Tag: Bakery

November 29, 2023November 13, 2023

#MidweekMystery and Author Interview: Murder on Tour by V. M. Burns

Murder on Tour

Bookstore owner and Michigander Samantha Washington is thrilled to see her debut historical mystery finally on the shelves, but a killer seems determined to steal away the spotlight . . .

While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana Jo has kept Market Street Mysteries running smoothly. The last stop is a prestigious book festival in Sam’s hometown of North Harbor, Michigan. But not everyone thinks the guest of honor, bestselling author Judith Hunter, deserves stellar reviews. Sam witnesses nasty arguments between Judith and two different authors—who accuse her of plagiarism and sabotage . . .

When a publicist is poisoned during a cocktail reception, Sam wonders if the killer missed the intended target. It’s a twist that echoes the plot of Sam’s mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. But fact can be stranger—and deadlier—than fiction. How much collateral damage is the killer willing to risk? With feisty Nana Jo and the girls from Shady Acres Retirement Village lending a hand, Sam tries to solve the case before the festival delivers another fatality . . .

Author Interview

Today we’re thrilled to have Valerie “V. M.” Burns to talk about her latest Mystery Bookshop mystery, Murder on Tour. As both a reader and writer of cozy mysteries, I especially enjoyed the book tour setting!

Valerie, can you tell us about the protagonist, Samantha?

Samantha Washington and her late husband Leon dreamed of quitting their jobs and opening a mystery bookshop. When Leon dies, Sam realizes that life is too short not to follow your dreams. So, she quits her job and she opens the bookstore. But, the bookstore was their shared dream. Sam also dreamed of writing British historical mysteries. Sam is now realizing the culmination of all of her dreams with the publication of her first mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. Her life on tour as a published author is nothing like J.B. Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote. Still, Sam has found success with her bookstore and her writing. She has also opened her heart to love and is engaged. Life is good.

Is Samantha anything like you?

Samantha Washington dreamed of quitting her job and opening a mystery bookshop and writing British historical cozy mysteries because that’s my dream, too. We both have pushy older sisters. Plus, Sam and I both have two toy poodles.

So quite a bit in common then! Also I’d love to visit your mystery bookshop when it opens. How do you think you would you feel about Samantha if you met her in real life?

If I were to meet her in real life, I think we would be best friends.

Have you ever thought of killing someone that you know in real life–on the pages of a murder mystery, I mean?

YES! This is how I get my victims. Whenever someone makes me angry, I add them to the list of victims. I always change the names of the victims, but I leave the initials. I find it cathartic.

I’m definitely going to pay attention to the murder victims’ initials from now on. How about the setting of your story? Do you take liberties, or are you true to life?

The Mystery Bookshop Mystery series is set in the fictional town of North Harbor, Michigan. North Harbor is based on the real town of Benton Harbor. Because North Harbor is a fictional town, I can take a lot of liberties to make the setting work for my books. I have, however, included many details about the setting which are true to life.

When the movie or TV series is made, who plays the major parts?

My dream cast would be Kerry Washington as Samantha Washington. Loretta Devine as Nana Jo. Taraji P. Henson as Jenna Rutherford, and Idris Elba or Djimon Hounsou as Frank Patterson.

What’s the worst and best advice you’ve heard or received as an author?

The worst advice I’ve received is from well-meaning people who tell me to do XXX (e.g. follow a detailed plot, get up at 4am to write, follow the trends, etc.). There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to writing. In my opinion, each person should do what makes them happy. Creating a detailed outline does not make me happy. In fact, when I tried to force myself to follow what others told me to do, it sucked all of the joy out of writing. Every person is different. Know what works for you and do that.

About the Author

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Award Finalist. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. Valerie is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, and Thriller Writers International. Valerie has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Fine Arts from Seton Hill University. In addition to writing, Valerie works as a manager at a call center, and is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwest Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles.

Author Links

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16534140.V_M_Burns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmburnsbooks/

Website: vmburns.com

Purchase Links

Amazon Apple Books-A-Million Barnes and Noble Bookshop.org Google Play Hudson Booksellers Target KOBO Walmart

August 31, 2022August 16, 2022

#MidweekMystery: Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by V. M. Burns

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

When Maddy Montgomery’s groom is a no-show to their livestream wedding, it’s a disaster that no amount of filtering can fix. But a surprise inheritance offers a chance to regroup and rebrand—as long as Maddy is willing to live in her late, great-aunt Octavia’s house in New Bison, Michigan, for a year, running her bakery and caring for a 250-pound English mastiff named Baby.

Maddy doesn’t bake, and her Louboutins aren’t made for walking giant dogs around Lake Michigan, but the locals are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. With help from her aunt’s loyal friends, aka the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy feels ready to tackle any challenge, including Octavia’s award-winning cake recipes. That is, until New Bison’s mayor is fatally stabbed, and Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the knife . . .

Something strange is going on in New Bison. It seems Aunt Octavia had her suspicions, too. But Maddy’s going to need a whole lot more than a trending hashtag to save her reputation—and her life.

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About the Author

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. Her first book, The Plot is Murder, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Debut Novel. She is the author of the Dog Club Mystery Series, the RJ Franklin Mysteries, a three-time finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and an Edgar Award-nominated short story. Her newest series, Baker Street Mysteries, will release later this year, and her Pet Detective Mystery series will release in 2023. Valerie is on the board of Sisters in Crime and the Southeastern Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, and International Thriller Writers. She is a manager for a Fortune 100 company and a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie currently lives in the southeastern United States with her two poodles. Readers can visit her website at vmburns.com.

Author Links

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16534140.V_M_Burns

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmburnsbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vmburns

Website: vmburns.com

Purchase Links

April 30, 2016

#Giveaway and Interview: Karoline Barrett, Raisin the Dead

>>>Click here and enter to win an e-copy of Raisin the Dead<<<

The author of Bun for Your Life returns to Destiny, New York, where bakery owners and amateur sleuths Molly Tyler and Olivia Williams never crumble under pressure…

While the rest of Destiny is focused on the arrival of an upper crust perfume mogul, Molly is more concerned about what’s on the front page of the newspaper: her mother. Library director Anne Tyler was photographed at the most romantic restaurant in town having a cozy dinner with library advisory board member Philip Baldelli. But there’s more for Molly to worry about after Philip is found dead a few days later.
When Detective Sean Corsino zeroes in on Anne as a person of interest in the case, it turns down the heat on his budding romance with Molly. But after he’s injured during the course of his investigation, Molly and Olivia must step in to sift through the clues and clear Anne’s name.

Q: Thanks for stopping by, Karoline! Tell us about your protagonist, Molly (and of course I must congratulate you on your excellent name choice)
A: Molly owns Bread and Batter Bakery with her best friend, Olivia. She’s lived in Destiny her entire life. She’s divorced, and has a new man in her life, a certain detective who’s new in town. She adores dogs, drives a Prius, and doesn’t eat meat.
Q: How much of you is in your protagonist? How would you feel about Molly if you met her in real life?
A: Molly and I both have a sense of humor. We’re both from upstate New York and we’re both Nancy Drew fans. I think as friends, we’d be great. Especially, since she owns a bakery; free cupcakes, you know.
Q: Do your characters change and evolve throughout consecutive books in the series?
A: In the first book of my series, Molly is still harboring feelings for her ex-husband, but as she and Detective Corsino get closer, she moves on.
Q: Have you ever thought of killing someone that you know in real life–on the pages of a murder mystery, I mean?
A: What a great question, I’ve never been asked that before! I’ve actually thought of making people I’m not fond of the killer, but not the “killee.”
Q: How realistic is your setting? Do you take liberties, or are you true to life?
A: Definitely liberties! Destiny, N.Y. is based on towns I’m familiar with in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York, where my family is from. It’s a beautiful area and it’s the only place I considered for this series. There are apple orchards and wineries up there, so that part is true to life, but Destiny is a product of my imagination.
Q: When the movie or TV series is made, who plays the major parts?
A: For Molly I like Anna Paquin. I can see Christina Ricci as Olivia, and for Detective Corsino, I like Christopher Meloni from Law & Order in his much younger days!

Q: What’s the worst and best advice you’ve heard or received as an author?
A: The best advice I’ve heard is always be true to your voice. The worst advice was that I should first write everything in longhand, in a notebook! Yikes! I’d still be writing if I did that.

>>>Click here and enter to win an e-copy of Raisin the Dead<<<

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I live in a small Connecticut town with my husband. When I’m not writing, I’m either reading, spending time by the water, taking pictures, traveling, indulging in social media, accompanying above-mentioned husband to New York Yankees games, or doing anything that does not involve math…
Author Links
Webpage      http://www.karolinebarrett.com/
Blog                http://www.karolinebarrett.com/category/blog/
Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/KarolineBarrettBooks
Twitter          https://twitter.com/KarolineBarrett
Goodreads   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3315555.Karoline_Barrett
Purchase Links
Kindle   Nook
Kobo Books a Million