We are the characters—major and minor—who live in your favorite cozy mysteries, so of course we have thoughts about the people on the page. Our newest post looks at the different types of characters in a novel, why the memorable ones refuse to leave your mind, and how a small cast of well-drawn figures can carry a whole story.
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Staying Safe. Helping Others.
By Sassy Cabot from the Read ’Em and Eat Mysteries by Terrie Farley Moran
Well, the world has certainly turned topsy-turvy with this corona-virus called COVID 19 invading every nook and cranny. Bridgy and I closed the Read ’Em and Eat Café to customers as soon as the order came down from the state. We looked over our budget and figured out that we will need a Small Business loan to cover our bills and pay Miguel at least a portion of his salary.
Pastor John’s church is providing meals to the elderly and folks with compromised immune systems. And don’t we have the perfect kitchen to help with that project? Miguel pitched right in and every day Aunt Ophie bakes a few of her fabulous Buttermilk Pies.
We are observing all the rules: social distancing, rubber gloves, masks and scrupulously sanitizing every inch of the café before and after we prepare meals for the church. I’m doing a lot of bike riding, while Bridgy prefers long solitary walks. In the early morning we do deep breathing and stretching on the patio. The rest of the time we stream movies, read books and of course we spend a lot of time on the computer, skyping friends and family.
I am happy to share some exciting news. All of the authors here at Killer Characters put their heads together and came up with a great idea. In just a few short days our Spring Fling will begin! There will be giveaways everyday for weeks and weeks! So comeback often for a chance to win a book, or an e-book or a gift certificate--who knows what will be offered each day!
I am happy to share some exciting news. All of the authors here at Killer Characters put their heads together and came up with a great idea. In just a few short days our Spring Fling will begin! There will be giveaways everyday for weeks and weeks! So comeback often for a chance to win a book, or an e-book or a gift certificate--who knows what will be offered each day!
And don’t forget you can visit us anytime between the pages of WELL READ, THEN DEAD, CAUGHT READ-HANDED, and READ TO DEATH.
Please stay safe and healthy.
Please stay safe and healthy.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Essentially Here
by Biscuit, Carrie Kennersly's dog in the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries by Linda O. Johnston
Arf and woof. Yep, hi, it's Biscuit yet again. I barked at my human Carrie Kennersly till she said I could blog here today. When she blogged last month, she'd already mentioned that whatever-it-is virus that's spreading around humans, but fortunately it doesn't seem to be affecting dogs, or at least not much.
Which is why I've tried to make it clear to Carrie that her wonderful Barkery and Biscuits shop, where she sells her special, healthy dog treats, is an essential business. Dogs need to stay healthy. They need to eat stuff, including healthy treats. So there. And although a lot of businesses are being forced to shut down, our Barkery has stayed open.
Carrie has also been able to keep her Icing on the Cake store open. Is it as essential? Well, it does sell food for humans. Treats for them. So far, she's managed to convince people it's as essential as grocery stores, or at least no one has insisted that she shut it down, fortunately.
This atmosphere among humans is so strange. Unfortunately, some are dying, and not from the murders that Carrie had gotten used to solving, even though she resisted the idea. It's been a while since the last one, at least. The most recent murder she solved was described in For a Good Paws, the fifth book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries written by Linda O. Johnston.
And now--well, I'll just settle back in at the Barkery and wait for customers to arrive. They do come here, though not as often as before, and they stay far apart till they can get to the counter and choose their dog treats.
Stay safe, humans.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Lazy, and proud of it!
From: Here Comes the Body
By: Cammie Dianopolis
Author: Maria DiRico (Ellen Byron)
Series: Catering Hall Mysteries (Kensington)
Website: mariadirico.com
Hi, Cammie Dianopolis here!
I'm one of Mia Carina's co-workers at Belle View Banquet Manor, although I like to use the term 'work" loosely - as loosely as possible. The Carinas are neighbors from around the corner of our little slice of two-family-home heaven in Astoria, Queens. When Mia's father Ravello took over the catering place, I agreed to help him out, with the proviso that I'd basically do as little as possible once Mia got back. Bless those Carinas, they stuck to this deal, giving me plenty of time to make my ex, detective Pete Dianopolis, pay for divorcing me when he thought he'd become a bigshot mystery author under the name, Steve Stianopolis. Clever, huh? He wants me back now that he's realized that ain't gonna happen, but I've made him rachet up the wooing. This means I'm spending a lotta time getting facials and manicures and learning to be a Zumba instructor, all on his dime.
I also need to spend plenty of time maintaining my appearance, the better to make him wish he'd never walked out on me, the bum. This requires some effort, since my look is mid-1980s. No joke. I even get my lavender eye shadow from a website specializing in discontinued makeup. You want an idea of my role model? Check out 1980s Debra Harry.
I gotta go. I put in a good half-hour of work at Belle View and I need to reward myself with a new pair of earrings - on Pete's credit card. Later, people!
Readers, is there a look or product from past decades that you've stuck with ever since?
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Home Sweet Southern Home
Auntie KiKi here from the Consignment Shop Mysteries set in Savannah. Now that it’s getting to be spring here everyone is gussing their places up.
get Iced Chiffon here
One of my dearest friends is redecorating her house, top to bottom and that’s always a scary thing to be doing in my opinion especially if you go and turn it over to one of those snooty decorators who think they know it all. I mean a house...especially a Savannah house has got to have certain things to make it right.
There better be a big old table in the kitchen. Not one of those bar things with stools. I mean a fullout table that sits all the family at once. A family that eats together stays together especially if there’s fried chicken on that table.
And while we’re talking kitchen’s there better be a big one. This is cooking country and we need room to move around. Everyone has a job to do like stirring the gravy, and setting the table proper.
And there better be room enough in that house for grandma’s pie safe and auntie’s sewing chest and that there rocker your mamma rocked the babies in. A house can be new but we take our past with us for sure.
When picking out new furniture be thinking something that a swaying. Don’t be forgetting that swing on the porch and the rocker by the hearth. Things that stay put get downright boring if you ask me.
These are some of the must-haves in a Southern home. What’s a must have in your home? A big porch to sit a spell? A fireplace to gather round? A garden for growing tomatoes and okra?
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Hello, Rupert here ~ From the Zodiac Mysteries by Connie di Marco
You haven’t met me yet, but I’ll be making my first appearance pretty soon in the upcoming Serpent’s Doom, the fourth book in the Zodiac Mysteries. Thanks to my good friend Nikolai -- you remember him, don’t you? Nikolai is the Bay Area’s very famous past life regression hypnotist. Well, thanks to Nikolai, I have a new job at The Mystic Eye.
Nikolai and I go way back. We have a rather mysterious shared past together, but that’s a story for another time. You see, Nikolai could see that Gale and Cheryl needed help at their occult bookshop. The ladies just couldn’t handle the heavy lifting and I’m a big strong guy. It’s nothing for me to move bookcases and lift crates and do all kinds of other things, including keeping an eye out for any unsavory characters who might want to harm the ladies or their shop. I’ll be kind of a Guy Friday, available to do any kind of work needed.
I know I’m kind of scary looking, but that helps when it comes to chasing away the bad guys. Well, actually I’m pretty damn ugly. Can’t help it. I’ve had a tough life and too many battles and it shows on my face. But under this scary exterior beats the heart of a pussycat.
Here’s the part I have to share today – there’s a woman I met at The Mystic Eye and I can’t stop thinking about her. Her name is Zora and she’s a very talented psychic and medium. She’s also stunning. She’s a big woman and she dresses in the most exotic fabrics and styles and wears lots of jewelry. She’s just plain gorgeous. I’ve never met a woman like her!
Do you think I might stand a chance with Zora? I’m not sure she really notices me, even though I always say hello and try to help her out with things, and do little favors for her, like giving her rides and such. I’m fresh out of ideas to get her to notice me and I can’t think what else I can do.
I know I’m not the handsomest guy in the world. Actually, I may be one of the ugliest men in the world, but that’s just the exterior. Do you think I stand a chance with her? She is truly a goddess! Maybe I could take her out to dinner, or give her chocolates and roses, maybe that would do it. What do you think?
Wish me luck because I am smitten!
You can visit my author, Connie di Marco, at her website, at Facebook and Twitter @AskZodia to learn more about all the characters in the Zodiac Mysteries and all their stories.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
THE READING SEASON
FROM: TYANNE CLARK
OF: The Bad Luck Cat Mysteries
BY: Kay Finch
As the owner of Knead to Read, the Indie bookstore in Lavender, Texas, for the past ten years, I’ve experienced all of the ups and downs of the bookstore business.
Book buyers from near and far visit me and my bookstore cats, Zelda and Willis, on a regular basis. That was before the current pandemic.
Like many other Indie booksellers, I’m still ordering books and shipping books to customers based on their online orders. Of course, my store is closed for now, but I still go there every day to take care of business as best I can.
Like many of my friends (who have been busy cleaning out every closet and shelf in their homes) I’ve done more spring cleaning this year than ever. I dare anyone to find a speck of dust in that bookstore. (Of course, since we’re closed, no one is looking.) Sigh.
I am thrilled to report, though, that in spite of the world crisis, sales of books in general have gone up. People are emailing me for recommendations. Readers are reviewing the books they read and sharing lists of great books with other readers. Not everyone is glued to TV shows and movies.
Many people turn to fiction (and their massive TBR piles) in order to avoid the real news. I don’t mind admitting that I’m one of them.
Have you read more books than usual in the past month? If so, what’s your favorite?
###
Kay Finch is the National Best-Selling author of the Bad Luck Cat Mysteries, including the June 2019 release – The Black Cat Steps On A Crack. Though her character, Sabrina Tate, has left the paralegal profession behind to move to the Texas Hill Country, Kay still works as a paralegal at a Houston, Texas law firm. She resides in a Houston suburb with her husband and pets. Visit her at www.kayfinch.com.
COMING SOON - THE BLACK CAT BREAKS A MIRROR
Monday, April 13, 2020
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where NOTHING is normal.
Character: Nadine White
Book: Christmas, Criminals, & Campers
By: Tonya Kappes
Normal, Kentucky….how did I end up here? Writing in a can-ham camper? In the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest?
Oh, Nadine White....
Yes. I talked to myself in third person. After all, I've completely lost all of my identity as an author. Especially with the release of my latest steamy romance, Cozy Romance in Christmas.
Normal, Kentucky was the town and state my finger was on when I opened my eyes when I let fate decide where I was going to write for the winter. Out of the entire place in the United States, Normal, Kentucky was it.
I was hesitant to tell my agent about it. After all, she was beyond normal when I told her I was changing genres. She was downright beside herself. And. . .I also told her that I was not going to let her with my newest contract since I was going to self-publish. I was tired of giving her all my money when she did nothing to deserve it.
Sure, she got me my first contract years ago, but after that book took off and made it to number one on the best seller lists, she’d gotten her fair share of my hard earned money. Now all I wanted to do was escape for the winter and write what I wanted to write.
That’s exactly what I was going to do in Normal. Until. . .I showed up to the campground where I’d rented the cutest vintage camper and it looked like Santa had vomited Christmas all over the camper and the yard.
Apparently, the local librarian, Abby Fawn was a super fan and took my plots to heart. My heroine loves Christmas decorations. . .I do not. When I agreed to meet with the local book club, The Laundry Club book club, I had no idea they actually met in a laundromat.
Did I mention I was in Kentucky?
Abby had agreed to host me at the library for the book club instead of the laundromat, but I had no idea she’d invited the entire town. I was hoping to avoid any sort of media and lay low for the winter, but Abby Fawn had other ideas for my temporary citizenship.
Abby also found out a big secret about me and my career that I never wanted to see the light of day. My agent suggested I donate a big basket of books and apologize to Abby, who was going to meet me at the library to accept the donation. I’ve walked all over the library, but no one was here, so I decided to wait in her office.
“What are you doing here?” I’d turned around when I noticed it was Abby who’d shown up to the library. “What are you going to do with that knife?”
"Romance, a lovable bunch of eccentrics, and a collection of recipes with murder most foul."
--Kirkus
"Scrumptious... Fans of culinary cozies will have fun."
--Publishers Weekly
"A sweet Southern mystery with a delightful plot and quirky characters who quickly make you feel at home."
--San Francisco Book Review
Have you discovered A CAMPER & CRIMINALS COZY MYSTERY SERIES BY TONYA KAPPES?
Now is the perfect time to discover Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies as they sleuth their way through the Daniel Boone National Forest.
AND they are in Kindle Unlimited.
Did you know that Amazon is offering TWO FREE MONTHS of Kindle Unlimited?
It's a GREAT deal and you'll discover a lot more cozy mystery authors with amazing mysteries to solve! Plus you can binge read the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series!
TENTS, TRAILS, & TURMOIL
Book 11
A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal.
Mae West knows tourism and nothing stops tourists like a dead body found in the Daniel Boone National Park.
Unfortunately, Yaley Woodard, a local tour guide, is found dead at Happy Trails Campground. Mae is determined to put her amateur sleuth skills to investigate along with the help of the Laundry Club gals.
But when Yaley's past ends up being tied to forest trails and local Joel Grassel, Mae realizes Yaley's murder has caused much more turmoil than she'd originally thought - and the killer might want to close the tourism in the Daniel Boone National Park for good.
PREORDER TODAY>>https://amzn.to/2QvTnqA
Book 11
A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal.
Mae West knows tourism and nothing stops tourists like a dead body found in the Daniel Boone National Park.
Unfortunately, Yaley Woodard, a local tour guide, is found dead at Happy Trails Campground. Mae is determined to put her amateur sleuth skills to investigate along with the help of the Laundry Club gals.
But when Yaley's past ends up being tied to forest trails and local Joel Grassel, Mae realizes Yaley's murder has caused much more turmoil than she'd originally thought - and the killer might want to close the tourism in the Daniel Boone National Park for good.
PREORDER TODAY>>https://amzn.to/2QvTnqA
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