Mary Lee Ashford, author of Night of the Living Bread, the latest novel in the Sugar & Spice mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Mary.

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

First off, Dianne, thank you so much for letting me stop by.

My new book, Night of the Living Bread, is book four in my series so maybe I’ll start with sharing a little bit about the series.

Sugar & Spice Mysteries feature best friends, Sugar Calloway and Dixie Spicer who together own a cookbook business. Sugar is a former editor for a big publishing company who, after she loses her job due to downsizing, teams up with blue-ribbon baker, Dixie, to start Sugar & Spice Community cookbooks. The cookbooks they produce are the kind often used as fundraisers for groups such as churches, youth sports, school organizations such as band boosters, or in this book the local historical society.

In Night of the Living Bread, the Jameson County Historical Society has been working with Sugar & Dixie on an idea for a cookbook featuring bread recipes. But they’ve barely begun the project when the board president is found stabbed (with a bread knife) and they are pulled into the investigation of her murder.

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

The idea for this book started with an interest in small town historical societies. Since my retirement, I’ve developed an interest in genealogy. Actually, I’ve always had the interest but just hadn’t had the time to devote to it. But in any case, as I’ve begun a more serious pursuit of my family background, I’ve discovered some interesting gems. Who knew I was mostly Scottish and Irish? I certainly didn’t. And as I’ve continued researching, I’ve found many clues via old cemeteries and local historical society records. Clues and secrets, perfect fodder for a mystery.

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

There is often a theme in my books, but I usually don’t discover it until I start writing. And that was definitely the case with this book. As I was wrapping up the first draft of this book, I realized the central theme was friendship. And sometimes friendships form in unexpected ways. I wish I could say I set out to highlight the value of our friends because a faithful friend is truly a treasure, but I didn’t. The theme emerged as the story unfolded.

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

Characters are always first for me and Sugar and Dixie, of course, came first to the series. They are the leads in each book, and I’ve enjoyed sharing them with readers as the series has developed. They are great fun to write and I enjoy hanging out with them. Though they are so different from each other, they share a common value system, work ethic, and sense of humour.

Also, I do have other favourite characters who appear in the series. Sugar’s landlady, Greer, is a feisty and independent octogenarian who always add flavour to the story. She reminds me of some real-life women I’ve been lucky enough to know whose zest for life was unaffected by their age. Women who I aspire to emulate.

Another, though more minor character, is Disco. He owns Flashback, the record and memorabilia shop next door to Sugar & Spice publishing. I’m partial to Disco because he’s just himself. Unique without even trying. A throwback to the 70s both in fashion and attitude, he is forever stopping by to check for samples of whatever Dixie is baking.

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

Though I grew up in small town Iowa which is the setting for my books, I chose to create a fictional place, St. Ignatius. It’s not a real place but rather a compilation of all the things I love in various picturesque small towns around the middle part of the United States. So, I start with those things, the town square, the shops, the beautiful historic homes – and build from there. In small Midwest towns like St. Ignatius along with a sense of history there is also a belief in community. Like any place, St. Ignatius comes to life via the people who live there.

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

The research I do very much depends on the book. In this book because there was a cold case, I consulted a forensic anthropologist. Also, skateboarding and antiques required quite a bit of research this time around as I don’t have any expertise in either of those areas. A writer friend recently said she researches extensively but only about ten percent ends up in her book. Though she writes historical mysteries, I think the same is true for contemporary stories as well. You often have to do the research in order to know what’s possible.

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

One thing I’d like to mention is that each book can stand alone. You don’t have to read the books in order. However, if you like to start at the beginning of a series, my publisher is currently offering the Kindle version of book one Game of Scones for free.

I hope mystery readers enjoy Night of the Living Bread.

And again, thank you for inviting me!

You’re welcome, Mary, and good luck with Night of the Living Bread, the latest book in the Sugar & Spice mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Mary Lee Ashford by visiting the author’s Facebook, BookBub, Instagram, Goodreads and Threads pages.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – Barnes & Noble –  Kobo

About Mary Lee Ashford: Mary Lee Ashford is a national best-selling author, a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and a supporter of public libraries. In addition to writing the Sugar & Spice series for Oliver Heber Books, she also writes the Pampered Pets mystery series as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey. Prior to publishing, Mary Lee won first place in the Daphne du Maurier contest and was a finalist in Murder in the Grove’s mystery contest and Killer Nashville’s Claymore Dagger contest.

She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a former board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., and Sisters in Crime Guppies.

She loves encouraging writers and is a frequent lecturer and workshop presenter for writers’ groups. Mary Lee has a long-time interest in creativity and teaches a university-level course on creative management. She also presents workshops and blogs about creativity and the writing craft.

She currently resides in the Midwest with her husband, Tim, and Zoey, her feline coworker. When she’s not writing, her passions are reading, travel, and time with her family, especially her six grandchildren.