T.C. LoTempio – Ruff Drafts

Blog Tour and Excerpt for A Crust To Die For by T.C. LoTempio

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Debbie

A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery)
by Toni LoTempio

This is a well-written cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more in the series! The author’s strong descriptive voice brings each setting to life so that the reader can clearly envision the action and the details.
~Cinnamon & Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder

A CRUST TO DIE FOR is a smart witty mystery full of friends and good food. Be sure to bring an appetite for pizza and sink your teeth into this delightful read.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

About A Crust To Die For

A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Georgia
Severn House (January 2, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448310032
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448310036
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CB8YDJFV

The Bon-Appetempting Pizza Bake-Off has the small town of Branson, Georgia buzzing. Not least its organizer, Southern Style’s food critic and blogger Tiffany Austin. But right before the finals one of the celebrity judges falls ill, and to Tiffany’s horror the magazine replaces him with none other than handsome TV star and restaurateur Bartholomew Driscoll.

Tiffany once gave his restaurant a poor review, and she’s convinced he’s only accepted the job to get revenge. She fully expects Driscoll will find a way to ruin the contest . . . but she definitely doesn’t expect to trip over his dead body backstage!

Soon, it’s clear Tiffany wasn’t the only person who had less than positive feelings towards the sharp-tongued Driscoll. She’s surrounded by suspects – but which of the motley crew of contestants, family members and scorned friends and colleagues had the guts to commit murder?

With the help of her BFF Hilary and annoyingly handsome detective Bartell, and with cat Lily and puppy Cooper as emotional support, Tiffany investigates, only to discover that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold . . .

EXCERPT

and Arleen hadn’t come back yet, so I turned in the direction of the break room. As I approached the kitchen, I paused. There were voices coming from that direction. Low, intense voices. Curious, I drew closer.

“You’re making a huge mistake,” rasped one angry voice. I couldn’t make it out, but it sounded distinctly feminine. More whispering, then another voice, quivering with rage: “How dare you threaten me!”

I took a step backward. That voice I recognized. Driscoll! But who was he talking to? Charlotte Horn? Or someone else? I debated moving closer when I heard a loud voice call out, “Tiffany? Where are you? Are you backstage?”

Immediately the voices in the kitchen silenced. I hurried swiftly back out to the stage area, trying to be as quiet as possible. As soon as I emerged, Hilary ran up to me. “Arleen’s not in the ladies’ room,” she announced. “I hope she didn’t take off. She does that sometimes when she gets upset.”

“I’m sure she didn’t,” I said reassuringly. My mind was going a million miles a minute. Had the feminine voice I heard arging with Driscoll been Arleen’s? I couldn’t say for certain, so I didn’t want to voice any concern to Hilary. “Maybe she just went outside for a breath of fresh air,” I suggested. “We still have time before the second half. Let’s go look.”

We hurried over to the Exit door and outside. We walked around the building and checked the parking lot. Arleen’s convertible was still in its place under the shady elm. There was no sign of her, or anyone else for that matter, anywhere in the area.

“I can’t understand it,” Hilary grumbled as we made our way back. “Where could she have gone off to?”

Dale came over to us, and Hilary pounced on him. “Have you seen my sister? She’s missing!”

Dale gave Hilary a puzzled look. “No she’s not. She’s onstage. See.”

Dale parted the curtain. Sure enough, Arleen was behind her station, tying her apron. I frowned as I looked at her. Something about her seemed different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Hilary put her hand to her breast. “Thank God,” she murmured. “She looks pretty calm, too, all things considered.”

I glanced at the other two contestants. Kurt Howell appeared unruffled as he pulled his pizza dough out, but Colleen Collins was grasping the edge of her counter. She seemed a bit short of breath, and I sincerely hoped she wasn’t having a panic attack.

Dale’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Have either of you seen Driscoll?” he asked.

“Not recently,” I answered. “Why?”

Dale pulled a face. “Mr. Wonderful hasn’t turned in his scores from the first half, and we need them before the second half can start.” He tapped at his watch. “Plus, now we’re running late and the school needs the auditorium for voting at four, which means we’ve got to be out by three in order for them to set up.”

“Well, he did say he felt light-headed. He was going to find a quiet spot and sit down, so he’s probably somewhere backstage.”

Dale shot me a hopeful look. “I know he’s not your favorite person, but would you help me look for him?”

I opened my mouth to tell Dale that I thought I’d heard Driscoll back in the kitchen, but his cell buzzed. Dale whipped it out of his pocket, mumbled, “Really? Now?” He held the phone away and looked over at me. “Thanks Tiff,” he said. “I’ll join you as soon as I put out this fire.” Without waiting for me to answer he hurried off, phone back to his ear. I squared my shoulders. So, it was up to me to light a fire under Driscoll, huh? Swell. I hoped by now he’d concluded his conversation with his mysterious companion. If not and I interrupted I’d most likely get my head handed to me. I glanced out at the judge’s area again. It was empty. Apparently both Anastasia and Ferrante had finished with the judging and decided to take a break too. I sighed. I’d better check out the kitchen area before more people started disappearing.

I walked swiftly up the short flight of steps to the kitchen. This time when I approached, the door was closed. I hesitated, then raised my fist and rapped sharply. “Hello. Anyone in there?”

Silence.

I rapped again, louder this time. “Hello, Mr. Driscoll? Dale wanted me to tell you that we need your scores. You’re holding up the second half of the competition. Mr. Driscoll?”

Something made me glance down at the floor. Something was caught on the side of the door. I bent down and picked it up. It was a tiny sliver of fabric, a blue, white and purple print. It looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen it. I slid the fragment into my pocket and knocked on the door again.

Still no answer.

I twisted the knob. The door opened a few inches, then stopped, as if something were blocking it. I frowned, and pushed harder. “Anyone in here?” I called. I poked my nose in through the narrow opening, trying to peer around the edge of the door.

The first thing I saw was a black-pants clad leg, turned sideways beside the round table. I drew a quick breath, took a step back, then flung my full body weight against the door. The door creaked back another foot, enough for me to enter. I eased myself awkwardly into the room, and saw someone had taken the footstool and wedged it against the door. I pushed it aside and made my way towards the leg. My first thought was that Driscoll might have fainted. He’d complained earlier about feeling light-headed. As I drew nearer though, I saw that wasn’t the case. I put my hand to my mouth and bit down hard to keep from screaming.

Bartholomew Driscoll lay sprawled across the floor, a chef’s knife sticking awkwardly out of the base of his throat.

About T.C. LoTempio

T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora mystery series. Her cat, Rocco, provides the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat. She also writes the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery Series, as well as the Cat Rescue series. Her latest series is the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series from Severn House. Check out her and Rocco’s blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com, and visit her website, www.tclotempio.net, for more information.

Author Links

Webpage: http://www.tclotempio.net

Blog: http://www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5

Twitter/X: @RoccoBlogger

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1195684.T_C_LoTempio?from_search=true&from_srp=true

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 8 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

January 8 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 12 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Brooke Blogs – RECIPE

January 14 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 15 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

January 17 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

January 20 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

January 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Authors, Books, Cats, Cozies, Cozy Chat, Cozy Mysteries, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Series

Cozy Chat with Dianne Harman

Posted on July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 by Debbie

Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dianne Harman about her High Desert cozy mystery series.

Hi, Dianne. Thanks for joining us. Have a seat and help yourself to some tea while we talk.

Can you tell us a little bit about your series? What gave you the idea for it?

My husband’s uncle lived in a compound with three other artists in the high desert outside of Palm Springs, California. We visited him several times, and I was always charmed by the four homes which surrounded a central courtyard. It had a large tree filled with twinkling lights, and it stayed with me. I was an art and antique appraiser prior to becoming an author, and it was a natural to combine the two. I love food and dogs, so they found their way in as well. One of the people who lives in the compound has a food truck, the antique appraiser has a black Labrador retriever who wears pink booties, and I have a recipe section in all of my books.

Very nice. Books always seem more realistic when authors base them on their own experiences and knowledge. My book, A Stone’s Throw, features a librarian like me and a cat and dog. I’m a pet lover, especially of cats, and the Siamese in the book is based on my 16-year old cat, Oliver.

Do you have any advice to other authors about writing cozies or writing in general?

Just do it! You don’t need one more class, one more critique group, one more anything. You learn as you go, and believe me, the more you write, the more you’ll learn.

I agree. Even though writing classes and groups can be helpful, experience is the best teacher.

What are you currently working on?

I launched a new series this week, the Jack Trout Cozy Mystery Series. One of my books in the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series is about an English guide being murdered while fishing in Cuba. My husband and I were fortunate enough to go to Cuba recently with Jack, who is a fishing guide. People responded so favorably to Jack and his wife, Carola, that I decided to do a series about them and fishing different places. Murdered in Argentina, released July 18th, is based on a trip we recently took with them to Chile and Argentina. I fell in love with a small little town, San Martin de Los Andes, and decided to base the book there.

That sounds terrific. Best of luck with that. I’m sure there will be a lot of interest from your readers.

Do you write any other genres than cozies?

I wrote the Coyote Series, three psychological thrillers, prior to writing cozy mysteries.

Interesting. I just finished a psychological thriller tentatively titled “Sea Scope” that I hope to publish next year. My sequel to “A Stone’s Throw” will hopefully be out soon, as well, and I have a great idea for a pet cozy series that I’d like to start.

Can you tell me how you got started in writing?

My husband and I were attending a wedding in Palm Springs, California. It was October and the temperature was 107. The air conditioning was so quiet that I happened to make the comment “Wouldn’t it be wild if someone put a ‘feel good drug’ in the air conditioner and everyone felt good all the time?” My husband looked at me and said the words that started a whole new career for me, “Why don’t you write a book about it?” And so I did.

What a great story.

What are your hobbies besides writing?

I love to cook, and I love to read. Plus, you’ll always find at least one dog in our household, often more than that!

Pets are great additions to a home. They really become part of the family. I have one daughter, but my two male cats are almost like baby sons to me.

Is there anything else you’d like readers of this blog to know about you and/or your books?

I’m just so grateful that readers have consistently made my books best sellers. This was something that was never planned when the word “retirement” came up, but I love every minute of it!

I can imagine what a great feeling that is, Diane. I’m just starting to build my writing business although I’ve been writing for a long time. I hope to be as successful as you. It takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s worth it to know there are people reading and enjoying your books. I hope I can also make it a full-time career when I retire in ten years or so.

Can you share some links with us of your social media sites and Amazon page?

Amazon: http://ow.ly/s6pN5
Web Site http://www.DianneHarman.com
Blog: http://dianneharman.com/blog/
Twitter: @DianneDHarman

Thanks so much. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you. Best of luck on your new series and forthcoming books.

Authors, Books, Cats, Cozies, Cozy Chat, Cozy Mysteries, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Series

Cozy Chat with T.C. LoTempio

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Debbie

Although I consider myself a romantic suspense author and fan, I also used to be an avid reader of cozy mysteries especially those featuring cats. For those of you who also share that interest, I will be featuring Cozy Chats with cozy mystery authors on this blog. If you are an author who writes a cozy series and would like to participate in a future Cozy Chat, please contact me.

The first guest I have the pleasure of speaking with for a Cozy Chat is T.C. (Toni) LoTiempo about her cat cozy mystery series, Nick and Nora. The second book in this series, “Claws for Alarm” is being released on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Hi, Toni. Thanks for joining us on Cozy Chat. Have a seat and help yourself to some tea while we talk.

Can you tell us a little bit about the Nick and Nora series? What gave you the idea for it?

Nick and Nora is a takeoff on the old ‘Thin Man’ series, only instead of a man and a woman, it’s cat and a woman. J Nora Charles is an ex-true crime reporter who returns to her hometown of Cruz, California to take over her deceased mother’s sandwich shop. Along the way she adopts a tuxedo cat that she names Nick (or is it the other way around???). Nick belonged to a PI who is currently MIA, and he and Nora have a flair for solving mysteries in common. I actually got the idea from my ex-supervisor at my day job, who told me I should quit writing about vampires and write a book about my cat. Apparently he was right!

Very interesting. I’m especially fond of cat cozies. Do you have any advice to other authors about writing cozies or writing in general?

Writing requires a great deal of patience and a thick skin. If you can’t take rejection, best to find another profession. The best way to get published is to keep writing, writing and reading, reading.

I agree completely. What are you currently working on?

The Next Nick and Nora, and the first book in a new series.

After “Claws for Alarm,” when will the 3rd Nick and Nora be released?

Nick and Nora #3 will be out December 2016. Nora gets involved searching for a woman’s missing niece, and is still trying to locate Nick’s former human, missing PI Nick Atkins.

Do you write any other genres than cozies?

Yes – I actually started out writing horror, and had a few novels published by a small press (they are currently out of print, and I have the rights back). I’ve self published a few paranormal suspense novel that were moderately successful.

Can you tell me how you got started in writing?

I’ve been writing on and off since I was ten years old.

Same here. Many writers begin at an early age, but, of course publishing comes later. What are your hobbies besides writing?

I used to bowl, but back problems sidelined that. I love reading, and I love playing with my three cats.

Seems we have a lot in common, Toni. I love to read and play with my two cats, too. Is there anything else you’d like readers of this blog to know about you and/or your books?

ROCCO has a blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com, where we interview authors and have giveaways twice a month at least. ROCCO also reviews cozies for Night Owl, and I’m the suspense columnist! We also do fundraising for the charity co-founded by Nathan Fillion of Castle fame, Kids Need to Read, and have a charity auction every summer.

Great info. I will check out the blog. Thank you so much for joining us on Cozy Chat today, and good luck with your Nick and Nora mysteries and other books and series.