Patricia Meredith's Blog, page 2
December 7, 2023
Christmas Baking: Egyptian Kahk
Last week, I was joined by fellow readers and BookTubers Kay of Kay’s Hidden Shelf and Andrew of Andrew’s Wizardly Reads as we baked Sugar Cookies!
In 2021, I shared three recipes from three different cookbooks. You can find them here:
In 2022, I shared three more recipes from 19th century cookbooks:
You can also find all my recipe videos in one easy playlist on my YouTube channel. (Be sure to hit that subscribe button while you’re there!)
Join me LIVE at 7:00pm MST (9:00pm EST) on Thursday, Dec 7 or watch later at your leisure!And now, Baba Noël’s Egyptian Kahk !This recipe can be found in the back of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman!
Kertas and I followed the sweet smell of honey and cinnamon to the happily lit outdoor kitchen of the local hotel.
Huddled around the kitchen stove were two small, round individuals that could only be a couple of Santas. Their cheeks were nice and rosy from the mix of cold air and heat coming from the oven. One of them was Père Noël and the other was Baba Noël, who was clearly in the process of teaching an Egyptian recipe to the French Santa.
“Making spirits bright with a little baking?” Kertas asked as we approached.
Both Noëls looked up with a smile as we neared.
…
“Here it is. I knew I’d packed it.” Baba said, waving a wooden press as he returned with Père at his side. “Now we can begin making the filling.”
He set down the press and clapped his hands together, rubbing them in anticipation. “This is my favorite part. So, first, we need to melt the butter. You do that, Père, and I’ll measure the flour. We’ll whisk the flour in the pan once the butter is melted. Then we just remove it from the heat to add the honey and pistachios and sesame seeds. Then back onto the heat, stirring until it thickens, then back off the heat to cool until we can form it into small balls. By then the dough should have rested enough and we’ll be able to start putting it all together.”
Père nodded and turned to the oven.
—From Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
Kahk Dough:
1 T yeast
1 T sugar
⅓ C warm milk
1 ¼ C butter
3 C flour (all-purpose)
½ tsp cinnamon
Agameya Filling:
3 T butter
2 T flour
1 C honey
1 C pistachios (or walnuts)
2 tsp sesame seeds
Directions:
Dissolve the sugar and yeast in the warm milk and set to the side.Melt the butter until it’s bubbling.In a heat-resistant bowl, mix the flour and cinnamon. Make a well in the center and pour in the melted butter. Stir with a spoon until completely mixed. Leave to cool.Once the flour mixture has cooled down—about 10-15 minutes—check it with your fingers to be sure it is all combined. Add the milk mixture and mix until it becomes a dough. Let sit for one hour.While the dough sits, prepare the agameya filling. Melt the butter in a pan on the stovetop.Whisk the flour in the pan once the butter is melted to make a roux. Remove it from the heat to add the honey, pistachios, and sesame seeds. Put the mixture back onto the heat at a low temperature, stirring until it thickens, then back off the heat to cool until you can form it into small balls—the smaller the better. Once the dough has finished resting for that hour, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).Take a piece of dough and flatten it until it will just cover one of the agameya balls. Place one of the balls in the center of the dough and wrap the dough around it. Roll it against your palm until you have a nice, smooth ball. Collect them on a baking sheet. Now comes the fun part: the design. You can purchase a wooden mold specifically designed for kahk which makes a beautiful carving on the surface. OR try pressing the ball into other molds you have to make unique designs. OR using a fork, press a simple design across the surface. Get creative with it!Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Coat with powdered sugar once cool. Store in an airtight container to enjoy at your next Christmas party!Join me over the next two weeks as I live bake the recipes found in the back of my latest mystery: Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman !
Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
NOW AVAILABLE in hardback, ebook, and audiobook!Ebook— Find it in your favorite ebook format!
Audiobook— Find it in your favorite audiobook format!
Print— Purchase a signed hardback copy from me here!
Special Deluxe Christmas Box— Purchase only through our store!
Also available in a special Christmas Deluxe Gift Box!Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman Deluxe Gift Box now available!
Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this deluxe book box. Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC @honeymountainhives_
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—One package of hot cocoa mix with “unassembled snowman” marshmallows
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman (including the two I’m sharing live!)
—One Christmas tea candle
—One candy cane
—Christmas stickers
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
This box worth over $65.00 is available for just $59.99, only at GAMES-AFOOT.SQUARE.SITE! Order now to get it by Christmas!
Special thanks to @honeymountainhives_ for collaborating with me on this box! Visit her website at HoneyMountainHives.com to learn more!
The post Christmas Baking: Egyptian Kahk appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
December 3, 2023
Christmas Baking: Sugar Cookies
In 2021, I shared three recipes from three different cookbooks. You can find them here:
In 2022, I shared three more recipes from 19th century cookbooks:
You can also find all my recipe videos in one easy playlist on my YouTube channel. (Be sure to hit that subscribe button while you’re there!)
This year I’m kicking things off by doing a bake-along with two fellow readers and BookTubers: Kay of Kay’s Hidden Shelf and Andrew of Andrew’s Wizardly Reads!Join us LIVE at 1:00pm MST (3:00pm EST) on Sunday, Dec 3 or watch later at your leisure!And now for the recipes…
Meredith Sugar CookiesIngredients:
1 C butter
1 8 oz package cream cheese
3 1/2 C flour
2 C sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
Food coloring (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)
Directions:
Cream butter and cream cheese.Add the rest of the ingredients, but only half of the flour. Mix well. Add remaining flour. For extra festive fun, divide dough into two parts. Add red food coloring to one part, add green food coloring to another. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough to about 1/4″ thick if you want chewier cookies. Cut into desired shapes. Can add sprinkles if you’d like them baked with decoration. Can do a swirl by combining red and green doughs together (don’t mix until brown, just roll out different colors beside each other before cutting out shapes). Bake at 375°F for 7-10 minutes.Cool before decorating with frosting, if desired.Frosting:
1/4 C butter
3 C powdered sugar
Almond flavoring
Milk to the right consistency
Combine first three ingredients and then add milk until the frosting is a spreading consistency. (Not too runny so it drips off the cookies.)Divide and add food coloring.Kay’s Cookies with SparklesIngredients:
1/2 C tenderflake lard
1/2 C brown sugar
1/4 C white sugar
1 C flour
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkles (optional)
Directions:
Cream the lard with the sugars. Add the egg, then the rest of the ingredients.The dough will be very sticky, so you’ll need lots of flour to roll it out with. Flour the bottom and top as you roll out the dough as thin as you can. Cut out shapes and top with sprinkles before baking.Bake at 225°F for 15 minutes.Join me over the next two weeks as I live bake the recipes found in the back of my latest mystery: Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman !Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
NOW AVAILABLE in hardback, ebook, and audiobook!Ebook— Find it in your favorite ebook format!
Audiobook— Find it in your favorite audiobook format!
Print— Purchase a signed hardback copy from me here!
Special Deluxe Christmas Box— Purchase only through our store!
Also available in a special Christmas Deluxe Gift Box!Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman Deluxe Gift Box now available!
Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this deluxe book box. Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC @honeymountainhives_
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—One package of hot cocoa mix with “unassembled snowman” marshmallows
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman (including the two I’m sharing live!)
—One Christmas tea candle
—One candy cane
—Christmas stickers
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
This box worth over $65.00 is available for just $59.99, only at GAMES-AFOOT.SQUARE.SITE! Order now to get it by Christmas!
Special thanks to @honeymountainhives_ for collaborating with me on this box! Visit her website at HoneyMountainHives.com to learn more!
The post Christmas Baking: Sugar Cookies appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
November 14, 2023
Christmas Fairs and More!
The next few weeks are full of Christmas fairs! Be sure to catch us at one of these events to pick up your copies of our books to give as gifts!
We’ll be selling our books (written by @pmeredithauthor and @andrewdmth), as well as handmade earrings made by my children!
We’ll even have my Christmas Deluxe boxes pre-packaged and ready to go under your Christmas tree!
Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this deluxe book box. Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC @honeymountainhives_
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—One package of hot cocoa mix with “unassembled snowman” marshmallows
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One candy cane
—Christmas stickers
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
Find us at…
November 18th 10:00am-3:00pmFountain Creek Nature Center Christmas Craft Show hosted by @bearcreek_fountaincreek
Located at Fountain Creek Nature Center at 320 Peppergrass Ln, Fountain, CO 80817
November 27th 9:00am-2:00pmThrive Holiday Craft Bazaar hosted by @thrivehomeschoolacademy
Located at the Thrive Homeschool Academy Gym at 2400 Slater Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80905
December 2nd 12:00pm-3:00pmBuena Vista Public Library Author Fair hosted by @bvpubliclibrary
Located at the Buena Vista Public Library at 131 Linderman Ave, Buena Vista, CO 81211
Or as always, order direct from us and have them shipped to you!
The post Christmas Fairs and More! appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
November 13, 2023
Release Day for Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman!
Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
Early Reviews“Patricia Meredith’s recipe for a perfect Christmas mystery? Magic with a dash of murder.”—Jess Brady, @jess.literarylife, Bookstagram Reviewer
“I see Sam Shovel right up there with Frosty and Rudolph—he’ll go down in history!” — Kathy Buckmaster
“Cookies, candy, presents…and murder! A holiday mystery that will leave you questioning…and craving sweets!” —Niko Sollazzo, @nikosbookreviews, BookTuber
“A brilliant, thought-provoking look into the world of the North Pole, with a take on Santa Clause that you’ve never seen! This little mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat! I can’t wait for more mysteries with Sam Shovel and his friends!” —Noelle Austin
“You will love this cozy, Christmas mystery! Ideally read by Christmas tree lights with a plate of your favorite Christmas cookies by your side, this story is full of charming, quirky characters and numerous Christmas traditions from around the world.” —Lydia Pierce
Available in…
HardbackAvailable everywhere books are sold! Purchase SIGNED copies direct from the author here!
Hardback also available as part of the Deluxe Christmas Gift Box!Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this deluxe book box. Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC @honeymountainhives_
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—One package of hot cocoa mix with “unassembled snowman” marshmallows
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One candy cane
—Christmas stickers
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
This box worth over $65.00 is available for a short time at the special pre-order price of just $49.99. The price will increase after Black Friday so hurry and pre-order now!
You can even add-on extras like:
—More signed hardback editions of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—Signed paperback editions of other books by Patricia Meredith
—Christmas earrings in a variety of styles (more info coming soon)
Pre-orders will be shipped to arrive in time for Christmas!
EbookAvailable everywhere ebooks are sold!
Audiobook—Read by Andrew D. MeredithAvailable everywhere audiobooks are sold!
Join me live on Release Day to celebrate!I’ll be going live on my YouTube channel at 7:00pm MST
Thank you for reading and supporting my writing!Be sure to leave me a review after you’ve read!
Follow my Author Page on Goodreads and add Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman to your Want to Read list!The post Release Day for Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman! appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
October 26, 2023
NaNoWriMo Workshops in Colorado Springs
With our powers combined…we are the Meredith Authors!
My husband, Andrew D. Meredith, and I are so excited to be joining the Pikes Peak Library District of Colorado Springs for our first library event since moving to this fantastic city!
Andrew writes epic fantasy, and I write historical mystery, but as authors we’ve found a lot of similarities in how we work! We’re excited to be sharing our knowledge with the local community of writers.
You don’t have to be doing NaNoWriMo to join us for these workshops. If you have any interest in writing at all, you’ll learn something, I promise!
Celebrate NaNoWriMo with us!
Thurs, Nov 2, 10:30 am at Library 21c Library—World-Building (It’s Not Just for Fantasy!)How do we create realistic worlds for our readers? For history, it’s a matter of research. Is it the same for writing fantasy? (Hint: the answer is yes!) Join us for a workshop presented by local authors Andrew and Patricia Meredith and learn more about world-building. For National Novel Writing Month. Registration required.
Thurs, Nov 2, 3:00 pm at Penrose Library—Writing What You Want to KnowThe age-old wisdom of “write what you know” is no longer considered the best writing advice. Is the answer instead, “write what you want to know?” Join us for a workshop presented by local authors Andrew and Patricia Meredith and learn more about writing about topics you want to learn about. For National Novel Writing Month. Registration required.
Fri, Nov 10, 3:00 pm at Old Colorado City Library—Avoiding the Info DumpWhen it comes to writing, it can be tough figuring out how to engage your reader with all of your fascinating information without holding their hands or boring them to death. Join us for a workshop presented by local authors Andrew and Patricia Meredith and learn strategies for avoiding the info dump. For National Novel Writing Month. Registration required.
Click the links above or visit PPLD.org to register and learn more.
You can check out both of our books through the PPLD in a variety of formats including ebook, audiobook, and print.
Or purchase signed copies direct from the authors here!
To learn more about Andrew’s books, visit his website at AndrewDMeredith.com.
We hope to see you there!The post NaNoWriMo Workshops in Colorado Springs appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
October 10, 2023
I’m Coming to Spokane!
The place that inspired the writing of The Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries!
I will be in Spokane these date—be sure to pop by one or more of these events to say hi and learn more about my books!
Interview on KYRS Radio at 1:00pm, October 13, 2023 — tune in live here
Spokane Authors Presentation (private event), October 13, 2023Campbell House Event, October 14, 2023
The Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries
Presenter: Book author, Patricia MeredithWhen: Saturday, Oct 14, 2023, 12 – 4 pmCost: FREE ($10, suggested donation)Location: Eric A. Johnston Auditorium, and Campbell HouseJoin historical fiction author Patricia Meredith for a special afternoon event celebrating her Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries series, the first three books of which are now available in all formats. All books in the series are set in 1901 Spokane and feature real-life people, events, and locations from our town’s history. Meredith will give a presentation in the auditorium about the research she did for the books, plus offer a selected reading, and answer any questions regarding the history behind the mysteries. After her talk, join her for a walk through the Campbell House to get a glimpse into the world featured in the books! Book signing follows the program until 4 pm. *Books will be available for purchase at the museum store
Shadle Spokane Library Presentation, October 15, 2023 at 3:00 pmBringing Spokane’s Past into the Present: Join author Patricia Meredith as she takes the deep-dive into the very real history behind her latest historical mystery in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries!
Medical Lake High School (private event), October 17, 2023Spokane Westerners Presentation (private event), October 19, 2023I realize some of these are private events, but I wanted to include them in the list so you saw I am available for such things in the future!
Should you be interested in scheduling me for an event in your hometown, email me at author@patricia-meredith.com!I am also available for virtual events all over the world!
Book Clubs: What’s cooler than having the author join you for your discussion?!Has your book club read one of my books? Find character lists, synopses, research, and more here on my website, especially under the menu heading “Book Clubs.”
I would love to meet with you! Contact me today at author@patricia-meredith.com about joining your discussion. I’d love to answer all your questions and reveal more about the research, writing process, and character development that went into the writing of the book! I am available for both in-person and virtual events. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to hear about future events, new blog posts, book releases, and more!If you’re already a subscriber: THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your support means the world to me!
Right now, if you sign up, you’ll also receive a FREE ebook copy of The Leavenworth Case!
Published nine years before Sherlock’s first appearance, this debut novel by the Mother of American Detective Fiction would be credited as changing the mystery genre forever. The Leavenworth Case‘s dynamic prose and intriguing characters—especially the introduction of Detective Gryce, the first recurring American detective in fiction—would set the stage for all mystery novels written thereafter. After its publication, Yale University would add The Leavenworth Case to its required reading list in law classes, as an admirable example of the perils of circumstantial evidence.
Agatha Christie would credit it as one of the books that encouraged her to try her hand at writing mystery in the first place. Filled with all the recognizable devices now used by the modern mystery author, Anna Katharine Green was the first to compile them all into one novel that was an overnight bestseller from the moment it hit the shelves, selling over a million copies by the time of her death.
This edition includes an engaging introduction by Patricia Meredith, author of A Deed of Dreadful Note, the first historical fiction mystery featuring Anna Katharine Green as an amateur investigator, and centering on the events that would lead to her writing of her debut novel, an effort that would take six years beginning in 1872, ending with its publication in 1878.
“The Leavenworth Case is admirable. One savors its atmosphere, its studied and deliberate melodrama. Those rich and lavish descriptions of the golden beauty of Eleanor, the moonlight beauty of Mary!… and there is the maidservant, Hannah, so true to type, and the murderer, an excellent psychological study.”
—Hercule Poirot in The Clocks by Agatha Christie
Can’t make it to Spokane this weekend?Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch my playlists of
InterviewsHistory behind the Spokane Clock Tower MysteriesHistory behind the Anna Katharine Green Mysteries Meet the Author videosWriting videosBaking from 19th Century Cookbooks videosReviews of my books by other BookTubersGuest Interviews with other authorsAnd More!Be sure to hit subscribe while you’re there so you’ll be the first to hear when a new video is posted—new one every week!
Remember you can always purchase signed copies of all my books direct from me right here! Thank you for your support!
The post I’m Coming to Spokane! appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
October 9, 2023
Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman Now Available for PRE-ORDER!
Pre-order your copy now to ensure you get it in time for Christmas!Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
Pre-order now in your favorite format: available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook!Early Reader Reviews“Cookies, candy, presents…and murder! A holiday mystery that will leave you questioning…and craving sweets!” —Niko Sollazzo, @nikosbookreviews, BookTuber
***
“The most adorable story! If you love cozy mysteries with big Christmas spirit this is the book for you! Wonderfully written and a joy to read! I definitely recommend!” —Melissa, @christianbooksandcoffee, Bookstagram Reviewer
***
“A definite winner read for anyone looking for that cozy, nostalgic Christmas feel with murder thrown in!” —Tori Tecken, Author and BookTuber
***
“An absolutely charming and unique Christmas story. I really enjoyed the world-building of this particular Christmas-land! I appreciated all the research and attention to detail of different Christmas traditions and foods from all around the world and how they were brought together.… The mystery kept me guessing all the way. I hope to see Sam back again next year.” —Kirsten, @recipebookworm, Bookstagram Reviewer
***
“A wonderful tale filled with Christmas references. This is a new Christmas tradition for us!” —An Erudite Adventure, BookTuber
***
“Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman is a brilliant, thought-provoking look into the world of the North Pole, with colorful characters and a take on Santa Claus that you’ve never seen! This little mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat! I can’t wait for more mysteries with Sam Shovel and his friends!” — Noelle Austin
***
“You will love this cozy, Christmas mystery! Ideally read by Christmas tree lights with a plate of your favorite Christmas cookies by your side, this story is full of charming, quirky characters and numerous Christmas traditions from around the world.” — Lydia Pierce
***
Also available in a special Christmas Deluxe Gift Box!Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman Deluxe Gift Box now available for pre-order!
Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget with the gift of this deluxe book box. Inside you’ll find:
—One signed hardback edition of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One handmade peppermint soap from Honey Mountain Hives, LLC @honeymountainhives_
—One handmade Christmas bookmark with snowflake dangle
—One Christmas cookie cutter
—One package of hot cocoa mix with “unassembled snowman” marshmallows
—Two laminated recipe cards for recipes included in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—One candy cane
—Christmas stickers
Each box will be specially decorated on the outside, with gift-wrapped items inside to make it the perfect addition for under your Christmas tree! (Some items will vary in appearance such as gift wrap, bookmark paper, and cookie cutter design.)
This box worth over $65.00 is available for a short time at the special pre-order price of just $49.99. The price will increase after Black Friday so hurry and pre-order now!
You can even add-on extras like:
—More signed hardback editions of Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
—Signed paperback editions of other books by Patricia Meredith
—Christmas earrings in a variety of styles (more info coming soon)
Pre-orders will be shipped to arrive in time for Christmas!
ONLY AVAILABLE AT GAMES-AFOOT.SQUARE.SITE!
Special thanks to @honeymountainhives_ for collaborating with me on this box! Visit her website at HoneyMountainHives.com to learn more!
Pre-order now!Add Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman to your Goodreads Want to Read List today!
Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me as @pmeredithauthor on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to be the first to hear when more news drops!
The post Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman Now Available for PRE-ORDER! appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
September 25, 2023
Christmas Cozy Mystery Cover Reveal
Sam Shovel only comes to life for twelve days a year at Christmastime, and this year, he’s in time to solve a murder mystery at the North Pole. O. Tannenbaum—the world’s largest supplier of Christmas trees—has been murdered, and although Nick and Nora Claus are too busy to solve the mystery, Sam has enough time on his branchy hands to take a stab at it.
The North Pole is full of suspects, from the owners of the neighboring candy cane farm to Santa himself! But which Santa? Is it Nick Claus, Père Noël, Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, der Weihnachtsmann, Sheng dan Lao ren, Baba Noël, or someone else entirely?
Woven with enough Christmas references to choke a reindeer, find out if Sam succeeds in catching the killer in Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman.
A fantastical Christmas cozy mystery perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie any time of year!
Early Reader Reviews“I see Sam Shovel right up there with Frosty and Rudolph—he’ll go down in history!”
— Kathy Buckmaster
***
“Another triumph!” — Sue Rizzo
***
“Thoroughly delightful! Perfect for a holiday seasonal book. A new and unexpected take on a Christmas story. So much fun to read and try to figure out!”
— Renae Meredith
***
“Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman is a brilliant, thought-provoking look into the world of the North Pole, with colorful characters and a take on Santa Claus that you’ve never seen! This little mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat! I can’t wait for more mysteries with Sam Shovel and his friends!”
— Noelle Austin
***
“You will love this cozy, Christmas mystery! Ideally read by Christmas tree lights with a plate of your favorite Christmas cookies by your side, this story is full of charming, quirky characters and numerous Christmas traditions from around the world.”
— Lydia Pierce
***
“Love it! A delightful tale, full of fresh characters, and a different view on the North Pole setting.”
— Maggie Meredith
And now for the Cover Reveal…Drum roll, please…
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…
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Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me as @pmeredithauthor on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to be the first to hear when more news drops!Add
Death of a Christmas Tree Salesman
to your Goodreads Want to Read List today!The post Christmas Cozy Mystery Cover Reveal appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
September 15, 2023
Agatha Christie’s Birthday
Happy birthday, Agatha Christie!In honor of her birthday, pick up copies of these books that Agatha Christie recommends herself, inspired her own writing, and are written in the style of Agatha Christie!
The Leavenworth Case
Agatha Christie herself mentions The Leavenworth Case in her autobiography, naming it as one of the mysteries that set her on the path to her own writing.
Her review of The Leavenworth Case:
“The Leavenworth Case…is admirable…. One savers its atmosphere, its studied and deliberate melodrama. Those rich and lavish descriptions of the golden beauty of Eleanor, the moonlight beauty of Mary!… and there is the maidservant, Hannah, so true to type, and the murderer, an excellent psychological study.” —Hercule Poirot in The Clocks
The Leavenworth Case with introduction by Patricia Meredith is available as a FREE ebook when you sign up for my newsletter. The audiobook, read by Andrew D. Meredith, is available everywhere audiobooks are sold.
Anna Katharine Green Mysteries
A Deed of Dreadful Note
Fifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing The Leavenworth Case, inspiring the creation of detectives like Sherlock, Poirot, and Wimsey, as well as almost every device and convention we now recognize as standard in detective mystery fiction.
When her father’s client is found murdered, Anna takes up the call to prove innocent the young girl accused of the murder. The investigation inspires many of the events, characters, and descriptions that would later be published in her debut novel.
A love letter to mystery and writing itself, A Deed of Dreadful Note is an homage and reintroduction to an author who was the Agatha Christie of her time but a forgotten female today.
This book is a fictionalized account of how Anna Katharine Green’s first novel may have come to be…
Purchase a signed copy direct from the author here.
The Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries
Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, book 1Archie Prescot has traveled across the country to design the now-iconic Spokane clock tower for the new Great Northern Railroad Depot. When his talent for creating unique clock chimes connects him with a local patroness, he is thrilled, until she is discovered dead in the workshop of his new colleague.
Cupboards All Bared, book 2In this sequel to Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, we’re once again transported to Spokane, 1901. A body discovered in Hangman Creek looks to be the result of an accidental fall, but what begins as a “simple” mystery for Thomas Carew and his twin brother Bernard quickly becomes a lot more complicated, including implications that tie in with the bombings at the Idaho mines, and perhaps even President McKinley’s planned visit.
Crazy Maids in a Row, book 3The insane belong in the asylum. But what if the insane are the only ones who can help you?
The Baker is in the Medical Lake asylum, which means all should be well with the world. But when a string of murders draws Marian, Archie, and the Carew brothers to her doorstep, they begin to wonder if the Baker’s at it again…
Purchase signed copies direct from the author here.
Praise for My Books“This classic whodunnit gave me Agatha Christie vibes.” —Kirsten, Goodreads
“A mystery worthy of Agatha Christie.” —Andrew’s Wizardly Reads
Happy birthday to the Queen of Crime and inspiration to all mystery authors everywhere!“All the Agatha Christie vibes anyone could want.” —Bibliobrunette
The post Agatha Christie’s Birthday appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
September 12, 2023
Clued in Mystery Podcast Interview
LISTEN NOWI had the honor of being interviewed by one of my favorite podcasts: Clued in Mystery!
Brook Peterson and Sarah M. Stephen and I had a wonderful conversation about Anna Katharine Green, my newest historical mystery featuring her, all the historical research that went into the writing of it, and more! Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and take a listen today! Be sure to subscribe as Brook and Sarah cover a wide variety of fantastic topics within the mystery genre!
Follow the podcast and the hosts on Instagram:
@cluedinmystery
@brookpetersonauthor
@sarahmstephenauthor
You can find the episode on your favorite podcast app or on their website at CluedinMystery.com.
A Deed of Dreadful NoteFifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing The Leavenworth Case, inspiring the creation of detectives like Sherlock, Poirot, and Wimsey, as well as almost every device and convention we now recognize as standard in detective mystery fiction.
When her father’s client is found murdered, Anna takes up the call to prove innocent the young girl accused of the murder. The investigation inspires many of the events, characters, and descriptions that would later be published in her debut novel.
A love letter to mystery and writing itself, A Deed of Dreadful Note is an homage and reintroduction to an author who was the Agatha Christie of her time but a forgotten female today.
This book is a fictionalized account of how Anna Katharine Green’s first novel may have come to be…
Now Available!Ebook—Amazon
Audiobook—Wherever audiobooks are sold! Support local and order through Libro.fm!
Print—Order a signed copy from me here! Support local and ask your favorite independent bookstore to order in a copy! Also available through Amazon.
You can also add my books to your Want to Read list on Goodreads! Follow my Author Page while you’re there! Add A Deed of Dreadful Note to your list here!
—Learn more about Anna Katharine Green—Watch my YouTube Channel playlist all about Anna Katharine Green.
Head here for a complete timeline of Anna Katharine Green and the History of Mystery Fiction.
A Deed of Dreadful Note is a piece of historical fiction, created by blending The Leavenworth Case with Anna’s personal history, recorded thoughts, and relationships since, as she said herself, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Where possible, I have used Anna’s own words to capture the grace and wit with which she approached the world and her writing, in particular. I’ve now collected all of the quotes incorporated into the novel in one easy-to-access place!
AKG and I have a lot in common, it turns out! Watch my video and read this post to learn why I consider Anna Katharine Green my sister from another century.
Read Mary Hatch’s thoughts on her cousin and best friend Anna Katharine Green in an article originally published in 1889.
Find out what Anna Katharine Green thought was the answer to the question “Why Human Beings Are Interested in Crime?” by reading her article published in 1919.
November 11th is Anna Katharine Green’s birthday! Read this post to learn more about her impact on mystery fiction.
Find my full review, great quotes, and learn how Anna Katharine Green inspired Agatha Christie here from when I re-read The Clocks, and began to really research who this Green woman was.
Read my full review and great quotes here from the first time I read The Leavenworth Case.
Find my full review and great quotes here from the first time I read That Affair Next Door, the first Miss Butterworth case.
The post Clued in Mystery Podcast Interview appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.
