by Shana Frost
Get Your Copy: https://mailchi.mp/3b0a0bf88fa2/smokes-of-death-beer
Book Available on All Major Platforms: Amazon, iBooks, Nook, Kobo etc
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank You from the bottom of my heart for taking this tumultuous journey with Aileen and Callan. Writing this debut novel has been one of the most cathartic yet gut-churning experiences in my life. No one ever said writing a novel was easy:)
As I write this note, I cannot recall when the idea for ‘When Murder Comes Home’ came to mind, but I know that the character of Aileen Mackinnon didn’t become my closest friend overnight; she revealed herself as I jotted this story down, bit by bit.
Aileen’s self-doubt isn’t something uncommon. Many of us struggle with it most of our lives. Self-doubt often keeps us from achieving our full potential, or in Aileen’s words, it makes us settle for a ‘risk-less’ life. Of course, kicking a murderer in his “you know what” won’t resolve self-doubt overnight. But here’s to hoping she’ll overcome it eventually!
Our favourite bloke, Callan Cameron isn't uncomplicated either but his cursing surely made the entire experience fun to write. Somehow it’s easy to see these two pick fights, it’s so entertaining.
But I must confess, writing a novel is not a lone wolf’s job. Thus, there are a few people I need to thank.
Firstly my alpha reader and my meticulous cousin Sharika : thank you for reading the raw draft of this novel.
Thank You to my cousin Neeraja whose detailed comments for improvements in the penultimate draft made this novel so much better.
A big Thank You to my copyeditor, Laura Kincaid who answered my never-ending questions about the self-publishing world and reassured me in times of self-doubt (ironic isn’t it, the characters you birth). Her detailed inputs have made me a better writer and this novel, way richer.
And to all my beta readers: Gayatri, Rohan, Willow, Isha and my dear Aunt—Thank You!
A special thank you to Agnesa for the most perfect book covers!
And lastly, I cannot ignore the two people without whom this book or my flair for writing would’ve never come to light: my parents. Thank You for your unconditional support in all my ventures. For where would I be if you didn’t believe in me?
Wow, this note was really hard to write, harder than a novel.
So I’ll take a bow now. It’s time to retreat to my writing den to scribble the next adventure. I can’t let Aileen and Callan’s lives be dull any longer, can I?
See ye soon,
Shana
About the Author
Are you looking to solve murders? Perfect, Shana loves plotting them.
As a debut writer, Shana Frost is in her secret den hatching murders and having a blast with Aileen and the gang. It's crazy in there...
When not in the den, Shana always has her nose buried between the pages of a fiction novel. After all, the tantalising aroma of a story is far more enticing, especially for a sensitive nose like hers.
Shana’s powerful sense of smell has helped her sniff out murder mysteries and a wide variety of characters.
Occasionally, she finds herself wandering ancient hallways of a castle, or a museum trying to smell the tales these walls effuse.
The traveller Ibn Battuta wasn’t wrong when he wrote, “Travelling- It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller”