AN INTERVIEW WITH NANCY DROUILLARD FROM AUTHOR KATHRYN CRABTREE'S NANCY DROUILLARD MYSTERIES

Today we sit down for a chat with Nancy Drouillard from author Kathryn Crabtree’s Nancy Drouillard Mysteries. 

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

My husband died two years before my author got involved in my life. I was looking for something to recharge my interest in living, something where I could use my previous skills and knowledge to make a difference for others. As I was a retired lawyer and judge, I thought of an ad litem position, representing a voice for those who couldn’t speak for themselves, children, the frail, and the elderly. Protecting their legal rights seemed like it would give me a purpose and value to living. My author found out that, “my used-by date” for such a position had expired, so instead, we became involved in solving the murder of one of my dear friends who lived in my 55+ Community.

 

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

I appreciate my deductive reasoning skills, and I enjoy problem-solving.

 

What do you like least about yourself?  

I tend to jump to conclusions too easily. Having been a judge, I am infrequently but notably opinionated.  

 

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

She is always so suspicious of everyone’s motives. She forces me to accuse innocent people, especially those I am beginning to like, of crimes or being devious. It's so embarrassing. I find myself apologizing all the time. 

 

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

Occasionally, mostly because she gives Bess the best dialogue.

 

What is your greatest fear?

I have always feared being insignificant or without a purpose for living. I don’t ever want to just occupy space when there is so much that needs to be done.

 

What makes you happy? 

I’m happiest being in touch with nature, working in my flower garden. Also, spending time with my good friends, especially Bess, my childhood friend. I enjoy my 55+ community, having coffee or enjoying happy hour with the women’s groups, yoga, and driving my Mustang convertible. The best, though, is solving problems through deductive reasoning and having the result enhance others' lives.  

 

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

I would speed up my relationship with Enrik, I just don’t know where I stand with him. I mean, we are really good friends, but is there a chance for maybe some romance? My author doesn’t seem in a hurry to find out. It's frustrating. Also, Bess always gets the best lines in our conversations, I wish I had more humorous comebacks for her.

 

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

My daughter’s ex-husband, the detective who found the body of my friend.

 

Why?

He is always doubting my deductive reasoning. I seem to irritate him, and then he contacts my daughter, expecting her to “control” my actions. She hates being the go-between, and I obviously resent her interference which causes conflict.

 

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

Bess, of course. 

 

Why?

She is so fun-loving and carefree, and as above, has the best dialogue lines.

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

Her bio states that while growing up in Toledo, Ohio, she wanted to be a writer, and she wanted to be Nancy Drew. Her parents directed her to nursing, a more acceptable, self-supporting profession. She currently holds a Doctor of Nursing degree, and recently retired from teaching future nurses. Learn more about her at her website.

 

What's next for you? 

I’m going Glamping in Palm Springs. Having solved the Mystery of the Smoldering Mattress, I’m looking forward to relaxing at the Shadow Mountains Glamping Resort with a few of the 55+ Community residents including Bess and her latest heartthrob. My author hints that foul play may be involved. I hope she’ wrong! 

 

The Mystery of the Smouldering Mattress

A Nancy Drouillard Mystery, Book 1

 

Nancy Drouillard, a retired lawyer, had hoped that a position as a guardian ad litem attorney, providing a voice for those who are unable to represent themselves, would reignite her passion for her profession. She lost her husband two years ago and was ready to re-engage in life again. However, the law firm attorney she spoke with rejected her application as if her “used by date” had expired.  

 

She is frustrated and angry when she arrives at her 55+ community to find her friend Hilda dead. The death-at-home detective, Nancy’s former son-in-law, said it appears that smoke inhalation was the cause. Nancy is skeptical, Hilda never smoked in her condo, let alone in her bed. How could she be found on her scorched mattress topper? Who would want Hilda dead?

 

Would Hilda’s daughter know something about her death? Was the large sum of money missing from Hilda’s account a clue? Would the man who threatened Nancy know why Hilda died? Could it be murder? Would finding answers to these questions and justice for Hilda restore Nancy’s sense of purpose? Reflecting on her childhood role model, Nancy Drew, she decides to investigate herself.

 

After all, she was named after the girl detective. Armed with a lifetime of reading Nancy Drew mysteries and her own ingenuity and deductive reasoning, intrepid Nancy Drouillard was determined to solve this mystery.

 

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MYSTERY AUTHOR LESLEY A. DIEHL ON GROWING OLDER AND WRITING OLDER

Mystery author Lesley A. Diehl learned early on that cows have a twisted sense of humor. While growing up on a farm, they chased while she tried to herd them in for milking, and one even ate the red mitten her grandmother had knitted for her. Realizing agriculture wasn’t a good career choice, Lesley has she uses her country roots and her training as a psychologist to create stories designed to make people laugh in the face of murder. Learn more about Lesley and her books at her website. 

 

Growing Older, Writing Older

I can tell I’m getting older. Not only do birthdays begin with higher numbers, but the body has a way of informing me with aches and pains that the years are going by. For authors who write series books, aging of a protagonist faces the same issue. How does the writer age the main character? Slowly by months, less slowly by years, or not at all. The latter is difficult especially with the intrusiveness of technology changes and world events. For example, does the writer ignore the pandemic or insert it into the book? Cozy writers like me prefer to keep our work light—mine includes quite a bit of humor. I’m not quite up to the task of making the pandemic funny. I don’t really know how to do that, and I really don’t think I want to.

 

One author who managed the aging protagonist issue was Sue Grafton who didn’t age Kinsey. However, characters’ arcs found in most cozy mysteries often include experiences that take place over time such as a divorce, marriage, changes in relationships, births, deaths, or just the daily happenings humans confront. So our characters age. It’s just a matter of how fast.

 

I have begun a new cozy mystery series. My last one (the Eve Appel mysteries) featured a protagonist who, at the end of the series, was in her late thirties. That was several years ago. My new series (the Maddie Sparks series) features a woman who is on the far side of seventy, closer in age to me. Maddie and I may not survive a ten-book series because I only write one book a year (like I said, I’m old!), but I’ve decided to set each book in a season. The first of the series, Spiked Punch, takes place during a typical Upstate New York summer. The weather is, as usual, changeable with hot humid days and nights, periods of torrential downpour and massive thunderstorms. The fall to come is the setting for the second book. Six books or so in, Maddie will only be a year and a half older, and I think she and I can manage that.

 

One might think that with an older protagonist, the action would be slower, but I’ve discovered it gets speeded up. Maddie meets a retired county sheriff, and they quickly fall in love. I make that happen in a few weeks. Too fast? Perhaps. We shall see in the second book, but as Maddie suggests, there’s not a lot of time available for putting off action. By the end of the book Maddie and her sheriff have moved in together, Maddie has adopted a rescue cat, one son has been accused of murder, Maddie has begun a new writing project in a new genre and developed a new friendship. It leaves you breathless to see how much ground Maddie has covered. I hope it leaves the reader breathless and yearning for more also.

 

Because I write cozy mysteries with humor in them, I set myself the task of not only developing a good mystery with intricate plotting and complex characters, but I have the additional undertaking of providing laughs along the way. Humor is not easy to write. Sometimes it seems to simply emerge from the situation, or I use it as a tension reducer where needed. In other cases, it’s really work. What I find easier with Maddie is that I know her well, understand her experiences because I’ve lived many of them myself, and instinctively know a humorous quip I might engage in would be what Maddie might also say. As with humor, Maddie and I are on the same wavelength with respect to what we like. We’ve lived the same social, political and, oftentimes, emotional history. You could call the humor in the book, “seasoned humor.” As such, it should appeal to any age.

 

The question that arises is will younger readers find Maddie interesting? Will they want to follow her through the series? One reviewer of Spiked Punch mentioned that the book would be for those readers who enjoyed a mature sleuth. Frankly, I like all my sleuths to be mature, up to using their life experiences to sort through clues and solve the crime. Flighty protagonists do not appeal, and I assume readers will love Maddie’s nosy and adventuresome nature and respect what aging brings to the sleuthing process. I hope you enjoy Maddie and her sleuthing team of Zack, the retired sheriff, and Spike, the brilliant rescue cat.

 

Spiked Punch

A Maddie Sparks Mystery, Book 1

 

On the other side of seventy, Maddie Sparks decides to spice up her life by changing her writing interests from cozy mysteries to romance. She also determines her appearance should reflect this transformation in her writing career. A sassy new haircut and more fashionable clothes complete the newer Maddie Sparks. Before she can begin this new chapter in her life, a stabbing death in the quiet country village she has made her home shocks the town's residents. 

 

When her son is accused of the murder, Maddie and the acting county sheriff come together to find the real killer. Their relationship soon blooms into more than one of shared determination to solve the murder. As they enjoy a hike in a nearby park, someone shoots the sheriff, barely missing Maddie. Another killer could be loose in the area, and the person may be closer to Maddie than she realizes. Maddie discovers parts of herself she didn't know existed: real life romance with the sheriff, a talent for sleuthing and room in her life for a fuzzy, orange cat named "Spike." This recent lease on life may be more exciting and more dangerous than Maddie expects.

 

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS--AUTHOR JUDY ALTER'S NEWEST MYSTERY AND A RECIPE FOR TEXAS CAVIAR

Texas Caviar

A native of Chicago, Judy Alter has lived in Texas over fifty-five years and, in addition to four mystery series, has written award-winning fiction and nonfiction about Texas and the American West. Cooking is her avocation, and she has also written several cookbooks. Learn more about Judy and her books at her website.

A French Chef Meets a Classic Texas Recipe

Through three books in the Irene in Chicago Culinary Series, Irene Foxglove has scorned all things Texan, especially Texas foods. But now, she’s suddenly anxious to visit Texas—for Christmas, no less. Irene may not have known, but I always knew she would have to go to Henny’s home state. The lure of exploring the culture clash when a French diva meets Texas cuisine was too great. 

 

When TV chef and hostess Henny James leaves her show in Chicago to go home to Texas for Christmas and cater a wedding supper for her BFF from childhood, Irene volunteers to be sous chef—and brings a French delegation to Fort Worth. What follows is mayhem and murder—threatening notes, a kidnapping, nights in jail and a homeless shelter, and a runaway young couple. Saving Irene this time is a real challenge for Henny and her beloved Patrick.

 

To introduce her French guests—and Patrick—to Texas food, Henny takes them to a hole-in-the-wall place for authentic Mexican food, a classic barbecue joint, and a steakhouse for chicken-fried steak. Irene loves the menudo, scorns the barbecue, refuses the chicken-fried steak. But her real scorn is saved for Texas caviar, which Henny serves in lettuce cups as an appetizer at the wedding supper.

 

Texas caviar traces back to the 1940s when Helen Corbitt, legendary food manager at Neiman Marcus specialty stores, first moved to Texas from the East Coast. She had accepted a teaching position at the University of Texas in Austin, but she was appalled at the food she found—platters of brown fried food, soggy vegetables, and canned fruit. Perhaps she relived in her mind the question she’d asked when first offered the Texas position: Who the hell wants to go to Texas?

 

Within three weeks of her arrival, she was challenged to present a banquet using nothing but ingredients from Texas. Texans were—and still are—proud of their black-eyed peas, so she created Texas caviar.

Texas Caviar

Ingredients:

2 cans (approximately 20 oz each), cooked black-eyed peas

1 cup salad oil

1/4 cup wine vinegar

1 clove garlic

1/4 cup thinly sliced onion

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cracked or freshly ground black pepper 

Drain liquid from the peas. Place peas in pan or bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in jar in refrigerator and remove garlic bud after one day. Store at least two days and up to two weeks before eating. 

The recipe later appeared in her first cookbook, The Helen Corbitt Cookbook as “Pickled Black-eyed Peas.” According to Dallas Morning News columnist Frank Tolbert, members of the Black-eyed Pea Society were “aroused” (their word) that she was not a dues-paying member of the society.

Today, some cooks embellish the caviar with corn kernels, diced tomato, diced avocado, and everything but the kitchen sink. But then it is not truly Texas caviar, and the additional ingredients hide the flavor of the pickled peas.

You can serve this with heavy-duty tortilla chips as an appetizer or as a salad, perhaps in lettuce cups as Henny did, or a side dish with your main meal. (When Henny served it at the wedding supper, Irene did not eat any.) 

Irene Deep in Texas Trouble

An Irene in Chicago Culinary Mystery, Book 4

Love and romance—and murder! 

It’s Christmas in Texas. Henny’s best friend, Charlie, is marrying the love of her life, rich and spoiled Rick Scott, and Henny will cater for the wedding supper. Irene, faux Franch chef, diva, and Henny’s one-time mentor, and Chance, Irene’s billionaire lover, are spending the holiday with Henny’s family, and Irene steps in as Henny’s sous chef. When there’s a sensational murder at the supper, Irene is the prime suspect. Murder is complicated by a kidnapping, threatening notes, and a runaway couple. Once again, Henny is the one to save Irene.

 

Come on down to Texas and wander the historic Fort Worth stockyards, watch a rodeo, discover a new competitive sport, and savor some Texas food. While Irene detests most of the Texas menu, you’ll probably like it. Recipes included. 

 

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--SUE VIDERS AND BECKY MARTINEZ ON THE PROCESS OF CO-AUTHORING A BOOK

Today we welcome the writing team of Sue Videos and Becky Martinez to tell us about their working partnership. Learn more about them and their books at their website.

Sue:

H.G.Wells said it perfectly…and I use his words in reference to co-authoring ….

 

No passion in the world is equal 

to the passion 

to alter someone else’s draft.

 

Which of course is what co-authors do on a daily basis, or should I say on a critique basis.

 

Becky and I have worked together for many, many years, first as just friends in the same writing groups, and then as teachers. We taught on-line writing classes together all over the county.  Then suddenly, about two years ago, Becky emailed me one day and asked if I would like to write a book with her.  My answer, “Oh, yes!” I was thrilled, because we both brought to the table different, unique skills based on how we write. 

 

Becky is definitely a fly-by-the-seat type of writer--that is, she comes up with an idea for a plot and characters and simply starts writing. Her characters and scenes come to life as she writes the story. 

 

On the other hand, I am a planner. I don’t even begin to write until I have the whole idea planned out and the ending written down.

 

So how do these two different ways of writing blend so well? First of all, when writing with another writer, ground rules need to be determined before the first word is typed.

 

Our ground rules were:

 

1- Decide on the type of story to write. 

We agreed on a light cozy mystery.

 

2 - Create the plot and the main characters.

We wanted an artist as one protagonist and a small boutique owners as the other, and we wanted to set the story in a small Colorado town (since we both know the area.)

 

3 - Decide who would do what.

We had meetings to loosely plot the story. I would write the first draft of each chapter. Becky would heavily critique it and add any additional information. I would then critique what she changed. Then together, on the phone, we would critique the chapter, line by line, word by word until we were satisfied. We set deadlines and did this once a week. 

 

The reason this worked so well for us, is that I am dyslexic and cannot spell very well and have absolutely no idea where the damn commas go. Becky, on the other hand, as a retired journalist, spells exceptionally well, and is a comma queen. 

 

I kid her a lot because she is also the world’s best editor. She takes my short, sometimes unfinished sentences and often in the wrong tense, and smooths them out. She has, hidden on her keyboard a “delete” key which she uses all the time. And this makes the writing flow smoother and better.

 

If I were to give any advice to a writer who is contemplating co-authoring any genre, I would state that before writing anything agree on these ground rules:

 

1 - Lose the ego.

2 - Learn how to critique constructively.

3 - Set deadlines.

4 - Learn how to disagree.

5 - Be honest in your comments.

6 - Bottom line, all that really matters is how to make the book a great read. 

 

Becky:

…and that’s the way it is…--Walter Cronkite at the end of  every CBS news broadcast

 

Sue and I have been able to make co-authoring work because of our constant desire to collaborate and to join together to make our books as entertaining and correct as possible. Sue is well known for her nonfiction books on writing, and we have worked together both on nonfiction and fiction over the years. She excels in creating characters from the very beginning, while I often let my characters come to life on the pages as I write them. She fills out character charts in advance, while I have character charts that I fill out as I write the story. I usually know the beginning of my story and the ending, but everything in the middle comes out as I write. It’s not that I can’t plan—I just know that things will change along the way. So I like to be prepared for when that happens and a character gets out of line and starts acting differently.

 

As a television news producer, who had to plan a newscast every day but never saw one go in the exact order I planned it, I have learned to be flexible over the years, and I do that with my fiction writing. One thing I always knew as a TV news producer—the network news was coming on the air at 6:00pm no matter what I did, so my newscast better be done at that exact second! 

 

I do that with my writing too. I know how I am going to begin and end my books and everything else in the middle might change, but I need that beginning to make my readers want to keep turning the pages, and I want to end the story with them feeling as though they got everything they needed to know and ready to “tune in” (or buy my book) the next time they see my name as an author.  

 

As co-authors Sue and I have had to combine our distinctive styles, and it can be quite rewarding even though it can also be challenging. She considers me the queen of commas, but I consider her the queen of character building, and she is also very dedicated to the writing process itself. Together we work hard to make our characters, our locations, and our plots come to life. We both also love to talk about writing and learn from and about other writers, which is why we began co-authoring books on writing and teaching classes many years ago. We’ve learned everyone has a different style, so we recommend, find what works for you and your writing co-author, and then team up and enjoy the process.

 

Together we have managed to write not only not only nonfiction but fiction books together.  Our newest co-authored novel, Secrets and Swindles, is a cozy mystery that was published this month.  It took months of working together, both formulating the plot and then writing and editing it, but it was a fun book to do, and we are now working on a second installment even while we both work on individual fiction. 

 

Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, the writing process may be challenging, but neither one of us intends giving it up any time in the future, continuing to work together as well as write our own suspense books. 

 

Secrets and Swindles

A Sleuthing Sisters Mystery, Book 1

 

All Josephine and her sister want to do is enjoy their senior years in a small community in the Rocky Mountain foothills, but when Josephine discovers that someone has made prints of her artwork without her permission and is profiting off them, she is determined to track down the thief. She knows the person must be nearby, but who could it be?

Olivia runs a resale clothing shop in town and has growing problems of her own. The alcoholic husband of her store clerk, Ginny, has just been killed in a suspicious automobile accident. Now police are questioning the cause and Ginny may become a suspect in his mysterious death. Olivia wants to help, but how? And now she has her own doubts about Ginny.

As the two sisters search for answers with the help of an elderly ex-judge and his grandson, they suddenly find themselves caught in a web of deception and danger. Someone is watching them…leaving vague warnings to stop their sleuthing. The next warning could cost them their lives.

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#COOKING WITH CLORIS - MYSTERY AUTHOR JUDY ALTER'S NEW RELEASE AND THE MYSTERY OF KING RANCH CASSEROLE

Today we welcome back the prolific Judy Alter, author of the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries, the Blue Plate Café Mysteries, the Oak Grove Mysteries, and her latest series, the Irene in Chicago Culinary Mysteries. Judy has also published historical novels, young adult novels, nonfiction, and cookbooks. Learn more about her and her books at her website.   

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch casserole is Texas food. Henny learned to fix it in her mom’s kitchen, and she serves it often to Patrick who loves it. Irene disparages it as Texas food, and she’s not alone. Some noted Texas cookbook authors have been scathing in their criticism of this dish. Texas food historian Mary Faulk Koock wrote, “I suppose it could be made palatable,” but caterer Tilford Collins, who serves some of the oldest families in South Texas, was more blunt. “Never, never, never.” In Texas Monthly, journalist Mimi Swartz described it as a study in beige and yellow and criticized it as bland despite the chile-laced Rotel tomatoes. Bland is a quality Texans generally despise in their food. And yet, most Texans consider this dish a staple.

 

Culinary authorities agree that is probably derives from the Mexican chilaquiles which combines tortilla chips, tomatoes, chicken, cheese, and chiles. Swartz suggests it may have been the inspiration of an anonymous King Ranch cook with a preference for chicken, even though he was at a beef ranch. I have been to the King Ranch in far South Texas, largest ranch in the US, even spent the night in their guest quarters. The food was outstanding, but there was no sign of the casserole. 

 

That anonymous cook probably shouldn’t be blamed because the ingredients of today’s casserole are from the fifties when canned soup casseroles hit the heyday of their popularity. Casseroles that could be made quickly and frozen for later use were a big part of freeing housewives from the kitchen in the fifties and sixties. For several years, the casserole stayed a Texas secret, but in the seventies, it began to creep across the country. You may already know it, but if not, here’s an authentic version.

 

There is some version of the recipe—and there are many—in every Junior League cookbook from Texas, and chef Dean Fearing guessed that it is served in almost every family kitchen in Texas. Generations of Texans swear by this dish. 

 

And when Henny finds herself representing Texas is a cookoff against Irene’s French recipes, what does she choose? King Ranch. Here’s her recipe:

 

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Irene would never make this casserole—Texas food, you know—but if she did, she’d do it the old-fashioned way and boil an old hen. Henny believes in shortcuts, and she uses a rotisserie chicken. Henny is also a great advocate of canned soups in casseroles, something many “gourmands” frown on these days.

 

Ingredients:

3-4 cups chicken, diced or shredded

16 corn tortillas, torn into small pieces

2 medium onions, chopped

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2-1 can Rotel tomatoes, choose the flavor and heat you like; Henny likes lime/cilantro.

Grated cheddar

 

Layer, in a greased 9 x 13 casserole: tortillas, chicken, onion. Repeat layers. 

 

Pour the soups and tomatoes over the casserole How much tomato you use depends on how hot you want the dish. Cover with grated cheese and bake at 350° until cheese melts and is brown and casserole is bubbly.

 

Note: some people add green bell pepper. Henny despises bell pepper and does not use it.

 

Finding Florence

An Irene in Chicago Culinary Mystery, Book 3

 

Irene is back in town. And Henny’s life is a mess. 

 

Irene’s “voices” have told her that something is horribly amiss with a person dear to her.  When she arrives, she learns that a death notice for Florence Sherman, her sometime friend, has been published in the Sun-Times. Once Irene discovers her friend’s body is missing, the diva chef refuses to leave Chicago until she solves the mysterious disappearance. But, with Irene in Chicago, Henny’s successful “From My Mother’s Kitchen” TV cooking show and her precious time with Patrick, husband of her dreams, are seriously compromised by Irene’s insistence that finding Florence trumps any other concerns. 

 

There’s a nice bit of Chicago history and lots of food talk An appendix of recipes is attached.

 

 

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY - SLEUTHING FOR SENIORS AND CAT LOVERS WITH MYSTERY AUTHOR MOLLIE HUNT

Mollie Hunt, the Cat Writer, loves cats and writes mysteries. She’s the award-winning author of two cozy series, the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and the Tenth Life Mysteries. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy features extraordinary cats saving the world. Mollie also pens a bit of cat poetry.  Learn more about her and her books at her blog. 

Sleuthing for Seniors

Lynley Cannon is a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer. Camelia Collins is a retired septuagenarian who moved to her dream house on the Oregon Coast. What do these two fictional characters have in common, aside from their senior citizen status? Through quirks of literary fate, they have become amateur sleuths.

  

Lynley, the hero of my Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery Series, was thrown into the investigation game when she, herself, was suspected of murder. Since the police seemed reluctant to look further afield once they had her in their sights, she turned to friends, family, and a hunky animal cop to help her find the real killer.

 

Camelia, too, was dropped into her investigating role when she discovered the cottage she’d purchased was the site of a cold case murder that proceeded to heat up when new evidence came to light in her living room. Camelia, star of my new Tenth Life Paranormal Series, enlisted a different sort of help—a ghost cat whose gravestone lies in Camelia’s back garden. Sometimes Soji is helpful, and other times, not so much.

 

Why do I choose heroes of a “certain age” instead of the twenty and thirty-somethings so popular in the cozy mystery genre? Firstly, they say write what you know, and I happen to be of that demographic myself. But there’s much more to my choice than egoism. I find the idea of a senior sleuth intensely satisfying. In so many ways, seniors are overlooked in our society. At some point, we become invisible, which is vastly unfair to a person whose only failing is age. 

 

Invisibility is a useful attribute for a detective, however. An older person can get into and out of places that would be barred to a younger one. With a bit of theatrical dotage, we can walk into crime scenes without being noticed. By putting on a touch of righteous pomposity, we can ask the hard questions like a queen. Dare I say, we can be wily and sometimes downright devious if that’s what is required to get what we need.

 

Because we’re no longer young and athletic, we compensate in other ways. With age comes wisdom, or at least, experience. We’ve learned to separate the things that matter from those that don’t. We’ve learned to read people, to trust our instincts. Lynley and Camelia use their intellect to sort out their troubles, though their catlike curiosity has been known to backfire on them.

 

Speaking of cats, my ladies have one other thing in common—they are both cat people. Cats are major players in my stories, sometimes helping and sometimes hindering the ongoing search for clues. One can’t get much sleuthing done when the cat sits on your lap or walks across your keyboard. But that’s the fun of cats. And sometimes they save the day.

  

Cats’ Eyes

Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery, Book 1

 

What if a retired cat-lady found a stolen sixty-eight carat chunk of trouble in her backyard pond?

Lynley Cannon is the crazy cat lady, but she's not quite crazy yet, though a bizarre connection to a bumbled heist and a double homicide have got her wondering. When her elderly cat Fluffs drags in a dusky brown beach agate that turns out to be one of the stolen Cats' Eyes diamonds, things happen fast.

 

Theft, kidnapping, and murder—the police are baffled! Aided by friends, family, and a hunky animal cop, Lynley sets out to find the crooks herself. But the killer is desperate, convinced Lynley has the diamonds.

 

Will Lynley live to clean the litter box another day?

 

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COZY MYSTERY AUTHOR M.K. SCOTT ON DOGS, GARDENS, & GARDENING DOGS

M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind the cozy mystery series, The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries, The Talking Dog Detective Agency, The Way Over the Hill Gang, and Cupid’s Catering Company.Writing is a family affair with hubby serving as first editor and webmaster, while daughter, Sarah, operates the social media and Jane the lab handles the gardening. Learn more about M.K. and their books at their website.

The Dog Gardener

Many cozy mysteries feature a main character who feels at home in garden clogs and with a trowel in one hand and a pack of seeds in the other. A few antagonists may even grow some deadly poisons for nefarious purposes. As for myself, I try to combine gardening with dog ownership without anyone getting hurt.

 

Despite decades of being both a dog owner and gardener, I never knew my yard contained toxic items for my canine companions. Fortunately, my previous dogs confined themselves to biting the head off the occasional flower and chasing out an abundance of wild rabbits. Any blooming, yellow flower became a treat for both dogs and finches. I really never saw my yellow rose bush in full bloom since dog and friends kept a close eye on the buds, too. 

 

When I started to work for the Humane Society, I discovered many plants I grew in my yard were toxic to dogs. The second most poisonous plant is the humble tomato plant. Who knew? Not me! Now, some plants will just make dogs sick while others could be fatal. Here’s a list from the ASPCA of plants you might want to avoid in your back yard. The list is extensive, so I decided with having a curious Labrador puppy, that it might be easier to find what wouldn’t hurt my four-legged friend.

 

Safe Plants for Your Yard and Dog

Marigold

Zinnias

Sunflowers

Lavender

Roses

Petunias

Gerber Daisies

Snapdragons

Pansies

African Violets

 

Of course, after you plant your safe flowers, remember it might become a nibble for your pet. Pesticides are dangerous to your pet. Bugs aren’t an issue in our yard because we have dozens of birds who like to help me maintain my vegetable garden and flowers. 

 

Another way to discourage insects is by spraying the plants with a mixture of water and peppermint oil. While peppermint smells good to most humans, pests aren’t a fan. Lavender, lemon balm, and oregano are also good at keeping insects away. Basil works for flies. Cooled raspberry tea sprayed on the plant discourages insects. Insecticidal soap won’t hurt your pet, either.

 

Before I can enjoy my plants, I have to protect them from a curious pet who investigates with both paws and mouth.  Labradors enjoy gardening a bit too much, which encourages creativity in plant placement. Very raised gardens, planters placed up high, hanging containers, and sturdy fences all work. Older dogs tend not to care for investigating plants, or they can be like my old dog, who only ate yellow flowers.

 

It is possible to have flowers and puppies. Sometimes, those flowers might have to exist in the front or side yard. For those book lovers who enjoy house plants, here’s a list of safe houseplants.

 

Happy gardening with your canine friends.

 

Late for the Wedding

The Way Over the Hill Gang, Book 6

 

The Senior Sleuths don’t mind a little peace now and then, but after a long bout of nothing out of the ordinary, they’re eager for some excitement.

No one could’ve imagined it would arrive with such a bang.

A mysterious explosion has rocked the assisted living community, disrupting life for everyone.

Despite the stern warnings from authorities, one of the Senior Sleuths can’t help but get involved. This is their home, after all.
Herman, always eager to root out the truth, ignores the warnings and hunts for answers. He’s convinced the explosion was a ruse to cover up something far more sinister. But the other seniors aren’t as eager to get involved. They’re focused on Marcy and Lance’s upcoming wedding.

Without his usual sidekicks, can Herman track down the bomber and a missing veteran who no one else remembers?

 

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GUEST AUTHOR MATT FERRAZ AND HIS SENIOR SLEUTH

Author of all trades, Matt Ferraz has written thrillers, sci-fi, cozy mysteries and a lot of witty e-mails that sadly can't be published. With a degree in journalism and a master’s degree in biography, Matt has works published in English, Italian and Portuguese, and loves trying out new genres. Learn more about Matt and his books at his website. You can also sign up for his new mailing list here.

Today Matt offers us something a bit different—a short story to introduce us to his senior sleuth Grandma Bertha.

Innocent Man's Cake - A Grandma Bertha Short Story

Lydia Hepburn wasn't a morning person by any means, and it took a lot to make her get out of bed early on a Saturday. Stu wasn't a toddler anymore, and knew how to use the toilet on his own, which meant she rarely had a reason to get up before dawn. Plus, her husband Todd was an early bird, and would take care of any issue that required adult presence.

She was especially tired that Saturday, after spending the previous night in front of the TV waiting for the final sentence in the Jack Pyle trial. For months, the whole country had been divided whether that man had actually killed his wife. Now that he was in jail, it was like a long soap opera was over and they could rest.

All Lydia wanted was some more sleep, but the noise in the kitchen was unbearable. Only one person could annoy Lydia so much, and that was Grandma Bertha. What was she doing in the kitchen anyway? It wasn't like her to be cooking at that time of day.

Lydia jumped from the bed, put on her robe and walked downstairs, ready to kick Grandma Bertha back to her shed in the backyard. She stopped by the door and looked at the mess. There was flour everywhere, eggshells on the floor and chantilly on the drapes. Grandma Bertha offered a toothless smile to her daughter-in-law.

“Good morning, Lyd!” she said. “Up so early?”

Lydia tried to stay calm. “What are you doing?”

“I'm baking a cake!” said Grandma Bertha. “For a friend.”

“A friend? Who?”

“Did you seen the news yesterday?” said Grandma Bertha. “About that poor Jack Pyle? He was innocent, and I'm sending him a cake in jail.”

Lydia pulled out a chair. That was too much even for Grandma Bertha's standards. “You're baking a cake for…”

“Careful, Lyd!” warned Grandma Bertha. “Don't sit there!”

“What? Why not?” Her eyes went down to the seat, and there was a small hacksaw on it. “What is this doing here?”

Grandma Bertha picked the hacksaw from the chair. “There, there, you can sit. This is going into the cake.”

Lydia didn't sit down. “You're baking a cake with a saw in it?”

“No, that would be silly!” Grandma Bertha said, with a giggle. “I'm baking the cake and then I'm putting the saw inside it. Otherwise it would taste terrible!”

“Why would you do that?”

Grandma Bertha went serious for a second. “It pains me to see an innocent man in jail. I'll send him this cake so he can get out of jail and clear his name.”

Lydia rubbed her eyes. “In what world do you live? Are you aware that…”

Her phrase was interrupted by the voice of her husband, who just came in from the street. “Darling! Have you heard the news?”

Lydia turned to him, her face red with anger. “Do you know what your mother's been doing?”

“Just a minute, darling!” said Todd. “I just heard the morning news on the radio. They came out with undisputed evidence that Jack Pyle is innocent! They're releasing him today!”

Lydia stood there, not knowing what to say. She was still mad, but couldn't tell at whom. So she turned her head around and saw that Grandma Bertha's smile was even larger.

“Well,” said Grandma Bertha. “Who wants a piece of cake, then?”

The Convenient Cadaver

Grandma Bertha Solving Murders, Book 1

When Grandma Bertha moved to her son’s place, she brought along three dogs, several cases of beer and many, many horror film DVDs. While her daughter-in-law insists on the idea of sending Grandma Bertha to a retirement home, a dead girl appears near the house, shot three times in the back. Many years ago, Grandma Bertha let a murderer escape for not trusting in her own detective abilities. Now, armed with her wit and wisdom, she decides to solve that crime before the police. Could this crazy dog lady be a threat to a cold-blooded killer? And for how long can the family stand that situation?

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