Kindle Freebie and Author Interview with Lynne Waite Chapman

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops, then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with author Lynne Waite Chapman!

Born and raised in Northeastern Indiana, Lynne Waite Chapman is a lover of mystery and suspense, but most of all people. In September of 2016, she published her first cozy mystery. The debut novel Heart Strings—first in the Evelynton Murder series—was a 2016 semi-finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Association Genesis contest. The next three in the series, Heart Beat, Murderous Heart, and Caffeinated Murder continue the adventures of three friends in the small town Evelynton, Indiana.

Lynne Waite Chapman began her writing career writing weekly non-fiction content for the BellaOnline.com Hair site, drawing on her thirty plus years as a hairdresser. Retiring the Hair site, she spent the next fifteen years sharing her faith and penning weekly content for the BellaOnline.com Christian Living site.

She has been a regular contributor of devotions for several print publications and devotionals, and has written articles for many church bulletins and newsletters. She has also contributed articles to numerous internet publications.

For more information about current and past writing projects find her on Facebook, Amazon Author Page, Goodreads, Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @LWChapmanAuthor.

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

Do I have to choose one? I’m fond of all three. Everything in its time.

Perfect answer! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

I’m a light eater. When I’m in a really good restaurant, I’ll order salmon or a creative salad.

Yum! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

Most of my time writing is done in my office. It’s a small room filled with book shelves loaded with my favorite books and some I haven’t read. The books inspire me to keep writing and reading. There is a really comfortable chair in my office that I’ve had for years. I may never replace it. The colors of the room are peaceful, white and gray, with accent shades of purple and maroon.

Sounds wonderful! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

I often read a favorite book twice or three times. The second and third reading is to get to know the personalities of the characters or to catch a plot twist I’d missed. Is that odd?

It's not odd to me, LOL! What inspired you to write Death on Wolfe Mountain?

The main inspiration was to give my 3 main characters of the Evelynton murder series a new adventure. I’d been dealing with the subject of pride and how it reveals itself differently in each of us, so that would be a big part of it. The story begins with a hike through the woods and climbing an old bridge. I don’t do much hiking in the woods anymore but it’s one of my favorite things.

Cool angle! What led you to write in this genre?

I’ve always loved a mystery but not so much the sadistic crimes or evil criminals. Cozy mysteries are easy reads and are entertaining. If I can add a lesson or leave the reader thinking, all the better.

Love some cozy vibes! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

I want my readers to be entertained and maybe read just for the fun of it. But I also want them to see the inner beauty of each character. The protagonist, antagonist, and all their friends, have reasons for their actions. My characters may be in comical and improbable situations but they’re deeply human and full of human frailty. I hope my readers come away with something to think about that is beyond the story line.

Love those layered characters! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

I’m currently working on the third installment of the Secrets of Twin Fawn series. I would like to see the citizens of Twin Fawn experience a mystery during the Christmas season.

Awesome! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level? 

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7

So good! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves. This is a second reading.

Nice, and I love your callback to a second reading! ;-) Thanks for answering all of my prying questions, Lynne!

Check out Lynne's new release, Death on Wolfe Mountain, but keep scrolling for a kindle freebie offer - only available from January 28th through January 30th!

New Release ~

Three best friends reunite for a week of fun and festivities in this fifth installment of the Evelynton Series. A damper is put on the week when a casual hike results in the three stumbling onto a lifeless body.

Questions begin in the first chapter. Who was this man? Was his death accidental? Was it a suicide? Or was it murder?

Freelance writer and part-time receptionist, Lauren Halloren has unwittingly stumbled into a mystery that will once again pit her against local law enforcement, Officer Jimmy Farlow. When the three friends meet to delve into the circumstances surrounding the death, they find there is more than one mystery to be solved and many of the clues point to Lauren. One answer in their investigation leads to another question.

As Lauren continues to proclaim her innocence even friends begin to question her involvement.

Death on Wolfe Mountain is a fun mystery that will have you guessing and possibly leave you with a final question.

Check it out on Amazon! 

Kindle Freebie ~

The author is generously offering the kindle version of Heart Strings for free from January 28th through January 30th. 

Heart Strings is book one in the Evelynton Murder series. Grab your copy while you can at the link below!

Amazon.com: Heart Strings (Evelynton Murder Series Book 1) eBook : Chapman, Lynne Waite:

Kindle Store

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and create aesthetic content for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page!

Meet Cozy Mystery Writer Julie B. Cosgrove

 

Our guest today is Julie B Cosgrove, author of the Word Play Mysteries, talking about her series and why she writes in the cozy genre.

Leaving a comment makes you eligible for  a paperback of your choice of any of Julie's thirteen cozy mysteries.  If the winner is not in the USA, Julie will email a $15 Amazon gift certificate to purchase one paperback or several eBooks (hopefully hers!).

A church member recently asked me why, as a Christian author, I wrote mysteries. Good question. At first glance it may seem faith and mystery are polar opposites. Good versus evil. Love versus crime. Saint versus sinner.

 

I write cozy mysteries for several reasons. First, it is my favorite genre. From an early age I would lie in front of our black and white TV totally absorbed in the Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan mysteries.  I did read some of the Nancy Drew books from my elementary school library but found them to be too predictable. I figured out I didn’t want to read about her, I wanted to be her! The late British author Mary Stewart hooked me on her novels.  Young, intelligent single women travel to exotic places, then find themselves in the midst of danger once they get too close to whodunnit. And of course, each ended with the dashing slightly older gentleman coming to the rescue. Sigh. It pumped my preteen heart!

 

I still prefer to read cozies, but many of the secular ones are not as innocent as they once were. Foul language, out of marriage relationships, paranormal, and witchcraft have inched into the plots. Hmmm, not for me. But there are still some clean, secular cozy writers out there. Mary Daheim has been my favorite since the late 1990’s. She still writes, by the way. I love her wit and her characters. To state I was thrilled when she endorsed my first cozy mystery novel, Dumpster Dicing, back in 2016 is an understatement.  

 

Secondly, cozy mysteries are less about the crime itself and more about achieving justice by solving the mystery and making sure the bad guys are caught. Micah 6:8 states, as the as the answer as to what a faith-living person should do: “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” As a Christian cozy writer, I try to show my characters live out the faith in their everyday lives and interactions. They are fallible but they keep trying to achieve all three. Thus, each mystery has a central message – God is there and He cares.

 

As one five star reviewer wrote – “What I didn’t expect was such an encouraging message to come in the middle of a cozy mystery. Sometimes authors shove a Christian message in between crime scenes and car chases. However, Cosgrove seamlessly threads her message throughout the book." 

 

So far, I have been contracted to write three mystery series. The first, The Bunco Biddies Mysteries, were four novels written between 2015-2018.  They feature Bunco playing ladies in a retirement community. The first won Best Cozy Mystery set in Texas by the Texas Association of Authors in 2017. Then Write Integrity Press took me on as an author but the editor in chief wanted a more “Hallmark” formula. So, I wrote The Relatively Seeking Mysteries involving three thirty-something church friends who sought out lost relatives and found themselves in danger as they unveiled family secrets. One Leaf Too Many (the ACFW book of the month in August 2019) and Fallen Leaf have the inklings of romance with the detectives on the case. The third, Leaf Me Alone, finalist in the Christian Literary Awards in 2021, showed the gal who was already married but whose marriage was being tested by hard times. Working through the mystery helped the couple realize the strength of their marriage and their faith.

 

Then I convinced Write Integrity Press to let me return to writing about senior sleuths. I combined my two loves—mystery and word games—and molded them into The Wordplay Mystery Series.  Wanda, the main character, is a widow raised in the small, fictitious town of Scrub Oak, Texas. Her almost life-long friend is a retired schoolteacher, also widowed, named Betty Sue.  Her next door neighbor is Evelyn, who devours cozy mysteries and even has them catalogued by sleuth, crime, and author. Wanda’s nephew, Todd—who the town recalls as the wayward teen whose parents went through the most scandalous divorce in Scrub Oak history—grew up, graduated from the police academy, and now has returned to Scrub Oak as a policeman.

 Wanda begins to realize her love for word games and puzzles make her a natural sleuth. In fact, various word game techniques help her discover valid clues. So, she sets out “helping” her nephew win the favor of the town by solving the crimes that are seeping into Scrub Oak along with the urban sprawl.

Word Has It involves a Scrabble game revealing clues to not only a current mystery but two previously hidden in the past. It won the Distinguished Cozy Mystery award in the Spring of 2021. In Word Gets Around, random words left on windshield may hold the answer as to why an up and coming reporter has gone missing.  In Other Words focuses on palindromes spray painted on local businesses when the vandalism soon explodes into organized crime. In Hang on Every Word, Wanda is assigned to create a weekly Hangman and a Find-Words-in-a-Word puzzle for the local newspaper, but the clues seem to spur robberies around downtown. People begin to think Wanda may be orchestrating it all to gain more glory. Now, though handcuffed, she must solve the mystery and her reputation!

 The fourth in the series has just released - Away With Words.  In this novel, Wanda and Evelyn reluctantly go on a women’s retreat with Betty Sue out of state to West Monroe, Louisiana.  The theme of the retreat is “Acting out Grace” and Wanda soon learns that this is something unnatural for her to do, especially after being wounded by the community who accused her of crime plotting. While there, a scavenger hunt leads them to discover a crime scene. Then one of the retreat attendees is whacked over the head. Plus, a teenage girl has gone missing. Of course, the trio feel obliged to investigate. Through it all, Wanda learns quite a few reasons why she needed to be on this retreat.

Unlike Scrub Oak, the setting for Away with Words is real. It is a wonderful cabin where I was invited by some local church ladies in West Monroe to lead a retreat several years ago. It was one of the most enjoyable retreats I have led.  Therefore, when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance to set my next mystery there.

 I have been contracted to continue the series and am writing book six, Loss for Words now. Its planned release is next June.  In between writing the Word Play Mysteries, I was privileged to be asked to write, along with six other Christian cozy mystery writers, a novella series called The Visitor.  The seven were released monthly from February through August of 2023 and mine, The Visitor Makes a Retreat, debuted the series.

 Life is a mystery, and it has many twists and turns. We don’t always see what is coming. But we know in the end good will triumph over evil. God reigns, even though Satan prowls. My mysteries, I hope, reiterate that fact.

 You can preview each of the thirteen books published so far on my website, or on my Amazon author page.  And I would love it if you followed me on my Facebook page.

An interview with Gail Pallotta

Our guest today is author Gail Pallotta, a former Grace Awards finalist, a 2017 Reader's Favorite Book Awards recipient, and a topShelf 2020 Book Awards Finalist. Gail is also a wife, mother, and an excellent cook!

Gail, what made you start writing?

 I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember, but I got interested in writing as a career in college when I took a professional writing course. I always had wanted to write books, but alas, I needed a job, so I worked as an editor and copywriter. After I married, I helped my husband with his business and wrote freelance articles. When he semi-retired, I started writing books.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

If I experience something or am touched by something I see and it rattles around in my head a while, eventually I write something about it, a book, short story or blog.

How do you incorporate your own life experiences into your books? 

While I do quite a bit of research for each book, I also like to set them in places I’ve lived or visited. Also, I draw from things I’ve learned or seen in my life. For instance, my mother was a hairstylist, so I wrote Hair Calamities and Hot Cash based on what I saw and heard when I spent time in her shop as a youngster. At age ten I learned to cook from my grandmother, aunts and mother who were gourmet Southern cooks, so I drew on that for Cooking up a Mystery. Stopped Cold, my teen book, was based on the pressure I saw put on young people to excel to be the best.

Describe your ideal non-writing day.

Oh my, I’m at the beach.

Which do you prefer and why?

-Ice cream or watermelon? I can’t eat ice cream, but I prefer frozen yogurt over watermelon because it’s creamier and goes better with pecan pie.

-Dogs or cat? That’s a difficult question because I’m an animal lover, but I suppose dogs win.

-Marketing or visiting the dentist? LOL. Ouch. I’m a people person, but more in the vein of enjoying visiting and getting to know others as opposed to selling to them, and the dentist…I have such a kind, wonderful dentist, which helps, but… It’s a draw.

Speaking of dentists, tell us something about your book, "Cooking Up a Mystery".

Laney Eskridge worked to put her husband through dental school. Then he left with another woman. She's on edge from the emotional scars and her parents' deaths. Then she hears unexplained noises in her new tea house, and her anxiety is tripled. Add a budding romance with Eric—a guy with a fear of commitment—and it's all too much to handle. She cuts ties with Eric and plunges into making her business pay off.

When Eric discovers that Laney's in danger, he vows to protect her. But can he make a lasting promise? Will she trust him? . . .and when they overhear a threat that could cause national turmoil, will anyone believe them? There's more brewing than herbal tea in Cooking up a Mystery.

Cooking up a Mystery is an Amazon Monthly Deal, and Gail's publisher has extended it to a couple of other sites. The Kindle copies are currently $1.99 at the following:

Amazon        Apple 

You can connect with Gail at any (or all!) of the following sites:

Facebook      Goodreads     BookBub      Pinterest 

Interview and Giveaway with Susan Kimmel Wright!

 Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. After all, books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination! So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we are going to pry into the private life of CHAT with Susan Kimmel Wright!

Susan Kimmel Wright is a child of the Appalachian Mountains. A former lawyer, Susan has published three children’s mystery novels and is a prolific contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Mabel Goes to the Dogs, Book Two in Mysteries of Medicine Spring, her first cozy mystery series for adult readers, is now available from Mountain Brook Ink. Susan shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

Connect with Susan Kimmel Wright on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! 

*drum roll*

What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

“Yes, please!” but it all depends. I really need to start my day with one or two cups of dark-roast coffee, nothing added. From there, I switch to various black teas, and before bed, I usually have a cup of green or red bush (rooibos) tea. (Hot chocolate, though, is perfect by the fire after a wintry walk!)

Haha, great answer! If you could order anything in the world to eat (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

This will obviously vary by mood, lol, but after living for months in Honduras decades ago, I often crave desayuno típico—the Central American typical breakfast of eggs, fried bananas, queso blanco cheese, avocado, refried beans, corn tortillas, and coffee. ¡Buen provecho!

YUM! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

Being an introverted homebody, I do most of my writing in a corner of our family room, where I have a table, supplies, mug-warmer, and my dogs and cats! Sometimes though, I like to shake things up by popping on my headphones and writing in a bookstore café, where there’s the stimulation of people and books, but I can also retreat into my own world. (In cases of dire writer’s block, I sit in my car and write with a notebook and pen—just like I used as a kid. This will usually break through anyplace I’m stuck.)

Love your cure for writer's block! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?

So embarrassing, but I sometimes mentally narrate my life! Susan stood in the doorway, studying the room. She wished she hadn’t taken that cold tablet earlier. Now her head felt fuzzy—and she needed to be thinking clearly if she was to navigate that awkward conversation with Gloria. Was she here yet? Susan picked up a glass from the table by the door—something to occupy her hands and keep from fidgeting. I’m so weird!

Let's just say you're not the only one who does that... ;-) What inspired you to write Mabel Goes to the Dogs?

Mabel Goes to the Dogs is Book Two in my series, Mysteries of Medicine Spring, and there’s some continuation from Book One—and some questions answered. I chose to write about search dogs primarily because of my personal love of dogs (I do Australian cattle dog rescue and have also fostered dogs of different breeds, sizes, medical needs, and ages over the years). Plus, my main character Mabel volunteers at a new place in each book, and I wanted to give her something a bit different from the more common shelter or dog rescue volunteer. Awhile before incubating this book, I’d volunteered to help train search dogs by hiding in the wild for them to attempt to find me. I’d thought it would be fascinating to watch them work—and a good way to contribute to what they do. My first call-up just happened to coincide with the writing of my book, and it taught me a lot.

That's really cool! What led you to write in this genre?

I just love, love, love mysteries—especially cozies, which have small-town settings and local characters you can get to know and care about over the course of the series. Cozies keep me turning pages, because of course, I want to know “whodunit,” but they tend to be clean reads and also steer clear of the graphic violence of harder-edged mysteries.

Very true! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

I don’t write to convey a particular message, but I find that what I think and believe still has a way of coming through. I want readers who have struggles in their lives to be able to open one of my books and feel comforted—to laugh a bit and find relief from the stress they’re dealing with. Mabel isn’t perfect—who is? She might be a somewhat overweight fifty-year-old who’s suddenly unemployed and a bit insecure and disorganized. But God still has some pleasant surprises in store for her, including adventure and a new romance. I believe in hope, and I want my readers to embrace it too.

I think that's a wonderful message! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

I’m currently working on Book Three in my series, Mabel & the Little Green Men, which opens when Mabel has a close encounter with a flying saucer…or did she really? I have a lot of fun in my books by upending scary things like UFOs and finding reasons to laugh. It’s no wonder I loved those old black-&-white comedy movies as a child, where the main character had to face their fears in a supposed “haunted” house.

Oooo, how fun! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

It’s impossible to single out a favorite Bible verse or story, but I do love the story of the unlikely hero, weak-kneed Gideon, in the Book of Judges. When the angel calls to him, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” Gideon sort of looks around like “Who? Me?” Despite all his anxieties and asking (more than once!) for a fleece before he can believe God is really calling him, Gideon ultimately trusts God and knows the joy of fulfilling that calling.

Love Gideon's story! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine! -- want to know. ;-)

I’ve been getting caught up with Alexander McCall Smith’s warmhearted No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe, and all the other characters who seem so real and make me want to visit Botswana.  

I'm sensing a theme! ;-) Sounds like a good read!

Thank you so much for hanging with us and for answering all of my prying questions, Susan! 

Giveaway ~

Susan is giving away a signed copy of Mabel Goes to the Dogs!

Mabel plans to bring the thrills of volunteering to the masses—if she doesn’t go to the dogs first.

When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-&-rescue, her life has clearly—once again—gone to the dogs!

            After her losing her job at age forty-nine, Mabel thought she’d turned things around. Now she’s doing good by volunteering, and surely, she’ll soon be a successful author, writing about her experiences. After solving two notorious decades-old cold cases while serving as a historical society volunteer, she’s already getting invitations to appear on TV.

            Her new assignment couldn’t be simpler. All she has to do is hide in the woods and let Millie the search dog practice finding her. But to her horror, Millie finds more than Mabel—there’s a dead body hiding in the same patch of brush. To make things worse, Mabel’s maybe-boyfriend, suspended PI John Bigelow, has a dark history with the victim.

            While struggling with maid-of-honor duties for best friend Lisa, a string of disasters created by handyman Acey, and a disagreeable new neighbor, can Mabel solve another murder in time to save John’s detective license—if not his neck?

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away a signed copy of Mabel Goes to the Dogs!

This giveaway is open to the US only! 

This giveaway will close on 06/10/2022 at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place. This will only be done once. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter HERE!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable daughters. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Jackie Layton Reveals Her New Release!

We’re celebrating with one of our own! Jackie Layton has a new release out called Bite the Dust, a cozy mystery where secrets can be deadly. And, better yet, it’s part of a series! Who doesn’t love a good series? Let’s dive right in.

PT: Welcome Jackie! Refresh the reader's memory about yourself.

JL: I've lived my whole life in the south. Kentucky and then Georgia, back to Kentucky and now South Carolina. I’m a quick golf cart ride from the nearest beach. I love living on the coast!

PT: Tell us about your family.

JL: (laughs) I became a sports fan in order to carry on conversations with my husband and two sons. This girly girl learned to understand baseball, football, basketball, soccer and tennis and I’ve spent years cheering for my boys

.

PT: What was your childhood like?

JL: I loved to read and play with dolls and Barbies. Later in high school, I dreamed of stories to write. But I still didn’t pursue the dream until my youngest son was in high school. I thought, I’d better start learning or it was never going to happen.

PT: Tell us a little about your book Bite the Dust.

JL: It’s a cozy mystery set in the low country of South Carolina in a fictional town of Heywood Beach. Let me give you the blurb:

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.

 

PT: One last thing. (MY fav!) Tell us 5 things about Jackie Layton that have nothing to do with writing.

JL: 1. Do I believe in love at first sight? Yes. I think I fell in love with my husband the first day I met him. I was a greeter at my church. He opened the door, and the sun back lit him. His blue eyes twinkled, and I was a goner.

 2. I inherited my Westie from my youngest son when he went to college. Heinz and I spend hours hanging out together. We take walks and he lays by my feet when I write.

3. I have two sons who love sports. Between them and my husband, I've become a sports fan. One of my favorite shows is College Game Day on ESPN.

4. I have three adorable grandchildren who always make me smile.

5. I love music. Michael Buble, Craig Morgan, Third Day, Thomas Rhett, and too many musicians to mention.

Thanks for being with us today, Jackie. And readers, hurry to preorder Bite the Dust. It releases Feb. 28th!

Hey, y'all! Subscribe to our blog and you'll be entered to win a $25 B & N e-card! Please leave a comment for Jackie, too. She loves to hear from her readers!

Bio:

Jackie Layton has been a reader as long as she can remember and has dreamed of writing for years. With encouragement from her husband and family, she’s pursuing this dream. She’s always loved visiting the coast for vacations. The beach is her happy place despite cracking her ribs while riding the waves and getting a hook stuck in her foot that required a trip to the emergency room

Her first cozy mystery Bite the Dust is set in the fictional coastal town of Heyward Beach, South Carolina. This is the first book in A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery Series.