Photo Finished

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Lori Roberts Herbst is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Photo Finished, her latest novel in the Callie Cassidy Mystery series.

Welcome, Lori. 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.

Set in Rock Creek Village, Colorado, the Callie Cassidy Mystery series follows a middle-aged former investigative photojournalist. Following a glitch in her career, Callie has moved back to the mountainside town of her youth, along with her golden retriever, Woody. Soon, she realizes she’s done with big-city life, and she begins to settle in, reconnecting with old friends and discovering new ones, like a stray tabby cat she and Woody call Carl. Callie eventually opens a photo gallery—and solves a few murders, of course.

Photo Finished, the fourth book in the series, finds Callie on a girls’ trip to a dude ranch in Mustang, Colorado, to celebrate her best friend Tonya’s upcoming wedding. All she wants is a fun-filled week with her girlfriends. But a town conflict over the ranch property keeps interfering, and when an obnoxious local woman turns up dead, it’ll be up to Callie and her posse to solve the crime.

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

After three books set in Rock Creek Village, I knew I wanted to take Callie someplace new for one installment. Since she and Tonya just emerged from a rough patch in their friendship, it made sense Callie would want to do something special for the bride-to-be. The girls’ week idea enabled me to bring much of the cast to Mustang, too. Though I’m not sure how a dude ranch popped into my head, I knew right away it was perfect. Horses, snakes, trees, and lakes—what a perfect setting for a murder mystery!

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

In each book, I try to weave in a subplot that involves personal growth and relationship growth. Callie is forty-four years old, but she’s devoted the past twenty-five years, almost her entire adult life, to the pursuit of a fast-paced career. It’s left her little time to “find herself.” As skilled as she was professionally, she is a rookie when it comes to gaining insight and maintaining friendships. In this particular book, Callie grapples with the green-eyed monster. The exploration of jealousy seeps into other areas of the plot as well.

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

The creation of characters is a bit magical to me. The people in my books are truly fictional, but sometimes it feels as if there is a real-life cast running around in my subconscious, waiting to be born. Not sure what it says about me, but villains, especially, come to me with a vivid three-dimensionality.

As far as favorites, I love Callie, of course. If I could pluck her off the pages of my books, I’d enjoy having her as a friend, flaws and all. I also have a soft spot for Callie’s parents, Maggie and Butch. Having lost my own parents, their presence evoke a tenderness that makes me feel safe and cared for. And then there’s…oh, for goodness sake, I could add all the regulars. I love them all!

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

The mountains are my happy place. They’re not easily accessible when you live in Texas, so my husband and I travel to Colorado as often as time and budget allow. Our favorite places are Estes Park and Manitou Springs. When we’re there, I try to soak in every detail for later life on the pages of the books.

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

Google has become a writer’s best friend. I’m sometimes slightly concerned that if the police ever suspect me of some dastardly deed, my Google history will provide a treasure trove of evidence! From snake venom to electrocution to how much Ambien it would take to knock a person out, I look guilty of almost any crime.

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

Writing Photo Finished gave me such pleasure—it may have been the most fun I’ve had with a book. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did creating it!

Thanks for answering my questions, Lori, and good luck with Photo Finished, the latest book in the Cassie Cassidy Mystery series.

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

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Lori Roberts Herbst: Lori writes the Callie Cassidy Mystery series, and has spent much of her life writing, editing, and psychoanalyzing. Through thirty years of teaching journalism, advising newspaper and yearbook staff, instructing budding photographers, and counselling teenagers, she still managed to hang on to a modicum of sanity. Her books have earned first-place CIBA awards in the Murder and Mayhem division. She currently serves as secretary of the Sisters in Crime North Dallas chapter and is a member of the Sisters in Crime Guppies and the Mystery Writers of America.

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Dewey Decimated

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Carrie Singleton is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Dewey Decimated, the latest novel in the Haunted Library mystery series.

Welcome, Carrie. 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 Carrie Singleton and I live inside DEWEY DECIMATED, which is the sixth book in the Haunted Library series. I am the head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library and my life is filled with adventures and murders. I am the only adult who can see the ghost of Evelyn Havers, a former library aide who helps me solve murders. In DEWEY DECIMATED, the building next to the library in undergoing renovations to become an addition to the library. When the workers break through the connecting wall, the confused ghost of the dead man found in the building’s basement wanders into the library. Evelyn and I have to keep him hidden away so he doesn’t frighten the patrons while we discover who murdered him.

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

I have a say regarding the events of the story. After all, it’s my story and I know what should be happening, right?

How did you evolve as the main character?

I suppose it’s because I was able to see Evelyn, who is kind of the library’s guardian angel. Also, it turns out I’m very good at investigating homicides and finding murderers.

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

Many characters are very dear to me starting with my fiancé, Dylan, who loves me and doesn’t try to stop me from investigating. My best friend Angela who understands me; my great-aunt Harriet and great-uncle Bosco who gave me a home when I felt lost and helped me find my place in Clover Ridge. And Evelyn, who has taught me a lot. And my dad, Jim Singleton, who gave up his crooked life and became an upstanding citizen and the best dad I could ever want.

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

I’m very excited about the new library addition, especially the new stadium-seated auditorium where I plan to present many wonderful programs and performances. I also want to learn more about the ghost, who turns out to be Dylan’s uncle, someone Dylan hasn’t seen in ages.

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

I have to deal with this brash, in-your-face TV investigative reporter who is also investigating the dead man found in the building. Of course she has no idea his ghost is hidden away in the library. But she’s a thorn in my side because she keeps on making digs about our police chief, who happens to be my friend. Even worse, she wants me to join forces with her to solve the murder. Since she has amazing resources and I’m investigating the murder anyway, I just might give in and form the duo she’s after.

Thank you for answering my questions, Carrie, and good luck to you and your author, Allison Brook, with Dewey Decimated, the latest book in the Haunted Library mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Carrie and her author, Allison Brook by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, and Bookbub pages. Readers can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon      Penguin Random House    B&N    Kobo    Google Play 

About Allison Brook: A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. DEATH OVERDUE, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Her juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice. And Don’t Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.

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The Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Dove Agnew is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about The Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt, the first novel in the Harland Creek Mystery Quilters series.

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

Tell us about the novel you live in? Is this part of a series?
Hi! I’m Dove Agnew and I’m the main character in The Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt. It is the first book in the Harland Creek Mystery Quilters series. It is set in my small town of Harland Creek. I had to move back to Harland Creek after my career in New York went belly up. I’m trying to keep the reasons for that on the downlow but it’s a small town and people like to be all up your business.

Anyway, back to the novel. I moved back in with my mom, Mildred Agnew, and I’m helping her at her quilt shop. I am really good at sewing, especially on the longarm machine. Well, imagine my surprise when we show up at the quilt shop and find Gertrude Brown, dead! Now everyone is pointing fingers at me since I was the last person to see her alive. And it doesn’t help that my ex is now the chief of police and he doesn’t believe me when I tell him I didn’t do it.

So now I have to enlist the Harland Creek quilting ladies who want to help me solve the case before they put me in the slammer. Oh, and they insist on bringing that goat Petunia along while we are checking out leads.

How do you evolve as a character?

Oh I’m constantly evolving. A lot of things I’ve shunned about small town life, I’m now enjoying. I’m actually enjoying being around the quilting ladies. They may be bossy, but they are funny and fiercely loyal. Both things I admire.

Do you have other characters you like sharing the novel with?

I adore all my quilting ladies, well except maybe not Bernice. She’s kind of a hard egg to crack. But the other ladies are great. It’s hard to pic a favorite.  My favorite animal, hands down, is Petunia. She’s a goat and she thinks she’s an investigator. I think she’s just lucky.

Is there anything else you want the readers to know about this book?

Yes. People tend to have an idea about small towns. But I think they are a lot more complex than people give them credit for. Yes, people know your business and want to tell you how to live. But the people in a small town are the first ones to show up when things go wrong and help you through the bad times.

Small town living isn’t for everyone. But it’s certainly open to everyone.

Thank you for answering my questions, Dove, and good luck to you and your author, Jodi Allen Brice, with The Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt, the first book in the Harland Creek Mystery Quilters series.

Readers can learn more about Dove and her author, Jodi Allen Brice by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook page.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – Kobo –  Google –  nook 

About Jodi Allen Brice: Jodi has written numerous books under different pen names. Under Jodi Allen Brice she writes women’s fiction, small town clean sweet romance, and cozy mysteries.

She transitioned away from paranormal romance in the year 2020 when the virus hit. She still writes about lovable characters who overcome the impossible to get what they want. You’ll find yourself laughing and crying when you are reading her books. She is also an avid quilter and camping. Sometimes she does both at the same time!

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Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Valerie Burns is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Two Parts Sugar, One Par Murder, her first novel in the Baker Street Mysteries series.

Welcome, Valerie. 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.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is the first book in my new Baker Street Mystery series. This is a culinary cozy mystery series about a young woman, Madison Montgomery, who is a social media influencer

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

I was born and raised in a town that was 90 miles from Chicago. After graduating from a college, I lived in Southwestern Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. At the time, I marvelled at the price difference between lake front property in Chicago compared to that along the same lake in Michigan. Eventually, word spread and Chicago residents began buying up all of the lakefront property. There was even a rumor that Chicago’s mayor and several individuals connected to organized crime had vacation homes in Southwestern Michigan. The cut throat world of real estate development is the theme at the heart of the story.

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

My protagonist, Maddy Montgomery, is a social media influencer who inherits a house, a bakery, and a 250 lb English mastiff named Baby. Maddy has never owned a home, cooked, run a business, or taken care of anyone else other than herself. When it comes to fashion or posting on social media, she’s confident and sure. In other areas of her life, not so much. She’s relied on others to support her and to tell her what to do, including her father, a navy admiral. Over the course of the book Maddy learns to bake, run a business, care for Baby, and catch a killer.

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

I love to do what I call “Frankensteining” characters. This involves taking elements of different people and putting them together to make a fictional character. I may take one person’s laugh, another person’s eclectic style of clothes, and a third person’s nervous habit. I combine all of those into one unique new person.

My favorite characters are Nana Jo and “the girls” from my Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. These are a group of senior citizens that are energetic, vibrant, fearless, and brave. These feisty seniors don’t care what people think about them and I wish that I had their spunk.

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

Usually, the settings in my books are fictionalized versions of real places. New Bison, Michigan won’t appear on any maps. However, New Buffalo, Michigan will. I used to live in Southwestern Michigan, so I’m very familiar with the area and can draw on various places which I know, while writing.

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

Research is one of my favorite parts of writing. However, I have to limit myself. I love learning new things and if I’m not careful, I can spend hours reading, and surfing the Internet. I love looking for specific details that make a fictional person or place feel real.

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

The Baker Street Mystery series is a culinary cozy mystery and includes delicious recipes that readers can try at home.

Thanks for answering my questions, Valerie, and good luck with Two Parts Sugar One Part Murder, the first book in the Baker Street Mysteries series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – Apple – Books-A-Million – Barnes and Noble – Bookshop.org – Google Play – Hudson Booksellers – IndieBound – Target – KOBO

About Valerie (V. M.) Burns: Valerie is the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. Her first book, The Plot is Murder, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Debut Novel. She is the author of the Dog Club Mystery Series, the RJ Franklin Mysteries, a three-time finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and an Edgar Award-nominated short story. Her newest series, Baker Street Mysteries, will release later this year, and her Pet Detective Mystery series will release in 2023. Valerie is on the board of Sisters in Crime and the Southeastern Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, and International Thriller Writers. She is a manager for a Fortune 100 company and a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie currently lives in the southeastern United States with her two poodles. 

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Concession Stand Crimes

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Nicole Asselin is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Concession Stand Crimes, her latest novel in the Ballpark Mystery series.

Welcome, Nicole. 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.

It is a series! The Ballpark Mystery series starts with MURDER AT FIRST PITCH. That book introduces Madeline and the Abington Armadillos to people. CONCESSION STAND CRIMES continues to follow her adventures. They can be read as standalone books, but the series makes a lot of sense in order.

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

I’m not 100% familiar with the world of concession stand management, but I wondered if it was as cutthroat as the restaurant industry. Would people kill for a prime concession stand in a ballpark? People have killed for less! I thought the drama of that whole situation might make an intriguing storyline in a small ballpark. Plus, I got to add in a partying socialite beer heiress, which was fun to write. And I got to name her after one of my favourite drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Alaska (NSFW last name).

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

Family is the most important theme of the book. It’s a family run ballpark, and Madeline comes to realize just how much support and love she has from her family during the trying times. After going away to college and having a separate career, she comes back and finds a comfortable spot at home which makes her wonder what she was looking for in previous jobs. Her brother has the opposite journey. He’s worked for the family for years and is now yearning to spread his wings. My family is very important to me, even if we sometimes get on each other’s nerves.

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

Most of the characters are loosely based on people in my real life. Not perfect recreations of them, but they have some personality traits they share with real people. Madeline is loosely based on me. I’ll get that out of the way now. Everyone who knows me and reads the book tells me they picture me. Which is nice! Madeline’s a good character! I also love writing Eliza. She’s the spunky side character and just encapsulates all my friends from here on the South Shore of Massachusetts. She’s just the type of friend a person would need. Not afraid to tell someone when they were being stupid, but also there for whenever their friends need them.

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

I decided to set my series in the actual town I live in. While part of it was practicality (I know where everything is!), another part of it was because the vibe of Abington, MA was the vibe I wanted for my ballpark. While there is no actual ballpark here, most of the other landmarks are as described. Luckily the town has been accepting of me since I moved here 10 years ago, and I wanted to spread that love!

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

A lot of my research involved going to baseball games. Or watching baseball games. And reading tons of mysteries. Which to me is the best kind of research. I also read a book call “The Only Rule is it Has to Work” which is about two twentysomething dudes who bought an independent league baseball team in California to see what it would be like. I mean, that’s the dream. Just being able to by a team and park. Baseball everyday? I’m into it!

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

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to like this book! Like other cosy mysteries, the location is a supporting character, not the main focus. If you think baseball is boring, which I disagree with, you’ll still like the family elements of the story. If you like baseball, you’ll find easter eggs for baseball fans everywhere. If you’re a mystery fan in general, you should enjoy this series!

Thanks for answering my questions, Nicole, and good luck with Concession Stand Crimes, the latest book in the Ballpark Mystery series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon –  Nicole Asselin Writer 

About Nicole Asselin: Nicole spent her formative high school years in the middle of Pennsylvania but always identified with her New England roots. Nicole’s family is originally from Connecticut, and her Grandpa Asselin introduced her to the Red Sox nation where she has been a member for her whole life and her Grandma Asselin introduced her to the world of mystery novels. Now those two loves are combined into her new Ballpark Mystery series.

Nicole graduated from Curry College in Milton Mass with a degree in English/Creative Writing, minoring in Dance in 2004. She also attended George Mason University and received a Master’s in Arts Management. She worked in the Government sector for over ten years before transitioning to Healthcare. Now working just outside of Boston as a Technical Writer, she lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with her three cats Julia, Jacques, and Madeline (no relation to the main character of her book).

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Charleston Conundrum

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Liz Adams is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Charleston Conundrum, the first novel in the Liz Adams mystery series.

Welcome, Liz. 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 Liz Adams. After my husband cheated on me, I moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina to pursue my dream of becoming a private investigator. When I visited Charleston, I fell in love with the city. After my divorce, I needed a change.

I met my best friend, Peg, shortly after I moved in. Actually, my Labrador retriever puppy, Duke, introduced us. She’d been sitting on the fountain’s ledge in the park, resting after a hard run. Duke, spotting another spot to swim and play, lunged forward, jerking his leash from my hand. He ran straight toward Peg and leaped into the water, spraying murky water all over her. When we exchanged contact information, we discovered I was the new neighbor in her townhome community.

Imagine my surprise when six years later, Peg’s dead, and I wind up being one of the prime suspects. With the help of Duke, who has the ability to detect when people are lying, we solve the case.

Charleston Conundrum is the first book in the series. The next book, Carmel Conundrum takes place in Carmel, California, and is currently set to release in early 2023.

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

My writer believes she has control of the story, but I’m chatting in her ear all the time telling her what to write. I even wake her up in the middle of the night.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Peg’s death shook me to my very core. Rushing to solve the case while grieving and trying to avoid being tossed in jail was an emotional roller coaster ride. How could someone so healthy die so early? I regretted loaning her my gun that night. I had to learn to let go of the guilt and the belief that everything has a reason. I also had to reconnect with my faith.

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

Well, of course, my dog, Duke.

I love all my neighbors. Lou’s a hoot, and our trip to Paris to meet Peg’s boyfriend (who she kept a secret) is memorable.

Jenny, Peg’s niece, has a special place in my heart.

A couple of love interests, Brad and JP. You have to read the book so you can meet everybody!

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

Here is an excerpt from the book describing Charleston:

She didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with a place, but Charleston gave her hope she hadn’t felt in a long while. Time for a fresh start. As she tucked a stray blonde hair behind her ear, she recalled the moment she decided to move. Walking down East Bay, her whole life upended, a soft salty breeze offered some relief from the sweltering heat. She could feel Charleston seeping into her skin. It was as if nothing mattered and everything mattered all in the same breath. The slight scent of hay and horse sweat coming from a nearby carriage beckoned her to rest her feet and take a ride. Facing a pending divorce and a career that kept her busy, yet not satisfied, she was not looking forward to returning to Atlanta. This place enchanted her. Homes, hundreds of years old, were painted the colors of Crayola crayons. The never-ending Southern porches were dotted with wooden swings and wicker rockers. The azalea and camellia bushes were in full bloom, and the scent of jasmine collided with the salt air. The clip-clop rhythm of horses’ hooves against the weathered street left her longing for a more natural rhythm in her own life. Every one of her senses was engaged; the backs of her thighs sticky with sweat against the hard brown leather carriage seat; the smell of salt, hay, and perspiration; the Caribbean green, periwinkle blue, carnation pink of the houses; the taste of salt as she licked her dry lips; the musical sound of birds singing. She sighed. It had been a long time since she had felt this alive. Perhaps it was time for a permanent change of scenery.

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

The book has recipes and a playlist. You can also find them on my writer’s website, http://www.storystacy.com.

In the next book, I travel to Carmel California to check out a piece of property that I inherited from Peg and continue the relationship with Brad. Of course, Duke tags along.

Thank you for answering my questions, Liz, and good luck to you and your author, Mary Stacy Wilder, with Charleston Conundrum, the first book in the Liz Adams mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Liz and her author, Stacy Wilder by visiting the author’s website, and her Facebook and Instagram pages. Readers can follow her on YouTube.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Google – Blue Willow Bookshop – Murder by the Book 

About Stacy Wilder: Stacy writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her debut novel, Charleston Conundrum, is the first in the Conundrum mystery series. Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that support wildlife conservation, and the homeless, both people and pets. A portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum are donated to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). As well as writing, Stacy is passionate about her faith, family, Labradors, the causes that she supports, the beach, art, and reading books. She and her husband live in Houston, Texas with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.

Posted in Archives, August 2022 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Dark and Stormy Tea

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Laura Childs is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about A Dark and Stormy Tea, her latest novel in the Tea Shop Mysteries series.

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

Tell us about your newest novel. If it’s part of a series, tell us about that series.

A DARK AND STORMY TEA is #24 in my Tea Shop Mystery series with the storyline generally centered around the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, SC. But this is no cutesy cozy series because I make sure all my books open with a whopping big surprise. I’ve kicked off first chapters with art heists, explosions, smash-and-grab robberies, shootings, chases on horseback, stabbings, murdered bridegrooms, and lots more. I don’t believe in slow build-ups or back story, I prefer to drop my reader right into the action, then keep it going with exciting plots, fast pacing, and twists reminiscent of a thriller.

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

I’ve always been fascinated by Charleston’s hidden alleys and walkways, but the one that really gets me going is Gateway Walk. It’s three-blocks of twisty-turny paths, gardens, hidden grottos, and mazes – all ending in an ancient graveyard complete with moss-covered tombs and Spanish moss dripping from trees. Then I pushed my idea a few steps further and sent my main character, tea shop maven Theodosia Browning, caroming down this walkway in the dark with a terrible storm battering down. When she comes upon a murder – by a possible serial killer – the mystery jumps into overdrive.

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

The theme in all my mysteries is solving a murder and bringing the bad guy (or girl) to justice. Luckily, Theodosia (my main character) is smart, savvy, and has a unique talent for solving mysteries. While the police are questioning suspects and coming up with theories, she’s usually running a shadow investigation aided by Drayton, her tea sommelier.

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

When I started writing theTea Shop Mysteries, I decided to make Theodosia a businesswoman who’d left the 24/7 grind of a marketing firm to run a quaint little tea shop. And because she couldn’t do it alone, I developed Drayton, a slightly haughty tea sommelier, and Haley, the young, sassy chef and baker. This triad of characters appear in every book and I pretty much love them like family. (Some of my readers do, too!) When I write, it’s almost as if I’m watching a stage play unfold. I see my characters interact with each other, hear their conversations, and then write it all down. I know it’s weird, but it works!

How do you bring to life the place you’re writing about?

Ah, that’s the fun part. Creating a sense of place is almost like tossing another character into the mix. In the case of my Tea Shop Mysteries, which take place in Charleston, SC, I try to impart a real feel for this 350-year-old city with its historic mansions, narrow brick lanes dating back to Revolutionary War times, and haunted cemeteries. Basically, it’s a real thrill to romanticize this city as well as make it seem preternaturally spooky. When I can make my readers feel the damp fog swirling in from Charleston Harbor, hear the toot of a tugboat, or worry about footsteps crunching behind them on gravel, I know I’ve done my job.

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

For A Dark and Stormy Tea, I researched various serial killers and came up with a strange British character named Springhill Jack. In this story I morphed him into Fogheel Jack and made him a shadowy figure who may have been responsible for murders in the past and has quite possibly returned to stalk his old haunts. Yes, I know it sounds spooky but I promise it’s not gory. This is a cozy after all!

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

Sure, here’s a quick synopsis: Tea maven Theodosia Browning dashes down Charleston’s famed Gateway Walk as wind and driving rain overtake her. This normally picturesque ramble of hedges and statuary has become a twisted, foggy labyrinth that leads to a moss-shrouded cemetery. There, Theodosia encounters two struggling figures and realizes she’s witness to a brutal murder. In the throes of alerting police, Theodosia recognizes the victim – the daughter of a dear friend. And even though this appears to be the work of a serial killer, she launches her own shadow investigation, discovers multiple suspects, and stumbles upon a second dead body. I wrote this spooky cozy with plot, pacing, and action reminiscent of a thriller – then sprinkled in tea lore and recipes to make this Tea Shop Mystery highly entertaining.

Thanks for answering my questions, Laura, and good luck with A Dark and Stormy Tea, the latest book in the Tea Shop Mysteries series.

Readers can learn more about Laura and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook page.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

About Laura Childs: Laura is the author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. All have been on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists. Recently, Book Riot named her mysteries to their list of “25 of the All Time Best Cozy Mystery Series.” In herprevious life Laura was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, and enjoys fundraising for various non-profits. Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) and has a Chinese Shar-Pei dog named Lotus.

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Lethal Legacies

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Colleen J. Shogan is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Lethal Legacies, her latest novel in the Washington Whodunit series.

Welcome, Colleen. 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.  “Lethal Legacies” is the eighth mystery in the Washington Whodunit series. It features a congressional chief of staff, Kit Marshall, who solves mysteries in our nation’s capital. In this instalment, Kit is balancing the demands of organizing a city-wide celebration of American history with investigating two high-profile murders. Solving the crimes takes her to Georgetown University, the Smithsonian African American Museum, and even the White House!

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?  I work in a historic house on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. and I wanted to write a story that would take Kit off Capitol Hill and into other famous sites across the city.

Is there a theme or subject that underlies the story? If so, what prompted you to write about it?  There’s a lot about the history of Washington, D.C. in this story and there’s a fair amount about the history of slavery in our nation’s capital. My colleagues at the White House Historical Association have been writing about this topic for several years and I wanted to incorporate some of their insights into my latest novel.

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?  I like writing the scenes between Kit and her best friend Meg. They are very different characters, yet they remain the closest of confidantes and friends. Also, Meg likes to act crazy sometimes, and it’s always fun to write an unpredictable character.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?  It’s easy for me, because these are the places that I visit regularly. I can include minor details that others might not know about. For me, that’s important in my writing. I could never second-guess those nuances. I want my readers to feel like they’ve actually visited Washington, D.C. if they read one of my books.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel? If I am uncertain about the origins of a setting or a person I reference in the book, I make sure to research it. The good news is that there is so much information online these days, it’s not hard to do. I frequently use the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, and National Archives websites for assistance – they are great resources, and they are digitizing more materials every day.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about the book?  This is a fast-paced book and if you like to learn about American history, you’re in for a real treat.

Thanks for answering my questions, Colleen, and good luck with Lethal Legacies, the latest book in the Washington Whodunit series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N 

About Colleen J. Shogan: Colleen has been reading mysteries since the age of six. A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at several universities and previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress. She is currently the Senior Vice President of the White House Historical Association.

Colleen is a member of Sisters in Crime. “Stabbing in the Senate” was awarded the Next Generation Indie prize for Best Mystery in 2016. “Homicide in the House” was a 2017 finalist for the RONE Award for Best Mystery. “Calamity at the Continental Club” was a 2018 finalist in the “best cozy mystery” at Killer Nashville. “Larceny at the Library” won the 2021 IPPY bronze medal for mystery. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Rob and their beagle mutt Conan.

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Devil’s Kiss

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Rook Campbell is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Devil’s Kiss, the first novel in the Small Batch mystery series.

Welcome, Rook. 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.

Hey y’all! I’m Rook Campbell. I live inside Devil’s Kiss in a small town called Rothdale in Kentucky. It’s the first book in the Small Batch series. At the beginning of my story, I’m having a hard time finding viable employment and thanks to my best friend and neighbor, Bryan, I land a cool job at the Four Wild Horses bourbon distillery. I thank my lucky stars because it seems my life is finally on the right track—that is, until some crazy stuff starts happening at the distillery: murders and stolen Devil’s Kiss bourbon definitely keep the workplace interesting. I can’t help myself, I have to get involved in trying to figure out who’s behind the crimes—especially since my own life is being threatened, too.

In the second book, Mermaid Cove, a friend from the Mermaid Cove distillery goes missing and I need to help find her because I’m not the sort of person to stand by and let my friends suffer. I have to do everything in my power to help. Tensions are high in the bourbon community as local distilleries are vying for a prestigious award and I’m willing to bet my eye teeth that Patrice’s disappearance has something to do with that.

The title of the third book, Unbridled Spirits, is play on the Kentucky Commonwealth’s motto: Unbridled Spirit, but it’s also set during the Halloween season. My distillery, Four Wild Horses, is hosting a bourbon event at a historical home once owned by a bourbon baron from the 1800s. The best part is that the house is supposedly haunted. The event includes not only a tasting of our new bourbon, but a ghost tour of the newly renovated home. I mean, really, is there anything more fun than bourbon and a ghost tour? But things go sideways real fast when a body is found during the ghost tour. 

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

The writer is the medium I pass through. She comes up with some things and helps keeps the story organized. But a lot of times, I tap her on the shoulder and say, “Hey, what if this happened instead?” She’s pretty flexible and open to new ideas, which means we go off the planned course a lot. But that’s part of the fun and the adventure, isn’t it?

How did you evolve as the main character?

I’m still evolving, growing, and changing. I have trouble being open, trusting, and vulnerable, so I’m learning to do that with the other people in my life—though begrudgingly. I admit I’m fighting it every step of the way.

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

My grandma, Prim, is my favorite. Of course! She took me in when my mother was murdered and my dad went to jail for the crime (though I’m convinced he’s innocent—at least of that particular crime). I was still young, so she basically raised me. Prim is this petite, frail-looking woman who looks like a stiff wind would carry her off, but she’s possesses a backbone of steel. Prim makes no bones about speaking her mind. She’s tough, sassy, and fiercely loyal to the people she loves. I hope I’m even half the woman she is and my main mission in life is to make her proud.

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

Rothdale is a typical small town in Kentucky. It has its newer, more modern parts alongside the historic areas that date back to the early 1800s or even earlier in some cases. Rothdale has its sweet, charming side with neatly trimmed yards and pristinely kept homes. But it also has areas that are run-down, in disrepair and poorer neighborhoods where people struggle to get by. Prim and I live in an old farmhouse on a winding country road just outside of the town. The house sits on a chunk of land that had been passed down through the generations and it had been a fully operational farm complete with livestock and a large garden until my Papaw died. Once he died, Prim and I couldn’t handle the workload by ourselves, so we had to sell off the livestock and reduce the crops to a small personal garden. I lived in Lexington for awhile, but when my marriage to Cam dissolved, I moved back in with Prim. And, honestly, I like the quietness and the slower pace of rural life.

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

I love my town, Kentucky, and my friends and family. We’re a bit rugged, but we’re loyal and loving, and we value resilience. Most of all, we value a sense of humor. Why else would my mother name me Rook? You might think I was named after a bird or because I have black hair the color of a rook’s wings. Nope. I was named after my grandma Prim’s favorite card game. But y’all should also know that I love books. In fact, I studied English Literature in college and was going to get a PhD in English until I couldn’t continue financially. Anyway, I love to read, especially true crime, mysteries, and forensics books, and I love to watch Forensics Files. So, if y’all are interested in talking about books, you should definitely check out Michelle’s website, www.michellebennington.com, and link to her social media. She and I are cut from the same bookworm cloth and would love to connect with you!

Thank you for answering my questions, Rook, and good luck to you and your author, Michelle Bennington, with Devil’s Kiss, the first book in the Small Batch mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Rook and her author, Michelle Bennington by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on Twitter and YouTube.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – Barnes and Noble

About Michelle Bennington: Born and raised in the beautiful Bluegrass state of Kentucky, Michelle Bennington developed a passion for books early on that has progressed into a mild hoarding situation and an ever-growing to-read pile.

When she’s not creating contemporary or historical fictional worlds full of mysteries, she obsesses over all things British and historical. In rare moments of spare time, she can be found engaging in a wide array of arts and crafts, dance, and attending ghost tours.

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Shifting and Shenanigans

Posted on August 11, 2022 by Dianne Ascroft

Elizabeth Pantley is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about Shifting and Shenanigans, her first novel in the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Welcome, Elizabeth. 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.

Thanks for inviting me today! I’m so excited to introduce my new series: The Magical Mystery Book Club. This is the first in hopefully a long line of book club tales.

Who doesn’t love a book club, especially when all the members are fun, quirky, and up for anything? This club happens to be connected to an enchanted library filled with cozy mysteries!

The club finds out pretty quickly that these are no ordinary books. Once the group decides on a book and reads the first page they are whooshed away – right into the book! Since they didn’t know the rules, they didn’t read the blurb, so they don’t know much about the book. This is a paranormal mystery and they are in for a few big surprises.

The pressure is on. In order to get out of the book and back home they must solve the murder mystery.

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

I’m a voracious reader of cozies, and sometimes I find myself thinking it would be fun to travel to the place described in the book. Once I realized this would be a great theme for a series my mind went crazy! There are at least a dozen story ideas rolling around in my head.

I love paranormal mysteries best. Nothing too out-there extreme, but touches of magic in real-life, small-town settings where I can imagine magical things happening.

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

I recently took a trip to Colorado and spent some time in a few lovely rural towns. The quaint shops, open spaces, horse pastures, and friendly laid-back lifestyle was perfect for this first book in the series.

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

I tend to pattern my characters off those I enjoy in movies or TV series. I’ll start with this character in mind as a general blueprint. Once I start writing and the story moves along the characters take over and emerge as a new, different version of the actor in my head at the start of the series. In this book one of the book club members started out as a version of Cameron from Modern Family. I love his honest, excited, over-the-top approach to life. And he always makes me laugh. So, you’ll meet Sebastian, a similar type of guy!

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

I choose a real-life location that I’ve visited as a starting point. Then I’ll Google similar places and look at photos. Then I’ll create the world that appears in the book by drawing a map with the main locations. I’ll include photos of scenes, like a party, for example, so that I can bring the scene to life for my reader.

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

I tend to research as I go. If a character owns a bakery and is making scones, I’ll do a quick look at the process. Even though the setting is enchanted the more realistic the parts and pieces the easier it is for my reader to be immersed in the story.

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

I had an absolute blast writing this story! The idea of being inside a book created some interesting aspects of the story. The writer of this book likes adjectives, so everything in the downtown appears … more! More color, more friendliness, more charm, more fun!

I’ve just finished writing book two in the series, which takes place on a Hawaiian cruise. Readers can look for a varied and interesting set of locations in the book club series to follow.

I hope you’ll enjoy Shifting and Shenanigans!

Thanks for answering my questions, Elizabeth, and good luck with Shifting and Shenanigans, the first book in Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Readers can learn more about Elizabeth and her writing by visiting her website and blog, and her Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest and Instagram pages. Readers can also sign up for her newsletter.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Elizabeth Pantley: Elizabeth says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

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