Today Win is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about A Deadly Inside Scoop, the latest novel in the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series by Abby Collette.

Welcome, Win. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Hi! My name is Bronwyn Crewse, but family and friends call me Win. I may live inside of a novel but my story takes place in a real place! Chagrin Falls, Ohio. And there is a real waterfall there, too, and it’s where I find a body. That happens in A Deadly Inside Scoop, the first in my new cozy mystery series, A Ice Cream Parlor Mystery.

My family owns an ice cream shop. Started by my grandparents in 1965, I recently took over management. Still my family makes frequent visits, even got my mom helping me dip up scoops and making ice cream sundaes. My grandfather, PopPop, is in everyday, but mostly he sits in one of the booths and plays backgammon. There’s also something good going on there, and we’re hoping you’ll stop by for a visit, too.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

We inside the story try to let Abby dictate what’s going on, but **whispering, cupped hand up to mouth** she doesn’t always get it right. At those times we have to give her a hand. Like she tried to put me in a romantic relationship with another character, but I’ve got too much work to do to get my shop up and running for that. She does help to keep Maisie and Riya (last names Solomon and Amacarelli, respectively, my best friends) calm.

How did you evolve as the main character?

I’m usually work driven. Making our family’s business a success is how I spend all my time and it occupies every space of my brain. But, with all the murders going on in our small village and me having to jump in to solve them, I’m beginning to find out there’s more to life!

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them?

I love all the characters in the book (and I bet you will too)! Being able to be around family and friends that I’ve had nearly my entire life is a rewarding way to spend a few hours with readers.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?

Our ice cream parlor, Crewse Creamery, is beautiful. 1950s motif, we even had a soda fountain and a shiny, red jukebox! But what makes it super special is that the store is built right on top of a waterfall. I added a full glass wall in the back and seats so people can enjoy ice cream and the beautiful outside at the same time.

We make all our artisanal ice cream in-house with fresh products, mostly from nearby farms. Maisie even grows some of our products in her community garden. And because of it, we always issue a warning: The warm cozy smell of vanilla, sweet aromas of plump berries and citrus, and the rich velvety waft of chocolate will reach out to you through the pages of our story and make you long for spoons full of the delicious, delectable frozen treats we serve. So have some handy!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?

If you love a good cozy mystery, you don’t want to miss a visit to Crewse Creamery!

Thanks for answering my questions, Win, and good luck to you and your author with A Deadly Inside Scoop, the latest book in the Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Abby Collette and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook and Instagram pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – B&N –  Google – IndieBound

About Abby Collette: Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. Born and raised in Cleveland, it’s even a mystery to her why she has yet to move to a warmer place. Author of the two Southern cozy mystery series Logan Dickerson Mysteries featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian who is always digging up trouble, and the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, set in East Texas, it pairs a medical examiner and her feisty auntie who owns a funeral home and is always ready to solve a whodunnit. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing workshops at local libraries and spending time with her grandchildren, each of which are her favorite.