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Friday, March 20, 2020

Author Reveals Her Research Secrets ~ Win a free copy of Missing Deposits

Happy Friday, readers, Mary Ellis here. Today Suspense Sisters welcomes author, Leann Betts, who talks about her research for her newest mystery, Missing Deposits. Stay tuned for a chance to win a free copy of her book. 



The Research Behind the Story Missing Deposits by Leann Betts.

Readers—and writers, too, for that matter—often ask me why I set my stories where I do. Carly needed a road trip after her last harrowing adventure, so I chose the state I live in. Famous for its mineral deposits, I learned about Colorado mineral rights. One interesting tidbit is that ownership of oil and mineral rights doesn’t automatically transfer with the title to the land. Sometimes, unless specified, and under certain conditions, those rights stay with the previous owner. Or the government.

Then I looked for a rare, endangered animal to sweeten the pot. Something not normally found where I would put them. The details about the black-footed ferrets are mostly true. Not about the truck accident that dropped several of the critters on the western slope, but at the timing of this story, 2005, they were on the “extinct in the wild” list. Recently they were reintroduced into Colorado to control the prairie dog population.

As I do with just about every book in this series, I made up a fictional town based on a part of the state I’d recently visited and which I thought readers might like to learn more about. The Grand Mesa/Mesa Verde National Park area on the western slopes of Colorado is a world unto itself. The scenery is spectacular, the weather is iffy, but the people are warmhearted and compassionate.

I also needed a politically conservative setting, because while not exclusively so, politically conservative folks also tend to be church-goers, and I wanted both Carly and Mike to be slam-dunked into a situation where they had to re-examine their spiritual beliefs. I researched cattle brands, and chose a name for a brand I could draw. A Lazy L, in brand terms, is one that lies horizontally.

About the story Missing Deposits: Carly looks forward to a vacation when Mike is hired to assist a rancher in western Colorado catalogue his mineral rights following the discovery of several large deposits. However, Carly soon learns that the real wealth—and the real danger—aren’t below ground. Someone is out to keep a secret bigger and more profitable than gold and copper. And they’re willing to kill for it. 

About the author: Leeann Betts writes contemporary romantic suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens historical romantic suspense. Missing Deposits is the 11th title in her cozy mystery series, and together she and Donna have published more than 30 novellas and full-length novels. They ghostwrite, judge writing contests, edit, facilitate a critique group, and are members of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, and Sisters in Crime. Leeann travels extensively to research her stories, and is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary LLC.

Website: www.LeeannBetts.com Receive a free ebook just for signing up for our quarterly newsletter.
Blog: www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://bit.ly/1pQSOqV
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1qmqvB6
Books: Amazon http://amzn.to/2dHfgCE and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2z5ecP8

Leave Leeann comment, and I will draw randomly for a print copy (US only) or ebook version (winner’s choice) of Missing Deposits. You must leave your email address in order to win. 

45 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing. The facts about the black-footed ferrets was very interesting. You definitely peaked my interest with that!

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    1. Forgot to leave my email - cabinkak@gmail.com

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    2. Thank you! Good luck with the giveaway.

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  2. This definitely sounds like a page turner! Thanks for sharing!
    rw620 AT aol DOT com

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  3. This sounds really good. Thanks for the look into your thinking.
    debby236 at hotmail dot com

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  4. Interesting information on the research for "Missing Deposits". I did know about the mineral rights not always going with the sell of property. We have bought property both ways - with and without mineral rights. In fact, the property we live on did not come with the mineral rights.

    I would love the opportunity to read "Missing Deposits" which sounds fabulous. I now have it on my TBR list and is now on my "I want to read" Goodreads list. Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Hi Kay - Thank you so much for your comments! Good luck with the drawing.

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  5. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book, it sounds good!!

    wfnren at aol dot com

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    1. You're so welcome, Wendy! Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I am intrigued and would love to read it!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  7. Something more "valuable" than gold & copper? And whatever it is, challenges someone's Christian values!? YES, I want to read this book! Badawson16 at aol dot com

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  8. Ooh, sounds cool! I love how you thought of the premise!

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  9. Sounds very interesting. I would definitely like to read this book.
    elainegrace65536@yahoo.com

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  10. Looks and sounds good. Thanks for a chance to win for my mom and I. Nice meeting you as well. paralegal7@hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Lela. You're welcome. I hope you like it!

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  11. I've enjoyed reading books by Leeann Betts before, so I know I'd enjoy this one! Sounds like an interesting topic, plus I really like the cover! Would love to win a print copy! Thanks for the opportunity! Lual Krautter krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet

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    1. I'm happy to hear that you've enjoyed my books. Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. interesting info
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  13. Sounds like a must read!
    ktpoole at bellsouth dot net

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  14. Thank you for having me on your blog today!

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  15. This sounds like something I would enjoy. Blessings
    leliamae54(At)aol(dot)com

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  16. This book sounds like a good read and would enjoy. Would love to read and review paperback version of this book.
    Love the book excerpt and cover.
    Hope I win.
    My Full Name: Crystal Stewart
    My EMail: don(dot)stewart(at)zoominternet(dot)net
    Hope I Win.
    Crystal

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    1. Thank you, Crystal! Good luck!

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    2. Hi Crystal! Congratulations! You're my lucky winner of Missing Deposits by LeeAnn Betts. I will contact you privately for your mailing information. And thanks for being a Suspense Sisters reader!!

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  17. Love Colorado! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  18. This sounds really interesting!

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  19. I love it when a book lets me do some arm-chair traveling. This sounds like a great read! Thanks for your giveaway.
    Connie
    cps1950ATgmailDOTcom

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  20. It sounds like a very interesting book, very intriguing. Thank you for sharing.
    dianah7272@gmail.com

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  21. You're welcome, Diana! Thanks for posting.

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  22. Sounds like another great book Thanks for the chance to win! SARAHTAYLOR601973(at)YAHOO(dot)COM

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  23. Thank you, Sarah! Good luck in the drawing!

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  24. This sounds like a really good book!

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  25. Thanks to everyone who posted a comment a LeeAnn Betts. Crystal Stewart, you are our lucky winner of Missing Deposits. I will contact you for your mailing address privately. And thanks everyone for being readers of the Suspense Sisters!!

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