Dubbed The Masked Kidnapper, a mystery novel and sequel to The Missing Five, is available online at Amazon.com.
Fans, Family, and Friends,
The author’s goal is to sell as many books as possible on release day, Friday, December 5.
In order to reach that goal, every purchaser’s name will be entered in a contest to win a Kindle 6″ HD Display, Wi-Fi, Front and Rear Cameras, 8 GB.
Contest Rules
The author hopes you help her reach this goal.
Dubbed The Masked Kidnapper will make a great holiday gift and is wonderful for stocking stuffers. Buy one for all your friends, co-workers, and family. (REMEMBER: the more books purchased, the higher your chance is to win a Kindle HD 6).
The winner should receive the Kindle 6 HD the week of December 15, in time for the holidays.
Thank you and good luck to everyone.
Dear Fans of The Missing Five:
Author Gwen Pegram is excited about her newest novel, Dubbed The Masked Kidnapper
.
The author’s goal is to sell as many books as possible on release day, Friday, December 5.
In order to reach that goal, every purchaser’s name will be entered in a contest to win a Kindle 6″ HD Display, Wi-Fi, Front and Rear Cameras, 8 GB.
Contest Rules
The author hopes you help her reach her goal.
Dubbed The Masked Kidnapper makes great holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Buy one for all your friends, coworkers, and family. (REMEMBER: the more books purchased, the higher your chance is to win a Kindle HD 6).
The winner should receive the Kindle 6 HD the week of December 15, in time for the holidays.
Thank you and good luck to everyone.
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
If Jackie Trumpleton was anything, wearing the mask of a victim, pun intended, was not in her exhaustive repertoire. She had forgotten that minor detail momentarily as the cab bored down Interstate 95 South from the Arlington Detention Facility to her residence in Old Town Occoquan, where she anticipated reveling in some quiet time. She had obviously overlooked another detail, which wasn’t so inconsequential, as the taxi turned left on Mill Street from Gordon Boulevard and then right onto Poplar Lane.
At eight o’clock in the morning, a crowd lined the streets. Men, women, children, and even babies in strollers and carriers looked as if they were expecting the Macy’s Day Parade or maybe even the funeral of a celebrity. It took Jackie several minutes to realize the gathering was reserved in her honor, or dishonor. The gawkers were out in full force, stationed since five in the morning to stake their spot, to see what had caused the pandemonium on the 128-square-foot acres of their quaint town.
As the cab drove by Ebenezer Baptist Church on the right, Jackie could have sworn as they passed the big white house on the left with a wraparound porch, an elderly black man sitting in a rocking chair with the largest dog she had ever seen in her life laying at his feet, mouthed the words “we forgive you,” which contradicted the glares from the majority of white onlookers.
I invite all book lovers to come out early to the Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 17th, 10am–6pm held in Old Towne Gaithersburg at the City Hall Grounds. There’s something for everyone.
The Festival has quickly become one of the nation’s top literary events, attracting hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors, poets, and songwriters from across the country. And it’s FREE!
Join the camaraderie and be a part of the hottest literary event in the region for a celebration of books, writers, and literary excellence. Please spread the word!
Join Paul Stankus, GBF Committee Member, and poet, short story writer, and author of three books, as he leads off the festival by introducing three local rising stars who are mystery and suspense authors: E.A. Aymar, Steve Piacente, and Gwen Pegram.
Gwen Pegram is a featured author and invites you to a reading of excerpts from her debut novel, The Missing Five, at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion at 10:35am and the signing of her book thereafter.
We hope to see you at this wonderful literary event.
The Gaithersburg Book Festival offers free parking and shuttle service.
Page Turners DMV Book Club member, Laura Farrio, invited local Author Gwen Pegram to discuss her debut novel, The Missing Five. The Book Club met at Bonefish Grill in Woodbridge, VA, on February 22.
Denise opened up the discussion with a statement, followed by a question. “I’m an avid reader and I have never read a book with a plot line like this. How did you come up with the plot?”
Response: “I’m from a small town and when I moved to DC in the 70s, everything was new, different, weird. All my senses were on high alert and I was affected by everything I saw, heard, touched, smelled, and tasted. (Sorry, I won’t provide spoilers). I knew one day I wanted to capture that experience in a fictional tale–an embellished accounting from my point of view.
“Will there be a sequel?” Sylvia asked.
Response: “Yes. I am writing the sequel as we speak with a publication date of October 2014. Also, I’ve decided to present a third book of the ‘Jackie Trumpleton Novel’ completing the trilogy by mid-to-late 2015.”
“I love the cover,” Dawn said.
Response: “Thank you. I created the cover myself. Years ago while visiting New Orleans, I purchased a beautiful mask by Tom Finn, which I wanted to use on the cover. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the artist to acquire permission. Then, I met with a photographer, showed her the mask, and described what I wanted but she could not capture the essence of what I was looking for. So, I searched istockphoto.com and found the photo that I felt captured the soul of the book. I taught myself the software in order to create the cover.
“How did you come up with the title, The Missing Five?
Response: It wasn’t easy. At first, I was going to name the novel, Jacqueline Ophelia Antoinette Trumpleton, the protagonist’s name. After creating the cover, and seeing the title on the spine, I thought, no one’s going to buy my book. It doesn’t give an inkling of what the book is about. I played with several names and out of nowhere, The Jackson Five popped into my head. That’s how The Missing Five was born.
Question to club members from Author: “Did you think there was too much sex?”
“No,” Denise exclaimed. The members agreed the sex scenes were tastefully done.
This was the author’s first book discussion. “It was wonderful getting together with a group of women on a Saturday afternoon to discuss my book. I enjoyed the camaraderie and look forward to doing it again.”
Participants who joined the book discussion (from left to right: Dawn, Sylvia, Pearl, Olivia, Laura, Gwen, Miriam, and Denise).
If you are interested in having Author Gwen Pegram do a book reading, book signing, or book discussion, please send an email to gwenpegrampublishing@gmail.com.
The next Book Reading is at Serengeti Gallery and Cultural Institute, 7919 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD, on Saturday, March 22, from 2:30pm – 4:00pm (adults only). Hope to see you there.
The Missing Five is available in paperback at Amazon.com and can be downloaded to any eReader at Smashwords.com.
Customer Review on Amazon.com
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling read, February 13, 2014
By Bibliophile Book Reviews (Philadelphia) – See all my reviews
This was a thrilling read by Gwen Pegram and after careful consideration, I decided to give it 5/5 stars. This is a well-written, carefully plotted novel that mystified me. I simply couldn’t put it down. Pegram takes a plot and makes it seem so realistic and life like that it gives you shivers. Fantastic job, Gwen! I look forward to reading more of your work.
The Missing Five can be purchased in paperback from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and many other online bookstores. An eBook is also available and can be downloaded to any eReader from Smashwords.com.
The Author Reads an Excerpt from The Missing FiveYou could hear the thunderous male guffaw before the elevator doors fully opened on the sixth floor of the Arlington police department. It was as if Lieutenant Neathers and Sergeant Gable were entering the final inning of a baseball game that had exceeded three extra innings. The closer the men got to their cubicles, the louder the sound escalated.
The station was no different from any other police station throughout the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) metropolitan area. Cheap desk, cheap chairs, cheap carpet, and the stench of week-old coffee. The one saving grace in this particular station was the camaraderie amongst the blues. They got along and enjoyed working with one another. A code of ethics wasn’t needed to tell them to watch each other’s back. It was a foregone conclusion that they would, no matter the sacrifice.
The sergeant and lieutenant heard this mirth many times before, but on this occasion it sounded entirely different. Something was happening that was downright hilarious and they wanted to see what the commotion was all about. As they turned the corner, they bumped into a rookie who was doubled over, gasping for air. He tried to say hello but no words came forth.
The lieutenant looked over at the captain and noticed that he had lost composure too. He was chuckling so hard that fluids exited his body. Tears squirted from his eyes, snot ran from his nose, and saliva sprayed from his lips. The captain removed a vile looking handkerchief from his back pocket and dabbed it all over his face.
The only female, Detective Lindon, refused to participate in this belly laughing. She was the most composed and acted the most civil. But, the hilarity of the circumstances had become contagious and she could not escape it. She squirmed out of her chair and walked with her legs tightly crossed to the ladies room, praying she would make it before she peed in her pants.
“What’s so funny?” Neathers asked.
There was so much ruckus that the officers didn’t notice or hear him. It didn’t seem like the cachinnation would ever subside.
“Hey guys,” Neathers repeated louder over the uproar. “What’s so damn funny?”
Everyone looked toward Neathers and Gable. It took a moment before anyone could respond intelligently. “Well, give it up,” he said.
“Okay lieutenant, okay. You’re not going to believe this one,” Officer Cooper said. “We got this call from a Clyde Hariston and his wife claiming that he was abducted two weeks ago, held against his wishes in this mansion, and get this, raped by an unknown assailant.”
Gable eyes opened wide, not comprehending. “He was raped by a man!”
This caused another outburst, but this time at Gable.
“No, no,” Cooper said, shaking his head. “A woman.”
Stay tuned for Episode 7 Teaser. Get immersed in this mystery by purchasing The Missing Five, which is available in paperback via Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, and by download on any eReader via Smashwords.com for only $1.98 until February 5 using coupon code KR76Y.
Please leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, or Barnes and Noble letting Gwen know your feedback on her debut novel. Thank you.
 | Preview of “Du… on Preview of “Dubbed The M… |
 | Anonymous on Goodreads Giveaway |
 | amanda on Goodreads Giveaway |
 | Geraldine on Do You Own an eReader? Yes, No… |
 | bagladyboutique on When Oprah Calls … |
A continuing mission to produce flash fiction stories in 300 words (or less)
Small fish, big ocean.
For lovers of reading, crime writing, crime fiction
story lovers unite
A books, movies, and more blog from the staff at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main.
Howdy! We're the largest independent bookstore in Texas. This is our blog.
Night Thoughts of a Literary Agent
Writing & Publishing, e-Books & Book Marketing
I read these books and you could too?
Live life as though someone will write a book about it, which will one day been reviewed!
Gwen Pegram, Author 