Wendy Cartmell Author of the Sgt Major Crane Novels

Hey guys, If you've always wanted a Kindle Fire, now's your chance to win a Kindle Fire 7" HD or an Amazon gift card, compliments of The Kindle Book Review, Digital Book Today, and a whole big bunch of top-rated authors. To register for the "The Spring Break Kindle Fire Giveaway", go here http://ow.ly/jBpNv ;

No purchase necessary.

Today, I've reduced the price of all my Sgt Major Crane British military crime novels! That means all three e-books are now available for 99c/76p each, while I write book # 4 Cordon of Lies.

Just click on the book link below and you will be directed to the Amazon book page for your Country.

Steps to Heaven - can Crane save the children from slaugher?

http://www.ViewBook.at/B005U9T20A

40 Days 40 Nights - can Crane keep the athletes safe?

http:///www.viewBook.at/B006O5Q77A

Violation - can Crane stop the rapes and murders?

http://www.viewBook.at/148024905X

Happy Reading!

Imagine my amazement when I received the news that Steps to Heaven has been made e-thriller of the month for January - alongside Suart McBride and Costa nominated Benjamin Wood! The review, by R R Gordon concludes that Steps to Heaven is:

"an absorbing story, with a well-constructed plot assembled on the foundations of a strong basic theme. The characters are believable and likeable and the backdrop to the story – the army garrison – provides an interesting glimpse of life in the forces.

Producers of television shows are always looking for new detective characters and I imagine that the army investigator, Sgt Major Crane, would be right up their street. I heartily recommend Steps To Heaven to fans of crime thrillers, police procedurals and whodunnits."

My humble thanks to Mr Goron and e-thriller.

Read about all three January books at http://www.e-thriller.com/

Today I received the best present ever - a completely unsolicited 5* review from a book lover in the US for Steps to Heaven posted on Amazon.com:

Glenda A Bixler "Glenda" reviewed Steps to Heaven: A Sgt Major Crane Novel

Police Procedural With Military Twist Exciting! December 21, 2012

I'm not quite sure why, but Steps to Heaven reminded me of a Columbo cop tale--maybe because of the main character, who is brash, persistent, hard-punching and hard-hitting in terms of personality. The kind of guy that makes a great cop, but not necessarily a nice human being. Fortunately, he has some friends who will point out this latter fault from time to time. Since the author has personally been a wife and occupant of Army facilities and living, the novel allows readers to learn especially about the difficulties as a service wife.

From my perspective, since I grab a police procedure to see if I can solve the crime along with the officer, his personality is somewhat secondary to his cop characteristics. I liked him and felt comfortable seeing him take command and shoot out orders fast and steadily...

In fact, I'd say I've had a couple of bosses like him. A couple I didn't personally like, but that's ok if you can respect them, right? The ones you can't respect aren't worth talking about...LOL

The setting for the novel is the Aldershot Garrison where Sgt Major Crane is an officer in special investigations. So he was immediately called when an apparent murder/suicide happened.

A soldier who had just come back from Afghanistan had killed his wife, and then, while holding his son close in his arms, he had slit the boy's throat and then his own.

From a procedural standpoint, it soon became clear that the soldier had done it... Sgt Crane's boss wanted to close the case. But Crane asked him whether he didn't want to know why... Crane, obviously, could not rest until he did! And so he was authorized to continue the investigation exploring what might have occurred on his last stay in Afghanistan, as well as his personal and family life.

And then another murder/suicide occurred... And another...

And Crane found himself working with the Aldershot police as well as the police from two other towns. All would have thought the cases could be routinely closed until Crane forced them to see that something had to be "causing" these men to choose to do what they had.

Slowly, as a result of Crane's having found some religious pamphlets in Crooks' home that had not been noticed, he began to put together the idea that what was happening to these men had started after they were back home, and, possibly, within a church or some type of religious cult leader's influence...

Fortunately, Sgt Major Crane had no clue of who was behind this--so I didn't feel bad in not figuring it out. LOL But the author certainly had me fully involved in the "why" of these incidents and "how" it was happening. The surprise ending totally caught me off guard! I especially enjoyed the character of Padre Symonds. Once he realized what was happening, he began to research and working with Crane as closely as possible, actually getting caught up too far with the investigation? Still, I think he realized that his position required that he help in any way possible...and he did!

This debut novel is first in a series with the latest, third book just out! If you're into police procedural, I highly recommend you check out when the police have to work with the army investigators! Enjoyed it!

http://www.amazon.com/Steps-Heaven-Major-Novels-ebook/dp/B005U9T20A/

Thank you so much Glenda and I am so pleased that you enjoyed my book.

Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to one and all,

Wendy

Professor Letters needs ideas on how he and the letters of the alphabet can celebrate Christmas. Perhaps you can help? What is your favourite celebration for Christmas? Mine is the Christingle Service. This is a family get together, where carols are sung and each child has a Christingle to light. Christingles consist of an orange, representing the world. Around the orange is a red ribbon, representing the blood that Christ spilled for us. There are sweets poked in the top of the orange on four sticks. These four sticks stand for the seasons of the year and the sweets are the fruits of the earth. Lastly there is a candle pushed into the top of the orange, representing Jesus Christ as the light of the world. It is magical to see all the Christingles alight as a hymn is sung.

So, let me know what your favourite way of celebrating Christmas is, using the contact button and I’ll send you a link to a free Professor Letters eBook as a Christmas Present especially for you.

Grand Prize Giveaway!

As part of the Kid'sBooks Holiday Blog Hop we are giving away a $30 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner. You will be entered by leaving your Christmas celebration idea on this blog along with your email address and you will be in the running to win. You can enter on all of the blogs – that will give you multiple chances to win!

The Giveaway starts 12/7/12 and ends 12/10/12 at midnight.

The winner will be notified on 12/11/12 after noon. Good luck!

Click on the button to go to the other blogs!

The 3rd Sgt Major Crane novel is now available! Sgt Major Crane is unwillingly dragged into an Aldershot Police investigation after a young girl is raped and murdered, because witnesses describe the attacker as a young soldier. Can Crane stop the rapist before he strikes again, whilst simultaneously working on his own case - the repeated rape and bullying of a soldier on Aldershot Garrison?

This book deals with the sensitive issues of rape. Rape is not merely violation with a sexual reference, it is much more; it is an assault by intimate physical violence, it is extreme aggressive bullying and an act of oppression. It is a crime where the victims are often found guilty by their peers and carries a lifelong stigma.

Violation is now available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009XQDX6K

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009XQDX6K

I am proud and honoured that my first Sgt Major Crane novel Stepsto Heaven has been awarded the Indie Book of the Day winner's badge. Set on Aldershot Garrison, Crane must investigate the terrible incident of a young soldier who killed his family and then himself. Crane finds himself in a race against time to stop the maniac responsible before any more innocent children are killed.

A big shout out to all those who helped make the recent promotions of my Sgt Major Crane novels, such a great success. I am now selling more copies of Steps to Heaven and 40 Days 40 Nights than ever before. 

My Olympic themed novel 40 Days 40 Nights at it's sales peak, during the Olympic games, reached the top 2,000 on Amazon.co.uk, selling nearly 40 copies per day! Unimaginable!                                                   

Steps to Heaven is holding steady with sales of around 15 per day.

So I am very grateful to all those who either downloaded the books free or are paying hard cash for my novels. I do hope you enjoy the books and if you do, please take the time to leave a review. It really helps future sales!

Wilhelmina the Witch is hurrying home to get ready for the Halloween Ball, but an accident means she loses her broom! Will Wilhelmina find her broom, remember her spell and collect the ingredients?

This is a book for parents and children to share or as an independent reader for older children. Written by Wendy Cartmell, a former Primary School Teacher, for use in her classroom, it is now published on Kindle.

"This was an entertaining short story with an easy-going charm and great flow to it. It is never cloying, and even adults should find it a nice read." Marcia Carrington. 

Download your free copy now:

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Broom-Wilhelmina-Witch-ebook/dp/B0078DSEQ4/ US

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Broom-Wilhelmina-Witch-ebook/dp/B0078DSEQ4/ UK

To celebrate the start of London 2012 my Olympic themed Sgt Major Crane thriller is FREE for two days July 27/28.

A most innovative concept! 40 Days and 40 Nights explodes from the blocks with great pace, intrigue and a plot that leaves the hairs on the back of the neck standing on end - this is no ordinary terror threat, and, worst of all, it could actually happen John Paul Davis best selling author,TV and radio commentator.

Enter the mind of a terrorist, causing chaos on Aldershot Garrison. He wears a mask of respectability that hides his hatred of the British Army and all things western. Live through 40 days and 40 nights of turmoil as Sgt Major Crane deals with the engineered accidents, thefts and murders. Will he be able to keep Team GB safe? Or will the terrorist win?

Available from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Nights-Major-Crane-Novels-ebook/dp/B006O5Q77A/ US

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nights-Major-Crane-Novels-ebook/dp/B006O5Q77A/ UK