Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jann Franklin to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jann writes the Three Dog Mystery series. BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS Ro Bergeron inherits her childhood home and decides to open a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine friends. I tell my mom I'm going to keep my childhood home and turn it into the Kathy Museum. What is the status of your childhood home? Would you keep it if you could?

JF: My parents sold my childhood home when they moved to be closer to me I visited it recently, in Russellville AR with my husband. He turned to me and said “I had no idea you grew up rich.” I said, “Neither did I.” My parents couldn’t afford to live in that house now, if they bought it. But it’s nice to see that my childhood home went wayyyy up in value and didn’t turn into a bad neighborhood


Kathy: Ro can’t boil an egg or keep a plant alive, yet she intends to open a B&B. Have you ever tried something despite being totally unqualified? 

 

JF: HA! Yes…motherhood. But my boys turned out well, despite my total lack of skills and training.


Kathy: I love the fact that the B&B will welcome canine friends too. At the moment I just share my home with my cats who would not want to travel. Do you have any pets? Do they travel with you? 

 

JF: The dogs in my book are literally my dogs! Sadie travels with us. If you read the passages in the story about Rebel and Ruger , you’d know why we don’t take the Labs


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

 

JF: I LOVE Murder She Wrote, Psych, Monk. And the older series Hart to Hart, McMillan and Wife, Rockford Files. They’re all about the puzzle-not the forensics. And no violence or graphic content. It’s what I love and it’s what I write

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

 

JF: I always said I can’t write romance. But…I just finished a short story telling my in-laws’ love story. It will be included in a short story collection with other authors this December, called “Love For Keeps.” I am also working on another completely fictional short love story. So…maybe I will be led to write some romance books at some point.

I also have a trilogy in the small town genre-a woman is dragged from the big city to a small town by her husband-it’s Jen’s fish out of water story of how she finds her place. It’s the Small Town Girl series (TRADING BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR LIGHTNING BUGS, SHINING STARS AND MASON JARS, CHEESE GRITS AND HISSY FITS).


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

 

JF: This is my first in series. Ro has been sheltered - never encouraged to spread her wings and fly. The ones who raised her have passed on, and she’s decided to venture out into the world, by opening her bed and breakfast. Her great aunts drag her into a murder case, fancying themselves as Jessica Fletcher, but Ro finds she enjoys it. The 2nd will be out in September -INNKEEPERS AND IMPOSTERS.


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

 

JF: Yes-twins. I love writing the 70 year old twins, Min and Win. They don’t care what people think and are self appointed matriarchs of the small town of Belle Bayou. That seems wonderful to me-just doing whatever you want and saying what you think. They come across mean sometimes but their hearts are on the right place.


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

JF: Several! Our 300 person town has a bed and breakfast and I’m friends with the innkeeper. I’ve heard stories! I thought constant flow of new people would add to a traditional cozy mystery.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

 

JF: My husband said my writing is good and I should publish a book. He had no idea of the monster he was creating!


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

JF: Ooh! Jane Austen and Agatha Christie for sure!! Agatha is the OG of cozy mysteries And then Harlem Coben and Lee Childs-they are author royalty to me. And Tosca Lee because she’s so nice - I’ve met her before and she’s wonderful. She’d probably stay after and help me do the dishes


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JF: Jonathan Kellerman’s CRIME SCENE. Our library had books on sale for a quarter and I’m a sucker for a good deal.


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

 

JF: Uh, well , my hobbies are my loved ones. I spend any free time with my husband, 2 sons and DILs, dogs, chickens, friends. Our small town always has something fun going on and we try to be there.


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

 

JF: Eggs-thank you chickens! Nonfat yogurt, popcorn and Bluebell vanilla ice cream. Most meals are a freefall, Sunday evenings are always popcorn and ice cream.


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

 

JF: Oh my gosh YES! I have a new series coming out this year, Letters to Santa. The first book, THE CASE OF THE MISSING SISTER, will be out in July. Then another book every year around Thanksgiving. I plan to continue both of my series Small Town Girl Mysteries (Book 6 in June) and Three Dog Mysteries (Book 2 in September) I want to write another series about a couple with a food truck who solves mysteries as they travel to festivals, the Grab n’ Go Mysteries. Just got to find the time….


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

 

JF: My readers - they are so lovely! I pose a question to my newsletter subscribers and they email the most wonderful stories-and receive a free book for their time. I also love interacting on social media.

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Review

BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS by Jann Franklin
The First Three Dog Mystery 

Rose Louise Bergeron is different. Some might call her weird. Having been raised by her grandparents after her parents ran off she prefers classic movies and real books to pop culture and e-readers. An old soul she's content to remain in the small town of Belle Bayou, Louisiana. Now that her grandparents have both died, Ro decided to turn the family home into a B&B, one that welcomes dogs as well as people. Never mind that she doesn't know how to cook. Or that she knows nothing about dogs. She's booked her first guests and she's ready to learn! While she's preparing to become a business woman the talk around town is the suspicious death of Mr. Tippin, Ro's high school algebra teacher. Was it murder? Ro's great aunts are determined to find out, roping Ro into their investigation. It can't be that hard to learn how to cook, corral a posse of dogs, host paying guests, and solve a murder. Can it?

Admittedly, I wasn't too sure about Rose Louise at first. Her naivete was a bit much. But as I continued reading she really grew on me, as naive and silly as she was, she truly cared and wanted to improve and make it on her own. She had just never been given the tools to do so. Aunties Min and Win are an absolute hoot and I love how they can be genteel southern ladies and yet are true crime mavens to boot! Poor cousin Marshall, a rare voice of reason. And what a couple Ro's first guests are. I loved how they fit right in! And I absolutely love Sadie and the coyotes! I hope we get to meet Cousin Rooster in future books. While some of the premises are indeed silly, they lightened my heart and made me laugh! I'm still giggling about the reason for the change in church service times.

While the murder was mentioned early on at first Ro wasn't involved in investigating at all. Heaven knows she had enough on her plate. However, with pushes from her great aunts, also known as the Bossies, and her guests Mr. and Mrs. Macintosh, Ro becomes a reluctant sleuth. Although soon, she's not that reluctant! I love how they all worked together as a team, harebrained schemes and all!

Quirky characters and laugh out loud moments make BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS a delightfully funny romp through small town Louisiana.

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 Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries) by Jann Franklin

About Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers

Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Louisiana
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published (February 20, 2025)
Language: ‎ English Paperback: ‎ 238 pages

Ro Bergeron’s grandparents raised her to be, well, helpless. She can’t boil an egg or keep a plant alive. When Ro inherits her childhood home, she decides to open a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine friends. Running a business catering to people is a big undertaking for thirty-two year old Ro—let alone pets too—yet with faith she is confident she can handle it. She even has her first guests booked for the coming weekend!

But when her meddlesome great aunts find the opportunity to solve a local murder too irresistible, Ro's new life as a business owner is turned upside-down! As Min and Win Rascoe indulge their sleuthing skills, a reluctant Ro and her enthusiastic house guests are drawn into the mystery.

Will the Rascoe sisters and their unconventional team solve the murder before Ro’s high school crush Detective Jason Charbonnet? Can Ro master the skills of cooking and hosting? Will life for Ro in the tiny town of Belle Bayou ever be the same?

This book is the first of the Three Dog Mystery Series.

About Jann Franklin

Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in northwest Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents.

She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. Visit her at www.jannfranklin.com

Author Links: 

Webpage: https://jannfranklin.com  

Blog: https://jannfranklin.com/blog  

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

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

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22583014.Jann_Franklin  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jann-franklin  

Purchase Link - Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers by Jann Franklin. This is the first book in the Three Dog Mystery series and was released earlier this year.

Rose Louise Bergeron is different. Some might call her weird. Having been raised by her grandparents after her parents ran off she prefers classic movies and real books to pop culture and e-readers. An old soul she's content to remain in the small town of Belle Bayou, Louisiana. Now that her grandparents have both died, Ro decided to turn the family home into a B&B, one that welcomes dogs as well as people. Never mind that she doesn't know how to cook. Or that she knows nothing about dogs. She's booked her first guests and she's ready to learn! While she's preparing to become a business woman the talk around town is the suspicious death of Mr. Tippin, Ro's high school algebra teacher. Was it murder? Ro's great aunts are determined to find out, roping Ro into their investigation. It can't be that hard to learn how to cook, corral a posse of dogs, host paying guests, and solve a murder. Can it?

Muffalettas and Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Jann Franklin to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jann writes the Small Town Girl Mystery series. MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER we meet Evangeline Delafose who agrees to help her brother solve a murder. What's the most unusual thing a relative has asked you for help with?

JF: To bury a dead body. No, just kidding! My cousin asked me to make 8 pounds of potato salad once for a family reunion. I think I'd rather have helped bury a dead body.


Kathy: The Small Town Girl Mystery series takes place in a small town in Louisiana. What makes this such a great setting?

JF: No one knows much about Louisiana, and so it's misunderstood. Most people think it's full of alligators and all we eat is crawfish and gumbo. My hope is that people will learn a little more about the Pelican State.


Kathy: I was lucky enough to have a muffaletta from Central Grocery in New Orleans when I visited in the 1980s. What are some of your favorite Louisiana dishes?

JF: Shrimp and grits are my hands down absolute favorite! Everywhere I go, if a restaurant has that dish on its menu, then I must try it.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JF: Honestly, I don't like romance. How healthy is a relationship if the people can't stand each other at the beginning? And they are predictable. Dead bodies? Yes, please!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JF: I have a 5 book thriller series in my head, but honestly I'm having so much fun writing cozies that I can't find time to put thoughts to paper.

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

JF: Small Town Girl Mysteries-I have had a blast writing about Ev Delafose and her exasperating PI, Shorty Cormier. Ev is a lot like me-quiet, logical, prefers book to people. She's coming into her own as she gains confidence in her sleuthing skills. And she finds time for a little romance, because her children are grown and her husband has passed away. She's learning to embrace her small town and even defends it against people who just don't understand the charm of a tiny community.


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

JF: Shorty Cormier is probably my favorite, because he's so fun to write! I don't think we'd ever be best friends in real life, but I could always count on him for a battery jump or a ride to the grocery store. He's got a good heart, but is a bit rough around the edges. He struggled in high school because of his inability to sit still, and went into the Army. He lost his lower right leg in the Gulf War and spends his time on the family farm. He earned his PI license for fun and is thrilled to assist Ev with her mysteries. Of course, he thinks he knows more than she does, since he's the PI. But he's also protective of her and would defend her with his life. As we say in the South, he's good people.

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

JF: I love what makes a small town thrive, from the helping hands to busy bodies. Everyone knows everyone, and everything about them. Those characteristics make for great stories.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JF: My wonderful husband encouraged me to begin a weekly newspaper column with our small town paper, then supported me as I began my first book. He's always challenged me to go farther and do more.

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

JF: Oscar Wilde sounds like the life of the party, and of course Jane Austen. She was a pioneer of females writing books. Mark Twain would tell the best stories! Maybe Edgar Allen Poe, but he might bring the party down...so probably Agatha Christie. Yes, I love the classics :)

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JF: I tend to read my friends' writings, because I love supporting fellow indie authors. Currently I'm reading Savanna Loy's "The S.K. Series: Case #1 Jedidiah Walker."


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

JF: My husband and I just started a food truck called Tin Roof Chef. Is that a hobby? It certainly takes up a lot of time! We also own a camper and love traveling to RV parks state campgrounds in our quest to see the country.


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

JF: Eggs, rice (it's Louisiana so that's a given), maple syrup, and Aha brand sparkling water-my favorite!


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

JF: Small Town Girl Mysteries-My fifth book, "Sweet Tea and Suspects" comes out July 11.

3 Dog Mysteries-I'm working on my first in series, "Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers", due out this fall. Ro also lives in a small town, and she and Ev are first cousins. But that's were the similarities end. Ro is early thirties, never married, and a bit spoiled. She's not mean or bratty, but she doesn't know how to boil an egg or keep a plant alive. And yet, she's decided to take the farmhouse she's inherited and turn it into a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine besties. Of course Ro doesn't own a dog, so she decides she needs one (or more) because of her new venture. And of course there's a murder in her small village of Belle Bayou, so she'll need to stick her nose in the middle of that as well.

 

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

JF: Talking to my fellow authors and my readers! They're all so kind and excited to read. It reminds me that there are still lovely people in the world.

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Review 

 

 

MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER by Jann Franklin

The First Small Town Girls Mystery

With her children grown and on their own, widow Evangeline Delafose has moved back home to the small town of Graisseville, Louisiana. Ever since her husband died in the line of duty, Ev has been at a loss. She no longer has it in her to write her popular mysteries as the protagonist was based on her husband. She's stopped being interested in food and stopped being interested in life. Concerned about her, her brother Nate has an idea. In order to jump start a spark in her he gives Ev the case file of an old murder investigation that has him stumped. Partnering up with an old friend, Ev isn't just reading through the files, she's interviewing suspects. Ev gets a new lease on life...but could she be putting that life in jeopardy?

 

I had fun on my first visit to Graisseville. Evangeline has some growing to do and in MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER she makes a great start. She's a grown woman with adult children, but is still a bit naive. She acts much younger than a 50 year old widow. I also question some things. Ev has a PhD, teaches English, and writes crime fiction, but doesn't know the meaning of the word "saunter"? Still I do like her...and her teal pen. Shorty is a hoot and the two make a fun pair of investigators.

Like most cold cases, the mystery here was complex. Lots of interesting characters...most acting a bit hinky. There were lots of twists and turns and more than one surprise. I enjoyed following Ev's thought process and her reasoning with herself.

The Small Town Girls Mystery series is a faith based series, Baptist to be specific. Therefore there was a good bit of praying and calling on Jesus. Although it was a bit much for me, it didn't interfere with the storytelling and though was a mite preachy, it wasn't proselytizing.

MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER is a book about starting over and finding purpose. An engaging book filled with Louisiana charm, laugh out loud moments, and the constant of good friends and family make an enjoyable start to a series.

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 Muffalettas and Murder: Small Town Girl Mysteries by Jann Franklin

About Muffalettas and Murder

Muffalettas and Murder: Small Town Girl Mysteries
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Louisiana
Publisher: ‎ Rougarou Press (January 30, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 238 pages

Evangeline Delafose is finding Graisseville, Louisiana just as she remembered—boring and uneventful. Until her brother Nate asks her to help solve a murder. Follow Ev as she navigates clues, dead bodies, and quirky small-town residents to solve a mystery. And of course, show her little brother that she's still got it. If you like cozy mysteries with twists and turns, deep South settings, and a hint of romance, you’ll love this series! Let’s not forget quirky yet charming characters who remind you of family—sometimes you want to hug them, and sometimes you want to disown them. Enjoy small town Graisseville with Ev as she solves crime with help from her family and friends. This is a clean faith based read with no profanity, sex, or graphic violence. This book is the first of the Small-Town Girl Mystery Series.

About Jann Franklin

Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in Grand Cane, Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents.

She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at Grand Cane Baptist Church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. Visit her at www.jannfranklin.com

Author Links: 

Webpage: https://jannfranklin.com  

Blog: https://jannfranklin.com/blog  

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

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

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22583014.Jann_Franklin  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org -

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin. This book is the first in the Small Town Girl Mystery series.

With her children grown and on their own, widow Evangeline Delafose has moved back home to the small town of Graisseville, Louisiana. Ever since her husband died in the line of duty, Ev has been at a loss. She no longer has it in her to write her popular mysteries as the protagonist was based on her husband. She's stopped being interested in food and stopped being interested in life. Concerned about her, her brother Nate has an idea. In order to jump start a spark in her he gives Ev the case file of an old murder investigation that has him stumped. Partnering up with an old friend, Ev isn't just reading through the files, she's interviewing suspects. Ev gets a new lease on life...but could she be putting that life in jeopardy?

An Interview at Grace Gulch

I'm happy to welcome Darlene Franklin to Cozy Up With Kathy. Darlene writes the Dressed for Death Mystery series.

Kathy: Gunfight at Grace Gulch deals with the ancient, yet ongoing, feud between the Graces and the Gaynors. Have you personally been involved with a feud? Is this feud based on a real one?

DF: No, I haven’t personally been involved with a feud, unless disagreeing with my roommate about which TV shows to watch counts,

Gunfight at Grace Gulch isn’t based on an actual feud, but disputes over land claims were numerous and heated and took a long time to settle. In the book, Dick Gaynor always claimed Bob Grace had been a “Sooner,” that he had camped out on the land before the actual run.


Kathy: A reenactment gone wrong starts this mystery. Have you participated in any sort of reenactments?

DF: I’ve taken part in a Christmas and Easter pageant or two, which is a form of a reenactment.


Kathy: Cici Wilde owns a vintage clothing store. I love clothing from past generations. Do you have a favorite period for vintage clothing?

DF: Oh, to have the figure for any period of clothing! The lovely Edwardian era dress—or how about Regency—or even Renaissance. Of course, the Fifties are just plain fun.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

DF: Mysteries have always been my favorite genre. I have a theory that the first two great detectives—Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot—represent the two branches of mysteries. Holmes, of course, relied on evidence. He was the original forensic detective. Poirot (and his contemporary, Jane Marple) relied on his “little gray cells,” what he observed of other people, and what she knew of human behavior—the basis of cozy mysteries. I inhaled them all. I love to read and watch both, book and screen.

I write cozy mysteries for two reasons. Marketing was the first reason; the publisher who picked up my first book formed a book club for cozy mysteries. It took three tries, but they bought my Dressed for Death series. The second reason was practical. I’d love to write any style of mysteries, but cozy utilize my strengths: character, motivations, relationships, settings—good old fashioned logic and nosiness.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

DF: After the mystery book club went defunct, I dived head first into writing historical romance, with a few contemporary romances as well. I believe I have about fifty titles under my name on Amazon. That’s not as many as it sounds; several novellas have been included in more than one collection.

I also have contributed devotional and personal experience stories to about two dozen books. Now I’m starting my own devotional series.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

Dressed for Death follows vintage clothing store owner Cici Wilde, her beau Audie Howe, her even wilder sisters, and the zany characters of small town Oklahoma when death comes calling.

Most of my romances are part of small series, so I’ll just mention a few of them.

My magnum opus to date are the eight books set in Maple Notch, Vermont, stretching from the Revolutionary War to today. The series are called Maple Notch Brides, Maple Notch Dreams, and Maple Notch Days.

I wrote two of the six books in the Texas Trails series from Rivernorth Fiction. The series followed one Texas family from the 1840s to the 1890s (one book per decade).

Most recently, I wrote four holiday-related stories for Holidays of the Heart. All the stories take place in actual western towns with holiday-themed names. I also put together the Christmas Mail Order Angels collection, about a Wyoming mining town with marriage-ready miners and a Maine town full of single women.


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

DF: Apart from Cici, my heroine, I love Magda Grace Mallory. Keep reading the series—more about her later.


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

DF: As I said, Dressed for Death was my third proposal. In the first two, I tried to create a small-town atmosphere in the city. They failed. I decided to go for the jugular, creating a small town in Oklahoma. I lived in Oklahoma for about ten years, so I knew the area, and I added the small town feel of my parents’ home in East Boothbay, Maine.

Cici grew out of paragraph in a newspaper about a vintage clothing store. The occupation brought numerous murder plots to mind. Her interest in historical clothing tied into my interest in history, which I explore in all three books.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

DF: Oh, I’ve always wanted to publish. As soon as I write something, I want someone to read it. However, I only went to self-publishing, and now working with a small press, about a year ago.

For the first ten years, I published maybe one article a year. My first book came out after I had been writing for fourteen years. Since then, it’s gathered speed.


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

DF: Charles Dickens—his passion for the poor and destitute and his amazing stories. He helped change his country. Dick Francis—I devoured every one of his books. He has written some of the most riveting books I’ve ever read (and read again and again) and they always make me think. I like Tolkien’s books more, but I’d rather talk with C.S. Lewis. I have to include one woman. Maybe Nancy Pickard, because her Jenny Cain series is sheer perfection.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

DF: I have three books going at present: One Walk Year Walk with God Devotional by Chris Tiegreen (so yes, that’s a long-term read); Be the Miracle! By Delores Leisner. I finished Soul Identity by Dennis Batchelder on New Year’s Day, so I’ve already read one book in 2016. Now I’m trying Augusten Burrough’s memoir, Running with Scissors. (I have to force myself to read something other than mysteries, although historical fiction runs a close second.) I recently finished reading everyone else’s entries in the Christmas Traditions collection.


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

DF: I do a lot of word search puzzles, watch T.V., and read (of course!)


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

DF: I live in a nursing home, so I have neither a fridge or a pantry. However, how about diet coke and fruit cups? I go to the vending machine for snacks.


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

DF: Cici won’t have any more mysteries to solve, at least none that I know about.

However, I’m starting a new series called Murder by the Case series. I want to finish the second book before I finish the first one (which is written and being edited), so they’ll come out later this year. My heroine, Carlie Cooper, is a home health aide who has “cases” which keep getting linked to murder and other crimes. Physical therapist Deacon Wells flirts with her, but she’s not ready to settle down. In Case Closed, she finds the dead body her 80-year-old patient the morning after her birthday party.

I’m also writing at least three historical novellas this year. The first one, An Infusion of Love, takes us to 1774 New Jersey, which had its own tea party. That will be released in March.


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

DF: I love creating stories. People frequently ask, where do your ideas come from? Where don’t they come from? Give me a place, a theme, an occupation—or all three at once—and a story strides into my head, demanding to be written.

I also like “having written.” Writing and editing is just plain hard work, although I wouldn’t do anything else.