Christmas Trifle - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Heather Haven to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Heather writes the Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Novel. Christmas Trifle is the first book in the series and was released this past Sunday!

Kathy: The divorce of chefs Charly and Cliff Harding fuel the plot of Christmas Trifle. The exes soon run competing restaurants in Snow Lake Nevada. Have you ever worked in a restaurant or wanted to be a chef?

HH: When I was a struggling actress/writer in NYC back in the Punic Wars, I worked in several restaurants as a waitress before I started getting jobs in my fields. In fact, there is a joke that goes: "If every actor in New York got an acting job, all the restaurants would have to close." Pretty near the truth.


Kathy: In the divorce Charley gets the cat, Felix, while Cliff gets custody of Oliver the dog. I can't imagine losing custody of one of my animals. Has that ever happened to you?

HH: I have never been divorced. I've been married to the same man for 37 years. But once again, when I was in NYC in my youth (Punic Wars, remember?), my roommate and I were moving to separate apartments. We had two cats, David and Chet, and we split them up. I got Chet, a tuxedo cat, she got David, a gray and white cat. Other than that, the situation has never come up. Both cats lived happy, long lives, I'd like to mention.


Kathy: What first drew you to romantic suspense?

HH: I think romance and suspense are a natural. Let's face it, love makes the world go round. And everyone loves a mystery!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

HH: My short stories can be anything that strikes my fancy, but when it comes to novels, I tend to write cozy mysteries, PI mysteries, and now romantic suspense.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

HH: The Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries are novels that revolve around a family-owned detective agency in today's Silicon Valley. It's humorous, bright, and sparkly, highlighting familial relationships. But the mystery always leads the way. Into the fifth book (out of seven), my protagonist, Lee Alvarez, ultimately winds up with the man of her dreams, Gurn Hanson. In fact, this duo became so popular, I developed a spin-off series called Love Can Be Murder. These mystery novellas feature the two of them as sort of a Silicon Valley Nick and Nora Charles. Then there's the Persephone Cole Vintage Mysteries taking place during the WWII era. These books feature a tall, full-figured but self-assured gal, Persephone 'Percy' Cole. Percy becomes one of the first female private eyes in the country, blazing a trail for others to follow. Set in Manhattan, Percy Cole has an on-again, off-again romance with Detective Hutchers. But the Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Novels are a departure for me. First off, in each of the previous series, each woman is a private investigator (albeit in Lee Alvarez' case, a reluctant one) and they are the main protagonist. In Snow Lake, the stories feature two amateur sleuth chefs married to each other.


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

HH: That's like asking a mother if she has a favorite child. Even if I did, I wouldn't admit it!


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

HH: Christmas Trifle came to me when I saw how so many people lose who they are in a marriage, only to be unhappy and ultimately, seek a way out. I wanted to address that. In my opinion - and it's only my opinion - a marriage survives best when both partners respect one another and try to be honest. Compromise is the ticket, not selling out.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

HH: This is my 14th novel. Of course, I'd publish it.


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

HH: Dashiell Hammett, Agatha Christie, Stephen King, and William Shakespeare.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

HH: My friend, Cindy Sample, has just written her 8th book in the Laurel McKay Series. I love her work. I have the honor of reading an advance copy of Dying for a Double. Also reading Margaret Dumas, Murder at the Palace. Love her, too.


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

HH: My hobby is sharing life with my husband, Norman. He is a musician, very talented, and a great guy. For instance, tomorrow we go to Jazz in the Plaz in Los Gatos to see their latest offering in summer jazz.


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

HH: Fat-free whipped cream, pine nuts, Hallo Ice Cream, (freezer), and fruit.


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

HH: Absolutely! I am in the midst of writing the seventh book of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries, Casting Call for a Corpse. Then I will start Alimony Can Be Murder, book three of the Love Can Be Murder series. Spring Thaw, Book two of the Snow Lake Romantic Mysteries is close behind. If only there were three of me! I love all the characters I write about in each of the series. Frankly, I see myself writing into the sunset. I love it!


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

HH: Stuff like this. I get to meet interesting people like you and your readers. And I get to write!

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Christmas Trifle (A Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Mystery) by Heather Haven

About the Book

Christmas Trifle (A Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Mystery)  

Romantic Cozy Mystery 1st in Series  

Wives of Bath Press (September 1, 2019)

Number of Pages - 322

When chefs Charly and Cliff Harding divorce, she gets custody of their upscale restaurant and its namesake, Felix, the cat. He gets custody of their dog, Oscar. What they both still have custody of is each other’s heart. But they seem to be the only two people in the small ski resort town of Snow Lake, Nevada, that don’t know it. When Cliff opens his own restaurant in direct competition with Charly, bad things start to happen. Death threats, accidents, and murder are now on the menu. Their ‘if-you-can’t-take-the-heat-then-get-out-of-the-kitchen’ battles are backfiring, and regrets consume the two of them. But can they find their way back to each other? Or is it too late? Because they just might spend the rest of their lives in prison unjustly accused of killing someone. Or can love triumph over even murder?

About Heather Haven

Heather Haven, in the midst of writing her fourteenth novel, has also written short stories, comedy acts, television treatments, ad copy, commercials, and plays. She has won numerous awards for her Silicon Valley-based Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries; Manhattan-based WWII Persephone Cole Vintage Mysteries; Ringling Brothers’ Circus mystery noir, Death of a Clown; and Corliss and Other Award-Winning Stories. She has two romantic suspense series: Love Can be Murder Mystery Novellas with Lee Alvarez and Gurn Hanson, the Nick and Nora Charles of Silicon Valley, and the new Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Novels, of which Christmas Trifle is Book One.

She and her husband of thirty-four years are allowed to live with their two cats, Ellie and Yulie, in the foothills of San Jose, California.  

Author Links:
Website - http://www.heatherhavenstories.com/  
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeatherHavenStories  
Twitter - @HeatherHaven  

Purchase Link - Amazon

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A Margaritas, Mayhem, and Murder Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Mary Cunningham to the blog today. Mary writes the Andi Anna Jones Mystery series. Margaritas, Mayhem, and Murder is the first book in the series and will released this Thursday!

Kathy: In Margaritas, Mayhem, and Murder travel agent Anna Jones books a cruise to Cancun for her father's widow. Have you ever been on a cruise?

MC: Several! Like protagonist, Andi, I was a travel agent in Miami and was able to “preview” a few short cruises at very little expense. My favorite all-time was a cruise my husband and I took on a small ship line called the Dolphin. Unlike the floating cities of today, this one really gave you the experience of being on the ocean. (Dramamine was a necessity!) There were only about 600 passengers and while they had a casino and nightly entertainment, we had a chance to enjoy a true cruising experience and relax. I loved it.


Kathy: Are you an armchair traveler, or do you enjoy actually visiting other places?

MC: I used to love traveling more than I do now. We’ve lived in 9 different locations, so experience different locales, food, people, came naturally. I do find the older I get the more hassle it is to live out of a suitcase. We still travel, but only short trips in which we can take our sweet rescue dog, Lucy. We have no relatives living close enough to keep her and a kennel, no matter how luxurious, isn’t an option. I’m not sure how much Lucy would miss us, but we’d sure miss her! Still, it’s always exciting to visit new places and to visit the kids and grandkids.


Kathy: Are you a fan or margaritas and/or Mariachi bands?

MC: Definitely margaritas! On the rocks, thank you very much…with a salt rim. And while I enjoy Mariachi music, my favorite “traveling” music is the Louisiana Cajun sound. We lived near New Orleans for a year, during which I gained ten pounds! My heritage is French, so that may be why I felt so at home in the Bayou. Maybe I lived there in a past life? Who knows?


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MC: I wasn’t so sure what the Andi Anna Jones mysteries would be when I began writing them. I just wrote what I hoped would be, a fun, fast-paced mystery with unforgettable characters. Now I am drawn to the genre. I can’t count how many cozy mysteries I’ve read this year and how many new cozy author/friends I’ve made. My only complaint is that I didn’t begin writing cozy mysteries years ago!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MC: I started out with a co-written non-fiction women’s humor book, WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty; a selection of stories, poems, and advice to help laugh your way through the aging process.

A recurring dream I’d had for twenty-plus years about a mysterious attic led to my five-book, middle-grade time-travel/mysteries series, Cynthia’s Attic.

I also have another middle-grade/young adult series in process, The Adventures of Max & Maddie.

In my “spare time” (Ha!), I’m writing a biography for a former military brat/college and WNBA basketball player and the foundation she set up to benefit the children of deployed military. This is a real challenge since I’ve never written a full bio before; just family memoirs.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

The Andi Anna Jones series begins with Andi, a mediocre travel agent, with an inferiority complex about her job, her looks, and her single status, discovering her "inner sleuth" when forced to fly to Cancun after her dad's widow is arrested for the murder of a has-been lounge singer. She soon discovers her talent to flesh out clues and solve mysteries far surpasses her ability to book vacations and handle complaints from unhappy clients.

In the middle-grade series, Cynthia’s Attic, magical costumes, disappearing stairs and a spooky attic filled with dusty antiques provide two, adventurous, young girls more than they ask for.
Best friends, Cynthia and Gus as she prefers to be called, are as "different as bubble gum and broccoli." They are, however, equal in their ability to get into trouble without much effort.
In trying to escape the "boring summer" of 1964, the adventurous twelve-year-old girls stumble upon a trunk in Cynthia's attic that has been in her family for three generations.


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

MC: Right now, Andi Anna Jones is my favorite character; possibly because I see a lot of her in me. Or, maybe I just wish I could be as adventurous as she; although, like me, she has her vulnerable side. She has a great sense of humor, doesn’t take herself too seriously, and is a flawed, but kind-hearted young woman with an indomitable spirit.


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

MC: As mentioned above, I was a travel agent for about a year. Why just a year? Because I was terrible!! I faked my way through those awful months with the help of a co-worker. I still wonder whether she helped me out of the goodness of her heart or figured it was easier to help me get it right the first time rather than having to correct all my mistakes later. For whatever reason, Andi’s assistant, Ellie, is loosely-based on my “savior” in Florida.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MC: Like most writers, I have a certain amount of ego that requires reading my words in actual print. Oh, sure, the joy of writing is paramount, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the thrill of seeing the book cover with the title and my name splashed across the front! It’s also very satisfying when readers and peers enjoy my stories, humor, and voice.

I get the most satisfaction, however, inspiring young readers to write!


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

MC: I’d love to talk to JK Rowling since Harry Potter gave me the motivation to write my first children’s series. I’m fascinated by the fact that she seems so down-to-earth while having such creative stories and characters spinning around in her head.

JRR Tolkien is another simply because Lord of the Rings has always been a favorite. What must his mind have been like to keep all those characters straight!

Mystery writer, Louise Penny is another. I imagine gathering incomparable advice and inspiration from her!

I’d also love to sit down with Stephen King. To be able to pick the brain of the author who wrote Salem’s Lot, Carrie, and The Shining, along with emotional stories like Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, would be an incredible experience.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MC: Just started Say Goodbye for Now, by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I just finished a couple of cozy mysteries, Howling at the Moon, by Karen MacInerney and The Big Chili by Julia Buckley. Several others from my favorite author list comprised my summer reading.


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

MC: When I have time to join my husband on the links, I play golf (started playing when I was ten!). I also spend the summers swimming and doing water aerobics. Must be my Pisces birth sign that draws me to water. I also love watching my beloved Indiana Hoosier basketball team. Being raised in Indiana, basketball is practically a religion.


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

MC: Dove Dark Chocolate, Hershey’s Dark Chocolate with Almonds, Dove Dark Chocolate and Salted Carmel, and several cans of Rotel tomatoes (they make any recipe better!).


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

MC: Definitely! I’ve already started Book # 2 in the Andi Anna Jones series, and I’m tweaking my middle-grade series, The Adventures of Max & Maddie. Two other adult mysteries are in the works, along with a biography. Now, to find the time to write!


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

MC: The thrill of writing a sentence, reading it and thinking, “Daggone, that’s good!”


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Official Character Complaint Form - Guest Post & Giveaway

OFFICIAL CHARACTER COMPLAINT FORM FOR KATHI DALEY BOOKS

Date of initial complaint: June 16, 2017

Subject of complaint: Romance

Briefly describe your complaint:

Dear Ms. Daley,

While I have enjoyed working with you these past three years, I feel that when it comes to the area of happily ever after I have been slighted. Zoe and I began working with you within just a few weeks of one another, and while she is happily married to a wonderful man with a baby on the way, I am being asked to endure yet another heartache. I know that it is not your intent to treat any of your characters unfairly, but all I can say is; what’s up with that? I know you are really busy but if you could find it within your heart to find me the perfect match, I would greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely, Tj

June 20, 2017

Dear Tj,

I hear what you are saying and I do feel your pain. It does seem that you have had the hardest time out of any of my characters when it comes to love and romance. I cannot predict the future since in the end it is the characters who write the stories, but my instinct is that love is right around the corner if you are willing to go all in and take a leap of faith.

Hugs, Kathi

July 1, 2017

Dear Ms. Daley,

Wow, when you said take a leap of faith I wasn’t aware that you meant a literal leap but I did as you suggested and I have to say that in spite of everything else that is suddenly wrong in my life I finally believe that love is real and happily ever after may in fact be an actual reality. I will admit to being scared and unsure but I am also hopeful, and most of all, happy.

Thank you, Tj

July 4, 2017

Dear Tj,

You are welcome. I’ve got things started, it is up to you to make them work. You are a brave young woman who is willing to take chances in most areas in your life. Don’t let fear be your guide, because in the end, the only real answer is to open your heart and let love in.

Hugs, Kathi

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Snowmen in Paradise - Spotlight & Giveaway

Kathi Daley's Tj Jensen Mystery series is being released by Henery Press and the second book in the series, SNOWMEN IN PARADISE, is on sale through February 4, 2017.

Synopsis: 

 

Winter Carnival comes to Serenity, and with it Tj finds her schedule busier than ever. Not only is her ski and snowboard team heavily involved in demonstrations and local competitions, but her ragtag choir is about to debut in their first live performance. To make matters even more complicated, someone has killed Travis Davidson, a town favorite son, world-class snowboarder, and Olympic hopeful. Tj is determined not to get involved in the subsequent investigation until she learns the prime suspect is Chelsea Hanson, her high school boyfriend Hunter Hanson’s sister. Although there’s no shortage of Sereninites with a grudge against the hometown hero, even Tj has to admit there’s good cause to suspect Chelsea of the murder. Balancing bridesmaid duties, Winter Carnival obligations, show choir duty, and after-hours investigation, Tj sets out to prove Chelsea innocent.

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Snowmen-Paradise-Jensen-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B01GQQEJQW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1483469382&sr=1-1&keywords=snowmen+in+paradise

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snowmen-in-paradise-kathi-daley/1123889343?ean=2940158191817

Ibooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/snowmen-in-paradise/id1122152500?mt=11

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/snowmen-in-paradise


Kathi is graciously sponsoring a giveaway. The prize is a copy of SNOWMEN IN PARADISE - Kindle or Paperback - NON US Kindle only. Simply leave a comment on this blog post no later than 11:59pm EDT Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Be sure to leave an e-mail address so that I may contact you, should you be the lucky winner!