A Southern Country Novel Series Books 1-3: Boxed Set: Happy Valley, Mississippi Gambler, Mississippi Bluff

Happy Valley
A year ago, Jo Preston was released and sent home from a mental institution. She has only vague memories of why she had been committed. Circumstances beyond her control will cause those memories to surface, one by one.
A tragedy, brought on by deceit, leaves her heartbroken and rejected. She is sent away to live with some rather peculiar relatives. Her fear of being institutionalized again has her desperate to keep her past hidden, but how long can she keep it a secret when her imagination begins playing tricks on her... or is it? A voice from her past resurfaces, as well as the man who wants her secret to die with her.
This is a story about a young girl's heartbreak, rejection, fear, faith, and determination.
Happy Valley is the first in the series of A Southern Country Novel.

Mississippi Gambler
When Jo Preston Lane was nineteen, she left home thinking that was the answer to her problem, but now, four years later, she must return, and who she has to face is the least of her problems. To protect her family, she must keep all that she discovered five months ago a secret. She has little time to prepare for her great escape before her worst nightmare catches up with her. She can’t afford to trust anyone, as her life truly depends on it. Not the police or the FBI.
Mississippi Gambler is the second in the series of A Southern Country Novel.

Mississippi Bluff
A Mississippi Bluff is a Texas Hold ’Em poker strategy, seventy-five percent bluffing and twenty-five percent odds. Jo Lane doesn’t gamble on anything but love and her life. In the past, gambling on love has been a no-win for her. However, she’ll have to bluff her way out to win the latest game on her life.
With a deranged clown and a contract assassin after her, the odds don’t look good for the young Special Agent Lane. The clown is seeking revenge—but for whom? The contract assassin is desperate to get his hands on something in Jo’s lost airline luggage. The assassin plans to take her out of the picture as soon as he gets his hands on it—but who hired him?
Sam Hunter is new in town. He’s looking for his missing young niece, April, and requests Jo’s help in finding her. After much thought, she agrees to try to tap into her God-given ability to locate April. The more she digs into April’s history, the more confused Jo becomes. Something isn’t adding up—but what?
Jo’s love life takes a toll on her emotions, leaving her heartbroken. After she’s made up her mind that she’s through with the game of love, a new player sits down at the table, and he’s all in. Is she willing to take the risk and bet it all, or will she fold and walk away?
The stakes are high in Mississippi Bluff, the third book in A Southern Country Novel series.

Available on Amazon for Kindle Apps

Mississippi Bluff, A Southern Country Novel 3rd in Series.

A Mississippi Bluff is a Texas Hold ’Em poker strategy, seventy-five percent bluffing and twenty-five percent odds. Jo Lane doesn’t gamble on anything but love and her life. In the past, gambling on love has been a no-win for her. However, she’ll have to bluff her way out to win the latest game on her life.

With a deranged clown and a contract assassin after her, the odds don’t look good for the young Special Agent Lane. The clown is seeking revenge—but for whom? The contract assassin is desperate to get his hands on something in Jo’s lost airline luggage. The assassin plans to take her out of the picture as soon as he gets his hands on it—but who hired him?

Sam Hunter is new in town. He’s looking for his missing young niece, April, and requests Jo’s help in finding her. After much thought, she agrees to try to tap into her God-given ability to locate April. The more she digs into April’s history, the more confused Jo becomes. Something isn’t adding up—but what?

Jo’s love life takes a toll on her emotions, leaving her heartbroken. After she’s made up her mind that she’s through with the game of love, a new player sits down at the table, and he’s all in. Is she willing to take the risk and bet it all, or will she fold and walk away?

The stakes are high in Mississippi Bluff, the third book in A Southern Country Novel series.

Mississippi Bluff Available at Amazon 

Ghost in a Small Town (An Entering Southern Country Novel) 2nd in the Trilogy

 The second in the trilogy of An Entering southern Country Novel is now available on Amazon.

 The folks of Cypress, Mississippi are unnerved when the ghost of Avery Carson appears not long after her car is found abandoned on Crow River Bridge. Laurel County Sheriff Cal Rayburn and his deputies set out to find the missing woman’s body, but what they discover is the woman’s sister is missing too. What could have happened to the sisters to persuade them to take their own lives? Or did they? As evidence is collected, doubts arise concerning the sisters’ demise. Was the sheriff’s department investigating a double suicide or a double homicide?
Deputy Travis Velardi is new to the sheriff’s department. He has moved on with his life after a bad relationship a year ago. Determined not to be deceived again, Travis keeps a tight lock on his heart. Mara Soriano unintentionally picks that lock and turns Travis’ life upside down, but Mara has no intention of starting a relationship with anyone, especially Travis.
The sheriff assigns Deputy Velardi second in charge on the case. With Mara on his mind, Avery Carson’s ghost wreaking havoc in town, and the investigation leading him in every direction, he’s uncertain that he’s the man for the job.
To what end will one go for fame and fortune?
What mystery does the shallow grave in the woods hold?
Who is the mysterious woman in the cabin by the lake?
Just when Travis thinks he has it figured out, he’s led down another dead-end road.
Ghost in a Small Town is the second in the trilogy of An Entering Southern Country Novel. It’s a story about lies, corruption, and murder.

Ghost in a Small Town

Goodreads Book Giveaway Famous in a Small Town (An Entering Southern Country Novel)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Famous in a Small Town

by Diana Anderson

Giveaway begins Friday, April 18, 2014 and ends Sunday, May 18, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

  I'm giving away five autographed copies of Famous in a Small Town (An Entering Southern Country Novel) the first in the trilogy. Famous in a Small Town is a dark, southern, mystery thriller.
Check my Goodreads profile for the book trailer. Sample pages can be read on Amazon.
Happy reading!

Famous in a Small Town
The quiet town of Cypress, Mississippi is turned upside down when a former citizen, Raven Sawyer, returns for a funeral. Raven’s fictional novel goes viral when the town folk realize that she’s the author, and soon they’re thinking that her book is not fiction but truth. Every little dirty detail is revealed in her book and has the people of Cypress wagging their tongues and shaking their heads at a few of the upper-class citizens and—the Sheriff. All Raven wants is to get through the funeral and go back to New York, but Sheriff Cal Rayburn can’t allow her to leave after she discovers and turns over evidence that may be connected to a double homicide that he’s investigating. At least, that’s the excuse he’s giving her, and he’ll go to any length to keep her in Cypress until he can make her believe that the affair, that she thinks he had six years ago, never happened. When more dead bodies turn up, Cal feels they’re connected to the double homicide, but with the evidence he has, he can’t make a connection. He’s left with more questions than answers. He’s told that Raven’s novel may have answers to questions that could help with his investigation, but what it reveals is more than what he wants to know.
Famous in a Small Town is book one of An Entering Southern Country Novel trilogy. It has murder, lies, fiction, and truth—and more twists and turns than the back roads of northwestern Mississippi. Enter at your own risk.

Remember When

 

Remember When

The latest attack on Thera Logan's life wasn’t the first one and won’t be the last. Someone wants her dead, but until she realizes that these attacks aren’t just random acts of violence or mere coincidences, she leaves herself wide-open.

After her divorce from Nolan Logan, she decides to move from Seattle, Washington back to her hometown of Tahlequah, Oklahoma to live with her father and try to start a new life. She is surprised to find her old childhood sweetheart, Caleb Sutherland, has moved back home too.  

Old sparks fly until Caleb starts asking too many questions, and then the mystery surrounding Caleb’s return coinciding with hers draws her suspicion. Caleb is determined to get answers to pertinent questions that he feels only Thera can answer, and he’ll go to any length to get them . . . even deception.

He’s not the only one asking too many questions. Her ex-husband pops in for unexpected visits, wants to reconcile, and is being far too inquisitive.

Confusion fogs Thera’s world. What does Caleb really want? Why the sudden interest from Nolan? And who is stalking her? What does she possess that is more important to someone than her own life?

Her fears and suspicions of Caleb and Nolan’s annoying persistence to reconcile put her into flight mode, but fleeing will only set into motion a deadly rollercoaster ride leading up to an event that leaves her totally helpless. Her only way back is to remember when. 

Amazon.com Remember When 

Famous in a Small Town Book Trailer

"Famous in a Small Town" Book Trailer is now on YouTube. Special thanks to MELTDOWN for supplying the music "Raven's Flight". You guys rock!

Famous in a Small Town ~ An Entering Southern Country Novel

Famous in a Small Town

Famous in a Small Town

An Entering Southern Country Novel

  

The quiet town of Cypress, Mississippi is turned upside down when a former citizen, Raven Sawyer, returns for a funeral. Raven’s fictional novel goes viral when the town folk realize that she’s the author, and soon they’re thinking that her book is not fiction but truth. Every little dirty detail is revealed in her book and has the people of Cypress wagging their tongues and shaking their heads at a few of the upper-class citizens and—the Sheriff.

All Raven wants is to get through the funeral and go back to New York, but Sheriff Cal Rayburn can’t allow her to leave after she discovers and turns over evidence that may be connected to a double homicide that he’s investigating. At least, that’s the excuse he’s giving her, and he’ll go to any length to keep her in Cypress until he can make her believe that the affair, that she thinks he had six years ago, never happened.

When more dead bodies turn up, Cal feels they’re connected to the double homicide, but with the evidence he has, he can’t make a connection. He’s left with more questions than answers. He’s told that Raven’s novel may have answers to questions that could help with his investigation, but what it reveals is more than what he wants to know.

Famous in a Small Town is book one of An Entering Southern Country Novel. It has murder, lies, fiction, and truth—and more twists and turns than the back roads of northwestern Mississippi.
Enter at your own risk.

 

Faded Rose Book Trailer

Happy Valley (A Southern Country Novel)

Josephine Preston was released and sent home from a mental institution. She has only vague memories of why she had been committed. Circumstances beyond her control will cause those memories to surface, one by one.
A tragedy, brought on by deceit, leaves her heartbroken and rejected. Jo is sent away to live with some rather peculiar relatives. Her fear of being institutionalized again has her desperate to keep her past hidden, but how long can she keep it a secret when her imagination begins playing tricks on her... or is it? A voice from her past resurfaces as well as the man who wants her secret to die with her.
This is a story about a young girl's heartbreak, rejection, fear, faith, and determination.
Happy Valley is the first in the series of A Southern Country Novel.

To read a sample or download follow the link below. Happy reading!
Happy Valley @ Amazon 

The Next Big Thing ~ Author Diana Anderson

The Next Big Thing is a questionnaire going around the author community. Jennifer Brink tagged me, after talking about her book Cerulean Seas, T​​​he Jessica Hart Series. Participants answer, and then tag five more authors to participate. Tags at the bottom. Also, you'll find guest authors' questions and answers below. Please check out their websites.

What is the working title of your next book?
I’m working on Remember When. I have three on the back burner, Famous in a Small Town, Sundown Gossip, and waiting to be titled is the third in the series of A Southern Country Novel.
(update) Famous in a Small Town got bumped up in the ranks of which novel is next and is available at Amazon.com).
​​
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Remember When began when I sat down at my laptop and typed the first thing that came to mind. I never know where I’m going with it at first. I start off with a mystery that I have to figure out as I go. My main character is always at the end of her rope in the beginning, in dire straits in the middle, and hanging by a thread near the end.

What genre does your book fall under?
Remember When, Entering Southern Country, and Sundown Gossip are Mystery/Thriller/Romance/Southern Gothic. A Southern Country Novel series are all Mystery/Thriller/Humor/Southern Gothic.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Are we talking major motion picture?

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Remember When ~ Disappointment from a miscarriage and divorce, Thera Logan decides to move back to her hometown of Tahlequah, Oklahoma and start a new life, but before she can catch her flight out of Seattle, an event takes place that puts her life in jeopardy, and it won't be the last of these events.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Self-published

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
One month for Remember When, one week for A Vanilla Christmas (Novella), three months each for Happy Valley (1st in the series of A Southern Country Novel) and Mississippi Gambler, and Faded Rose, six months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I like to write similar to what I like to read. I’m a Harlan Coben, Lee Child, John Grisham, Janet Evanovich, and Sandra Brown fan. To be as good as these listed authors would be a dream come true.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I’m a restless daydreamer in need of adventure.

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
Dark mystery, thriller, drama, humor, southern settings, southern characters, surprise, romance, murder, sexual tension, and a few very unusual characters thrown in the mix.


Please check out the author links below.
Wayne Zurl ~ http://www.waynezurlbooks.net/
Barbara Boswell Brunner ~ http://www.dogmathebook.com/
D. A. & S. F. Swem ~ http://www.voldamar.com/Voldamar_Blog/
 

Faded Rose

Rose Daniels is ready for a change. Her decision to divorce after twelve years of a failed marriage gives her a short moment of hope for her and her son's future, but Mother Nature throws a wrench in her plans and so does the Hughes County Sheriff when he arrests her for the murder of a local woman. She's lost so much already, but she could lose more... her son and her life.

Faded Rose is now available for Kindle and in paperback.

Faded Rose

Happy Valley (A Southern Country Novel)

Paperbacks for both are coming soon. So stay tuned.

Blurb for Happy Valley:
A year ago, Jo Preston was released and sent home from a mental institution. She has only vague memories of why she had been committed. Circumstances beyond her control will cause those memories to surface, one by one.
A tragedy, brought on by deceit, leaves her heartbroken and rejected. She is sent away to live with some rather peculiar relatives. Her fear of being institutionalized again has her desperate to keep her past hidden, but how long can she keep it a secret when her imagination begins playing tricks on her... or is it? A voice from her past resurfaces as well as the man who wants her secret to die with her.
This is a story about a young girl's heartbreak, rejection, fear, faith, and determination.

Blurb for Mississippi Gambler:

When Jo Preston Lane was nineteen, she left home thinking that was the answer to her problem, but now, four years later, she must return and who she has to face is the least of her problems. To protect her family, she must keep all she has discovered five months ago a secret. She has little time to prepare for her great escape before her worst nightmare catches up with her. She can’t afford to trust anyone, as her life truly depends on it. Not the police or the FBI.

Happy Valley (A Southern Country Novel)

Well, back to editing my next novel.

Happy Valley

At first, I was skeptical about putting my novel on Amazon.com, but I've sold several and have had some good reviews. The reviews are from people I don't know.  My friends are still reading my novel and I'm waiting for their feedback.
Happy Valley A Southern Country Novel is the first in the series. The story is mainly based in Northwest Mississippi.  Happy Valley is a mystery with humor.
"Jo Preston could write a book on survival. Her titles could be: How to Survive Five Years in a Mental Institution, How to Cheat Death, How to Overcome Heartbreak and Rejection, How to Live With Crazy Relatives, or How to Run From a Serial Killer. Yes, she could write a book... if she survives all of the above."

http://www.amazon.com/Diana-Anderson/e/B008FU5U66/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

If you read my novel, please leave a review at Amazon.com.  Thanks!

My Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diana-Anderson/432120250141271

Now that I've told you about my novel, let me tell you about where I live.  Although I was born and raised in Oklahoma, I've lived in this area of Mississippi since 1979.  My husband and I moved to the country in 2006.  Being raised a farm girl, I was long over-do and ready for the move.
A sign over our driveway reads, "God's Country" and it is a taste of heaven on earth.  I love having my morning coffee on the patio.  I'm never alone.  Many mornings, deer walk between our yard and the woods that surround our home.  Casey, our Jack Russell Terrier, is more interested in the squirrels and lizards though.  We have chickens, which is more of a hobby as most are pets.  However, fresh eggs are good.  We keep a bird feeder in view of our kitchen window as well as hummingbird feeders.  I love watching the blue buntings and have managed to get a few photos of the skittish little creatures.  We have a creek down below our home and when we get a good rain, you can hear the rushing water.  At night, the whippoorwill sing, tree frogs croak, and crickets chirp.  We are so far away from the city that the night skies are lit up with stars, like diamonds on black velvet.  I remember the first few nights after we moved in.  I couldn't sleep because it was so quiet. Now, sleep is wonderful.
Life is good here out in this neck of the woods.  I wouldn't have it any other way.