Paint Me A Crime

Posted on June 13, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Holly Yew is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Paint Me A Crime, her first novel in the Rose Shore Mystery series.

Welcome, Holly. 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.

Paint Me A Crime is the first book of the Rose Shore Mysteries. Rose Shore is a fictional town in the not-so-fictional Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada. Jessamine Rhodes, a former art curator, moves there to own and operate the community art center, but during her grand opening, a priceless painting is stolen and a prestigious art collector is murdered. Jessamine then sets out to find the missing painting and bring justice for the art collector’s death in order to save her new business from going under.

I have currently written two more books in this series, both of which are awaiting copy edits from my publisher. Each mystery is a standalone, so the books do not necessarily need to be read chronologically but to fully follow the characters’ personal stories, it is best to read them in order.

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

I wanted to try writing a mystery novel but had no idea where to start. I looked up writing prompts online and came across one that said, “A painting goes missing in broad daylight. There were numerous people in the room, but no one saw anything.” That prompt became Paint Me A Crime.

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

The Rose Shore Community Art Center plays a large part of the book’s theme. My original story centered around an art gallery but was changed to an art center to better suit the typical small-town feel of cozy mysteries. Here everyone can gather for classes or special events that Jessamine hosts in an informal setting.

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

I usually start with a name for the characters (which I just find off a name generator online. I have no deep meaningful way of picking names!), and their personalities take shape from there. Andrew Marsh is probably my favorite character in the Rose Shore Mysteries. He’s the admin assistant at the art center and is the one in Jessamine’s friend group who makes everyone laugh. But not only is he funny, he is very sweet and caring, and I like having this character that’s the bright sunshine in the dark moments of the novel. 

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

It strongly helps that I live in the Okanagan and can include descriptions that are right outside my window. The Okanagan has four true seasons, and I lean heavily into the season each novel takes place in. Because Paint Me A Crime takes place in September, there are descriptions of golden leaves of Birch trees, bright mini pumpkins, and cool, crisp fall air. Jessamine’s best friend owns a tea shop, and she creates fall-themed teas such as spiced cinnamon chai and cozy caramel rooibos.

Since Rose Shore is a fictional town, I include everything I love about the typical cozy mystery small-town setting. There are delicious restaurants, libraries where book clubs meet, parks and beaches to hang out at, and quirky characters for Jessamine to interact with.

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

Since art, crafting, and painting happen so often throughout the novel, I did a lot of research into different art mediums and the techniques used to create the art. In the opening chapter, the art center hosts a watercolors class, and in my research, I learned that for watercolors, it’s typical to have two water jars available: one for rinsing the paintbrush and one for painting with so the canvas doesn’t entirely become a murky brown color.

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

Paint Me A Crime was my first attempt at writing anything ever! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I first sat down to write it, but here it is, a published novel years later. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been excited for this book, and I hope you enjoy reading it! 

Thanks for answering my questions, Holly, and good luck with Paint Me A Crime, the first book in the Rose Shore Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Holly 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 – Amazon Canada – Barnes and Noble

About Holly Yew: After having called many places around the world home, Holly Yew has settled in the Okanagan, BC with her husband, son, and two rescue dogs. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s playing the piano, watching Star Wars, or enjoying a Dole Whip in Disneyland. Holly is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.

Posted in Archives, June 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Passport to Spy

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Kat Lawson is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Passport to Spy, the latest novel in the Kat Lawson mystery series.

Welcome, Kat. 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 Kat Lawson, and I have a confession to make. I never expected to find myself working for an international travel publication, much less working undercover for the FBI. But sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn. Like when I lost my job as a fledgling investigative reporter at the Phoenix Gazette. Suddenly all those plans I had made to spend my life working at the local newspaper turned upside down when I was booted out the door due to an inappropriate workplace relationship with my boss. Him they kept. Me, they fired.

But there is no point in looking back. And the time off I had after being let go resulted in an unusual opportunity. My father, a former WW2 navigator/bombardier, approached me with a chance to travel to Hungary, where his B24 had crashed during the war, and—surprise-surprise—has recently been found by a man who’s invited my dad to come and visit the crash site. Dad can’t go…but I can.

The Navigator’s Daughter is the story of my first experience traveling overseas, and while I won’t get into all that I found on that trip, I will say the people I met changed my life. I came home with a new appreciation of who I was, and it opened a new door for me that I never would have thought possible.

As a result of my experience in Hungry, I was approached by the FBI to work undercover as a feature writer for a travel publication. I was issued a passport and assigned to cover the Christmas Market in Munich, Germany, while secretly investigating a hidden cache of stolen artwork. Passport to Spy is that story.

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

I’d like to say that I’m as much in charge of what happens on the page as my creator, Nancy Cole Silverman, but the truth is, I’m never sure about what to expect. She’s the instigator who takes great care to see that situations she throws me into are realistic, historically accurate, and frequently drop-dead dangerous.

How did you evolve as the main character?

I never expected to find myself working as an undercover agent for the FBI. I was a fledgling investigative reporter working for the Phoenix Gazette, and I figured my life and career were set. Then I lost my job—and everything else that went with it—and next thing I know, I’m working for the FBI, writing travel features about Munich, Germany’s Christkindlmarkt, while secretly investigating a cache of stolen WW2 art. Which might have been fine until my cover was blown, and a would-be assassin chased me through the Bavarian Alps.

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

Unfortunately, I’m not always the best judge of character. I’m a single, forty-year-old woman, and I travel alone, which means I invariably pick up a friend or two along the way, and sometimes I’ve found myself at the mercy of strangers. Some of them good. Some not so much. But I’m a quick study, and despite some close calls, for the most part, I’ve picked up a few tricks and come out unscathed.

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

I like that I never know where I’ll be sent next or the next assignment. I discovered that I’m as comfortable on the road as I ever was when living at home. 

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

Nancy doesn’t like me to brag, but I was the conduit she used to solve the puzzle of her father’s missing plane and the time he was Missing-in-Action. In fact, The Navigator’s Daughter was loosely based on Nancy’s real-life experiences, finding her father’s flight log and diary after he passed. I’m proud I was able to help her reconnect with her father’s past and work out the mystery of the time he was MIA.

Thank you for answering my questions, Kat, and good luck to you and your author, Nancy Cole Silverman, with Passport to Spy, the latest book in the Kat Lawson mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Kat and her author, Nancy Cole Silverman by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, and Goodreads pages.

The novel is available online at Amazon 

About Nancy Cole Silverman: Nancy spent nearly twenty-five years in news and talk radio, beginning her career in college on the talent side as one of the first female voices on the air. Later on the business side in Los Angeles, she retired as one of two female general managers in the nation’s second-largest radio market. After a successful career in the radio industry, Silverman retired to write fiction. Her short stories and crime-focused novels—the Carol Childs and Misty Dawn Mysteries, (Henry Press) are both Los Angeles-based. Her newest series THE NAVIGATOR’S DAUGHTER, (Level Best Books) takes a more international approach. Silverman lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a thoroughly pampered standard poodle.

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Fungi Foul Play

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Anne is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Fungi Foul Play, the latest novel in the Backyard Farming mystery series.

Welcome, Anne. 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, this is Anne. I live in a fictional town called Carolan Springs in the real state of Colorado. I love my little community and I reside in a big Victorian on a cul-de-sac. I moved here in the first book, and well, it’s been crazy since with mysteries popping up that I feel I need to help solve. This is a series and in the latest book (Fungi Foul Play) I have my most dangerous encounter yet.

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

The writer thinks she controls the story, but that’s what we (me and the other characters let her believe). Sometimes, we’ll want to go in a different direction, or there will be another character that shows up, and she has no choice but to follow our lead.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Well, let’s just say that when I first arrived in Carolan Springs, I was a bit of a mess. I was getting over a horrible divorce, my hormones were all over the place, and I wanted to retreat into myself. Instead through every book I’ve grown and recognized that friends can become the found family you’ve always wanted.

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

I have to say that Kandi has me laughing all the time at some of her thoughts. At other times, I want to bang her over the head with all of her “like’s” peppered throughout her conversation.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?
So nice. Lots of people have commented that they’d like to visit it. The author made it up but it’s a compilation of many of the quaint towns dotted throughout Colorado. And since there are also so many that incorporate the word, Springs, she added that to it.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?
Vikki loves writing stories that take the reader through “all the feels.” In this book, you may find yourself laughing one minute and crying the next. It also has some suspense in it as I try to keep the killer from their next victim. I hope that you’ll enjoy your time spent in “Carolan Springs.”

Thank you for answering my questions, Anne, and good luck to you and your author, Vikki Walton, with Fungi Foul Play, the latest book in the Backyard Farming mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Anne and her author, Vikki Walton by visiting the author’s website and Amazon page as well as her Facebook, Goodreads and Bookbub pages.

The novel is available online at https://books2read.com/FungiFoulPlay7aff

About Vikki Walton: Vikki writes sassy sleuths and clever clues. Her mysteries are clean so no blushes. She has three cozy series: one set in a fictional town in Colorado, one set in a real town in Texas, and one that takes place at various places around the globe. When not out hiking the beautiful Colorado trails, you can find her pursuing her passions of gardening, traveling, and of course, reading great cozies!

Posted in June 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mrs Odboddy’s Desperate Doings

Posted on May 31, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Agnes Agatha Odboddy is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings, the latest novel in the Mrs Odboddy mystery series.

Welcome, Agnes. 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 Agnes Agatha Odboddy. I’m delighted to meet you and share my series with you and your fans. Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings in the fourth in my WWII humorous historical fiction series. I’m 70+ years young. The age on my driver’s license is just a number. I think our true age has to do with our attitude and life experiences. During WW ONE, I was a US secret agent in Europe. Now, in 1944, I have to fight WWII from the home front. In my previous Mrs. Odboddy adventures, I attempted to expose a Nazi spy and a ration book black market scam, (Mrs. Odboddy Hometown Patriot), traveled across the country by train to deliver a package to President Roosevelt in book two (Mrs. Odboddy Undercover Courier), and in (And Then There was a Tiger), book three, I accidently discovered a counterfeit money operation and saved the life of a displaced carnival tiger. My granddaughter, Katherine, says she is hard pressed to keep me out of trouble. I can’t imagine why she thinks that.

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

My writer thinks she controls what happens in my stories, but when she begins a specific scene, I often step in and change the entire direction of the scene. Usually I get into trouble doing this and my writer has to figure out how to get me out. Like when I hid in the theater one night attempting to catch Dr. Schatzsman stealing the Edward Reep lithograph from the art show. Just as my writer had me about to catch him in the act, coming through the door, guess what? Overwhelmed from the stress and excitement, I fainted! Writer had to figure out what to do next. LOL!!

How did you evolve as the main character?

My character is a very headstrong, patriotic, loyal, and caring person and an almost regular church goer. I try my Christian darndest to live by the teachings of the Good Book. Sadly, , trying to expose conspiracies and injustices gets me into so much trouble and that leads to telling fibs…let’s face it… downright lies, to get me out of trouble. I really do try not to get into jams, but it’s hard. Quick to act when I see an injustice, it most generally leads me into another hair-brained adventure and… there you are. But, lately, when I do something stupid, I admit it right up front and I don’t fib anymore. (You don’t see my fingers crossed behind my back, do you?)

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

Much of the plot in Desperate Doings revolves around Shere Khan, the displaced carnival tiger. Not many options for a rehoming a tiger during WWII, and when the county decided he must be euthanized, you can imagine my dismay. I had to save him. Our ward, Maddie, has almost a spiritual attraction to this gentle beast. Quite an interesting dilemma, but trust me, I was up to the challenge.

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

Newbury is a small town about 10 miles off the coast, about 60 miles north of San Francisco. Boyles Springs Military Base is about 9 miles further north. I attend the Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light. I frequently mix it up with the town sheriff, Chief Waddlemucker, but deep down, we’re good friends. I love my neighbors and community.

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

If you like novels that contain light mystery, a lot of laughs, set in a different time, learning about other cultures or lifestyles, adventure, and fun characters, you’ll love Mrs. Odboddy’s four books. The fifth adventure is TBP in 2024.

Thank you for answering my questions, Agnes, and good luck to you and your author, Elaine Faber, with Mrs Odboddy’s Desperate Doings, the latest book in the Mrs Odboddy mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Agnes and her author, Elaine Faber by visiting the author’s website.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Elaine Faber: Elaine lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (SIC), Elk Grove Writer’s Guild (EGWG), and Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA). Elaine volunteers with the American Cancer Society. She has published nine cozy mystery novels, and an anthology of cat stories. Her short stories are also published in 22 independent anthologies.

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Copper Waters

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Marlene M. Bell is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Copper Waters, her latest novel in the New Zealand Cottage Mystery series.

Welcome, Marlene. 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.

Yes! Copper Waters takes the reader to the beautiful country of New Zealand as the fourth book in the Annalisse mystery series. Main characters, Annalisse Drury and Alec Zavos find themselves involved in international intrigue that stems from Annalisse’s love of history and antiques. (She’s an antiquities valuator at an art gallery in Manhattan.) The two have a complicated relationship which adds underlying romantic suspense to the novel series.

In books one, two, and three, the couple withstands harrowing moments together—leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake from New York to Greece, Italy, and Turkey. If readers like travel to other countries without leaving their armchair, the series’ suspense and mystery will captivate the audience.

My slogan, “Mystery at a killing pace,” explains my writing style in a few words. The stories move quickly throughout each chapter with several twisty moments of fear along the way. Each scene typically ends on a cliff-hanger to encourage a page-turner-like experience. There are several characters who appear in all books and new ones will come and go because of travel to exotic locations.

Beginning with Copper Waters, I’ve added a Cast of Characters page with description of each character so that it’s easy to keep them all straight if the reader hasn’t read previous books. My books are written as standalones, but to understand the entire impact and character backstories, I recommend reading the entire series. Most who start the series from Copper Waters will go back to Stolen Obsession, book #1. The first book covers a lot of ground between Anna and Alec’s perilous introduction.

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

Because I’m a sheep breeder in the United States, I thought it would be interesting to learn how others below the equator run their sheep operations. My own experiences dot the novel’s landscape to make the story more believable to go along with new research on New Zealand sheep stations. Most people find information about raising livestock fascinating because it’s so different from having pets in the household. The method used by the villain in Copper Waters is also central to raising sheep!

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

Somewhere in each Annalisse series book, readers will find references to raising horses, sheep, and Anna’s orange tabby cat, Boris. Copper Waters focuses on sheep because there are more sheep than people in New Zealand. In addition, Alec Zavos has studied to become a veterinarian but so far, his family businesses and his adventures with Anna have kept him from the equine surgeon he’d like to become. The future book #5 that follows Copper Waters will concentrate in this area and keep the couple closer to Alec’s estate in upstate New York. The theme in Copper Waters: Is it better to work together or apart when a relationship is floundering? The reader will have to pick up the book to find out!

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

My best characters tend to be the easiest for me to write. I know I’m spot-on in characterization when their background naturally forms in my head and words flow on the page. If I struggle to picture a new character or think about his/her past lives and traits, I know I’m in trouble. Favourite characters are those who feel as real as a personal friend. My favourite at this time is Bill Drake, the detective who came to Anna and Alec’s rescue in the second series book, Spent Identity. I’ve kept Bill in every book since because he’s so likable to my readers. I’m considering an offshoot series with him down the road. When readers meet Bill Drake, he’s capable as an investigator, and comfortable like a confidant who listens and keeps his friend’s secrets to himself. We all have secrets, don’t we?

The characters I write about are made for that specific type of mystery and culture of the country Anna and Alec visit. They can also be people with unusual traits like those I’ve run across in my own life. Annalisse Drury has a few of my own traits.

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

I like to focus on the five senses to portray where my characters are. Imagine the smells and sounds of a particular place, quiet and secluded or bustling with crowds. My book series covers countries I’ve never seen in person. Research is imperative, but not just any research. To write realistic scenes and descriptions, I have to visualize standing in each place and its surroundings. For lifelike pictures, I get my information from those who have actually been to these locations. Purchasing coffee table books from authors who’ve taken photos is my favourite place to start. Internet research is kept to a minimum because we can’t always believe what’s in an online search. I prefer to purchase research books in print versus getting information from other sources.

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

It’s important for readers to find accurate information in my stories. My books are a work of fiction to be sure, but I write about actual areas that are beautiful and sometimes unpleasant. Readers who’ve been to places in my books want validation of what they know to be true. There’s nothing worse than having a reviewer find fault in the research. Using the wide-open internet for book research is inviting this kind of attention that no writer wants. In the case of my stories, I like to stick with the professional traveller’s honest photos and compare with others observations as in the hardcover books I can find.  

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

Copper Waters is a whodunnit that will keep most readers guessing until the very end as they figure out the culprit. It’s written in cosy mystery format for all audiences and has no profanity. The story moves at a solid pace through light romance, suspense, murder, and crime solving in a foreign country with British influence. A quick read over a weekend!

Thanks for answering my questions, Marlene, and good luck with Copper Waters, the latest book in New Zealand Cottage Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Marlene and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub and Instagram pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – Barnes & Noble

About Marlene M. Bell: Marlene is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep on a ranch in wooded East Texas with her husband, Gregg.

Marlene’s Annalisse series boasts numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity,) and FAPA— Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award for two other installments, (Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy.) Her mysteries with a touch of romantic suspense are found at her websites or at online retail outlets.

She also offers the first of her children’s picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.

Posted in Archives, May 2023 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Earl Grey and Shallow Graves

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Sergeant Keya Varma is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Earl Grey and Shallow Graves, the first novel in the Waterwheel Cafe mystery series.

Welcome, Keya. 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.

Hiya, I’m Keya, or Sergeant Varma if you want my police title.  I’ve just taken the job as the Cotswold’s Rural Engagement Officer.  Despite covering 1,000 square kilometres, it’s only a part-time role, but that suits me. 

I’m busy setting up my Waterwheel Café and Deli at Akemans, a local antiques centre.

But unfortunately, while the waterwheel was being removed for renovation, a skeleton was found underneath it.  This is the story of discovering whose body it was, and, of course, unearthing one mystery invariably leads to other, modern-day ones.

Earl Grey and Shallow Graves is the first book in my own series, A Waterwheel Café Mystery, which I’m very proud of.  And why is a flavour of tea in the title?  Because I’m trying out different ones to serve in my café.  The first three books in the series all have names of teas in the title.

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

The premise for this book began with the discovery of the skeleton.  After that, my writer and I unearth, excuse the pun, the mystery and ultimately the culprit as we work together through the investigation.

How did you evolve as the main character?

I became Dotty’s best friend in her series, the Dotty Sayers Antique Mysteries.  Dotty’s taking a well-earned break in France, at the moment, but while she’s away, the criminals still prey.  Someone has to solve crimes in the Cotswolds, but I am helped Ryan, PC Jenkins, and our grumpy boss, Inspector Evans.

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

I’m grateful for being given the leading role, but I’m also happy to share the story with my friends and colleagues.  As well as Ryan, there is Aunt Beanie, an eccentric but huge-hearted older lady, her niece Gilly Wimsey, who runs the antiques centre, and plenty of other characters.  We are a team and I appreciate all their help.

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

I love the Cotswolds, in the southwest of the middle part of England. They’re beautiful, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the people who call them home are quirky and interesting.

I work out of the market town of Cirencester, whose history goes back beyond the Romans, when it was the second most important city in the whole country.  It was also very important, and prosperous, in the Middle Ages when it traded wool and was governed by the Abbot from its own monastery.

Akemans, where I’m setting up the café, trades out of a converted mill building beside the River Coln.  The mill is built of honey-coloured stone and has its own rich history.

Altogether, the Cotswolds are a wonderful place to live and work.

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

You may think that as a police officer I’m skilled at murder investigations, but this isn’t true.  I’ve learned a lot from Dotty, including considering cases from different angles, and looking into the people involved, and their individual histories and motives. 

Cirencester is still considered a rural police station and our team is small and lacks some of the technology of larger forces, even though Ryan does his best on the technical side.  So, this isn’t one of those technical police procedural type books.  We still solve our cases the old-fashioned way through interviewing suspects and witnesses, and connecting the dots.  I do hope you enjoy Earl Grey and Shallow Graves.

Thank you for answering my questions, Keya, and good luck to you and your author, Victoria Tait, with Earl Grey and Shallow Graves, the first book in the Waterside Cafe mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Keya and her author, Victoria Tait by visiting the author’s website and her Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram and Pinterest pages.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Victoria Tait: Victoria was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and never expected to travel the world. She has drawn on her experiences following her military husband to write cozy murder mystery books with vivid and evocative settings. Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and you’ll experience surprises, humour, and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.

She hopes you enjoyed Keya’s first book.  Readers can join her and her friends as they solve more mysteries in Victoria’s Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series, also based in the Cotswolds.  Visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TMJFL7L

Readers can also join her TeaCozy Club for regular news and updates, and receive your free book gift at  VictoriaTait.com

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#Tag Me for Murder

Posted on May 11, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Sarah E. Burr is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about #Tag Me for Murder, her latest novel in the Trending Topic Mystery series.

Welcome, Sarah. 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.

#TagMe for Murder is the second book in my Trending Topic Mysteries. The series features Coco Cline, a famous lifestyle blogger and social media influencer. In this latest outing, Coco’s life is finally returning to normal after solving her first case—or as normal as life can be when you’ve got over three million followers. She’s ready to focus on her growing marketing business and have some summer fun when her new, ornery next-door neighbour is found dead. When the suspect spotlight lands on Coco’s bestie, Jasper, Coco decides to use her tech-savvy sleuthing skills to clear her BFF’s name before his rep is ruined.

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

Since this is only Coco’s second foray into sleuthing, I needed a mystery she would be invested in solving. I didn’t want to kill someone close to Coco, so I opted to have one of Coco’s companions be on the hook for murder. I also knew who my killer was even before I met my victim. So, with the killer in mind, finding someone they’d want dead was the central puzzle I had to solve. Larry Dunmer—the victim—was not a good guy, which was very intentional on my part; I prefer killing off “baddies” rather than good people in my cosy mysteries.

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

Several sub-plots take the reader through #TagMe for Murder, but one I felt really strongly about was the attention to Coco’s mental health. So often in the cosy mystery genre, our MCs are expected to be cheery and upbeat while solving a crime. Coco definitely knows how to have fun during her investigations, but she also deals with their emotional toll. Coming face-to-face with death should not be dealt with flippantly or lightly, and I wanted to show Coco’s vulnerability to my readers. She may have a fabulous job, wealth, and great friends, but she has inner demons, too. Sharing Coco’s struggles with anxiety and panic attacks is my way to help banish the stigma that lingers over mental health.

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

When I first begin writing a new character, there are definitely dominant traits that come out on the page, making them—at first pass—a bit one-dimensional. During revisions and edits, I really flesh out the depth of their personalities, showing them from all angles rather than just one. A favourite character of mine is Jasper Hastings, Coco’s best friend. He’s this larger-than-life personality, but my readers are so astute because they know he uses his bravado to bury his insecurities. Jasper is often very snarky and sassy, which is super fun for me to write. However, in vulnerable moments, you glimpse who Jasper is beneath his media-mogul façade and begin to understand why he is the way he is and why Coco is so protective of him.

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

Cosy mysteries are known for having such charming, engaging settings, which is one of the reasons why I love to write them so much. Creating a cosy town, no matter where it may be located, is always a thrill. I love world-building through shops, restaurants, and points of interest that my characters visit. I want to create establishments my readers want to explore. Every place Coco and her friends check out is a snapshot from my imagination. I visualize these locations vividly and try to capture them on the page. I also draw maps of the area, so I understand how Coco’s world looks from a bird’s eye view.

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

Coco Cline is a social media expert, so naturally, I have to do a lot of research and testing to ensure Coco is using social media to the best of her ability. Knowing the ins and outs of how different apps and platforms work is critical to making the mystery as authentic as possible. For example, in #TagMe for Murder, there is a clue Coco tracks down through Reddit, which is an anonymous social platform. Using that anonymity to my advantage made the clue really fun to weave into the mystery.

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

#TagMe for Murder is not only about Coco Cline but her friends, as well. Coco has such a fantastic support system around her to help with her investigation. From her boyfriend to her mom to her childhood nemesis-turned-friend, Coco rarely does her sleuthing solo, which makes her adventures all the more entertaining.

Thanks for answering my questions, Sarah, and good luck with #Tag Me for Murder, the latest book in Trending Topics Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Sarah and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram and Social Media pages.

The novel is available online at Amazon

About Sarah E. Burr: Sarah is the award-winning author of the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, Trending Topic Mysteries, and Court of Mystery series. She currently serves as the social media manager for the New York/Tri-State chapter of Sisters in Crime and is the creative mind behind BookstaBundles, a content creation service for authors. Sarah is the co-host of The Bookish Hour, a live-streamed YouTube series featuring author interviews and book discussions. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah is singing show tunes, reading everything from mystery to manga, and enjoying walks with her dog, Eevee.

Posted in Archives, May 2023 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Twenty-one-year Contract

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Harriet Laws is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Twenty-one-year Contract by L.B. Griffins.

Welcome, Harriet. 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.

“When my good friend Lynn AKA LB GRIFFIN decided she wanted to write about me I felt a little reluctant to share my world. At the time it was difficult. My name is Harriet Laws and Lynn encouraged me to share my story. So I agreed and she wrote me into her debut novel: Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox.

Then I became a part of The Twenty-One-Year Contract. Lynn, the author, decided it would be a good thing to keep the books as standalone but they are also sequel and prequel.

For the moment I live in Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox.

Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox: and my name is Harriet. Harriet Laws.

“When my only surviving relative died. My wonderful Nana who I lived with. I was 17. At the time of my Nana’s death, we were barely scraping by on two incomes. I was alone, bereft, and penniless.

I had nowhere to turn. London is so expensive in the 1950s. Landlords were ruthless. The council didn’t care.

When I was about to be thrown out onto the street, having lost my job for going to the funeral and no money to pay the rent. Fired for nothing and nothing to live for I was about to do away with myself. Then Tom stepped in. Coincidence. Fate. Kismet. Whatever it was, he saved me.

What I should have also known was the people in my street loved my nana. It turns out they loved me too. Nana was generous of heart, and soul. She would give away our last morsel of bread to the families who needed food more than us. My Nana was like that. She was the gatekeeper and taught people to be tolerant of one another.  I learned so much from her.

I realised just how lucky I was. My extended family in Ham Street stepped in. They gave me enough money for a deposit on a bedsit. Then my life took on a whole new meaning.

I met two men. CJ. He was rich, handsome and never knew the meaning of ‘No’. The other, Tom, my lovely, gentle Tom. He was older than me. He was the baker where I now work as a shop assistant. I fell in love with him, but he was too much of a gentleman to reciprocate any feelings in that way. Though we had a great relationship, CJ was a master manipulator. I found that out, too late. After we were married.

Then later I met Kate Westfield.  Kate comes more to life in The Twenty-One-Year Contract which is about her. Coincidence. Fate. Kismet. How many times have you walked down the street, or gone to another continent, or walked into a shop and met someone you know you haven’t seen for years?

 Kate and I became firm friends. We needed one another, and we never knew how much until the end.”

The Twenty-One-Year Contract.

Kate Westfield lives inside The Twenty-One-Year Contract. Though she’s a force to be reckoned with. She was fourteen when her adopted family were killed in a freak road accident.

“I couldn’t bear Uncle Jack having to look after me. He lived in America and worked as an engineer across the world. He had his own life, without me getting in the way. I made plans to run away to London. I was lucky he gave me an allowance which I saved. It gave me the chance I needed. Only one other person knew where I was, my school friend Lucy.

When a manhunt for me began I was having a great time. Well, it was interesting. I’d moved to a tiny bedsit in London. Worked as a fashion designer for Madam Raines at her Atelier. Her clientele, rich and famous. Madam Raines never knew how old I was. I lied. I had to. I couldn’t tell her I was 14. But she loved my work. I became well known and I even adjusted a dress for royalty. I was fifteen when Uncle Jack found me. Though he understood my desire to remain in London and insisted he support me to do that safely. I love my Uncle Jack. He is amazing.

Then came Dorian Craddock. The daughter of a gangster who had been sent to prison for murder and much more. She took over his business empire. Dorian was fearsome. She took me into her world of pleasure where I could network my skills. I quickly learned I needed to be careful around her.

When I met Harriet, it turned out she too knew Dorian Craddock. Dorian owed her life to Harriet. Though she would never admit it. Harriet and I became great friends. We both had a desire to find out who our parents were. Harriet knew all about her mother, but she had no idea who her father was.    

I, on the other hand, had no idea who my parents were. Adoption meant no-one was allowed to reveal their identity. That was until I became twenty-one, then life offered up the solution.

I guess you’ll have to read more to find out what I mean by that. Coincidence. Fate. Kismet.

Our stories continue as our writer friend Lynn has decided to write about us as grandparents. Harriet and I are grandparents! How strange to think. But then we’ve been talking to her about the in between bit. She needs to listen. I’m sure Harriet and I will have a say in that….”

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

“Oh my goodness. LB Griffin is a pussycat. Well, she pretends she is, but I guess Harriet and I wear her down. Both of us have had a big say in what happens to us. Don’t you think that’s true Harriet?”

“Yes, Kate, I do. But you’re a devil, waking her up in the middle of the night with all sorts of ‘when you write this make sure you say that.’ I can understand how Lynn has to get out of bed and start writing, so she can get some sleep!”

“She’s fun to work with though, Harriet and I enjoy her company. She’s got a wicked sense of humour, but she wants us to learn and show what true life is all about. She’s shown us both how to survive and look after others. That’s why we set up a refuge for women and children.”

“Yes, my proudest achievement in life so far Kate. Thank you for helping us achieve it.”

“You’re my best friend Harriet and always welcome. I agree, setting up a refuge in my old home Westfield was a brilliant move.”

How did you evolve as the main character?

Harriet: “My life was a mess. We were poor. My nana died and I was totally alone. I thought life was worth living until I was shown kindness by a stranger. His humanity showed me the way. His name was Tom.

My nana was wonderful. She had a way with her, she also taught me the meaning of life. In the end I began to discover it for myself. I am proud of who I became.”

Kate: “I was Kathleen to begin with. A child, wild, carefree, living in a world of fun in rural Somerset. I found school easy. I climbed trees and sewed with my adopted mother. We had money. Then it all came crashing down. They died. I had been abandoned, again. This time it wasn’t a choice. My natural mother didn’t want me. My adopted family did, but they were gone.

I needed to find myself. Find out if I could survive. I began to survive in London, and in the world of fashion. It was fraught with danger, but I survived. All of it. Harriet will show you her story. I will show you mine.”

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

“From my point of view – as Kate, I loved Dorian Craddock, the monster, the gangster. She’s someone you love to hate. I also loved Uncle Jack. Every little girl needs an Uncle Jack in their life. I was gloriously fortunate to have him.”

“From my point of view as Harriet, I loved Tom. Always will. I also loved my friends in Ham Street, Rosa, with her funny, wonderful, cloud of children. My landlady, Mrs Gaffney, who became one of my firmest friends. She looked after the shoebox. It’s significance to me at the time was it was a part of who I was. It held my mother’s ballet shoes and a cutting of her when she was about to become a prima donna. Then she died. Leaving me with my Nana before I had the chance to meet her.

Mrs Baker was a marvel, as was Mrs Turpin. But Dorian blighted my life at school. She blighted the lives of everyone around. I won’t give any spoilers. I’d much rather you found out for yourself.”

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

It’s 1950s London. I live in the smaller, backstreets of London, which tourists don’t travel to. It’s hard. Dirty and can be dangerous. The Windrush generation have just arrived. The black community is treated with contempt. I hate it. We all need to take a hard, uncomfortable look at ourselves and work out why. I’m white. I have a friend who is black, her name is Patience. I’m proud to call her friend. She is amazing.

As a child I saw the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.

Posh people own black and white televisions the size of a biscuit tin. The utilitarian clothing of the war years is starting to change. Though I can’t afford to buy anything new or special. Some shops will offer a way to buy clothes on the never-never. I won’t do that. I make and mend.

The milkman has gold top and silver top milk in his crate and delivers to your door in a little electric open ended wagon. I love the sound of its quiet swooshing along the street. The birds will peck the cream when it rises in freezing weather.

We don’t have heating, other than fires. They cause the pea-soupers. We don’t have so many pea-soupers these days. Just as well, when the fog drops your life is in imminent danger.  

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

Our stories are about courage, survival, and love. We would love it if you stepped inside our world and shared a part of it with us. We would welcome you with open arms.

Thank you for answering my questions, Harriet, and good luck to you and your author, L.B. Griffin, with The Twenty-one-year Contract.

Readers can learn more about Harriet and her author, L. B. Griffin by visiting the author’s 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 – Apple – Kobo

About L.B. Griffin: She was born and raised in the UK. She is married and came out of retirement when she received a contract for her debut novel. Griffin loves to write stories to touch people’s hearts, She draws upon social issues that are often hidden in deep drawers but readers can identify with. Her women don’t see themselves as courageous, strong, or survivors, but they certainly are.

Her debut, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox has received superb 5 star reviews, amongst them Whispering stories and VINE VOICE reader/blogger Michelle Ryles, singing high praise: ‘Incredibly well-written, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox is a magnificent debut. It’s a poignant, disturbing and a heart-warming page-turner that has left me chomping at the bit to continue Harriet’s story.’ The sequel, and also standalone – The Twenty-One-Year Contract, is already receiving fantastic five star reviews such as: VINE VOICE “This book will have you laughing, crying and cheering.” L.B. Griffin continues to turn silent stories into courage, hope, and survival. Be warned, she is a self-confessed chocolate-raisin and strawberry addict!

Posted in Archives, May 2023 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Blooming with Murder

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Kathryn Long is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Blooming with Murder, the latest book in the Sierra Pines B&B Mystery series.

Welcome, Kathryn. 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.

Blooming with Murder is the third book in the Sierra Pines B&B cozy mystery series. Alexis Winston, an unemployed screen writer, comes to California to visit with her great aunt Julia, only to learn she’s passed away. Alexis soon finds out she’s inherited the B&B as well as the octogenarian siblings, Gladys and Ollie Bellwether, who were once in show biz with Julia and now take care of the B&B. Mystery, of course, enters into their lives with murder, while Alexis tries to juggle running a B&B and solving crime. Blooming with Murder starts with the murder of the school board president who has a fatal allergic reaction to face paint. And the artist who is a dear friend of Alexis of course becomes the prime suspect.

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

Actually, I’d been finishing up a book in my other series written as Bailee Abbott which involves a sister duo who run a painting event business. I had all things artistic on my mind and thought how neat to have face paint as the murder weapon in Blooming with Murder! Also, it was in the dead of winter when I wrote this. I longed for springtime and flowers, so of course the book had to involve a spring festival and where everything is in bloom.

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

I wanted a unique and fun way to provide clues, so I decided to use flowergrams and lines from classic movies to help and encourage Alexis in her venture to solve the crime.

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

I often think of people I’ve encountered in real life as well as the ones I see on TV and in movies. For instance, the quirkiness of the Bellwether siblings was inspired by the Brewster sisters in the movie, Arsenic and Old Lace. Florence Greeley, the over dramatic character in this series has a similar personality to Martha in the Good Witch movies. I won’t mention anyone in real life that has inspired my characters. Wouldn’t want to upset anyone! As for my favorites in this series, the Bellwethers are at the top. I love that quirkiness in them but also their caring nature. They’d do anything to protect Alexis.

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

That involved a bit of research. With the advice from my editor, I searched, checked, and double-checked what could be plausible in my fictitious town that is located in the foothills near Lake Tahoe. Everything from weather charts to tire chains that must be used during winter weather. I even contacted someone I know who lives in Folsom to ask how soon in the season it snows. I didn’t want to get anything wrong. In creating my town, I have detailed descriptions about the quaint shops along Main Street, the park with its redwood gazebo, the description of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the flora and fauna indigenous to the area, historic references to Sutter’s Mill and gold mining where one of the oldest citizens of Sierra Pines tells the story of his great grandfather discovering gold, the ski lodge where murder happens at the bottom of a ski slope…I could go on and on. It was so much fun digging up the history of the area and somehow adding stories to the plot that would enrich the reader’s experience of living in Sierra Pines. I know it’s important to readers of cozies to feel like they’d want to go to those locations, cozy towns with friendly people. I like making that happen.

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

In Blooming with Murder, I had several things to research, beyond the weather and geography of central California. First, I wanted to know if it was possible for someone to die from face paint and learned that some people are highly allergic to peanut oil which is found in store-bought paint. If too much gets into the skin pores, someone could go into anaphylactic shock and die. On a lighter note, the next thing I researched was about floriography, the study of flower symbols. Such an interesting topic! There’s so much history that goes back centuries where lovers would communicate with flowers, using their symbolism to convey what they were thinking. Also, researching for movie lines that fit the clues Alexis needed were both frustrating and fun to do!

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

Well, I’m rather sad to tell you that Blooming with Murder is the last one I’ll write in this series. I thought long and hard before making that decision, but I want to focus on other projects for now. Meanwhile, readers can still find me by searching for the Paint by Murder mysteries which I write as Bailee Abbott.

Thanks for answering my questions, Kathryn, and good luck with Blooming with Murder, the latest book in Sierra Pines B&B Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Kathryn and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon   Barnes&Noble   Kobo   Apple

About Kathryn Long: Kathryn is a native Ohioan who spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers. She’s actively involved in the writing and publishing worlds and stays up to date on her social media platforms. Kathryn lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. The B&B series also includes Boarding with Murder and Snowed Under Murder. Inspiration for the storyline comes from her classic movie obsession, particularly Arsenic and Old Lace, and her love for Cary Grant. Kathryn also writes the PAINT BY MURDER mystery series under the name Bailee Abbott.

Posted in Archives, May 2023 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Poaching is Puzzling

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Dianne Ascroft

Daryl Wood Gerber, author of Poaching is Puzzling, a Cookbook Nook mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to share her thoughts on first lines of books and more.

Welcome, Daryl. I’ll turn the floor over to you –

Lately, I’ve started videotaping readings of first lines from books I’m either reading, have read, or are on my to-be-read pile, and I share them on Instagram. I did it as a lark, but it has been an eye-opening experience. It has made me pay attention to authors’ specific styles. Many authors begin their stories with weather, emotions, and past histories. Most of my opening lines begin with dialogue because I jump into a story, mid-scene, in conversation.

While focusing on the opening lines of other authors, I realize that I’ve often skimmed over the first few pages of books so I can dive into the story. Read fast. Move it along. As it so happens, that might not be the best thing to do, because so often in those first lines there are clues as to the future of the story.

Here are a few examples:

Sample from The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave (thriller)

Owen used to like to tease me about how I lose everything, about how, in my own way, I have raised losing things to an art form. Sunglasses, keys, mittens, baseball hats, stamps, cameras, cell phones, Coke bottles, pens, shoelaces.  Socks. Lightbulbs. Ice trays. He isn’t exactly wrong. I did used to have a tendency to misplace things. To get distracted. To forget.

Sample from Lost Luggage by Wendall Thomas (humorous mystery)

Travel is my business. Or least it was. After the last two weeks, no one may trust me with a drink order, much less their seat assignments, cabin preferences, or credit card numbers. Let’s face it, travel is about trust: the instant you zip up that rolling bag, you’re taking a leap of faith. You’re putting your life in the hands of strangers. Total complete lying son of a bitch strangers, in my case.

Sample opening from Poaching is Puzzling (cozy mystery)

Cruciverbalist: crossword puzzle designer

“What’s wrong?” I glanced at my aunt, the brightest woman I knew and the person who’d given me a new lease on life at the Cookbook Nook when my career at an advertising agency wasn’t putting a smile on my face.

“Nothing,” she murmured.

“Liar.” I couldn’t read tea leaves, but I could read her.

*

As you can see, each opening gives an insight into the story. Into the character. Into the upcoming problem.  But each one is completely different in tone. That’s the author’s prerogative. That’s what an editor/publisher looks for—an author’s voice and style.

Challenge yourself. Open any book on your shelf and read the first few lines. Do they grab you? Was that why you bought the book? Or did you scan the blurb on the back of the book and that’s what propelled you to buy it? Or did you just like the cover? Or are you a fan of the author? I think from now on I might start reading opening lines of books I intend to purchase to confirm that I want to take the journey with the protagonist (or protagonists).

Here’s an interesting side note: some people, I’ve been told, like to open the book to about page 69 or 70 and see if there is a “recap” of the story. I’ve never done this, but now I’m curious. Have you? Do you jump ahead to see if you’ll still be interested in finishing the book? Please tell me you never go to the end of the book and read the ending first. Yes, I’ve heard there are people who do this, too. Yipes!

But . . . back to the opening lines . . . I’m so excited that I’ve begun this videotaping project because it’s another way for me, as a writer, to learn what to do and what not to do. Will I now overthink all of my openings? Possibly. Will I wish I could rewrite all of them? No! Like an actor, it’s not good for an author to view her work after it’s been published—me, in particular, because I love to rewrite and edit. I will always find something to spruce up. A Type A like me person can be a bit of a perfectionist. Over the years, I’ve tried to temper this trait. I’ve allowed myself to make mistakes. I’ve laughed off terse letters from readers when they’ve (heaven forbid!) found a mistake. Okay, I haven’t laughed off every letter. 

And now, after this new first-lines venture, I worry that readers might send me critiques of my opening lines. They’re not so good. They stink. They’re trite. Ayieee!  Sleepless nights await me, I’m sure, but for now, I’m enjoying the journey of studying books with a whole new perspective on the writing process. An author can always learn.

Have you ever initiated a project that has kept you up at night?

Thank you for sharing this with us, Daryl, and good luck with Poaching is Puzzling, a Cookbook Nook mystery.

Readers can learn more about Daryl Wood Gerber by visiting the author’s pages:

WEBSITE    FACEBOOK     BOOKBUB    YOUTUBE   INSTAGRAM   PINTEREST     GOODREADS     AMAZON    NEWSLETTER

The book is available online at the following retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Kobo

About Daryl Wood Gerber: Agatha Award–winning and nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber is the author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, the Cheese Shop Mysteries (as Avery Aames), the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense, and two other stand-alone suspense thrillers. Little known facts about Daryl are that she’s jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, has hitchhiked around Ireland by herself, and has appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote. She loves to read, cook, and golf, and has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

Posted in May 2023 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments