A Peek Into The Glass House

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Nancy Lynn Jarvis is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Glass House, her latest novel in the PIP Inc Mystery series.

Welcome, Nancy. 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.

NLJ: The Glass House is the first in a planned series of PIP Inc. Mysteries. My good friend, Pat, like Pat Pirard in The Glass House, was the Santa Cruz County Law Librarian and is now a private investigator. I stole her identity―with modifications― for the book(s.) The real Pat wasn’t downsized, is happily married, does have a cat, but has informed me in clear language that if she ever had a dog, it would definitely not be a Dalmatian, especially not one named Dot.

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

NLJ: When I’m not writing, I host Airbnb. I have a guest from Long Island who is a glass artist. She flies to California every few months to take glass fabrication classes taught at a local glass studio. She does take pictures of what she’s making in class, but I never get to see the finished product because it’s always carefully packaged for her flight home. Recently she took a poppy making class and was so enthusiastic about what the class creations that she wanted me to see her finished creation. She suggested that I should slip into the studio while the class was having lunch in the owner’s house and sneak a peek. I did, but I felt so guilty for breaking and entering that after I satisfied my curiosity, I went to the owner’s house and confessed what I had done. Instead of calling out police with handcuffs, the owners invited me to join the class for lunch.

The class instructor sidled over when my Airbnb guest was introducing me to her classmates as a mystery writer and said, “I know a great way to kill someone in a glass studio.” It turns out he did, so I asked if I could kill him. He said, yes, so he became the murder victim, killed by his own hand as it were.

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

NLJ: The theme of the story is about love: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But if you’ve read this far, you’ve may have picked up on another “theme” in my writing. Everyone I come in contact with is fair game to become a character in one of my stories. I do change them up a bit to protect the innocent.

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

NLJ: Almost all my characters start out as someone I know and I begin writing using the real name of the person whose identity I’m borrowing. Within a few pages, they’ve undergone a name change which frees them up to become the characters I want to create rather than their namesakes, who would never do what I want them to do in my books. The only exceptions are Pat, whose name I kept because PIP stands for Private Investigator Pat, and Dave in another series because his character is so like the real Dave. I did change his last name, though, and he insists he’s nothing like my character.

The Glass House, is only one of the books I’ve written. I have a seven-book series of Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries, a one-off called “Mags and the AARP Gang”, and even a little inside baseball book called, “The Truth About Hosting Airbnb.”

One of my favourite characters is Dave from the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries series because I get to write “Davisims” for him, and I think Syda, Pat’s best friend from this series will become another favourite.  But usually my favourites are older characters: Mrs. Rosemont from “The Death Contingency,” Olive from “The Widow’s Walk League,” and my all-time favourites, Mags and Melvin from “Mags and the AARP Gang.”

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

NLJ: I’m a very visual writer so I set my books in and around where I live. I can take a look at the places I’m creating and then put their descriptions down on paper. Not too sexy, but it works for me.

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

NLJ: I’m amazed at how much research I need to do for contemporary mysteries. Even brief details need to be right if my books are going to be credible, so I’ve looked up everything from how redwood trees water themselves in the absence of rain to the evolution of cat litter for my books. I’ve also looked up how to kill someone in a very public place without being caught.

Some of the most interesting research I’ve done is about how bodies might decompose over time. I was thrilled when I attended a forensic anthropologist’s lecture and discovered that my descriptions were exactly right in “Backyard Bones”, and “Buying Murder.”

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

NLJ: The Glass House is a bit of a collaboration between the real Pat and me. I was a real estate agent for many years so my real estate mysteries ring true, but I know nothing about being a private investigator, even an amateur one. I’m frequently asking Pat, “How would you find out about…’” and her answers will keep the PIP Inc. series realistic, too.

Thanks for answering my questions, Nancy, and good luck with The Glass House, the latest book in the PIP Inc Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Nancy and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook and Goodreads pages.

The novel is available online at Amazon.

About Nancy Lynn Jarvis: Nancy was a Santa Cruz, California, Realtor® for more than twenty years before she fell in love with writing and let her license lapse. After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, she worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager for Shakespeare/Santa Cruz at UCSC. Nancy’s work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years, a philosophy she applies to her writing, as well. She has written seven Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries; a stand-alone novel “Mags and the AARP Gang” about a group of octogenarian bank robbers; edited “Cozy Food: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes” and a short story anthology, “Santa Cruz Weird;” and even done a little insider’s book, “The Truth About Hosting Airbnb” about her first year as a host. “The Glass House” is the first book in a planned series of PIP Inc. Mysteries. Now she’s trying to figure out when to work on another series she’d love to do called “Geezers with Tools” about two older handymen who will solve mysteries in the course of doing their work, and setting up writer retreats at her house.

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Step Back Into the Ming Dynasty

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

Today P.A. De Voe is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about No Way To Die, her latest novel in the Ming Dynasty mystery series.

Welcome. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about your novel.

PAD: My latest book is No Way to Die, A Ming Dynasty Mystery. Here’s a short description:

“When the mutilated body of a stranger is found in a pigpen, the search for justice once more brings together the unlikely duo of Shu-chang, a school teacher, and Xiang-hua, a women’s doctor. Their search through Ming Dynasty’s underworld of back-alleys, gangs, gambling, and thugs-for-hire uncovers a twisted tangle of jealousy, greed, and revenge. These discoveries, however, only create more confusion for our intrepid duo as their list of suspects continues to grow to include a lustful herbalist, an unscrupulous neighbour, a vengeful farmer, a jealous husband, a scorned wife, and a band of thieves. So many questions: How will they determine who is innocent and who is guilty? Are they being manipulated? Is this a case of misdirection? Was the victim’s death due to a case of mistaken identity? Will they be able to untangle the truth and solve the murder before the murderer strikes again?”

Is the book part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

PAD: Yes, it is. It’s second in the A Ming Dynasty Mystery series. Deadly Relations is the first and I’m working on the third, which will come out early next year. The series is set in late fourteen century China—a period that fascinates me because it’s the beginning of a new, Han dynasty. My goal is to transport the reader into this complex and engaging world of early Ming China through the use of story filled with mystery and intrigue.

There are two protagonists. One is a poor scholar/teacher and the other a young women’s doctor. To delve into all aspects of Chinese life, I needed a male and female protagonist. Thus: Shu-chang and Xiang-hua.

Traditional Chinese society was a meritocracy. Meaning that people (men only in this case), no matter what their family background, could achieve wealth and status through their own abilities. Success or failure depended on an individual’s (males) intelligence, drive, and work, not birth right. The path to success was a series of three National examinations. It involved three levels of exams. Our hero, Shu-chang just passed the second exam when his personal life is dealt a tragic blow, threatening his entire future, and thrusting him into the threat of even greater abject poverty. To survive, he becomes a teacher in a nearby town’s clan school. Shu-chang’s character is based on the trials and tribulations of intelligent, ambitious, but poor, young men found throughout Chinese history.

After finding Shu-chang as a main male character, I wanted a realistic female character for him to work with. As it happened, I was reading a book about women’s medicine at the time and found a reference to a real-life women’s doctor. She lived in the Ming Dynasty and was the author of the only medical book ever written by a woman during the traditional period. She was perfect! I now had a model for my female character. My version is not the historical woman herself, but what I think these educated, female women’s doctors might have been like in a highly gendered society such as early China. Given her work as a medical practitioner, she can move freely through all social classes. Thus, I now had access to a panoply of secondary characters otherwise not available.

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

PAD: I have a background in China studies and have been fascinated by the Ming Dynasty for a long time. The first emperor was a complicated and controversial character and his period of rule left all kinds of openings for stories. I’ve published a couple of contemporary cozy mysteries and have a couple of amateur sleuth mysteries sitting in my drawer (don’t we all?!), but I kept feeling a pull toward these historical Chinese stories. After successfully publishing a couple of Judge Lu short stories (as you’ll guess: set in early Ming China), I was emboldened to launch into a full-fledged historical novel.

Because of my experience with first experimenting with the short story format, I now fully encourage new writers and want-to-be writers to write short stories. They give you the feed-back you need. They can also give you encouragement and validation on your journey to becoming a published author.

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

PAD: Not so much a theme as a playing with the culture and society of a different international and historical people. I am an anthropologist and these things dominate my world-view.

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

PAD: I don’t actually have favourites. All my characters are interesting to me—or they wouldn’t be included! J

I do like Shu-chang. He embodies the struggling and optimistic young man who feels that if he can succeed in the examination lottery, he can make a difference for his family and his community.

I like Xiang-hua because, while she has exceptional advantages due to being lucky in the family she was born into, these benefits come with an almost over-powering sense of responsibility. As with Shu-chang she is devoted to her family and community.

And then there are the secondary characters, I do find different characters in each story more interesting than others and sometimes wonder about writing short stories or novels about them. I may do that in the future.

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

PAD: This is an area in my writing that I am still working on. I want to let my readers know about the setting, time, culture, law, social norms, etc. without carrying on too much. China is not as familiar to a lot of readers as, say, early Europe or historical American. Therefore, I need to fill in a lot. For example, the dishes (clay/porcelain wine cups, not glass), even the clothing is somewhat unfamiliar, not to mention the law, medicine, religion, and familial relationships. At the same time, I can’t drag the pace down through long passages of description. Not in a mystery. As a result, I try to evoke the place or setting with as few words as possible. I try to keep it to no more than a couple of sentences at a time. It’s an on-going challenge: how to inform without overwhelming. I’m always learning through reading books on how to improve my writing. There are so many excellent ones out there. This is often my pre-bed reading.

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

PAD: I do a lot of research. This is the part, I admit, that I absolutely love. I look at the web. Even YouTube. You never know what you’ll find and where it will lead! Plus, of course, I read a lot: traditional court cases, old magistrate manuals, and books on every topic and time period that could illuminate the lives and times of my characters. I want to be sure that what I use in my stories is valid. Case studies are particularly good in giving me a look into the lives of historical characters. This, in turn, feeds into my characters and their behaviours.

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

PAD: I hope that when you, the reader, pick up No Way to Die, you find that you are wrapped up in the mystery and intrigue of the story, and, at the same time, that you feel you have a window into the life and times of another world.

Thanks for answering my questions and opening up a place and era for me that I knew little about. Good luck with No Way to Die, the latest book in the Ming Dynasty Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about P.A. De Voe and her writing by visiting her website.

The novel is available online at Amazon.

About PA De Voe: She is an anthropologist with a PhD in Asian studies. Eventually, her interest in historical China and its culture led her to write stories set in the early Ming Dynasty: The Mei-hua Trilogy (Hidden, Warned, and Trapped), a collection of short stories and more. Deadly Relations, A Ming Dynasty Mystery is the first in a new series starring an ambitious young scholar and a woman’s doctor who join together in the pursuit of justice.

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Posted on September 20, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Amy Patricia Meade is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Garden Club Murder, her latest novel in the Tish Tarragon mystery series.

Welcome, Amy. 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.

APM: THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER is the second entry in my Tish Tarragon cozy culinary mystery series. Tish Tarragon is a Richmond, Virginia investment banker who quits her job and moves to the small town of Hobson Glen to pursue her dream of operating a café and catering business – the aptly named Cookin’ the Books, which is also the title of the first book in the series – that features literary inspired menus. Soon after opening her business, Tish discovers that she has a flair for solving crimes.

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

APM: The idea behind THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER occurred to me while my husband and I were living in an adult community in Wiliiamsburg, Virginia. I noticed a man walking a little West Highland terrier who stopped periodically to relieve himself on neighbourhood lawns.

A few days later, the neighbors ‘visited’ by this dog complained to the homeowner’s association that their neatly manicured lawns were riddled with yellow patches.

There was quite an uproar, but as no one knew the identity of the dog walker little could be done other than to post some ineffective ‘Keep Pets off the Grass” signs.
My husband and I moved to England before ever learning the identity of the dog we’d named ‘The Powhattan Piddler’ but the incident was the inspiration behind THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER”s victim, Sloane Shackleford, and his dog, biscuit.

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

APM: I’m not certain there’s a theme, but as the story takes place at an over-sixty housing development, I wanted to make sure I painted the residents of this community as vibrant, active human beings with loves and heartbreaks and interesting past stories, as well as potential for future stories. Just because they’re older and retired doesn’t mean they’ve stopped learning about and enjoying life.

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

APM: I create my characters using both observation and imagination. I do a lot of people-watching in my spare time (to which my husband can attest!), so when it comes time to sit down and create a character I draw upon the mannerisms, personality traits, and even some of the dialogue I may have overheard, and blend them together to create a unique individual who is also—I hope – relatable and quite human.
I love all the characters in the Tish Tarragon series, but my favourite might be Tish’s best friend, Julian Jefferson Davis. Julian is the local tv weatherman with aspirations of becoming a serious journalist, however he’s best known for a viral clip of him being carried away by a snowplow outside the Edgar Allen Poe Museum. He’s so off-the-wall and yet down-to-earth and lovable. One never knows what Julian is going to get himself into next so it’s both liberating and fun writing for him. Nothing is off-limits.

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

APM: As I mentioned earlier, my husband and I lived in Virginia for a time, so I have first hand experience of the heat, humidity, the different accents, the culture, and the food. I think it’s important to follow that old adage, ‘Don’t tell. Show.’ I try to paint a picture of Hobson Glen not just through the physical descriptions of the town, but also through the colloquialisms used by Tish’s assistant, Celestine, or the traditional Christmas dinner being served at a particular character’s home.

In this particular book, I gave myself the challenge of describing the gardens in contention for top prize. I wanted those gardens to reflect the personalities of the gardeners tending them, so we have a modern garden with pampas grass and a wall cascade, an English cottage garden, etc. What I tried to do was not just describe the plants in terms of appearance, but by texture, smell, and the ambiance created.

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

APM: THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER required extensive research into plants that are native to Virginia and when they might be blooming. There’s also a bit of plant chemistry involved in the story. I try to do that research as I plot the book, but often, a question comes up when crafting a subplot or when a character takes me in another direction. That could be something as simple as “What day of the week was February 14, 1968?’ or as complex as ‘What’s the process for overwintering dahlias?” Thank goodness for Google!

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

APM: I’ve been asked and have seen comments by reviewers regarding the lack of recipes in my books. Like its predecessor, COOKIN’ THE BOOKS, THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER does not feature recipes, but I’m happy to report that readers will find recipes for two of the cakes served at the luncheon on my website in the months to come. Also, I’m currently working on Tish Tarragon #3, which is set during the holiday season and will include recipes for two of the menu items featured in the novel.

Thanks for answering my questions, Amy, and good luck with The Garden Club Murder, the latest book in the Tish Tarragon Mystery series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – B&N – AbeBooks

About Amy Patricia Meade: The Author of the critically acclaimed Marjorie McClelland Mysteries, she is is a native of Long Island, NY where she cut her teeth on classic films and books featuring Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown. After stints as an Operations Manager for a document imaging company and a freelance technical writer, Amy left the bright lights of New York City and headed north to pursue her creative writing career amidst the idyllic beauty of Vermont’s Green Mountains. Now residing in Bristol, England, Amy spends her time writing mysteries with a humorous or historical bent.  When not writing, Amy enjoys traveling, testing out new recipes, classic films, and exploring her new home.

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Pop in for Popcorn Fun

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Sofie Kelly, author of A Night’s Tail, a Magical Cats mystery, is joining us at Ascroft, eh? to tell us some fun facts about popcorn. I’ll turn the floor over to you, Sofie:

In A Night’s Tail, the latest Magical Cats mystery, readers learn that librarian Kathleen Paulson’s boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon has developed a taste for gourmet popcorn. That happened, in part, because a friend of mine has become, in her words, “a popcorn connoisseur.” After picking her brain—and trying her popcorn—and after a little time spent on the Internet, here are a dozen fun facts about popcorn:

  1. The US is the world’s largest producer of popcorn according to the USDA.
  2. Popcorn comes in two shapes, snowflake and mushroom. Because snowflake-shaped popcorn is bigger, movie theaters typically sell that shape.
  3. Nebraska produces more popcorn than any other state in the country, followed closely by Indiana
    4. Orville Redenbacher brand is the top-selling popcorn.
    5. Popcorn is a type of maize, a member of the grass family.
  4. When they pop, kernels can travel up to three feet in the air.
  5. Making popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens.
  6. Charles Cretors, introduced the world’s first mobile popcorn machine in Chicago in 1893. One of its attributes was the fact that it could supposedly be moved by a small pony…or a boy.
  7. Archaeological evidence found in Peru suggests that popcorn existed as early as 4700 B.C.
  8. In the early 1950s, as televisions became popular, popcorn sales decreased because people were staying home to watch TV instead of going out to the movies. Once popcorn became readily available to make at home, sales went up again.
  9. Some of the most popular popcorn flavorings include ranch, jalapeno, dill pickle, sour cream and onion and caramel corn.
  10. According to popcorn.org, Americans consume close to 14 billion quarts of popcorn each year. Other sources put the number closer to 17 billion quarts. That’s about 42 quarts per person. If you’re reading all the Magical Cats mysteries as you’re eating your popcorn, that works out to 3.5 quarts per book. Enjoy!

Thanks for this fun insight into the novel, Sofie, and good luck with A Night’s Tail, the latest novel in the Magical Cats series.

Readers can learn more about Sofie and her writing by visiting her website.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon    –    Barnes and Noble     –       Indiebound

About Sofie Kelly: Sofie writes the New York Times bestselling Magical Cats mysteries that feature librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two very special cats, Owen and Hercules, who have a magical knack for solving crime. As Sofie Ryan she is the author of the New York Times bestselling Second Chance Cat mystery series. She lives on the east coast with her husband and daughter.

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Why Not Stop By the Library Today?

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Allison Brook is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Buried in the Stacks, her latest novel in the Haunted Library mystery series.

Welcome, Allison. 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.

AB: BURIED IN THE STACKS is the third book in my Haunted Library mystery series, which takes place in Clover Ridge, a picturesque village in Connecticut. Carrie Singleton, my 30-year-old sleuth, is head of programs and events of the Clover Ridge Library. A kind and caring person, she often finds herself embroiled in mysteries and murder.

In BURIED IN THE STACKS, Carrie fears that a group she’s joined to create a daytime haven for the homeless plans to use the facility as a front for illegal activities. She is also investigating the murder of Dorothy Hawkins, the unpopular and disagreeable reference librarian. In the past, the ghost of Evelyn Havers, a woman who used to work in the library, has helped Carrie in her investigations. But this time Evelyn’s relatives are involved and she holds back vital information.

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

AB: Dorothy, the reference librarian has caused problems for Carrie because she felt she should have been offered Carrie’s job. Dorothy is also Evelyn’s niece, and capable of less than honourable actions. Which is why Evelyn is reluctant to share important information with Carrie.

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

AB: The homeless often seek shelter in libraries during the cold months of winter. This is not a very good arrangement. I thought it would be nice if the people of Clover Ridge created a place where the homeless could spend those days in a facility that offered them assistance and interesting activities.

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

AB: I suppose I envision my characters then give them free rein. They are very real to me—well-developed, with personality and flaws.

I adore all my characters, which is a good thing because so many of them appear throughout the series. Evelyn is a favourite character because, while she often helps Carrie, she’s sometimes unpredictable. I like spunky Angela, Carrie’s best friend who works at the circulation desk and tells it like is. She’s a great sounding board when Carrie’s sleuthing. As is Dylan Avery, Carrie’s handsome, clever boyfriend, who is a professional investigator in his own right and never puts Carrie down. Carrie’s great aunt and uncle, her boss Sally, her little cousin Tacey—the only other person who can see Evelyn—and Smoky Joe, the library cat who really belongs to Carrie are all delightful characters that add a dimension to the storyline.

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

AB: Much of the story takes place in the library. I help my readers envision the interior of the library. They get to know the other librarians, Carrie’s two assistants, the programs and events that Carrie presents as well as her day-to-day responsibilities.

I have described the village, which is centuries old, and the Green which the library faces as do many other buildings that have since been converted to galleries, restaurants, and shops. I describe restaurants that Carrie and her friends frequent.

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

AB: While Clover Ridge is a made-up village, I have based it on a real village. I do a great deal of research regarding this real place when setting various scenes.

Thanks for answering my questions, Allison, and good luck with Buried in the Stacks, the latest book in the Haunted Library Mystery series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

About Allison Brook: Allison Brook is the pseudonym for Marilyn Levinson, who writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. She lives on Long Island and enjoys traveling, reading, watching foreign films, doing Sudoku and dining out. She especially loves to visit with her grandchildren on FaceTime.

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How Did it Become Number’s Up?

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

NUMBERS UP BANNER 640

Today Annabelle Hunter, author of Number’s Up, her first novel in the Barrow Bay Mysteries is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us a little about how she writes.

Welcome, Annabelle. I’ll turn the floor over to you:

Thanks Dianne.

I’ve noticed that one of the first things people ask writers is, “what’s your method?” Most times I stare at them and pray that someone else jumps in to answer. Because I don’t know that I have a method. That seems so… professional. Logical. Organized.

Not that I’m not… but… well, I’m bad at staying that way.

Number's Up OTHER SITESStep one — the idea. Most times this just comes to me. I’ll be watching something or reading, and a thought comes to me.  Most times it is in no relation to what I’m doing, but I’m not picky. Then I think about it, scratch out some notes and, if I think it’s good, I grab a notebook and start world building. Or, since I’ve been focusing on Barrow Bay, the funny moment comes, and I start creating a crime around it.

Step two — the first chapter. I like to do this first because it gives me a flavor of the characters and the story. It also lets me flesh out the character in my mind. It gives me some momentum. Do I recommend this? Probably not. It probably would be better to do an outline first. I have learned that going more than three chapters before stopping for an outline is a horrible idea. Very, Very horrible. I regret it rather quickly. On the other hand, starting with the outline before the first chapter is the quickest way for me to lose interest. It’s a fine line. You might need to find yours.

Step three – outline. Who’s the victim? Who are the suspects? What my red herrings and clues are. What order we will find out the clues? Then I move to secondary plots in great detail – AKA ‘romance here, blah, blah, blah’.

Yep. I’m super detailed.

Step four – I start writing, using my outline as a blueprint, until the characters take over. That’s when limbs come out of nowhere. Bets appear. Family dinners happen when my outline clearly said, ‘cop interview’, and dates happen instead of an intense interview at the police station. Yep, super methodic. And organized. I’m in control. I mean, they’re figments of my imagination, so that means even when they are in control, I’m in control.

Don’t burst my bubble.

Step Five – Adjust my outline. Again. Swear at it. Complain to my husband. Get no sympathy. Go back and write.

Step six – finish writing the story. Look at the outline. Confirm that at least there is some resemblance to it in the story. And that all the clues made it.

Step seven – get a lot of coffee. And chocolate. This needs its own step. Pre-editing comfort food is super important. Do not underestimate the pre-editing comfort food.

Step eight – First edit using the grammar program. Much cursing at all the things it gets wrong. More swearing as I look up questionable grammar mistakes. Eat some chocolate. Finish. Move on to the computer reading it out loud. More cursing, and a few wails of ‘what was I thinking?’ Refill the comfort food. More coffee. This can last for days.

Step nine – stop editing to write something else, anything else. Anything to remind myself that writing is fun, and that editing is worth it so I can write. More coffee.

Step ten – finish listening to the computer read and correcting all my stupid moments from writing too fast. Go into another read through. Want to never see it again. Pray for it to get erased. Fear it will be erased. Add some more characterization. A few more ideas for the plot. Realize that it was all worth it. It’s genius. It’s the best book I’ve ever written.

Step eleven – Beta (or Alpha or critique partners… what ever you want to call them) readers. The ones that I know will be painfully honest, but in a way that will make me understand they want you to fix it, not cry and drink lots of alcohol. I still cry.

Step twelve – take their ideas and fix my manuscript. Know that the editor is going to love it. It’s amazing. I have the best readers ever. This is the best I can make it. It’s a flawless diamond polished to perfection.

Step thirteen – get it back from a development edit. Read the first page of the report. Stop. Go to the store and stock up on cookies, coffee and alcohol. Cry. Get angry. Cry again. Swear I’m going to give up writing forever. Right after I fix everything. And edit it. Again.

Step fourteen – Send it out to the beta readers again. Thank my editor profusely when the beta readers don’t hate it. Take their suggestions and send it off for line edits. Run out of coffee around this step and suffer.

Step fifteen – repeat Step Thirteen. Worry I’m wasting my editor’s time, call her and have her tell me I’m not, but really, I might think about these changes. Badger her into telling me the truth – forget saying it nicely, I need to know exactly what she means. Exactly. Dive deeper into my myopic, stubborn side. I’m going to get this right. Eat more cookies.

Step sixteen – Fix it. Worry about it. Stress that it’s not good enough. Debate if my editor is being too nice to me. Maybe it needs another line edit. Gather my courage. Send it in for proofreading.

Step seventeen – The proofreader liked it! Think maybe I might not be delusional. Fix the notes. Send it to my second proofreader.

Step eighteen – Make the final changes. Stress. Stop myself from reading it. My grammar sucks. I’ve had two people read it with better grammar. Trust me, I can add grammar errors in, under the guise of fixing it. I’m that bad.

Step nineteen – format. Get ready for release. Tell myself that it’s too late. Sing the chorus of “Let it Go.” Pray. Plead. Cry. Cross my fingers. Do a like-my-book dance. If someone’s come up with it and put it on the internet (and it’s free) I’ve done it. Focus on social media. Realize that I’m awkward on social media. Do it anyways. Eat more cookies.

Step twenty – Release. Stress. Cookies. Recently, get so sick that my phone’s facial recognition software refuses to recognize me. Yell at the phone that has the audacity to give me shade about not looking good. See that someone had bought the book that wasn’t a friend or family member. Realize it doesn’t suck.

Wash and repeat. And that, is how I write a book. Hopefully that helps. Or at least tells you that you’re not alone. Or that you’re doing better than me. What ever keeps you writing. XOXO

Thanks for sharing this with us, Annabelle, and good luck with Number’s Up, the first book in the Barrow Bay Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Annabelle and her writing by visiting her website and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter (@cozycrazyfun).

The novel is available online at Amazon.

About Annabelle Hunter: Annabelle is a stay-at-home mom and an avid fan of classic mystery shows and dressage. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and too many animals.

Posted in Archives, September 2019, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sample Some Christmas Trifle

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

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Today Pearl Avery from Christmas Trifle, A Snow Lake Romantic Suspense mystery is joining us at Ascroft, eh?

Welcome Pearl. I’ll turn the floor over to you:

My name is Pearl Avery. I’m fifty-six years old, feel twenty, and often act twelve. I’ve been married four times: twice a widow, once divorced, and one marriage annulled. I love life, good times, and men.

Christmas Trifle Front-Amazon copyI also love my niece, Charly. In Christmas Trifle, Book One of the Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Novels, I am what you could call the truth-sayer. It’s a role I take on reluctantly. But when Charly and her husband, Cliff, start acting like a couple of knot heads, I have no choice but to get involved.

Not that my straight-laced sister didn’t raise a sweetheart of a girl. But Charly’s more compliant in her marriage than I think she should be. And it backfires big time. Then there’s Cliff. He becomes one of those television personalities who saves people’s restaurants. It’s a very popular show and he begins to believe his own press. He’s on location all the time leaving Charly to run their own restaurant, doing double the work. The long and short of it is: two chefs who start out madly in love and follow their dream of owning an upscale restaurant together, are in trouble. Then they become involved in a few murders.

I mean, really? I don’t want to say these two are idiots, but they need a keeper. I sure hope it isn’t me. Because being their truth-sayer is more than enough. Christmas Trifle, Book One of the Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Novels. I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Thanks for introducing yourself and the series to us, Pearl. Readers can learn more about Pearl and Heather Haven, the author of the series, by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available online at Amazon.

HeatherPhoto2About Heather Haven: In the midst of writing her fourteenth novel, Heather has also written short stories, comedy acts, television treatments, ad copy, commercials, and plays. She has won numerous awards for her Silicon Valley-based Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries; Manhattan-based WWII Persephone Cole Vintage Mysteries; Ringling Brothers’ Circus mystery noir, Death of a Clown; and Corliss and Other Award-Winning Stories. She has two romantic suspense series: Love Can be Murder Mystery Novellas with Lee Alvarez and Gurn Hanson, the Nick and Nora Charles of Silicon Valley, and the new Snow Lake Romantic Suspense Novels, of which Christmas Trifle is Book One.

She and her husband of thirty-four years are allowed to live with their two cats, Ellie and Yulie, in the foothills of San Jose, California.

Posted in September 2019 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop and chat with Jayne Barnard

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

Today Jayne Barnard is visiting Ascroft, eh? to talk to us about Where the Ice Falls, her latest novel in the Falls Mysteries.

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

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series?

JB: Where the Ice Falls is the 2nd of 3 in The Falls Mysteries from Dundurn Press of Toronto, Canada. The series revolves around three friends – Lacey, Jan, and Dee – living in a half-wilderness hamlet on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. When crime comes calling, these 30-something women are already struggling with divorce, disability, and the ever-looming threat of financial disaster. In the first book, When the Flood Falls, the rising river threatens the only bridge back to civilization just when Dee is being terrorized by a nighttime prowler. Jan digs into village history and Lacey tackles Dee’s ex, each hoping to uncover the stalker’s identity before Dee gets injured or worse. In the second book, set over Christmas, Dee’s terminally-ill mother comes to visit and Lacey must balance her care with hunting the person who locked a young intern into a woodshed to freeze during a week-long blizzard.  In the third book, Why the Rock Falls, well… you’ll have to wait until the summer of 2020 to find out what happens there.

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

JB: The idea for the frozen intern came to me over 15 years ago, when a young computer services intern fell foul of an older manager at our company. The manager’s irritation over a quite minor transgression developed into a lasting grudge and, like Marcia in the book, he spared no effort to drive the intern out of the company. The same intern got stuck in a snowdrift the next winter, coming back from snowboarding at Banff. Although he was only out there six hours, it was quite an anxious time for his family, as there have been instances where people set out in a mountain snowstorm and were never seen again. My imagination ran amok over the possibilities. What if he’d never come home. Who would want him to vanish in a blizzard? Who might benefit and who might suffer? Setting the disappearance at a fictional wilderness resort added the constant threat of another blizzard trapping the characters far from aid, and allowed me to showcase our incredible mountain scenery.

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

JB: At heart the series is about the friendships that support us as we grow through the upheavals of adulthood. This time, I tackled it through the perspective of watching a parent dying too early, and how that affects Dee. Medical assistance in dying is a quite new law in Canada, with strong feelings on all sides of the issue. I wanted to explore those ideas through the various characters a bit: the daughter, the reverend, the two nurses. I didn’t know when I began writing that I’d soon lose 3 people, including my father, to terminal illnesses – two of them to medically assisted death. My women friends were a tremendous support to me during all that, as Dee’s friends were to her. Zoe, who has been too busy with work and family to keep up her female friendships, provides the contrasting story: a woman at breaking point with nobody to confide in. Marcia’s friendship with the absent Phyl is another strand of that same theme.

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

JB: My main characters come from life – not exact copies of people but friends or acquaintances who get into situations that have multiple possible outcomes. Usually the situation resolves with only minor unpleasantness but my imagination leaps naturally to the most drastic solution first. When my high school friend, one of the first female RCMP officers in Canada, retired from policing after a decade, she was quite changed and unable to pinpoint exactly why. Lacey is based on my worst-case thinking about what might have occurred to crush my friend’s emotions to the point that she wasn’t able to fully feel or express them.

Loreena, the dying artist in Where the Ice Falls, is named after my friend who was diagnosed with a brain cancer early in my first draft. Having the character named after her, and seeing some of her artworks and personality traits immortalized in my book, gave her pleasure when she was going through a rather hard treatment regimen and not expected to survive it. I’m pleased to say she’s in remission and I’ll be putting the book into her hands soon.

Like the character Jan, I have ME/CFS, a neuro-immune illness that limits my physical and mental energy (I write lying on a chaise, with a lightweight keyboard and wrist braces). When she is trapped at home in When the Flood Falls, watching out the window while everyone else goes off to the museum gala, her feelings are an amalgam of the many years I spent housebound, left behind when my friends and family were out living their lives. I’m a bit stronger now than when I wrote the first draft more than a decade ago, but I still have to miss a lot of social outings because I need my limited energy to write. As the series goes on, Jan gets to reflect on newer research into ME/CFS and to try out new treatments that give her some small measure of her old life back.

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

JB: As you might imagine, it’s rather difficult for wheelchair users like me to get out into the deep wilderness, especially in winter when snowdrifts might be higher than a tall man’s hat. Fortunately, I have a photographer friend who loves any excuse to challenge himself against Nature. When I’ve decided on a setting, a season, and a certain mood for a scene, I send him a map with the particulars. He waits for an ideal day and sets off to take endless photographs for me of the area, the sky, the approaches, any buildings from which someone might see a killer dumping a body… He also records the sounds, smells, traffic volumes, and anything else that might be useful for either a sleuth or a villain.

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

JB: I really like talking to people who do the job or live in the area I’m interested in. There are always snippets of purely insider information that add authenticity to a setting or scene. For this novel I needed to research medical assistance in dying, both the procedures and the public attitudes in various parts of Canada; I started talking to older people who had been waiting for the law to change, or who had walked their loved ones along that assisted-dying path. Then I had first-hand knowledge during my father’s final year, which was quite trying at the time but came in useful during the editing process.

I had to learn a bit about dementia care as well as nursing home infection-containment practices. I’d had a roster of visiting nurses for several years when at my most ill, and could call upon them for information about medications and patient management. Additionally I found a retired oil company executive to coach me through the complex processes involved in selling an oil company. Setting the ski resort in a wilderness area meant familiarizing myself with the landscape via Google Satellite and then hikers’ maps. I needed a north-facing slope that would catch and hold the snow, and was far enough from main roads to make the resort being snowed in for a whole week realistic. Even if the intern freed himself from the shed on the first day, he had to be stranded out there with no hope of rescue.

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

JB: It’s a cold, dark, Christmas story with a ghost. An ideal read when you’re curled up by a cosy fire with a steaming mug at your elbow.

I hope readers enjoy the location as much as I do, and that they consider visiting this rich natural environment. I’m very interested in what locations they love, too. We have so many unique wildland locations in our country.

Thanks for answering my questions, Jayne, and good luck with Where the Ice Falls, the latest book in theFalls Mysteries. I always enjoy stories that revolve around friendships between women.  And I have to admit that the ghost intrigues me. I look forward to reading the novel.

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

The novel is available online: http://.ly/IpeI50vy6Fc

About J. E. (Jayne) Barnard: J.E. (Jayne) Barnard of Calgary writes award-winning short fiction and the Prix-Aurora nominated YA novellas, the Maddie Hatter Adventures. Her 2018 new release, When the Flood Falls, won the 2016 Unhanged Arthur and debuts The Falls Mysteries, a new psychological suspense series from Dundurn Press.  Her work has won the 2016 Dundurn Unhanged Arthur, the 2011 Bony Pete, and the 1990 Saskatchewan Writers Guild Award, and been shortlisted for the Prix Aurora, the Debut Dagger, the Book Publishing in Alberta Award, and numerous short fiction prizes.

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She Sees More Than You Would Expect

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

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Today Tanya R. Taylor is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Blind Sight, the first novel in the Lucille Pfiffer mystery series.

Welcome, Tanya. 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.

BLIND SIGHT (LUCILLE PFIFFER MYSTERY SERIES book one) REGTRT: Lucille Pfiffer is a blind woman who’s also a heroine. Her determination to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a beautiful young lady in book one – BLIND SIGHT – is crucial to the right person being brought to justice. In book two – BLIND ESCAPE – she finds herself entangled in a murder mystery, but also becomes a target for extortion. Each book will have an exciting plot that readers can devour and many more books are planned for this series.

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

TRT: I was outside in a parking lot waiting for my daughter when the idea popped into my mind about this older lady being completely blind, but yet being able to see what was going on around her. She ultimately takes it upon herself to solve a puzzling mystery concerning the death of a beautiful young lady and proves to everyone that even though she has a disability, she’s not hindered by it.

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

TRT: I guess the idea stemmed from the fact that my father was dealing with Glaucoma issues at the time (he’s now passed away) and I was trying to find remedies to help improve his vision. It was something that was at the forefront of my mind and it just so happened that one day as I was outside in a parking lot waiting for my daughter, the idea popped into my head about this older lady being completely blind, but yet being able to see what was going on around her. She ultimately proves to everyone that even though she has a disability, she’s not hindered by it and can even unravel puzzling mysteries that might otherwise remain unsolved. I sat there in the car, pressed the record button on my cell phone and created the plot.

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

TRT: Although all the characters in BLIND SIGHT are interesting, my absolute favorite are the protagonist Lucille Pfiifer and Vanilla, her brave and wise Shih Tzu dog.

I really like them because Lucille is strong, in spite of her disability, and she stands up for those she cares about. Vanilla is fun and also in her mind, Lucille’s protector. She’s so adorable.

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

TRT: I envision it in my mind (everything about it) and do my best to write it the way I envision it.

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

TRT: The internet is just a fingertip away, so anything I need to know, I research online. Thankfully, I didn’t need to do that much research for this book since we own a Shih Tzu also named Vanilla and she’s my inspiration.

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

TRT: BLIND SIGHT is a cozy mystery with a bit of humor as well. The second book in the series, BLIND ESCAPE, will be released on September 5th.

Thanks for answering my questions, Tanya, and good luck with Blind Sight, the first book in the Lucille Pfiffer Mystery series.

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

The novel is available online at  Amazon 

Photo - Tanya (normal size)About Tanya R. Taylor: Tanya has wowed readers with her riveting plots and compelling themes. She is the author of several #1 bestsellers on Amazon and published her first book titled: ‘A Killing Rage’ as a young adult. She has worked in the Financial arena and is also a seasoned ghostwriter. Her book ‘Cornelius’ climbed to #1 in the Teen & Young-adult Multi-generational Family Fiction category. And her supernatural, suspense/thrillers – ‘CARA’ and ‘INFESTATION: A Small Town Nightmare’ are multiple times #1 international bestsellers. Tanya writes in various genres including Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Thrillers, Science-fiction, Mystery and Suspense. She has a passion for the welfare of children.

Posted in Archives, August 2019, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is There A Time For Murder?

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Dianne Ascroft

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Today T.C. Lotempio is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about The Time for Murder is Meow, the first novel in the Purr N Bark Pet Shop mystery series.

Welcome, T.C. Let’s get started, shall we?

THE TIME FOR MURDER IS MEOW COVERTell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

TCL: The Time for Murder is Meow is the first in the Pet Shop series.  It’s about Crishell, “Shell” McMillan, a former actress who inherits her aunt’s pet shop and decides it’s time for a career change. When the woman who was giving her a hard time about donating her aunt’s poster collection to the local museum is found dead, Shell is tagged as suspect #1 and she and her former co-star Gary, have to work hard to clear her name.

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

TCL: I’d been reading a few blogs by agents and one mentioned they’d like to see a good mystery that centered around a movie memorabilia shop, so I wrote that.  Then an editor wanted me to change the setting to a pet shop, so I did that.  Then the editor got let go, but my agent managed to place the book with another publisher.

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

TCL: It’s about being able to re-invent yourself, which is what I did myself. After years of slaving at dead end jobs, I finally caught a break and am doing what I love to do – write.

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

TCL: I always try to put a little bit of myself and people I know into all of my characters. Do I have a favorite? That’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite child LOL. But we all have favorites, and I confess I’m partial to Nick, the tubby feline hero of the Nick and Nora series.

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

TCL: I try to visualize myself in each scene, acting it out.

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

TCL: It depends on what I’m writing about.  I like to do research on small towns to get a feel for what I can put in the background of the book, for example, I’ll research local bookstores, libraries, coffee shops, etc.

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

TCL: If you’re in the mood for a spirited heroine, a good mystery and two feisty felines, this is the book for you!

Thanks for answering my questions, T.C., and good luck with The Time for Murder is Meow, the first book in the Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery series.

Readers can learn more about T.C. and her writing by visiting her website and her blog.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon   B&N   IndieBound 

Here’s an excerpt from TIME FOR MURDER IS MEOW:

“After I hung up from Max I flopped down in the worn chair behind the register and leaned back, my hands laced behind my neck.  Max’s parting words bothered me more than I cared to admit, and a twinge of guilt arrowed through me at the thought I might possibly cost Gary this job.  Kahlua hopped up on my lap and swatted my chin with her paw.  “You’re right, Kahlua,” I said.  “Max might have been exaggerating, hoping to play on my sympathy. Gary’s a big boy and a good actor.  He’ll push through no matter what the role.”

It was high time I thought about what was best for me for a change.  As Aunt Tillie used to say, “If you don’t put yourself first, it’s a sure bet no one else will.”  Well, it was high time I did that. I’d put everyone else’s needs above mine, far too often, most recently with disastrous results.  I glanced at my hand – the empty third finger of my left hand, specifically – and a small sigh escaped my lips.

Everything happens for a reason.

A mental picture of Patrick rose in my mind’s eye, and I resolutely pushed it away. I’d been so certain he was the one.  I’d spend hours in my trailer between scenes, fantasizing about the perfect life we’d have together and then, in one afternoon, it had all come crashing down. I’d flung my four-carat diamond ring at Patrick and the script girl he was in bed with, stormed out of the apartment and never looked back. A month later the show was cancelled, and three weeks after that I was on a plane to Fox Hollow. And now here I sat, sorting through boxes of catnip balls and doggie chew toys. Go figure.

The bell above the shop door tinkled, jostling me out of my reverie and reminding me once again I’d forgotten to lock the door.  “I’m sorry, we’re not open for business yet,” I began, and then stopped short.  Three people stood grouped in the doorway, two women and a man. One woman was short and stout. She had flame colored hair (think Lucille Ball, only REDDER) teased up off her head and anchored with what had to be at least a pound of hairspray. She wore an aqua and orange flowered caftan a size too small which served to accentuate her generous frame instead of hiding it. Her age was hard to judge but I placed her as approximately ten years older than myself, late forties to mid-fifties. The man was around the same age. He had a brown beard shot with streaks of grey, and kind eyes behind large, tortoise framed glasses. His jeans were neat and pressed, and held up by multicolored suspenders with a thread of glitter running through them.

The other girl was a good bit younger than either of her companions.  I placed her a bit younger than myself, late twenties, early thirties tops. She had long, luxurious dark brown, almost black hair that flowed across her shoulders like a waterfall. I couldn’t see her eyes behind the massive Jackie O sunglasses she wore, but I was betting they were the same color as the hair. Her slender frame was accentuated by the skintight Capri jeans and tank top she wore. Toenails painted a bright blue peeped out from flip-flops of the same color. The girl carried a massive basket wrapped in yellow cellophane.

“Welcome to Fox Hollow,” they chorused, almost as if they’d either rehearsed it or else done it a million times before. It was hard to tell which.  “We know you’re not open yet,” the redhead added.  “But we saw the light on, so we figured maybe this was as good a time as any.”  She held out her hand. “Rita Sakowski.  I run the coffee shop up the block.  Sweet Perks.”

“Oh, yes.” I gave an enthusiastic nod. “I did notice your shop.  I’m rather a coffee nut.  Sorry I haven’t had time to stop in yet, but I’ve been busy.”

“Oh, we know,” Rita gushed. “You’re Crishell Marlowe, the actress, Tillie’s niece. I’ve always loved that name. It’s so unusual. How did you think of it, or did some Hollywood bigwig do it for you?”

“Nope. If anyone’s to blame, it’s my parents.” I took the hand she shoved in front of me and let her pump it up and down. “They couldn’t decide between Shelley and Christine, so they invented Crishell. It’s kind of a mouthful for most people, though, so I go by my nickname. Shell.” I paused. “I should also mention I’m using my real last name now. McMillan.”

“Oh.”  Rita dropped my hand abruptly. Her smile faltered just a bit and then it was back in place. “Well, I have to tell you everyone in Fox Hollow is just thrilled you’ve decided to keep Tillie’s legacy alive.”

I smiled back. “It’s my pleasure.”  I waved a hand around the store.  “I’ve been taking inventory.  I wanted to open it next week, but I doubt I’ll be ready much before the end of the month. As you can see, there’s still a lot of work to be done.  I have to restock a lot of items, and, of course, get some pets in here.”

Rita nodded.  “Of course.  Tillie did let things slack off a bit those last few months.  I guess we should have been quicker to take that as a sign something was wrong.  Your aunt never slacked off. Never.”

We were all silent for a few seconds, and then the man reached out and took my hand. “Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Shell McMillan. I’m Ron Webb. Webb’s Florists.  My store is right next door to Rita’s.” He grinned. “Sure comes in handy during the slow hours when I need a cup of java or a fresh baked scone to pick me up.”

The brunette reached up to brush a strand of hair from her glasses. I noted the blue polish on the fingernails had added glitter. “And I’m Olivia Niven,” she said. “My claim to fame is running the dance academy on Main Street.” She wrinkled her nose at me and looked pointedly at my feet. “Do you dance, Shell?”

“Not very well. I turned down Dancing on Air because I have two left feet. My co-star, Gary Presser was on last season though. He came in second.”

“I know. I voted for him. He got robbed.” Olivia looked me up and down. “I bet I could make a passable dancer out of you,” she laughed and flicked her hand dismissively. “If I can train the Boswell twins to win last year’s annual competition, I can train anyone.”

“That’s true,” Rita’s red hair swayed to and fro as she nodded. “Talk about left feet, those girls had ‘em, and now, well, you should see them foxtrot.”

Olivia shot me a mischievous grin. “Come by the studio. My girls will be thrilled to meet you.  The boys even more so.  They were all big Spy Anyone fans.” She shifted the basket to her other hand and whipped off the sunglasses, and I saw her eyes were indeed the same color as the hair, maybe even a shade darker. “So,” she reached out to tap the top of the basket. “We just came over to give you this small token to welcome you to the shop community, and to offer any help you might need.”

Rita gave Olivia a small nudge, and the younger woman held out the basket to me. Through the cellophane I saw cookies, cakes, an assortment of gourmet teas and coffees, and a small plant.

“Some treats Rita, Ron and I put together,” Olivia said, with a sidelong glance at her companions. “To be honest, it was mostly Rita. Enjoy.”

“Thanks.” I had to grip the basket hard. It was really loaded down. “This was very nice of you.”

Rita waved her hand carelessly. “Oh, don’t mention it sweetie. We all loved your aunt, and this store is one of the most popular in Fox Hollow. When the tour buses come through, they always make a stop here. Nothing people like better than to take a little souvenier home to their pets. Oh, and you might want to give Kathleen Power a call.  She knits the most darling doggie and kitty sweaters and booties.  Your aunt used to sell them for her all the time, on consignment.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that.” I smiled. “I hope I can live up to my aunt’s reputation.”

“I’m sure you will, dear.” Rita hesitated and then added, “I have to say, we were all surprised when we heard that you would be moving here and taking over the store.”

“Oh, don’t be so coy, Rita,” Olivia cut in. She turned to me. “We were shocked. After all, Fox Hollow’s no Hollywood.”

I nodded. “Thank God for that.”

Now that her arms were free, Olivia crossed them over her well endowed chest. “So, you’re really planning on staying and making a go of this? Or is this just a pit stop before your next series?”

Apparently Olivia wasn’t the type to pull any punches. Personally I found that refreshing after living in the phony Hollywood community for so long. “I assure you, I’m here to stay. I’ve retired from show business.”

Olivia’s perfectly arched eyebrow skyrocketed.  “Retired? Really?  I would think that would be hard.  Isn’t it in your blood? I mean, your mother’s an actress too, right?”

I shot her a wry smile. “If that’s true, then I want a transfusion.”

“I was sad to hear about your series,” Rita cut in. “I always watched Spy Anyone. It was one of my favorite shows.”

“Mine too,” said Ron and Olivia nodded. “I watched it for your co-star,” Olivia said with a shrug. “I hope he’s not retiring from show business too.”

“Gary? I doubt it. He’s too much of a ham.”

Olivia leaned one arm on the counter. “Frankly, I’m disappointed. I thought your moving here had something to do with that breakup of yours, you know with that director—OW!” She rubbed at her side and glared at Rita.

“No sense in rehashing things I’m sure Shell must be sick of hearing, right Shell?” Rita said smoothly.

“Oh, for pity’s sakes, the woman lived in Hollywood, the gossip capital of the world. She’s used to it, aren’t you Shell?” Olivia demanded.

“Now now Olivia, don’t put her on the spot,” chided Ron. “She might not want to talk about it.”

“Oh, don’t be silly Ron. Shell’s a public figure. Her life’s been an open book for years,” snapped Olivia. “Besides, I’m curious about this retirement.  What made you decide to give up the bright lights to follow in your aunt’s footsteps?”

“Those bright lights aren’t all they’re cracked up to be,” I said.  “When you’re on a hit show, your life isn’t your own.  As for taking over Aunt Tillie’s business, well, I’ve always loved animals.  I think if I hadn’t been pushed into going into acting, I probably would have gone for a career in veterinary medicine.  And I feel I owe it to my aunt. She was always there for me when I was growing up.  One of my biggest regrets is not having had much contact with her before she passed. No one in our family even knew she was ill.”

Rita made a sympathetic noise. “Don’t beat yourself up over that, dear. No one did. Tillie could be quite close-mouthed when it came to certain things, and her health was one of them.  I doubted she’d have ever told you anything anyway. Tillie never liked folks worrying or fussing over her.”

“But she did enjoy fussing over others,” Olivia put in. “Take her roommate, for example.”

My head swiveled in Olivia’s direction and I let out an astonished gasp. “Roommate? My aunt’s lawyer didn’t mention anything about her having a roommate.”

“No?” Olivia shrugged. “Maybe it slipped his mind.”

“Kind of an important detail to slip up on, don’t you think?” I placed my hands on my hips. “Are you sure about this? I mean, I find it a bit hard to believe my aunt would take in a boarder. She didn’t need the money, and as you’ve already pointed out, she valued her privacy.”

Olivia chuckled. “That’s because you never saw the two of them together. He doted on your aunt, and she was a sucker for him.”

He. A male boarder. A sudden thought occurred to me. “Were my aunt and this boarder involved?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Olivia nodded. “There was nothing Tillie wouldn’t do for him. He had her wrapped around his little finger. Or maybe I should say paw.”

“Paw?”

Eyes twinkling, Olivia reached toward the basket I’d set on the counter, undid the cellophane and crinkled some of it between her fingers. “That should bring him running, see! There he is now.”

I turned and caught a blur of white out of the corner of my eye. The next instant, the blur streaked past me and with one graceful leap landed on all fours right in the center of the counter.

“Oh my God,” I cried. “What is that?”

“Merow,” said the blur. “Owww.”

The others started to laugh. “That,” choked out Olivia. “Is the store mascot and your aunt’s roomie.

“Shell, meet Purrday.”

Toni-LoTempio-Credit-to-Clifton-Animal-Shelter-245x300About T.C. Lotempio: While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic.  She and her cat pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime and the Cat Rescue series from Crooked Lane.  Her latest, the Pet Shop Mysteries, makes its debut August 8 with The Time for Murder is Meow.

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