Month: August 2023

Posted in Reviews

Review of The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Posted on by Debbie

****5 stars

I read this book for a book club and thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn’t what I expected because I seldom read historical fiction and a story about a Russian female sniper during World War II didn’t seem like something that would interest me. Nevertheless, I found it riveting. I found it hard to believe it was based on the true story of a woman named Lyudmila (Mila) Pavlichenko.

Although parts of the book were sad, the story overall was one of hope and persistence. There were also a few amusing scenes, one involving Eleanor Roosevelt and the stitching of a dress for Mila when she came to the United States after being invited to the White House as a heroine with a tally of over three-hundred kills of Hitler’s soldiers.

While the author mentions in her notes that she took a few liberties with the story, she tried to keep to the research she found from Mila’s diaries and other sources. During World War II when Germany invaded Russia, the Soviets recruited both men and women into the army, but few women served on the frontlines. The reason Mila was chosen to do so was because she’d already been trained in shooting and was adept at it. After becoming pregnant at 15 by a man who left her and her son, she was working in a library and writing her thesis when war broke out. Leaving her friends and family, she joined the cause.

The rest of the book is an absorbing read. I kept turning the pages as Mila headed a battalion, was injured several times, and fell in love with a man she couldn’t marry because her husband wouldn’t make their divorce final. As the main narrative unfolds, Mila’s U.S. tour and a danger off the battlefield is introduced.

I highly recommend this read.

Posted in pets, Special Days

Remembering Floppy and Oliver, Two Special Cats, on Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

Posted on by Debbie
Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day Logo designed by Deb Barnes

Today, August 28, is a very special day. Deb Barnes, my friend and a past president of the Cat Writers’ Association, created it to honor her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, after he crossed the bridge and for others to honor their beloved pets who are no longer with them.

Here’s an article that explains what this day is all about.

https://www.newswire.com/press-release/august-28-rainbow-bridge-remembrance-day-created-to-honor

Floppy 1992 – 2007

Floppy was the first cat that was mine alone. I grew up with cats, but it wasn’t until I married and moved out of my house that I had a cat who was my full responsibility. Previously, my mother took care of all our pets. It was a little scary bringing home a two-month-old kitten who reminded me of Benny, the gray cat I’d lost to kidney disease at a young age. I soon discovered Floppy, who I’d named after floppy disks (my husband worked with computers, and it was the early 90’s), suffered from asthma. He was put on a course of prednisone. I’m not sure if that’s what later caused his diabetes, but he developed it around seven. He received twice daily insulin injections and went off insulin for a period when he was put on a prescription diet, but, as he grew older, he went back on it and was hospitalized three times for pancreatitis and liver issues. The last time, when he was 15, we had to finally say goodbye. It was a heartbreak. In my sorrow, I wrote a book that featured him as a character in it. I originally self-published it but, years later, sold it to my publisher. The book was Cloudy Rainbow (mybook.to/CR2), a paranormal romance that contained themes of reincarnation, technology, and clairvoyance.

Me with Floppy and CLOUDY RAINBOW, the book I wrote in his memory.

I wrote a short story in 2016 called “The Path to Rainbow Bridge” that featured many of the cats I’ve loved and lost. I wrote this story before I lost my Siamese Oliver, the basis for the cat in my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, Sneaky the Library Cat. Oliver was only with me five short years because he was my mother’s pet for twelve. I brought Oliver into my home when my mother became too ill to care for him. He bonded with me and my daughter immediately and was one of the sweetest and most lovable of cats I ever had. My mother and Oliver passed away within a year of one another. They will remain in my heart forever.

For Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, I remember Floppy, Oliver, and the cats before and after them — Benny, Kitty, Little Girl, Stripey and others. My short story featured many of them. Here is an excerpt from it:

Old Tom the tabby was at the Gate. Next to him stood Shadow, a black shorthair who had been summoned while sun bathing on the Bridge. Shadow knew the reason Tom wanted to speak with him. It could mean only one thing. Another resident was arriving.

            “Sorry to disturb you,” Old Tom said. “But I’ve had orders from above that another one of Kate Stewart’s cats will be joining us. This time, it’s Sam, her Siamese. He’s had a long life and much happiness with her, but it’s his time. Please alert Kate’s other cats about the new arrival.”

            Shadow nodded his dark head. “I will be on it right away, sir. When is the welcome party scheduled?”

            “Looks like tomorrow morning around 6 a.m. Remember, it takes time for the soul to reach us.”

            “Who will be in charge of the party?” Shadow knew that, according to Bridge rules, the last cat admitted from a human’s family was the next in line to welcome the incoming resident. A year ago, when a car hit Shadow after he stupidly ran out the door.

When his human Ben came home from a doctor’s appointment, there had been no other cats in Ben’s family on the Bridge or at least none that Ben had forged the forever bond with, so Old Tom had welcomed Shadow. Now it was Shadow’s job to notify the last member of each incoming cat’s family until another first-timer was admitted.

Old Tom checked the register he held in his paws. Tom had been supervisor of the cat’s side of RB since he arrived 20 years ago because he was one of the unbonded, those pets who had either been feral, stray, or house cats who had never developed the forever bond, that special connection of heart and soul that united animal and human eternally. In Tom’s case, he had been a stray in the alleys of New York City, living a surprisingly long life of ten years for an outdoor cat.

“Kate’s Floppy was admitted a few years ago,” Tom said. “I think he’s now residing on the north cloud over the rainbow. He’s a gray and white tuxedo fellow. Kate lost him from diabetic complications. It was one of our sadder cases. She administered insulin shots to him for many years and was at his side at the vet’s when the lethal injection was given. She’d had him since he was a kitten, and he misses her dearly but is glad that she found another cat to love while he waits for her on the Bridge.”

Shadow felt a tear wet his cheek fur. He was always choked up when he heard these touching tales. “Thanks, Tom. I will find Floppy and let him know. Although this is the first party he will host, he’s attended enough to know the procedure.” Floppy had already been on the Bridge for eight years, although up there they didn’t keep track of human time.

When I wrote this story, I had no idea that the fictional Sam the Siamese would be my Oliver who passed away shortly after it was written. I was able to get my publisher to offer this story free at that time. It’s still free on Kindle Unlimited and is only $1.49 on Amazon for the eBook. If you would like to read it, I hope it gives you some comfort for the pets you’ve lost. It’s the hardest thing to say goodbye to your fur babies. I know the awful pain of their loss, but I also know the great joy they bring into your home. I adopted two kittens five years ago, Harry and Hermione, and they have filled my heart, although I will never forget Oliver or any of my other cats who came before them.

For those who haven’t read this story and might like to, it has been included in the book, A Mystery Box of Cat Tails.

Me with Harry and Hermione in 2018
Harry (2023)
Hermione (2023) with my book, MEMORIES AND MEOWS, where my past and present cats tell their stories.

Although this post is dedicated to my cats, Floppy and Oliver, I’ve also included  photos of two other cats who joined them at various times on Rainbow Bridge and a link to a post written from Rainbow Bridge by Stripey, the cat I lost last year. https://wp.me/p7XcB0-1il

Holly 1995-2003

If you’d like to post a memory of any of your cats, please comment on this blog. If you’ve read my story, I’d also love to know what you thought of it and if it helped you. Thanks also to my friend, Deb Barnes, a past President of the Cat Writers’ Association,  for creating Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. You may share your remembrance of your beloved pets on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1450055352462698.

Posted in Dogs

Guest Post: The History of Labrador Retrievers: 6 Wild Facts

Posted on by Debbie

For National Dog Day, I’m sharing a post by Emma Hutchings KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, CGC, ATT, Director of Training at Snowy Pines Labradors.

According to the American Kennel Club, Labs have dominated the #1 spot as the most popular dog breed for the past 31 years. These exceptional pups are well-known for their friendly personality, love of swimming, and high intelligence.

But there’s a lot more to Labrador Retrievers than their excellent physical and mental abilities—this breed has faced near-extinction and cemented its place in history over the past three centuries.

Dog owners, trivia buffs, and Lab lovers: Here are some lesser-known fun facts about one of the world’s most popular dog breeds, the Labrador Retriever.

Facts Regarding the Origin of the Labrador

How did the Labrador breed come to be? Their origin story might surprise you—these loveable family pets almost didn’t survive the 19th century.

While historians know some crucial facts about the birthplace of Labradors and their ancestors, some information remains a mystery.

1. Labrador Retrievers Do Not Hail From the Labrador Peninsula

If you had to make an educated guess on where the first Labrador was born, you’d probably say “the Labrador Peninsula,” a large area of land in Canada.

While many animals receive their names from the country they originated from, the Labrador Retriever is not one of them. Surprisingly, this popular breed originated in Newfoundland.

We don’t know precisely how the Labrador Retriever got its name. The first official recording of the Labrador name came from the mid-19th century when the Earl of Malmesbury discussed his beloved canine pals in a letter.

But according to his writings, the Labrador had their name before he purchased them from British breeders. So, if the Earl of Malmesbury didn’t name the Labrador, who did? Historians have a few theories about the origin of the Labrador’s name.

A village in Portugal had working dogs that looked and acted similar to the St. John’s Water Dog—one of the parental breeds of Labradors.

In Portuguese, the word for a laborer or farmer is lavradores. It’s possible that someone identified the physical similarities between the two dog breeds and bestowed the Labrador name onto the breed.

It is also possible someone misidentified the dog’s birthplace. Before the internet, information was spread by word of mouth and written correspondence. Without the world wide web, there wasn’t a clear source for fact-checking information.

Therefore, it’s plausible that someone incorrectly assumed that the Labrador Retriever or St. John’s Water Dog hailed from the Labrador Peninsula in Canada. But by the time the general public discovered the Labrador was born in Newfoundland, it was too late: The Labrador name had been well-established across the globe.

2. One of the Parental Breeds of Labradors is Extinct

If you were hoping to meet the pet parents of the beautiful Labrador Retriever breed, you’d have to travel back in time. The St. John’s Water Dog, the Lab’s ancestor, went extinct in the 1980s.

But the St. John’s Water Dog isn’t just the parent of the Labrador: This dog breed has been tied back to every Retriever breed, including Goldens, Flat-Coats, Curly-Coats, and more.

While the St. John’s Water Dog isn’t around today, its genes live on through all the beautiful, energetic, and hard-working Retriever breeds.

Image Source

According to history, we almost didn’t have the various Retriever breeds at all. Back in the 1800s, the Newfoundland government began taxing dogs heavily. The government relied on sheep farming to support their local economy, but local dogs killed many sheep.

Therefore, the government’s proposed solution was to tax dogs and limit their presence in the community. Female dogs had a higher tax rate, so many individuals opted to keep the males and eliminate the females.

Due to the high taxation on dams, the population of St. John’s Water Dogs and their offspring dwindled to abysmal levels. While efforts were made to save this breed over the 20th century, the last two St. John’s Water Dogs were males and unable to continue the purebred population. So, they went extinct.

Quirky Fun Facts about Labradors

Labradors are well known for their intelligence, but who knew this exceptional trait would land one famed pup in jail and the other in political power? Here’s the story of Pep and Bosco, two wonderful working dogs who made history for two vastly different reasons in the 1900s.

3. A Retriever was Sentenced to Life in Prison

On August 31, 1924, the Eastern State Penitentiary received a new intake that took the prison by storm: Pep, the cat-murdering prison dog. He was sent to intake, where prison staff took his picture. His crime was recorded as murder, and he was given a life sentence.

According to Penitentiary records, Pep was a black dog listed as a Scotch Retriever. However, there isn’t exactly a dog breed called Scotch Retriever. The closest Retriever breed is the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, but that doesn’t fit either—Tollers only come in various shades of red.

Given the account, it’s highly possible he was a black Labrador Retriever mislabeled as a Scotch Retriever. Either way, Pep’s presence at Eastern State would change the prison system forever.

Image Source

Pep was brought into the penitentiary to boost prisoners’ morale. So don’t fret—he didn’t actually take any feline lives. He spent two years at Eastern State before he was transferred to a nearby prison with acres of farmland. Here, he would live a long, healthy life bringing joy to the various inmates that worked alongside him.

The introduction of Pep into the prison helped establish programs like New Leash on Life, a non-profit organization that pairs individuals in the justice system with at-risk dogs to teach obedience training and provide socialization.

Programs like New Leash on Life are mutually beneficial for humans and pets alike. Caring for an animal can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and decrease feelings of loneliness.

Individuals involved in the program complete their sentences while gaining valuable life skills, marketable job experience, and knowledge about dog ownership.

Thanks to Pep, the world learned just how therapeutic pets could be!

4. A Black Lab was Voted Mayor of Sunol, California

In 1981, a small town in California declared Bosco Ramos, a Black Lab and Rottweiler mix, as town mayor. The adorable pup won by a landslide, 75 out of 120 votes, promising to give every dog a bone and establish fire hydrants on each corner.

Bosco was beloved by the people of Sunol and had a reputation for being an active presence in the community. He was often seen patrolling the streets, town parks, and the local pubs, shaking paws and receiving pets for his “good boy” attitude.

Bosco remained town mayor until his passing in 1994. After 13 years of service, the town resurrected a statue in his honor and a local pub named “Bosco’s Bones and Brews.” His joyful memory lives on through the citizens of Sunol, who fondly remember their kind and compassionate canine mayor.

Genetic Facts about Labrador Retrievers

Understanding genetic inheritance can be complicated unless you’re a scientist or a dog breeder. Labradors have two different varieties (English and American) that have notable differences in their physical appearance.

Factor in the vast array of Lab coat colors—from the typical Chocolate to the elusive Silver—and things get even more challenging.

Here are some interesting facts about the different genetic variations of the Labrador Retriever:

5. The Difference Between English and American Labs

Similar to the previous facts about Labrador Retrievers hailing from Newfoundland and not the Labrador Peninsula, the distinction between English and American Labradors does not refer to where these pups reside in the world. In fact, English and American Labs have noticeably different body types.

English Labs are popular show dogs and bred specifically for their exceptional physical qualities. These pups will be bulky, with a full face and neck. They will have a thick double-layer coat with an “otter tail” that is perfect for swimming!

The English Labrador Retriever

Alternatively, the American Labs were bred to be working dogs. Compared to their English counterparts, they will have thinner characteristics, most notably in the face, neck, and tail.

These traits made the American Labradors excel at quickly retrieving fish and small game—perfect for working alongside duck hunters and boat dock workers.

While American Labs are natural athletes, that doesn’t mean an English Lab will be a couch potato. Both variations of Lab will be high-energy dogs who need regular daily exercise.

Image Source

Modern-day labs are a popular breed commonly trained as search and rescue dogs, service pups, and guide dogs. So whichever variety Lab you choose, both variations will be highly intelligent, loveable, and eager to please.

6. Rare Colors of Labradors

As one of the most popular dog breeds, chances are you’ve met a Black, Chocolate, or Yellow Lab. But did you know that Labradors come in other colors like Red, Silver, and White?

Silver Labs are the rarest color of Labradors. These stunning dogs come from Chocolate Labradors with a recessive dilute gene that weakens the color of their brown coat. If two Chocolate Labs have the dilute gene, it’s possible that their litter of puppies could contain a Silver Labrador.

Image Source

The genetics behind Red Labradors are a bit more complex. These lab puppies are actually considered Yellow Labs with a dark red hue to their coat. The red color is due to pheomelanin, a pigment expressed through a puppy’s genetic code.

While these beautiful pups are unique, they won’t be winning Best in Show—dog show judges find their red hue to be a genetic fault.

Opposite of Red Labs, the White Lab is a dilute, pale-colored Yellow Labrador. It’s important to note that these beautiful pups are not Albino and therefore do not have a genetic disorder that comes with many health issues for dogs.

Conclusion

Who knew that Labrador Retrievers had such a wild history? From holding a political office to serving prison time, Labs have faced it all and climbed their way into hundreds of thousands of people’s hearts.

About the Author 

Emma is Certified Head of Training at Snowy Pines White Labs and has years of experience working with a variety of dog breeds, with titles on her own dogs in Therapy, Agility, and Protection. Emma is a CPDT-KA certified trainer as well as KPA CTP Karen Pryor Certified.  This is the gold standard of training certification in the US.  Her experience spans a variety of skill sets, including group training, grooming, boarding, and food research.

 

Posted in Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Honey Drop Dead, A Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs

Posted on by Debbie


Honey Drop Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery)
by Laura Childs

About Honey Drop Dead


Honey Drop Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
25th in Series
Setting – South Carolina
Berkley (August 8, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593200950
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593200957
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BLTT3TCN

The murder of a political bigwig at a Honey Bee Tea sends Theodosia Browning buzzing for answers in this latest installment
of the New York Times bestselling series.

Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.

Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.

Between hosting a Wind in the Willows Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About Laura Childs

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links: Website – Facebook

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 8 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

August 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

August 10 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW

August 11 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – The Book Diva’s Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 13 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

August 13 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 15 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

August 16 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT

August 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

August 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Blog Tour, Interview

Author Spotlight of Jackie Layton and Blog Tour for Weeding Out Lies

Posted on by Debbie

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing author Jackie Layton from Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Hi, Jackie. Nice to have you on Ruff Drafts. Please tell us how long you’ve been published and what titles and/or series you’ve published and with which publisher. Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

Bite the Dust was published in February 2020. It’s the first book in A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series.

Previously published books:

A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery Series:

Bite the Dust- Bell Bridge Books February 2020

Dog-Gone Dead- Bell Bridge Books June 2020

Bag of Bones- Bell Bridge Books October 2020

Caught and Collared- Beyond the Page February 2022

A Killer Unleashed- Beyond the Page February 2023

A Texas Flower Farmer Mystery Series:

Weeding Out Lies- Level Best Books July 11, 2023

Very nice. Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.

Weeding Out Lies was released in July by Level Best Books.

Flower farmer Emma Justice’s life is firmly rooted in Lutz, Texas where she has recently begun her new business. One morning while delivering flowers, she stumbles upon a prominent citizen. Dead. When a friend is accused of murder, Emma launches her own investigation. She’s used to separating weeds from flowers. Emma will dig for clues, weed out red herrings and cultivate a plan to find the killer.

A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series follows the adventures of Andi Grace Scott the local dog walker in Heyward Beach, South Carolina. She finds her first dead body one morning when going to walk a dog. Andi Grace has always lived in Heyward Beach, and it’s easy for her to get information from friends and family. She discovers she has a knack for solving mysteries, and it’s a good thing because more dead bodies appear in this series.

Both those series sound great. I also write two cozy mystery series; The Cobble Cove Mysteries that include six books and are published by Solstice Publishing and my new Buttercup Bend series published by Next Chapter Publishing of which I just released the third book, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian, and am working on the fourth.

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’m excited to share that I have a contract for two more books in A Texas Flower Farmer Mystery series. I also have a contract with Level Best Books for a cozy mystery series set on the coast of Georgia. Clutter Free is the first book of An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series, and it features a professional organizer as the amateur sleuth.

Also, the sixth book of A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series will come out in February, 2024. It’s the last book in the series, and there’s another dead body as well as a wedding and a family secret is revealed.

I love writing cozy mysteries and connecting with readers and other authors. I enjoy events where I can meet readers, and I have already registered for Malice 2024.

My next few years will focus on writing the books for these series. I’m excited about all of them.

Congratulations! Sounds wonderful.

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

I hope all cozy mystery readers will enjoy these series. Dog lovers should especially enjoy A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series. New dogs appear in each book, and the regulars reappear. No dog will ever die in my books. It’s too painful.

I’m not crafty. I don’t sew or knit. I’m a fair cook, but now that we’re empty nesters, I focus more on healthy food. I don’t bake many desserts these days.

The amateur sleuths are different ages, and I hope to appeal to all readers.

It seems your audience would be dog lovers, while mine would be cat lovers. However, in my new series, I focus on a new animal each month. The first focused on cats; the second parrots; and the new release focused on llamas. My next book will feature whales, and there will be a dog book at some point, although there are already two dogs in the series (two cats, too).

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

Read, read, and read more. Don’t give up and connect with other authors. Sisters in Crime is an amazing group to join if you’re interested in writing mysteries. There are many chapters to choose from, and the authors are encouraging.

I agree about Sisters in Crime. I’m a member, too. I haven’t been to Malice yet, but it’s on my conference bucket list.

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

Rejections. They hurt. Becoming published was my dream, so I kept trying. I took online classes and joined groups like Sisters in Crime. Time management was another challenge. Working as a full-time pharmacist and family commitments made it challenging to find time to write. I got up early in the morning and started writing before work. My husband has always been supportive of my desire to write. We used to joke about how happy I was when a friend asked him to golf on the weekends because I had at least four uninterrupted hours of writing.

Interesting. I’m a morning writers, too.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

Sisters in Crime, the Grand Canyon Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and the Guppy Chapter of SinC.

I belong to all of those except the Grand Canyon Chapter.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I enjoy walking, especially walking on the beach. I also enjoy gardening and taking golf cart rides around Pawleys Island.

Nice. I also enjoy walking when the weather’s nice or doing walking videos indoors. I’m not much of a gardener, but I do love visiting them.

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

I enjoy creating stories and writing. Marketing is my biggest challenge.

Same for me.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

I love the characters and the small towns of each series. It’s also fun to create mysteries that I hope readers will enjoy solving.

I feel the same way about writing cozies.

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

I hope readers enjoy my characters. They’re not perfect people, but they have big hearts for their friends and family.

I believe cozy characters (and other book characters) are one of the most important element of stories.

Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. and include some book cover graphics and author photos if possible.

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

https://www.facebook.com/JackieLaytonAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/Joyfuljel

https://twitter.com/joyfuljel

https://www.pinterest.com/jackielaytonauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/jackielaytonauthor/

AUTHOR WEBSITE:

https://jackielaytoncozyauthor.com/

BACK COVER COPY:

Flower farmer Emma Justice’s life is firmly rooted in Lutz, Texas where she has recently begun her new business. One morning while delivering flowers, she stumbles upon a prominent citizen. Dead. When a friend is accused of murder, Emma launches her own investigation. She’s used to separating weeds from flowers. Emma will dig for clues, weed out red herrings and cultivate a plan to find the killer.

Thank you so much for the interview, and best wishes on your new release and future books. I’m sharing your blog tour information below.


Weeding Out Lies: A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery
by Jackie Layton

About Weeding Out Lies


Weeding Out Lies: A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Texas
Level Best Books (July 11, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C7JT33B4

Flower farmer Emma Justice’s life is firmly rooted in Lutz, Texas where she has recently begun her new business. One morning while delivering flowers, she stumbles upon a prominent citizen. Dead. When a friend is accused of murder, Emma launches her own investigation. She’s used to separating weeds from flowers. Emma will dig for clues, weed out red herrings and cultivate a plan to find the killer.

About Jackie Layton

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her, because it might end up in a book.

Author Links

Author Website https://jackielaytoncozyauthor.com/

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

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

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/joyfuljel

Goodreads https://bit.ly/37slujv

Bookbub https://bit.ly/37RqGQ8

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 9 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 11 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 12 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

August 12 – Jane Reads -CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

August 13 – ebook addicts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 14 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

August 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

August 18 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 18 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

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Posted in libraries

Recap of The 2023 Nassau Libraries Tour

Posted on by Debbie

The Nassau Public Libraries tour began June 12 and ends today, August 12. For two months, visitors to the 58 libraries received a blue sticker placed on a map of the county’s libraries. Prizes were awarded for the 5th, 15th, 30th, 50th, and 58th stops. Certain libraries were designated as ones where the 30th and 50th prizes were distributed. Those who visited all the libraries, earned a certificate along with a chance to win a special raffle. The theme for the tour was “All Together Now.” Libraries promoted this theme with signs and events, many paying tribute to the music of the 60’s and 70’s. I especially liked the logo of two cats traveling in a car.

My daughter and I got a late start on the tour. Recently passing her road test, she was using the tour to learn how to navigate and learn the various roads around Long Island. While we didn’t earn many prizes, we had fun visiting the libraries and the nearby attractions and plan to continue visiting libraries to “check out” their individual and varied designs and offerings.

Here are some libraries we toured:

Jericho Public Library
Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library
Westbury Public Library
The Bryant Library in Roslyn
The Garden City Public Library
Bethpage Public Library

Last but not least, my home library. I’m a retired librarian who still works as a substitute there.

Hicksville Public Library (Children’s Room)

To see more details about these libraries, check out my Facebook posts for these dates: June 26; July 5; August 1; and August 9. If you participated on the tour or on any other library tour in your area, please comment about your experience.

Posted in Blog Tour, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Murder ala Mode, the first Coffee & Cream Mystery by Lena Gregory

Posted on by Debbie

Murder A La Mode (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

About Murder A La Mode


Murder A La Mode (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Gemma Halliday Publishing (August 8, 2023)
Digital – Number of Pages 230
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C2LH144G

From author Lena Gregory comes a delicious new series that will warm your heart and leave you guessing until the very end…

When twenty-five-year-old Danika Delaney, black sheep of the Delaney clan, returns home to Long Island to take over Jimmie’s, her eccentric uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island, she’s not exactly thrilled. But things start to look up when her uncle tells her she can do whatever she’d like with the shop, and it seems she might realize her dream of a small trendy café. That is, until she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend’s estranged wife in a melted puddle of rocky road in the malt shop basement. With her two sidekicks, her sister and a good childhood friend, in tow, Dani searches for–or stumbles upon—one clue after another. But as she narrows down the suspect list, she realizes if she’s not careful she may end up in a puddle of her own…

About Lena Gregory

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of Central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

GUEST POST

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lena Gregory

I love getting to know my readers, so please feel free to leave a comment letting me know a little something about you. Do you share any of my quirks?

  1. My faith and my family are the most important things in my life.
  2. I grew up on the south shore of eastern Long Island and spent most of my time attending dance classes or reading.
  3. My husband and I recently relocated from Long Island to Central Florida. We have three amazing kids, ages thirty-two, twenty-four and twelve. Yes, my little guy came as quite a very happy surprise! And I am extremely family oriented. I enjoy nothing more than spending time with my husband and kids.
  4. I absolutely love big dogs. At the moment, we have an Akita, a Weimaraner, and two Australian Shepherds.
  5. I am a master at procrastination. I don’t have a lot of writing time, but sometimes, when I do sit down to write, I just can’t seem to get going. So I tell myself there are important things I have to do before I can start writing. The first of those is usually facebook, because there might be something interesting I “need” to know. I love to chat with readers, my agent, and other authors, so I often hang out there for a bit. Then I check all of my emails, because, you know, something really important that wasn’t there five minutes ago, might be there now. And then I head for twitter. By the time I finish all of that, I’m usually hungry so, I grab a snack, then finally sit down to get started.
  6. One of my favorite things to do is take a long walk with my kids and take lots of pictures of nature.
  7. I have worked many jobs, some I loved, others not as much. I was a dance teacher and choreographer for more than twenty years. When my daughter was in high school I choreographed and co-directed several high school musicals. I also worked in a deli, which will feature in a mystery I’m currently outlining. And I cleaned houses in the Hamptons, which gave me more material than you could imagine for a future cozy mystery series.
  8. I am painfully shy. As much as I love socializing and even meeting new people, I do much better one on one than I do in a group.
  9. I started writing my first novel when I was forty-five years old—in a notebook because I’d never heard of Microsoft Word and didn’t even know how to use email.
  10. I am very high strung and rarely relax. I go from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. I talk fast, I move fast, and I always have a list a mile long of things I have to get finished in a day. Of course, I usually forget or misplace the list, so it doesn’t always help much.

Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know if you share any of those same traits.

Author Links

Purchase Links

Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo

MURDER A LA MODE TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 8 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 9 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

August 10 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

August 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 11 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

August 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 16 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 17 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 17 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

August 18 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

August 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

August 21 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

 

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Posted in Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Take the Money and Run, A Bee Keeping Mystery, by Jennie Marts

Posted on by Debbie


Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery)
by Jennie Marts

About Take the Honey and Run


Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Colorado
Crooked Lane Books (July 18, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639103074
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639103072
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BJP8RN6Q

The town is all abuzz when a murder occurs in Jennie Marts’ debut cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Amanda Flower.

As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.

A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey’s grandmother’s infamous “Honey I’m Home” hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and “smoke out” the real culprit.

With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.

About Jennie Marts

Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”

She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet who loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.

Her books range from Western romance to cozy mysteries, but they all have the charm and appeal of quirky small-town life. She loves genre-mashups like adding romance to her Page Turners cozy mysteries and creating the hockey-playing cowboys in the Cowboys of Creedence. The same small-town community comes to life with more animal antics in her latest Creedence Horse Rescue series. And her sassy heroines and hunky heroes carry over in her heartwarming, feel good romances from Hallmark Publishing. Her newest cozy mystery, Take the Honey and Run: A Bee Keeping Mystery, debuts this July.

Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, Twitter at @JennieMarts, and at jenniemartswriter on Instagram. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – Alibris –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 1 – Mystery, Thrillers and Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 3 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 4 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 6 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW

August 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 7 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

August 8 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 9 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 9 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 10 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – RECIPE

August 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
August 11 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 12 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

August 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 14 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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