Friday, October 4, 2024 - Read Previous Newsletters

Hello 'Unputdownables!'

The countdown is on! Marilyn's Secret Lipstick is nearly here, will officially launch on Tuesday, October 29th. If you haven’t already, you can still pre-order on all retail sites, plus my online bookstore with your 10% off coupon code (H2GPL0GWWU - paste in a checkout).

I’ve loved hearing all your reactions to the sneak peeks so far, and for those of you who haven’t yet checked them out, here’s your chance to catch up before release day. This is your final preview before things really heat up in October!

Sneak Peek #1

Sneak Peek #2

Sneak Peek #3

In the meantime, if you haven't yet read Outback Diamonds...
Now’s the perfect time to dive into this thrilling Australian adventure.

While Marilyn's Secret Lipstick stands alone as a completely new story, Outback Diamonds offers an entirely different kind of pulse-pounding excitement set against the harsh beauty of the Australian Outback. Plus, with its recent 20% price reduction, it's a great time to catch up on one of my most action-packed releases before you dive into Marilyn's Secret Lipstick. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, both books deliver their own unique thrill rides!

Reader Spotlight

Time for our Reader Spotlight, where I give a shout-out to one of my amazing readers and offer you the chance to enjoy your 'moment in the spotlight.' All you have to do is answer a few simple questions. Here's this week's edition!

Meet Terri!

Where you're from/hometown: Burleson, Texas, USA
Favorite book of all time: Anything "mystery" or detective
Favorite author: Mike Wells - Dick Francis - Janet Evanovich
Favorite Mike Wells Book: Lust & Money #2
Last book read: Waiting For The Night Song - Julie Carrick Dalton
Favorite reading format/place/time: Love paperback, but read ebooks as well
Fun fact: I am a podcaster on Military Broadcast Radio
Question: Do you have a vision of the character you want to write about or do you have a story line and then develop the character to suit?

Nice to meet you, Terri!

About your question, I have covered similar ground in a previous newsletter, but the specific question you asked is a little different. The short answer is I come up with the story line first and then develop the character to suit...but that's with brand new books and characters. With an established series like Lust, Money & Murder or Wild Child, the characters come first, since they already exist, and the plot has to be created to fit them.

With Marilyn's Secret Lipstick, the idea for the story first came to me while daydreaming about Giorgio Cattoretti hiding away as a fugitive in Cyprus. I began wondering what he might do for a social life while keeping a low profile. That’s when I imagined him hanging out in a tavern filled with eccentric and shady expats. In my mind, an old man named Tom appeared—he had connections to Hollywood and told tall tales, hoping to impress the group. That’s when the idea for Marilyn's Secret Lipstick struck me: what if one of Tom’s stories turned out to be not so tall after all, and there was indeed a lost lipstick that could be worth millions?

I hope that answers your question, Terri!

Thanks to those of you who have shared this newsletter with friends or family! If you know anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers, feel free to pass it along. Every new reader counts as we prepare for the big launch of Marilyn's Secret Lipstick!

Have a great week,

Mike