I recently waved to another driver and smiled. The moment the driver saw my smile, he lit up and smiled back.
I’m not saying people will treat us better if we smile, but maybe they will.
Let’s try an experiment this week. Smile at more people, and see if you notice a difference.
This is National Simplify Your Life week. Who knew such a thing existed?
Life gets hectic, and it makes sense to simplify. I’ve got a few suggestions to simplify.
What are some ways you’ve found to simplify your life?
Because cozy mysteries and baking are a popular combination, I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite bakers, Brooke. (My other favorite baker is Brooke’s sister, Allie.)
Me: Brooke, why do you enjoy baking cupcakes?
Brooke: I enjoy cupcakes because they can be fun and creative, or you can make simple cupcakes. There is no right or wrong rule when it comes to cupcakes. Plus, this is an art I’m good at.
Me: Do you prefer to create cupcakes or eat them?
Brooke: I prefer to create. You can make fancy cupcakes or monster cupcakes, and it’s a lot of fun.
Allie in the background: I’d rather eat a cupcake.
Me: Do you prefer cakes or cupcakes, and why?
Brooke: Cupcakes because I can create more flavors, and I can add fillings.
Me: What kind of fillings?
Brooke: Crushed cookies and sprinkles are two of my favorites. But the cupcake needs to be cool enough or else it crumbles.
Brooke recently participated in Cupcake Wars. The kids were put in groups of two, and Brooke and her partner won. Congratulations, Brooke.
I asked Brooke how she felt about serving her creations, and she told me it was fun to serve the cupcakes and watch people’s reaction. It makes her happy to give people fun food that tastes good.
Maybe in a few years Brooke and I can team up and write a cozy mystery with a theme of baking cupcakes. I’ll keep you posted.
Brooke, thanks so much for spending time with us and sharing your thoughts on baking!
Whatever holiday you celebrate this month, I hope you enjoy it.
Next week, I’m going to have a most SPECIAL guest. I hope you can stop by then.
Meanwhile, enjoy the holidays!
I’m delighted to introduce you to another cozy mystery author, Kim Davis.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Jackie! I’m celebrating my new release, cozy mystery Framed and Frosted, along with settling into having a new puppy in our home. While we doggie-sit our grand-doggie, Piper, several times a year (note: Piper is the dog model for my Cupcake Catering Mysteries covers) she’s now six years old and has a comfortable routine that works for me being able to sit at my computer and get work done. Now that we have Missy, a four-month-old mini Goldendoodle, I find that I’m chasing her around to keep her out of trouble almost all day long. My fitbit will attest to that fact! When I do find a moment for myself (i.e. she decides to take a nap) too many other chores and responsibilities crowd out my writing and blogging time. I also had a grand vision of Missy curling up next to me each evening while I read (generally to catch up on books to review for my blog) and sip a glass of wine… boy was I delusional, lol! It seems to be her super active time and by the time she crashes for the night, so do I.
That said, Missy is a treasured part of our home and as I was finishing up final edits for Framed and Frosted, I decided I just had to make Missy a part of the story and have her continue on in the series alongside Piper. It was too late to add her to the cover but I’m already dreaming up ways to include both Piper and Missy in the design, along with ways for them to keep my protagonist cupcake caterer Emory out of trouble! Now to only find the time to get those dreams down onto paper 😊
Framed and Frosted, the third book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery series, finds cupcake caterer, Emory Martinez, working at a Laguna Beach society Fourth of July soiree, with her sister and their new employee, Sal. With a host who seems intent on accosting both catering employees and guests alike, things go from bad to worse when he accuses Sal of murdering his long-dead son.
As the crescendo of exploding fireworks overhead becomes the backdrop for cupcakes and champagne, a deadly murder occurs. Can Sal and Emory explain why the cupcake the host ate, after shoving a trayful of buttercream-frosted cupcakes onto Sal, resulted in his death? Or will the detective and guests alike believe that Sal is a murderer? Emory and her octogenarian employer, Tillie, whip into action to find out who framed Sal after he was frosted by the victim.
Includes recipes!
Friends, you can find Kim on her website and other forms of social media. https://kimdavisauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Davis-Author-1532277473479031
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20202599.Kim_Davis
Kim, thanks so much for taking time to visit with us today.
They Cozy Mystery Book Club has monthly discussions on You Tube hosted by Angela Maria Hart. Each month on the channel Books Are My Hart Angela and a guest host discuss a cozy mystery.
This month’s discussion is June 29 at 7:00 PM EST. Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flowers is this month’s book.
Angela can also be found on Instagram and Twitter where she supports authors and readers in fun ways.
Recently, Angela held a Twitter Chat for cozy mystery readers and authors. I was selected to participate, and it was a blast. I enjoy meeting readers, and this was a great opportunity.
Angela is generous with her time and devotion. Here’s a link to get to know Angela better. https://t.co/FJPk4FXuUs?amp=1
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you at the next livestream Cozy Mystery Book Club on YouTube.
Have you heard anybody say they prefer the ‘howcatchem’ type of mystery? Do you know what they mean?
It refers to an inverted detective mystery story. The crime is described or shown at the beginning of the story. The reader usually knows the guilty person from the beginning. The sleuth attempts to solve the mystery. Along the way the story reveals why the crime was committed.
An example of a TV show is Columbo. The show’s plot takes you along with Columbo as he solves the crime. The guilty party squirms, and the detective always gets his guy.
I don’t have any books to recommend in the category of howcatchems. I’ve watched Columbo and enjoyed his show. When reading though, I prefer whodunits. I enjoy trying to figure out who the killer is.
What about you? What’s your favorite type of mystery?
Sharee Stover has been a trusted friend for years. We’re in a critique group together, and we’ve survived many ups and downs. Sharee’s newest romantic suspense, Cold Case Trail, came out last week. Please welcome her today as she shares about dog friendship.
Friendships are powerful, whether with another human or with a beloved animal, they make all the difference. Science is repeatedly discovering people do much better, physically and emotionally, when they have close friendships. There’s something wonderful about having a supportive presence in good times and bad.
And while there is no replacing the importance of human friends, animals take friendship to a different level. They offer their love and companionship unconditionally, detecting emotions and offering understanding in a way no one else might.
When I wrote Cold Case Trail, I wanted to focus on two characters I’d introduced in my second book, Silent Night Suspect. State Trooper Trey Jackson and his K-9 Belgian Malinois, Magnum, had already found their place in my heart and imagination so bringing them to life again was mandatory.
My own dog, Niko, played a huge role in the development of Magnum. Niko is not a K-9 but don’t tell him, he kind of thinks he is. However, he is a member of our family and pretty much dictates the day with going in and out, daily walks, mealtime, etc. Still, he offers his affection and devotion without question, and we adore him.
Trey and Magnum have a long-developed relationship and when they step onto the pages of Cold Case Trail, they’re recovering from an injury. Well, Magnum is recovering. That’s the thing about their partnership though, when one is hurt, the other suffers as well. Isn’t that true of friendships? We bear one another’s burdens and share one another’s joys.
It’s imperative that Trey and Magnum work in synchronicity. This comes from hours, days, weeks, months, and years of daily interaction and training. They showcase many of their skills throughout the story and Magnum proves he is hero-material.
If dogs talked, life would be so much easier for their owners. Alas, as a dog owner I need to rely on the time and experience I’ve had with Niko to know what he needs or wants. A slam against the side of the bed means “get up”. A nose nudging my arm says, “pay attention to me”. I anticipate his needs and somehow, he does the same. If I’m sick or feeling down, Niko is beside me offering his comfort and protection. If I’m excited and happy, he joyfully wags his tail in agreement. Now, if I could just teach him to fold laundry…
He also detects things whether visually or by scent long before I do. He has capabilities I don’t possess so I trust him to watch out for us. If we’re out walking alone, I know Niko’s got my back. That’s not to say he won’t chase after a squirrel if given the option, he is a dog after all, but I find comfort in just having him with me.
In all fairness, I must say that dogs aren’t the only ones that provide great friendship. So here’s a shout out to the cats, birds, guinea pigs, and other creatures who find their way into our homes and lives. Whatever the animal, there’s nothing comparable to the love of a pet.
Thanks, Sharee. I love hearing stories about our pets.
Isn’t Niko beautiful?
Following the clues
could be the last thing they do…
Temporarily working in the cold case division was supposed to mean less danger for state trooper Trey Jackson and his injured K-9 partner, Magnum—until they thwart an abduction. Now he must protect profiler Justine Stark, even as she blames him for her friend’s death ten years ago. Can he right past wrongs by finally solving the murder…and making sure Justine lives to find closure?
Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her real-life-hero husband, three too-good-to-be-true children, and a ridiculously spoiled dog. A self-proclaimed word nerd, she loves the power of the written word to ignite, transform, and restore. She writes Christian romantic suspense combining heart-racing, nail-biting suspense and the delight of falling in love all in one. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Nebraska Writer’s Guild. Sharee is a triple Daphne du Maurier finalist, winner of the 2017 Wisconsin Fabulous Five Silver Quill Award, and her debut, Secret Past, won Best First Book in the 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd. Visit her at www.shareestover.com.
Other ways to connect with Sharee and buy links:
Website: https://shareestover.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shareestover
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorshareestover/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shareestover/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sharee-stover
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shareestover
Buy Link Cold Case Trail: https://amzn.to/33sXjhq
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/shareestover
I’m not just asking from a monetary aspect. Our dog, Heinz, has torn his ACLs in both back legs. He could possibly have a tumor on his spine or a herniated disc. The vet assured us surigical options were iffy. It could help Heinz, or it could make the situation worse.
So what are we doing for Heinz?
We live in a raised house, so we now carry him outside everytime he needs to go out, which means we carry him inside too. Thank goodness he’s not a St. Bernard.
We don’t have any carpet in our home, and sometimes his back legs slide out from him when walking across the floor. So, what did we do?
This will not make HGTV or any decorating magazines, but we went to a two local stores looking for throw rugs. Only three of them match, and we like some better than others. We spread them out end-to-end and created paths for Heinz to walk on the carpets and not lose his footing. Mission accomplished.
He can walk from his bed to his food and to the door without slipping.
Is it tacky if you know it’s tacky? Is it tacky if you did it for the benefit of your beloved pet?
Maybe, but we don’t care.
I’d love to hear something crazy you’ve done for your pet.
While we all know 2020 was a terrible year, I made friends through social media. Kate Lansing is one of my new friends, and she has graciously stopped by for a visit.
What’s in a Name?
What’s in a name? Yes, a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, yada yada yada. But in general, I’ve found that names carry weight. They can add depth to characters, offer an opportunity for humor, and bring fictional worlds to life.
For example, one of my favorite things to learn is what people name their pets. It’s like a snapshot of their personality and instantly tells me something about them. Are they foodies with a cat named Baguette? Comedians who dubbed their dog Horse? Or book nerds that celebrate their favorite wizard by constantly calling for Gandalf? (My cat’s name is Maple, btw, in case anyone else harbors similar curiosities).
So, in the writing of my Colorado Wine Mystery series, it figures I spent an inordinate amount of time coming up with names. For characters (Parker Valentine being the protagonist), Parker’s winery (Vino Valentine), her cat (Zin, short for Zinfandel, naturally), and the handcrafted varietals themselves.
For the fictional wines, I leveraged alliteration and the picturesque setting of Boulder, Colorado, while also **maybe** having a little too much fun with puns.
There’s the Chautauqua Chardonnay that becomes infamous in the first book, Killer Chardonnay, based on one of my favorite parks in Boulder, with hiking trails, climbing, and even an amphitheater (where I once heard Stephen King speak!).
Along those lines are the Pearl Street Pinot, based on the quirky outdoor mall, Mount Sanitas White, an ode to one of my favorite hiking trails, and even Ralphie’s Riesling, named after the local college’s mascot (go Buffs!).
In the second book, A Pairing to Die For, I introduced the Jail Break Red, a blend Parker perfects during harvest while simultaneously trying to prove her boyfriend’s innocence. And another personal favorite: What Happens in Viognier.
The third book in the series, Mulled to Death, comes out in October, and there’s a lot of attention on the Snowy Day Syrah, fitting since it takes place at a ski resort over a weekend getaway.
If you had your own winery, what would you name the varietals? Do you put as much thought into names as I do?
Author Bio: Kate Lansing is an award-winning short story author. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a chair-napping tabby cat named Maple.
Website: http://katelansing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lansingkm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lansingkm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kmlansing/
Buy links for A Pairing to Die For:
Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621061/a-pairing-to-die-for-by-kate-lansing/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pairing-Die-Colorado-Wine-Mystery/dp/0593100204/
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-pairing-to-die-for-kate-lansing/1137073696
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/a-pairing-to-die-for/9780593100202
Kate, thanks so much for stopping by. Our Westie is named Heinz. My young son named him after Heinz Ketchup and his favorite football player at the time, Hines Ward.
Jackie Layton 