Deep Green Envy (Deep Lakes Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Wisconsin
3rd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ten16 Press (September 21, 2021)

Synopsis

Summer in Deep Lakes sprouts a homegrown murder on the O’Connor farm. Frankie Champagne’s hunt for clues lands her deep in sheep doo-doo, especially after rare stones surface in unexpected places. Crime-solving is no picnic for the baker/vintner as she hops from farm to field to bakery, trying to keep up with the tourist season and track a killer, too.

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Guest Post

Finding the Recipe for my Wisconsin Mystery series

by Joy Ann Ribar

I’ve spent my life in Wisconsin, so when the Muse showed up under the cover of night, I wasn’t surprised to find her wrapped in fleece, dripping with lake water, toting a glass of fruity wine in one hand and a basket of pastries in the other. Hence, the town of Deep Lakes was born and the Bubble & Bake shop sprouted in its downtown. Once I visualized my feisty red-haired main character to run the bakery-by-day, wine-lounge-by-night, I knew she needed a name to live up to her business.  Francine “Frankie” Champagne popped like a cork from my sleepless dreams, and I began writing her story the next day.

It turns out that my Muse is a clever thief since she largely borrowed from my life experiences as the foundation of the Deep Lakes Cozy Mystery series.  For instance:

I have been surrounded by and influenced by water since I was born. I grew up on the Fox River with many lakes just outside my backyard. I lived in and on the river: it was my swimming hole where I conjured imaginary characters on houseboats and underwater mermaid kingdoms, and it was my frozen playground where I dreamt of being an Olympic figure skater. The river provided my education in fishing and paddling a boat, too.

I learned my way around the kitchen beginning as a toddler, underfoot of my busy mother who was trying to keep a family of eight fed. She endured me as best she could by keeping me busy. My dad had a whale-sized sweet tooth, so Mom baked nearly every day. My baking life was cultivated first by fetching the basics used in every pastry, then in learning to measure ingredients, and finally in mixing, rolling, and cutting out dough. Once I mastered simple cake and cookie recipes, I developed an appetite for baking that cannot be satisfied.  I love to experiment with recipes and conjure variations. There’s nothing like the smell of baking cookies and bread that fills the whole house with unconditional love.

I first learned about wine when my parents threw a German Wine Club party. Since I was 17 at the time, I was allowed to attend. The sommelier brought German vintages and taught us about grape varieties, the regions in Germany where grapes are cultivated, how to determine the nose of the wine, and how to artfully taste it.  I was intrigued, but much was forgotten while I attended college, then became a working mother of three.  But Wisconsin, known for its agricultural pursuits, began cultivating cold climate grapes in the 1980s, and a number of small Mom and Pop wineries sprouted.  In the past ten years, the state has grown in wine production to number 19 in the U.S. with over 100 wineries. Since a trip to Napa Valley or France wasn’t on my agenda, my husband and I, along with a group of friends, started wine touring and tasting across the region.  Soon, my love for wines returned, as did my love of learning about cultivation and vinification. I still embrace wine tasting and wine making in the name of research for Frankie Champagne!

Wisconsin is a humble state that celebrates its four distinct seasons without boastful fanfare. Instead, my Badger State spreads its arms wide and welcomes anyone to join in its homegrown events. Winter, with its deep freeze and mountains of snow, welcomes you to stay cozy at a snowmobile derby or poker run, ice fishing shack, or the very brave can jump in Lake Michigan for the annual Polar Plunge. Spring brings out some of the best in our citizens as the ground thaws and nature puts on her colorful finery. If you visit Wisconsin in spring, you’ll find friendly people everywhere willing to share the best fishing advice, trails for walking or biking, and supper clubs with delicious fish frys. Every summer weekend is jam-packed with festivals, fairs and farm markets as the full bounty of the Dairy State is on display for locals and visitors alike. Eat cream puffs, cheese curds, deep fried pickles, giant pretzels with cheese dip, and imbibe in numerous varieties of micro-brewed beers.In the fall, most sports fans partake in some form of tailgate party before a Badger or Packer football game, and it doesn’t matter if you root for the opposition, you can eat brats and drink beer with Wisconsinites as long as you don’t get too opinionated. I travel all over the country and people tell me Wisconsin is one of the friendliest states around.  I call us the Golden Retriever of the 50 states:  we just want to make everyone happy and hope to be shown a little love in return.

As for the mystery genre:  I thank the Trixie Belden and Bobbsey Twins series that introduced me to both mystery solving by amateur sleuths, as well as the pure pleasure of escaping to other parts of the world where my young self was hungry to go.  My love of mysteries continued throughout my adult life, and I couldn’t imagine offering another genre to readers, who devour the art of hunting clues, unraveling puzzles, observing characters, and inhabiting small towns with friendly people and enticing secrets.  Cheers to you readers who make room in your mystery devotion and bookshelves for an infinite number of authors!  I’m grateful to have a home in your reading life.

“Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of cares.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

About the Author

Joy Ann Ribar lives in central Wisconsin with her business partner-husband, John. She writes the Deep Lakes Mystery Series, starring baker/vinter and all-around spitfire, Frankie Champagne. Joy’s writing is inspired by Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons and local flavors, which she hopes to promote for all to enjoy.

Joy is a member of Sisters in Crime, Midwest Independent Booksellers, and Wisconsin Writers Association.  She enjoys researching viticulture at area wineries, birding, hiking, and chatting with readers.  Joy and her husband, John, someday plan to sell their house, buy an RV and travel around the U.S. spreading good cheer and hygge! Joy is a little proud to have two bestsellers with Orange Hat Publishing: Deep Dark Secrets(2019) and Deep Bitter Roots(2020), under the Ten16 Press imprint of Orange Hat.

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