Mystery

October 19, 2020

Abby Collette – A Deadly Inside Scoop

I write as Abby L. Vandiver and Abby Collette
but you can just call me Abby…

-Abby

To her grandchildren, she’s Grammy.

Bestselling author Abby Collette and her granddaughter had the best fun researching her cozy mystery, A Deadly Inside Scoop. Basking in deliciousness, they covered a variety of ice cream shops in and around Cleveland, Ohio, including Chagrin Falls, the setting for this first novel in her series, An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery.

The story begins with Bronwyn Crewse recalling the day she became the new manager of her family’s ice cream shop, re-opening it after she led an impressive remodeling project. It had been a year since her Aunt Jack moved to North Carolina, leaving Crewse Creamery, the family business since 1965. PopPop, who established the company with Grandma Kay (now deceased), had gifted the keys to Bronwyn, his granddaughter.

In this quintessential cozy mystery, Bronwyn (known as Win) becomes an amateur sleuth after a crime has been committed in the idyllic Chagrin Falls community. On her first day of business at Crewse Creamery, she finds a body in the snow. The dead man was a grifter who’d feuded with the Crewse family in the past. As an investigation begins, Win’s father becomes the prime suspect. Along with her friends Maisie and Riya, Win sets out to find the killer because it can’t possibly be her dad.

Abby Collette flavors A Deadly Inside Scoop and hooks her readers with numerous delectable ice cream scenes and descriptions (a few recipes are included at the end), and with her diverse assembly of characters. Win and the Crewse family are Black Americans. Riya is Sicilian and Indian American. It’s normal for them to have graduate and professional degrees. Win’s marketing degree and MBA prepared her for the unexpected takeover of Crewse Creamery; however, she had her doubts during the remodeling and months-long delayed opening! Also, in this multigenerational story, age inclusion is a plus.

As a former lawyer and college professor, Abby Collette has had plenty of material for the books she’s written. Because cozies have been her favorites for reading pleasure, the genre has worked well for her several successful novels. Her extensive research gives readers a fact-filled relatable experience – intriguing and intense on the one hand and dotted with laugh-out-loud humor on the other. Comments from readers show admiration for things such as using locally sourced ingredients in the handmade ice cream. They appreciate the time given to the smallest details. However, the best comments are from readers who say they had no idea who the culprit was. That’s quite a testimony to the plot of A Deadly Inside Scoop.

Abby Collette always has an ongoing writing project, but this kind, smart, confident, and witty author also spends time facilitating writing workshops at local libraries and other organizations. Her role as a guest speaker or panelist at literary events is also on her impressive resume.

Abby Collette is a member of Crime Writers of Color and The Sisters in Crime national, regional, and guppy chapters.

Other than those things, she’s busy being Grammy.

Visit Abby Collette / Abby L. Vandiver’s website to see the multiple books she’s written and fun facts and photos about her writing process. Connect with Abby via her contact page that lists her email address and social media.

Abby Collette\’s second novel in the series, A Game of Cones, is scheduled for release on March 2, 2021.

Abby, what a striking piece of architecture! My google search says the figure is a “guardian of traffic” or “a guardian of transportation” – depending on the source. I’d enjoy crossing the Hope Memorial Bridge (aka the Lorain–Carnegie Bridge) just to see this “guardian” structure and its counterparts. Thank you! I love having it as part of my postcard collection. 🙂

March 26, 2020

Theresa Varela – Nuyorican in Brooklyn

Novelist and poet Theresa Varela continues her practice of writing about familiar characters in Brooklyn, New York, where she was born and has since lived. In her novel, Coney Island Siren, we enter the life of Maggie Fuentes, an attractive nurse who is in a relationship with equally attractive Frank Ramirez, a police officer. While the couple is strolling through Coney Island, a favorite hangout, Maggie finds a handwritten journal in a flea market. The author, Ellen, lived in the nineteenth century. It seems the women are kindred spirits and that Ellen has summoned Maggie to read the journal. It\’s not long before Maggie recognizes the dark, parallel existence they share and what role the men in their lives played. With elements of magical realism, readers of Coney Island Siren will latch on to Maggie, empathize with her, and think about the real-life Maggies in the world.

Coney Island Siren is Theresa Varela’s third novel. It follows Nights of Indigo Blue: A Daisy Muñiz Mystery and Covering the Sun with My Hand – each honoring Theresa with first and second place awards, respectively, from the International Latino Book Awards in 2016 and 2015. Answered by Silence is her collection of poems and Graciella la Gitana Oracle, also an award winner, helps readers with insightful meditation. Visit Theresa’s website, LatinaLibations on Writing and All Things of the Spirit, to read the synopsis for each of these intriguing publications in her body of work. Theresa’s fascinating bio is on the site, too, along with Graciella’s Page where she blogs and offers spiritual guidance. Subscribe to her newsletter while there!

Theresa Varela brands herself as an Award-winning Nuyorican author; however, she is also a Ph.D. and works in a NYC homeless shelter for women as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, undoubtedly, much appreciated. And surely, her position was a source for Coney Island Siren.

Theresa, I’m loving this Brooklyn postcard featuring The Brooklyn Bridge. I see on the back of the card that it was built in 1883. I wonder if people realize how old it is. New York City, with all its boroughs, continues to be a treat whenever I\’m there. Maybe I\’ll get to Coney Island next time!
Thank you for adding this beauty to my postcard collection and for the Book-lyn greeting. 🙂

~Anita~

October 3, 2019

T. Marie Vandelly – Theme Music

Publisher’s Weekly recognizes T. Marie Vandelly as a writer to watch. How’s that for commentary on her debut novel!

Theme Music was released in July 2019, published by Dutton, an imprint of the Penguin Publishing Group. Since then, it’s been finding its way into the hands of readers who crave suspense, thrillers, gothic, and horror; and to the daring and curious readers who also want to experience a spine-tingling adventure.

The central character, Dixie, moves back into her childhood home where twenty-five years earlier, her father butchered her mother and brothers and then slashed his own throat. One year old Dixie was spared and became known as Baby Blue, the name of the song playing in the house when she was discovered. Of course, this is only a fraction of the story that is filled with twists and turns. A few more hints are in the publisher’s synopsis that will draw you toward reading Theme Music – just in time for Halloween!

An audio sample is available below the synopsis.

My introduction to T. Marie Vandelly was at a James River Writing Show. She was on a panel of authors discussing the path to publication. The audience, filled with writers of all genres, received encouragement and listened intently to valuable advice. Teri, as she is known by family and friends, shared her enthusiasm and knowledge that led to the publishing of Theme Music, and in the process, showed us how great a speaker she is.

Visit and Like her Facebook page, and Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Teri, what a postcard! As a Virginian, I remember the glee we all had from this iconic image and slogan, and still do. This year (2019) is its golden anniversary. And how genius of you to rig it for Theme Music. Chilling! Thank you for adding it to my collection. 🙂

~Anita~

The Virginia is for lovers slogan was created by Martin & Woltz, now The Martin Agency of Richmond, Virginia.

November 15, 2018

Pamela Samuels Young – Mysteries That Matter!

What do they say – brains before beauty? Well, when I met Pamela Samuels Young at the James River Writers Conference, the first thing I noticed was beauty! She welcomed a conversation with me as I absorbed her glow and ultimately learned that this vibrant, smart, and confident woman is an author and was a speaker at the event.

Pamela, whose website is subtitled, Mysteries That Matter!, has recently published young adult adaptations of her book Anybody’s Daughter, about a teen who is unwittingly drawn into the world of sex trafficking, and Abuse of Discretion, a legal thriller about teen sexting. Pamela’s extensive career as an attorney and her commitment to anti-trafficking, feed her desire to write books that are spine-tingling with important messages.

Also, the multifaceted Pamela, gives us Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide, that encourages pride in having natural hair and the steps to achieve it as you transition.

Visit Pamela’s website where you can find and read excerpts from her many books, including a bit of erotic suspense under the pen name Sassy Sinclair. How fitting!

Click on the other menu options, too. As a recipient of prestigious awards, Pamela is requested for speaking engagements, and book club discussions with her readers! You’ll find it all there, and so much more.

Thank you, Pamela, for the Palm Springs postcard! I can see why it’s your writer’s paradise. 🙂

~Anita~

Pamela Samuels Young – Mysteries That Matter!

September 4, 2018

J.C. Sasser – Admirer of Mystery

You Must read the blurbs about Gradle Bird by J. C. Sasser! And then you Must go to the page that lists all the accolades J. C. (Jana) and her book have received. It’s quite impressive! One of the many, is the 2018 Southern Book Prize Winner for the Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense category.

Who’s Gradle Bird?

She’s 16 years old and lives with her Grandpa Leonard. Their home is a seedy motel at a truck stop in Georgia until they move to an old house that is rumored to be haunted. Ooooo… Read the rest of the synopsis on Jana’s site to find out what else is in store for Gradle Bird and, um… the cast of eccentric(?) characters.

And this postcard… Now I want to go to Edisto Island! That’s the outdoor, nature loving side of me. 🙂 If you google The Mystery Tree, you’ll find some pretty cool images of how it’s decorated with various themes throughout the year. Mystery loving Jana lives on the island, where she can be inspired to conjure up more page-turning stories. Check out her Instagram account to see some fascinating island discoveries.

Thank you, Jana, for giving us Gradle Bird, and for sharing this postcard with me and everyone else who appreciates wonderful stories.

~Anita~

February 19, 2018

Greetings from J. P. Cane

Before I tell you how I know J. P., I’d like to congratulate him on his debut novel, Shadows Within, which has an awesome front cover. It’s about VAMPIRES! Ooooo… Click over to his website, jpcane.com, where you can read more about his writing journey AND find links to his podcasts that feature interviews with other writers.

I met J. P. at a gathering of voracious readers and writers. We’d volunteered to read submitted manuscripts for a contest called Best Unpublished Novel. It’s sponsored by the James River Writers, a non-profit literary organization in Richmond, Virginia. I credit J. P. with introducing me to someone in the literary tribe that ultimately led to the building of this website. And since then, he’s been a pleasure to see and talk to when we attend JRW events. J. P. serves on its board of directors.

Best wishes with the new book, J. P.!

Anita