Gladys from Toes in the Tulips (Adventures of Gladys), the latest novel in the Mystery Book Nook Shared World is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Gladys. 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.

Well, hey there! I live inside the book Toes in the Tulips and as for series, I’m glad you asked. It is actually a very special book because it can be connected to the Adventures of Gladys cozy mystery series AND the Mystery Book Nook Shared World that is brand new this year. I like to get out and meet new people so jumping from my regular series to connect with characters that authors brought together using the Mystery Book Nook was a fun way to do that.

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

The writer just tries hard to keep up with me. For some reason, she thought writing a graying seventy-year-old would be simple but boy did I show her! I have to admit, after a few of my shenanigans she got me back. You should see the disguise I wear in Toes in the Tulips. It was perfect, but the author imagined it up right out of nowhere to give me a taste of my own medicine.

How did you evolve as the main character?

That’s a bit of a long story, starting with a series where my life as a measly secondary character began (Ooey Gooey Bakery Mysteries for those curious types out there). Lucky for you, I’m retired so time is plentiful. From secondary character in a series about best friends, baking, and bodies dropping, I was whooshed into the Adventures of Gladys series by popular demand. From lonely senior lady to starring senior sleuth. In Toes in the Tulips, I’m recently recovering from romance trouble and I guess you could say I evolve by learning when to appreciate good friends and when to be satisfied with my quiet (okay, okay, less than quiet) life as it is.

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

I mentioned my starter series so I’m mighty partial to best friends Piper Rivers and Samantha Lowe, they also happen to be the best bakers in a four-series radius. During my stint in Toes in the Tulips, I enjoyed deepening my friendship with Rex, a local senior like myself, as well as Sophie, the owner of Babbling Books in our little beach town.

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

Seashell Bay is a nice, small beach town but I avoid the touristy bits. We have a close-knit community and several of my friends own local businesses. Though retired, I work part-time with them to help out. In this story, I started a brand-new project: a community garden. At least, I helped start it. And I invented the plant potluck – everyone brings plants, clippings, or seeds to share.

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

I reckon I’d say, I think you’ll love it. I think you’d love the whole Adventures of Gladys series if you like humor, outlandishness, and mysteries, but you don’t have to read the whole series just to enjoy this particular book. I’d also tell all of the readers, thank you for giving me a chance on your shelf, digital or otherwise, and thank you for telling others about the book if you enjoy Toes in the Tulips. My author, she’s not great at selling and tooting her own horn so she is blessed by any help she can get.

Thank you for answering my questions, Gladys, and good luck to you and your author, Katherine H. Brown, with Toes in the Tulips (Adventures of Gladys), the latest book in the Mystery Book Nook Shared World series.

Readers can learn more about Gladys and her author, Katherine H. Brown by visiting the author’s newsletter and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, and Instagram pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Katherine H. Brown: Katherine is a wife, mom, Texas author, and unreformed bookaholic. From childhood, Katherine has devoured books for fun, for escape, for inspiration. As an author, it is Katherine’s goal to provide that same fun escape for others and encourage a love of reading in any age group. Clean cozy mysteries with sass and good Southern manners are her specialty, though recently Katherine has taken the jump into the steampunk world with a fun twist on Mary Poppins inspired characters. When not writing, Katherine enjoys weekly trips to the library with her toddler, teaching yoga workouts, and spending time with family.