Creative Writing Resource for Budding Authors
Books In Sync Announces Mystery Crime Author Sylvia Dickey Smith
Author’s Bio: Sylvia Dickey Smith’s creative writing focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of middle-aged and older women finding their way and developing a strong identity of their own. Her stories delve into social issues and often point out the tragedies that pious religion and bigotry can wrack on our society. She also allows that there can be good even in the people who are perceived as being narrow-minded zealots.
Her best-selling debut novel, Dance on His Grave, won writing contests before it even reached publication. In it, her protagonist Sidra Smart is no young babe dashing about in a flashy car and solving mysteries between manicures. She's the fifty year old ex-wife of a preacher who left him and his guilt-and-fear-based religion to find herself. Now, with the death of her brother she's inherited a detective agency called the Third Eye and that puts her in the position of working as a private investigator. Smith’s fiction embraces the possibility of help from spirits beyond this world without hitting the skeptical reader over the head with it. She skillfully employs humor to delight her readers and create memorable characters. View all of the author's books.
Smith brings Southeast Texas to life spotlighting the marvelous melting pot of Cajun, Creole, Scots-Irish, African-American, and Dutch descendants who live and work there today. She brings small town America to life with colorful characters and the rich history of the area, along with the delicious food indigenous to that part of the country. View the Spun Fun Area to catch a glimpse of the lighter side of Sylvia.
Born in Orange, Texas, she grew up in a society where women had few options other than the patriarchal, traditional roles ascribed by men and spent the first half of her life bound by those roles. At mid-life her dogged determination to expand that world for herself and others led her attend university for the first time. Five years later she had earned a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology. She holds licenses as a professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, working in that field for several years before taking early retirement. Shortly thereafter she found her passion and her voice in the written word. In 2008 she co-founded the Georgetown Library Writers College in Georgetown, Texas and is on staff teaching writing and marketing classes. She organized the Williamson County Coroners, a critique group that supports and aids other writers. She has written several short stories and essays for anthologies such as A Death in Texas, and The Story That Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation. She is a member of the Writers' League of Texas, and serves as president of the Heart of Texas chapter of Sisters in Crime. She is the proud mother of Jim, Jon Mark, Anissa, and Russell, and is married to William M. Smith, Colonel, U. S. Army (Ret.).
Dead Wreckoning by Sylvia Dickey Smith
Book Three In The Sidra Smart Series:
Sidra Smart's search for an elusive schooner stirs up ruthless smugglers and the spirits of Privateer Jean Lafitte and Pirate Queen Mary Anne Radcliff. Newly licensed private investigator Sidra Smart reluctantly takes on the pro-bono case of Boo Murphy, a poor, countrified woman accused of murder. When Boo tells her tale of stumbling on the Hotspur, half-buried in a Texas swamp, everyone is convinced she's found treasure worth millions. As Sidra searches for both the schooner and evidence to clear her client, she battles an unknown enemy, and soon discovers they know their business much better than she knows hers. After several close calls, not only does Sid question her own abilities, she discovers her trusted mentor George Léger is involved in illegal activities that threatens not only their friendship, but also their lives. Even Slider, her half-paranoid, half Chesapeake Bay retriever battles demons from his past as the investigation takes Sidra back to familiar small town territory. Complicated family histories dating back centuries and feuding family relationships muddy the clues and the truth seems as elusive as the spectral schooner. When all seems lost, eighteenth century spirits of infamous Jean Lafitte and voluptuous, swashbuckling pirate-queen Mary Anne Radcliff show up to offer Sid assistance.
Book Review:
Dead Wreckoning by Sylvia Dickey Smith
Dead Wreckoning is the third book in the Sidra Smart series. Author Sylvia Dickey Smith describes and develops her protagonist so well, that those who have not read the prequels will quickly feel as though the private investigator is an old friend.
It is a time for fresh starts. Sidra has just received her P.I. licence and is ready to take on cases without the assistance of her friend and mentor, George Léger. After 30 years in a stifling marriage to a pastor, Sidra is newly divorced and recently engaged to her adoring boyfriend. She has inherited her late brother’s detective agency and is rebuilding her office after a firebombing.
A former client, Durwood, visits Sidra and presents a potential case. Durwood’s friend, Boo Murphy, has been accused of murdering her cousin’s husband, a man named Zeke. Boo has a history with Zeke, as she once fired her gun in his direction. With the climbing costs of rebuilding her office, Sidra has no plans to take on a pro-bono case. Nevertheless, the plight of Boo, the cantankerous senior, catches Sidra’s interest. Especially when Boo recounts a fantastic story about seeing an old, lost pirate ship in a Texas swamp and climbing aboard the once sunken vessel. The sheriff doesn’t care about pirate treasure or lost ships…he is out to catch a murderer and is certain Boo is the killer.
In her quest to clear Boo of homicide, Sidra must find the lost schooner. Along the way, she uncovers evidence that her mentor George Léger is involved in illegal activities, as well as centuries-old family clan wars, smugglers and the spirit image of eighteenth century pirate queen, Mary Anne Radcliff, aboard a ghost ship. Throw in narrow escapes after several attempts on her life and you have an exciting, page-turning thriller.
Many modern mystery writers use brutal violence, sex, and coarse language to hold readers’ interest. Sylvia Dickey Smith has no need for such. She keeps us captivated from beginning to end with her unique humour, knowledge of South East Texas and its history, well-drawn characters, ample conflict, and dialogue realistically suited to her setting. She has penned an entertaining and satisfying read that is sure to keep her fans happy, while undoubtedly gaining her many new admirers. I highly recommend Dead Wreckoning and I look forward to reading more from this author.
L & L Dreamspell (March 11, 2009)
978-1603181389
The prequels: Dance On His Grave and Deadly Sins-Deadly Secrets
By William R. Potter for Reader’s Choice Reviews
Book Details:
Publication Date: March 11, 2009
Price: $16.95
Publisher: L & L Dreamspell
Pages: 252
Format: Paperback
Size: 8.5 x 5.5
ISBN-10: 1603181385
ISBN-13: 978-1603181389
Genre: Mystery/Crime
Print Price: $16.95
Kindle Edition: $4.79
E-Book: $5.99
Purchase Links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Wreckoning-Sylvia-Dickey-Smith/dp/160318...
Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dead-Wreckoning/Sylvia-Dickey-Smit...
Katy Budget Books
E-Book:
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook84273.htm
Other Books In The Sidra Smart Series - by Sylvia Dickey Smith:
Dance On His Grave - Book One
Deadly Sins-Deadly Secrets – Book Two
Sassy Southern Classy Cajun Cooking
Author’s Website:
http://www.sylviadickeysmith.com/index.html
Author’s Blog:
http://sylviadickeysmith.blogspot.com/
Author’s Email:
sds@suddenlink.net
Sylvia Dickey Smith Author’s Page On Books In Sync:
http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/smithsylvadickey.html
Submitted by Theodocia McLean
Owner of Books In Sync
Website: http://www.booksinsync.com
Submission Date: December 16, 2009
Her best-selling debut novel, Dance on His Grave, won writing contests before it even reached publication. In it, her protagonist Sidra Smart is no young babe dashing about in a flashy car and solving mysteries between manicures. She's the fifty year old ex-wife of a preacher who left him and his guilt-and-fear-based religion to find herself. Now, with the death of her brother she's inherited a detective agency called the Third Eye and that puts her in the position of working as a private investigator. Smith’s fiction embraces the possibility of help from spirits beyond this world without hitting the skeptical reader over the head with it. She skillfully employs humor to delight her readers and create memorable characters. View all of the author's books.
Smith brings Southeast Texas to life spotlighting the marvelous melting pot of Cajun, Creole, Scots-Irish, African-American, and Dutch descendants who live and work there today. She brings small town America to life with colorful characters and the rich history of the area, along with the delicious food indigenous to that part of the country. View the Spun Fun Area to catch a glimpse of the lighter side of Sylvia.
Born in Orange, Texas, she grew up in a society where women had few options other than the patriarchal, traditional roles ascribed by men and spent the first half of her life bound by those roles. At mid-life her dogged determination to expand that world for herself and others led her attend university for the first time. Five years later she had earned a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology. She holds licenses as a professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, working in that field for several years before taking early retirement. Shortly thereafter she found her passion and her voice in the written word. In 2008 she co-founded the Georgetown Library Writers College in Georgetown, Texas and is on staff teaching writing and marketing classes. She organized the Williamson County Coroners, a critique group that supports and aids other writers. She has written several short stories and essays for anthologies such as A Death in Texas, and The Story That Must Be Told: True Tales of Transformation. She is a member of the Writers' League of Texas, and serves as president of the Heart of Texas chapter of Sisters in Crime. She is the proud mother of Jim, Jon Mark, Anissa, and Russell, and is married to William M. Smith, Colonel, U. S. Army (Ret.).
Dead Wreckoning by Sylvia Dickey Smith
Book Three In The Sidra Smart Series:
Sidra Smart's search for an elusive schooner stirs up ruthless smugglers and the spirits of Privateer Jean Lafitte and Pirate Queen Mary Anne Radcliff. Newly licensed private investigator Sidra Smart reluctantly takes on the pro-bono case of Boo Murphy, a poor, countrified woman accused of murder. When Boo tells her tale of stumbling on the Hotspur, half-buried in a Texas swamp, everyone is convinced she's found treasure worth millions. As Sidra searches for both the schooner and evidence to clear her client, she battles an unknown enemy, and soon discovers they know their business much better than she knows hers. After several close calls, not only does Sid question her own abilities, she discovers her trusted mentor George Léger is involved in illegal activities that threatens not only their friendship, but also their lives. Even Slider, her half-paranoid, half Chesapeake Bay retriever battles demons from his past as the investigation takes Sidra back to familiar small town territory. Complicated family histories dating back centuries and feuding family relationships muddy the clues and the truth seems as elusive as the spectral schooner. When all seems lost, eighteenth century spirits of infamous Jean Lafitte and voluptuous, swashbuckling pirate-queen Mary Anne Radcliff show up to offer Sid assistance.
Book Review:
Dead Wreckoning by Sylvia Dickey Smith
Dead Wreckoning is the third book in the Sidra Smart series. Author Sylvia Dickey Smith describes and develops her protagonist so well, that those who have not read the prequels will quickly feel as though the private investigator is an old friend.
It is a time for fresh starts. Sidra has just received her P.I. licence and is ready to take on cases without the assistance of her friend and mentor, George Léger. After 30 years in a stifling marriage to a pastor, Sidra is newly divorced and recently engaged to her adoring boyfriend. She has inherited her late brother’s detective agency and is rebuilding her office after a firebombing.
A former client, Durwood, visits Sidra and presents a potential case. Durwood’s friend, Boo Murphy, has been accused of murdering her cousin’s husband, a man named Zeke. Boo has a history with Zeke, as she once fired her gun in his direction. With the climbing costs of rebuilding her office, Sidra has no plans to take on a pro-bono case. Nevertheless, the plight of Boo, the cantankerous senior, catches Sidra’s interest. Especially when Boo recounts a fantastic story about seeing an old, lost pirate ship in a Texas swamp and climbing aboard the once sunken vessel. The sheriff doesn’t care about pirate treasure or lost ships…he is out to catch a murderer and is certain Boo is the killer.
In her quest to clear Boo of homicide, Sidra must find the lost schooner. Along the way, she uncovers evidence that her mentor George Léger is involved in illegal activities, as well as centuries-old family clan wars, smugglers and the spirit image of eighteenth century pirate queen, Mary Anne Radcliff, aboard a ghost ship. Throw in narrow escapes after several attempts on her life and you have an exciting, page-turning thriller.
Many modern mystery writers use brutal violence, sex, and coarse language to hold readers’ interest. Sylvia Dickey Smith has no need for such. She keeps us captivated from beginning to end with her unique humour, knowledge of South East Texas and its history, well-drawn characters, ample conflict, and dialogue realistically suited to her setting. She has penned an entertaining and satisfying read that is sure to keep her fans happy, while undoubtedly gaining her many new admirers. I highly recommend Dead Wreckoning and I look forward to reading more from this author.
L & L Dreamspell (March 11, 2009)
978-1603181389
The prequels: Dance On His Grave and Deadly Sins-Deadly Secrets
By William R. Potter for Reader’s Choice Reviews
Book Details:
Publication Date: March 11, 2009
Price: $16.95
Publisher: L & L Dreamspell
Pages: 252
Format: Paperback
Size: 8.5 x 5.5
ISBN-10: 1603181385
ISBN-13: 978-1603181389
Genre: Mystery/Crime
Print Price: $16.95
Kindle Edition: $4.79
E-Book: $5.99
Purchase Links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Wreckoning-Sylvia-Dickey-Smith/dp/160318...
Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dead-Wreckoning/Sylvia-Dickey-Smit...
Katy Budget Books
E-Book:
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook84273.htm
Other Books In The Sidra Smart Series - by Sylvia Dickey Smith:
Dance On His Grave - Book One
Deadly Sins-Deadly Secrets – Book Two
Sassy Southern Classy Cajun Cooking
Author’s Website:
http://www.sylviadickeysmith.com/index.html
Author’s Blog:
http://sylviadickeysmith.blogspot.com/
Author’s Email:
sds@suddenlink.net
Sylvia Dickey Smith Author’s Page On Books In Sync:
http://www.booksinsync.com/authordirectory/smithsylvadickey.html
Submitted by Theodocia McLean
Owner of Books In Sync
Website: http://www.booksinsync.com
Submission Date: December 16, 2009
Tags: Books, Cajun, Classy, Cooking, Crime, Dance, Dead, Deadly, Dickey, Grave
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