S.M. Stevens's Blog, page 15

“Composing Sermons & Dreaming Up Murder”

A fellow New England author I am fortunate to know is Reverend Jane Willan, whose latest cozy mystery was published a few weeks ago. More details on Abide With Me in a minute, but first you may have questions:

What is a cozy mystery?

Cozy mysteries, also called “cozies” are a form of crime fiction that differ from hardboiled crime stories in a number of ways:

The detective is an amateur sleuth The setting is a small town with quirky charactersAny sex or violence, including the main murder, is not explicit–in fact, it’s not described in any detail in the story. Action abounds, but graphic descriptions of murder and mayhem? Not so much.Cozies may or may not have romance.



She’s a Reverend?

Yes! Reverend Jane Willan is pastor of the First Congregational Church in Paxton, Massachusetts, where she preaches from a 300 year-old pulpit once occupied by Puritans.

I couldn’t possibly write a better bio for Jane than what she already wrote for her website–she is an author after all! So here’s a bit more, in Jane’s words:

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“Writing clerical mysteries comes naturally to Jane since she is the pastor of a white steepled church in a small New England town and divides her time between composing sermons and dreaming up murder—seldom letting the two overlap. She does her best writing in a converted walk-in closet at the church parsonage with just enough room for one desk, two dogs, and a Royal Manual typewriter. Jane likes to transport her readers to the rural countryside of North Wales where lush fields are dotted with sheep, church bells chime the hour, and the tea is always ready to pour.”

So what’s Abide With Me about?

Abide With Me is the third book in the heartwarming yet murderous Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn mystery series.

(I love that description — “heartwarming yet murderous” — which I took from Jane’s website. That may, in a nutshell, sum up cozy mysteries better than any other description!)

It’s available on IndieBound and on Amazon, where it is rated 5 stars. Here’s what one reader says about Abide With Me:

“Perfect whodunit. Likeable characters and great plots twists…another must read!”

— Debra H. Goldstein, Author of the Sarah Blair mysteries

But what’s the plot, you ask? This:

The season of Epiphany is in full swing at Gwenafwy Abbey when ten new nuns from a convent in Los Angeles join the community of Anglican sisters in Wales. They bring energy, youthful enthusiasm, and more electronic equipment than Sister Agatha could have imagined. The arrival of the new nuns brings something else to the Abbey—a bit of unexpected notoriety. Claire Pennoyer, an ambitious young reporter for The Church Times, interviews the new sisters for a feature story. Murder is the last thing on anyone’s mind when Claire is found dead on the beach, her mobile phone in the sand. A tragic death, says Constable Barnes. A selfie gone bad. Meanwhile, Sister Agatha is unconvinced and puts on her detective’s hat. Clues abound including the mysterious discovery of a missing key baked into the king’s cake for the feast of Epiphany. Sister Agatha’s tangled list of suspects includes even the abbey’s residents – and the beloved archbishop of Wales. Worst of all are her worries about the abbey’s beloved Shetland pony, Bartimaeus, who may be reaching the end of a noble life. Time is running out as Sister Agatha uncovers a shocking reality. Will she reveal the truth hidden in an ancient document before it is too late?

Isn’t it time you cozied up with a heartwarming, humorous mystery set in Wales and featuring nuns and a Shetland pony? Enjoy.

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Fun Photo Friday: Penguin Slide

We call this one the Penguin Slide…

I’m not the kind of person who laughs at others’ misfortunes — including penguins — but I admit this video made me laugh. As a lifetime resident of New England, where we’re super embarrassed if we slip and fall on the ice, it’s nice to know that even those who live in wintery conditions year-round can occasionally slip slide away!

[image error] Click the image to view GIF.

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Treasure Trove for Poetry Lovers

Where does one start to describe the wonderful writing and career of award-winning poet Susan Roney-O’Brien, whose new collection Thira is now available? This new release is a treasure trove for poetry-lovers.

She has published five collections of poetry and innumerable individual poems in literary publications. Her poetry has been translated into Braille and Mandarin. She is very active in the poetry community including a board of directors position for the Worcester County Poetry Association. A former schoolteacher, she continues to share her educational talents through writers groups, workshops and readings.

Thira, as bestselling novelist Helen Fremont describes, “brings to life an ancient Mediterranean civilization….With each poem, the book accrues greater power and suspense, illuminating the ways in which we attempt to cope with forces beyond our control. Roney-O’Brien’s mastery of music and mystery makes one long to immerse oneself in this marvel of a book.”

“Sample her wares” i.e. a selection of her poems at Off the Margins. This site also offers an interview with Susan which shows her prose is as poetic as her verse. Here are a few tidbits from that interview:

“I write from the inside out, from bone and blood and marrow, listen deep and respond first to emotion then, as words come, shape their song using all the craft I can muster….Sometimes I try to reenter a past experience, to step in with open eyes, face it, cut into its truth and recast it, owning it again as a piece of art, a poem exquisite in its honest portrayal of pain or sorrow or joy.”

Read more of her poems at Monadnock Pastoral Poets & Writers.

This interview from Worcester Magazine is from 2018 but still a lovely read.

In September 2020, the Worcester Public Library featured a video interview with Susan which you can view here.

Finally, pick up one of her collections on Amazon today!

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New Release for Historical Fiction Fans

An advance reviewer of Erin’s Children by Eileen O’Finlan says the historical fiction novel is “better than biting into premium chocolates“ — now that is some high praise! The book was recently released and is available where books are sold.

I was lucky enough to hear some parts of Erin’s Children during the manuscript phase. Eileen O’Finlan is a wonderful writer and you will not be disappointed if you dip into one of her books.

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Erin’s Children is a sequel to her equally magnificent Kelegeen, which is rated 5 stars on Amazon. Personally, I think Kelegeen has one of the most stunning covers I’ve seen in a while.

One thing that sets O’Finlan’s writing apart from the pack is that the “historical” aspect of her novels does more than provide a few settings; it’s integral to the story. Her painstakingly researched stories are full of rich detail that transport you to another time.

But what, you ask, are these books about?

Kelegeen is the epic story of Meg O’Connor and her family during the Irish Potato Famine. Calling Meg “plucky” is an understatement – she’d have to be to survive the famine!

Meg’s story continues in Erin’s Children — Meg and her sister Kathleen emigrate to the U.S. and secure employment as maids in Central Massachusetts. From there, as the reviewer says, “Several storylines reveal wonderful surprises…”

Goodreads is hosting a giveaway of Erin’s Children. Click here to learn more and enter to win.

And if you want to know more about the chocolates reference I started with, click to read the full review.

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Reading: “Astrid Attempts to Break Up with Dave”

What can I say – I always work a little romance into my novels. Who doesn’t love a little romance?

In this excerpt reading, Astrid decides to break up with Dave but then wavers when the moment comes…anyone else been there?

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Reading: “Sullied at the Police Station”

What happens when an attempted rape is reported at the police station? This reading from my novel Horseshoes and Hand Grenades gives you an idea. The story is set in the 1980s but how much has changed since then? You be the judge.

This reading, which I call “Sullied at the Police Station”, was recorded as part of a virtual author reading sponsored by the Worcester County Poetry Association and the Thirsty Lab on July 28, 2020.

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Fun Photo Friday: Presidential Election Status

Fun Photo Friday! Who better to make sense of the state of the U.S. presidential election than a child armed with crayons?

Fun Photo Friday: Halloween Anyone?

I think most of us can relate to this one! Who thought COVID overload would turn into Halloween fatigue?

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Reading: “Frenemies”

Who doesn’t love a good enemies-turned-friends story? That’s what you get in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades.

In this reading of an excerpt from the Contemporary/New Adult Fiction novel, our two heroes meet for the first time. Shelby and Astrid couldn’t be more different, and they do not hit it off right away, to put it mildly!

If this whets your appetite to see what happens with the two frenemies, get your copy of Horseshoes and Hand Grenades today. For a limited time, I’m offering it for only the shipping & handling price.

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Spooky Chills & Thrills

Call them ghost stories. Call them supernatural thrillers. Or, like me, just call them good clean fun.