I'm pleased to welcome Sydney Leigh to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Sydney writes the Hudson Valley B&B Mystery series. Peril in Pink is the first book in the series and was released last month.
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Kathy: In Peril in Pink we meet Jess Byrne, owner of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley. Have you ever wanted to own a B&B?
SL: I’m not the best cook so not a B&B, but a small boutique motel? Absolutely!
Kathy: For The Pearl's grand opening Jess has arranged for her ex-boyfriend, a reality singing sensation, to perform. Have you ever worked with an ex?
SL: In high school I worked with an ex-boyfriend at a restaurant. It started out a little rocky but we managed to sort things out and develop a friendship after a while.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
SL: The punny titles. I’ve always loved mysteries but when I started to notice the hilarious titles that cozies often have, I was sold.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
SL: No, I love to sprinkle in a little romance but I love the whodunnit factor that mysteries have in them.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
SL: The Hudson Valley B&B Mystery series is a modern take on a classic genre. It’s set at a B&B and follows the lives and deaths of the people of Fletcher Lake in the Hudson Valley, in particular Jess Byrne and her best friend/business partner, Kat Miller. It’s been describe as Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
SL: I really like Aunt Marnie. She’s Jess’s aunt and a former deadhead who followed around the Grateful Dead for years. Still a free spirit, she adds humor and heart to the book.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
SL: There is a show on Netflix called Motel Makeover about two women who gave up their corporate careers to buy an old fishing lodge and turn it into a modern motel. It had me from the first episode and I knew it was the perfect setting for my mystery series.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
SL: I’ve always dreamed of seeing my books in bookstores and sharing my stories with readers. It’s a dream come true.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
SL: Ohhh, tough question. 1. Jane Austen 2. Agatha Christie 3. Hannah Mary McKinnon 4. Emily Henry
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
SL: Book Lovers, Emily Henry
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
SL: Aside from spending time with friends and family, I love to read, watch movies, and plot books while doing jigsaw puzzles.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
SL: Coffee, tea, fruit, and cheese.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
SL: I’m working on the second book in the Hudson Valley B&B series. I also have a brand new series publishing with Level Best Books coming out in June.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
SL: Creating characters and sharing stories.
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Peril in Pink (Hudson Valley B&B Mysteries) by Sydney Leigh
About Peril in Pink
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Hudson Valley, New York
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (March 19, 2024)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.
Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building in this sparkling debut mystery.
It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.
After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder.
With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.
About Sydney Leigh
Sydney Leigh spent several years running a seasonal business, working in the summer so she could spend cold months in cool places. Now she writes modern cozy mysteries and thinks about murder. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and served on the board of Crime Writers of Canada from 2018-2021.
Author Links:
Website https://sydneyleighbooks.com/
The Stiletto Gang https://www.thestilettogang.com/2023/09/26/peril-in-pink-a-new-series-by-sydney-leigh/ (I do a blog post once a month on The Stiletto Gang)
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lynn.mcpherson.7186
Twitter/X https://twitter.com/SydneyLeighCozy
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/173476021-peril-in-pink
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sydneyleighmystery/
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Bookshop.org - Koko -
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking time to interview me. It was so fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I'm glad you enjoyed my interview questions.
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