Today Eloise Brightly is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Donuts, Deception & Death, her first novel in the Paradise Beach Cozy Mystery series.

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

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

Donuts, Deception, and Death is the first book in the Paradise Beach Cozy Mystery series. Daisy’s life hasn’t been easy. Her husband passed away six years ago, and she made the best of the situation, opening a bed and breakfast in the house they inherited from his parents. She loves her B&B and her cats, but her neighbor not, not so much. Daisy has every reason to want her neighbor gone since the woman took Daisy’s business name and used it for her new B&B. When the neighbor ends up dead, Daisy is the prime suspect. She has to solve the case by finding the real killer, and run her B&B.

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?

I live in a beach town that isn’t anywhere near as quaint as Paradise Shores, but it does provide me with inspiration. People can be quirky in small towns and their antics can show a darker side sometimes.

Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it?

The main theme is living after disappointing events happen. Life isn’t always easy, but people can move on. Recovery and mourning take different paths for everyone, and Daisy’s path of rebuilding her life is inspirational for me.

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?

I try to create characters who have gone through difficulty, but they find the silver lining eventually. Daisy has overcome so much, and her upbeat outlook on life is one she has to keep choosing to live. Stuff happens to her, but she keeps pushing forward even when bad things happen.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?

The characters in my stories love where they live. They are the spice that makes the town come to life. Whether quirky or strait laced, the characters make the town better.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

I’ve tried to make this series realistic in some ways, but also fun and filled with excitement. I grew up reading Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who series and though I’ll never match her grace or style, I love how she wove her stories so much I chose to write cozy mysteries. With improvements in criminal investigations, real cops are a bit better at finding out who murdered the victim, but in my story, it will always be the female sleuth who solves the case. I’ve spent time taking writing classes for mystery authors, searching out information necessary to write a convincing mystery, but more importantly, I hope the stories are enjoyable for the readers

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

I hope the reader finds Donuts, Deception, and Death to be an enjoyable read. The next book, Cupcakes, Collusion, and Casualties will feature Daisy solving another murder that hits very close to home.

Thanks for answering my questions, Eloise, and good luck with Donuts, Deception & Death, the first book in the Paradise Beach Cozy Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Eloise and her writing by visiting her Facebook page.

The novel is available online at Amazon.

About Eloise Brightly: Eloise loves cozy mysteries. Crime fiction is her favorite. She enjoys figuring out whodunit while curled up before a roaring fire with a mug of hot cocoa. She lives on the eastern seaboard and combs the beaches while watching dolphins play, searching for inspiration for another mystery series.