The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing & Secrets

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

S.K. Golden, author of The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing & Secrets, a Pinnacle Hotel mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to share with us how multi-level marketing leads to murder in her latest book.

Welcome S.K.. I’ll turn the floor over to you –

Have you ever found yourself sitting in a friend’s living room, nodding along as she demonstrates a gadget you never knew you needed – until now? And before you know it, you’re halfway convinced that everyone else needs this gadget too, and you could make some serious money telling everyone about it?

In this day and age, I’m willing to bet almost all women in America have, at some point, either attending or been invited to, a friend’s home to learn about their new business venture. They’re having a bunch of people over so they can demonstrate some new utensils. Or maybe your friend is having a makeover party and she’s doing everyone’s make up at her home. Or she’s found skincare that means she never has to wear makeup again and guess what? She can sell it to you, too. Maybe its jewelry – rows and rows of it and each piece five dollars or less.  Maybe your friend has gotten really big into fitness and they’re inviting you to attend a workout class that they’re leading.

Whatever you’ve been invited to, the end is the same: you, too, can sell the product, just like your friend. Isn’t it easy? You throw a party and people come! You post online, and people click the link. You go live on social media, and people clamor to be the first to buy. Your friend who convinced you to join is your mentor, and you are in her direct sales line, which means she gets a commission from every sale you make. And if you convince others to join, you’ll start earning commissions from their sales, too.

This style of business is called multi-level marketing. MLMs have been around since the 1920s but, the at home party came about some thirty years later, thanks to a woman named Brownie Wise, who we will talk about a little later.

I had friends who joined MLMs over a decade ago, though I didn’t know what they were called. I just knew they were suddenly, intensely concerned with skin care. They’d found a wonderful product, and if you joined their team, you could buy the product at a discount and maybe even make some money by selling it to other people. They were gifted expensive bags from their “boss” and were invited on cruises. I never bought the product or joined the team, because, well, I have so many kids and they were young, and I was busy. Plus, the price seemed too steep for skincare when I was in my late twenties/early thirties and having fine results with drug store products.

I still use CeraVe.

In 2017, I don’t even remember how now, I became aware of a podcast called The Dream and whew, boy. Did I fall into a MLM related rabbit hole. Since then, I’ve read books about MLMs, subscribed to YouTube channels that only discuss MLMs, and watched documentaries about MLMs. I just knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a multi-level marketing team was a prime setup for a murder.

A fictional one, of course. I write mysteries. I’m always on the lookout for murders. The other day, I was cleaning my oven, and, anyway, the mind wanders to if I could murder someone in my oven or I’d need a gas oven to do that. But that’s beside the point. In an MLM, the likelihood that you will lose money is high. Super-duper high, if you want to get scientific. Close to 99% of people never turn a profit. (Don’t get me wrong, the people who do turn a profit make BANK which is the allure of this business structure. Want to get rich quick? It could happen to you!) And when it’s your friend who talked you into joining? Who cost you money? Well, the plot basically writes itself.

I created my own multi-level marketing company for my book, The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets. Set in the 1950s, it’s the heyday of the Tupperware party. Which brings us back to Brownie Wise.

Brownie Wise did not invent Tupperware, Earl Tupper did. Tupper was having trouble selling the plastic containers, and Wise realized there was potential in home demonstrations. Show women how they worked, and the women would buy them. This was a smashing success. The Tupperware parties were considered social events and post-war housewives found a way to earn money while staying at home. Wise was even the first woman on the cover of Business Week. Now, she was fired by Earl Tupper in 1958 (Rumor has it, he was jealous of her success – typical) but her legacy lives on today. As I stated earlier, I’d bet every American woman has been invited to a social selling event at some point in their lives, whether it was makeover you won, or a free workout class, or an in home demonstration on a special cooking instrument.

Thanks to Brownie Wise, MLMs and at home demonstrations still thrive today – giving authors like me plenty of opportunities for betrayal and murder. Fictional, of course.

Thank you for sharing this with us, S.K., and good luck with The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing & Secrets, the latest book in the Pinnacle Hotel mystery series. Readers can learn more about S.K. Golden by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

 Amazon    B&N    Bookshop.org    Penguin RandomHouse    Kobo

About S.K. Golden: S.K. Golden writes cozy mysteries and crime capers. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. Sarah graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now.

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

A Side Dish of Death

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

T.C. Lotempio, author of A Side Dish of Death, the latest novel in the Urban Tails Pet Shop mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Toni.

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

A SIDE DISH OF DEATH is number five in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries.  It focuses on Shell McMillan, a former Hollywood actress whos relocated to Fox Hollow Connecticut after she inherits her late aunts’ pet shop.  She, her former co-star Gary Presser, and her cats, Purrday, Kahlua and Princess Fuzzypants, find a lot of dead bodies out in Fox Hollow! 

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

I have gone to dinner theatres where you had to solve a murder to win a prize and I thought that would be a good plot for a book.

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

Most of my characters are based on people (or pets) that I know.   On occasion I’ll base it on a news story – for example, the first Nick and Nora mystery is loosely based on Natalie Wood’s drowning.   Do I have favorite characters?  That’s like asking a parent who their favorite child is LOL.  I confess, though, that I do have favorites in each series. In the pet shop series it’s Gary. I find it fun to write him.

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

I always try to visualize the book I’m writing as a movie.  That definitely helps with character development, location, etc.

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

Lots and Lots of Google!

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

Only that I hope they enjoy what I write!  And I’ll continue writing as long as everyone keeps reading!

Thank you for answering my questions, Toni, and good luck with A Side Dish of Death, the latest book in the Urban Tails Pet Shop mystery series.

Readers can learn more about T.C. Lotempio by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook page.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Smashwords

About 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 originally from Berkley Prime Crime and now with Beyond the Page Publishing.  They also write the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries and the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mysteries, also available from Beyond the Page.  A new series, Cozy Bookshop Mysteries, debuts from Severn House in July. 

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

Vanishing into the 100% Dark

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Amber Royer, author of Vanishing into the 100% Dark, the latest novel in the Bean to Bar mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Amber.

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

Vanishing into the 100% Dark is the eighth book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries series.  In the series, Felicity Koerber moves home to Galveston, Texas to open a bean to bar chocolate business on the historic strand – only to have to solve a murder that happens at her grand opening party.  In addition to solving mysteries throughout the series, she has been putting her life back together after suffering tragic loss.  Her business has offered her an opportunity to build a community and make new friends, and she heals enough to be ready to find a new love interest.

Vanishing into the 100% Dark takes Felicity and her friends halfway around the world in the first book in the series set outside of Galveston.  (Though technically, the third book takes place on a cruise ship that briefly reaches international waters.)  This one sees Felicity invited to a chocolate festival in Tokyo, where she is to give a class on bean to bar chocolate making.  One of the recurring characters tagging along with her is Chloe, a teen Youtuber whose jerk-face cat has bought her a measure of fame.  Obviously, when she finds out that local Youtubers are being offered a part in a monster movie, she wants to participate.  Which puts Chloe in the position to become a main suspect when a stunt man is killed, and the police hold her passport.  Felicity is Chloe’s chaperone for the trip, giving her an extra measure of motivation to solve the crime before she and her friends are scheduled to return home.

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

 Honestly?  I was reading a book by one of my favourite authors where the protagonist finds a phone in a trash can.  It was a fun story, but I couldn’t help but think about how I’d take that setup in a completely different direction.

I was recently in Japan, lecturing aboard a cruise ship, and I realized just how much I was relying on my phone when my husband and I – in a situation very similar to what Felicity is dealing with the Vanishing’s opening – needed to call a friend to find out where in the airport she was going to meet us.  Unlike Felicity, we were able to make the connection with no further incident.  I had her get her phone pickpocketed by a guy who later turns out to be a stunt man working on the movie Chloe wants to be in.

I wanted this mystery to have an extra layer of complexity to go along with the “super-mystery” setting taking characters half way around the world from where I usually write them.  So the idea of the body vanishing was a fun trope that I couldn’t resist playing with.  Felicity’s fiancé’s reaction, along with who does and does not believe her, gives me a lot to work with.

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

For the series: Felicity’s craft chocolate making and growing her business is a consistent part.  I am something of an accidental chocolate expert.  My husband and I were asked to do several presentations for our local herb society, back when we lived closer to Fort Worth.  One of those became our cookbook, There are Herbs in My Chocolate.  This happened near the time I was invited to speak on a cruise ship sailing to the Dominican Republic, where I visited a cacao plantation for the first time.  When I saw a cacao pod, my brain immediately compared it to a Nerf football, and I wrote a sci-fi novella about a bunch of characters on a spaceship all trying to get their hands, claws or paws on a cacao pod to get the unfermented – aka growable – beans inside.  They were throwing the pod and racing up staircases and darting inside elevators.  I later developed that piece into Free Chocolate, a much more thoughtful and complex novel – that still supposes chocolate is the most important thing in the universe.  I met so many chocolate makers and cacao farmers researching and marketing those books, that when I wanted to start a new project, it was a no brainer to have a craft chocolate maker sleuth.

For this book:  When we go to the movies, my husband and I like to visit Alamo Drafthouse, because they do a half hour presentation before each movie that somehow relates to it.  We went to see The Fall Guy, and the presentation was a montage of clips from everything from the Burt Reynolds Stuntman movie to a documentary about Jackie Chan.  It hit my movie-lover’s brain just right for a movie to become a big part of Vanishing into the 100% Dark.

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

When I start writing, I have a few things in mind about a character – maybe a name or an occupation.  Descriptions usually come in a way that matches the character’s voice, either in dialogue or in narration.  If the character is going to be important, and I don’t instinctively get a feel for who the person is, I will do some exercises from the viewpoint of that character.  Typically this involves character interviews (take the character into a white room and ask upsetting questions to see how the character reacts and what she values) or what-choice-would-this-character-make dilemma exercise (put the character in an uncomfortable or ethically difficult situation and see how he responds).  It’s weird, but when forced, you can get your characters talking, from their viewpoint.

My favourite characters to write are the side characters with big personalities.  There’s a blogger in The Bean to Bar Mysteries who starts out in Grand Openings Can Be Murder by rashly accusing my protagonist of being the killer.  In the first two books, Felicity sees him as a nemesis.  But in the third book, after he gets accused of being the culprit and turns to Fee for help, she starts to see him more sympathetically.  (As did I, once I figured out that he, like me, is adopted.)  Now it is to the point where readers ask me for, “More Ash!”  My husband, who is my alpha reader, gets excited for “Ash chapters.”  I love writing characters who grow in sympathy like that.  There’s so much more to them than a reader gets to see on first encountering them.  I see characters that are unlikable on the outside but endearing once you get to know them often cast as leads in K Dramas and other long-form series.  That’s because it takes time to peel back the layers.  I am grateful that readers are sticking with this series long enough for me to do that.

A fan-favourite character that I put in the Chocoverse books was also a secondary character.  Chestla is an alpha-predator leopard woman who is a warrior with a tragic past.  But she is also heartbroken that most people keep their distance, while her greatest desire is to be invited to a local party.  She is, at times, comic relief. 

She’s completely larger than life.  Even though they are very different characters, so is Ash.  I have a ton of fun writing them – but I don’t think they would make good protagonists.  They shine so bright in the time they are on the page, it would be hard to sustain for the length of a book – or series – without them starting to feel either cliched or tiresome.  That’s why I have fun writing protagonists like Felicity.  She’s a bit steadier, but she still has a sense of humor and finds herself in some wacky situations.

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

It’s all about the details.  Writing Galveston is easier because I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years.  I know what parking is like on the Strand, and where to get good coffee.  I’ve changed the names and particulars of a lot of businesses (often combining several into one place), but landmarks such as Pleasure Pier are present in the series and named.

Vivid writing appeals to the senses.  If you put a character onto the beach, it can’t be just a generic beach.  What is the temperature? (Galveston can get cold and windy in the winter.)  What does the sand feel like?  (Sand comes in such a variety of textures and colors.)  What seabirds frequent the area?  Is there a specific smell to the breeze?  What are tar balls?  Is it jellyfish season?  What are the flowers growing up against the seawall called?  Filling in all those blanks can put a reader right where they need to be to feel like they’ve visited that beach alongside the characters.

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

It depends on what is happening in that particular book. For instance, I did a lot of research into octopuses and sea turtles for 70% Dark Intentions.  We even went down to Padre Island to attend a sea turtle release.  I’m planning to have an upcoming book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries series involve a subplot about the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, so we just visited Port Aransas (a bit down the coast from Galveston) for their Whooping Crane Festival. 

Vanishing into the 100% Dark is a bit different.  It’s set in a foreign country.  I’ve visited Japan a couple of times, and my husband and I do community service work for the Japanese community in Dallas. We’ve watched a decade’s worth of mystery-themed anime and Japanese dramas – not to mention most of the Godzilla movies. When I recently lectured aboard a cruise ship with ports in Japan, I researched Japanese mysteries, the history of journaling in Japan, poets, Zuihitsu literature and more.  It feels like little bits of all of that went into my book, some of the passive research I absorbed just by being places or experiencing media. 

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

There’s a lot here that touches on social media. Felicity ends each book by setting up and taking a photo for her Instagram with the people who changed her life over the course of that book.  She meets characters who blog, have YouTube channels, and teach on-line. 

Pretty much everything I write also has sweet/clean romantic subplots.  The Bean to Bar Mysteries has a love triangle in the first few books, but Felicity does make her choice, and by the time you get to Book 8, she is engaged.  This is a second romance for her, so she is taking her time.

The mystery in each book is self-contained, and I try hard to include enough context surrounding repeating characters or events that happened in previous books that you can follow along easily, even if it is the first book of mine you’ve read.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Felicity and seeing her grow and heal throughout the series.

Thank you for answering my questions, Amber, and good luck with Vanishing into the 100% Dark, the latest book in the Bean to Bar mystery series.

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

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon    Barnes and Noble    Kobo     Bookshop.org

About Amber Royer: Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series, and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach. Her workbook/textbook Story Like a Journalist and her Thoughtful Journal series allow her to connect with writers.  Amber and her husband live in the DFW Area, where you can often find them at local coffee shops or taking landscape/architecture/wildlife photographs.  They both love to travel, and Amber records her adventures on Instagram – along with pics of her pair of tuxedo cats.  If you are very nice to Amber, she might make you cupcakes.  Chocolate cupcakes, of course!

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

Ripped Genes

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Lawrence E. Rothstein, author of Ripped Genes, a Tri-Star Investigations mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to share some of his thoughts and advice on retirement.

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

Recently, I was asked to think about my retirement activities in response to the following questions:

Did you know what you would be doing in retirement before you retired, or did you retire and then decide what you wanted to do? How have you had to adjust your plan(s)?

Do you like what you are doing and enjoy this time of life .. and/or not? What would help you enjoy it more?

Is it hard to get everything you want done, or is there ample time? Do you have a schedule or just wing it every day? 

What is one important piece of advice you would give to someone preparing to retire?

If you were to do it all over again, what would you change about the game plan you had for retirement? 

Here are my thoughts on retirement:

I am Lawrence Rothstein, Professor Emeritus of Political Science. I retired from teaching in 2015 after a three-year half time phase out. I returned to the University briefly in 2017 to get the Social Science Institute for Research, Education, and Policy off the ground.

Let me start with: Retirement is great, although I now say I’m into my third career. After practicing law and 43 years of teaching, I am  writing mystery novels: My debut novel Venetian Bind has been out since May 2024, the second Tri-Star Investigations mystery Ripped Genes, which is featured in this blog, came out in January, and the third in the series The Tell-Tale Art is in first draft.

I knew I’d be busy during retirement with new things I wanted to do and things I wanted to devote more time to. In some ways, I am busier in retirement than I was while working. I also knew I wanted to take on more family responsibilities such as cooking, shopping, and some cleaning duties so my wife could be freer for her tutoring, keeping fit, and taking care of other family members. I started the activities I have cultivated further in retirement before I fully retired. I began the novel writing during my half-time phase out to retirement beginning in 2012. (By the way, I highly recommend taking advantage of any such phase out if available.) Writing mysteries was something I always wanted to do as I am an avid reader of mysteries and enjoyed writing creative scenarios for my law classes to analyze.

I also started other activities long before retirement. I came back to the clarinet after 50 years to play in the Wakefield Concert Band and in retirement I’ve added three other musical groups. Of course, I should practice more. Athletic activities take up a lot of my time. I play tennis at least twice a week and in good weather love to ride my bike. I have also been active with committees of the RI Department of Health dealing with privacy issues that I researched during my academic career.

With regard to being an author of mysteries, I am a scheduler. I am a member of a great weekly writing group (three out of five of our members have published novels). This requires that I contribute a chapter every week. The difficult part of authorship is marketing and promotion. I love writing fiction. Often when I think I must spend more time promoting my work, I decide to write another chapter. Other activities like meetings, band rehearsals, and tennis are also scheduled

I’ve been very lucky in that I am doing the things I hoped to do and have not changed my expectations greatly although I do wish there was more time during the day, particularly time for that reinvigorating afternoon nap. I would also like to do more volunteer activities in the community. The recent controversies surrounding AI have also made me want to continue some of my related research into privacy and technology.

I’ve been asked what is one important piece of advice I would give to future retirees. I will give two pieces of advice. The first is to cultivate before retirement some non-work activities you would like to spend time on after retirement. It might include hobbies, sports, volunteer activities, or a new career.

For the second piece of advice, I must give credit to my dad who, after his retirement, gave talks to those about to retire from his workplace at the Chicago regional office of the Veterans Administration. He said, “In retirement, you should establish a routine of activities at least some of which get you regularly out of the house. Remember that the marriage vows are ‘For better or for worse’ but not for lunch.”

I hope some of you readers out there will find these remarks helpful. For those who are far from considering retirement, keep them on file for future reference.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Lawrence, and good luck with Ripped Genes, the latest book in the Tri-Star Investigations mystery series. Readers can learn more about Lawrence E. Rothstein by visiting the author’s website and his Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and BlueSky pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

Amazon Kindle  – Amazon Paperback   Barnes & Noble – Author Website  

About Lawrence E. Rothstein: Lawrence is a retired lawyer and university professor who has published in constitutional law, privacy law, political theory and labor law. Born and raised in Chicago, he is now residing with his wife and family in beautiful southern Rhode Island.  He has lived and traveled widely in Europe.  As an avid reader of crime fiction, he has always wanted to write detective novels. He considers this his third career. Venetian Bind, published in May 2024, was his first Tri-Star Investigations novel. Ripped Genes is his second and he is well into his third, The Tell-Tale Art. As a lover of food and cooking, he includes many scrumptious meals and some recipes in his novels and on his website.

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

Assault & Gobblery

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Darlene Dziomba, author of Assault & Gobblery, a Lily Dreyfus mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to share how she has used some of her personal experiences in the series.

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

When I began the Lily Dreyfus series, I had four ideas for stories. I had not fully fleshed out the minutiae of each plot, but I knew I could write four books.

In crafting each book in the series, I have brought in knowledge from all areas of my life. The idea for the series stemmed from my volunteer work at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, NJ. During assignments, I would interact with staff and learn about their jobs and backgrounds, as well as the operations behind the kennels.

While Lily Dreyfus typically deals with cats and dogs as the adoption coordinator at a no-kill animal shelter, In Assault & Gobblery she is asked to solve a fowl problem. A wild turkey lives in the woods that surround a community garden. Some of the gardeners see him as a natural addition to their space. Others threaten to call animal control and have him euthanized.

As an animal lover, Lily is horrified at the thought of euthanizing an animal. She jumps in to resolve the fowl problem before there is any loss of life.

Unfortunately, before Lily can save the turkey, there is the loss of a human life. Her friend, Kelly, is suspected of murder when a body is found in her garden plot with her hori hori knife sticking out of its chest. Never one to shy away from a difficult assignment, Lily digs into the lives of the other gardeners to shovel up the truth.

My mom and I belong to the Horticultural Society of South Jersey and have acquired a vast knowledge of plants, chemical ratios in soil, and proper plant placement. I have been able to weave the information I learned through this organization throughout the plots of the books in the series, but I truly relished the idea of setting a book amid gardens and gardeners.

From the incredibly organized website designer who gardens to have fresh food, to the botany professor who treats her plot as a piece of research, the gardeners in Assault & Gobblery are as diverse as the plants they tend. Lily must determine which of them work in harmony, and what is rotten under the soil.

Characters in a mystery series are like plants in the garden. Sometimes they are vibrant. Other times, they might disappear, or be dormant. In Clues From The Canines a state trooper named Officer Honeycutt helps Lily track and point to the killer. My dad liked the character of Officer Honeycutt.  When I asked what he thought of the second book, Up Close And Pawsonal, he responded, “There isn’t enough of Honeycutt in it.” I think Dad will enjoy Assault And Gobblery. Officer Honeycutt appears to add a dash of humor with each vine that Lily has to untangle.

One of the things that makes the Lily Dreyfus series unique is that the canine characters have as much personality as the human ones. From Boone, the curmudgeonly beagle basset hound mix, to Nero, the over-enthusiastic Newfoundland, the behaviors of the dogs add a dose of humor to each plot. In every book, the dogs always manage to sniff out clues.

It has been interesting to work my personal experiences into the plots of murder mysteries. I am grateful that I have more ideas for this slate of characters.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Darlene, and good luck with Assault & Gobblery, the latest book in the Lily Dreyfus mystery series. Readers can learn more about Darlene Dziomba by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages. Readers can also follow her on Bluesky: @readdarlene.bsky.social.

The book is available online at Amazon.

About Darlene Dziomba: Darlene combined her passion for the written word and animals into the Lily Dreyfus series. The books are written based on her experience as a volunteer at the Animal Welfare Association, a no-kill animal shelter in Voorhees, New Jersey. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Membership Chair for SinC Grand Canyon Writers, and served as a mentor in the Sisters in Crime Mentorship program. Darlene lives in New Jersey with her four-legged best friend, Billie.

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

Carousels and Characters

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Elizabeth Pantley, author of A Carousels and Characters, the latest novel in the Magical Mystery Book Club mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Elizabeth.

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

Carousels and Characters is book 9 in the Magical Mystery Book Club Series. (There’s also an additional tenth book available to my newsletter subscribers.)

This book club meets in their enchanted library. When they agree on a book they are whooshed inside it! They become the characters in the story. Their job is to be the amateur sleuths and solve the mystery. This quirky group has a lot of fun, but they are also very brave — they must solve the mystery to get out of the book! 

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

One I put together the book club and created the magical library I realized that the places they could visit, and the mysteries they could solve, are endless! And because they find themselves in paranormal stories they also get to interact with all different kinds of beings: fairies, ghosts, genies and more. This allows my imagination to explode with each new story.

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

I am very partial to two of my main characters. The cat, Frank, is a smart, snarky Siamese cat who reminds me of a cat I had as a child. He’s got a huge ego and he’s funny, too! I also love Zell, a tiny, spunky, funny, eighty-one-year-old with no filters whatsoever. She reminds me of my ninety-year-old Mom!

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

This book is set in an enchanted theme park. Every year I take my mom to Disneyland – it’s our favorite vacation spot. All the rules go out the window and we eat junk, go on all the rides, and have the time of our lives. It was a blast to write a journey for the book club in a theme park setting!

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

Well, in this book, it’s rooted in my love of Disneyland and all my wonderful memories. Another book in the series finds the group on a cruise ship to Hawaii – because I love to cruise, especially to warm, tropical places. All my books have been inspired by places I’ve visited. Except, of course, the one that sets in a sprite kingdom. I’ve never been there!

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

Get ready to suspend reality and imagine what it would be like to dive – literally – into one of your favorite books!

Thank you for answering my questions, Elizabeth, and good luck with Carousels and Characters, the latest book in the Magical Mystery Book Club mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Elizabeth Pantley by visiting the author’s Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads and Bookbub pages.

The novel is available online at Amazon

About Elizabeth Pantley: Elizabeth writes well-loved cozy mysteries in two series: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona, two very different places. Both are rich, gorgeous, natural places, and inspire the settings in many of her books.

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

Candle with Care

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Valona Jones, author of Candle with Care, a Magic Candle Shop mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us why the beach is her sleuth Tabby’s happy place.

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

The story setting for my A Magic Candle Mystery Series is Savannah, Georgia. It’s a storied city, the oldest in Georgia in fact, and the historical nature provides a rich backdrop for a paranormal series. Adjacent to Savannah and across an expanse of salt marsh is Tybee Island. I contrast the busy cityscape of Savannah with the idyllic seashore of Tybee Beach.

If you are new to the series, my amateur sleuth is Tabby Winslow, a psychic candle maker who lives in Savannah’s Historic District. Her twin sister Sage co-owns the Book and Candle Shop directly underneath their residence. Both sisters have the ability to give and take energy from others, among other gifts. As we all know power is neither good nor bad, it’s what people do with power that matters.

Rest assured both twins are on the right side of the law, but the way they solve crimes involves their extra senses and therefore not admissible as evidence. The crux of the story is the juxtaposition of the twins and law enforcement, each working in their own capacities to bring a villain to justice.

With the friction from law enforcement and the increasing scrutiny of the villain, the twins are in a veritable pressure cooker. They need a place to just “be.” That place is the beach on Tybee Island. The road to the island is long and winding (and a nightmare in traffic) but it also serves to help decompress the twins. When they are at the beach, in all seasons, the world and it’s concerns are not their priority.

So what is it about the beach? The shore is a unique environment that blends tidal movement, ocean breezes, wide expanses, and treasures in and on the white sands. And there’s the Vitamin D that comes from sunshine. Anyone who has ever been to the shore knows what it is like to feel that first deep breath of salty air. There’s a sense of life going on and you can immerse yourself in it or be an observer. There’s no right or wrong way to “beach.”

For my twins, it is the different environment and the wild energy of the waves that draw them, time after time. It’s a restorative place to mind, body, and soul. It centers them and more importantly gives them a needed time out from the case and their personal life.

The twins mirror my personal feelings about beaches. However I was recently asked a question about their energy abilities and the beach. With all of the natural energy at the beach, are the twins absorbing that energy and effectively recharging at the shore?

The question took me by surprise, but I have to admit, it makes perfect sense. So, while I won’t make a big deal of it on the pages of the story, consider that the twins can absorb beach energy. That makes it a super-special place to visit.

What’s your happy place?

Thank you for sharing this with us, Valona, and good luck with Candle with Care, the latest book in the Magic Candle Shop mystery series. Readers can learn more about Valona Jones by visiting the author’s website and. her Facebook, Bookbub and Goodreads pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

 Amazon Kindle – Apple – Kobo 

About Valona Jones: Valona Jones, aka Maggie Toussaint, writes paranormal cozies set in coastal Georgia. Her latest release, CANDLE WITH CARE, book 4 in the A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, came out on February 11. 2025. Under the name of Maggie Toussaint, she also publishes cozy mysteries and romantic suspense. Her pen name for a three-book science fiction ecothriller is Rigel Carson. In total, she has published 29 works of fiction and won multiple awards. She lives in coastal Georgia, where time and tide wait for no one. 

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

Death at the Scottis Broch

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Mia Reid is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Death at the Scottish Broch, the first novel in the Mia Reid, Archaeologist, mystery series.

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

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

Hi, I’m Mia Reid, an archaeologist. Death at the Scottish Broch, A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery is the first book in a series. My writer has plans to keep me busy with a couple of more stories in the near future. The series will focus on my work as an archaeologist and apparently, there will be a mystery to solve in each book. My writer hasn’t told me what’s going to happen in the upcoming books. But I have a few ideas of where I’d like to see it go.

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

I’d say it’s a collaboration. My writer begins with a plan about how the story is going to play out. I like to point out some changes now and then. To date, we’ve been able to work well together.

How did you evolve as the main character?

At the beginning of the story, I’m at a crossroads career wise. Before leaving for the dig, I learn there’s only one position at the university where I’m currently teaching, and I might not be in line for it. I have to look at other options. During the story, I learn that I’m a lot stronger emotionally than I thought I was. An ex shows up. He’s working for Interpol, and I’m able to set aside my feelings and work with him. Career wise, there’s a pleasant surprise toward the end of the story.

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

Yes, there’s several. First off, my Gran. She’s been my steadying influence for as long as I can remember, and she’s just a phone call away. She’s a terrific listener. My best friend, Alex Bennett, is another mainstay in my life. We’ve shared a lot together, and she isn’t afraid to tell me the truth.

And then there’s Luke Forbes. He’s the ex I mentioned earlier. We had dated exclusively in grad school, and I thought we were on our way to making it a permanent relationship. But that didn’t happen. When he went back to England, I didn’t hear from him again. We’ve talked about the past and sorted through the uncomfortable emotions and can work together to solve the mystery in this story.

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

It starts out in Lakeview City, Ontario’s capital. It’s a bustling city with pockets of neighborhoods that are unique. The people are friendly and there’s a lot to do from walking along the lakeside, excellent restaurants, watching sports team, to attending the theater. I’m wrapping up my term as university professor and getting ready to go on a dig to the Isle of Skye with my good friend and colleague, Ethan Carter. Lakeview’s been home for me all my life. My Gran lives close by, and my best friend Alex lives in the same building as I do. Mom and Dad use Lakeview as home base when they’re back from their digs and archaeology work.

The dig I’m working on this summer is on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland. It’s truly a magical place. Mountains, the sea, waterfalls, charming villages, and lots of intrigue.

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

I’ve been told it’s a well-written, fast-paced story with several twists and turns and plenty of suspects. There’s enough information about archaeology to make the story interesting and entertaining. And if readers enjoy cozy mysteries with a strong sense of place and compelling characters, this is a must read.

Having been in the story, I can agree with those comments. There were times I thought my writer was pushing my limits, especially when the students were involved.

I can’t wait to learn what my writer has planned for me in the next book.

Thank you for answering my questions, Mia, and good luck to you and your author, Rose Kerr, with Death at the Scottish Broch, the first book in the Mia Reid, archaeologist, mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Mia and her author, Rose Kerr by visiting the author’s Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram and Pinterest pages.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon US  – Amazon Canada – Barnes and Noble – Kobo

About Rose Kerr: Rose writes cozy mysteries featuring strong, smart, women protagonists who must draw on their wits and resourcefulness to solve the crime.

Rose was born in a small community in Nova Scotia and has traveled across Canada.

More recently, Rose and her husband have moved to Southern Ontario. When she isn’t writing, Rose and her husband enjoy exploring the new region.

Posted in Archives, February 2025 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Wheels & Dirty Deals

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Mitzy Moon from Wheels & Dirty Deals, the latest novel in the Harper & Moon Investigation mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Mitzy.

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 currently working on the Wheels and Dirty Deals case, which is part of the Harper and Moon Investigations caseload. After several years as a broke barista in Sedona, Arizona, imagine my shock and disbelief when a frumpy man with an unbelievably enormous mustache showed up at the door of my should-be-condemned studio apartment, and handed me a manila envelope containing more hope than I ever dared wish for. After a lengthy journey, on a bus bursting with unpleasant odors, I landed in almost-Canada, and the moment I stepped onto the curb in Pin Cherry Harbor — my drab sepia-tone world exploded into Technicolor. I love it here! Learning more about my psychic abilities and using those powers to solve murders is the best. Plus, now I get to work with my handsome hubby . . . well, for a few more months, anyway.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too? I’m sure the writer thinks she controls everything, but I’m kinda my own person. Every day starts with coffee, but before I can get to my precious java I have to deal with Pyewacket. I inherited a half wild caracal from my grandmother and this fiendish feline runs my life! When he’s not demanding food, he’s head butting his way into my cases. Thing is, he comes up with unbelievable clues! Don’t tell him, though. To be fair, my day doesn’t truly start until I tuck into my favorite breakfast at the local diner. A girl can’t solve cases on an empty stomach.

How did you evolve as the main character? Um, I think I was always the main character. My adventures started in the Mitzy Moon Mysteries series. You probably can’t have that without me. I’ve grown into my powers since that first crazy case — Fries and Alibis. Now, I feel more in control of the psychic stuff, but my mentor is always blowing me out of the water with his crazy alchemy knowledge.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them? I pretty much love the whole town of Pin Cherry Harbor. I suppose I spend the most time with my husband and the former sheriff, Erick Harper. We have great chemistry — for solving cases; I mean. Well, with a lot of stuff. Yikes! Time to change the subject before I get in over my head. Don’t get me started on Ghost-ma. She’s a boon and a curse (some days!) Grams is my biggest cheerleader, but she also pushes her way into every corner of my life. I mean, I love her, but how often does a gal need to wear heels to solve a murder? Oh, I better not forget Pyewacket. If my fiendish caracal finds out I was blabbing about my life and didn’t mention his royal furriness — well, there’ll be no living with him.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story? Oh boy! On this case, I have to go undercover in a roller derby league! If you know anything about me, you know I’m an absolute klutz. All I can say is, I hope Silas Willoughby (my alchemy mentor) has a trick up his sleeve. Otherwise, I’m a goner.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book? I’m a pretty simple gal. My happiness is hard won and I won’t let anything jeopardize it. One thing matters most to me . . .  Family. The one thing I didn’t have growing up has become the thing that sustains me. Having a “found family” has opened me up to all sorts of new experiences. Trust. Friendship. Healing. Love. That last one was the hardest. It took me a long time to embrace love after devastating loss. Pin Cherry Harbor truly is my happy ending.

Thank you for answering my questions, Mitzy, and good luck to you and your author, Trixie Silvertale with Wheels & Dirty Deals, the latest book in the Harper & Moon Investigation mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Mitzy and her author, Trixie Silvertale by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram, BookBub and Patreon pages.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About Trixie Silvertale: USA TODAY Bestselling author Trixie Silvertale grew up reading an endless supply of Lilian Jackson Braun, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew novels. She loves the amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries and obsesses about all things paranormal. Those two passions unite in her Mitzy Moon Mysteries and Harper and Moon Investigations, and she’s thrilled to write them and share them with you.

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

Soft Serve Sleighing

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Dianne Ascroft

Dani Delaney is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Soft Serve Sleighing, the latest novel in the Coffee & Cream Cafe mystery series.

Welcome, Dani. 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. Soft Serve Sleighing is the fifth book in the Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series, which take place in the small town of Watchogue on Eastern Long Island’s south shore. At this point, things are looking up for my café. At least, they were until recently. When a blizzard hit town, I was looking forward to a snow day with my friends. Unfortunately, it was interrupted by a popular YouTuber and her friends searching for somewhere to eat. Out of the goodness of my heart, and a good way to put off shoveling, I let them in for breakfast even though I was closed. And what did that good deed get me? An extortion attempt.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too? Oh, I definitely get a say. If Lena starts to go off course, I harass her until she gets herself together and goes back to fix whatever she got wrong, even if it keeps her up all night long.

How did you evolve as the main character? I have definitely grown throughout the series. Not only have I become more independent since moving back home from New York, but I’ve finally found happiness. I’m even starting to discover the ability to trust again.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them? I love sharing my stories with Uncle Jimmie, who trusted me enough to ask me to run his business so he could retire, even though he spends as much time in the café now as he did when he was running it. My best friend Gwen is amazing and always has my back, no matter how much trouble I drag her into. And Eli, my new barista, is not only adorable but one of my best friends and a ton of fun. And then there’s Detective Dreamy…

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story? I find myself in a very content place in this story. At least, until Brynleigh tries to extort money from me in exchange for a good review. And even that might have been okay, if I didn’t stumble over her body the very next morning. Now, I’m in a bit of a mess. And to top it all off, Detective Jake Barlow hits me with a doozy (as Uncle Jimmie would say).

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book? I would just like to say, if you decide to give Soft Serve Sleighing a chance, I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you so much for having me!

You’re welcome, Dani, and good luck to you and your author, Lena Gregory, with Soft Serve Sleighing, the latest book in the Coffee & Cream Cafe mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Sugar and her author, Lena Gregory by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads and Pinterest pages. Readers can also follow her on Twitter/X.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon    B&N    Kobo

About Lena Gregory: Lena is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

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