Tag Archives: cozy mystery

October 28, 2025 · 5:00 am

Hobby, Career, Passion – “Jam, Jam, and More Jam” with Meg Benjamin ~ The Tomato Jam Murder #Cozy Mystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meg Benjamin…

Jam, Jam, and More Jam

It all started because I was being a conscientious writer. The heroine of my Luscious Delights cozy mystery series (The Tomato Jam Murder, Book 6, is available now) has a jam business she runs out of her home in the Colorado mountains. I figured if I wanted to write about Roxy Constantine’s cooking, I needed to try making jam myself. There’s only so much you can learn by watching YouTube videos, after all.

Fortunately for me, the first book in the series was The Pepper Peach Murder. Although I didn’t know it at the time, peach jam is dead easy to make. Unlike strawberries, peaches are simple to cut up. Unlike apples, they don’t need to be peeled. And unlike blackberries, they cook down easily and quickly. My first jars of peach jam were luscious, much tastier than the peach jam you buy in stores. I know now that’s because most of the jam I make is refrigerator jam, which goes straight from the jam pot to the freezer—well, I let it cool down first—retaining its fresh fruit flavor. Anyway, I was hooked. And I wanted to make more jam, lots more, of many, many different types.

I’ve tried making most of the jams Roxy makes in the Luscious Delights books, including tangerine marmalade (book 3), which is a real pain. Marmalade requires cooking down both the fruit and the rind, which has to be sliced into ribbons and added back to the jam. Tasty, but labor intensive. Like Roxy I’ve also done a lot of jam research  for future books. Carrot marmalade, on the other hand, was a lot easier. This was a jam developed during the Depression when citrus fruit was too expensive for a lot of households. It sounds like a mess, but it’s actually very tasty, with a unique sort of flavor that comes from the combination of grated carrots and lemon juice. Roxy will make it in a future book where she’s trying to come up with a winter flavor. I recently stumbled upon chocolate raspberry jam, which is yummy and doubles as a dessert sauce. I’m not sure when Roxy will make it, but trust me, she will.

Not all the jams work out, either for me or for Roxy. The tomato jam, for example, never quite comes together. Roxy’s worried about ending up with ketchup, and the tomato jam I made really did have a ketchupy flavor. I had a hard time using it up, too, since my hubs really isn’t a fan of ketchup glaze on meatloaf. Wine jelly (book 5) was another jam that I probably won’t make again. It’s pretty, but it tastes a little odd on your morning toast. Roxy made if as a wedding favor, and it made sense.

There are also a couple of jams I haven’t made even though Roxy made them. Pumpkin butter (book 2) just didn’t excite me—I’m not a pumpkin fan. And Roxy makes a special rose petal jam for her Significant Other in The Pepper Peach Murder. I love the sound of it, and I do have a recipe. But gathering rose petals from our very thorny rose bushes has always seemed like more than I wanted to take on.

Jam making has lots of benefits. I’ve now got enough jam in the freezer to tide us over until spring when the first strawberry crops come in. The smells that fill the kitchen while I’ve got the jam pot on the stove are enticing, and the tastes are even better. It gives me a great excuse to visit farmers markets and farmstands in the summer, and I’ve always got a tasty hostess gift on hand. And like I said, it’s dead easy to do. No kidding. Refrigerator jam is just fruit, sugar, and lemon juice.

Finally, it’s given me a great heroine with a delicious occupation.

Roxy’s spending her summer with burros and jam, but there’s a murderer in the mountains.

Excerpt:

“Peggy Sue, don’t you dare!”

Peggy Sue turned soulful brown eyes on my friend Laurel Beacham, who was a few feet behind her. She looked like she really, really wanted to go through the gate leading to Laurel’s front yard.

“Peggy Sue, you listen to me.”

Peggy Sue took another tentative step forward. Clearly, she was weighing just how much trouble she’d be in if she kept going. The gate to the front yard of Laurel’s cabin was slightly ajar and Peggy Sue would likely be able to step through it in just a moment or two. On the other hand, based on her tone of voice, Laurel clearly meant business.

“Peggy Sue, I will lock you in the barn, so help me.”

Peggy Sue gave her another of those tragic looks that conveyed, How can you be considering something so cruel? So inhumane? All I want is some grass. And it’s just sitting there.

Laurel picked up her pace, but she was still a little far away from the gate. I, on the other hand, was right there. I quickly stepped forward just as Peggy Sue started to push the gate open. I gave it a quick shove so that the latch caught, and the gate snapped closed.

Peggy Sue stared up at me, eyes narrowing. I had no idea if donkeys bit people who annoyed them, and I didn’t want to find out. I stepped back. “Sorry, Peggy Sue, but I think you were about to get into a space where you aren’t allowed.”

Laurel moved forward and grabbed the burro’s halter. “Oh, she was definitely heading for a space where she isn’t allowed. And she knows it full well.” She pulled Peggy Sue away from the fence. Shaking her head, the burro gave my friend a look that should have broken the strongest heart. She had some of the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen, along with those great big brown eyes. Puppy eyes are nothing compared to burro eyes.

Buy links:

https://amzn.to/4oj93e5

About the Author:

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Her Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy from Meg’s indie line.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1/ (personal)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609878239 (author)

Instagram: @meg_benjamin

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@meg_benjamin

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/meg-benjamin.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869971.Meg_Benjamin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meg-benjamin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/megbenjamin/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Benjamin/author/B0030F12FY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@megbenjamin1396

Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/

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September 1, 2025 · 5:39 am

Author Interview with Meg Benjamin ~ New Release: The Wine Jelly Murder #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meg Benjamin…

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

Right now I’m obsessed with J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas series. J.D. Robb is, of course, Nora Roberts writing under a different name. The Dallas books are detective stories set in the near future, and my fascination comes from the way Robb/Roberts juggles all the plot elements. Dallas is a quirky, introverted, solitary type who improbably marries an Irish billionaire but continues to work as a homicide cop. The books usually have simultaneous romance and crime plots, as well as a host of eccentric supporting characters you get to know as you go along. I love them, and I can only wish I had Roberts’s gift for creating lively plots and characters you care about.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

Once upon a time I taught English and writing at Enormous State University in Texas. I’d always wanted to be a college professor, from the time I was a little girl, so it represented a dream job in a way. There were things about it I loved and things about it I didn’t, but I will say it taught me to establish a writing routine (publish or perish is real), which has stuck with me to this day.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Wine Jelly Murder?

I hope you’ll enjoy the story and get involved in the characters’ lives. The great thing about writing a series with the same characters is the way you can show them growing and changing. I try to do that, and I hope readers will want to find out more about Roxy and her friends and family. There are five books in the series available now, with a sixth on the way in January.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

I love, love, love regency romances, but I doubt that I’ll ever write one, just because they require so much research and attention to historical detail. But I’ll admit I actually created a regency-style hero in one of my paranormal series: The Folk. Prince Bertie comes as close to being a regency character as I’m likely to get, and I loved creating him. I hope I get a chance to revisit that world and bring Bertie back for a few more adventures.

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

I hate to admit it but I probably wouldn’t get along with the Shavano, Colorado, police chief, Ethan Fowler. Don’t get me wrong: I like Fowler a lot. But he’s the closest thing to an alpha male in the Luscious Delights series, and alpha males usually make me nervous. Plus he’s got that chief of police thing going on, which heightens the nervous factor. So although he’s a nice guy deep down, he’d probably not be a bestie.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Back in the day, I used to go to RWA and RT conventions (both of them now defunct), and at one of them a friend and I recognized Jo Beverly standing by herself at a publisher’s reception. Jo Beverly, if you don’t know, was a terrific English regency writer and one of the publisher’s stars. My friend and I went up and introduced ourselves, and I told her I was a big fan. Beverly, who was probably in her seventies at that point, was very nice and told us she was a little nervous about the length of her skirt (sort of a mini, but not really). “You’re rockin’ it,” my friend told her. And she was.

How did you come up with the title?

I always name my books after a jam Roxy is struggling with in the story. This time I had to come up with something that was both festive (it’s for a wedding) and appropriate for the holidays. After rejecting a lot of cranberry possibilities, I went with wine jelly.

Weddings can be murder, and Roxy’s trying not to be the next victim.

Roxy Constantine and Nate Robicheaux are into weddings, both for work and family. But when the obnoxious father of the bride is murdered at the engagement party, they find out more about his business than they bargained for.

Now someone wants to stop Roxy from investigating even as she pulls out all the stops on a super New Year’s Eve wedding celebration for her uncle.

She’ll need more than wine jelly favors and wedding cake to stop the killer.

Excerpt:

As I stepped onto the landing, I heard something that sounded like a sob. “Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“That sound. It was over…” As I started across the landing toward the stairs, I heard another sob, much louder this time, coming from the stairs leading down to the lower floor. “Is anybody there?” I called.

“Roxy?” It sounded like Thalia, but a very different Thalia from the normal, terrifyingly efficient woman we’d been working with. I stepped quickly to the landing and peered toward the lower floor.

And saw Thalia Rosenberg leaning over Emerson Pollack, who lay spread-eagled on the concrete floor.

From where I stood, he looked very dead.

I ran down the steps. The stairwell was very dark although the light from above streamed down on Pollack’s body where it lay. Nate was at my heels.

Thalia knelt beside Pollack, her face the color of the snow still falling outside. “We need to call an ambulance,” she said. “He’s…hurt.”

Judging by the way Pollack was splayed on the floor, I didn’t think an ambulance would do much good. I put my hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Thalia. Step away from him now.”

Nate had climbed up the stairs and was now speaking urgently into his phone. I heard the words “accident” and “serious injuries,” which might well be true, as far as the “serious injuries” went. I was less certain about the “accident” part.

Thalia looked like she might faint or have hysterics, neither of which I wanted to deal with right then.

She leaned toward me, her brown eyes huge in her pale face. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “My God. He’s dead, isn’t he?”

Buy link(s):

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCVCRC6S/thewildrosepr-20

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wine-jelly-murder-meg-benjamin/1147592049?ean=2940184558462

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wine-jelly-murder/id6747186348

About the Author:

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Her Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy from Meg’s indie line. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England  Romance Writers, the Carly Crown Jewel of Books from the Mid-America Romance Authors, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1/ (personal)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609878239 (author)

Instagram: @meg_benjamin

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@meg_benjamin

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/meg-benjamin.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869971.Meg_Benjamin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meg-benjamin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/megbenjamin/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Benjamin/author/B0030F12FY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@megbenjamin1396

Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/

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May 27, 2025 · 8:11 am

Author Interview with Kim Janine Ligon  ~ New Release: Running To Daylight #cozymystery #cleanromance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kim Janine Ligon…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin as the oldest of ten kids. I have six sisters and three brothers. My dad was a veterinarian so we had pets galore. At one point we have six Great Danes, a pug, and three Siamese cats who all lived in the house with (at that time) six kids. Once I went to college and could put on black pants without brushing off animal hair, I never went back to having pets again. I married my college sweetheart while still in college. After living in central and southern Illinois, then Philadelphia, PA, we are now settled in Alabama.

Where did you get the idea for Running To Daylight?

My husband has named this book and three others before this. The only one he didn’t name was my Christmas in the Castle book.

Why did you choose this genre?

This is my fourth cozy romantic mystery. I like the added intrigue beyond the romance. It is the third book set in Lansdale, Wisconsin.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

My sister, Erin, will recognize herself in an encounter at the Purple Cow Drive-in early in the book and The Fox Creek Winery really does exist in Richland County Illinois. My uncle and cousin own it.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Remembering to SHOW not TELL.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

Getting used to a new editor after working with the same one on the first four books.

Do you collect anything?

I collect bunny figurines and elephant figurines. The elephant collection grew dramatically when I inherited my mother’s collection.

What was your first job?

Working in my dad’s veterinary clinic. I did everything. I answered phones, scheduled small animal appointments, called on the radio about farmers who needed the veterinarian, cleaned cages for the animals being boarded or recovering, clipped poodles, did inventory, posted charges, and processed bills. It was a lot of different experience and one of the hardest jobs I ever had.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

That’s easy—housework—not cleaning because I do very little of that but grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, cleanup, paying bills. All those things are necessary but they are also time consuming. If I became the outstanding housekeeper my mother was washing walls, shampooing carpets, and repainting—I’d never have time to write.

What is your favorite quote?

Winston Churchill said during the blitzes of WWII: “Never, never, never give up.” I think that’s great advice in so many situations in life and, especially, in writing and being published.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

She loved her family and friends fiercely.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

They are parts of real people mashed together. Sometimes I start with a real name and can see a real person as the model, but I modify character traits to fit the story. Sometimes people I know think one of my characters is a mutual friend but I’ve never just lifted someone in total to the pages of my book. 

What do your friends and family think of your writing?

They are my biggest cheerleaders and supporters. They signed up for my blog. They are early readers and critics. They buy my books and encourage their friends to buy them too. They love to have their names turn up as a character.

Thank you for joining me and sharing a little about yourself. Now, please tell us about your book.

Blurb:  

After ten years in witness protection, Morgan Tucker is hidden no longer. Evil hasn’t been thwarted by a false name or Morgan’s move the small town Lansdale, Wisconsin.

Mark Trask, a veteran of Lansdale’s police force, returns from vacation to find his reclusive housemate, Phil Hughes, missing. The driver of a black pickup truck stalks Mark and nearly kills him. Are they targeting Mark or is it related to Phil’s mysterious disappearance?

Elsie Dennis lives with her older brother, Hubert and operates Knitting Pretty in downtown Lansdale. Unexpected danger plagues the siblings. Why now? Who is behind this evil?

Mark and Elsie are thrown together to solve the mysteries surrounding them and try to determine if they are related to a ten-year-old murder. They encounter evil at every turn as together they find their way toward the daylight.

Excerpt:

 It was too late for celebrating. It wasn’t even a relief that Scachhi can no longer hurt me. I couldn’t visit Mom since she’s been gone five years. Cancer was the physician’s diagnostic guess. I knew better. It was loneliness and a broken heart. I couldn’t contact her without The Family finding out. That was against the rules I have had to live by all these years.

I have always been a ‘follow the rules, do the right thing’ person. Always. At all costs. Ten years has been a long time to stay this hazardous course. I have had to watch every step to stay on the straight and narrow never-ending path toward daylight. 

I was finally free, but I have nowhere to go. No one was waiting to welcome me back into the bosom of my family. They were all gone. No one knew Morgan Tucker any longer. I sacrificed my life so that my father would get the justice he deserved. I would do it again. It was the right thing—the only choice. Mom understood the truth as well as I did. Perhaps even better.

I testified. The bad guys went to prison. I have been reborn into a new life under the protection of the U.S. Marshals Service. I’m living proof that when you do the right thing everything will work out in the end. 

Wait.

Who knew to send me a letter to an address in Lansdale, Wisconsin?

To the new me?

If the sender was only trying to scare me, they have succeeded in spades. Who would still be alive to care where I am? Who I am?

Lord, please don’t leave me. I need your protection now more than ever. Shield me from the darkness. Lead me to the daylight.

Buy link(s):

https://mybook.to/RunningToDaylight

https://mybook.to/AllMyBooks

About the Author:

Kim Janine Ligon has been writing stories for most of her life—some on paper and some only in her head. She has lots of source material growing up as the oldest child in a large family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a veterinarian so there were not only lots of children around, but all manner of house pets and farm animals, too. Her love of reading comes from her mother who was seldom seen sitting down without a book in her hand. After a demanding career in healthcare information technology, she is now doing all the creative things she loves which includes writing her stories to share with you. She lives with her chief encourager and personal romantic hero, her husband of almost forever, in Alabama. Please follow her further adventures at www.spinningromance.com or contact her at kimjanine@spinningromance.com

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April 4, 2025 · 10:32 am

Author Interview with Karina Bartow ~ Undercover Babymoon #Mystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Karina Bartow…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I still live in the same small town in northern Ohio where I grew up. My house is run by a very charming yet opinionated parakeet!

Where did you get the idea for Undercover Babymoon?

A friend, who’s always hitting me up with ideas for stories, suggested I set a mystery on a cruise ship. I don’t really welcome suggestions about what I write unless it’s in a professional capacity, especially from this friend, who doesn’t typically offer the most serious tips! For a change, however, he made me perk up my ears. Instead of mentally discarding the notion, I filed that one away, waiting for the right opportunity to act on it. Since my family went on one voyage years earlier, I had experience I could tap into to make it realistic, which added to the viability of the prospect.

Why did you choose this genre?

This was the fourth mystery I wrote, and I’ve grown to love the genre. I enjoy the opportunity to implement red herrings and twists and turns. I like playing with readers’ minds!

What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?

With all of my books, I always want readers to be entertained, first and foremost, but I also hope they feel the same emotions as the characters. In The Unde(a)feated Detective Series—which follows a deaf detective—I include a lot of experiences and stigmas disabled people have to rise above, so I hope readers learn from some of those lessons in the process.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

I’ve considered sci-fi, specifically time travel. Never excelling in science class, though, I doubt I have enough brain power!

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?

A Bible, jug of iced mocha, and my mp3 player.

What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with?

Robin Williams.

 What do you want your tombstone to say?

She died with her high heels on!

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

Camille, the next door neighbor. She’s a nosey phony but a blast to write!

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block.

How did you come up with the title?

I was struggling with it, but I was patient, figuring it’d manifest eventually. A friend was talking about planning a vacation and mentioned a website named Undercover Tourist. Undercover Babymoon clicked right into place!

Thank you for being my guest, Karina…I enjoyed getting to know you. Please tell us about your book…

Excerpt:

Gus rocked back in his seat, as he always did while contemplating. “And if it was, then it’s out of our jurisdiction. That ship’s on international waters, so anything that happens after it docks isn’t even the country’s duty. You guys just need to do what you can here to make sure our people are safe, even if you can’t solve this murder. Meanwhile, I’ll make some calls to the Coast Guard and Border Patrol to alert them of our suspicions about a drug trafficking operation.”

“Logan’s roommate on the ship said they had a few days between voyages, so this would be the ideal time to scope it out,” Cael said.

Minka agreed with his resolution, hoping the feds would uncover something. No detective wanted to accept a case going unsolved, and up to this point, she thankfully hadn’t had to. Now that she was in Homicide, the possibility became greater, and deep down, she figured the day would come.

An hour later, Gus reported that Emmett’s statement about the drugs didn’t give Border Patrol or even the DEA enough to launch an investigation. Neither agency received any other tips about the ship or crew. Plus, Emmett’s condition didn’t give the claim much credence, and even assuming he was correct, the words were uttered on land by men who might not have any ties to the ship.

On their own yet again, Minka and Cael combed through Logan’s phone for something that hinted to drugs or his secret, but the superheroes remained their only grounds for suspicion. With no leads emerging the rest of the morning, they took longer lunch breaks than usual. Minka spotted an issue of The Miracle of Motherhood magazine she’d bought at the café a few days ago and took it with her to peruse it, skimming an article on the latest nursery fashions. After she highlighted a couple of ideas, she flipped to the next write-up, which shared ways to enjoy your second trimester. With Cael seated across from her in the break room, she had to joke with him about it.

“Guess I’m not on trend. Chasing after killers isn’t ‘the thing to do’ during my second trimester.”

“Bogus article!”

She giggled, browsing through what she was supposed to be doing, including indulging in spa days and wellness classes. With the busy life she led, all of the luxurious suggestions amused her. When her eyes crossed the words “Take a Babymoon”, she initially kept her cynicism intact, until an idea occurred to her. She put it down and told her partner, “I need a babymoon!”

Buy links:

Amazon | Walmart | Target | BooksAMillion | Indie Bound | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google | Books | ITunes

About the Author:

Karina Bartow hails from Northern Ohio.  Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her.  Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want.  Her works include Husband in Hiding, Forgetting My Way Back to You, Brother of Interest, Wrong Line, Right Connection, Accidental Allies and Undercover Babymoon.  She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

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March 17, 2025 · 5:41 am

Interview with M. S. Spencer ~ Latest Release: In the Crosshairs: The Body on Leffis Key #Cozymystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, M.S. Spencer…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I once counted up the number of significant moves in my life…and stopped at twenty-five. I have lived or traveled in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the US, Central America, and South America. Florida has been my home for the last eleven years. Hurricane Helene arrived in September 2024 and flooded the bungalow built by my parents-in-law, so I am currently in a rented apartment with a fabulous view of Sarasota Bay and not much else to recommend it.

By June, 2025 I will have published eighteen romantic suspense and mystery novels, the first released in 2009. I hold degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. I’ve worked as a librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, and nonprofit director. I have two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divide my time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

I’m featuring my latest release, In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key, a Florida mystery. Like several of my books, I take as a premise something that is in the news. In this case, I’d been following the concerning trend of Chinese purchases of US farmland. I wound it into the plotline. As the news cycle moved on I was afraid that particular issue wouldn’t be relevant any more, and then bingo—it’s in the news again! The story I’m working on now had to do with offshore wind farms. It’s only in first draft so I kind of hope it continues to be controversial!

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

The Late George Apley, by J. P. Marquand (1937). It was so intricately woven between time periods. An amazing book.

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

That’s easy: snakes. I love snakes. Most humans have a primal fear of snakes. I did not get that gene, nor did my daughter, who had a sweet little scarlet kingsnake named Phoebe. They are not slimy or slippery or scary. I find them beautiful and they do make lovely pets.

Do you collect anything?

Oh my God, I used to collect all kinds of stuff. I had miniature porcelain figurines, rocks, stamps, coins, Wizard of Oz books, elephants, and more. The final straw was when I decided to collect the shells of cooked lobsters. My mother came into my room and gagged. Who knew old seafood shells stank?

What was your first job?

There was the life-guarding job at 15, but my first real job was as assistant to a professor who was writing a bibliography of works on Ethiopia in the Library of Congress. I had a desk in the library and two stack passes—which are more valuable than gold to a scholar. I could actually go in to the stacks of the greatest library in the world and browse.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

It would have to be Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice for its perfect prose, but I do love Douglas Adams’ A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy because it’s irreverent, funny, and original. My favorite children’s book was Frank Stockton’s The Queen’s Museum & Other Fanciful Tales, which includes such gems as “The Gryphon & the Minor Canon” and “The Bee-man of Orn.” I have the copy that belonged to my grandmother, which I read till the cover fell off.

What is your favorite quote?

“Shirley, you are one silly bitch.” This is from the movie Shirley Valentine starring Pauline Collins. It’s about a middle-aged British housewife who goes to Greece on holiday & rediscovers herself. Whenever she gets overly dramatic or introspective, she tells herself this.

Your most prized material possession? Why?

My grandfather clock. My ancestor brought it from England around 1880, at which time it was already over 100 years old. It is a simple, yellow-pine box, but represents centuries of Spencer history.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yes. In the heady days before computers and thumb drives, I wrote a novel set in Yorktown and Williamsburg about the murder of the first female director of the Environmental Protection Agency. I had an agent and the manuscript was well on its way when two things happened. First, my agent decided to quit agenting. Then my husband, in a spring-cleaning frenzy, threw out the one copy. That was 17 years ago. I left the dream behind.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Prince Charles was visiting the University of Chicago & I met him. Meryl Streep was a dorm-mate at Vassar. Working at the US Senate meant that I met famous senators and other politicians on a regular basis, plus visiting dignitaries and hearing participants. I had my picture taken with Charlton Heston and met Paul Newman.

Your favorite…

Movie: Ninotchka, the only Greta Garbo movie in which she laughs.

Music: Opera

Place you’ve visited: Too many—Paris, Istanbul, the Amazon, Egypt

Place you’d like to visit: Galapagos Islands

TV show from childhood: Have Gun Will Travel

TV show from adulthood: Death in Paradise

Food: Bacon cheeseburger with lots of lettuce

Sports team: Minnesota Vikings

Thanks so much for the interesting interview. I would have been sick about that manuscript being thrown out! And, wow…snakes. Yeah, not my favorite thing. Eek!

Please tell us about your book…

Someone is killing people with a crossbow—who will be next?

Palmer Lind, recovering from the sudden death of her husband, embarks on a bird-watching trek to the Gulf Coast of Florida. One hot day on Leffis Key she comes upon—not the life bird she was hoping for—but a floating corpse. The handsome beach bum who appears on the scene at the same time seems to have even more secrets than the dead man.

His story begins to unravel as the pair search for answers to a growing pile of dead bodies. Spies, radical environmentalists, and wealthy businessmen circle around each other in a complex dance. Which one is lying? What do a seemingly random group of individuals have in common, other than being targeted by a crossbow?

Excerpt:

Palmer climbed into the bass boat, and Hooper pushed it back in the water. They motored after the skiff. Hooper gazed over Palmer’s head, his expression unreadable. She studied him. Dusty blond hair cut short, but not short enough to lose the wave. Luminescent gray eyes whose brooding depths reminded her of a sea captain far from home or a world-weary traveler. His gnarly hands plus the five o’clock shadow on his chin attested to his beach bum status. She checked out the filthy shorts and ragged shirt barely concealing the tanned chest. He must live alone. The thought had a curious effect on her. A kind of warmish, softish feeling, a feeling she was not in the habit of having, at least not since Peter died.

His eyes dropped to hers. “Like what you see?”

Her momentary embarrassment was swiftly replaced by irritation. “You could use a wash and brush up.”

His cheeks tightened. “Last I checked you weren’t my mother.”

“True. I’m not your wife either, but one or the other should take a hand with you.”

A spasm crossed his face. Then he attempted a wry grin. “Since I currently have neither, perhaps you could do the honors.”

She sucked in a breath. “Sorry, just passing through.” Yikes. Did he think I was flirting with him?

“Oh. Well, then.” They had reached the dock. He cranked the engine down. “Hop out and I’ll tie up.”

Palmer ran over their conversation, trying to tease out any misleading statements she had made. How to explain that I’m not in the market—not so soon after Peter… She regarded the man at the tiller. Something about him… Am I attracted to him? No, it was something else, something enigmatic about him… He looked startled when he saw the dead man’s face. And he had hesitated when the patrolman asked his name. He also acted cagey when I called him a native. Why? Could he be a fugitive from justice? She sized him up. “So…what’s your real name and who are you really?”

Buy links:

Amazon  Barnes&Noble  ITunes  Kobo  Google

Books2Read  WildRosePress    AmazonCA   AmazonUK

About the Author

Librarian, anthropologist, research assistant, Congressional aide, speechwriter, nonprofit director—M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled in five of the seven continents and holds degrees in Anthropology, Middle East Studies, and Library Science. In June 2025 she will have published eighteen mystery or romantic suspense novels. She has two children, an exuberant granddaughter, and currently divides her time between the Gulf Coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine.

Blog: https://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-s-spencer

Shepherd: https://shepherd.com/search/author/21204

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002ZOEUC8

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October 16, 2024 · 9:21 am

Author Susan Harris Howell – Four Lessons I Learned from My Desk & New Release: The Spirit of Vanderlaan #ParanormalCozyMystery

Please help me welcome Susan Harris Howell…

Four Lessons I Learned from My Desk

My new desk came to me in 483 pieces—slats, panels, and hardware wrapped in plastic bags for “easy delivery and assembly.” My daughter commented that the company might have just sent me a tree and an ice pick for the work it would require.

I sat on the floor surrounded by debris that looked nothing like a desk. I would have curled up on the floor to cry if I had had enough floor space to do so. This was an impossible task.

But I could no more repack that box than I could unring a bell. So, I picked up the forty-eight-page instruction booklet, turned to page one, and put the “twist-lock fasteners into outer ends A and C.”

That first step was the beginning of a three-day process which led to the beautiful desk I now adore. It also taught me a few things about another “impossible” task I would soon face – writing my first novel.

Here’s what I learned.

Lesson One: Just do today’s work.

As I thumbed through the encyclopedic-sized instruction manual, I knew I’d have to narrow my focus. So, I concentrated on step one without mentally moving on to steps two or three. This helped me begin and keep moving.

Likewise, when writing a book, we often work best by tackling one manageable task at a time without mentally wandering into steps two, three, or beyond. Narrowing our focus can move us forward.

Lesson Two: Be confident.

That first day, colleagues dropped by to offer condolences. I assumed they would know more than I and would have secrets to share on furniture assembly. Sadly, none of them did; there were no secrets.   

Similarly, when we have a story to tell, we can’t assume someone else will tell it better. They have their own stories to write, their own desks to assemble. My story is my story; your story is yours. Be confident in the telling.

Lesson Three: Use available resources.

When my husband offered our power drill, I declined since the instructions said power tools weren’t necessary. On day two, I grabbed that power drill and didn’t let go. Using the right tool made the task easier.

Likewise, when writing, we can avail ourselves of quality resources. Books, conferences, blogs and podcasts – a lot of information is out there. Find it and use it.

Lesson Four: Let others participate.

Throughout the desk-a-thon, I posted pictures and progress reports on social media. Friends across several states watched with interest and celebrated the finished product.

In the same way, writing is richer when others walk alongside us. Whether they read each draft, encourage our persistence, or subscribe to our newsletter, many will participate if we invite them. Don’t go it alone.

The take-away?

My desk now serves as a daily reminder of what I can accomplish when I focus on today’s work, remain confident, use available resources, and invite others to join me.

I hope these lessons encourage you in your next “impossible” endeavor.

Thank you for joining me, Susan. Great article…I love the analogy of assembling the desk and writing. And I love the helpful reminders. Now, please tell us about your book…

Was it coincidence that brought them together – or a ghost with a purpose?

Excerpt:

Samantha reached out to hold Chess’s shaking hand only to immediately regret it. The stickiness of dried blood would have made her recoil, but she refused to desert Chess, who squeezed her hand like a frightened child. So while Allie returned Chess’s skates and answered the questions of concerned friends, Samantha stayed put. She only hoped the pounding of her own heart would not attract attention and require an explanation.

After Chess’s wound was cleaned and bandaged, Allie stated that she would drive Chess to the ER. “I can’t ride in your new car. My clothes are all -” She grimaced at her blood-stained shirt.  

“The blood’s dry. It’ll be fine. Besides, think how fast my car will get us there.” She directed Chess’s attention away from the injury.

Samantha pointed to Allie. “Keep it under the limit, missy.” Samantha disliked conceding the role of caregiver to someone else, but Allie had things under control. Besides, it couldn’t be helped.

Samantha quickly walked toward the women’s restroom, which, thankfully, was empty, went in, and locked the door. With deep, shaky breaths, and no longer fighting the tears, Samantha moved immediately to the sink where she scrubbed her hands vigorously, several times. She reached into her purse for her cell phone, scrolled quickly through her contacts, and tapped her thumb on the one she sought.

She took a deep breath when instructed to leave a message. “Debra, this is Samantha Hayes. Could you give me a call please? I need to talk to you.” She waited a moment, decided she had said all she needed to for now, then added, “Thanks,” before ending the call.

She continued to hold her cell, however, as she paced, all the while trying her best to take even, measured breaths. Think of something else. You’ve washed your hands. You’re safe. You’ll talk to Debra when she calls back. Breathe. She was surprised that her reaction was this intense. The sight of blood had not frightened her this much in a long time.

As she debated whether to stay or go home to await Debra’s call, her cell rang, making her jump. With another shaky breath and a sigh of relief, she answered. “Debra? Thanks for calling… Okay… actually, no I’m not okay. I hate to bother you, but something just happened.”

9) Buy link:

About the Author:

Dr. Susan Harris Howell is a psychology professor who has taught and mentored students for over thirty years. Her novel, The Spirit of Vanderlaan, draws on that career to capture the warmth between a professor and the assortment of personalities which inhabit her office.

Her first book, Buried Talents, focuses on the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering male-dominated occupations.

Susan and her husband have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc.

Website: susanharrishowell.com                                      

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susan_h_howell/

Email List & Monthly Blog:  susanharrishowell.substack.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susanhowellwriter

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October 8, 2024 · 1:20 pm

Author Nikki Knight – This Thing We Do & New Release: Live, Local, and Long Dead  #Mystery #CozyMystery #wrpbks #Hobby #Career #Passion

 Please help me welcome today’s guest, Nikki Knight…

This Thing We Do

“You do this because you can’t do anything else.”

            My first news director, at KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, said it to me a couple decades ago at the job interview.

            He meant, radio is the only business that would make you happy.

            He was right about me. And I was right about the main character in LIVE, LOCAL, AND LONG DEAD when I gave her the same line.

            While Jaye Jordan is a DJ and station owner, and I’m a New York City news anchor, we both came up through local radio, and we both love it.

            If you didn’t grow up with a local radio station – and a lot of people don’t now – I’m sorry for you. We live in better and healthier communities when we start the day with a familiar voice telling us about what’s happening in town, not just major news stories, but local events. Everything from the fender-bender by the plaza that’s delaying the school buses to the fundraiser for the food bank. The kind of things a national news network, or the TV station in the big city up the road, would never have time or energy for…but matter a lot in a small community.

            Just a typical day at a small local station.

            It’s important on a typical day, but it’s life-or-death in a disaster.

            In theory, when a small radio station is sold and handed over to a satellite feed – usually talk, but sometimes music or other programming – it’s still able to broadcast emergency information for its town. The automation should be able to take transmissions from the Emergency Alert System and send them on to the community. But that’s a big SHOULD when the water is rising or the ice falling.

            And even if the automation does what it’s supposed to do, there’s no live person at the station. No one to take calls from local authorities with warnings, no one to broadcast information about available services. And no one to offer a friendly voice on the battery powered radio that may be a family’s only connection to the world for a while.

            I’ve been that voice, during hurricanes in New York and winter storms in Vermont. And, other than raising my son, it’s the most important thing I’ve ever done. If you’re alone in the dark, you need someone to tell you how long it’s going to last, who’s going to help you, and that you’re going to make it. A confident, informed, and professional voice.

            And a local one.

            Jaye Jordan has the same experience, and the same deep bond with her work and her community. It’s not just a marketing slogan that she calls WSV “Your Hometown Station.”

            Everyone deserves one.

            Jaye’s love for local radio, and mine, shines through LIVE, LOCAL, AND LONG DEAD. And we’re thrilled to welcome you to our hometown station.


GIVEAWAY: One random commenter wins an e-ARC of LIVE, LOCAL, AND LONG DEAD.

In LIVE, LOCAL, AND LONG DEAD, DJ Jaye Jordan returns to look into not one but two murders – one involving her ex and her new man– and get Grandpa Seymour ready for the Senior Prom!

Excerpt:

“It looks like a body in there, Chief.” Sadie’s words left room for doubt, but her voice did not.

“I’ll take a look.” Chief George handed the rock to me because I was closest, and his face hardened from fun day out to on-duty.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get more serious, it did.

I felt something strange and sharp on the underside of the rock through my work gloves. I looked down at it.

It looked back at me.

Well, it would have if there’d been anything in the smooth, empty eye sockets. It seemed to be grinning, a perfectly imperfect smile with a little chip in one of the front teeth.

“Chief?” I asked. “I think we have another problem.”

I figured it was the worst moment of the day.

Famous last words.

Maybe half an hour later, everyone was standing around waiting for the M.E. and the Staties, and whoever was responsible for skulls, and I was still holding the poor thing. By then I had noticed the jagged hole near the temple and come to the conclusion whoever it was had not left this earth easily or willingly.

Chief George had been in the building, and he came out carrying a large, expensive purse…still in good shape, metallic leather, a brand that would have cost me a month’s salary in New York, made even more costly and special by the name engraved on a brass plate on the side. It was below the status logo, so it must have been the name of the owner: Jecca.

“I think I knew her.”

It would have been bad enough if I’d heard one voice saying it in a tone that left no doubt as to how they’d known her.

But it was two. The worst possible two.

David, no surprise, really…and Will.

I looked down at the skull. It was probably a grave sin to break heads with an actual head.

Buy link: Live, Local, and Long Dead – The Wild Rose Press Inc

About the Author:

Nikki Knight describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City’s 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels, including the Vermont Radio and Grace the Hit Mom Series. Her stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, online, and in anthologies – and been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. Active in writers’ groups, she’s served as Vice President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and is currently Co-Vice President of the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime. As Kathleen Marple Kalb, she writes the Ella Shane and Old Stuff mystery series. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.

Website:  https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/nikki-knight

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NikkiKnightVT

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

Other: YouTube: NIKKI KNIGHT’S RADIO STORYTIME – YouTube  

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September 23, 2024 · 7:46 am

Author Interview with Mary Ann Jacobs ~ The Berkshire Mystery Series #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Mary Ann Jacobs with The Berkshire Mystery series: Don’t Mess With Me and Peril in Pitman

Welcome, Mary Ann…please tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Ohio and lived in Detroit, Chicago, and California. I now live in Kentucky where I raised my two children.

My father was Lebanese, and this background influenced the character of Sadie, who is a refugee from Lebanon and works in her Aunt Florence’s restaurant in Pittman.

I spend my time writing, running a Writers’ Workshop, keeping tabs on my five grandchildren, playing bridge, and participating in many clubs in our area.

Where did you get the idea for the title for Don’t Mess with Me in the Berkshire Mystery Series?

The title for Don’t Mess with Me was based on the character of Sadie who is feisty and stands for all women who are not meek and mild. The title for Peril in Pittman was dictated by the action of the ISIS character who was tracking down former members of the Resistance movement in Lebanon who had settled in this small Berkshire Mountain town.

I picked this cozy mystery genre because I was going crazy during the isolation of covid. I walked, wrote poetry and sent out a poem a day to my friends. I read cozy mysteries because they made me feel good and watched Hallmark mysteries because of the happy endings. I finally decided to try my own hand at the cozy mystery genre.

The most difficult thing about writing a book is finding the time to write for long periods of time. I was used to writing in short periods of time.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I have taught all grades from kindergarten to college. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering the uniqueness of the students at each grade level. Just to keep my skills sharp, I will occasionally assess students who though I don’t have much time for that.are struggling to learn and sometimes tutor,

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

Now that I’m retired, people don’t understand why I keep so busy. My calendar is fuller than ever, and I love every minute of it, except for doctor appointments.

Do you collect anything?

Just rejections for my writings over the years

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

Interruptions. I’ve always said I need to go to a quiet secluded cabin in the woods for a month each year.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

Charlotte’s Web is my favorite book of all time. Any book by Dr. Seuss is a favorite childhood book. The fact that Dr. Seuss had 37 rejections for And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street gives me hope to keep on writing.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Don’t Mess with Me and Peril in Pittman?

I want my readers to have a sense of accomplishment that they have unraveled a complicated plot with characters who have come to life and grown before their eyes. I want readers to feel that they have been an active part of the Super Sleuths and enjoyed themselves along the way by learning all about the Berkshire Mountains’ many festivals and entertainment and even enjoyed the characters’ hints of romance.

 Have you written any other books that are not published?

I have written many children’s books, including a collection of modern fables but haven’t had any luck with publishing them. I also wrote a book teaching people of all ages how to write poetry called So You Want to Write Poetry.

How did you come up with the title? 

I came up with the title for Don’t Mess with Me because of the main character of Sadie, who is a feisty and accomplished young woman. I came up with the title for book 2 Peril in Pittman because an assassin is stalking people who were in the Resistance in Lebanon and have come to live in the small town of Pittman in the Berkshire Mountains.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc. you’d like to share?

I have always believed that my characters dictate the story. Unfortunately, they tend to wait until I am asleep to wake me and make themselves known. When I was writing Don’t Mess with me, my muse woke me, so I got out my notebook in the dark so as to not wake my husband. When I woke the next day and went to transfer the story to the computer, I found that I had written on top of another writing and couldn’t decipher the night’s inspiration.

When I was writing Peril in Pittman, I was awakened by my character telling me in no uncertain words that I couldn’t make him my assassin because he was too nice. It seemed so real that I went back the next morning, reread that chapter, and realized he was right. I had to find another assassin because the first one was too likeable.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

When I wrote the first book, I made a timeline and followed it diligently. When I wrote the second, I cut corners by deciding I didn’t need the timeline, so when my first editors were reading the first draft, they would say things like, “This hasn’t happened yet. The character hasn’t heard about this, etc.” Needless to say, it took me more time to correct the timeline that it would have to create a timeline before writing.

Book 2 in the Berkshire Mystery Series, Peril in Pittman

Fear has engulfed the tight-knit community of Pittman. Join the Super Sleuths as they unmask a thief and not 1 but 3 hitmen. Meet the members of the Geezer Book Club and discover the future plans of the characters you first met and loved in Don’t Mess with Me, Book 1 in the Berkshire Mystery Series.

Excerpt:

Chapter 11

Another Secret

After the fest planning meeting, Lola left the bookstore and went to the town square. She sat on her thinking bench as the cool breezes invaded her lightweight jacket and leaves blew around like a flock of colorful butterflies. She couldn’t enjoy the scene because her mind was reeling, and she was afraid that someone would discover the one secret that she had never shared with anyone.

After Mr. Brump announced that he was an ex-cop from Chicago, Lola flinched. Mr. Brump was staring at her. Lola had first met him in Grant Park in Chicago. She recognized him when he first came into the Bookworm Shop. She didn’t think he recognized her then. Did Mr. Brump recognize her now?

Lola remembered it well. Mr. Brump was one of the officers present when I went to Grant Park to identify my mom’s body. Now I’m in trouble. Does he have any idea about my secret?

Buy links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-mess-with-me-mary-ann-jacobs/1142600182?ean=2940186700777

Peril in Pittman:

Find Mary Ann Here:

maryannjacobsauthor@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/maryannjacobsauthor

Website: maryannjacobsauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter: maryann41866

Amazon.com/author/maryann_jacobs-1.2 Amazon Author Page URL

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April 26, 2022 · 7:15 am

Author Interview with Karen C. Whalen ~ New Release: Toes on the Dash ~ #WRPbks #AHAgrp

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Karen C. Whalen, sharing her latest release, a funny, fabulous cozy mystery, Toes on the Dash.

Hello, Karen…so nice to have you with us today.

Q-  What is your favorite quote?

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve always imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau is often quoted, but that’s because he was one smart guy. This quote makes my heart soar and helps me to believe in myself.

Because I can imagine a pretty great life.

Most authors admit they always wanted to write. I did, too, from an early age. I loved to read and could imagine myself writing a book. My dream came true in 2016 when my first book was published by The Wild Rose Press (TWRP), Everything Bundt the Truth, a murder mystery centered around a dinner club group. My eighth book was published by TWRP on April 25 of this year, Toes on the Dash, another murder mystery, this time involving a super-feminine, shoe-aholic who drives a tow truck in high heels.

Q- How did you come up with the title?

I got the Toes book title from a song I heard on the radio, Take A Little Ride, by Jason Aldean. I had the radio turned up and the window rolled down, trying to sing along, trying being the operative word here. He sings about his girl’s pretty pink toes on the dash. And my imagination took off. Was it possible to leave toe prints on the dashboard of a car? If so, this could be an important murder clue! I checked with my local police department and learned people can leave toe prints, often a vital piece of evidence at a crime scene.

So, my main character, Delaney Morran, suddenly became the kind of gal who props her toes on the dash. When her jerk of an ex-boyfriend is found dead in the trunk of a car she’s towed and her toe prints are discovered on the dash of said car, Delaney becomes the prime murder suspect.

Why, you ask, is Delaney driving a tow truck in high heels? Why is she even driving a tow truck at all? Well, Delaney received an unexpected inheritance—the keys to a tow truck—from her dead-beat dad. And she has some issues. She has very few memories of her father and wishes she could’ve known him better. Plus, her dad died in a mysterious hit-and-run accident that was never solved. So, despite the fact she’s never even changed a tire in all of her twenty-eight years, she decides to give the rough and dangerous business a chance. And, can you imagine all the dead bodies she stumbles upon in the car hauling business? Spoiler alert: she finds a dead body in every book. Actually there’s no surprise there.

Q- Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Delaney’s dream is to get to know her dad by doing the work he did and driving the truck he drove. Plus, being her own boss is a dream come true. The message of the book is this: if you work hard enough at something, you can succeed at it. As Thoreau said, go confidently after your dreams. And live the life!

She went from wearing stilettos to hauling stiffs

Blurb:

Super-feminine and confirmed shoe-a-holic Delaney Morran receives an unexpected inheritance—the keys to a tow truck from a dad she’s never known. Even though she hasn’t changed a tire, or even driven any kind of a truck, she’s determined to make the rough and dangerous business a success. When she hauls a vehicle with the body of her jerk-of-an ex hidden in the trunk, the small-town cops in Spruce Ridge, Colorado do not believe this a coincidence. They have her in their headlights as the prime suspect. When the news hits, her business stalls. As a woman trying to make a living in a man’s world, she drives her rig in four-inch-heels to set herself apart. But she must toughen up her image and solve the crime or she’ll end up parked in jail.

Excerpt:

Stopping with my hand on the door, I sneaked a peek left and right, worried someone I knew would recognize me, then I took a deep breath and stole inside. Need I explain? This is a small town.

My eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark. One girl wearing a thong—thank goodness she wasn’t anyone I knew—was on stage. Mr. Hot Head sat at the bar with a tall beer, foam on top, glass full. Looked like he had just been served a fresh, cold one, and this early in the day, too. I backed out the door, ran for the tow truck, and zipped back to the alley as fast as I could.

I angled the truck in front of Hot Head’s Jeep and muscled the dolly wheels over to the rear end, crouching low to the ground, getting a whiff of the rank dumpster. Hot Head couldn’t see me from inside the building, but he had a sixth sense about me, and I was determined to keep under his radar. I jacked up the first dolly wheel and was on my way around the back bumper to jack up the second one, when bam!

I stumbled right into Hot Head. He had a tire iron in his meaty fist.

Buy links:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09S5XH9KQ?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks&qid=1644676163&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div

Barnes & Nobel:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toes-on-the-dash-karen-c-whalen/1140989970?ean=2940160712291

Apple books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/toes-on-the-dash/id1609810860

 

Karen C. Whalen is the author of two mystery series for The Wild Rose Press: the Dinner Club Mysteries featuring Jane Marsh, an empty nester who hosts a gourmet dinner club, and the Tow Truck Mysteries starring Delaney Moran, a super feminine shoe-a-holic who drives a tow truck. Both are cozy mysteries about strong friendships and family ties set in Colorado. The first book in the Dinner Club series tied for First Place in the Suspense Novel category of the 2017 IDA Contest sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Whalen worked for many years as a paralegal at a law firm in Denver, Colorado and was a columnist and regular contributor to The National Paralegal Reporter magazine. Whalen loves to host dinner clubs, entertain friends, ride bicycles, hike in the mountains, and read cozy murder mysteries.

http://karencwhalen.com

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June 28, 2021 · 8:14 am

Author Interview with Ana Diamond & New Release ~ Body Conscious #WRPbk #AHAgrp #Blog

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Ana Diamond….

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets? I grew up in the suburbs of New York just outside of New York City. I also lived in New York City for 15 years. Now I’m back in the suburbs rasing two kids. I have 2 rescue cats who are also sisters.

Why did you choose this genre? I’ve always been drawn to mystery. I like intrigue and romance always keeps me reading.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it? I work in the medical field in a large hospital in NYC. It is the complete opposite of  writing and creating but I find that it keeps me grounded and pays the bills. 

Do you collect anything? I collect candles, dolls, Disney animated production cells and makeup.

What was your first job? Medical Assistant. 

Have you written any other books that are not published? Yes, many. I have dabbled in different genres to figure out where I might fit in the best. 

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Entirely from my imagination. 

How did you come up with the title?

It’s a play on words. It has a much more literal meaning since the story is set in a funeral home where there are lots of bodies and the story centers around a body that is found but doesn’t belong.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?  My day job.

Your favorite…

Place you’ve visited:  Bora Bora

Place you’d like to visit  Egypt

TV show from childhood Sesame Street

Food  A fresh salad 

 

In a small town, gossip can get you killed

Blurb:

Mortician, Lily Reynolds is used to seeing bodies, but not the type murdered in her own funeral home. As Detective James Rivers zeroes in on her as the town’s number one suspect she must rise above the accusations and rumors to solve the case herself while keeping her attraction to the troubled detective at bay.

James has a past. The last time he let someone into his life she wound up dead. Vowing never to let that happen again he has sworn off dating for good. Until he meets Lily. In his gut he knows she’s not the murderer but pressure to solve the case puts him on the wrong trail while he struggles to keep Lily off the case.

Can she solve the case on her own or will their scandalous romance get in the way of proving her innocence?

Excerpt:

“That’s Detective James Rivers,” Abrams said. “He came all the way up from New York City to our little town in the scenic Hudson Valley. He’ll be the lead investigator on this case since I know you ladies will be frequent callers.”

“Let’s be clear, I’ve never called you,” Lily said. “It’s always been Shanna.”

Abrams gave her a coy smile. He seemed flattered by the idea.

“Nice to meet you, Detective Rivers,” Lily said, finally turning toward the man who approached them.

Her breath caught in her throat. She didn’t know what she had been expecting, but not this—the angelic face with large sky-blue eyes, pronounced cheekbones and silken black hair. The only part of him that matched her ideas of what detectives looked like were his tattooed arms. She should know; her dad had been a cop.

May he rest in peace.

But James’s tattoos weren’t subtle. Snakes slid up his arms, past his rolled-up shirtsleeves, coiling around his thick forearms and biceps. One corner of his mouth lifted as he caught her staring.

Buy Here:  https://books2read.com/anadiamondauthor

Bio:

When Ana Diamond isn’t writing about tough gals finding love in unexpected places, she’s at work by day in the medical field. She writes romantic cozy mystery novels with feisty strong women and alluring men who can’t resist them. Her books are fast paced, entertaining and heartfelt all at once.

Ana is a 2020 Tara Contest Finalist for Body Conscious and 2015 Melody of Love contest finalist. She lives in New York with her husband, two children and two needy but wildly entertaining kitty cats.

https://twitter.com/AuthorDiamond

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Email: Ana@anadiamondauthor.com

 

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