Category: Cozy Mystery

Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, Spotlight

Spotlight of A Cold Brew Killling, an All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery, by Lena Gregory

Posted on by Debbie

A Cold Brew Killing (All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery)
by Lena Gregory

About the Book


A Cold Brew Killing (All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Lyrical Underground (November 6, 2018)
Print Length Approximately 250 Pages
Digital ASIN: B079R5Y14L

When an ice cream vendor discovers a frozen stiff, Florida diner owner Gia Morelli has to serve up some just desserts . . .

Gia has become good friends with Trevor, a fun, flirtatious bachelor who owns the ice cream parlor down the street from her popular All-Day Breakfast Café. Trevor has the scoop on all sorts of local attractions and activities. But when he bursts into her diner, trembling and paler than a pint of French Vanilla, she can tell something’s very wrong. Trevor points her toward his shop then passes out cold. When Gia runs down to his shop, she discovers a chilling sight—a dead body in the open freezer. But the ice cream man’s troubles are just beginning. The police suspect him of this murder a la mode, especially when details of his questionable past surface. Gia believes in her friend and is determined to clear his name and find the real cold-blooded killer before someone else gets put on ice . . .

Lena Gregory lives in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island with her husband and three children.

When she was growing up, she spent many lazy afternoons on the beach, in the yard, anywhere she could find to curl up with a good book. She loves reading as much now as she did then, but she now enjoys the added pleasure of creating her own stories.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true

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

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 6 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 7 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 7 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

November 8 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 11 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 11 – cherylbbookblog – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

November 13 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

November 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW

November 14 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 15 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 16 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

November 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 17 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

November 19 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST

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Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Character Guest Post and Blog Tour for Purls and Poison, a Black Sheep and Company Book 2 by Anne Canadeo

Posted on by Debbie

This post was contributed by Anne Canadeo. Her cozy mystery, Purls and Poison, is currently on tour with Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book.

PURLS & POISON VIRTUAL TOUR

Character POV – Suzanne Cavannaugh

Anne Canadeo

 Three Things I Learned from Being A Prime Suspect

Here’s some advice I hope you never have to use. But, as dear Grandma Rosa used to say, “Suzanne, you never know what’s going to happen when you wake up in the morning. For better or worse.”  Being named the prime suspect in a murder investigation definitely falls into the latter category and I am, right now, at the top of the list of some very shady characters who may have killed  my co-worker, Liza Devereaux.

How did I win this dubious honor?  Let’s just say everyone has a Liza in the office; that annoying someone who always has to one up you, poaches your clients and steals the big deals out from under your nose. All of my co-workers – the whole town, practically — knows the nasty truth about our relationship, and someone did a bang up job framing me. It’s a living nightmare and a learning experience, I have to say. Here are a few tips that might help you navigate these choppy waters—and keep you from falling overboard.

# 1) Don’t trust the police to figure it out. And keep your big mouth shut: I guess that’s two tips,  but they are connected.

I hate to talk down the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us every day. Most of the time, they do flush out the guilty party. But if I leave it to them to track down the real culprit of this crime, I’ll be trading my designer wardrobe for an orange jumpsuit in no time.

Each question the detectives pose pushes me closer to an official murder charge.  Partly my fault, since I can’t always control what pops out of my mouth. I know that women especially want to be helpful. But take it from me, the less said the better when you’re stranded in an interview room. Which brings me to my next point…

#2) Support, support, support: Find a smart lawyer. You’ve read it in books and seen it in the movies. The advice is so obvious, why even say it. Hey, it’s a cliché for a reason. Because it’s true! I struggled like a moth caught in a web until super-sharp, no nonsense attorney Helen Forbes flew to my rescue. Then I pressed a hand over my mouth while she did the talking.   (See point # 1 again.) I just hope we can hold out until the truth is discovered.

I also have the greatest family, which goes without saying. And the most amazing group of loyal and true friends, who not only love me unconditionally (while the rest of the town treats me like a soon-to-be jailbird)  but have been putting their very clever heads together 24/7 to find out who really killed Liza.  Let’s hope they can untangle this mess before my time runs out. In the meantime, I cannot neglect self-care, right? Which brings up point number three…

#3) Pamper yourself! Yes, it sounds crazy, but I am so not kidding. Don’t let all the rumors and accusations get into your DNA. You are totally innocent and you know it, even if no one else in the office, or all of Plum Harbor – except for your nearest and dearest – believe you.

Don’t hide in your house, binge on cup cakes and pizza, or dress like a bag lady. Get your hair done, have a massage and a facial or eyebrow threading while you’re at it. The best revenge is looking good, my lovelies. You have nothing to hide. Let the world know it.

The bonus to this strategy? You can and will pick up some very juicy gossip at the salon. What better place to get the low down on the desperate characters who might be involved in this dirty business.

Those are my pearls of wisdom – no pun intended. I will let you know if I wiggle out of this mess. Right now, it’s got a tighter hold on me than a pair of Spanx three sizes too small.

Wish me luck !

Purls and Poison (A Black Sheep & Co. Mystery)
by Anne Canadeo

About the Book


Purls and Poison (A Black Sheep & Co. Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496708636
ISBN-13: 978-1496708632
Digital ASIN: B079KT54BW

When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend’s defense . . .

Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It’s bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.

When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It’s soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit.

The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who’s trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes . . .

About The Author

Anne Canadeo is the best-selling author of more than 30 books, including the Black Sheep & Company Mysteries, and as Katherine Spencer, the Cape Light and Angel Island series. She somehow manages to write a lot, despite many and much loved distractions — such as digging up the garden, hanging out with her dog, trying new recipes, drinking copious amounts of mint tea, eating chocolate and volunteer work in the community. She lives in Northport, NY, a village on the Long Island Sound very much like the settings of her stories. Anne loves to hear from readers. Answering their messages is definitely another favorite distraction in her day.

Author Links

Website: annecanadeo.com
Facebooks: www.facebook.com/AnneCanadeoAuthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/annecanadeo

Purchase Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell Books

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 8 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 8 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – GUEST POST

November 9 – Ruff Drafts – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 10 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

November 11 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 12 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

November 15 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 16 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 18 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

November 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST

November 21 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Mardi Gras Murder, a Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron

Posted on by Debbie

A GUEST POST WITH TUG CROZAT

Hi there, y’all, I’m Tug Crozat. You’re probably more familiar with my daughter, Maggie, but I thought I’d drop by and fill you in on what all’s going on these days at Crozat Plantation B&B.

Mardi Gras is a huge deal in Louisiana. Maggie once bought me a joke Christmas sweatshirt that said, “Happy Almost Mardi Gras.” Yup, that’s kind of how we think of it around here. The part of the year that isn’t Carnival Season basically serves as a lead-up to Carnival Season.

The literal translation of “Mardi Gras” is “Fat Tuesday.” It’s the last day you really get let loose before Lent starts. Let me tell you a little about how we celebrate here in our little village of Pelican, Louisiana. (Town motto: “Yes, We Peli-CAN!”) Yes, we have a parade with floats and throws like beads and doubloons. We also have several Courir de Mardi Gras. That means “Mardi Gras Run.” Folks dress up in these colorful costumes and wear handmade masks. Each courir has a capitaine, who keeps the group in line as much as possible as they go from house to house to cajole ingredients for a communal gumbo out of agreeable residents. The Mardi Gras – yup, here it’s a proper noun as well as a holiday name – sing, dance, and beg to get those ingredients. Then everyone comes together at one location where the communal gumbo is made and served. (Nowadays, a lot of the ingredient-gathering is purely ceremonial because the gumbo’s pre-made by local cooks to save time.)

In Pelican, we have a big Mardi Gras party once the Courirs show up with their ingredients. There’s a pageant queen, dancing, and my favorite part of the whole deal – the Gumbo Cookoff. Yup, in addition to the communal gumbo, there’s a whole contest for making it. A lot of men in our village love to cook, and the only thing we like cooking better than jambalaya is gumbo. I always make mine a big old cast iron pot that’s so important to me I store it in our family safe between competitions. It’s been handed down to Crozat men from one generation to another. Nobody knows how old it is, but boy, do I love that baby. Maggie, who’s an only child, jokes that while some of her friends had to compete with a sibling for attention, she had to compete with a black pot. (That’s what we call them – black pots.)

I always spend the week before Mardi Gras fixing up batches of my gumbo, making sure I have the right ingredients handy, doing a little fine tuning of the recipe, which I also keep in the safe. Like the black pot, that recipe’s been handed down through the family for generations, and Crozat men have won the Pelican Mardi Gras gumbo contest more times than I can count. I got my eye on the prize again for this year.

I can’t imagine anything going wrong. Can you?

Mardi Gras Murder: A Cajun Country Mystery
by Ellen Byron

About the Book


Mardi Gras Murder: A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Crooked Lane Books (October 9, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 168331705X
ISBN-13: 978-1683317050
Digital ASIN: B078LZ5W3H

Southern charm meets the dark mystery of the bayou as a hundred-year flood, a malicious murder, and a most unusual Mardi Gras converge at the Crozat Plantation B&B.

It’s Mardi Gras season on the bayou, which means parades, pageantry, and gumbo galore. But when a flood upends life in the tiny town of Pelican, Louisiana—and deposits a body of a stranger behind the Crozat Plantation B&B—the celebration takes a decidedly dark turn. The citizens of Pelican are ready to Laissez les bon temps rouler—but there’s beaucoup bad blood on hand this Mardi Gras.

Maggie Crozat is determined to give the stranger a name and find out why he was murdered. The post-flood recovery has delayed the opening of a controversial exhibit about the little-known Louisiana Orphan Train. And when a judge for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant is shot, Maggie’s convinced the murder is connected to the body on the bayou. Does someone covet the pageant queen crown enough to kill for it? Could the deaths be related to the Orphan Train, which delivered its last charges to Louisiana in 1929? The leads are thin on this Fat Tuesday—and until the killer is unmasked, no one in Pelican is safe.

A simmering gumbo of a humorous whodunit, Mardi Gras Murder is the fourth piquant installment in USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron’s award-winning Cajun Country mysteries.

About the Author

Ellen Byron authors the Cajun Country Mystery series. A Cajun Christmas Killing and Body on the Bayou both won the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery and were nominated for Agatha awards in the category of Best Contemporary Novel. Plantation Shudders was nominated for Agatha, Lefty, and Daphne awards. Mardi Gras Murder launches October 9th. Ellen’s TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. She’s written over 200 national magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning Graceland. She also worked as a cater-waiter for the legendary Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing.

Author Links:

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Crooked Lane – BookBub – Kobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 20 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, RECIPE

October 20 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

October 21 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 22 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

October 23 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 24 – Lisa KS Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 24 – cherylbbookblog – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – REVIEW

October 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 26 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

October 26 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

October 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

October 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 29 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 29 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

October 30 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

October 30 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 31 –Varietats – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – Island Confidential – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 1 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

November 2 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 2 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Cozy Mystery, Freebies and Special Offers, Solstice Publishing

Celebrate The Release of my 4th Cobble Cove Mystery with a Free e-copy of the 2nd

Posted on by Debbie

 

The second book of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series is free on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26. You can get it here on those days: mybook.to/CobbleCove2

Librarian Alicia McKinney has put the past behind her…

Two years ago, Alicia discovered both a terrible truth and lasting love with John McKinney in the small town of Cobble Cove, New York. Now a busy mother of twin babies and co-author of a mystery series, Alicia couldn’t be happier.

Alicia’s contentment and safety are challenged…

Walking home alone from the library, Alicia senses someone following her, and on more than one occasion, she believes she is being watched. Does she have a stalker? When the local gift shop is burglarized, the troubling event causes unrest among Alicia and the residents of the quiet town.

John and Alicia receive an offer they can’t refuse…

When John’s sister offers to babysit while she and John take a much-needed vacation in New York City, Alicia is reluctant to leave her children because of the disturbances in Cobble Cove. John assures her the town is safe in the hands of Sheriff-elect Ramsay. Although Alicia’s experience with and dislike of the former Long Island detective don’t alleviate her concern, she and John take their trip.

Alicia faces her worst nightmare…

The McKinneys’ vacation is cut short when they learn their babies have been kidnapped and John’s sister shot. Alicia and John’s situation puts them between a rock and a hard place when the main suspect is found dead before the ransom is paid. In order to save their children, the McKinneys race against the clock to solve a mystery more puzzling than those found in their own books. Can they do it before time runs out?

Check out the whole series and my other books and stories on my Amazon Author Page 

If you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, all my eBooks are free.

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Murder in the Museum, an Edmund Decleryk Mystery by Karen Shughart

Posted on by Debbie

Blog by Karen Shughart, Author, Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery

What is it About Cozies?

Merriam Webster’s definition of the word “cozy”:

Enjoying or affording warmth and ease; marked by or providing contentment or comfort; marked by the intimacy of the family or a close group. 

When I decided to write my first mystery, Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery, there was no question that it would be a Cozy. I had no idea what the market was for this type of book even though my own reading preferences lean heavily to the genre, and then I learned how large the market is. There are bloggers, private and public Facebook groups, book groups that support Cozy authors and books, and of course thousands and thousands of readers.

So, what is it about Cozies that people like? I can’t speak for everyone, but here’s my observation: Many of us like Cozies because they transport us to a gentler and more peaceful world where the characters are polite, courtesy and civility reign, there are no explicit adult scenes, violence or gratuitous language, and the sleuth always solves the crime. And there’s typically a diverse and close-knit community of quirky and interesting characters who get together for meals, and for family and community gatherings.

Many of us Cozy fans either grew up when life was a bit more orderly or, if we didn’t, we long for a time that is. We are overwhelmed by the constant stream of news about a violent and unstable world where something disastrous occurs every day. Cozies help us escape from the realities of the world and transport us to a time and place where certainly there’s good and evil, but good always prevails.

I’ve heard that Cozies are a women’s genre, that many men aren’t interested in them because they don’t feature macho sleuths who frequently sacrifice personal relationships to get the job done. In contrast, comfortable, companionable relationships abound in Cozies. What I’ve learned is that many men do like Cozies, once they are introduced to the genre.  My husband, brothers, male relatives and even friends who work in the field of criminal justice as sheriffs, commanders, and deputies read Cozies, but what they expect is a plot that makes sense, well-developed characters, and a somewhat realistic investigation. Don’t we all?

I’ve been struck by something else. Since writing the novel I’ve met many avid Cozy readers in person and online. Despite the size of this group, it’s a close-knit community of unfailing kind women and men who not only enjoy reading the genre but seem to live their own lives treating others as they would like to be treated.

A new online friend, a Cozy lover and blogger, recently was the victim of an astonishingly cruel incident of unprovoked verbal abuse at a local shopping center. This lovely and beautiful woman posted about her experience to her community of Cozy readers and within seconds received messages of support, encouragement and love that continued for several days. While haunted and sickened by what my friend had been subjected to, I was incredibly grateful for the kind messages she received from the Cozy community, which hopefully helped her recover from the disturbing and hateful attack. I’m getting the picture that Cozy readers are cozy people, by and large.

So, what is it about Cozies that draw me and so many others to the genre? Just about everything- good writing, intriguing plot, great characters, for sure- but also because Cozies expose us to a world that many of us prefer and appreciate, a world where people are kind, good prevails, and we’re not constantly assaulted with one disaster after another. Escapism? Maybe. But what’s so bad about that?

Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery
by Karen Shughart

About the Book


Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (February 13, 2018)
Paperback: 266 pages
ISBN-10: 1946063509
ISBN-13: 978-1946063502
Digital ASIN: B07CF74JHQ

Early one gray November morning, retired Lighthouse Cove, NY police chief, Edmund DeCleryk, finds Emily Bradford’s body on the beach at the base of the bluff where the local museum and historical society stands. At the same time, a break-in has been reported at the museum, and Emily’s coat and purse are found hanging on a peg in the museum’s gift shop where she worked. Was her death the result of a burglary gone bad or something more sinister?

When the police chief is called out of town for a family emergency, he hires Ed, now working as a criminal consultant, to assist deputy police chief, Carrie Ramos, with the murder investigation. After several leads don’t pan out, the chief, now back in Lighthouse Cove, decides to close the case. Confident that with more time the murder can be solved, Ed is determined to continue investigating on his own, with encouragement from his wife, Annie the museum’s executive director.

One morning while in the basement of the museum, the couple discovers a copy of a map dated 1785, and Ed’s instincts tell him it may be connected to Emily’s death. On a hunch, he and Annie travel to Toronto, Canada, where he learns of the original map and a manuscript written in 1847 that were unearthed during an archaeological dig. The manuscript contains information about a ship that capsized during a fierce storm on Lake Ontario — in 1785. Now Ed has clues as to why the murder occurred, but he still doesn’t know who committed the crime. Or does he?

About the Author

Karen Shughart received a B.A. in Comprehensive Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and completed graduate courses in English at Shippensburg University.

She is the author of two non-fiction books and has worked as an editor, publicist, photographer, journalist, teacher and non-profit executive. A Murder in the Museum: An Edmund DeCleryk Mystery is her first work of fiction.

Before moving to a small village on the shores of Lake Ontario in upstate New York, she and her husband resided in south central Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, PA. For more information, visit her website: www.karenshughart.com.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.karenshughart.com

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

Blog: https://ladiesofmystery.com/karenshughart

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2094018.Karen_Shughart

Hometown Reads/Rochester Reads: https://hometownreads.com/books/murder-in-the-museum

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-shughart-738970161/

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 10 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW

October 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 11 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 12 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, RECIPE

October 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

October 14 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 15 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 16 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – Varietats – REVIEW

October 18 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

October 20 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

October 22 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

October 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 23 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Author Spotlight, Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery

Author Spotlight of Sara Rosett, Author of Murder at Archly Manor, a High Society Lady Detective Mystery

Posted on by Debbie

I’m pleased to have author Sara Rosett from Houston, Texas here to speak about her writing and new release, Murder at Archly Manor that’s on blog tour with Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book.

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

My first book, Moving is Murder, was published in 2006 with Kensington Books. It was the first book in the Ellie Avery Mystery series about a military spouse who moves around the country and finds murder and mayhem wherever she goes. That series has 10 books. I branched out into indie publishing in 2013 with the On the Run series. It was a combination of travel, mystery, and sweet romance in the tradition of Mary Stewart and Elizabeth Peters. The first book in that series is called Elusive, and there are now seven books in that series. I went back to writing traditional cozies with the Murder on Location series, which features a location scout traveling around England as she searches for venues to film Jane Austen movies. I self-published the series and the first book is called Death in the English Countryside. There are now seven books in the series. Most recently, I have been working on a historical mystery, which is set in 1920s England. Murder at Archly Manor is the first in the High Society Lady Detective series. The first three books in the series will release between now and Spring 2019.

That’s wonderful. You have quite a varied publishing background and some interesting series.

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.

My next book is Murder at Archly Manor, the first book in the High Society Lady Detective series. It comes out today, October 15, 2018. I’ve been working on the next two books in the series, Murder at Blackburn Hall and The Egyptian Antiquities Murder, and they will be out in 2019. With the historical setting, I’ve had to do a lot of research, but I love that! I’ve learned so much about 1920s daily life, including fashion, travel, food, communications, and transportation. It’s been fascinating!

Although I write modern cozies and other mysteries, I enjoy reading historical mysteries sometimes and have always enjoyed that time period. It must be fun to write about it.

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 love writing stories that entertain and give readers an escape from the everyday. I will continue to write and publish books in the series I have going, which means plugging away everyday writing, editing, and marketing the books.

I know what you mean. People who aren’t authors don’t realize the amount of time and hard work involved.

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

A reader who loves a good puzzle mystery and wants to travel to interesting places through their reading is my ideal reader.

That’s a wide audience.

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

Keep at it! Keep researching the market. I’d also suggest going to conferences and meeting other writers.

Good advice.

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

I wasn’t sure anyone would want to read my books and I didn’t know if I could finish a book. I think those are common struggles for beginning writers. You just have to put your head down and keep pushing forward. Get the book written, that’s the first step. Then get feedback on it and see where you are.

I agree. It’s common when you start to feel unsure of yourself and your writing. It gets a little easier as you publish, but is still a challenge until you get good reviews or on some bestseller lists.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

No, nothing formal. I do have several writer friends who live nearby and we meet up for lunch or dinner occasionally to talk about writing.

I’m sure that’s helpful.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I like walking/hiking and baking. I also enjoy traveling to new places. I’m a museum junkie and love to explore art museums, history museums, science museums…all kinds of museums!

I have similar hobbies. I don’t bake so much, but I love to walk and visit museums when I get the opportunity.

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

I love research and working out the story in my head. The toughest challenge is getting the words on the page to match the story in my head. 🙂

Interesting. I don’t have that problem. I just need the time to devote to it. I use a light-up note pad by my bed to take notes if I get ideas during the night, so I can remember them the next day.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

Cozies are so much fun because you get an inside look at a special world. Part of the story is finding out what it’s like to run a bakery or be a bookstore owner or escort a tour group.

Yes. I think that’s a big appeal to cozy mystery readers.

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

If you enjoy lighthearted mysteries with strong puzzles set in interesting locations, I hope you’ll check my books out. If you like travel, start with Elusive. If you like Jane Austen or English stately homes, try Death in the English Countryside. If you enjoy historical mysteries, check out Murder at Archly Manor.

Something for every mystery lover.

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

Website: https://www.SaraRosett.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SaraRosett

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

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

Twitter: @SaraRosett https://twitter.com/SaraRosett

 Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/srosett/

Litsy profile name: SaraRosett (no profile links available at this time, home page: http://litsy.com/)

GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/256977.Sara_Rosett

LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/profile/SaraRosett

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Rosett/e/B001IXRPSS

Bookbub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-rosett

Wow, you have a lot of social media connections. Some I haven’t heard of but should look into myself. Thanks so much for the interview and best wishes on your new release. For those who would like to enter your rafflecopter, I’ve provided the link here. 

Murder at Archly Manor (High Society Lady Detective Series)
by Sara Rosett

About the Book



Murder at Archly Manor (High Society Lady Detective Series)
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Self Published (October 15, 2018)
Paperback: 252 pages
ISBN-10: 0998843164
ISBN-13: 978-0998843162
Digital ASIN: B07H2P8J3H

A high-society murder. A spirited lady detective. Can she out-class the killer before an innocent person takes the fall?

London, 1923. Olive Belgrave needs a job. Despite her aristocratic upbringing, she’s penniless. Determined to support herself, she jumps at an unconventional job—looking into the background of her cousin’s fiancé, Alfred. He burst into the upper crust world of London’s high society, but his answers to questions about his past are decidedly vague.

Before Olive can gather more than the basics, a murder occurs at a posh party. Suddenly, every Bright Young Person in attendance is a suspect, and Olive must race to find the culprit because a sly murderer is determined to make sure Olive’s first case is her last.

Murder at Archly Manor is the first in the High Society Lady Detective series of charming historical cozy mysteries. If you like witty banter, glamorous settings, and delightful plot twists, you’ll love USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett’s series for Anglophiles and mystery lovers alike. Travel back to the Golden Age of detective fiction with Murder at Archly Manor.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Kobo

Google Play

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 11 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

October 11 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

October 12 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

October 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 13 – T’s Stuff – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 13 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

October 14 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 14 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

October 15 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

October 15 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 16 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

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

October 18 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

October 18 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 19 – Island Confidential – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 19 – Fantastic feathers – SPOTLIGHT

October 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

October 21 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 21 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 22 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Jane Reads – REVIEW

October 23 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – Carole’s Book Corner – REVIEW

October 24 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for The Perfect Body, A Professor Molly Mystery by Frankie Bow

Posted on by Debbie

This post was contributed by author Frankie Bow. Her cozy mystery, The Perfect Body, is currently on tour with Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book.

Book Cover Design and the Danger of Assuming

When I sent out The Perfect Body to my beta readers, I expected feedback and maybe even a little pushback. Professor Molly has just had a baby, and the story contains some graphic elements of postpartum life.

To my relief, no one was offended by descriptions of soggy breast pads or diaper explosions. But one reader had a strong opinion about the cover:

She hated the rat.

Uh-oh. Was this going to be a problem? Maybe the rat didn’t look enough like a lab rat because it was more brownish-gray than white. (A truly white rat would have disappeared against the white clipboard.)

I went to one of the Facebook groups I belong to, Save our Cozies, for advice. Save our Cozies is a community of passionate, outspoken cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Dear cozy-savers, I pleaded, I need your help! I got feedback from one beta reader that the creature on the cover was too vermin-y and gross. Does the redesign (with the standing rodent) fix it?

I expected to get some straightforward feedback from my fellow cozy-savers, and I was not disappointed.

The original rat was not popular. Readers thought it was “creepy,” and some even shared that they had a phobia of rats.

Maybe a cuter rodent would be better—a wee mouse, perhaps?

The little standing mouse had a few positive comments, and was definitely seen as cuter than the rat.

But overall, the rodents didn’t get a lot of love. Quite a few people said they wouldn’t even pick up a book with a rodent on the cover.

My beta reader, it turns out, was on to something.

Well then, how about a cover with no critters? This is nice, right?

Sure, but there was another problem now. Without a critter to draw the eye, the cover was too plain.

What design element would fit the composition of the book cover, and make people think of laboratory research? I asked my husband (who is an actual scientist) for ideas. He suggested I fill the space with a syringe and needle.

I thought that might be a bit much for a cozy, but I decided to give it a try.

We were down to hibiscus-only versus hibiscus and needle.

With only two cover designs to choose from, I enlisted the (free!) site, helpmechooseacover.com and invited the Save our Cozies members to vote.

The winner was hibiscus and needle, which got over 70% of the votes.

So what did I learn?

1) Don’t assume everyone shares your taste.

2) A lot of cozy readers really, really dislike mice and rats (which might by why they love cats so much).

3) “The Hibiscus and Needle” would be an intriguing name for a pub.

About the Book


The Perfect Body (Professor Molly Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Hawaiian Heritage Press
Release Date – September 30, 2018
Print Length: 203 pages
Digital ASIN: B07GVRPNLY

When Professor Molly attends Mahina State University’s exclusive donor dinner, she doesn’t expect to have to share a table with the insufferable Stephen Park. Turns out it’s one thing to invite your toxic ex-boyfriend to drop dead…it’s quite another when he takes you up on it.

About the Author

Like Professor Molly, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertaining. In addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.

Author Links

Twitter https://twitter.com/Frankie_Bow

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7809288.Frankie_Bow

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

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/frankie.bow.1

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankiebow/

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

Tumblr http://frankiebow.tumblr.com/

RSS Feed https://frankiebow.com/feed/

Purchase Links

Purchase link books2read.com/PerfectBody

Links to all platforms will be there.

Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 1 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

October 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 3 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 4 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

October 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

October 6 – Babs Book Bistro – RECIPE POST

October 7 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 9 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 9 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

October 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

October 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 12 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

October 13 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 13 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

October 14 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

Here’s the link to the Rafflecopter for the blog tour’s giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/317ab7c621/

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for A Stewed Observation by Karen C. Whalen, A Dinner Club Murder Mystery

Posted on by Debbie

This post was contributed by author Karen C. Whalen. Her cozy mystery, A Stewed Observation, is currently on tour with Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book.

Picking the book setting. How about Ireland?

In the fourth book in the dinner club murder mystery series, the Gourmet Dinner Club travels to Ireland to enjoy Irish cuisine while staying at a medieval, ivy-covered castle. The idea for the setting for this mystery came to me after my hubby and I took a trip overseas to Ireland. This European destination quickly became my favorite country to visit.

The first thing we noticed about the Irish is their friendliness. They are absolutely the friendliest and most engaging group of people I have ever met. Everyone makes time to chat if you are so inclined. If you are not careful, the sales person at the cash register will converse with you for minutes on end as the line of customers behind you grows and grows. They are either that friendly or too polite to ask you to move on. Their happiness is contagious.

Some people insist the Irish accent is hard to understand. Yes, it can be, since they talk fast and to English-speaking people they seem to mangle their words. But after the first day, your ear becomes attuned to their beautiful, lilting brogue and you can understand them clearly. It only took a little getting used to, that’s all. By the end of our ten-day visit, we, too, were speaking with an Irish cadence like a third generation Irishman from Galway!

Beautiful landscapes with green growing things capture the eye in every direction. The people must all have green thumbs to go along with their green trees and fields. The hedgerows grow so tall on either side of the roadways that they form a canopy over the top of the lane. Your car will whisk through the tunnels of green bushes over the narrow, winding country roads where the Irish drive on the “wrong side.” Flowers are everywhere in the spring, summer, and fall. Flower pots and window boxes are overflowing with red, yellow, and purple blooms.

You will find nothing touristy outside of Dublin. In the States, we have McDonald’s and gift shops at every tourist destination. In Ireland, if you want to buy a bottle opener in the shape of a leprechaun or a plate with a picture of the Cliffs of Mohr on it, you must do your souvenir shopping in Dublin. Outside of the largest cities, you will not find trinkets and kitschy souvenirs and fast-food junky joints.

Writing about Ireland was my way of returning to the Emerald Isle. If you would like to take a virtual tour of Ireland without leaving home, read A Stewed Observation to travel with Jane and her dinner club friends to the beautiful and lush Emerald Green Island.

About the Book

A Stewed Observation (A Dinner Club Murder Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
The Wild Rose Press, Inc (August 6, 2018)
Print Length: 214 pages
Digital ASIN: B07DYVWHFY

The Gourmet Dinner Club travels to Ireland to enjoy Irish cuisine while staying at a medieval, ivy-covered castle. Jane Marsh hopes Dale Capricorn will ask her to marry him at this romantic dream destination. But her plans are put on hold when the elderly castle owner becomes violent, a club member restrains him, and he collapses and dies.

The police believe the mysterious death is murder and begin to suspect one of the club’s members. Dale leaves for home on a business emergency, and as the lone single gal in the club full of couples, Jane is thrown into the company of Griffin O’Doherty, the handsome Irishman who stands to inherit the castle.

Jane must prove her friend’s innocence by solving the crime. Which of the sweet-tempered Irish could be a callous killer?

About the Author

Karen C. Whalen is the author of a culinary cozy series, the “dinner club murder mysteries.” The first four in the series are: Everything Bundt the Truth, Not According to Flan, No Grater Evil, and A Stewed Observation. The first book in the series tied for First Place in the Suspense Novel category of the 2017 IDA Contest sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Her books are similar to those written by cozy authors Jessica Beck and Joanne Fluke. She worked for many years as a paralegal at a law firm in Denver, Colorado and has been a columnist and regular contributor to The National Paralegal Reporter magazine. She believes that it’s never too late to try something new. She loves to host dinner clubs, entertain friends, ride bicycles, hike in the mountains, and read cozy murder mysteries.

Author Links
Website – http://karencwhalen.com

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/whalenkarenc

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/whalenkarenc

Twitter – https://twitter.com/whalenkc

GoodReads– https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15891729.Karen_C_Whalen

Purchase Links:
Amazon The Wild Rose Press iBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 17 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

September 18 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – GUEST POST

September 19 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 20 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

September 21 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

September 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

September 23 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

September 25 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 26 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

September 28 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

September 29 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 30 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Author Spotlight, Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery

Author Spotlight of Judy Penz Sheluk, Author of Past and Present, a Marketville Mystery

Posted on by Debbie

I’m pleased to have author Judy Penz Sheluk from Alliston, Ontario, Canada here to speak about her writing and new release, Past and Present, a Marketville Mystery.

Welcome, Judy. Please tell us how long you’ve been published and what titles and/or series you write

My first short story, “Sylvia’s World,” was published in the Spring 2004 issue of THEMA, a New Orleans-based literary journal. My first novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose: A Glass Dolphin Mystery (#1) was published by Barking Rain Press in July 2015. The sequel, A Hole In One, was published in March 2018. My second novel, Skeletons in the Attic: A Marketville Mystery (#1), was first published by Imajin Books in August 2016, and re-released by Barking Rain Press in November 2017. The sequel, Past & Present, is being published on September 21, 2018 by Superior Shores Press, which is my own publishing imprint, established earlier this year. I also have two short story collections (Unhappy Endings and Live Free or Tri) and a few stories published in anthologies. Three of my books (Noose, Skeletons, Live Free) are also available in audiobook on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.

Very nice.

Tell us a little bit about your books — what genre you write, 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.

With the exception of my three short stories (literary fiction) published by THEMA, I’m mystery/suspense all the way. As noted earlier, Past & Present will be out today, September 21st. It’s currently on pre-order in trade paperback and at a special introductory price of $2.99 on Kindle. http://authl.it/afj.

I’m currently working on book 3 on both my series (Glass Dolphin and Marketville).

That sounds wonderful. Good luck to you.

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 have a lot of ideas. I’d like to put together an anthology of mystery stories under the Superior Shores Press umbrella and I’m now in the planning stages for that. I’ve started researching a non-fiction novel (not a mystery). I have a rough outline for a novella prequel for Marketville, and another rough outline for a standalone suspense. How am I going to reach those goals? Hard work. The harder I work, the luckier I get.

I love your positive thinking.

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

My mysteries don’t contain overt violence, sex or bad language so they can be read by any age. They can be classed as “cozy” but there are no cats, crafts, or cookie recipes. I like to categorize them as “amateur sleuth with an edge.”

Interesting. There are so many subgenres of mysteries including cozies.

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

Don’t give up. The Help by Kathryn Stockett was turned down 61 times and it’s brilliant. Hire a professional editor – developmental and copy. Your English teacher, best friend, spouse, writing group etc. are all great resources, but they cannot replace a professional. Consider the amount spent an investment in yourself – much like a college course. Accept constructive criticism and learn from it. Write every day, even if you only have 15 minutes to do it.

Excellent advice. It saddens me to think of all those writers who gave up and had so much to offer readers.

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

I’d been a freelance writer/editor for 10 years when I started shopping around The Hanged Man’s Noose. I thought that my reputation, especially my role as Senior Editor for New England Antiques Journal, would help. It didn’t. But I didn’t give up, and Barking Rain offered me a contract in 2014. I’d had about 18 rejections before that. It’s a humbling business.

That it is.

Have you taken any writing or publishing classes? If so, please provide information about them and if you feel they helped you further your professional skills.

Absolutely. My first Creative Writing Workshop led me to writing the short story in THEMA and I’ve taken a few Creative Writing workshops early on. I also have a Creative Writing Certificate from Winghill Writing School (2003), and a Fiction Writing Certificate from Gotham Writers (2013).

I’m sure you’ve benefitted from all of those.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I’m a passionate, if poor, golfer, and belong to two ladies leagues. Of course, our season is short – May to October. I used to be an avid runner, but now I’m more of a distance walker, though I still run 3 miles a couple days a week. I love to read and my goal is 40+ books this year. Reading is the best teacher.

I agree. As a librarian, I have my choice of books which is like being a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately, working full time and writing, I can’t read as much as I’d like to.

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

I love just sitting down and writing, letting the words flow and surprise me. I don’t love marketing but it’s part of it. The toughest challenge is finding the time to do everything I want and need to do. It’s a question of balance.

That’s so true. I also love to see where my characters lead me in my books. As for marketing, most writers find it a challenge and have difficulty fitting it into their tight schedules

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

Website: http://www.judypenzsheluk.com

Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/JudyPenzSheluk/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8602696.Judy_Penz_Sheluk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyPenzSheluk

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/judypenzsheluk/

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judy-penz-sheluk

Blurb for Past & Present

Sometimes the past reaches out to the present…

It’s been thirteen months since Calamity (Callie) Barnstable inherited a house in Marketville under the condition that she search for the person who murdered her mother thirty years earlier. She solves the mystery, but what next? Unemployment? Another nine-to-five job in Toronto?

Callie decides to set down roots in Marketville, take the skills and knowledge she acquired over the past year, and start her own business: Past & Present Investigations.

It’s not long before Callie and her new business partner, best friend Chantelle Marchand, get their first client: a woman who wants to find out everything she can about her grandmother, Anneliese Prei, and how she came to a “bad end” in 1956. It sounds like a perfect first assignment. Except for one thing: Anneliese’s past winds its way into Callie’s present, and not in a manner anyone—least of all Callie—could have predicted.

Past & Present is available for pre-order in trade paperback and at a special introductory price of $2.99 on Kindle. http://authl.it/afj. Publication date Sept. 21, 2018.

Thanks so much for the interview, Judy, and best wishes on your new release and future books.

Posted in Author Spotlight, Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery

Author Spotlight of Marilyn Levinson aka Allison Brook, Author of Read and Gone, a Haunted Library Mystery

Posted on by Debbie

I’m pleased to have Marilyn Levinson (aka Allison Brook), fellow Long Island and cozy mystery author from Holbrook, NY here to speak about her writing and new release, Read and Gone, that is on blog tour with Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book.

Welcome, Marilyn. Please tell us how long you’ve been published and what titles and/or series you write.

My first published book was AND DON’T BRING JEREMY, a novel for kids, in 1985 (Holt) and was a nominee for 6 state awards. Other books for kids written around that time: NO BOYS ALLOWED, THE FOURTH-GRADE FOUR, A PLACE TO START and RUFUS AND MAGIC RUN AMOK.

About seven or eight years ago I started publishing mysteries and romantic suspense: A MURDERER AMONG US and MURDER IN THE AIR –my Twin Lakes mysteries; DANGEROUS RELATIONS, GIVING UP THE GHOST, MURDER A LA CHRISTIE and MURDER THE TEY WAY – my Golden Age of Mystery Book Club mysteries; DEATH OVERDUE and READ AND GONE – my Haunted Library mystery series written as Allison Brook

More novels for kids: GETTING BACK TO NORMAL and THE DEVIL’S PAWN

You are quite a prolific and versatile writer. I also like to write other genres in addition to my cozy mystery series.

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.

READ AND GONE, the second book in my Haunted Library series, is just out with Crooked Lane Books. My sleuth, Carrie Singleton, works in the Clover Ridge Library in Clover Ridge, CT as head of programs and events. She can see and communicate with the ghost of a former library assistant who sometimes helps her solve mysteries and lives with Smoky Joe, the library cat. I am currently writing the third book in the series.

I read your first and really enjoyed it. I hope to read the new one soon. As you know, as a librarian, I’m a bit partial to librarian sleuths and library cats, as I feature them in my books, too.

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 plan to keep on writing mysteries. I’d like to write another series and to add a few books to the series I’ve already begun.  I also want to write the third and final Rufus book in my Rufus trilogy for readers ten to twelve.

I’m publishing the fourth book in my series soon and have an unpublished first of a cozy series I’m currently querying to agents. I’d like to continue the Cobble Cove books and am already planning the 5th.

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 that like mysteries, unraveling secrets, and reading about my characters’ relationships with one another. I think readers who like a library setting, novels that include animals, and paranormal elements in their mysteries would love reading my books.

I hope to attract the same readers as you. Besides the paranormal theme in your books, mine feature all the others that you do. I have a standalone paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow, that just came out and is on blog tour with a giveaway right now.

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

Keep on writing; belong to a critique group to give and receive input from other writers; join writers’ organizations; attend a few conferences if you can; be active in social media but don’t let it overtake the time you should be writing.

Keeping social media time down is tough especially when one works full time. Critique groups can be helpful as well as writer organizations. I’ve attendedf a few conferences and hope to attend more, but many times they are given when I’m working.

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

I received many rejections.

I think all authors do, but they need not take them personally but use them as motivation to keep trying.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I belong to Sisters in Crime and the Guppies.

Me, too. They’re great.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

I read, knit, do crossword puzzles and Sudoku. I enjoy traveling and dining out.

I used to crochet. I like logic puzzles but have never tried Sudoku. I also like to travel when I have the time and money, but I’m eating out less to keep to my diet.

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

I enjoy hearing from readers, especially when they tell me they’ve loved reading my books and look forward to the next in the series.

Least, I suppose, are the things I can’t control. Like the rare, unfair negative review.

My toughest challenge is finding the necessary time to write. I wish I wrote faster.

I agree that time is one of the biggest challenges for authors and the more you publish, the more time you need to promote your books. I also enjoy hearing from readers and fans of my series. It gives me a reason to keep writing.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

I love writing about characters that appear in a series—their lives in a small town, their concerns, and their relationships with one another. I enjoy the way my sleuths have to figure out clues and gather information to solve the mystery without the use of a forensic lab at their disposal.

Yes, characters are most important in mysteries especially cozies.

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

website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Levinson/e/B001KHVLUU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1521576336&sr=1-2-ent
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/

To join Marilyn’s rafflecopter for her blog tour, follow the link here. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/02887792759/?

Thank you so much for the interview, Marilyn, and continued success with your series, new release, and blog tour. I hope you drop by the library again, so we can chat or maybe do lunch. I may also see you at another LI event.