I recently asked the members of my Kathi Daley Books Group page to ask me questions which I would then attempt to answer in my blog. I had so many that I am going to answer the questions in two parts. The questions are being answered in the order they were asked and will be answered to my best ability over the next two blogs.

Star Kent You have so many likes on your author page. Is there something special you do to get so many likes? I love my Facebook friends. I really do consider them to be real friends. I enjoy interacting with everyone and I post often. I also give away a ton of stuff and have a lot of events and contests that my readers can participate in. I really think people enjoy the fact that the page is pretty interactive.

Shelli King How intricately do you pre-plan your books? I rarely preplan a book. I usually begin with a title or a cover and then write a book to go with it. For example, my next Zoe is titled “Kitten Kaboodle” (K in Caboodle intentional) so I know the book will be about the murder of someone who runs a kitty mill for purebred cats. At this point that is all I know so I guess I’ll just start writing and see where it ends up.

Brenda Logan I know a great deal of time has to be devoted to writing and family. Do you have time to read and, if so … what and who do you read. Before I became a writer I used to read a LOT. Now I rarely read. I really don’t have the time and at the end of the day after using my brain to write all day I usually prefer to do something physical. When I do read I usually try to read one of the million books I have on my Kindle that were written by my author friends.

Sharon A. Katz I’d like to know not only how you get your ideas but how you’re able to keep the idea going throughout the book. I can’t write more than a short story because my ideas seem to be short lived. I usually just let the book unfold as it wants to. I will say I have a comfort level as far as length. Most of my cozies are between 45k – 50k. If I want to expand beyond that for a longer story it is a bit more of a struggle.

Michele Gray What do you do for fun in your spare time when you’re not writing? I live in Tahoe so I like to get outside especially in the summer. I love to go out in the boat, go to the beach, bike, hike, and putter around in my yard. I also like to travel, which I do as often as I can.

Peggy Hyndman Is the reason you’re able to write four (plus) series books at a time and keep every character “in the right place” because you view them as family and/or friends? Absolutely. I feel I know my characters so I don’t usually get them mixed up. For some reason the only two names I do at times get mixed up is Tara and Ellie. I don’t mess up the characters so much as the names. I may refer to Ellie as Tara or Tara as Ellie. I guess they are pretty similar in both their role in their series and their personalities.

Sarah Frost Gray Do you have a favorite childhood book? And pizza is my favorite food also! I really don’t have a favorite childhood book. I do remember being horse crazy for a while in elementary school. I read all the Black Stallion and other horse related books time and time again.

Taryn Lee Who are some of your favorite authors and what genres do you enjoy reading the most? I have had a lot of different authors who have been my favorite at various times in my life. When I was younger I was more into romance and then I sort of evolved into thrillers and now I enjoy women’s fiction such as the type Debbie Macomber or Barbara Delinsky write. I do enjoy Mysteries of all types and try to make time to read the new Cozy Mysteries when I can fit them in.

Deana Dick What kind of research do you do for your books? How do you choose names for your characters? The type of research really depends on the subject matter of the book I am writing. Some stories require little to no research and others require a bit more. I try to visit the location of any new setting I choose and I make a point to talk to and establish contacts with people who live in the area that I can call on for input. As for names, if it is a major character I try to find a name that fits the personality of the character. If it is a minor or supporting character, I usually just use whatever name pops into my head. Luckily my editor keeps track of this and will send me a note if I have three different people named Mary in one book or series.

Kathleen J. Kaminski But, what do you like on your pizza? Thick crust or thin? Are you a plotter or a panster? Or somewhere in between? I am a pizza purist and like cheese or pepperoni, thin crust. I am definitely not a plotter. I usually only have a vague idea of the overall theme of the book when I start writing. I like to find out what happens as the story unfolds.

Patty Marsh Why do you self publish? I presume you could easily find an agent and traditional publisher. I self publish because I am impatient. It really is as simple as that. When I wrote my first book I was faced with the option to hunt for an agent, wait for the agent to find a publisher, wait for the publisher to set a date which can be a year or more away. The whole process can take years. I’ve published over 40 books in 2 1/2 years and it might honestly have taken that long to get book #1 on the shelves going the traditional way. I keep threatening to write a new series and go the traditional route but then I get to working on it and I get excited to share it with you all and the next thing I know I’m uploading it for presale.

Martie Peck You mentioned the other day that in you new book A Tale of Two Tabbies that ” Cait finds a cat locked in the confessional at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church”. I just wonder if you are/were Catholic, since writers often write from what they know. I was raised Catholic and still could tell a tale or two. LOL! I was brought up Catholic but my entire family switched to another church when I was in high school.

Linda Herold Introvert or Extrovert? Big ol introvert which is why I am totally happy to sit by myself all day and write.

Robyn Konopka How do you keep all your characters straight? I don’t have a problem keeping the major characters straight but I do keep a spreadsheet for each series which reminds me that Frannie is the librarian in the Tj series and Hazel is the librarian in the Zoe books. If I’m going to get messed up it will be with the supporting cast.

Sandy Swanger Bartles Who is your favorite, go to, cozy author? Honestly I don’t have a single favorite. I think it is harder to really choose a favorite when you know so many other authors personally. Each has their own personality and you can see that personality shine through in the stories they write. I feel like I have a bunch of cozy mystery sisters and I could never choose just one.

Suzanne Boyd Where are you from originally? and where did you meet the amazing Ken? I was born in Ontario California and then moved to Barstow California when I was in the first grade. I then moved to Lake Tahoe when I was a sophomore in high school, which is where I met the amazing Ken. We started dating when I was sixteen and he was fifteen (yes I am a cradle robber) and we are not only still together but blissfully happy forty two years later. He really is the best person on the planet. He takes care of me and we have so much fun together. When my writing career began to take off he put his real estate career on the back burner and pitched right in to help me. He still dabbles in real estate but he also does ALL the shopping, laundry, housework, bookkeeping, shipping and receiving, banking, travel planning, everything. And I mean everything! I say in my acknowledgements section in all my books that I want to thank Ken who allows me time to write by taking care of everything else and this is not an exaggeration.  I REALLY couldn’t do it without him.

 

This concludes part one of the questions. Join me on March 18 for the second half of the questions.

 

Now for the giveaway. Comment below to be entered to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card.

 

People often ask where I get ideas for my mysteries and the answer is everywhere. A few weeks ago Ken and I went to Santa Cruz for a bit of brainstorming mixed in with some planning and of course some rest and relaxation. While we were there the watermain going out to the wharf broke closing it for several days. I was sitting on the balcony of my hotel room looking toward the wharf and the boardwalk beyond wondering how I could turn a broken watermain into a mystery. I actually came up with several ideas, but while I was pondering the believability of a body clogging the system creating a buildup of pressure, I happened across an even better idea.

As I studied the boardwalk it occurred to me that it would be pretty awesome if a body was found in the top chair of the Farris Wheel when the boardwalk opened in the morning. Of course the question remained, how would the killer get the body up there without anyone noticing?

Anyone who has been to the boardwalk knows that it opens onto the beach. I am going to go out on a limb and assume that a plot where the killer simply wanders onto the boardwalk, hotwires the Farris Wheel, puts the body inside and then revolves the body to the top in the middle of the night would be pretty unbelievable. I did some checking and I was right. That scenario would be pretty unlikely.

I continued to ponder the situation during our stay, considering and discarding several options that seemed unrealistic even to me. I was pretty much at a dead end until a fortuitous walk changed everything.

Ken and I decided to walk to the lighthouse which it located further down the beach. The path provides a view of the boardwalk from a different angle than I had been viewing to this point. While I stood gazing out over the beautiful landscape, I quite luckily saw a believable and doable solution to the dilemma of how to get the body into the bucket.

If you are curious as to the solution I came up with, you will have to wait until I use this plot in a book because it really is too perfect to share at this point. In the meantime, you can enter to win a gift card below.

Giveaway: Comment below and I will choose 1 winner to receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Suggest a title for the story I just described and identify which of my series you think would best serve as the backdrop. If you aren’t familiar with my series you can still enter by suggesting a title.

 

The answer to last weeks mini mystery concerning who took Lola Rivera’s ring is the cleaning lady. She made two mistakes during her interview. First of all she said that the ring could turn up anywhere but Detective Oswald didn’t specify that it was the ring that was missing. He only indicated that a piece of jewelry was missing and Lola has a lot of jewelry. Also the cleaning lady left just as the plumber was arriving. She indicated he was upstairs alone for several hours but since she left as he arrived there was no way she could know how long he was there.

 

Now for current news:

I’ve decided to make a few changes to my blog which directly relate to the time crunch I’ve been dealing with lately. I think I am going to post a blog on the first and third Friday of the month rather than every week. I also post to the Whodunit Blog on the first and third Friday, and most weeks it will be a reprint of the same blog for both sites. If in the future my schedule lightens up a bit I may return to every week.

As an author it can be tricky to stay in touch with my fans who I love so, so, much, and still have time to publish novels. Between blogs, guest posts, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, I almost feel like I no longer have time to write. I really hate to cut back my publication schedule too much so I’m proposing a few changes that I feel will help me get back on track. I have a few other tweaks I’m considering but I’m still noodling on things so I’ll let you know what I decide when I actually decide.

Hugs to you all, and thank you so much for your continued support.

 

Below is the blog which can also be found on the Whodunit page.

February 14 has been set aside to celebrate love so I’d like to start off by wishing each and every one of you a Happy Valentines Day. I hope you all know how much I value you all and enjoy getting to know you and be a part of your life. I know I post my links all over the place (I know oh so boring) but just in case there is someone out there who isn’t “all in” here are my links again.

Stay up to date with her newsletter, The Daley Weekly. http://eepurl.com/NRPDf

Kathi Daley Blog: http://kathidaleyblog.com

Webpage www.kathidaley.com

Facebook at Kathi Daley Books – www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks

Kathi Daley Teen – www.facebook.com/kathidaleyteen

Kathi Daley Books Group Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/569578823146850/

E-mail – kathidaley@kathidaley.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278377.Kathi_Daley

Twitter at Kathi Daley@kathidaley – https://twitter.com/kathidaley

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/author/kathidaley

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathi-daley

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/kathidaley/

And now for the commercial announcement. I have a bunch of Valentine theme stuff on special this month. Even if you aren’t interested continue on to the end as there is a fun giveaway.

Cupids Curse – Zoe Donovan #4 – will be FREE February 12 – 14. If you have not as of yet read this book it is a good one – it’s not only funny but it explains the background between Zoe’s mom and dad.

Much Ado About Felines – Whales and Tails #4 – will be $.99 February 5 – 11 – the side story in this book is a sweet story that demonstrates a love between a man and a woman that runs so deep it extends beyond the grave.

The New Normal – Zimmerman Academy #1 and Shamrock Shenanigans – Zoe Donovan #19 – take place over the same 4 day period over Valentines weekend. The New Normal is told from Ellie’s perspective and Shamrock Shenanigans from Zoe’s. Both are filled with surprises.

A Tale of Two Tabbies publishes on February 29, leap day, and although it isn’t a Valentines story it does deal with love. Here is the opening quote:

Love in its purest form is selfless and eternal. It endures all things and exists independently of the opinion of others. Love that is born in the soul and lives in the heart, will thrive and prosper in spite of the challenges it must face and the hardships it must endure.

And finally, The New Normal is part of a Valentine themed anthology which is detailed below.

Happy Homicides 2 is the second book in the Happy Homicides collection. This book features crimes of the heart from thirteen cozy mystery writers. My story – The New Normal – is the first in my new series of Zimmerman Academy novellas. Zimmerman Academy is a spinoff of my popular Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery Series. The novellas are told from the perspective of the minor characters. The New Normal features Zoe’s best friend Ellie as she tries to help best friend and ex-boyfriend Levi solve a murder while dealing with her own heartbreak.

All the short stories in the collection are wonderful tales of love and murder that you won’t want to miss.

The stories in the anthology:

Stupid Cupid: A Cara Mia Delgatto Novella by Joanna Campbell Slan—Cara Mia’s search for love gets her involved in a star-crossed, homicidal romance.

A Heart for Murder by Teresa Trent—An expensive family heirloom is stolen from a local jewelry store, and Betsy Livingston Fitzpatrick would love to figure out who’s responsible.

For the Love of Dog by Neil Plakcy—A young woman’s death causes a man to consider the many aspects of love. Is it ever a justification for murder?

Wedding Knife by Elaine Viets—A groom learns to take his vow–Till death do we part—very, very seriously.

Death and a Dozen Roses by Annie Adams—Plucky florist Rosie McKay is reunited with an old love, thanks to complications that happen when she tries to deliver a dozen roses.

The Sodium Arrow by Camille Minichino—The love of a student for a favorite teacher drives a freelance embalmer to seek out justice.

Sweets, Treats, and Murder by Nancy Jill Thames—Jillian Bradley is a widow with no children, but she still has a keen sense of family. Her love of a good mystery sets her and her canine companion, Teddy, on a quest for justice.

Dying for Valentine’s Tea: A Beach Tea Shop Novella by Linda Gordon Hengerer—The three Powell sisters want their friend Thelma to find true love, but they’re having trouble believing her fiancé has her best interests at heart.

The New Normal by Kathi Daley—Although her own dreams have been shattered, Ellie Davis finds it impossible to quit loving an old friend, even after he’s accused of murder.

Bones and Arrows by Carolyn Haines—Intrepid Sarah Booth Delaney would rather face a gun than a party on Valentine’s Day. Not surprisingly, she’s decided that Cupid is a big phony. But is he a jewel thief, too?

Murder at Catmmando Mountain: Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery 1 by Anna Celeste Burke—Georgina Shaw loves her cat, chocolate, and cooking. When she’s framed for a crime, she’s forced to reconsider her priorities.

The Missing Jacket by Randy Rawls—A golfing buddy offers Jonathan Boykin big money to retrieve a stolen jacket, but Jonathan suspects something else is going on. Jonathan is smart enough to discern the difference between love and lust. But can he also figure out the scam?

Really, Truly Dead by Maggie Toussaint—Lindsey McKay has no desire to return to small town life. But her love for her father brings her back home when he’s accused of murder.

Bonus story:

Impediments: A Kiki Lowenstein Short Story by Joanna Campbell Slan—Family problems and priestly politics threaten to derail a love match, until Kiki Lowenstein suggests a surprising solution.

 

And now for the giveaway. Comment below to be entered to win a Coffee Cat Books mug (US only). Non US will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card in place of the mug.

 

 

January is murder mystery month at Kathi Daley Books. Todays blog contains a mini mystery for you to solve. Please enter your answer in the rafflecopter and not in the comment section. We wouldn’t want everyone to have the advantage of your superior sleuthing skills.

Answer to last weeks puzzle. Detective Lopez suspects that Paul Brandywine’s secretary Lola killed him. Fiancé number three, Polly, claimed that they had gotten together while he was in Vegas and planned to marry the following weekend. Since he had just returned the previous night, the only way the secretary could know that he had three fiancé’s instead of two was if he told her that morning. She claimed she hadn’t seen or talked to him since before he left but she had to of been lying.

 

Lola Rivera was known for wearing a lot of flashy jewelry. Most of it was gaudy costume jewelry but she did have one ring that she’d inherited from her grandmother that was worth close to 20 thousand dollars. She’d worn it to a dinner party on Friday. When she returned home she’d gone upstairs to put it away in her jewelry box. She noticed the light flashing on her answering machine inviting her to brunch on Sunday.

When she went to find the ring on Sunday morning she looked for it in her jewelry box. It was missing. She was sure she’d put it away but perhaps she’d taken it off and only thought she’d put it away.  What if she had actually left it on the bedside table when  she stopped to retrieve her phone message? She looked under the bed, under the table, everywhere. After she’d exhausted her options she realized it must have been stolen and called the cops.

Detective Oswald arrived. After Lola explained the series of events he asked her who had access to the house between Friday night when she took the ring off and Sunday morning when she went to find it. There were three people. The cleaning lady, the decorator she’d hired to redo the bathroom off her bedroom, and her cousin Tiffany who had always believed that as the oldest grandchild the ring should have gone to her.

Oswald interviewed all three.

Tiffany was interviewed first.

Detective Oswald informed her that the ring that belonged to their grandmother was missing.

“She lost the ring? I knew something like this would happen. Lola is so terribly absentminded. She leaves that ring lying around all the time. I really don’t know why grandmother thought she could be trusted to take care of such a valuable piece of jewelry. She was careless and now it is gone.”

“Lola indicated that you’d been by the house yesterday.”

“I was. She is redecorating her bathroom and I wanted to see how the new tile came out. It’s beautiful by the way.”

“What time were you there?”

“In the morning. Around ten. I only stayed for a few minutes.”

“Did you happen to notice the ring on her bedside table and perhaps decide to put it somewhere safe?”

“You think I took it? I assure you I didn’t. Yes I’ve always wanted the ring, and yes I do believe that I would have been the better heir to take care of it, but I love Lola and would never steal from her.”

Oswald interviewed the cleaning lady next.

“Ms. Rivera has reported that a piece of her jewelry is missing. She believes it was stolen. Since you worked yesterday I was wondering if you saw anything that might help us find the thief.”

“Thief? Trust me there most likely isn’t a thief. Ms. Rivera is so absentminded that she probably just left the ring laying around somewhere. Give it time, it’ll show up. If not I guess you could speak to the plumber. He was alone upstairs for several hours on Saturday.”

“What time were you at the house on Saturday?”

“I work in the morning. I arrive at nine and leave by noon.”

Oswald then interviewed the plumber. He explained that a valuable ring had turned up missing while he was at the house working on the remodel.

“You think I took it? I assure you I didn’t. I was there to do a job and I did it. I didn’t see a ring but if I had I would have left it alone.”

“What time were you at the house?”

“I arrived at noon and left by one.”

Detective Oswald looked at his notes and then made an arrest. Who did he arrest and why? The blog will return to its regular format next week but the answer to this mini mystery will be included at the top.

If you think you know who Detective Oswald suspects and why enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df645d05184/?

Random Thoughts and Meaningless Musings will return to its regular format next week but there will be a detailed answer at the beginning of the blog.

 

 

 

 

 

January is murder mystery month at Kathi Daley Books. The next two blogs will contain a mini mystery for you to solve. Please enter your answer in the rafflecopter and not in the comment section. We wouldn’t want everyone to have the advantage of your superior sleuthing skills.

Answer to last weeks puzzle. All three of Rita’s victims had motive to kill Rita. All admitted that they had visited the flower shop on the night of the murder and none had alibis. In spite of having three strong suspects Ryan believed he had his killer. The assistant said that Rita stayed late and that the killer had not needed keys to get in because she would have left the door open. He also stated that Rita possessed the only set of keys but the door was locked when the assistant arrived the next morning so it made sense that the killer locked up when he left. The assistant admitted to opening up the shop in the morning therefore he had the keys and therefore must be the killer.

Mini Mystery #3

Detective Lopez dispatched to a murder at a local insurance office. When she arrived she was greeted by Lola Upton, the secretary of the murder victim Paul Brandywine.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Lopez asked Lola.

“I came in to work as I do every morning and found Mr. Brandywine dead on the floor. I called 911 and then waited for you to arrive. I didn’t touch anything.”

“When was the last time you spoke to him?”

“Four days ago. He called me when he landed at the airport. He wanted to check on the name of his hotel. The man is certainly absentminded. Normally he will call in every day while he is away but for some reason he didn’t call after the first time during this trip.”

“And where did he fly to for the conference?”

“Vegas. Which is probably why he didn’t call. Between you and me the man has a bit of a gambling problem.”

“Do you have any idea who might of wanted him dead?”

“I have a pretty good idea. Mr. Brandywine was a nice enough boss but he was a snake of a man. He was engaged to three women. Can you believe it? Three?”

“Do you have the names of these women?”

“Certainly. I made a list. I figured you’d want to speak to them.”

Detective Lopez looked at the list. There were three names followed by three phone numbers and addresses. The three names were Gloria, Amanda, and Polly.

“Do you have a reason to believe that any of these women would have wanted Mr. Brandywine dead?”

“All of them. Like I said, the man was a snake. He made all these women believe they were his one and only, but if you ask me the man has never been faithful a day in his life.”

Detective Lopez left the insurance office and visited all three women. Gloria testified that she’d known Paul for seven months and had been engaged to him for six. They planned to marry in just five weeks. The last time she’d seen him was six days ago when he left for a business trip to Vegas. She claimed that she was unaware of any other women in her fiancé’s life.”

Amanda testified that she had known Paul for five months and had been engaged for three. They planned to marry in two months. The last time she’d seen him was five days ago when he left for a business trip to Vegas. She claimed that she was unaware of any other women in her fiancé’s life.

Polly testified that she had known Paul for over a year since she was a client. They’d always got along but never dated. They ran into each other in Vegas three days ago, hit it off, and decided to marry the following weekend. The last time she’d seen Paul was that morning when he’d told her he was going to the office to clear his calendar so they could take a week long honeymoon. She claimed that she was aware of the other women in his life but that he promised to break things off with all of them.

Who killed Paul and why do you suspect this person?

Enter your answer in the rafflecopter. I will randomly choose one winner to receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df645d05183/?

The answer to this mini mystery will be included in next weeks issue of the blog.

 

January is murder mystery month at Kathi Daley Books. The next three blogs will contain a mini mystery for you to solve. Please enter your answer in the rafflecopter and not in the comment section. We wouldn’t want everyone to have the advantage of your superior sleuthing skills.

The answer from last weeks mini mystery – Detective Ryan first suspected the housekeeper since she had been working for Mr. Bronson for twenty years and it was a nurse who had only been around a couple of months that was being cut into the will. But then he spoke to Homer and realized that he was probably correct in his belief that dividing the inheritance three ways was most likely a ruse to get the nephews home. Of course the housekeeper wouldn’t have known that so in his mind she was still a suspect. When he spoke to Andy he noticed two things. First of all Andy had gone out of his way to cast suspicion on his brother, and second he had lied about his uncle returning his goodnight and calling him every month since the housekeeper already told him that Bronson was deaf. Detective Ryan arrested Andy for first degree murder.

Mini Mystery #2

Detective Blake pulled up in front of Rita’s flower shop. The local police were already on the premises when he arrived. He made his way across the room toward where the body was lying on the floor. Someone had stabbed Rita in the back with a large pair of scissors.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Blake asked the clerk who was cowering in the corner.

“I showed up for work like I always do. I unlocked the door and came inside. When I turned on the light I found the room in total disarray and Rita dead on the floor. Poor Rita. Skewered with her own trimming scissors.”

Detective Blake looked around the room. There were flowers strewn across the floor, along with knives, scissors, vases, and packets of plant food.

“Who other than Rita has a key to the place?” Blake asked.

“No one. Rita doesn’t trust anyone. I know Rita planned to stay late last night. She usually didn’t bother to lock the door when she was on the premises so I imagine that the killer didn’t need a key to get in.”

“Do you know who might have wanted to kill her?”

The assistant hesitated. “I’m not sure I should say anything, but Rita has been having an affair. With a married man none-the-less. I believe it is quite possible that they planned to hook up.”

“Do you know who this man is?”

“His name is Walter Green. He works at the bank. Things have been slow and Rita was trying to get a loan to see us through. She didn’t specifically say so but I am pretty sure she was planning to see Walter last night about a payment plan she worked out.”

“So she was able to get the loan she desired?”

“No. She was planning to blackmail Walter with photos she took of the two of them together. She was pretty sure that Walter would pay in order to keep his indiscretion from being posted all over social media.”

“So you think Walter killed Rita to keep her quiet?” Blake inquired.

“I think he might have. Although.”

“Although what?”

“Although Blake wasn’t the only person Rita was blackmailing. She was also receiving money from the mayor and the office manager at the Ford dealership. Walter risked the loss of his marriage, the mayor has been dealing in illegal backroom deals, and the office manager at the Ford dealership has been embezzling money.”

“And how exactly did Rita come across all this information?”

“She seduces helpless men and then she tricks them into spilling their secrets.”

Detective Blake interviewed all three suspects.

Walter was not only married but he was a deacon at his church. A sex scandal would ruin his life. He claimed that he came to the shop the previous evening where Rita was waiting for him. When she laid out her plan he wasn’t happy but he agreed to pay her what she wanted. He swore she was alive when he left. Walter unfortunately did not have an alibi for the time of Rita’s death.

The Mayor also confessed to meeting with Rita the previous evening. He was comfortable in his third term and was willing to do whatever he needed to do to avoid a scandal. He testified that he met with the woman for no longer than fifteen minutes and then left her very much alive. They Mayor also did not have an alibi for the time of Rita’s death.

The office manager for the Ford dealership also admitted to meeting Rita the previous evening. He had previous arrests in other states and another conviction would land him in prison for a good long time. He also agreed to pay Rita what she wanted and he also said that she was very much alive when he left. He said he went straight home where he lives alone.

As far as Blake was concerned the identity of the killer was obvious.

 

Who do you think the killer is and why do you think this person is the killer? Enter your answer in the rafflecopter below. I will provide the answer in next week’s blog.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df645d05182/?

I will pick a winner on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

January is murder mystery month at Kathi Daley Book. The next four blogs will contain a mini mystery for you to solve. Please enter your answer in the rafflecopter and not in the comment section. We wouldn’t want everyone to have the advantage of your superior sleuthing skills.

 

Mini Mystery #1

There was a very rich man who was found by his housekeeper dead in his kitchen. He was bludgeoned the night before he was to announce a new will leaving a third of his estate to his nurse. The old will divided the estate between his nephews Homer and Andy, who were both present in the house at their uncle’s request.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Detective Ryan asked the housekeeper.

“I came to work same as I do every morning.”

“Did you notice anything odd when you arrived?”

“No sir. I’ve been keeping to the same routine for almost twenty years. I pick up the paper from the front stoop, fry one egg and toast one piece of bread, and then I take the paper and breakfast up to Mr. Bronson.”

“Would you say that you and Mr. Bronson were close?”

“Yes, very close. I’m not just a housekeeper. Mr. Bronson has been deaf the past few years and he relies on me to help him with many of his daily tasks.”

“Do you know who would want to kill him?”

“I suppose either of the young men who came about the will. That young nurse that he hired has managed to finagle her way into receiving a third of his estate after only two months of service. It ain’t right.”

“No I suppose it’s not. Can you tell me if the nurse was on the premises yesterday?”

“She wasn’t. I guess Mr. Bronson figured his talk with his nephews would go better if she wasn’t around.”

“And has she shown up today?”

“No. She has not.”

“Thank you for your time. I will let you know if I have additional questions.”

After he interviewed the housekeeper Detective Ryan interviewed the oldest nephew Homer.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Detective Ryan asked.

“How should I know. I hear the old broad who cleans the place yelling about something this morning so I stuck in my ear plugs and went back to sleep. Had no idea what had happened until one of your men came up and got me.”

“When was the last time you saw your Uncle?”

“Twenty years ago at least. The man was a tyrant. I avoided him like the plague. Anyone can tell you that.”

“Did you see him yesterday after you arrived?”

“No I did not. I went straight up to my room, took some sleeping pills, and went to sleep. I figured the verbal abuse I knew I was in for could wait one more day.”

“How do you feel about the fact that the nurse is going to get a third of the estate?”

“I’m pretty sure the threat of a new will was nothing but a trick to get Andy and me to visit one last time. I talked to Uncles lawyer before I made the trip and he said he didn’t know anything about a new will.”

“So you think the threat of a third heir was a ruse?”

“Yes, I think that is exactly what it was. The old man was nothing more than a pain in my backside. I can’t say I’m unhappy he is gone.”

“My sources tell me that you have suffered a recent decline in your own finances.”

Homer smiled. “Not anymore.”

After he completed his interview with Homer, Detective Ryan interviewed Andy.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“I was awakened this morning by the housekeeper shouting. I rushed downstairs to find Uncle dead on the kitchen floor. I called you immediately.”

“When was the last time you saw your uncle?”

“Last night. He was in the library reading. I poked my head in the door and said goodnight before I went up.”

“And did he respond when you said goodnight?”

“His back was to me and he didn’t look up from his book but he did return the sentiment and wished me a good night as well.”

“And who else was in the house at the time?”

“Just Homer. He was in the kitchen getting a snack when I went up for the night.”

“Homer told me that he went straight to his room when he arrived.”

“He’s lying. I saw him in the kitchen plain as day.”

“Prior to your arrival last night when was the last time you saw your Uncle?”

“It’s been quite a few years,” Andy admitted. “I do feel bad about not getting home to visit more often but I made sure to call him once a month, unlike Homer who has had no contact with the man for more than a decade. Homer and my Uncle have bad blood between them. I hate to think my own brother capable of murder but the last thing he said last night before turning in, was that he’d do anything to keep Uncle from giving away a chunk of our inheritance. I’m afraid he may very well be the killer you are looking for.”

Deputy Ryan made a few phone calls and then called the housekeeper, Homer, and Andy into the room. He sat them all down and looked at them one at a time. “I know who the killer is.”

 

Who do you think the killer is and why do you think this person is the killer? Enter your answer in the rafflecopter below. I will provide the answer in next week’s blog.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df645d05181/?

 

To resolve or not to resolve? That is the question. I have done the New Years Resolution thing a few times in my life (pretty sure I never stuck to any of them) but most years I skip this tried and true tradition. While I generally avoid making resolutions I know I won’t keep, I do tend to use the birth of a new year to review my life and look at what aspects of my existence are working and which are not. This year I talk about some of my ‘resolutions’ in my newsletter: The Daley Weekly. Here is the link to sign up if you are not already a subscriber. http://eepurl.com/NRPDf

Although I do not tend to make New Years Resolutions, I was asked to do a day in the life segment for Dru’s Book Musings last year on New Years Day. I decided to have Zoe Donovan, the main character in my popular mystery series of the same name, make some New Years Resolutions. Here is the post:

Hi, my name is Zoe Donovan. I am a 25 year old newly engaged woman who lives in the quaint hamlet of Ashton Falls. Every year I make exactly 5 New Year’s Resolutions. No more, no less. My fiancé Zak thinks my adherence to this rule a bit odd, but more than 5 makes it seem like I’m reaching for the stars giving me a reason to give up entirely, and less that 5 makes me feel like a slacker.

1. I resolve not to let my mom drive me crazy with wedding planning. (Seriously, everyone complains about bridezilla’s but no one mentions momzillas. My mother wants to take me to Paris to buy a wedding dress. Paris!!! Who in their right mind flies halfway around the world to buy a dress? Zak says that I should do my wedding my way which I assure you does not include a trip to Paris. I wonder if I can buy a wedding dress on Amazon. No muss, no fuss, plus free shipping for Prime members.
2. I resolve to keep my nose out of others peoples business. As long as it doesn’t concern me. Or intrigue me. Or provide a distraction when nothing is on television.
3. Speaking of television, I resolve to watch less TV. Unless either American Idol or Dancing with the Stars is on. Or Kitchen Wars. And of course it would be un-American not to watch Duck Dynasty. And you never know when the survival skills you might pick up on Survivor, or relationship tips you might gleam from Big Brother, will come in handy.
4. Speaking of relationship skills, I resolve not to be so jealous. Or needy. Or possessive. Okay, maybe jealousy is a given but I will not to jump to conclusions. Of course there are times when you need only take a tiny little step and there conclusions are, no jumping required.
5. And finally, I resolve not to let more than one homicidal maniac almost kill me this year. Last year? Well I don’t know that we need to discuss numbers but suffice it to say it was more than five.

 

   

Comment below with your New Years Resolution or goal (or just share that you don’t do resolutions) to be entered to win a signed set of all three books in the wedding trilogy.

 

 

 

Today is Christmas and I will be knee deep in family so this blog will simply be a heart felt wish from me to you.

 

 

 

Big hugs to all,
Kathi

 

Last Christmas I took some of the recipes from my books and created the Ashton Falls Cookbook. I am going to share a few of the recipes here. I hope you enjoy them. If you are interested in taking a look at the entire book here is the link: http://ow.ly/VScXy

Chicken and Green Chili Dip

Combine in large bowl:

2 large chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

2 cups artichoke hearts, chopped

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, grated

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

14 oz. diced green chiles (Ortega)

1 cup mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste

Pour into 9 x 13 pan. Top with additional grated cheese (as much as you want).

Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly, about 45 minutes.

Serve with chips, crackers, French bread slices, or tortillas.

Crab and Artichoke Dip

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

8 oz. Havarti cheese, grated

2 cans (approx. 14 oz. each) artichoke hearts, diced

8 oz. crab meat, fresh or canned

2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated

1 cup sour cream

2 tsp. horseradish (add more if you like it hot)

Mix and bake at 450 degrees for 30–45 minutes; stir after 20 minutes.

Serve with baguette slices, tortilla chips, or crackers.

Timberland Shrimp Chowder

Base:

1 stick butter

½ chopped onion (or more if you like onion)

3-4 cloves garlic, chopped

6 cups peeled and diced potato (frozen hash browns work as well)

2 lbs. cooked shrimp (any size; Rosie uses medium, but she has used salad shrimp in a pinch)

32 oz. chicken broth (can use part chicken broth and part water if preferred)

 

Spices: amounts can be adjusted to accommodate taste.

¼ tsp. chili powder

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

¼ tsp. ground cumin

¼ tsp. coriander

½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. paprika

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. white pepper

Melt butter in heavy pan. Sauté onion and garlic. Add potatoes and shrimp.

Cover with chicken broth (just enough to boil potatoes). Add spices.

Boil until potatoes are tender; the time will vary depending on the size of potato cubes.

Cheese sauce:

While potatoes are boiling, use a separate pan to make cheese sauce.

1 stick butter

4 oz. cream cheese (1 small or ½ large pkg.)

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (do not use non or low fat)

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese (or 1 cup Parmesan and 1 cup Romano)

 

Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add cream cheese. Stir until melted. Add cream. Add cheese a little at a time.

After potatoes are tender, slowly fold cheese sauce into base. Stir constantly until well blended.

Cheesy White Chicken Enchiladas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick spray.

Mix in a bowl:

3 large chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 cup sour cream

8 oz. diced green chiles (Ortega)

Fill 8 medium flour tortillas with chicken filling.

Sauce:

In a medium saucepan combine:

1 stick butter, melted over medium heat

4 oz. cream cheese, added to melted butter and stirred until smooth

1 cup heavy whipping cream, stirred until blended

1½ cups grated Parmesan, stirred in slowly to avoid lumps

Pour over tortillas and top with 16 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20–25 minutes. Broil for a few minutes to brown.

Easy Mac and Cheese

1 box (16 oz.) penne pasta

4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 can of Campbell’s Cream of Cheddar soup

1 can of Campbell’s Nacho Cheese soup

(you can use two cans of either if you like your casserole more or less spicy)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 jar (16 oz.) Alfredo sauce (any brand)

¾ cup milk

1 cup cashews (or more if you’d like)

Salt and pepper to taste

Cheddar cheese crackers

Boil pasta according to directions on box (10–12 min)

Meanwhile, mix cooked and cubed chicken, soups, cheeses, Alfredo sauce, milk, cashews, and salt and pepper together in a large bowl.

Drain pasta when tender and add to chicken mixture. Stir until well mixed.

Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Top with crumbled cheddar cheese crackers.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

 

Carrot Cake

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

3 cups finely shredded carrots

1 8 oz. pkg. softened cream cheese

1¼ cups vegetable oil

2 cups flour

2 tbs. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, well drained

2 cups walnuts, chopped

 

Beat eggs and sugar together until blended. Add carrots, cream cheese, and oil. Beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients. Stir in pineapple and nuts. Pour into greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 55–60 minutes.

 

Frosting:

¾ cup butter, softened

6 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 tbs. vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

Whip together and frost cake when cool; top with pecans.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with delicious food and good friends. Comment below to be eligible to win a Santa Sleuth Mug and Book.