Wednesday, September 6, 2023

MYSTERY AUTHOR LARK O. JENSEN AKA LINDA O. JOHNSTON SETS HER NEW SERIES IN ALASKA

Today we welcome author Lark O. Jensen, AKA Linda O. Johnston. Although she writes across several genres, the one constant in her books is that they all somehow involve animals. Read more about Lark/Linda and her books at her website. 

Alaska Untamed Mysteries and More

(Including Animals Both Wild and Domestic)

 

I love animals. And I definitely love to write about them.

 

That’s why I was inspired by my most recent Alaska cruise, which has been a while ago now, to write the Alaska Untamed Mysteries.

 

Nearly all the books I write contain dogs, and the books in this series are no exception. Stacie Calder, the protagonist, is a skilled naturalist who gives tours from boats near Juneau, and she has her dog Sasha along. The name Sasha means defender, and now and then Stacie, who didn’t set out to solve murders but nevertheless does, needs her husky to defend her.

 

But Stacie’s real intent is to point out the wonderful Alaskan wildlife, including mama seals and their babies, bears, moose, wolves and more. That was what inspired me, too, to write about them--a tour off a boat into the fjord area near Juneau. I really enjoyed it. And, being me, that meant I had to write about it.

 

This series is the first time I’ve taken a pseudonym:  Lark O. Jensen. But it’s far from the first time I’ve included one or more dogs in my series. My mystery series include the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries, the Pet Rescue Mysteries, the Barkery and Biscuits Mysteries, and the Superstition Mysteries. All the protagonists have dogs, and depending on what the series is about, the stories include a lot more animals, mostly dogs but sometimes other pets like cats.

 

And then there are my current romantic suspense books including my own series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense: The Shelter of Secrets series. Yes, animals who need new homes are taken into a very special shelter--that also takes in people in trouble who need protection, although the world isn’t supposed to know that aspect of the shelter. Dogs are definitely there, as well as other animals.

 

Why do I love to write about animals, primarily dogs? Maybe I’m obsessed. I’ve loved animals since I was a child and have been owned by Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for many years. And I certainly love to read other writers’ stories that contain dogs.

 

So… bark and woof and arf. And growl and howl in my Alaska Untamed Mysteries too. Animals speak to me a lot, and I hope my readers enjoy them too.

 

Bear Witness

An Alaska Untamed Mystery, Book 1

 

No nine-to-five cubicle career will suit Stacie Calder—the naturalist much prefers working in the great outdoors. Specifically, the spacious and spectacular Alaskan wilderness, whose rugged charms she shares with sightseers on the top deck of the tour boat where she works. But one May afternoon, Stacie’s passengers see more than glittering glaciers, frolicking harbor seals, climbing bears and soaring seabirds…they also witness a man lying dead in the frigid Alaskan waters. And it seems likely that someone gave him a fatal push.

 

Stacie didn’t know the unfortunate victim, but he sure wanted to know a lot about her. He spent most of his final afternoon bombarding her with questions quite awkward to answer. And when he wasn’t in her hair, he was arguing incessantly with the boat’s beleaguered crew. Which makes for a suspect list about as long as the passenger manifest. Furthermore, as police helicopters relentlessly circle her boat in search of any clues, Stacie is shaken to find herself on that suspect list.

 

Before the tour boat reaches shore Stacie—accompanied by her beautiful blue-eyed husky, Sasha—must deduce just who sent the testy tourist tumbling into the turgid waters and have the authorities take custody. Because if she can’t, then the killer might aim a fatal ice-cold stare at Stacie.

 

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