I'm pleased to welcome Dorothy Howell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Dorothy writes the Sewing Studio Mystery series. Hanging by a Thread is the second book in the series and was released last week.
Kathy: Some of the independent shops in Hideaway Grove are barely hanging on financially. A sad truth in many towns today. Do you try to support independent shops near you? Do you have a favorite?
DH: Near my home is a stretch of several blocks with dozens of small shops. Almost any business imaginable is there. I love taking a walk along the street, window shopping, and ducking inside to see what’s new. My favorite shop is an independent bookstore. There’s always something there that calls to me—how can I resist?
Kathy: Aunt Sarah owns Sarah's Sweets, Hideaway Grove's bakery. Do you like to bake? What are some of your favorite things to bake...or buy from a bakery?
DH: The Sewing Studio mystery series is about sewing, of course. But as I got into the first book, Seams Like Murder, I decided that Abbey should transform the storage room at her aunt’s bakery into a sewing studio. As it turns out, a lot of the book takes place in the bakery. I’m an okay baker—Christmas treats are my favorite—but I have lots of fun picking out delectable treats for Aunt Sarah to make in her bakery.
Kathy: In Hanging by a Thread Abbey is stitching swag bags for an upcoming conference. Do you sew? Are you a novice or a pro?
DH: I learned the basics of sewing when I was a teenager. Later, I made clothes for my young daughter and a few things for myself. Much later, a chance meeting with a friend led me to sewing pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed sewing until I took up the charitable project. I’ve made and donated over 1,000 dresses so far.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
DH: Before I wrote my first mystery I wrote historical romances, most under my pen name Judith Stacy. After 20+ romances, I was ready for another challenge and mystery seemed interesting. But I didn’t want to write graphic violence or anything scary, so cozy mysteries seemed like a perfect fit. To me, they’re much like romances—there’s emotional involvement with the characters and a satisfying ending.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
DH: Right now, I’m focusing on cozy mysteries. Who knows what the future holds!
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
DH: My Sewing Studio series focuses on Abbey Chandler whose life in Los Angeles falls apart causing her to retreat to quaint, touristy Hideaway Grove where she spent idyllic summers with Aunt Sarah. Abbey gets involved with a charity making pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa—and solving murders, of course.
In my Haley Randolph mystery series, Haley starts out as the worst salesclerk on the planet and eventually evolves into an event planner to the stars. She’s obsessed with handbags and somehow keeps stumbling into murder investigations.
I also write the Hollis Brannigan mysteries series. Hollis is a personal shopper in Los Angeles, transplanted from Kansas, trying to fit in, keep her job—and solve murders.
In my Dana Mackenzie series, Dana refuses to kowtow to the policies of the faceless corporation she works for and does things her own way—even when faced with hunting down a murderer.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
DH: I love all my characters! It’s hard to pick just one. But in the Sewing Studio series I’d have to say Abbey is my favorite. The life she thought she always wanted fell apart, but she kept going trying to find a new path and new goals.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
DH: The Sewing Studio series was inspired by my charity work making pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa. In the small, fictional town of Hideaway Grove, this sort of project seemed like a natural fit.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
DH: I knew in the 8th grade that I wanted to be a writer when my English teacher introduced our class to creative writing. Finally, something in school was interesting!
Two decades passed before I turned my full attention to making my dream come true. In retrospect, it wasn’t the best time in my life to start a writing career. I had a demanding, full-time job, my husband was in the US Air Force and gone for months at a time, I had a 10-year-old daughter, and a new baby. I wrote my first book with a pencil on notebook paper—over 600 pages—because I didn’t have a computer.
Hanging By A Thread is my 49th published novel, so things worked out pretty well!
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
DH: I would absolutely invite Laura Levine. I love her Jaine Austen series.
Hannah Dennison writes mysteries set in England. I always look forward to reading her next book.
Agatha Christie would be invited, of course, and Margaret Mitchell.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
DH: I’m finishing up the next book in the Sewing Studio series, so I haven’t had time to do much reading. When I do read, I like non-fiction, especially biographies.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
DH: I spend most of my time writing. My other project is sewing pillowcase dresses. Spending time with my family is always high on my priority list.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
DH: The contents of my fridge and pantry are somewhat dull. I stopped eating sugar on June 15, 2012 (yes, I know the exact date) so mostly I stock fruits and veggies. Sometimes I go a little wild and eat Cheetos. I can blast through half a bag in one sitting!
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
DH: My Sewing Studio series continues with Hanging By A Thread, out this month. Next up is another book in the series. It will be released in 2024.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
DH: I worked a full-time job for over 20 years. I don’t think I would have the self-discipline to sit down every day and write if I hadn’t had that experience. But I do like that my schedule is flexible now.
Hearing from readers is very rewarding. They are always kind and encouraging. It’s gratifying to know something I’ve written has brightened their day.
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Hanging by a Thread (A Sewing Studio Mystery) by Dorothy Howell
About Hanging by a Thread
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting – Fictional Town of Hideaway Grove
Kensington Cozies (September 26, 2023)
Hardcover: 304 pages
The latest novel in a new crafting cozy series in the genre-leading Kensington Cozy Mystery program focusing on the members of a Sewing Studio.
Some of the independent shops in this sleepy town are barely hanging on financially—and that includes Sarah’s Sweets, Abbey’s aunt’s bakery. The shop’s advantage—aside from the deliciousness of its products—is the fact that it’s the only bakery in the area. But it looks like that’s about to change. The second wife of a wealthy businessman wants her own bakery—and money is no object.
When murder unravels the plans for the competing shop, Aunt Sarah is an immediate suspect—and Hideaway Grove’s merchants are on pins and needles about a big upcoming women’s conference, fearing the organization will cancel their booking because of the crime. Abbey’s doing her best to stay optimistic and stitch some custom tote bags for the attendees, but she’s also concerned with patching up Aunt Sarah’s good reputation. And when it comes to sorting through the possible motives of the victim’s family members and associates, she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve . . .
About Dorothy Howell
USA Today Bestselling author Dorothy Howell is the author of 49 novels. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and sold worldwide. She writes the Sewing Studio mystery series, the Haley Randolph mystery series, and the Hollis Brannigan and Dana Mackenzie mystery series. Dorothy also writes historical romance novels under the pen name Judith Stacy. Dorothy lives in Los Angeles.
Web site: DorothyHowellNovels.com.
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The cover is great.
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