of the series, pick up a copy of book one, ROADKILL.

In book two, Much Ado About Murder, Blake and Shelby Gunner are setting up residence in Port Scuttlebutt and opening their own private investigations office. Hope you enjoy the excerpt below!

ImbedMuchAdo2Shelby could hear the whine of the electric saw when she stepped out on the porch with her cup of coffee. Vanilla bean scented steam rose in the cold autumn air as she held her cup between the palms of her hands and sipped. She shivered in spite of wearing an angora sweater beneath a quilted jacket. It was hard to believe that days before Blake was working shirtless down at the boathouse. Today he’d need to wear long johns and flannel. It was already beginning to feel like Christmas. All they needed was snow.

The radio came on in the kitchen where Alice was busy mixing bread dough. It sounded like the weather report. Shelby gulped the rest of her lukewarm coffee and slipped back inside to catch the news. Maybe there would be something about the murder. The police had been tight-lipped about the case when Blake showed up asking questions. Even the brotherhood-of-blue mantra did little to open the way for him.

Blake was still upstairs sleeping, but he’d be down soon. He had an invitation to visit his grandmother at the big house for lunch. Apparently it was a single invitation, since he hadn’t invited her along, but that was okay. She had plans as well.

“Sounds like we might get snow by tonight,” Alice said, turning the radio down when the commercials came on. She slipped a clean towel over the lump of dough in the mixing bowl, and slid it closer to the stove to rise. “Good thing Mr. Dugan started early today. Maybe he’ll have the office windows and door in for you by this evening.”

“That would be wonderful.” Shelby refilled her cup from the carafe and leaned against the kitchen counter. “Especially if he turns out to be guilty.”

“Guilty? Did you find something incriminating out there at his place?” Alice peered over the refrigerator door as she pulled breakfast items from the shelves. “I mean… that would be terrible. For Tucker’s dad especially.”

Shelby shook her head. “Nothing like that. But we didn’t find anything to prove his innocence either, so…” she shrugged.

“Hey. Loose lips sink ships,” Blake said from the doorway. He pulled an imaginary zipper across his mouth. “Mrs. Private Eye, may I have a word with you?”

“Don’t worry,” Alice said, “I haven’t had time to get all the juicy details out of her yet.”

Shelby followed Blake into the sitting room and faced him, hands on her hips. “What was that all about? Paranoid much? If anyone in this town can be trusted, Alice can.”

“I know that. But sometimes things slip out inadvertently. I want to keep this ring business under wraps for the time being. I haven’t even questioned Pete Dugan about whether he knew his ex-wife was seeing someone else or not. First things first. Okay?”

“Fine. I won’t mention the ring to anyone.”

He stepped closer and tipped her chin up with one finger. “You know how beautiful you look when you’re peeved with me?”

“I’m not peeved. I just don’t like lying to my friends.” She’d done enough of that growing up. Lying to protect her alcoholic father from losing his job, lying to keep the social workers away, lying to bill collectors, the landlord, her friends.

“You don’t have to lie, babe. They’ll understand if you tell them you can’t talk about it. The same way you understood when I couldn’t share everything about the cases I worked on as a detective. Information is key. We have to keep it to ourselves until the exact right moment. Get it? Surprise attack. We want to get a natural, unguarded look at our suspect’s true feelings. Most people wear a façade, especially when they feel cornered.

“Now our client is a suspect?”

“Until I’ve proved otherwise.”

She leaned into him and he drew her close. She closed her eyes and breathed in his just-showered scent. “You smell like fresh strawberries.”

“I used your fruity shampoo. Mine was empty.”

“It smells good on you,” she said, nuzzling his neck.

“Hold on now.” He moved back out of reach, a silly grin on his face. “Are you trying to get an invitation to lunch, or…?”

“I can’t believe you’d think that. Only married four years and you’re already pouring sand on the flames.”

His brows came together. “Are you messing with me?”

“Of course. Who else would I mess with?” She reached out and tugged him back by the collar of his shirt. “Now kiss me before I leave. I’m going to the café for a chat with Luanne.”

“Heaven help us all,” he said, and then gave her a proper goodbye kiss.

~~~

Ps. Book Three: Midsummer Madness is available now!

 

 

Thanks for stopping! Hope you enjoyed this excerpt. Please leave a comment below.

Barbara

Barbara Ellen Brink is the author of The Fredrickson Winery Novels, Split Sense (winner of the Grace Award), Running Home, Alias Raven Black, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, and Roadkill.
Barbara Ellen Brink is the author of The Fredrickson Winery Novels, Split Sense (winner of the Grace Award), Running Home, Alias Raven Black, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, and The Double Barrel Mysteries.
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Filed Under: mystery Tagged With: Double Barrel Mysteries, excerpt, Much Ado About Murder, mystery, series

Mystery Lovers Celebrate!

May 3, 2016 By Barbara Leave a Comment

DBlogo4x4In celebration of the May 22nd release of MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER (book #2 in The Double Barrel Mysteries) I have two great deals for you this week!

ImbedMuchAdo2

Now Thru May 6th, get two great books for sooooooo little!

CRUSHED is #Free everywhere right now!   (and)  ROADKILL is just $1.99 at Amazon!

Crushedsmall                                               roadkillcoverImbed

Kobo  Kindle  Nook  iTunes    Smashwords                  Kindle

Don’t forget to PreOrder MUCH ADO ABOUT MURDER now! Use the links below:

Nook  iTunes  Kobo  Smashwords  kindle

Thanks for stopping!

Barbara

Barbara is the author of the Fredrickson Winery Novels, the award winning thriller, Split Sense, The Second Chances series, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, and The Double Barrel Mysteries, Roadkill and Much Ado About Murder. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and pups.
Barbara is the author of the Fredrickson Winery Novels, the award winning thriller, Split Sense, The Second Chances series, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy, and The Double Barrel Mysteries, Roadkill and Much Ado About Murder. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and pups.

 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Barbara Ellen Brink, book sale, Crushed, Double Barrel Mysteries, fiction, Much Ado About Murder, mystery, Roadkill

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Split Sense

Split Sense

When a senator and pharmaceutical giant partner to experiment with a new drug on pregnant women, they tap into a world they never knew existed – the supernatural touching the natural – and it will cost the innocent more than they know. Grace Awards Winner!

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