Ingredients for a Trish Esden Novel

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Favorite Reads and Rereads 2023

 Find out what books I enjoyed reading and rereading in 2023 here.

See Shepherd's 100 best books 2023 here. 

Wow! A WEALTH OF DECEPTION made The Book Decoder's 2023 list.

 

See The Book Decoder's entire list here!  

Totally Thrilled! A WEALTH OF DECEPTION makes Best Cozy 2023 list

 

A WEALTH OF DECEPTION is on Robin Agnew's (Aunt Agatha)

 list of Best Cozies 2023.

See full list here: https://bit.ly/47gdpKF

Kindle Deal: A Wealth of Deception 2.99

 Now only 2.99 (regularly 13.99)

BUY A COPY. GIFT A COPY

Book quote Wednesday word: Edge

AMAZON https://bit.ly/3G1f9f4

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3Cahaoy

Kindle Deal of the Month! A WEALTH OF DECEPTION

 Now only 2.99 (regularly 13.99)

BUY A COPY. GIFT A COPY

KOBO https://bit.ly/3CLSlhf

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3bVKQe8

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3Cahaoy

Kindle Daily Deal: THE ART OF THE DECOY

 

Step into the shoes of antique dealer Edie Brown as she uses her wiles and stubborn determination to hunt down rare treasures in farmhouse attics and country flea markets, elite art galleries and auction houses.

Gift a copy. Buy for yourself. Today only. 

Kindle Monthly Deal: A Wealth of Deception

 

Wow! Now only 2.99 (regularly 13.99)

Buy at your favorite bookshop. 

KOBO https://bit.ly/3CLSlhf

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3bVKQe8

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3Cahaoy

Release Day! Horror anthology INTO THE DARK WOOD

 Release day! Perfect Halloween read. Over 300 pages of deliciously chilling short stories by nine diverse authors, including one by me. Buy your copy now —> https://bit.ly/3s4ql7k

A Wealth of Deception (Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery #2)

 

Evidoozle. Puzzle game.

 Do you enjoy games? Evidoozle is fun, free, and THE ART OF THE DECOY is featured on their cards today!  Check it out. 

Murder We Write Podcast: Trish Esden

 I’m on Carol Goodman Kaufman’s MURDER WE WRITE podcast talking about crime writing and real life antique dealing crime, and secrets behind Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery series…

Available on Spotify and other podcast channels 

Give it a listen. https://bit.ly/44PdXFe

Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery Series. Book Club Kit!

 Excited about this new addition to my website.

Discussion questions, recipes, and behind the scenes freebies.

Check them out here!

Book Quote Wednesday!

 

 

“All I can say is WOW… a twisty plot that will keep you turning pages, The Art of the Decoy is as close to perfect as they get.”—Connie Berry, author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries.

INDIBOUND https://bit.ly/34W9Wpe

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3JqhYWE

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3HPzByv

I'm thrilled to share!

 THE ART OF THE DECOY is a finalist for 2023 Silver Falchion Award in the Best Mystery category! I'm so thrilled. Here's a link to the full list of finalists. https://bit.ly/43z9bLz

Kindle Deal of the Day!

 

INDIBOUND https://bit.ly/34W9Wpe

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3JqhYWE

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3HPzByv

Have you voted yet?

THE ART OF THE DECOY is on the ballot for Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion Readers' Choice Awards. If you have time, please vote (voting is open to anyone and easy to do). You can pick 10 favorites. Thank you! Here is a direct link to the ballot: https://killernashville.forms-db.com/view.php?id=246688

7 Tips from a Flea Market Pro

 7 Tips From a Flea Market Shopping Pro

 

Like Edie Brown, the main character in my Scandal Mountain Antiques Mystery series, I’m a fulltime antique dealer. As such, I go to a lot of flea markets in search of good deals on antiques and art. Below are my top 7 tips for flea market shopping. 

 

1.     Shop Early. Arrive an hour before the flea market officially opens. Being first in line to get into an indoor flea market means you’ll have a better chance of getting your hands on the best buys. At an outdoor flea market, you may even be able to sneak in early and get to see things as the vendors unpack—aka before the best items are gone.  

 

2.     Shop Late. If you love something but it’s priced higher than you want to pay, returning a short time before the flea market closes can give you leverage to dicker down a price. But don’t get your heart set on it still being there. Most super popular, low price, or appealing items sell before noon on the first day. 

 

3.     Cash. Cash is favored by most flea market vendors. But don’t just bring larger denominations: ones, fives, tens, and twenties are preferrable. Cash will also allow you to make a faster transaction (debit and credit card transactions can be slow at remote locations). This will allow you to buy something and quickly move on. Be sure to use precautions to keep your wallet, phone, and credit cards safe from electronic or physical theft. 

 

4.     Dicker. Dickering over prices is expected. First, if there isn’t a price tag on something you wish to purchase, don’t tell the vendor how much you’re willing to pay—make them name their price first. Once they state a price, make a reasonable but low counteroffer. They’ll counteroffer that amount. Except the price if it’s fair. If it’s not—walk away. If you change your mind, you can go back and accept or ask if they’d reconsider your offer. Also remember that some vendors have firm prices. Respect their right to not dicker. 

 

5.     Be polite. If the vendor wants to chat, then listen to their stories. If the story is about an item you’re interested in buying, then take it with a huge grain of salt. It could be a total fabrication. Don’t block booths or tables, preventing other shoppers from looking around. This is just plain rude. Don’t act like a know it all—even if your positive a vendor is wrong. People give better deals to people they like.

 

6.     Clothing and shopping bags. Wear comfortable footwear—no high heels—you’ll be walking on uneven surfaces and perhaps even in mud or soft earth. Carry a shopping bag or backpack. Bring packing materials such as newspaper if you plan on buying breakable items. Don’t assume packing supplies will be offered by vendors. If you hope to buy a lot or heavier items, then a wagon or wheeled shopping cart is a good idea. Have cardboard boxes in your car for transporting items. The benefit of cardboard over plastic is that they can be broken down and laid flat if you start to run out of space in your car. 

 

7.     Look carefully for repairs, damage, and fakes. The best rule of thumb when looking at a flea market item is to assume there is a problem. Take your time and check closely for damage and sneaky repairs. It’s not uncommon for paint or markers to be used to hide chips or scratches. Similarly, unscrupulous people have been known to use magic markers to color in threadbare areas of rugs and carpets. But don’t rely on just your eyes. Run your hands along an item’s surfaces. Do you feel any roughness that shouldn’t be there? Chips? Cracks? A piece of glassware, pottery, or china should make a sharp ‘ping’ sound when you flick it with your fingers. A dull sound indicates there is damage, even if you can’t see it without the aid of a blacklight. Another rule here is to trust your gut. If it’s telling you something’s wrong, then it probably is. Better to not buy an item than to get it home and then see that you messed up. 

 

Bonus Tip—Love at first sight is your enemy at the flea market. Falling hard and fast for something you haven’t examined yet is the easiest way to make mistakes. Sure, it’s wise to stake your claim on an item so other buyers will clearly know you found it first and are interested—but take your time while examining it and dicker the price. 

 

Have fun! I hope these tips help on your next flea market shopping trip. 

 

 

 

 

A Wealth of Deception

Some people are willing to die for their art. 

Others are willing to kill for it.

KOBO https://bit.ly/3CLSlhf

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3bVKQe8

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3Cahaoy

BOOKSHOP.ORG  https://bit.ly/46hln6k

A Wealth of Deception: Loving this Review

"Art, Scandal, and Danger Combine to Create 

this Highly Recommended Mystery"   --Fresh Fiction

READ FULL REVIEW HERE 

 

Best mystery series featuring antique dealers, plus a bonus! Read now.

 My list of best books featuring antique dealers as main characters is live on Shepherd.com! You can learn what books I chose and why HERE.

Wealth of Deception~is and is not

 

You may come across a dead body in A WEALTH OF DECEPTION, 

but the mystery centers on a piece of outsider art. 

It straddles the traditional and cozy mystery line, 

offering an antique dealing sleuth, 

moderate levels of violence and swearing.

A bit of romance without detailed intimate scenes.

The Bookish Hour -- Season 2, Episode 13: Trish Esden

Woman's World Magazine best new book of the week!

 A WEALTH OF DECEPTION is in Woman’s World Magazine! 

One of this week’s best new books. I’m totally surprised and thrilled.

A Wealth of Deception Book Birthday Celebration Tour!

 A Wealth of Deception

#ScandalMountainAntiquesMystery

Some people are willing to die for their art. 

Others are willing to kill for it.

BN https://bit.ly/3AY1KlH

Amazon https://amzn.to/3ipXG7p

Indiebound https://bit.ly/3GWp9aV

The Art of the Decoy~ Now 1.99!

 

1 Month until the release of A WEALTH OF DECEPTION.

 In celebration THE ART OF THE DECOY eBook is only 1.99!

 Buy now! 

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3JqhYWE

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3HPzByv

The Art of the Decoy

"Captivating . . . rich historical and cultural background."

--Publishers Weekly

INDIBOUND https://bit.ly/34W9Wpe

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3JqhYWE

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3HPzByv

In Person Event March 10th. Manchester, Vermont

 

If you live in the area, I'd love to have you join us.

 Liv Andersson and I will chat, then take questions, and sign books. 

It's going to be a fun evening! 

Mystery To Me bookshop event with Trish Esden, Connie Berry, Cordy Abbott, and Tracy Gardner!

 

Mystery To Me bookshop hosts: Midnight at the Antique Store. 

Learn secrets and tips from three authors writing mystery series with antique dealers and appraisers as their main characters. 

Register for this virtual event HERE.

 

Kirkus review: A Wealth of Deception

 Over the moon happy about by this Kirkus review for A Wealth of Deception--releasing April 18th. Preorder now at your favorite local or online bookseller or request from your local library 

#outsiderart #bookreview#scandalmountainantiquesmystery #mysterynovel

 

A Wealth of Deception

#ScandalMountainAntiquesMystery

Some people are willing to die for their art. 

Others are willing to kill for it.

Quote Wednesday word is: First. #BookQW

INDIBOUND https://bit.ly/34W9Wpe

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3JqhYWE

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3HPzByv

A Wealth of Deception: Publishers Weekly Review

Delighted by this Publishers Weekly review for A Wealth of Deception!  

Coming April 18th

Five Things In My Novel: The Art of the Decoy

 Learn More 

On Here

A Wealth of Deception, by Trish Esden ~Coming April 18th

A Wealth of Deception

Some people are willing to die for their art. 

Others are willing to kill for it.

Now available for preorder! 

KOBO https://bit.ly/3CLSlhf

AMAZON https://amzn.to/3bVKQe8

BARNES & NOBLE https://bit.ly/3Cahaoy

 

Poisoned Pen Bookstore Mystery Quartet

 Crooked Lane Antiques Mystery Quartet. Thursday January 26^th. Super excited for this event. Four authors—including me—writing art and antique mysteries in conversation with John Charles at the fabulous Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale Arizona. (If you love mysteries featuring antiques and art, this is a not to be missed event).

Register on The Poisoned Pen Bookstore Facebook page. https://bit.ly/3XSFwL3