Guilty as Charred - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Devon Delaney to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Devon writes the Cook-Off Mystery series. Guilty as Charred is the third book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: In GUILTY AS CHARRED Sherry Oliveri is organizing a Fourth of July cook-off event. Do you have favorite Independence Days activities?

DD: Every year we host a family picnic. Rain or shine I grill. We always intend to go to the town fireworks and never make it, as we are having too much fun in the backyard!


Kathy: Are specific foods involved?

DD: Ranch steak bruschetta, beeffulo burgers with goat cheese, Cuban chicken thighs and seasonal grilled veggies are my specialties. I have a vegan daughter so we attempt a homemade veggie burger of each year also.


Kathy: Sherry and the murder victim worked in the community vegetable garden. Have you ever worked in a community garden?

DD: I adore my work at the Bridgeport community garden. That was my inspiration for the addition of the garden in my book. I’ve been volunteering for three years. I garden at home and love to share my knowledge with the groups of underserved school children we bring to the garden. Many of the children are from foster homes or are displaced for various reasons and the visit to the garden is a bright light in their world. After a day at the garden, they leave encouraged and enriched, as do I.


Kathy: Sherry has won the America’s Good Taste Recipe Contest and I understand you compete in cooking contests too. Aside from the competition, what makes creating a contest recipe different than cooking for your family?

DD: When I create a recipe for a contest I am using a specific product or ingredient that must be showcased. I often begin the concept with a tried and true family favorite, so I am comfortable putting my spin on the recipe. The recipe will have an unusual twist that may have been inspired by travel or experimenting, but from there I go in directions the family may not always agree with. I always do a search online and in cookbooks to make sure the recipe hasn’t already been invented. If it has, I can go in a different direction, which makes for a challenge I embrace. My family (children, mostly), prefer less fussy foods which I appreciate, so often I only test partial segments of contest recipes on them for simplicity’s sake. They are none the wiser!


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

DD: I adore fast reads, puzzling mysteries, quirky characters and settings in interesting places. I was a fan of the TV show Murder, She Wrote so it was a natural transition to move to cozy reads. Once I read one I was hooked, and I couldn’t wait to try my hand at writing one.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

DD: I won a writing contest with a poem titled, Ode To Pork Passion! For that I won a trip to New Orleans and an Emeril Lagasse Grill. I won one other writing contest with a poem, (can’t remember the name) – food related, of course. Beyond that, I’ve written a children’s book for fun and a million recipes, of course!


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

DD: Competition can bring out the best and worst in people. Mix in the intense heat of the cook-off kitchen and home cooks who take their hobby to the next level and you have the ingredients for intrigue and mayhem.


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

DD: My favorite character is Sherry. She has snippets of me in her DNA, for sure, and is growing and evolving with each book. I am having so much fun presenting her with challenges, some she conquers, others she learns from by slowly managing to the best of her abilities. She is sensitive, caring, goofy and far from perfect. She loves to compete and it transforms her into her best self when she does.


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

DD: Over-twenty years competing as a cooking competitor is my inspiration.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

DD: I felt strongly I had an interesting hobby and endless mystery possibilities to share with readers. I set a goal to write a book, format a sales pitch to draw attention and see where that would take my project. I got lucky and found an agent and publisher within a few months.


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

DD: William Shakespeare, Stephen King, JK Rowling, Agatha Christie


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

DD: ON HER MAJESTY'S FRIGHTFULLY SECRET SERVICE by Rhys Bown


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

DD: I hook rugs, needlepoint, play on a tennis team, garden, jar my own produce, make my own pickles and I share all of those in my books.


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

DD: Mango chutney, kimchi, spicy vegan mayo, black beans


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

DD: I am currently writing my fourth book in my cooking competition series, EAT, DRINK AND BE WARY, and am contracted for a fifth upcoming.


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

DD: My favorite thing is the actual writing, knowing someone is waiting for what I produce. I love the editing process where I shape the words over and over to get the result I hope will entertain the reader.


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Guilty as Charred (A Cook-Off Mystery) by Devon Delaney

About the Book

 

Guilty as Charred (A Cook-Off Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series  

Kensington (June 25, 2019) 

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 

Sherry Oliveri has attained celebrity status after winning the America’s Good Taste Recipe Contest with her delectable New England Crab Cake Sliders. But now that she’s back home in Connecticut, she’s got to deal with something else fishy . . .

Sherry’s making a guest appearance on a local radio show when the news comes in: Poppy Robinson has been found dead in the town’s community garden. Sherry was supposed to be taking questions about her win in the national cooking competition, but instead the callers start dishing dirt.

Poppy and Sherry were both involved in the vegetable garden, and while Poppy may have been a bit priggish, it wasn’t anything that called for a shovel to the back of the head. There was already trouble brewing, with the owner of the land threatening to renege on their agreement, and this murder has taken tensions to a new level. Now while Sherry’s organizing a Fourth of July cook-off event, she’s also got a murder investigation on her plate . . .

Includes Recipes from Sherry’s Kitchen!

About the Author

Devon Delaney is a wife, mother of three, accomplished cooking contester, recent empty nester, and lifelong resident of the Northeast. She has been handsomely rewarded for her recipe innovation over the last twenty-plus years, including a full kitchen of major appliances, top cash prizes, and four trips to Disney World. She has also won the Grand Prize in a national writing contest for her “foodie” poem “Ode to Pork Passion.”

Check out Devon’s website at: www.devonpdelaney.com and find her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/devonpdelaney/  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound

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It All Comes Down to Character - Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

It All Comes Down to Character
By Wendy Delaney

I think that’s true in all fiction, and based on the reader feedback I received after the release of Trudy, Madly, Deeply (Working Stiffs Mysteries, book 1), a lot of people agree with me.

My readers often tell me that Charmaine Digby, the sleuth in my cozy mystery series, is a woman they can identify with. As an author that’s music to my ears.

Char tends to eat a lot of comfort food when she’s under stress, causing her to be on a perpetual diet (much like her author). She drinks too much coffee to combat a chronic lack of sleep, she doesn’t get enough exercise, and she doesn’t plan to change her lifestyle any time soon. She’s just trying to make it through the day as best she can. Because she’s the Special Assistant to the County Coroner, that day sometimes includes trying to solve a murder! 

Like a lot of us, Char has a complicated relationship with her mother. She has an even more complicated relationship with her one of her oldest friends, Steve Sixkiller, the hunky detective who doesn’t want the Coroner’s Assistant sticking her nose where he thinks it doesn’t belong. She would inform Steve that she’s just doing her job: asking questions on behalf of the Coroner. Since Char is a deception detection expert—a human lie detector—this is something she is uniquely qualified to do. But an inquisitive human lie detector armed only with a deputy coroner badge has to be careful to avoid putting herself in harm’s way. And she is . . . most of the time.

I love writing scenes with Charmaine and Marietta, Char’s actress mother. It’s fun to listen to them talking to one another. As the author I also know what is not being said, what can’t be said without one of them inserting a foot into her mouth. There’s so much fodder in mother/daughter relationships. That relationship can form the strongest bond two women have. There can be an intensity to it like no other in our lives, sometimes making that person very difficult to live with. For those of you who read Trudy, Madly, Deeply, you now know why, when Marietta blows into town, she always takes over Char’s bedroom at Gram’s house. They both have a lot of “work to do” as Marietta’s shrink would call it, and they need to be under the same roof to do it. Usually, much to Char’s dismay. To make matters worse, in her heyday Marietta played a TV detective so she’s full of great advice for her daughter. Char would correct me and say that her mother is just “full of it.” Yep, there’s no shortage of fodder in this relationship!

Char’s world is populated with a variety of people in this fictional small town. There’s a large community of senior citizens who watched her grow up. A number of longtime residents remember her as that weird kid—that actress’s daughter rumored to have some sort of ESP. And, of course, there are a few townspeople who think they can get away with murder. Obviously those characters will be developing a closer relationship with Char as the series progresses!    

I don’t know about you, but I read books for characters that I want to spend time with. And when I find a mystery series with characters that I strike a bond with, I come back for more.

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters—the ones who keep you coming back for more?


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Review

Sex, Lies, and Snickerdoodles by Wendy Delaney
The Second Working Stiffs Mystery

Charmaine Digby, Deputy Coroner and human lie detector, is back in action...and getting some action from good friend and detective Steve Sixkiller. Town bad boy, Russell Falco, is also a playboy, but is that what got him killed? Char is as determined to prove that his death is indeed murder, thus requiring investigation from the coroner's office, as she is from avoiding her mother who has returned to town, or facing any more meaningful feelings towards Steve.

This is a book of complications, and their avoidance. Charmaine would rather sleep on the Crippler, the sleeper sofa in her late grandfather's study, than in Steve's king sized bed while her mother is in town usurping her bedroom. She enjoys Steve and their new friendship with benefits, but would prefer to keep it quiet and casual. At least she thinks that's what she wants. Char's mom, Marietta Moreau, formerly known as Mary Jo Digby, is back in town with complications of her own. She's nearly broke and is looking to sell her Malibu home and return to Port Merritt. Will she add another husband or get involved in an investment scheme? There are also complications of the baking contest. Will Char's grandmother beat out her own sister, or the two town favorites. Those favorites have complications of their own, their involvement with Russell Falco, the murdered man. Of course, Char brings the complication of investigating the murder before it's even a case for the coroner.

Through all of the complications Wendy Delaney brings fun and humor, as well as a good mystery! I enjoy spending time with Char and her friends and family. I love how Marietta "helps" Charmaine investigate. I was laughing out loud during their stake out. I love this funny series and can really relate to Char...and the annoyance of having fat pants that get too small. Sigh.

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Would you like to win an e-book copy of Sex, Lies, and Snickerdoodles? To enter just leave a comment on this blog post answering Wendy's question-"Who are some of your favorite fictional characters—the ones who keep you coming back for more?". Leave your comment no later than Thursday, August 21, 2014 EST and also leave your e-mail address. Also, be sure to enter the rafflecopter contest as well!

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Sex, Lies, and Snickerdoodles. This book is the second in the Working Stiffs Mystery series by Wendy Delaney. Charmaine Digby, Deputy Coroner and human lie detector, is back in action...and getting some action from good friend and detective Steve Sixkiller. Town bad boy, Russell Falco, is also a playboy, but is that what got him killed? Char is as determined to prove that his death is indeed murder, thus requiring investigation from the coroner's office, as she is from avoiding her mother who has returned to town deeper, and any more meaningful feelings towards Steve. I love this funny series and can really relate to Char...and the annoyance of having fat pants that get too small. Sigh.

A Working Stiffs Interview, Review, and Giveaway!

Wendy Delaney, author of the Working Stiffs Mystery series, joins me today. Trudy, Madly, Deeply, the first book in the series, introduces us to Deputy Coroner Charmaine Digby. But don't let that job title scare you, Charmaine and this book are a lot of fun! You have two chances to win a copy of Trudy, Madly, Deeply. Leave a comment on this blog post with your e-mail address by midnight tonight (Eastern Standard Time) and I'll randomly pick one comment to win an e-copy of the book. Also use the rafflecoptor to enter to win a print copy of the book.

Kathy: Charmaine Digby is a human lie detector. Are you adept at reading people? Could you be a human lie detector as well?
WD: Charmaine has a unique skill that emerged at an early age. She’s a fictional version of one of those very rare people who are extraordinarily attuned to detecting non-verbal cues. Because of my research in what I found to be very interesting subject matter, I think that I’m better at reading people than I used to be. But no one will ever hire me for my lie detecting skills, which is just as well—I’d much rather create fun stories about a human lie detector than actually be one.

Kathy: One of Charmaine's past careers was that of a pastry chef. Have you ever considered being a pastry chef? Or are you an avid home baker? Or do you just enjoy eating pastries?
WD: I would consider a career as a pastry chef seriously dangerous to my hips! I do love to bake though. I have ever since my grandmother, a pie baker extraordinaire, took me under her wing to show me the ropes, and oh, did we ever bake some of the best pies! The yummiest cookies, too! Yep, it’s no accident that I feature pies and cookies at Duke’s Cafe.

Kathy: I love Duke's diner. Do you have a similar place to go to when you need comfort food and coffee?
WD: I have a favorite coffee stand, but unfortunately, there isn’t a Duke’s kind of diner in the Seattle suburb, where I live.  Duke’s is the kind of small town diner I seek out when I travel, especially when my husband and I are in the mood for breakfast. I can always count on him ordering pancakes, and he can always count on me stealing a bite!

Kathy: Would you rather go to Tango Tuesday at the Senior Center or Friday night bingo?
WD: I think Tango Tuesday at the Senior Center would be a hoot. It certainly was when I wrote that scene. I’d be one more female in need of a Tuesday night dance partner though. Maybe we could talk Char’s cop buddy, Steve Sixkiller, into dancing with me. I doubt that he’d be crazy about the idea, but I sure like it! 

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
WD: As a lifelong lover of mystery and romance fiction, some of my favorite stories have been set in small towns or neighborhoods that are populated with quirky characters. When I first starting writing, all my stories were populated with multi-generational families, busy bodies, and picturesque small town settings. Plus, my themes were light-hearted.  Once I “killed” my first character, I knew the cozy mystery subgenre was the right fit for me. My small-town characters could feel at home there, and since all the blood and gore is “off-scene,” I as a writer, can breathe a little easier, too!

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
WD: I have two romance novels, one of which will never see the light of day. My romantic roots are strong and show up in Char/Steve relationship in the Working Stiffs Mystery series. I have a couple of romantic suspense book ideas that I’d like to pursue, but Char’s stories come first right now.  Maybe next year I’ll have information up on my website about a romantic suspense or new series, so stay tuned.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.
WD: Book One of The Working Stiffs Mystery series, Trudy, Madly, Deeply, introduces deputy coroner Charmaine Digby, a young woman with eyes for lies and a nose for trouble as she investigates her first murder case.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
WD: I love all my characters, but I have to admit that I have a special place in heart for Duke. He’s a man’s man with a salty exterior, but at his core, he’s my dad—no longer with me except in my heart and mind, and now in my books.

Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
WD: Book one was inspired by a Sixty Minutes feature about a doctor in the UK who had been very quietly killing his elderly patients. Shortly after that story aired, I met someone who was a “Truth Wizard” (a human lie detector). My brain didn’t take long to connect some dots and start cranking on a story idea. I set that idea aside to percolate while I worked on another project. Then, in the couple years that followed I had the good fortune to meet and interview a Prosecutor/Coroner in a neighboring county here in Washington State. Once she told me that she’d hire my character, Charmaine, I knew I had the makings of a mystery series. I then dropped everything else I had been working on and started writing.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
WD: I’d been working toward the goal of publication for fifteen years. After submitting to Corvallis Press and receiving an offer of publication, it was an easy decision.  With all the great reader feedback I’ve received on Trudy, it’s also a decision I’m happy to have made.

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
WD: Janet Evanovich, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Diane Mott Davidson, and Richard Castle. Okay, Richard Castle is only a famous author on TV, but I love the guy and he’d be great fun to have at that dinner party.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?
WD: I have a huge TBR stack. I’ve been reading Pamela Beason’s The Only Witness. Next up is Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend.

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
WD: Writing and baking are at the top of the list along with football. Go Seahawks! Plus, I love to travel—something my husband and I hope to do a lot more of in the coming years.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
WD: Milk, butter, mayonnaise and pickles. And I’m on a diet right now and can none of those but the pickles. Sigh….

Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
WD: Yes, books two and three in the Working Stiffs Mystery series should come out in 2014 with two or three a year to follow. There are no plans for a new series as yet. Check back with me next year.

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
WD: I love hearing from readers, especially when they tell me that I kept them up all night, reading. That means that I did my job!   :)

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Review

Trudy, Madly, Deeply By Wendy Delany

The 1^st Working Stiffs Mystery

Charmaine Digby needs a new job. She’s returned to Port Merritt, Washington and is living with her grandmother and helping out at her great aunt and uncle’s diner, Duke’s Café. With the help of her special ability (having a knack for reading people, she’s a human lie detector) Charmaine gets hired as a deputy coroner. When a tip comes in that the deaths of older patients in the hospital may not be natural Char starts investigating on her own, especially since some of her relatives believe that something fishy is going on. In addition to her investigation Char has to contend with her flighty mom who has also returned to town (and kicked Char out of her room), her good looking childhood friend (who is also a detective with the police department), assorted friends and relatives, and Tango Tuesday.

Trudy, Madly Deeply is a fun read filled with lots of laughs and characters you’d like to know better. Charmaine has the perfect blend of strength, determination, and self deprecation. Faced with quirky relatives, two gorgeous guys (who give conflicting signals), and a possible serial killer on the loose, Charmaine handles it all, with humorous results. There are laugh out loud moments, but enough solid characterization that the characters are still real and the story still compelling.

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