October 31, 2016

A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay - Review

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book

Published: November 1, 2016
Number of pages: 368
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis:
Art restorer Emily Price has never encountered anything she can’t fix—until she meets Ben, an Italian chef, who seems just right. But when Emily follows Ben home to Italy, she learns that his family is another matter . . .

Emily Price—fix-it girl extraordinaire and would-be artist—dreams of having a gallery show of her own. There is no time for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love.

But Chef Benito Vassallo’s relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to breathe new life into his aunt and uncle’s faded restaurant, Piccollo. Soon after their first meeting, he works to win Emily as well—inviting her into his world and into his heart.

Emily astonishes everyone when she accepts Ben’s proposal and follows him home. But instead of allowing the land, culture, and people of Monterello to transform her, Emily interferes with everyone and everything around her, alienating Ben’s tightly knit family. Only Ben’s father, Lucio, gives Emily the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily’s life and art begin to blossom, and Italy’s beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit.

Yet when she unearths long-buried family secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben’s world. Will the joys of Italy become just a memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are possible?

My thoughts:
This book was a fun ride to Italy with some amazing characters. I enjoyed following Emily in the changes she is making in her life. This book grabs your emotions on the first page and does not let go. In fact this story stays with you after you are done reading. The setting of this book was great for me as I have wanted to travel to Italy for a long time. For me I felt like the characters were real live people. The author has a way of developing them that makes you feel as if you really get to be friends with them. I felt like this was a feel good type of book and by that I mean the more you read it the more you feel good. There is so much that I liked about this book that it is hard to put into the right words. So I am just going to finish with this is one of the best books I have read this year. I look forward to reading more by this author. 

About the author:
Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries—who provide constant inspiration both for writing and for life. She is the author of three previous novels, and her debut, Dear Mr. Knightley, was a 2014 Christy Award Finalist, winner of the 2014 INSPY Award for Best Debut, and winner of two Carol Awards for Best Debut and Best Contemporary. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and is a wife, mother, runner, and tae kwon do black belt. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine and her family recently moved back to Chicago. Visit her on line at katherinereay.com Facebook: katherinereaybooks Twitter: @Katherine_Reay

Linda Wiken - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight and Interview


I have been hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the last two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuing on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Linda Wiken

About this author:
Linda Wiken and Erika Chase share a passion for writing. As Erika, it’s the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries with five books in the series, Law and Author being the most recent, while Linda writes the Dinner Club Mysteries. The first in this series, Toasting Up Trouble, debuted in July. The second, Roux The Day, is coming in 2017. In a previous life, Linda/Erika owned a mystery bookstore. Her first Erika Chase novel, A Killer Read, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. While Linda has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada for Best Short Story. When not writing, Erika/Linda caters to her two Siamese cats, sings in a classical choir, and devours chocolates.

Where to follow this author:


Interview:
1. Who or what inspired you to start writing?
That's an easy one and goes way back to the 8th grade. I can't remember the topic but I did get an ‘A’ on my essay. Thank you Mr. Ross! Of course, that spurred me on to writing a book. I started the next day and have never finished it. Fortunately!

2. How did you choose this genre to write?
I've always loved reading mysteries - think Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Ginny Gordon and the like. I still love reading them, especially cozies, so what better genre to write.

3. Do you have scheduled writing time or a certain amount of words you write each day?
I do have a routine which I try desperately to stick to but not always successfully, I must admit. Mornings are for the business of writing, ie promotion and all that involves. Afternoons, starting around 1:30 is my writing time, at my desk in my home office. I mention the office and desk because when I'm in editing mode, I usually move to the dining room table. It promotes a different mindset.

4. What do you do to help you get over writer's block?
I walk it out. Whether it's around the block or to the kitchen for a snack (caution - writing can add inches), I do some of my best thinking when I walk.

5. What was it like to get your first publishing contract? 
It was Christmas and birthday all in one. Pure heart-pounding pleasure!

6. How has the publishing/writing world changed since you first started writing?
That was a long time ago because I wrote for many years before becoming published. At that time there were mainly the large publishers inhabiting that world and very few smaller independents. It was still difficult to find a publisher but if you did, they would handle the majority of the promotion. And there were tons more bookstores!

7. You write about strong female characters. Are they modeled after anyone? 
My female characters are not specifically modeled after one person but probably more a composite of women I know and admire, women I don’t know but admire, and my ideas about how a strong resourceful woman should be. I think cozies are the perfect vehicle for showcasing strong women who are fiercely loyal, concerned about society’s woes, and determined to see justice prevail.

8. When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I love reading, walking, and singing in my choirs. I'll also admit to looking forward each day to sitting on my deck with an espresso in one hand, a piece of chocolate in the other, and a cat or two on my lap.

9. Do you have any advice for beginning authors?
Don't give up. Keep rewriting until you get it right and keep trying to get an agent and/or publisher until the contract is signed.

10. Do you have a favorite author or book you would like to recommend to your readers?
I have a yellowed copy of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott that I go back to regularly. She's a wonderful writer with some very insightful words that never fail to inspire me.

11. Please tell us five random things about yourself
Cat lover; have a desire to paint; wanted to be a police officer; love to dance, especially my Zumba class; enjoy traveling through Europe

What I learned about this author:
Linda is a fan of classic mysteries like Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. She also tries to stick to a routine when writing and her advice is to not give up on your writing. Keep at it. Her one book she recommends/loves is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. What did you learn?

October 30, 2016

Vanilla Beaned by Jenn McKinlay - Review


Published: April 5, 2016
Number of pages: 304
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Cupcake Bakery Mystery #8

Synopsis:
In the eighth in the New York Times bestselling series by the author of Dark Chocolate Demise, the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew goes double or nothing in Vegas...

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are taking a gamble by opening their first franchise of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery, so where better to hit the jackpot than in Vegas? Business manager Tate Harper has lined up a meeting with Holly Hartzmark, a former showgirl who’s looking to bring Mel and Angie’s sweet treats to Sin City, but Mel isn’t so sure she’s ready to hand her recipes over to a complete stranger—especially one as brash as Holly.

But after the potential bakery location gets blown up, Mel begins seeing another side to Holly—one that reminds her very much of herself. Determined to help a kindred spirit, Mel sets out to discover who is trying to keep the bakery from cashing in. But with a murderous mischief maker on the loose, the odds are stacking up against a happy ending for Mel and her friends...

My Thoughts:
Everytime I sit down to read a new cupcake bakery mystery I fall in love with the characters all over again. This time we get to meet Holly who I am hoping we will see more of in the future books as she fits in perfectly with this group of friends. Mel, Angie and Tate take off to Vegas to see about opening a franchise bakery which does not have Mel very happy. I had to laugh at times over all the Elvis impersonators there as I can just see that happening. Then you have Oz and Mel getting into the fun of dressing up as Elvis to help the girls out. I felt so bad for Holly as I wanted everything to work out for her but bad things just kept happening. I don't want to give too much away as there were some great things happening in this book persoanl wise for the group. I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens next with my group of friends. 

About the author:
Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Cupcake Bakery mysteries, including Dark Chocolate Demise, Sugar and Iced, and Going, Going, Ganache, has baked and frosted cupcakes into the shapes of cats, mice, and outer space aliens, to name just a few. Writing a mystery series based on one of her favorite food groups (dessert) is as enjoyable as licking the beaters, and she can’t wait to whip up the next one. She is also the author of the Hat Shop Mysteries (Copy Cap Murder, At the Drop of a Hat) and the Library Lover’s Mysteries (A Likely Story, On Borrowed Time). She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her family.

Dying for Strawberries by Sharon Farrow - Review

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book

Published: October 25, 2016
Number of pages: 288
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Berry Basket Mystery #1

Synopsis:
With seasonal crowds flocking to its sandy beaches, lively downtown shops, and the Berry Basket, a berry emporium with something for everyone, the lakeshore village of Oriole Point is ripe for summer fun—and murder.

Much has changed for Marlee Jacob since she returned to Oriole Point, Michigan, three years ago. Between running the Berry Basket, dodging local gossip, and whipping up strawberry muffins, smoothies, and margaritas to celebrate the town’s first annual Strawberry Moon Bash, the twenty-nine-year-old hardly has time for her fiancé, let alone grim memories of her old life in New York . . .

But unfortunately for Marlee, Oriole Point is muddled with secrets of its own. First her friend Irina disappears after an ominous dream. Next the seediest man in town threatens to crush her business. Then an unknown person nearly kills her on the night of the Bash. When she discovers a dead body while searching for Irina, Marlee realizes she’ll have to foil a killer’s plot herself—before the past permanently stains her future.

My thoughts:
I thought this was a good beginning to a new cozy series. It would be so much fun to visit the Berry Basket during the Strawberry Moos Bash without the murder of course. I can just taste those strawberry muffins. The author did a good job with giving us some charming characters to fall in love with as well as a location we will want to keep visiting. This was a quick read for me as I could not wait to find out who was the murder. Marlee seemed to like to get herself stuck in bad situtations but luckily always came out on top in the end. I think it is a good mystery when I have a difficult time figuring out the "whodunit" and this book did that for me. I am looking forward to more books in this series and to see what happens next. 

About the author:
Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award winning author Sharon Pisacreta. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sharon has been a freelance writer since her twenties, with her first novel released in 1998. Published in mystery, fantasy, and romance, Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

Although Sharon has lived in Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, she calls Michigan home, specifically the beautiful coastline of Lake Michigan. Indeed, she is so enamored of the sand dunes, orchards and beaches of western Michigan, she set The Berry Basket mysteries in a town very similar to the one she is lucky to live in.

Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron - Guest Post and Giveaway


Published: September 13, 2016
Number of pages: 320
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Cajun Country Mystery #2

Synopsis:
The Crozats feared that past murders at Crozat Plantation B&B might spell the death of their beloved estate, but they’ve managed to survive the scandal. Now there’s a très bigger story in Pelican, Louisiana: the upcoming nuptials between Maggie Crozat’s nemesis, Police Chief Rufus Durand, and her co-worker, Vanessa Fleer.

When everyone else refuses the job of being Vanessa’s Maid of Honor, Maggie reluctantly takes up the title and finds herself tasked with a long list of duties–the most important of which is entertaining Vanessa’s cousin, Ginger Fleer-Starke. But just days before the wedding, Ginger’s lifeless body is found on the bayou and the Pelican PD, as well as the Crozats, have another murder mystery on their hands.

There’s a gumbo-potful of suspects, including an ex-Marine with PTSD, an annoying local newspaper reporter, and Vanessa’s own sparkplug of a mother. But when it looks like the investigation is zeroing in on Vanessa as the prime suspect, Maggie reluctantly adds keeping the bride-to-be out of jail to her list of Maid of Honor responsibilities in Body on the Bayou.
About The Author
Ellen’s debut novel, PLANTATION SHUDDERS: A Cajun Country Mystery, has been nominated for an Agatha Best First Novel award, a Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery, and a Daphne Award for Best Mainstream Mystery. The second Cajun Country Mystery, BODY ON THE BAYOU, will be available in September 2016. Ellen’s TV credits include Wings and Just Shoot Me; she’s written over 200 magazine articles; her published plays include the award-winning Graceland and Asleep on the Wind. Ellen Byron is a native New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles and attributes her fascination with Louisiana to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University.

Webpage – http://www.ellenbyron.com/
Blog – http://www.ellenbyron.com/#!blog/c1in0
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ellenbyronla
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23234.Ellen_Byron

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N

Guest Post:
HOME IS LOUISIANA?

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge this year to talk about my new book, BODY ON THE BAYOU, the latest in my Cajun Country Mystery series.

I flew in from Los Angeles on Friday for the Authors Party at the Louisiana State Library, and my New Orleans bestie, Jan, and I drove straight there from the airport. We wined and dined on delicious Creole and Cajun cuisine, and then headed back to the hotel. I had a sudden sensation that we were being followed, and whipped around to see a pixieish man who turned out to be the author of a book on the history of seersucker, which he informed us was invented in New Orleans. (And now you know more than you ever thought you'd know about seersucker.)

We shared hellos. He asked about my background. I explained that I was from New York, live in Los Angeles, but I went to school at Tulane University. "So you're home," he said.

His comment threw me. How did he know that? I've spent less time in Louisiana than either New York or Los Angeles. Yet it feels like home. Is it the warmth of the people? The unique, welcoming culture? The incredible food? All of that?

Despite my long tenure in Los Angeles, a city I moved to for my job as a sitcom writer, I've always considered New York the home where my heart lies. But as I write my mystery series, delving into the culture and history of the region I fell in love with during college, Louisiana exerts more and more of a pull on my heart.

So I think the man who wrote about seersucker was right. When I'm Louisiana, I am home. At least in my heart and in my soul. And perhaps someday a dream of mine will come true, and I'll make the remarkable Cajun Country my actual home.

Giveaway:



TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 21 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW
October 21 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
October 22 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT
October 22 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW
October 23 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW 
October 23 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
October 24 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
October 24 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW
October 25 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
October 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW, GUEST POST
October 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
October 27 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
October 28 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
October 29 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 30 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
October 30 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

Kate Collins - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight and Interview


I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Kate Collins


About this author:
Kate Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series, now a new series on the Hallmark Movie and Mystery channel. Book #19 in the series, YEWS WITH CAUTION, will be an April 2017 release. All of Kate’s mysteries are available in print, digital, and large-print editions. The first three books are available on audio. Kate’s historical romances and children’s anthologies are also available in digital format through her website.


Where to follow this author:
Author assistant Jason Eberhardt: www.authorswriteinc.com


Interview:
1. Who or what inspired you to start writing?
I never considered a career as a writer until after my first child was born. Then I looked around for a creative outlet and tried a number of crafts, including sewing, rug hooking, macramé, tole painting, and crocheting. One day I saw an ad for a writing course for children in the Chicago Tribune and decided to take it. I started selling short stories to children’s magazines and my new career was born.

2. What do you do to help you get over writer's block?
Usually I have to step away from the computer, take a walk, do some yoga, or do something to free my mind so I can gain a new perspective. It really helps to talk over the plot problem with my son (my writing assistant). Another tip is to imagine the scene from a different character’s point of view.

3. Do you have scheduled writing time or a certain amount of words you write each day?

I usually do my internet work and household tasks in the mornings and write in the afternoons. My goal is to do five pages at least a day. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but sometimes I’ll spend an hour getting one scene just right.

4. How did you choose this genre to write?
I originally wanted to write historical romances and went on to publish seven of them, still available as e-books on my website. I finally did some soul searching and realized what I really enjoyed doing best was writing mysteries with a little romance in them, and that’s where I found my niche. Writing the Flower Shop Mystery series has been a dream come true. Having the books made into Hallmark Mysteries and getting to know the star of the series, Brooke Shields, is way beyond my wildest dreams.

5. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Mainly from the local news or bits of gossip. I love to eavesdrop at restaurants. My friends and neighbors know that any story they tell me may end up as a murder mystery. The plots for two of my books came from real life events from my neighborhood.

6. When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I love to walk, do yoga, read, and garden. For me, working in my garden is my zen. Besides flowers, I also grow herbs and a few vegetables. I planted a cherry and a grape tomato plant three years ago and made the mistake of letting the vines stay in the ground over the winter. Ever since then, they’ve come up on their own, so many that I have to thin them out. They’ve actually cross pollinated into a new variety I call the “chape.” I harvest so many that I’m thinking putting a tomato stand in front of my house.

7. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring writers?
I’d rather make that two pieces of advice. First is to write from your heart. If you aren’t finding the joy in your story, you might be writing in the wrong genre. The second is to join a writing group. They can help you find the right market for your work and give you critique help.

8. Who is your favorite author or book that you would like to recommend to your readers?
My current favorite author is Liane Moriarty. Her books, THE HUSBAND’S SECRET, and BIG LITTLE LIES really hooked me. They’re clever and humorous.

9. If you could meet any famous person dead or alive who would it be and why?
My first choice would be Agatha Christie, the mother of the cozy mystery genre. I’d love to pick her brain as to how she plotted her stories.

My second choice would be Jean Shepherd, the comedic writer who wrote the book, A CHRISTMAS STORY, among others. Mr. Shepherd grew up a few blocks from my childhood home, and I became an avid fan of his books from an early age. He was my inspiration for the humor I use in my own stories. Having dinner with him would be a joyful experience.

10. If you could visit anywhere in the world where would you like to visit?
Santorini, Greece, one of the Greek Islands. To me, it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth.

11. Five interesting facts about yourself.
I wish I could say I was so interesting that I’d have five things to list. About the only truly interesting thing is that I was once kidnapped by a camel driver in Giza, Egypt, until my husband paid ransom money to get me down from the camel. The driver wanted $50 to take my photo (with my own camera). My husband the lawyer bargained with him until they came to an agreement. My net value was $5.00. This was in full view of the other tourists and police, by the way.


What did I learn about this author:
I learned that Kate was kidnapped by a camel driver in Egyt. Her advice to new writers is to write from your heart. Also Kate likes to do yoga both for fun and as a cure for writer's block. What did you learn about Kate?

Stay tuned for our last author in this series!



Sandra Bretting - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight and Interview


I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Sandra Bretting


About this author:
Sandra Bretting writes the Missy DuBois Mystery series for Kensington/Lyrical Underground. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, she’s written for the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle, among others.

The Missy DuBois Mystery series follows milliner and bona fide Southern belle Missy DuBois, who becomes entangled in several unfashionable murders on the Great River Road in Louisiana. The first book, Murder at Morningside, debuted in May 2016. The second installment, Something Foul at Sweetwater, will be available December 2016. Readers can connect with her at www.sandrabretting.com.

Where to follow this author:


Interview:
1. Who or what inspired you to start writing?
My parents were Dutch immigrants who valued education above all else. My mother kept her bookshelves filled with works by great American authors, because she wanted to understand her new country better. I spent many happy hours curled up with books by Jack London, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, and I think that’s when the writing bug bit me.

2. What do you do to help you get over writer's block?
I try to enjoy a different kind of creativity. That can mean anything from listening to classical music to viewing some beautiful paintings or watching a well-written movie. Indulging in something else that’s creative usually gets me over a writing slump.

3. Do you have scheduled writing time or a certain amount of words you write each day?
I write six mornings a week, between 8 a.m. and noon. That’s when my brain is at its best and the distractions are minimal. I get squeamish when people talk about word count, because to me that feels a little robotic. I write until my muse tells me to stop…and then I stop.

4. How did you choose this genre to write?
An editor read one of my early mainstream manuscripts and felt it’d work better as a mystery. After my first two traditional mysteries were published, I wanted to spend more time with a certain character, so I wrote her into a cozy series. It’s funny how someone can point you down the path and by the time you look up, you’re already halfway there.

5. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
The Missy DuBois Mystery series came from a visit I took to the Great River Road in Louisiana. I knew I had to base a series there. The atmosphere is so thick; mystery lurks around every corner. Other times, I might hear a snippet that will spark my imagination. It could be a name, or a phrase, or some detail that strikes me as interesting.

6. When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I enjoy traveling with my husband and my two daughters, whenever they’re available. I also do yoga, although I cheat during the meditation part and plot out my next scenes. (Shhh…please don’t tell my yoga instructor!)

7. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring writers?
I’d remind them that writing careers aren’t built overnight. Most of those “overnight successes” you hear about? They toiled for years, so be committed for the long haul.

8. Who is your favorite author or book that you would like to recommend to your readers?
If anyone hasn’t read The Nightingale yet (is there anyone left?) I’d tell them to run right out and buy a copy, or download it to their eReader. I loved everything about the book…the characters, the tone, and the setting.

9. If you could meet any famous person dead or alive who would it be and why?
Probably Ernest Hemingway. His favorite work was The Old Man and the Sea, and I’d like to ask him how he managed to sustain such an interesting narrative with so little action. I think he’d be fascinating.

10. If you could visit anywhere in the world where would you like to visit?
Right now I’m looking into Portugal. My family loves Spain, but we’ve never traveled just west of there.

11. Five interesting facts about yourself
1) I wanted to be a concert pianist until I was 12 and saw much younger kids whiz past me with the Suzuki method.

2) I attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism two years before Brad Pitt. It’s true … timing is everything.

3) I can touch my tongue to my nose. (Which is probably more weird than fascinating.)

4) I served an internship on Capitol Hill at 19, and my friends and I would run around Congress afterhours. This was waaayyy before 9/11.

5) I have a wiener dog named Chrissy who thinks she’s human. (I don’t have the heart to tell her otherwise.)

What did I learn about this author:
Sandra's parents are Dutch immigrants and because of her mother she learned to love books. She would enjoy meeting Ernest Hemingway. Also Sandra worked on Capitol Hill as a young adult. What did you learn about her.


October 29, 2016

Liz Lipperman - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight, Interview and Giveaway


I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Liz Lipperman


About the author:
Liz Lipperman started writing many years ago, even before she retired from the medical field. Wasting many years thinking she was a romance writer but always having to deal with the pesky villains who kept popping up in all her stories, she finally gave up and decided since she read mysteries and obviously wrote them, why fight it? She's currently working on two mystery series--the Jordan McAllister Mysteries (formerly the Clueless Cook Series) and The Garcia Girls Mysteries (formerly A Dead Sister Talking Series.) Look for book #6 of the Clueless Cook/Jordan McAllister Series, titled ENCHI-LOTTA BODIES coming in 2017, along with #4 of the Garcia Girls Mysteries, ROCK AROUND THE CORPSE. You might also want to check out her romantic thrillers, MORTAL DECEPTION and SHATTERED and a romantic short titled CAN’T BUY ME LOVE. Also, be watching for the debut of a new romantic suspense series titled SWEEPERS coming sometime next year. She wants readers to know that her G rated cozies are written as Liz Lipperman and her R rated, grittier mysteries as Lizbeth Lipperman.

She lives north of Dallas with her HS sweetheart hubby. When she's not writing she spends her time doting on her four wonderful grandchildren.


Where to follow this author:


Interview:
When did your love of writing begin? 
Believe it or not, I was never an avid reader in my early years. It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that someone gave me a copy of Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers, that I fell in love with reading. I went back to school when my kids were teenagers and took a Creative Writing class as an elective, just for the heck of it. On the final exam, the professor mentioned that I should consider a career in fiction writing. So, I gave it a shot.

Do you have a scheduled writing time, place and/or routine? 
I wish I did. I am the most undisciplined writer out there. I find everything in the world to do instead of writing—no dust bunnies under my bed, etc. Then I might be thinking about my characters one day and get an inspiration and sit down and write an entire chapter.

What do you do to get over writer's block? 
That’s a good one. I think I stay in writers’ block most of the time. I am a plotter and must have the whole story outlined in my head before I even write a single word. Of course, the story never follows my outline, so I guess in that aspect, you could say I am also a pantser (writing by the seat of my pants.) I call myself a plotser. Anyway, to answer your question, I have no tricks. I just keep thinking about my characters, and sooner or later, one of them will talk to me.

What was it like to get y our first publishing contract? 
OMG! You have no idea. My first book was called SHATTERED DREAMS, written back when I thought I was a romance writer. It’s a story about a young nurse who falls for a hot cop, only to have her heart broken. To get away from it all, she goes to Costa Rica for a bachelorette party for a friend and finds herself right in the middle of a botched political kidnapping. She’s taken hostage and smuggled into Colombia when the head of the rebel/vigilante group is wounded and they need her to keep him alive. Long story short, she ends up in a remote jungle camp with a group of mostly women and children fighting the cartel. I tell you this so that you can see how absurd it was for me to try to market this as a romance. There were drugs, murders, kidnappings, guns, etc. My rejection letters said the same thing—“You can’t have a romance in Colombia.” But it was a romance, I thought, since the bad boy cop came looking for my girl and ended up fighting with her alongside the Colombian people. Ha! I remember how excited I was when an agent from a brand, spanking, new agency called and said, “I love this story.” I literally cried that someone loved my ugly, unsellable baby. Truthfully, that was more exciting to me than the day I found out that Berkley wanted me to write a series for them. Back to my story. When the first agent tried to sell SD she was met with the same comments on the rejection letters. Then she had to leave for personal reasons, and I was handed over to the owner of the agency, Christine Witthohn. She took two days to read SD and then called. “You’re not a romance writer.” she said. “Yes, I am,”I argued. “No, you’re a mystery writer, and I want you to write me a mystery.” So I wrote MORTAL DECEPTION and was told by editors that it had too much romance in it. Sheesh! I couldn’t win. So, I wrote HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE and Christine submitted it to Berkley Prime Crime. The editor loved it but said she’d have to take out all the good stuff to make it a cozy. She asked if I could write her a cozy series, specifically, a foodie. “Absolutely,” I said. “What’s a cozy?” And that’s how my career began. Neither of those first two books ever sold since they didn’t fit the exact mold editors were looking for, but I self pubbed them. They remain my two favorites of all my books. As a side note, before I published SHATTERED, I took out the first 125 pages (basically, the romance) and started the book with the kidnapping. When Amazon was looking for short romances, I changed the names and backstories, and those first 125 pages are now CAN’T BUY ME LOVE.

How has the publishing/writing world changed since you first started writing? 
It’s like we’re in a different world. It was already getting harder to sell to NY when I first started, but now it’s almost impossible unless you’re a bestselling author. I walked away from the Berkley contract and also a Midnight Ink contract when I worried that they weren’t promoting my career as an author. The exciting news is that in today’s world, anyone can be published. It’s so easy to get your book out there for the world to read. The bad news is that because of that, there is a glut of books out there, and you’re competing with a lot of free ones. Just like you would if you had a NY contract, the responsibility for marketing falls on you. Most of us would much rather be writing.
And one word of caution, if you decide to self publish, hire a fantastic editor and cover designer. The reading world is unforgiving of mistakes and plots with holes in them.

You write about strong female characters. Are they modeled after anyone? 
I’d like to think they were modeled after me since I’ve always had to be strong and independent. However, all my characters are tall, gorgeous and skinny with great hair. I am not tall, a little chunky, and average looking with crappy hair. So there goes that theory!! I featured my four sisters as the main characters in my Dead Sister Talking/Garcia Girls Mysteries. Of course, the ghost is nothing like my sister Theresa, who died way too young. She married her HS sweetheart and was a wonderful mother to 4 beautiful children, but that would have been too boring to write about. Instead, I made her a potty-mouthed ghost who says and does the most outrageous things. That series is written as Lizbeth Lipperman and is “R” rated, by the way.

When you are not writing what do you like to do? 
I am retired from nursing (my main career) and I live in a wonderful community with lots of activities. I play water volleyball twice a week, love all sports, am really close to both my children and their families, and dote on my 4 wonderful grandchildren.

Do you have any advice for beginning authors?
 Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not a writer if you don’t (fill in the blank here –write everyday, read everyday, eat, sleep and breathe writing, etc.) Everyone does it their own way, and if that works for you, blow the naysayers off (and that includes those who rejected you.) And I would be remiss not to tell how important it is to join a group of authors somewhere who understand exactly what you’re going through. It’s easy nowadays with internet. My younger sister has always been my best friend, and one day she overheard me telling her journalism major daughter about my latest plot. My sister whined that I never tell her anything like that. So, I went into a ten-minute, detailed plot outline. At he end, she looked at me and said, “Oh,” and walked away. I knew then how important it was to have authors for friends and critique partners. And that’s another thing. You must find someone whom you trust that will give you constructive criticism about your writing. I had one critique partner whose criticism was anything but constructive. I had to move on from this “toxic” person or quit writing.

Do you have a favorite author or book you would like to recommend to your readers? 
I love mysteries and thrillers. I’ve been told I write like Evanovich (I wish!) but the truth is I’ve never even read her. (Met her at a conference once.)The only time I can read when I’m on deadline is when I go on vacation. Otherwise, I get caught up in someone else’s characters, and since I’ve already admitted to chronic writers’ block, you can see why I don’t need one more distraction. I have a bookcase full of all the Stephanie Plum books and lots of others just waiting for when I retire from yet another career. But if I had to name one author I love, it would have to be James Lee Burke. I have never been a descriptive writer—basically, I suck at it. So I write a lot of action and dialogue. Burke’s novels are full of wonderful descriptions, and when he tells me about the dew on a leaf, I can close my eyes and picture it. Normally, I skim all the descriptive stuff, but not his. Check him out.

Please tell us five random things about yourself
1. I got suspended from a Catholic High School for three days for smoking in the boys’ locker room. (Many years ago. I have not smoked for over 40 years.)
2. I run a fantasy football league every year.
3. I played a saxophone in my HS band.
4. I write long hand and then dictate (Dragon) to the computer. My typing skills leave a lot to be desired.
5.I flew to Taiwan 8 months pregnant to join my husband on a remote tour (Air Force.) They nearly freaked out over there. My daughter was born in Taipai and has dual citizenship.


What did I learn about this author:
Liz did not get into reading until she was an adult. Also she suffers from chronic writer's block. She modeled the characters in her Dead Sister Talking book after her own sisters. Liz is a retired nurse who loves to play water volleyball. What are some things you learned?


Giveaway:
This giveaway is for the US only. The winner will be drawn randomly via rafflecopter. Once the winner has been drawn they will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen. It is mandatory that you leave a comment on this post. This will be verfied and if you do not leave a comment then your entry will be thrown out. Thank you and good luck.

Prize: There will be two winners for this giveaway. The winner will get their choice of one of Liz's books. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay tuned for the next author!

Jenny Kales - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight and Interview


I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Jenny Kales

About this author:
Jenny Kales is the author of ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, the first in The Callie’s Kitchen Mystery Series. Her marriage into a Greek-American Midwestern family inspired The Callie’s Kitchen mysteries, featuring Calliope Costas, food business owner and amateur sleuth. The setting of the story, “Crystal Bay,” is inspired by a favorite family vacation spot – Wisconsin’s beautiful Geneva Lakes.

A member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, she lives just outside of Chicago with her husband, two daughters and one cute but demanding Yorkshire terrier.

Keep up with author news for Jenny Kales by following her on social media: Facebook (Jenny Kales Mystery Author), Twitter @Jenny_Kales, Instagram (jennykales_author) and Goodreads. Visit her website at https://jennykales.wordpress.com/

Where to follow this author:


Interview:
1. Who or what inspired you to start writing?
I wanted to write as soon as I could read. I wanted to be able to give people that wonderful feeling of escaping into a good book that captures the imagination. When I read "Harriet the Spy" for the first time, I decided that being a writer is about the best thing you can be.

2. What do you do to help you get over writer's block?

I start writing down chapter outlines or working out plot points. That seems to do the trick. Also, I will read over what I've written the day before -- that seems to give me a good jumping off point.

3. Do you have scheduled writing time or a certain amount of words you write each day?

I try to write every day for at least 2 hours. I also write at least one day of the weekend,.If I miss a day, I make up for it by "double-booking" on another day. This is especially important when I'm trying to complete a project.

4. How did you choose this genre to write?
I love reading all mysteries, but cozy mysteries really captured my imagination. I like the fact that they take you into an idyllic setting that you'd want to visit, with fun, quirky people -- but that there is a dark side when a murder takes place. I like that dichotomy. I also like how cozy mysteries will help restore a sense of justice and order -- something that doesn't always happen in the "real world." It's a good escape, and solving the mystery makes you use your brain. Can you tell I love this genre?

5. Where do you get your ideas for your books?

My "Callie's Kitchen" series is inspired by my frequent visits to the Geneva Lakes area of Wisconsin. It's a nice getaway spot and tourist destination with great shops and restaurants and scenery -- so I thought, why not write a cozy mystery set there? Calliope Costas and her family, are inspired by the many people I've met by marrying into a Greek-American family.

6. When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I love to read! I also love British TV (especially the mysteries) and cooking shows. I enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling with my family and I love to bake and cook -- of course, Greek foods are a family favorite.

7. What one piece of advice would you like to give to aspiring writers?
Only you can write with your unique voice. Keep improving your craft. Edit mercilessly but love your story and believe in it -- or readers won't!

8. Who is your favorite author or book that you would like to recommend to your readers?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. An oldie, but a goodie. If you've never read it, you're missing out! It's also influenced so much suspense and mystery writing.

9. If you could meet any famous person dead or alive who would it be and why?
Colin Firth. Because...Mr. Darcy!

10. If you could visit anywhere in the world where would you like to visit?

I'd love to visit Scotland because I love Outlander . I'd like to visit Greece with my family -- my husband has been there many times and speaks fluent Greek.

11. Five interesting facts about yourself
I'm tall-- 6 feet!
I once was a semi-finalist in the Chicago Tribune Christmas Cookie competition using a variation on a cookie recipe from a 1950s Greek church cookbook.
The first (and so far, only) time I visited Paris was on my honeymoon.
One of my freelance essays appeared on The TODAY Show Parents site. That was pretty exciting.
I'm finishing up the second book in the Callie's Kitchen mystery series -- it comes out in November!

What did I learn about this author:
Jenny uses Geneva Lakes, Wisconsin as the inspiration of the setting for her books. She also enjoys watching British mystery tv show. Like me she would love to visit Scotland because of her love of The Outlander. What are some things you learned?

Stay tuned for the next author!

October 28, 2016

Lynn Cahoon - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight and Interview


 Lynn Cahoon


About this author:
Lynn Cahoon is the author of the NYT and USA Today bestselling Tourist Trap cozy mystery series. Guidebook to Murder, book 1 of the series won the Reader's Crown for Mystery Fiction in 2015. She's also the author of the recently released, Cat Latimer series. A STORY TO KILL, book 1, came out in mass market paperback September 2016. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies. Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com

Where to follow this author:


Interview:
When did your love of writing begin?
I always wanted to be a story teller. Even as a kid. But I'm very literal and I didn't see a 'writer' degree and I knew I needed a fall back career. Instead, I got a full time career, and a baby, so there was no time for writing. Fast forward a few years, and when I was divorcing my first husband and finding my voice, I remembered my love of writing. Then life intervened again, and I got husband number two with a strong love of darts. When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2007, I realized someday wasn't promised and I started writing.

What made you chose this genre?
I love reading cozy mysteries. But it took a while reading the mystery genre, why I liked some books, and not others. It was the ones with the strong community and relationships that drew me in, not so much the blood and gore. 

Do you have a scheduled writing time, place and/or routine?

I wish. Actually, I get up early, before work, and write. I like my desktop, mainly because of the 40 inch screen. My husband keeps me in high tech toys. I plan for 10K a week, and my goal is to get 2K a day on weekdays, then my weekends are free. It never works that way. 

What do you do to get over writer's block?
I write. Honestly, I think writer's block is a writer not knowing where their story is heading. If I don't like what I'm writing, I might think about what I want to do differently, then I change the plan. But I don't think you get over a block by not writing. 

What was it like to get y our first publishing contract?
Crazy. I'd been targeting HQ American for over three years. They finally rejected my bull rider story, so I bit the bullet and sent it to a small press with a strong backer (Crimson Romance) and had a request for a full in an hour. My offer to contract came a week later. I was at work and turned to my cube mate and said, "I think I just sold my book." Each and every contract has had that sense of wonder with it. Wonder and gratitude. 

How has the publishing/writing world changed since you first started writing?
See answer above. I had told my husband that I worked way too hard on a book to sell it to a digital first publisher. However, when you target a book to a specific publisher and a specific line, there aren't many other places to shop it to after the publisher rejects it. Since 2012 when The Bull Rider's Brother was published, digital first has become not such a bad word in the lives of authors. I'm making good royalties on my digital books. Good enough that I'm thinking about giving up the day job, right as soon as my husband's life flight trip is paid off. 
 
You write about strong female characters. Are they modeled after anyone?
Kind of. My older sisters were all strong role models for me. My mom was widowed with five kids, including an one-year-old (me). I've always fought for my right to work without being told I'm taking a job away from a man with a family. Being my age, I have a different sense of the world, especially as a female. I want my characters to be strong and independent like I would have wanted my daughters to be, if I'd had any.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I love sitting on the beach watching the waves. I just got back from our vacation at OBX, NC and I'm already missing listening to the crash of the waves. 

Do you have any advice for beginning authors?

I've heard this from others. Write at least three books, start to finish, before thinking of publication. You have to learn what you like to write and your voice. Then don't be afraid of a digital offer. 

Do you have a favorite author or book you would like to recommend to your readers?
Robyn Carr. Love the way she writes small towns. And Stephen King - love his fantasy. And Deborah Harkness. The Discovery of Witches. I read pretty widely. 

Please tell us five random things about yourself

I love baking, cooking, and good food.
I'm kind of obsessed with Project Runway and Top Chef. (And any other competition show like that.)
I married a younger man the second time.
I'm a pretty good dart player (for a girl. Not my words - but I've heard them a lot.)
I love swimming, but don't do it as much as I should.

What I learned about this author:
Lynn is a breast cancer survivor. Like me she loves Project Runway and Top Chef. She models her characters after her older sisters. One of her favorite authors is Robyn Carr. What did you learn?

Stay tuned for the next author!
 

Nancy Parra/Nancy Coco - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight and Interview


I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Nancy Parra/Nancy Coco


About this author:
Nancy J Parra AKA Nancy Coco is the author of over 20 published novels which include three mystery series: The Gluten-free Baker’s Treat Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), The Candy Coated Mysteries (Kensington), and The Perfect Proposal Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime). Her writing has been called witty and her protagonists plucky by reviewers around the world. Nancy is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America and writes for the Killer Character Blog on the 8th of every month. Nancy loves to hear from readers.


Where to follow this author:


Interview:
When did your love of writing begin? 
I started writing stories in 5th grade, but didn't write my first full novel until I was 20- 17 novels later I sold my first book just as I was turning 40. I've sold 24 books since then.

What made you chose this genre? 
I started out writing romance, but the books always had a mystery theme. I went back to school to get my Masters and decided to study the mystery genre. The rest is history.

Do you have a scheduled writing time, place and/or routine? 
I set goals of 5 or 10 pages a day depending on how close I am to deadline. So I don't go to bed until that's done- hopefully it's done in the morning but some days get away from me and it's done in the evening.

What do you do to get over writer's block?
 
I write badly- lol- I don't have writer's block. I sit down and write daily- some days I allow myself to write badly-I can always go back and fix it later. The secret is to always write.

What was it like to get y our first publishing contract? 
Amazing! I danced around for days- but the closer it got to publishing the more afraid I got- being published is sort of like walking naked through Walmart- it's very hard to show something so personal to the world and let the world judge it. But it is totally worth it! :D

How has the publishing/writing world changed since you first started writing? 
Everything is so different now. There are more voices heard-that's a good thing. There are more ways to publish-also good. 

You write about strong female characters. Are they modeled after anyone? 
I would have to say all the strong, beautiful women I've met over the years. There are so many wonderful role models around us of every day women building families and friendships and following their dreams. 

When you are not writing what do you like to do? 
I like to bake! I make up almost all of the recipes in my books. It's creative and messy and fun. It's also immediate. No waiting two years for the finished product.

Do you have any advice for beginning authors? 
There's a funny saying- What to tell new authors- -quit while they are still happy! lol. I say keep writing as long as it makes you happy. Life is too short not to be happy.

Do you have a favorite author or book you would like to recommend to your readers? 
 There are too many wonderful authors to name just one. I do go back and reread Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series. It's so different reading them as an adult. 

Please tell us five random things about yourself
1) I hate lima beans
2) I love and cherish all four seasons.
3) I once lived on Guam- there is only two seasons there- wet and dry and even in the dry season it rains somewhere on the island every day.
4) I've discarded nearly as many books/manuscripts as I've published.
5) I collect cookie jars

Nancy's new book coming out in 2017

What did I learn about this author:
Nancy has a goal of writing 5-10 pages a day. Like me she is a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and likes to re-read her books. She has lived in Guam. She did not sell her first book until she was 40. What did  you learn about Nancy?

Stay tuned for the next author!