BOOK TOUR 

I'm happy to be a stop on the book tour for

DEADLY TRADITIONS

by

A group of amazing authors!

Celebrate the holidays with mistletoe, mayhem, and murder. Join your favorite authors as they cozy up by the fire with twelve festive short mysteries that feature treasured holiday traditions. Serve up a slice of fatal fruitcake and deck the halls with danger, because the holiday season has never been so much fun.

This original collection is available for a limited time only, so grab your copy today.

LKBR:  Hi, Melicity, it’s great to have you with us.

MP: Thank you so much for having me, Lisa!

LKBR: Please tell us a bit about yourself.

MP: Ooh - where to begin and keep it brief? Ha! Melicity is my cozy pen name, but my birth name is Melissa. I’ll answer to either! I’m an American girl, married to a Kiwi guy who lives in a Scottish mini castle. I’m also currently the president of the UK/EU’s Sisters in Crime chapter, Once Upon a Crime (but you don’t have to live in Europe to join us online!). When I’m not writing, I’m success coaching or traveling around the world fostering fur babies or performing (currently planning to narrate a fellow author’s cozy audiobook this year - yay!).

 

LKBR: Please tell us about your new book.

MP: Deadly Traditions is a collection of twelve, super fun Christmas cozy mystery stories, each with a focus on Christmas traditions. These tales are perfect if you like to enjoy a full story in one sitting before bed, in the bath, by the fire… anywhere you love to find your own brand of comfy ambience. My contribution is: A Little Christmas Villainy and is set in a villa in the Italian countryside where family members (up to no good!) have descended from England for the holiday.

 

LKBR: Do you remember where you were/what you were doing when the idea of this book/series came to you?

MP: The idea was first presented at the beginning of the year (I think!) by the fabulous and prolific, Gayle Leeson, during a small group gathering of cozy mystery author friends I created back in 2021 and continue to facilitate. I was hoping we could all collaborate on something fun at some point, so was completely thrilled when Gayle suggested it. Besides, everything’s more fun with a friend!

 

LKBR: Is writing your full time job? What’s your writing schedule like?

MP: Writing is not my full time job - I have too many other things I love to do! But it is a regular activity in this season. My writing schedule varies, but during the multiple sprints (I call them Writing Parties!) I host or participate in, I make much more progress. These typically happen in the morning or afternoon. I find I do a lot of writing in my head before I get out of bed, too. I avoid story creating at night, though, because my brain will be buzzing and I’ll struggle to get to sleep. Also, when I have deadlines looming, I become this all day magical paragon of productivity. I’m totally outwardly motivated. Ha!

LKBR: No matter where you are, do you write down ideas when inspiration strikes?

MP: I do. Well, probably 90% of the time. I don’t keep my phone in the bedroom, so I often have my husband send me an email or text of my idea to pick up in the morning if something strikes me when I’m all tucked up in bed and don’t want to get out again!

 

LKBR: Do you write your book(s) from beginning to end or do you write scenes out of order then pull them together?

MP: I typically write intuitively from beginning to end. Once in a while, I’ll jot down some lines of dialogue or a snippet of something coming up further in the story if my brain serves it up, but I’m not a jigsaw puzzle writer - which surprises me. The way I go through life, I would’ve totally thought I’d write random scenes as I felt inspired, to put together at the end, but it’s just not how it’s panned out.

 

LKBR: Where do you do most of your writing?

MP: I have a desk set up in front of a large bay window in the living room where I do most of my writing. But sometimes I get too fidgety, so will move my laptop to the kitchen table or to the couch for a change of scenery. Definitely not in bed though. I’d love to say I go to a cute café or botanical garden, but I’m too elegantly lazy to leave the house!

 

LKBR: What are three things always within reach when you’re writing?

MP: Hmm… Well, if I’m at my desk, I have a pretty monthly calendar where I can collect fancy stickers on the days and weeks I meet my goals. I have a mousepad with a picture of a kitten flying in to give me a hug from outer space. I have some encouragement cards set up and today one of them says, “Once we are willing to accept that anything worth doing might even be worth doing badly, our options widen.”

 

LKBR: Please describe yourself in one sentence.

MP: The first thing that comes to mind is: She believed she could, so she did; and she believed YOU could, so you believed you could, so you did, too.

 

LKBR: Do you have a message for your readers?

MP: Find out what things make your heart swell with fun, joy, delight, awe, whimsy, joie de vivre (you get the picture!) and give yourself permission to experience much, MUCH more of them. And then even more. And I hope the stories you’ll find in Deadly Traditions can be a small part of that journey of delight for you! xx

 

LKBR: Thank you so much, Melicity, for spending time with us today. Can’t wait to chat with you again!

MP: It was such fun to be here with you, Lisa. Let’s do it again sometime!

Keep reading until, and enter a Giveaway using the RaffleCopter form at the end!

Melicity Pope is the cozy pen name for me, Melissa Williams-Pope (Hi!), and the embodiment of one of my many heart-dreams.

When not writing and president-ing the UK/EU chapter of Sisters in Crime, I cycle through my variety of passions such as acting, singing and traveling the world fostering adorable furry friends, while using my positive psychology and ministry background to coach other women to experience their own dream-come-true lives and businesses. I’m a whimsical American, married to a down-to-earth Kiwi, currently based in a small Victorian castle-mansion in Scotland.

About the other Authors

About Gayle Leeson

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee. She is currently writing the Kinsey Falls chick-lit/women's fiction series, the Down South Cafe cozy mystery series, and the Ghostly Fashionista cozy mystery series. Her book KILLER WEDDING CAKE won the Bronze Medal in the 20th Anniversary IPPY Awards. Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and enjoys hearing from readers.

About Mollie Cox Bryan

Mollie Cox Bryan writes cozy mysteries with edge. She's the author of several bestselling mystery series, also writing under the pen name Maggie Blackburn. Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman's World. She has also been short-listed for the Virginia Library People's Choice Award. She's also penned a historical fiction: MEMORY OF LIGHT: AN AFTERMATH OF GETTYSBURG. She's the mother of two nearly perfect daughters, each pursuing careers in music.

About Erin Scoggins

USA Today Bestselling Author Erin Scoggins is a long-time Southerner with a fondness for offbeat humor and fresh fried chicken. After fifteen years in marketing with a Fortune 500 company, she traded her MBA for fictional crime scenes and feisty small-town families. She writes fun, flirty mysteries that are celebrations of food, family, and the killer South.

Visit her at www.erinscoggins.com for book news and shenanigans.

About Estelle Richards

Estelle Richards lives in the beautiful American Southwest and writes cozy mysteries. Connect with Estelle at estellerichards.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/estellerichardswriter/.

About Justine Maxwell

Justine Maxwell writes cozy mysteries with brave heroines, strong family bonds, and a touch of romance. She has degrees in psychology from Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University. She hopes to one day become a reclusive author in a mountain cabin near Flagstaff, AZ. Until then, she'll be a busy mom of four small children and one (allegedly) hypoallergenic pup, writing in the midst of chaos.

About Wendy H. Jones

International Award Winning Author Wendy H. Jones lives in Scotland, and her police procedural series featuring DI Shona McKenzie are set.Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. Killer's Countdown was her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Killer's Crew won the Books Go Social Book of the Year 2017. The seventh book in the series. Killer's Curse will be released early august 2020. The Dagger's Curse, the first book in The Fergus and Flora Mysteries, was a finalist in the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award Book of the Year. Turning to humorous crime the Cass Claymore Investigates series was born. She is also a highly successful marketer and is currently in the process of rereleasing her completely updated marketing book Marketing Matters. This will be part of the Writing Matters Series following the release of Motivation Matters. She is also the author of the Bertie the Buffalo picture book and associated soft toy and colouring book. Wendy is delighted to be one of the authors in two anthologies aimed at empowering women - The Power of Why, and Women Win Against All Odds. She is proud to be the President of the Scottish Association of Writers and is the host of The Writing and Marketing Show podcast, a writing and marketing coach. and CEO of Writing Matters online writing school, Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy.

Dianne Ascroft

Dianne Ascroft is a Canadian writer living in Britain. Since moving to Britain in 1990 she has lived in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Online she can be found at http://www.dianneascroft.com.

She writes cozy mystery, historical and contemporary fiction, often with an Irish connection. Her non-fiction articles and short stories have been printed in Canadian and Irish magazines and regional newspapers including the Toronto Star, Ireland's Own, Senior Times, Celtic Connection and Irish Connections Canada.

She was co-editor of The Fermanagh Miscellany, the Fermanagh Authors' Association's yearly anthology for several years and she also contributes material to other local history and writers' anthologies.

Dianne is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Sisters in Crime, Historical Novel Society, Writers Abroad, Fermanagh Authors' Association and Fermanagh Writers.

Dianne started life in a quiet residential neighbourhood in the buzzing city of Toronto and has progressively moved to smaller places through the years. She now lives on a small farm in Northern Ireland with her husband and an assortment of strong willed animals. If she ever decides to write her autobiography the working title will be 'Downsizing'.

Sam Cheever

USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 80+ books.

NEWSLETTER: Join Sam's Monthly newsletter and get a FREE book! You can also keep up with her appearances, enjoy special content, and get previews of her upcoming work! https://www.samcheever.com/newsletter.html

TEXT NEWS ALERTS: Or if you'd rather not receive a monthly newsletter, you can sign up for text alerts and just receive a brief text when Sam's launching a new release or appearing somewhere fun. Just text SAMNEWS to 781-728-9542 to be added!

ONLINE HOT SPOTS: To find out more about Sam and her work, please pay her a visit: Her website: https://www.samcheever.com; Her blog: https://www.samcheever.com/blog; and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamCheeverAuthor. She looks forward to chatting with you!

Purchase Link - 

Amazon 

  TOUR PARTICIPANTS 

September 20 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 21 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW

September 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

September 22 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – fundinmental – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Mystery Review Crew – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 24 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – The Mystery Section – GUEST POST

September 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Maureen's Musing – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

September 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 27 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Sapphyria's Books – REVIEW

September 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 29 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 29 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT 

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