Comfort and Pasta

by Lucy Arlington

In the winter months I crave comfort food. You know the warm, stick-to-your-ribs stuff your mom made—oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, fresh bread. When I lived in Ontario, Canada with its ice and snow, those cravings made sense. Who doesn’t love to burrow on the couch under a blanket, with a good book and a warm oatmeal cookie, while the wind howls outside?

But currently I’m living in Bermuda, and although the winter temps can go as low as the high 50s, the weather hardly calls for snuggling inside to stay warm. So why am I still craving those chicken and dumplings?

Today, I’m sharing a recipe that, in my opinion, falls into the comfort food category, but is lighter and healthier. A friend of mine gave me this recipe, and it fits the bill on so many levels—it’s pasta, it’s easy, and it’s delicious. Make it for dinner sometime this week and see if you agree.

Do you crave comfort foods in the winter? What is your favourite comfort food?

(By the way, less than a week to the release of BURIED IN A BOOK! I can’t wait.)

MUSHROOM PASTA

1 ½ cups bow tie pasta (farfale)

½ lb. mushrooms

½ onion, chopped

1 Tbsp butter

1 4.4 oz package of garlic-herb cream cheese (Boursin is the best)

¼ cup chicken broth

pepper, to taste

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.

2. While it’s cooking: In a large skillet, sauté mushrooms, onions, and pepper in the butter until tender.

3. Add cheese and broth and stir until blended.

4. Drain pasta, add to skillet, and toss to coat.

5. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

January Energy

by Maggie Sefton

I believe in something I call "January Energy." Call me crazy, but I think there's a special energy or determination or ability to focus that occurs each January. An old year has passed, and it's the beginning of a new year. It's a time when we naturally start to review what we've done over the past year and what we'd like to do in the upcoming year. Maybe we'd like to run a marathon for the first time. My NYC daughter Melissa sent us all a text w/photo last weekend saying she'd just completed her first 10K race. Yay, Melissa! Her photo showed her standing in Central Park with a coffee in her hand. Race organizers had made sure there were coffee stands at various points throughout the race. (This photo, of course, shows a man breaking through the winner's tape). :)

Most people use January Energy to help them get back on track with their diets or exercise plans, especially after all the holiday excess. I don't know about you folks, but I always indulge myself during the holidays.

But a lot of us use January as a starting point for new projects, new paths, sometimes, new careers. I know I have. In fact, I've done it all my life. I didn't know how many times I'd started new projects or directions until I reflected on it and actually discovered that EVERY new project or new life direction I've taken has started in January. For some reason, I find January Energy the perfect time to "re-create" myself in several ways:

---Years and years ago, I started running as a way to speed up losing leftover "baby weight" after my fourth daughter was born. Running became a regular part of my life. I no longer run outside but inside at tracks or treadmills at gyms, where I never have to worry about being rained out;

---in 2003, I listened to my instinct and began a non-fiction writing project which eventually led me into the knitting shop here in Fort Collins, CO. I went there to interview knitters for a magazine article, and I fell down the rabbit hole into a world of color and texture and sensuality. Five months later, after I'd been sitting in on weekly get togethers around the knitting table at Lambspun, Kelly Flynn and friends "walked onstage" in my head. I recognized her story as an amateur sleuth mystery, and I started writing down the scenes playing through my head. This June, the 10th in the Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries will be published.

---there are other examples like that throughout my life. The latest is this January, when I submitted my very first published amateur sleuth mystery, DYING TO SELL, as an e-book. It's now available on Kindle, Nook, and soon on Apple, Sony, Kobo and others. A whole new world awaits.

What about you? Are there any new projects you'd like to attempt in 2012? Did you get any new ideas in January?

Forget the Freshmen Fifteen… what about the Author Eight?

By Amanda Flower

2011 was a whirlwind as my agent snagged two more cozy mystery series contracts for me. She asked me, “Are you sure you can do both?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” I said while thinking, OMG! How am I going to do this?

“Are you going to keep your library job?” She asked because in addition to being a mystery author, I am a fulltime college librarian.

“Yes. I have to. I get dental!”

“Okay. They are fast tracking the first series. The first book is due in eight weeks.”

Deep breath. “Sure, no problem. I can do it.” I mean how hard can it be? It was only 80,000 words, right? Right?!

Somehow, I turned the first book, A PLAIN DEATH, in on time. Sure, I looked a little crazed about the eyes and had given up brushing my hair on a regular basis, but the book was DONE. I felt on top of the world when I emailed it my editor. At least I felt that way until I stepped on my bathroom scale. I gained eight pounds. Eight! A pound for every week of writing.

During that eight week period, I spent every waking minute at work or writing. Before the new contracts, I exercised almost every day and gave it up in order to make my deadline. Also, I admit my eating habits deteriorated too. Some nights, I ate dry cereal straight from the box for dinner. I was tired, and opening the refrigerator door seemed like too much trouble.

While staring at that fear-inducing number on the scale, I realized I hadn’t read a book for fun in four months. Forget the weight gain; the loss of reading time had to change. Is life worth living without reading? I don’t think so. But how was I going to find the time to exercise and read with five more back to back deadlines looming over me?

While walking across campus one day, the solution hit me. The college fitness center! It’s free to college staff, and I could use the treadmill on my lunch hour and read ebooks on my Kindle.

I must confess I was nervous going to the fitness center the first time. What would the students think when they saw a librarian outside of her natural habitat? Wouldn’t it be like seeing a tiger in the middle of a suburban street?

You know what, they ignore me. They are too busy with their own quarter life crises to worry about mine.

I suppose the question is would I have signed both contracts had I known how hard it was going to be. The answer: absolutely yes in a heartbeat. I think all the Cozy Chicks will agree that we have the very best jobs as cozy mystery authors. Being able to do what I love is worth every extra pound on the scale.

Thank you to Heather and rest of the Cozy Chicks for letting me stop by!

~Amanda, who still sometimes eats cereal straight from the box for dinner

**************************
Amanda Flower writes the India Hayes Mystery Series. The first novel in the series, MAID OF MURDER,was nominated for an Agatha Award. The sequel, MURDER IN A BASKET,releases February 8, 2012. A PLAIN DEATH,first in a new Amish mystery series, releases July 2012. To learn more visit Amanda online at http://www.amandaflower.com/. You can also follow Amanda at http://www.facebook.com/authoramandaflower and http://twitter.com/aflowerwriter.

How Did My Kitten Become the Boss?

by Leann

My dog Rosie, a very bright labradoodle, lives on a schedule. She knows when every treat is due, what time to go to her bed in the utility room and even what time I take my meds. If I forget, she is there sitting at my feet and staring up at me. She even brings my husband his shoes when it's time for a walk. Who knew I'd get another pet with a schedule?

Wexford, my 9 month old rather large kitten, isn't so big on regular meals, but if I am out, when I come home he is there to greet me and expects--yes, you guessed it--a treat. He also gets on top of his scratching post when it gets dark so he can reach the light switch. He can't turn the lights on yet, but I figure it won't be long.

But he has started becoming a little more than demanding about one thing: bed time. I usually head for the sack somewhere around 10 PM. Of late, Wexford has decided he needs to persuade me to get there on time, if not early. First, he worms his way between me and my laptop and sprawls out. I pet him, but don't get up. So his latest trick is to get up on the table next to me and swipe of any items near me. The tissue box. My inhaler. Any book I have put down. Pens. Pencils. Snacks. The TV remote. It's all fair game until I get up and give him what he wants. A race to the bedroom.

As I go through the routine--put on PJs, brush teeth, get the glass of water, put in the night guard, turn on the MP3 player--he watches each step intently. And then what does he do once I am in bed with the lights off? He leaves to do whatever cats do in the dark. But when I wake up later like the good insomniac I am, he's there beside me or above me. Never below. He is the boss of me, after all.

How about you? Are your pets as dedicated to routine as mine are?

Planning My Garden

by Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett / L.L. Bartlett

Okay, it's still January, but is it every too early to start planning the garden for spring.

For YEARS, we have had problems with bunnies and ground hogs eating our veggies.  It's enough to make you rip out y our hair.  Yes, the animals need to eat to live, but why my garden?  (We have a farm behind us.  Yes, they eat there, but seem to have dessert in our yard.  And the farm only harvests a fraction of what they grow.  We wonder ... is it a tax write off?  Can you say government subsidies???)

Last summer, Mr. Ground Hog ate my potato plants.  Since he loved our Brussels sprouts so much the year before, we tried growing them in containers but learned they have really large root systems pots just don't cut it.

And while the ground hogs and bunnies didn't eat our tomatoes, the chipmunks did.  And since it has rained a lot these past couple of years, our tomatoes have had blight. (Nasty leaves and --ick-- black (rotten) spots on our tomatoes.

Our parsley did really well last summer, as did our green beans (well, those that survived the bunnies)--at least until the tail-end of a hurricane came through and broke the bean poles, making it difficult to find and harvest the crop.

Are you planning a garden this year?  If so, what will you plant?

Not So Camera Shy

By Heather Blake / Heather Webber

It’s about that time again. Time for my official author photo to be updated. It’s been a couple of years, and even though I haven’t changed all that much (just a few more wrinkles!), it’s good to keep current.

Once upon a time, the thought of having my picture taken would have freaked me out. I didn’t like cameras. Posing. Anything about it. A trait I figured I inherited from my photo-phobic mom.

Then, about five years ago, as I was going through old photo albums, I realized something. I hardly had any pictures of my mother. And barely had any photos (maybe one or two) of me and my mother together.

It was a light bulb moment. I suddenly realized that there were hardly any pictures of me with my kids. Lots of the kids. Tons. Albums full. But not too many of us together (like mother like daughter!). Not of the baking lessons, the puzzles, the bedtime stories. Not of trips to the park, swims in the pool, playing in the yard. And it made me sad. Full of regret. All those Kodak moments I missed capturing forever. Because I was camera shy. It suddenly seemed so silly.

From that point on, I've made a point of being in pictures. It’s not easy, I’ll admit, but I’d rather be in a photo than not. I’m a long way from being a ham, but when I get my next author shots taken, I’ll definitely be saying cheese. And the pics with my kids? Just try keeping me out of them! I’m making up for lost time. It doesn't quite wipe out the regret, but it helps.

Are you camera shy? A ham? Somewhere in between?

Cozy Guy in a Cozy Chick World

By Guest Blogger Miranda James (aka Dean James)

“What do you mean, you’re writing a cozy series with a guy as the main character? Don’t you know that a cozy series has a female amateur sleuth as the protagonist?”

Well, yeah, most cozy series these days do feature female leads, but that’s no reason to discriminate against a guy who isn’t a hard-boiled private eye. I don’t walk the mean streets, and I don’t see any reason why my hero, just because of the chromosomal difference, has to walk them either.

There have been other cozy male characters in mysteries. Anybody remember Lord Peter Wimsy? And he of the “little grey cells,” M. Hercule Poirot? For all that he was a professional detective, one can’t get much cozier than the Grande Dame, Agatha Christie herself. There’s also Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion(my personal favorite) and Ngaio Marsh’s Roderick Alleyn (who, even though a Scotland Yard ‘tec, is pretty dang cozy, too).

So I didn’t see any reason why the main character in my “Cat in the Stacks” series shouldn’t be a guy. After all, the cat in the series, a Maine Coon named Diesel, is also male. Plus, after having written a couple of series (as Jimmie Ruth Evans and Honor Hartman) from the female point of view, I wanted a change. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the female characters in those other series, but I thought it would be an interesting challenge, to write a male amateur detective in a genre that’s currently dominated by “cozy chicks.”

Reader response so far has been gratifying, although I must admit that the character that everyone likes best is Diesel, but Charlie gets a lot of favorable comments for being a nice, caring, family-oriented guy. One of the reasons I write cozy mysteries is that I like writing about decent people who sometimes find themselves mixed up in murder and mayhem. People who aren’t paid to deal with crime, like professional crime solvers. I’ve loved amateur detectives ever since I first discovered Nancy Drew longer ago than I care to admit these days.

Why shouldn’t an ordinary guy have fun solving crimes? And if his cat is along for the adventure, so much the better.

A Tour of Inspiration Valley

By Guest Blogger Lucy Arlington

I’m Lila Wilkins, the brand new intern at A Novel Idea Literary Agency, and it’s my pleasure to take you on a tour of Inspiration Valley, North Carolina, the setting of Buried in A Book: A Novel Idea Mystery. You could reach my bucolic berg by car, but the road is curvy and winds through the blue-green mountains curling around our little town like a sleeping cat. So let’s take the train. On the Inspiration Express, you can relax on plush seats and read a novel or select a cappuccino and cinnamon roll from the pastry cart and watch the scenery go by.

The moment you step off the train you’ll inhale a breath of pure air scented with a hint of jasmine from the trellis at The Secret Garden, the plant and flower store. As we get closer to my office, we’ll pass by Six Pence Bakery and the heavenly aromas of baking bread and chocolate croissants fresh from the oven will have you drooling, but I promise to buy you a treat at EspressoYourself, the coffee shop located right below A Novel Idea.

Here’s the quaint brick building where I work. I have a view of the park and the Nine Muses Fountain. And did you notice that the streets are all made of cobblestone and are lined with urns bursting with marigolds and snapdragons? This is the prettiest downtown I’ve ever seen.

Come on into the coffee shop and meet Makayla, the beautiful barista. Not only does she make the world’s best caramel latte, but she also keeps a little lending library in the café and she and I talk about books every day. And take a look at all the walls! Local artists created all of these gorgeous watercolors and oil paintings. Inspiration Valley is loaded with writers, potters, photographers, weavers, musicians, foodies, and book lovers.

After I show you around the literary agency and try to not to feel too guilty about the stack of query letters and proposals pilling up on my desk, we can have lunch at Catcher in the Rye, which is an amazing sandwich shop, or head over to the hot food bar at our local grocery store, How Green Was My Valley. For dinner, I recommend trying out Voltaire’s. I’ve been dreaming of sharing a candlelight dinner there with Officer Sean Griffiths, the dashing policeman I met when an aspiring writer died at A Novel Idea.

Yes, there’s been a murder in this Southern paradise! But don’t let that keep you from visiting. My mother’s a psychic and she’s predicted that with the help of Makayla, Sean, and the other literary agents, I’ll find out who decided to silence an innocent author forever.

Would you like to spend some time in Inspiration Valley?

DYING TO SELL---an EBook at last!

by Maggie Sefton





I'm SO excited! I've finally released the ebook version of my first amateur sleuth mystery, DYING TO SELL! I've watched several of my fellow Cozy Chicks release their previously published books, both mysteries and romances. Their advice and encouragement--and hand-holding--has been essential throughout this entire process.



I spent six hours on Sunday afternoon loading various formatted versions of DYING TO SELL onto all the main ebook platforms: Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, Apple's iPad, and Sony & Kobo. So, it should be available for all platforms by today, Tuesday. For those of you with Kindles, the Amazon link to DYING TO SELL is:

http://www.amazon.com/DYING-TO-SELL-ebook/dp/B0070OINJO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327327694&sr=8-2



Here's a brief description for DYING TO SELL:

Real estate agent Kate Doyle knew divorce was messy, but she didn’t expect it to be bloody. Kate agrees to sell the home of old friends who’re locked in a bitter divorce. She’s hoping the upscale house will be an easy sell in the Colorado college town. But her hopes turn to horror when she walks into the lawyer-client’s study to find him brutally murdered—stabbed in the throat. “A crime of passion,” says Kate’s police detective brother-in-law. The prime suspect is Kate’s close friend, the spurned wife, who begs Kate to help her.

Kate’s meddling turns up some surprising suspects. The successful lawyer deceived numerous ex-lovers as well as his wife. He’d also played off one land developer against another, dangling a choice tract of land as bait. Businesses were ruined and fortunes lost. Had the loser taken revenge on the wily lawyer? Or had an ex-lover killed in jealous rage?
Kate’s real estate license helps her dig into the scheming lawyer’s dealings as she sifts clues from cyberspace to crawl space. Unfortunately, her snooping tempts the killer to exercise his own license—to kill.

Dying to Sell was originally published in hardcover by Five Star/Tekno Books in 2005 and subsequently published in paperback by Worldwide Mystery Library.

If you give DYING TO SELL a try, I'd love to hear your comments. You can post them on my Facebook page or email me personally at maggie@maggiesefton.com

What's Coming Next Month from Two Chicks!

by Leann

Two more Cozy Chicks will have books released in February! Jennifer Stanley writing as Lucy Arlington (in collaboration with Sylvia May) and Lorraine Bartlett (aka Lorna Barrett and LL Bartlett). These are talented writers and I know you won't be disappointed if you invest in these wonderful cozies. They are available for pre-order, well--EVERYWHERE!!


Oh, and we'd LOVE to hear what you think about these
covers. Do they make you want to visit these characters?

When Prescriptions Attack!

by Leann

After three weeks of every miserable respiratory symptom you can think of, I am finally getting better. Both my husband and I were down with this bug--yet "bug" seems too small a word. We were both pretty darn sick, so ill my husband missed a week of work. Since I have asthma, I developed bronchitis almost immediately and the doctor threw everything in the book at the illness. I had an antibiotic shot, a cortisone shot, antibiotic pills and prednisone. After a few days I could breathe without needing my inhaler every fifteen minutes.

But I knew the aftermath was coming. I always get depressed after I have a course of prednisone and boy did it hit me Saturday. But I have found a new side effect: stupidity. Since I was crying for no reason and feeling very sorry for myself, I decided to make a batch of cookies. The smell coming from the oven always seems to cheer me up. So, what did I do? I grabbed the hot cookie sheet without a pot holder!! Okay, add burned and blistered fingers to the list of maladies. The joy of cooking became the agony of baking. Add to that, more crying over nothing. At least I tried to cheer myself up!

I decided this day was a wash. Before I did anything else in the imbecile department, I chose to sit down (with my delicious cookies) and watch college basketball. It won't upset me and I can't injure myself, right?

How about you? Are there any medicines you absolutely must have or anything you must do--and yet you know there will be unpleasant consequences down the road?

Can you say VACATION?

by Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett / L.L. Bartlett

Around about January, people start dreaming of a warm vacation.  I'm usually not one of them.  For the most part, I'm pretty happy living here in Western New York.

Of course, my favorite place to vacation is England.  Since I no longer fly, that makes the UK as a destination rater a difficult place to go.

So I'm stuck in the Northern Hemisphere.  Where would I like to go?  (And preferably in warm weather -- because while I fear crashing in a plane, I also fear crashing in a car -- and have done so in winter.  NEVER AGAIN!)

How about Mackinack Island in Michigan?  Ever since I saw the film Somewhere in Time, I've wanted to go to the Grand Hotel.  Sadly, one-night's stay is far above my budget, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Biltmore, in Ashville, NC.  Nuff said.

Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum.  Okay, truth be told, I've already been there, but I remember the museum far better than I do Greenfield Village. I must've missed the Cottswold Cottage, but then we may have only spent a morning there, and you need far more than that.

What are you vacation plans for this summer?

The First-Ever Cozy Chick Pet of the Month!

Welcome to Kaye Barley - bibliophile, animal lover, and blog hostess to many a mystery writer. You can read more about her (and her dog Harley) at Meanderings and Musings. Today, she'll tell us how she met Harley, her beloved Corgi. The Chicks will send a donation to the ASPCA in Harley's name. Post a comment and we'll add your pet's name to our donation!

Donald and I went to the Humane Society in Atlanta the day we came home from our honeymoon to get a kitty. This was to help us during our grieving process for our beloved black kitty Pyewacket whom we had recently lost. We came home with two kitties. Litter mates as different as night and day, but totally devoted to one another. George was with us for 15 years, Martha for 18.

When we lost these sweeties, we didn't think we could ever bring ourselves to go through the heartache of losing another pet. But, it turned out harder than we imagined to come home to a house without a loving furbaby waiting for us after working all day. As soon as we met Harley, our hearts were his. This is a picture of him the day we brought him home from a Corgi breeder who had been recommended. Who could resist this adorable furball with big ears?!
My love for animals extends somewhat into my reading.

When I first discovered Ellery's Books by the Bay series, I was immediately hooked. One of the most appealing aspects of this series is the bond between Olivia Limoges and her companion, Captain Haviland, a standard poodle of above-average intelligence. This relationship is so realistically written, and so poignant without being forced or over-done that it always manages to touch my soul.

My thanks to the Cozy Chicks for inviting me by - I think you all just rock andI'm tickled to be here!

A New Feature! The Cozy Chick Pet-of-the-Month

Animals play such a huge role in most of our lives that we decided to highlight a special pet once a month (or every other month, depending on our schedule).

A guest will tell us how they met their pet and share the title of the last book they read that featured an animal character.

These posts will benefit needy animals too, because the Chicks will make a donation to the ASPCA in the pet-of-the-month's name.

We hope you enjoy these posts and get to add to your TBR list at the same time!

An Intro to Handguns (From a Gal Who Knows Nothing about Handguns)

Ellery Adams

With my sixteenth published mystery novel, Buried in a Book (written under the penname Lucy Arlington) coming out this February, I’ve killed lots and lots of people in print. They’ve been strangled, poisoned, electrocuted, stabbed, hung, drugged, pushed down stairs, drowned, etc.

What I’ve avoided thus far is death by gunshot. Why? Because I don’t know much about guns. True, I don’t know what it’s like to be choked to death either, but I can find an answer to most medical questions at our local hospital (my husband works there and most of the doctors are used to seeing me, notebook in hand, grilling a pathologist or cardiologist in order to get my facts straight).

Guns are trickier. They have calibers and specific ranges and particular bullets and grips and firing patterns. And I have no idea what they really feel like to hold or sound like when they’re being fired. Knowing Hollywood action films and TV cop shows, what I’ve seen on the big screen isn’t very accurate. One can research guns like any other subject, but I like to do firsthand research, so I called the closest shooting range and made an appointment for a private lesson. (Not for the Bullets and Beer event, however!)

My first impression was of the noise. Guns are loud, folks. The gunshots you hear on TV are muted. And a big gun, like a rifle, machine gun, or shotgun, is really loud. Even wearing headphones, I was surprised by how loud the guns I shot were.

Because the character in my upcoming pie shop series (written under the name Ellery Adams and due out in July) is going to start toting around a concealed weapon, I wanted to find the perfect handgun for her. Therefore, I fired several handguns to see which felt the most comfortable and I ended up picking the Colt .45 (the gun with the wood on its handle).

Turns out, I’m a decent shot. I killed that paper mugger but good (only missed him twice) but I was so horrible at loading the magazines for the Smith and Wesson M&P 9 and the Colt .45 that I would have been dead a thousand times over if speed was a requirement in a gunfight. The Smith and Wesson Model 60 was a revolver and easy to load, but I tended to jerk the trigger a bit when I fired and therefore shot my mugger in the gut instead of in the face or in the heart.

And speaking of hearts, mine was hammering throughout the whole lesson. The noise, the power of the bullet exploding from the gun, the shells flying through the air, the smoke rising to the rafters, the smell of gunpowder—it was all strange and new and both terrifying and exciting.

My instructor was amazing. He taught me loads about gun safety, maintenance, various weapons’ ranges, and shooting posture. He even gave me a run-down on different ammunition and which guns most women prefer. The guy was a font of gun wisdom.

Am I am expert now? Not by a long shot. (ha, ha) But am I going to know exactly how my heroine feels when she handles that Colt .45? You bet.

Have you ever fired a gun? Ever wanted to?

Love That Mac and Cheese

by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

Snow is falling and tonight the fire will be crackling. Now all I need to complete the picture is a big bowl of mac and cheese. Boxed or homemade, I love it all. But I’m a purist. Don’t you dare add cauliflower or shrimp or peas or…well…Maine lobster might work…or bacon. No really, I like my pasta and cheese without any foreign objects.

Give it to me with Velvetta or Brie, Cheddar or Parmigiano, or add three or four kinds. Give it to me with Cheese Whiz or Gouda or Ricotta. I love them all.

Creamy golden on the inside, crisp and crunchy on the top. Yum.

And some day down the road, when they finally come and take me away to the old folks home, I better get my mac and cheese, or else. Just saying.

And how do you like yours?

Losing A Good Friend

by Maggie Sefton

Last Thursday I had a shock. A jolt I wasn't expecting. A mystery novelist friend called me from Southern California and told me my dear friend and colleague, Diana James, had died suddenly. I was so shocked I had trouble finding words. "What happened? Was it a car accident?" were my first thoughts. No, it was not. It was a pulmonary embolism. It happened so suddenly that Diana's husband, mystery author Darrell James, had no warning. Ambulances came at the first call, but Diana passed quickly after arriving at the hospital.

It was a tragic, out-of-nowhere, no warning occurrence that snuffed out a smart, vivacious, bright, hard-working, sweet, kind, and lovely woman. . .and a dear, dear friend. I still can't believe her light is gone from our world. Diana and I were planning to chat via phone that Thursday afternoon. How I wish we had been able to talk before.

Diana and Darrell had been busy promoting Darrell's first mystery, NAZARETH CHILD, which came out just this last September. www.darrelljames.com

Those of us who were fortunate enough to know Diana will miss her and the light she brought with her. We miss you already, Diana.

Attention: Call or email your friends today. Don't wait. There are no guarantees they will be around tomorrow. Take care, everyone.

He Made A Difference

by Kate

Today is a holiday to celebrate a man who made a difference because he had a dream.

What's your dream?

Dru's Cozy Report: January 2012 Reading List

Welcome to Dru's Cozy Report. This month we have four new series for your reading pleasure. The fourth one is a gem I found in my TBR pile and I'm so glad I read it.

An Appetite For Murder by Lucy Burdette is the first book in the new "Key West Food Critic" mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, January 2012

Hayley Snow is a woman of many passions. She's followed her soul mate to funky, foodie Key West, but when their romance loses its sizzle, she's determined to find a new life in this island paradise. She's always been a foodie, so when she applies to be a food critic for Key Zest, the new Key West style magazine, it seems like a perfect pairing. Then Hayley discovers that her potential new boss is Kristen Faulkner—the woman who stole her boyfriend. Hayley can't see how things can get worse now that she's loveless, possibly working for her romantic rival, and living on her friend's boat—until Kristen is murdered and the police pull Hayley in as a suspect. Unfortunately, Hayley's got more motive than Key Lime pie has meringue. To clear her name she'll have to find the real killer fast or the only restaurant she'll be reviewing is the prison cafe.

What a great read. All Hayley wanted was to stay in Key West and work as a food critic, but instead she becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her soon-to-be boss and it doesn’t look like the police are looking elsewhere. To prove her innocence, Hayley will have to create a recipe that will expose a killer. This engaging and page turning murder mystery kept me guessing throughout most of the story. The evenly-paced story boasts a perfect backdrop that is Key West, delicious meals interwoven into the story and likable characters. I especially like Hayley who is funny, strong yet vulnerable and has a zest for living that made this well-written tale come to life. This is a fantastic beginning to a delectably entertaining series.

Visit Lucy at http://lucyburdette.com

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book

---

Stay At Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen is the first book in the new "Stay at Home" mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, January 2012

It’s a day like any other for Deuce Winters, a stay-at-home dad in sleepy Rose Petal, Texas, where he and his three-year-old daughter Carly are making their weekly trip to the grocery store. But the discovery of a dead body in his mini-van quickly throws his quiet life into disarray. In a town where gossip spreads faster than a brush fire in July, it doesn’t help that the victim ruined Deuce’s high school football career and married his ex-girlfriend. As the number one suspect in the court of public opinion, Deuce is determined to clear his name, with a little help from his wife Julianne, a high-powered attorney who lovingly refers to him as her “househusband.” His search for the killer leads him to a business plan gone awry and a gaggle of jilted lovers. All the while, he’ll have to contend with a diminutive but feisty detective, the ruthless preschool PTA, and more than his fair share of Texas-sized hairdos—not to mention the laundry.

What a fun debut! Stay-at-home dad, Deuce, finds a dead body in his minivan and when the town’s gossip has him all but convicted, Deuce looks into this case to clear his name with help from unlikely sources. This is a light-hearted, fun-filled, and well-written who-dun-it that I enjoyed immensely. The mystery was a good one and when I thought I had the killer’s identity in my grasp, the author changed direction. I love the people in Deuce’s world; especially scene-stealer Carly. With a clever plot, a comfortable ambiance, an enjoyable banter and a likeable cast, this is great start in this charming and amusing series.

Visit Jeffrey at http://jeffreyallenbooks.com

FTC Full Disclosure - I bought my own copy of this book

---

If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton is the first book in the new "Country Cooking School" mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, January 2012

At Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Showdown, the cook-off that draws lots of summer visitors. Then they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply room—and Everett's widow points the finger at Gram. Betts must clear Gram's name and keep the cook-off preparations on schedule—all while worrying about a mysterious cowboy only she seems to be able to see. And after shots are fired at her, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer—before the last wing is served.

I like this book. When Betts and her grandmother find a dead body in their school’s supply closet, it doesn’t look good for Grams when she becomes the primary suspect. To save Gram’s reputation, Betts and Jerome will have to find a killer before Grams becomes dead meat. This was an enjoyable read that kept me going until the last sentence. This well-designed tale of mystery had worthy suspects and I enjoyed watching Betts blend the clues from Jerome’s past memories to expose the killer before more harm was done. The small *old-west* town atmosphere; the casual conversations; and a charming cast makes this a delightful read in this wonderful and appealing debut series.

Visit Paige at www.paigeshelton.com

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book

---

Skeleton in a Dead Space by Judy Alter is the first book in the "Kelly O'Connell" mystery series. Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press, August 2011

Kelly O’Connell never thought real estate was a dangerous profession, until she stumbled over a skeleton in a dead space in an early-twentieth-century Craftsman house she was transforming into a coveted modern home in an older urban neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas. From that moment, she runs into teen-age gang members, a manipulative ex-husband, a needy and single pregnant friend, a cold-blooded murderer, and a policeman who wants to be more than her protector. As free-spirited as the chocolate-peanut-jalapeño candy she craves, Kelly barges through life trying to keep from angering her policeman-boyfriend, protect her two young daughters, pacify her worried mother a thousand miles away, and keep her real estate business afloat. Too often she puts herself in danger, and sometimes it’s the girls, not Mike, who come to Kelly’s rescue.

All Kelly wanted to do was finish the house she was renovating, but instead she got a dead skeleton and threats against her family. What a great read that I could not put down. The author had me quickly turning the pages in this suspenseful who-dun-it and the many twists and turns kept the plot moving towards a rewarding conclusion. With a comfortable tone, lovable and quirky characters, great conversation, especially the internal dialogue that Kelly has with herself, and a hint of romance, this was an enjoyable debut and I look forward to the next book in wonderful new series.

Visit Judy at http://judyalter.com

FTC Full Disclosure - I bought my own copy of this book