Showing posts with label Bell. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

The Twilight Toxin - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Holly Bell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Holly writes the Amanda Cadabra British Urban Fantasy Mystery series. Amanda Cadabra and the Twilight Toxin is the ninth book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Kathy: In Amanda Cadabra and the Twilight Toxin, covert witch Amanda and her irascible feline familiar return to the Cornish land of her birth. What makes this location a perfect spot for a mystery?

HB: In the South West of Britain, jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, it is a remote peninsula and is a land rich in mythology. It has its own Celtic language, which predates English, and as a location, has literary heritage in the shape of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca and Jamaica Inn. The landscape has both the dramatic north coast and the wildness of Bodmin Moor. The Cornish themselves are a separate nation. What more could you ask for?

Kathy: Your series is described as "a British urban fantasy with a side of cosy mystery, a dash of adventure, and a healthy helping of humour". If you are able to divide your writing, which portion is your favorite to write?

HB: Urban fantasy. This is where the mines are, the deep literary seam of mystery, suspense and even danger. Love the idea of someone with supernatural powers having to move unseen through the ordinary, the everyday, covertly helping, rescuing, solving. I enjoy the challenge of the limitations it imposes on the whodunnit and how much paranormal skills could be used to solve it without being discovered, because their magical nature puts them at constant risk, and the lives of others. The dark undercurrent that runs though all of the books and deepens through the series is the one that I find the most satisfying, especially with humour and the ‘side of cozy’ with its counterpoint.

Kathy: If you had the chance, would you like to have magical powers?

HB: Yes. Amanda’s gift of levitation would be extremely handy. Yet in a way, we do all of us have magical powers; our sixth sense, the inexplicable way knowledge, in flashes of enlightenment, comes to us out of the blue without tangible evidence at that moment.

Kathy: What first drew you to paranormal mysteries?

HB: A phone call. Back when I was strictly a non-fiction writer, an author friend called in great excitement, having just learned of this new genre of cozy paranormal mystery.

I adored Agatha Christie, and Tolkien was my favourite author. I’d read all of the Terry Pratchett and Dick Francis collections, so the idea of combining the two great literary loves of my life was tremendously attractive. And, which was a huge part of it, my friend had absolute faith that I could do it. And once I started ... I couldn’t stop.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

HB: Currently no. But I have written nonfiction, which I would like to return to, to update and create new editions of those books.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

HB: Amanda Cadabra is a covert witch with a comically grumpy feline familiar in a village of Normals (muggles) and solves murders by the use of her magical skills, without revealing them in order to preserve her safety. She is assisted in various degrees by the by-the-book Detective Inspector Trelawney, who is not at all comfortable with the world of magic.

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

HB: Amanda. She has so much of me in her, or perhaps I should say there is so much of her in me. We have the same challenges, especially with regard to social interaction, and we share many of the same strengths when it comes to problem-solving. I did train in furniture restoration for a year and a half, so we have that in common too, but Amanda’s much better at it than I am. I think she has great capacity to continue to develop, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that happens and what she does next.

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

HB: The short answer is no. It came out of the ether. Initially, I learned about the then formula for cozy paranormal mystery, which is the genre where the series started out, and it just grew from there: covert witch, English village, familiar who is a grumpy but powerful cat, Cornish history, Tudor village, old buildings, history, old stories.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

HB: The ease of doing so on Kindle Direct Publishing. For me, it was a no-brainer. When I was 19, I did make a foray into science fiction writing and did have the book looked at by someone with connections to a publishing house, and the work they would have needed on it and the limitations on the amount of control I would have had put me off completely. But then Amazon changed the game and world of publishing, and then they were joined by Kobo, Apple, Google and more.

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

HB: Tolkien, Christie, Dick Francis and Terry Pratchett.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

HB: Non-fiction sources, researching for a future book and more.

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

HB: I play an online multiplayer interactive game called World of Warcraft, and I love dancing whenever I can.

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

HB: Peppermint tea, cheddar, kvarg, and Swiss dark chocolate.

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

HB: Yes, I already have the plot down for the next book in the Amanda Cadabra series, I have ideas for spin-off series based on one of the supporting characters that will spring from Book 6, Amanda Cadabra and The Strange Case of Lucy Penlowr, and I have the plot of another of the prequel Philip Rayke Mysteries. Plus, I would like one by one to bring out all of the existing books as audiobooks, with the second one coming out around this time.

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

HB: The wild ride of creativity when a new book is coming to me.

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Amanda Cadabra and The Twilight Toxin (The Amanda Cadabra British Urban Fantasy Mysteries) by Holly Bell

About Amanda Cadabra and The Twilight Toxin

Amanda Cadabra and the Twilight Toxin

Paranormal Cozy Mystery 9th in Series
Setting - Cornwall, and an English village
Publisher: ‎ Independently published
Publication Date: ‎ April 29, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 422 pages

Someone is Watching

A body is discoveredin a troubling location, just as the killer had intended, the crime scene drawing covert witch Amanda and her irascible feline familiar back to the Cornish land of her birth. Inevitably, Detective Inspector Thomas Trelawney is drawn in to help her unravel this perplexing crime.

At the heart of this heinous murder lies an unknown weapon, a device possessing an extraordinary and lethal power. Worse still, the killer remains, somewhere close by ... waiting. Who can it be? Can a daring venture into the past, to reclaim a distant memory from the curious Lucy Penlowr, bring Amanda and the inspector any closer to the truth?

Trelawney, determined to solve the case by normal methods, finds every turn a blind alley until a perilous path leads to two fateful hours at a secret gathering. Now, Amanda's mounting temptation to embrace a dark revenge, and the ultimate test of her burgeoning magical skills, risk everything in a race for survival

Can Amanda and Trelawney unmask the killer and discover the true meaning of The Twilight Toxin?

A British urban fantasy with a side of cosy mystery, a dash of adventure, and a healthy helping of humour, The Twilight Toxin is the ninth standalone whodunnit in the Amanda Cadabra series.

About Holly Bell

Humorous and quintessentially English with excitement and magic.

Cat adorer and chocolate lover, British author Holly Bell’s life changed in a day. A best-selling author friend convinced Holly that she could write cozy mysteries, after many years' experience with non-fiction, photography and video making.

Holly devoured all of the Agatha Christie books long before she knew that Miss Marple was the godmother of the Cozy Mystery. Her love of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings meant that her first literary creation in this area would have to be a cosy paranormal. Over the series the books have grown to straddle urban fantasy mystery too.

Having derived immense delight from the adventure of writing Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole and its 8 sequels, and a prequel to date, Holly has more in the pipeline.

Her favourite feline is a black cat called Bobby. He is black. Like her favourite hat. Purely coincidental.

Holly loves to hear from readers. She always responds in person.

The Amanda Cadabra Cozy Paranormal Mysteries (in order): Amanda Cadabra and The Hidey-Hole Truth Amanda Cadabra and The Cellar of Secrets Amanda Cadabra and The Flawless Plan Amanda Cadabra and The Rise of Sunken Madley Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths Amanda Cadabra and The Strange Case of Lucy Penlowr Amanda Cadabra and The Hanging Tree Amanda Cadabra and The Nightstairs Amanda Cadabra and The Twilight Toxin Author Links

Join the newsletter for updates http://amandacadabra.com/come-on-in/

Website https://amandacadabra.com/

Book https://amandacadabra.com/book-9-the-twilight-toxin/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Holly-Bell-923956481108549/

X https://twitter.com/holly_b_author

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/hollybell2760/

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hollybellfantasy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollybell-amandacadabra/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18387493.Holly_Bell

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/holly-bell

Purchase Links Amazon Universal links Kobo Google Google Play Barnes & Noble Apple Books2Read Bookshop.org

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

A Hush at Midnight - A Review

Review

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT
By Marlene M. Bell

It's been a long time since chef Laura Harris has visited her mentor Hattie Stenburg. When she finally arrives at the antebellum home she finds the 93 year old Hattie more fragile, though she's still up for a pleasant visit. Laura's more shocked at the brusque, almost hostile, manner of Hattie's caregiver. The bad feeling intensifies so much on her drive home that she turns around and returns to Hattie's where she finds the elderly woman dead. Where was the caregiver who promised to stay the night? Or the groundskeeper? Certain that Hattie's death was not natural Laura demands answers only to find out that she's become a suspect. As if dealing with her mentor's death and being a suspect isn't enough, someone is maligning her friend's bakery and she's receiving threats telling her to leave Texas. Will Laura find the answers she seeks? Or will she become the next victim?

Laura Harris' return to Texas isn't quite what she expected. Though she's happy to be close to her father, his girlfriend is another matter. And while she got to see her mentor, the visit didn't go quite as planned. I did like attorney Brent Hill and, of course, I loved Moon Pie. I found there were more characters I disliked than liked however. Duska is an odd character and I never really understood Laura's relationship with her. They didn't really act like good friends and I don't know why Laura was a silent partner. Interesting relationships and an exciting confrontation between Laura and the killer held my interest though.

An oppressive atmosphere envelops A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT highlighting an interesting mystery.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell.

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Copper Waters - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Marlene M. Bell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marlene writes the New Zealand Cottage Mystery series. Copper Waters is the fourth book in the series.

Kathy: Annalisse Drury is an antiquities expert. Do like antiques? Do you have a favorite time period?

MMB: Yes! I do like antiques. There were a couple of years we didn’t have sheep to take care of and could travel during the early 1980s. My husband and I took a cross-country driving vacation in search of antiques from the Northwest throughout the Midwestern states. (Specifically looking for curved glass hutches.) We brought back two different versions.

My favorite time period is the Victorian Era, 1837 – 1901 because the furniture was more ornate.

Kathy: In Copper Waters Annalisse travels to New Zealand. Why choose the South Island for this mystery?

MMB: I chose the Temuka area of New Zealand due to the sheep stations. There are a few stations on the North Island, but the majority of the working stations are located on the larger body of land. The crime takes place on a sheep station, and if I were to travel to New Zealand personally, I’d visit that portion of the country. We considered going to a sheep station for a honeymoon, but the cost was prohibitive as was the three weeks away that we needed for such a long trip.

Kathy: What first drew you to crime fiction?

MMB: “Write what you know.” I love a good mystery, especially those produced for a British audience. The only problem with UK mystery stories is the slow, lumbering way they move and how long the story can draw out to an ending. My mysteries twist and turn, but do this quickly in a conversational style. I’m an avid reader of all kinds of mysteries.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MMB: Yes! My series books cover a wide range and might be considered cross-genre to some. Book one, Stolen Obsession, is heaviest in Romantic Suspense between the main players, Annalisse Drury and Alec Zavos. Book two begins the changeover to stronger in suspense and mystery with a little romance. Books three and four concentrate more in the realm of international mystery with Annalisse and Alec trying to find their way as a couple.

In 2020, I released my illustrated children’s book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! in eBook and hardcover. Later in March 2023, I added a paperback version that’s become quite popular. https://tinyurl.com/2p83mkut The Mia and Nattie book is based on the true story of the bottle lamb we raised in the laundry room, and how she became a part of the family with a job in the flock.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

MMB: An antiquities expert lands in the middle of mystery and mayhem that knows no country boundaries. Trouble awaits a worldly couple as they uncover clues to a myriad of murders by villains of all types. Appearances are deceiving.

In the first four books, Annalisse and Alec travel to several countries. Greece and Turkey from their home turf of New York, in addition to Southern Italy and New Zealand with New England somewhere in the middle. Imagine the smells and sounds of a particular place, quiet and secluded or bustling with crowds. It’s my job to make readers believe they are at the scene as a witness watching everything play out in front of them. The Annalisse series covers some places I’ve never been to in person. To write realistic scenes and descriptions, I get my information from those who have actually been to these locations.

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

MMB: The character I find the easiest to write is the detective friend in the series, Bill Drake. Throughout three books, he’s the mediator between main characters, Annalisse and Alec. He’s also the experienced sleuth who keeps the amateur detective, Annalisse, from getting into predicaments too deeply. Readers are drawn to Bill and have asked me to write a spin-off series with him and his partner. It’s possible he’ll have a larger role in upcoming books because of his popularity, and because his character seems to flow on the paper as I write.

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

MMB: What began as a woman’s fiction romance of one standalone book, has changed to the international series due to adding too many subplots to Stolen Obsession and getting the all-important reader feedback. In my case, all reviews on that first book have been a blessing, both good and bad. You could say that my first book turned out to be the learning curve. I had so many genres going on, I had to decide what kind of book I wanted to write. Readers of romance didn’t want the mystery elements and hard-core mystery readers didn’t want any part of a romance between Anna and Alec. Book one released in 2018 and it was reworked in the summer of 2022 to the best form of “happy medium” for all readers.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MMB: How would the author know if their work was good enough for the masses if the work wasn’t published? I wanted to know if this artist and photographer, (it’s also what I do,) could also translate over to a decent writer, and how difficult it would be. I found out quickly that writing isn’t for the faint of heart, and there are rules…lots of rules. It takes dedication, editing, and rewriting with only the best help by your side in order to succeed.

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

MMB: Agatha Christie, Louise Penny, Shana Abe, and Karen Rose

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MMB: Murder at Kensington Palace (A Wrexford & Sloan mystery)

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

MMB: Since the age of 6, I’ve sketched and painted, and been involved in all things in the art world. I love wildlife photography and taking pictures of our Horned Dorset breeding sheep. My photos have been published in several sheep magazines, especially while we were showing our sheep at county fairs and national sales throughout the country. I use these talents in my company catalog (Since 1985) and online at Ewephoric.us. I began writing in my 50’s. Much later. There are a few other interests on a much smaller scale like rug hooking in the wool made from our sheep.

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

MMB: Cat food, pasta, homemade tomato sauce, and salad dressing

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

MMB: Yes! I’ve started a new book unrelated to the Annalisse series. It’s a standalone mystery with a completely different set of characters. Once the new book is published, I’ll get back to Book #5 in the current series. The title is a secret!

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

MMB: I like a challenge! Writing is out in left-field for me because I thought artwork would be how the public might eventually come to know me. My sheep art and photography are too narrow a field, I realized. There are many more readers than art collectors, too! All of my pastimes involve quiet time and being alone to create. Even though I never dreamed I’d be writing books, ever, I love immersing myself into other worlds in make believe point of views.

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Copper Waters: A New Zealand Cottage Mystery (Annalisse Series) by Marlene Bell

About Copper Waters

Copper Waters: A New Zealand Cottage Mystery (Annalisse Series)
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - New Zealand - South Island
Ewephoric Publishing (October 7, 2022)
Paperback: ‎ 342 pages

A rural New Zealand vacation turns poisonous.

Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship when Alec refuses to clear up a paternity issue with an ex-lover.

Frustrated with his avoidance when their future is at stake, Annalisse accepts an invitation from an acquaintance to fly to New Zealand—hoping to escape the recent turbulence in her life.

But even Annalisse’s cottage idyll on the family sheep farm isn’t immune to intrigue.

Alec sends a mutual friend and detective, Bill Drake, to follow her, and a local resident who accompanies them from the Christchurch airport dies mysteriously soon after. A second violent death finds Annalisse and Bill at odds with the official investigations.

The local police want to close both cases as quickly as possible—without unearthing the town’s dirty secrets.

As she and Bill pursue their own leads at serious cost, the dual mysteries force Annalisse to question everything she thought she knew about family ties, politics, and the art of small-town betrayal.

About Marlene M. Bell

Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep on a ranch in wooded East Texas with her husband, Gregg.

Marlene’s Annalisse series boasts numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity,) and FAPA— Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award for two other installments, (Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy.) Her mysteries with a touch of romantic suspense are found at her websites or at online retail outlets.

She also offers the first of her children's picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.

Author Links:

Author Website: https://www.marlenembell.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell

(Personal Page) https://www.facebook.com/marlene.bell.3194

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ewephoric @ewephoric

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marlene-m-bell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17642396.Marlene_M_Bell

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

Purchase Links - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes - A Spotlight & Giveaway

As the days get hotter and hotter it will be the perfect time to celebrate the dog days of summer. Today on the blog I'm featuring a compilation that does just that!

Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes:

Cozy Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer

By Judith Lucci, Cindy Bell, Colleen Mooney, Amy Vansant, Colleen Helme, Kim Hunt Harris, Anna Celeste Burke, Ava Mallory, Sandi Scott, Susan Boles, Sam Cheever & Anne R. Tan

About the Books

Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: Cozy Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: July 24th, 2018 Publisher: Bluestone Valley Publishing

WSJ Bestselling Author Judith Lucci - Gawd Almighty & the Corn

WSJ Bestselling Author Cindy Bell - Murder at Pawprint Creek

WSJ Bestselling Author Colleen Mooney -Dog Gone and Dead

USA Today and WSJ Bestselling Author Amy Vansant - Summer Teeth

WSJ Bestselling Author Colleen Helme - A Midsummer Night's Murder

WSJ Bestselling Author Kim Hunt Harris - The Murder of Bandera Bandito

USA Today Bestselling Author Anna Celeste Burke - A Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff

Ava Mallory - A Dream Stray-Cation

Sandi Scott - Croquembouche Murder

Susan Boles - Death on the Beach

USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever - Toxic Tech

Anne R. Tan - Just Lost and Found

Bonus recipes from the authors are included!

Website - http://www.summersnoops.com/
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/summersnoopsandcozycrimes/

Purchase and GoodReads Links -
Apple: http://smarturl.it/SummerSnoopsApple
Kobo: http://smarturl.it/SummerSnoopsKobo
Nook: http://smarturl.it/SummerSnoopsNook

Purchase Link - Amazon

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About the Authors

Judith Lucci

Dr. Judith Lucci is a Wall Street Journal and best-selling Amazon. She is an award-winning author of the Alexandra Destephano Medical Thriller and the Michaela McPherson "Two Sleuth's and a Dog" Crime fiction series. Her newest series, Artzy Chicks, releases next month and features a group of , eccentric, talented but zany artists in their Art Gallery at a Mountain Resort.

In 2017, 'Viral Intent' (Book 3) Alexandra Destephano Series) was awarded a Gold Medal by Readers' Favorites for 'Best Political Thriller'. as was her crime thriller 'The Case of Dr. Dude' (Michaela McPherson #1) for a Gold Medal for 'Best Amateur Sleuth for 2017. 'The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year' won an additional gold medal for 'Best Holiday Read' of 2017.

Her favorite things are reading, writing art and animals. In her spare time she teaches painting, loves up on animals and raises money for needy causes. Judith lives with her 4 dog family in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She loves to connect with her readers and is available at judithlucciwrites@gmail.com. Check our her website at judithlucci.com. and sign-up for a free copy of Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center.

Cindy Bell

Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Cindy Bell, has always loved reading, but it is only recently that she has discovered her passion for writing romantic cozy mysteries. When she is not reading or writing she loves baking (and eating) sweet treats or walking along the beach with her energetic cocker spaniel, thinking of the next adventure her characters can embark on. Cindy is the author of the Chocolate Centered, Donut Truck, Dune House, Sage Gardens, Nuts about Nuts, Bekki the Beautician, Wendy the Wedding Planner, Heavenly Highland Inn and the Macaron Patisserie Cozy Mystery Series.

Colleen Mooney

Colleen Mooney was born and raised in New Orleans along with everyone else in her family. She is a Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author and writes a cozy mystery series set in New Orleans called The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles and the fourth book, Death By Rum Balls was released in December 2017.

Since January 2017 Colleen organized a Sisters In Crime chapter in New Orleans, has been elected President and has a planned a Mystery Writers’ Conference for June. She is currently working on her 5th book in the Brandy Alexander series.

In New Orleans, she’s been a member and active in many Mardi Gras Krewes, Super Krewes, and organizations. Colleen says she has never met a parade she didn’t like.

She’s an ardent animal lover and the Director for a breed rescue, Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana for the last fifteen years. She has rescued and placed over 350 abandoned or surrendered Schnauzers. She loves to write and writes about what she loves. Colleen says, “New Orleans is where it all happens for me.”

Amy Vansant

Amy Vansant is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author specializing in fun, comedic reads about accident prone, easily distracted women with questionable taste in men. So, autobiographies, mostly. Ha! But seriously: She writes happy romantic comedies, mysteries, and urban fantasies. Amy is the former East Coast Editor of SURFER Magazine but the urge to drive up and down the coast interviewing surfers has long since left her. She's a dog-lover who works at home with her goofy husband and loves interacting with fans, so stop by her blog or Twitter and say hi!

http://www.amyvansant.com/

Colleen Helme

Colleen Helme is the author of the bestselling Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, a wildly entertaining and highly humorous series about Shelby Nichols, a woman with the ability to read minds. When asked if reading minds is something Colleen wishes she could do she says, "No way! It gets Shelby into so much trouble that I would never want that ability." Known for her laugh since she was a kid, Colleen has always tried to find the humor in every situation and continues to enjoy writing about Shelby's adventures. Besides writing, she loves reading, biking, hiking, and playing board and card games with family and friends. She loves to connect with readers and admits that fans of the series keep her writing.

Kim Hunt Harris

Kim knew she wanted to be a writer before she even knew how to write. When her parents read bedtime stories to her, she knew she wanted to be a part of the story world. She started out writing children’s stories, and her stories grew as she did. She discovered a gift for humor and a love for making people laugh with her tales, and the Trailer Park Princess series was born.

Kim loves to not only make her readers laugh and entertain them with a good mystery, but also to examine the issues the everyday people face…well, every day. Issues like faith and forgiveness, perseverance and tolerance. Set in Lubbock, Texas, the fun books feature a cast of quirky characters, outrageous situations, a drama queen of a dog, and from time to time, a tear or two.

Kim lives with her husband of more than thirty years and two teenage kids in Texas.

Anna Celeste Burke

Anna Celeste Burke is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author!

Welcome! Join me to get a free eBook--just copy & paste the link: http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com

Life is an extravaganza! figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.

On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I had met in San Diego and married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University. A GED for my husband and many more years of education landed us in academia at The Ohio State University. Retired now from my role as a professor of social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. I'm still married to the same sweet guy and live with him in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing fiction, I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese kitties.

An award-winning and bestselling author I enjoy snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, & food—California style! My books include the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series set in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery series set on California’s Central Coast, and The Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series set in Orange County, California--the OC. Coming soon: The Misadventures of Betsy Stark also set here in the Coachella Valley. Find out more at http://www.desertcitiesmystery.com.

AVA MALLORY

AVA MALLORY has been a grade school teacher, a psychiatric technician, a dementia unit nurse manager, and a Hospice nurse. She has embarrassed herself in front of handsome celebrities, won vocal contests much to the chagrin of her children, survived a major earthquake, and nearly drowned when she mistakenly thought a YMCA lifeguard asked her to dive into the deep end on her first day of swim lessons. She and her eternally annoyed children share their home with a massive collection of books and a never-ending supply of new book ideas.

Sandi Scott

Sandi Scott is a cozy mystery reader who finally found the courage to write the stories in her head and share them with others. She fell in love with mystery books when she first started reading Agatha Christie eons ago, although her favorite female sleuth will always be Harriet the Spy. She loves dogs, her family, her readers, and sweet treats -- not necessarily in that order.

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Susan Boles

Susan Boles is the award-winning author of the Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery Series and also writes romantic suspense in the Brotherhood Protectors series. A lifelong long love of all things mysterious led Susan to write cozy mysteries. Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden were the first to show her that girls can be crime solvers. Agatha Christie showed her that even small towns have big secrets. And Phryne Fisher showed her lady detectives can be outrageously individual. She lives in Mississippi with her rescue mini dachshund, Lucy, and her rescue cat of no particular breed, Zimba. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sam Cheever

USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 50+ books.

Anne R. Tan

Anne R. Tan fell in love with storytelling in elementary school, but decided to study engineering so she could get a “real job.” Her day job is her vacation from home and she moonlights as a writer to keep the voices inside her head under control. She is a toddler wrangler and a part-time short-order cook for her family. She is married to her version of Bob Vila who believes everything needs to be fixed, even if it’s already working. The koi fish in her pond are the only sane members of her household.

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