Die, Die, Birdie - A Guest Post and Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Kiki Lowenstein to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Kiki on the pages of the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery series by Joanna Campbell Slan. Die, Die, Birdie is the nineteenth book in the series and was released 

 

Hello from Time in a Bottle!
A Guest Post by Kiki Lowenstein

Hi, Kathy, and all you wonderful cozy mystery readers!

When Joanna asked if I'd like to write something for your blog, I jumped at the chance. As someone who's found herself in the middle of more mysteries than I ever bargained for, I've become quite the cozy mystery fan myself. There's something so comforting about curling up with a good mystery where you know justice will prevail and the amateur sleuth will figure things out—even when that amateur sleuth happens to be me!

My name is Kiki Lowenstein, and I own Time in a Bottle, a craft store here in a St. Louis suburb. A few years ago, if someone had told me I'd be solving murders between organizing cardstock, freezing glue sticks, and teaching classes, I would have laughed. (You do know that freezing glue sticks eliminates those pesky stray strands, don’t you?) But life has a funny way of surprising us.

It all started when my husband George died suddenly, leaving me nearly broke with an eleven-year-old daughter to raise. I desperately needed work, and Dodie Goldfader took a chance on hiring me at her store. I thought I'd be selling supplies and helping customers preserve their memories. I never expected to be preserving evidence and tracking down killers!

What I've learned is … crafters make excellent detectives. We're detail-oriented by nature—we notice when something's even slightly out of place. We're used to figuring out how all the pieces fit together perfectly. And we're persistent! Anyone who's spent hours getting a piece of fabric or ribbon or felt cut just right knows about not giving up when things get tricky.

My crafting background has helped me solve cases in ways the police never expected. I can spot when someone's handwriting doesn't match their usual style, notice if supplies have been tampered with, or recognize when a "perfect" scene has been staged. Plus, working in the crafting community means I hear all the local gossip. Sometimes that gossip contains crucial clues.

The best part about my unexpected detective career is that it's brought wonderful people into my life, including Detective Chad Detweiler, who is now my husband. My coworkers have become like family, and even my daughter Anya has learned to roll with her mom's tendency to stumble into mysteries.

In my latest adventure, Die, Die, Birdie, things get particularly interesting. Without giving too much away, let's say that my child’s request for a new pet turns seriously strange. Yes, he gets the bird he wanted. But he also gets more than he bargained for. Turns out the bird was a witness to a crime and even swallowed some of the evidence. Did you know a small parrot can swallow tiny diamonds and use them to grind up his food? (Hey, I didn’t know that either!)

I hope you'll join me for this new mystery. Like all cozy mysteries, it has that perfect blend of puzzle-solving, community, and characters you'll want to spend time with. Plus, I promise you a lot of laughter and warm fuzzies along the way!

Thanks for letting me visit your wonderful blog, Kathy. Keep reading those cozies—they remind us that even in the darkest mysteries, there's always hope for a happy ending.

Warmly, Kiki Lowenstein

P.S. - Die, Die, Birdie https://amzn.to/46PkAMN is available now, and I promise no crafting supplies were permanently harmed in the making of this mystery!

P.P.S.—Oh, and about those diamonds. Everything comes out in the end. (LOL)

 

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 Die, Die, Birdie (Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series) by Joanna Campbell Slan

About Die, Die, Birdie

Die, Die, Birdie (Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery 19th in the Series
Setting - Missouri
Publisher: ‎ Spot On Publishing
Publication date: ‎ July 1, 2025
Print length: ‎ 230 pages

When her son's new pet becomes evidence in a murder case, scrapbook store owner Kiki Lowenstein-Detweiler discovers that some family secrets are worth killing for.

All eight-year-old Erik wanted for his birthday was a bird. What he got was Solo-a traumatized lovebird whose mate was recently devoured by a boa constrictor at a local pet shop.

But when Kiki learns that Solo originally belonged to Ruthie Goldman, a beloved member of their temple community who died after a brutal home invasion, she realizes this is no ordinary rescue pet.

Solo may be small, but he's carrying big secrets-literally. X-rays reveal the tiny bird has swallowed several diamonds from the robbery that killed his previous owner. Now someone is desperately trying to track down Erik's feathered friend, and Kiki's family is in danger.

As Detective Chad Detweiler investigates the diamond theft that triggered Ruthie's fatal stroke, Kiki uncovers a web of family betrayals, frozen embryos, and twisted ideas about genetic purity.

With her trademark blend of humor, heart, and small-town Missouri charm, Kiki must protect her family while helping to solve a murder that hits frighteningly close to home. Because when inheritance, infertility, and identity collide, even the most loving families can harbor deadly secrets.

"Fans of cozy mysteries will delight in this charming blend of family drama, small-town secrets, and feathered friends. Kiki Lowenstein-Detweiler proves once again that the most dangerous mysteries often begin with the most innocent questions."

About Joanna Campbell Slan

Joanna is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author

who has written more than 70 books, both fiction and non-fiction. Currently, she writes four ongoing mystery series: the Kiki Lowenstein cozy mysteries (Agatha Award finalist/first novel/contemporary); the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence winner/historical); the Cara Mia Delgatto mysteries (contemporary); and the Friday Night Mystery Club mysteries (set in 1980s). She’s also the editor and co-author of the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy books.

Her publication career began as one of the earliest Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors, and her stories appear in five of those New York Times bestselling books. Joanna’s first non-fiction book, Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience (Simon & Schuster/Pearson), was endorsed by Toastmasters International and lauded by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter. Her books on scrapbooking have won fans all over the world, and she has taught scrapbooking techniques in Europe and on cruise ships, as well as in the United States.

When she isn’t writing, Joanna is an avid crafter. Contact Joanna at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com.

Follow her on social media by going here https://www.linktr.ee/JCSlan

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Murder at the Dog Park - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Rochester to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Rochester on the pages of DEATH AT THE DOGPARK by Neil S. Plakcy and Joanna Campbell Slan. This book, comprised of two novellas, was released last month.

Rochester’s Puppyhood
A Golden Retriever Mystery Prequel
Copyright 2024 Neil S. Plakcy. All rights reserved. 

 

My name is Rochester, and I am not one of those talking dogs who narrate mystery novels. I’m just a golden retriever with a nose for crime, and I have a human who is smart enough to take the clues I provide him with and bring bad people to justice.

You’d be surprised how many bad people we run into in the small town where we live, and the college conference center that Steve runs. I’ve run out of toes to count them on—nineteen since he and I first hooked up four years ago.

I don’t like to complain, but I had a rough puppyhood. Born in a litter of twelve, I had to push my way forward to get my share of mama’s milk. For a long time after that, I had a tendency to gobble my food, afraid some other dog might come along and steal it.

Then I had to suffer having a red bandanna tied around my neck as I posed for pictures in the hope that some human would buy me.

Yes, I was originally sold, like a bag of dog chow. The young couple who purchased me were too busy with their own lives, and their newborn baby, to give me proper training and exercise, and after only a few months they got tired of my enthusiasm, my need to get out into the world to pee and sniff, and the golden hair that flew off me at the slightest wiggle of my growing body.

I’ve always loved going out in the car, so I wasn’t suspecting anything the day they asked me to hop in the back of their minivan. I sat up on my hind paws to look out the back window, not realizing that was going to be my last view of the place I’d called home for six months.

Instead of going to the park or the veterinarian’s office, we stopped at a big square building that reverberated with the sounds of dogs barking and howling. A nice lady took my leash and led me into the back of the building, and tried to put me in a cage.

Now, I’d been crate-trained, so I was accustomed to the small surroundings. But my crate at home had a cushion, and I could look through the bars to see my human pack. But this cage was all metal and had no cushion, and there were strange dogs on both sides.

I planted my paws on the ground and resisted being pushed into the cage, but the lady was stronger than she looked and she shoved me inside and closed the door.

I sat at the front of my cage peering through the wire, wondering where my humans were. It took me a whole day to realize they weren’t coming back. Even so, every time humans came through looking at the dogs in their cages, I kept hoping to recognize a familiar smell. That maybe they’d changed their minds.

But they never came back, and eventually I forgot what they looked like and smelled like. I didn’t like the shelter. Too many other dogs competing for attention, and the smells were overwhelming for a sensitive nose like mine. I slept on concrete, inside a wire cage, with only a water bowl for company. Every day, humans paraded past me as if I was an exhibit at a county fair, commenting about my square head, and the pile of fur that was always around me. (I tend to shed when I’m nervous.)

The most frequent comment was about the size of my paws. Some humans thought I might be part Great Pyrenees because they were so big, and others were frightened that I’d grow too large. One man even called me Howard Huge. I rarely growl, but that comment got a snarl from me.

I was pleased when Caroline Kelly took me out of my cage for a brief walk. She was a lovely human, older than my previous humans and hopefully more mature. and I loved the way she smelled, how soft her hands were, and how she came down to my level to pet me. I did my best to make her love me in the half-hour we walked around the outside yard, and I romped around her.

I remember she knelt down beside me and whispered in my ear. “What a handsome boy you are,” she said. “Would you like to come home with me?”

Would I ever!

She gave me the name Rochester, after a romantic hero in a book she loved. She confided in me, especially after she’d had a bad date. “I’m going to take myself off the marriage market,” she said. “Dogs never come home drunk. They never complain about your cooking and they’re happy when your friends come over.”

By the time I went home with her, I’d taught myself to do my business outside (my previous owners hadn’t bothered with any training). She rewarded me with treats, and loved to take long walks with me. She didn’t mind brushing me, often while we snuggled on the floor listening to the happy pop music she liked. A few times we even danced, me on my hind legs, her holding my paws.

At last, I felt like I’d found my true home. But then one day we were out walking on a long strip of land that connected our community, River Bend, to the main street. We had park on both sides of us, so there was a lot to sniff, and I had my head down to the ground when I heard a couple of very loud noises.

Suddenly Caroline fell to the ground and let go of my leash. She wouldn’t get up even when I licked her face and barked at her. I took off back toward River Bend to find someone to help her.

I was lucky that the first human I found was her next-door neighbor, Steve Levitan. I’d met Steve a couple of times before and he didn’t seem to like me very much, because he thought I was too wild.

He grabbed my leash and let me drag him back to Caroline’s body. My poor human was dead, and I had nowhere else to go, so Steve’s friend Rick, the police detective investigating her murder, convinced him to let me stay with him for a few days.

That was just enough time to convince him to help me find the people who killed Caroline, and to get him to fall in love with me the way Caroline had. He’d been through a bad time himself, and I like to think I taught him how to love again and move forward with his life.

With me taking the lead, of course.

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 Death at the Dogpark Kindle Edition by Neil S. Plakcy & Joanna Campbell Slan

About Death at the Dogpark 

Death at the Dogpark
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: ‎ Samwise Books (March 13, 2025)
Paperback: ‎ 192 pages

Two gripping novellas explore murder, mystery, and mayhem at the local dog park in this unique collection from authors Neil S. Plakcy and Joanna Campbell Slan.

In "Dog's Punishment," Steve Levitan and his intuitive golden retriever Rochester uncover dark secrets when investigating the death of a controversial dog trainer. After Melissa Kawamoto is found dead at the local dog park, Steve must untangle a web of professional rivalries, stolen patents, and bitter grudges to catch a killer who turned a revolutionary training method into a deadly weapon.

In "Lamb Chopped," craft store owner Kiki Lowenstein's peaceful morning at the dog park turns horrific when her Great Dane Gracie digs up a severed hand. The discovery pulls Kiki into a disturbing investigation involving missing pets, corrupt officials, and a shadowy network trafficking shelter animals to research facilities. With help from her homicide detective husband, Kiki must expose the truth before more animals—and humans—become victims.

Both stories showcase the unbreakable bonds between humans and their canine companions while delivering clever mysteries filled with twists, turns, and compelling characters. A must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and anyone who believes dogs have an uncanny ability to point us toward the truth.

About Neil S. Plakcy

 

I've wanted to be an author since I was about sixteen, when a high school assignment on A Separate Peace showed me how powerful writing can be. At the University of Pennsylvania I studied creative writing with Philip Roth and Carlos Fuentes; I went on to receive my MFA from Florida International University. My first published novel was Mahu, about a Honolulu homicide detective dragged out of the closet during a tough case. I put a lot of myself into Kimo Kanapa'aka, the hero, and yet he’s very much his own character, and much better than I am! He has had a powerful hold on my imagination for many years. I love writing about him and hope to keep doing so for a long time. He’s also the source of my favorite reader question. A few years ago, someone emailed to ask if he was circumcised. My first reaction was “Man, I’ll bet Stephen King doesn’t get questions like that.” But then, his are probably even weirder. I went online and did some research and discovered that at the time Kimo was born, hospital circumcisions were common. So there you go. My path to publication was a long and checkered one, as is the case with many authors. My first published stories were magazine erotica, and I still like to keep my hand in (no pun intended) with that kind of writing. But for the most part now I write mystery and romance—all my books seem to have both those elements, though in different proportions. I began writing the golden retriever mysteries because I spent so much time walking my golden, Samwise (yes, I’m a Tolkien geek). He had so many funny habits and such a strong personality that I just knew I had to write a book that featured a dog like him. (Fortunately, Sam had no habit of finding dead bodies.) I live in Hollywood, Florida now, with my partner and our golden retrievers, Brody and Griffin.  

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About Joanna Campbell Slan

Joanna is a New York Times Bestselling, USA Today Bestselling, and Amazon Bestselling author as well as a woman prone to frequent bursts of crafting frenzy, leaving her with burns from her hot glue gun and paint on her clothes. And the mess? Let’s not even go there.

Otherwise, Joanna’s a productive author with more than 80 written projects to her credit. Her non-fiction work includes how to books, a college textbook for public speakers, and books of personal essays (think Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Currently, she writes six fiction series: The Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award Finalist, contemporary, St. Louis setting, crafting), the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series (contemporary, Florida setting, DIY, and recycling), the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award Winner, 1830s England, based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic), the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy Thrillers (late 1800s, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s books), the Tai Chi Mystery Series (featuring a mature female amateur sleuth!) and the Friday Night Mystery Series (set in Decatur, IL in 1986 with a spunky female heroine.)

A former TV talk show host, college teacher, and public relations specialist, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors. She won a Silver Anvil for her work on the original FarmAid concert to benefit farmers.

In her ongoing quest never to see snow again, Joanna lives with her husband and their Havanese puppy, Jax, on an island off the coast of Florida.

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The Friday Night Mystery Club - A Cover Reveal

A New Book from Joanna Campbell Slan

                           

A Novel Featuring a Female Amateur Sleuth and Her Friends

                                   

Decatur, Illinois - 1986

                                         

Release Date September 18, 2021

                           

The Friday Night Mystery Club

A nasty divorce leaves Cragan Collins with a mountain of bills and her grandmother to support. She takes a job as an ad salesperson for The Gazette. The market is tough, but Cragan finds a mentor in business reporter, Robert Smithson. One icy January day, Robert is found dead in a city park. His murder is dismissed as gay-on-gay crime. Cragan asks The Friday Night Mystery Club to find justice for Robert. Will Cragan's quest for the truth land her on the obituary page?

 

About Joanna Campbell Slan

“Our best friend, our next-door neighbor, and ourselves with just a touch of the outrageous.” That’s how RT Book Review describes Joanna’s protagonist, Kiki Lowenstein. The truth is that’s a pretty good description of Joanna Campbell Slan as well.

Joanna is a New York Times Bestselling, USA Today Bestselling, and Amazon Bestselling author as well as a woman prone to frequent bursts of crafting frenzy, leaving her with burns from her hot glue gun and paint on her clothes. And the mess? Let’s not even go there.

Otherwise, Joanna’s a productive author with more than 80 written projects to her credit. Her non-fiction work includes how to books, a college textbook for public speakers, and books of personal essays (think Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Currently, she writes five fiction series: The Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award Finalist, contemporary, St. Louis setting, crafting), the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series (contemporary, Florida setting, DIY, and recycling), the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award Winner, 1830s England, based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic), the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy Thrillers (late 1800s, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s books), and the Zen Cozy Mystery Series (launch 2021).

A former TV talk show host, college teacher, and public relations specialist, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors. She won a Silver Anvil for her work on the original FarmAid concert to benefit farmers.

In her ongoing quest never to see snow again, Joanna lives with her husband and their Havanese puppy, Jax, on an island off the coast of Florida. You can email her at jcslan@joannaslan.com or visit her website at https://linktr.ee/jcslan

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The Three C’s of Cozy Mystery… Guest Post & Giveaway

The Three C’s of Cozy Mystery… 

By Anna Celeste Burke

You’ll find the three C’s of classic COZY MYSTERY in our collection of stories, Happy Homicides 2. I suppose you could argue about what the three C’s are, but for me there are three hallmarks of the subgenre that keep me eager to read more.

Crime, of course. That includes “murder most foul,” as you’d expect to find in any collection of cozy mysteries. As advertised on the lovely cover, crimes of the heart figure into many of the stories in this anthology timed for release on Valentine’s Day. That “the course of true love never did run smooth,” is an old story told over and over in real life and in fiction since Shakespeare penned those words. Love gone wrong is almost always at the top of the list as a motive when any murder investigation starts. Sometimes love goes right, too, though. You’ll find a bit of that here in this collection as well.

Charming Characters, too. [Hope you don’t think that counts as two C’s] Likeable, sometimes quirky characters are another classic feature of the cozy mystery and you’ll find plenty of them in this collection. Characters with different ages, backgrounds, experience and skills, they all bear up under the challenge of finding themselves up to their necks in crime. Their resourcefulness, persistence, even pluckiness in the face of murder and mayhem always gives me a little boost. When they ask the right questions, snoop even in awkward or outright laughable ways, and deliberately or by accident, find out “whodunit,” I get that little vicarious zing of pleasure that rewards us as mystery readers.

Comfort, like the feeling you get from putting on a soft pair of pajamas or an old pair of slippers at the end of a long day at work, is another feature I hope to find in a cozy mystery. It’s the perfect antidote to the suspense that keeps us tagging along behind cozy mystery sleuths—especially those we already know and love because they’re part of a series. The comfort in a good cozy mystery can come from many sources. Loyal pets, for one. Whether you’re a lover of dogs or cats, you’ll find them in this collection. They sometimes rival their owners as the most charming characters in a story. Food, too, is a source of comfort. It’s such a classic aspect of the comfort found in cozy mysteries the culinary cozy has become a sub-subgenre of its own. There’s plenty of comfort food in this collection of stories—including that special C associated with comfort and cuisine: CHOCOLATE! Recipes for the comfort food found in the cozy stories in this collection have been compiled into a special bonus file for cozy mystery fans, along with craft ideas found in some of the stories, too.

I’m sure there are more than three “Cs” that speak to you in cozy mysteries. I’d love to hear what those are. All “Cs” aside, I’d be interested in learning what words you use to convey the spirit of the cozy mystery.

Cheers! Anna Celeste Burke

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Happy Homicides 2: Crimes of the Heart

 

Stupid Cupid: A Cara Mia Delgatto Novella by Joanna Campbell Slan—Cara Mia’s search for love gets her involved in a star-crossed, homicidal romance.

A Heart for Murder by Teresa Trent—An expensive family heirloom is stolen from a local jewelry store, and Betsy Livingston Fitzpatrick would love to figure out who’s responsible.

 For the Love of Dog by Neil Plakcy—A young woman’s death causes a man to consider the many aspects of love. Is it ever a justification for murder?

Wedding Knife by Elaine Viets—A groom learns to take his vow–Till death do we part—very, very seriously.

Death and a Dozen Roses by Annie Adams—Plucky florist Rosie McKay is reunited with an old love, thanks to complications that happen when she tries to deliver a dozen roses.

The Sodium Arrow by Camille Minichino—The love of a student for a favorite teacher drives a freelance embalmer to seek out justice.

Sweets, Treats, and Murder by Nancy Jill Thames—Jillian Bradley is a widow with no children, but she still has a keen sense of family. Her love of a good mystery sets her and her canine companion, Teddy, on a quest for justice.

Dying for Valentine’s Tea: A Beach Tea Shop Novella by Linda Gordon Hengerer—The three Powell sisters want their friend Thelma to find true love, but they’re having trouble believing her fiancé has her best interests at heart.

The New Normal by Kathi Daley—Although her own dreams have been shattered, Ellie Davis finds it impossible to quit loving an old friend, even after he’s accused of murder.

Bones and Arrows by Carolyn Haines—Intrepid Sarah Booth Delaney would rather face a gun than a party on Valentine’s Day. Not surprisingly, she’s decided that Cupid is a big phony. But is he a jewel thief, too?

Murder at Catmmando Mountain: Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery 1 by Anna Celeste Burke—Georgina Shaw loves her cat, chocolate, and cooking. When she’s framed for a crime, she’s forced to reconsider her priorities.

The Missing Jacket by Randy Rawls—A golfing buddy offers Jonathan Boykin big money to retrieve a stolen jacket, but Jonathan suspects something else is going on. Jonathan is smart enough to discern the difference between love and lust. But can he also figure out the scam?

Really, Truly Dead by Maggie Toussaint—Lindsey McKay has no desire to return to small town life. But her love for her father brings her back home when he’s accused of murder.

~ Bonus Story~

Impediments: A Kiki Lowenstein Short Story by Joanna Campbell Slan—Family problems and priestly politics threaten to derail a love match, until Kiki Lowenstein suggests a surprising solution.


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The Glassblower's Interview with Review & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Joanna Campbell Slan back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Joanna and I last spoke about her Jane Eyre Chronicles. You can check out that interview here. Today we're talking about her newly released short story.

Kathy: Even though I visited Versailles (many, many moons ago) I was totally unfamiliar with the story behind its mirrors. Were you aware of any of the history before you began writing The Glassblower's Wife?

JCS: No, I wasn't. Now I really want to go back and view the Hall of Mirrors with new eyes.


Kathy: I love reading fiction that's based on historical truths. The research behind such books must be quite thorough. What were your favorite research methods for this book?

JCS: I love the Internet. In particular, it's useful to follow links at the end of any particular article. Sometimes those links are more important than the article itself. I've also learned to print out my research because website get taken down. I also really enjoyed reading Daphne du Maurier's book because it was based on her own family's journey.


Kathy: You write a mystery series set in 19th century England. Why the change to a short story in 17th century France?

JCS: My sister stumbled over a reference to the Doge and the glassblowers. I found the idea totally captivating, so I pursued it. History was one of my favorite subjects in school. Oddly, once you start delving into a time period, you find yourself seeing more and more linkages. For example, I recently read a book about Madame Tussaud, the wax portraitist, and there were many references to Versailles in it. That book showed me how the palace was used by the King and Queen. In turn, that enhanced my understanding of the importance of the Hall of Mirrors. Everything builds on the foundations of the past—and everything in life is linked to a million other happenings. Nothing occurs in a vacuum.


Kathy: Aside from length, how does writing a short story differ from penning a full length novel?

JCS: A short story gives you less time to develop the characters and the setting. You can't go on as many tangents. Each word has more weight. I had thought about expanding The Glassblower's Wife, but everyone who read it loved it just as it was. There seemed to be a certain impact that might have been diluted if I'd made the story longer.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

JCS: My sister stumbled across a reference to the Doge and his assassins. Then I found the scholarly article suggesting that the glassblowers were Jews. Again, it was a building process. But that's often how I write. From an idea, I cast a wide net and see what I dredge up. Often there are really interesting tidbits that lead me to new ideas, and on and on.


Kathy: Do you have any future plans for any of the characters in The Glassblower's Wife?

JCS: I must admit, Ruth Telfin is a fascinating person, isn't she? I do wonder how her relationship with Esther will grow and evolve. Hmmm….


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

JCS: I have a full agenda for my work this year. I have three-quarters of a Kiki Lowenstein Mystery written. That book is Glue, Baby, Gone. My Beta readers will be getting it soon, and I rely on them to help me decide how to finish it. Then I want to write a textbook that authors can use. Its working title is Wow the Crowd and Sell Your Books. I also want to start a new mystery series set pre-WW1. The central character is a real woman, the first woman to die in WW1, but I shall be fictionalizing much of her life. I haven't decided what to call the first book in that series. Stay tuned!


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Review

The Glassblower's Wife by Joanna Campbell Slan

In 17th Century France King Louis XIV is creating his palace in Versailles with its magnificent Hall of Mirrors. At that point in time creating mirrors was a very specialized and secreted skill, of which very few glassblowers could craft. Indeed, the Doge of Venice moved all of the glassblowers to the island of Murano, making them captives so that only he was able to benefit from their skills and allow Venice to hold a monopoly on producing mirrors. However, 18 were smuggled out and moved to France and commissioned to make the 357 mirrors for King Louis' Hall of Mirrors. The Doge was not one to be crossed, however, and he sent an assassin to kill each of the Dix-Huit, as they were known.  

 The Glassblower's Wife gives life to these Jewish craftsmen. We meet Rabbi Saul Telfin, master glassblower, and his wife Ruth, as well as the assassin, and see how the Hall of Mirrors was completed. Joanna Campbell Slan weaves an intriguing short story around this little known nugget of history. Although the story is short, the she still manages to give us richly developed characters.

Looking for a quick read that will also give you some historical knowledge? Look no further than The Glassblower's Wife by Joanna Campbell Slan.

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For a chance to win an e-book copy of  The Glassblower's Wife leave a comment about this post no later than 11:59pm EST Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Be sure to include your e-mail address so that I may contact you should you win. Also be sure to enter the Rafflecopter Contest for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!


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New Life for a Classic-Interview/Review/Giveaway with Joanna Campbell Slan

I'm pleased to welcome Joanna Campbell Slan to Cozy Up With Kathy. Joanna has given an old literary friend new life and mysteries to solve.

Kathy: It's been a good many years since I read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, however, I remember enjoying it and it being one of my favorite "classics". Did you love the novel yourself?

JCS: Absolutely. I found the book at the back of a bookshelf in my home. It must have been assigned reading for my parents, although neither of them directed me to the story. Since I grew up in a chaotic environment, with two alcoholics as parents, I turned to reading as an escape. I quickly identified with Jane, who was small and insignificant. Her story gave me hope.


Kathy: When deciding to write the series, which came first, the desire to see what happened to Jane after her novel ended, or the desire to write a historical mystery?

JCS: Since I read the book at an early age, I would have to say that I always wondered what happened next. Jane is a character for the ages, a woman you can’t forget.


Kathy: Historical mysteries in particular require a lot of research, not only research about the mystery itself, but the time period. Had you done a lot of research of this period before you thought to write the Jane Eyre Chronicles?

JCS: Yes, I sure did. Unfortunately, I researched the wrong period. The book was published Oct. 16, 1847, but it contains two obscure references that date the timeframe of the story to 1818-1820. So I was up to my eyeballs in stories about Victoria and Albert, when I should have been reading up on George IV. Sigh. Fortunately, some of what I learned didn’t change, especially regarding the plight of women who signed on as governesses and teachers.


Kathy: In Death of a Schoolgirl Selina Biltmore has ties to King George IV. While I'm a bit more familiar with him as Prinny and his time as Regent (yes, I enjoy Regency romances) and know of his proclivities, I wondered if Selina was based on a real person, or simply a "may have been".

JCS: She’s fictional, although Prinny did have many out-of-wedlock children, so a character like Selina could definitely have existed.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JCS: I love that the reader can solve the mystery herself. In a police procedural, it’s up to the cops/techs to come up with the information, but in a cozy, the reader has all the pieces. It’s fun to match your wits with the author! I also appreciate that there’s no excessive violence or porn. There are some images I’d rather not implant into my head.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JCS: I’ve written non-fiction, “how to” books, inspiration, and contemporary cozy mysteries. So far I’ve written twenty-two books.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JCS: Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series—Agatha Award finalist—Contemporary craft cozy—Set in present day St. Louis—Kiki is a young single mother who takes a job in a scrapbook store to keep food on the table. The series follows Kiki as she grows from a doormat to a woman who knows her own worth. Includes papercrafting ideas, Zentangle® tips, and recipes. RT Book Reviews has called Kiki, “Our best friend with a touch of outrageous.”

The Jane Eyre Chronicles—Winner 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence—Historical romantic suspense—Set in 1820 England—The series begins where Charlotte Brontë’s classic left off. Jane is married to her beloved Edward. Even though she’s now a woman of privilege, Jane will never turn her back on someone in need, especially someone who lacks resources. So she becomes what Kirkus has called, “A surprisingly canny sleuth.”

The Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series—Release Fall/2013—Contemporary cozy—Set in present day Florida on the Treasure Coast—After her parents die and her son goes to college, Cara Mia Delgatto is suddenly free to live life on her own terms…as soon as she figures out what to do with her second chance at happiness. With two other women, she opens a store in Florida. The shop specializes in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed items. Includes DIY, trash-to-treasure, recipes, and historic lore.


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

JCS: I’m probably the most comfortable with Kiki Lowenstein because she’s so much like me, and because I’ve written that series the longest. To date, there are 27 short stories. Group, Photo, Grave (the seventh full length book) will be released this October.


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

JCS: It’s usually a combination of things. I see someone and think, “Wow, she would make an interesting character.” Or I hear about a local legend. Or I come across a fascinating factoid. All of it goes in, swirls around, and eventually appears on the page.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JCS: I have always wanted to be a writer. As a kid, I stapled sheets of paper together and told people, “This is my book.”


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

JCS: Pat Conroy, whom I’ve met and who is such a Southern gentleman!
Charlotte Brontë, for obvious reasons.
Daphne du Maurier, because I’d want to know what the name of the protagonist is in the book Rebecca.
Agatha Christie, because I lived six blocks from her house in Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JCS: Kathy Reichs’ book Deadly Decisions.


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

JCS: I live on the beach, so I love walking the sand and picking up shells. Like my characters, I’m an animal lover. We have two geriatric dogs, Rafferty and Victoria. I’m a Certified Teacher of Zentangle®, although I really don’t have the time to teach it. I do enjoy it.


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

JCS: Hummus, almond milk, instant oatmeal, tuna fish salad.


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

JCS: I’ve worn the letters off of four keyboards. In fact, this one needs to be replaced! I intend to keep writing as long as I can. I love what I do, and I am blessed to have a loyal group of readers.


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

JCS: I love setting my own pace. I can work as hard as I want, and I don’t have to wait for someone to approve my next project.

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Review

Death of a Schoolgirl By Joanna Campbell Slan

The First of the Jane Eyre Chronicles

Way back when I first read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte I rooted for Jane to get her Mr. Rochester. Well, she got him and in Death of a Schoolgirl by Joanna Campbell Slan we see what happens after the original novel ends.

Jane and Edward Rochester have married and are living quietly in Yorkshire away from society. Edward is recovering from the injuries received in the fire and Jane has recently given birth to a son. A worrisome letter arrives from Adele, Rochester’s young ward, who is at boarding school. Has she really been threatened, or are these just the histrionics of a young girl looking for attention? Determined to find out Jane must leave her husband, whose injuries prevent travel at the moment, her 6 month old son, and set off for London alone.

After a trying journey, Jane reaches the school only to find authorities removing the body of a dead school girl. With help from friends new and old Jane goes undercover as the German teacher to protect the children and root out the killer.

Death of a Schoolgirl is a well thought out mystery with a despicable victim. The plot seamlessly adds social commentary to the mystery and deepens the characterization. The book also adds a touch of humor. In this respect I’m especially fond of Adele. I loved what she wrote about the victim in an assignment. I laughed out loud when I first read it and giggle still when I think about it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip back to 1820’s England. Author Joanna Campbell Slan manages to keep the integrity of these classic characters while bringing them new life and new adventures.

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Joanna Campbell Slan has graciously offered to send one of my readers a copy of Death of a Schoolgirl. To enter just leave a comment on this blog post telling what classic literary character you'd like to see with his or her own cozy mystery series, Be sure to include your e-mail address so I know how to get in touch with you. You have until the end of the month to enter: midnight EST September 30th. 

You also have the opportunity to enter to win a fantastic grand prize: a Lowood Institution Lacrosse sweatshirt, a “Being yourself is the key” pencil case, a Jane Eyre mug, and a small Jane Eyre quotations journal.” Just use the rafflecoptor below!

 
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