Synopsis

The Agatha Award–winning author of Pressing the Issue returns to the Cookbook Nook, where Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer . . .

The holidays are Jenna Hart’s favorite time of year, but just as she’s decorating the Cookbook Nook for all the festive events, her imperious older sister makes a surprise visit, anxious that her husband’s been more naughty than nice. To make matters worse, her father’s good friend Jake shows up on her doorstep with a frantic report that his friend has been murdered—trussed with Christmas lights and impaled with a tree star.

Worried that Jake was the intended victim, Jenna makes a list of suspects and checks it twice. Swapping her Santa’s hat for a sleuthing cap, she gets busy investigating Jake’s long-lost sister, his Grinch of a neighbor, and a stamp collector who covets Jake’s most treasured piece. When Jake himself is poisoned and nearly dies, Jenna knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to corner the culprit before it’s lights out for Jake . . .

Includes tantalizing holiday recipes!

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Read an Excerpt here

About the Author

Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber writes the French Bistro Mysteries as well as the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries.  As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense which include the titles DAY OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

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Murder in Her Stocking (A Granny Reid Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

As the Moonlight Magnolia Agency revisits old memories on Christmas Eve, Granny Reid takes the reins back thirty years to the 1980s—back when she went by Stella, everyone’s hair was bigger, and sweaters were colorful disasters. But murder never went out of style . . .

Christmas has arrived in sleepy McGill, Georgia, but holiday cheer can’t keep temperamental Stella Reid from swinging a rolling pin at anyone who crosses her bad side—and this season, there are plenty. First an anonymous grinch vandalizes a celebrated nativity display. Far worse, the scandalous Prissy Carr is found dead in an alley behind a tavern. With police puzzled over the murder, Stella decides to stir the local gossip pot for clues on the culprit’s identity . . .

Turns out Prissy held a prominent spot on the naughty list, and suspects pile up like presents on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, the more progress Stella makes, the more fears she must confront. With a neighbor in peril and the futures of her beloved grandchildren at risk, Stella must somehow set everything straight and bring a cunning criminal to justice before December 25th . . .

Guest Post

The Frosting on the Cake by G. A. McKevett

Like many professional storytellers, I was raised in an environment rich with the sharing of family lore. Not all of it was sparkling or even repeatable in polite company, but it was entertaining, nevertheless.

One of the more prolific yarn spinners in my immediate circle was my father. Sunday afternoons, over an early dinner, he would tell and re-tell his life stories, many of which centered around the time he spent as a soldier in WWII.

“Squeaky and the Coconut Cake” was one of my personal favorites, and I’d like to share it with you now.

My father was a marine, stationed for a while in the Philippines, in a tent camp in the jungle. When the war finally ended, he returned home to southern Missouri, to his newly-widowed mother and younger sisters.

He brought with him a tiny monkey he had adopted, known as Squeaky, named after the little sounds he continually made whether he was happy and contented or wanting something—usually a food treat. He was so small that my father could tuck him into the front pocket of his shirt and button the flap, where Squeaky often took naps, close to the warmth of his “dad’s” chest.

The first Sunday after Dad’s return, my Grandma Cora Bell insisted that her non-church-attending son go to services with her and his sisters. Reluctantly, he did.

In celebration of his safe return from the war, Grandma had baked one of her delicious, moist, made from scratch, coconut cakes. It was a thing of beauty, which she placed in the center of the table before the family left. Everyone was looking forward to enjoying a generous slice of it, along with a pot of fresh, hot coffee, when they returned. But, alas, it was not to be.

While they were gone, the highly intelligent and ever-resourceful Squeaky, angry that he had been left behind, managed to escape from his cage.

The family returned to carnage.

They walked into the kitchen to find the usually immaculate room in chaos. Not only were flour and sugar bags torn open and their contents scattered, utensils pulled from cupboards and lying on the floor, and some dishes broken…but every single surface, both horizontal and vertical, in the entire room was covered with a thin coat of white stickiness.

Yes, coconut frosting. (My father would later say that he even scrubbed it off the top of the refrigerator and from the insides of the cupboard doors.)

It didn’t take long to find Squeaky. He was a gleeful little fellow. Sitting in the middle of the mangled cake. Casually licking coconut frosting from between his toes.

About the Author

G.A. McKevett is the author of the acclaimed Savannah Reid mystery series. Also writing under the name Sonja Massie, she has authored over 60 books ranging from cozy mysteries to historical romances, to nonfiction works on the history of Ireland. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature. Irish by ancestry, she has lived in Toronto, Ireland, and Los Angeles, but now resides in New York.

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Thread Herrings (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Angie’s first auction may turn out to be her last—when she bids on a coat of arms that someone would literally kill to possess . . .

Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antiques shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms.

Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker’s invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one going, going . . . gone . . .

Excerpt

“What about this one?” I asked, passing several oil paintings and pointing to another large needlework. “It looks like a coat of arms.”

“It does. Although about a third of the stitching is gone. I wonder if it was done here, or in England? Stitching coats of arms was more common there. Americans didn’t have family crests or coats of arms.”

The coat of arms was in poor condition. The glass protecting it was cracked, and dirt had sifted onto the embroidery. Threads were broken or missing in several places, so only part of the crest was clear, and the linen backing was torn in several places. Still, it fascinated me.

“Is that an eagle?” I said, trying to make sense of what might have been part of a bird on the crest.

Sarah shook her head. “I’m not interested in it. No one wants someone else’s coat of arms, and that one isn’t in good enough condition to sell, anyway.”

“It could be repaired,” I suggested. “Gram is pretty good at that.” I kept looking at the crest, wondering who’d stitched it, and when. Who’d been proud of a heritage that included a coat of arms? The other embroideries were from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. I wasn’t an expert on American history, but I knew not a lot of Americans had bragged about their connections to nobility—especially English nobility—right after the American Revolution.

Or maybe the coat of arms was from another country? I didn’t know enough to guess.

“Why bother trying to repair it?” Sarah asked. “It’s not beautiful. It’s in poor condition. Its only value might have been to the person it represented, and, if it’s here, no one in his family wanted it.”

“But don’t coats of arms belong to families?” I asked.

“They were awarded to individuals, not families,” Sarah corrected. “Embroidered coats of arms originally were worn over armor, so knights could be identified when they were in competitions or battles.” She glanced at the embroidery in front of us. “I don’t see any identifying name, either of the owner or the woman who stitched it. In any case, I need to look at the other lots.” She made a couple of notes on her catalog. “I’ll bid on the four other samplers,” she said softly to me. “I’ll have to think about how high to go. That last sampler may be a budget-killer.”

“You go ahead. I’m going to wander and see what else is here,” I said.

Sarah headed for the cases of china, which had no interest for me.

I took one more look at the coat of arms. I couldn’t say exactly why, but it fascinated me.

About the Author

Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth-generation antique dealer and the author of the Agatha-nominated Antique Print Mystery series, she loves all things antiques and Maine. She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine.

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Synopsis

Callie Reed makes a long overdue visit to her aunt Melodie, who lives in a fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, home to a bevy of unique collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Just as they’re beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt’s body on the floor of her music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can’t accept Melodie’s death being called accidental. How could her strong and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was she there in the middle of the night?

As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn’t careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie’s collection.

Review

I borrowed this book from the library since I have the 2nd book on my Kindle. I love cozies and this one was just a little different from what I am used to reading but not in a bad way at all. Someone dies but no one except Callie thinks that foul play might be involved. This sets up an interesting plot line and a variety of characters and a quaint shopping town with unique shop names.

I enjoyed getting to know the various people in the town and there are several “not so nice” characters but even then, those characters add depth to the story and the history of the town and relationships they had with Callie’s Aunt Melodie (the one who dies).

I did figure out who the killer was but not by any overt clues. I think it was just that the number of possibilities was limited in my mind and this character seemed the most logical.

I can’t wait to read the next book and take another visit to this Eastern town.

We give it 4 paws up

A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 23, 2018)
Paperback: 236 pages

Synopsis

While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.

Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.

Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?

About the Author

In 2008, Joanne took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

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Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Self Published
Paperback: 278 pages

Synopsis

A hostile town. A mountaintop mission. Will their magic save the day or spoil the pudding?

Imogen thought escaping the king’s wrath would give her everything she wanted. But her relationship with Prince Hank is tougher than an overcooked flan and the welcome they get on Badlands Island is far less than friendly. Accused of kidnapping, Imogen proposes they prove their worth by traveling through a deadly forest to retrieve a magical herb at the top of a mountain…

Forced to take her baking skills on the road, Imogen and her friends must navigate monsters, secrets, and a possible traitor. And the little matter of the impending typhoon is seriously compressing their timeline…

With the storm and creatures closing in, can Imogen complete the quest or will her next meal be her last?

Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts in the seventh book in the Spells & Caramels series of paranormal cozy mysteries. If you like amateur witch sleuths, unbreakable friendships, and fascinating magical creatures, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s page-turning adventure.

Buy Due East, Beasts & Campfire Feasts to battle a mountain of monsters today!

Review

There is something about this series that has drawn me into its fantasy world.  From vampires to witches, to beasts, all have captured my attention and won’t let go!

This book is a little more serious than some of the previous books.  Or at least it seems that way to me.  But not serious in a bad way, perhaps the situation just seems more intense than past events.  However, that didn’t deter me from being caught up in the characters, the mystery, and even the romance between various characters.  I am always amazed at authors that can create these fantasy worlds and continue to expand upon them and create new situations that don’t repeat.

This book picks right up where #6 left off and we get a peek into the Badlands which maybe aren’t so bad after all considering what we have learned about Hank’s father and what he has done in the past.  Imogen and the gang have to prove they are not like all the others but without their magic.  This is not necessarily a good thing because they cannot protect themselves.  There are some tense moments for everyone but also many comical moments.  I laugh when Imogen references things from the human world and no one has any idea what she is talking about.  I like that all of the characters have their flaws and no one is perfect.  This allows the reader to relate to them, even if their world is magical.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh.

In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

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Death, Diamonds, and Freezer Burn (Grime Pays Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Soul Mate Publishing, Inc.
Release Date – October 24, 2018

Synopsis

An unwelcome visitor, an unrequited love, and a dead body create chaos in a middle-aged woman’s plan for a productive summer.

Despite a looming divorce, an empty checkbook, and a struggling cleaning business, Cece Cavanaugh is determined to land on her own two feet. Adamant about staying a safe distance from the handsome detective who has her fantasizing about violating the morals clause in her prenuptial agreement, Cece dives headlong into her work.

Even though she has no free time to spare, Cece finds herself guilted into cleaning a hoarder’s home. Her discoveries in the condemned house are too shocking to ignore. Diamond-laden pachyderms, a secret cache of money, and a dead body lure Cece into launching an investigation that places her in direct contact with the one person she’s desperate to avoid–hunky Detective Case Alder.

With clues in hand, Cece runs down leads and eliminates suspects one by one. Her conclusion and brave accusation put a friend’s life in peril forcing Cece to hatch a plan to outsmart the killer. A daring move could either save Cece and her friend or lead to their demise.

Review

Entertaining with laugh out loud moments and some interesting twists in the second book of this series.

Lots of things I like about this book/series – an older protagonist that seems to be ok doing whatever it takes to keep herself afloat considering the soon to be ex left her with nothing (he cleaned out the bank accounts when he moved out and hadn’t made house payments in 6 months). Her children are a mix of supportive and spoiled so it is a good balance. She has a housekeeper, Beatrice, (paid for by the MIL Hazel) that doesn’t like the MIL so she creates stories to protect CeCe and to stick it to Hazel. I think that cracks me up the most, Beatrice trying to come up with stories to rattle Hazel but not so bad that they would hurt CeCe. And the final cherry is CeCe gaining a roommate of sorts. Nancy, the gum-smacking receptionist from CeCe’s first job has lost her home and needs a place to stay, so she ingratiates herself into CeCe’s house and life. Nancy is very annoying but turns out she has some positive attributes, it just takes a while to find them.

The mystery itself has multiple moving parts – a dead body is found in a freezer, diamonds are discovered in an unlikely place, and not everyone is who they seem to be. While I did figure out part of the mystery, the story still kept me guessing and the ending was quite the surprise.

I do think that CeCe needs to be a bit stronger. She should have changed the locks when Phillip moved out and she should never have signed a prenup with a morals clause that was all one-sided (thanks to Witch Hazel!). But she is learning from her mistakes and turning things around. She just has to keep the two men interested in her at bay until the divorce is final.

I can’t wait for the third book so I can see how things progress for everyone.

We give it 4 1/2 paws

About the Author

Tricia L. Sanders writes about women with class, sass, and a touch of kickass.  A former instructional designer and corporate trainer, she traded in curriculum writing for novel writing, because she hates bullet points and loves to make stuff up. And fiction is more fun than training guides and lesson plans.

When she isn’t writing, Tricia is busy crossing dreams off her bucket list. With all 50 states checked, she’s concentrating on foreign interests. She’s an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, so don’t get between her and the television when a game is on. Currently, she is working on a mystery series set in the fictional town of Wickford, Missouri. Another project in the works is a women’s fiction road trip adventure.

Her essays have appeared in Sasee, ByLine, The Cuivre River Anthology and Great American Outhouse Stories; The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt. She is a proud member of The Lit Ladies, six women writing their truths into fiction.

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Drop Dead Ornaments (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Self Published
Print Length: 209 pages

Synopsis

Anastasia Pollack’s son Alex is dating Sophie Lambert, the new kid in town. For their community service project, the high school seniors have chosen to raise money for the county food bank. Anastasia taps her craft industry contacts to donate materials for the students to make Christmas ornaments they’ll sell at the town’s annual Holiday Crafts Fair.

At the fair Anastasia meets Sophie’s father, Shane Lambert, who strikes her as a man with secrets. She also notices a woman eavesdropping on their conversation. Later that evening when the woman turns up dead, Sophie’s father is arrested for her murder.

Alex and Sophie beg Anastasia to find the real killer, but Anastasia has had her fill of dead bodies. She’s also not convinced of Shane’s innocence. Besides, she’s promised younger son Nick she’ll stop risking her life. But how can she say no to Alex?

Guest Post

The Difference Between Cupcakes and Crafts

I write the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. As the name suggests, this is a craft-themed mystery series. Anastasia is the crafts editor at a women’s magazine. After the untimely death of her husband in Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, she finds herself, thanks to her husband’s well-hidden gambling addiction, trying to stay one step ahead of the bill collectors, her husband’s bookie, and the detectives who think she murdered the magazine’s fashion editor. Throughout the series, as Anastasia works to whittle down massive debt and keep from having to move her family into a cardboard box on the street, she also finds herself dealing with dead bodies on a fairly regular basis.

Crafting mysteries often include craft projects, just as culinary mysteries often include recipes. The big difference between the two sub-genres is that the crafting mystery author is limited in the type of crafts she can include. Recipes don’t need patterns, but many craft projects often require them. Patterns don’t work in e-books and print novels. So in my series I have to come up with craft projects that can be made by only following written directions. I also want projects that are easy enough for even the most novice crafter.

In Drop Dead Ornaments, the seventh book in the series, I feature Christmas ornaments that anyone can make, even someone who doesn’t know the difference between a fishhook and a crochet hook. These are no-talent-required projects that use easy-to-find supplies available at any craft or fabric store and many big box stores or online. They also take very little time to make. Here’s one of them:

Metallic Braid Ornament

Materials

Clear glass ball ornament*

5-yds. 5mm braided metallic cording (choose silver, gold, or 2-toned combination colors such as red/gold or black/silver)

9”-12” of 1/4”-1/2” wide satin or grosgrain ribbon in a complementary color

Note: If you can’t find 5mm braid, you can substitute a different diameter. You’ll need less braid for a thicker diameter and more for a thinner diameter braid. You can also substitute yarn, twine, thin braid, or a thin strip of fabric for the ribbon used for the hanging loop.

Directions

Carefully remove the metal cap from the glass ball. Feed the metallic braid through the opening into the ornament. Reattach the metal cap. Tie the ribbon through the loop for hanging.

* This is a great project to make with kids, but depending on their age, you might want to substitute clear plastic ball ornaments for the glass ball ornaments.

About The Author

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.

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Synopsis

It’s peak tourist season in Oriole Point, Michigan–the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt. Nothing draws the crowds quite like their annual carnival. And nothing turns it sour faster than murder . . .

The Blueberry Blow Out festival has begun and it’s time for Marlee Jacob, owner of The Berry Basket, to shine. Unfortunately it’s also bringing out the worst in her fiance Ryan Zeller. Ryan’s rivalry with Porter Gale, owner of Blueberry Hill Farm, spills over into a very public and very ugly fight. And after they compete in the pie-eating contest and a raucous tug of war, their orchard blood feud takes a deadly turn . . .

The death of the king of Blueberry Hill is a shock but not too surprising–he was a diabetic whose last pig out meal was deliciously fatal. But when authorities discover that someone tampered with Porter’s insulin, a tragic accident is looking like murder–and Ryan is the key ingredient. Now Marlee’s investigation to clear his name is taking her deep into the Gale family secrets, and she’s being shadowed every step of the way by a killer whose sweet revenge is just beginning . . .
Includes Berry Recipes!

Review

Welcome back to Oriole Point, Michigan–the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt and where murder could happen to the most unlikely citizens.

This is the third in the series and just as enjoyable as the first two. All the usual characters are back with a few new faces.

A lot more happens in this book then just solving a murder (or two). There is also Marlee’s relationship with her fiance Ryan. She has had doubts all along but red flags keep flying high and she seriously reconsiders continuing her relationship with him. This is not a bad thing because if I saw all those red flags I would be questioning my relationship with him too.

The victim in this book is Porter, the owner of Blueberry Hill. His farm is a direct competitor to Ryan’s so many thing that happen are not unexpected as it seems likely that Ryan could be involved in the murder. There are some other factors that come into play that also tie into Marlee’s apprehension in marrying him. Because of her natural inclination to investigate, Marlee finds herself knee deep in clues, killers and blueberries. Her sidekick is Natasha, a former Russian pageant contestant. I will say that Natasha doesn’t have all of our slang down and there were several times I burst out laughing at her phraseology such as “shark” shooter instead of sharp shooter.

There are quite a few surprise twists in the story and not everyone is who they appear. There are a few clues in the book but to me these clues were more musings than clues so I didn’t read more into them, but I should have but I wouldn’t have know the “why” behind the killer’s actions until the end when all was revealed.

We give this 4 paws up.  If you like cozies, berries, and murder then check out this series.

About the Author

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award winning author Sharon Pisacreta. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sharon has been a freelance writer since her twenties. Published in mystery, fantasy, and romance, Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series, which debuted October 2016 with Dying For Strawberries. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

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The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (January 24, 2018)
Paperback: 268 pages

Synopsis

Killer songs and a killer voice, but a killer at her gig?

Vy has always found herself at the center of attention as the lead singer for one of Miami’s top cover bands, but when she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, while performing at the Steel Horse Bar, that changes the tune of the night. Someone believes that Vy knows the truth behind the murder of the bar owner Ricky, and now that person is after her. Vy better figure out quickly who wanted Ricky dead, who is threatening her with her favorite band’s song lyrics, and why she’s falling for the handsome Detective Houston, before she too sings her last note. With a mixture of mystery, mayhem and comedy, you will find yourself immersed in Vy’s musical and murderous world.

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Guest Post

I have been asked a lot recently, What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?

And my answer will always remain the same, the best advice I can give is to not give up.  Do not give up on not just writing, or what your goals are, but in yourself overall.  Discouragement started in my musical career.  Granted, I was 17 years old, and I was still trying to figure out who I was.  At that time, being signed to an independent, music label, was a dream come true.  So many promises, yet nothing had transpired, so yes, it was only a dream.  I blame myself, only because I relied solely on my producer, instead of learning.  Again, I was only 17, but the upside was, after that disappointment, I grew up quickly.  So I wrote more songs, and self-produced my second record, Little Box of Secrets.  Mind you, I did not become the next Madonna, as I had hoped, but I did make a name for myself, locally (Miami, FL).

My creative journey continues to my first cozy mystery novel, The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery.  This story is very much entwined with my musical path.  Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. It all started with my sister buying me my first cozy mystery book by Joanne Fluke.  My sister and I are similar in the fact that we buy wine based on the label.  It just so happens she bought the book based on the cover.  It had a teddy bear on the cover, it mentioned murder, and recipes.  Needless to say, I ended up reading her entire series.  Then, I expanded to different cozy authors for more reading material.  The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper.  I meet very interesting people at my gigs, and so my friendship with a homicide detective ensued.  Later on, he not only became my ‘how to get rid of a person on paper’ guru, but also became my drummer for my band.  I began writing this first novel in 2009. In between my full-time job, my weekend gigs, and my personal life, I finally completed the novel. The phobia’s, the dream sequences, and the quirkiness of the main characters, are all based on facts.   I received so many rejection letters, that I was on the verge of not sending out any more query letters.  Then, I attended a book signing for one of my favorite authors.  Fortunately for me, and unfortunately for her, I was the only person that attended the signing.  I was able to sit with her for an hour and talk to her about my novel and the hardships.  And I finally asked for her advice.  She said to me, “give yourself a deadline of a year before you resort to self-publishing. Do not give up just yet.”  So, when I left that signing, I calendared a year from that date (I have to calendar everything.  And not on my cellphone, but an actual physical planner).

Six months had passed, and I was still receiving rejection letters.  One day, as I was working out (it’s the responsible thing to do after you have eaten two mini bags of skittles), I had received an e-mail alert on my phone.  I saw a brief caption, and it was from a publisher.  I automatically assumed it was another turn-down email, so I proceeded to stretch, do a thousand more crunches, and sweat out the last of the purple skittle that I ate that afternoon.  When I was walking back to my car, I decided to be one of those people who distract themselves by being on their cell phone and avoid running into phone poles, and I checked my e-mail.  The e-mail from thepublisher, it was not a rejection e-mail but a ‘if you make these changes’ e-mail, we will consider signing you on.  Needless to say, I ran to my car and called my sister to tell her the great news.  And so, I started making the said changes, and all of a sudden, a hurricane was on its way to Miami.  It just so happens, the hurricane was heading directly towards my vicinity.  So, I needed to evacuate and head to a safe location.  Miami lost power, phone contact, and the internet for about ten days.  Needless to say, I was panicking because, a. I couldn’t complete the changes to my novel, b. I couldn’t contact the publisher to tell them that I would be delayed in turning in my changes because of the hurricane, and c. we were not given a set date when the power would return.  When communication returned, the first thing I did was inform the publisher, then I completed the changes requested, which totaled 5000 changes.  It felt surreal the moment I clicked on ‘SEND.’  I stared at my sent screen for about two minutes to make sure that I had sent my finalized novel to my, at the time, potential publisher.  Two days later, I received an e-mail welcoming me to the family.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.

So, what I am trying to say with this post, do not give up.  Give yourself a deadline, and send out as many query letters as you can.  There will be one publisher that will believe in your work, but make sure that you believe in your work first.

About the Author

The Last Note’s main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, as well as the lead singer to a self-proclaimed cover band. All things relating to music or literature are my passion. I keep a journal, and I am constantly writing poems, stories, and any thought that comes to mind. I have a fascination for black and white films, that have the element of mystery. As I have been told by many, I have a very creative imagination.

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