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Rosemary-infused Watermelon Lemonade |
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Fruit Salad and Scallion Bread |
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Vanilla Beet Ice Cream |

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Rosemary-infused Watermelon Lemonade |
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Fruit Salad and Scallion Bread |
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Vanilla Beet Ice Cream |
Congratulations to Killer Characters Authors
Best Contemporary Novel
Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron (Crooked Lane Books)
Beyond the Truth by Bruce Robert Coffin (Witness Impulse)
Cry Wolf by Annette Dashofy (Henery Press)
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge)
Best Historical Novel
Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen (Berkley)
The Gold Pawn by LA Chandlar (Kensington)
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime)
Turning the Tide by Edith Maxwell (Midnight Ink)
Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson (Berkley)
Best First Novel
A Ladies Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman (Kensington)
Little Comfort by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
What Doesn't Kill You by Aimee Hix (Midnight Ink)
Deadly Solution by Keenan Powell (Level Best Books)
Curses Boiled Again by Shari Randall (St. Martin's)
Best Short Story
"All God's Sparrows" by Leslie Budewitz (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"A Postcard for the Dead" by Susanna Calkins in Florida Happens (Three Rooms Press)
"Bug Appetit" by Barb Goffman (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
"The Case of the Vanishing Professor" by Tara Laskowski (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"English 398: Fiction Workshop" by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Best Young Adult Mystery
Potion Problems (Just Add Magic) by Cindy Callaghan (Aladdin)
Winterhouse by Ben Guterson (Henry Holt)
A Side of Sabotage by C.M. Surrisi (Carolrhoda Books)
Best Nonfiction
Mastering Plot Twists by Jane Cleland (Writer's Digest Books)
Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy J Cohen (Orange Grove Press)
Conan Doyle for the Defense by Margalit Fox (Random House)
Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson (Pegasus Books)
Wicked Women of Ohio by Jane Ann Turzillo (History Press)
Beet ice cream sounds different. It sounds like fun to sit and knit while at the cafe. Can you crochet as well?
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Crochet is more than okay! I should have included that, Debby. Now Mel will be on my case. Thanks for stopping by the blog today.
DeleteThere, Debby - this is better - crocheters are welcome at Mel's table, and so are spinners, quilters, embroiders, and fly-tiers! Thanks for the prompt to fix the post!
DeleteThis is a new to me series but I like to knit and would love to sit and knit with the group. dbahn@iw.net
ReplyDeleteThe Scallion bread sounds really good! Alas, I have no yarn skills (making beaded jewelry is my one crafty thing) but I am a ghost hunter so maybe I could help in the yarn shop in a different way.
ReplyDeleteGhost hunter! How cool! Not that I'm admitting anything about ghosts or being haunted . . .
DeleteThe peach pie sounds great. I've only ever made apple pie. I haven't read any of the books but they sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteCmkeck311@aol.com
Apple pie is definitely good, Christine. And Mel's peach pie is wonderful. But my favorites are cherry pie, rhubarb pie, and gooseberry pie. Mmm, I haven't had gooseberry pie in years.
DeleteThese sound very interesting and would love to add them to my TBR stack.
ReplyDeleterjprazak6@gmail.com
Becky Prazak
Thanks for stopping by, Becky! I hope you give the books a try, sometime. Good luck in the drawing!
Delete"Last Wool and Testament" would be my choice, I think. Anyway, I don't knit but I have taken up crochet again and I need to come to your shop ASAP, as I have run out of yarn for a project I am working on. It involves 63 different stitches for squares to sew together. And so far I have figured out 32 of those stitches.
ReplyDeleteI would be interested in trying that Vanilla Beet ice cream. My husband, not so much.
ElaineE246 at msn dot com
Do stop by the Weaver's Cat, Elaine, and bring your project. I'd love to see all those stitches. Or if you happen to be in Champaign, stop by the library and show your project to Molly. She'd love to see it, too! :)
DeleteI'm using a book called "63 Easy-to-Crochet Pattern Stitches" and using Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn in all different colors so it will be crazy when I finish! Very colorful!
DeleteWhat a tasty post, Kath! All my characters will be very jealous.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Thanks, Mary Jane! Can you tell I hadn't eaten lunch before I wrote that?
DeleteBeets are so sweet, that ice cream must be wonderful.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
It is, Libby! It's beautiful, too. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI haven't met a piece of pie that I didn't like, so beet pie...I'm hopeful. Knitting or crocheting in a cafe sounds heavenly.
ReplyDeleteActually, it's beet ice cream. The pie up there in the picture is peach. But now that you mention it, I bet Mel would like the idea of beet pie. I'll pass that along. Thanks!
DeleteInteresting idea. suefoster109@netzero.net
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Sue. Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteI'll take your word about the beet ice cream. Make it a blueberry pie or blackberry cobbler and I would stop by every day. Now the fruit salad looks like it might actually be the first one I might actually enjoy. I have never heard of scallion bread, that might be interesting. I really need to stop by the cafe again soon to take a closer look at all the new items Mel is offering. Would they ladies be terribly upset if I admit that I prefer to crochet, than to knit. I reserve knitting to layettes everything else I crochet.
ReplyDeleteDelAnne
InspirationalAngel@hotmail.com
DelAnne, you stop by with your crochet and the ladies will treat you to some of that fruit salad! I can't believe I left crochet out of the post. I think I'll go in and fix that.
DeleteI think beet ice cream would be wonderful! I live near a beet sugar factory so I know how sweet they can be. Yarnsnthreads at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteYou should try the ice cream, Melanie. Mel (short for Melody) uses coconut milk. Delicious!
DeleteThat all sounds wonderful except the vanilla beet ice cream. I don't eat beats. Thumbs up to the rest.
ReplyDeletevioletingramauthor@gmail.com
Aw, sorry about the beets. But there's plenty else at Mel's to tickle your taste buds. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteBeet pie would be delightful and refreshing. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteI may not like beets, but I would be willing to try the ice cream while reading or listening to your book(s). bobbipad at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteYou're brave and kind! Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI would enjoy trying any of these offerings since they are ideal for summer. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAnd Mel will be happy to have you stop by to sample any or all of them! You'll find the cafe on Main Street in Blue Plum - and pictures of it on our author's Pinterest page.
DeleteI am close to becoming an empty nester and am hoping to get back to lots of crafting when that happens. I have never learned to knit - maybe it's not too late to start. susierobertsmom(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteNever too late, Susie! Stop by the Weaver's Cat and we'll give you a free lesson.
DeleteNot sure how beet ice cream would taste. I love cold beet soup!
ReplyDeletea.connolley@gmail.com
Then you need to try the ice cream, Amy. It's made with coconut milk. It's not overly sweet, but boy is it delicious (and gorgeous)!
DeleteLove to read about new books and authors.
ReplyDeleteCABWNANA1@bellsouth.net
Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte!
DeleteI was on vacation in MN last week and while in St. Cloud I saw a sign for a store that said "Coffee, Desserts, Yarn." For some reason I thought of the Haunted Yarn Shop mysteries!
ReplyDeletemisstree1963@gmail.com
Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know.
DeleteHaving been a knitter and a cat owner--How do you keep the cars from chasing the yarn balls? That should definitely be part of every book that has pets in the crafting area. Though they are both warm and fuzzy. I agree that the scallion bread looks really yummy! This is such a fun series. Ronnalord(at)msn(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ronna! Argyle isn't much of a yarn chaser. He thinks of himself as a retired gentleman cat.
DeleteLike stories that are set in haunted locations
ReplyDeleteI love beets and I love ice cream, but I'm not sure about beet ice cream. That's one to think about.
ReplyDeletebevarcher AT me DOT com
I loved the way this post was written in what I am guessing is the voices of the characters. And I have to say that the Watermelon Lemonade things sounds yummy!!
ReplyDeletemishmash@gmail.com
I have always wanted to learn to knit , I'm afraid I'm not crafty at all tho :(
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like my kind of girl! Knitting is my peaceful place. When things are getting a bit too much, I start a knitting project. Your books sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe series sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many other craft forms. String art, weaving, bead work, macrame, tatting (lace making), scrap booking, ceramics and so much more. Never give up Kathy Gonzales you will find one to suit you. As for learning to crochet or knit perhaps you have not found the right teacher for you.
ReplyDeleteDelAnne
I have the first book. I like the title of Plagued by Quilt. I had to check again to see if it said guilt or quilt. The Weaver's Cat is a good name for a shop. (I tried to leave a comment on Friday for that drawing but the Apple computer at the library wouldn't accept it!)
ReplyDeletecatbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
Although i don't knit or crochet, the first book in this series is on my kindle and my TBR list.
ReplyDeletedotkel50@comcast.net
i just started to learn how to knit. i am not finding it easy at the moment. I love the title Last Wool and Testament. this series is on both my mom's and mine TBR list. thank goodness for the sharing option on kindle! mardox@consolidated.net
ReplyDeleteI love to crochet, and I love to read books that sound cozy.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
scooby_doo_forever_2000@yahoo.com
The scallion bread looks delicious! I learned to knit a little from a book, but not great at it. Guess I just need more practice. choirlady27@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteBeet ice cream sounds tasty to me---but then I really like beets. Made a beet chocolate cake a couple times and it's pretty good, too.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I'm a knitting beginner as well. My grandmother taught me crochet when I was a child. My mother still has some of the baby clothes Grandma made for my brother.
ReplyDeleteBeet ice cream sounds really interesting. And you can justify a second helping since beets are so good for you. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sending out the post, I didn't receive it until 7:40 pm and I was gone . However, I do enjoy the books! Haven't gotten the latest but it's on my list. I have fun reading the blogs
ReplyDeleteI have tried to learn how to crochet. But it hard to do. Love your books
ReplyDeletexzjh04@ gmail.com
This book sounds wonderful. Cozy mysteries can be so fun and light.
ReplyDeleteThereadmaster(at)me(dot)com