Sneaky Interviews Bugsy, the Goat from An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery by Janna Rollins

Good day, you interesting looking fellow. What is your name and your author’s name?

Hello, I’m Bugsy. I’m white and fluffy with horns and live on a farm with my friends. My author is Janna Rollins. I’m super happy to be here with you today! Thanks for having me. Did you bring me a carrot?

Unfortunately, no. Sorry about that. I’m used to interviewing cats and dogs, but I have had other animals on this blog. Debbie is also writing a new series with an assortment of animals. She had a llama in her previous book before her new release. They’re a bit like your species, Mr. Goat, I would gather, but I’m probably wrong.

What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

I’m the star of An Escape Goat, which is a cozy mystery. You can see me on the cover!

Very cool. You sure are dapper!

Please give information about your series.

I’m in the Zen Goat Mystery series. My owner, Callie Haybeck, has recently moved to Bobwhite Hollow, New Hampshire when she found her long-lost great-uncle with the help of a DNA kit. She came to visit, fell in love with her new family and the area and decided to open a goat yoga studio on Uncle Will’s farm. That’s where I come in. When Callie went looking for yoga goats, she also found me and rescued me from turning into someone’s dinner. I’m too big to jump on people doing yoga, but I do stand around and look cute a lot.

That sounds like such fun. I’ve heard they do goat yoga at some libraries. Maybe Debbie, when she ever gets around to writing another Cobble Cove mystery, can have a goat yoga class at the Cobble Cove library, and I can meet a goat like you.

Are you based on a real goat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

I am! The real Bugsy used to live in my author’s barnyard. Sadly, he’s in goat heaven now but I’m happy to relive his antics and keep everyone laughing, just like the other Bugsy did!

Awww. That’s an honorable task. The cat I’m based on is over the Rainbow Bridge, but I also carry on Oliver, the Siamese’s memory.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

Sure! Here’s a scene where Callie and I found a dead lady behind the haystack. Callie is the one telling the story.

‘With the chickens taken care of, I headed back to the barn. It was a bit strange that Bugsy had stopped yelling before I fed him. He had a tendency to get into trouble, so I picked up my pace. I rounded the corner of Uncle Will’s giant haystack of first cutting grass hay and took a deep breath. Now there was a smell you didn’t get in downtown Seattle. Sweet and fresh. I was about to jab my pitchfork into the pile of hay when a soft “maaah” caught my attention.

“Bugsy! What are you doing, buddy? How did you get out again?”

No wonder he wasn’t yelling for his breakfast. He was already at the buffet.

Fudge nuggets. There must be another hole in the fence.

The goat’s sweet face disappeared behind the stack, so I threw down my pitchfork and went after him.

I didn’t have far to go. On the other side of the haystack, Bugsy had stopped, and his tongue was moving at warp speed as he licked deep purple dregs out of a discarded wineglass lying on the ground. What in the holy heck? I grabbed his collar and jerked the goat away while staring at the sight in front of me. A woman was sprawled face down on the ground beside the haystack, one arm extended while slender fingers still clutched the stem of the wineglass.’

Callie thinks I didn’t care about the dead lady, but that sour grape juice smelled really good!

Pawsome! Love it! Thanks for sharing that.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

Making people laugh. I love the noise they make when I do something funny. Callie’s my favorite person in the whole world. She always scolds me when I get out, but I’m just trying to find her and get some ear scratches. And maybe a carrot.

That’s so nice.

Are you a talking goat in your books or just a silent pet like I am who just makes noise occasionally?

I don’t talk like humans do, but I’m far from silent. Callie says my bleat is loud enough to wake the dead. But it makes her laugh, so I do it every time I see her.

MOL (Meow Out Loud)

What advice would you give other goat characters?

Just be your cute self. Headbutt your friends, play hard, always accept a treat, and always keep an eye out for trouble. You never know when your person might need your help.

That could apply to cat characters, too. We love giving headbutts.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

An Escape Goat came out in March of this year. It’s available wherever books are sold!

My author is contracted for at least three books in this series. You can expect the second one in the spring of 2025, and the third in the spring of 2026. Yay! More goat yoga!

Con-goatulations! Thanks for the interview. I’m sharing the blog tour for your book below.

An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery
by Janna Rollins

About An Escape Goat

An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New Hampshire
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (March 12, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 265 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1DMVTL

After finding long-lost family through a DNA test, Callie heads to Bobwhite Hollow, New Hampshire, to meet a great-uncle she never knew existed. Charmed by the village and more than half in love with her new family, she decides to stay and open a goat yoga studio and retreat space.

When retreat guest Angilene Claudson turns up dead with a wine glass shattered at her side and Callie’s favorite goat lapping up the spill, the death is written off as an accidental overdose. But when the goat gets sick, Callie’s gut tells her it wasn’t an accident at all. With her new business on the line and a possible murderer staying in the guesthouse, Callie sets to work to uncover the truth and keep her family safe.

About Janna Rollins

When Janna Rollins isn’t writing, she likes to thumb through New England-based magazines and drool over the pictures. She has a love for red barns, goats, and genealogy. Janna can be found showing her socially awkward side on Facebook or sharing pictures of her tiny one-acre farm on Instagram. She is a member of Sister In Crime, and also writes the Hometown Hardware Mystery series as Paula Charles. Janna lives in Southwestern Washington with her husband and a whole menagerie of furry and feathered critters.

Author Links

Website: https://www.paulacharles.com

FB: Rainy Day Mysteries – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556817479811

IG: rainy_day_mysteries – https://www.instagram.com/rainy_day_mysteries

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209244230-an-escape-goat

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – Powell’s Books –
TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 6 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

May 6 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW

May 6 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST

May 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 7 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

May 7 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

May 8 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

May 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

May 9 – CelticLady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

May 9 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

May 9 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 10 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

May 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

May 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

May 11 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

May 11 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

May 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy -REVIEW

May 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Sneaky interviews Carl, the Cat from Graven Images: A Callie Cassidy Mystery

Meow, there, and welcome to my blog. What is your name and your author’s name, Mr. Cat?

The humans call me Carl, after the famous journalist Carl Bernstein. It suits me well since I’m such a proficient investigator. I am an orange tabby cat and the adopted brother of a golden retriever named Woody, after—you guessed it—Bob Woodward, who was once Bernstein’s journalistic partner. We are served by our human, Callie Cassidy, a former investigative photojournalist. Our author is Lori Roberts Herbst, who documents our adventures.

You’re kitten me. I also work with a golden retriever in my Cobble Cove books. His name is Fido. Looks like we have something in common besides our felineness.

What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

Though Callie might say differently, I am the star of six cozy mystery books, in which I heroically solve crimes:

SUITABLE FOR FRAMING

DOUBLE EXPOSURE

FROZEN IN MOTION

PHOTO FINISHED

NEGATIVE REACTION

GRAVEN IMAGES

My gosh! I also star in six Cobble Cove mysteries. What a small publishing world it is.

Please give information about your series.

The series is improperly named Callie Cassidy Mysteries. It should be Carl the Crime-Solving Cat Mysteries, but since I don’t have opposable thumbs, I cannot make the change. The series is set in the small mountainside town of Rock Creek Village, Colorado, the place where Callie grew up and later returned to open a photography gallery called Sundance Studio. It’s a picturesque village that happens to play host to the occasional murder.

Wow Meow! My series. Cobble Cove mysteries, isn’t named correctly either, so I know what you mean. It’s also funny that your town is called Rock Creek Village. Mine is Cobble Cove, and the first book was A Stone’s Throw, followed by Between a Rock and Hard Place. The other titles also include rocks and stones. Our stories take place in upstate, New York, pretty far from your Colorado, though.

Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

No cat could compare to me, so the answer to the question is no. My author has only fantasized about meeting an actual cat such as myself.

We differ there. I’m loosely based on Debbie’s Siamese cat, Oliver, who has sadly crossed the rainbow bridge, but I like to think I’m my own cat.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

I took off after him, running as fast as my middle-aged legs would carry me—which admittedly wasn’t lightning speed, especially with Carl bouncing in the carrier on my back, shrieking what I could only interpret as language worthy of a salty sailor.

As soon as I rounded the bend, it was as if I’d entered a movie set. The fog hung low, giving the place an ethereal atmosphere. The leaves rendered the shadows darker. Even the sound seemed muted. Tombstones rose from the ground like a crooked grin.

Though I’d only gone twenty yards, I’d sprinted the distance, and now I experienced a hitch in my ribs. When I stopped to catch my breath, Carl protested with a derisive meow. Through the mesh of his carrier, he clawed at my neck.

“Look, cat, I’m doing the best I can. I’m not as young as I used to be, and you’re heavier than you used to be. Carrying you around is no picnic.”

Carl squawked at the insult.

Love it! Thanks for sharing that pawsome excerpt.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

The growing respect the humans give my talent and intelligence. Callie and her family and friends dismissed my skills at first, but over the course of the two years I’ve allowed them to care for me, they have come around. I enjoy solving the crimes that occur in the village and receiving a modicum of credit for my efforts. I have also grown to appreciate the affection the humans lavish on me—especially when they stroke a finger down my spine. Last but not least, my brotherly bond with our golden retriever Woody is one of the highlights of my nine lives.

Very mice.

Are you a talking cat in your books or just a silent one like I am who just meows occasionally?

I am by no means silent. Besides meowing, purring, and hissing, I frequently emit an ack ack ack sound to voice my displeasure. It is too bad Callie and the other humans can’t decipher catspeak since I solve crimes long before they do. It would save so much time and grief.

Don’t give up. I was the same with Alicia and the other library folks until Debbie began to allow me to “voice” my thoughts to the other pets in the book and our readers, although the human characters including Alicia and the sheriff are still in the dark.

What advice would you give other cat characters?

Do not change a thing about yourself to placate humans. Instead, choose humans who appreciate you just as you are.

Well meowed.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

GRAVEN IMAGES, book 6 in the Callie Cassidy Mystery series, was just released on April 23. It is available on Kindle, paperback, and KU. Audiobook format will follow by the end of the year.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY9CQZWM/

Please subscribe to my author’s newsletter to keep up to date and get some freebies: https://www.lorirobertsherbst.com

I will definitely do that. Thank you.

Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

I consider social media beneath me, but you can find my author in the following locations:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorirobertsherbst

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorirobertsherbst/?hl=en

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21039904.Lori_Roberts_Herbst

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lori-roberts-herbst

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/lorirobertsherbst

Thanks so much for the interview, Carl. Best whiskers to you and your author on your new release. I’m sharing your blog tour below.

Graven Images: A Rock Creek Village Cozy Mystery
(Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
by Lori Roberts Herbst

About Graven Images

Graven Images: A Rock Creek Village Cozy Mystery (Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
6th in the Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lori Roberts Herbst (April 23, 2024)
Number of Pages: 280
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CY9CQZWM
Paperback info coming soon.

A photo assignment at the cemetery leads Callie Cassidy to a corpse—this one above ground. Now, her search for the killer unearths some long-buried secrets…

Callie’s mother Maggie, a notorious hobby jumper, has embarked on a new pursuit—grave rubbing. When she recruits her daughter to photograph her first endeavor at the local cemetery, Callie brings golden retriever Woody and tabby cat Carl along for the outing. It’s a breathtaking autumn morning in Rock Creek Village, Colorado. Golden aspen leaves rustle in the cool breeze, and the air is filled with the scent of pine. What could go wrong on a day like this?

Then, a ghostly woman emerges from the trees, bleeding from a head wound and claiming to have no memory of how she arrived, or even who she is. Maggie quickly identifies her as a woman who disappeared from the village forty years ago—without a trace.

If that’s not enough intrigue, Woody disobeys her and sprints deeper into the cemetery. When Callie catches up to him, he is sitting sentinel at the tombstone of a recently deceased villager. And behind the stone, a man lies on the ground—with a pickaxe jutting from his neck.

Callie recognizes him as the low-level mobster who has been dating her best friend Tonya’s mother—and they’d been having problems. Did Tonya’s mother kill the man? Could it have been the mysterious woman? Or maybe someone with ties to his crime family?

Callie can’t resist investigating—and this time, Detective Raul Sanchez welcomes her assistance. Because if they can’t solve the crime soon, the town may be facing grave consequences…

About Lori Roberts Herbst

Silver Falchion and CIBA Murder & Mayhem award-winning author Lori Roberts Herbst writes the Callie Cassidy Mystery series. A former journalism teacher and counselor, Lori serves as Board Secretary for Sisters in Crime. She is a member of the SinC Colorado chapter, the SinC North Dallas chapter, and the Guppy chapter, where she moderates the Cozy Gup group. Lori spent most of her life in Dallas, TX, and now lives in Colorado Springs.

Author Social Media Links

• Webpage: https://www.lorirobertsherbst.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorirobertsherbst
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorirobertsherbst/?hl=en
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21039904.Lori_Roberts_Herbst
• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lori-roberts-herbst
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/lorirobertsherbst

Purchase Links – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 23 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

April 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 24 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 24 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 26 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 26 – MJB Reviewer – REVIEW

April 27 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

April 28 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

April 29 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 29 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Sneaky Interviews Pixie from A Twinkle of Trouble by Daryl Wood Gerber

What is your name and your author’s name?

My name is Pixie. I’m a Ragdoll cat. My author’s name is Daryl Wood Gerber.

Mice to meet both of you.

What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

I have appeared in all the Fairy Garden Mysteries including A Sprinkling of Murder, A Glimmer of a Clue, A Hint of Mischief, A Flicker of a Doubt, and soon, A Twinkle of Trouble.

Those sound paw-some!

Please give information about your series.

The Fairy Garden Mysteries are set in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, a wonderful place for animals to live. It’s a dog-and-cat-friendly community. There are all sorts of restaurants that allow us to accompany our humans, but mainly, I like to go to Open Your Imagination, my human Courtney’s fairy garden shop. There is an outdoor patio where I snooze or play with fairies or mingle with customers.

How purr-fect!

Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

No, my author used to have cats and dogs, as a girl, but when she grew up and got married, her husband was allergic to cats—poor guy—so now she only has a dog. Sparky is a goldendoodle that I would love to meet some day. My author shares all sorts of pictures of him on social media and he looks really cute and friendly. I like dogs.

I like dogs, too. My best pal is Fido, a golden retriever.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

As I was spooning a bite of the creamy goodness into my mouth, Pixie slinked into the room and nestled on her pillow at the base of the oak hat tree.

Fiona trailed her and perched on the edge of the Zen garden at the upper corner of my desk. She dipped her feet into the sand and gently kicked back and forth. Sprinkles of grit wafted into the air and fell down. “Is everything okay?”

“You bet.” I polished off my yogurt, tossed the cup into the garbage, went to the kitchen, thawed a few scones, and arranged the tea cart using Royal Albert Old Country Rose-patterned plates and matching teacups. I filled a teapot with steaming hot water and placed it alongside the cream, sugar, tea bag caddy, and utensils, and wheeled the cart toward the main showroom. Pixie scampered ahead of me. Fiona winged beside me.

“Earlier, you seemed worried,” she said. “After you met that man on the beach. Tell me why.”

On the way home, I didn’t let on that I’d gotten an eerie feeling. I hadn’t wanted to alarm her. “It’s nothing.”

“Talk to me.”

Joss was chatting up the customers. No one was looking in our direction.

I whispered, “I don’t think I can trust him.”

Pixie meowed, as if in agreement.

“Why?” Fiona asked.

“It’s an impression.” I patted my chest. “A vibe in here.”

Love it. Thanks for sharing.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

My human is very kind to me. She feeds me my favorite tuna meal. She pets me a lot, and she lets me join her when she’s trying to work out clues on the whiteboard in her office. Fiona, a righteous fairy, can speak aloud and give ideas. I’m not a talking cat, so I can’t do that, really, but I offer my two cents with meows and such. I’m quite smart.

That’s wonderful.

What advice would you give other cat characters?

To be faithful and stalwart and alert. Our humans sometimes do rash things. Not because they are rash but because they care. Courtney cares a little too much, I think, but she has such a big heart, and she wants her friends and family to be safe from harm.

I like that. I’m faithful, stalwart (whatever that means) and alert for Alicia and the other Cobble Cove Library peeps.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

A Twinkle of Trouble comes out April 23, and I’m very excited.  Fiona has been gone for a while. She went back to the fairy kingdom, but she returns, and I have someone to play with again. I can talk to her, by the way. Intuitively. She understands me quite well. Fairies and animals have a unique bond.

That’s interesting.

Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

Well, of course. My author shares all sorts of photos of me and her own dog and cute fairy poems and the like. You should check it all out on Facebook, Insta, and even on TikTok. And don’t miss her website. She has recipes on it as well as information about the backstory to all her series and book trailers.

WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber

BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/darylwoodgerber

GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber

TIKTOK: http://www.tiktok.com/@daryl_wood_gerber

AMAZON: amazon: https://bit.ly/Daryl_Wood_Gerber_page

https://bit.ly/3SenzVy

NEWSLETTER: https://darylwoodgerber.com/contact-media/

Cool! I’m sharing everything including your blog tour. Concats and best whiskers to you and your author on your upcoming release.

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Twinkle of Trouble

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (April 23, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496744934
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496744937
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CFGF36NM

Carmel-by-the-Sea garden shop owner Courtney Kelly sees things others can’t—like fairies, and hidden motives for murder . . .

Courtney is delighted when her tiny friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm, appearing at the base of a Cypress tree. When her Ragdoll cat, Pixie, emerges from her own portal—aka the cat door—the three set off for a busy day. Busier than usual, since Courtney has rented a small plot of land at the Flower Farm, where she hopes to grow her own supplies for her fairy-garden business. Plus, the annual Summer Blooms Festival is coming up, and Courtney has booked a booth . . .

But the murder of Courtney’s friend, Genevieve, casts a pall over the festival. Ever since Genevieve sold her floral business, she’d been building a career as an influencer. She was perennially opinionated—but in her new role she’d become surprisingly vicious, dissing local entrepreneurs with nasty posts and unwarranted bad reviews. That’s landed a couple of Courtney’s other friends on the suspect list—including Flower Farm owner Daphne Flores. And when a second victim is discovered, seeds of doubt about Daphne’s innocence sprout in Courtney’s mind. With only a germ of a clue, Courtney will have to overturn every rock to get the dirt on the real killer . . .

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling mysteries, including the Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams series. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links

WEBSITE FACEBOOK BOOKBUB YOUTUBE INSTAGRAM PINTEREST GOODREADS TIKTOK AMAZON NEWSLETTER

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

April 15 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 16 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

April 16 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 16 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

April 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 17 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

April 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE

April 18 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 18 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

April 19 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

April 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

April 20 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

April 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

April 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 21 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

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Sneaky Interviews Bailey from Paint Can Kill: A Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery

Hi, there, Pup! What is your name and your author’s name?

My name is Bailey, and my author’s name is Joanna Campbell Slan.

Tail wags to you both.

What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

I made my debut in Paint Can Kill: Book #9 in the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series.

Pawsome! Are you in a series? If so, please give information about it.

Set on the Treasure Coast of Florida, this clean series features Cara Mia Delgatto, a spunky entrepreneur who runs a “trash to treasures” shop called The Treasure Chest. Of course, she couldn’t do it without help from a cadre of female friends!

Of course not. Sounds great.

Are you based on a real dog such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

I am based on my author’s RL (Real Life) inspiration, Jax the Havanese. Our breed is named after the city of Havana. We’re actually Cuba’s National Dog. Eleven of us were flown to the United States back in the 70s. Those high-flying pooches were the basis for most of the Havanese here today. Havanese have hair, not fur, which means we don’t shed. Our eye color can range from blue to green to brown. We are smart, happy, and definitely wonderful companions.

Very interesting.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.—

Excerpt from Paint Can Kill by Joanna Campbell Slan

Author’s note: Because the wealthy Mrs. Morrison refuses to pay her bill, Cara Mia decides a personal visit is in order. A truck belonging to Eddie Drake, a painter, is parked outside the Morrison home. Somebody must be there! But nobody answers the door. A determined Cara isn’t ready to give up…

Turning in a tight circle, I called, “Anybody here? Hello?”

Woof! The bark was lonely and half-hearted. It came from the yard on the far side of the house. Judging by the volume, the pet was a small canine, definitely not a guard dog. Woof! Woof! Woof! The pooch had either scented me or heard my approach. The barks were not warning signals. They were plaintive. I moved closer to the source.

I found a metal enclosure, a doggy playpen. Inside, a small white-and-tan dog with curly hair bounced up and down, hurling itself against the wire walls. The nearer I got, the more the puppy wiggled with excitement. When I offered him my outstretched hand with my palm down, the dog’s pink tongue licked my skin with total dedication. I scratched behind his ears. He panted with joy. A quick survey told me, the dog didn’t have any water. No dish and no dispenser. That was odd.

According to the weather report, as the morning went on, the rain would stop and the temperature would climb. This playpen would be in direct sunlight. The poor pooch had no shelter. The fact his fur was light-colored meant he could get a sunburn. Being without water was not good. If it got as hot as predicted, the dog could get heat stroke.

Perhaps someone had gone to refill the bowl of water?

I scanned my surroundings while the dog licked my fingers.

“Hello? Anybody home?” I called out. A prickling at the back of my neck urged me to run. But why? No one was around but me. The place looked like a deserted movie scene. I wiped my forehead with my sleeve. The day was warming up.

The dog panted. I put him back in his playpen.

This was ridiculous. Why wasn’t anyone answering when I cried out? I marched along the flagstone path leading to French doors. One was slightly ajar.

“Hell-ooo? Mrs. Morrison? Eddie?”

Still no answer. In a flash of anger, I gave the door a push. Okay, it was fine to ignore me, but what about the dog? The door flew open to reveal a small mud room. Black and white tiles marked its boundaries. Even though I hadn’t been outside all that long, water dripped off my clothes. Should I step deeper into the house? Seemed silly to turn around and leave now. On the other hand, I didn’t want to create a trail of wetness. I yelled, “Anybody? Hey?”

No one answered. Okie-dokie. Decision time.

Eddie might be on the other side of the house. Or behind the garage. He might even have left already, but I would not go away until the dog had water. Now I was a woman on a mission. I would find a bowl and fill it for the fur-baby. Mrs. Morrison could like it or lump it, tough luck. Even as I stiffened my spine, hairs stood up on the back of my neck. A tingle zigzagged through my body. Something was wrong. Something I couldn’t put my finger on. I decided to enter the house boldly. Rather than be quiet, I made plenty of noise and kept repeating, “You-who?”

An archway opened from the kitchen into a sitting room, a lounge. The molding was exquisite and thicker than any I’d ever seen. Every piece of furniture was decorated with gold trim. Framed paintings aped Old Masters, but on closer inspection, they had to be copies. I’d seen these famous works before in the St. Louis Art Museum. This was a curious juxtaposition of wealthy and cheap decorating. Very odd.

“Hello?” I continued to announce my arrival as I moved deeper into the house. The marble floors amplified my greetings.

“Hello?” My curiosity kept me moving. Another archway beckoned. This one was narrow, almost like a frame. The opening allowed a glimpse of a room decorated in peaceful colors of blue, green, and aqua. The ambiance was soothing. Facing the entry was a large painting of the Loxahatchee River. Immediately this landscape was recognizable as an example of Highwayman art. The dimensions were surprisingly large, making the painting in front of me one of the biggest Highwayman pieces I’d ever seen. To get closer to the picture, I skirted a cream-colored sofa with its back to the narrow archway. The couch was tall, but the tops of a few throw pillows peeked over the back. These decorative accessories matched the colors of the Loxahatchee scene.

Then it hit me. A pecular smell. One I’ll never forget. Inwardly, I groaned.

“Eddie? Mrs. Morrison? Anyone?” I was almost parallel to the sofa when I froze. My senses shouted in alarm as I inhaled the tang of copper and body fluids. I knew that odor. It was the sweet perfume of death.

Oh, crap.

Wonderful excerpt. Thanks for sharing it.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

I love introducing readers to my breed. Although we’ve been around for centuries, we’re fairly new to the United States. Once people meet us, they fall in love with our cheerful personalities.

That’s terrific.

Are you a talking dog in your books or just a silent pet like I am who just meows occasionally?

Actually, we Havanese are incredibly vocal. We communicate a lot with our owners. From a howl of displeasure at having our nails trimmed to a grumble of annoyance when the cat approaches our food bowl, we’re talkative…but we only speak dog. (Although we do have a Spanish accent!)

MOL (Meow Out Loud). That is quite funny.

What advice would you give other dog characters?

Remember, you represent your breed. Behave yourselves!

I’ll share that with my pal, Fido. He’s a golden retriever.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

The Cara Mia series is ongoing, but we don’t have a new title yet.

That’s okay. It’s exciting to look forward to.

10. Are you and/or your author on social media? Yes.

If so, please list your links.

Linktr.ee/jcslan Not only do we have links at this address, we also have a fun booklet with crafts and recipes from Cara and her pals.

How nice. Thanks for the interview. I’m sharing your blog tour below. Best wishes to you and your author.

Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series
by Joanna Campbell Slan

About Paint Can Kill

Paint Can Kill: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Setting – Hobe Sound, FL
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spot On Publishing (December 15, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 252 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8870813547
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CLYY79CV

It’s raining outside, and it’s raining inside. Hey, that’s Florida. But as sassy entrepreneur Cara Mia Delgatto watches a van full of Highwayman paintings walk out the front door of The Treasure Chest–because the collection’s owner is taking them back–she’s crying on the inside all the way to the bank. There will be no quick fix for this. Instead Cara focuses on an outstanding bill. When she visits the wealthy woman who has stiffed her, Cara stumbles over another stiff, a dead body. With multiple crisises in her business life, Cara grieves the loss of her live-in love and her rescue Chihuahua. The man and the dog have left a huge hole in her heart. Will Cara survive all these losses?

• Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series is a clean read
• Features a female amateur sleuth and her friends
• Includes Florida lore and history
• Shares ideas for upcycling, recycling, and repurposing
• Celebrates friends, family, and fur babies

About Joanna Campbell Slan

Joanna is a New York Times Bestselling, USA Today Bestselling, and Amazon Bestselling author as well as a woman prone to frequent bursts of crafting frenzy, leaving her with burns from her hot glue gun and paint on her clothes. And the mess? Let’s not even go there.

Otherwise, Joanna’s a productive author with more than 80 written projects to her credit. Her non-fiction work includes how to books, a college textbook for public speakers, and books of personal essays (think Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Currently, she writes six fiction series: The Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award Finalist, contemporary, St. Louis setting, crafting), the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series (contemporary, Florida setting, DIY, and recycling), the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award Winner, 1830s England, based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic), the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy Thrillers (late 1800s, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s books), the Tai Chi Mystery Series (featuring a mature female amateur sleuth!) and the Friday Night Mystery Series (set in Decatur, IL in 1986 with a spunky female heroine.)

A former TV talk show host, college teacher, and public relations specialist, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors. She won a Silver Anvil for her work on the original FarmAid concert to benefit farmers.

In her ongoing quest never to see snow again, Joanna lives with her husband and their Havanese puppy, Jax, on an island off the coast of Florida. You can email her at jcslan@joannaslan.com or visit her website at https://linktr.ee/jcslan

Author Links

Newsletter sign up: https://joannacampbellslan.substack.com/publish/home

Street Team sign up: https://joannacampbellslan.com/

Website — https://joannacampbellslan.com/

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/JoannaCampbellSlan

Facebook Group — https://www.facebook.com/groups/1602372550058785

Twitter — https://twitter.com/JoannaSlan

Amazon Author Page — https://amzn.to/3uF3h0g

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/JCSlan/

Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/joannacampbellslan

Bookbub — https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joanna-campbell-slan

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/JoannaSlan

Pinterest — https://www.pinterest.com/joannaslan/

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 8 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

April 8 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 8 – Maureen’s Musing – SPOTLIGHT

April 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 9 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW

April 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

April 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 11 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 12 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 13 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 14 – Maureen’s Musing – SPOTLIGHT

April 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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Sneaky the Cat Interviews Benji the Rescue Dog from Death at the Fireside Inn by Kitty Kildare

Hey, Mr. Dog. Welcome to my blog. Please introduce you and your author to my readers.

I’m Benji, a handsome tan rescue dog. I’m about four, although I can’t remember my birthday. My author is called Kitty Kildare.

Tail wags to you both.

What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

Death at the Swan Tavern

Death at the Fireside Inn

Death at the Drunken Duck (the duck wasn’t drunk and he doesn’t die, so I’m confused by this title!)

These books are 1920s British historical mysteries.

They sound interesting.

Are you in a series? If so, please give information about it.

I’m proud to be in a series and I even feature on the front cover with my wonderful sleuth, Veronica!

The series is called Veronica Vale Investigates (she’s my much-loved owner – I’d never leave her side if I didn’t have to, but not all restaurants let dogs inside.)

Lucky you being on the cover with your main lady. I’ve only been on one of the covers of my Cobble Co9ve series and never with Alicia. I think she’s camera shy.

Are you based on a real dog such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

I’m based on a mix of many dogs my creator (Kitty Kildare) has looked after over the years. Kitty enjoys travelling the United Kingdom looking after other people’s animals while they go on holiday. She’s spent time with a feisty Chihuahua, an aloof lurcher, a stubborn pug, and a friendly terrier. We’re all known for our love of belly rubs, walks, and treats.

Sounds like fun. There’s a dog in my book, too, although my author has had mostly cats. I’m based on her Siamese who has since gone to Rainbow Bridge.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

This is from an exciting chase scene, where I almost capture a murder suspect!

“Benji, fetch!” I unleashed Benji and watched him fly. My brilliant dog could do anything—hunt a lost piece of sausage, sniff for clues, and bring down fleeing suspects in a murder investigation.

We slowed to a more respectable speed-walk as Benji went to work. He artfully dodged around people, gaining on Charles with every paw step. Charles looked over his shoulder and yelped when he realised Benji was in pursuit. But he was going as fast as he could, and would never outrun my marvellous dog.

Ruby hurried along beside me, one hand pressed against her side. “We should never eat and run. I have a dreadful stitch.”

“You’ll recover. And lunch was useful. Look! Benji almost has him.”

Benji lunged and grabbed the oversized bag Charles had strapped across his body. Charles lost his balance and almost hit the ground. At the last second, he recovered, slipped the bag over his arms, and dodged across the busy street, almost getting hit by an open-topped bus.

“Benji, stop!” I wouldn’t risk my precious dog on the roads. The way some people drove was entirely irresponsible.

Benji froze, remaining in flight mode, the bag held between his teeth and his nose pointed in the direction Charles had fled.

We swiftly reached him. I gave him a thorough petting and told him what an excellent boy he was several times before digging out a treat from my pocket and feeding it to him.

“I can’t see Charles.” Ruby peered across the road as traffic zoomed past. “He must have gone into the park. We’ll never find him in there.”

“He only ran because of Dirk’s idiocy,” I said. “Charles is a valuable connection to Florence. If he was such a devoted fan, he could have seen everything she did. He could even have been at the Winter Garden Theatre for her last performance.”

Ruby massaged her side. “I need a sit down and a strong cup of tea after that. I was not made for running. My talents lie in lounging and having expensive jewels purchased for me.”

I gently extracted the bag from Benji’s mouth, and we turned back towards the café. “Let’s rejoin Eleanor and Dirk. They may have more information about Charles.”

Wasn’t I clever? I found a clue!

Pawsome! Love it, benj 🙂

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

Helping! I love to help. And chase. I adore Veronica, but she’s not as fast as me. I have more paws, you see. And I really like Ruby, but she always wears heels and is not good at chasing bad guys.

I’m happiest when I’m helping or clue-hunting. And sleeping. I love to sleep on the end of Edith’s bed. Although she complains my fur troubles her allergies.

I can understand that. I love being in a library and also solving murders along with Alicia, the librarian. I’ve spent time at her house and the town inn, also.

Are you a talking dog in your books or just a silent pet like I am who just meows occasionally?

I bark-talk, but I don’t talk-talk like humans. I also whine, lift my paw, and wag my tail to signal something untoward is afoot!

Great non-verbal actions on your part. I used to limit myself to hissing, purring, meowing, etc., but now I allow the other pets in my series as well as my readers “see” my thoughts.

What advice would you give other dog characters?

Be brave. Always say yes to a sausage treat. Defend your sleuth. And if there’s a belly rub on offer, enjoy it.

Doggone good advice. I’d give the same to character cats but, instead of sausage, it would be kibble and catnip.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

Death at the Fireside Inn released on January 16 – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL2HDFSM

Death at the Drunken Duck is scheduled for release on March 12 – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CPM7GSLN

There will be at least four more books in this series releasing in 2024, so readers won’t have to wait long to see me in action with my favorite person.

Your author must be lightning fast. Debbie has been somewhat slow lately with her upcoming move and other series, the Buttercup Bend Mysteries, that involve pets and animals, too,  but I’m hoping she gets back to ours soon.

Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kittykildare/

Website – www.kittykildare.com

Newsletter (and get free wartime case files on the characters, including me!) – https://BookHip.com/JJPKDLB

Thanks so much for the interview, Benji. You were a fine guest. I’m featuring the blog tour of your new release below. Best tail wags to you and your author.

Death at the Fireside Inn: 1920s Historical Mystery
(Veronica Vale Investigates)
by Kitty Kildare

About Death at the Fireside Inn

Death at the Fireside Inn: 1920s Historical Mystery (Veronica Vale Investigates)
Historical British Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – 1920s London, England
K.E. O’Connor Books (January 16, 2024)
Number of Pages: 225
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CL2HDFSM

A fading star, a puzzling death, and a mystery that must be solved!

Veronica Vale spent a turbulent few years serving her country during the Great War – doing more than her role in the exchange network suggested! Now back on British soil and adjusting to life as an obituary writer for her uncle’s newspaper, while caring for her ailing mother, Veronica has gotten used to a slower (and safer) pace of life.

Excitement comes from fun parties, walks with Benji, her beloved rescue dog, and volunteering at the Dogs’ Home.

When an old family friend, and former superstar of the theatre, Florence Sterling, is discovered dead in her dressing room at the Winter Garden Theatre in London, Veronica is curious to discover what happened to the sweet, funny, ruthlessly ambitious beauty.

Much to the dismay of her sometimes nemesis Inspector Templeton, Veronica is tasked with writing Florence’s obituary. And what she learns will blow the roof off the theatre! That’s if she survives to tell the tale.

***

If you love witty dialogue, historical glamour, intrigue, and a fast-paced cozy mystery set in 1920s England, then you’ll adore Kitty Kildare’s unputdownable whodunits.

About Kitty Kildare

Immerse yourself into Kitty Kildare‘s cleverly woven historical British mysteries. Follow the mystery in the Veronica Vale Investigates series and enjoy the dazzle and delights of 1920s England. Kitty is a not-so-secret pen name of established cozy mystery author K.E. O’Connor, who decided she wanted to time travel rather than cast spells! Enjoy the twists and turns.

Author Links

Webpage: www.kittykildare.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kittykildare/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45353561.Kitty_Kildare

Purchase Links:

Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA Amazon AU

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 7 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 9 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 12 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 12 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 13 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 13 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

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