Parchment and an Interview and Giveaway

I'm so happy to welcome Laura Childs back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Parchment and Old Lace, the 13th book in the Scrapbooking Mystery series was released earlier this month.

Kathy: When it comes to writing, I understand there are two general camps – plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or do you fall somewhere in between?

LC: I’m a fear-driven writer. I’m afraid of missing deadlines, of not having a good idea, of experiencing a catastrophic brain freeze. Seriously, I do quite a bit of plotting. I always start with a “What if?” premise. In the case of my new book Parchment and Old Lace, it’s “What if Carmela hears horrible screams coming from a spooky cemetery and rushes in to help?” Once I figure out a scary way to kick off the book, I decide who my victim should be and create a handful of unsavory suspects. Then I write Chapter one and start piecing together a loose story that contains two or three more huge events as well as a bunch of fun things that my protagonist is involved in. When I have about sixty pages, I go back to the very beginning and write all the way straight through to the end. Obviously, I always hope for a few lightning strikes along the way so I can keep ratcheting up the suspense!


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

LC: I have kind of a dark side, so I’m always inspired by autumn, Halloween, and all the spooky activities that surround this time of year. Because my release date was October 6, (perfect!) I wanted to give my readers an extra dark and scary read. Thus you have a book filled with murder, cemeteries, séances, abandoned theme parks, and, oh yes, scrapbooking.


Kathy: Lace plays an important role in this book. Is vintage fabric an interest of yours?

LC: I didn’t know a thing about it until I saw an article about vintage mourning clothes in an issue of Town & Country. Fascinating! Those stuffy Edwardians and Victorians had incredibly strict rules governing their dress and the wearing of lace. Since I was looking for a unique angle on a story about a murdered bride-to-be, my brain did a little Aha! and I was off and running.


Kathy: Carmela teaches the most interesting classes at Memory Mine. I wish I could attend! While I’m not in need of a wedding workshop, I’d love to make a charm bracelet. What is your favorite new class offering or technique?

LC: I love it when Carmela teaches her class on memory boxes. She’s always pulling together pieces of exotic paper, pressed flowers, paper ephemera, and tiny statues of birds or angels and placing them in these adorable painted wooden boxes.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Carmela?

LC: I’m writing Carmela’s next adventure right now. The title is CREPE FACTOR and the plot involves a rather gruesome murder of a nasty restaurant critic who writes for the blog Glutton for Punishment. It’s scary, moody, and hysterical all at the same time.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

LC: Absolutely. SCORCHED EGGS (Cackleberry Club Mystery) will be out in paperback on December 1, and DEVONSHIRE SCREAM (Tea Shop Mystery) will be out in hardcover on March 1, 2016. I also have a hard-edged thriller coming out next June. It’s titled LITTLE GIRL GONE and is a radical departure for me – a very gritty and ripped-from-the-headlines kidnapping. That book will come out under my real name of Gerry Schmitt.

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Laura Childs Bio

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five mysteries, including the Scrapbooking Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries, as well as the soon to be released Afton Tangler Thriller series. She is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won dozens of TV and radio awards, and produced two reality TV shows. She and her professor husband enjoy travel and their two Shar-Pei dogs.

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Review

Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs
The 13th Scrapbooking Mystery

It's autumn in New Orleans and Carmela is out on a romantic dinner date with her beau, Detective Edgar Babcock. Their date comes to an unfortunate conclusion when, on their way home, they hear a scream emanating from the cemetery. Both rush in only to find the body of a woman they had spoken with just moments before, murdered with a piece of antique lace. Although Carmela fully intends to leave the investigation in the capable hands of the New Orleans police department, she finds herself involved once again when the victim's sister, who happens to be the tarot card reader at Juju Voodoo, asks for her help.

While the book deals with weddings, not only was Isabelle (the murder victim) about to be wed, but Carmela was also teaching a wedding themed class at Memory Mine, it has a decidedly darker feel to it. Parchment and Old Lace brings not only the cooler weather of autumn, but a sense of decay with a cemetery as the crime scene, the use of a Ouija board, and a dilapidated amusement park.

Parchment and Old Lace is a great addition to the Scrapbooking Mystery series. We are given a deftly plotted mystery filled with the darkness autumn brings, yet the fun of good friendships and plenty of adventure. As an added bonus we also get scrapbooking tips and some great recipes.

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Laura has graciously offered a copy of Parchment and Old Lace to two of my readers. In order to qualify, simply leave a comment on this blog post no later than 11:59 pm EDT Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 telling us your favorite part of Halloween. Don't forget to include an e-mail so that I'm able to contact you should you win!

Review - Ghost of a Potion

Review

Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake
The Third Magic Potion Mystery


It's Halloween in Hitching Post, Alabama and Carly Bell Hartwell is getting ready to batten down the hatches. However, her plans of hibernating during the ghostpocalypse collapse when she makes eye contact with a newly departed murder victim. Carly knew things could go bad at the masquerade ball to celebrate the restoration of the Ezekiel Mansion, after all Dylan's mother, Patricia, AKA The Face of Evil, was one of the hostesses. What was unexpected was the murder of Haywood Dodd during the festivities. When Carly unwittingly made eye contact with his ghost she knew she had no choice but to solve his murder to help him cross over. What she didn't expect were the other ghosts she would meet along the way and the many secrets she'd uncover.

Ghost of a Potion is a book you don't want to put down. Fast paced fun with eccentric characters who manage to remain completely believable and a well plotted mystery make for a fantastic read. Blake cleverly uses a countdown to fuel our adrenaline and rush to solve the murder- and finish the book. We only have three days to help the ghosts before they're trapped for another year. This pressure induced time frame adds drama and a sense of urgency to the finely crafted mysteries. Yes, mysteries. We get multiple mysteries which evolve with several viable suspects and enough red herrings to keep us jumping.

As with the other books in the Magical Potions Mystery series, Ghost of a Potion is also flat our fun to read! Funny characters, witty dialogue, and amusing situations abound. Southern charm and eccentricities are on full display. Yet an honesty and deep seated love is also present. As wild and wacky as things get Blake manages to make it real and make us care.

Are You Superstitious? Guest Post, Giveaway, & Review

Are You Superstitious?

by Linda O. Johnston

I'm asking since I'm the author of the Superstition Mysteries, and the second, KNOCK ON WOOD, has just been published.

Writing that series makes me very conscious of my own superstitions, and of other people's.  For example, in many conversations people will express something they're hopeful about, and then--you guessed it!--knock on wood that it will come true.  Or even add to what they're saying, "knock on wood."  Same goes for "fingers crossed," and/or crossing their fingers.

Do you say or do either?

Or how about finding a penny on a floor or sidewalk somewhere.  I used to hear the saying, "Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you'll have good luck."  As a result, I picked up all pennies I found and hoped for that good luck.  I'm not sure whether that superstition evolved or my understanding of it did, but now I understand that only heads-up pennies are good luck.  As a result, I only pick them up for myself now, but I'll turn tails-up ones over so someone else can then achieve good luck from them.  And if you happen to come to a place where I'm talking about my Superstition Mysteries, don't be surprised if you notice that heads-up pennies have mysteriously appeared on the floor!

And black cats?  There are actually many superstitions about them, including, of course, that if one crosses your path you'll have bad luck.  But lots of people own and love black cats and are not always subject to bad luck.  In fact, I've researched and written other articles and blog posts that indicate the conflicting nature of black cat superstitions.

Dogs?  As far as I'm concerned, all dogs are good luck.  According to lore, black dogs are especially lucky, and it's particularly good luck to see a black and white one, like a Dalmation or Pluckie, the star of my Superstition Mysteries, if you happen to be going to a business meeting.

So am I superstitious?  In a way, although I've thought at times that superstitions are opposite for me.  For example, the number 13 has always been lucky for me, even Friday the 13th, but not so in common superstition lore.  One of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Lexie, is a tricolor, which means she's mostly black and white--but I consider all Cavaliers lucky including Mystie, who's a Blenheim (red and white).

So what about you?  Have I triggered any thoughts about superstitions for you here?

Well, you can be sure that my fingers are crossed that you always have good luck.  In fact, I'm now knocking on wood about it!

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Review

Knock on Wood by Linda O. Johnston

The Second Superstition Mystery

In Knock on Wood we find Rory settling in to the town of Destiny, managing the Lucky Dog Boutique and becoming part of the Destiny community. Not only is she giving talks for the town's Welcome Programs, Rory's even contemplating moving out of the Rainbow B&B to rent an apartment, or even buy a house. Rory's also learning to let go of her dead fiance and open her heart to a relationship with Destiny's Chief of Police, Justin Halbertson. She's also excited that her best friend Gemma is coming down for a visit. However, a troubled Gemma arrives a day early. Something is wrong...and while Rory will give her space for a moment, she'll soon find out the problem and look for a solution.  

Knock on Wood deals with changing relationships. Rory's relationship with Justin, Rory's old friendship with Gemma and her new friendships with Carolyn and other Destiny residents. Gemma's relationship with Frank, her ex-boyfriend, and her two new suitors, Stuart and Lou. How Frank's feelings for Gemma changed and morphed into something else. Something dangerous?

While I truly enjoy reading about superstitions, especially learning about ones with which I was unfamiliar ("A pigeon flying inside foreshadows doom." Who knew?) there is a lot of repetitive information. It's good to share how Destiny reminds reminds its visitors of superstitions (seeding the sidewalks with heads up pennies and buttons) and fine to remind readers how Rory came to Destiny (to research the veracity of superstitions after her fiance died after walking under a ladder). Yet Rory continually reiterates the same question-are superstitions real? As Rory moves on from her relationship with Walter so must Johnston leave some of this rumination behind and focus more on the murder and character relationships.

As for the mystery-it's a good one! Public Affairs Director Lou Landorf, one of Gemma's new suitors, publicly criticizes several people then gets into an argument with Gemma. Gemma becomes suspect number one when his murdered body is found. Rory soon discovers Lou made plenty of other people angry, but who was angry enough to kill?

Destiny, California is a town based on and fed by superstition. Johnston combines her love of animals with an exploration of interesting superstitions in this enjoyable series. If you love dogs, are interested in superstitions, and enjoy a bit of romance in your mystery be sure to check out the Superstition Mystery series by Linda O. Johnston.

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A Floral Interview

I'm pleased to welcome Beverly Allen back to the blog. Beverly writes the Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery series. Floral Depravity, the third book in the series, was released this past week!

Kathy: In Floral Depravity Audrey has to create the wedding bouquets for a medieval-themed, hand-fasting ceremony. Have you had the opportunity to attend a hand fasting? Or a medieval themed festival?

BA: Sadly, I have not. I was looking at a couple festivals, but I’d either just missed them or they occurred after the book was due to my editor. Fortunately, I have a friend who was quite involved in a popular re-creation group, so she was a great resource, both in planning and proofing. (Any mistakes are my own, but my little encampment is fictional.) And many re-enactors love taking You-Tube video, so I was able to attend the festivals vicariously and more than one hand-fasting via the folks on Pinterest. (https://www.pinterest.com/barbearly/medieval-wedding/) I also really enjoyed digging into Terry Jones’ Medieval Lives (http://www.amazon.com/Terry-Jones-Medieval-Lives/dp/B0010V4VJY/) to pick up a little more medieval flair.


Kathy: Audrey had to research period-accurate blooms for the wedding to appease the father of the bride. Is this information fairly easy to obtain or were more rigorous research methods required?

BA: It was easier to find than one might think. There are several books devoted to medieval flowers, and I hit the jackpot with The Medieval Flower Book, which not only talked about the flowers which were available at the time, but also their use in medicines any significance in religion and folklore. ( http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Flower-Book-Celia-Fisher/dp/0712358943) Fascinating stuff. I really had to hold back trying to squeeze all the interesting tidbits into the book. The Cloisters also has a blog on medieval gardens. http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

BA: Several. The setting came when I was driving back from Pittsburgh after attending a writers conference with my friend who was involved in the medieval group. We passed right by the campgrounds where the event was held. I was in the process of brainstorming and really wanted an interesting location, while keeping the small town feel I know readers love. I had considered a Civil War, or even a Revolutionary War re-enactment group, but as we were chatting about her experiences, I realized I was much more interested in the medieval period. I could have a lot of fun with the setting: knights, horses, swordplay, big heavy dresses, and obsessive, anal historians clashing with those just out for a fun weekend.

But there’s other things going on in this story. Brad, her ex, is back. And Audrey’s long-lost father returns, which throws her life into turmoil. This is the third book in the series, and poor Liv is still pregnant. I needed to do something about that. There’s much about making peace with the past and moving ahead to new and exciting things. It was a fun book to write, and I hope readers enjoy it as well.


Kathy: Since writing the Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery series do you find you pay more attention to flowers?

BA: Yes and no. I’ve become a little obsessive about bouquets and flower arrangements when I see them on Facebook. I get upset if I can’t identify a particular flower, and I’ll drop everything until I figure it out. When I see bridal bouquets using flowers that have negative meanings in the language of flowers, I do cringe a little. Because of allergies, I don’t do much with real flowers myself anymore, and except for a few very hardy perennials and a horde of dandelions, I have none growing this year. My yard is pretty bare. I guess it’s like plumbers having the leakiest pipes.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?

BA: I’m most definitely a plotter. However, when I get going, the characters sometimes refuse to obey my plots. When that happens, their ideas are almost always better than mine, so I let them take over and I just sit back and type. It’s the closest I get to magic.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

BA: I love meeting readers. Recently at the Suffolk Mystery Author’s Festival I met a woman who was all excited to see my book. “You? You wrote Bloom and Doom?” It turned out she loved the book and used the language of flowers from the book in her wedding vows. I also like interacting with readers online, whether it’s Facebook or blog posts. Writing can be such a solitary process that it’s rewarding to hear from readers who liked my book. As far as dislikes, I don’t do a lot of the repeated “Buy my book!” posts and tweets. I think people tire of that anyway.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Audrey Bloom?

BA: I have all kinds of plans for Audrey Bloom, but many of those are in limbo at the moment. My publisher has yet to make a decision on whether there will be more books after this one. And yes, I’m sure there’s some number crunching going on. When readers pre-order a book or rush out to buy it as soon as it’s out, they’re really casting their votes saying, “I want this series to continue.” I know I’ve found a series late, loved it, only to realize that it ended at three books. I guess I wasn’t there to cast my vote.

Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

BA: My agent is shopping around one proposal set in a small town in Western New York, but I’m brainstorming other series ideas, as well. Now, ideas are pretty plentiful. There are a lot of stories I’d like to write. The challenging part of the process is finding that hook that editors know will draw readers. And it’s very competitive. It’s both an exciting and scary time to be a writer.

Currently Moderating...

I'm sorry I'm tardy with today's feature, but I was out late last night moderating an author panel. Instead of sharing what I'm currently reading, I thought I'd share a little about the authors and books in the panel I was moderating.

Yesterday was the book birthday of one of the books-Floral Depravity by Beverly Allen. This book is the third in the Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery series and deals with a medieval handfasting ceremony. Well, a modern day version of one. Be sure to stop by the blog this Friday as Beverly is stopping by for an interview.

Alice Loweecey was another author on the panel. Second to Nun is the kind of second book in her Giulia Driscoll Mystery series (really first book had a different publisher, so the series was kind of restarted). In this installment, released September 22, we get haunted lighthouses and seances and such. Alice also writes horror stories under the name Kate Morgan. Did you visit the blog two Sundays ago? If you didn't you missed Alice's guest post. You can check it out by clicking here.

Sandra Block was the final author of the group. Sandra writes psychological suspense. Her series deals with a psychiatry resident who has some issues of her own. The second book in her series, The Girl Without a Name, was released September 8th.

I hope you check out these books and perhaps you'll be currently reading them soon.

Profile on Amy Spannagel - Guest Post and Giveaway

Profile on Amy Spannagel

Thanks for stopping by the DEADLY DYE AND A SOY CHAI blog tour! I’ve been profiling each of the five main characters in the Danger Cove Hair Salon series, and next up is the extremely practical but hopelessly romantic Amy Spannagal. Twenty-seven-year-old Amy moved to Danger Cove from Seattle two years ago following a job offer and the promise of meeting seamen.

Occupation:

Amy is the Assistant Librarian at Danger Cove Library, where she works tirelessly under Head Librarian Benjamin “Ben” Bardsley. When she was growing up, she really liked singing and dancing, but her mother wouldn’t let her pursue those talents because she said that they could lead to teen pregnancy or a job in theater.

Education:

She has a bachelor’s in Germanics with a minor in French from the University of Washington. She also has her master’s degree in library and information science and has finished the coursework toward her PhD. Amy originally wanted a PhD in mathematics, but her mother told her that those girls don’t find husbands.

Dissertation Title: You Can Judge a Book by Its Cover: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Methods of Bookbinding

Personality:

Amy is something of a Renaissance woman. She crafts, makes her own clothes, and grows her own vegetables. She’s also a daydreamer and a hopeless romantic despite the fact that she wasn’t allowed to read books like Cinderella and other princess stories as a child because they have magic in them.

Bad Habits:

Amy loves to gossip, mainly because it makes her feel like she’s a part of things. Unfortunately, she also points out other people’s faults and poor choices but only because she wants to help.

Favorite Foods:

Thanks in part to her heritage, she’s passionate about German meat dishes. As Amy is quick to tell you, she makes a mean schweinebraten.

Main Challenges Amy Is Facing Now (in no particular order):

1. Finding a man.

2. Convincing Ben that she’s a hard worker and a devotee of the Dewey Decimal System.

3. Finding a man.

4. Helping Cassidi figure out what turned poor old Margaret Appleby so blue.

5. Finding a man.

Defense Mechanism:

As an academic, Amy tends to over rationalize and over intellectualize to the dismay of Gia, in particular. According to Cassidi, Amy and Gia are like beer and Chianti—they just don’t mix…

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For a chance to win your own e-copy of Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai simply leave a comment on this blog no later than 11:59pm EDT Monday, October 5, 2015 telling us what you'd like to drink while at the hair salon! Be sure to leave your e-mail as well so that I may contact you should you win!

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Plantation Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Ellen Byron to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Ellen writes the Cajun Country Mystery series. Plantation Shudders is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In Plantation Shudders Maggie Crozat returns home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast. Is the B&B based on one you've visited, or is it purely derived from your imagination?

EB: It was inspired by a night my husband and I spent at Madewood Plantation on Bayou Lafourche in Napoleonville, Louisiana, in 1998. It was such an interesting experience that it stayed with me all these years. Although in my mind, Crozat Plantation looks like Ashland-Belle Helene, whose architecture I fell in love with in the mid-1980s. Ashland-Belle Helene is also where I met my friend Gaynell Bourgeois Moore, the tour guide who inspired the Gaynell in my book.


Kathy: The B&B is full due to a local food festival. I love food festivals! Do you have favorite food festivals that you attend?

EB: I love New Orlean’s JazzFest. It’s the most phenomenal festival ever. Its full title is actually the Jazz and Heritage Festival, so in addition to stage after stage of musical acts, there are crafts and food. It’s where I first met a voodoo priestess who took credit cards (hence the character Helene Brevelle in my book, whom we don’t meet but we hear about) and where I ate the legendary pasta dish, Crawfish Monica. This dish inspired Ninette’s Crawfish Crozat, but my recipe is completely different. I put a spin on it that’s a bit more healthy because I’m always on a diet!


Kathy: Many years ago I spent a wonderful vacation in Louisiana and would love to return. Why choose Louisiana as your setting and what makes it the perfect location for your series?

EB: I fell in love with Louisiana as a student at Tulane University, and became fascinated by the Cajun culture. I first used it as the background for a character in my one-act play, Graceland. When I was musing about an interesting locale for a series, I was once again drawn to Cajun Country. I feel such a strong connection to it – even though I’m a New Yorker who now lives in Los Angeles. But my dream is to someday live at least one month a year in south Louisiana, and just meander all over the area.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

EB: I spent the summer before ninth grade commuting from the suburbs to Manhattan for a six-week program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I needed books to read on the train to and from the city, and somehow landed on Agatha Christie. By the end of the summer, I’d read almost everything she’d written, as well as many books by Daphne Du Maurier. And I was totally hooked on cozies.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

EB: I began as a playwright, and have four published and produced plays. My day job these days is working as a television writer. I’ve been on series like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Still Standing. I have a writing partner for television, and we’re currently working on an animated series.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

EB: My Cajun Country series is set in New York. KIDDING! It’s set in Louisiana’s fabulous Cajun Country of course, one of my favorite places ever. My protagonist, Maggie Crozat, is an artist who moves back to her hometown, tiny Pelican, Louisiana – town motto, “Yes, We Peli-CAN!” She’s trying to get her art career going while working at two different plantations. She’s a tour guide at Doucet, which was owned by her mother’s ancestors and is now an historical site. And she works at Crozat Plantation, her father’s ancestral home, which her family operates as a B&B. However, when a murder threatens the family business, she forced to become an amateur sleuth.


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

EB: My favorite character to write is probably Grandmere (aka, Granmere or Gran’). On the surface, Gran’ is your classic Southern belle, but she’s sharp and totally self-aware. I can really have fun with her comebacks and character, but still use her to propel the story when necessary. Yet she doesn’t have to carry the story, like my protagonist Maggie does. There are actors who are perfectly happy playing second bananas for this very reason. When I wrote on Just Shoot Me, David Spade—whose snarky persona is an act, he’s a total sweetheart—would ask us not to build a story around him. He liked coming into a scene, landing jokes, and then moving on.


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

EB: I was inspired by my journeys through Cajun Country during and after my college years at Tulane.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

EB: I’ve always been a published writer, whether it was in theatre, journalism or TV. But I was also driven by my passion to share my love of south Louisiana with others. My dream would be that some readers finish my book and think, wow, I would love to visit this part of the world. Readers, if that happens, let me know how your trip goes! And if you contact me through my website, ellenbyron.com, I’ll happily share any tips I have for exploring the area. My family is going over Christmas break, so I’ll have some new insights after that trip.


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

EB: Charles Dickens, all the Bronte sisters (I’m counting them as one), Agatha Christie, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

EB: I recently did my first bookstore signing at the awesome Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, where I appeared with three wonderful cozy writers: Daryl Wood Gerber, Nancy Cole Silverman, and Diane Vallere. I bought all their new books and am reading them in alphabetical order.


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

EB: Absolutely! Reading is my number one hobby, but I’m also craftsy. I love to needlepoint, and just finished a Louisiana-themed Christmas mini stocking. I also make jewelry sometimes; recently I couldn’t find any necklaces that had a Mardi Gras color scheme to them, so I bought brooches online, and turned them into necklaces using crystal and glass beads. And I’m doing a decoupage demonstration at the upcoming mystery convention, Bouchercon, in Raleigh, NC.


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

EB: Mustard, pasta, sparkling water, and Weight Watchers 2 Point bars!


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

EB: I’m finishing up the second book in the Cajun Country series, Body on the Bayou, and have ideas for future installments. I also have a mystery I wrote called You Can Never Be Too Thin or Too Dead, set in a super-rich and elite Los Angeles high school, that I’d love to sell. And I’m tossing around an idea for series that would involve needlepoint.


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

EB: I love when the magic happens and I’m able to craft an image, a character, or a location in a fresh way. But I have another favorite thing about being an author – interacting with readers. I love to read, and I always have. I have a small scar on my forehead because when I was a teenager, I was reading while I walked and bonked my head on a tree. For me, reading is such a wonderful escape. To know that I’ve brought that experience to at least a few readers through Plantation Shudders means the world to me. And I love when readers reach out with thoughts or questions or comments. I respect and appreciate all of them.


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