Time's up, wolves.

Philosopher and award-winning author Kelly Oliver discusses how writing fiction helps her to deal with issues she's faced without getting her arrested for murder.

We touch on the evolving locations of Kelly's Jessica James series; the four books so far touch down in such different locations as Chicago academia, the wilds of Montana and Las Vegas. Kelly is keen to bring some of her research as a philosophy professor into her work while at the same time making her books fun and funny with rich characters who evolve.

Thank you to everyone last week who entered to win a copy of It's a Mystery podcast guest Matty Dalrymple's new audiobook, Rock Paper Scissors. Matty has been in touch with the winners and sent them their promo codes. Congratulations to the winners!

This episode of It's a Mystery Podcast is sponsored by the cozy romantic mystery, Love and Death at the Inn.

Born and raised on Juliet Island, Maggie Archer’s whole life is dedicated to the rustic inn her parents built. When a guest is found dead, the inn’s already precarious financial situation teeters on the brink. Maggie begins to wonder if the growing number of accidents at the inn are really just that, or if something more sinister is at play.

Elliott Simon’s life has recently gone off the rails. His stop on Juliet Island is meant to be temporary but when he finds a body floating in the ocean his plans are put on hold by the RCMP. Complicating matters is his growing attraction to the owner of the Cormorant Inn, the beautiful and headstrong Maggie Archer.

When a fire strikes at the inn, and it looks as though it could have been deliberately set, Maggie and Elliott are in a race to find the perpetrator before more tragedy strikes.

If you like character-based stories where friendship and love form the foundation, beautiful locations, and a little bit of romantic entanglement, then you’ll love Alexandra Amor’s heartwarming Juliet Island Romantic Mystery.

You can find out more about today's guest, Kelly Oliver, and all her books on her website KellyOliverBooks.com. You can also find her on Twitter @KellyOliverBook.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

* Click on any of the book covers to go to Kelly's books on Amazon

* Kelly mentions the 'ripped from the headlines' subjects in her books. Click here to learn more about the Time's Up initiative to end sexual assault, harassment, inequality in the workplace for women.

* Kelly and I recorded this interview before Sue Grafton passed away, and we touch on her books. You can read Sue's obituary from the Guardian here.

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