I am so excited!
I have a wonderful author guest posting today!
SUSAN BERNHARDT
Susan's books
THE GINSENG CONSPIRACY
and
MURDER UNDER THE TREE
Books One and Two in her Kay Driscoll Mystery series are such great reads!
I'll let Susan tell you about them.
During a recent interview, I was asked why my Kay Driscoll
cozy mysteries
revolved around holidays.
I have many happy memories of holidays at home growing up. I
came from a large family where holidays were important, each having its own
special traditions. Holidays add something special, a kind of spark to a
mystery. They are much anticipated times of the year, during which unexpected
things might happen.
The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 1) takes place during
Halloween, a holiday I loved as a child going trick-or-treating with my
friends. I still celebrate this fun holiday by going to an annual witches' tea,
witches' night out with friends, and to Halloween parties. And I love doling
out treats to the little ghosts, goblins, space aliens, and princesses of the
neighborhood.
The Ginseng Conspiracy Blurb:
On her way to
attend a Halloween Ball, Kay Driscoll, a newcomer to town, witnesses the murder
of a local professor. When the official coroner's report rules the cause of
death to be accidental and the community accepts the judgement, Kay decides to
uncover the truth for herself. Through her personal investigations, Kay exposes
a complex conspiracy, woven deep within the thriving local ginseng industry,
that involves some of the more prominent figures and families of Sudbury Falls.
With her new friends, the free-spirited herbalist Deirdre and the untamed
modern woman Elizabeth, Kay discusses new clues over tea and pastries at Sweet
Marissa's Patisserie, their crime-fighting headquarters. As Kay gets closer to
the heart of the conspiracy, additional murders happen in quick succession.
Before long, Kay learns that the villains are gunning for her, too. Phil, her
musically talented but preoccupied husband, determined to keep her safe,
withholds from her the one thing she needs most: the truth.
* * * *
“Another
holiday, another murder. At least no one got murdered at Thanksgiving dinner!
How did I end up, in the season of peace and goodwill toward men, investigating
another homicide?”
~~Kay
Driscoll in Murder Under the Tree (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 2)
When I was a child, the Christmas
holidays began on St. Nicholas Day, December 6th. Before I went to
bed the evening of the 5th, I would search for my longest stocking I
could find ;) and would lay it out for St. Nicholas to come that night to fill
it with candy, fruit, and peanuts. This continued throughout my childhood until
my first year in college when I received a letter on December 6th
from my parents containing a paper stocking with cash inside for a St. Nicholas
Day treat.
In Murder Under the Tree (A
Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 2) Kay is immersed in a winter wonderland of
activities: A Christmas tea where a murder occurs, Christmas shopping with best
friends, Deirdre and Elizabeth, lots of celebrations and lots of
investigations.
Murder Under the Tree Blurb:
While Kay
attends a Christmas tea at Hawthorne Hills Retirement Home, a beloved caretaker
dies from an allergic reaction to peanuts. When the official coroner's report
rules the cause of death to be accidental, a small group of residents suspect
foul play and call upon Kay to investigate.
Kay uncovers sinister plots of fraud, revenge, and corruption at the Home.
During this season of peace on earth, good will to men, additional murders
occur. Despite multiple attempts on her life, and with the support once again
of her best friends, Elizabeth and Deirdre, Kay continues her quest for
bringing justice for the victims.
Kay's first Christmas in Sudbury
Falls is an unforgettable one, with equal amounts of celebration and danger.
'Tis the season to be sleuthing!
* * * *
The third Kay Driscoll mystery I
am presently writing has the working title Murder by Fireworks. The
story takes place around the Fourth of July holiday and includes several of my
family's holiday traditions as well as much intrigue and mystery on its pages.
I hope to submit the manuscript to my publisher in January 2015.
Don't they sound fantastic?
You can pick up your copies using the links below.
Learn more about Susan with the following links!
Links:
Website: www.susanbernhardt.com
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/skbernha/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SusanBernhardt1
The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 1) - http://amzn.to/1oPTsiw
As always, please leave a comment and
let me know what you think!
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upper right hand corner of this page.
I'm very happy to be here today. Thank you, Lisa, for hosting me at book thoughts. You've been so kind and welcoming. :)
ReplyDeleteSusan
My pleasure, Susan. It's been wonderful getting to know you.
DeleteThank you, Susan. You're a new author, to me. Lisa keeps adding to my TBR list! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia. Lisa is sweet! I hope you enjoy my cozies. :)
DeleteLOL Pat, I don't mean to be a budget busted for you. But I have to share the cozy love! :-)
DeleteThanks so much for a wonderful interview. It's wonderful to be able to get to know a little bit about an author prior to purchasing their books.
ReplyDeleteRobin, I feel the same way. And Susan is very very sweet person. I've loved getting to know her.
DeleteThank you, Robin, for visiting and for your lovely comment.
DeleteHappy St. Nicholas Day!
Great interview! Saint Nicholas Day sounds like such a lovely tradition. I just love this time of year!
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite time of year as well!
DeleteThank you, Heather. I carried on this tradition with my children as well. The only difference was that I sewed them fancier St.Nicholas stockings.
DeleteI love Christmas time also. Today I am going to put up our nativity scene.