Folly at the Fair ~ Book Blog Tour Author Interview & Giveaway!

Book Details

Book Title: Folly at the Fair (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee

Genre:  Adult Fiction (18 + yrs)

Pages: 322 pages

Category:  Historical Mystery

Publisher:  Bosque Publishing

Release date:   June 2020

Content Rating:  PG-13 for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.

Book Description

She never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll become one...

Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to keep her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is innocent. 

Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie  to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the  grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive. Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the killer? 

Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley Mystery historical fiction series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West  adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s fast-paced whodunit.

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Interview with Author Kari Bovee

Please tell us how you came to be a writer.

I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember. When I was seven years old, I got a toy typewriter for Christmas. Although it was just a toy, it worked really well and I banged away on it for as long as it held up. Then in middle school and high school, I started journaling and writing poetry. I majored in English literature in college, so there was a lot of writing involved with my major. I finished as much of my required coursework early so I could devote myself to writing exclusively in my senior year. I took three independent studies with three of my favorite professors. One was in short story writing, one in playwriting, and one in screenwriting. I had such a blast! I wrote my first novel right out of college, but it was sort of an experiment and that book will never see the light of day!

Explain how you research for a book.

I usually am inspired by a person or a historical event. I start with researching on the internet as much as I can. Wikipedia is a good place to start, but sometimes it isn’t terribly reliable. I read blogs, watch movies, documentaries, or videos. Sometimes I read biographies or non-fiction books on the subject matter or person. I also love coffee table books. I’ve found a lot of really good information for some of my novels through them—and I love the photographs. It really puts you in the time period.  

Many writers and artists are introverts and spend much of their time alone? Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

I think I’m a healthy mixture of both. I love connecting with people and learning from them. I enjoy parties and social events and meeting new people, but having time to myself is essential to my mental, emotional, and creative well-being. I love being alone, or with my horses where the communication is often silent. I feel it gives me room to breathe. 

Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall) says that a Catholic upbringing is the only qualification a writer requires. Can you relate to that idea? Do you have any writing qualifications?

I chuckled when I read Hilary Mantel’s idea of qualifications to be a writer. I was raised Catholic and can relate to that statement on many levels, both positive and negative. I think an insatiable curiosity about people and what motivates them – past, present, and future, and a deep empathy for others qualifies someone to be a writer. Sometimes I wish I had double-majored in English literature and psychology instead of just English literature because I find that in creating characters—and the stories I put them into, a better understanding of the human psyche would be so helpful. The ability to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” no matter how wonderful or horrific, is essential to creating believable, sympathetic, and relatable characters and stories.

Are you looking to entertain or illuminate?

Both, of course! Entertainment is the main goal for me, but I also want people, especially young girls and women, to be inspired by the women I write. I’m passionate about empowered women in history and what we can learn from them. Women have come so far—although we still have a way to go—but some of the women of the past, who had much fewer rights, privileges, and opportunities, didn’t let society dictate who they wanted to be or what they wanted to do. They fought the good fight, and lived their dream, whether it was saving others, being true to themselves, or thriving in a man’s profession, like Annie Oakley did.

Talk about how you juggle being a writer with other responsibilities e.g. being a parent, other job, etc.

The good news for me is that writing is my full-time gig. It’s also the bad news because if I’m not careful, I find myself working all the time and that just isn’t healthy. My husband is really good about reminding me of this when I become obsessive! The struggle for me is taking time for myself to do things other than work. I have horses and I try to spend four mornings a week with them, either training or trail riding with friends. Being with horses is great because you have to be present with them. It’s dangerous to have your head in the clouds thinking of other things! I love my time with my horses because it refreshes me. I am also doing a little art work, meditation, and trying to spend time with friends and my grown children and their significant others (safely, of course, in this time of Covid-19.) The reward for making time for these things is that it frees my creativity and refills the well. 

Share 3 things you do before you start writing.

1) I make some nice herbal tea to sip on throughout the day.

2) I put one of my favorite essential oil blends into the diffuser. Right now, I am using a Young Living oil called “envision.” It really helps me to focus.

3) I clear my desk. Clutter makes me anxious!

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Meet the Author

When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts. 

An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards  Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category. 

Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Connect with the Author

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

~ Instagram  ~ Pinterest

Enter the Giveaway:

ONE WINNER!

Signed copy of FOLLY AT THE FAIR 

+SWAG (mousepad, pen, tote, bookmark)

+$100 AMAZON GIFT CARD 

(Ends August 18, 2020; USA only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

July 13 – Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
July 14 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 21 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
July 22 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 23 – She Just Loves Books Books – book review / giveaway
July 24 – My Reading Journeys – book spotlight / character interview / giveaway
July 25 - fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
July 28 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
July 29 – The World As I See It – book review
July 30 – Books and Zebras – book review
July 31 – Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Aug 3 – Pen Possessed – book review / giveaway
Aug 4 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 4 - Jessica Belmont – book review / giveaway
Aug 5 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
Aug 5 - JBronder Book Reviews - book review / giveaway
Aug 6 - History from a Woman’s Perspective – book review
Aug 6 - 100 Pages A Day – book review / giveaway
Aug 7 – Adventurous Jessy – book review / giveaway
Aug 11 – Olio By Marilyn – book review / giveaway

Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy (Book 1)

Sylvester, M. (2015). Ronaldo: The Flying Reindeer Academy, Book 1. 



Children's Illustrated Chapter Book / Fantasy


I give this book 4.5/5 Stars

About the book:  Ronaldo is the top flying cadet at the prestigious Reindeer Flying Academy. He dreams of getting his flying license and becoming one of Santa's reindeer, just like his hero, Vixen.

In the first adventure in the Ronaldo series, the second year flying cadets face their toughest ever flying test – The Endurance Challenge. Will Ronaldo be victorious and lift the silver cup? Or will mean brothers Dasher, Comet and Prancer ruin his chance for success?

CLICK TO BUY THE BOOK

Check out Ronaldo's website for the Children's Play Zone with fun activities like drawing, coloring, jokes, magic tricks, puzzles,brain teasers, and even cooking!

WEBSITE

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HALL WAYS REVIEW: Ronaldo: The Flying Reindeer Academy is a terrific chapter book! I finished reading, looked at my husband, and said, "That was super freakin' cute!" Plus something about those reindeer illustrations absolutely tickled me. I laughed and laughed, and of course, I had to show the pictures around, too.

There's a perfect sprinkling of (did I mention HILARIOUS?) illustrations to provide a break for both reluctant readers and strong independent readers. The illustrations are colorful, clear, and detailed enough to stop and study them -- but readers won't want to stop for long because following Ronaldo's escapades is a blast.  I am so impressed that the author, Maxine Sylvester, is also the illustrator. Such talent!

The messages from reindeer parents to son hold true for humans, too. Cleanliness, hygiene, eating right, courtesy -- all are great messages for young readers. The main message of "Imagine! See it, feel it, believe it," is good advice about having and reaching goals. And there's likely to be some giggling, too, like when Ronaldo's grandad comments on the importance of polishing one's antlers because "no doe could resist a good pair of antlers."

There is plenty of humor in the words and actions (and illustrations) -- including scatological humor – always reliable for kid laughs -- and quirky characters. I loved that grandpa reindeer had "recently retired due to a hip injury caused by years of salsa dancing and, in desperate need of a hobby, chose knitting."

Other characters are entertaining too, like the ever-blushing Rudy, and the highest-ranking officer at the Reindeer Flying Academy, Commander Blitsen, who is female and a bit of a mess, but at least she can laugh at herself.  I did feel that it was a bit of a missed opportunity with Blitsen (as a female in a power position), but hopefully she will be less bumbling and more commanding in the next book in the series. Also, I will be interested to see how the bullying issues are addressed in future books – there was a convenient, but only temporary, solution in The Flying Reindeer Academy.

Other than a few errors that need cleaning up to make it top-notch (run-ons and comma errors), the book was an absolute delight to read, and I would highly recommend it for young chapter book readers.  I am looking forward to the next two installments (The Phantom Carrot Snatcher and Rudi’s Birthday Extravaganza are both already out) and would love to see these books come available in print format. Thank you to the author for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give. 

About the author, by the author:  I was born in Hounslow, Middlesex in the south of England. As a child, I loved drawing and took private art classes with a beautiful teacher called, Pearl Lee. She had an abundance of Disney magazines, and I would paint the characters on wood, card, canvas or anything else I was allowed to use, including walls. 

After Sixth Form College, I intended to go to art school, but my travel bug got the better of me, and I chose to work as a holiday representative in Greece instead. This was followed by seven years working on cruise ships, two years in Israel and Palestine, and six years in Russia and Armenia. Although I lapped up the different cultures, I found my work over the years very unfulfilling. I decided to dig out my Caran d’Arche pencils, and do something about it!

I enrolled in The College of Cartoon Art and was mentored by the renowned caricaturist, Steve Chadburn. I created a character called Ronaldo and decided to write a short story about him. Before I knew it, my head was spinning with ideas and the first book, The Reindeer Flying Academy, went from a small picture book into a fully blown chapter book … but more importantly, I loved every minute of the writing and illustrating process.

Nowadays, I live in Bali, Indonesia, with my amazing partner, Mark (Bristol born and bred).  I am still a self-confessed Disney geek and get excited as a five-year-old whenever a new Disney animated film comes out. I love the Disney theme parks and have visited Orlando, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo – California and Shanghai are next on my bucket list.

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RELATED:

Ronaldo, Book 2

Ronaldo, Book 3