Things I love about writing:

• Creating quirky, believable characters
• Wandering around in atmospheric settings
• Vicariously eating cookies, cakes, and scones every day
• Raveling and unraveling puzzles
• Having people actually read my writing!

It’s been such a rush to see friends, family, and many others opening up Murder at Last Chance Cove, the first book in my Pacific Northwest Cozy Mystery series, and giving it a read. I’ve heard such wonderful comments, including from a friend who swears my amateur sleuth Saffi Graywood showed up in a dream while she was reading the book. How cool is that?

The thing I don’t love so much about writing? Helping publicize my books. Isn’t that what publishers are for? These days, that question has a “yes” and “no” answer. The support of your publisher is critical, and many thanks to the amazing folks at Storm Publishing!

As an author, I have to play a role to play in marketing, too. Then we have… readers!

I don’t know how many readers realize just how important their take on a writer’s books can be to a book’s or series’ success. As a writer, I put my heart, soul, and experience on the page hoping to connect with book lovers like you. I’m a storyteller, not a salesperson or marketer, but over decades as an editor, when I worked in a bookstore, and as a writer I’ve learned that without readers sharing their enthusiasm for books they’ve read, books don’t sell.

To those of you who have bought and read my cozy mystery—thank you all the way up Highway 101 and back again!

If you enjoyed Murder at Last Chance Cove and haven’t yet posted a review, I have a big ask: please take a little bit of time over the next week to post a review. A few lines about what you loved about the book is all it takes to make a difference—especially to a debut cozy writer like me.

If you have an active Amazon account, you can post a review, even if you bought the book elsewhere. As a writer, I support all kinds of booksellers as well as libraries (they buy and share a whole lot of books!). I love my local Indies and celebrated them in a previous post. Reviews are wonderful, wherever you post them, but right now a positive post on Amazon will go a long way.

In the meantime, I’ll be hoofing it around town in 100 degree weather with postcards I had printed to encourage my local stores to carry my cozy. Stay cool… and stay cozy!