Mystery at an Irish Wedding

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Mason Hughes from Mystery at an Irish Wedding, A Half Moon Bay mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to introduce us to Clementine and Half Moon Bay.

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

Hello! I’m Mason — street poet, gallery disruptor, occasional chaos magnet — and somehow, a suspect more often than I’d like.
 When I first arrived in Half Moon Bay, I wasn’t looking for mystery, heartbreak, or local gossip thick enough to paint walls with. I was looking for a canvas. A moment. A conversation that might turn into something more.

I’ve always believed that art should live where people do. Not confined to hushed galleries or overpriced exhibits, but scrawled on café napkins, chalked onto pavements, whispered between strangers. That’s why I set up camp at the Seashell Gallery — thanks to the kindness of Bridget and Arthur — and started turning blank walls into wild, word-drenched landscapes.

And then came Clementine.

You’ve heard of whirlwind romances? Meeting Clem was more like a stormfront laced with lavender and unresolved trauma. She’d just landed home from a year abroad, only to walk straight into a nightmare — the kind of betrayal that should only happen in soap operas or badly written indie films.

I didn’t mean to get involved. Honestly. But one moment I was helping her find a lost bottle of champagne, and the next I was watching a seaside wedding spiral into gothic farce. (Spoiler: she was not the one getting married.)

Here’s the thing: in Half Moon Bay, the waves might lap gently on the shore, but underneath, the current pulls hard. Secrets have a way of surfacing — and when they do, it helps to have someone by your side. Even if that someone dyes his hair turquoise and quotes haikus in awkward silences.

People say I’m eccentric. They’re not wrong. I think in metaphors and paint with conversations. But I also know pain when I see it. And I know when a mystery is more than it seems. What started with a champagne bottle turned into something far darker — something laced with poison, property deals, and a woman shouting “turtle dove” from a hotel balcony. No, really.

Anyway, enough about me. If you ever find yourself in Half Moon Bay, pop by the gallery. Bring a word, any word — I’ll scribble it on the wall, turn it into a poem, or maybe a clue. Because around here, art and mystery go hand in hand. And sometimes, solving a murder starts with just one honest sentence.

Yours in words,
 Mason Hughes
 Art vandal. Reluctant detective.
 P.S. If you see a suspicious bottle of champagne… maybe don’t drink it.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Mason, and good luck to you and your author, L. C. Winters, with Mystery at an Irish Wedding, the first book in the Half Moon Bay mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Mason and his author, L. C. Winters by visiting the author’s website and. her Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads pages. You can also follow her on Twitter and BlueSky.

The book is available online at Amazon

About L.C. Winters: This is the pen name for Laura Cavanagh & Colin Vaughan. We are from Ireland, and we aim to bring our culture, cozy Irish atmosphere, legends and history into our stories. We write cozy mystery romance novels. Our focus is on creating a set of clever clues with twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. Our first series is called Half Moon Bay Mysteries and it is set in a small, seaside village in Ireland. Our stories promote a romanticised view of small-town life with a host of eccentric, lovable characters.

As avid mystery fans (we love the classics like Agatha Christie as well as modern cozy authors like Richard Osman), we love deciphering clues and trying to beat the detective to figure out who committed the crime. So we decided to create mysteries with a complex set of interrelated clues which are delivered in an easy to follow story. We hope that the ending of each of our mysteries is both a surprise and, at the same time, feels inevitable and ‘right’.

Laura has a degree in Psychology and this is reflected in our protagonist Clementine who uses her Psychology know-how to figure out the motives, secrets and inconsistencies in each suspect.

With our cozy fiction, we aim to create heartwarming stories with lovable, quirky characters in a nice, soothing environment. Wherever you are when you are reading our stories, we hope to whisk you away to beautiful, picturesque Ireland to the seaside county of Donegal!

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Strike the Death Note

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Octavia Fields is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Strike the Death Note, the latest novel in the Octavia Fields mystery series.

Welcome, Octavia. 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.

Strike the Death Note is the second book in my series. The books are set high in the Rocky Mountains on a huge campus that serves as the summer home for the Aerie Peaks Symphony. I get to run the seasonal music shop on the campus while some of my musician friends play in the symphony. Which works out well—except for when I stumble across bodies. The first one was the concert master of the symphony. This time, it’s a student at one of the nearby summer music programs.

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

I like to think Fate’s the one calling the shots. And I suppose that I do take the lead now and then. Okay, more than just occasionally. Rebecca has all the melodies figured out, but she lets me play around with the harmony. And sometimes, we both blink because things have taken a turn neither one of us saw coming.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Rebecca would tell you that she knew she was looking for a main character who was a little quirky. She knew she wanted a violist, just like she is. That was all it took for her to find me. Probably because I was already there, just waiting for the right story to jump into.

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

There are some fantastic characters at Aerie Pines—and a couple of less-than-fantastic ones, but let’s not talk about those.

You’re going to love my best friend, Piper. Everyone does. She loves to gossip, but never shares things she’s told in confidence. She’s gorgeous inside and out, and is as flirty as they come.

And Detective Jack Price? He’s taught me that people in law enforcement can be trusted to do more than just arrest me. Oddly enough, he actually gets me. Just between us—I get the teensiest bit jealous of the readers who tell Rebecca that Jack’s their absolute perfect man. I mean, they haven’t even seen him in person.

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

As this book starts, I’m trying to find a way to keep my seasonal music shop profitable. Too many people come in to see what they like, then just order it from their phones. It has me a little on edge.

Piper would tell you I’m on edge because I haven’t seen Detective Price since the last book. I mean, there might be a chance that’s contributing, but really, having a failing shop is more than enough to make anyone grumpy.

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

Well, if you’re looking for a fun place to visit, definitely come see me! You don’t have to start with book one, but if you want the full impact of meeting me, my friends, and Detective Jack Price—which, I promise, you do—then definitely check out Strike the Death Note.

If you’re a fan of the outdoors, music, or quirky characters with your cozy mysteries, come share an adventure with me!

Thank you for answering my questions, Octavia, and good luck to you and your author, Rebecca McKinnon, with Strike the Death Note, the latest book in the Octavia Fields mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Octavia and her author, Rebecca McKinnon by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram pages. You can also sign up for a pre-order bonus of a free story until June 25 here.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Rebecca McKinnon: Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere, but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.

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Funerals & Familiars

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Bex Merriweather is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Funerals & Familiars, the first novel in the Willowmere mysteries series.

Welcome, Bex. 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.

Let’s put it this way. When you’re given the chance to start over again as a middle-aged woman, with witchy powers to boot, wouldn’t you want to explore it all in a longer series? Even if it means having to solve the odd murder or two (I hope my author doesn’t go overboard – there’s only so much excitement and danger I can take!)

That aside, I’m finding myself back home in tranquil Willowmere, in Oregon. After my mother passed away, I grew up here with my aunt Violet. She used to run a small private lending library – we haven’t had a public library forever, but she always insisted that books have their own magic and people need them.

Turns out she was right in every sense of the word! The one thing I didn’t know about her was that she was a good witch. I inherited her duties as guardian of Willowmere together with the library, certain powers and a talking cat. Cosmo Merlin de Beaufort is my familiar, teacher, and fiercest critic. He’s also loyal, caring, and his moments of snark and witticisms are part of being an aristocrat (or aristocat?) of the old school. At least I think so.

It’s strange to think that only a few months ago I was smarting from a failed marriage, the loss of my business as furniture restorer and home-stager, and now I’m a novice witch, surrounded by my friends, and every day brings new adventures. Although having to solve murders was something I didn’t have on my bingo card.

Or slowly having to figure out exactly what innate powers I possess and what I need to work hard at. Apparently, being a witch does not automatically equal mastering witchcraft. On top of that, Cosmo and I still must learn how to play sleuth without giving away our secret.

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

My author likes to jump to conclusions and dive headlong into the story. She doesn’t always listen to me, but she does listen to Cosmo. I let him negotiate on my behalf – he does possess the Power of the Purr to the nth degree, so she is putty in his paws. That said, she’s pretty reasonable. I’m allowed to make mistakes, keep my crow’s feet and padding, and she doesn’t meddle in my private life. At least not yet …

How did you evolve as the main character?

For a week or two I thought I’d become another bitter dumped woman, but then I turned it around. My friend’s waffle theory helped a lot. If you haven’t yet heard it, it’s basically comparing marriages to waffles. The first one rarely turns out perfectly, but it allows you to refine the recipe for the next one.

I’m glad I got to return to my true home and to rediscover that together with my friends I’m unstoppable. That’s the real magic! We are never too old to start a new chapter or gain new powers, with or without spells and wands.

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

Cosmo, of course! My ex-husband had an allergy, so I missed out on four-legged company for much too long. Even an ordinary cat would have been bliss.

Oops. I just got hit by a glare that could cut through a glacier. Cosmo told me to pass on this message: “There are no ordinary cats, and even if they did exist, I wouldn’t be one of them.” If you have the pleasure of sharing your home with a pet, or familiar, or animal companion, you’ll understand why I count myself lucky to have him. And why I’m happy to share the spotlight with him.

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

My home is an old villa, with the lending library and a secret lair on the first floor. My living quarters are upstairs. There’s a small tower attached to the side of the building. The room at the top used to be mine, when my aunt was alive. We grow herbs and flowers in one part the back yard. The rest is slowly returning to wilderness where it backs onto the Oregon woods. A shallow lake that gave Willowmere its name is within easy walking distance.

We’re lucky that the house straddles the line between the downtown area with artisan shops, boutiques, and a well-kept main square, and a residential zone. Otherwise, it would have been tricky to get a permit to run the lending library in our home!

Willowmere is surrounded by breathtaking nature yet urban enough to have all the amenities you could wish for in a small town. We don’t attract chain stores, which means if you look for authentic and one-of-a-kind, we’re perfect for you.

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

That I hope they’ll love becoming part of this journey and keep on supporting me n this new chapter of my life? This book (and the sequels) is about midlife magic, cozy whodunits, found family & second chances, and clean paranormal fun.

They celebrate new beginnings, the power of friendship, and the triumph of good over evil. And it’s a really really fun read.

Thank you for answering my questions, Bex, and good luck to you and your author, Carmen Radtke, with Funerals & Familiars, the first book in the Willowmere mysteries series.

Readers can learn more about Bex and her author, Carmen Radtke by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram and Threads pages. You can also follow her on Twitter/X and BlueSky.

The novel is available at  Amazon 

About Carmen Radtke: Carmen has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side. She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter. When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

The shaken but stirring novel made it to the longlist of the Mslexia competition, and her next book and first mystery, The Case Of The Missing Bride, was a finalist in the Malice Domestic competition in a year without a winner. Since then she has penned several more cozy mysteries, including the Genie and Adriana Darling ghost mysteries and the Jack and Frances series set in the 1930s.

Carmen now lives in Italy with her human and her four-legged family. Although she possesses no witchy powers, she’s known to be easily held spellbound by animals.

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The Iris Code

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Anita Dickason, author of The Iris Code, a Tracker novel, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Anita.

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

The Iris Code is the fifth book in my FBI Tracker novels, a collection of gripping suspense novels centered around the most elite agents in the bureau. While my Tracker novels follow the popular theme of a close-knit group of characters, each book stands alone, bringing a different Tracker agent into the spotlight. These agents aren’t just highly trained; they possess a unique edge that sets them apart when facing danger and adversity.

Since my writing is rooted in what I know, cops and crimes, I wanted my characters to have something special that made them unforgettable. Thus, the Trackers were born, the elite of the elite, whose skills go beyond the ordinary, making each plot as unpredictable as it is thrilling.

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

Unlike my other tracker novels, The Iris Code didn’t begin with a single spark of inspiration. Instead, its mystery evolved through a combination of influences, biometric technology, news stories, and firsthand law enforcement experiences. Each of these elements wove together to shape the twists and turns of the plot, creating a dynamic story that keeps readers on edge.

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

Absolutely. My novels are rooted in fact, blending reality with thrilling fiction. At the conclusion of each book, I include a section titled The Story Behind the Fiction. In The Iris Code, that inspiration was the remarkable role of dogs in law enforcement and search-and-rescue missions and the advancements in biometrics for law enforcement. Biometrics are the unique physical and behavioral characteristics of a person that can be used for identification. The most commonly known are fingerprints and facial recognition.

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

That’s a difficult question. My characters seem to take on a life of their own, evolving beyond the page. Since writing requires stepping into their minds, they become incredibly familiar. Choosing a favorite would be like picking a favorite child—impossible. The characters, whether hero or villain, are the heart of my book. In my Tori Winters Mystery Series, I even have a group I refer to as “the characters you love to hate.” Many of my characters are based on my personal experiences and the individuals I encountered throughout my law enforcement career.

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

Research, research, and more research. Bringing a setting to life requires immersion in research. Some locations in my books have been close enough for personal exploration, letting me absorb the details firsthand. For others, I rely on videos and one valuable tool—Google Earth. It literally unlocks the door to the world for me, offering an incredible virtual experience where I can explore streets, landmarks, parks, and every detail I need to craft a scene with accuracy.

For The Iris Code, the story unfolds in Fredericksburg, Texas, with some action scenes set in Austin. I used Google Earth to explore county roads and highways, the countryside, remote airports, the town, and more. 

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

As I’ve mentioned, my research is extensive. For The Iris Code, I delved into a wide range of topics to build the novel’s foundation. I explored the extensive procedures the Food and Drug Administration requires for the submission of new drugs, studied the specialized training of Human Remains Detection dogs, also known as cadaver dogs, and examined advancements in biometrics. My research also included autopsy procedures, the immediate physiological effects of death on the eyes, and even Texas A&M yearbooks. Each of these elements helped shape the authenticity and complexity of the story.

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

Here’s what a few readers had to say about The Iris Code, A Tracker Novel.

  • WOW, WOW, WOW. I haven’t been this enthralled by a book in a long time.
  • I absolutely loved this book! 
  • It is a rare book that can keep you on the edge of your seat literally from page one to the end. 
  • The scientific details surrounding iris scans and the practicalities of canine search and rescue are presented with precision, making the story not only believable but utterly engrossing.
  • With every page turn, I could see a different scenario and envision a potential solution.

My heartfelt appreciation to Dianne Ascroft’s Bblog for hosting my latest FBI Tracker novel, The Iris Code, A Tracker Novel.

You’re welcome, Anita, Maggie, and good luck with The Iris Code, the latest Tracker novel.

Readers can learn more about Anita Dickason by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook and LinkedIn pages. You can also follow her on her YouTube and BookCinema’s YouTube channels.

The novel is available at  Amazon 

About Anita Dickason: Award-winning author Anita Dickason writes about what she knows, cops and crime. After twenty-two years with the Dallas Police Department, Anita has an unending source of inspiration for her plots. Many incidents and characters are based on her experiences. During her tenure, she served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics officer, advanced accident investigator, tactical officer and the first female sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.

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A Whale of a Crime

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Bracken, the Swiss Mountain Dog, from A Whale of a Crime, A Yorkshire Coast mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us about the trouble with human sleuths.

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

Let me tell you something upfront.

Humans are very clever… until they’re not.

Take my human, Ryan Kennedy, for example. He’s bright enough. Ran a dog walking business in London. Wrote poetry once upon a time, though he’s too embarrassed to admit it. Can make a proper brew, which I’ve learned is apparently the height of civilisation around here in Flamborough. But when it comes to solving mysteries? Well. That’s where I come in.

You see, the trouble with human sleuths is that they forget to use their noses.

And I mean that both literally and metaphorically.

They Don’t Smell What’s Obvious

Let’s start with the basics. When someone lies, their scent changes. Their body tightens up, their sweat smells different. You know what a human does? They listen to the words.

Mistake number one.

In A Whale of a Crime, if a certain someone said they had “just stumbled across the cliffs by accident” while looking like they’d never set foot on seaweed before, Ryan might take it at face value. I, on the other paw, would catch the tang of fear, guilt, and just a whiff of brandy.

Which is to say—guilty. And sloppy.

But does Ryan listen to me growling low and steady?

No. He tells me to “be nice.”

Be nice?

I’m not here to be nice. I’m here to make sure no one else ends up face-down in a tide pool, thank you very much.

They Miss What’s Right in Front of Them

Humans look with their eyes, but they don’t see. Not like we do.

They miss the muddy boot prints beside the flowerbed. The thread of wool stuck to a thorn. The fact that the normally chatty postman didn’t wave that morning.

I notice those things. I catalogue them. I file them away in that neat little corner of my brain marked “Suspicious Stuff I’ll Probably Have to Save You From Later.”

And yet, when I stare meaningfully at something—say, the drawer that’s been left half open, with the tiniest smear of something red on the handle—do you know what Ryan says?

“Are you hungry again?”

No, Ryan. I’m not hungry. I’m alerting. You’d think after the fourth time I helped him find a hidden clue, he’d have learned the code by now.

They Always Think It’s the Most Obvious Person

Another flaw in human sleuthing? They go for the red herring every time.

The grumpy ex-fisherman who doesn’t say much and once scowled at a town meeting? “Must be him!” say the humans.

The quiet librarian who only ever goes out to walk her cat in a pram? “She’s hiding something!”

Meanwhile, the actual villain is often someone they trust. Someone smiling. Someone who gives me that look. The one where their eyes don’t crinkle when they grin. The one that says, “I’ve got secrets, and I’ll bury them under the rockpool.”

Now, I don’t say this to make Ryan look bad. He’s got heart. He’s got instinct. And he does eventually get there—usually with me herding him toward the truth like a sheepdog in wellies.

But it’s not just Ryan. It’s humans in general. You lot make things harder than they need to be.

They Don’t Know When to Nap

One thing that always baffles me: humans forget to rest.

You cannot solve a murder on zero sleep, four cups of coffee, and a belly full of chips. Believe me, I’ve watched it happen.

When the case heats up, Ryan will pace the living room all night, muttering about motives and alibis. Me? I’m curled up by the fire, gathering my strength. Because when the moment comes—the chase, the confrontation, the clue hidden beneath the floorboards—I need to be ready.

So if you’re a human sleuth reading this: nap more. You’ll be smarter for it.

They Underestimate the Power of a Dog

Here’s the thing that bugs me most.

Humans think I’m just there for companionship.

Sure, I’ll admit it—I love a cuddle. I’ll lean all 50kg of my fluff against you if you’re sad. I’ll wag my tail like mad when you get home from the shops. And yes, I’ve been known to chase the occasional rabbit when no one’s looking.

But I’m more than a pet. I’m a partner. I’m security. I’m the silent half of the detective duo; or trio, in this case.

I’ve sniffed out evidence, tracked a suspicious trail across the cliffs, and even growled down someone holding a pocketful of stolen jewellery. And yet, the most credit I get is: “Bracken was such a good girl today!”

Yes, I was. I always am. But I was also a detective, Ryan. Let’s get the titles right.

The Seaside’s Not Always Peaceful

Life in Flamborough might look calm on the surface—sea views, seagulls, tourists with ice creams. But under the surface? Secrets bubble like crabs in a bucket.

Sometimes the wind carries things you don’t want to hear. Arguments. Regrets. Lies that get tangled in fishing nets.

But I’m always there, trotting beside Ryan, nose to the wind and eyes sharp.

I’ve been by his side through grief. Through the loss of Jason. Through rebuilding his life by the sea. And I’ll be there through every mystery that rolls in with the tide.

Just don’t expect me to wait while you write a poem about it, Ryan.

A Message to Other Canine Colleagues

To the dogs out there reading this—whether you’re guarding bookshops, patrolling bakeries, or keeping an eye on B&B guests—know your worth.

We are the unspoken heroes of cozy mysteries. We sniff out secrets. We calm the anxious. We drag sleuths out of trouble (sometimes literally).

Keep your ears perked. Your paws steady. And your humans humble.

We’ve got work to do.

Final Woof

The trouble with human sleuths isn’t that they’re clueless. It’s that they forget they don’t have to do it alone.

Luckily, they’ve got us.

And in Murder at the Lighthouse, you’d better believe I’ll be back. There’s something fishy going on near the cliffs—and it’s not just the catch of the day.

Until then, stay sharp, stay loyal, and never let them go to the door without you.

Paws and protectively yours,
Bracken 🐾

Thank you for sharing this with us, Bracken, and good luck to you and your author, Mona Marple, with A Whale of a Crime, the first book in the Yorkshire Coast mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Bracken and his author, Mona Marple by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook and Instagram pages as well as her Facebook group.

The book is available online at Amazon

About Mona Marple: Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community.

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Night of the Living Bread

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

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

Welcome, Mary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I hope mystery readers enjoy Night of the Living Bread.

And again, thank you for inviting me!

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

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – Barnes & Noble –  Kobo

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

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

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

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

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

Campfires & Corpses

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Noelle Cooper is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Campfires & Corpses, the first novel in the Maine Campground mystery series.

Welcome, Noelle. 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 there, my name is Noelle. I live inside the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series. The first book in the series is Campfires & Corpses, and that’s when I first arrive back in my hometown in Maine. You see, I’ve been living in Nashville, Tennessee for the last eighteen years.

This is my first time back in Maine since I left when I was twenty years old. I really don’t know why I stayed away for so long. I wanted to work in the music industry, and Nashville is the place for that. I never did get my dream job, but I stayed in Nashville anyway. I just love music, something that my writer sprinkles into the story here and there.

In Campfires & Corpses, I come back to Maine as a favor to my parents. They run our family’s campground—camping is a big activity in the summer in Maine, both for tourists and locals—but my parents can’t be there this summer because my mom is getting medical treatment in Boston.

To be honest, I never wanted to run the family campground, which might be another reason I left town all those years ago. But I figure that doing it for one summer while my parents are away is no big deal. And it isn’t, until I find a dead body on my first day back.

There are two other books in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series. There’s Freedom & Fosters: A Beagle Rescue Short Story, which is a short story prequel you can read tolearn a little more about me, and my beagle named Corny. And if you enjoy Campfires & Corpses, the next book in the series, Whoopie Pies & Alibis, is coming out in June.

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

Good question. I think it’s a combination. If I wrote the story, I certainly wouldn’t create such challenging circumstances for myself! Like having me butt heads with my ex-boyfriend, the local game warden, the first day I get back to town. Or making me live in a camping trailer (my family always stayed at the big house my grandmother had over on the lakeshore).

But sometimes I get my way. My dad says that I’m headstrong, and I use that trait to push the envelope in my story. Especially when it comes to dealing with State Trooper Thompson. He’s gruff and intimidating and I really just want him to go away, but my writer keeps writing him into scenes. I find ways to deal with him or to get around his mistreatment of me.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Like I said, my writer has written me into some really tight spots. I was already feeling down on my luck when my parents called me to ask if I’d come back to Maine to run the campground. From the moment I arrived back in the tiny, one-intersection town in the woods of Maine, I felt out of my element. Sure, I know the place like the back of my hand (hard not to in a place this small), but most of the other characters are new to me. To them, I’m the outsider, and that’s never a good feeling.

And of course, there’s the whole part where I find the dead body. And not just any dead body. It’s the body of my high school rival. Still, you’d think that being the daughter of the beloved campground owners would earn me the trust of the campers, but at least one of them seems to be pointing the finger at me.

It’s a lot, but I’m managing. In a strange way, I’m leaning into my years as an event planner to help me zero in on the murder and also to hold the campground’s annual bonfire (that’s a whole other story…you’ll have to read the book to find out).

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

Oh, sure. There’s my cousin Mandy. She was just a baby when I left town. She’s a spunky eighteen-year-old now. She’s lived a pretty sheltered life and is just itching for something exciting to happen. She’s right by my side through the whole murder investigation drama. She’s also been working at the campground with my mom for years and I’d be lost without her knowhow.

I also have a beagle named Corny, and I love sharing the story with him. I only adopted him a few weeks before coming back to Maine, so we’re still learning how to be dog and owner, but I already love him so much. Corny was rescued from a research laboratory where he lived his whole life (three years), so he can be skittish around all the new people and dogs at Babbling Brook Campground. Thankfully, we have a whole summer for him to warm up to them.  

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

Babbling Brook Campground sits right on the shores of Mirror Lake in Bluefield, Maine. That’s in western Maine, in the mountains by the New Hampshire border. Picture acres of pine trees, rolling mountains, dirt roads, houses nestled in the trees. In Bluefield, we have an antique store, a convenience store/café/laundromat, an inn, a mechanic, and my cousin Liz’s bakery that she runs out of her house.

The campground is all dirt roads and campsites. You can pitch a tent or drive in with your camping trailer or RV. It’s pretty bare bones, like camping should be. There is no swimming pool or internet; heck, you can’t even send a text on your cell phone. But on a warm, sunny day in June, it’s perfect. It’s like the Maine slogan says: The way life should be.

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

Oh, definitely. First, readers should know that the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series is a clean cozy series. There is no foul language or anything too graphic. There are no bedroom activities (unless you count the hours that my beagle Corny spends snoozing).

Second, the story is pretty fast paced. And if you like the kind of chapter endings that make you want to flip the page and keep reading, there are a lot of those.

Lastly, you’ll enjoy this book and the series if you like dogs, don’t mind a few song titles being dropped here and there, and enjoy analyzing character alibis and motives.

Thank you for answering my questions, Noelle, and good luck to you and your author, Nikki Weber, with Campfires & Corpses, the first book in the Maine Campground mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Noelle and her author, Nikki Weber by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram pages.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Universal Book Link  – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Kobo

About Nikki Weber: Nikki Weber was born and raised in Maine, and spent her childhood summers camping with her family and their beagle. She loves to read, listen to podcasts, travel, and play tennis. Campfires & Corpses: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery is her first book, and there are many more in the pipeline.

Posted in June 2025 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Sophie Winston is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg, the latest novel in the Domestic Diva mystery series.

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

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

I’m Sophie Winston, the main character, so I’ll speak for my friends. Much to our relief, it is a series. THE DIVA POACHES A BAD EGG is book number eighteen, which makes us pretty happy! There’s enough background information to read the books out of order, so no worries there!

I’m actually an event planner, mostly for large corporate events and conventions. They call me a domestic diva because I like to cook and entertain, and I have a syndicated newspaper column with lifestyle advice. In between events, I try to solve murders. Word has gotten out that I’ve had some luck doing that, so we get to meet new characters who come to me with their troubles.

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

Krista is fairly nice about listening to us. For instance, my best friend, Nina Reid Norwood, often likes to bend rules, like sneaking around where she shouldn’t be! I don’t approve of that and try to stop her. But Krista doesn’t mind that Nina has her own ideas. We all have our own voices and sometimes we surprise Krista!

How did you evolve as the main character?

I never meant to solve murders, but I come from a nosy family. I guess I can’t help it. When friends or family get into trouble I come to the rescue if I can. How can you say no to people whose loved ones have been killed or who are being blamed for a murder?

It all started because everyone was coming to Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Everyone being my parents and siblings. But then my ex-husband’s new love interest set their house on fire, and they had nowhere to go. It was Thanksgiving! My family had known the new love interest since she was a child, and my mom pressured me to invite them along with my ex-husband’s mother, brother, and sister-in-law. You can imagine how thrilled I was about that!

Families are interesting. They all have their own dynamics. In THE DIVA POACHES A BAD EGG, I meet a fascinating family with a lot of quirks. They own a fabulous old house that has been passed down several generations. But the heir apparent is in big trouble when his wife is murdered in the house before they even move in!

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

I do! My very best friend in the world is Nina. She loves to eat and so do I! She’s a hoot! And after the nightmare of divorce, I reluctantly admit that my ex-husband, Mars, is still kind of charming. Neither of us could bear to give up our hound mix, Daisy, so she goes back and forth between us, which means I still see him a lot. The best man at our wedding was Bernie Frei, who is British and has the most darling accent that makes him sound brilliant, no matter what he says. They’re always there for me and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.

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

Old Town Alexandria, Virginia is wonderful. It was an old port town on the Potomac River, across from Washington, DC. and still has beautiful historic buildings. The Federal style homes are stunning. The sidewalks are made of bricks and there’s even a cobblestone street. Some of the homes still have flickering gas lanterns like they did in the old days. It’s made for walking, which I love and do a lot. Daisy has to be walked and that’s always a good excuse to see what people are up to!

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

My husband and I inherited our house from his aunt. I bought out my share, which wasn’t easy and have her portrait hanging in my kitchen over the fireplace. I wish I had known her. I’m not much of a believer in ghosts, but some people think her spirit is still in the house. She loved to entertain, like me! I got to know a lot more about her in this book, but not how you might think!

Thank you for answering my questions, Sophie, and good luck to you and your author, Krista Davis, with The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg, the latest book in the Domestic Diva mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Sophie and her author, Krista Davis by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, Pinterest and the Delicious Mysteries pages. You can also follow her on Twitter/X.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Apple   Amazon    BAM    B&N    Bookshop.org   Hudson Booksellers    Indigo      Powell’s     Rakuten Kobo    Tantor   Target   Walmart

About Krista Davis: New York Times Bestselling author Krista Davis writes the Domestic Diva Mysteries, the Paws & Claws Mysteries, and The Pen & Ink Mysteries. Krista lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with a black Labrador mix, an English cream golden retriever, and two very inquisitive cats, all rescues. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices they keep coming back for more.

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

A Witch Awakens

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Ellis Elliott, author of A Witch Awakens, a Fire Circle mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to introduce us to her character, Cece Chagall.

Welcome, Ellis. I’ll turn the floor over to you and Cece –

“Thank you for your time, Ms. Chagall. That will be all for today.”

As I carefully slid the tweezers to place the miniature books on the bookshelf of my newly built dollhouse, I couldn’t help but hear the phrase repeated after almost every dance audition I went to in New York play in my head. I wondered if it would ever go away.

Almost 30, I had recently moved back home to East Tennessee to teach dance in my grandmother’s dance studio and to figure out my “Plan B”, after finally having to let go of my dream of dancing in New York City. Having to dance in a giant M & M candy costume will do that to you.

The ring of my phone broke through my dark thoughts.

“Hi, Nana,” I answered, “Did you miss me?” I asked, semi-sarcastically, since I lived in the guesthouse behind her big Victorian, and we worked together at the dance studio. 

Nana chuckled, “Of course I did, Cece, darling. That, and I was going to see if you wanted to ride up with me to see Aunt Granny Hazel later this afternoon? I made her up a wild yam tincture for her arthritis and want to get it up to her. She’s been having a time lately,” Nana paused, and I could hear her shushing her cat, Blisters, off some tabletop. “But I know she’d love to see you.”

Aunt Granny Hazel is my grandmother’s sister, and she lives about 10 miles outside our valley town of Eureka Grove, up in the mountains. She and my Nana are as different as night and day, but devoted to one another. My grandmother had been a Radio City Rockette before she married my late grandfather, came back home, and started her dance studio here. Nana has traveled the world, raised a son, and is a savvy businesswoman. Aunt Granny Hazel has never married, had children, or strayed far from the house she was born in. Everyone calls her “Granny Hazel” and she stays busy tending to the sick in her community with her homegrown herbal remedies. Both she and my grandmother have uncanny intuition, whether it relates to when rain is coming or an ailment you hadn’t even told anyone about.

“I’d love to!” I answered. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you two about these recent peculiars I’ve been having, anyway.”

If you don’t know what a “peculiar” is, you’ll have to read the book to find out!

And, if you’ve ever had to switch gears unexpectedly in life, or have a relative/friend/partner that couldn’t be more different than you, but is your bestie, I’d love to hear your story. Please feel free to email me at ellis@bewildernesswriting.com. Thanks for reading!

Thank you for sharing this with us, Ellis, and good luck with A Witch Awakens, the first book in the Fire Circle mystery series. Readers can learn more about Ellis Elliott by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.

The book is available online at  AMAZON

About Ellis Elliott: Ellis is a facilitator of the online writing group Bewilderness Writing. She also teaches writing and ballet in an after-school arts education program. Ellis holds an MFA from Queens University. She is a contributing writer for the Southern Review of Books, and serves as an editor/workshop instructor for The Dewdrop contemplative journal.

She is the author of the 2023 poetry chapbook, Break in the Field (Old Scratch Press), which KIRKUS calls “A deeply felt collection of candid verse.” Her work can also be found in numerous publications, including Signal Mountain Review, Plainsongs Poetry Magazine/Award Poem, Euphony Journal, and the Women of Appalachia Project Anthology. Ellis has a blended family consisting of six grown sons. She resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband, Tim, and a feisty dog named Mabel.

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

Shudder Pulp

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Vanessa Westermann, author of Shudder Pulp, a Charley Scott mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us a bit about finding inspiration in cottage country. Since I grew up in Canada and have lots of happy memories of my times in cottage country, I’m looking forward to hearing about her experiences.

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

Have you ever jumped off a dock into clear water and wondered what just brushed your leg?

I grew up spending summers in cottage country. Some of my favourite summertime memories are of eating s’mores around bonfires, reading thrillers in Adirondack chairs, watching canoes drift by. And diving off the dock.

In our cottage garage hung an old lake map, bordered with ads for local businesses that had long since closed. Hydrological features were marked out as well as rocks, bays and islands. The labels included thrilling names, such as: Snake Island. Frost’s Folly and Knight’s Nightmare. A hint at the dangers that wait out in the water.

Ontario, Canada is lakeland. Fresh water is everywhere. Canadian folklore is teeming with monsters. The monsters are a part of our collective unconscious. Oral tradition filled the lakes with threatening creatures. Horned water lynx who conjure storms. Mythical half-human creatures who lure children into underwater lairs. The lake monster Ogopogo is still a tourist attraction in British Columbia today.

There’s something unpredictable and wild about a lake, no matter how peaceful it may seem at times, and this element of the unknown is inspiring for a crime writer. I thought, why not have the killer blame the murder on a legendary lake monster?

In Shudder Pulp, Charley Scott is creating an immersive pulp art installation based on the local lake monster legend that is meant to fundraise money for a permanent gallery. She knows of the lake monster legend because of the cautionary tales her grandfather used to tell to stop her from swimming out too far. He’d say to her, The monster exists. This story really did happen and I can show you where. But he never had. Each time he told the tale, the location shifted, changing like the dimensions of a fish in dockside boasts about the biggest catch of the year.

Life imitates art when Laura, a mercenary newcomer, claims to have been attacked by the monster and, hours later, is found dead by dry drowning. To find the truth, Charley must unmask the villain before the murderer strikes again.

Part of the fun of writing a cozy mystery series is being able to invite readers to return to a familiar setting — or scene of the crime. You know the saying, life is better at the lake? In the Charley Scott mysteries, murder is better at the lake. The air is fresh and so is the crime scene.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Vanessa, and good luck with Shudder Pulp, the latest book in the Charley Scott mystery series. Readers can learn more about Vanessa Westermann by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

Amazon.com  –  Barnes & Noble  –  IndieBound/Bookshop.org

About Vanessa Westermann: An avid reader of mysteries, Vanessa Westermann is a former Arthur Ellis Awards judge, holds an M.A. in English Literature and a Bachelor of Education, and has taught creative writing. Cover Art, first of the Charley Scott Mysteries, was published to great acclaim in 2022. At the heart of all of Westermann’s stories are strong female protagonists inspired by the heroines in her own life. She currently lives in Ontario.

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