Tag: Cozy mysteries

Cozy mystery, holiday

A Zappy Little Christmas

Jackie Layton

A Zappy Little Christmas in October? You bet. Paula Charles’ new book releases October 21, and I preordered it months ago. Isn’t the cover beautiful? I can’t wait to read it. Paula agreed to stop by the blog today, and here’s Paula.

Thank you, Jackie, for inviting me here today to chat about my newest book.

A Zappy Little Christmas is the third book in the Hometown Hardware mysteries. This series features Dawna Carpenter, the widowed owner of Carpenter’s Corner Hardware in the mountain town of Pine Bluff, Oregon.

In Zappy, Dawna, her daughter April, and elderly family friend Smitty are taking a festive tour on the town bus, dubbed the Christmas Light Trolley, to ooh and ahh over all the beautifully decorated homes in town.

Having them jump on the Christmas Light Trolley was inspired by a similar tour we took my husband’s grandmother on years ago when we all lived in Cody, Wyoming. That tour was just like the one I described in the book, (sans a dead body!), with festive treats, lights, and fun Christmas music pumping through the speakers. We all enjoyed it so much, and Grandma Mary’s eyes truly sparkled that night. When I thought about writing a Christmas cozy, I knew the trolley had to be included.

I hope you all enjoy your time experiencing Pine Bluff at Christmastime! 

My website: Paula Charles Books | Paula Charles

From the back cover:

Silver bells ring out, but in the air there’s a feeling of…murder.

Pine Bluff, Oregon resembles a perfect cozy Christmas card. Sparkling Christmas trees line snowy main street. Wreaths, red ribbons, and colored lights adorn every door. Hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is in a festive mood. She invites her elderly neighbor, Smitty, to join her and daughter April on the Christmas Light Tour, a trolley that takes guests through all the best decorated neighborhoods while they enjoy steaming mugs of hot cocoa and scrumptious treats.

But when Smitty spies one of the homeowners dead—a macabre decoration in an otherwise merry display—the cheerful ride turns somber fast. Dawna notices the ghost of the deceased woman standing next to the display, clearly angry over her recent demise. As snow blankets the valley and her newest employee is implicated in the crime, it’s up to Dawna to find out who’s been naughty and who’s been nice—before it’s lights out for her, too.

Thanks for sharing, Paula. Congratulations on A Zappy Little Christmas!

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Exploring South Carolina

Jackie Layton

I’m so excited about this podcast with Becki Lee and Literary Escapes. After you listen to the episode with me, featuring South Carolina, check out the other authors writing in different states. It’s the best bang for your buck if you want to visit all the states.

Here’s the link. https://literaryescapes.fun/ep-109-exploring-south-carolina-with-author-jackie-layton/

As always, thanks for your support and encouragement! Take care!

Life

Hygge

Jackie Layton

Hygge was the word of the day last Monday. It is a Danish word that came about in the 1960s, and it makes me smile. Have you ever used this word, or have you heard somebody else use it?

Merriem-Webster’s definition of hygge is, “a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortable

During the long, dark winters when Danes retreat inside their homes, hygge is what brings them a great sense of comfort and joy.—Mary Holland”

According to Worddaily.com, “Elements of hygge include sweaters, couches piled with blankets, candlelight, a warm pastry — basically anything involved with a cozy winter day. This holiday season, light a fire, grab a cup of cocoa, and settle in for a night of hygge. Hygge started out as a Scandinavian way of life, embracing comfort and small pleasures. The word “hygge” then entered English through Danish.”

It’s springtime, and I bet most of us are not thinking about snuggling in blankets on a comfy couch in front of a roaring fire. But there are ways to create hygge in our lives this season.

For starters, I’d like to suggest flowers. Cut flowers from your garden and make big or small arrangements. If you don’t have a garden, buy a small bouquet.

Go for a walk and observe your surroundings. I don’t live in a big city, and it’s easy to connect with nature. That gives me a feeling of coziness.

What about puppies? Do they fit the definition of hygge?

As a cozy mystery author, I’ve got to mention books. What about the term hygge mystery?

Hygge mystery probably won’t catch on, but it’s fun to think about. I hope you all have a warm and hygge spring day, and I hope you find time to read a fun hygge mystery.

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Malice Domestic and Sidekicks

Jackie Layton

Malice Domestic began in 1989, and it became an annual fan convention for mystery lovers.

I attended my first Malice Domestic in 2019. Since then I became published, but the pandemic put a stop to Malice the last two years. This was the first time I’ve attended a conference as an author, and I was both excited and scared.

I participated in my first live panel, and we discussed secondary characters and sidekicks.

Toni LP Kelner was the moderator of our panel. Arlene Kay, Libby Klein, Lisa Q, Mathews, and Charlaine Harris were also on my panel, and they were all amazing. They were also very kind to this newbie.

This is my BRLA family led by Dawn Dowdle. It was great bonding with my agency mates after two years of Zoom meetings.

Because the topic of my panel was sidekicks, I plan to invite others to share their favorite sidekicks with us this year.

Do you have a favorite sidekick?