AUTHOR ELLE HARTFORD ON HER MOST PRECIOUS COLLECTION & ADVICE FROM A CAROUSEL HORSE

Elle Hartford writes the award-winning Alchemical Tales series, a blend of cozy mystery and cozy fantasy. She has also published a spin-off series, Pomegranate Cafe Romance, and numerous short mysteries in anthologies. For other writers and authors looking to go “wide,” Elle is excited to offer coaching services and support. She made all the self-publishing mistakes, and you can learn from her experience! Find out more at her website. 

My prized collection is a set of small carousel horses. Friends send me pictures of carousel statuettes they find in thrift stores, and every once in a while I’ll bring a new musical edition or porcelain figure home, but these eleven horses will always be my favorites.

 

Why? Well, I did write a book about them . . . 

 

But the story actually starts earlier than that:

 

It was four years ago, and we were just getting out and about again after the worst of the pandemic. My then-boyfriend and his family had a tradition of spending the winter holidays in the Poconos, in Pennsylvania. I was happy to explore a new place with them, and especially excited when we found a large antiques store.

 

You know the kind of antiques store that’s really a whole collection of booths and jumbles, crammed into an old factory building or barn? The kind that seems to go on forever? That’s exactly what this was. I worked my way methodically through each stall. At the very end, when I was almost back to the cash register again, I came upon a glass case with shelves full of carousel horses.

I’d loved horses as a kid, and I’d just rediscovered a love of myths and magic during the pandemic. Looking at these carousel horses, I could see how each had a theme or a story behind it. They were all perfectly unique. There was one little black horse in the collection with a phoenix painted on its side, something that reminded me of Russian legends of the firebird and the horse of power. I’m not always a decisive person, and it was so hard to choose a favorite of the lot, but it was so alluring . . .

 

I bought it. That was the first carousel horse I ever bought–and probably the first time I’d ever had the guts to ask for a case to be opened at a store!

 

But then we were back in our rented rooms, and I was looking at this little black horse, and it was beautiful–and yet somehow lonely. There had been another horse in the collection, a gorgeous white horse with a golden mane and lotus-like saddle . . .

 

I went back and got that one, too. After all, the black horse needed a partner! I was very tempted by the rest of the horses in the collection by that point, but to buy all eleven would have been an extravagant expense. I felt bad enough dragging my boyfriend and his family back to the same store. In fact, I tried to make my purchase quickly so they wouldn’t have to wait–even though they’d all dispersed once we got into the store, anyway (everyone has their own method for going through a pile of antiques!) I got out of the store first, statuette clutched in my hands, ready to move on to the next adventure. I could be happy with my two beautiful carousel horses. But where was my boyfriend? What was taking him so long?

 

You see where this is going, perhaps?

 

I had no idea, myself. I was shocked when, several days later, I unwrapped an elaborate Christmas package to discover two more carousel horses, one a transparent red, one a deep jewel blue. Another matched set, from the same collection.

 

And then on Valentine's Day–a white one with roses, a little black knight.

 

And then for my birthday! At that point, my boyfriend had gotten tired of keeping the secret. He gave me the rest of them all at once. When we’d gone back to the store that day, he’d realized how much they meant to me, and he’d decided to buy whatever I left behind. 

 

By the way, he’s my “then boyfriend” because he’s now my husband.

 

Those carousel horses captured my imagination, and more than that, they represented a sense of fun and love every time I looked at them. It was not long before I was writing a magical mystery for each one. Now, that collection of short stories is called The Carousel Capers, and it’s a prequel for my series of cozy fairy tale mysteries, The Alchemical Tales. This month marks three years since The Carousel Capers was published. Every single one of those horses will always have a special place in my heart.

 

The Carousel Capers

 

Life is no fairy tale in the magical small town of Belville. When Red buys her dream storefront in the quaint Market Square, she knows she’ll be putting in hard work to make it a success.

 

But what Red doesn’t expect is a tiny antique carousel horse statue turning up in her mail. And she isn’t at all prepared for the slew of criminals and friends, greed and mystery that follow in its wake! It turns out that the carousel horse has a deep, dark secret. If she wants to head off doom, Red will have to brave ghostly forests, watery depths, wild mine cart rides, and even a fancy party or two.

 

In this series of short stories, each chapter focuses on a new carousel statuette–and a new mythical horse. Join Red and her friends as they try to take the reins of this galloping mystery before they find themselves left in the dust!

 

An ebook copy of The Carousel Capers is available for free as a gift for Elle’s newsletter subscribers:https://dl.bookfunnel.com/azwto4v5pf

You can also purchase the deluxe print edition here: https://books2read.com/thecarouselcapers/

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA—TROLLS

Trolls: Save the Humans 

Trolls: Nasty creatures who live under bridges.

Trolls: Nasty people who bully others on social media.

Trolls: Weird looking collectibles from the 1960s (since appearing in animated movies.)

Trolls: Kristoff’s fun-loving adoptive family in Frozen

 

Trolls: Amazing works of art from recycled materials by Thomas Dambo.

I first learned of Thomas Dambo’s work when I saw a news story about him and his art installations made of recycled materials. He’s considered the world’s leading recycling artist with his work appearing throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. His more than 125 larger-than-life trolls were created to share his environmental message throughout the world in outdoor installations that use trash to create art within nature. 

 

The trolls have noticed that “small people” (humans) are harming the planet. The goal of these giant trolls is to educate humans, whereby they’ll rediscover nature and become thoughtful, caring stewards of our planet. A more positive message than those other trolls that frequent social media, right?

Six of Dambo’s trolls took up residence within the gardens, trees, and wooded areas of the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville during 2024 in the spring and summer. Check their schedule. They may be coming to a location near you this year. If you go, tell them I said hello.

AN INTERVIEW WITH SISTER BERNADETTE OHLSON FROM AUTHOR MELISSA WESTEMEIER'S NUN THE WISER MYSTERIES

Today we sit down for a chat with Sister Bernadette Ohlson, AKA Bernie, from author Melissa Westemeier’s Nun the Wiser Mysteries.

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?

I taught middle school language arts at St. Alyosius and after retirement I spent a few years traveling the world with friends and colleagues before returning to Eugene. By then the parish was converted to senior apartments. I was pleased to move into The Abbey: Senior Living, even though Rin Sato got here first and took occupancy of my former classroom—I wound up with the former 6^th grade classroom. Frankly, before Melissa showed up with AJ Lewis, I was getting bored with my daily routine and looking for a new hobby.

 

As for that daily routine, it’s my habit to do stretches and devotions before tying my sneakers and walking around the neighborhood to get my steps in. I’ll spend the rest of the day reading, running errands, doing puzzles, and visiting with whoever’s in the common area. Dinner’s served at 5pm most nights, and I join neighbors in the dining room to eat. I like going to movies and plays, traveling when I can, and corresponding with friends and relatives. I remain a very active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

 

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?

I’m a take-charge kind of lady. Some people call me bossy, but who does everyone turn to when they need advice or direction? Me.

 

What do you like least about yourself?

I’m not crafty. I like to read and do jigsaw puzzles, but that’s about the extent of my hobbies, and it bothers me to have so much time on my hands and very little to do. I need a sense of purpose or a side hustle. Everyone else here at The Abbey has one. 

 

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you?

She sent me on vacation with my best friend Eleanor to Portland during a Comic-Con. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Grown-ups wearing costumes, talking about comic books and video games, the place was swarming with monsters and aliens and robots. I wound up trapped in an elevator that weekend, too…

 

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?

Sometimes she suggests I’m wrong, and of course I’m never wrong. Well, almost never wrong. 

 

What is your greatest fear?

Irrelevance. I worry people might stop asking for my advice or someone moves in and starts running everything wrong. People need good leaders, and I know I’m skilled at running things. If others fail to recognize that quality in me and stop listening to me…well, it’s a terrible thought to contemplate. Things would go south very quickly.

 

What makes you happy?

Knowing I’m right. And having people depend on me to help solve their problems.

 

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?

I’d have spoken to Cliff sooner instead of ignoring and avoiding the old crank. I really had no idea…

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?

Rin Sato can push people’s buttons sometimes, but I do consider her a good friend. Also, she’s cheap. You ever wonder where all the sugar and jam packets disappear to when we go out to eat? Check her purse. No, I’m not joking. 

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?

Taylor Jones, only because I think it must be thrilling to be a detective. 

 

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?

Bless Melissa. She sent her sons to Catholic school, but she’s not even Catholic! Her heart’s in the right spot, though. She writes about all sorts of topics at www.melwestemeier.com. 

 

What's next for you?

There’s a developer interested in buying the properties down the block from The Abbey. Ethan told me Vision Co. wants to tear down the existing buildings and put places like the Pharmers Market and In Stitches out of business. What will happen to our neighborhood if those places close? It’s terrible to think about, so I’m organizing opposition to that project.

 

Old Habits Die Hard

A Nun the Wiser Mystery, Book 1

 

Meddling and murder can both be deadly sins

 

When retired nun and teacher Sister Bernadette returns with her fellow residents to The Abbey: Senior Living, she is the first to discover the body sprawled in the hallway of the converted school where she once taught English and now lives. Instead of freezing with horror, Sister Bernie has questions. Lots of them. Why does Toni Travi, the bedazzled and bejeweled resident from apartment 218, have so much chest hair? Did anyone at The Abbey know Toni was a man? Was Toni’s death related to allegations that she cheated at cards? Where’s the murder weapon? Who had motive? And did someone kill Toni, or the man hiding beneath the Revlon foundation and blonde wig?

 

Detective AJ Lewis is in charge of the investigation, though Sister Bernie acts as if he is still her student. With unholy stubbornness, she dogs his every step, eavesdrops, sneaks beyond the police tape and offers unsolicited conjecture and clues. He wants to keep her safe, but she’s determined to lend a helping hand—it’s her habit, after all!

 

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HISTORICAL MYSTERY AUTHOR MJ FINN ON DESIGNING AN HISTORICAL MYSTERY SERIES

M.J. Finn is an armchair pilot with a life-long interest in the Golden Age of Air Racing. Growing up in Chicago led to basing leading character TJ O’Connell there and provides an opportunity to describe the vibrant, growing city in the heart of the United States that was more than the stomping grounds for Al Capone and other famous criminals.

There are thousands of new books published every week on Amazon and other sites. This makes coming up with a unique story within the Mystery, Thriller, Suspense (MTS) category challenging. I was working with a writing coach who emphasized the need to come up with something that would stand apart from other books but still fit within genre expectations. His other advice was to write what I knew.

What did I know? I’m an avid reader of history and historical fiction, so setting the series in an historical period made sense. I also like thrillers and mysteries, so that meant fitting into the historical mystery/thriller space. But where and when to set the story so that it didn’t get lost in an ocean of books that had already been published? The Prohibition era in America was popular, especially for cozy mysteries, and many people identified Chicago with the era due to Al Capone and the gang wars. I grew up on the northside of Chicago, so setting the story there was an easy choice. Not only was Rogers Park a growing section of the city in that period, Al Capone had actually lived there for a year or so.

 

One of my other passions is flying and airplanes. The 1920s and 1930s have often been called the Golden Age of air racing, with plenty of unique characters, planes, and races. The National Air Races for 1930 were held north of Chicago, the only time they were held in that area. By making my protagonist a pilot, I could move him around the country for different settings, mysteries, and antagonists in future books. The possibilities were only limited by my imagination.

 

So now I had a basic concept for my series:

·      A young barnstorming pilot from Rogers Park in Chicago.

·      The first book would revolve around the 1930 National Air Races at Curtiss-Reynolds Field near Chicago.

·      Something forces this young pilot to solve a mystery that he’s involved in.

·      There needs to be life and death stakes and one or more mobs involved.

·      Many mysteries set in this period have protagonists from the upper class, who don’t seem to worry about money. This detective is from the middle class, and money will never be far from his thoughts.

 

A side benefit of writing historical fiction is doing research for each of the books. While some authors may see this as a chore or a necessary evil, I enjoy exploring different times and places and learning new things. While it was tempted to go too far down the rabbit hole of research, placing myself on a schedule to complete the first draft kept those temptations in check. I was lucky to discover the Rogers Park Historical Society and their series of books on the history and development of the neighborhood. The information and pictures were extremely helpful, and volunteers from the society answered a number of questions that came up as I wrote the first draft.

 

Curtiss-Reynolds Field later became Glenview Naval Air Station in WW II, so there was a lot of information about the field during that period available. Finding information and photographs from 1930 was more difficult, but cruising through newspaper archives and websites dedicated to air races uncovered a few gems. My home library was filled with books on racing planes and races from the period, so that was one of the easier research areas to complete. Then I ran into my first obstacle.

 

I wanted the pilot to be someone who had bigger dreams and visions than just racing planes. Someone who was an expert in one area, but who faces challenges in others. To make his financial challenges a bit more daunting, he became the first in his family to seek a college degree. It turns out they didn’t have degrees in aeronautical engineering at colleges in Chicago at that time. So, he ends up going to the Armour Institute seeking a Mechanical Engineering degree. Coincidentally, that’s where I went to school (it’s now the Illinois Institute of Technology). They have their yearbooks and school newspapers online, providing all the information needed to realistically include his college experiences. 

 

Now I was off to the races! There are currently three books in the series, with three more to follow in 2025. I hope you’ll fly along on TJ O’Connell’s adventures.

 

Fallen Aces

The Barnstorming Detective Series, Book One

 

All he wanted to do was fly his plane in the nationals, but they took that away from him. Now he’s seeking justice.

 

In the thrilling world of the 1930 Chicago Air Races, one young pilot's dream is derailed when disaster strikes.TJ O'Connell, a determined young Irish-American pilot from the north side of Chicago, aims to win the competition and fund his dream of attending college. However, tragedy strikes when a renowned American ace crashes during a practice run, and TJ is wrongfully accused of causing the disaster.

 

To clear his name and secure his future, TJ must find the truth with the help of allies he meets along the way. As they delve deeper into the aviation world, they unearth a web of secrets, rivalries, and prejudices that threaten to tarnish TJ's dreams.

 

From the gritty streets of Chicago to the dazzling heights of the racecourse, TJ must race against time to uncover the truth. Will he emerge victorious in both the hearing room and the skies, or will the shadows of suspicion forever eclipse his ambitions?

 

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