
Sparky #2 Sneak Peek Blurb!
Here’s the very first blurb for the upcoming “Sparky of Bunker Hill and the Cannibal Caper.” Sal Nudo, award-winning journalist and author of “The Newspaperman,” “Far From Mars,” and other works, kindly took a look at Sparky #2, and here’s what he says:
Though written for tweens and teens, the snappy writing and memorable characters of Sparky of Bunker Hill and the Cannibal Caper kept this middle-aged reader glued to the pages, wondering what sort of strife the street-savvy Sparky would find herself in next. While the dangers encountered by the young and tough Sparky are no joke, author Rosalind Barden cleverly inserts moments of humor amid the precarious situations. Sparky sees and experiences things no eleven-year-old ever should yet thrives on the danger. This action-packed caper will rouse readers to put their thinking caps on—or sailor caps, as the case may be—as the plucky girl tries to solve several curious goings-on in underground Los Angeles in the 1930s. A rollicking, layered, smart mystery that’s tons of fun!”
I am so grateful that Sal Nudo took the time to read an advance draft of Sparky #2. I am a fan of his work, and I encourage you to check out his books. Here are my BookBub reviews for:
“The Newspaperman” and “Far From Mars: Nine Creative Nonfiction Stories Featuring People and Places in Champaign-Urbana”
I’ll send you more updates on “Sparky of Bunker Hill and the Cannibal Caper” as I get them.
Interview!
Check out my interview on AllAuthor! Please click the “Interview” tab.

Strangely Funny VIII Honored!
Strangely Funny VIII has been voted by readers into the Top 10 for Best Anthology, and my short story, “Yes, You Too Can be a Vegan Vampire” has been voted into the Top 10 for Best Horror Short Story in the 2021 Critters Annual Readers Poll.
It is such an amazing experience to be honored by readers themselves!
Strangely Funny VIII, the 9th, yes, 9th in the Strangely Funny humorous horror short story series is the weirdest yet!
Ginger the Vegan Vamp beckons you to come closer, closer so she can introduce you to her plant-based life(?)style in my short story “Yes, You Too Can be a Vegan Vampire.” Recipe included!
Enjoy 18 new stories from talented authors who love to spread the insanity!
Mardi Gras Mysteries Honored!

Great news! Readers also voted Mardi Gras Mysteries into the Top 10 for Best Anthology and voted my short mystery “Mardi Gras Forever and the Bigfoot Fiasco” into the Top 10 for Best Short Story All Other category in the 2021 Critters Annual Readers Poll.
In “Mardi Gras Forever and the Bigfoot Fiasco,” Josh the Actor and maybe-detective returns for more Mardi Gras misadventures. You’ll find more short mysteries by excellent authors in the Mardi Gras Mysteries anthology, available on Kindle!
Josh the Actor first dipped his toe into crime solving in the first anthology, Mardi Gras Murder with my short mystery, “International Vogue and the Pajama Fiasco Weekend.”
Here’s a Sample of My Past Events!
