ANASTASIA AND AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON'S CYBER TOUR & BOOK GIVEAWAY

Today marks the start of the Great Escapes Blog Tour for Guilty as Framed, the 11^th book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, featuring me, the reluctant amateur sleuth who sprang from the imagination of author Lois Winston. As part of the tour, there will be a Rafflecopter book giveaway. Three luck winners will receive a copy of Guilty as Framed, their choice of either paperback (U.S. residents only) or ebook. Enter at each stop along the tour to increase your odds of winning. Some of the tour stops will include posts from either me or my author Lois Winston. I’ll also be interviewed at Baroness Book Trove, and Christy’s Cozy Corner will feature a quick and easy craft project perfect for gift giving. (Believe it or not, the holidays are right around the corner.) Other tour stops will feature reviews or spotlights of the book.

I’m kicking off the tour today with a guest post at Jane Reads. There’s also a Spotlight of Guilty as Framed at Virginia Lee’s Blog. Come visit and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

 

September 12 – Jane Reads

September 12 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

September 13 – Christy's Cozy Corners

September 13 – My Reading Journeys

September 14 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author 

September 14 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews 

September 15 – Mysteries with Character

September 15 – The Mystery Section

September 16 – I Read What You Write

September 16 – Celticlady's Reviews

September 17 – FUONLYKNEW

September 18 – Maureen's Musings

September 19 – Literary Gold

September 20 – Baroness Book Trove

September 21 – My Journey Back

September 21 – Novels Alive

September 22 – MJB Reviewers

September 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

September 23 – Ascroft, eh?

September 24 – I'm All About Books

September 25 – Lady Hawkeye

Guilty as Framed

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 11

 

When an elderly man shows up at the home of reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack, she’s drawn into the unsolved mystery of the greatest art heist in history. 

 

Boston mob boss Cormac Murphy has recently been released from prison. He doesn’t believe Anastasia’s assertion that the man he’s looking for doesn’t live at her address and attempts to muscle his way into her home. His efforts are thwarted by Anastasia’s fiancé Zack Barnes. 

 

A week later, a stolen SUV containing a dead body appears in Anastasia’s driveway. Anastasia believes Murphy is sending her a message. It’s only the first in a series of alarming incidents, including a mugging, a break-in, another murder, and the discovery of a cache of jewelry and an etching from the largest museum burglary in history.

 

But will Anastasia solve the mystery behind these shocking events before she falls victim to a couple of desperate thugs who will stop at nothing to get what they want?

 

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THE STITCH, BAKE, DIE! GREAT ESCAPES BLOG TOUR AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

Today is the official release day for Stitch, Bake, Die!, the tenth Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery. It also marks the start of the Great Escapes blogging tour for the book. Over the next two weeks, author Lois Winston and I, her reluctant amateur sleuth, will visit various blogs and discuss all the murder and mayhem Lois throws my way. I’ve given up begging her to write a plot where I inherit a fortune or win the lottery so I can escape to another genre where dead bodies don’t constantly appear at the feet of unsuspecting heroines, but she just laughs and asks, “What fun would that be?” Personally, I think it would be great fun, but she’s never listened to me. 

This time around Lois has me tangling with cutthroat retired women executives, Big Pharma, and a doctor who must have had his fingers crossed behind his back with he took his Hippocratic Oath. I’d say I need a vacation, but the last time Lois gave me one of those, she also dropped in a few dead bodies.

 

Anyway, I hope you’ll join us for our tour around the World Wide Web for a chance to win one of five copies of Stitch, Bake, Die! Lois is giving away. All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter at each of the stops on the tour. The more stops you visit and enter, the greater your chance of winning. 😁

 

Great Escapes Tour Schedule

October 4 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT 

October 4 – I Read What You Write - REVIEW, GUEST POST 

October 5 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT 

October 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 

October 6 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

October 7 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 

October 7 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST 

October 8 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT 

October 9 – Brianne's Book Reviews – REVIEW 

October 10 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

October 11 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

October 12 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 

October 13 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 

October 14 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW 

October 14 – Hearts & Scribbles - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

October 15 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 

October 15 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

October 16 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

October 17 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

Stitch, Bake, Die!

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 10

 

With massive debt, a communist mother-in-law, a Shakespeare-quoting parrot, and a photojournalist boyfriend who may or may not be a spy, crafts editor Anastasia Pollack already juggles too much in her life. So she’s not thrilled when her magazine volunteers her to present workshops and judge a needlework contest at the inaugural conference of the New Jersey chapter of the Stitch and Back Society, a national organization of retired professional women. At least her best friend and cooking editor Cloris McWerther has also been roped into similar duties for the culinary side of the 3-day event taking place on the grounds of the exclusive Beckwith Chateau Country Club.

 

The sweet little old ladies Anastasia is expecting to meet are definitely old, and some of them are little, but all are anything but sweet. She’s stepped into a vipers’ den that starts with bribery and ends with murder. When an ice storm forces Anastasia and Cloris to spend the night at the Chateau, Anastasia discovers evidence of insurance scams, medical fraud, an opioid ring, long-buried family secrets, and a bevy of suspects.

 

Can she piece together the various clues before she becomes the killer’s next target?

 

Crafting tips included.

 

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THE TOUR CONTINUES...ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF DROP DEAD ORNAMENTS

Monday marked the official release of Drop Dead Ornaments, the seventh book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series. It was also the kick-off our Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. Through November 4th Drop Dead Ornaments will be featured at twenty-eight different blog and review sites. Stop by these sites each day for guest posts and interviews with author Lois Winston and me, her reluctant amateur sleuth. Read reviews from book reviewers, and enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win one of three e-copies of Drop Dead Ornaments that will be given away at the end of the tour.

October 22 – The Avid Reader 

October 22 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews 

October 22 – Babs Book Bistro 

October 23 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies 

October 23 – A Blue Million Books 

October 23 – Christa Reads and Writes 

October 24 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy & Sissy, Too! 

October 24 – The Ninja Librarian 

October 25 – FUONLYKNEW 

October 25 – A Chick Who Reads 

October 26 – Laura’sInterests 

October 26 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog 

October 27 – T’s Stuff 

October 27 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews 

October 28 – Readeropolis 

October 28 – Island Confidential 

October 29 – Ruff Drafts 

October 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy 

October 30 – Jane Reads 

October 30 – Mysteries with Character 

October 31 – StoreyBook Reviews 

November 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews 

November 1 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf 

November 1 – I’m All About Books 

November 2 – The Montana Bookaholic 

November 2 – The Book’s the Thing 

November 2 – Brooke Blogs 

November 3 – My Reading Journeys 

November 3 – TheSelf-Rescue Princess 

November 3 – Here’s How it Happened 

November 4 – My Devotional Thoughts 

November 4 – Melina’s Book Blog 

November 4 – Curling Up by the Fire 

Drop Dead Ornaments

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 7

Anastasia Pollack’s son Alex is dating Sophie Lambert, the new kid in town. For their community service project, the high school seniors have chosen to raise money for the county food bank. Anastasia taps her craft industry contacts to donate materials for the students to make Christmas ornaments they’ll sell at the town’s annual Holiday Crafts Fair.

At the fair Anastasia meets Sophie’s father, Shane Lambert, who strikes her as a man with secrets. She also notices a woman eavesdropping on their conversation. Later that evening when the woman turns up dead, Sophie’s father is arrested for her murder.

Alex and Sophie beg Anastasia to find the real killer, but Anastasia has had her fill of dead bodies. She’s also not convinced of Shane’s innocence. Besides, she’s promised younger son Nick she’ll stop risking her life. But how can she say no to Alex?

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SLEUTHING WOMEN ON TOUR

The authors of Sleuthing Women II: 10 Mystery Novellas are embarking on a Great Escapes blog tour over the next two weeks. Join us at these sites for a chance to win one of several copies of Sleuthing Women II: 10 Mystery Novellas we’ll be giving away through a Rafflecopter drawing. Enter the drawing at each site to increase your chances of winning!

October 16 – Celticlady'sReviews – Spotlight 

October 17 – Teresa Trent AuthorBlog – Character Interview from author Vinnie Hansen 

October 18 – Laura'sInterests – review and character guest post from author Rita Lakin 

October 19 – 3 Partnersin Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – Spotlight 

October 20 – Escape WithDollycas Into A Good Book – Author interview with Jonnie Jacobs 

October 21 - Lisa Ks BookReviews – review and author interview with Allison Brennan 

October 22 – Queen of All She Reads – Spotlight

October 23 – Nadaness InMotion – Character guest post from author Mary Kennedy 

October 24 – Island Confidential – Character interview from author Heather Haven 

October 25 – Readeropolis – Interview with author Camille Minichino

October 26 – Readsalot – Spotlight

October 26 – Valerie's Musings – Interview with author Judy Alter  

October 27 – BackPorchervations – Review 

October 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review 

October 29 – A HollandReads – Character guest post from author Lois Winston 

October 29 –The Book's theThing – Guest post from author Lois Winston 

October 30 – Socrates'Book Reviews – Spotlight 

October 31 – Jane Reads – Review and guest post from author Maggie Toussaint  

Sleuthing Women II: 10 Mystery Novellas is a collection of ten mysteries featuring murder and assorted mayhem by eleven critically acclaimed, award-winning, and bestselling authors. Each novella is a tie-in to an established multi-book series—a total of nearly 700 pages of reading pleasure for lovers of amateur sleuth, caper, cozy, and female P.I. mysteries.

Frosted, A Moreno & Hart Novella by Allison Brennan & Laura Griffin—Three years ago LAPD Detective Scarlet Moreno and rookie cop Krista Hart were nearly killed during a botched sting operation. Now, they’re best friends and partners in the Orange County private investigation firm of Moreno & Hart. But their routine assignments are anything but safe.

Crewel Intentions, An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Novella by Lois Winston—Craft editor Anastasia Pollack receives a desperate call for help from former fashion editor Erica Milano, now in Witness Protection. Erica is being stalked and is afraid to notify the authorities. She once saved Anastasia’s life. Will Anastasia be able to return the favor before the stalker strikes? 

No Quarter, A Cleopatra Jones Novella by Maggie Toussaint—Amnesia, the doctor says when accountant Cleopatra Jones wakes in a distant hospital. Hours later most of her memory returns. Detective Jack Martinez visits Cleo’s nearby wealthy client, only she’s dead and broke. To Cleo’s horror, she’s a murder suspect. Will she totally recover her memory before the killer returns?

What the Widow Knew, A Kali-O’Brien Novella by Jonnie Jacobs—Attorney Kali O’Brien takes on the case of a young woman accused of murdering her much older, very rich husband. As evidence mounts and other possible suspects are eliminated, Kali’s doubts about her client’s innocence grow. Meanwhile, Kali is also grappling with her feelings for longtime boyfriend Detective Bryce Keating.

The Magnesium Murder, A Periodic Table Mystery by Camille Minichino—While freelance embalmer Anastasia Brent prepares the body of a young bride-to-be, she learns the girl’s mother suspects foul play. Once again Anastasia is pressed into service as a sleuth, following a trail of clues in search of a murderer and justice.

Honeymoons Can Be Murder, A Lee Alvarez Novella by Heather Haven— When PI Lee Alvarez goes on her honeymoon with bridegroom, Gurn Hanson, they find a dead woman practically on their doorstep. Kauai breezes may be soft, but there are gale force winds of accusation against Gurn. Will Lee find the real killer before her new hubby gets sent to a Hawaiian hoosegow?

Smoked Meat, A Carol Sabala Novella by Vinnie Hansen—Baker and wannabe sleuth Carol Sabala visits her mother for a family Christmas get-together. It’s murder, in more ways than one.

A Deadly Fundraiser, A Talk Radio Novella by Mary Kennedy—When radio talk show host Dr. Maggie Walsh and her pals start digging up clues in a scavenger hunt at a glitzy fundraiser, the game suddenly turns deadly. Will Maggie and her team be able to crack the case and solve the crime?

The Color of Fear, A Kelly O’Connell Novella by Judy Alter—Kelly receives a written kidnap threat targeting her infant daughter, Gracie. Kelly’s assistant Keisha narrates as Kelly and her family plot their precautions, but as time passes and the threat still looms, fear takes a toll on the family…and on Keisha.

Papa’s Ghost, A Gladdy Gold Mystery Novella by Rita Lakin—Gladdy and her girls accept an assignment iat a famous resort in Key West, thinking it will combine business with pleasure. Once they arrive, Gladdy suspects something is strange. Not only is their client an unexpected shock, but so is the case of murder they are expected to solve. Can they succeed when a whole city is against them? 

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA - GUEST AUTHOR LINDA McLAUGHLIN ON COLONIAL CRAFTS

early 1800's patchwork quilt

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. A lifelong dream came true with a trip to England where she was able to combine sightseeing and theater with research for her novels. Today she’s here to tell us about colonial crafts and her latest book. Learn more about Linda at her website and blog.

This is the second stop of Linda’s Rogue's Hostage Blog Tour, and she's offering a great giveaway to a lucky reader who comments during the tour. Leave a comment with your email address to be entered for a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. Contest ends March 3. -- AP

Colonial Crafts

Crafts are considered hobbies nowadays, but in Colonial America they were necessities of life. Farm women, in particular, had to know how to sew, knit, and quilt, for shops were often far away and seldom visited. Little girls learned their stitches at the same time they learned their letters, sewing samplers made of different kinds of stitches. Knitting was useful for scarves and even stockings.

Quilting was especially important, given the cold winters in America. Warm covers were needed for beds, and the layers in the quilt helped to keep in body heat. Quilted curtains hung at windows and over doors to keep out the drafts. Scraps left over from the sewing of garments were used for quilting and almost all quilts of the period were patchwork. Clothing was also quilted, including petticoats, hoods and capes as well as waistcoats for men.

Quilting bees provided an excuse for a social event. When the women were finished, the men showed up for supper and dancing. In The Seasonal Hearth: The Woman at Home in Early America by Adelaide Hechtlinger, I found a diary entry from a Virginia housewife:

April 28, 1772 - Invited to a quilting party at Martha Washington's… I have many pieces to be exchanged for other cotton goods. However, I have been doing some samplers and Susan, although only 7, has made two this winter.

Pretty nice invitation!

In my historical romance, Rogue’s Hostage, my heroine Mara finds comfort in the homely task of knitting after being taken captive and dragged far from her home.

Rogue's Hostage

His hostage... 

In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning of courage and the tempting call of desire.

Her destiny...

French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive threatens what little honor he has left.  But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past misdeeds forever.

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