Death by Intermission

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

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

Today Abby McCree is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Death by Intermission, the latest novel in the Abby McCree mystery series.

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 Abby McCree, and I’m the amateur sleuth in my own cozy series, The Abby McCree Mysteries by Alexis Morgan. The series begins shortly after I moved into the Victorian house I inherited from my favorite aunt. I’d recently gone through a divorce and sold my half of our business to my ex-husband. Moving to Snowberry Creek in Washington State offered me a new start and a chance to figure out what should come next in my life. There were a few surprises along the way. For example, I didn’t expect the house to come with a ninety-five pound mastiff roommate or a handsome tenant in the small mother-in-law house on the back of the property. Along with the other people I’ve met in town, Zeke and Tripp Blackston have made my new life quite an adventure. Sadly, so have the murders I’ve come across along the way.

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

While the author might have come up with the basic premise of the series, I’ve definitely had quite a lot of influence on how the stories have played out. For example, Alexis had no idea how much I love to bake—especially when I’m stressed—and that I keep the freezer stocked with cookies of all kinds to share with my friends and sometimes with total strangers! Alexis definitely knew I grew up living with my mother after she and my dad got divorced. However, she didn’t know what my current relationship with my mom was like. It also came as a surprise to her that I’m quite the pool shark!  

How did you evolve as the main character?

When I first moved to Snowberry Creek, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be my permanent home or a temporary stop while I got the house ready to put on the market. As soon as I moved in, my late aunt’s friends bullied me into finishing out my aunt’s term of office as president of the quilting guild. In truth, it was just their way of getting me involved in the happenings in Snowberry Creek, and I have to admit they succeeded big time. Thanks to them, I’ve started putting down roots here in town, making new friends, and finding a new sense of purpose in my life. That’s the upside. The downside is that once you volunteer to help one time, everyone else with a garage sale or committee to run comes calling.  

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

First, I’d have to say that I really love Zeke, my canine companion. He might drool and shed like crazy, but his unconditional love means everything to me. My aunt adopted him from a local shelter. As a result, we don’t know much about Zeke’s former life other than it wasn’t good. Seeing life in Snowberry Creek as a chance to start over is something the two of us have in common. Zeke has also helped save my life a time or two, so he’s not only loyal but very brave.

Tripp, my tenant, also plays an important role in my life. He recently left the army after twenty years of serving in the Special Forces. He’s now attending a local university to finish his degree. Funny thing about Tripp—he’s never once told me what his major is and finds all of my guesses to be wildly entertaining. We enjoy each other’s company to the point that sometimes it seems we might be poised at the edge of becoming something more than simply friends. Well, except when I get drawn into another murder investigation that places me in danger. Tripp claims my adventures have taken years off his life. He and the local police chief, also a friend of mine, both consider me a magnet for trouble. While I don’t appreciate them saying that, I can’t actually say they are wrong.   

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

Snowberry Creek is a small town located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. No matter which way you look, the surrounding area is beautiful. In addition to the Cascades, one of the volcanoes in the state, Mount Rainier, forms part of the backdrop of the town. There’s also a national forest filled with towering cedars and Douglas firs. The people are friendly and definitely made me feel welcome when I moved to town.

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

DEATH BY INTERMISSION is the fourth book in my series. For the first time readers will meet my mother, Phoebe McCree. Sadly, Mom is with me when I discover a dead body after a movie-in-the-park night event where I was in charge. Things get complicated—and a bit dangerous—after that.

Thank you for answering my questions, Abby, and good luck to you and your author, Alexis Morgan, with Death by Intermission, the latest book in the Abby McCree mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Abby and her author, Alexis Morgan by visiting the author’s website and blog, and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N –  Kobo – GooglePlay  –  IndieBound 

About Alexis Morgan: Alexis is the USA Today bestselling author of over forty-five novels, novellas, and short stories that span a variety of genres: American West historicals (as Pat Pritchard); paranormal and fantasy romances; contemporary romances; and cozy mysteries. A RITA® Award-finalist, Alexis Morgan is a member of RWA and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Washington State.

Posted in Archives, February 2021 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Aloe & Goodbye

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Ruby Shaw is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Aloe & Goodbye, the first novel in the Ruby Shaw mystery series.

Welcome, Ruby. 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 Ruby Shaw. I live in a cozy mystery titled Aloe and Goodbye. It’s the first book in the Ruby Shaw Mysteries, which is about me—I’m an artist from New York City—and my daughter Allie who enter the witness protection program and must start over with new identities to stay safe.

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

The author put me in witness protection, plopped me into this town, and set up the murder of a local real estate maven the night we moved in. Janice Peacock points me in the right direction, but she has told me she is often surprised by what I discover. While I explored my new terraced, barren backyard, I found a glass vase used to kill our neighbor the night we moved in. When I met the townspeople, I discovered each of their motives for killing Mrs. Stramtussle, my now-deceased neighbor.

How did you evolve as the main character?

When I first came to the town of Paradise, Arizona, I was frightened and felt vulnerable. I had a new name and identity, and I wasn’t sure how I should interact with others or what to tell people about myself and my daughter. As I continued to live in town, I realized I could be myself without being my old self and that I had an excellent opportunity to start over in life—something that not many of us get to do. By the time we catch the murderer, I have become a new, better version of myself—I found employment (after getting fired from a couple of jobs), I learned to accept help, and I learned that I could find other creative endeavors to fulfill me. And while not the most important thing, I may have found a boyfriend, which gives me hope that I can live in this tiny town with my daughter and be happy.

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

Of course, I am most partial to my daughter Allie. She’s twelve now and a bit of a handful. She’s entered that pre-teen phase when her attitude and clothing are equally dark. It’s such a change from the delightful girl she was just months ago. Our move to Paradise, leaving behind all her friends and the life she knew in New York, has been hard on her. I’m trying my best to be supportive of her during this difficult time. Every once in a while, I see a glimmer of the old Allie—a sweet girl—but I know that things will be challenging as she enters adolescence.

I’m also partial to the cook at Bette’s Place. His name is Luke, and in addition to being a chef, he has a farm on the edge of town. I like his rugged looks, but what I adore is his gentle nature and his passion for gardening—especially succulents. Luke has taught me a lot about cacti. He even gave me a small barrel cactus, which Allie thinks is hilarious. I think it was a sweet gesture and way better than a bouquet that dies in a matter of days.

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

Paradise, Arizona, is nothing like the name implies. The whole town clings to the side of a steep, rocky mountain. There are no flat roads in this town. Even the main street has a switchback in the middle of it. Allie and I are getting a lot of exercise walking up and down the hill to and from our house since the marshals didn’t think we needed a car. I beg to differ. I haven’t yet convinced Victor, the marshal who is our contact in the witness protection program, that a car would be helpful.

One of the best things about Paradise is that it’s full of artists and other creative people. Even though I can’t be an artist, I feel like I’m with kindred spirits in this town.

As for our house, it’s nothing like my beautiful art-filled apartment, just off of Central Park. In a word, our place in Paradise is scruffy. In my more optimistic moments, I like to think of it as vintage. I can tell you this: It’s not the Ritz-Carlton.

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

I’d like to say that this is such an unusual and fulfilling journey. I thought my life was over when Victor dumped us in this god-forsaken little town. I’m learning to love it here and appreciate the new version of me. I don’t know what the future for Allie and me will hold, but I know it will be fantastic.

Thank you for answering my questions, Ruby, and good luck to you and your author, Janice Peacock, with Aloe & Goodbye, the first book in the Ruby Shaw mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Ruby and her author, Janice Peacock by visiting the author’s website.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Janice Peacock: Janice is a cozy mystery author who specializes in craft and hobby mysteries. She loves to write about artists who find new ways to live their lives and perhaps catch a criminal or two in the process. While working in a glass studio with several colorful and quirky artists, she was inspired to write the Glass Bead Mystery Series. The Ruby Shaw Mysteries, which are set in a small hillside mining town, were inspired by her trips to Jerome, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Oregon.

When Janice isn’t writing about amateur detectives, she wields a 2,500-degree torch to melt glass and create one-of-kind beads and jewelry. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and an undisclosed number of cats.

Posted in February 2021 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Drop by the Cackleberry Club Today

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

Today New York Times Bestselling Author Laura Childs is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Egg Shooters, her latest novel in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series.

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

Tell us about your new novel EGG SHOOTERS. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series as well.

When Suzanne Dietz drops by the hospital to drop off a thermos of chili for her fiancé, Dr. Sam Hazelet, she runs smack dab into a pharmacy robbery. As a guard is brutally gunned down and a friend wounded, Suzanne heaves her thermos at the gunman, splattering him with hot chili. Now Suzanne becomes part and parcel of the drama – working to solve the robbery, seek out the killer, and save the reputation of a nurse accused of being a conspirator. Juggling multiple suspects, a busy restaurant, tea parties, and catered dinners, Suzanne maintains her good humor (yes, this book is funny) and keeps her romance with the good doctor sizzling. Egg Shooters is book nine in my Cackleberry Club Mystery series featuring this intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. In the tradition of all my previous cozy mysteries, I guarantee that Egg Shooters will not disappoint when it comes to heart-warming humor, a breathless pace, and homespun recipes!

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

The shooting – a surprise assault – was easy, it’s happening all around us. Also, I love the idea of three female entrepreneurs – Suzanne, Toni, and Petra – running a small town diner called the Cackleberry Club Café. Mornings they whip up egg strata and slumbering volcanoes for their customers, then work a double shift as amateur sleuths. My characters and storyline prove that these women are funny, resourceful, and talented. They don’t necessarily want to run a Fortune 500 company but they do want to do something that is entrepreneurial, creative, and nurturing.

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

Most definitely the theme is female friendship – and smart women dropped into difficult circumstances.

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

My characters are much like a bunch of people in a crowded elevator. They’re mumbling, talking, and jostling to get out. The ones that talk the loudest end up being my main characters. They’re the ones with big personalities who either commit a crime or step up to solve a mystery and save the day.

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

Creating a “sense of place” is one of the most critical things an author can inject in a book. Place can be homey and loving such as the case with the Cackleberry Club, or desolate and forbidding. Place sets the tone and mood. Often times, place can be the thing your characters are struggling to find, to get to. Think of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or The Wizard of Oz – the overlying theme being “I want to go home, I need to find my place.”

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

To be honest, I don’t do a lot of research. Most of the time, I start with an idea or premise – an unexpected murder – or an underdog type who desperately needs help. Then I toss my main character into the chaos, add a few nasty suspects, and let her sort things out. It’s the sorting out that’s the fun part for me to write!

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

Halfway between a cozy and a thriller (a thrillzy!) Egg Shooters offers an exciting read with tea, knitting, cake decorating, a dash of spirituality, and good sleuthing with three women who are over forty and proud of it.  You’ll also flip over Cackleberry Club recipes like cherry pie muffins and drunken pecan chicken!

Thanks for answering my questions, Laura, and good luck with Egg Shooters, the latest book in theCackleberry Club Mystery 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   Google Play  IndieBound

Gerry Schmitt, who writes under the pen name Laura Childs is now adding two more series that are harder-edged Wednesday February 26, 2014 in Plymouth. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

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, and has a Chinese Shar-Pei named Lotus.

Posted in Archives, January 2021 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Murder can haunt your handiwork

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

Today I’m doing something a bit different. Below is an excerpt from Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork to introduce you to the latest novel in the Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries by Rose Pressey.

Let’s start with a bit about the novel: Rising up against the beautiful backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Biltmore Estate is a magnificent mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, built as a summer home for George Washington Vanderbilt II—yes, of those Vanderbilts—during the Gilded Age. Nowadays, it’s the site of an annual craft fair. Unfortunately, it’s also about to become a crime scene . . .

Celeste is hard to miss as she pulls up with her pink and white Shasta trailer and adorable Chihuahua, Van Gogh—Van for short. But before she can show off her artwork at the fair, a tour guide is found strangled by a velvet rope barrier and a valuable painting goes missing. With a rogues’ gallery of sketchy suspects, Celeste welcomes the help of a pair of handsome detectives—and a ghost with a special interest in the case . . .

And here’s the excerpt:

“Caleb and Pierce were here for the arts and crafts fair.

Caleb and I had met at another craft fair in Gatlinburg. He’d been working undercover, but he was quite a good artist, too. Pierce had mysteriously taken up art recently. I was suspicious that he might have done it so that he could come to the craft fair, too; then Caleb and I wouldn’t be alone here. If that were true, it was awfully sweet.

Caleb and I had gone on several dates. We had quite a good amount in common, since we both were into art and both of us had dogs. Caleb had an adorable German Shepherd named Gum Shoe. But Pierce was smart and handsome, and surprisingly, he had a sense of humor when he wasn’t being the tough cop.

“What happens next?” I asked. “Will they drag me away to the slammer?”

“As far as I know, you’re not going to the slammer.”

Caleb used air quotes. “What do you mean by ‘what happens next’?”

“How will they find who did this to her? Will the fair continue?”

“First, they have to confirm that it was a homicide. Second, I assume the fair will continue. They’ll probably try to act as if nothing happened,” Caleb said.

A photographer from the police department was snapping photos, making flashes of bright light in rapid succession. Occupancy in the room had swollen, and now I was feeling claustrophobic. I had to get out of here soon.

“I think we can safely assume that it was murder,” I said as I pulled at the neck of my T-shirt. With every passing second, I found it harder to breathe.

“Oh no. I can see the amateur sleuth wheels turning in your head. Maybe it would be a good idea if you didn’t get involved,” Caleb said.

“Not get involved? Not get involved?” I gestured widely with my hand. “I have to get involved now. I’m practically a detective on the case now. After all, I was the first one on the scene. That means I have to get involved.”

Readers can learn more about Rose Pressey by visiting her website, her blog and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon  – B&N  – Kobo – Google Play  – IndieBound 

About Rose Pressey: Rose Pressey is the USA Today bestselling author of the Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries and the Haunted Vintage Mystery Series. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.

When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires, and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties. Yeah, she loves Elvis. She can’t help myself. Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son, and three sassy Chihuahuas.

Posted in Archives, January 2021 | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Join Us in the Beloved Bookroom

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Trudell Becket is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Broken Spine, the first novel in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series.

Welcome, Trudell. 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.

Oh, hello there. I didn’t notice you at first. Most strangers to our town don’t come into the library. They’re here to go fishing on the lake or to hunt. The town of Cypress in South Carolina isn’t much more than a dot-on-a-map-blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of small town. But it’s my home, and for that matter the only place I’ve ever called home. Who am I? I’m Trudell Becket, assistant librarian.

You’ve stepped into the first book of the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. And what a day to come into the book, too. There’s trouble afoot. The town manager is converting my beloved library into a high-tech bookless library. You heard that right. He’s getting rid of all of these lovely books. He’s selling some and sending all the rest to the landfill. Nothing I’ve said can get him to change his mind. I’m at my wits end, you know?

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

Oh, the writer thinks she’s in control. But—come a little closer, I don’t want her to hear this—she doesn’t control anything. What she calls fiction is my life. I’m as real as anything and you’d better not get in my way when it comes to protecting my library. Yes, you heard that right. I might simply be an assistant librarian, but this library is mine. It’s yours too. Our public librarians belong to everyone. Don’t ever forget that. And I’ll do whatever is necessary to protect the Cypress library from being destroyed.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Well, I didn’t kill the town manager. That’s not why the story is about me. Sure, the situation at the library pushed me to the edge. Sure, I did some things that on the surface may appear to be illegal. But I’m the quiet neighbor that goes around killing people. Actually, I don’t think I can ever go back to being the quiet, meek librarian. I got a taste for justice as I set out to prove my innocence and I like this new assertive me.

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

Cypress is filled with so many interesting characters. (And I mean that in the nicest way.) For example, while my best friend since kindergarten, Tori Green, has a killer fashion sense, she is unfortunately a man-killer when it comes to the men in her life. She’s been married and divorced four times, which really isn’t fair since I haven’t yet found my first “Mister Right” or even “Mister Right Now.” Tori owns Perks, the town’s only coffee shop and is the best, best friend any girl could ever ask for. Thanks to her, I’m bolder, braver than I could ever be on my own.

She’s not my only close friend. Flossie Finnegan-Baker writes bestselling novels. She’s also traveled the world and has some amazing stories to tell. She spends most of her days at the library writing. That’s how I got to know her. She dresses like a hippy in brightly colored tie-dyed dresses, which makes sense since she’s forty years older than me. Like Tori, she has a personality that’s as strong as the winds at the eye of a hurricane. Unlike Tori, she has the wisdom to go with those years.

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

As I already mentioned, I live in Cypress, South Carolina. It’s a small town in the middle of the state. It’s located on the shores of Lake Marion, which helps attracts seasonal tourists. The town is named after the grand cypress trees that can be found growing in the nearby marshes and even lining Main Street. Although we’re not rich and the buildings may need to be fixed up, the people in the community are the best you can find anywhere. We pull together and help each other. And what I did for the library was my way of helping my fellow book-loving residents.

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

Y’all need to read The Broken Spine. And after you’re done reading it, tell a friend to read it. It’s entertaining. Plus, there’s an adorable cat that makes my life miserable at first and then wonderful.

Thank you for answering my questions, Trudell, and good luck to you and your author, Dorothy St. James, with The Broken Spine, the first book in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Trudell and her author, Dorothy St. James by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Bookbub and Instagram pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – IndieBound – Bookshop – B&N 

About Dorothy St. James: Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, a crazy dog, and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn’t as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: “amazing”, “perfect”, “filled with emotion”, and “lined with danger.”

Posted in Archives, January 2021 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wedding Bear Blues

Posted on January 17, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Sasha Silverman is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Wedding Bear Blues, the latest novel in the Teddy Bear mystery series.

Welcome, Sasha. 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 Sasha Silverman – I manage my family’s Silver Bear Shop in Silver Hollow, located in southeast Michigan. My uncle supervises the factory where we produce teddy bears and accessories. I’m always busy with sales in the shop, giving tours, and planning special events, like our annual Teddy Bear Picnic (Bearly Departed) after the Labor Day village parade, a teddy bear tea during the Oktobear Fest (Bear Witness to Murder), the annual tree lighting ceremony, plus a Bearzaar and Holiday Open House (Have Yourself A Beary Little Murder). This time my sister Maddie and I are bridesmaids for a friend (Wedding Bear Blues), but we’re also planning a charity fundraiser to set a Guinness World Record for collecting the most teddy bears.

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

From what I understand, Meg Macy begins with an outline for each book. Not that we stick to that, of course, since sometimes things happen which tweak the outline and surprise us all. I’m not all that thrilled about stumbling over dead bodies, since the local cop keeps calling me a “body magnet” and others call me Nancy Drew. I’m also really tired of being put in dangerous situations confronting killers, either. Augh. Meg nearly got me killed in each case. But while the county homicide detective keeps telling me to “stick to selling teddy bears”, I think he appreciates my help in solving the murders and seeing justice served.

How did you evolve as the main character?

After my divorce (from a total narcissist who cheated on our wedding day and through the nine months we were hitched), I returned home to Silver Hollow to recover from heartbreak. Family is important to me, and they helped me regain my footing – plus my dad wanted to retire – and begged me to take over for him. I love seeing kids coming in to buy bears and costumes to dress them up, like tutus and ballet slippers, baseball uniforms, or poodle skirts. I also give tours to explain the process of making teddies and watching our staff sew, stuff, and finish the details. And after seven years of being single, I’m now involved with a great guy who supports me and shares the same goals.

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

My sister Maddie is a big help, along with my best friends – we get together for frequent Guilty Pleasures Gossip Club meetings and discuss the murders and possible suspects. My significant other, Jay Kirby, is pretty busy with his own career as a wood carver, but he tries to help out as well in solving these terrible crimes.

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

Since I’m a (reluctant) bridesmaid – my sister volunteered me after a closer friend of the bride had to cancel – Maddie and I end up at the local hotel for the rehearsal dinner. The Regency Hotel is fairly pricey. It’s also the only place to stay in Silver Hollow, so visitors don’t have much choice. I also caught sight of my ex-husband having dinner with his new fiancée and her parents. Oy. Plus there’s the animosity between the best man and his former fiancée, the bride’s sister, who threatened him at the church. Not a peaceful time, to say the least. I did get to admire Jay’s ice sculpture, however, since he’s taken up carving for special occasions and at ice festivals during the winter.

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

While readers don’t have to start with book 1, it might help to understand how I came to get involved in all this murder and mayhem. Enjoy!

Thank you for answering my questions, Sasha, and good luck to you and your author, Meg Macy, with Wedding Bear Blues, the latest book in the Teddy Bear mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Sasha and her author, Meg Macy by visiting the author’s Website and her Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

AMAZON     B&N    KOBO      Google Play

About Meg Macy: Award-winning mystery author Meg Macy lives in Southeast Michigan, close enough to Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Dexter — the setting of her “Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear” cozy mysteries for Kensington. She is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins mysteries; two books, Wouldn’t It Be Deadly and Get Me to the Grave On Time were Agatha Award finalists for Best Historical. Meg’s first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Best First Novel Spur Award from Western Writers of America. Meg loves reading historical and cozy mysteries, gardening, crafts, and watercolor painting.

Posted in Archives, January 2021 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Artistic License to Kill

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Paula Darnell is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Artistic License to Kill, her first novel in A Fine Art Mystery series.

Welcome, Paula. 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.

Artistic License to Kill is the first book in my cozy mystery series, A Fine Art Mystery. The main character, our amateur sleuth, is artist Amanda Trent, who’s starting over in a new town, with the goal of making her living as a full-time artist after her husband dumps her for a woman who is younger than their son. In the series, mystery and mayhem pop up as Amanda navigates the local art scene, where she’s a member of the Roadrunner, a cooperative gallery.

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

The idea for the setting came from my own experiences being a member of a couple of cooperative art galleries and an art guild, where I’m on the board of directors. I can’t really pinpoint where the idea for the mystery came from (it’s a mystery to me!).

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

Yes, the theme is based on the idea that many women have that it would be fantastic to turn a hobby or an avocation into a full-time business and actually make money from doing what they love. Although it’s touch and go for Amanda sometimes, earning her living from her art fulfils her dream.

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

My characters sometimes arise from a plot necessity. They may have characteristics I’ve observed in people, but they’re never based on a real person. My favorite characters are always my sleuths.

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

I always use settings with which I’m familiar; for example, my DIY Diva Mystery series takes place in a guard-gated community, which is governed by a homeowners’ association with lots of rules and regulations. Since I live in such a community myself, it’s easy to write about a fictional version of one.

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

I sometimes need to research details, but since I often write about places and situations I know about, I spend more time writing than researching.

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

I hope readers enjoy the book!

Thanks for answering my questions, Paula, and good luck with Artistic License to Kill, the first book in A Fine Art Mystery series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – Apple Books – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

About Paula Darnell: Award-winning author Paula Darnell is a former college instructor who has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in English and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in English with a Writing Emphasis. Artistic License to Kill is the first book in her Fine Art Mystery series. She’s also the author of the DIY Diva Mystery series and The Six-Week Solution, a historical mystery set in Nevada. She resides in Las Vegas with her husband Gary and their Pyrador Rocky.

Posted in January 2021 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wishing You Good Company This Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Dianne Ascroft

It’s almost Christmas so I’m jotting down a few thoughts about the holidays. Every year I have a theme for this seasonal post. I’ve written about the wonder and happiness that Christmas tree and mantelpiece lights inspire for me, how warm and happy memories of holidays past can lift your spirits, the traditions that mean Christmas for me and others, and the way that seasonal songs stir our hearts and memories.

And in most of the posts I can’t help mentioning lots about lights and tinsel. I just love to watch them sparkle. But this year my thoughts aren’t filled with sparkly things. They are bit more reflective. Yes, I’ve decorated the house to bursting like every other year, and added a couple new decorations even though it’s unlikely that anyone other than my husband and I will be around to see them.

But I’ve been thinking about how the worldwide pandemic is likely to make this a more solitary holiday than other years. Our family has decided not to gather the three families together for our traditional Christmas dinner. We will each spend the day at our own houses with a brief get together (spaced well apart) at one house in the afternoon.

It’s been a rather solitary year overall, hasn’t it? Many places have seen lockdowns and most advise us to keep our distance from others. We see loved ones less often than normal, and those in care homes even less frequently.

And our farm got even quieter this autumn when we sold our oldest cow, Fifi, and her two offspring (a 2 year old bullock and last year’s calf). Fifi was almost nine and we had had her since she was three weeks old. She was an intelligent animal with a mind of her own, and she wasn’t shy to let us know when she wanted something. With the cattle gone, we have no livestock now and the farmyard seems very empty. But I’ve discovered that we aren’t as alone on the farm as we might believe.

Our small farm is at the end of a half mile single track lane. No one passes our front door unless they are coming to see us. We are also rather removed from our neighbours on the lane.

With more than twenty acres of farmland surrounding my house, I have lots of space to roam. We’ve always had a variety of wildlife sharing the land with us, but with fewer human visitors recently, they have become bolder. Among our furry and feathered neighbours, I’ve seen deer, hares, foxes, a badger, mice, a red squirrel, and a pine martin in the fields near the house. And sometimes even closer than the fields. There’s also bats, pheasants and various other birds in the sky above us.

For several weeks this summer, each morning I watched a young hare hop through a gap between buildings from the farmyard to the street behind our house on his mission to find new grass in the next field. As he passed the dining room window, only feet from me on the other side of the glass, he sometimes stopped and nosed around the ground or stood on his hind legs and sniffed the air before he scurried on, completely unaware of me. On another occasion a pine martin was even bolder as he slunk across the pavement and climbed onto the roof of one of the outbuildings behind the house as I watched him through the window. Inquisitive and agile, he explored his surroundings thoroughly before he went on his way.

A small herd of deer often venture into the field in front of our house at dusk. The does quietly drift into the field, grazing in short snatches, often lifting their heads to dart glances around them, on the lookout for danger. As the summer ended, their calves had grown big enough to accompany them out into the open space. These tiny, dark creatures timidly poked around the edges of the field, ready to flee from any noise, waiting for their mothers. Early one morning last summer I watched a doe graze her way across the field in front of our house until she was only a few yards from one of our half-grown calves. The two animals stopped grazing long enough to raise their heads and look at each other, each one considering what risk the other posed, before they continued their breakfast, each unperturbed by the presence of the other.

In the autumn, as I walked up the lane at dusk, shadows flitted over my head and raced up the lane ahead of me. The bats were silent, steady companions on my evening walks.

More recently the pheasants have been roaming along the lane and through the fields. These beautiful birds are graceful and comic at the same time, long, elegant necks and heads stretching toward the sky as they race on stubby legs past our front door. Huddled in bunches, they seem to compete against each other in endless road and cross country races. Maybe I should get them some miniature florescent vests to wear in order to keep them safe.

And always there are brightly coloured robins, flitting from one post to the next, weaving in and out through the holly, rarely still.

Even though I don’t always see my furry and feathered neighbours, it’s good to know they are there. The place isn’t so solitary with them near.

What about where you live? If you are distanced from family and friends this year, what other companions do you have? Your pets, the neighbourhood cats and dogs, the local wildlife? The world is never as empty as we might think it is.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and there’s only a few hours until the festivities begin. Even if you can’t be with those you love, I hope you won’t feel too alone. I’d like to wish you good company, and a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

Posted in Archives, December 2020, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The second Century Cottage Cozy Mystery novel is here

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Dianne Ascroft

I’m pleased to tell you that The Heritage Heist, the second novel in the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series, has just been released this week. It’s available as an ebook and a paperback, and the ebook is reduced to .99 cents/pence for the holiday season.

The novel has been a while coming as I had to squeeze in a couple novellas and several short stories while I was writing it, but it’s finally here and I hope you’ll find it worth the wait.

Let me tell you a bit about the book:

A fall fair, a cornered craftsman, an heirloom heist. When an antique quilt that is a cherished part of Fenwater’s past disappears from the market before her town’s fall fair, it’s up to Lois to resolve the quilt quandary.

Middle-aged widow Lois is enjoying her second season in her new town and her century house, away from the dangers of big city life in Toronto. She can’t wait to experience her first old-fashioned fall fair, complete with hot apple cider. But when the local market is burgled, her enthusiasm for the upcoming festival plummets. During the break-in one of the security guards is badly injured and an antique quilt, on loan from the museum, vanishes. Her friend, Bruce, designed and built the display case and has one of only two keys to secure it. That makes him a prime suspect in the theft. Lois won’t let Bruce’s reputation, nor the trust his customers have in the bespoke furnituremaker, be damaged by the allegation. She’s determined to piece the clues together to find the quilt, clear Bruce’s name and save a piece of Fenwater’s history. The Century Cottage Cozy Mystery series is set in rural Ontario, Canada during the early 1980s.

You can find the ebook here:

https://books2read.com/u/4XLYBN

I’d also like to tell you about another book that was released this month.

Wartime Christmas Tales: a WWII Flash Fiction anthology was released on December 1st as a perma-free book on all major retailers.

The authors of these stories write Second World War fiction, and as a thank you to our valued readers and to boost spirits during this difficult year, we put together this collection.

These are heartwarming short stories in a wide range of genres, set in WWII in places around the world. We hope you will like them. And if you do, please give us a rating or a review!! I especially hope you’ll enjoy my story, A Letter Home, which is the opening story. It’s a tale of a homesick GI who is far from home at Christmas 1943 but finds a way to beat the mail censor and send his family the gift of knowing he’s safe and well.

Download the book on your favourite retailer here: https://books2read.com/u/4XLDk7

Happy reading during the holiday season!

Posted in Archives, December 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The latest Fermanagh Miscellany is now available

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Dianne Ascroft

I’m pleased to tell you that Fermanagh Miscellany 2021, the annual anthology produced by Fermanagh Authors’ Association, has just been released. As always it’s a diverse mix of fact, fiction and poetry. Inside you’ll find articles ranging from Newtownbutler to Belleek and points in between, featuring Fermanagh history and heritage, poetry, creative writing and some of Fermanagh’s notable people of the past.

The topics of the articles include a Derrygonnelly priest in the Boer War; Phillip Callaghan’s service in Belleek in WW2; reflections on the life of Barbara Chapman, Newtownbutler historian, the era of recitations on stage, radio and pub, family history from newspapers, Alexander Puskin’s Fermanagh links, fishing on the Erne; public works in 1901, Pandemic isolation and cameo thoughts that recall people and places and finally a poetic accusation that after all “the Butler did it.”

Going Home, my story in this year’s book, centres on the theme of home, and discovering where it is.

The front cover of the book is an eye catching image of Gad Island in Upper Lough Erne with its round tower symbolising to a degree the isolation we have all experienced in these pandemic times.

The book costs £5 and can be had posted in the UK for £7 P&P from Email – adam4eves@aol.com or orangefleece741@gmail.comAvailable in the Belleek area in Gilmartin’s, Rooneys, Palm Bush and Novel Idea Ballyshannon.

Posted in Archives, December 2020 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment