Cozy mystery lovers, check out this tasty excerpt from J.J. Cook‘s newest Biscuit Bowl Mystery, FRY ANOTHER DAY, and a special author note! “Can you really make a biscuit out of sweet potatoes, Zoe?” Delia asked. “I’m not sure,” I replied. “I guess we’ll find out.” It was four a.m. on the downtown streets of Charlotte, North Carolina. It was dark and quiet in the city. A line of food trucks with names like Stick It Here, Meggie’s Mushrooms, and my food truck—The Biscuit Bowl—were in place as though they were waiting for the lunch crowd. Only extra early. It was the first morning of the Sweet Magnolia Food Truck Race. Ten food trucks from across the United States competing for a fifty-thousand dollar grand prize. Even if I didn’t win the cash, the race was being taped to be shown on national food networks. How great was that? The organizers had made it clear the day before that there would be plenty of challenges, and even a few tricks along the five stops between Charlotte and my hometown of Mobile, Alabama. They weren’t kidding. *** And I found out that you CAN make a good biscuit with sweet potatoes,…

The books in my Downward Dog Mystery series are all set in Pacific Northwest locations that I know and love. My second, A KILLER RETREAT, takes place on Orcas Island, a small wooded treasure off the Washington coast. The island is only accessible by ferry, so once you get there, you are truly an ocean away from it all. Of course, no writing project would feel complete without research trips, and I took more than a few. If you’re ever near the Washington coast, be sure to visit my five favorite spots on Orcas. You’ll be glad you did. Tracy’s Top Five Orcas Island Destinations 1. Doe Bay Resort and Retreat. This relaxing retreat center sits on 38 acres and was one of several meditation centers that inspired my vision for the Elysian Springs Resort, which is at the heart of A KILLER RETREAT. Visitors can choose from houses, cabins, tent sites and yurts. My German shepherd, Tasha, says that if you take your dog—and who wouldn’t?—you should stay in Eden, the cabin right outside the garden. Tasha likes wandering along Doe Bay’s trail system, resting on the beach, and staring at the deer that graze in the fields surrounding…