Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Cozy Corner with Kym Roberts | Mystery Weekend at the Poisoned Pen
Author Guest / November 19, 2018

As an author, there’s nothing more gratifying than meeting readers who take interest in and appreciate your writing. As a reader, there’s nothing more fascinating than meeting your favorite authors, then being introduced to more authors whose work is new to you. As an author who reads religiously, the combination of those two things is heaven…especially when the event is hosted by an indy mystery/thriller bookstore like the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, Arizona! That’s what last weekend was for me. Pure bliss. A meeting of mystery authors from my publishing house that had stars shining down on it. I got to sit behind the scenes and chat with fascinating individuals who bring the world of mystery to life with their intriguing experiences. And after that, we got to meet readers and chat about our writing and just life in general. You never know what stories will come forward. Like the author who went out target shooting in the desert with a bunch of men she barely knew…and then she stuck one of their guns in her rib cage because she wanted to be able to describe the feeling in her book! Now there’s a story that could quickly be turned…

Meet Kym Roberts at Readers & ‘ritas!
Readers & 'ritas / November 8, 2018

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with cozy mystery author Kym Roberts, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. Be sure to include the book title. The Book Barn’s book club is stirring up a list of suspects from its latest read, and the store’s owner, Charli, finds herself defending her friend from a murder that may be fictional, but in reality is just as deadly . . . If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? Princess the armadillo. I’d give her a bath and play with her before sending her back to Charli so she can sleep on Charli’s pillow—not mine. What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? Dreams—I literally wake up and start writing. The length of what I write depends on how strong an adrenaline dump I experienced 🙂 If I’m deadline driven, I talk to my number…

Cozy Corner | Getting Cozy with Every Wicked Man
Cozy Corner , Interviews / October 1, 2018

I hope you’ve enjoyed our wonderful summer of guest bloggers at the Cozy Corner! I can’t thank my fellow mystery authors enough for stopping by and sharing their great posts! Hugs to all of them for the time, tidbits, and talents they’ve shared with our readers! If you’ve been following the Cozy Corner for long, you know I’m prone to step away from the cozy world from time to time and delve into a thriller. But not just any chilling intrigue will do. My escape from the safe, loving small town communities must take me into the intrigue and darkness of a city like Gotham with real-life multi-faceted characters. (Not men in dark masks with capes, scratchy voices and gadget belts; although they are nice on the big screen:) That’s quite a tall order. Especially if I want to read an action-packed mystery layered with clues and hidden agendas all written in graphic, but clean language—a rarity in the genre. What I really liked about the book I chose this week, was that it’s actually a prequel to a series that’s new to me. (Who doesn’t love discovering a backlist just waiting to be devoured?!) I found exactly what I…

Declare Your Independence
Cozy Corner / July 2, 2018

Guest writer: Rebecca Adler First, a big howdy to y’all from Texas. Second, a big thanks to the lovely Kym Roberts for this opportunity to share all the exciting new cozy releases hitting the shelves of your local and virtual bookstores during the month of July. As a heat wave blazes its way across the country this week, I encourage you to declare your independence from the humdrum of work and responsibilities. Stake out those well-deserved hours, minutes, or even moments, of relaxation and repose by engaging your problem-solving skills in one of the most enjoyable ways possible—by reading a delightful cozy mystery. Whether you choose a title from a beloved author, discover a new favorite series, or both, this week’s new releases will make you glad you asserted your right to relax and solve a wonderful whodunit. THE CORPSE AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE by Carola Dunn Daisy Dalrymple Mystery #23 A casual outing to the Crystal Palace in London takes a mysterious and murderous turn in The Corpse at the Crystal Palace, the latest mystery in Carola Dunn’s beloved Daisy Dalrymple series. April 1928: Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher is visited in London by her young cousins. On the list of…

The Golden Years
Cozy Corner / June 26, 2018

Whoever said these were our golden years, was either living on martinis on the beach or hadn’t reached the gilded age when every bone and joint in their body screamed for attention. I’ve ignored the screaming for a few years, but the noise is now coming from a woman in a white lab coat with the initials DR imprinted in front of her name. The fun of my youth (and beyond) has a price to pay, and it’s time to pay. So I’ll be taking a few months sabbatical from blogging, podcasting and writing and working on physical fitness. Unfortunately, surfing is on doc’s ‘no-no’ list for the next year—grrr. The best part of that news, however, is that I have lined up some amazing guest bloggers from July to October! As soon as I put the news out, authors came through for me in overwhelming numbers. That’s how awesome the community is;) Here is your line-up for the Cozy Corner for the rest of the summer—until we meet again in October, get cozy and read on! Rebecca Adler Karen Rose Smith Rhys Bowen Krista Davis Olivia Matthews Tina Kashian Sofie Kelly Libby Klein Jenn McKinlay Winnie Archer Lena Gregory…

School’s Out Mysteries
Cozy Corner / June 18, 2018

The last homework assignment has been completed. The last drive line has been driven. And the last school bell has rung…until August. Mom’s across America are breathing a sigh of relief— until next week when they have to scramble to entertain the bored kids. I have a few mysteries for you to enjoy during the short window of unabashed joy your kids are experiencing from the freedom of school responsibilities. For those teachers out there, enjoy the silence—you deserve it! ROCKETS’ DEAD GLARE by Lynn Cahoon Tourist Trap Mystery As sunny South Cove, California, gears up for their annual Fourth of July celebrations, a local murder threatens to kill the fireworks . . . South Cove’s local businesses are up in arms after volunteer fire chief Barry Gleason threatens to shut down anyone who doesn’t comply with the fire code. But when Barry schedules a training burn in an old abandoned barn, he is the only one who doesn’t come out alive. Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—smells murder in the ashes. She’ll have to work quickly to nab a killer with a short fuse—or else everyone’s holiday will end with a fizzle . . . Mystery Woman Sleuth…

Magick in the Barn
Cozy Corner / May 14, 2018

by Sharon Pape and Kym Roberts It always amazes me when I approached an author I don’t know with a hairbrained idea, and she actually says, “Yes!” Yet the writing community is that way: adventure seekers to the core. My guest today is one of those brave souls who didn’t hesitate to jump on board this crazy ride between her fictional characters and mine. Sharon Pape, author of the fabulous Abracadabra Mystery series, has co-written today’s blog with me. It started out as an interview between characters, but ended up as a short story we hope you’ll enjoy. Without further ado, here’s Magick in the Barn! I looked around and my knees nearly buckled. I closed my eyes, said a silent prayer to anyone listening. “Please, let this be a dream.” I slowly peaked out my left eye. No one in the heavens heard a thing I said. We were standing in the middle of what appeared to be a magick shoppe from 17th century England. There were beakers and bottles and antique fixtures my daddy would absolutely love. Princess nudged my leg and the breath I’d been holding so tight in my chest escaped through my lips. I sounded…

Spring for a Cozy Mystery!
Cozy Corner / May 7, 2018

Everyone is more than ready for the trees to bloom and the flowers to sprout. The temperatures are finally rising and hopefully *fingers crossed* we’ve all experience the last snowfall of winter! Sitting in the sun soaking up some vitamin D is finally a possibility, and what better way to celebrate the return of nice weather than to do it with a blanket in the park and a book in your hands? Here are four new mysteries for you to enjoy this spring season. And as a tease for next week, one of these authors will be joining me for a short story right here on the Cozy Corner! It’s your turn to dig into the clues, and figure out the mystery! But, you’ll only be able to do that, by going to each author’s social media sites! QUEEN ANNE’S LACE by Susan Wittig Albert China Bayles #26 A present day ghost leads China Bayles to a secret from Pecan Springs’s past in this haunting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert. While helping Ruby Wilcox clean up the loft above their shops, China comes upon a box of antique handcrafted lace and old photographs. Following the…

The Joy of Spring Mysteries
Cozy Corner / April 17, 2018

It’s springtime! Although many of us are not feeling the effects yet, we can benefit from all of the hard work mystery authors did while hibernating with their computers over the winter. This week I have four great cozies for you to check out. Magic by the sea with cupcakes at a festival—it doesn’t get any better than that! A MAGICAL MATCH by Juliet Blackwell Witchcraft Mystery #9 Witch and vintage store owner Lily Ivory faces her most difficult mystery to date with a case of mistaken identity that hits close to home… Lily Ivory and her friends are planning a 1950s-themed brunch to benefit the local women’s shelter. When a figure from her past shows up unannounced, threatening her unless she returns something that belonged to him, Lily’s fiancé, Sailor, steps in to defend her. After the same man is found dead later that day, Sailor is the primary suspect. He swears he’s innocent, but multiple witnesses ID him as the perpetrator of the assault. Lily vows to clear his name…only she’s not sure where to start with the mounting evidence against him. When she sees Sailor in the neighborhood despite knowing he’s in jail, Lily starts to wonder…

Recipes for Cinco de Murder with Rebecca Adler
Cozy Corner / April 2, 2018

One of the great thing about cozy mysteries are the recipes! Everyone loves to delve into the scrumptious foods authors describe in their books, and Rebecca Adler has some of the best Tex-Mex recipes out there. After reading her latest book <CINCO DE MURDER, I had to ask her for a taste of Texas. To my delight, and soon to be yours too, Rebecca didn’t just give me one recipe, she covered us for a whole meal! Check out her recipes for salsa, chicken quesadillas and pecan pralines-yum! Don’t forget to pick up a copy of CINCO DE MURDER, A Taste of Texas Mystery by Rebecca Adler on Tuesday 4/3/2018! CINCO DE MURDER by Rebecca Adler Taste of Texas #3 Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan serves up more Lone Star justice in this spicy mystery from the author of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole. It’s fiesta time in Broken Boot, Texas, and tourists are pouring into town faster than free beer at a bull roping for the mouthwatering Cinco de Mayo festivities. Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan, her feisty abuela, and even her spunky Chihuahua Lenny are polishing their folklórico dances for Saturday’s big parade, while Uncle…