Tag Archives: tule mystery

Tule Author Q&A: Quick chat with Tule Mystery author Carol Light on writing mysteries, developing ideal characters and her time in Australia

Headshot of Author Carol LightWhat inspired you to start writing mysteries, and how did you develop your passion for the genre? Writers are advised to write in the genre they love to read, so that was mysteries for me. I enjoy solving problems, whether it’s a Sudoku puzzle, a broken appliance (love YouTube videos for simple repairs!), or a substitution in a recipe when I don’t have an ingredient. Mystery writing involves putting together characters and a crime and then unraveling what happened and why for the reader. I try to mix in just enough clues for my readers to possibly guess whodunit before I reveal the killer. It’s not as easy to do as it may sound, and my passion for the genre has continued to grow as I try to meet the challenge of constructing an enjoyable story that also contains a reasonably hard puzzle to solve.

How do your travels and the time you spent living in Australia influence your writing and the settings of your stories? My family moved every four years or so when I was growing up. We also visited my grandparents in their small town in Arkansas every year. Arkansas is my birth state and also the setting for my new series, the Crossroads Mysteries. Altogether, I’ve lived in eight states and Australia and enjoyed trips to many other places. While in Australia, I took advantage of every school vacation to travel around that country, New Zealand, and Asia.

Although by middle school I was tired of moving and having to make new friends, I think having to adapt to new people and places gave me the confidence to pursue a teaching position overseas in Australia, which was an incredible experience. I believe travel adds to your understanding of the world and our common humanity. Meeting people in different places and hearing their stories has provided me with many ideas for characters. Who knows—I may introduce an Aussie in a future story!

Can you share any particularly interesting or funny experiences you had while teaching high school English in Australia? The first school where I taught in Australia was a technical high school, and it was all boys! I was one of only three female teachers, although the office staff and librarian were also women. The boys were wonderful to teach. I was only in my twenties, but sometimes they’d slip and call me “mum” instead of “miss.” They were also good about apologizing for swearing in my presence, whether I’d heard them or not!

Room for Suspicion book cover featuring black and white house image with Carol Light's name.Your sleuths are often amateurs with normal lives. What draws you to this type of character, and how do you go about creating them? I love reading books about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances and having (or wanting) to do something about it. My characters aren’t the type to wait around for answers. After all, curiosity is a driving force for most humans. To create them, I identify their strengths and weaknesses and figure out what in their background may contribute to them becoming sleuths when circumstances, usually a murder, encourage or demand it. Crystal Ward, for example, is a professional problem-solver as an organizer and interacts with many people. Her years of marriage to a detective have given her some knowledge of what to look for and what questions to ask in conducting investigations. She’s also brave and determined to “sort out” messy situations, even if it involves personal risk.

How do you integrate your love for quilting into your writing process, and are there any parallels between solving a mystery and quilting? Wow—there are many parallels between the two. Quilting, like writing, involves piecing bits and pieces together to create a pattern or a picture. As both a quilter and writer, I know when I start what the finished work will look like. I have to assemble fabrics and cut them into shapes in quilting, just as I have to create characters and scenes (and other pieces, like settings and subplots) to create a novel. I then have to stitch it all together. In a mystery, this means gradually giving the reader the pieces (clues, backstories, evidence, and a few red herrings) to solve the mystery. Both processes, while creative, are time consuming and require occasional ripping out and starting over. It’s always a moment of great joy to finish the last hem stitch or type “The End” on the last page.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of writing a mystery novel, and how do you overcome them? Believe it or not, naming characters is challenging for me. I often research online lists of popular first names by birth year, which helps. I might make up a last name, use a common one, or find one I like in browsing a newspaper or the internet.

Another big challenge is providing clues as to why the crime was committed and by whom without giving away the killer’s identity too soon. Creating multiple suspects with reasons to murder the victim helps to distract the reader, but it’s still tricky. I usually find I’m revising my outline halfway through the first draft to make the plot work better.

Living in Florida, does the local culture and environment influence your storytelling? If so, in what ways? My neighbors joke that I should write about some of the situations that have occurred in our community, such as the elderly woman with a suspicious caregiver who hadn’t been seen in months until a neighbor called the police for a wellness check. We have many active, well-educated retirees in this area with incredible backgrounds in all kinds of areas. I’ve had help with research from people here, and they’ve been very supportive in promoting my books and hosting author events for me.

As for the state’s culture and environment overall, it’s very diverse and often exotic. Florida is famous for weird and crazy (but true!) stories and people. The wildlife is also amazing. I live on the edge of the Everglades and have had alligators, black bears, and pythons in my neighborhood. And then there’s the weather. I’ve hunkered down for five major hurricanes and haven’t been blown away yet. Despite all of these dangers and summer heat, Florida is a mecca for writers. I’d say it’s a great place for creative inspiration and storytelling!

What are some of your favorite mystery novels or authors that have influenced your work? I love British mysteries, although two of my favorite series about detectives in the UK are written by American authors—Elizabeth George and Deborah Crombie. Peter Lovesey’s humor and humanity inspires me, and he’s not afraid to break the mold. The Last Detective begins with a fisherman discovering a body in a lake. Aha! We have our victim and can start solving the mystery. But wait a minute…the fisherman then goes home and tells no one. What?? It’s not until the next day and scene that someone else notices the victim and calls the police. I knew from that first chapter, which made me laugh, that I’d enjoy his writing.

I’m also a fan of Michael Connelly, John Sandford, Jonathan Kellerman, Tana French, and Australian writers Jane Harper and Liane Moriarty. There are too many to name. Diane Mott Davidson’s series about caterer Goldie Schulz was inspirational for me in creating a series about an amateur female sleuth. 

Can you give us a sneak peek into your writing routine? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that help you stay focused and creative? I prefer writing in the morning, ideally three hours per day. I use Saturdays to make up any time and don’t write on Sundays unless I’m close to a deadline. I make my first cup of tea (English Breakfast or Darjeeling) and work on my Mac until lunchtime. Sometimes, depending on when I start, I continue after lunch. I’ve recently started attending write-in sessions with Sisters in Crime some mornings, which makes the process seem less isolated. I’m good about sticking to my schedule most days and look forward to writing.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to create their own amateur sleuths and engaging mysteries? Read a lot of mysteries like the one you want to create and analyze them. Also, take courses (online or in person) on writing. Some are offered with membership to writers’ groups, such as Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, or Jericho Writers. There’s much more to the craft than you might think, even if you have a degree in English or believe you’re already a good writer. There are also many helpful books on writing, such as Elizabeth George’s Write Away and Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. 

Most important, to be a writer you have to write. Maybe not every day, but you have to stick with it consistently. New ideas and solutions to plotting and character problems will come if you’re keeping the story in mind. Then, when you finish, have someone read it who will give you honest criticism and be open to receiving feedback. Belonging to a writer’s group or having critique partners can also be very helpful as you develop your skills. Writing is a craft and it takes practice to master it.

BONUS: What is one comfort read that you find yourself always reaching for? Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s Breathing Room. Love that book! A wonderful romance written with humor, it’s also a very heartwarming story about overcoming setbacks in life and finding hope for the future.

Tule Author Q&A: Get to know Tule Cozy Mystery author J.C. Kenney and how he plays the “long game”

What do you find most rewarding about writing mystery novels, and what do you find most challenging? The most rewarding thing is when people tell me they enjoy my stories. I write because it makes me happy. And I mean that literally. I live with depression and writing helps keep that ever present black cloud at arm’s length. While having something to help me manage my depression is huge, knowing that my stories have a positive impact, even a tiny one, on someone’s life is the most gratifying thing ever. 

The most challenging thing as a mystery writer is walking that tightrope between writing an engaging whodunnit while playing fair. When readers finish one of my stories, I hope they are surprised by the reveal, but also think the ending makes sense. On the other side of the coin, I don’t want to make clues so obvious that it takes all the fun out of trying to figure out who the murderer is.

You have two grown children. Have your family experiences or relationships influenced any characters or plots in your books? Absolutely. My older kiddo lives with a number of physical and mental health conditions. Between their challenges and my depression, it’s become natural for me to include a character or a subplot involving mental health. I’m trying to do what I can to erase the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses. On a happier note, my younger kiddo is a music teacher. I tap into his knowledge of all things musical to make sure I get certain things right. My wife is a genetic counselor who loves genealogy, so the plot of one of my Allie Cobb books involved a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. Getting the genetics and forensic genealogy correct in that book was a challenge, and I couldn’t have done it without her.

Your cat likely provides some unique company while you write. Does your feline friend ever inspire any aspects of your characters or stories? A total lap cat, Maria is my constant companion. Since I work from home for my day job, constant is not an exaggeration! In one way or another, she’s been the basis for all three cats in my books; Ursula, Ringo, and Oscar. My goal is to convey the idea that, despite their reputation to the contrary, cats can be very attentive and loving companions. That’s Maria. Well, that and the fact that she’s always ready for her next meal! 

As a bestselling author, what do you think are the key elements to writing a compelling mystery that keeps readers hooked until the last page? To me, it all boils down to having characters the readers find compelling. As a cozy mystery author, my amateur sleuths and their friends and family need to be people readers care about and want to root for. Next, the mystery needs to be interesting enough to keep readers following along while also providing enough clues to make the story fair. At the story’s conclusion, I want a reader to be either surprised when the whodunnit is revealed or pleased that they figured it out. A unique setting is a big plus, too. 

What advice would you give to aspiring mystery writers who are looking to build their own successful series? Remember that writing is a long game. You need time to build a following, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t sell a boatload of books right away. It’s also important to surround yourself with people who will lift you up when you’re having a tough day, tell you the truth when you need it, and care about you as a person. Also, the only competition you have as a writer is with yourself to write the best story you can. 

BONUS: What is one book that you would consider to be your comfort read that you will always reach for? When I’m in a reading funk, I go to Agatha Christie. I got my start with mysteries when I read And Then There Were None when I was in high school. Murder At the Vicarage and Evil Under the Sun are my personal favorites. I enjoy historical mysteries because they really take me away from the here and now. And you can’t beat a whodunnit by the Queen of Crime Fiction.

Top 5 Mysteries to Read on a Plane

Flying these days requires a lot of patience—and there’s no better way to harness that skill than to be absorbed in a world far away from middle seats between two people hogging your arm rests, narrow aisles, and a roller bag stuffed at your feet because someone else thought the overhead bin was for their coat and purse.

Travel today is crying out for a world where there is no turbulence, just sheer excitement. So check out these Tule mysteries on your next trip and touch down in a good mood!

  1. Buried (Twisted Cedars Mysteries), C.J. Carmichael

    Decades of silence. A shocking discovery. Some secrets refuse to stay buried.

    True crime writer Dougal Lachlan swore he’d never set foot in Twisted Cedars again. Not even for his sister’s upcoming wedding. But an email promising the story of a lifetime pulls him back to his hometown against his better judgement.

    Thirty years ago, five librarians were murdered across quiet coastal towns in Oregon, leaving a trail of unsolved mysteries. All signs point to a serial killer.

    As Dougal plunges into the investigation, he enlists the help of local librarian Charlotte Hammond, who prefers her mysteries between the covers of a good book since the disappearance of her older sister Daisy.

    The more they dig, the more buried secrets they unearth only to realize nothing is quite what it seems, and the danger may be closer to home than they thought…

    Recommendation: 21k reviews at Amazon with a majority of them 5 stars says it all. CJ Carmichael’s easy style draws you in, so pull out your neck pillow and settle in. If it’s a long flight, download the series. You won’t want to leave small-town Twisted Cedars, Oregon!


  2. Killer Close to Home (Cluttered Crime Mysteries), Carol Light

    Not all clutter is visible to the human eye …

    Professional organizer Crystal Ward’s latest client, her neighbor Roscoe Tremaine, is changing his will, an announcement that sets off an explosive reaction within his family. That same night, a gas leak ignites, destroying his house, killing him, and rocking the Ward family at its foundation.

    Her husband, Rick, is injured in the blast, so Crys hires Roscoe’s former caregiver, Wink Keller, to help him recover after surgery. But trouble is just beginning. Both Crys and Wink are beneficiaries in Roscoe’s will, and their alliance sends accusations flying from the Tremaines’ side of the fence.

    Crys has her hands full dealing with her client’s not-so-grieving relatives, a teenaged girl stalking Wink, and a suspicious fire inspector. But when threatening “gifts” left on the Wards’ doorstep escalate, Crys is forced to sort through a tangled web of relationships, including her own, to keep her family safe.

    Recommendation: A story that is as much about family as it is solving the mystery, Killer Close to Home absorbs you into this very real neighborhood that feels just like your own. The setting is Chicago, but the appeal is to every suburban traveler looking for reassurances that nice folks don’t finish last.


  3. A Chain of Pearls (Martha’s Vineyard Murders), Raemi A. Ray

    The last thing she wants is to dig up the past…

    When the body of a celebrated journalist is fished from the Edgartown Harbor, the official report rules his death accidental. But why was he alone on a senator’s yacht during a nor’easter? That’s only the first question London-based lawyer Kyra Gibson has when she arrives on the idyllic island of Martha’s Vineyard to settle her estranged father’s affairs.

    She’s not looking for closure. She’s not seen him in decades since he left her with her aunt following her mother’s death. But as Kyra delves deeper into her father’s life, she learns he had many regrets and wasn’t as retired as she believed. The more Kyra discovers, the more questions she has. With the help of world-weary detective, Tarek Collins, they uncover a web of intrigue and corruption involving a powerful senator, a dubious energy company, and brutal murder.

    As they chase down clues, Kyra and Tarek flirt with danger and race against time to solve the murders and uncover the dark secrets lurking beneath Martha’s Vineyard’s picturesque façade of old money wealth and privilege.

    Recommendation: An idyllic island setting known for its iconic lighthouses, fantasy cottages, and famous residents is an excellent vacation destination—but even if you aren’t bound for the East Coast, this Martha’s Vineyard mystery brings the mystique right to your seat. Bonus points for a hot detective, too.


  4. Something Shady at Sunshine Haven (The Accidental Detective), Kris Bock
    She’s pursued the most dangerous news stories around the world. But can she survive going home?

    Injured in a bombing, war correspondent Kate Tessler returns to her hometown in Arizona to recover. For the first time in her life, she’s starting to feel her age of nearly fifty despite living like a teenager again: staying in her childhood bedroom with only a cat for company, trying to understand why her sister resents her so much, and running into people who still refer to her as Kitty. The hardest part? Seeing her once-sharp and witty mother stuck in an Alzheimer’s unit.

    When an old friend asks her to investigate suspicious deaths at the nursing home, Kate limps into action. Is a self-appointed “Angel of Mercy” killing patients to end their suffering? Are family members hastening their inheritance? Is an employee extorting money and removing the witnesses? Kate uses her journalism skills to track clues, but the puzzle pieces simply won’t fit.

    If Kate can’t uncover the truth quickly, her mother could be next on the killer’s list.

    Recommendation: The father-daughter relationship will warm your heart far more than Phoenix, Arizona, sun in this Southwestern setting. Kate’s used to danger, knows how to investigate, and that makes her the best option to tackle problems that don’t interest the police yet, so you can count on plenty of clues, twists, and characters in this whodunnit.


  5. A Long Shadow (Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery), HL Marsay

    Old sins cast long shadows…

    When the bodies of a young, homeless girl and a girl who disappeared thirty years ago are found on the same day, residents in the historic city of York are aghast. It seems unlikely the two cases are related, and yet some of the same players knew both victims. As Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow and his eager new partner, Sergeant Jimmy Chang, dive into their investigation, they uncover a complicated web of pop stars, pub owners, shopkeepers and old school friends who each have something to hide.

    John Shadow is a man of contradictions. A solitary figure who shuns company, but is a keen observer of all he meets. A lover of good food, but whose fridge is almost always empty. He prefers to work alone and is perpetually trying to dodge his partner, who’s full of energy, modern ideas and theories.

    But as the two men gradually learn to work together to solve the case, it’s clear that the past is never as far away as you think.

    Recommendation: Seasoned British detective. Eager young pup for a partner. Enough said. With a name like John Shadow, you know this inspector has many fascinating layers just waiting to be revealed.

C.J. Carmichael’s Twisted Cedars Anniversary Editions Find Forever Home with Tule

It’s a big week for USA Today bestselling author C.J. Carmichael, as her latest stand-alone mystery, Tangle of Lies, releases May 16. We’re also celebrating the special anniversary release of her wildly popular Twisted Cedars Mysteries titles: Buried, Forgotten, and Exposed.

Buried alone has 21,000 reviews on Amazon, with the majority of those five-star ratings. So for those fans, we sat down with C.J. for some behind-the-scenes secrets:

Q. Share a moment when you were scared while writing your book.
A. In Buried, there is a scene where Jamie is out in the forest on her own, running from danger but possibly also running to danger. That got my blood pumping!

Q: What situation turns you into the biggest scaredy-cat?

A: I hate looking out a window if I’m alone in the dark at night. I’m afraid there will be a face looking back at me!

Q: What secret have you kept hidden—until now?

A. Oh no. You’re not going to break me this easily.

Behind the Scenes Q&A with Tule Mystery’s Melinda Di Lorenzo

Just because authors write mysteries doesn’t make them dark, scary people. In fact, in many ways, they fit in with the rest of us!

We sat down with Melinda Di Lorenzo, author of The Lockwood Gate Thriller Series, whose next book, The Echo, publishes on May 7.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: What situation turns you into the biggest scaredy-cat?
A: Being alone in the house and watching scary movies. BUT I DO IT TO MYSELF ALL THE TIME. Glutton for punishment.

Q: What is the funniest feedback you’ve received on your book?
A: Feedback often makes me chuckle, but my favourite review of any of my books says that it seemed like I was making up the story as I went along. Spoiler: I was making it up.

Q: When did you know you wanted to write mysteries/thrillers? What led you to that genre?
A: It’s hard to pinpoint it. I like to say I’ve always been a writer, and my parents can verify that I’ve been scribbling stories ever since I could hold a pencil. When I was a kid, I used to watch Murder She Wrote with my Grammy, and that was definitely a major influence on my taste. I also loved, loved, LOVED the Trixie Beldon books. I read that series countless times. I’ve also loved the terrifying Disney movie, Watcher in the Woods. And I have to say, a twist ending is my favourite thing! I love creating them.

Q: Time to confess! What, besides a speeding ticket, has been your closest brush with the law?
A: Lol. My husband likes to tell this story about how one night, many years ago, he was the designated driver for a bunch of tipsy folks. His car got a little stuck in a divot, and the police made him get out for questioning. Meanwhile, the tipsy folks were shouting about how sober he was and getting really worked up. I may or may not have been one of the tipsy folks.

Your Upcoming Cruise on the Thalassophile of the Seas: Frequently Asked Questions for Guests in UNTIL DEPTHS DO US PART

Congratulations on booking your first cruise on the luxury private residential cruise ship, the Thalassophile of the Seas! Whether you are a relative of a suite owner or have rented a unit through Travel the World Experiences and Rental Properties (TWERP) we want to ensure your sailing adventure is everything you have dreamed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What is a private residential cruise ship? Similar to a condominium, the Thalassophile boasts a hundred privately owned luxury residences ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms, along with five restaurants, two bars, a handful of boutiques, a casino/gaming room, a cigar lounge, a spa and hair salon, a grocery store, a fitness center, a full-sized tennis court, two swimming pools, two hot tubs, a theater, and a library. Each suite owner is able to decorate their units however they would like, so depending on which unit you are renting, the furnishings will be varied.

How are the itineraries set? Every October the owners meet to discuss the sailing itineraries for the following year. A vote is taken, with each unit receiving one vote. The goal is to not repeat a port of call more than once every five years, except for Seattle, our home port. One owner proposes Tuvalu every time, simply because it’s the world’s least visited nation, but he always gets outvoted.

What types of activities are available? In addition to the standard amenities such as yoga classes, spa days, and a gaming casino, each sailing is themed to a port of call, as are the activities. For example, our sailing to Yokohama, Japan featured a Sakura blossom celebration, a Ninja demonstration, and an origami class. Our New Orleans events included a Mardi Gras party and a masquerade ball mask making class.

What about safety and security? I’ve heard there’s been some trouble recently. The per capita murder rate has been exaggerated. * The Thalassophile has a full time, round the clock security crew, headed by former special forces commander Xavier Mesnier. We have a state of the art security camera system that works well, as long as it’s not disabled by those with nefarious intent. Rigorous background checks are made on owners, guests, and crew. Very rarely someone slips through, but our crack team always gets their man—or woman–eventually. Sometimes they are aided by residents Charlotte McLaughlin and Jane Cobb, but only in an unofficial capacity. They have a knack for solving crimes, probably from their years as librarians with a penchant for crime fiction.

Tell me about the other staff and crew onboard. We are truly an international community. The ship is captained by Karl Knutson (Norway) and his co-captain Marco Bellucci (Italy). Zahra Idris (Nigeria) is the general ship manager. Each unit is serviced by an assigned butler; our most prestigious being Windsor Hadwin (England) who may or may not have served the royal family (he’s unable to speak about it, so don’t ask). In the dining room we are grateful to have Ulfric Anton (Germany) as our maître D’ and Haimi Dara (India) who is both head server and food and beverage manager. Executive Chef Elliot Patenaude (France) creates a varied menu of delicious and elevated dining experiences (Just keep an eye on your wife). Cortes (California) and Egan (Ireland), our bartenders extraordinaire, can make you any cocktail you can think of. Just remember, whatever you tell them under the influence may not stay a secret. All our staff and crew are hardworking and professional with an emphasis on the highest customer service.

We hope you enjoy traversing the high seas aboard this truly unique vessel.
*Actual murder rates per sailing may vary.


About the Author.

Kate B Jackson (KB Jackson) is an author of mystery novels for grownups and mystery/adventure novels for kids. She lives in the Pacific NE with her husband and at least one of her four grown children at any given time. Her debut middle grade release is “The Sasquatch of Hawthorne Elementary” (Reycraft Books) about a twelve-year-old boy hired by the most popular girl at his new school to investigate what she saw in the nearby woods. Book one in the Chattertowne Mysteries series, “Secrets Don’t Sink,” (Level Best Books July 2023) introduces Audrey O’Connell, a small town feature reporter who, when her former boyfriend’s body is found floating in the local marina, uncovers the depths to which some will go to keep secrets submerged.

Her debut novel in the Cruising Sisters mystery series, Until Depths Do Us Part (Tule Publishing) will be released Spring 2024.

Capturing the Uniqueness of Martha’s Vineyard: Release Day for A CHAIN OF PEARLS!

Hi friends, my name is Raemi Ray. It’s pronounced like ‘Amy’ but with an ‘R’ or as my dad tells people, ‘Like the Sound of Music: do-RE-MI.’ Before you ask, no it’s not short for anything and has absolutely zero meaning. The parents just liked it, I suppose.

Awkward intros out of the way, hi again. I write murder mystery stories for Tule and I’m thrilled to be here to announce the first book in my brand new Martha’s Vineyard Murders series. A Chain of Pearls will be out April 9. 

A little about the book:

The last thing she wants is to dig up the past…

When the body of a celebrated journalist is fished from the Edgartown Harbor, the official report rules his death accidental. But why was he alone on a senator’s yacht during a nor’easter? That’s only the first question London-based lawyer Kyra Gibson has when she arrives on the idyllic island of Martha’s Vineyard to settle her estranged father’s affairs.

She’s not looking for closure. She’s not seen him in decades since he left her with her aunt following her mother’s death. But as Kyra delves deeper into her father’s life, she learns he had many regrets and wasn’t as retired as she believed. The more Kyra discovers, the more questions she has. With the help of world-weary detective, Tarek Collins, they uncover a web of intrigue and corruption involving a powerful senator, a dubious energy company, and brutal murder.

As they chase down clues, Kyra and Tarek flirt with danger and race against time to solve the murders and uncover the dark secrets lurking beneath Martha’s Vineyard’s picturesque façade of old money wealth and privilege.

My books, as the series’ name suggests, are ‘whodunnit’ style murder mysteries set on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve been visiting the island year-round since college and it holds a special place in my heart. Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with the geography and its unique culture, so inherently New England, but with something else, that’s entirely its own. 

It was important to me to capture that uniqueness in my books, and many of places I talk about are either real places, like the towns of Edgartown and Menemsha, or were inspired by the real-life places and businesses that I’ve patroned over the years. Of course, I’ve taken some liberties, so please don’t come for me, when you find out Kyra’s house doesn’t actually exist (but the silkie chickens do, iykyk). 

In the first installment, my readers, like my main character Kyra Gibson, an expat visiting the island for the first time, get to explore Martha’s Vineyard through fresh eyes. I hope you enjoy visiting the island as much as I do and if you do, please continue to visit along with Kyra and her friends in books two (The Wraith’s Return) and three (Widow’s Walk) publishing later this year. The books all follow the same characters solving different island mysteries and can be read standalone, but if you read them in order you’ll discover some easter eggs. 

Thanks for your time and follow me on my socials for giveaways, updates, and a general look into my travels to and from the island.  Thanks again, Cheers!


About the Author.

Raemi Amanda Ray is the author of A Chain of Pearls, her debut and the first book in a Martha’s Vineyard Murders series set on Martha’s Vineyard. Her travels to the island and around the world inspire her stories. She lives in Boston.

Two Truths and a Lie About Tule Author Raemi A. Ray

Raemi A. Ray’s Tule debut, A Chain of Pearls, is set to publish on April 9—the origin story for the investigative journey lawyer Kyra Gibson is about to embark on at Martha’s Vineyard to clean up after the death of her estranged father.

So we sat down with Raemi to get her origin story, too. Which of these “facts” isn’t true?

    1. Her pen name is actually her pet’s name, too.

    2. She finds inspiration for her mysteries by pulling from news headlines and adding in a murder.

    3. She has a side gig reviewing book covers on social media.

 Raemi set her series in Martha’s Vineyard because she started popping over to the island for summer holidays with friends while she was at university in Boston. Eventually, she started hanging out there for weekends and more throughout the year, too. It became her escape from city life. “It’s such a unique place, being quintessential New England but having its own identity so different from Nantucket and Cape Cod,” she says.

To experience her Martha’s Vineyard, take an umbrella and find a spot on South or State Beach in the summer to enjoy the ocean, or take a drive to Aquinnah or a boat ride around Chappy. If you’re there in August, she recommends the lantern festival and end-of-season fireworks. In the spring and fall, she often explores the trails near Felix Neck or shops and eats her way through OB and Edgartown.

At night? She could be scouring newspapers for interesting news. Or you could find her with her computer, reviewing book covers. A Chain of Pearls, of course, gets a 5-star rating. “Part of the book takes place in the real-life fishing village of Menemsha during a nor’easter. Nor’easters are these New England storms sort of like winter hurricanes with lashing rains and high winds,” she explains. “They often hit the islands. I think the cover embodies the feel of a deserted seaside town during such a storm. It’s foreboding and dark but not unrealistic.”

Home is where her heart is, as her idea of a perfect way to celebrate this debut would be to curl up with a glass of wine, a book, and her house demon, DolphLundgren—her reading buddy-slash-heating blanket. In this respect, she’s very much like her character, Detective Tarek Collins, who is quiet and reserved, more likely to observe the world around them.

“But I’m sure someone will drag me out to celebrate!” she adds. Perhaps that will include her childhood friends, the ones who nicknamed her Raemi Ray.

A Chain of Pearls was a 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist. Pre-order your copy today!!


About the Author.

 

Raemi Amanda Ray is the author of A Chain of Pearls, her debut and the first book in a Martha’s Vineyard Murders series set on Martha’s Vineyard. Her travels to the island and around the world inspire her stories. She lives in Boston.

Q&A with Tule Author Candace Havens as She Talks Ainsley McGregor Film News!

We connected with Tule author, Candace Havens, on her recent news that her Ainsley McGregor mystery series will launch with Candace Cameron Bure as our distinguished Ainsley!

Q: Where were you when you found out that A Case for the Winemaker had been optioned for film?

I was at home working on a new mystery series and our wonderful publisher, Jane Porter, texted that she had news. I may have freaked out a little!

Q: What are your watch party plans? 

I’ll probably gather family and friends at my house for a sleuth-themed get-together. They won’t forgive me but I might make them come as their favorite sleuths. 

Q: How is Ainsley McGregor taking the news differently from Candace Havens? 

I think she would have been just as surprised as I was. The news came out of nowhere and is quite flattering to us both. I mean, she’s a fictional character, but she would be overwhelmed with gratitude just like me. 

Q: Which actor have you been told you most resemble?

I have no idea. That’s something you all will have to tell me. I can say I’m super excited that Candace Bure is playing Ainsley. She’s the perfect fit! 

Be sure to check out the entire Ainsley McGregor series by Candace Havens and mark your calendars for your very own watch party!


About the Author.

Bestselling and award-winning author Candace Havens has had more than thirty novels published. She is one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. She does film reviews on Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS.

Tule Author Q&A: H L Marsay Talks About Her Tule Mysteries!

Tule Mystery author, H L Marsay stopped by to talk about her recent releases, her characters, and when she first discovered her love for mysteries.

Q: What difference between The Lady in Blue and Inspector Shadow series excites you the most as an author?

A: The Chief Inspector Shadow series is set in the present day and in York, my home city, so writing those books feels quite safe and familiar. However, the Lady in Blue Mysteries are set during the First World War and I loved the challenge of writing a historic series. Also, Dorothy and some of the other main characters are based on real people, so there was a huge amount of research for each story. I immersed myself in reading books, watching documentaries, and even listening to music from the period. I also made several trips to London. Although the city has changed a lot in the last hundred years, it was still possible to visit some of the locations I mention in the books, such as the Marlborough Street Magistrate’s Court (now a very swish hotel), Caxton Hall, and Cheyne Row, where Mary and Margaret lived. It was wonderful to feel I was walking in the footsteps of all the amazing women who feature in the Lady in Blue Mysteries.

Q: Share some of your favorite feedback for The Body in Seven Dials. What do you think readers will bond with in A Death in Chelsea?

A: The release of a new series is always a nerve-racking time, but I was thrilled to hear some of my readers describe The Body in Seven Dials as “compelling,” “fascinating,” and “a remarkable story.” In A Death in Chelsea, we see Dorothy and her colleagues investigating the death of an elderly and very wealthy gentleman. Unfortunately, he was also a rather unpleasant man, so there is a long list of possible suspects. 

I hope readers will bond with my main character, Dorothy Peto, and the other members of the Women Police Volunteers. They were so brave and so determined to do something to help their country when it was at war, although they weren’t even allowed to vote. One review of the first book said, “It was inspiring to read what ideas they had to try and better themselves.”

Q: You grew up binge-reading detective series. Do you recall who introduced you to your first mystery? 

A: My sisters are seven and ten years older than me (I was a surprise/mistake depending on who you ask!) so like any self-respecting little sister, I spent many hours raiding their rooms for cassette tapes, makeup, clothes for dressing up, and, of course, books. It was during one of these raids that I discovered the complete collection of Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven books. I immediately fell in love with these stories of seven children and Scamper, the dog, acting as detectives from their headquarters in a garden shed. Once I had devoured all those books, I progressed to the Famous Five, Blyton’s other series about a group of children who spend their summer holidays solving mysteries. I should also add that I was quite ill as a child, and most photos from when I was seven or eight show me sitting on a sofa with a duvet wrapped around me, a dog at my feet, and my head buried in a book. That still sounds like heaven to me!

Q: What still holds your interest in mysteries, even though as a writer, you now have an insight into how the magic happens at the keyboard?

A: I think the appeal of solving a puzzle is timeless. Whether it’s a classic from the golden age, a fiendish “locked room,” a cozy, or a chilling psychological thriller, I love trying to pick out the real clues from the red herrings and work out “who dunnit” before the detective does. That’s what makes mysteries so popular and so enduring and of course creates the biggest challenge when trying to write one!


About the Author.

H L Marsay grew up binge-reading detective stories and promised herself that some day, she would write one too. A Long Shadow was the first book in her Chief Inspector Shadow series set in York. Luckily, living in a city so full of history, dark corners and hidden snickelways, she is never short of inspiration. She has also written The Secrets of Hartwell Trilogy and The Lady in Blue Mysteries. The Chief Inspector Shadow Mysteries have recently been optioned for television.

When she isn’t coming up with new ways to bump people off, she enjoys drinking red wine, eating dark chocolate and reading Agatha Christie – preferably at the same time!