A Lethal Lake Effect - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to allow Margo Bonner to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Margo on the pages of the Victoria Square Mystery series by Lorraine Bartlett. A Lethal Lake Effect is the ninth book in the series and was released last week.

Hi, my name is Margo Bonner. and I’m a relatively new fixture on Victoria Square. My late son, Chad, invested in the failing Artisans Alley arts-and-crafts arcade. His wife, Katie, not only inherited his share of the business, but that of his partner. She’s made the business a success —something nobody thought was possible, especially me!

Katie’s and my relationship had a rocky start. That was my fault. Like many moms of only children, I didn’t think anyone was good enough for Chad. I was wrong, and it took a couple of years after his death for me to figure that out. (Therapy is a good thing!) I’ve since left Manhattan and now reside in McKinlay Mill, where I’ve leased a loft apartment (to be built) and a gallery space. You see, Chad was not only a school teacher, but also a gifted painter. (I’m his mother. I’m allowed to think of him as gifted.) My first show will be Chad’s paintings, but this isn’t just a vanity project. I intend to help make the Victoria Square Annex into a thriving business filled with retail and residential spaces. To quote Susan B. Anthony, “Failure is impossible!”

In addition to my gallery, I’m associated with another business on the Square: Tealicious, the tea shop I own with Katie. We hired a world-class chef manager, and the business is thriving. Brad makes exquisite pastries (his specialty).

I have other aspirations, as well. An important one is mentoring the two youngest Davenport sisters, Sadie and Sasha, daughters of Ray Davenport, who owns the Square’s Wood U gift shop. They lost their mother a few years back. I have not stepped into that role, but the girls and I lunch on a regular basis, and I’m helping them with a project that’s in the Square’s best interests. I so enjoy their company. Once a mom, always a mom!

But that’s not all I’m up to. You’ll have to read A Lethal Lake Effect to see what’s brewing in Katie’s mind when it comes to our relationship. Good? Bad? Indifferent? 

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 A Lethal Lake Effect (A Victoria Square Mystery) by Lorraine Bartlett

About A Lethal Lake Effect

A Lethal Lake Effect (A Victoria Square Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 9th in Series
Setting - Victoria Square, McKinlay Mill, NY
Publisher: ‎ Polaris Press (June 6, 2024)
Number of Pages: 306

Things go awry for Katie Bonner when her former mother-in-law, Margo, throws a housewarming party at her lakeside rental and one of her guests ends up dead in the water. Maxwell Preston was a devoted husband--and a not-so-great dad. He was a beloved pharmacist who didn’t take care of his ramshackle property, which is destined to be a hot commodity on Victoria Square when his heir puts it up for sale. But most of all, Preston was a stranger to the others who attended the party.

Meanwhile, Nona Fiske takes charge of Victoria Square big summer extravaganza—a disaster in the making as what little power she’s seized has gone straight to her head. The Davenport sisters have their own agenda, and they’ve not only been poking around to find out more about the dead man, but what other mischief has been going on around the Square.

So, who killed Maxwell Preston and why? That’s what Katie wants to know—and she’s willing to risk everything to find out.

About Lorraine Bartlett

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what first put Lorraine Bartlett’s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett—that keeps her in her readers’ hearts. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author also pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square and Lotus Bay Mystery series, and the Tales of Blythe Cove Manor, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s).

Author Links: 

Newsletter List: http://oi.vresp.com?fid=aee11a8d64  

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lorraine-bartlett  

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.bartlett  

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/LorraineBartlett.author/  

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LorraineBartlettmysteries/  

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

Website: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com  

Amazon: https://amzn.to/44njWmo  

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4017727.Lorraine_Bartlett  

Purchase Links: Kindle Kobo Nook Google Play Smashwords  

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A Murderous Misconception - A Review

Review

A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION by Lorraine Bartlett & Gayle Leeson

The Seventh Victoria Square Mystery

A quick check of social media turns Katie Bronner's world into a nightmare. Erikka Wiley has been plaguing Katie for months, flirting openly with her boyfriend, Andy. Now she's posted a picture with a sonogram hinting that she's pregnant with his baby! After a public confrontation with the woman, Katie needs to clear her mind, but an early morning run only leads her to discover Erikka's murdered body. Nothing would make Detective Schuler happier than pinning the murder on Katie or Andy, so Katie knows she'll have to investigate herself. What will become of her relationship with Andy? And what about Roy? Will she be able to stay ahead of  Detective Schuler's investigation? Or will she be convicted of murder?

Deception, trust, and relationships are the basis for A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION. There is also a dash of "what can we do to make Katie's life miserable". I've disliked Andy for some time now and have hated his nickname for Katie. In this seventh Victoria Square Mystery, I found his calling her Sunshine not only cringe worthy, it also made me want to punch him. In fact, I found myself wanting to punch several characters in this book! There is a lot of bad behavior in these pages, by several of its inhabitants. At one point I actually gasped out loud and turned to my cat saying, "Oh no he didn't!" I certainly hope that Katie is ready to cut some of the chaff from her life and start fresh.

A few new characters serve to perk up the series. I really like the addition of Moonbeam and hope that Brad, though not brand new to Victoria Square, will play a larger role in future books. I also was impressed with Captain Spence and hope we get to see more of him as well.

Plenty of suspects, plenty of action, and lots of drama work to make A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION a page-turning mystery.

A Murderous Misconception - A Book Blast!

Book Blast! Book Blast! Book Blast! 

A Murderous Misconception (Victoria Square Mystery) by Lorraine Bartlett

About A Murderous Misconception

 

A Murderous Misconception (Victoria Square Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 7th in Series 

Publisher: Polaris Press (May 8, 2020) 

Katie Bonner loses her lunch—literally—when her social media account serves up a shocking announcement. Her boyfriend Andy’s assistant manager, Erikka, is pregnant, and apparently with his child. And when Erikka turns up dead, the Sheriff turns up the heat on Katie and Andy, certain that one of them is to blame. But Erikka wasn't pregnant after all. Was Erikka's misconception the only way she could conceive of stealing Andy from Katie?

When Katie finds planted evidence, it’s her friend and former detective, Ray, who insists on concealing it. Is it his growing affection for her that causes him to act against his training and code of ethics, or could he be responsible for Erikka’s death? Katie is afraid to find out.

About the Authors

 
Lorraine Bartlett

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett‘s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent — whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett — that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com

 
Gayle Leeson

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee. She is currently writing the Kinsey Falls chick-lit/women’s fiction series, the Down South Cafe cozy mystery series, and the Ghostly Fashionista cozy mystery series. Her book KILLER WEDDING CAKE won the Bronze Medal in the 20th Anniversary IPPY Awards. Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and enjoys hearing from readers. Find her books on Amazon here.

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Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo 

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Murder Ink - A Review

Review

MURDER INK by Lorraine Bartlett with Gayle Leeson

The Sixth Victoria Square Mystery

A tattoo parlor in Victoria Square? That possibility is just the start of Katie Bonner's problems. When her friend and fellow merchant association member Ray goes to the contractor working on the building to get more information he receives a black eye for his efforts, but the man who dealt it winds up dead. As the sheriff hones in on Ray as the killer Katie has to deal with her tea house manager quitting with hardly any notice, Andy's assistant being overly helpful, and questions about her new vendor at Artisan's Alley. Despite relationship issues Katie strives to keep everything on track and keep Ray out of jail. Will she be able to find the real killer, or will she have as shocking of an end as the contractor?

There's a lot going on in this sixth outing of the Victoria Square mystery series, almost too much. Katie is involved with so many projects and wears so many hats, not to mention all of her relationship issues, I don't know how she has time to breathe. By the end of the novel these myriad storylines did meld, but Katie's involvement in every aspect of Victoria Square, almost as if she considers herself Empress of the Square, is a bit off putting.

I liked the addition of Brad to Tealicious, although his arrival led to yet more adolescent jealous behavior by several of the key players. I love Nick and Don and give kudos to Nick's quick thinking leading up to the penultimate scene. There are lots of clever bits given by both the author and the characters which make for an intelligent read.

MURDER INK is a complex mystery with a fast paced satisfying conclusion.

Yule be Dead - A Spotlight

It's not yet Epiphany, so today I'm shining a spotlight on a holiday book on my TBR pile Yule be Dead by Lorraine Bartlett with Gayle Leeson is the fifth book in the Victoria Square Mystery series and was released November 27, 2018. The mass market paperback version was on sale at Amazon for #3.99 as of yesterday morning.

From the back cover:

This holiday season someone has been especially naughty.

It's Christmastime, but not everyone is jolly. Katie Bonner, local sleuth and manager of Artisan's Alley, has received some shocking news. Afternoon tea proprietess Vonne Barnett was found dead in a wrecked car. However, Vonne didn't die in the crash. She was killed by blunt force trauma to the back of her head. Adding even more intrigue to her murder is the fact that she was pregnant when she died.

Vonne left a trail of men behind her, so the suspects are many-but the clues are few. A broken teacup leads Katie to one of the suspects, but before she can investigate, she's attacked. Katie may be closing in on a murderer, but time is ticking, because the murderer is definitely closing in on her.

Recipes included.

Spotlight - Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks

I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book published earlier this month, Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks. The book is not a mystery novel, but rather a cookbook combined with articles about tea and tea parties. The book is a combined effort of the Cozy Chicks: Ellery Adams, Lorraine Bartlett, Duffy Brown, Kate Collins, Mary Kennedy, Mary Jane Maffini, Maggie Sefton, and Leann Sweeney

From the back cover:

The Cozy Chicks realized that tea was such a perfect complement to cozy mysteries that we decided to write a book about it. Not only does Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks have delicious recipes, but it also includes themed tea menus, fascinating articles, fun facts, curious quotes, and helpful hints on how to host the most memorable tea parties ever! And for an extra treat, a few of us have included excerpts of our work as well! Read, cook, drink tea, savor, and most of all enjoy!

A New Series from Lorraine Bartlett

I'm happy to welcome Lorraine Bartlett back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Lorraine, who also writes as Lorna Barrett and L.L. Bartlett, gives a new mystery series this year. With Baited Breath, the first of the Lotus Bay Mystery series was released this past Tuesday. Mystery fans will probably be familiar with her Booktown Mystery series, as well as the Victoria Square Mysteries and the not so cozy Jeff Resnick series.

Kathy: You start a new mystery series with With Baited Breath. This book, which was just released January 6th, is the first in the Lotus Bay Mystery series. What made you decide to launch a new series?

LB: Tori and Kathy have been residing in the back of my brain for at least 7 or 8 years. I was between books and thought it might be fun to finally let them tell their story.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

LB: Tori and Kathy are dreamers. They want to set up businesses in a beautiful but economically challenged area. At the opening of the book, the base of Lotus Bay has three businesses: a bar, and two bait shops with marinas. Tori’s grandfather’s bait and tackle business isn’t doing so hot. She wants to help him revive the business, including reopening the long-shuttered motel on the property. Her grandfather is against it.


Kathy: What will adding this new series do to your other series?

LB: Nothing, really. I intend to keep writing the Jeff Resnick, Booktown, and Victoria Square mysteries, as well as my adventure-fantasy series, The Tales of Telenia. It may just be that the books come out on a more erratic schedule. And I intend to continue to write short stories. They’re a nice break between longer pieces of fiction.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

LB: I just liked the idea of writing about a beautiful summer place, and the friendships between four women. I had a great time writing the first book in the series. I hope to write the second one during the summer.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?


LB: I’ve got a Jeff Resnick short story coming out the first week in February. It’s called Crybaby and features his niece, Betsy. On May 5th, the paperback edition of Book Clubbed (#8 in the Booktown Mystery series) comes out; on June 1st, the hardcover edition of the 9th book in the series comes out: A Fatal Chapter.


Kathy: A new interview section-this or that. Pick one of the 2 choices given.

Library or Bookstore

LB: Bookstore


Expositional or Continuing Story

LB: Continuing Story


Editing or Marketing

LB: Marketing


TV or Film

LB: Film


Chocolate or Vanilla


LB: Vanilla


Mountains or Beach


LB: Beach


Tea or Coffee

LB: Tea


Cats or Dogs


LB: Cats (Well, I really like both, but I only have cats.)


Summer or Winter


LB: Summer


Normal or Paranormal


LB: Normal


Vampire or Werewolf

LB: (neither)

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Get your copy of With Baited Breath through these links:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1yfFY5c
Kindle US: http://tinyurl.com/o3elbqn
Kindle Worldwide:  http://authl.it/B00OWE5Q22
iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1xrgsdA
Kobo:  http://tinyurl.com/k2ncmoj
Nook:  http://tinyurl.com/ndlxur8


Read more about Lorraine by following these links:


writing as Lorraine Bartlett, L.L. Bartlett, and Lorna Barrett
www.LorraineBartlett.com - Victoria Square Mysteries & Tales of Telenia (Facebook)
www.LLBartlett.com - Jeff Resnick Mysteries (Facebook)
www.LornaBarrett.com - Booktown Mysteries (Facebook)

@LorraineBartlet @LornaBarrett @LLBartlettBooks
Read My Blog: Dazed and Confused
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Location, Location, Location

While characters and plot are of extreme importance in a mystery series, its location can often play an important role as well. The vibe of a book may change if the setting is set in a small town rather than a big city or is urban instead of rural.

A series may be set in a real location. The White House Chef Mysteries by Julie Hyzy, for example, are set in Washington DC while Betty Hechtman has a setting in Los Angeles, California; Tarzana to be more precise. Writers must be careful when using real locations. Inaccuracies in the setting may be picked up by readers familiar with the area. Artistic license aside, nothing annoys me more when I see glaring errors in book.

Some cities are characters unto themselves; San Francisco, New Orleans, and New York City are iconic places that bring their own style to the story when mysteries are set there. Juliet Blackwell brings the magic of San Fransisco to her Witchcraft Series. The vibe of New Orleans can be felt in the Piece of Cake Mysteries by Jacklyn Brady and Laura Childs' Scrapbooking Mysteries. You can feel the rush of New York City in Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mysteries.

Some authors create fictional towns. In this way they can set the stage exactly as they need it, creating the perfect town for them. Oftentimes they will set this fictional town near real places-to add verisimilitude and pull interest for readers attracted to those real locations. Lorraine Bartlett's Victoria Square mysteries are set in McKinley Mill, New York. While you won't find this town on a map, it is based on a real town, and the books sometimes talk about the nearby real cities of Rochester and Buffalo.

Some authors use a variety of locations in a single series.The Passport to Peril series by Maddy Hunter features a travel organization-so each book goes on a trip. Changing settings like this also makes all the murders a little more plausible as well. We don't have to willingly suspend our disbelief as much. It's a bit more likely to stumble across murders worldwide than to have them all occur in your own small town backyard.

I enjoy settings both fictional and real. I love to read about places I've been...or wish to go... and I especially love books set in towns I know and love. What about you? Do you enjoy reading mysteries is settings you know, or do you prefer to explore the unknown?

Meet Lorraine Bartlett, Lorna Barrett, & LL Bartlett

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview NY Times Bestseller Lorna Barrett, author of the Booktown Series, Lorraine Bartlett, who writes the Victoria Square Mysteries, and L.L. Bartlett, creator of the Jeff Resnick Mysteries. While the Jeff Resnick series may not be considered a cozy I had to include its author because she, along with the other two, are actually one woman-Lorraine Bartlett!

Kathy:  What made you decide to publish your different series under 3 different names?

LB:  When I was offered the contract for the Booktown Mysteries, my publisher asked me to take a pseudonym.  The Jeff Resnick Mysteries are darker than a cozy mystery series (which describes the Booktown books).  The thought was to keep them separate, but I believe there’s a crossover reading audience, and I want everyone to know about all the series I write.

Kathy:  You grew up and currently live in Western New York. Your Jeff Resnick series is set in Buffalo, NY, the Victoria Square series takes place in a fictional small town in WNY; however, your Booktown series is set in New Hampshire. What made you decide on that setting?

LB:  My editor chose New Hampshire as the setting for the Booktown Mysteries.  If the choice had been mine, I would have set it in Western New York.  I know the weather here.  The weather in southern New Hampshire is different, which is why I don’t write much about winter there. 

Kathy:  You include wonderful recipes in both of your cozy series. Why did you choose to do that and where do you get your recipes?

LB:  Again, my publisher likes to include bonus material in the books they publish.  They asked for recipes, and I was happy to oblige. I get my recipes from all over the place; cookbooks, sides of jars, online. But I try to make each one I publish my own by changing the ingredients and measurements. Sometimes I try to recreate food I've eaten in restaurants. I guess I like to play with my food!

Kathy:  What first drew you to the cozy mystery?

LB:  To be honest, I hadn’t read very many cozy mysteries before I decided to try my hand at writing one.  At the time, I wasn’t able to sell my Jeff Resnick books and was frustrated.  It was time to try something else.  I had tried to write (and quite unsuccessfully) romance, although my first sales were romance short stories. A lot of readers think that romances are easy to write and sell--that they’re just formulaic, but that’s not true.  Nor is it true of writing a cozy mystery.  From the time I wrote my first cozy mystery until the time the first Booktown Mystery was published was a full nine years. I wrote and edited and rewrote countless times before I learned how to do it well.

Kathy:  Tell us about your series.

LB: The Jeff Resnick Mysteries feature a man who was viciously mugged.  As a consequence, he found he gained a kind of 6th sense when it comes to crime.  The Booktown Mysteries feature a small town with a number of used booksellers.  Tricia Miles owns the mystery bookstore, Haven’t Got a Clue and feels compelled to snoop when it comes to solving local crimes.  The Victoria Square mysteries feature a woman who owns and manages an Artisans Arcade in the charming shopping district of Victoria Square.  But crime happens, and usually Katie finds a way to become involved.

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

LB:  Jeff Resnick.  Something about him just appeals to me.  He’s a very private person, and yet because of the visions he sometimes gets, is forced to out himself and his new gift to the world at large. I’m also drawn to the relationship he has with his brother and his sister-in-law.  They are an oddball kind of family, but they’re fiercely loyal to one another.

Kathy:  Did you have specific inspiration for your series?

The Victoria Square Mysteries were inspired by my time as a vendor in an antiques arcade. I wondered what it would be like to run such a place and let my imagination run free.

Kathy:  What made you decide to publish your work?

From the time I decided I wanted to be professionally published until the time my first novel saw print was eleven years.  Since 2009, I’ve been self-publishing my backlist of titles (mostly short stories).  I’ve been very pleased with the results.

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

That’s easy.  Ellery Adams, Leann Sweeney, Julie Hyzy, and Heather Webber -- they’re all members of a group blog I belong to, The Cozy Chicks.  ( www.CozyChicksblog.com )

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

LB:  Horseradish mayo, non-fat milk, eggs, and club soda.

Kathy:  Would you care to share any hobbies your have?

LB:  I like to go junking.  I was once a vendor in an antiques co-op.  You can take the girl out of the business, but you can’t take away the thrill of the hunt.  Only now I don’t buy nearly as much.  It takes discipline to say, “I love it, but I don’t need it, and have no room for it.”  I used to knit and do counted cross-stitch, but carpal tunnel syndrome put an end to that.

Kathy:  What are you currently reading?

LB:  Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams.  She’s a wonderful author and a good friend.

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

LB:  I have plans to write more books in all three series.  And I have ideas for several more series that I hope to write one day.  In fact, I have more ideas than I can possibly ever find time to explore in novel length.

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

LB:  My friendships with other authors. I love talking shop.  People outside the “business” just don’t understand what we encounter in our writing and the business side of publishing.

Thanks so much Lorraine, for taking the time to talk with me.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about Lorraine, Lorna, and L.L. Be sure to give all her series a read and check out her various blogs and Facebook pages. In addition, her latest Jeff Resnick mystery will be released tomorrow, September 10, 2012. Look for Room at the Inn at most online retail outlets and get your copy!

If you want to start at the beginning-these are the first titles in each of her series:
Booktown: Murder is Binding
Victoria Square: A Crafty Killing
Jeff Resnick: Murder on the Mind

www.LorraineBartlett.com - Victoria Square Mysteries 

https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.bartlett
www.LornaBarrett.com - Booktown Mysteries

https://www.facebook.com/lorna.barrett1
www.LLBartlett.com - Jeff Resnick Mysteries

https://www.facebook.com/L.L.Bartlett.JeffResnickMysteries

The Culinary Mystery

There is no love sincerer than the love of food. —–George Bernard Shaw

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort."
Norman Kolpas

There’s always been an interest in food, not only eating, but talking about it, reading about it, and watching it on television. Look at the popularity of The Food Network. They’ve even added another station dedicated to food-The Cooking Channel. You can find food related shows on many other stations as well. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the culinary mystery is one of the most popular cozy genres.

In order to be a true cozy mystery food and/or drink must be an integral part of the protagonist’s life. The protagonist may have a job revolving around food, or it may just be a hobby.  Many of these mysteries series feature shop owners: The Cheese Shop Mysteries by Avery Aames, The Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs, The Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke, or The Mystery a la Mode Series by Wendy Lyn Watson for instance. Some characters write about food: Carolyn Blue in The Culinary Food Writer series by Nancy Fairbanks or Hayley Snow in Lucy Burdette’s Food Critic Mysteries.

You may find a character who knows nothing about food, yet it fast becomes a prominent part of their life. Liver Let Die is the first in The Clueless Cook Mystery Series by Liz Lipperman. Journalist Jordan McAllister is completely clueless when it comes to food-she doesn’t even know what foie gras is-yet she agrees to cover for her newspaper’s culinary reporter. Jordan gets in over her head…and not only when it comes to writing her column. This book includes recipes as well as a great story. In addition to being a culinary mystery, this series could also fall into the humor genre.

It should be noted that many series include recipes, but they are not necessarily culinary mysteries.  Lorraine Bartlett includes recipes in her Victoria Square Mysteries, as does Maggie Sefton in her Knitting Mysteries.

It just goes to show how popular food is, and how important it is in all of our lives. After all, everyone has to eat!