Gossiping about Grimoires - A Review

 Review

GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES by Mildred Abbott
The First Whispering Witch Mystery 

Maeve Hawthorn has led a very sheltered life. Even writing a bestselling book series hasn't changed that. Accepting an all expense paid trip to New Orleans for a book signing is the most exciting thing she's ever done. The book signing turns into a disaster after which Maeve and her corgi, Mischief, are kidnapped. It turns out that magic is real and magical people of New Orleans are none too happy with her. While trying to prove that she didn't deliberately tell magical secrets to the world a powerful witch is killed. Both thrilled and terrified that magic is real Maeve must leave her comfort zone and try to solve the murder before she's silenced...or worse.

Secrets. allies, and familiars add to the excitement of magic in New Orleans. GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES is a wonderful introduction to a magical world while also being a love letter to the city of New Orleans. Maeve is a unique protagonist, naive and self-admittedly a bit weird, her only friend is her corgi. Seeing her stretch her wings while trying to make new friends is heartwarming. My favorite characters are the various familiars, especially Hurricane and Tabitha. I love the joy they each have and the ease in which they accept each other and play. Of course, the special relationship between Maeve and Mischief is  wonderful to see.

I love the details about the city of New Orleans itself. Although it's been decades since I visited, the street names and various locations brought back wonderful memories. I felt as if I was back there, exploring the French Quarter along with Maeve and Mischief. New Orleans is a wonderful setting, especially for a magical series and I can't wait to return, if only via the next Whispering Witch Mystery. 

Both a coming of age and buddy novel GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES is an exciting mystery combining puzzles to solve and a new world to explore.

************************************************************************* 

 The Whispering Witch Mysteries by Mildred Abbott

About The Whispering Witch Mystery Series

Start the Whispering Witch series today—a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, trust is dangerous, and even a corgi might not make everything okay.

Gossiping About Grimoires (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 1st in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ March 1, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn writes about witches for a living. They want her to stop.

When a book signing ends in her abduction, Maeve’s only priority is escaping with her corgi, Mischief, alive. That urgency deepens when she learns her captors are real witches, furious that Maeve has been exposing their secrets to the world.

Before Maeve can make sense of how her fiction has become reality, she’s caught in the middle of a murder that leaves her marked by magic she doesn’t understand. When a dying witch’s power floods into her, Maeve becomes the prime suspect in a crime she didn’t commit—and a target for every supernatural being certain she knows too much.

Turns out, magic isn’t a gift. It’s a liability. And clearing her name may cost Maeve far more than her safety.

With danger closing in and no clear allies other than Mischief, Maeve must navigate a hidden supernatural world that wants her silenced… or dead.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Gossiping About Grimoires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

(Includes the Shroom Boom recipe from Ayu Bakehouse, a beloved New Orleans bakery.)

Verifying About Vampires (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 2nd in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ April 30, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn didn’t mean to get involved with vampires. They insisted. When a prominent member of New Orleans’ vampire community is accused of murder, Maeve is pulled into an investigation that could unravel the fragile balance between magical factions. Clearing their name isn’t just about justice — it may be the only way to prevent something far more dangerous. As Maeve follows a trail of secrets through candlelit courtyards and hidden supernatural circles, she discovers that truth in this world is layered, political, and rarely convenient. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars begins to feel like home. The witches who were once strangers are becoming allies. Maybe even family. But solving one mystery has a way of exposing others. And in a city built on power and old allegiances, someone is always watching. For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Verifying About Vampires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell. Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, loyalty is complicated, and even a corgi doesn't know all the answers. (Includes Butterscotch Pecan Scone recipe from Bywater Bakery, a favorite New Orleans bakery.)

Snitching About Spirits (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 3rd in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ June 30, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages 

Maeve Hawthorn started chatting with ghosts. They made demands.

When a murder victim refuses to stay silent and buried secrets start coming to light, Maeve is pulled deeper into the hidden power struggles shaping New Orleans’ magical world. What started as a single investigation is unraveling something much older—and far more dangerous.

As Maeve follows the trail through enchanted courtyards, secret alliances, and the fragile peace between supernatural factions, she begins to realize the truth may not be what anyone wants revealed. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars is starting to feel less like survival… and more like family.

But some secrets were buried for a reason.

And when the past finally surfaces, it may threaten far more than one witch’s life.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Snitching About Spirits will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic carries a price, loyalties are tested, and even a corgi can't sniff out every secret.

(Includes a bewitching S’mores Cheesecake recipe from Deuxbelle, an award-winning New Orleans bakery.)

About Mildred Abbott

Mildred Abbott writes twisty cozy mysteries filled with humorous and complex characters. Whether brimming with magic or simply an above-average dose of curiosity, Mildred's amateur sleuths solve murders with the cutest sidekicks ever. Fifteen years as a special education teacher and a lifetime of loving rescue dogs results in creating adventures with a ton of heart and the need for lint rollers.

Author Links: 

Newsletter sign up: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html  

Website: http://www.mildredabbott.com  

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347095.Mildred_Abbott 

  Instagram: @mildredabbott TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mildredabbottauthor  

Purchase Links - Amazon - Gossiping About Grimoires Verifying About Vampires Snitching About Spirits

Gossiping about Grimoires - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Mildred Abbott to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Mildred writes the Whispering Witch Mystery series. GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES is the first book in the series. Be sure to come back tomorrow when I'll share my review.

Kathy: In GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES we meet Maeve Hawthorn and her corgi, Mischief. Do you have any pets? Have they influenced your portrayal of Mischief?

MA: I have had pets my entire life. I grew up in a little farm town in Missouri and had all sorts of animals, but dogs have always been vital to me. In my adult life, I've had four corgis: Dunkyn, Dolan, Alastair, and Winifred. Oh yes, the corgi connection is very real and dear to my heart. Right now, I have two little mutts who are the loves of my life, Winston, a little Chihuahua terrier rescue who was so naughty that he was returned to the pound so many times they couldn't tell us how old he was or where he came from, sums him up pretty perfectly. And Phineas, a slightly larger terrier, dachshund, and schnauzer mix we got from the pound when he was about four months old. Dogs are life!


Kathy: Maeve writes about witchcraft, infuriating real witches. Have you ever written about subjects that people object to, for whatever reason?

MA: What a great question! And yes, in this day and age, or maybe it's always the case, someone's always upset about something. That's the beauty of freedom, we can all have our own opinions. I get so many wonderful emails from readers about all the things they love in my books and how much they adore the characters. And every once in a while I'll have an email with a list of things a certain character has done that they don't approve of. And, like Maeve, while I don't have actual witches upset with me, as far as I know, but there are plenty of people who did not want me to write anything about magic or paranormal and to simply stick with magic-free contemporary cozies. But... I say love and enjoy it all!


Kathy: Setting plays such an important role in a mystery. Indeed, some cities are a character unto themselves. What made you choose New Orleans as the setting for the Whispering Witch Mystery series?

MA: My other cozy mystery series, the Cozy Corgi, is set in Estes Park, Colorado. I lived there for several years right out of high school and lived in Colorado for nearly one-quarter of a century (way to make myself sound old!). I love having real places as the main settings in books both to give a sense of realness and authenticity to the writing but also to be able to throw in places and things that people can actually go visit and see for themselves. I moved to New Orleans a little over six years ago, and trying to see New Orleans from Maeve’s point of view as I was planning the series helped me fall deeply in love with the city, especially the French Quarter, which is where 98% of the Whispering Witch series takes place. I even have bakeries and restaurants in New Orleans lending me recipes to include in each installment!


Kathy: I love paranormal mysteries. What do you think makes them so popular? What makes them enjoyable to write?

MA: I think we all love to read to escape and to have experiences that are both enjoyable and out of our grasp in real life. For me, that's definitely a big part of why I love reading fantasy and paranormal. It's just so lovely to enter these worlds of magic and wonder as often as we can. Sometimes terrible and terrifying, but so often beautiful and wondrous. Anything can happen. I love it as a reader, but as a writer, the only limits are the ones that my little created world insists on itself. And then... who doesn't love a good whodunit puzzle? Talk about the best of both worlds!


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MA: I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, Agatha Christie, and several different mystery series when I was a kid. That slipped away for a while as an adult until I started reading Agatha Frost’s Peridale Cafe series and I fell in love all over again. Those books came during a pretty stressful, rough time in my life and they were just the perfect antidote to the realities of the real world. I had already been writing other genres and fell in love with Peridale Cafe so much that I reached out to Agatha Frost and asked if she minded if I'd switched genres to cozy mysteries because I was so enamored with her books. Agatha was lovely and welcomed me into the fold. I've not looked back since!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MA: In the past, yes. Although for the last many years I've written exclusively in cozy mystery only. I have books published under my own name, Brandon Witt, and then another pen name, Rosalind Abel. They definitely all have my voice and my view of the world, but all three are very, very different from each other.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

MA: At its heart, the Whispering Witch follows Maeve, who, like so many of us, longed for magic and the supernatural when she was a little girl. When she grew up, that's what she wrote about. Then... when real-life witches come calling, angry at her accidentally spilling their secrets, she ends up getting her heart’s desire, discovering this wondrous magical world and being able to be a part of it. As with most things in life, however, it's not quite as simple as that. She's going to have to decide if this is the world she wants, even with its complications and dangers, and then how to flourish and live the life she's always dreamed of. She and her corgi, Mischief!


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

MA: Honestly, that's one of the things I did differently when I switched to the cozy mystery genre. While I loved all of my main characters in my other genres and under my other pen names, frequently one of the side characters would be the one I ended up loving the most and longing to spend more time with. I wanted to change that with my cozy mysteries and my paranormal cozy-adjacent series. I wanted the character I loved the most to be the star. And that's what I've done. I love watching Maeve in her earnest naivety navigate this new world, figure it out, and become stronger and more self-assured with every passing chapter. And of course, Mischief, writing a corgi with attitude? Come on. It doesn't get more fun than that!


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

MA: New Orleans itself is very much the inspiration and woven in through the storyline and books in every single installment. Beyond that, my favorite shows, as cliché as it may be, at a very pivotal time in my life were Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, with a healthy addiction to the movie Practical Magic. I let myself sink into the things I loved about all of those every time I sit down to write.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MA: I didn't learn to read until I was ten. As soon as I finally caught the bug, I never let go and my nose was always in a book. School was always extremely hard for me. During my sophomore year when I was fourteen, I had a writing class with Miss Hungerford. It was the first time in my entire life that homework in school was enjoyable. I loved that writing class. Miss Hungerford said she enjoyed my stories and it was the first time I was able to do okay at any school subject without a ton of tutoring or agony. From then on, I dreamed of writing books. And being a reader whose life has been so beautifully impacted by books, I wanted to give that to other people as well, wanted to invite people into my worlds and hope that they find beauty, comfort, humor, enjoyment, and escape within their pages.


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

MA: Kelley Armstrong, Agatha Frost, Sarah Beth Durst, and Peter Beagle.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MA: I'm a big audiobook fan, so I am re-listening to Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series for probably the fourth or fifth time. I'm finishing up book two of K.A. Linde's Oak and Holly Cycle series, and desperate to start reading Sarah Beth Durst’s The Faraway Inn.


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

MA: I used to have a lot more hobbies, but being a self-published author and trying to make that a survivable income quite literally takes about every spare breath I have. In the meantime, I spend an exorbitant amount of time with my dogs and going on walks, and I absolutely love to cook. Cooking for my husband every night is one of my greatest joys. It's so relaxing and another creative outlet.


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

MA: Oh Lord, this is telling. I should be ashamed to admit—but I might have spent my adult life split between Colorado and New Orleans, but you can't take the Midwest out of my heart. So... the first two: butter and mayonnaise (please don’t hate me). I'm a vegetarian, a new development over the past couple of years, so always a ton of vegetables. And then, they're not always in the fridge, but I could live on bread, cheese, and pasta and nothing else for the rest of my life and die very fat and happy.


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

MA: Yes. The book four of the Whispering Witch series comes out this summer. And there are thirteen books planned in total for this series. The Cozy Corgi also is continuing, book forty is coming out this summer as well. I have other series brewing in the back of my head, of course, but I'll save those for a later date.


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

MA: Another cliché for you, but it's true. I've heard lots of writers say the best part of writing is having written. And that is the truth. I love, love, love planning, and I love, love, love holding the book in my hand. Everything else is a mix of fear, joy, terror, and ecstasy.

************************************************************************

 The Whispering Witch Mysteries by Mildred Abbott

About The Whispering Witch Mystery Series

Start the Whispering Witch series today—a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, trust is dangerous, and even a corgi might not make everything okay.

Gossiping About Grimoires (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 1st in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ March 1, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn writes about witches for a living. They want her to stop.

When a book signing ends in her abduction, Maeve’s only priority is escaping with her corgi, Mischief, alive. That urgency deepens when she learns her captors are real witches, furious that Maeve has been exposing their secrets to the world.

Before Maeve can make sense of how her fiction has become reality, she’s caught in the middle of a murder that leaves her marked by magic she doesn’t understand. When a dying witch’s power floods into her, Maeve becomes the prime suspect in a crime she didn’t commit—and a target for every supernatural being certain she knows too much.

Turns out, magic isn’t a gift. It’s a liability. And clearing her name may cost Maeve far more than her safety.

With danger closing in and no clear allies other than Mischief, Maeve must navigate a hidden supernatural world that wants her silenced… or dead.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Gossiping About Grimoires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

(Includes the Shroom Boom recipe from Ayu Bakehouse, a beloved New Orleans bakery.)

Verifying About Vampires (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 2nd in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ April 30, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn didn’t mean to get involved with vampires. They insisted. When a prominent member of New Orleans’ vampire community is accused of murder, Maeve is pulled into an investigation that could unravel the fragile balance between magical factions. Clearing their name isn’t just about justice — it may be the only way to prevent something far more dangerous. As Maeve follows a trail of secrets through candlelit courtyards and hidden supernatural circles, she discovers that truth in this world is layered, political, and rarely convenient. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars begins to feel like home. The witches who were once strangers are becoming allies. Maybe even family. But solving one mystery has a way of exposing others. And in a city built on power and old allegiances, someone is always watching. For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Verifying About Vampires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell. Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, loyalty is complicated, and even a corgi doesn't know all the answers. (Includes Butterscotch Pecan Scone recipe from Bywater Bakery, a favorite New Orleans bakery.)

Snitching About Spirits (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 3rd in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ June 30, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages 

Maeve Hawthorn started chatting with ghosts. They made demands.

When a murder victim refuses to stay silent and buried secrets start coming to light, Maeve is pulled deeper into the hidden power struggles shaping New Orleans’ magical world. What started as a single investigation is unraveling something much older—and far more dangerous.

As Maeve follows the trail through enchanted courtyards, secret alliances, and the fragile peace between supernatural factions, she begins to realize the truth may not be what anyone wants revealed. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars is starting to feel less like survival… and more like family.

But some secrets were buried for a reason.

And when the past finally surfaces, it may threaten far more than one witch’s life.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Snitching About Spirits will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic carries a price, loyalties are tested, and even a corgi can't sniff out every secret.

(Includes a bewitching S’mores Cheesecake recipe from Deuxbelle, an award-winning New Orleans bakery.)

About Mildred Abbott

Mildred Abbott writes twisty cozy mysteries filled with humorous and complex characters. Whether brimming with magic or simply an above-average dose of curiosity, Mildred's amateur sleuths solve murders with the cutest sidekicks ever. Fifteen years as a special education teacher and a lifetime of loving rescue dogs results in creating adventures with a ton of heart and the need for lint rollers.

Author Links: 

Newsletter sign up: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html  

Website: http://www.mildredabbott.com  

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347095.Mildred_Abbott 

  Instagram: @mildredabbott TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mildredabbottauthor  

Purchase Links - Amazon - Gossiping About Grimoires Verifying About Vampires Snitching About Spirits

*******************************************************************************

For a chance to win a Mildred Abbott e-book, comment on this post no later then 11:59pm Eastern Friday, May 29, 2026 telling us why you enjoy paranormal mysteries as well as the title of the Mildred Abbott book you'd choose. Please leave your e-mail as well, so I may contact you should you have the winning comment. Good Luck!

Hippie Wagon Homicide - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Mildred Abbot back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Mildred starts a new series with Hippie Wagon Homicide. This first Twister Sisters Mystery was released last month.

Kathy: In Hippie Wagon Homicide we meet Cordelia Davis who lives life with no regrets. Do you try to live that way as well?

MA: I do, for the most part. There are many mistakes I’ve made throughout my life, I’m far from perfect; however, there are only two or three things that I actually regret. Each one of those involved hurting someone’s feelings, someone who is no longer with us and I cannot apologize or tell them I love them. Beyond that, I firmly believe that all the hard and scary things that have happened have brought me to who I am now, and I’m grateful for that. I also do my very best, intentionally, to live a kind life and to leap. Part of why I am a writer. Part of why I’m willing to struggle to pay bills in order to write, because I don’t want to to live in regret. We get one life-- Live your dream or at least fight to live your dream! I think if you’re doing that, and if you are kind and seek to help people, or the very minimum not harm others, there won’t be much else to regret.


Kathy: A tornado altered the destiny of the little Ozark town of Willow Lane. Has your town or life been impacted by Mother Nature in some way?

MA: I grew up in a little town in the Ozarks the first 18 years of my life. Tornado drills, tornado sirens, going to the basement… those were frequent and they terrified me! None ever hit our town when I lived there, though a town close by was practically destroyed and a few others in recent years have been hit as well. And what’s funny, despite living in tornado territory growing up it wasn’t until I moved to Denver that I actually saw my first tornado, though it was a small little thing, far away. Currently, I live in New Orleans and have been through a few hurricanes already. One of which was this last year where we were out of her home for a week and stayed with my in-laws with no electricity, no air conditioning, not knowing how our home was. We were very fortunate as our home was fine. It seems mother nature has at least one way to show her temper no matter where you live. I have to say, though I’ve never lived through a tornado and I have now lived through a couple hurricanes, I am still much more afraid of tornadoes than hurricanes. However, apparently, I’ve learned that sometimes in hurricanes tornadoes hop along for the ride. I can’t imagine anything more rude.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MA: I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy boys as kid. Was completely obsessed. And read several Agatha Christie books in high school which I loved. Then I took a break from reading them for almost a couple decades, though a lot of the TV shows I watched were cozy mysteries, not that I even knew the term cozy mystery. I rediscovered my love of the genre with Agatha Frost’s Paridale Cafe series, then discovered witch cozies, and I’ve been trapped ever since.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MA: Not currently, but I have. I wrote under the names Brandon Witt and Rosalind Able. Both are about as far away from cozy mysteries as you can get. I don’t have very many crossover readers, which is fine.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

MA: *The Twister Sisters: Three senior citizen ladies--Cordelia, Wanda, and Pamela--deliver casseroles from their hippie wagons (think Meals-on-Wheels) to residents of their charming Ozark town, Willow Lane. In what is a great surprise to them, but probably no surprise to cozy mystery readers, they discover murder victims during their deliveries and are further surprised to find they have a knack for finding the killer and uncovering long buried secrets around the town.

Note: This limited series of ten books is full of feel-good storylines and characters that will have you laughing, crying, and turning every which way trying to solve the mystery. It blurs the line of cozy mystery, traditional mystery, and contemporary fiction in its style, but keeps true to the cozy rules of no sex, foul language, or gore.

*The Cozy Corgi: Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, moved to the tiny mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado. She opened up her bookshop, the Cozy Corgi, and began to simultaneously solve murders and reveal the townspeople’s sinister secrets. Fred falls into it naturally, as she’s the detective’s daughter and at times helped her father talk over cases when she was younger. Watson, goes along for the treats, and provides her with companionship, lovable grumpiness, and, naturally, much corgi disapproval.

Note: This long-running, continuing series is in every way a traditional cozy mystery. Full of laughs, charm, and sweetness. It stands on its own two feet with constant character development and mysteries that grow more and more complicated with each installment.

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

In Twister Sisters, it’s a tie. I love all the women of this little casserole delivery business equally. Cordelia, Wanda, and Pamela have known each other for six decades. Their friendship, their loyalty, and their care and devotion to one another is a joy witness and an honor to document throughout the Twister Sister stories.


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

MA: The Twister Sister series was inspired by my other series, the Cozy Corgi. In the Cozy Corgi, Winifred owns a bookshop and in each of the installments talks about one of the books she’s reading. Typically, these are books that I, the author, enjoy and get to brag about through Winifred. However in one early installment she talks about a mystery series involving three older women delivering Meals on Wheels and solving murders. One of my readers wrote in and asked what series that was because she’d like to read it. I realized that I would like to read it as well, and since it didn’t exist, decided to write it.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MA: Since my sophomore year in high school when I fell in love with writing, I have wanted to be an author. It was a long, long road, full of years of rejection. Now, across three pen names, I’ve written nearly 50 books. It never ceases to amaze me that I am currently getting to live my dream. As with any indie author, it’s by the skin of my teeth, but I am so unbelievably grateful.


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

MA: I was asked this in another interview recently, but only allowed three authors. I chose Hans Christian Andersen, Peter S. Beagle, and Kelley Armstrong. Now that I get to invite four, I’m sending JD Robb an invitation as well. However, if one of them has to cancel, hopefully Stephen King can slide into the empty seat.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MA: The Deepest of Secrets by Kelley Armstrong and A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison. After which, I’m diving into The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren and then Blood and Rain by Glenn Rolfe. As all of you readers know, the list is never ending!


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

MA: Absolutely! I am dog crazy, so while I wouldn’t consider my pups a hobby, they do get the majority of my time. One of the reasons being an author is the best job ever--such cute coworkers! I love cooking, drawing, coloring, and videogames on the iPad while I’m in the bathtub. I also work out every day and have recently started yoga (2 classes and I’m already understanding what the hype was all about.)


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

MA: Lettuce, chicken stock, eggs, and mayonnaise (I haven’t lived in the Midwest in twenty-five years, but good luck clawing mayonnaise out of my cold dead hands)


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

MA: Always!

Book 2 of twister sisters, Casserole Casualty is in edits right now and should be out in March.

Book 24 of the Cozy Corgi, Pesky Puppies, was finished today and should be out in April.

I hope in the next year or two after the Twister Sisters is closer to its ten book finale, to start another cozy mystery series, hopefully with mermaids and all sorts of fantastical twists and turns.


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

MA: Creating books-- things that I have enriched my life, at times offered comfort, at times escape, at times perspective. I get the honor of writing those magical things now. Equal to that, I love my characters. It’s a joy to spend time with them. With my puppies asleep while I type, these beloved friends tell me their stories. 

******************************************************************

 Hippie Wagon Homicide (Twister Sisters Mysteries) by Mildred Abbott

About Hippie Wagon Homicide

Hippie Wagon Homicide (Twister Sisters Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Small farming/tourist town in the Missouri Ozarks
Wings of Ink Publications, LLC (February 1, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎ 474 pages Paperback: ‎ 626 pages Digital Print length: ‎ 476 pages

Cordelia Davis lives with no regrets, despite her life changing drastically a half century ago when a tornado altered the destiny of the little Ozark town of Willow Lane. The town grew back stronger and more beautiful, and Cordelia, her sister, Pamela, and her best friend, Wanda, built a life to treasure.

As Willow Lane honors the memory of those lost and celebrates all that has been achieved, tragedy refuses to remain in the past. News of murder rocks the pastoral countryside when Cordelia discovers a body on her farm, beneath her beloved willow tree. And while the police make an immediate arrest, Cordelia finds herself untangling a web of lies and long-ago secrets.

With suspects in every nook of her cozy town—and an old flame knocking on her door—it will take all Cordelia’s tenacity to face the past and to weather the mysteries of Willow Lane.

About Mildred Abbott

Preoccupied with everything found in cozy mysteries: Puppies, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. Although not obsessed with murder, however. At least not in real life (No contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in everyday life. Author of the Cozy Corgi series and the Twister Sister series.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.mildredabbott.com  

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2AWmqNt  

Patreon: https://bit.ly/MildredAbbottPatreonPage  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbottAuthor/?ref=bookmarks  

Facebook Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/421718101651414/ 

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mildredabbott/  

Audible Audiobooks: http://bit.ly/cozycorgiaudiobooks  

Newsletter Signup: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347095.Mildred_Abbott  

Purchase Link - Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hippie Wagon Homicide - A Spotlight & Giveaway

 Hippie Wagon Homicide (Twister Sisters Mysteries) by Mildred Abbott

About Hippie Wagon Homicide

Hippie Wagon Homicide (Twister Sisters Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Small farming/tourist town in the Missouri Ozarks
Wings of Ink Publications, LLC (February 1, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎ 474 pages Paperback: ‎ 626 pages
Digital Print length: ‎ 476 pages

Cordelia Davis lives with no regrets, despite her life changing drastically a half century ago when a tornado altered the destiny of the little Ozark town of Willow Lane. The town grew back stronger and more beautiful, and Cordelia, her sister, Pamela, and her best friend, Wanda, built a life to treasure.

As Willow Lane honors the memory of those lost and celebrates all that has been achieved, tragedy refuses to remain in the past. News of murder rocks the pastoral countryside when Cordelia discovers a body on her farm, beneath her beloved willow tree. And while the police make an immediate arrest, Cordelia finds herself untangling a web of lies and long-ago secrets.

With suspects in every nook of her cozy town—and an old flame knocking on her door—it will take all Cordelia’s tenacity to face the past and to weather the mysteries of Willow Lane.

About Mildred Abbott

Preoccupied with everything found in cozy mysteries: Puppies, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. Although not obsessed with murder, however. At least not in real life (No contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in everyday life. Author of the Cozy Corgi series and the Twister Sister series.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.mildredabbott.com  

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2AWmqNt  

Patreon: https://bit.ly/MildredAbbottPatreonPage  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbottAuthor/?ref=bookmarks  

Facebook Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/421718101651414/ 

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mildredabbott/  

Audible Audiobooks: http://bit.ly/cozycorgiaudiobooks  

Newsletter Signup: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347095.Mildred_Abbott 

Purchase Link - Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Brush with Murder - A Review

Review

A BRUSH WITH MURDER by Bailee Abbott
The First Paint by Murder Mystery

Chloe Abbington left a boyfriend and an unsuccessful life as an artist in New York City to return to her hometown in Western New York. Living with her parents and sister she's agreed to help her sister's new painting event business. Life on scenic Chautauqua Lake isn't a peaceful idyll, however. Fiona, a newcomer to town, is working as a reporter and dispensing bad reviews and nastiness with aplomb. After Paint with a View's soft opening Chloe finds Fiona's body with a palette knife in her neck. With a sister keeping secrets, a town full of shopkeepers with motive, and her ex come to visit, Chloe will have to keep her wits about her as she navigates her new life while searching for a killer.

Living in Western New York I was so excited to discover a mystery set in my corner of the world. I love the setting and premise for the series. However, I have several issues with the book. The first relates to police procedure. A murdered body is found behind a business. No police investigator waits six days for the shop owner to contact him, a shop owner who is obviously dodging him, especially since he knows where she lives. He doesn't even stop by? Then there is a lack of description. Chloe has a dog, Max. He's a small dog. That's it. That's all we know. Chloe later encounters another dog. A big dog. Again, that's all we know, aside that she prefers small dogs. It's as if the author knew dogs make cozies more popular, so she added them. Descriptions on the whole seem to be lacking. The characters themselves aren't very likable. They're secretive, snarky, and not in a good way, and not very nice. Izzie, Chloe's sister hiccups. A lot. I don't know if it's meant to be a quirky trait the author put in because she was told cozy characters should have quirks, but it doesn't add anything. It's just annoying. The mystery is convoluted with too many possible subplots. Instead of being red herrings, they just create a muddle. And of course, the killer is described as crazy; one of my biggest pet peeves when the killer is rational and the crime well planned.

A BRUSH WITH MURDER is primed with possibilities. Hopefully, the next Paint by Murder Mystery will take advantage of them.

A Brush with Murder - An Excerpt, Spotlight, & Giveaway

Today I'd like to share an excerpt from A Brush with Murder by Bailee Abbott. This book is the first in the Paint by Murder Mystery series and was released last week.

I groaned and mumbled as she explained her idea, which involved costumes and human billboards. “Let me get this straight. You want me to stand on a corner, in front of traffic and people, wearing a costume of a cartoon character, with a sandwich billboard shaped like an easel hanging from my shoulders, while I hand out flyers for our event? That’s your best idea to sell admission?” My forehead hit the counter with a thud.

“What happened to the daring and impulsive sister I know? I come up with this crazy idea, which, by the way, isn’t in my comfort zone, and you sit there all grumpy and critical. I’m trying to save my business the best way I can.”

**************************************************************************

 A Brush with Murder: A Paint by Murder Mystery by Bailee Abbott

About A Brush With Murder

A Brush with Murder: A Paint by Murder Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting - WHISPER COVE, NEW YORK (FICTIONAL TOWN)
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (October 12, 2021)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

A quiet lakeside town in western New York state is the new home of Manhattan artist Chloe Abbington and the backdrop for murder in this series debut by Bailee Abbott.

For Chloe Abbington, the transition from fine art painter in New York City to painting-event business owner in charming Whisper Cove is more than a little jarring. But when poison-pen journalist Fiona Gimble writes a viciously negative review of the newly opened Paint with a View, Chloe learns that critics are the same everywhere. And when she finds Fiona's body behind her shop with a painting knife in her neck, Chloe realizes that this picture-perfect town offers anything but peace and quiet.

Suddenly, bustling Artisan Alley is a crime scene, and Chloe is the prime suspect. Her sister and business partner, Izzie, isn't much help--she's busy running the shop, and besides, she has secrets of her own. As shrewd Detective Barrett tries to paint her into a corner, Chloe soon finds that Fiona had plenty of enemies. The Whisper Cove Gazette columnist wielded her pen like a sword, slicing and dicing just about every shop owner in the lakeside town.

Chloe sets out to prove that she's been framed for Fiona's murder. But she'd better learn the fine art of detection quickly, before the real killer paints the town red again. Otherwise, she may end up trading in her paint smock for an orange jumpsuit...or a green burial plot.

 

About Bailee Abbott

Bailee Abbott is a native Ohioan who spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries. She's a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers. Bailee lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. Visits to Bemus Point, a town along the Chautauqua Lake in southwest New York inspired the setting for the PAINT BY MURDER mystery series. She also writes the SIERRA PINES B&B mystery series under the name Kathryn Long.

Author Links: 

Author Website: www.baileeabbott.com  

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BaileeAbbottBooks  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BaileeAbbott1  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21094675.Bailee_Abbott 

Purchase Links - Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway