Cape Cod Times Feature - Fairy tale life and historical thrillers...

                                                   Fairy tale life with a side of suspense

HOLLYWOOD TIMES THREE!

      #1    In late July, I was happy to open an email that contained this exciting news.

HONORABLE MENTION 2017 in Genre Based Fiction
"THE OLD CAPE HOLLYWOOD SECRET" 

My third suspenseful historical fiction begins in 1947. Maggie Foster and her cousin, Gertie, leave Cape Cod for Hollywoodland in search of glamour and fame. One girl returns home and the other disappears. Present-day Nancy Caldwell travels to Hollywood, where she discovers the paths of Maggie and Gertie.

In "The Old Cape Hollywood Secret," Nancy's curiosity gets her into trouble again. Along the way, a missing ring and a pearl-studded pouch are mixed in with the search. Using alternating chapters, across seventy years, the tragic stories of two young girls unfold and a murderous secret is uncovered.

      #2    In late September, I was interviewed for Books and the World at Cape Cod Media Center. Here's a link for you to enjoy.

Books and the World

     #3    On the last day of September I received a fantastic 5 star review from Readers Favorite.

Reviewed by Dr. Oliva Dsouza for Readers' Favorite

The Old Cape Hollywood Secret by Barbara Eppich Struna is an edge of your seat thrilling murder mystery. Maggie Foster and her cousin, Gertie, leave their small town of Cape Cod to seek their fortune in Hollywoodland in 1947. One of the girls disappears, never to be heard from again until Jim, in the present day, happens to dig up a body that seems to have been buried for a long time. What happened to the young girls? How did they get mixed up in a rich man's story of a precious ring and a pearl-studded pouch? Are old photographs and a few leads enough to unravel the ugly truth? Will Nancy, who is an amateur when it comes to dealing with criminals, be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together?

What an enthralling read! The Old Cape Hollywood Secret by Barbara Eppich Struna had me hanging onto every single word and page from start to finish. The shift between the past and the present day scenarios is swift, smooth, and helps the reader in connecting the dots without actually guessing the entire plot. The connections and loose ends are beautifully tied up towards the end. The story gives an insight into what greed, power, and control are all about. The story covers a period of over fifty plus years, and sends a message that no criminal can commit the perfect crime and the dead can rise again to tell their stories. All the characters are perfectly fleshed out and, hopefully, we get to read more about Nancy and Stephen's new adventures. Awesome work!     

Three wonderful surprises and I am truly grateful.    

FINDING HUGS AND TREASURES!

While you're reading this post, I'll be flying at 30,000+ feet on my way to LA and then later in the week to Southern Alaska. My beautiful children and grandchildren will be awaiting my arrival, eager to give me hugs and kisses.  After I get filled up with all their love, I often turn my attention to what others pass by and never notice.

On a visit a few years ago, we were on our way to Malibu in Southern California and stopped at a wonderful beach. In the parking lot was this huge tree. To me, it resembled a whale crashing into the water with its mouth wide open.

And at the top of this tree was the beautiful shape of a heart. I like to call these unique sightings, "aberrations of nature that resemble human or animal characteristics.

If you have read my historical novels, you know that my present day protagonist, Nancy Caldwell, loves to find extraordinary things in the ordinary. Her curiosity usually leads her into trouble. If you have heard me at any of my presentations or have talked with me, you know I tend to be as curious as she is, but hardly ever find myself in the predicaments that come across Nancy's paths. I just find inspiration.

The Old Cape Hollywood Secret

For example, in my latest, The Old Cape Hollywood Secret, Nancy Caldwell's son, Jim, moves to California to find his way in Hollywood. After he arrives, he makes a deal with his landlord to build a small patio next to his apartment in Venice Beach in trade of one month's rent. In the process of digging, he unknowingly unearths a few bones and also two clues to the possible identity of the remains. Thus begins the story.

My oldest son, Scott, did move to Venice Beach and traded a month's rent for the labor in building a patio next to his apartment, but he never found anything like Jim did in this suspenseful tale of Old Hollywood and Cape Cod in 1947 and present day.

I'm fascinated with items that are hidden by the forces of nature only to be uncovered years or centuries later.

One dark, windy, and stormy night in Juneau, Alaska last year when I was visiting the kids, we all woke to gray skies and a full tide out on Tee Harbor. My son, Tim, saw something white out on the uncovered sea floor. He walked out while we watched him from the safety of the house. The outline of his body got smaller and smaller as he went farther out across the rocky floor of the sea. He stopped, took a few pictures, picked up a five gallon pail that had blown off the deck, and returned to land.

He showed us the picture he took. The bones were about three feet long. Human or animal?
We all knew the tide always churns things up, but what was this? We talked all day about it, and in between caring for the kids, we researched online. More than likely, it was a deer. Tim, who is in the health profession, thought the pelvis was too small for a human with a leg that long and he was right, but it sure was mysterious. And what did I think? As I buttoned my sweater tighter looking out the window to the sea, I thought this could be the spark for my fourth historical fiction that will be based in Alaska and Cape Cod.

I hope you'll have an opportunity to pick up a copy of The Old Cape Hollywood Secret either online, at Struna Gallery-Brewster and Struna Gallery- Chatham, or in your local independent bookstore. Just ask for it and they'll order it for you.

Goodreads Giveaway!

ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF THE OLD CAPE HOLLYWOOD SECRET!!

 Ten signed copies of my latest novel will be awarded. Sign up at Goodreads.com It's FREE!

GOODREADS GIVEWAY     The Old Cape Hollywood Secret!

SPRING INTO A NEW BOOK!

The Old Cape Hollywood Secret

Spring has arrived and so has my latest historical fiction, The Old Cape Hollywood Secret! It's currently available online as an ebook through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBook.  Currently you can also buy the paperback online at Amazon. The novel will appear in bookstores and in my hands by the first of May 2017.

In 1947, Maggie Foster and her cousin, Gertie, leave Cape Cod for Hollywoodland in search of glamour and fame. One girl returns home and the other disappears.  Present-day Nancy Caldwell travels to Hollywood where she discovers the paths of Maggie and Gertie. In The Old Cape Hollywood Secret, a historical thriller, Nancy's curiosity gets her into trouble again. Along the way, a missing ring and pearl studded pouch are mixed in with the search. Using alternating chapters, across seventy years, the young girls stories unfold and a murderous secret is uncovered.

As usual, my research took me to Hollywood. Of course, two of my sons live in LA, which made my travels full of fun and hugs. 

Oldest son, Scott is on the left next to his beautiful wife, Carly.
Michael, youngest son is on the right.

The Pig & Whistle  Established - 1927

The Georgian Hotel - Santa Monica - 1933

Spending a few days at the Georgian Hotel was exciting and afforded me the opportunity to experience the luxury of "Old Hollywood".

From the soothing sand dunes of Cape Cod to the glamour of Hollywood, The Old Cape Hollywood Secret will take you on a nostalgic journey filled with suspense, adventure, and romance. I hope you can't stop turning the page to see what happens next.

See my current events listed under EVENTS in the top menu bar.

A Natural Love

Heart Rock – Juneau Alaska

From Alaska to California to Cape Cod, Mother Nature has left us hints of her love. If we take the time to look, we'll find simple messages of nature's love for us.

Heart tree – Santa Barbara, California

Heart Tree - Brewster, Cape Cod

Walking a path at Pamet in Truro, Cape Cod

Granddaughter Madison found this rock in Alaska.

Granddaughter Casey
found this heart rock at low tide in Juneau, Alaska.

                                          From the Land...

                                                  ...to the Sky, nature is beautiful.

Photo by my son, Michael, below you'll find his website.

Mike Struna

Outside my window is a blanket of snow...

...but I'm fortunate to be cozy inside contemplating Valentine's Day. Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms. It can be romantic, caring, or kind. I like to think that ...All you need is Love.

Happy Valentine"s Day!

Interview on Eleanor Parker's Blog – The Writing Life

Thank you Eleanor Parker for highlighting me.

Interview

Watch for another blog post coming soon!