Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Witch Awakens by Ellis Elliott. This book is the first in the Fire Circle Mystery series and was released earlier this month.

Something's brewing in Eureka Grove, Tennessee and it's not just the coffee.

After trying to make it big in the Big Apple without much success Cece Chagall has returned to Eureka Grove. Working at her Nana's dance studio and creating doll houses Cece is fairly content. However, her "peculiars" are getting worse. Sudden scents assault her and sometimes she'll see an image, but unsure of their meaning they're more troubling than anything else. The charity ball has her too busy to do anything about it. After her dancers perform without mishap Cece is ready to relax and enjoy the event, until a panicked Calvin pulls her outside to the loading dock where he shows her the dead body he just found. Stunned at the loss of the woman she considered a second mom Cece is determined to help find the killer.

A Crafty Collage of Crime - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm happy to allow Anastasia Pollack to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Anastasia on the pages of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series. A Crafty Collage of Crime is the twelfth book in the series and was released last month.

The Characters Strike Back
By Anastasia Pollack 

Sometimes I wish I could get together with my fellow cozy mystery sleuths. It’s not easy living in a vacuum, not knowing if other fictional cozy sleuths deal with the same sort of problems that I have with Lois Winston. She’s my author, and to date, she’s written twelve novels and three novellas about me. And every single one of them has put my life in jeopardy!

How do other fictional sleuths feel about these puppet master writers pulling their strings and forcing them to put their lives on the line to satisfy the appetites of cozy mystery readers? I have a feeling we’re all of a like mind on this.

I’m sure our writers care about us. After all, we’re the protagonists of their books. You’d think for that reason alone, they’d want to protect us.

I have this recurring dream that what I think is my life, is really a nightmare. Eventually, I’ll wake up to find my author never segued from writing romance to writing cozy mysteries, and that I’m really the heroine of one of her romance novels. But then I wake up and find myself plucked into the middle of Lois’s next mystery where I’m stumbling over yet another dead body.

I think we fictional sleuths need a support group. Or better yet, a union. I wonder how all those writers would feel if we amateur sleuths suddenly grabbed picket signs and went out on strike. We should demand to set up some rules that our authors have to abide by.

In a perfect world, we could do away with stumbling over dead bodies, but I doubt our authors would ever agree to that. After all, dead bodies are their bread and butter. There are other crimes—kidnapping, embezzlement, harassment, fraud, armed robbery—but cozy readers are conditioned to expect dead bodies, even when the mystery centers around other crimes. This is the case in A Crafty Collage of Crime, the latest Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery. After all, there’s got to be a reason the bad guy kills. It’s never just for the thrill of it. Serial killers belong in an entirely different genre. I suppose I should be happy Lois isn’t writing suspense or thrillers.

Of course, this is all a pipedream. I’m at the mercy of my author, as is every other cozy amateur sleuth every written. But a girl—even a fictitious one—can dream, can’t she? 

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 A Crafty Collage of Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery) by Lois Winston

About A Crafty Collage of Crime

A Crafty Collage of Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 12th in Series
Setting - New Jersey and Tennessee
Independently Published (June 16, 2023)
Print length: ‎ 258 pages

Wherever crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack goes, murder and mayhem follow. Her honeymoon is no exception. She and new husband, photojournalist (and possible spy) Zachary Barnes, are enjoying a walk in the Tennessee woods when they stumble upon a body on the side of a creek. The dead man is the husband of one of the three sisters who own the winery and guest cottages where Anastasia and Zack are vacationing.

When the local sheriff sets his sights on the widow as the prime suspect, her sisters close ranks around her. The three siblings are true-crime junkies, and thanks to a podcaster who has produced an unauthorized series about her, Anastasia’s reputation for solving murders has preceded her to the bucolic hamlet. The sisters plead for her help in finding the real killer. As Anastasia learns more about the women and their business, a host of suspects emerge, including several relatives, a relentless land developer, and even the sisters themselves.

Meanwhile, Anastasia becomes obsessed with discovering the podcaster’s identity. Along with knowing about Anastasia’s life as a reluctant amateur sleuth, the podcaster has divulged details of Anastasia’s personal life. Someone has betrayed Anastasia’s trust, and she’s out to discover the identity of the culprit.

Craft project included.

About Lois Winston

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Lois Winston began her award-winning writing career with Talk Gertie to Me, a humorous fish-out-of-water novel about a small-town girl going off to the big city and the mother who had other ideas. That was followed by the romantic suspense Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception.

Then Lois’s writing segued unexpectedly into the world of humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, thanks to a conversation her agent had with an editor looking for craft-themed mysteries. In her day job Lois was an award-winning craft and needlework designer, and although she’d never written a mystery—or had even thought about writing a mystery—her agent decided she was the perfect person to pen a series for this editor. Thus, was born the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” The series now includes twelve novels and three novellas. Lois also writes the Empty Nest Mysteries, currently at two novels, and one book so far in her Mom Squad Capers series.

To date Lois has published twenty-one novels, five novellas, several short stories, one children’s chapter book, and one nonfiction book on writing, inspired by her twelve years working as an associate at a literary agency. To learn more about Lois and her books, visit her at www.loiswinston.com where you can sign up for her newsletter and follow her at various social media sites.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.loiswinston.com  

Newsletter sign-up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r2e9v1  

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston  

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston  

Purchase Links: Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble Apple Books

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Fatal Flowers - A Review

 Review

FATAL FLOWERS by Jess Dylan
The Third Flower House Mystery 

Always looking to expand her business, Sierra Ravenswood is pleased at the opportunity to provide the flowers for the wedding of the mayor's daughter. Shocked that the wedding is only a few weeks away and surprised that the bride appears blasé, Sierra nonetheless is excited to join in. While the bride and her mother are gracious Taz, the wedding planner, is arrogant and condescending. A meeting of the wedding vendors turns into a crime scene when Sierra finds his body. Known for her investigative talents as well as her flowers, Sierra will try to uncover the secrets Taz had as well as who had enough of the pompous wedding planner.

An unhappy bride, an insular group of wedding vendors, as well as the status of the wedding, make the story rife with drama, like a pressure cooker ready to pop open. Adding to the drama, someone appears to be targeting Sierra and she is questioning her relationship with Calvin. I admit that I am concerned about some of his ideas.

Appalachian folk wisdom is interspersed throughout the mystery bringing a wonderful sense of place. Combined with Deena's decadent floral themed treats and a sweet dog, I long to visit Aerieville and will have to content myself to waiting for the next book to be released.

FATAL FLOWERS is a smart engaging mystery that captivates with Appalachian charm, wonderful characters, and a clever plot.

Petals and Poison - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Jess Dylan to Cozy Up With Kathy. Jess writes the Flower House Mystery series. PETALS AND POISON is the second book in the series.

Kathy: In the Flower House Mystery series Sierra Ravenswood finds herself back in her hometown of Aerieville, Tennessee. Did you ever move away, only to find your way back home?

JD: I haven’t moved back to my hometown, but I did leave my home state, only to return eight years later. After getting married, my husband and I moved from the Midwest to New York. We made some good memories there, but I missed my family and didn’t like being so far away. After having our child, we decided to move back to Illinois. Now we’re only a three-hour drive from my folks, instead of thirteen. Much easier!

Kathy: I love plants, but one of my cats makes sure I don't bring any inside. Sadly, I've let my outside garden go as well. Maybe this year I'll get back on track as I do love plants. Do you have a green thumb?

JD: I’d say I have a pale green thumb, if that’s a thing. LOL. I love plants too and always have a few houseplants, as well as flowers, herbs, and sometimes vegetables in the backyard in the summer. But I have to admit my success rate is mixed—some plants survive and others don’t. I keep trying, though!

 

Kathy: I love all kinds of plants and flowers from monkshood to fruit trees, lilacs, rose of sharon, chives, and more. My favorite flower is the violet. Do you have a favorite flower?

JD: Truly, I think I love all flowers! Lilacs and rose of Sharon are two of my backyard plants that luckily bloom each year. For outdoors, I also love roses, marigolds, geraniums, black-eyed Susans, and columbine. And of course tulips and daffodils in the spring! …But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d go with zinnias, because of their bright cheerful colors.

 

Kathy: In PETALS AND POISON Sierra creates a window display featuring plants and flowers that bring luck and prosperity. Have you ever utilized plants for purposes other than their beauty?

JD: In the past, I’ve used aloe vera for sunburns and minor skin irritations. And as a vegetarian, edible plants are a big part of my diet. J

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JD: I’ve always loved mysteries, ever since I discovered Nancy Drew as a young child. As an adult, I think what first drew me to cozies was the fact that they are usually series books featuring an amateur sleuth—kind of like a grown-up version of Nancy Drew.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JD: Not at the moment. It might be fun to expand my writing someday... But whatever I write, it will have to involve a mystery in one way or another!


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JD: The Flower House Mystery series follows Sierra Ravenswood, a former singer-songwriter, who failed to hit the big time in Nashville and had to move back to her small hometown of Aerieville, Tennessee. She’s working part-time at Flower House floral shop, when her eccentric boss unexpectedly decides to take off— leaving her in charge. Sierra is an optimist, who believes things happen for a reason, but this attitude is constantly challenged when she keeps encountering murder and mayhem.

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

JD: I spend the most time with the main character, Sierra, naturally, and she's a lot of fun. She loves to use the Law of Attraction and other self-help tools not only to make her dreams come true, but also to help solve mysteries. Her grandmother, Granny Mae, is my favorite secondary character. Granny believes in many of the old Appalachian superstitions and likes to impart her homespun wisdom, along with folk healing remedies and charms. From what I've heard, Granny is a reader favorite too!


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

JD: The flower shop theme was suggested by my editor, but the Smoky Mountains location was inspired by my first visit to the Gatlinburg area years ago. I think beautiful natural areas, especially woodsy mountains, make a nice, atmospheric backdrop for any mystery.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JD: Even as a child, I always loved to write. It never occurred to me that I could do it professionally until much later. I wrote my first complete book, Midsummer Night’s Mischief, just to see if I could do it. I was happy with the story I concocted, featuring a Wiccan amateur sleuth, and I thought others might enjoy it too.

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

JD: Ooh, that’s a tough one! There are so many interesting possibilities. I think I’d start with four great 20th century women mystery writers, two English and two American: Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart, Mary Roberts Rinehart, and Elizabeth Peters.
 

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JD: I always have a few different books going at once. At the moment, I'm reading IN THE COMPANY OF WITCHES by Auralee Wallace, GETAWAY WITH MURDER by Diane Kelly, and HAD SHE BUT KNOWN: A Biography of Mary Roberts Rinehart by Charlotte MacLeod.

 

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

JD: Besides reading and journaling, one of my longtime interests is practicing yoga. I recently recommitted to a daily at-home yoga practice, which has been so good for my body, mind, and spirit. (And, of course, a good counterbalance to all the sitting I do!)
 

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

JD: Cereal and coffee in the pantry, almond milk and frozen blueberries in the fridge. If all else fails, at least I'll have breakfast!
 

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

JD: I always have multiple plans for a variety of books and projects. Finding the time to follow through is another story... But I'll for sure keep writing! FATAL FLOWERS, Book 3 in the Flower House Mystery series, is available for preorder now and will be released in May. (For more info, visit https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250769527/fatalflowers.)


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

JD: I love the opportunity to use my imagination and creativity, to make up stories and share them with the world—or at least a little slice of the world! I feel lucky to be able to do it.

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JESS DYLAN is an environmental attorney by day and author by night. A lifelong mystery lover, she’s thrilled to write fun cozy mysteries including the Flower House Mysteries and, as Jennifer David Hesse, the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries. Born and raised in Central Illinois, Jess now lives, works, and plays in "sweet home" Chicago. In her spare time, Jess enjoys hanging out with her family, hiking in the woods, practicing yoga, and reading old Nancy Drew books.

Visit Jess (and sign up for her newsletter for a host of freebies!) at www.jessdylan.com.

*******************************************************************************************

Review

PETALS AND POISON by Jess Dylan
The Second Flower House Mystery

Sierra Ravenswood is finally feeling at home managing the Flower House and she wants to make it succeed. To that end she's adding a cafe and creating a window display filled with plants that bring good luck and abundance. When a van full of college kids pulls up, instead of lots of paying customers, Sierra gets nothing but trouble. The college professor in charge is haughty and her delivery driver is not the only one giving him looks that could kill. However, it wasn't looks, but rather blunt force trauma that killed the man, leaving him in Sierra's storeroom. When the police start looking closely at Calvin, Sierra knows she has to find the real killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to the Flower House and intend to go back and read the first book in the series while waiting to enjoy the third. Sierra is a fine protagonist with a great outlook on life. I especially love Granny and look forward to learn more folklore from her. The relationship between Sierra and her family is honest and funny, as well as loving. All of the characters are multi-dimensional, with tons of backstory that is slowly revealed. The set up had me invested in both the characters and the shop. If I lived in Aerieville I'd be looking for reasons to go to the Flower House!

I found the mystery intriguing and had an inkling for the motive behind the killing by one clue; a unique and fascinating reason. I appreciate the way Sierra looked into the crime and her desire to help her friend. Here's hoping that her friendship with Calvin will develop into something more.

PETALS AND POISON brings in the laws of attraction and Appalachian wisdom to enhance a clever mystery.

The Moonshine Shack Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

Today I'm pleased to welcome Diane Kelly to Cozy Up With Kathy. Diane writes the Southern Homebrew Mystery series. THE MOONSHINE SHACK MURDER is the first book in the series and was released 

Kathy: In THE MOONSHINE SHACK MURDER we meet Hattie Hayes, a modern-day moonshiner. While Hattie's 'shine is legal, not all moonshine was...or is. I've been lucky enough to indulge in some family made moonshine when a friend brought some back from a family visit in the hills of Tennessee. Have you ever enjoyed 'shine?

DK: Sure have! I discovered it at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on south Broadway when we lived in Nashville a few years back. My first taste was the apple pie variety. Yummy! I enjoy a shot of the fruity flavors or a dash of them in iced tea, lemonade, or soda.


Kathy: Hattie has a long-haired gray cat names Smoky. Do you have cats of your own? Is Smoky based on any of them?

DK: I’ve had cats in my life since as far back as I can remember. Currently, we have two older cats and two foster kittens. I’ve drawn on various aspects of our real cats in creating the fictional feline. Smoky’s long hair is based on a beautiful, long-haired black cat named Rosa we had a while back. She was gorgeous and striking. Most of my male cats have been absolute sweeties, but I’ve had some female cats who have been more independent, like Smoky.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

DK: I enjoy a good crime caper and mystery, as well as some light suspense, but I don’t like stories that are too stressful or gory. Give me a light, fun escape from the real world any day. I also like to read, and write, about smart women. A little romance adds to the fun, too. Cozies are the perfect blend of all of my favorite things in stories.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

DK: I also write romance, mostly short stories, though I do have a full-length fantasy romance called LOVE, LUCK, AND LITTLE GREEN MEN that features a leprechaun. It was a total twist for me, but a lot of fun to write. It tested my range as a storyteller.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

DK: THE MOONSHINE SHACK MURDER is the first in my Southern Homebrew series. The second will be called THE PROOF IS IN THE POISON, and will release in 2022.

My very first series, which is complete at 12 books, is my Tara Holloway Death & Taxes series. These books feature a federal agent who goes after white-collar criminals, and I drew heavily on my own experiences working in the tax sector in developing the plotlines.

My second series was the Paw Enforcement series, which is set in Fort Worth, Texas. These books feature a female K-9 team who often butt heads, but the dog and her handler always get their man.

My third series is my House Flipper series, which is set in Nashville and stars a female carpenter and her cousin who rehab rundown properties for profit. Problem is, her cat Sawdust always stumbles across a dead body!

I have a fun and funny fourth series called the Busted series, which features a different female motorcycle cop in each book. They have more romance and are a little edgier than most cozies.

Later this year, I’ll launch my new Mountain Lodge Mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where I now live. My heroine, a woman who is recently divorced and just turned 50, is starting her life’s second act running a lodge. When a yoga retreat goes awry at her lodge, she ends up with a murder on her hands.

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

DK: As much as I love all of the fictional people I’ve birthed, I’d have to say my Tara Holloway character is my favorite. She’s sassy, outspoken, and spunky. I admire those traits. She also has a quick wit and is an expert with weapons. I had a lot of fun playing her in my mind while I wrote the books. She’s also the character that landed me my first book contract, so that makes me partial to her.


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

DK: For my Southern Homebrew series, the inspiration was living near the Appalachian region and discovering how much moonshine played a role in the area’s history. It began with Irish and Scotch immigrants, and ended up spawning the auto racing industry years later.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

DK: Although I’d still be writing even if I didn’t make money at it, publishing and selling my work enabled me to quit my day job and devote more time to something I love. I’m at my happiest when I’m typing away on my computer, sucked into my story.


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

DK: Agatha Christie. Guess that probably goes without saying, huh? Haha.

Carl Hiaasen. I love his funny books!

Jane Austen. I find the sexism in her story worlds frustrating to read about, but as a successful female author she was a trailblazer.

Edgar Allan Poe, because he’s creepy cool!


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

DK: DEATH IN BLOOM by Jess Dylan. I host a cozy mystery book club on Facebook with my author friend Melissa Bourbon. Our club is called the Book Warriors. Jess’s book is our June pick. It’s really cute! It’s set in a flower shop, and there’s an adorable corgi involved.


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

DK: I love walking my dogs, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and kayaking on flat water (I’m not a daredevil at all). I recently picked up an old hobby of making stained glass. It features into my upcoming book BATTEN DOWN THE BELFRY, in which my house flippers rehab an old church with a belltower.


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

DK: Hot Tamales candy. Wasabi peas to snack on. Soy milk and Oat Yeah oatmeal cookie flavored coffee creamer to give my coffee protein and a yummy cookie taste.


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

DK: Definitely! After my upcoming releases, I’m contracted for two more books each in my Southern Homebrew moonshine series, my House Flipper series, and my Mountain Lodge Mysteries. I hope to squeeze in a few more novellas in my Busted series in between. My Busted series is also currently being produced in audio format, and should be released soon. Hooray!

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

DK: Seeing where my imagination will take me. It’s so fun to come up with crazy and creative ideas, and to see how I can fit them into worlds that require a certain level of reality. I love mulling over what if …? 

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Review

THE MOONSHINE SHACK MURDER by Diane Kelly
The First Southern Homebrew Mystery

The Hayes family has been making moonshine since Prohibition and Hattie Hayes is keeping up the tradition. Hattie sells a variety of her fruit flavored shine as well as her Granddaddy's Ole-Timey Corn Liquor at her newly opened Moonshine Shack. When a dead body winds up in front of her shop, next to a broken bottle of Hattie's Moonshine, Hattie finds herself as both a prime suspect and a possible future victim. Now Hattie will have to prove her innocence or she may wind up in the clink herself, unless the murderer finds her first!

I enjoy wine and spirits off all kind and was thrilled to discover a new mystery series featuring moonshine! I've enjoyed some legally produced shine and I've been lucky enough to have some family brewed stuff decades ago! I know if I was in Chattanooga I'd be heading to Hattie's Moonshine Shack.

The first Southern Homebrew Mystery gives us an unlikable victim, a variety of suspects, and a capable police force, as well as a chill cat and an irascible grandpa! It also gives us Hattie, a feisty protagonist with savvy business and marketing skills. Logically, I must question some of her techniques, she gives away an awful lot of moonshine, but I can overlook the business aspect as I am more interested in the murder. And a good murder it is, with plenty of avenues for investigation, which Hattie pursues in order to "help" the police and clear her name.

Family pride, friendship, romance, and a little hooch make THE MOONSHINE SHACK MURDER a fun start to a new series.

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 The Moonshine Shack Murder (A Southern Homebrew Mystery) by Diane Kelly

About The Moonshine Shack Murder

The Moonshine Shack Murder (A Southern Homebrew Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Berkley (July 6, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

In this intoxicating new cozy mystery series, the future for modern-day moonshiner Hattie Hayes looks bright--until death darkens the doorstep of her Moonshine Shack. 

The Hayes family has made moonshine in Chattanooga since the days of Prohibition, and Hattie is happy to continue the tradition, serving up fun, fruity flavors in mason jars for locals and tourists alike. All signs indicate her new 'shine shop will be a smashing success. What's more, mounted police officer Marlon Landers has taken a shine to Hattie. For the first time ever, the stars seemed to have aligned in both her work and romantic life. But when a body ends up on her store's doorstep alongside a broken jar of her Firefly Moonshine, it just might be lights out for her fledgling business.

The homicide detective can't seem to identify the person who killed the owner of a nearby bar. The only witness is Hattie's longhaired gray cat, and Smoky isn't talking. When the detective learns that the victim and Hattie had a heated exchange shortly before his murder, she becomes her prime suspect.

Lest Hattie end up behind bars like her bootlegging great-grandfather a century before, she must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice.

About Diane Kelly

Diane Kelly writes stories that feature feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed friends. Diane is the author of over 30 novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes, Paw Enforcement, and House Flipper mystery series. In 2021, she’ll launch two new series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. Find Diane online at DianeKelly.com, on Twitter and Instagram @DianeKellyBooks, and on Facebook at her Author Diane Kelly page.

Author Links:  

Website: https://www.dianekelly.com  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeKellyBooks 

Newsletter signup: http://www.dianekelly.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/  

Purchase Links Amazon Paperback Kindle Audible Nook B&N Paperback Books-A-Million Googleplay Indiebound iBooks Kobo Powells Books Target Walmart  

 

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Currently Reading...

I just finished reading The Moonshine Shack Murder by Diane Kelly. This book is the first in the Southern Homebrew Mystery series and was released yesterday.

The Hayes family has been making moonshine since Prohibition and Hattie Hayes is keeping up the tradition. Hattie sells a variety of her fruit flavored shine as well as her Grandfather's Old Timey corn liquor at her newly opened Moonshine Shack. When a dead body winds up in front of her shop, next to a broken bottle of Hattie's Moonshine, Hattie finds herself as both a prime suspect and a possible future victim. Now Hattie will have to prove her innocence or she may wind up in the clink herself, unless the murderer finds her first!

Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece - A Review

Review

MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE by Rose Pressey

The First Haunted Craft Fair Mystery

Celeste Cabot has decided to take a chance. Her family has helped her fix up a trailer and she's traveling to craft shows to sell her paintings. Although determined to be positive, things get dicey when Celeste meets Evan, the rude man in charge of the Summer Arts and Craft Fair in Gatlinburg. Then an angry woman brings back the painting she bought claiming it's haunted! What could be worse? Someone stealing the vendors money, the murder of Evan, and the appearance of the ghostly Elizabeth!

MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE is a cute start to a new series. We have a charming young protagonist who's taking a chance on art, her wonderfully wacky family, two possible romantic interests, a little dog, and a ghost!

My favorite aspect of this first Haunted Craft Fair Mystery is Celeste's gift. Not only is she a talented painter, but Spirit communicates through her and adds special details to her paintings. In addition, she can paint the portrait of a spirit who wishes to communicate with the living! And Celeste was heretofore completely unaware of this ability. I look forward to seeing her psychic development as well as discovering who the blonde spirit will be. In the meantime, Elizabeth is a delightful spirit and I enjoy seeing her interact with everyone, especially Van.

I really enjoyed my first trip to a craft fair in Tennessee. Likable characters, as well as some nasty ones, and a unique paranormal spin make MURDER CAN MESS UP YOUR MASTERPIECE a delightful mystery. In addition, travel trailer tips and recipes are also included in this charming new series.

Ideas are Everywhere - A Bark if it's Murder Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm happy to allow V. M. Burns to take over my blog today. V. M. writes the Dog Club Mystery series. BARK IF IT’S MURDER is the third book in the series and was released this past Tuesday!

WHERE DO AUTHORS GET THEIR IDEAS? 

By V. M. Burns

I’m often asked where I get ideas for my murder mysteries. I generally have two responses. The first is, I get ideas from everywhere. In my newest book, BARK IF IT’S MURDER, Lilly Ann Echosby has to go out of town for work and has to board her dog, Aggie. Lilly finds a high-end pet resort which features pet cameras in each of the “suites,” which allows her to go online and watch her dog. Well, guess what? When I first moved to Tennessee, I ran into a similar situation. When I lived in Indiana, I left my dogs, Coco and Cash with family. In Tennessee, I didn’t know anyone well enough to ask them to keep two pampered, very spoiled toy poodles. So, I boarded them at a fancy pet resort that had pet cameras.

Just like in the book, each kennel was decorated with a theme that included everything from mountain resort to Paris (there was a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the wall). The executive kennels (yes, my dogs stayed in these) featured a television (tuned to Animal Planet), an intercom that I could call and talk so my dogs could hear my voice, private indoor and outdoor space and of course, a pet camera. How much did all of this luxury cost? Don’t ask. It would have been cheaper for me to fly the dogs to San Diego with me and get them their own rooms at the hotel. However, watching them online gave me a certain amount of peace. But, as a mystery writer, I wondered, what would happen if I saw a murder on this camera? Thankfully, the only thing I ever saw murdered while watching my dogs on the pet cam involved the gutting of a stuffed toy, but the seed was planted.

Once I have the setting, my next thing is figuring out the victim. Here’s where my second response to “where I get ideas,” comes into play and it’s a bit more personal. Basically, when people make me angry, my stress reliever involves murdering them in my books. It’s cheap therapy and keeps me out of jail. Here’s how it works. If someone cuts me off in traffic, I don’t get angry. I simply imagine a plot where a rude driver is bludgeoned to death. When I’m tired of telemarketers interrupting my dinner? Strangling is a great way to dispatch them. The best way to get over a broken heart? A lethal dose of poison is the perfect balm to put a smile back on my face. Within the pages of my books, I can mete out revenge, retribution and justice. In the unlikely event that I run low on potential murder victims, a few close friends and family members have given me a few folks to add to my list. At present, I have enough material to last for many years to come.

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Bark If It’s Murder (A Dog Club Mystery) by V.M. Burns

About Bark If It's Murder

 

Bark If It’s Murder (A Dog Club Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series  

Lyrical Underground (August 27, 2019) 

Paperback: 162 pages

Lilly Echosby just witnessed a murder on a pet cam. Or did she?

When a last-minute opportunity arises to accompany her boss to an art auction in Atlanta, Lilly throws some money at the problem of where to board her toy poodle Aggie (short for Agatha Christie). Posh Pet Haven offers the most luxurious canine accommodations in all of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The place even provides pet cams so anxious owners can check in on their pampered pooches.

But when Lilly tries to take a peek at her poodle, she gets a terrible shock—she witnesses what she’s sure is a murder. She thinks the victim may be the wealthy co-owner of Pet Haven. The police follow her lead but find no body, no evidence of a crime, and no video record. Starting to feel like the dog owner who cried wolf, Lilly decides to go undercover to catch a killer who may be hiding in plain sight …

About V.M. Burns

V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com

Author Links:  
Website: http://www.vmburns.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/  
Twitter: @vmburns  

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