Ellen is a girl after my own heart; she loves cats and chocolate! Her works include both Cozy Mysteries (Molly McGhie) and Romantic Comedies (Smitten with Travel). Her books will have you glutching your gut while laughing-out-loud. You can find out more about her books from her Website. And don’t forget to follow her on Facebook. In the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders anthology she is introducing us to a whole new set of characters. Set in the fictional town of Why, North Dakota we are sure to be in for cozy adventures.

Ellen’s new series starts out with the book she is including in the anthology;
Planning for Murder (North Dakota Library Mysteries).
When Thea Olson moved back to her hometown in North Dakota, the last thing she expected was to add “investigate a murder” to her To Do list. But when her cousin is falsely accused of killing her business partner, Thea is drawn into solving the case. Can she clear her cousin’s name or will Thea be the murderer’s next victim?

Let’s get to know Ellen more through her answers to a few questions…

Is anything in your book based on your real-life experiences or purely all imagination?
My husband is a proud born and bred North Dakotan and is the inspiration behind setting this series in a small fictional town in North Dakota and the main character’s Norwegian-American background.

I’ve always loved To Do lists and have recently gotten into bullet journaling and creative planners. For me, that means taking my lists of things to do, sticking them in a pretty journal and using decorative elements to jazz things up. You’d be amazing how much more enjoyable it is to check “clean the bathroom” off your list if you have a cute sticker next to it. LOL!

I thought it would be fun to incorporate my new hobby into this story. The murder victim runs a business which sells planner supplies—stickers, pens, journals, craft paper, note pads etc.—hence the title of my novella, “Planning for Murder.”

Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.
Something you might not know about me is that I used to live on a sailboat. My husband and I bought our first sailboat when we lived in New Zealand, and then when we came back to the States, we bought another one in Florida. My adventures learning to sail, my experiences living aboard a boat, and our time cruising in New Zealand and the Bahamas are the inspiration behind my Mollie McGhie cozy sailing mystery series. Mollie and I have a lot in common. Thankfully, I don’t stumble across dead bodies like she does, though.

Can you give us some insight into what makes you main character tick?
My main character, Thea Olson, is an organizational development consultant. In her professional life, she’s used to analyzing people’s personality types in order to help them be more effective in their careers. When it comes to solving murder cases, she applies this skill to understand suspects’ motives and try to figure out what would drive them to kill.

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_{Before the release, you are going to want to pre order your copy! Not only will you get it at the lowest price of 99 cents, but you will also get a fun addition that the authors put together for our readers; a recipe book of great summer salads.}

_{We are also doing something extra special for our potential readers; we’ve put together an exciting package with over 30 prizes to win. Ereaders, gift cards, signed copies of books, ebooks, audio books, the list goes on. And you can check out the list AND sign up to win the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun & Murder anthology prize pack by clicking on the box below.}

Paula is a teacher at heart, having taught at five colleges in a range of subjects including English composition, fashion design, sewing and jewelry making. With a talent for sewing and crafts, she is busy creating not only with words but with textiles, wedding gowns for her daughters and leather jewelry. Paula writes Cosy Mysteries that reflect her interest; A Fine Art Mystery series and A DIY Diva Mystery series. You can follow her on Amazon, Facebook and be sure to check out her Website.

Paula’s book in the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders anthology is Killer Art in the Park.
A sunny day in the park. What could be more delightful? Or more deadly?

Now let’s ask Paula a few questions…

Everyone takes a tote back with them when they head out for a day at the beach, what is in yours?

The tote itself is probably more interesting than what’s in it! I’ve had several canvas totes printed with images of my textile artworks. It’s great fun to have a unique bag, and these are just the right size to take to the beach with enough room for towels, sunscreen, a cozy mystery to read, and sundry other items.

Can you give us some insight into what makes your main character tick?

My main character in “Killer Art in the Park” and all the books in my Fine Art Mystery series is Amanda Trent, an artist specializing in expressionistic abstract landscapes painted in oil. Her desire to make a living as a professional artist is sparked when her husband unexpectedly announces that he is divorcing her to marry a younger woman. As Amanda starts life anew in Lonesome Valley, Arizona, far from her former home in Kansas City, she struggles to kick her new career into high gear so that she can support herself.   Of course, along the way, she solves some mysteries, too!

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences or purely all imagination?

Although the plots and characters are completely imaginary, some of the details of the setting are based on real-life experiences; for example, exhibiting at an art show, which I’ve done. Also, the way the cooperative art gallery works in “Killer Art in the Park” is based on my own experience of membership in art co-ops. Most readers have attended an arts-and-crafts show or browsed in an art gallery, so this world will seem familiar to them.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

The characters come before the plot, but what came first in both my cozy mystery series—DIY Diva Mysteries and Fine Art Mysteries—is the setting, which really sets the stage for the characters, and then the plot follows. The DIY Diva Mystery series is set in a guard-gated community governed by an aggressive homeowners’ association. With all the picky rules and regulations the HOA decrees, there’s bound to be some controversy. The Fine Art Mystery series is set in an art town in Arizona and centers around a cooperative art gallery. Since I’ve been a member of a couple of cooperative art galleries, it was easy to imagine how the gallery worked and how the member artists interacted with each other.

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_{Before the release, you are going to want to pre order your copy! Not only will you get it at the lowest price of 99 cents, but you will also get a fun addition that the authors put together for our readers; a recipe book of great summer salads.}

_{We are also doing something extra special for our potential readers; we’ve put together an exciting package with over 30 prizes to win. Ereaders, gift cards, signed copies of books, ebooks, audio books, the list goes on. And you can check out the list AND sign up to win the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun & Murder anthology prize pack by clicking on the box below.}

You might remember that beautiful smile from past interviews, but there is always something new to learn about the authors who are part of the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders anthology. Patti writes in many genres and some of her Cozy Mystery series include; Fleming Investigations, Masquerade Inc., Fiona Fleming Cozy Mysteries, Canary Key, Finder’s Keepers are just a few. Patti lives on the Prince Edward Island in Canada with her assortment of animals. Be sure to follow Patti on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, ITunes, Smashwords, Google Play, and Facebook. And be sure to check out all her books on her Website.

The High Tide Deception by Patti Larsen
When Petal Morgan is hired to infiltrate and report on possible cheating at a sand sculpture competition, it’s not just the prize money that’s at stake. Stumbling over a body buried under one of the works of art wasn’t how she planned to spend her time at the beach. But with local law enforcement stumped and her well-honed detective skills (and nosiness) keeping her digging, Petal quickly uncovers a dark and deadly truth about the victim that puts her at risk of her own sandy grave.

Let’s ask Patti a few questions about her contribution to the anthology…

Where is your favorite vacation spot?
I love to travel, so this is actually a tough question! But right now, my ideal is Isla Mujeres off the coast of the Yucatan, across the water from Cancun, Mexico. Super safe, small enough not to be overwhelming, no need of resort all-inclusive living—hotels are inexpensive and street food is delicious! I live on guacamole and chicken enchiladas when I’m there. Oh, and tequila, because Mexico. White sand beaches, hot weather tempered by ocean breezes, tons of expats to meet, friendly locals and a vibrant nightlife make Isla Mujeres one of my favorite places on the planet (so far!).

When writing a series, how do you keep things fresh for both your readers and also yourself?
It’s funny, because I’m one of those writers who doesn’t get a say in the books I write. The bossy voices in my head dictate the show from start to finish and usually keep me guessing. That’s as fresh as it is frightening sometimes! But they never fail to come through with great stories and fun mysteries I fall in love with as much as my readers do. That means I’ve built up trust over my 150+ (and counting) titles, so when the character says jump, I’m already in the air. The saddest part is when they are ready to be done and I have to say goodbye. But at least that means I get to wrap things up (to their liking, that is!).

Can you give us some insight into what makes you main character tick?
Petal Morgan spent the first thirty years of her life trying to figure out what she was supposed to be doing in a world that told her she should strive to fit in. Only to end up in her parent’s garage apartment with a ton of debt and no idea what she was doing with the rest of her existence. When she fell headlong into her career as a deception expert, she realized all the things she’d learned along the way, all the jobs she’d tried, education she thought she wasted, were exactly what she needed to do the one thing she really loves—pretending she’s someone she’s not and catching bad guys in the process.

What comes first, the plot or characters?
For me, it’s always the characters. Their voices are so loud sometimes (most times!) I can’t sleep and I’m up at 2:30AM writing down what they want me to know. So, when I need the next book or a novella idea or a short, even, I simply ask for it. That means having a conversation (I kid you not) with the character in question about what I need, and they immediately start to tell me all about this time when… it’s amazing and fun and I love the connection I have to the voices so much. I honestly have the best job ever.

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_{Before the release, you are going to want to pre order your copy! Not only will you get it at the lowest price of 99 cents, but you will also get a fun addition that the authors put together for our readers; a recipe book of great summer salads.}

_{We are also doing something extra special for our potential readers; we’ve put together an exciting package with over 30 prizes to win. Ereaders, gift cards, signed copies of books, ebooks, audio books, the list goes on. And you can check out the list AND sign up to win the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun & Murder anthology prize pack by clicking on the box below.}

Cate Lawley writes Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy. Her Cozy Mystery series includes: Death Retired Mysteries, Cursed Candy Mysteries, Fairmont Finds Canine Cozy Mysteries, Furry Fairy Hijinks, Night Shift Witch Mysteries, Ruff Justice Mysteries and Vegan Vamp Mysteries. You can check out all her books on her Website. Cate is a Texan who loves British Mysteries. She has worked as an attorney and a dog trainer, just to name a few. Follow Cate on Facebook, Bookbub, Amazon and Goodreads.

Cate’s book in the anthology is titled The Sleuthing Granny Gang and the Summer Scandal
Death visits the unlikeliest of locales: White Sage’s lavender festival. When the jam contest favorite ends up dead, the Sleuthing Granny Gang ladies are on the case. Former cadaver dog Fairmont helps them sniff out clues, while the group’s leader Zella does her best to keep her silver-sleuth friends from taking dangerous risks. This year’s jam contest has a hefty prize, a contract with an Austin-based jam company. But did the killer murder to level the contest playing field? Or are there other motives at work? Fairmont and the Sleuthing Granny Gang won’t give up until they’ve solved this latest deadly puzzle.

Can you give us some insight into what makes you main character tick?
Zella’s story is all about starting over, finding a new path for herself independent of her ex-husband and their two grown children. As a part of that journey, she adopted her first dog: Fairmont! While she’d likely have some exposure to a high body count in a small Texas town even without Fairmont (cozy mysteries!), with Fairmont’s help, she embraces murder investigations and other various new experiences with more confidence.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Fairmont, the canine hero of my Fairmont Finds series. I wrote the first Fairmont story just a few months after my beloved German shorthaired pointer Vegas passed away. He was special to so many people, not just me. He had his very own fan club. Fairmont is based primarily on Vegas with a few characteristics taken from my current canine love, Memphis.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences or purely all imagination? Mild spoiler: Fairmont is a former search dog. His experience and training is primarily in human remains detection. I was a search and rescue canine handler for three years, and much of Fairmont’s (and Zella, his owner’s) experiences are based on my own experiences training and handling search dogs.

What comes first, the plot or characters?
Characters. When I started writing the first Fairmont story, I needed a way to keep Vegas alive a little longer. Fairmont let me do that. I was also considering a big change in my personal life (a cross country move, starting over in a new place), and so I knew that I wanted Zella to experience a similar change. From there, I threw in a murder, some secondary characters, a love interest, and the story was off and running. But I do truly feel like most of the stories I write, in the Fairmont series and otherwise, are about love, friendship, and family, in all of their different incarnations.

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_{Before the release, you are going to want to pre order your copy! Not only will you get it at the lowest price of 99 cents, but you will also get a fun addition that the authors put together for our readers; a recipe book of great summer salads.}

_{We are also doing something extra special for our potential readers; we’ve put together an exciting package with over 30 prizes to win. Ereaders, gift cards, signed copies of books, ebooks, audio books, the list goes on. And you can check out the list AND sign up to win the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun & Murder anthology prize pack by clicking on the box below.}

Wendy is a writer of cozy mysteries; Sweetfern Harbor Series Maple Hill Series and Alaska Cozy Series are just a few. But she as other talents as well. In another life she worked as a graphic designer and puts that expertise to work by designing her own book covers. Wendy also has a hobby farm where she has two mini pigs!

A bit about the book Wendy is including in Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murder…

Farmer, Flip-Flops and Felony

She had a perfect life… until murder came knocking.
Unable to rely on the police and with every clue only getting weirder, Vera will need a little more than luck if she wants to bring peace to her town and put a killer behind bars. But small towns hold lots of secrets, and the killer might just be the person you least expect…

Wendy has some great answers to my questions…
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Secluded cabin on a pond or lake.

Everyone takes a tote back with them when they head out for a day at the beach, what is in yours?
Sunscreen, foldable chair, towels and extra sandals.
If the tote is large enough to fit my mother, she would go with me as well. 😉

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
It is Sherman the mini pig. I own two mini pigs and he is based on my first one, which we almost named Sherman.

What comes first, the plot or characters?
I always picture characters first, then work on the plot based on how I feel their personality/experiences would fit in.

Want to find out more about author Wendy Meadows? Check out her pages on Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and Audible. And be sure to go to her Website and sign up for her newsletter. Take a peek at her fab covers while you’re there!

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_{Before the release, you are going to want to pre order your copy! Not only will you get it at the lowest price of 99 cents, but you will also get a fun addition that the authors put together for our readers; a recipe book of great summer salads.}

_{We are also doing something extra special for our potential readers; we’ve put together an exciting package with over 30 prizes to win. Ereaders, gift cards, signed copies of books, ebooks, audio books, the list goes on. And you can check out the list AND sign up to win the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun & Murder anthology prize pack by clicking on the box below.}

Phillipa is a writer of mysteries filled with laughter, love and suspense. She has a love of the seaside and lives in Victoria, Australia, where you just might find her in the garden, listening to her music and plotting her next mystery. You can follow Phillipa on Facebook, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter at her website. Find more of her books on her BookBub author page. Look for her Rivers End Books (14 in all), Daphne Jones Mysteries, and stand-alone books.

Daph at the Beach
Daphne is trying to prepare her speech for an upcoming beach wedding but makes a dreadful discovery – a body in the sea. With her dear friend, Christie, becoming the main suspect, it becomes a race against time to clear her name and find the real killer. Nobody is missing the wedding on this celebrant sleuth’s watch!

Let’s ask a few questions…

Where is your favorite vacation spot? Beach, Resort or Poolside?
I adore the sea. Put me within sight and smell of the ocean and I am happy. Even in the middle of winter.

When writing a series, how do you keep things fresh for both your readers and also yourself?
I always have secondary stories which run through some or all of the books in a series. These are great for exploring other aspects of my characters and often leads me to interesting subjects. For example, Daphne’s husband, John, love genealogy so I’ve had to learn a bit about it. I think that helps keep things fresh and brings a different aspect to the story.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
When Daphne finds the body floating in the water, she notices a winter scarf tucked around the neck. But it is the middle of a hot summer. This gets her sleuthing juices going.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Daphne does! She appeared in the first book I released as a comic relief, side character. There was something about her way of viewing the world and seeing through people which endeared her to me. As that series continued, so did her character until she demanded her own series. She has a big heart, will do anything to help another person, and bakes cookies to make other people happy (sadly, they are not the world’s best cookies).

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_{Before the release, you are going to want to pre order your copy! Not only will you get it at the lowest price of 99 cents, but you will also get a fun addition that the authors put together for our readers; a recipe book of great summer salads.}

_{We are also doing something extra special for our potential readers; we’ve put together an exciting package with over 30 prizes to win. Ereaders, gift cards, signed copies of books, ebooks, audio books, the list goes on. And you can check out the list AND sign up to win the Mysteries, Midsummer Sun & Murder anthology prize pack by clicking on the box below.}