Ruff Drafts

Debbie’s Retirement Life, Week 4: Day 29, 1/20/23

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Debbie

It’s hard to believe it’s been a month since I retired. This is the last weekly blog post about my post-retirement adventures, but I’ll continue writing them on a monthly basis. Last week ended on a fun note when I attended a Zoom lecture on one of my favorite musical groups, the Bee Gees. It was given by Vinnie Bruno, who also gives in-person and virtual lectures on the Beatles and other sixties and seventies music groups. The Bee Gees lecture was hosted by the Seaford Library and had over 80 attendees. Mr. Bruno’s presentation was both informative and enjoyable. He played songs from the early years of the group, as well as those from Saturday Night Fever and one by Andy Gibb.

Over the Martin Luther King weekend, I did more cleaning and also continued writing the next book in my Buttercup Bend series. I was challenged by my cat, Harry, when I cleaned my closet and by Hermione, when I sat at my computer to write.

On Monday, I went out to lunch with friends at Fanatico’s Italian Restaurant and had a delicious eggplant dish with a salad. Needless to say, I didn’t eat dinner that night.

My friends and I also exchanged late Christmas presents. One gave me an adorable cat tea mug and cat calendar. The other gave me hot chocolate balls and a lavender bath set.

On Tuesday, I spoke with Andrea Parent- Tibbetts from Clover Brooke Farm in Hyde Park via Zoom to research llamas and llama farms. She gave me some interesting information that I’ll be able to use in my forthcoming book, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian. I’m up to Chapter 5 in the book and, although Cathy and Mildred have arrived at the llama farm where they are investigating a murder incognito, they haven’t yet met Lulu the Llama. The llama’s name was chosen by a reader of my newsletter who submitted it for a contest. Below is an excerpt from the first draft.

“I always wondered what the difference was between alpacas and llamas. Do you know?” Cathy had maneuvered around a red truck, and a barn came into view. It was large and sat next to a pen where she saw several llamas grazing.

“Of course I do. I’m a librarian, Cathy. The main differences are their size and ears. You might consider them cousins. Alpacas are smaller than llamas and have t-shaped ears, while llamas have banana-shaped ears. They’re both gentle and friendly animals.”

“Interesting.” Cathy pulled into a space between the house and the barn. The spots weren’t marked, and the lot wasn’t paved, but there were two cars parked there. A small blue Mazda and a silver station wagon.

Mildred checked her watch. “We’re a little early. We made great time. Maybe you want to walk around with me a bit before we go up to the house.”

“That’s a good idea. I’m eager to see the animals.” Cathy got out, and Mildred joined her. They headed for the barn and the llama pen. As they passed the barn, Cathy exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh! Look, Mildred. Cats! They look just like Harry and Hermione, only older, and the calico one doesn’t have Hermione’s white undercoat and paws.”

“They must be barn cats,” Mildred said. “They usually have them on farms to keep the mice in check. The calico is a tortoiseshell. Notice her brown markings.”

Cathy walked slowly toward the cats. She noticed a gray one behind them. The black cat came right up to her. She extended her hand, and the cat sniffed it. “You look just like my Harry,” she said. “I bet you enjoy living here?”

Mildred laughed. “I love how you talk to animals, Cathy. C’mon, let’s go see the llamas.”

The rest of the week wasn’t as pleasant or productive. My daughter and I both had dentist visits, and I’ll be going to the orthopedic today.

Next week, I’m planning to visit three local bookstores with an author friend.

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

Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Snuffed Out, the first Magic Candle Shop Mystery, by Valona Jones

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Debbie

Snuffed Out (Magic Candle Shop Mystery)
by Valona Jones

About Snuffed Out

Snuffed Out (Magic Candle Shop Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Savannah, GA
Crooked Lane Books (January 10, 2023)
Hardcover 304 Pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639102051
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639102051
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XM5PKP7

Twin sisters Tabby and Sage co-own a candle shop, but will it all go up in flames in Valona Jones’ series debut, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Bailey Cates.

30-year-old fraternal twins Tabby and Sage Winslow own The Book and Candle Shop in Savannah. Sage is hot-headed and impulsive while Tabby is calm and collected, making them the perfect partnership. When one of their customers is found murdered, from a blow to the head, that partnership is put to the test.

Blithe McAdam had been seen in a heated argument with shop clerk Gerard, which immediately makes him suspect number one. The twins are convinced of Gerard’s innocence and start digging into Blithe’s past. But no one is cooperating. The neighbor who found the body isn’t talking, medical examiner Quig won’t give any details about the autopsy, and nasty rumors begin surfacing about the drowning of Blithe’s father years earlier—evidence that could seal Gerard’s fate.

Tabby and Sage dig desperately for the truth. But it’s not only their friend who’s in peril. With the clock ticking, the twins find themselves in the grip of an unseen and deadly energy that has seeped into their midst—and in the sights of a ruthless killer.

About Valona Jones

Valona Jones writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the unexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal observations when she began to write fiction. Her forthcoming release, Snuffed Out, A Magic Candle Shop Mystery, is slated for January 10, 2023, release. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where time and tide wait for no one. Visit her at https://valonajones.com

Author Links

Website: https://valonajones.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/valonajonesauthor

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valona-jones

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22140872.Valona_Jones

(Valona is not on twitter, Instagram, TikTok, nor Pinterest)

Purchase Links – Amazon Kindle – Amazon Hardcover – Nook – B&N Hardcover – Kobo –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 12 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

January 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 13 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – Brooke Blogs – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 15 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 17 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

January 19 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 19 – The Book’s the Thing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 20 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT*

January 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 21 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

January 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

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retirement

Debbie’s Retirement Life, Week 3: Day 22, 1/13/23

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Debbie

During my third week of retirement, I continued decluttering and taking virtual exercise classes, began writing my next Buttercup Bend cozy mystery, had my nails done, went out with a friend to a Luminosity Light Festival, attended a real estate show, had my cats’ nails trimmed, and participated in a library book club discussion.

The virtual library exercise classes I’m taking are working out well. I purchased light, 1 pound weights and a small exercise ball that’s used in a few classes. I’m also getting an exercise mat. My cats were curious about these new items. I’d also gotten a new laundry hamper, and Harry enjoyed trying it out.

I was excited to start my third Buttercup Bend mystery, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian. Along with Cathy Carter and the returning characters, it features a retired librarian. I wonder where I got that idea.

Last Friday, I had my nails done at Joy Nails, my local nail salon. I chose a glittery silver color that I thought would be nice for winter.

That night, I attended the Luminosity Festival at Eisenhower Park with my friend, Jenny. She took a cute photo of me by the Cheshire Cat in the Alice in Wonderland section of the festival.

On Saturday, I went to the Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo at the Huntington Hilton that featured 55+ communities in other states. It was somewhat disappointing because South Carolina and Virginia weren’t present as advertised, and, although representatives from North Carolina were there, they were mostly from Wilmington and the Coast.

On Sunday, the groomer came to give my cats well-needed mani pedis. Hermione suprised me by not even crying when she usually puts up a big fight. Harry, however, wasn’t his docile self. He cried the whole time.

On Wednesday, I went to my library for a book club discussion about The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. I enjoyed the group and was also able to share my latest books and bookmarks with the members. I’m hoping they will choose one of my books for a future discussion. They’d discussed Sea Scope in the past and seemed interested in Time’s Relative that won the Cat Writers’ Association’s Muse Medallion award this year.

Later today, I’ll be viewing a virtual lecture on one of my past favorite music groups, the Bee Gees. This weekend or on Monday, I’m planning to go to lunch with two friends from church and exchange late Christmas presents. Next week, I’m also viewing a decluttering webinar that may be helpful to me as I continue that household project. I’m also seeing the chiropractor about my knee and possibly getting another cortisone injection. I’ve found that my knees aren’t bothering me as much during the exercises I’ve been doing, but I modify them if they do.

Thanks for reading about my retirement adventures. Next week, I might give you a sneak peek at the first chapter of the rough draft of my new book.

retirement

Debbie’s Retirement Life, Week 2: Day 15, 1/6/23

Posted on January 6, 2023January 6, 2023 by Debbie

During my second week of retirement, I did some decluttering, started some virtual exercise classes, took an online writing webinar, and published my January newsletter.

I sent my January newsletter to subscribers the day before New Year’s Eve. It featured a Llama naming contest, survey contest, a list of my favorite 2022 books, and a few other features. Although only subscribers can enter the contests, you can read the January newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/e62b71e1c70d/january-news-llama-naming-contest-new-years-survey-and-more

New Year’s Eve was quiet. We toasted 2023 with sparkling cider and ate from a cheese and sausage tray. Even my cat, Hermione, got in the holiday mood.

I enjoyed the virtual exercise classes I took this week. I started with Stay Active, a Nassau Library System health share program on Wednesday, January 4. The class was a mix of aerobics and strength training. The instructor used weights in the second part of the class but said we didn’t have to use them and would still get some benefits. Since I’m not used to working with weights, I chose not to use them. The class wasn’t hard to follow, and I liked the oldies music. That night, I took a Body Sculpting class given by Seaford Library. The instructor, Kristen, was excellent. When she did floor work, I typed into the chat that I have difficulty getting on the floor because of my knees, and she showed me how to moderate those exercises sitting or standing by a chair. She also provided her email if any of the participants had questions for her. I thought that was very nice and look forward to the next class. Her music was also great.

On Thursday, the only virtual exercise class I took was Simply Stronger, given by my library. The instructor, Mindy Vasta, welcomed me and introduced me to the class as the retired librarian who used to organize the exercise programs. It was great to attend the class after having monitored it in the past. I was also happy to hear that a participant has been reading my books. Mindy does a very energetic class with good tunes and lots of strength training. She also used weights in the second half but was careful to instruct people in the proper safety protocols and said I could use weights when I felt I was ready and to start with light ones. Tomorrow, I’ll be taking Tai Chi with Linda Cafiero. I’ve known Linda a long time and look forward to her relaxing class.

Although I haven’t yet started writing the third book of my series as I’d planned, I viewed a Writers’ Digest University publishing webinar given by Jane Friedman that had been a Christmas gift from my husband. The webinar was informative, and I can view the replay and answers to all the questions typed in the chat.

Besides putting away all the Christmas decorations after New Year’s, I’ve also been organizing and decluttering each day. Again, I’m sorry that I don’t have a “before” shot of the coat rack, but it was really a mess before I straightened it out. I even found my husband’s lost hat.

I also decluttered my bedroom wardrobe, removing clothes that are out of season and straightening out the shelves. I also hang my cats’ long toys in there.

In between exercising, cleaning, and housework, I’ve been reading two books on my Kindle app: Cowboys and Chaos, the 3rd book of Elizabeth Pantley’s Magical Mystery Book Club cozy mystery series. Elizabeth is one of my favorite authors, and I featured one of the other books in this series as a 2022 favorite in my January newsletter. In The Magical Mystery Book Club stories members of a book club travel into the cozy mystery books they read. In Cowboys and Chaos, that’s the Wild West! To return to the present, they need to solve the mystery in the book, which is the disappearance of a saloon girl.

I’m also reading The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. I’m reviewing this unpublished book through NetGalley. It can be preordered now and will be published on February 21. So far, I’m enjoying it. It’s a mix of horror and psychological fiction about a woman whose been invited by her favorite dark fiction author to attend a writing retreat at her reclusive, and rumored to be haunted, estate along with four other authors, one of whom used to be her best friend until an angry break up.

On Wednesday, I learned that my brother’s daughter gave birth to twin sons. Welcome, Jackson and Maxwell! Congratulations to my niece, her husband, and my brother and sister-in-law on their double blessings.

I didn’t go out much this week except for a walk on Wednesday when the temperatures reached over 60 degrees. I’m planning to have my nails done today and attend a light show with my friend this evening (more on that next week with photos, I promise). Thanks for reading about my retirement adventures.

Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Of Mushrooms and Matrimony: A Tish Tarragon Mystery by Amy Patricia Meade

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Debbie

Of Mushrooms and Matrimony (A Tish Tarragon Mystery)
by Amy Patricia Meade

About Of Mushrooms and Matrimony

Of Mushrooms and Matrimony (A Tish Tarragon Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Severn House; Main edition (January 3, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 144830654X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448306541
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B8ZMBLCL

Tish Tarragon is catering for a wedding, but the weekend goes from sweet to sour when a guest at the venue is poisoned.

Literary caterer and owner of Cookin’ the Books cafe Tish Tarragon is pushing thoughts of her impending eviction aside to prepare an appetising welcome buffet for a wedding weekend at Abbingdon Green Bed and Breakfast. While there, Tish witnesses one of the guests, controversial TV chef and restaurant critic, Gunner Randall, threatening staff after missing breakfast and making do with a mushroom omelet.

When Randall is found dead the following day, it soon becomes clear that poisoned mushrooms were behind his demise. With no shortage of potential suspects and motives, can Tish and her new beau, Sheriff Clemson Reade, uncover who was enraged enough with the unsavoury star to silence him for good?

About Amy Patricia Meade

Author of the critically acclaimed Marjorie McClelland Mysteries, Vermont Country Living Mysteries, and Tish Tarragon Mysteries, Amy Patricia Meade is a native of Long Island, NY, where she cut her teeth on classic films and books featuring Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown.

After stints as an Operations Manager for a document imaging company and as a freelance technical writer, Amy left the bright lights of New York City and headed north to pursue her creative writing career amidst the idyllic beauty of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

After five years living in Bristol, England, Amy now resides in upstate New York.

When not writing, Amy spends her time working for her musician husband, watching classic films, testing new recipes, belly dancing, and cleaning cat hair from her lap.

Author Links:

Website https://amypatriciameade.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000211411314

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

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 4 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

January 4 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

January 5 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 5 – Ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT

January 6 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT*

January 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

January 7 – Bootsie’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

January 7 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE

January 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 15 – I’m Into Books – RECIPE

January 16 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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Reviews

Review of It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce

Posted on December 31, 2022 by Debbie

*Note: This book was an advanced reader’s copy from Net Galley. It will be published on February 21, 2023, and is available for pre-order on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Ends-at-Midnight-Harriet-Tyce/dp/1728263840/

*****5 stars

This was a hard book to put down.. I loved the way the author didn’t reveal the victims until the end of the story and how she featured triple twists to wrap up things. I didn’t guess who-done-it or who the victims were, which is a rarity for me.

This book starts on New Year’s Eve in Scotland (hogmanay as it’s called there). Two people, a man and a woman, are found impaled on fence stakes outside a house at which a party has taken place. Readers are priivvy to the dying thoughts of the victims throughout the book as it alternates from that time backwards.

Sylvie, a lawyer, is the main character. When she learns her best friend, Tess, has an inoperable brain tumor, she agrees to inform Tess’ husband and also help Tess locate a childhood friend whom Tess wants to make amends with for something they both did to her back in their school days.

As the plot moves forward to New Year’s Eve when Tess plans to renew her vows with her husband at a house where Sylvie’s boyfriend, a caterer, will be arranging the food, Sylvie has flashbacks to the event she’s tried to erase from her mind for twenty years.

The title of the book is appropriate, as the final scenes of the story take place as New Year’s Eve turns into New Year’s Day. My only criticism of the book is that the characters aren’t too likable, but the ending more than makes up for that. I recommend this to fans of Gone Girl and other dark fiction tales.

retirement

Debbie’s Retirement Life: Week 1, Day 8: 12/30/22

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Debbie

This is the second entry in my retirement column. If you missed the first, you can still read it here.

My first week of retirement after Christmas was quiet. December 24 and 25 were very cold days. We had temperatures in the single digits on Christmas Eve. We didn’t go out because my husband wasn’t feeling well, although he didn’t have COVID or the flu., so it was just the three of us and our cats celebrating the holiday at home.

My daughter made a delicious lasagna that we’re still eating because she froze some.

Since Tuesday, I’ve had a very stuffy nose but no temperature, and my home test is negative. I think it’s a head cold. I also didn’t go to lunch with my friends as I’d planned because one of them had COVID and is still recovering. We’re rescheduling for later in the month.

Retirement life is an adjustment. A gift I received for Christmas was a To Do Planner, that will be useful with my Google calendar and help me keep a schedule.

I’ve registered for several virtual library exercise classes hosted by my library and others. I’m hoping to start a new book after New Year’s, but I decided to take a week of rest and enjoy my new freedom. The only work I did these last seven days was organize my desk. I can finally see the top of it that was once covered in papers and other items. I’m sorry I didn’t get a before shot, but here’s the after shot.

I’m still working on my writing files and hope to finish cleaning them out and sorting them by next week. There were some interesting articles and letters in the folders, some going back to the 1990’s. I came across my original Cat Writers’ Association’s application letter from 1995. For privacy, I’ve omitted the return address.

Since I’m always searching for pens, I went through the mugs of pens on my desk and threw out the ones that didn’t work. Amazingly, most of them did. There were even cat and llama-shaped pens and a Nancy Pearl action figure to remind me of my library days. The llama pen will come in handy, inspiring me to write my next cozy mystery, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian.”

While I was cleaning, my cat, Hermione, found the extra space on my desk and took it as an invitation to jump on it and knock down items.

With my extra time this week, I caught up on my book and magazine reading, took cat naps with my cats, and walked to the library to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I also spent some time adding jewelry to my new jewelry box that I purchased with my retirement gift card. It has lots of space for my earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets and looks very nice on my bureau.

Yesterday, my daughter and I made chocolate banana muffins and bread. She’s also on an organizing kick and showed me how to use the No Waste app to keep an inventory of items we have in the pantry and refrigerator, so we don’t buy duplicate groceries or forget to buy something we run out of.

Next week, I’ll be starting a few of the virtual exercise classes I registered for and updating the bio and information on my website and social media. I’ll also be sending out my January author newsletter that will contain character naming and survey contests for readers, as well as a list of my 12 favorite books this past year. To subscribe to Debbie’s Drafts, fill out the form at https://debbiedelouise.com. Have a great New Year!

Reviews

Review of The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Debbie

*Note: This book was an advanced reader’s copy from Net Galley. It will be published on May 30, 2023, and is available for pre-order on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Game-Novel-Meg-Shaffer-ebook/dp/B0BHD79NZ9/

*****5-stars

The reclusive and very rich children’s book author, Jack Masterson, is writing again after a long dry spell. On his private island, Clock Island, named for his book series, he’s devised a contest for four adults who once ran away from home to visit him. The prize is the only copy of his new book, valued at six figures. One of these people, Lucy, a teacher’s assistant, desperately wants to win the contest, so she can afford to foster a young boy and eventually adopt him.

When Lucy arrives on the island and meets the other contestants, she also meets Masterson’s book illustrator with whom she becomes attracted. The contest involves several difficult puzzles. Lucy starts out ahead by solving the first but then falls behind. The only way she can win is to solve the last puzzle.

What I liked about this book was the backstory about the author and illustrator as well as that of Lucy and her young friend. The writing was enchanting with touches of fantasy and whimsy that reflected the best quality of children’s books in an adult novel. I recommend this read to those who enjoy a sweet story and a happy but not necessarily obvious ending.

retirement

Debbie’s Retirement Life: Day 1: 12/23/22

Posted on December 23, 2022December 23, 2022 by Debbie

This is my first blog post about my retirement, which starts today. I’ll be posting updates weekly for a while and then probably on a monthly basis. Yesterday was my last day working full time as a librarian at the Hicksville Public Library. There was a party for me at 3 pm, the usual afternoon break time. My co-workers and two retirees, my previous director and fellow librarian, gathered downstairs in our Community Room that was decorated with balloons and a poster to celebrate my last day. There was also my favorite Black Forest cake, delicious pastries, a card signed by everyone, and several thoughtful gifts.

One question asked at my party was what I was going to do tomorrow. I said that I would wrap Christmas gifts, and I intend to do that. But the real question is, what am I going to do now that I’m retired? I already agreed to do some substitute work for the library as needed and have registered for several virtual library exercise programs. Here is the list I’ve composed of some things I hope to do now that I have the time. These are not necessarily in priority order:

Take virtual library classes and programs and also in-person classes. (I’ve already registered for some and hope to attend the in-person book club in January)
Take writing courses and attend webinars (I’m receiving a Christmas gift of a Writer’s Digest University online course about landing a book deal).
Declutter my house to prepare for my family’s move out of state (I’ve already started this, but I’ll be doing it on a more regular basis. My desk area needs to be cleared asap).
Update website and social media (It’s hard to keep these current when you work full time).
Go through starred Email (I have a habit of starring email and never getting back to reading/dealing with it)
Start Buttercup Bend #3 and plan my future writing (I have an ongoing list of writing projects).
Make a household schedule (Now that I’m home, I’ll be able to do chores at more convenient times).
Read (I have a huge digital TBR list on my Kindle app)
Volunteer at church (I’ve been letting this slide for a long time, and I want to be more involved)
Research ways to save and earn extra money. (This is important when you’re on a fixed income).
Spend more time with friends (although I’m leaving, it won’t be for a while. I already have a lunch planned with some friends next week).
Spend more time with my family, including my cats (This should be at the top of the list).

There are probably many other things I’ll find to do with my extra time, but I need time to relax and enjoy my retirement, too. It’s good to be busy, but it’s also good to take a break. I think I deserve one after 32 years of full-time work.

I look forward to sharing my retirement updates on this blog. If anyone reading this is retired and has some suggestions or experiences they’d like to share, please do.

Blog Tour, Interview

Author Interview of Leah Dobrinska and blog tour for her new release, Death Checked Out

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Debbie

It’s my pleasure to welcome author Leah Dobrinska from Wisconsin to Ruff Drafts.

Hi, Leah. 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.

I’ve been a published author for two years. I independently published my debut small town romance novel, Love at On Deck Café, in 2021. I published the second and third books in that series, Good To Be Home and Together With Together With You, earlier in 2022. Readers describe the Mapleton novels as heartwarming, exploding with charm, and full of the best sort of Hallmark love stories. Self-publishing was a humbling and transformative experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I learned so much and loved having complete control over the process. I hired professionals to help me along the way, including editors and a top notch cover designer, and I built a small following of devoted readers who are not afraid to shout from the rooftops about my books. I’m so grateful for the experience, and I love being an indie author.

I also love that I found a home with a publishing house for my debut cozy mystery, Death Checked Out. Getting to tap into the expertise and knowledge of the industry professionals at Level Best Books and having them back my cozy mystery series has been wonderful and a huge stepping stone for my career. I have a three book contract for the Larkspur Library Mysteries, so at least two more stories of Greta and the gang are forthcoming!

Congratulations! 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.

Death Checked Out is the first book in the Larkspur Library Mystery series. It’s a library-focused cozy mystery set in a lakeside town in the Wisconsin Northwoods that’s perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lovers mysteries and Holly Danvers’s Lakeside Library mysteries. In Death Checked Out, we meet Greta, a glass-half-full kind of girl. She’s the library director in Larkspur, and she copes with the hard things in life with consummate cheerfulness. Unfortunately, her positive outlook takes a hit when murder darkens the idyllic streets of Larkspur, and not only does she find the dead body but she becomes a suspect in the murder investigation. With her librarian co-workers, the community, and her lawyer mom, Greta sets to work to clear her name and close the book on the murder before she’s checked out for good.

Death Checked Out is the first book in the Larkspur Library series. At the moment, it’s a three book series, but I’m always open to writing more! The next two books will publish in December 2023 and December 2024.

For fans of my small town romance novels, I hope to return to Mapleton in 2023, as well. I also have another series up my sleeve that I can’t wait to share in the New Year! It’s in a new genre to me, one that I’ve very excited about breaking into…*cough* rom-com *cough*.

Your series sound wonderful. I also write a cozy mystery series featuring a librarian in the small, fictional town of Cobble Cove, New York. My Cobble Cove series has six books and also features a library cat. I also started a new series featuring the co-owner of a pet rescue center. I just released the second book of that series and hope to start the third after the holidays. I’ve also written a rom com, but I prefer cozies and standalone mysteries. My books are published by two Indie publishers, Solstice Publishing and Next Chapter Publishing. I’m still seeking an agent and to publish with a larger publisher one day. I’ll be working toward that goal after I retire in a few days. I wish you luck and happy holidays!

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?

This is such a great question. It’s my greatest hope that with my books I’m putting something good, true, and beautiful into the world. I use that as my compass, but in short, I hope my stories spread a little joy!

In the next few years, I want to establish myself as a cozy mystery author, not only with the release of Death Checked Out this month but also with the two upcoming books in the series. I’d love to keep the Larkspur Library series going as long as readers want to keep checking it out. Pun fully intended!

I have another cozy mystery series that I’m very excited about running with, as well. The first book is written, but my goal will be to take it through several rounds of edits until it hits all the right notes. Once it’s ready, I’d like to take that out on submission to try to find a publishing house for it. That’ll take a lot of work, a lot of synopsis writing (and re-writing!), and a lot of waiting.

Alongside my cozy mystery efforts, I hope to continue to pursue my career as an indie romance author. Breaking into the rom-com genre is a big goal of mine, and to do so—and to juggle the multiple projects I seem to always find myself in the midst of—I have to set reasonable word count goals and deadlines for myself along the way.

Those sound like great goals. I also have many projects in mind for 2023 and beyond and am also planning a move next year, so I have to prioritize all these ideas and, like you, juggle multiple projects.

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

I’m hoping to attract readers who appreciate down-to-earth characters and quaint, charming settings. My books are happy and fun, so readers looking to be entertained and escape to beautiful fictional worlds are my target. I market my romance novels as being like Hallmark movies with a little less cringe…and I say that as a devoted Hallmark movie fan. I also love the Hallmark Mystery Channel, and I like to think that my cozies reflect that sort of style, as well. So, fans of the Hallmark Channel, I’ve got you covered!

People tell me that my books would also make great Hallmark Mysteries.

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

First of all, keep writing! Writing is like a muscle. It’ll get stronger the more and more you work it out. It’s like anything. The more you write, the more confident you’ll be, and the better you’ll get.

Second of all, be a reader! Read books in and out of the genre you’re writing. I have learned so much from other authors, and I find myself constantly inspired by and in awe of the creative outputs of those around me. I look up to so many authors, and I’ve learned more about the craft of writing from reading actual works of fiction than I have from reading books on the craft of writing.

Finally, never forget that the world needs your story, and no one but you can tell it. It’s easy to get sucked in to the comparison game and constantly be looking around to see what others are doing and how they’re doing it. While in some cases it’s great to learn from and be inspired by others, don’t lose sight of your unique voice and the story you have to share.

I couldn’t have answered that better. I agree completely with everything you said, especially the importance of reading that helps authors learn from others. As a retiring librarian, I’ve had the opportunity to read a variety of genres and both popular and Indie authors.

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

The greatest struggle for me on the path to publication was self-doubt. There’s a lot of waiting and wondering when you’re querying agents and again when you’re out on submission. It’s easy to let the inner critic get a little too loud and to start questioning whether what I’ve written is any good at all.

So very true.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I’m a member of the International Thriller Writers Association, and I try to participate in my local library writing events and the UntitledTown writing group in the Green Bay area.

Nice. I’m also a member of International Thriller Writers and also Sisters-in-Crime and the Cat Writers’ Association.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

Shocking no one, I’d say that my favorite hobby outside of writing is reading. I’m a member of two book clubs, and I look forward to them all month. I also love running for exercise, and I’m a huge music fan. I have a particular soft spot for Taylor Swift and have been known to spout off her lyrics whenever they apply. When given a blank space, you’d be surprised at how frequently I can work them into a conversation.

Funny. I’m a big reader, too. I like to exercise, but my knees are now preventing me from running. I do low impact aerobics and walking. I also adore my two cats and enjoy playing with them.

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

My favorite thing about being an author is creating something that spreads joy. It follows then, that I love interacting with readers. My author newsletter is one of my favorite things. I love getting responses from subscribers and being able to interact and chat with them about all things books, writing, and life.

Let’s see. Challenges! I’d say the toughest challenge I face as an author is that writing isn’t my full-time gig. I’m a stay-at-home mom to four lovely and precocious little ones. They are my first priority, and getting to be at home with them is a great gift to me. It also sometime provides a unique hurdle to my writing efforts. Because I can’t always be writing. I get asked a lot How do you balance it all? The short answer is, I don’t. Something usually falls through the cracks, and something always has to give. I struggle with the guilt of not being able to be everything to everyone all the time, both on the mom side of things and on the author side of things. I’m always working to strike a balance!

I hear you. That is also a big challenge to me. Even though my daughter is an adult now, my full-time job made writing time difficult to find. Now that I’m retiring, I can devote myself more fully to it and to my family.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

When I was little, I wanted to be Nancy Drew. I find myself feeling that way about all the heroines in the cozy mysteries I read, and in those that I write. I love the idea of crafting an amateur sleuth that readers can relate to, see themselves in, and root for. I also have to say that cozy mystery settings are my favorite thing to develop. Give me all the small town drama, local shops, and gorgeous locales. That, and the puns! I live for the puns!

Lol. I feel the same way about cozies. I love developing quirky characters and fun mysteries.

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

Death Checked Out

Four months ago, when Greta first met Franklin, he hadn’t given her the time of day. He had opened the door on her first visit only to shut it in her face before she could so much as say, “Hi, my name is…” But Greta was not to be deterred. She’d kept at him, and slowly, he warmed to her presence, especially when she offered to courier library books directly to him.

What could she say, she was not above bribing her way into someone’s good graces with the promise of books.

After a few seconds, the rough sound of wheels rolling across wood floor reached Greta’s ears, and she turned as the door swung inward. Franklin sat in his wheelchair a couple feet inside the entryway, but the smile she had ready for him died on her lips.

Franklin’s eyes blazed with disgust and his voice was as frosty as a Wisconsin winter. “I understand what you’re asking, but you don’t seem to understand what I’m telling you!”

Great excerpt. Thanks for sharing it.

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

I’d just like to say thank you! Of all the books you could read, I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to give mine some of your time. I hope my books make you smile. If you do enjoy them, please be generous with your stars and leave an online review. Nothing helps an author keep writing more than positive momentum in the form of hearing their books resonate with a reader.

I love interacting with fellow book lovers, so please don’t be shy. Sign up to receive my newsletter so we can email each month. Find me on Instagram or Facebook. I like to have fun with social media, and I hope you’ll join in!

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Thanks for the great interview, Leah, and I wish you the best on your new series and forthcoming cozies and Rom coms.

Death Checked Out: A Larkspur Library Mystery
by Leah Dobrinska

About Death Checked Out

Death Checked Out: A Larkspur Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Level Best Books (December 6, 2022)
Number of Pages ~300
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BHJJ1QRT

She’s used to checking out books. A death? Not so much.

Greta Plank, resident librarian in the small, lakeside town of Larkspur, Wisconsin, prefers her rose-tinted glasses extra rosy, thank you very much. Ever since a family tragedy landed her in Larkspur, she’s kept a happy-or-bust outlook. But Greta’s cheery resolve takes a hit when she finds the town recluse dead at the base of the stairs leading from his deck to the lake. What she assumes is a terrible accident Greta soon learns is something more sinister, and to make matters worse, new-to-town Detective Mark McHenry cites her as not only his primary source for the case, but his top suspect.

To clear her name and return to life as she knew it before the murder, Greta decides to do some clue cataloging of her own. After all, she’s got her master’s degree in library science with an emphasis in research methodology…how hard could a criminal investigation be? With the help of her fellow librarians and her lawyer mom, Greta begins checking out the pages of the murder, uncovering details about the recluse’s rare book collection and Larkspur’s real estate market as she tries to understand why anyone would have authored his death.

But with friends and neighbors stacking up as both victims and suspects, Greta must cross-reference the facts and put a hold on her idyllic worldview if she wants to get the full story without paying the fine of her life.

About Leah Dobrinska

Leah Dobrinska is the author of the Larkspur Library Mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and the Mapleton novels, a series of standalone small town romances. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison and has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. As a kid, she hoped to grow up to be either Nancy Drew or Elizabeth Bennet. Now, she fulfills that dream by writing mysteries and love stories. Death Checked Out is her debut cozy mystery.

A sucker for a good sentence, a happy ending, and the smell of books—both old and new—Leah lives out her very own happily ever after in a small Wisconsin town with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she’s not writing, handing out snacks, or visiting local parks, Leah enjoys reading and running. Find out more about Leah, join her newsletter community, and connect with her through her website, leahdobrinska.com.

Author Links

Website: https://leahdobrinska.com/

Newsletter: https://leahdobrinska.com/newsletter

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3zB9eeg

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

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

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Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N

Death Checked Out Purchase link (Barnes & Noble): Coming soon!

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