Friday, January 16, 2015


I'm thrilled today to have author
Mary Ellen Hughes
guest blogging!


Mary is the author of 
THE PICKLED PIPER 
and 
LICENSE TO DILL
Books 1 & 2 in the Pickled & Preserved Mystery series. 


Have you wanted to know more about your favorite authors? Sure you have. I have too. 

Well, Mary is here to fill in some blanks about herself.

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT MARY ELLEN HUGHES

Did I hear someone ask “WHO’S Mary Ellen Hughes?” Hah! Maybe so. And maybe I could have titled this “The First 10 Things You’ll Learn About Mary Ellen Hughes.”
Or, perhaps you do know that I’m a cozy mystery writer, author of 6 published cozy mystery novels with number 7 – LICENSE TO DILL – about to be released on February 3. If that’s all you know, then here’s a little more:

1.      I didn’t start my writing career with mysteries. My first published and paid writing was a humorous verse for The Saturday Evening Post.  I knew I should branch out when the check for that was $15.00

2.      Following the time-honored advice of “write what you know,” my first two mystery novels focused on things I knew well: tennis and skiing. The body in RESORT TO MURDER was discovered near the tennis courts, and A TASTE OF DEATH was set in a New Hampshire ski town. Both were fun to write.

3.      I also play the piano and did write a mystery/suspense novel that featured a classical pianist. Maybe someday it will make it into print.

4.      I have owned five cats so far in my lifetime (or they have owned me) and have managed to put a cat in many of my books. My characters then get to do all the cleaning up after those cats, while I get to take it easy. I love writing!

5.      I love dogs, too, but tend to get hives after petting them. In THE PICKLED PIPER, I gave Piper’s Aunt Judy a dog named Jack. Now I can have a dog, around as much as I like—and no itching!

6.      I write in one of our spare bedrooms, on a laptop and sitting in a comfy chair. Who needs a desk when you have a bed and all that floor space to spread your things around on?

7.      I actually do love pickles and do make them, though not nearly as much as my protagonist Piper Lamb does. She is the professional pickle-ist. I’m a writer—with deadlines to meet.

8.      In LICENSE TO DILL, Piper’s ex-fiancĂ© returns from his travels and moves to Cloverdale, sparking a tug-of-war between him and Piper’s new boyfriend, Will. I never had two men fighting over me, but it sure was fun to imagine!

9.      I also brought a busload of young Italian soccer players to play against the Cloverdale All-Stars. I didn’t speak Italian when I began writing LICENSE TO DILL, and now I still don’t! (But an Italian friend helped me with words and phrases when I needed them.)

10.  Okay, I, um, exaggerated. That’s only 9 things you didn’t know about me. But to make up for it, you can enter to win an Advanced Reader Copy of LICENSE TO DILL simply by writing a comment here. Lisa will randomly pick a winner and get his/her mailing address.
Good luck!

Nice to know more about you, Mary!

You read right!

Mary is giving away an 
Advanced Reader Copy of 
LICENSE TO DILL!

This giveaway is open to US and CANADA only. 
Use the Rafflecopter form below.

Thank you for being here today, Mary!

As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
upper right hand corner of this page.

GOOD LUCK!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

94 comments:

  1. This series sounds great. Thank you for the chance.
    Candace7399@aol.com

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  2. This is a new series for me, but they sound great and will be checking them out. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  3. I love the covers, and I must admit the Italian soccer players have caught my interest.

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    1. LOL Grandma. Come for the mystery, stay for the Italian soccer players! ;-)

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  4. I would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  5. Fun info...thanks!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Pat! And for keeping an eye on my never ending typos for me! ;-)

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  6. Love your books! Your Craft Corner Mystery series is one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thank you for the opportunity to win your new book!

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  7. I loved Pickled Piper, I can't wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  8. Great post. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  9. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  10. Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!

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  11. Glad you get to "have" a puppy. They are lots of company.
    Would love to read your book.
    thanks.

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  12. Replies
    1. Terrie, THE PICKLED PIPER was one of my favorite new books of 2015 right along your book WELL READ, THEN DEAD!

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  13. This sounds like a fun series--can't wait to start it.

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  14. I don't think I would ever make pickles, but I would love to read about someone who does.

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  15. I love pickles and I love your books. Thanks for the contest.

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  16. I'm not sure how I missed the first in the series! Both are on my list now!
    afarage(at)earthlink.net

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  17. Can't wait to read this! Loved the first one

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  18. I too have failed to read anything by Mary Ellen Hughes and this would be an opportune time to do so. Thank you for the chance to obtain an ARC.

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  19. I'm enjoying all these comments and love meeting some readers for the first time!

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  20. Thanks for a chance to win...it looks delicious!

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  21. I DO like pickles - all types!

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  22. Sounds like a great book, can't wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  23. Yeah, finally a chance for Canadians to win ! Who would not love to win?

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  24. I loved the first book and an anxiously awaiting the new release! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!

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  25. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series and can't wait to read the next one in the series. Keep them coming!

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  26. Thank Mary! Always fun to learn new things about authors! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

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  27. I love reading and learning about new books and authors. Thanks for stopping by, Mary, and for the chance to win!

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  28. Haven't read one of your books yet, but want to - would love to read it! And hope that one day your book with the classical pianist gets into publication!

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  29. Mary Ellen Hughes is a new author to me and I wasn't familiar with Cozy Mysteries until several months ago. Now I have a notebook full of talented authors and their books, so I have a lot of reading and catching up to do.

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    Replies
    1. Ruth, you sure do. Cozies are great reads and their authors are wonderful!

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  30. Looks like a great cozy mystery

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  31. Mary Ellen Hughes is one of my favorite Cozy authors so I am happy to see a new one.

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  32. Sounds like a series I have to read!

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  33. Sounds like a great book, thanks for the chance to win.
    rjprazak6@gmail.com

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  34. In 5th grade, I sold dill pickles in the Catholic school snack bar. Did anyone else? Judy

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  35. This is a new cozy mystery series for me. The books sounds great, and I can't wait to read them. I enjoyed reading about Mary Ellen Hughes so thank you for introducing her to me, and thank you for the giveaway.

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  36. Judy, I never sold dill pickles at school, but that sounds like a great fundraiser. Everyone: I'm loving these wonderful comments!

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  37. We had a little store near our school that sold dill pickles for nickle and a cup of "dickle pickle juice" for a nickle.

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  38. This sounds like a great series. Can't wait to start reading it. Thanks for the chance to win.
    MarshaMysteryreader@yahoo.com

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  39. This sounds like a great series! Thanks for the chance!

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  40. Looks like good series. Thanks for the chance.

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  41. Sounds great. Thank you for the contest!

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  42. I am so excited about this book. Thanks for the contest.

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  43. The book sounds awesome! Thank you for this chance!

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  44. I'm a huge lover of pickled veggies... I think I'm going to love this series.

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  45. Thanks for the chance to win. Sounds like a must-read book. And thanks for the author information. great job.

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  46. Hello, Mary. Nice to read about you - and about your books. I love reading cozies, so I'm sure I'd enjoy yours.

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  47. Looks like we have a winner! Congratulations, Barbara T.! Thanks to everyone for your interest. I wish there were many more books to give away.

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