Jess Byrne is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Peril in Pink, the first novel in the Hudson Valley B&B mystery series.

Welcome, Jess. 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.

My name is Jess. I live inside a book called Peril in Pink, a modern cozy mystery that takes place at my brand new bed & breakfast in the Hudson Valley. It’s called the Pearl, after my grandmother, who previously owned the grand old house. She used the place as a rooming house in the 1960s and 70s. Since then, it had become pretty run down so my best friend, Kat, and I renovated it after becoming burnt out in our corporate jobs. Now it’s a modern Palm Springs-inspired B&B marketed toward social media savvy millennials. We painted all the doors pink and it has become our signature color.

Anyway, getting back to the story. It’s the opening weekend and my ex-boyfriend, Lars, is paying us a visit. This is good news (unless you ask my over-protective brother) because he just won a hit reality TV show called Sing This! Being able to splash his photo all over our social media pages has been great to get the attention of our target market. Unfortunately, Lars brings an entourage that included his stepfather/manager, Bob, a man who I (and pretty much the rest of the town) can’t stand.

You won’t believe what happened next. Brace yourself… Bob was found dead.

That’s all I can tell you for now. If you want to find out more? You can pick up the book at your local bookstore, online, or request it at your local library.

Oh, and is it part of a series? Fingers crossed it will be!

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

The writer likes to think she knows what’s best for me and my story. But she and I don’t always see eye-to-eye. Often she thinks I’m going in one direction and I surprise her and lead the story somewhere else. She’s asked me to settle down and let her lead the way, but why would I? I’m having fun!

How did you evolve as the main character?

As the story develops I learn to trust my instincts and not let others sway my opinion (unless it’s Kat—best friends always get a say, don’t they?)

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

As I mentioned, Kat is my ride-or-die. So I’m always happy when she’s by my side. Although we don’t always agree. If we did, she’d probably get on my nerves. My brother, Nate, and I are really close too. He and his new wife, Sarah, run the bar attached to the B&B. It works well and we have a great relationship. Then there’s my Aunt Marnie, who kinda came with the place. She’s a die-hard hippy, who used to follow the Grateful Dead around. Now she helps out at the Pearl and keeps my husky, Duke, company when I’m busy.

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

We’re smack in the middle of the Hudson Valley in a small town called Fletcher Lake and it’s opening weekend at the Pearl—so exciting!

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

Peril in Pink is a modern cozy mystery and I had a lot of fun writing it. Hope you can come and join us!

Thank you for answering my questions, Jess, and good luck to you and your author, Sydney Leigh, with Peril in Pink, the first book in the Hudson Valley mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Jess and her author, Sydney Leigh by visiting the author’s website and the Stiletto Gang, as well her Facebook, Goodreads and Instagram pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Koko

About Sydney Leigh: Sydney spent several years running a seasonal business, working in the summer so she could spend cold months in cool places. Now she writes modern cozy mysteries and thinks about murder. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and served on the board of Crime Writers of Canada from 2018-2021.