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Life in an Opera House can be murder
"I was immediately pulled in to the glamorous world of the Metropolitan Opera House....everything about this world was wonderfully written by a true 'insider.' Because of (her violinist) background, as well as quick-witted writing, Ms. Miner has put together a very solid mystery with a cast of characters who were an absolute joy to read." -- BookPleasures.com
"You hooked me in the first few paragraphs and few authors do that to me."
-- Brian Wamsley, Author of "Bloody Big Muddy"
New! Murder In The Pit will be published in 2010 by Twilight Times Books (Twilight Times books). Look for updates at this site location.
Synopsis Sheltered young violinist Julia is traumatized when she witnesses the assassination of her mentor, a famous conductor, on the podium of the Metropolitan Opera. But it is when her best friend Sidney is indicted for the murder that Julia is forced out of her protective shell and into the dark corners and hidden hallways of the Met to find the real killer. Then, she not only discovers an opera house full of secrets, intrigue and danger but comes face to face with her own inner power.
What Critics are Saying
"Murder In The Pit is an adventure of the imagination, a play within a play...[Miner] has recreated in a fascinating operatic world a tangle of plot twists whose intricacies ultimately unravel to reveal the prose of an author who is sure of her skills." - Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Best selling author
"...Ms. Miner has put together a very solid mystery with a cast of characters who were an absolute joy to read." - Amy Lignor, Reviewer, BookPleasures.com
"I'm on Chapter 31 and can tell I will be staying up all night if that's what it takes. I MUST KNOW WHO THE KILLER IS AND WHAT THE DEVIL IS GOING ON. I could kill you myself for raising my blood pressure!...This book is beyond fantastic!" - Georgia Richardson Staggers, Author, Speaker
"A heady and exotic read ... as I'm reading I should be listening to classical music, sipping red wine, wearing silk pajamas and eating bon-bons." - Eveline Maedel
"Her words flow like wine: hypnotic, and rich to your senses." - Kimberly Hayes, Creations In Writing
"As hot as a Florentine cobblestone in July ... a treasure trove of ... authenticity ... honesty ... benediction to the human spirit -- a must read!" - Christine Hohlbaum
"Chronicles a woman’s sexual awakening with humor and wisdom." - A. Brozio-Andrews, AbsoluteWrite.com
"Adolescence is a time of exuberant passions and dreamy hope. Inevitably, it’s curbed by our parents’ suffering and crushed dreams. In her new novel, FourEver Friends, Erica Miner looks back at the lives of four girls growing up in Detroit in the early 1960s. Warm, hopeful and forlorn, the story reminds us of a time when we thought growing up was the solution for everything." - Joyce Faulkner, Author
"In the first few pages of FourEver Friends, Erica Miner manages to convey all the fears and dreams of four teenage girls negotiating their exciting new lives in high school at a time when JFK, the dynamic new president, was implementing a bold new plan for the country. The main character, Jessica, has a warmth and sincerity that makes her come alive, and her hopes for the future perfectly reflect the world around her." - Carol Pinchefsky, Writer, Editor
"A heartwarming story of dreams, love and friendship set against a vividly drawn historical backdrop of 1960s America. Teenagers and parents alike will be drawn into the story by Erica Miner’s clear and beautiful prose. The characters feel like real people - and you, the reader, get to peek into their lives and become a part of their friendship group. The characters and the story reach into your heart and nestle there, staying with you long after you turn the final page." - Dallas Woodburn, Author
"Teenage protagonists come of age in an era of precarious politics, social unrest, and racial intolerance in Erica Miner’s angst ridden tale, FourEver Friends. As we travel through the tumultuous world of 1960s youth culture, we come to realize that only love is eternal. A gripping story, beautifully penned by a woman who honors the gift of friendship." - Cynthia Brian, New York Times Best-selling Author, The Oprah of the Airwaves, Starstyle-BE THE STAR YOU ARE!
"The theme of FourEver Friends -- the teenage angst of a Jewish girl and her budding love for a German boy during America's postwar years -- is fascinating." - Mark Stuart Ellison, author of Author of Dear Mom, Dad & Ethel: World War II through the Eyes of a Radio Man
"Erica Miner's expansive experience as an eminent journaler and diarist come through loud and clear in this nostalgic--and up to date!--look at what it is to be young again." - Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning This Is the Place
* The quote, "Mystery doesn't get
ANY better than this!!!! Buy it ASAP!" is by Amy Lignor, BookPleasures.com. |
MEDIA CLIPS
Murder In The Pit"Mystery doesn't get
ANY better than this!!!!
Buy it ASAP!" *
at:
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Twilight Times Books
Filament eBookStore
In the San Diego area,
Murder In The Pit
is available at:
Warwick's Books
7812 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-0347
http://www.warwicks.com
In the San Diego area,
Murder In The Pit
is available at:
Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 302
San Diego, CA 92111
Tel. 858-268-4747
http://www.mystgalaxy.com/event/erica-miner-signs
In the Seattle, WA area,
Murder In The Pit
is available at:
Edmonds Bookshop
111 Fifth Avenue South
Edmonds, WA 98020
425-775-2789
edmondsbookshop@msn.com
http://www.edmondsbookshop.com
In the San Diego, CA area,
Murder In The Pit
is available at:
Barnes and Noble, all locations
http://www.amazon.com
Travels With My Lovers
is available at:
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
In the San Diego, CA area,
Travels With My Lovers
is available at:
The Book Works Del Mar
858-755-3735.
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An Excerpt from
"Murder In The Pit"
Still breathless from her near-disastrous encounter at the sign-in sheet, Julia headed toward the women’s locker room but stopped short when she heard raised voices coming from the direction of Abel’s dressing room. Even with the door closed, she could clearly discern the identity behind the voices and what was being said - or rather, shouted - behind the door, with its “Maestro Trudeau - Do Not Disturb” sign prominently posted.
Positioned by the door, Julia listened, becoming increasingly anxious as the voices escalated in volume.
“You son of a bitch, you said you’d leave her out of it!” Sidney yelled.
“For God’s sake, keep it down, Sid.” Abel lowered his voice. “This is a worst case scenario, I had no choice.”
Julia was aware of the personality conflict between the hotheaded Sidney and the self-assured Music Director. The ongoing clash between these two ultra important men in her life disturbed her to such a degree that she was constantly on the lookout for some insight into why they insisted upon grating on each other’s nerves.
“Over my dead body."
Hearing this from Sid, Julia gasped and leaned in closer.
“And if I find out you’ve done something stupid,” Sidney continued, “I’ll - ”
“You’ll...what?”
“I’ll write a whole new finale to your opening night!”
“The trouble with you, Sidney, is that you think you’re too damned important,” said Abel. “Let me remind you that no one is indispensable around here. “
Despite the fact that he and Sidney were both in their late forties, Abel looked far younger. Sid’s hair had gone gray years before; Abel’s stayed its perennially ash brown, with just a touch of salt-and-pepper at the temples. Perhaps he was able to maintain his youthful demeanor because of his confidence in knowing he was the king of his world - and deserved it.
“Now get the hell out of my dressing room, Sid. We’ve got a show to do.”
Just as Julia was contemplating the meaning of Sid’s last comment, the ubiquitous P.A. System made its inevitable announcement.
"Curtain for Don Carlo in fifteen minutes, ladies and gentlemen."
Julia jumped, startled, just as the door opened and she glimpsed Sid’s beet-red face. She had had no time to consider what Sid would say if he found her eavesdropping, and to her dismay, he managed to run right into her as he stormed out of the dressing room and slammed the door, breathing heavily.
“Jul, how long have you been there?” he asked suspiciously. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
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