BOOK TOUR
Oh boy, the gray-haired knitters are at it again. Of course, they are. It's been way too long since they 'solved' a mystery. But the investigator determined the fire at the craft store was caused by an unattended lit cigarette. Arson isn't even a remote possibility. Except the owner Bernadette didn't smoke and now she's dead.
When Bernadette's granddaughter asks me to look into the matter, the knitters practically cheer. They are on the case!
But is there even a case? Or are we seeing murder and arson where there's merely smoke?
Each book in the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives series can be read as a standalone, although they're way more fun if read in order.
Where There’s Smoke
There’s Arson
Betty walks into the room carrying a pie. “Have a seat. We have a lot to
discuss.”
“We do?”
This is news to me. It’s barely been a day since they were at my house
for their knitting club. What could possibly have happened in the past
twenty-four hours to necessitate an ‘emergency’ meeting?
The doorbell rings. “That’ll be Jack.” Betty wipes her hands on her
apron and goes to open the door. Jack is invited, too? My curiosity is
officially piqued.
“Ladies! Your man candy has arrived,” Jack announces with a bow as he
enters the dining room. Damien walks in behind him rolling his eyes.
Betty claps her hands. “Settle down, children. We have important
business.”
Rosemary raises her hand like we’re in a classroom. “Dee and Tommy
haven’t arrived yet.”
“I didn’t invite them,” Betty explains.
Rosemary raises her eyebrows. “Why not? Tommy is a fire investigator. He’s an expert in this area.”
My eyes widen at the word ‘investigator’. Don’t tell me the ladies are
up to their old tricks.
“What’s going on?” I ask although I’m somewhat afraid of the answer.
“We caught one,” Betty announces.
“Caught one what?”
“A case, of course.”
Uh oh.
Poor Milly is furious after being hauled into the police station to be interrogated. She is not letting those knitters get away with pointing their fingers at her! Absolutely not. Instead, she insists they solve the murder and clear her name.
Naturally, the knitters jump at the chance to solve another mystery. They don’t care if the victim was hated by one and all. They’ll find the murderer!
Can the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives wade through the suspects to find the actual killer?
Each book in the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives series can be read as a standalone, although they're way more fun if read in order.
Hold the Coffee
The door bangs
open and Rose rushes inside. Between gasps for breath, she manages to tell us,
“He’s dead. I can’t believe he’s dead.”
I stand and take
her elbow to help her to a seat. “Let me get you some water.”
By the time I fill
a glass with water and return, Rose is surrounded by her knitting friends.
While Rosemary, Martha, and Ally appear concerned, Betty’s eyes are twinkling
with excitement. I push them out of my way.
“Let her breathe.”
I hand her the glass of water. “Take your time. I can hold off the old ladies,
no problem.” I wink.
“Who are you
calling old, young lady?” Betty scowls at me.
I’m forty-one
years old. Young, I am not. But I am smart enough to know saying the o-as in
old-word in front of the knitters is a surefire way to move their attention off
Rose and onto me.
Rose tugs on my
shirt. “It’s okay, Izzy.”
I study her face
to make sure she is indeed okay before moving out of the way. The knitters
descend upon her once again.
“What’s going on?
Who’s dead?”
“Is it murder?”
Betty rubs her
hands together. “Goodie. Things were getting a bit dull around here.”
Dull around here?
It’s been mere weeks since their last ‘case’. How much excitement do they need?
“Totally dull.
Come on, Rose darling, bring some sparkle into our lives.” Jack presses his
hands together and bats his eyelashes in her direction.
LKBR: Thank you for joining us today, Dena.
Dena: Thanks for having me.
LKBR: Please
tell us a bit about Where There’s Smoke, There’s Arson.
Dena: This is
the fourth story in the Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives cozy mystery series. I
wrote the first three books in the series in 2015 – back when I had no idea
what a cozy mystery even was. I decided to revive the series after last summer
when the books had a sudden resurgence of popularity. This story revolves around a fire at the
craft store the senior knitters shop at.
LKBR: What are
you plans for this series?
Dena: There are two more stories after Where There’s
Smoke, There’s Arson. First comes, Hold the Coffee which releases in
March. The final story will release in June. I’m working on it right now as a
matter of fact.
LKBR: Are you
working on any new projects?
Dena: In addition to the upcoming novels in the
Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives series, I’m finishing up a romcom series (Love
will OUT) and plan to start writing another romcom series soon.
LKBR: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
Dena: I always loved writing, but it wasn’t until self-publishing
became a thing that I decided I could try this writer thing.
LKBR: Was getting
your first book published everything you thought it would be? The feelings? The
process?
Dena: Not even close. The process seemed quite arduous. And the feeling of
accomplishment quickly waned when no one bought the book. Yikes!
LKBR: How did
you handle it when changes were made to your first manuscript? I don’t have a
thick skin, so I know how I would have felt.
Dena: As we’ve learned in
2020 -2021, you can get used to anything (even being practically locked up in
your home). You develop a thick skin with regards to editing. The trick is
finding an editor who suits you and understands which issues are painful for
you.
LKBR: What is your favorite part of
being a writer?
Dena: The actual writing itself. Developing a story
and seeing it come to life. I have these little AHA moments when things come
together. They don’t always come together the way I planned, but they do come
together.
LKBR: Have you ever read
a book that has stayed with you long after reading it?
Dena: Of course! Sometimes it’s in a bad way like When Breath Turns to Air
which destroyed me. And sometimes it’s in a good way because I simply love the
story like A Gentleman in Moscow.
LKBR: Why are
reviews, good or bad, so important to authors?
Dena: Reviews are important for selling books. It sounds materialistic
but a writer has to sell books to keep writing. Those bad reviews lend
authenticity to the reviews.
LKBR: On what
sites do you recommend readers leave their reviews?
Dena: Goodreads and Amazon
LKBR: If you
could spend one hour with a reader, what would you want to talk about?
Dena: What they want! What do they consider the essential features in a cozy mystery?
LKBR: Thank you
so much, Dena for letting us get to know you
better!
Dena: Thanks for having me! Have a wonderful day!
About D.E. Haggerty
D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound sophisticated and maybe even grown up. She was born and raised in the U.S. but considers herself a Dutchie and not only because it sounds way cooler. After a stint in the U.S. Army, she escaped the US to join her husband in Holland. She fled Holland over ten years ago when she couldn’t stand the idea of being a lawyer for one single second more. Turns out Bed & Breakfast owner in Germany didn’t do it for her either. When the hubby got a job in Istanbul, she jumped ship and decided to give this whole writer thing a go. She’s now back in Holland, which she considers home.
Thanks for having me on your blog today!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa.
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday!
Pat T
Thank you for being part of the book tour for "WHERE THERE'S SMOKE THERE'S ARSON" by D.E. Haggerty. Enjoyed reading the interview with Dena. Learning more about an author is always fun. Both books sound amazing and are on my TBR list.
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net