Cozy Mysteries discussion
"Featuring" author...
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Series
Pie Shoppe
BFF
San Francisco Shopping Murder
Carol Grace
Series
Silhouette Romance
Silhouette Desire
Harlequin Romance
Fairly Tale Bride
Pocket Books
Grace Carroll
Series
Accessories Murder
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Pie Shoppe series
A Good Day to Pie 2011
Never Say Pie 2012
BFF series
Manderly Prep 2007
Rich Girl 1/2008
The Guy Next Day 7/2008
San Francisco Shopping Murder series
Shop Til You Drop...Dead 9/2012
Drop Dead Gorgeous 3/2013
As Carol Grace
Silhouette Romance series
A Taste of Heaven 1993
Home is Where the Heart is 92
Make Room for Nanny 89
The Lady Wore Spurs 94
Mail Order Male 93
Granted-Wild West Bride 98
Granted-Big Sky Groom 98
Granted- A Family for Baby 98
Almost Married 96
Almost a Husband 95
Lonely Millionaire 94
The Rancher and the Lost Bride 96
Married to the Sheik 99
Fit for a Sheikh 01
Falling for the Sheik 06
Taming the Sheik 01
A Princess in Waiting 02
Pregnant by the Boss 03
The Librarian' s Secret Wish 00
Wanted Husband 2011
Wild Mustang Man 2011
Silhouette Desire series
Wife for a Night 97
The Heiress Inherits a Cowboy 98
Expecting 99
Harlequin Romance series
Family Tree 2000
Under Alaskan Skies 03
The Magnificent M.D. 00
Fairy Tale Bride series
His Sleeping Beauty 2005
Beauty & the Big Bad Wolf 05
Snow White Bride 06
Cinderellie 05
Cinderella is Overalls 2011
Pocket Books
An Accidental Greek Wedding 2010
That's Amore 03
Their Greek Island Reunion 06
Her Sheikh Boss 08
The Sicilian's Bride 09
The Prince' s Nanny 10
The Millionaire's Nanny 11
Two for a Buck 11
Mail-Order Millionaire 11
Mr.Wonderful 11
Table for Two 11
Always a Bridesmaid 12
Her Italian Millionaire 12
A Millionaire in Paris 12
Prom, Love and the Guy Next Door 13
Love in the Air 13
Paradise series
Welcome to Paradise 11
Return to Paradise 11
Trouble in Paradise 11
As Grace Carroll
Accessories Murder series
Shoe Done it 10/2011
Died with a Bow 9/2012
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(I have only read the Pie Shoppe series)
Pie Shoppe series
Hanna Denton returned home to take over het Grannie Louise' s pie shop. Hanna tries to live up to her Grannie' s reputation, for baking the best pies. She tries to help solve the murders in the town while dealing with the police chief, who was her high school crush.
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Mini Interview with Carol Culver
#1 Where do you see yourself as a writer in 10 years?
C.C. I hope to still be self-publishing mysteries and romances as I'm doing now. It's the world's greatest job.
You can do it anywhere and at your own pace. And you meet other writers, the most generous people in the world.
#2 If you could live anywhere regardless of the weather, where and why?
C.C. I have lived in Honolulu, West Africa, Nicaragua, Tunisia, Algeria and France. I love exotic places where I can speak French. Since I enjoy warm weather, I would choose a tropical island so I could swim, read, write and bask in the sunshine. But maybe I'd be so relaxed I'd forget the writing part.
#3 What genres do you like to read when you are not writing?
C.C. I love mysteries and romances and I'm now enjoying Where'd You Go, Bernadette.
#4 Do you do book signings, if no do you have plans to, when and where?
C.C. I did book signings for years when I published with Harlequin, but since the arrival of the e-book phenomenon, I won't be doing anymore.
#5 Do you" base" any of your fictional characters in your books from people in your personal life?
C.C. Of course the main character is always me - a smarter, younger and more beautiful version of myself. I don't think I could ever solve a mystery, but my super sleuth can.
#6 What are working on now?
C.C. I'm writing a short fan fiction book based on The Gossip Girls for Kindleworlds, their new imprint. My version is called "Where'd You Go, Gossip Girl?"
#7 Do you have any talents other than being a great writer?
C.C. I speak French and I give classes on cruise ships. The most recent was on a cruise to Scandinavia and Russia where we discussed Scandinavian mysteries like the Stieg Larsson books.
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I loved her Pie Shoppe series, I wish there were more. Unfortunately there won't be anymore of that series available. I am looking forward to reading her other mystery series.
I've never heard of her, but I am going to check her out!! Thanks Candace!
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FINAL DAY CAROL CULVER
RECENT RELEASES
San Francisco Shopping Murder series
Drop Dead Ted 7/2013
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Coffeehouse Mystery series
On What Grounds 2003
As Alice Kimberly
Haunted Bookshop series
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure 2004
Cleo Coyle is the first cozy author I ever read!!!!! I like both series!!!!!!
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Cleo Coyle
Coffeehouse Mystery series
Alice Kimberly
Haunted Bookshop series
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Mini Interview with Cleo Coyle
#1 Where do you see yourself as a writer in 10 years?
C.C. Still alive and writing (we certainly hope). And speaking of ten years…
As of this month (September 2013), our Coffeehouse Mystery series has been in print for an entire decade. We’re grateful to our readers for the loyalty they’ve shown us over the past ten years, and we hope they’ll continue to enjoy our work through the next.
For those who haven’t read us, the first book in our Coffeehouse Mystery series, On What Grounds, is now in its 17th printing, and the characters who populate it have become like family—to us and our readers (or so they tell us).
Marc and I truly relish penning these mysteries. We even have our cast’s far futures sketched out in our minds, with many surprising twists along the way. Sorry, no hints today. To us, writing mystery is akin to magic (creative presentations, tricky machinations, careful misdirections, surprising reveals)—and magicians should never reveal their secrets.
Our other series, The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, will celebrate 10-years in print next fall. Our “Ghost” series (as we call it) has a dedicated following, and our readers have told us (in no uncertain terms) that they want to read more stories. We hope to make them happy, and we’re now sketching out more titles in this series.
These mysteries feature the spirit of a hardboiled private eye named Jack Shepard. Jack was gunned down in a New England book shop circa 1949. Without a body, he must solve crimes via a living partner, which is one reason he haunts the prim, young widow who runs the book shop where he died. (The other reason is that he’s always had a soft spot for red heads, and “Penny with the copper hair” works his way into his heart, so to speak.)
Penelope Thornton-McClure isn’t sure if Jack is a real ghost or a figment of her readers’ imagination. She always was a fan of the Black Mask school of mystery writing, just like her police officer dad. And like her late father, Pen wants to see justice served. So whether Jack is a real ghost or just a figment of her mystery-reading imagination, she accepts all the advice he can give her.
For anyone interested in reading our Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, the first book in the series is titled The Ghost and Mrs. McClure, and it’s written under the name Alice Kimberly. Readers who’d like to know when more books will be published should be sure to stay subscribed to our periodic newsletter. (For info on how to subscribe, click here: http://cleocoylebooks.wordpress.com/s....)
#2 If you could live anywhere regardless of the weather where and why?
C.C. Marc and I grew up in Western, Pennsylvania (USA), and have traveled to many beautiful parts of our country as well as other countries. But for us, living in New York City is our writers’ dream come true.
There’s so much history here and history-in-the-making; and the diverse populations, along with their intriguing cuisines, have given us many ideas for stories—and recipes.
While New York is a very large city, we know from living here for decades that it’s really just a collection of little neighborhoods with many of the same characteristics as small towns—from Mom and Pop shops, pet-loving dog-walkers, and baseball fans to street festivals, annual parades, and local eateries.
We enjoy writing about all aspects of the city: the lamebrain insanity, the inevitable crime, and the tough challenges as well as the unexpected kindnesses, unabashed heroism, 24/7 energy, and heartwarming joy. New York City inspires us daily as authors (sometimes even hourly) and we can’t imagine living anywhere else.
#3 What genres do you like to read when you are not writing?
C.C. Marc and I both read widely in fiction (mysteries, classics, and other genres) and non-fiction.
Marc grew up reading fantasy, pulp fiction, and science fiction and was deeply inspired at a young age by the existential fantasy fiction of Robert E Howard and H P Lovecraft. In fact, Marc’s first published book was a literary study of Robert E Howard’s fiction.
I grew up sampling from every genre, and I discovered that I enjoyed reading plays—everything from Shakespeare to modern dramatists like Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard, David Mamet, Tennessee Williams, and some very offbeat playwrights like Samuel Beckett and “Theater of the Absurd” writer Eugene Ionesco.
Marc and I both appreciate the art of dialog, which is why we also enjoy listening to old radio dramas. We’re big fans of noir fiction, as well—Raymond Chandler, James M Cain, Hammett, and James Ellroy, authors who helped inspire our creation of Jack Shepard in our Haunted Bookshop Mystery series.
#4 Do you do book signings if no do you have plans to, when and where?
C.C. Next spring (most likely April), we are looking forward to appearing at the Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop in Mechanicsburg, PA. We hope to do more signings in the future. Watch our newsletter for announcements, and if we come to a bookstore near you, we certainly hope you’ll stop by and say hi.
#5 Do you “base” any of your fictional characters in your books from people in your personal life?
C.C. Marc and I created and developed every character in The Coffeehouse Mysteries and The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries drawing from our own experiences, histories, and personalities—and aspects of the quirks therein. You might say we suffer from creative Schizophrenia, which is a good thing to have if you’re an author.
And, yes, we have based our characters not only on aspects of ourselves but on those of people we’ve known, admired, and/or observed as we’ve gone about our lives.
Of course, murder mystery writers are often asked if they’ve ever killed someone they knew. Yes. I must confess, I am guilty as charged. The particular woman I “did away with” was a former boss. She once let an employee go with the perky line that she wanted to inform the person herself because it was “good practice” for her as a young executive. Truthfully, I’ve killed her off a few times now—and plan to do it a few more.
#6 What are you working on now?
C.C. Next fall’s Coffeehouse Mystery. And to our Haunted Bookshop Mystery fans, yes, Jack and Pen are coming again. We’re working on the next book in that series, too.
#7 Do you have any talents besides being a great writer?
C.C. Ha! That’s very flattering, but “great” is a high bar. We’ll settle for “entertaining” writers!
In answer to your question, Marc and I both very much enjoy cooking and baking—a good thing since the Coffeehouse Mysteries are also culinary mysteries.
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Coffeehouse Mystery series
On What Grounds 03
Through the Grinder 04
Latte Trouble 05
Murder Most Frothy 06
Decaffeinated Corpse 07
French Pressed 08
Espresso Shot 09
Holiday Grind 10
Roast Mortem 11
Murder by Mocha 8/11
A Brew to Kill 8/12
Holiday Buzz 12/12
Haunted Bookshop series
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure 04
The Ghost and the Dead Deb 05
The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library 06
The Ghost and the Femme Fatale 08
The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion 09
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Coffeehouse Mystery series
Clare Cosi is a manager of a coffeshop, where her former mother in law, Madame made Clare and her ex-husband, Matteo co-owners. Clare helps solve the murders while at the same time "catching" the eye of a hunky Lietenant Quinn.
Haunted Bookshop series
Penelope Thornton-McClure runs a Rhode Island bookshop rumored to be haunted by a ghost. The ghost that haunts the bookshop is a P.I. named Jack Shepard who was murdered in the bookshop more that 50 years ago. While trying to solve the murders in her small town Penelope befriends her ghost live in.
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I have read all the books she currently has out. Both series are great! Each has it's own style but you can tell it was written by the same author. Both series have mystery, humor and some romance. Pick up one today and begin a reading adventure!
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Coffeehouse mystery series
Billionaire Blend 12/2013
As Alice Kimberly
Haunted Bookshop series
The Ghost and The Bogus Best Seller TBD
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Flower Shop Mystery series
Mum's the Word 11/2004
Historical Romance series
Promised to a Stranger 12/2010
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Mini Interview with Kate Collins
#1 Where do you see yourself as a writer in 10 years?
K.C. Probably searching for the perfect pun to use as a title for Flower Shop mystery #103. Seriously, I can't imagine doing anything but creating fictional worlds to entertain readers, so that's what I'll most likely be doing, God willing.
#2 If you could live anywhere regardless of the weather, where and why?
K.C. I would have to pick where I reside now (Northwest Indiana, near Lake Michigan, and Key West, Florida) since they're where my children grew up and where all my friends are. They trump weather.
#3 What genres do you like to read when you are not writing?
K.C. I read across the board in all genres except mystery, just for a change of pace. I am not a sci-fi buff, but I loved The Hunger Games books. Also love historical fiction.
#4 Do you do book signings, if no do you have plans to, when and where?
K.C. I used to travel around for booksignings, but I limit them now to just my hometown. I can reach so many more people on Internet community websites than in bookstores, and I have much less time to travel these days.
#5 Do you" base" any of your fictional characters in your books from people in your personal life?
K.C. I've drawn a few characters from someone who struck me as an interesting person, but 99% of them are straight out of my imagination, where I see them vividly. Only one character was taken from real life --Abby Knight's dad, like my dad was, is a retired policeman in a wheelchair. I have based personalities on people I know in town, but I wouldn't ever tell them so. They might not be flattered.
#6 What are working on now?
K.C. I"m just starting mystery #16 and looking for a new title -- a combination of a plant term and a danger term. Any ideas? LOL.
#7 Do you have any talents other than being a great writer?
K.C. Thank you for that compliment! Actually, I grow awesome tomato plants. I have one cherry tomato plant now that is ten feet long and three feet high, seriously! I have had great perennial/annual flower beds as well as large vegetable plots in the past. I guess you could say plots are my life.
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2 series 1 name
Flower Shop Mystery series
Historical Romance series
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Flower Shop Mystery series
Mum's the Word 04'
Slay it with Flowers 3/2005
Deadly Depotted 7/2005
Snipped in the Bud 06'
Acts of Violets 3/2007
A Rose from the Dead 12/2007
Shoots to Kill 08'
Evil in Carnations 09'
Sleeping with Anemone 2/2010
Dirty Rotten Tendrils 10/2010
Night if the Living Dandelion 5/2011
To Catch a Leaf 11/2011
Nightshade on Elm Street 12'
Seed No Evil 13'
Historical Romance series
Promised to a Stranger 10'
Beloved Protector 11'
His Forbidden Touch 11'
Courting Claire 11'
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Flower Shop series
Abby Knight owns the local floral shop in town, called Bloomers. She keeps busy by running the floral shop, solving murders and having run-ins with the local bar' s owner, a handsome Ex-Ranger named, Marco.
Side note for Kate Collins, her books are among the many for which Berkshire lowered the price at Amazon ($5.99) but haven't seen any decreases anywhere else ($7.99).
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I have read most of her books. The Flower Shop books are great series. I highly recommend them. Mystey, humor and some romance thrown in as well.
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Up and coming new release
Flower Shop Mystery series
Throw in the Trowel 2/2014
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Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries
A Killer Read 4/2012
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She only has one series:
Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries
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Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries
A Killer Read 4/2012
Read and Buried 12/2012
Cover Story 8/2013
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Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries
Lizzie Turner is a reading specialist who lives in Ashton Corners,AL. She and her fellow book club members help solve the local murders. It just so happens that the new police chief is Lizzie' s unrequited high school flame, Mark Dreyfus.
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Enjoy!
Mini Interview with Erika Chase
#1 Where do you see yourself as a writer in 10 years?
E.C. I see myself writing cozies, hopefully with a couple of series on the go. I’d love it if the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries continues that long but one never knows. I’m working on a new series proposal at the moment, fingers crossed!
#2 If you could live anywhere regardless of the weather, where and why?
E.C. Sicily. I visited the island a couple of years ago in August and even though I’m really not a hot weather person, I fell in love with the beauty of the island, it’s cultural wealth and the people.
#3 What genres do you like to read when you are not writing?
E.C. I read cozies. I like to keep on top of what’s new and what’s happening with my friends’ series. But I also have at least one British police procedural on the go, along with something new from the cool Canadian crime writers! (Many of whom are friends, I admit!)
#4 Do you do book signings, if no do you have plans to, when and where?
E.C. I love doing book signings and try to do at least one every few months in local bookstores. And I try to connect with bookstores when I’m traveling, to set up events. Conference signings are great fun, as is the annual Festival of Mystery sponsored by Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA each year after Malice Domestic.
I also enjoy talking to book clubs and other local groups, such as in seniors’ residences and at the library. My ‘big’ event is the annual book launch. Those are such fun and a great chance to meet old and new readers.
#5 Do you" base" any of your fictional characters in your books from people in your personal life?
E.C. Not that they’d notice – at least, I hope not. Of course, all fictional characters have a bit of real people woven into their profiles and personalities. And, if someone is really ticking your off – there’s your next victim or murderer!
#6 What are working on now?
E.C. I’m working on the fourth book in the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries, Book Fair and Foul, which will come out later next year. It, of course, involves a murder, mayhem and a book fair.
#7 Do you have any talents other than being a great writer?
E.C. I love to sing in a choir! I’ve been doing so for many years, singing first soprano in a variety of non-professional choirs in the city. And we have a lot. My present choir is a classical one and it’s an important part of my life.
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I have read all the books she has currently out. This is a fantastic series. She does a marvelous job with the mystery and suspense. You never know who the killer is the end. This series also has plenty of romance and humor. Highly recommend! :)
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I have read all the books she has currently out. This is a fantastic series. She does a marvelous job with the mystery and suspense. You never know who the killer is the end. This series also has plenty of romance and humor. Highly recommend! :)
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UP AND COMING RELEASES
BOOK FAIR AND FOUL 2014
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Short stories
The Chocolate Kidnapping Clue 6/2001
The Chocoholic Mysteries
The Chocolate Cat Caper 3/2002
As Eve K Sandstrom
Short stories
Bugged 5/1996
A Sam and Nicky Titus Mystery series
Death Down Home 1990
The Nell Mathews Mysteries
The Violence Beat 1997
As Elizabeth Storm
The Firing Line 1988
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The Chocoholic Mysteries
As Eve K. Sandstrom
The Sam & Nicky Titus Mystery series
The Nell Matthews Mysteries
As Elizabeth Storm
Harlequin book
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The Chocoholic Mystery series
The Chocolate Kidnapping Clue 01'
The Chocolate Cat Caper 02'
The Chocolate Bear Burglary 02'
The Chocolate Frog Frame- Up 03'
Crime de Cocoa 05'
(Cat Caper, Bear Burglary, Frog Frame-Up)
The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle 04'
The Chocolate Mouse Trap 05'
The Chocolate Bridal Bash 06'
The Chocolate Jewel Case 08'
The Chocolate Snowman Murders 09'
The Chocolate Cupid Killings 10'
Chocolate to Die For 10'
(Reprint of Puppy Puzzle & Mouse Trap)
The Chocolate Pirate Plot 10'
The Chocolate Castle Clue 11'
The Chocolate Moose Motive 12'
As Eve K Sandstorm
Short stories
Bugged 96'
The People's Way 01'
A Sam & Nicky Titus Mystery
Death Down Home 90'
The Devil Down Home 91'
The Down Home Heifer Heist 93'
The Nell Matthews Mysteries
The Violence Beat 97'
The Homicide Report 98'
The Smoking Gun 00'
As Elizabeth Storm
The Firing Line 88'
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Chocoholic series
Lee McKinney moved from Texas to Michigan to help her Aunt Nettie run Tenhuis Chocolade, a gourmet chocolate shop. Besides running Tenhuis, Lee helps solves the murders in this small town. Mystery and humor: ex, when Lee gets nervous her tongue gets tied and words come out wrong. It makes for a good laugh. This series also gives you many neat facts about chocolate.
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I really enjoyed the Chocoholic series. It has good mystery, lots of laughs and the characters are well developed. Also it doesn't hurt it gives facts about chocolate. :)
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She doesn't have any up and coming releases at least that I know of. If you like her books or want to know more about her her email is joanna@joannacarl.com
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Consignment Shop series
Iced Chiffon 10/2012
As Diane Castell
Harlequin Romance series
Court- Appointed Marriage 8/2001
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Mini Interview with Duffy Brown
#1 Where do you see yourself as a writer in 10 years?
D.B. Ten years…that’s along time off. God willing I’ll be right were I am writing more mystery books. I cannot imagine a life without making up stories and chatting with readers…the best part of writing. I’ve made so many wonderful friends through writing.
#2 If you could live anywhere regardless of the weather, where and why?
D.B. Probably just stay in Cincy. I have two grand kids on the way, one being adopted from South Korea…we’ve waited for that little guy a long time. I can’t leave with all my family here. I do love the South. If my kids weren’t here in Cincy I’d move to Savannah. I just love that city, guess that’s why I set Consignment Shop Mysteries there. Or maybe Mackinac Island. I’m setting another mystery series there and visited for a week. I could so live there. It’s like a blip in time with no cars and only bikes and horses. And it’s lovely. And I could buy a snowmobile!!
#3 What genres do you like to read when you are not writing?
D.B. I’m such a mystery person…write it and read it. If there’s not a mystery to be solved I get so bored. I think…you people are wasting time…there are clues there.
#4 Do you do book signings, if no do you have plans to, when and where?
D.B. August 22 I’ll be at the Painted Cupcake in Nashville with Tanya Kappes and Nancy Naigle to drink tea and eat delish cupcakes with readers. If any of you can make it just let me know and I’ll add you to the list. I do the book fairs. They are so much fun and I meet a lot of readers. I do the Kentucky book fairs and the ones in Ohio. I’m also going to the Virginia Festival of Books in March and Savannah book fair in February.
#5 Do you" base" any of your fictional characters in your books from people in your personal life?
D.B. My characters are more like people I wish I knew. Lots of fun and get into trouble helping others. I wish I lived next door to Auntie KiKi and knew Reagan and everyone wants a Walker Boone it their lives.
#6 What are working on now?
D.B. I’m working Breaking for Bodies, the first book in my Cyclepath Mystery Series set on Mackinac Island. I know how to talk Southern now I need to talk Mackinac. It’s only eight miles big but the perfect place to kill people off. Shakedowns cover-ups and big fat lies keep bodies hidden on Mackinac Island and fudge-eating tourist oblivious to it all.
#7 Do you have any talents other than being a great writer?
D.B. I love to garden, have a ton of roses, hydrangeas, hostas, blueberry bushes, apple trees and plant a bunch of annuals each year. I can’t imagine a house not surrounded by flowers. I work the Snooty Fox, an upscale consignment shop here in Cincy. Love the deals I get on nice clothes. I love to hike and bike and I Zumba. Don’t know if I exactly love Zumba but it lets me eat a Snickers now and then and sneak a doughnut.
Pie Shoppe series
A Good Day to Pie 8/2011
A BFF Novel series
Manderley Prep 12/2007
As Carol Grace
Silhouette Romance series
A Taste of Heaven 1993
Silhouette Desire series
Wife for a Night 1997
Harlequin Romance series
Family Tree 2000
Fairy Tale Bride series
His Sleeping Beauty 2005
Pocket Book series
An Accidental Greek Wedding 2010
As Grace Carroll
Accessories Mysteries
Shoe Done It 10/2011