Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Devil's Kiss by Michelle Bennington. This book is the first in the Small Batch Mystery series and was released last month.

Divorced, broke, and living with her grandma, Rook Campbell's life is looking grim, especially as she just quit her job as an underappreciated, underpaid, untenured professor. Her best friend, Bryan, helps her land a job at Four Wild Horses Distillery, where he works as an accountant. Things are hectic on her first day on the job and there's an underlying sense of subterfuge as well as outright hostility. Something shady is definitely going on at Four Wild Horses. When Bryan is found dead Rook is certain it's murder and vows to discover who killed him. Things get increasingly dangerous for Rook who is desperate to keep her job. But will her decision to stay at the distillery and look for Bryan's murderer get her killed as well?

With a Spirit of Vengeance - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

 WITH A SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE by Lena Gregory
The Seventh Bay Island Psychic Mystery

 

Cass Donovan has finally hired someone to help work in her shop, Mystical Musings. Although Thea is doing an excellent job, Cass has concerns. It appears that the spirit of Ophelia Wilson is back, and she’s angry. No longer content that her innocence was proven, she wants the real killer of her family named. Is the spirit taking her vengeance out on Thea? Is she capable of using the young woman as a pawn? While searching for the identity of the person who actually killed Ophelia’s family Cass gets drawn into the current murders of Ophelia’s descendants. Will Cass be able to put the ghosts of the past to rest when their actions may be impacting the present? Will she be able to solve the murders while appeasing a vengeful spirit?

Nightmares, horrifying visions, and a vengeful spirit make the seventh Bay Island Psychic Mystery a spooky read. I enjoy investigating a century old mystery alongside of current crimes and love how they intertwine. I also love the relationship between Cass and Bee. We get to see their devotion and understanding of each other as they encounter some very unpleasant people. They complement each other so well and their friendship is a delight to see.

With thrills, chills, and a dynamite mystery WITH A SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE will keep you reading through the night. 

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 WITH A SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (A Bay Island Psychic Mystery) By Lena Gregory

About With A Spirit of Vengeance

With A Spirit of Vengeance (A Bay Island Psychic Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Bay Island (Just off Long Island, New York)
Beyond the Page Publishing (June 28, 2022)
Paperback Print Length: ‎ 249 pages

Psychic Cass Donovan must uncover the truth about long-buried secrets and recent murders to bring peace to a troubled spirit and bring justice to a flesh-and-blood killer . . .

When the spirit of Ophelia Wilson turned to clairvoyant Cass Donovan for help, Cass was able to prove Ophelia’s innocence in the century-old murders of her family members—and solve a contemporary murder in the process. But Ophelia’s spirit has returned, this time angrily demanding that Cass expose the identity of whoever did kill her family. And then eerily, two descendants from the Wilson family tree are murdered, suggesting that Ophelia has the power to meddle in modern-day events to satisfy her rage.

As Cass struggles to solve the two recent murders and unravel the sparse clues about murders from a hundred years ago, she and those around her begin to suffer Ophelia’s wrath—including an attempt on the life of one of Cass’s closest friends. Relying on all of her own psychic powers, Cass has to confront the spirit’s hunger for vengeance and track down a merciless killer before she becomes the next victim of both . . .

About Lena Gregory

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

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The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Brody Broom to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Brody on the pages of The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady by Debbie De Louise. This book is the first in the Buttercup Bend Mystery series and was released last month.

 

Hi, there. It’s Brody Broom. I’m the brother of the deceased. I betcha ya thought Cathy, the main character of the book, would be speakin wit you today. Well, ya got me. I’d say ya lucked out. Let me explain. The sheriff he thinks I killed Maggie for her money, but I didn’t know she’d won so much in that stupid magazine contest. Even if I did, I wouldn’t hurt her. She hurt me plenty, but I don’t hold grudges.

Let me tell ya about myself and my unfunctional, I mean dysfunctional, family. My parents were alcoholics. They both died pretty young. Good riddance to em. I was sorta raised by my two sisters who both abused me. Maggie with putting me down for a good-fer-nothin and Gladys with her punches. I couldn’t wait to run away from that house when I was 15. I spent my growin up years doin drugs and robbin stuff. But I put that all behind me when I decided to go straight. I got some work cleanin toilets at jails and schools, but I always got myself fired. My fault. I kept playin hooky. No one wants to hire someone with no schoolin who don’t show up for work.

My biggest break came, believe it or not, when Maggie was murdered. That’s when I was called to Buttercup Bend to speak wit her lawyer about the will. Now, mind ya, I didn’t get much. In fact, I got less than Gladys. Most of the kit-n-kaboodle went to Cathy Carter and her pet cemetery and rescue place. I was glad ‘bout that in a way, but I thought I deserved more. So I showed up at the town square dance at the church wit my gun and threatened Maggie’s lawyer. They took me to jail, but I was released. My gun wasn’t loaded and was licensed, so my girlfriend bailed me out, but I broke up with her after that. She was ready to do drugs with me again, but I put my foot down. I wanted to make a new start.

Then fate stepped in when I spoke with Cathy about my family history, and she asked me what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Well, deep down I’ve always liked animals, so I told her I would love to be a vet like that guy, Graham, who helps out at her rescue place. Next thing ya know, she’s askin him to give me a position at the front desk of his vet place. He wasn’t too happy about hirin me, but I think he’s sweet on her, so he said he’d give me a trial run. That ain’t bad for somebody who is already fifty years old.

I can’t really tell you much more without revealin the story, so I hope you buy Debbie’s book. Then ya can find out if I’m guilty of killin my sister or anyone else.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to give ya an excerpt from some of my scenes, though.

This one is from when I first come to the Buttercup Inn where I’m stayin while I meet with Maggie’s lawyer for the reading of her will. In this scene, the sheriff already has it out for me.

“Maggie always had a soft spot for kitties,” Brody added. “It bothered her when I was ten and stepped on her tabby’s tail. It was an accident, but she screamed at me. She even threatened to tell Mom about my pot stash. Not that she would care with her head in the bottle half the time. Don’t mean to speak ill of the dead. Ma died a few years later of serius, or whatever it’s called of the liver, and Pa a year later of the same thing. Maggie left home after that and took her kitties with her.” He gave a gap-toothed smile.

Leroy, hearing this, glared at Brody. “I hope you’re not still using drugs.”

Brody’s smile faded. “Nope. I’m clean, man. I swear.”

And here’s a scene where the nice lady, Sandra, the innkeeper, comes to my defense when that sheriff searches me:

Leroy and Brian exited their cruiser. She watched as they approached Brody’s car. “Get out with your hands up,” the Sheriff commanded.

She strained her ears to hear Brody’s reply but couldn’t. A moment later, he opened the car door and strode out, hands over his head. Just like the police dramas Gran liked to watch on TV, he was frisked against his car. Leroy tossed a pack of tissues to the ground and a few wrappers of gum. As they fell, she noted Brody’s pants were slipping, and she worried they might fall down around his knees. Only his loose belt kept that from happening.

“Just junk,” Leroy exclaimed. “Check that bag, though.”

Brian took the grocery bag that was on the passenger seat and showed Leroy the contents that included a case of unopened beer.

“What’s going on?” Brody asked. “You’ll find nothing illegal on me. I’m not drunk, and I wasn’t speeding.”

“After I released you from jail, I told you to stay at the inn until I gave you the go ahead to leave town.”

“I was only grocery shopping. Can’t a man buy himself some beer in peace? And what’s with the body check? I should press harassment charges against you.”

As Leroy and Brody argued, Sandra Barry opened the door and step out on the porch. She hurried down the stairs, her brown and gray streaked ponytail swinging. “Officers, Mr. Broom is a guest at my inn. He’s been nothing but respectful to me and the other guests.”

Well, there ya have it. I hope ya enjoyed this guest post and have decided to buy the book. I think I happen to be the best character in it. 

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The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady: A Buttercup Bend Mystery by Debbie De Louise

About The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady

The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady: A Buttercup Bend Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting – Buttercup Bend, a fictional town in the Catskills, New York State
Next Chapter (May 15, 2022) Paperback: ‎ 298 pages

After Buttercup Bend’s “Cat Crazy Lady,” Maggie Broom, is smothered to death in her home, Cathy Carter is stunned to learn that the animal shelter and pet cemetery she co-owns with her brother Doug is the recipient of the bulk of Maggie’s estate.

When Maggie’s estranged brother and sister come to town and are upset with the terms of their sister’s will, Sheriff Leroy Miller is convinced one of them killed Maggie.

At a baby shower Cathy’s grandmother holds for Doug’s wife, one of the guests turns up dead, and Cathy and her reporter friend, Nancy Meyers, set out to solve the murders.

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writers’ Association. Her novels include the five books and four stories of the Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, a comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, a paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow, and the standalone mysteries; Reason to Die, Sea Scope, and Memory Makers. Debbie has also written a time-travel novel, Time's Relative, and a non-fiction cat book, Pet Posts: The Cat Chats, written from the points of view of four of her cats and has also published articles in online and print pet magazines including Catster.com. Her latest book, Meows and Purrs, is a poetry collection of cat poems that includes photos and notes about her cats.

Debbie’s stories and poetry appear in the Red Penguin Collections, What Lies Beyond, ‘Tis the Season, Stand Out, Volumes I and II, Until Dawn, Treat or Trick, and Pets on the Prowl. Her poems are also featured in the Nassau County Voices In Verse 2020 anthology and the 2020 and 2021 Bards Annual. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

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A Hint of Mischief - A Guest Post, Recipe, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Daryl Wood Gerber back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Among other things, Daryl writes the Fairy Garden Mystery series. A HINT OF MISCHIEF is the third book in the series and will be released next week.

Chocolate Crinkles
By Daryl Wood Gerber

In the Fairy Garden Mysteries, at Open Your Imagination, the fairy garden store owned by Courtney Kelly, they serve tea on the weekends. At some of the teas they have book clubs. At all of them they offer soothing live music and tasty treats. It’s the perfect environment to sup and then shop for fairy garden items, plants, and pots. It’s also the ideal place to search for Fiona, the fairy sidekick who assists Courtney when she’s sleuthing. If you didn’t know, Open Your Imagination offers fairy garden workshops and private classes, and its main showroom sells fun items like windchimes, teacups, books about fairies, and more. It’s becoming a destination stop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, a beautiful resort town on the coast, about two hours south of San Francisco.

Yvanna, a friend of Courtney’s who works at Sweet Treats, another shop in the courtyard where Open Your Imagination is located, comes on Saturdays to help with the teas. She is a marvelous baker and will often provide baked goods that can be enjoyed by those who need to eat gluten-free. She’s allowed me to share both recipes with you today, regular and gluten-free.

Yvanna believes that all tea parties should include chocolate crinkles. Not only are they easy to make, but the fudgy texture is always a winner. You can make these large or small. It truly depends on the size of the ball you form.

When you look at the ingredients, don’t roll your eyes. Yes, there is a LOT of sugar, but you don’t eat sweets hoping to avoid sugar do you? Yvanna will tell you, “Sugar, in moderation, warms the soul.”

Enjoy.



CHOCOLATE CRINKLES

(Yield: 4 dozen)


8 ounces melted butter

4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

1 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup extra granulated sugar, for rolling

1/2 cup powdered sugar


Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix butter, chocolate, granulated sugar, brown sugar. Blend in the eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add mixture to the sugar mixture and stir well.

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls, about 1 tablespoon. You might need to moisten your fingers.

Pour extra granulated sugar into a pie tin. Pour powdered sugar into a separate pie tin. Coat each ball with granulated sugar and then with powdered sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on the parchment paper. Bake 10 – 12 minutes. These will look slightly gooey in the “cracks” when removed from the oven. That’s fine. Do not overbake. 

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CHOCOLATE CRINKLES
GLUTEN-FREE VERSION

(Yield: 4 dozen)

8 ounces melted butter

4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups gluten-free flour

1 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon whey powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup extra granulated sugar, for rolling

1/2 cup powdered sugar


Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix butter, chocolate, granulated sugar, brown sugar. Blend in the eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, whey powder, xanthan gum, and salt. Add mixture to the sugar mixture and stir well.

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls, about 1 tablespoon. You might need to moisten your fingers.

Pour extra granulated sugar into a pie tin. Pour powdered sugar into a separate pie tin. Coat each ball with granulated sugar and then with powdered sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on the parchment paper. Bake 10 – 12 minutes. These will look slightly gooey in the “cracks” when removed from the oven. That’s fine. Do not overbake. 

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Review

 

 A HINT OF MISCHIEF by Daryl Wood Gerber

The Third Fairy Garden Mystery

Life is never dull for shop owner and fairy garden designer Courtney Kelly. A thief is plaguing Carmel-by-the-Sea with brazen daylight heists, someone is placing fairy doors around town, and Courtney has been tasked with planning an adult fairy party. With not much notice, socialite Misty Dawn wants Courtney to go all out for the birthday party she's throwing for her friend. Sorority sisters, including the famous actress Farrah Lawson, will be in attendance and money is no object. There's tension among these old friends however, and Farrah's nasty side soon makes itself known. When Farrah's found poisoned, Courtney can't help but get involved. With her fairy friend Fiona to help her, the two will look for clues in order to save a friend and help the police. 

 

The Fairy Garden Mystery series makes me want to play in the dirt! I want to grab tiny plants, cute figurines, and create my own fairy garden.

 

A HINT OF MISCHIEF compelled me to keep turning the pages making this a fast read. It grabbed my attention, kept me curious, and didn't let go. The combination of mysteries kept me intrigued as did conflicting information from various characters regarding the murder mystery. Several suspicious characters were also behaving badly adding to the puzzle of who was guilty.

 

I love the relationship between Courtney and Fiona. Fiona is growing too. While still full of fun and play, she's also maturing, taking things seriously when needed. I also love how Courtney and Brady's relationship is developing. The two are supportive and caring with genuine interest in each other.

A HINT OF MISCHIEF is a fairy good mystery. It will put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and have you looking in the greenery for fairies.

 

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Bio:

 

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Fairy Garden Mysteries, Cookbook Nook Mysteries, and French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read. She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. And she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and hitch-hike around Ireland alone. You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com

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 A Hint of Mischief (A Fairy Garden Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Hint of Mischief 

A Hint of Mischief (A Fairy Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - California
Kensington Cozies(June 28, 2022)
Paperback: ‎ 368 pages

The proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Courtney Kelly has an occasional side gig as a sleuth—with a sprinkling of magical assistance. . . .

Courtney has thrown a few fairy garden parties—for kids. But if a local socialite is willing to dip into her trust fund for an old sorority sister’s fortieth birthday bash, Courtney will be there with bells on. To make the job even more appealing, a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion, and there’s nothing like a celebrity cameo to raise a business’s profile.

Now Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day—which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer, as the police suspect? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder . . .

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Fairy Garden Mysteries, Cookbook Nook Mysteries, and French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read. She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. And she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and hitch-hike around Ireland alone. You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links:  

WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com 

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/darylwoodgerber  

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GOODREADS BOOK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59120614-a-hint-of-mischief  

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NEWSLETTER: https://darylwoodgerber.com/contact-media/  

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Hint of Mischief by Daryl Wood Gerber. This book is the third in the Fairy Garden Mystery series and will be released next week.

Life is never dull for shop owner and fairy garden designer Courtney Kelly. A thief is plaguing Carmel-by-the-Sea with brazen daylight heists, someone is placing fairy doors around town, and Courtney has been tasked with planning an adult fairy party. With not much notice, socialite Misty Dawn wants Courtney to go all out for the birthday party she's throwing for her friend. Sorority sisters, including the famous actress Farrah Lawson, will be in attendance and money is no object. There's tension among these old friends however, and Farrah's nasty side soon makes itself known. When Farrah's found poisoned, Courtney can't help but get involved. With her fairy friend Fiona to help her, the two will look for clues in order to save a friend and help the police.

Death at Fair Havens - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Maria and Maren write the Rev and Rye Cozy Mystery series. Death at Fair Havens is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In Death at Fair Havens we meet Wanda Duff, an unconventional New England clergywoman. Wanda winds up working with high school vice principal Prudence Rye. Would you prefer a career in education or a more spiritual line of work?

Maria: Well, as it happens, I worked in education, teaching preschool and working as an admin for about ten years before I was able to split my time between writing and taking care of my young children, and Maren has been a pastor in the United Church of Christ for 41 years. We are definitely fans of the “write what you know” method!


Kathy: Originally from Buffalo New York and living nearby, I know all about wings. How did you decide Wanda would be addicted to them?

Maren: Well, first of all there is this amazing place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, called Wing-Itz. Best wings I have ever eaten. But, also, I wanted to differentiate Wanda from me and I am a pizza person, eight inches taller, different coloring and marital status, and I don’t wear high heels (see eight inches mentioned previously!)


Kathy: You write as a team. How does that work? Does one person work more on the plot while the other writes the actual words?

Maria: We’ve been writing together since 2000, so we have fairly seamless process. It’s not as cut and dried as one person focusing on one element and one the other – we each have characters that we write first drafts on, but the plotting, editing, and finetuning overlaps all the time. We have many meetings to discuss ideas and new directions, and we find that when we start talking about one option, the ideas usually start flowing and we may end up someplace totally different! It’s a great feeling, and I know our stories are more fun because of the opportunities we have to hash things out together.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

Maria: We love to read cozies and are always checking the shelves at the library or online forums for new series. We’ve written in other genres (mystery, sci-fi, poetry, religion) and enjoy it very much, but there’s something about writing the kind of book you want to read for pure pleasure…it’s just special.

Do you write in any other genres?

Maren: We do. Maria has a thriller. I’ve published science fiction short stories, a book of Christmas stories, books of poetry and many single poems in magazines. In the mainstream Christian market, we have published books on youth ministry, LGBTQI marriage resources, self-care for caregivers of people with dementia, anthologies of gender inclusive language worship, and global worship anthologies.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

Maren: “The Rev and Rye Cozy Mysteries” follows the sleuthing of Rev. Wanda Duff and Stoneridge High School Vice Principal Prudence Rye as the unlikely pair solve crimes in north central Massachusetts. In the first novel, the death of a man living in a memory loss unit could easily be passed over as a part of his illness if the two don’t risk their livelihoods and their lives investigating the tragedy. Wanda may be known as a “laughing pastor,” but she is serious about murder; Rye may be the enforcer of school rules, but she’s willing to push every boundary when a student may be at risk.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

Maria: This is an impossible question. I love Rye and Wanda too much to choose between them. I also love the supporting cast of characters and it’s hard to pick just one, but if I had to, I would say Rye’s father, Hardy, has a special place in my heart. He raised his daughter alone while working full time and made a lot of mistakes (as all parents do), but he also believes in his daughter’s competence and strength without question and trusts her instincts. He accepts her with love, and although they don’t always get along, he is secretly deeply happy to have her living back at home again.

Maren: Two favorites … Tony, the hotwired and helpful church musician with heart who’s willing to play classical, country, or show tunes as needed at a funeral, and is Wanda’s best friend. Jenny Fjelstad is based a bit on my mother – funny, caring and, when she lived in a memory loss unit, she, too, expected me to bring in a new Norwegian joke every time I visited.

Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

Maren: For me, it was more that I woke up and Wanda Duff was in my head, and I asked Maria, “Do you have a character who needs to live? I think we should write fiction and it should touch on issues of inclusion in our communities in story form rather than just serious essays.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

Maren: In early days we published anthologies and were glad to publish the work of folks whose voices needed to be heard. Some were youth, some, were folks from around the world for whom we needed translators. We accepted all submissions, if the writers were willing to be an edited and did not express offensive views. Publishing is sharing. It is not often becoming rich or famous, but it is connecting with others. We have simply applied that good advice to our own work.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

Maren: If I was asked every day for a week, I’d have four each day, but today … I would invite Nyle DiMarco whose Deaf Utopia confirmed so many of the things we tried to gently slip in about Deaf Culture. It would enliven the table to have an energized ASL speaker and an interpreter. Because I’ve heard them interviewed as a mother/daughter team of writers, I would love to have Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles. I am just a huge fan of everything written by Laurie R. King.

Maria: Neil Gaiman, who has been my favorite author since I was ten years old and has introduced me to many dark and delightful stories that fill me up; David Sedaris, who I first fell in love with while waiting on a friend to get ready for a party (that friend, as it happens, is now my husband); Glennon Doyle, who binds me together with other women in a way no writer ever has before; and Lynne Cox, who has spent her life doing things that terrify me and writes about them with grace and awe.
 

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

Maria: I just finished Jacqueline Winspear’s A Sunlit Weapon (A Maisie Dobbs novel) and The French for Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery) by Verity Bright

Maren: Kerry Greenwood’s just published book of short stories, “The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions,” Jessie Sutanto’s “A is for Aunties,” and Anne Hillerman’s “Sacred Bridge.”

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

Maren: I am passionate about rescue dogs and live with two amazing ones, Willie and Bug. I am a hand-patching quilter. I need to walk at least an hour a day or I am … cranky. I need to read an hour a day or it’s even worse. I am looking forward to visiting the Iona Community in Scotland this summer.

Maria: I recently got a cargo bike that both of my kids fit on and we’ve been having the best time going on adventures together. I also love to swim, so I’m glad summer has arrived (although I also still like sledding, so winter was delightful too). I’m a big indoor gardener – my favorite is the mint garden, with five varieties, because whenever I cut leaves, it smells like my mother is in the room with me.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

Maren: Local maple syrup, very dark chocolate, grapefruit, and lots of greens.

Maria: Pasta, peanut butter, tea, and chocolate chips


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

Maria: Yes. Our plan for The Rev and Rye Mysteries is a five-book arc. The second one is already in the hands of our agent and publisher!

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

Maria: When I sit down to work on a story or poem, it feels as though everything is just as it should be and the world can be organized perfectly, for at least a moment. Nothing else in the world gives me that feeling with the same consistency as writing does. As a reader, finding a book that fits me just right is a gift I never get tired of, and getting to share our book with people who feel the same way is just the best.

Maren: I am not sure I can say it any better than my daughter does. It is the writing, not the promotional work that feeds my spirit, but when I have a chance to talk with a reader it is wonderful, and I always learn more. I also do book coaching, so I spend time telling a little-bit-shaky authors that they are giving readers a gift. I try to listen to myself.

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 Death at Fair Havens by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi

About Death at Fair Havens

Death at Fair Havens
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Massachusetts
Brain Mill Press (April 26, 2022)
Paperback: ‎ 318 pages

Wanda Duff is an unconventional New England clergywoman, addicted to chicken wings, high-octane ice cream, and saying yes to anyone in need of a prayer, even the folks her town might think don’t deserve one.

When parishioner Niels Pond dies unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility, Wanda’s duty to minister to his family is beset by her suspicions about the circumstances of his abrupt passing. Wanda finds an unexpected co-detective in high school vice principal Prudence Rye, who fled town on graduation night a decade ago and returned only recently.

Rye puts her job on the line to investigate the mourning Ponds with the surprisingly edgy Wanda. As they expose difficult family truths and uncover a dangerous conspiracy operating out of Fair Havens, Rye and Wanda discover curiosity has an unanticipated cost.

Comfortably gossipy, with a fresh take on the characters and ethos cozy mystery fans will love, Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi’s Death at Fair Havens launches a series that celebrates intergenerational women’s friendship and the power of inclusion, curiosity, and love.

"Here’s small town life portrayed with humor and affection, peopled with quirky characters you’ll care about." —James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards

About the Authors

 

After teaching and working in early education for a decade, Maria Mankin has published six books with Pilgrim Press and has contributed to several anthologies. She is also a co-author of Circ, a mystery set in Skegness England, published by Pigeon Park Press, and Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality. She is a regular contributor to Living Psalms, a collection in which the Psalms are reinterpreted in poetry and art as a reflection of God’s work of justice and compassion. She is currently working on a book of poetry and the third novel in the Rev and Rye Cozy Mysteries.

 

After trouping the country in the 70s as assistant manager of theatrical tours for choreographer Agnes de Mille, The National Theatre of Great Britain, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Black Broadway production of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ Maren Tirabassi changed careers, to the surprise of everyone, to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and later Harvard Divinity School. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she served as a bi-vocational pastor to seven churches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire while developing her writing career. Maren is the author of twenty-two books, fiction, non-fiction and poetry, the majority published by The Pilgrim Press.

A former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, NH, and LAMDA Prize nominee for Transgendering Faith, Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality she currently facilitates programs for the NH Humanities Council with New Americans and people with cognitive difference and leads poetry and memoir workshops in prisons, recovery groups, churches and synagogues, hospice and survivor groups. She blogs at giftsinopenhands@wordpress.com.

With frequent writing collaborator, Maria Mankin, she is currently editing Death in the Woods, the sequel to Death at Fair Havens, as well as plotting the third novel.

Author Links: 

Website https://callingallcharacters.com/  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/marenandmankin  

Purchase Links Brian Mill Press - Powell’s - Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Indiebound - Indigo 

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Murder is No Picnic - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER IS NO PICNIC by Amy Pershing
The Third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery 

 

A birthday celebration at famed restaurant Clara's Place leads Cape Cod Foodie Samantha Barnes to, not only gustatory delights, but an introduction to famed chef Clara Foster. Awe leads to delight when the retired culinary icon invites Sam and Jenny to her home to film an episode of the Cape Cod Foodie. After a delightful day making the best blueberry buckle ever Sam is stunned to learn that a fire broke out during the night killing Clara. Was it a tragic accident? Or something more sinister?

Self deprecating Samantha Barnes is coming into her own in the third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery. While she still has doubts and some uncertainties, she's becoming aware of who she is and where she belongs. Surrounded by friends she's learning what's important in life. I love Diogi and Ciati, but two other characters really shone for me, Vivvie Peters and Abraham Beame. I'd love to call both of them friends and I hope we get to see more of Abraham in future books. 

Delectable descriptions of food as well as cooking tips pepper the pages. Although I'm not a fan of seafood, I still find my stomach grumbling as I read. And I really want to find some huckleberries!

There are lots of laughs in MURDER IS NO PICNIC, but there are also heartfelt moments and worrying ones as well. A terrifying escape and rescue had me clutching the book reading well after the bubbles were gone and the water turned cold! Love, bravery, and skill triumphed and I was able to emerge from my bathtub with a sigh of relief.

Friendship, food, and fun make MURDER IS NO PICNIC an outstanding mystery guaranteed to keep you enthralled.

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 Murder Is No Picnic (A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery) by Amy Pershing

About Murder is No Picnic 

Murder Is No Picnic (A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting – Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (June 7, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 336 pages

The Fourth of July is coming, and for professional food lover Samantha Barnes, it’s all about the picnic. Okay, and the fireworks. And the parade. But mostly the picnic. What could be better than a DIY clambake followed by the best blueberry buckle in the world? Sam has finally found the perfect recipe in the kitchen of Clara Foster, famed cookbook author and retired restaurateur, and she’s thrilled when Clara agrees to a buckle baking lesson.

But when Clara dies in a house fire blamed on carelessness in the kitchen, Sam doesn’t believe it. Unfortunately, her doubts set in motion an investigation pointing to the new owner of Clara’s legendary restaurant—and a cousin of Sam’s harbormaster boyfriend. So, in between researching the Cape’s best lobster rolls and planning her clambake, Sam needs to find Clara's killer before the fireworks really start....

About Amy Pershing

Amy Pershing, who spent every summer of her childhood on Cape Cod, was an editor, a restaurant reviewer and a journalist before leading employee communications at a global bank. A few years ago she waved goodbye to Wall Street to write full time. Murder Is No Picnic is the third of the Cape Cod Foodie mysteries featuring Samantha Barnes, a disgraced but resilient ex-chef who retreats home to Cape Cod where she finds herself juggling a new job as the local paper’s “Cape Cod Foodie,” a complicated love life, a posse of just-slightly-odd friends, a falling-down house, a ginormous dog and a propensity for falling over dead bodies. Elizabeth Gilbert called the first book in the series, A Side of Murder, “the freshest, funniest mystery I have ever read,” and Kirkus Reviews gave the second book, An Eggnog to Die For, a starred review, saying, “A delightful sleuth, a complex mystery, and lovingly described cuisine: a winner for both foodies and mystery mavens.”

Author Links: Website: AmyPershingAuthor.com  

Follow amypershingauthor on Facebook  

Follow amypershingauthor on Instagram  

Sign up for News from the Cape Cod Foodie!

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo Google Books IndieBound Bookshop.org PenguinRandomHouse

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Five Belles Too Many - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

FIVE BELLES TOO MANY by Debra H. Goldstein
The Fifth Sarah Blair Mystery 

Reality TV has come to Wheaton, Alabama. Sarah Blair is roped in to being a chaperone for her mother, Maybelle, one of the Southern Belles competing for her perfect wedding. Seeing opportunities for drama, the director has contestants with history, as well as opposing college football devotees. He's also pitting Southwind restaurant against Jane's Place. Jane's days as Sarah's nemesis may be numbered when she's discovered standing over a dead body. Yet, as much as Sarah dislikes the woman, she doesn't believe she's a murderer. As the competition continues, Sarah will not only chaperone Maybelle, but keep her eyes and ears open for a killer.

Will Jane finally get her comeuppance? Sarah Blair is a much better person than I. If I had the chance to let my nemesis sink I may not toss her a waited chain, but I might not be so quick to throw a life preserver. Sarah, however calls in her boss to help clear Jane from a murder charge.

Integrity plays a huge part in the fifth Sarah Blair mystery. So does fun. I love that Maybelle and George entered a wedding competition for a lark and love their attitude. I love that Sarah takes time to play with RahRah and Fluffy. And I love the pleasure I get from reading such a well written mystery.

FIVE BELLES TOO MANY is a fun look at reality TV, Southern manners, and murder. A colorful cast of characters combined with an intricately plotted story and an ending full of surprises make for a delightful mystery.

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 Five Belles Too Many (A Sarah Blair Mystery) by Debra H. Goldstein

About Five Belles Too Many

Five Belles Too Many (A Sarah Blair Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 5th in the Series
Setting - Alabama
Kensington Cozies (June 28, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 336 pages

When Sarah Blair’s mother participates in a reality show competition for brides in Wheaton, Alabama, things get a little too real as a murderer crashes the wedding party . . .

Sometimes Sarah’s mother, Maybelle, can be higher maintenance than her Siamese cat RahRah. Maybelle and her friend, Mr. George Rogers, have been chosen to be one of five couples competing for a small-town “perfect” wedding and dream honeymoon on a Southern Belles reality show—and guess who has to be chaperone. Even more vexing, the producers have decided to put up the crew and participants at the restaurant/bed and breakfast owned by Sarah’s nemesis Jane Clark.

But when someone turns up dead with Jane kneeling by the body with blood on her hands, she goes from being Sarah’s chief rival to the police’s chief suspect. Neither Sarah nor her twin, Chef Emily Johnson, can stand Jane—still, they don’t think she’s a murderer. The producers vow the show must go on, but to protect their mother and the other contestants, Sarah vows to find the true killer before someone else gets eliminated . . .

Includes quick and easy recipes!

About Debra H. Goldstein

(Four Cuts Too Many, Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, and One Taste Too Many). Her novels and short stories received an IPPY award and have been named Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion finalists. Debra served on the national boards of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and was president of the Guppy and SEMWA chapters. Find out more about Debra at https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com .

Author Links: 

Website – www.DebraHGoldstein.com  

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

Twitter - @DebraHGoldstein 

 Instagram – debrahgoldstein  

Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debra-h-goldstein  

GoodReads Link - Debra H. Goldstein (Author of Two Bites Too Many) | Goodreads  

Purchase Links - Amazon Kindle - Amazon Paperback - Nook - B&N -

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Five Belles Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein. This book is the fifth in the Sarah Blair Mystery series and will be released June 28, 2022.

Reality TV has come to Wheaton, Alabama. Sarah Blair is roped in to being a chaperone for her mother, Maybelle, one of the Southern Belles competing for her perfect wedding. Seeing opportunities for drama, the director has contestants with history, as well as opposing college football devotees. He's also pitting Southwind restaurant against Jane's Place. Jane's days as Sarah's nemesis may be numbered when she's discovered standing over a dead body. Yet, as much as Sarah dislikes the woman, she doesn't believe she's a murderer. As the competition continues, Sarah will not only chaperone Maybelle, but keep her eyes and ears open for a killer.

Mysteries, Midsummer Sun, and Murders: A Recipe & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Connie B. Dowell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Connie is one of the authors of Mysteries, Midsummer Sun, and Murders: A Cozy Mystery Anthology. Today she's sharing a recipe.

Cruelly Criminal Caprese

By Connie B. Dowell

Ingredients:

2 large tomatoes (beefsteak variety or similar) or 4 small ones

8 oz fresh mozzarella

Handful fresh basil leaves

Olive oil

Sesame oil

Kalamata olives

Crushed nuts (any nuts you like here; crush them cruelly in a food processor or blender until you have a nice crumble, but don’t process so much that they turn into nut butter)

Crumbled parmesan

Salt

Pepper

* * *

Mercilessly slice your tomatoes into thin slices and spread them out on one large platter or several plates. Think dastardly thoughts while arranging.

Slice mozzarella, dice olives, and julienne basil leaves in a villainous rage and top the tomatoes with all three.

Drizzle on olive oil and sesame oil. Delicately. You are a refined villain after all.

Sprinkle crumbled Parmesan and crushed nuts on top while muttering “That’ll show ‘em.”

Sprinkle salt and pepper to suit your evil taste.

Serve and enjoy like the criminal you are.

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About Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders

Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders: A Cozy Mystery Anthology
Aye Alba Publishing (June 21, 2022)
Number of Pages ~1600

Poisonous picnics, burgled barbeques, deadly deckchairs... and midsummer mayhem!

From a brilliant bunch of amazing authors, including multiple prizewinners and USA Today best sellers, comes this wonderful collection of 21 summer-themed cozy mysteries.

Featuring peril at the pool, blood on the beach, and felony at the festival, these fabulous stories—21 brand new and exclusive tales—will keep you entertained until long after the sun has set.

With stories from Hillary Avis, Benedict Brown, Catherine Coles, Paula Darnell, Connie B. Dowell, Ellen Jacobson, Joann Keder, Patti Larsen, Cate Lawley, Gayle Leeson, Daisy Linh, Rimmy London, R.B. Marshall, Megan Mayfair, Wendy Meadows, Phillipa Nefri Clark, Michele Pariza Wacek, Erin Scoggins, Cathy Tully, Victoria LK Williams and Carly Winter, you'll surely find some of your favourite authors and discover some great new writers within the ~1600 pages of this set.

This collection will only be available for a limited time so don't miss out - grab yourself a bargain today!

About The Authors

About Ellen Jacobson

Ellen Jacobson is a writer, cat lover & obsessed with chocolate. She writes cozy mysteries and romantic comedies including the Mollie McGhie Mysteries and the Smitten with Travel Rom-Coms.

You can find out more on her website (ellenjacobsonauthor.com), sign up for her newsletter (https://www.subscribepage.com/m4g9m4).

About Patti Larsen

I'm a multiple award-winning writer with a passion for the voices in my head. With many (many!) titles across many (many!) genres, all in happy publication, there's no end in sight...

That being said, I'm short (permanent), happy (I have the best life ever) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can't seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my multiple cats, pug overlord and lady and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

About R.B. Marshall

Like my amateur sleuth, Izzy, I'm a dressage-riding computer geek who loves coffee - but there the similarity ends. She is far smarter than me, and a lot younger! I hope you'll join me in discovering where her curiosity leads to next...

Pretty much all my books are set in my native Scotland, and my mystery stories are no exception. You'll meet colourful characters solving perplexing puzzles in the most glorious landscape imaginable. Throw in a castle or two, the occasional royal, and maybe even a delicious cake shop, and you'll have the recipe for my new series.

I also write fantasy and clean romance/women's fiction, as Roz Marshall: http://viewAuthor.at/RozMarshall

and Historical Romance telling the story of Mary Queen of Scots, as Belle McInnes: http://viewauthor.at/BelleMcInnes

About Hillary Avis

Hillary Avis writes cozy mysteries about smart women who persist until they uncover the truth—about themselves, about their communities, and of course about any unsolved murders.

She grew up in a small town on the west coast, went to college in a small town on the east coast, and now lives in beautiful Eugene, Oregon. She has two charming children, three fluffy dogs, and two practically perfect felines named Mystery and Intrigue. She also has too many chickens and one very patient husband.

When Hillary’s not reading, writing, or editing, she bakes bread, makes pottery, drinks coffee, and streams The Great British Bake-Off, but not all at the same time.

About Cate Lawley

Cate Lawley writes humorous, action-filled mysteries that frequently contain a paranormal twist.

When Cate’s not tapping away at her keyboard or in deep contemplation of her next fanciful writing project, she's sweeping up hairy dust bunnies and watching British mysteries.

Cate is from Austin, Texas (where many of her stories take place) but has recently migrated north to Boise, Idaho, where soup season (her favorite time of year) lasts more than two weeks.

She's worked as an attorney, a dog trainer, and in various other positions, but writer is the hands-down winner. She's thankful readers keep reading, so she can keep writing!

Paranormal cozy mystery series:

-Vegan Vamp Mysteries

-Night Shift Witch Mysteries

-Death Retired Mysteries

-Cursed Candy Mysteries

Cozy mystery series:

-Fairmont Finds Canine Cozy Mysteries

Cate's sweet romance series:

-Love Ever After

-Lucky Magic

For bonus materials and updates, visit her website to join her mailing list: www.CateLawley.com

About Rimmy London

Snuggle up with one of Rimmy's cozies... if you dare.

Follow on Amazon or sign up for her newsletter at www.rimmylondon.com

About Phillipa Nefri Clark

Phillipa lives just outside a beautiful town in country Victoria, Australia. She also lives in the many worlds of her imagination and stockpiles stories beside her laptop.

She writes from the heart about love, dreams, secrets, discovery, the sea, the world as she knows it… or wishes it could be. She loves happy endings, heart-pounding suspense, and characters who stay with you long after the final page.

With a passion for music, the ocean, nature, reading, and writing, she is often found in the vegetable garden pondering a new story.

To connect more with Phillipa and her writing, visit www.phillipaclark.com.

About Wendy Meadows

Wendy Meadows is a USA Today best-selling author whose meticulously crafted stories showcase witty women sleuths and engaging plots. Her primary influences include but are not limited to mystery genre greats Joanne Fluke, Ellery Adams, and James Patterson. To date, she has published dozens of books, which include her popular Sweetfern Harbor Series, Maple Hill Series, and Alaska Cozy Series, to name a few.

When she isn’t writing about female detectives and their tactful crime solving, you can find Wendy either tending to her hobby farm, playing video games, relaxing on her back porch, or coloring in her growing collection of adult coloring books. She also loves spending quality time with her husband, two sons, two cats, and one adorable Labradoodle. Together, they call “The Granite State” home sweet home.

Visit Wendy at http://wendymeadows.com

About Erin Scoggins

Erin is a long-time Southerner with a fondness for offbeat humor and fresh fried chicken. After fifteen years in marketing with a Fortune 500 company, she traded her MBA for fictional crime scenes and feisty small-town families. She writes fun, flirty mysteries that are celebrations of food, family, and the killer South.

Visit her at www.erinscoggins.com for book news and shenanigans.

About Victoria LK Williams

Cozy Mysteries with A Tropical Twist!

Fun Cozy Mysteries, Paranormal Mysteries (with a fantasy twist) all set on the Florida Coast. A Romantic Christian Series, with a strong sense of family set in upstate New York. These are the stories Victoria writes. A hopeless animal lover, Victoria adds plenty of cats and dogs in each book, and her love of gardening shows through the characters. As a storyteller, it is important for Victoria to draw the reader into the story; to make you feel the sultry tropical heat or the numbing cold of the north. Victoria and her husband live in South Florida and own a landscape garden service. Two feisty cats make themselves at home, usually on her desk as she writes. A lover of a good mystery, she is an avid reader and likes to be outdoors. When she is not reading, you may find her working on a needlepoint project. Visit her website to learn about new and upcoming books. http://www.VictoriaLKWilliams.com

About Michele Pariza Wacek

When Michele was 3 years old, she taught herself to read because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They’re clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com. For a free prequel to her cozy mystery series, The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, visit https://mpwnovels.com/freebies/

Michele holds a double major in English and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband Paul and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

Author Links Website – https://mpwnovels.com/ Facebook – facebook.com/michelepwauthor Linked In linkedin.com/in/michelepw Twitter – twitter.com/michelepw Instagram – instagram.com/themichelepw About Joann Keder

Joann Keder spent most of her years in the Midwest, growing up and raising a family on the Great Plains of Nebraska. She worked for sixteen years as a piano teacher before returning to school to receive a master’s degree in creative writing. A mid-life move to the Pacific Northwest lead her to re-examine her priorities. She now creates stories about life and relationships in small towns while her ever-patient husband encourages her on.

Author Links Website – Facebook – Instagram – Amazon – GoodReads Link   About Cathy Tully

Cathy Tully is the pen name of E.C. Tully. A graduate of Georgetown University, she studied foreign languages and linguistics before changing gears and graduating from Chiropractic School. Her award-nominated first novel, Dr. Shine Cracks the Case, features a chiropractor practicing in small town Georgia. She writes the ChiroCozy Mystery Series.

About Carly Winter

Carly Winter is the author of the Sedona Sprit Cozy Mystery series and the Tri-Town Murders Cozy Mystery series. When not writing, she likes spending time with her family and enjoying the fantastic Arizona weather (except summer - she doesn't like summer). She does like dogs, wine and chocolate and wishes Christmas happened twice a year.

About Gayle Leeson

Gayle Leeson is an author living in Virginia with a beautiful family and quite a few pets. She also writes--or has written--as Gayle Trent, Amanda Lee, and G. Leeson. As Gayle Trent, she writes the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, she wrote the Embroidery Mystery series. As Gayle Leeson, she writes the Down South Cafe Mystery series and the Ghostly Fashionista mystery series. And as G. Leeson, she is writing the Literatia mystery series.

About Catherine Coles

Catherine Coles writes cosy mysteries that take place in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie mysteries are set in 1920s North Yorkshire. Her new series, the Martha Miller cosy mysteries, are set in the years following the Second World War in Berkshire.

Catherine lives in northeast England with the youngest of her five children and two spoiled dogs who have no idea they are not human!

About Megan Mayfair

Megan Mayfair writes fiction with a dash of mystery, a sprinkling of humour and a spoonful of romance. Her books include the award-winning Tangled Vines and the Lemon Tree Bay mysteries. Megan lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three young children and works in PR. When not writing fiction or press releases, she enjoys spending time with her family, drinking coffee, and seeking the perfect shade of red lipstick.

About Paula Darnell

Award-winning author Paula Darnell is a former college instructor who writes two cozy mystery series: the DIY Diva Mysteries and the Fine Art Mysteries. Killer Art in the Park is a story in the Fine Art Mystery series. All her cozies feature arts and crafts and a lovable dog. She’s a former board member of the Clark County Artists Guild, and she sells handmade jewelry in her Etsy shop, Paula D Jewelry. She and her husband Gary live in Las Vegas with their adorable golden retriever Lindsey Lou.

About Benedict Brown

Benedict Brown writes historical and contemporary mysteries in his two bestselling series, "Lord Edgington Investigates..." and "The Izzy Palmer Mysteries". Both series feature twists by the bookful, a wicked sense of humour and a huge cast of quirky, curious and cunning characters. He's a Welsh-Irish Londoner who lives in Spain with his French wife and multi-national four-year-old daughter, and he spends all his time writing (when his daughter lets him).

About Connie B. Dowell

Connie B. Dowell writes cozy stories with LGBTQ+ characters, including the Emmie and Dessa mysteries (set 1918 and onward) and the Millie Monroe Bookmobile Mysteries. She also writes nonfiction and children’s stories and hosts two writing podcasts, Authoring Onward and Let's Start Writing. When not writing or illustrating, she gardens, plays violin badly, and binge watches Midsomer Murders.

 

Purchase Link - Amazon

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Giveaway: 

 

Here is the link to our multi-author giveaway. All digital prizes are international: https://catherinecoles.com/mysteries-midsummer-sun-murders