Tag: Cozy Mystery Writers

Audiobook Blog Tour: The Stiff in the Study by Shea Macleod

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Stiff in the study image Viola Roberts book 2

 

 

 

About Audiobook #2

 

Author: Shéa MacLeod

Narrator: Yvette Keller

Length: 4 hours 20 minutes

Publisher: Shéa MacLeod⎮2017

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: The Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries, Book 2

Release date: May 17, 2017

 

Synopsis: Viola Roberts is at it again! The sleepy seaside town of Astoria, Oregon is the last place you’d expect to find a dead body. That is until the director of the local museum turns up dead in the study and Viola’s friend, Portia, is accused of the crime. Viola ignores her looming deadline and bout of writer’s block and sets out with her best friend, Cheryl, to solve the murder. From starting riots at local dive bars to breaking into crime scenes, Viola will stop at nothing to prove Portia innocent even if it means putting herself in the cross-hairs of the killer.

 

Buy Links for Audiobook #2

Buy on Audible

 

 

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I’ve come to love the hilarious adventures of Viola Roberts and her sidekick Cheryl. Listening to this audiobook reminded me of the Golden Girls, or Laverne and Shirley from the old days of television. They feed off one another, complement each other. Narrator Yvette Keller plays the part perfectly. Her voice characterizations are on the money and color each personality just enough draw you into the story.

 

 

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About the Author: Shéa MacLeod

 

Shéa MacLeod writes urban fantasy post-apocalyptic sci-fi paranormal romances with a twist of steampunk.  Mostly because she can’t make up her mind which genre she likes best so she decided to write them all.

After six years living in an Edwardian town house in London just a stone’s throw from the local cemetery, Shéa headed back to her hometown of Portland, Oregon. She plans to live out her days eating mushroom pizza, drinking too many caramel lattes, exploring exotic locales, and avoiding spiders.

Shéa is the author of the Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries and the bestselling Lady Rample Mysteries.

 

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

 

 

 

www.rewindphotography.com Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer
http://www.rewindphotography.com Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

 

 

About the Narrator: Yvette Keller

 

Yvette Keller’s first job as a narrator was reading aloud to keep her little brother out of trouble. Her favorite party trick is reading words upside down. Little kids need to see the pictures. Yvette lives in her beloved home town of Santa Barbara, using a lifetime of vocal stamina in her home studio. She produces technical VO industrials for Mesa Steps Consulting clients in addition to audiobooks. A lifetime of reading and speaking has proven one thing: Yvette loves stories. She is thrilled to be making books accessible and engaging through her narration work.

 

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Cozy Historical Mysteries with Lee Strauss

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Interview with Lee Strauss

Author of the Higgins & Hawke and Ginger Gold mysteries

 

 

* I love the historical cozy concept of Higgins & Hawke. Why the 1930’s in the city of Boston?

Higgins & Hawke is a spin off series from The Ginger Gold Mystery series which is set in 1920s England. Both leads originally met in Boston and lived in London in the same house. Haley Higgins exits the Ginger Gold series when her brother in Boston is murdered. Higgins & Hawke begins seven years later. Since I was already writing about the 1920s with Ginger Gold, I wanted a change of scenery and tone. The 1930s is a very interesting time in world and American history.

 

 

 

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*What’s your experience writing cozy mysteries versus other genres?

I’ve been writing cozy mysteries for two years now. Before that wrote in a myriad of genres including YA, romance, and science fiction. When I finally settled on cozy historical mystery, I found my “home.”

 

 

*How important is the setting in historical mysteries?

I would say very. The historical backdrop is almost like a character in itself. Readers love the details and historical trivia. Otherwise, you might as well stick to a contemporary setting.

 

 

*What’s the historical background of Boston in the 1930’s?

That is a loaded question. Like the rest of the country, its citizens were suffering from the great depression. There were large sections specific to ethnicity, especially Italians, Irish and Jewish, who didn’t exactly get along. As the war grew closer, anti-semitism became a real problem. It’s one of the reasons I gave Samantha Hawke a Jewish mother-in-law; to make those problems real.

 

 

 

 

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*What was the relationship like between Dr. Haley Higgins and her brother Joe?

Joe was the third of 3 boys and Haley the last and only girl. They were close in age, and Haley was largely a tomboy, so they were very close as children.

 

 

*What are the duties of the city’s pathologist assistant?

Like the title suggests, the assistant is supposed to assist the chief medical examiner in instances where a death may be suspicious or the cause of death undetermined. In Haley’s case she steps in for the chief most of the time. You’ll have to read it to find out why. 🙂

 

 

*Describe the relationship between Dr. Haley Higgins and Investigative reporter Samantha Hawke.

In the beginning Haley can’t help but feel suspicious. She has a history of bad rapport with the press, especially from when her brother’s case was new. However, as the book progresses, she sees Samantha as someone much like herself: a woman trying to make it in a man’s world, and they form a friendship.

 

 

 

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*In the Ginger Gold mysteries how did you select your settings?

It was pretty simple. I adore all the British mystery authors and TV shows and I wanted to set a mystery there.

 

*Do you have plans for more Ginger Gold books?

Yes. The 9th book, Murder at the Boat Race, is releasing in June.

 

 

 

Murder aboard the flying scotsman Ginger gold

 

 

 

*What’s a typical writing day like?

It’s typical in that it’s never typical! But if I had to drill it down I’d say I tackle the business part of being a writer in the mornings and write in the afternoons. I really should flip that around, but that’s usually how it lands.

 

 

*What are the most challenging aspects of writing for you?

My husband and I started snowbirding this year, and so the warm weather, palm trees and beautiful beach is a huge distraction!  It’s a challenge I’m prepared to take on.

 

 

*How do you manage multiple writing projects?

I write one book at a time. I can’t plot and plan for future books, but when it’s time to write, I focus fully on the story in front of me.

 

 

 

Murder at the boat club Ginger gold

 

 

Ginger Gold Mystery Book 9 Murder at the Boat Club: A Cozy 1920’s Murder Mystery will be out JUNE 28, 2019 – Pre-order HERE

 

 

Death on the Tower Higgins and Hawke mystery lee strauss

 

 

The most recent Higgins & Hawke Mystery is Death on the Tower: A 1930’s Cozy Historical Murder Mystery 

 

Death by Treason . . .

When the body of a British National is found at the base of the common house tower in Boston, assistant medical examiner, Dr. Haley Higgins has no reason to believe it wasn’t suicide.

That is until Investigative Reporter Samantha Hawke gets an anonymous tip: the victim, a Mrs. Olivia Gray, was pushed from the seventh floor to her death.

The question is why?

Haley and Samantha work together to unravel secrets that go back to a time that no one wants to remember ~ when shameful acts were sanctioned, and death licked at everyone’s heels.

What did Mrs. Gray know, and who wanted to silence her?

 

 

Lee Strauss image

 

 

As Lee Strauss, I’m a bestselling author of The Ginger Gold Mysteries series (cozy historical mystery), A Nursery Rhyme Suspense series (mystery sci-fi romantic suspense), The Perception series (young adult dystopian), and young adult historical fiction. When I’m not writing or reading I like to cycle, hike and kayak. I enjoy traveling (but not jet lag :0), cashew lattes, red wine and dark chocolate.

I also write younger YA fantasy as Elle Lee Strauss.

 

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Audiobook Blog Tour: The Body in The Cabana by Shea Macleod

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“Fun and fresh, with a twisty, clever plot that will have you turning pages right to the end.” -Cheryl Bradshaw, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sloane Monroe mysteries.

 

 

Body in the Cabana

 

 

 

About Audiobook #1

Author: Shéa MacLeod

Narrator: Yvette Keller

Length: 4 hours 47 minutes

Publisher: Shéa MacLeod⎮2016

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: The Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries, Book 1

Release date: Aug. 29, 2016

 

Synopsis: Sassy, snarky Viola Roberts quit her boring accountant job to pursue her dream of writing novels, even if it meant eating ramen noodles every day. Now that her career has taken off, she’s headed to a writers’ conference at an exotic Florida resort complete with white-sand beaches and swaying palm trees, where she plans to lounge in the shade drinking frosty beverages with little umbrellas. And, of course, no sojourn to tropical climes would be complete without her boozy, wise-cracking best friend, Cheryl.

When Viola discovers the diva of the author world dead (as a doornail) of unnatural causes, the police immediately consider Viola their prime suspect. But when the head detective turns a gimlet eye on Viola’s best friend, the author has had enough! Along with help from hunky fellow writer Lucas Salvatore, Viola is determined to ascertain who killed the corpse in the cabana before she or Cheryl winds up in jail. Or worse.

Buy Links for Audiobook #1

Buy on Audible

 

 

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This is one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read in recent memory. The ever curious, Sassy Viola Roberts and her wise-cracking friend Cheryl, are quite the pair. Together they make a big splash when Viola discovers the body of a bestselling, well-hated writer named Natasha. With lots of enemies in her wake naturally there’s a lot of suspects to weed out to discover the real killer. I typically don’t like stories that feature a writer as the protagonist such as Viola Roberts, but this was so well done I loved it.  Very entertaining and absolutely hilarious!

Narrator Yvette Keller does a phenomenal job of characterizing each character, especially bringing to life Viola’s point of view. Her and Cheryl sounded like completely different persons which is critical for listeners of audiobooks. That’s also a big reason why I enjoy listening to the audio version versus the ebook.

 

 

 

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Shea Macleod image

 

 

About the Author: Shéa MacLeod

 

Shéa MacLeod writes urban fantasy post-apocalyptic sci-fi paranormal romances with a twist of steampunk.  Mostly because she can’t make up her mind which genre she likes best so she decided to write them all.

After six years living in an Edwardian town house in London just a stone’s throw from the local cemetery, Shéa headed back to her hometown of Portland, Oregon. She plans to live out her days eating mushroom pizza, drinking too many caramel lattes, exploring exotic locales, and avoiding spiders.

Shéa is the author of the Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries and the bestselling Lady Rample Mysteries.

 

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

 

 

 

www.rewindphotography.com Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

 

 

About the Narrator: Yvette Keller

 

Yvette Keller’s first job as a narrator was reading aloud to keep her little brother out of trouble. Her favorite party trick is reading words upside down. Little kids need to see the pictures. Yvette lives in her beloved home town of Santa Barbara, using a lifetime of vocal stamina in her home studio. She produces technical VO industrials for Mesa Steps Consulting clients in addition to audiobooks. A lifetime of reading and speaking has proven one thing: Yvette loves stories. She is thrilled to be making books accessible and engaging through her narration work.

 

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda & MTW Cozy Mystery Bundle Giveaway

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In case you missed it on the calendar here’s the day’s agenda.

 

 

SATURDAY APRIL 14, 2018 

* Interview with Harry Porter – Author of the Mersey Murder Mysteries

*Audiobook series Blog Tour: Book Review -The Jacq of Spades & Interview with Patrica Loofbourrow – on AudioSpy.org

*Audiobook Blog Tour – Book Review – One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett – The Writing Train

*Audiobook Blog Tour- Audiobook & Narrator Performance – One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett – on Audiospy.org

*Article – The Writing Craft by Elena Hartwell – Mystery Thriller Week

*Guest Author – Marc Rainer – www.stephenbentley.info

*MTW Bundle Giveaway Contest – Mystery Thriller Week

*Book Review – The Devil’s Gorge by Doris Ilieva – Lucia Davis’s Reviews

*Book Review – Frankly Speaking by Don Massenzio – En Bokblogg

*Book Review – The Master by Dora Ilieva – Janice J. Richardson

*Book Recommendations – by Fictionophile Part 2 – Mystery Thriller Week

 

 

MTW Cozy Mystery Bundle Giveaway

 

Giveaway5CozyMysteries

 

 

GIVEAWAY #5 – COZY MYSTERIES

Comment the Facebook link below to enter. One lucky reader will win all 6 eBooks! *** ENDS APRIL 17 ***

SECRET LIVES AND PRIVATE EYES BY HEATHER WEIDNER
Secret Lives and Private Eyes is a fast-paced mystery that will appeal to readers who like a strong, female Private Investigator with a knack for getting herself in and out of humorous situations. (Heather Weidner)

 

CASKET CACHE BY JANICE J. RICHARDSON
Funeral homes are supposed to be quiet …

Jennifer Spencer inherits her uncle’s funeral home. Her move to the Niagara Region into the apartment above the Home went well, but in the first week alone, someone breaks into the funeral home. Then, Jennifer finds cash in a casket, a lot of cash. Certain it has something to do with the break-in, she’s unable to convince the police and winds up on their list of suspects. But Jennifer has families to serve and funerals to arrange; that is her number-one priority. Someone sinister and dangerous wants the cash back; that’s their number-one priority and Jennifer Spencer, funeral director, is in the way. A cozy mystery with heart, compassion, and humour. (Janice J. Richardson)

 

THE HANGED MAN’S NOOSE BY JUDY PENZ SHELUK
Small-town secrets and subterfuge lead to murder in this fast-moving, deftly written tale of high-stakes real estate wrangling gone amok. Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the editor of a niche magazine based in Lount’s Landing, a small town named after a colorful 19th century Canadian traitor. As she interviews the local business owners for the magazine, Emily quickly learns that many people are unhappy with real estate mogul Garrett Stonehaven’s plans to convert an old schoolhouse into a mega-box store. At the top of that list is Arabella Carpenter, the outspoken owner of an antiques shop, who will do just about anything to preserve the integrity of the town’s historic Main Street.

But Arabella is not alone in her opposition. Before long, a vocal dissenter at a town hall meeting about the proposed project dies. A few days later, another body is discovered, and although both deaths are ruled accidental, Emily’s journalistic suspicions are aroused. Putting her reporting skills to the ultimate test, Emily teams up with Arabella to discover the truth behind Stonehaven’s latest scheme before the murderer strikes again. (Judy Sheluk)

 

ORGANIZED FOR SCHEDULED SABOTAGE BY RITTER AMES
Planning a photo shoot can be murder…

When Kate McKenzie and Meg Berman are hired to help organize location opportunities for a photo shoot featuring a bestselling calendar author, they can’t wait to start. Even better, they learn the royalties from the annual calendars help fund an animal rescue program in their state of Vermont. But once sabotage turns to murder and the police start looking for suspects, Kate and Meg find their lives suddenly upended by chaos and their own reputations at risk—along with their client’s as well. Now, it’s not enough to fulfill the terms of their contract, they must also find a way to save their client and her rescue program, too. All while making sure their next work outfits aren’t matching orange jumpsuits. (Ritter Ames)

 

CHASING SYMMETRY BY TEMPESTE BLAKE
Someone had been trying for the perfect shade of red . . .
When art professor Bianca James tries to save a dying woman, the grudge-holding chief of police is all too quick to catapult her to the top of the suspect list. As if that isn’t enough, her ex-boyfriend’s younger brother, Finn Tierny, is assigned to the case, and she’s faced with a trilogy of dilemmas: go head to head with the chief, stop a cold-blooded killer on her own, or trust another Tierny.

Finn’s return to Riley’s Peak is bittersweet. He’s flooded with memories, both good and bad, as he battles doubts about being a cop, a cantankerous father, a jealous brother, and a drug dealer with a rap-sheet longer than the list of addicts he’s been supplying.  Threats escalate, the suspect list grows, and it becomes clear—the murderer’s resolve to kill Bianca is almost as strong as Finn’s desire to keep her alive. Almost. (Tempeste Blake)

 

SIR CHOCOLATE AND THE BABY COOKIE MONSTER STORY BY ROBBIE CHEADLE
Book 2 of the Sir Chocolate series: Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet find a lost baby cookie monster. Join them on an adventure to return the baby to its mother and learn how to make some of their delicious recipes at the same time. (Robbie Cheadle)

 

 

Follow the link and leave a comment to automatically enter the bundle giveaway.  Win 6 books!

MTW Bundle giveaway: WIN