I'm pleased to welcome Kathleen Bailey to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Kathleen writes the Olivia Penn Mystery series. When the Carnival Comes is the fourth book in the series and was released last week.
Kathy: The fourth Olivia Penn Mystery has a carnival come to town. When I think of traveling carnivals I immediately think of the seamy side, and the scary side as in Something Wicked this Way Comes. Does hearing that a carnival is coming to your town do you think, hooray or uh oh?
KB: A carnival coming to town is always a hooray for me. Many people have misconceptions about carnivals and the people who work for them, often shaped by movies and TV. But working on the carnival circuit is an extremely demanding job, and it’s certainly not for everyone. Like any business, the carnival world has its share of diverse personalities, but at its heart, many in the industry are driven by a shared goal: to provide affordable family fun and bring smiles to kids' faces.
Kathy: Do you like carnivals? What's your favorite aspect about them?
KB: I’ve always loved carnivals—it’s all about the atmosphere for me. The rides, the games, the food—there’s so much going on, and everyone seems to be having fun. My favorite time to visit is on a beautiful spring evening or in early fall. I love seeing the lights on the rides at night, hearing the cheerful organ music of the carousel, and smelling the mouth-watering aromas from the food trailers.
Kathy: In When the Carnival Comes a shocking connection forces Olivia to choose between a dear friend and a new love. Have you ever had to make such a decision?
KB: I haven’t faced that kind of choice myself, but for Olivia, it’s an essential part of her character arc throughout the series. It’s not about what happens to us—it’s about how we respond, and that response ultimately shapes who we become.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
KB: I’ve always loved mysteries—whether in books, movies, TV, or games. I’m drawn to the genre because I enjoy crafting clean, twisty mysteries set in small towns that readers want to return to again and again. The characters become like old friends, and the protagonist embodies the hero within each of us. Justice is always served, with side dishes of humor and charm.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
KB: I’m writing only cozies now.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
KB: The Olivia Penn Mystery Series follows advice columnist Olivia Penn as she goes through a transitional period in her life partially due to a series of murder mysteries that she becomes involved in. The series takes place in the small town of Apple Station, Virginia, which is located in the Shenandoah Valley. Each book can be read as a standalone, though there are character arcs that span the series.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
KB: I like all my characters, but I have a special fondness for Olivia. She’s smart, strong, and independent. Though far from perfect, she rises to meet challenges and grows from them. Olivia has deep ties to her friends and community, and her close relationship with her father mirrors my own with my dad before he passed away. Many of their scenes and conversations are rooted in the ones I shared with him.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
KB: Many readers and writers of mysteries cite Nancy Drew as an early influence. In developing Olivia’s character, I imagined who Nancy Drew might’ve become as an adult. She’d be competent in her work, strong, and independent. She’d face challenges head-on and grow from them, and that’s exactly the kind of character I wanted to create with Olivia.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
KB: I’ve wanted to be an author since I was very young, and for me, that has always meant writing books and sharing them with others. Writing is an act of creation—a way to bring a story to life on the page and send it out to connect with readers.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
KB: I want this dinner party to be fun, lively, and inspirational, so I’m inviting great conversationalists who I think have a lot of life wisdom, humor, and personality. So the invites would go out to national treasures Dolly Parton, Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa), Betty White (RIP), and Bette Midler.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
KB: I’m currently reading Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers Mystery Series.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
KB: I don’t have much free time outside of writing and running the publishing side of my business. I have an adorable feline fur baby who receives my attention whenever she wants it, and I enjoy spending time outdoors.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
KB: Apples, blueberries, carrots, and walnuts.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
KB: I’m currently working on the fifth book in The Olivia Penn Mystery Series.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
KB: There are many things I could call my favorites, but connecting with readers and other authors is at the top of the list. The cozy mystery genre has some of the warmest, most avid, and smartest readers, and it’s incredibly rewarding to hear from those who enjoy my stories. Writing is such a solitary process. It usually takes me about a year to go from a blank page to a finished book. With so much time, effort, and money invested, I never know if my stories will resonate. So, when I hear from a reader or meet someone who’s read and enjoyed one of my books, it’s the best feeling!
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When the Carnival Came: An Olivia Penn Mystery by Kathleen Bailey
About When the Carnival Came
When the Carnival Came: An Olivia Penn Mystery
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - Apple Station, Virginia
Publisher: Rhino Publishing LLC (November 12, 2024)
Hardcover: 442 pages Paperback: 442 pages
Digital Print length: 351 pages
A mysterious murder at an abandoned military base. A carnival has rolled into town. The shocking connection forces her to choose between a dear friend and her new love.
Spring is blooming in Apple Station, Virginia, and Olivia Penn's new romance is heating up. With love in the air and the carnival in town, life seems picture-perfect—until a stranger arrives at her door with carnations and a cryptic message for her friend.
When Olivia follows the trail and finds her friend standing over a dead body, she discovers there’s more to the carnival than just fun and games. Compelled to keep an impossible secret from both her new love and the police, Olivia is recruited to go undercover and investigate who among the quirky carnival crew had a motive for murder.
In a race to protect her friend and solve the crime, she must trust a man she never expected to see again. Together, they execute a daring plan to bring a killer to justice and save the lives of thirty very precious, valuable feathered friends.
With the killer on the verge of vanishing without a trace, justice—and her life—hinge on quick thinking and a bold move. Will she and her new love survive to see another day?
When the Carnival Came is the fourth book in the award-winning The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. When the Carnival Came is a small-town, cozy mystery brimming with heart and humor, featuring a charming cast of characters and a fast-paced, twisty plot. Action-packed and full of suspense, this clean, cozy thrill ride will keep you on the edge of your seat.
About Kathleen Bailey
Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. Kathleen has degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She previously worked as a pediatric physical therapist for over twenty years with children who have special needs. She now spends her days plotting and sleuthing in Virginia where she lives with her husband and adorable feline fur baby. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the James River Writers. Visit online at www.kathleenbaileyauthor.com.
Author Links:
Website: https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/kathleenbailey
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-bailey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozycrimewriter
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Bookshop.org - Alibris
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