I'm pleased to welcome Kylie Forsythe to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Kylie writes the Cassidy Blayne Mystery series. MURDER AT THE AGENCY is the first book in the series and was released last month.
Kathy: In MURDER AT THE AGENCY Cassidy Blaine lands her dream job as Creative Director with an elite advertising firm. Have you ever landed your dream job?
KF: I have! From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I had a “classroom” set up in my basement and spent hours down there “teaching”. My dream came true when I got a 4th grade teaching position in the wonderful school district I had just done my student teaching in. 25 years later, I’m still there! Same grade, same classroom. I absolutely love it.
Kathy: After Cassidy finds one of the owners dead and herself a suspect she gets help from her new roommate. Have you ever had a roommate? Do you think they'd help out of your became a murder suspect?
KF: I actually lived alone for most of college. (I wanted to, believe it or not,) But for one year, I did have a roommate. She was studying to be a teacher too, so we were a great fit. She would absolutely help out if I became a murder suspect! She’d make it her mission and I know, she’d give the police a run for their money, lol.
Kathy: She also gets help from twin childhood best friends. Are you still friends with anyone from your childhood?
KF: Yes. One of my very best friends and I have been friends for 35 years. We met back in 5th grade. I didn’t know her very well at the start of the year. But when she got a kidney infection and was hospitalized, my heart went out to her and I wanted to cheer her up. So, I wrote her a letter. Someone must have taken it to her because the day she came back, she thanked me. We’ve been close friends ever since, and she’s my favorite person to bounce plot ideas off of.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
KF: I loved cozy mysteries even before I knew they were a thing. Maybe it started with Scooby Doo… I loved the mystery, the clues, the friend group, the suspense (without being too scary), the way the bad guy was always caught in the end. As I got older, I devoured Nancy Drew books and would tune in every week for Murder She Wrote. After years of reading cozies and watching Hallmark mysteries, I decided to write my own!
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
KF: No, not currently.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
KF: MURDER AT THE AGENCY is the first book in The Cassidy Blayne Mystery series. It centers around a woman who (not by choice) is starting over. New town, new job, new life, new friends (mixed with some old friends). Everything is looking up. But when her boss is murdered and she becomes a person of interest, she realizes it could all come crashing down if she doesn’t find out who the real killer is, and fast. With help from her friends, she sets out to do just that.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
KF: I had so much fun creating my characters, and I love all of them. But I think my favorite is Cassie, my main character. She’s the kind of person I’d want to be best friends with, someone who’s loyal, positive, sarcastic, smart, hardworking, kind, tenacious, fun, and doesn’t back down easily. Another reason is that she’s not perfect. She’s going through some stuff and because of that, she’s cautious with taking chances on herself. You can’t help but root for her to not only solve the crime, but realize her worth and go for the things that make her happy.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
KF: In addition to reading cozy mysteries, I also love to watch Hallmark mysteries. I think I’ve gotten inspiration from all of them. Specifically though, the setting of MURDER AT THE AGENCY, Brighton Lake, is inspired by a real life place I love to visit-Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I take a girls trip there every summer where we get pedicures, make candles, do wine tastings, lounge by the resort’s pool, eat at delicious restaurants, and take in the beautiful scenery. It’s such a quaint, beautiful lakeside town. They have fun festivals, there’s a path around the lake in the backyards of beautiful mansions. When I thought about the perfect place for Cassie to start over, I knew it had to be somewhere like this.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
KF: I’ve always wanted to write and publish a book. Life was busy, but I spent years filling notebooks with ideas for this series. Plot ideas, characters, names for places, all of it, and thought maybe someday I’d give it a go. Then a few years ago, while my students were busy crafting their own stories, I mentioned that I wanted to write a book. They told me I should, to which of course, I responded by listing all the reasons why I couldn’t-it’s scary, I don’t know how, what if no one likes it, etc. And wouldn’t you know? They used my own words on me, reminding me of all the times I told them that they could do anything they put their minds to, no dream was too big, and you won’t know if you don’t try. They were right. What was I waiting for? I started drafting MURDER AT THE AGENCY that very day, and I thought “how cool for my daughters and my students to watch me live out my dream”. Hopefully, it encourages them to take risks and do the same.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
KF: Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and C.S. Lewis.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
KF: I usually have a couple of books going, a physical book or ebook as well as an audiobook. Right now I’m currently reading AWL SHOOK UP, book 4 in the Hometown Hardware Mystery series, by Paula Charles. I’m listening to DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN, book 5 in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, by Lucy Connelly. The narrator is amazing with the accents! I also love to read ARCs and post reviews for other authors, and most often have one of those going too.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
KF: I love to read, spend time outside by my pool, plant flowers, watch Hallmark movies, spend time with friends and family, make my house cozy, and oddly, I also love to clean and organize. Oh, and I love to write!
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
KF: Iced coffee, dark chocolate, salty snacks, and a bottle of wine.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
KF: I’m currently writing book 2 in my current series, which continues Cassie’s professional journey, personal growth, and relationship with her circle of friends (as well as with a budding love interest). And you can probably guess that another murder will throw a wrench into things…
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
KF: My favorite thing about it is meeting and getting to know other cozy mystery lovers. Whether they are readers or other authors, I’ve found the cozy mystery to be such a warm, welcoming place where authors build each other up and you can find camaraderie with fellow readers. It’s also exciting to hear from people who have read my book. Their positive words and encouragement means the world to me.
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Murder at the Agency: A Cassidy Blayne Mystery
by Kylie Forsythe
About Murder at the Agency
“ An irresistible start to what’s sure to be a binge-worthy series.”
-USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox
Who knew the marketing world could be so dangerous?
Just when it seems like everything in twenty-eight year old Cassidy Blayne's life is falling apart, a thrilling coffee shop encounter leads to the opportunity of a lifetime. Landing her dream job as Creative Director with an elite advertising firm in a nearby lakeside town fills her with renewed purpose. She’s no longer going to allow herself to settle, and resolves to rebuild her life on her own terms.
But from the moment she steps foot out of the elevator, she senses things may not be as they seem at Turner & Nash Advertising. Despite her wariness, Cassie puts all her energy into landing her first big account. Arriving early on the day of the presentation, she's shocked to find one of the owners dead and herself a suspect.
She embarks on a desperate search for answers, unknowingly putting her and the people she cares about in danger. As she pieces things together with some help from her spunky new roommate, twin childhood best friends, an uptight detective, and a gorgeous up-and-coming rock star, warnings and threats escalate. It's clear the killer will stop at nothing to keep her quiet.
Cassie must risk everything to unravel the murder before someone takes her off the market for good.
Fans of “Olive You To Death” by Lynn Cahoon or “A Limited Edition Murder” by Lauren Elliott will enjoy “Murder At The Agency” by Kylie Forsythe.
About Kylie Forsythe
Kylie Forsythe writes cozy mysteries with smart amateur sleuths, close-knit groups of friends, and a touch of romance. Kylie is also a fourth-grade teacher and resides in Illinois with her husband, two daughters, and a rambunctious Weimaraner. When she’s not teaching, you can find her spending time with the wonderful family and friends she’s been blessed with, cooking, enjoying a good book or Hallmark Mystery movie, or crafting her next story.
Author Links:
Facebook: facebook.com/KylieForsythe,Writer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylieforsythewrites/
Website: kylieforsythe.com
Bookbub: Bookbub/KylieForsythe
Newsletter: https://kylieforsytheauthor.substack.com/\
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53583099.Kylie_Forsythe
Purchase Links: Books2Read Amazon B&N Bookshop.org
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