MYSTERY AUTHOR JACKIE LAYTON COLLECTS SHELLS ON PAWLEYS ISLAND

Mystery author and former Kentuckian Jackie Layton loves her new life in the Low Country. Jackie enjoys time on the beach despite one vacation that ended with cracked ribs from riding her boogie board with the kids and another trip that ended up with a hook in her foot and a trip to the emergency room. There’s nothing like time at the beach, although she tends to be a bit more cautious these days. Learn more about Jackie and her books at her website. 

Pawleys Island Shell

I moved to Pawleys Island, South Carolina in April 2019. My husband and I have always loved the beach, and when he was offered a job in this area, we were excited. There are so many reasons we love the beach, and looking for shells is one of them. Where else can you go for a walk and discover so many treasures? I mean, the ocean hits the beach and leaves behind a variety of shells. On a really good day, you can hear them jingle against each other in the water before hitting land. 

 

When we settled here, I heard people talking about the Pawleys Island shell before I ever found one. I’ve collected shells for years, and of course I wanted to find this shell.

 

Locals told us the Pawleys Island shell could only be found here, but I struggled to find one. We asked for clues. Some people told us to look at the north end of the beach. Others suggested we should look near the walkways onto the beach at low tide. Others said look around the pier. 

 

We tried these tips. My husband and I often thought we had found one of these unique shells until we picked it up. A Pawleys Island shell is fan-shaped. It comes in colors like red, brown, tan, and even green on a creamy background. The ridges are thick and smooth. It’s a calico scallop shell, and it can also be found on the neighboring Litchfield Beach. 

 

We found our first Pawleys Island shell at the most northern point of the island at low tide. After we found our first one, it became easier to find more. We’ve developed an eye for these little gems. If you ask me for tips, my only advice would be to keep looking.

 

A local jeweler created a collection of silver and gold Pawleys Island shells, and he helped increase the popularity of this unique ocean treasure.

 

It turns out the Pawleys Island shell is also known as the Imperial Venus Clam. I won’t argue with science, but I’ll always think of it as the Pawleys Island shell.

 

A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series is set in this area of South Carolina. The town of Heyward Beach is a fictional setting based on some of my favorite beaches, including Pawleys Island.

 

Bite the Dust

A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery, Book 1

Secrets can be deadly.

One steamy South Carolina morning, Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott discovers a client’s dead body. Police quickly decide she’s the prime suspect. Horrified, she knows she’ll have to turn detective if she’s going to convince them they’re barking up the wrong tree.

 

Proving her innocence could be a tall order. The local police never solved the hit-and-run that killed her parents; Andi Grace isn’t sure they’ll solve this crime either…not when they have a convenient suspect—one caught with the possible murder weapon in her hand. She’ll have to follow every clue and call in every favor, even if that puts her in danger.

 

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AUTHOR C.A. ROWLAND EXPLORES THE GHOSTS OF SAVANNAH IN NEW MYSTERY SERIES

Olde Pink House

Author C.A. Rowland writes historical fiction, science fiction, fantasya and the Haunted City Mystery Series set in Savannah, Georgia. She comes by her interest in ghosts, myths, legends, and the paranormal from having spent hours in cemeteries with her grandmother. Learn more about C.A. and her books at her website. 

A few years ago, I flew to a work conference in Savannah, Georgia. Normally, I would have driven the eight hours since I like to stop along the way when I see something that interests me. I also love to take ghost and historical tours, so I’ll drive to different houses or sites either before or after my work obligations. 

This time, I was pressed for time. And as happens in my life from time to time, the creative world had something else in mind for me. 

Carry-on bag in hand, I deplaned and headed to the taxi stand. There I met the most energetic and engaging woman taxi driver. She reminded me of one of my friends from Texas, and inspiration struck. 

I had wanted to write a mystery series and had considered Savannah or somewhere in Texas. Still, as we drove into the historic district, I realized that my love of the architecture, history, and everything in Savannah would be perfect. And I had my protagonist, Trisha, inspired by my taxi driver. Which was just about the time Trisha’s newly dead Aunt Harriet showed up, not wanting to be left out. 

With Aunt Harriet, I had a doorway into the ghostly secrets of Savannah, which I love. In the first novel, The Meter’s Always Running, we get a small glimpse into this world. In the second novel, which will be out next year, Aunt Harriet shows us the other world existing inside a local restaurant, The Olde Pink House. 

It was originally known as the Habersham House because it was owned by James Habersham, Jr., one of Savannah’s founding family members. The building was constructed with red bricks, which were then completely covered with white plaster. No one knows whether it was the quality of the bricks or the plaster job, but the red bricks bleed through, causing the building to turn pink. After years of trying to cover it, in 1920, the owner painted it pink, and it’s remained its trademark color to date.

The building changed hands many times until it was restored by Jim Williams, the owner of the Mercer House. The Mercers and their history played a large role in The Meter’s Always Running, and as with many of my stories, history is an integral part. 

In the basement of the Olde Pink House is a wonderful tavern, where the ghosts of little children are said to play tricks on those who enter the bathrooms – locking the doors so the human guests can’t exit. Mr. Habersham is said to walk the halls, both in the dining rooms upstairs as well as the lower areas. So, if you feel a cold spot or breeze that isn’t the air conditioning, you may have just wandered near a spirit. 

And I’ve been told by Aunt Harriet that Emma Kelly, who you may recall from the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, sometimes tickles the ivories of the piano and sings for the spirits in the basement bar at times. 

It’s one of my favorite places, and I’m not surprised that Aunt Harriet found a way for me to include it in a story. Plus, for those who like trying out new restaurants, the Olde Pink House has a terrific menu of southern classics, including a BLT sandwich with fried green tomatoes and baked bacon with brown sugar. 

Crystal Beer Parlour

But that’s not the only place that provided some inspiration for the first novel. There’s a local restaurant called the Crystal Beer Palace, or The Crystal. It’s known for its juicy burgers, delicious peach cobbler, and a wide selection of unique and limited-release craft beers. It’s a fun place with Savannah memorabilia on the walls and a haunted picture near the payphone. A little girl named Sara haunts the upstairs, while Monroe and Smitty, two long time servers, are said to visit on occasion. Don’t be surprised if they show up in a short story or novel in this series. 

I’ve only begun to explore all the haunted places in Savannah, but hope you’ll stop by one of the many haunted spots if you have a chance to visit the city. Just the atmosphere of these places will give you a real sense of what the city is like both in our world and the otherworldly parts. 

The Meter’s Always Running

A Haunted City Mystery, Book 1

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, taxi driver Trisha Reede knows all the haunts and legends of the city built on the dead. After a long day of ferrying tourists, Trisha ejects a late evening out of line fare. But when he's found murdered, she questions her decision to let him out in such a seedy neighborhood. As the police investigation steers her way, she puts on the gas to solve the crime. As if she didn't already have enough baggage to deal with, newly dead Aunt Harriett shows up, helpful but cryptic, more dreamlike than real, warning of an enraged spirit searching for Trisha.

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--MYSTERY AUTHOR MABRY HALL ON INSPIRATION VIA ANTIQUE JEWELRY AND PINTEREST BOARDS

A needlepoint Santa embellished with the author's favorite Victorian
aquamarine earrings.

Mabry Hall created Annalee Wyatt, 18 Karat Cold Mysteries' bling-bedecked sleuth, out of her love of antique jewelry. She gets a vicarious pleasure when Annalee buys, sells, and sometimes wears the beautiful pieces of jewelry she would love to have for herself. However, she's quite happy to leave the murders to her fictional creation and lives a quiet life in Louisiana, not far from the imaginary town of Berryville and Annalee's Goat Hill Farm. Learn more about her and her books at her website. 

My 18 Karat Cold Mystery series revolves around a heroine who makes her living with antique jewelry, one of my passions. Annalee Wyatt lives in an historic family home in north Louisiana, has a good-looking neighbor who annoys and intrigues her, and discovers she has an affinity for murder. While she doesn’t commit any herself, somehow each death involves a piece of jewelry that pulls her into the action.  

I wish I could share my process of designing and creating jewelry, but I’d be lying. I have no such skills, but I do appreciate the talent that produced the antique jewelry I love so much. On my first guest blog here in 2016, I discussed how that love for antique jewelry led to the creation of my 18 Karat Cold Mystery series. Today I’ll share how my Pinterest boards influence my plots.

I was slow to come to the world of Pinterest, and among the first boards I created was one for needlepoint stitches. I’ve been stitching since college, and used to design my own canvases. I now rely on painted ones, but I put my own stamp on them with the stitches and threads I choose. Pinterest search results can lead you in directions you never planned, and in my case, searches for medieval stitchery began to turn up medieval jewelry, which led to Georgian and Victorian jewelry, then Art Nouveau, then on and on until I would look at the clock and realize life was happening without me. 

I created a general board for antique jewelry, which inspired me to create separate boards for each of my books. For example, the second book, A Regrettable Reunion, revolves around a brooch made of demantoid garnets, which most people have never heard of. Its Pinterest board shows multiple examples of intricate Victorian and Edwardian jewelry made with the unique green stones, including the salamander pin that’s a key clue in the mystery.

Each 18 Karat board gives a view of both the specific pieces that are mentioned in the books plus a broad array of similar items. While searching for demantoids, I began to see many pictures of Art Deco and Art Nouveau jewelry. I was inspired to add a subplot about the estate of an early Texas oil baron, and so the board is full of incredibly beautiful, intricate pieces from the early 1900s. You’ll see things by Tiffany, for example, that are far more complex and colorful than the items you find in the store today. In general, jewelry from that era is highly focused on naturalism, with many pieces depicting plants or animals— and lots of insects! There are bumblebees, butterflies, dragonflies, spiders, and even wasps made from precious jewels and colorful enamel.

The patterns and colors in these styles inspire me and feed my creativity. I’d love to take some serious jewelry making classes, but there are only a few places in the country that teach the techniques I’d like to learn. Another consideration is that the raw materials are quite a bit more expensive than needlepoint thread or even the laptop I use for writing. I think I’m better off with my Pinterest boards and the occasional purchase of jewelry, unfortunately not of Tiffany’s quality.

You can check out my Pinterest boards here. 

A Rumor of Riches

An 18 Karat Cold Mystery, Book 3

Annalee Wyatt is looking forward to a quiet, solitary week in the woods. Just her, a couple of friendly dogs, and a well-stocked wine cellar. What could possibly go wrong?

The offer to stay in a cozy 1850s cabin sounds perfect, even if winter in Louisiana means there won’t be a blanket of snow. All Annalee needs to do in return is make an appraisal of a deceased artist’s jewelry and antiques. 

As an added bonus, she’ll have some strategic time away from the easy-going boyfriend who’s gotten too complacent about their relationship.

From the minute of her arrival, though, the historic house has more in store for her than antique jewelry and Cabernet. As it reveals its secrets, beginning with a never-ending supply of gold coins, the remote property becomes a magnet for a cast of characters ranging from pretty darn charming to obnoxiously oddball. She views all with her usual suspicion, which kicks into overdrive when she realizes each wants something he believes is hidden at the old homestead.

 Who can she trust when one of her visitors turns up dead? Thank goodness for the two stalwart hounds and her old friend Tennie. A benevolent spirit from the past is just welcome lagniappe.

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FAVORITES, FAILURES & FRUSTRATIONS WITH GUEST AMATEUR SLEUTH LINDSEY McKAY

Multi-award-winning Southern mystery author Maggie Toussaint’s has published eighteen novels as well as several short stories and novellas. Today one of her amateur sleuths stops by to talk about her fears and frustrations. Learn more about Maggie and her books at her website. 

Lindsey’s Fears and Frustrations

A Character Essay by Amateur Sleuth Lindsey McKay

I’d sworn never to go home again unless it was Christmas, and yet on this hot and humid day I was headed to the Georgia coast. Only a full-blooded emergency could’ve pried me out of Atlanta, but the middle of the night call from Aunt Fay changed my mind. My father wrecked his car and landed in jail.

It was in that moment I knew I’d been lying to myself about my so-called independence and not needing anyone in the family. I was bound by my heritage to Danville. The family newspaper was a legacy, and only I could save it.

That’s not to say I didn’t try to weasel out of the obligation. I suggested the new editor my father hired over the winter. He’s gone, Aunt Fay said. I suggested Dad’s assistant, Ellen. Don’t be ridiculous, she said. When I suggested Aunt Fay, Uncle Henry, or Cousin Janey could do it, she told me in no uncertain terms that it was my duty to come home and run the paper.

According to my aunt, newspapering runs in my veins, and here I thought it was O-positive blood. She lectured me for another five minutes about my duty to the family and chastised me for letting everyone down by running off and leaving my father to fend for himself.

She wore me down. Or at least that’s what I told my dog Bailey for the last 291 miles. Soon I’d see the landmarks of a place that held awful memories for me, the place where I learned my brother was lost at sea and never coming home. The place where every night I dreamed of drowning like my brother.

My biggest fear is that I’ll get stuck here and I’ll end up dead just like my brother. Pride drew me home, but courage would have to get me through the coming ordeal.

Lindsey & Ike Mysteries, The Complete 3-Novella Series

In this three-novella series, an amateur sleuth and her dog return home to a town of secrets … and murder.

Really, Truly Dead

Lindsey McKay has no intention of being Sheriff Ike Harper’s girlfriend when she returns home with her dog to bail out the family newspaper, but Ike has his eye on her. The murder of a local judge proves to be a boon for the newspaper, but the bad news hits when her father’s arrested for the crime. Will saving her father’s life cost Lindsey hers?

Turtle Tribbles

The Turtle Girl, a college intern named Selma Crowley, begs newspaper editor Lindsey McKay to write about the theft of turtle eggs from their nests. Lindsey agrees but asks for more proof. Selma disappears and is soon found dead. Lindsey blames herself because she demanded concrete proof, so she noses into Sheriff Ike Harper’s investigation. Can she discover the truth before time runs out?

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Newspaper editor Lindsey McKay’s small town is rocked when a suspicious hunting accident proves to be premeditated murder. Sheriff Ike Harper vows to get his man and keep Lindsey safe. Only, the more Lindsey and Ike dig, the more questions they uncover. People aren’t what they seem. If only a dead man could tell tales.

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#TRAVEL TO CREOLE AND AMERICAN PLANTATIONS WITH GUEST AUTHOR ELLEN BYRON

Laura Plantation

Ellen Byron's debut novel, Plantation Shudders, made the USA Today Bestsellers list, and was nominated for Agatha, Lefty, and Daphne awards. The second book in her Cajun Country Mystery Series, Body on the Bayou, was recently released. Learn more aobut Ellen and her books at her website. 

A great way to build a day trip from New Orleans is to tour one Creole plantation and one American plantation, with a lunch break between tours –which is exactly what I did with my family on a recent visit to Louisiana.

Creole plantations are of an earlier vintage and were painted in vivid colors. American plantations tend to date after the Louisiana Purchase, when planters from other parts of the country migrated to Louisiana. They were usually white and leaned more toward Greek Revival in style. (There was a reason Creole planters avoided white - colors did a much better job of hiding Louisiana's mold and mildew. However, once American rule was imposed on Louisiana, many Creoles wound up painting their houses white so that they blended in with their new neighbors.)

My husband, daughter and I began our adventure at Laura, a Creole plantation on the west River Road. They give a wonderful tour where you get a wide-ranging view of what plantation life was like. The owners had the miraculous good luck to locate the diary of Laura Lacoul Gore, who grew up on the plantation (hence the name) and documented her life there and her home's history. The tales of Br'er Rabbit originated in Laura's slave cabins, and that’s an important part of the tour. You see the grim lodgings where enslaved people were forced to live, and learn about the brutal difficulties they had to endure.

Before crossing the Mississippi to our destination on its east bank, we stopped for lunch at B&C Seafood, a local haunt that also enjoys national popularity. I love its authenticity and delicious dishes.

Houmas House 

Next up on our agenda was a tour of Houmas House, once known as The Sugar Palace. Houmas House is a classic "American" plantation, although it’s currently painted pale yellow instead of white. The tour is detailed and fascinating, with even a little gossip thrown in about what happened when Bette Davis and Joan Crawford butted heads on the set of Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. (Hint: Joan Crawford isn’t in the movie.)

Both Laura and Houmas House have excellent gift shops. Houmas House also offers great dining options, so hopefully you’ve worked off that lunch at B&C’s by the time you’re done with their tour. I've had dinner at The Carriage House, and it was outstanding, as was the Burnside Cafe, where I had one of the best oyster po'boys ever. And my husband fell in love with the sweet concoction that they served with their bread. It's made from butter, Steen Cane Syrup, and pecans, and trust me, if he could have packed it in his suitcase, he would have! Enjoy a light bite – or even a heavy one – before you return to New Orleans after a day spent stepping back into Louisiana’s unique past.

Body on the Bayou

The Crozats feared that past murders at Crozat Plantation B&B might spell the death of their beloved estate, but they’ve managed to survive the scandal. Now there’s a très bigger story in Pelican, Louisiana: the upcoming nuptials between Maggie Crozat’s nemesis, Police Chief Rufus Durand, and her co-worker, Vanessa Fleer.

When everyone else refuses the job of being Vanessa's Maid of Honor, Maggie reluctantly takes up the title and finds herself tasked with a long list of duties--the most important of which is entertaining Vanessa’s cousin, Ginger Fleer-Starke. But just days before the wedding, Ginger’s lifeless body is found on the bayou and the Pelican PD, as well as the Crozats, have another murder mystery on their hands.

There’s a gumbo-potful of suspects, including an ex-Marine with PTSD, an annoying local newspaper reporter, and Vanessa’s own sparkplug of a mother. But when it looks like the investigation is zeroing in on Vanessa as the prime suspect, Maggie reluctantly adds keeping the bride-to-be out of jail to her list of Maid of Honor responsibilities.

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