Grave Words

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Gerri Lewis, author of Grave Words, a Deadly Deadlines mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to share with us the challenges of blurring the lines between fact and fiction in her series.

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

Not too long ago I was in our local bookstore when a woman with a Grand Canyon-sized crevasse between her brows asked if I was the author who wrote the mystery that took place in Ridgefield.  “Guilty,” I said, tensing for whatever gripe she apparently had with my book.  She then went on to tell me how she had moved to town several years earlier and had prided herself in learning everything about our small-town.  She put my townie knowledge to shame.

And then, clearly distressed she finally blurted out, “I have no idea where Pop’s Place is.”

And that’s where the line between fact and fiction gets blurred.  I’d be run out of town if I killed  someone in a local establishment. One of the trickiest parts of writing fiction is deciding where to add fact and where to make something up.   If I only used factual information, I might offend people or hurt businesses.  Add too much make believe and my writing could lose authenticity.  The secret is blending the two.

At a recent book club, I Zoomed in halfway across the country because they chose my novel to discuss.  One of the first questions they asked was about the town where my book is set—they thought it sounded too good to be true.  Was it real?

Yes, and sometimes no.  I try to weave a lot of historical fact and local color into my books because I think of Ridgefield as one of my characters.  I’ve always loved reading books that are set in the places I visit.  When in Paris, I sought out the sewers introduced to me in Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.  In Hilton Head I loved eating at the Main Street Café where writer Kathryn Wall’s characters often dined.  On our anniversary, my husband took me to the Cotswolds to relive the scenes in the Dick Francis mysteries I love.

So, setting my books in the very real town of Ridgefield was a no-brainer.  The town is charming enough to jump right out of a Hallmark movie. The fact that it is so rich with history makes it easy to create a place readers might want to visit.  Skeletons found in a Main Street basement during a renovation that quickly turned the property into an excavation site are real.  They turned out to be remains from the Revolutionary War and are being tested for identification.   And yes, there really is a cannon ball lodged into the side of the Keeler Tavern Museum.  Once home to architect Cass Gilbert who designed the Woolworth Building among other landmarks, the antique bears a souvenir from the Battle of Ridgefield. 

Ridgefield was once a summer retreat for well-to-do New Yorkers who built grand homes and estates. These generous philanthropists also built the library, the fire department and town hall.   But I couldn’t kill someone in one of those mansions or burn down a historically significant structure.  So, even though people tell me all the time they know exactly which estate belonged to Mrs. Roth Arlington in The Last Word, they couldn’t possibly.  While I located it in an area that has several large estates, it doesn’t exist. 

Village Square is entirely imaginary.  It is my idealistic vision of a 55 and older community—one with appealing bungalows, a clubhouse and an entire section dedicated to assisted living and health care. In my third book, there is a brand-new transitional facility added to the complex. It has one-floor town homes, private patios, a doorman and offers some aid to those who need more than independent living but aren’t ready for assisted care.  And because this is all a figment of my imagination, I can write stories that won’t upset the residents.

The same can be said about characters.  Despite the fact that one woman told me she knew exactly who the Nosy Parkers were because she lived next door to them, the town gossips in my books are fiction.  They might have similar traits to people readers have met and some are compilations of people we might know.   But trust me, you do not live next door to the Nosy Parkers.  By the way, regardless of one reviewer’s scoff, the hermit Sarah Bishop, who lived in a cave just a stone’s throw from Ridgefield really did exist.

So back to Pop’s Place.  I braced myself for the disappointment or maybe even anger when I informed the woman that the local bar found in my books doesn’t exist.  I was relieved to see that she suddenly looked very happy.   “Thank goodness,” she said.  “I thought maybe I had missed something!”

Thank you for sharing this with us, Gerri, and good luck with Grave Words, the latest book in the Deadly Deadlines mystery series. Readers can learn more about Gerri Lewis by visiting the author’s website and. her Facebook and Instagram pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse – Kobo – Apple

About Gerri Lewis: Gerri is the author of The Last Word (2024) and Grave Words (June 10, 2025), the first two books in her Deadly Deadlines Mystery series published by Crooked Lane Books.  Set in her Hallmark-worthy hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut, this cozy mystery is about obituary writer Winter Snow, who solves murders along with a cast of lovable characters.  During her career as an award-winning reporter, columnist, and feature writer, Gerri has become a go-to person in her community for obituaries. When she is not helping her protagonist solve mysteries, she writes magazine features and is the Public Information Officer for the Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management.  She lives with her husband in Ridgefield, Connecticut, the picture-perfect setting for her books.

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Crime Quiz

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

TJ Stanley, author of Crime Quiz, a cosy mystery on a cruise, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Tracy.

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

Crime Quiz is a cosy mystery set on a cruise ship in Australia.

It’s the first novel I’ve written under my own name. Friends and family have been encouraging me to come out from under my nom de plume or pen name, Jane Ellyson for a while. And now I have.

It’s not part of a series–well, not at the moment. Let’s wait and see what readers say about the novel and where my imagination takes me.

By way of back story, last December I went on my first cruise, a round trip from Sydney to Hobart. I was curious about the cruise experience, with a husband who dislikes anything on-water, I went alone. This cruise was also a Literary Festival with fantastic speakers such as Fiona McIntosh and Alexander McCall Smith which was actually the main driver for me signing up.

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

A cruise ship is a contained space and a perfect setting for a mystery, as the guilty party cannot easily escape.

I have my friend Debbie to thank for the idea for the opening scene in Crime Quiz. She’d just returned from a cruise off the coast of Western Australia where the passengers were woken at five in the morning by an announcement from the captain that five people had died overnight.

At first, I didn’t believe her, who would do that? I then laughed, before thinking about all the gossip that must have spread faster than a pandemic the following day. It got me thinking and then, when a week later I went on my first cruise, which happened to be hosting a literary festival, the idea took on a life of its own.

The literary festival had workshops, and I attended one on ‘How to plot a novel’ run by Graeme Simsion, author of the bestselling book The Rosie Project.  It made sense to think up a story in the workshop where I could start applying what I was learning. There’d been lots of jokes about crimes on cruise ships and as I was so close to the location, it made sense to start here.

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

There were several themes.

Firstly, and perhaps obviously, Who-done-it…

There’s a potential crime or two to be investigated. Not surprising for a book in the cosy mystery genre. So, how do you investigate and solve problems in real life, and when you’re writing a crime mystery? We have a ship full of sleuths and writers of crime fiction.

Secrets, careers and identity

There are things about our past we’d rather other people didn’t know. Perhaps we feel ashamed by something that’s happened in our personal or professional life? As you read Crime Quiz you are at times prompted to reflect on the importance of status in your life.

Friendship and Love

New friends meet together each evening over dinner and through the many activities available to passengers, both on and off the ship. Friendships develop from open conversations and shared experiences.

There’s also a love story. The TV series The Love Boat was a big hit in the last 70s and mid 80s, and many of the viewers are still around and are avid readers.

I wanted Crime Quiz to be fun and light, the type of book people read on holidays particularly those who like to go on cruises.

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

A social-lite, a social worker and a vicar meet in a bar…

I wanted to create three core characters who meet in the opening scenes and then every day at the same table for dinner, as indeed I did on the cruise.  I wanted them to have different ages, genders and social status. As I had a scene in the story where passengers played Cluedo, it made sense to create three characters that aligned with the characters in the game and who could be both, a detective and a potential criminal.

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

It’s always best to visit a place that is the setting for your story. This provides the opportunity to observe the small things which for this novel was the detail of the dining room table settings, the clinking of cutlery or the sound of a string quartet on the stairwell near the library. There’s also the Daily Program of events to review on a cruise.  I also benefited from taking a tour to Mount Wellington, a very chilly experience and walking around the city centre of Hobart, both of which featured in Crime Quiz.

As an author you note how you’re feeling. I remember being exhilarated as the ship I was on departed Sydney Harbour on a clear sky as the sun was setting. I tried to reflect these feelings and bring this wonderful experience onto the written page.

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

I do a great deal of online research, even if I’ve visited the location. Aren’t Google and YouTube wonderful!

In Crime Quiz, I needed to learn what a behind the scenes tour of a ship would look like as I didn’t have time to do it on the cruise I was on.  There were a few wonderful videos online which made it feel like I’d been on the tour.

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

Obviously, I hope that they’ll read it and then tell what they thought. They may even have their own curious cruise story to share with me.  I’d love to hear from them and can be reached by email on tracy.stanleyu21 (at) gmail.com

Thank you for answering my questions, Tracy, and good luck with Crime Quiz, a cosy mystery on a cruise.

Readers can learn more about TJ Stanley by visiting the author’s website.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About TJ Stanley: Tracy Stanley has been in love with storytelling since she left university in 1984.

In 2017, she started publishing, and as of August 2025, Tracy has independently published fifteen books across five genres, including business books, travel memoirs, cosy mysteries, romantic suspense, and action-adventure novels. These last two genres have been written under the pen name of Jane Ellyson.

Her writing approach for novels recognises that creativity in storytelling comes from mixing the familiar with a twist, combining comfort and intrigue.

Tracy is Australian and lives in Brisbane.

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The Murder at Red Oaks

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Mosey Frye is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Murder at Red Oaks, the latest novel in the Mosey Frye mystery series.

Welcome, Mosey. 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.

I’m Mosey Frye (Anne Moseby Frye), and I live inside the Mosey Frye Mystery series, published by The Wild Rose Press. The author Kay Pritchett and I have been at this series for a while. The Murder at Red Oaks is book seven, preceded by The Murder at Waite House, The Terrace, The House with a Corner Door, The Summer House at Larkspur, The Incident at Sunny Banks, and The House with a Secret Cellar.

I work for a real estate company in my home town of Hembree, Arkansas, a quaint spot in the Mississippi River Delta. I guess you could say my real estate and sleuthing careers began together. You see, every time I list a house, I find a body. In fact, with the exception of The House with a Corner Door, which takes place in another state,the titles of all the books relate to the houses I have sold.

My sleuthing is a constant irritant to our new police chief Lieutenant Gustavo Olivera, a California import, but I figure I have a better shot at solving these murders than he does. Even he admits I have an uncanny knack for sniffing out the dark side of local folk. Having grown up here, with my family running the premier law firm, I know this community inside and out. What I don’t know, I can find out from my step-aunt Carlotta Humphrey or Dot Cowsley, the long-time secretary at the firm. Plus, my best friend Nadia Abboud runs the local antique store and is an expert on the town’s history.

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

For sure, I get a say—more than you might think. These mysteries are character driven, and the author works out the action primarily through dialogue. So as not to spoil any surprises, I won’t go into specifics, but I can tell you that characters have been known to wiggle out of a murder wrap by coming up with explanations and alibis you wouldn’t believe. The author, of course, has the last say, but sometimes she grows fond of a character and can’t bear to saddle him or her with a gruesome murder.

How did you evolve as the main character?

I started out as a disgruntled thirty-something woman, with real aspirations to become a singer—either opera or juke (I’ve got both in my blood)—or a psychologist. But after graduating from Blanchard College in Hembree, I married Robert Ellison, an anthropologist. He teaches at Blanchard, and I, being stuck in Hembree, went into real estate—a lot of people do that, you know. The job itself is a tad boring, but my sleuthing has saved me.

My first listing, Waite House it’s called, had me spooked from childhood. Not sure why exactly—maybe the imposing look of it. So, when I was given the opportunity to list it, I kept hearing my deceased father’s voice saying, “Stay away from Waite House.” Given the value of the place, however, I dove in, despite its status as a stigmatized property. The owner, a wealthy cotton broker, had been murdered six months before, and the case had gone cold. I started snooping around the neighborhood and, before you know it, picked up some interesting clues.

Now, six houses later, I’ve gotten rather good at solving crimes, though Olivera won’t let me get near a crime scene. I can’t take all the credit, though. Nadia, Robert, and his colleague Hugh Jessup can be finagled into helping, even in the trickiest of situations.

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

I have so many, my goodness. There’s Nadia, Robert, Hugh, Carlotta, and Dot, whom I’ve already mentioned, plus Saffron Smiley at Shepherd Realty, Ruby and Miffy at the Tavernette, as well as Al Bergeron at Al’s Supper Club. More recently, I’ve gotten to know the folks at the Jeremiah Java Café, Aaron and Sue Willoughby and Lula Alcott. Why I’m partial to the folks is not hard to explain. Every last one is vibrant, welcoming, just fine people to hang out with.

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

Hembree, my home town, is a little place on the Mississippi River, about halfway between Memphis and Vicksburg. The cotton farmers and the towboat folks pretty much run the place. As a farming community in the Old South, many African Americans have made Hembree their home. Some continue to farm, and others have established themselves in the business community—like Saffron, my co-worker at Shepherd Realty, the Willoughbys at the Jeremiah Java Café, and Nate Patterson, owner of the Seed and Feed.

Specifically, Shepherd Realty and Abboud Antiques are my two main haunts. The agency I work for is owned by John Earle Shepherd, our absentee boss, who drops in occasionally to check on Saffron and me. He’s not much help with the business end of things, but every now and again I tap into his knowledge of old houses and old families. I love popping into the antique shop just around the corner from the agency to chat with Nadia, whose family owns the store. She’s like a walking encyclopedia when it comes to all things old—paintings, furniture, you name it.

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

I’d like to say a bit more about Hembree. It’s not what you’d expect of a small Southern town. As a port town, Hembree has welcomed generations of people from around the globe, people who came here from Italy, Ireland, Lebanon and so on. Surnames like Bergeron and Abboud are common around here. To showcase Hembree’s rich cultural heritage, the author features her characters’ tasty dishes on her website, so that readers can get to know them through their cooking—like Saffron’s succotash, Lucille Bilyeu’s gumbo, and Olivera’s gazpacho.

One more point. If you’d like to test the waters, jump in wherever you like. The stories are stand-alone. Sometimes they play off one another, but the author will always provide just enough backstory to prevent readers from getting lost.

Thank you for answering my questions, Mosey, and good luck to you and your author, Kay Pritchett, with The Murder at Red Oaks, the latest book in the Mosey Frye mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Mosey and her author, Kay Pritchett by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on BlueSky and Threads.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon    B&N      Bookshop.org      Alibris

About Kay Prichett: Kay Pritchett, a native of Greenville, Mississippi, lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she taught Spanish literature at the state’s flagship university. At retirement, she threw herself into fiction writing and has wrapped up seven books in the Mosey Frye Mystery series. As a mystery writer, she delights in blending the charming wit of amateur sleuth Mosey Frye with the suave sophistication of police chief Gus Olivera. She’s all about sprinkling her mystery novels with lively banter, highlighting the dynamic interactions between Mosey and her trusty sidekick Nadia, as well as the intriguing dialogues between Olivera and sharp-witted coroner Eads McGinnis. Her goal? To transport readers into the thrilling world of an Agatha Christie whodunit, but with a delightful twist—think verandas and paddle boats! Murder in High Cotton (2022), inspired by childhood memories of the Delta, anthologizes her first three short mystery novels. Since then, she has launched four full-length novels: The Summer House at Larkspur, The Incident at Sunny Banks, The House with a Secret Cellar, and The Murder at Red Oaks.

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Essentials of Death

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Carissa Carmichael is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Essentials of Death, the latest novel in the Aromatherapy Apothecary mystery series.

Welcome, Carissa. 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, I’m Carissa Carmichael, owner of the Aromatherapy Apothecary in Oak Creek Valley, California. My newest misadventure involves me finding my nemesis murdered, not long after we had a public argument. Some say I even threatened her. The detectives think I had something to do with her death, and they’re doing everything they can to make the evidence support their theory. My dad is the town’s chief of police, but given our relationship, he can’t get involved. Instead, he’s been tasked with taking care of the hordes of tourists who have descended upon our town for the annual playwright conference and festival. If I don’t want to be carted away in handcuffs (again, I might add), I’m going to have to find out who killed my frenemy. My story takes place in Essentials of Death, the second book in the Aromatherapy Apothecary Mysteries.

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

I definitely have a voice in telling her what I want to do and what I think should happen. Sometimes all I have to do is whisper my suggestion, and other times I have to shout to get her to follow my instructions.

How did you evolve as the main character?

When my writer started thinking about writing a new series, I was very insistent I be cast as the primary star. There are plenty of chief of police characters (like my dad) starring in their own books, and plenty of bakery/patisserie owners (like my special friend, Jasper) getting to play main characters in other books. It was time for an aromatherapist—someone like me—to take center stage!

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

I have a wonderful group of friends who share the page with me, besides my dad. There’s my best friend, Ashley. She’s a single mom and not only works at my shop, but helps me make sense of the clues I stumble across. Then there’s Jasper. He owns the patisserie a couple of doors down from my shop. His coffee and pastries keep me going during my investigations, and his shop is a great place to pick up gossip too. Oh, did I mention how adorably handsome he is? There just might be something developing between us, but I won’t spill the beans.

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

Oak Creek Valley is a small touristy town set in a valley ringed by the Topa Topa mountains in Southern California. It’s about 85 miles north of Los Angeles, so we get hordes of weekend tourists coming through. (Don’t tell them, though, that they might become victims in a murder mystery!) Plus, because of the location and the beauty of the rugged mountains, Hollywood studios film a lot of on-location movies and shows as well. There are artist enclaves, new age retreats, spas, golf, horseback riding, plus vineyards and wineries, olive, tangerine, avocado orchards, and even lavender fields. We have something for just about everyone, including shopping and great restaurants. It’s proven to be the perfect place to open my Aromatherapy Apothecary!

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

Thanks so much for inviting us to your blog, Dianne! I appreciate the opportunity to tell your readers about myself and about my latest misadventure in Essentials of Death!

Thank you for answering my questions, Carissa, and good luck to you and your author, Kim Davis, with Essentials of Death, the latest book in the Aromatherapy Apothecary mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Carissa and her author, Kim Davis by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Pinterest and Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen pages. You can also follow her on Bluesky.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon  Other Online Retailers

About Kim Davis: Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series and the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder as well as Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, or baking up yummy treats to share.

Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

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Murder Pays a Call

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Keri Armstrong is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Murder Pays a Call, the first novel in the Keri Armstrong cozy mystery series.

Welcome, Keri. 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.

Murder Pays a Call is book #1 in the Keri Armstrong Cozy Mysteries. It introduces me and my friends, along with the town we live in. My besties are Lora and Pam, who you’ll get to meet. They’re very helpful and supportive when I discover my client and mentor, Fiona Sullivan, dead in bed. I don’t believe she died in a botched robbery like the police suspect, especially since I’m hearing ugly rumors about her around town. I’d always respected Fiona and admired her philanthropy, but it appears not everyone shares my opinion. The more I learn, the more I realize I didn’t know Fiona as well as I’d thought. To honor her memory, I’m determined to uncover the truth. My colleagues. Purdy and Staz, can help me with my research. No matter the risk, I’ll see that Fiona’s memory is honored.

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

I like to think that I take over my character’s role in the story. When the author gets to know me better, she’ll have a better feel for how I’m likely to react in a given situation. It’s hard in the beginning when you’re trying to set the scene and introduce all the major players.

How did you evolve as the main character?

I’m the owner of a personal concierge agency in Sunny Grove, Florida. I used to work in corporate marketing until stress caused me to have palpitations. Since my mom died of a stroke and my dad of a heart attack, I became alarmed. I didn’t want to end up in the same place. When I got laid off, it was a blessing in disguise. I decided to help other people with their mundane tasks so they could spend more time with loved ones. My agency has blossomed, and our customer list includes business clients as well as individuals. Now I need to start thinking about my own personal life. I’ve been so busy managing everyone else’s that I’ve neglected myself. I’ll heed my friends’ advice and slow down… after the next job, of course.

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

I like to hang out with my friends, Lora and Pam. We take walks every other Sunday in Central Park and then go for brunch. Pam, a reporter, is more pragmatic than Lora, who tends to get emotional. At work, there’s our staid and reliable financial manager, Purdy, who likes to party and meet women on weekends. Staz is our tech guru. She handles the online jobs and manages our website. On the dating scene, I’ve just met Dr. Matt during an unexpected encounter at the emergency room. And Chef Jarek hired me to plan his restaurant launch. It’s been a while since I’ve considered having a serious relationship, but maybe I’m ready to dip my feet into the dating pool again.

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

Sunny Grove is an affluent suburb in Central Florida just north of Orlando proper. It has shady streets, a wide avenue lined with flowering shrubs, shops and restaurants, an art museum, and even a boat ride on a series of lakes. Tourists and residents alike enjoy the small-town ambiance. I own a condo that’s within walking distance of my business, but I choose to drive because I’m usually out half the day doing tasks for clients. I love living in a vibrant community where there’s always something going on. Come and visit us in the winter. You’ll enjoy the balmy breezes, palm trees and colorful flowers.

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

I really hope you’ll join my adventure, meet my friends, and immerse yourself in my world. But don’t let looks deceive you. Beneath Sunny Grove’s upscale appearance are secrets waiting to be unraveled.

Thank you for answering my questions, Keri, and good luck to you and your author, Nancy J Cohen, with Murder Pays a Call, the first book in the Keri Armstrong cozy mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Keri and her author, Nancy J Cohen by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on Twitter/X, and Threads.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Universal Link – Amazon Kindle – Apple Books –  Barnes & Noble Nook –  Kobo – Bookshop.org or Indiebound –  Books A Million

About Nancy J Cohen: Nancy writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her books have won numerous awards including her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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Murder Most Eastern

Posted on September 3, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Grayson, the resident feline at Jasper Beach, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us a bit about her life with Emily in Murder Most Eastern, the first book in the Great Maine Mysteries series..

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

People say cats don’t care.

To which I say: People are idiots.

I care very much. About my home. About my human. About the crunchy treats in the top cabinet that she thinks I don’t know about. And lately? I care an awful lot about murder.

Yes, you read that right. Murder. The big messy kind with secrets and whispers and shifty eyes. I’ve lived at Jasper Beach longer than Emily has. She inherited the house from my previous human, Becky (rest her soul), and let me tell you: I knew something was wrong before anyone else did.

You see, humans are loud and slow. They think if something isn’t obvious, it isn’t happening. But cats? We know better. We see the moments you miss. We feel the tension in the room. We smell the change in the air when danger walks through the door wearing a polite smile.

When Emily arrived, she was all sharp corners and nervous energy. Boston people. Always rushing. Always doubting their instincts. But I liked her well enough. She had the decency to speak to me like I understood (I do). And she didn’t get rid of my favorite window perch. That earned her some respect.

At first, she thought she was just here to clean out the house.

Ha.

Within a week she was neck-deep in a murder investigation, getting herself into trouble, asking the right questions, and refusing to let go of the scent—even when it got dangerous. I stayed close. Watched. Guided when I could. I knocked a few things off shelves when she needed nudging. I sat beside the hidden compartment until she finally noticed it. Humans can be terribly slow.

She calls it coincidence. I call it strategy.

And maybe it’s silly, but I’ve come to care about her. Emily’s different now. Still a bit high-strung (bless her), but she’s softer. Stronger. She’s learning to listen—to the wind off the cliffs, to the history of the house, to her own intuition. She’s becoming someone her sister would be proud of. I think Becky knew what she was doing leaving her the house. And leaving her me.

Now, since people keep asking—I am a real cat. The author based me on her own clever companion, who also thinks she’s the queen of the household (she is). And yes, Grayson is my name. I get strange looks sometimes because it sounds like a boy’s name. But I was named after Grayson Hall, the legendary actress from Dark Shadows—so I carry it with feline pride.

So yes, I’m just a cat.

But I’m also a guardian, a sounding board, and occasionally, a clue-delivering genius. When the wind howls and the past comes knocking, you’ll find me curled up nearby, keeping watch.

Because in a town like this, with secrets this deep?

You need someone who always lands on their feet.

Even if they occasionally swipe a muffin off the counter when no one’s looking.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Grayson, and good luck with Murder Most Eastern, the first book in the Great Maine mysteries series.

Readers can learn more about Grayson and her author, Nellie H. Steele by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers: 

 Amazon 

About Nellie H. Steele: Nellie  is a storyteller who doesn’t just write books—she writes the stories her characters tell her. With distinct voices and minds of their own, her characters often take over, guiding her through tales of romance, mystery, adventure, and suspense.

A lifelong bookworm, Nellie vividly recalls sitting on the concrete floor of her childhood library, eagerly devouring Nancy Drew books and dreaming of solving mysteries of her own. Now an award-winning author, she spends her days crafting immersive worlds and unforgettable characters that feel like old friends. Her house is a zoo—literally—thanks to her rescue animals who seem perfectly happy napping while she writes.

Nellie’s writing process often involves background TV she never actually watches because she’s too wrapped up in her characters’ antics. When she’s not spinning stories, she works as a professor of statistics, where students who know her as an author are often surprised to find she really does teach math.

If you love twisty mysteries, soap-opera-style romance, and thrilling adventures, dive into Nellie’s books today and discover worlds you won’t want to leave.

Posted in Archives, September 2025 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Murder Most Fowl

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Seth Lloyd, from A Murder Most Fowl, a Food Truck mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us a bit about surviving his sister and a reality show.

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

People often ask me how I ended up on a reality cooking show while working at one of Clementine’s only law offices and preparing for the bar exam. The answer? I didn’t. Not exactly.

My sister, Beth, tricked me. She got me to sign a consent form while I was absorbed in a basketball game. I trusted her—after all, she’s my twin—but I didn’t notice the fine print until it was too late. And now? I’m reluctantly joining her on The Food Truck Showdown.

I’m Seth. Pragmatic. Tall, organized (mostly) twin. A law student who prefers spreadsheets to frying oil, hiking trails to dodging fried chicken grease. Beth, on the other hand, is a foot shorter, strawberry-blond, freckled whirlwind of chaos. She loves to remind me that she’s the older twin, but thanks to her leap year birthday, she’s legally seven years younger. That’s my trump card, which I play liberally when she tries to pull the “older sister” line.

Working on the truck with Beth is… an exercise in patience, improvisation, and occasionally wondering how we’re still allowed to operate in Clementine. She’s all energy and ideas, throwing together sauces nobody asked for, inventing marketing stunts on the fly, and somehow managing to make a disaster look like a culinary masterpiece. I, on the other hand, am the spreadsheet twin: planning prep schedules, inventory, and backup fryer oil like a defensive lineman guarding a touchdown.

Some days feel like I’m babysitting a hurricane in an apron. Yesterday, Beth decided our wings needed a “special dance move” before going in the fryer—don’t ask—and I spent twenty minutes convincing a producer that tossing poultry in rhythm isn’t actually required. But then, she nailed it. The wings were crispy, the sauce was perfect, and a customer gave her a high-five so enthusiastic it made the chaos worth it.

We’re total opposites, but somehow it works. Mostly because I keep us from getting shut down by the health inspector, and manage to smile through her half-baked ideas. Our differences go beyond looks or truck operations. Her idea of cardio is walking from the kitchen to the couch while doing arm curls with pints of mint chip ice cream. Mine is an actual hike through the hills outside Clementine… preferably with no grease stains on my backpack. I like to relax with a comedy or by reviewing case studies. She falls asleep to true-crime documentaries and quotes her favorite true-crime podcast like it’s scripture.

Even with our differences, there’s a rhythm to it: Beth runs the show, I manage the logistics, and together we’re surviving the chaos of long filming days, surprise murder questions, and reality TV producers who think “timing” is just a suggestion. And while I complain (a lot), I know I wouldn’t trade it for all the perfectly organized case files in the world.

Supporting Beth has always been my job. And I love it. I just wish “support” didn’t include bailing her out of jail while dressed as a giant chicken or keeping her from being charged with a murder she didn’t commit. I’ve helped her more times than I can count, and now I can only hope she’ll remember that when she eventually learns the biggest secret I’m keeping from her.

Beth and I have a no-lying-to-each-other rule. Normally, that would make things straightforward. But this? This is outside my control. If she finds out what I’ve been doing behind her back… well, let’s just say she’s capable of actual murder. For now, my cards stay close to my chest. I pray that when she learns the truth, she forgives me. Or at least doesn’t assault me with a spatula. In the meantime, my focus is getting us through the next food truck challenge and keeping Beth out of county lockup… again.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Seth, and good luck to you and your author Camela Dutra with A Murder Most Fowl, the first book in the Food Truck mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Seth Lloyd and his author, Camela Dutra by visiting the author’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Readers can also follow her on Threads and Twitter/X.

The book is available online at the following retailers: 

Amazon    Barnes & Noble      Bookshop.org    Penguin Random House

About Camela Dutra: Hailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh. After years of working on her award-winning indie children’s picture books, she transitioned into crafting cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor and heart.

When she’s not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. A lover of alternative rock, Carmela often writes to its rhythm and finds comfort in rewatching The Big Bang Theory and M*A*S*H.

Posted in September 2025 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mrs Christie at the Mystery Guild Library

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Amanda Chapman, author of Mrs Christie at the Mystery Guild Library, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to introduce us to Nicola Van Dyne and her cousin Nic

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

As book conservator for Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, Tory Van Dyne prides herself on living a safe, sane, sensible life. So she’s not exactly pleased when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie (which Tory totally does not believe), politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder—that has not yet happened.

But happen it does. And soon Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind, aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths—including her socialite/actor cousin Nicola, a snarky librarian, an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits, and an eleven-year-old Irish computer whiz.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Tory’s cousin Nic, popularly known as one of the three Belles of Broadway. Actually, let’s let Tory do the honors: 

“And then there was my younger cousin Nic, whose “reality mirrors fiction” debut as Christine in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera was theater lore. Here was a girl stepping in at the last minute to replace the lead in a play about a girl stepping in at the last minute to replace the lead in a play. And the crowd had loved it. From the moment Nic began to sing her little heart out with a ringing “Think of Me,” the audience was hers. And for the next two years, she was theirs. Nic absolutely blossomed in the limelight, whether onstage or off.

Onstage was better, of course, but off was fun, too. As a card-carrying member of New York’s charity gala brigade, Nic was a photographer’s dream, and her wide, delighted smile and outré fashions often spiced up the staid society columns of Town & Country and Avenue Magazine. Besides being, in Nic’s view, “super fun,” this ubiquity on the red carpet ensured that she remained in the public eye when she was “resting between roles.” And if there was no red carpet available, she thought nothing of shimmying out of the latest Alexander McQueen confection to frolic with her two best friends in Central Park’s Three Dancing Maidens fountain wearing only her teeny, tiny silk La Perlas. A photo of which escapade, when posted online by the New York Post, absolutely blew up the internet.”

It is Nic who is the true Van Dyne in the way that Tory can’t be:

“I had always been an observer of life rather than a participant. In fifth grade, while Nic was rehearsing her starring role as Maria in the Spence School production of The Sound of Music, I was diligently scribbling away at my book report on Murder on the Orient Express. In high school, while Nic devoured Teen Vogue’s advice on “50 Ways to Rock Your Own Look,” I was researching my senior paper on “Costume as Character in Golden Age Mysteries.”

            Nic lived her life out loud. I lived mine at a whisper.”

Well, not for long Tory Van Dyne. Because that night — that rainy Sunday night in late September when a woman wearing well-polished brogues, sensible tweeds, five strands of big, fat pearlsanda hat like a deflated soufflé introduced herself as Agatha Christie —  Nic arrived with a little problem:

“In front of me, huddled under the Ionic-columned portico to avoid the rain, was my cousin Nic. That day, she was all Cool Cinderella in a blue satin Fendi jacket, white Rag & Bone jeans and red Doc Martens. She’d accessorized her look with a pair of chandelier earrings made of some hippie-looking red beads that matched the boots perfectly. She’d clearly rushed out without an umbrella, but even dripping wet, she looked great.”

     “I have a problem,” Nic said.

Before I asked what the problem might be—because with Nic there is always a problem—I felt obliged to point out the perils of going out on a rainy evening without an umbrella. “You know, Nic, you’ve pretty much ruined that Fendi jacket.”

“Oh, Tory,” Nic wailed, “Who cares about a stupid jacket?” Well, you would usually. “This is an emergency.”

Even then, I wasn’t particularly worried. All of Nic’s little problems tended to be emergencies.

I glanced back at the staircase, nervous about leaving my visitor alone for too long. “Can it wait?” I asked. “I’m a little busy at the moment.”

“No, it can’t wait,” Nic keened. “Oh, Tory, somebody’s poisoned Bertram!”

It is only much later, looking back to that fateful night, that Tory wonders if she “somehow knew then that my safe, sane, sensible life was as dead as a body with a knife in its back in one of Dame Agatha’s own mysteries.”

Thank you for sharing this with us, Amanda, and good luck with Mrs Christie at the Mystery Guild Library. Readers can learn more about Amanda Chapman by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

PenguinRandomHouse  – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Kobo

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About Amanda Chapman (aka Amy Pershing): She is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. Under the name Amy Pershing, she is also the author of the Cape Cod Foodie mysteries. An enthusiastic fan of traditional mysteries and of New York City, she found herself wondering, “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library -– even to the furnishings and architecture — in New York City? What would happen in that space?” And thus MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY — the first in a new series — was born.

Posted in Archives, August 2025 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pleats and Poison

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Claudia Grant is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Pleats and Poison, the latest novel in the Craft and Ghost Cozy Mystery series (A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery).

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

Claudia, can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Of course! I’m Claudia Grant, owner of Grants Gowns in the charming small town of Drakes Bay, Maine. I inherited the dress shop from my late Uncle Herman, whose ghost, by the way, is my constant companion. My specialty is designing wedding gowns, but to keep Lola, my inherited kitty, in tuna, I also design and sell sundresses and suits, and collaborate with Beth Stewart, owner of Knit or Purl, of handcraft hats, mittens and sweaters. People come to buy clothes, but sometimes they end up inadvertently sharing secrets—and in a small town like ours, secrets don’t stay hidden for long. Especially when my resident ghost decides to chime in with his opinion.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I usually start my mornings with coffee—lots of it—and enjoy the view of the Atlantic Ocean from my deck.  After that, I open the dress shop, sew and focus on new designs and sew not on murder. At least I try. Somehow, I get pulled into a mystery—whether it’s getting caught holding a gun over a dead body, a stolen box of buttons, or a new ghost confused about how she became one, it’s all in a day’s work for me.

By evening, I’m either solving crimes with the help of my new BFF Beth—or chatting with my Uncle Herman as he continues to mentor me. Shh, I think that’s why he hasn’t crossed over yet. He’s worried about leaving the business before I’m capable of running it to his standards. But I don’t mind I enjoy his company. And somewhere in the middle of life I’m on the cusp of a new romance, but we’re taking our time. After all, how could I explain talking to thin air?

Do you like the way Lucinda recounts your adventures?
Ha! Let’s just say she has a habit of putting me in some tricky situations. I mean, not everyone in Drakes Bay should get caught up in a crime, right? However, she’s doing a great job of pulling my new friends into tricky situations. Thankfully, she’s given me a sharp wit, a supportive circle of friends, and a knack for noticing details. So yes, I suppose I’ll keep her.

Any pointers you’d like to give Lucinda?
Yes. Less danger, more time to relax and hang out with my new friends. Also, maybe a little more time for my budding romance wouldn’t hurt. I keep dropping hints, but she’s stubborn. Readers—help me out here!

Facts about Claudia:

Occupation: Owner of Grants Gowns, where murder and fashion are always in style

Pet Sidekick: Lola, the Himalayan cat I inherited from Uncle Herman along with the business and building overlooking the ocean

Human Sidekick: Beth Stewart, owner of Knit or Purl, and my partner in sleuthing, we call ourselves the Sofa Sleuths.

Secret Talent: I talk to ghosts—and they’re not shy about offering “help” on my investigations.

Unexpected Hobby: Solving murders in my adopted home town (I swear I don’t go looking for them… they just find me).

Fuel of Choice: Endless cups of coffee—and the occasional lemon treat to keep her spirits up.

Thank you for answering my questions, Claudia, and good luck to you and your author, Lucinda Race, with Pleats and Poison, the latest book in the Craft and Ghost Cozy Mystery series (A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery).

Readers can learn more about Claudia and her author, Lucinda Race by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on BlueSky.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon     Kobo    Barnes & Noble Smashwords     Google Play    Goodreads    BookBub

About Lucinda Race: Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction who fell in love with cozy mysteries and romance novels as a young girl. While her childhood friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, Lucinda was already dreaming of crafting captivating novels filled with heart, hope, and happily ever afters.

Though her writing journey began with nonfiction, her passion for storytelling never wavered. She returned to her true calling—creating the beloved McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series—writing the kinds of stories she loves to read. Whether she’s weaving a heartwarming romance or a cozy mystery, her fingers practically fly across the keyboard.

Lucinda lives in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts with her little dog— a shih tzu mix rescue—who is always by her side. When she’s not immersed in writing mystery, suspense, or romance, she’s curled up with a book, devouring everything she can get her hands on.

Posted in Archives, August 2025 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Dish Best Served Dead

Posted on August 19, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Tiffany Austin is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about A Dish Best Served Dead, the latest novel in the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger mystery series.

Welcome, Tiffany. 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. 

A DISH BEST SERVED DEAD is the third in the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series.  Tiffany is an ex-chef who moved back to her hometown of Branson Georgia after a breakup and took a job as a food blogger on a magazine.  She just can’t seem to NOT get involved in a good mystery!

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

Oh, I definitely get a say. Lots of times my ‘voice’ takes over and supplants what the writer originally had in mind.

How did you evolve as the main character?  I started out that way LOL.

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

I’m partial to my BFF, Hilary, who helps me quite a lot and, of course, with my current flame, Detective Phil Bartell.

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

It’s a food convention called “Foodie Fest” and for an ex-chef, it’s an exciting place, all these different food samples to taste!  Too bad a murder had to ruin it!

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

I think readers will enjoy the food descriptions and watching me piece the clues together!

Thank you for answering my questions, Tiffany, and good luck to you and your author, T. C. Lotempio, with A Dish Best Served Dead, the latest book in the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Tiffany and her author, T. C. Lotempio by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter/X.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About T. C. Lotempio: T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! 

Posted in August 2025 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments