I'm pleased to welcome Denise Jaden to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Denise writes the he Tabitha Chase Days of the Week mystery series. Tragic Tuesday is the seventh book in the series and will be released this Thursday!
Kathy: In Tragic Tuesday Tabby decides that creating a community garden will help unite the town of Crystal Cove. Have you ever been involved in a community garden?
DJ: I have not. I do, however, have friends who are part of community gardens, and my mom lives in a complex where there is a community garden right outside her window, and she is regularly telling me about the goings-on in and around that garden.
Kathy: Do you enjoy gardening? If so, what are your favorite things to grow?
DJ: I really love gardening, but I have to admit, it’s usually only every few years when I put in the time and effort to do anything significant. But once I get going, I love figuring out what each plant needs to thrive, and especially watching them grow.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
DJ: I love the puzzle of cozy mysteries. At first, as a reader, I found the genre daunting because of the many characters involved. But now I love treating it like a puzzle. I write down character names as I’m reading and tidbits I think may be important. It’s really a fun genre and very intellectually stimulating!
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
DJ: I used to write some young adult fiction and some romance, and I may go back to those one day, but at the moment I’m enjoying the cozy mysteries too much.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
DJ: The Tabitha Chase Days of the Week Series is set in the seaside town of Crystal Cove, Oregon. Tabby lives aboard her late aunt’s houseboat with her spectacled psychic cat, and even though Tabby has never considered herself similar to any of the local witches, she is slowly learning about her family’s magical gifts.
My other cozy mystery series is the Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Capers. Mallory and her cat Hunch solve the mysteries of Honeysuckle Grove, West Virginia with the help of her former seventh-grade crush—now a swoon-worthy detective, and an obstinate teenager whose dad has just been murdered.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
DJ: It’s hard to choose, but if I HAD to, I’d have to pick Sherlock the cat. He wears glasses on his face and a magical crystal around his neck and mind-speaks to Tabby—but only when he’s in the mood.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
DJ: I polled my readers about a year ago and asked what kind of cozy mystery series they’d like to see me write next. The resounding answer was a Para-cozy. I’ve never been a big reader of paranormal, so I decided to write the series from the point of view of a character who is skeptical of all things magical. It works for both of us!
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
DJ: Back when I was writing young adult fiction, a million years ago, my critique partner convinced me to try to get a literary agent. It was great feeling like I had an agent on my side, and very exciting when I started having interest in my books from publishers.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
DJ: Oh, gosh, that’s a tough one! I would have to pick at least one Biblical author—probably John. I would also love to invite Elana Johnson, Gillian Flynn, and Agatha Christie. I think they would all have a lot of insight and I imagine it would be a very lively party!
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
DJ: At the moment, I’m reading through a new book I’m working on and trying to plot the ending. While I do this sort of work, I prefer not to read anything else. This book will be the start of a new cozy mystery series set on a cruise ship.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
DJ: In my spare time, I love to go to the gym and I also have been a Polynesian dancer for many years. I also dabble in graphic design—mostly to promote my books—but I really enjoy creative ventures other than writing. It gives my mind the break it needs.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
DJ: Cheese, protein powder, chia seeds, and romaine lettuce. That sounds strange, but those are the things I could come up with that we always have!
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
DJ: Yes! Like I said above, I am hard at work on a new mystery set on a cruise ship. It will launch a new series and I’m really excited to share it with readers!
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
DJ: I LOVE interacting with readers. If you have ever thought of writing to an author and decided not to, I would encourage you, please do it! I love getting to know readers and what they enjoy about my books. I also love working in my pajamas. J
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Tragic Tuesday: A Tabitha Chase Days of the Week Mystery by Denise Jaden
About Tragic Tuesday
Cozy Mystery 7th in Series
Setting - Oregon
Independently Published (March 14, 2024)
Number of Pages - 250
It’s springtime, and Tabby figures what better way to unite the town of Crystal Cove than creating a community garden! The problem is, she knows nothing about tending the earth. However, there are several folks in town who have strong beliefs in how to start a garden right—unfortunately, all of these strong beliefs seem to disagree with one another.
Tabby thinks she has it handled when she comes up with a system that makes each group of gardeners feel valued in their plans and opinions, but when one of the most opinionated women turns up dead in the middle of the fresh soil, it seems she has another murder on her hands—and one she feels at least partially responsible for.
Join Tabby, Jay, Aaron, and Sherlock as they investigate and try to get to the bottom of this garden tragedy.
About Denise Jaden
For a limited time, stop by Denise's website at www.denisejaden.com, sign up for her newsletter, and get a bonus mystery just for signing up! Get freebies, exclusive content, and book news - you can unsubscribe at any time!
Denise Jaden is a co-writer for the Rosa Reed Mystery Series by Lee Strauss. The Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Capers will be released throughout the year. Her young adult novels have received critical acclaim and her non-fiction books are touted as staples for any writers' bookshelf.
In her spare time, she acts with the Vancouver film industry and dances with a Polynesian dance troupe. She lives just outside Vancouver, Canada with her husband, her son (a budding filmmaker), and one very spoiled cat.
Author Links:
Website:http://www.denisejaden.com
Bookshop: http://shop.denisejaden.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisejadenauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/denisejaden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denise.jaden
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2919206.Denise_Jaden
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/denise-jaden
Purchase Link - Amazon
Thank you so much for featuring Tragic Tuesday, Kathy, and for the fun interview questions!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you enjoyed my questions.
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