Amanda Flower's Blog, page 5

Peanut Butter Panic Now Available! #newbook

I’m so happy that the seventh novel in the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries, Peanut Butter Panic, is out. If feel so lucky to be writing such a long series that is beloved by fans. the series includes seven novel, three novellas, and a spinoff series, the Amish Matchmaker Mysteries, with more on the way! I can’t thank my readers enough for reading and loving these books so much! Enjoy the first chapter now!

Chapter One

“Careful! Don’t drop the turkeys! We will be ruined if we don’t have turkeys on Thanksgiving! Why do you have them here anyway?” Margot Rawlings cried as she buzzed around the Harvest village square like a spinning top. Her short curls bounced as she pointed at the young volunteers and barked orders. “Chairs over there. No, no, no. Don’t put the kids’ table facing the playground. All they’ll want to do is run off and play instead of eating their dinners.”

A young Amish man who was carrying a crate of thawing turkeys looked as frozen as the poultry in his hands. After Margot yelled at him, it seemed he didn’t know what to do.

I smiled at him as I approached, carrying a box of display dishes for the dessert table. “You okay, Leon?”

Leon Hersh was an Amish teen who volunteered often for Margot’s many events on the village square. Since Margot had taken over the Harvest social calendar a few years ago, it seemed scarcely a week went by that there wasn’t something happening in the small Amish village in Holmes County, Ohio. From concerts to weddings to Christmas pageants, the square had seen it all. Thanksgiving week was no exception.

In fact, Thanksgiving was going to be bigger and grander than any event Margot had ever thrown before. There would be a community-wide Thanksgiving meal for the village. It would include both Amish and English residents and be followed with a lighting-of-the-square ceremony to usher in the holiday season.

Margot had been working on the event for months, which meant that everyone else in the village had been too. She was great at drafting help. I always thought if the U.S. military brought back the draft, Margot should be at the helm of the effort.

Leon blinked his bright blue eyes at me. “She’s scarier than the bishop’s wife.”

I hid my smile. I knew the bishop’s wife, Ruth Yoder, as well as I knew Margot. I also knew Ruth would have wanted to be seen as more formidable than Margot. I certainly wasn’t going to tell her what this young man had said. “Why don’t you take those turkeys to the church? They’ll be cooked later today by the church volunteers. Just leave them on the counter and the kitchen staff will know what to do.”

He nodded. “Danki. I should have thought of that in the first place. But when Margot shouted at me to get the turkeys from Levi Wittmer’s poultry farm, I brought them here where I knew she would be. I wasn’t thinking.” He nodded at the horse and wagon that was parked along Main Street. “My wagon is right there. I’ll take them over now.”

The back of the wagon was laden with crates just like the one in Leon’s hands. My brow went up. How many turkeys had Margot ordered from the Wittmer farm for this event? Then again, as many as eight hundred people had said they would come for the celebration tomorrow afternoon. It was possible she would need every last turkey.

“That’s a good plan, Leon, and can I give you a tip?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Give yourself a break. You’re doing a fine job. Just remember Margot is, well, let’s just say she is very exacting. For better or worse, she treats everyone the same. It’s not you.”

He licked his lips and nodded. “Danki, Bailey. The Esh family is right; you are very kind for an Englischer.”

I smiled, taking no offense at the “for an Englischer” comment. It was one I had heard before, and many times since I’d moved from NYC to Harvest.

With the crate in his arms, he hurried back to his wagon, loaded the turkeys into the back with the others, and drove around to the church, which was just on the opposite side of the square on Church Street.

It was a gray and cloudy day, as was typical at the end of November, but there was a bright blue patch of sky above the church’s tall white steeple. The forecast for tomorrow, Thanksgiving morning, was clear skies and warmer temperatures. The weather was something that could never be guaranteed in Ohio, but I hoped for the sake of the festivities that the prediction was accurate.

I could only imagine the flurry of activity that must be happening in the church kitchen at the moment. When Margot an Juliet Brook, the pastor’s wife, had put their heads together to sponsor a village-wide Thanksgiving dinner, I don’t believe they realized how much work it would take.

Then again, maybe Margot, who was one of the hardest-working people I had ever met, knew. However, I bet all the activity had taken Juliet by surprise.

“Bailey King!” Margot pointed at me. “Just the person I wanted to see.”

I sighed. Maybe I agreed with Leon just a little. Margot could be scary, and nothing was scarier than being caught in her crosshairs when she had an assignment for you, which in my case was all the time. It seemed to me that whenever Margot spotted me, she had something she wanted me to do. At least I knew I wouldn’t have to drive to Wittmer Poultry Farm to collect the turkeys. I didn’t think I could stand seeing a bunch of turkeys walking around flapping their wings right before Thanksgiving.

She marched over to me. As usual she wore jeans, running shoes, and a sweatshirt. However due to the chilly temperatures, she’d added a quilted barn coat over her sweatshirt and fingerless gloves on her hands. “I stopped by Swissmen Sweets well over an hour ago looking for you. Charlotte said you were away on an errand in Canton.” She put her hands on her hips. “What are you doing traveling all that way this close to Thanksgiving? Don’t you have enough to do right here at home? I hope you don’t plan to go to New York this weekend. The village needs you.”

I rubbed my head because I was already getting a headache as I tried to remember the sage advice that I had given Leon about Margot. The advice had flown right out of my head. All I could think was that he was right—she was scary.

“I’m not going to New York this weekend,” I said as calmly as possible. “I only went to Canton to run an errand.”

It was none of her business, but I had gone shopping for a housewarming gift for my boyfriend, Aiden Brody. I knew with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday coming up, I would be so busy in the shop that I would not get another chance before I saw him.

He’d just moved into a new apartment in Columbus, and I felt I had to give him a gift to show my support of the move when in fact I wasn’t feeling the least bit supportive. The last time we’d discussed where he would live after he completed his months of training with BCI, Ohio’s Bureau of Investigations, he’d promised he would come back to Holmes County, so a new apartment nearly two hours away was not great news.

For over a decade, Aiden had been a sheriff’s deputy in Holmes County. That was how I’d met him, but earlier this year, he had been given the chance of a lifetime to work with BCI. He had made a good impression on the department when he collaborated with them on a case last summer. From what I had been told before, after his training, he would be returning to Holmes County to work as a remote agent who specialized in Amish cases. Instead, he’d been moved to one of the largest cities in Ohio. I didn’t know what this would mean for our relationship. Part of me thought when Aiden returned to Holmes County we would seriously begin talking about marriage and having a family—all those things that I knew we both wanted but were afraid to say aloud to each other.

I didn’t tell Margot any of that. Instead, I said, “I came as soon as I could.”

She folded her arms as if she had doubts. Margot was typically a tightly wound woman, but I don’t think I had ever seen her this worked up.

“Is something wrong, Margot?”

She threw up her hands. “Something always goes wrong when it comes to these events, but it’s never been anything I couldn’t handle until today.”

My eyes went wide. For Margot to admit that she couldn’t handle something was unheard of. “What is it?” I braced myself to hear something about Leon and the turkeys. My brain was already scrambling for ways to defend the quiet teenager.

“My mother is coming!” she wailed.

I stared at her. That was not what I had expected her to say. “Your mother?”

“I know, doesn’t it sound horrible?” She moaned.

“Why is it so horrible?” I asked.

“She’s never attended one of my events. Ever. My whole life long. And the first one that she comes to is the village Thanksgiving dinner. Why did she have to pick this one? Why couldn’t she have tried a concert or a bake sale or the Christmas parade next month? I have a camel at the Christmas parade. Everyone loves the camel. Would it have killed her to wait one more month?”

I knew Melchior the camel who makes a regular appearance at the village Christmas parade. He was nice as far as camels went but a bit of an escape artist. I wasn’t sure a camel running loose was the best way for Margot to impress her mother, but what did I know?

Margot began to gasp for air.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?” I glanced around and noticed the volunteers who were setting up for the big meal tomorrow were watching us. If Margot noticed their stares, she gave no indication of it. “Do you want to sit down?”

She brushed my hand away and took a few deep breaths. “I’m fine. I don’t want to sit. I don’t have time to sit. I have to leave for the airport in an hour to pick up my mother. Everything has to be perfect here.” She grabbed my arm. “Bailey, I need you!”

“Me?” I squeaked.

“Yes, I need you to oversee the preparations for Thanksgiving. Everything has to be perfect for tomorrow. Perfect. I know I always want things to be perfect, but I’m not kidding this time. I can’t fail in front of my mother again.”

Again? I wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but before I could, she said, “You have to promise me.” She thrust her clipboard at me. “This is the list of everything that has to be finished. Guard it with your life. There’s a checkmark next to the items that have been completed.”

After a cursory glance, I noted that there were very few checkmarks on the page.

I tried to hand the clipboard back to her. “Margot, I’m honored that you would trust me with such an important job, but there is so much to do at Swissmen Sweets today. We have been making many of the desserts for tomorrow’s meal, and we’re getting extra candy ready for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. This is our biggest weekend of the year.”

She would not take the clipboard. “You don’t understand. You have to help me.”

“What about Juliet? She’s always willing to help.”

“I can’t ask Juliet,” Margot said as if it was the most ridiculous idea she’d ever heard. “She’s in charge of the food preparation happening at the church. And to be perfectly frank, you’re the only one who even has any remote chance of doing the job as well as I can.”

I frowned. “Thank you?” I wasn’t sure this was an honor I wanted.

“You don’t know my mother. She expects perfection. Always and in all things.”

I guessed Margot was in her sixties, so her mother had to be over eighty years old, and yet Margot still feared her?

She took a breath. “Mother, the honorable Zara Bevan, was a powerhouse attorney and the first female judge in Holmes County. She excels at everything she does.” She paused. “Until she had me.”

I had known Margot for a while now, and I had never known her to undervalue herself. Even when something went terribly wrong at one of her events—like a dead body—she handled it with the efficiency and confidence of someone who always believed that they were in the right. However, at the moment, Margot looked anything but confident. She looked terrified. The honorable Zara Bevan must be a force to be reckoned with indeed.

“Where does your mother live now?” I asked. “Where is she coming from?”

“Fort Meyers, Florida. She moved there about fifteen years ago. She can play outdoor tennis all year round down there. She says indoor tennis is not the same. She’s eighty-six years old and still plays tennis every day. She was even in the senior Olympics! How many people can say that their mother is a senior Olympian?”

“I can’t think of any others,” I admitted. “It seems your mother has achieved a lot.”

“You have no idea. All she does is achieve, and she expects the same level of achievement out of everyone around her. Out of me!”

“Has it been a long while since she visited you in Harvest?” I asked.

“You can say that. She hasn’t been back since she left. I try to get down to Florida for at least a few days every winter to see her. But between you and me, I’m always ready to come home at the end of the visit. Actually, I’m ready to come home before the visit even starts. I don’t know how I’m going to survive this weekend.” She grabbed my shoulders and shook me slightly. “Bailey, I need your help. I’m desperate.”

I glanced down at the clipboard again and thought about the mile-long list that I had left on the kitchen island back in Swissmen Sweets just a few minutes ago. How was I ever going to get all of this done?

But I said, “All right, I’ll help you.”

Really, there was nothing else I could do.

Copyright Amanda Flower 2022. All rights reserved.

KEEP READING! ORDER THE BOOK. AVAILABLE ANYWHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD!

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FEATURED BOOK OF THE WEEK

Dead by dessert . . .

Thanksgiving is Bailey King’s busiest holiday weekend. This year promises to be even more hectic, since Bailey’s candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, is providing desserts for Harvest, Ohio’s first village-wide Thanksgiving celebration. Yet, even with a guest list close to seven hundred people—Amish and English alike—the event’s organizer, Margot Rawlings, is unfazed . . . until she discovers her mother, former judge Zara Bevan, will be in attendance.

Zara’s reputation as a harsh critic is matched only by her infamy as a judge who has actively harmed the Amish community. So no one is prepared when Zara arrives with much younger boyfriend Blaze Smith and reveals their impending nuptials at dinner. That should have been the day’s biggest news, except shortly after the announcement, Blaze suffers an allergic reaction to something he’s eaten and dies on the spot.

Now, Bailey’s desserts are prime suspects, along with Margot and nearly everyone who attended the meal. With such a cornucopia of possibilities, Bailey must dig in and get to the bottom of this murder, before the killer goes up for seconds…

Recipe Included!

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Happy reading!

Amanda

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Hotel California, an anthology Now Available

In 2020, I was asked to be a part of an anthology of thriller stories. It was a bit of surprise because I’m a cozy author. I have never written a thriller before. However, it seemed like the perfect challenge for me to stretch my writing muscles. The stories and anthology are inspired by the Eagle album Hotel California. That anthology is Hotel California, and it’s not available for purchase. I’m so thrilled to be included in this list of accomplished authors that include Heather Graham, Don Bruns, Andrew Child, Jennifer Dornbush, John Gilstrap, Reed Coleman, and Rick Bleiweiss.

I hope you will give it a try!

My story is call “Try and Love Again.” Here is a snippet of the story:

“Ernie, I know that you took the money.” I leaned my back against the bar and watched the thin, sixty-something man tap the side of the beer glass with his blunt fingertips. It was in the middle of the day, but you wouldn’t know it walking down Catawba Avenue in the village of Put-in-Bay, located in one corner of South Bass Island just five miles from the Ohio’s Lake Erie coast.

The village was notorious for drinking and a good time. Hundreds of thousands of visitors crossed from the mainland on the ferry to get away from it all every year. Less than two hundred of us live here year-round. Not many people outside of the Great Lakes Region or outside of Ohio knew there was such an island in Lake Erie. I’d known all my life since I was born and raised here. I loved the island and didn’t want to leave. That wasn’t the norm. Not many people stay.

“Try and Love Again” by Amanda Flower. Copyright 2022 Amanda Flower. All rights reserved.

Keep Reading! Order the book here!

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

ORDER the BOOK !

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Meet #StudioCatDrZ!

Well, something unexpected happened on the farm. We got another new cat just six weeks after adopting our one year old orange tabby Cheddar! Meet our new little one, Dr. Z! Dr. Z was born on he farm this spring and is about seven weeks old. He’s all black but for a white spot on his belly. He loves to play and snuggle and is such a joy. We decided to take him in when he was left alone by his mama cat on our porch for the better part of the day. He immediately bonded with Cheddar when we brought him inside, and the two are inseparable. They eat, sleep, and play together all day long. He’s just the sweetest thing. Also, even more good news is Cheddar is so much happier now that he has a friend. He’s no longer meowing as much and loves taking care of his little brother. We are just so happy!

Because Cheeps and Tummy are senior cats and because Cheeps has cancer, Cheddar and Dr. Z will never meet the editors in person. Enjoy these photos of our new addition!

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

ORDER the BOOK !

Join my email list

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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Christmas in July #Etsy Sale on Amanda Flower Designs!

Because life got crazy, I took a few months off of my Etsy Shop, Amanda Flower Designs, but I’m happy to share it’s back. To celebrate, I am having a Christmas in July Special on Etsy. Buy any two items and receive a FREE signed book from my backlist. All backlist titles are published before 2020. After you place your order, I will message you through Etsy with a list of titles to chose from to make sure that you get a book you’d like to read or give to someone as a gift. I’ve added a great collection of new and old favorite bookmarks and bracelets to the shop. Be sure to check them out at https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmandaFlowerDesigns.

Amanda

P.S. Peanut Butter Panic, Amish Candy Shop Mysteries #7 release August 23, 2022!

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

ORDER the BOOK !

Join my email list

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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Summer Days…

My blog posts have be farther apart the last two months. The only excuse I have is it has been a frantic season for me. I sprinted to finish Blueberry Blunder, Amish Candy Shop Mystery #8, that will release next year, and I am finding having a farm is a full time job in and of itself. There is so much to do. Planting, weeding, moving rocks, mowing, and the list goes on and on. The good weather window to get all those tasks done is short in Ohio, so from April to October, I can be a touch overwhelmed with my to do list. And on top of that, I’ve been trying to spend more time with family and friends. Like most people, work/life balance is a huge challenge for me. However, I’m recommitting to the blog in July. I do love this space where I can share with you! Below are some photos from my summer so far! Happy Summer!

Amanda

P.S. Peanut Butter Panic, Amish Candy Shop Mysteries #7 release August 23, 2022!

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

ORDER the BOOK !

Join my email list

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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Tips for Attracting #Birds to Your Yard

A love having a farm. The two things I love most about it is having so much space are the gardens and attracting wildlife. Over the last several years at the farm, we have seen so many different animals from foxes to raccoons to rabbits to skunks. They all live on our farm, but more than anything we have wild birds. Here are some tips for attracting birds to your yard.

Put out a variety of bird feeders. Different birds eat different things. For example, bluebirds enjoy meal worms and insects. Baltimore orioles love grape jelly and oranges. Put out the food that will attract the birds you most want to see.Put up birdhouses for different types of birds like wren, bluebirds, chickadees, and tree swallowsAllow some wild spaces on your land like an overgrown bramble and bush. These are great places for birds to hide, rest, and nest.Put out birdbaths and be sure to change the water regularly to keep it clean. Also, you can place rocks to your birdbath for perching points for both birds and bees!Don’t use pesticides. We don’t use any at the farm, including those that companies claim are “safe.” There are many organic way to deal with weeds and pests.

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

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Meet #StudioCatCheddar!

At our farm over the last week there has been a great deal of excitement! We adopted a new cat and he moved into my husband’s recording studio on our farm. He’s a friendly orange tabby who we named Cheddar! The vet guesses that he’s one year old. He just showed up at the farm one day last fall. We fed him and built him an outside house that was even heated to keep him warm through the winter. Overtime, he became more used to us and we decided that he should be an indoor cat at that point.

There are a lot of barn cats around our farm, but Cheddar was different from the start. He loved to follow me around the farm and be petted. He even came when we called his name. The other barn cats keep their distance. We think that he was a house cat who was dropped off near the farm by someone who knew about all the barn cats on our road that belong to the local cattle farmer. Maybe this person thought Cheddar would fit in with them. However, it is clear Cheddar is a people cat and likes to be around humans.

The first visit to the vet determined that Cheddar has a few health issues, all which can be fixed with medication. He’s taking his medicine with no complaints and is a very well-behaved indoor cat now. This makes us think ever more that he was house cat from the start. He’s settling in well, and I am just overjoyed to have a sweet cat to hang out with when I’m at the farm working. I write at the farm most days now.

Because Cheeps and Tummy are senior cats and because Cheeps has cancer, Cheddar will never meet the editors in person, but he has FaceTimed with them. Enjoy these photos of our new addition!

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

ORDER the BOOK !

Join my email list

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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Pre-order Emily Dickinson Mystery for #FreeGift!

I’m excited to share news about the upcoming release of BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH!

Historical mystery is a new subgenre for me so as a thank you to my readers, I’m giving a thank  gift to everyone who pre-orders the novel from any retailer in any format! Check out the details below!

Happy reading! Amanda

Pre-order Because I Could Not Stop For Death for a free Cheeps and Tummy key chain. You must register your pre-order at the link and complete the online form to receive your gift.

Key chains will be mailed within three weeks after the novel  is released. This promotion is good for U.S. postal addresses only.

You must register your pre-order before 9/20/22 on my website to receive you key chain. Visit www.amandaflower.com to register your pre-order.

Additionally, pre-order from the Learned Owl Bookshop to receive the key chain, a signed copy of the BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, a signed paperback novel from my backlist. You still need to register on my website for the key chain. Visit here to register.

Possible places to Pre-order
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM

More about the novel:
Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she’d lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they’d be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa’s beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he’d found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress….

ORDER the BOOK !

Join my email list

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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Amanda, Anna, and Julie’s Excellent Adventure Recap

I had a great time on book tour and traveling to the Malice Domestic Convention with my author friends Anna Lee Huber and Julie Anne Lindsey! We signed so many books and had tons of laughs. One of the highlights for me was doing a walking tour of the National Mall in Washington DC. On my tour, I walked in the footsteps of Emily Dickinson who visited DC in 1855, which just so happens to be the same time period of my first Emily Dickinson Mystery, Because I Could Not Stop for Death. It was a great opportunity to see the places in the novel and snap a lot of photos! Below are a few pictures from the trip!

Here’s the places along the tour route where you can get signed books by all three of us!

Mystery Loves Bookshop (Oakmont, Pennsylvania)

Barnes and Noble, Youngstown, OH

Barnes and Noble, Cranberry Township, PA

Barnes and Noble, Monroeville, PA

Barnes and Noble, Greensboro, PA

Books-a-Million, Hagerstown, MD

Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop (Mechcanicsburg, Pennsylvania)

FEATURED BOOK OF THE WEEK

Between minding a pair of rambunctious goats, meetings with her quilting circle, and matchmaking, Millie Fisher has plenty to keep her busy through her golden years. But the witty widow always makes time to solve the odd murder . . .
 
Some Amish men don’t know what’s good for them. That’s what Millie Fisher told herself when young Ben Baughman set his heart on marrying Tess Lieb. With Tess’s father refusing to give his blessing and Tess’s ex-boyfriend being a wet blanket, the hapless couple was bound to butt heads more than Millie’s Boer goats. But when Ben tragically dies in a mysterious fire, Millie wonders if someone in her hometown of Harvest, Ohio, wanted Ben out of the wedding picture altogether . . .
 
With the help of her quilting buddies, and her outspoken Englischer friend Lois, Millie is determined to patch together all the clues without even dropping a stitch. She only hopes it won’t be the death of her . . .

ORDER the BOOK!

Happy reading!

Amanda

Join my email list

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Happy Easter!!

Have a blessed Easter! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

FEATURED BOOK OF THE WEEK

A sweet tooth for murder….

Bailey King’s in New York wrapping up a six-week shoot on her first cable TV show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets, when she gets a call from her Ohio town’s resident busybody. With Easter around the corner, Bailey’s been recruited to create a giant toffee bunny for the weeklong springtime festival that will also feature live white rabbits. But back home in Harvest, death becomes the main attraction when Stephen Raber keels over from an apparent heart attack – with Bailey and Raber’s pet bunny as witnesses. 

Except it wasn’t Raber’s heart that suddenly gave out – a lethal dose of lily of the valley was mixed into a tasty piece of toffee. Who’d want to poison a jovial rabbit farmer who reminded Bailey of an Amish Santa Claus? To solve the murder, she and her sheriff deputy boyfriend Aiden must uncover a 20-year-old secret. She’ll need to pull a rabbit out of a hat to keep a healthy distance from toxic people, including one venomous killer….

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Happy reading!

Amanda