Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Guest Post, mystery on September 22, 2018

Shattered at Sea (A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Kensington (August 28, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

A Mediterranean cruise gives glass shop owner Savannah Webb a chance to demonstrate her expertise—and fire up her skills when it comes to foul play . . .

When Savannah signs on to perform glassblowing on a ship, part of the appeal is that she’ll get a chance to reconnect with her boyfriend Edward’s family. An added bonus is that Edward’s cousin, Ian, will be joining them on board. But when Ian disappears at the beginning of the cruise, the ship’s authorities initially consider it suicide.

Savannah tries to balance her growing suspicions with work on her shows, but her relationship with the other glass artists begins to crack. And she can’t let love color her judgment when Edward suddenly jumps to the top of the suspect list. His fate is in Savannah’s hands, and she’ll do everything she can—on land and sea—to clear his name . . .

Guest Post

Art Inspires Writing – Filling the Well

Writing for me is exhilarating and at the same time draining. I tend to push very hard for several weeks near the deadline before turning a book over to my publisher. That means sixteen-hour days living and breathing in book world. I’ve heard this phase called Book Jail. As a result, I’m a quivering mass of nervous energy and completely empty of words. I have trouble writing the simplest e-mail.

My solution? I walk into a museum. I wander with no set plan or no set time limit. I just let the art wash over me and it begins to recharge my creative energy. For the artist, this is cross training at its most pleasant.

I’m lucky enough to live in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. There are four museums within a dozen blocks. A mere block away is the Chihuly Collection with a permanent exhibit of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s unique artwork in a magnificent setting.

When I’m in the mood for the Chihuly, I want to stay longest the gallery with the stunning installation titled “Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier,” whose red-hot swirls dangle from the ceiling. I also adore the multicolored chandelier known as “Milli Fiore.” After I’ve walked through the museum, I spend some time in the gift shop where items for sale are not the typical selection of cups and postcards.

Along Beach Drive is the Museum of Fine Arts with a large permanent collection of French Impressionist paintings. They also host the Hot Gatherings/Cool Conversations/Wine and Lecture series that feature a touring glass artist. The guest glass artist bring slides of the process used in creating his/her pieces.

Around the corner is the St. Petersburg Museum of History with a permanent interactive exhibition of the chronology of St. Petersburg’s history filled with priceless artifacts, documents and photographs. The Benoist Pavilion houses a replica of the world’s first commercial airliner which made the first scheduled commercial flight from St. Petersburg to Tampa on Jan. 1, 1914.

Finally at the south-end of the downtown area is the world-famous Dali Museum with touring exhibits as well as the largest collection of Dali art outside of Spain. Salvador Dalí’s art is often as shocking as it is brilliant. The Dali museum in downtown St. Pete offers the largest, most comprehensive collection of the famous Spanish artist’s work in America. There are changing and special exhibits throughout the year, including children’s activities, film, music series, lectures and more. I enjoy the Spanish themed Cafe and wander the waterside Avant Garden.

This technique for ‘filling the well’ refreshes my creativity and in little more than an afternoon, I’m ready for the next writing challenge. I highly recommend it.

See more at Visit St Pete Clear Water Museums

About the Author

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks.

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