Month: February 2023

Posted in Reviews

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Merriweather Post by Allison Pataki

Posted on by Debbie

*****5 stars

This historical fiction account of Marjorie Merriweather Post’s life is both an absorbing and fascinating read. I gave it an extra star because I attended Long Island University on the C.W. Post campus and am familiar with Hillwood Commons and the Hutton House lectures, all of which I now know the stories behind.

This book was an eye opener about Marjorie Merriweather Post, the cereal magnet’s daughter, who married four times, built several homes across the country with her fortune, lived through two wars, traveled to Russia during Stalin’s reign, was friends with many famous people, and generously gave of her money and time by volunteering for different causes.

The story was told well, although I found it meandered in certain parts, but that might have been because I prefer other faster-moving genres such as mysteries. In any case, the author did a wonderful job bringing Ms. Post to life and the time in which she lived. If you’re a historical fiction fan or one who enjoys reading biographies, you’ll like this book. It’s also recommended for Post students and graduates who might want to learn more behind the woman who once lived at their school.

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Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Series, Interview

Interview of Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Bakeries and Buffoonery, the Fourth Magical Mystery Book Club Cozy Mystery

Posted on by Debbie

Today, I’m interviewing one of my favorite cozy mystery authors, Elizabeth Pantley from Washington state.

Welcome, Elizabeth. How long have you been published? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

I’ve been writing parenting books for over twenty years with McGraw Hill, and am the author of twelve popular parenting books, available in twenty-seven languages, including the best-selling No-Cry Solution series. I began writing cozy mysteries when my youngest graduated from college and now have published ten mystery books in two different series: Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic, and the Magical Mystery Book Club.

Interesting. I haven’t read any of your parenting books, but I love both your cozy mystery series. Please tell us a little bit about them.

I have two magical cozy mystery series. The six-book collection for Destiny Falls, and the four available books for Magical Mystery Book Club. I’m now writing a novella for the book club series that will be part of an anthology – along with a dozen other prolific, well-known para-cozy authors! I’ll be sharing info about that soon in my newsletter.

 That sounds great. Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

I’ve found my rhythm writing these books, and four new ones per year is a schedule I can work with. I set out to write two books per year, so I’m chugging along at twice my goal! These books are so much fun they almost write themselves!

Wow! That’s wonderful. I know that feeling with my own two cozy series, the Cobble Cove and Buttercup Bend mysteries. It’s amazing how plots seem to come together, almost like magic, and how characters can lead stories forward.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract?  Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

I write for anyone who enjoys a lighthearted cozy mystery with main characters you’d love to be friends with. I would say my style is more along the lines of magical realism. The worlds in my books are ones you recognize and aren’t so different from yours – except that a vampire, shifter, or fairy lives in your town!

I love that. It makes your books so much fun.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

I think Stephen King said it best. He said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” I suggest you read every day from the genre you wish to write in. Pick highly rated books with enthusiastic reviews. Then write, even if it’s not fantastic from page one, it will get better with practice.

 Excellent advice.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

My path has been different from most because I wrote non-fiction for over twenty years. When I switched to fiction, I found it to be a whole new ballgame! I had to learn so much, it was a major pivot in my writing career. I did it one step at a time. But I’m getting the hang of it!

I think you’re doing terrific.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I am a member of Sisters in Crime – which provides an amazing amount of support and camaraderie. I’m also a member of several Facebook writing groups so daily doses of friendship and support.

I’m also a member of Sisters in Crime. It’s a great group.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I enjoy the wide outdoors. Hiking in nature is my favorite non-work activity. My four adult kids are hikers, climbers, and mountaineers – so I’m always getting an invitation to try something new!

Nice.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

What I love most is creating fun experience for my readers – taking them away to another world for a grand adventure. I love reading reviews!!! I’ve been lucky that the vast majority are very positive, and those bring me great joy. I have an entire Wall of Fame in my office with all my favorite reviews posted!

My toughest challenge is handling all the marketing and administration. It takes a lot of time away from writing, but it’s critical to getting my books out to the world, so it’s time that must be taken.

I think most writers feel the same way about the business side of writing. I really like your idea of a Wall of Fame. It sounds like a perfect way to keep inspired.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

Oh, my gosh! Absolutely everything! Writing stories, reading reviews, meeting my readers! It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my work life.

It’s such a good thing to love what you do.

Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?

Of course! I would be happy to! Here’s a snippet from Bakeries and Buffoonery!

CHAPTER 1

A rhythmic tapping on the wall started somewhere near the front door. It moved down the hall toward us, and then Frank, our dashing Siamese library cat, burst into the room with the swagger he was so good at. The tapping continued, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor in a pulsating beat. He started to shimmy his shoulders and hum a tune. As if that wasn’t odd enough, he began to rap.

“Book club day is here.

Adventure, do you dare?

Tell me where we’re goin’

But I don’t really care.

Dead bodies they are waitin’

For some investigatin’

Lead the waaay—”

He looked up and stopped mid-rap, his extended claw in the air. He saw me and Glo sitting at the counter. His entire demeanor drooped.

“Seriously?” he grumbled. “That spectacular entrance and only two of you are here to witness it? What a complete and total waste of talent.”

“You could always go outside and wait. Come back when more of the group has gathered,” I suggested, taking a relaxed sip of my tea.

“Nah. The freshness is lost.” He jumped up onto the counter. “How about you make up for it by brewing me a pot of coffee?”

“What exactly are we making up for?” asked Glo, her brows lifted in question.

“Your lack of enthusiasm. Your inability to appreciate the art. Your failure to acknowledge the artist.”

“I won’t admit to any of that, but I can make you a pot of coffee,” I said.

“Thank you, Paige.” He took a deep breath, sat down, and settled in to begin grooming his tail.

“I’m happy to see that you’re so excited for book club day.” I took out a small bowl and a container of my favorite creamer, the one I knew he loved, too. I held up the bottle toward him. “You know this stuff isn’t good for you, right?”

“And yet it’s good for you?” His whiskers twitched. He walked across the counter, leaned over to look at the bottle and squinted at the label. “Corn syrup, mal-toe-dextrin, mono-digly-cerides, carra-gee-nan—”

“Yes, yes. I’m aware of the ingredients, but I don’t care to be reminded of them. I like the front label better: Caramel Cinnamon Cream.”

“But I don’t see caramel, cinnamon, or cream on this label, Miss Paige-o-paper. You told me you shouldn’t eat things you can’t pronounce.”

“And you could learn to keep those kinds of thoughts to yourself, because frankly I don’t give a—”

Glo snickered, then covered it with a cough.

“Do you want this delicious caramel cinnamon creamer in your coffee or not?” I asked the cat.

“Did I ever say I didn’t? Load me up, girl!”

What a great excerpt. Thanks for sharing. I just love Frank, the talking cat you created. He reminds me of my library cat, Sneaky who is also Siamese but only talks currently to the other pets in my book but has his own blog where he actually interviewed Frank. Their interview can be found here: https://wp.me/p7XcB0-1dZ

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?

Every book in the Magical Mystery Book Club series can be read as a standalone, but it’s more fun to read them in order, so you can learn how the book club was created and meet the characters as they appear in the stories.

Excellent. That’s the same way with my two series. I try to include enough back story, so people aren’t lost, but it’s always better to read them in order if possible.

 Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc.

SERIES LINKS

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB5R43N1

Goodreads: Magical Mystery Book Club:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/345907-magical-mystery-book-club

Goodreads: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic
https://www.goodreads.com/series/302365-destiny-falls-mystery-magic

Website:  https://www.nocrysolution.com/books/
Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.nocrysolution.com/mailing-list/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinyFallsMysteryandMagic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinyfallsmystery/
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-pantley

International Amazon Links:

CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BB5R43N1
UK  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BB5R43N1

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BB5R43N1

Thanks so much for the interview, Elizabeth. I’m sharing your blog tour for Bakeries and Buffoonery.


Bakeries and Buffoonery: Magical Mystery Book Club
by Elizabeth Pantley

About Bakeries and Buffoonery


Bakeries and Buffoonery: Magical Mystery Book Club
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Small Midwestern Town
Independently Published (February 15, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BLLCTKCM

It’s a magical book club! When this group chooses a book, magic happens. The mystery comes to life, and they find themselves part of the story. To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

This time, the club chooses a book called The Great Cake Rivalry, because, well … cake! They read the back cover and it’s unanimous. So off they go into another grand adventure into a town aptly named Frosting.

Frosting is a rural town in an idyllic setting. The people live quiet lives most of the year. But in the spring, things change. The Annual Cake Competition becomes the focus of every man, woman, and child. They take this competition seriously. The cakes are spectacular. The festival is fabulous. For a week there are contests featuring all kinds of cakes. The people of the community become official tasters and vote for the winning cakes in each category.

The grand finale is a display of finely decorated cakes, made by the town’s bakeries. The winner of the best design receives a prize package that would make any baker dizzy.

Sadly, this event has been tainted. Once a year, each one different, but all somehow related to this event, a person is murdered. The main investigator is stumped, but that could be because he’s an inept buffoon.

Can the book club help the people of this community figure out who is causing this disturbing pattern of deaths, and stop another murder from happening? Can they figure out why some of the citizens dress so oddly, and why they always wear those unique backpacks? All while they fill themselves to the brim with cake, of course.

About Elizabeth Pantley

Elizabeth Pantley is the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents, published in over twenty languages.

She simultaneously writes the well-loved Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the new Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest, the gorgeous inspiration for the setting in many of her books. Visit her and sign up for her newsletter at www.nocrysolution.com

Author Links

Website: https://www.nocrysolution.com/books/
Newsletter Sign-up: https://www.nocrysolution.com/mailing-list/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinyFallsMysteryandMagic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinyfallsmystery/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-pantley

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 20 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – I’m Into Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 23 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 24 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 25 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 26 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 27 – Elza Reads – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 28 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

March 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 2 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

March 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Posted in Blog Tour, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones by Heather Weidner

Posted on by Debbie


Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
by Heather Weidner

About Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones:
A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Virginia
Level Best Books (January 17, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 277 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BS9ZN3DG
GoodReads Link – Coming Soon

When a beat-up suitcase full of bones washes up by the pier, the residents of the quaint resort town of Mermaid Bay are whipped into a hurricane-sized frenzy over the gruesome find in the middle of their Christmas in July festivities. The holly jolly mood retreats like the tide with everyone wondering who was in the suitcase.

Christmas shoppe owner, Jade Hicks, wades into the fracas when voodoo dolls and mysterious notes and posters about impending doom start popping up all over town, threatening to destroy the economy of a community that lives and dies by tourist dollars. Then tensions crest when the prickly bookstore owner is found strangled to death with a string of holiday lights.

Jade and her French bulldog Chloe, have to solve the crime before anyone else gets hurt and her business and the festival are forever tainted.
Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is the first in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries cozy series.

Six Things I Learned from My Dogs

By Heather Weidner, Author of STICKS AND STONES AND A BAG OF BONES

All of my cozy mysteries have fuzzy sidekicks. In my latest, STICKS AND STONES AND A BAG OF BONES, Chloe, the French Bulldog helps Jade Hicks run her Christmas Shoppe. Chloe thinks she’s in charge, but Neville, the Devil Cat, the store’s mouser knows better.

My husband and I share our house with a pair of Jack Russell Terriers, Disney and Riley. Life at my house is always an adventure. The Pair of Jacks have two settings, warp speed or sleep.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my fuzzy friends…

  1. Live in the now. Today is what’s important. The past and future don’t matter as much.
  2. Play hard. Life can’t be all work. Everything is a game to a Jack.
  3. Nap when you need to. You need to recharge every once in a while.
  4. Don’t waste a beautiful day inside. Go outside and have fun.
  5. Bark if you need to, but not too much.
  6. Wag and make friends. Relationships are important.

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is the first in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries cozy series. Jade and the gang will also appear in Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir (2024) and A Tisket A Tasket, Not Another Casket (2025).

Disney Dog

Riley “helping” with the editing

Chloe, the French Bulldog

Neville the Devil Cat

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Sisters in Crime – Chessie, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Author Links

Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner

Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-weidner-0064b233?trk=hp-identity-name

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heather_weidner_author

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBjyB0zz-M1DaM-rU1bXGA?view_as=subscriber

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 15 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 16 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 17 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 20 – I’m Into Books – REVIEW, RECIPE

February 21 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 22 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

February 23 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 25 – The Book Decoder – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 25 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 26 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 28 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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Posted in retirement

Debbie’s Retirement Life, Week 8 : Day 57, 2/17/23

Posted on by Debbie

It’s hard to believe it’s been two months since I retired. This is my February blog post about my post-retirement adventures.

Yesterday was sad because it would’ve been my mother’s 95th birthday. She’s been gone for five years. The temperatures here rose unseasonably into the high 60s. She would’ve loved it.

On a brighter note, my daughter passed her road test, and she’s been driving with me in my car to get more practice before driving on her own.

As I continue my decluttering project, I donated ten boxes of books to the Book Fairies, but I’ve also found several more boxes of books in my garage, and there are still more in my house.

On February 8, I participated in a lively discussion of The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah at my library’s book club. (Read my review here: https://wp.me/p6m4z7-3Pm). While historical fiction isn’t my favorite genre, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

I also read Megan Goldin’s forthcoming release, Dark Corners. (Review: https://wp.me/p6m4z7-3PB). I liked this book, too, but it wasn’t as good as Stay Awake, (Review: https://wp.me/p6m4z7-3zw), the first book I read by this author.

Besides reading, I also attended virtual exercise classes and a music webinar on Motown given by Vinnie Bruno. I really enjoyed his presentation on the Bee Gees and found this one also good. The best part for me was when he discussed the Supremes and played some of their music. My cat, Hermione, however, was partial to Stevie Wonder.

Last night, I also attended Bruno’s presentation on Billy Joel. I was interested in it because Joel grew up in my hometown, I was born on his birthday, and my brothers knew him when they were young. Bruno’s presentation was very informative, as usual. The music was also great, although I preferred the earlier pieces he played.

Aso this month, I had the first of two deep cleanings with my periodontist. It was my first deep cleaning, so I was apprehensive about it, but it wasn’t bad at all. The worst part was the shots. I didn’t stay numb much longer afterwards and didn’t have any pain.

Last week, I went for bloodwork and am going today for an echocardiogram because I’ve been having dizziness and palpations. These aren’t brand new symptoms for me, and my doctor doesn’t think they’re anything serious. I’ve already received the blood test results. My cholesterol has actual gone down, which is good news, but I have some other areas outside the normal range. My doctor said they aren’t connected with my symptoms and should improve if I lose some of the weight I’ve gained. I plan to start doing that before my April physical when I’ll be retested.

I was approved as a substitute at my library, so I’ll be filling in, when needed, on a few nights and weekends.

I’m also making good progress on my third Buttercup Bend Cozy Mystery, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian. I’m on Chapter 22, page 128. Below is another unedited excerpt from this book. In this scene, Cathy goes with Chris and his granddaughter Sheri to meet Lulu, the llama.

Chris parked the car by the house. Sheri didn’t wait for him to help her down. She excitedly ran ahead. Chris chuckled. “I like to see her so happy.” Cathy wondered at that comment if he meant Sheri wasn’t usually happy. Was the girl’s sadness caused by her grandmother’s recent death or the conflict Cathy had overheard between her parents?

Sheri was already at the llama pen’s gate. “Hold up, honey!” Chris exclaimed, as he and Cathy approached. Cathy noticed that there were smaller animals in the pen with the llamas. She recalled Mildred’s explanation of the differences between llamas and alpacas. As they caught up with Sheri, Chris said, “We keep the female alpacas and llamas together unless we’re breeding them, of course. You’ll notice the size difference. Sheri grew up with them, but when we have school visits, they frighten some kids by how large they are. Full-grown llamas can weigh up to 500 pounds.”

“Wow!” Cathy said. “Where’s Lulu? How can you tell them apart?”

“Lulu wears a pink ribbon.”

Sheri was hopping from one foot to the other as if ready to jump the fence. “Can we go in now, Grandpa?”

Chris opened the gate. “Go ahead. You might want to make a stop in the barn to get hay later if you want to feed her.”

“She’s munching on the grass,” Sheri pointed out. Cathy watched as the young girl ran to the llama wearing a pink ribbon. She counted five other llamas in the pen and nearly twice that of alpacas.

“You can pet one if you want. They’re quite gentle,” Chris said. Sheri was already petting Lulu. The llama regarded her with big brown eyes.

Cathy walked over to them. “This is Lulu,” Sheri introduced the llama. “Lulu, this is Miss Hastings. She’s going to be working at the farm with her mommy.”

Cathy laughed. “You can call me Cathy, Sheri. And, you, too, Lulu,” she added.

“Wanna pet her, Cathy? She’s very soft.”

“The alpacas are softer,” Chris said. “Their fiber is lighter and warmer than wool.”

Cathy found that interesting. “I don’t knit or crochet, but my grandmother does.”

Chris smiled. “You can pick up some skeins in the shop. I won’t charge ya.” He winked.

Cathy placed her hand on Lulu’s back and moved it down, as if stroking her kittens. The llama didn’t purr, but her eyes widened. “She’s friendly.”

“They all have different personalities,” Chris said. “Lulu is a sweetheart.”

“How long have you had her?”

Sheri answered. “She’s five, like me. Momma said Daddy brought her back from Peru the year I was born.”

“That’s right,” Chris said. “Lulu was just a baby or “crias,” as baby llamas are termed, when she came to the farm. Danielle was pregnant when she and Dylan visited Peru again. Danielle fell in love with Lulu, as she had Dylan, and insisted on bringing her back to Oaks Landing. It’s not easy to transport livestock back to the U.S. There are all sorts of red tape regulations, but Danielle wouldn’t go back unless Lulu came with her. She was raised here for her wool, unlike some of the South American llamas that are mostly raised as work and guard animals.”

As Sheri continued petting and talking with Lulu, Cathy stood by the gate with Chris. “Mildred said that Danielle met Dylan in Peru. Was she looking for llamas?”

Chris smiled. “Looking for llamas and found a husband. She met Dylan on her first trip there, but she’d just gone to visit some farms. According to her, it was love at first sight. Dylan handed the farm over to his brother and made plans to move to Oaks Landing.” 

“Sounds like a whirlwind romance to me.” Cathy lowered her voice, “but they don’t sound too happy now.”

“That happens with couples sometimes, but they love one another. I think there’s a lot of pressure with Betty’s condition, and Doris’ death didn’t help matters.”

###

I hope you enjoyed that excerpt form my work-in-progress. This weekend, I’m planning to go to the Camelia Festival at Planting Fields Arboretum, and Tuesday night, I’ll be reading some excerpts from my books at my church’s Fastnacht Zoom Follies that start at 7 pm. The Zoom link is found on the St. Stephen’s website, under Fastnacht Zoom Follies 2023.

Thanks for reading about my retirement adventures. I’ll post another update in March.

Posted in article, Cat Writers' Association, Cats, Writing

How and Why to Add Cats to Your Fiction Writing

Posted on by Debbie

This article appeared on the Cat Writers’ Association blog on February 9, 2023.

How and Why to Add Cats to Your Fiction Writing

by Debbie De Louise

Cats have been popular in literature for ages. Children’s books often feature them, as do cozy mysteries, and other novels. Why? Because people love cats. They can add humor and humanity to a story. With their unique purr-sonalities and mystical natures, they make purr-fect characters to write about.

Before we talk about how and why to add cats to your fiction writing, let’s look at the types of cat characters that can appear…

How and Why to Add Cats to Your Fiction Writing

4 Types of Cat Characters that Appear in Fiction Writing

1. Main Character Cats (M.C. Cats)

In Children’s books, cats are often main characters such as Puss-in-Boots, Cat in the Hat, and Pete the Cat. Cats also play starring roles in adult books, fiction as well as non-fiction. Check this Goodreads list for Books with Cats As Main Characters: 

2. Supporting Character Cats

Most cozy mysteries include a cat co-star. These cats help the main character or amateur sleuth find clues to the mystery. Examples of these felines are Midnight Louie in Carole Nelson Douglas’ series and Joe Grey from Shirley Murphy’s books. In my Cobble Cove mysteries, Sneaky the Siamese library cat assists Alicia, the librarian, solve murders in the small town of Cobble Cove.

3. Subplot Cats

There are books where cats play roles in a subplot, while not being featured as main characters or co-stars. For instance, in my book, Memory Makers, Lauren, a kidnapping investigator, rushes home from the clinical trial in which she is participating to find her missing cat, Harry. In doing so, she also locates a missing boy. The main mystery involves the clinical trial where Lauren is seeking to recall the man who kidnapped her and her sister twenty years ago and killed her sister. Her missing cat is a subplot to this mystery.

4. Cameo Cats

Cats can also make cameo appearances in books and stories when an author features the cat as a pet without any connection to a mystery or any significant role in the plot. An example of a book that I read where this happened was the popular, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. The cat appeared toward the end of the book when it served to soothe the main character, Kya, while she was in jail.

Once you decide what type of cats you want to feature in your writing, you need to decide whether they will speak or only make feline sounds. In cozy mysteries where the cat is the sleuth’s co-star, they usually help the main character locate clues with non-verbal actions. In A Stone’s Throw, the first book of my Cobble Cove mysteries, Sneaky alerts Alicia to hidden letters by scratching the box in which they’re hidden. Later in the series, Sneaky converses with his fellow pet characters but still only uses cat behavior to lead Alicia to clues.

Cobble Cove Mystery series by Debbie de Louise

How do you work cats into your plots?

I model my cat characters after my own cats. I use their antics and personalities to make them real to readers. In my first novel, Cloudy Rainbow, Floppy, who was named after my own cat, burrows himself into Dulcie’s mattress and falls asleep. When she finally finds him, she worries he’d smothered because he wasn’t moving. In a panic, she sliced through the mattress with a knife. I did the same thing when Floppy was a kitten.

In my Cobble Cove books, after I introduced KittyKai, the female cat, I gave her my own calico Hermione’s personality traits and also added some human female characteristics. KittyKai, joining Sneaky on a mission to find a killer, jumps into a woman’s bedroom and begins grooming herself on the woman’s vanity.

KittyKai and Sneaky have a love/hate relationship but, one night following a successful adventure, they walk over a moonlit bridge where fish are swimming and have a romantic encounter. In No Gravestone Unturned, when Sneaky and KittyKai are joined by Salem, the cat of a guest at the inn where KittyKai lives, the three end their story by jumping and rolling in autumn leaves. My cats are indoor cats, but if they went outdoors that was something I’m sure they’d enjoy doing.

Fictionalizing yet retaining the real actions and personalities of the cats you write about helps readers identify with their own pets and also allows them to enjoy the other elements of the story.

Posted in Reviews

Review of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

Posted on by Debbie

*Note: This book was an advanced reader’s copy from Net Galley. It will be published on August 8, 2023, and is available for pre-order on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Corners-Novel-Megan-Goldin/dp/1250280680/

****4-stars

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I loved Stay Awake but found that, although this one was a very good thriller, it wasn’t as great as that book. I guessed all the twists very early, but I enjoyed the descriptions of podcasters and social media influencers.

The story follows Rachel Krall, the popular podcaster of “Guilty or Not Guilty” a podcast that has helped wrongly accused criminals. The FB summons Rachel to Florida to meet with Terence Bailey, an inmate who has requested to see her. Bailey is due to be released shortly but was suspected of serial killings of young women which there wasn’t enough proof to convict him. They sentenced him after a minor crime in the hope that they could find evidence to tie him into the murders. However, after they admitted him, the serial killings continued, which led the FBI to believe that Bailey was working with an accomplice.

The FBI agent working the case informs Rachel that the last person to visit Bailey in prison was Maddison Logan, a social media influencer. During that visit, Bailey asked Maddison to bring him Rachel Krall. Rachel has no idea why, but the FBI needs to know because Maddison disappeared after seeing Bailey and a body is found near her trailer that is thought to be hers.

Chapters alternate between Rachel’s story and that of a strange rideshare driver with a condition that causes him to give off an unpleasant odor. Is this man somehow connected with Terence Bailey?

Against Agent Martinez’ advice to head home when more bodies turn up and Bailey leaves Rachel a threatening message before his release, Rachel does her own investigation into Maddison’s disappearance that leads her into attending a conference of social media influencers. I found this part humorous, as it showed how obsessed some people can be with social media.

There are several twists that follow along with a budding romantic relationship for Rachel, but I felt these were all obvious. I liked the book and recommend it but felt it didn’t live up to Stay Awake. If you haven’t read that, start with this one. .