The Cozy Corner with Alexia Gordon

Shawn Reilly Simmons, author, editor, and member of the Malice Domestic Board of Directors, joins me to talk about the 7th book in her Red Carpet Catering Mysteries, Murder on the Chopping Block. Learn what inspired her to create her culinary cozy series. We also chat about the differences between writing novels, writing short stories, and editing anthologies and how a chance visit to a Malice Domestic conference led to more than a decade on the Board. Discover how her name is pronounced in Mexico, what her favorite culinary competition show is, and what our favorite true crime podcasts are. (Spoiler: mine's Small Town Murder.)

Find out more about Shawn: https://www.henerypress.com/author-simmons-shawn-reilly

Learn more about Malice Domestic, the annual fan convention celebrating the traditional mystery and register: http://malicedomestic.org/about.html

Learn about the Agatha Awards, presented at Malice Domestic to honor the best in traditional mystery: http://malicedomestic.org/agathas.html (Spot the teapots in Knives Out).

Shawn Reilly Simmons   Jan 1

John Gaspard                    Jan 15

Darcie Wilde                      Jan 29

Annette Dashofy              Feb 12

Julie Mulhern                    Feb 26

Season 2 of the podcast begins January 1 with guest, Shawn Reilly Simmons, author of the Red Carpet Catering Mysteries

Connie Di Marco, author of the Zodiac Mysteries, joins me in the Corner to chat about The Madness of Mercury, the first book in the series. Find out why Connie chose astrology as her amateur sleuth's profession, how real-life professional astrologers respond to her books, and what Mercury Retrograde really means.

Buy Connie's books wherever fine books are sold.

Find out more about Connie:

Twitter: @askzodia

https://www.facebook.com/zodiacmysteries/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/connie-di-marco

http://www.conniedimarco.com/

https://www.amazon.com/di-Marco-Connie/e/B01BMZ3ZUS/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Debra H. Goldstein, Agatha and Anthony Nominee, joins me to chat about the second book in her new cozy mystery series, Two Bites Too Many. We discuss following your passion, how to handle "heavy" topics in a "light" mystery, and how to make Jell-O (TM) in a can.

Books in the Sarah Blair Mysteries, from Kensington:

One Taste Too Many

Two Bites Too Many

Find Debra at:

https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com

https://www.facebook.com/DebraHollyGoldstein

Connie Berry, one of my Missdemeanors blog mates and the author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries, joins me in the Cozy Corner. We chat about the second Kate Hamilton book, A Legacy of Murder. We discuss English history, antiques, and Connie's refreshing take on the cozy amateur sleuth.

Find Connie at:

Website: www.connieberry.com

Facebook: Connie Berry, Author

Twitter @conniecberry

Pinterest: Connie Campbell Berry

Blog: www.missdemeanors.com

Michelle Cox joins me in the Cozy Corner to chat about A Veil Removed, book 4 in the award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series.

A blend of history, romance, and mystery, the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series has been described as "Downtown Abbey meets Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" with a dash of Jane Austen.

Michelle also writes “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents.

Find Michelle at

www.michellecoxauthor.com

Twitter: @michellecox33

Facebook: @michellecoxwrites

Instagram: michellecoxwrites

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/michelle-cox

Newsletter: http://michellecoxauthor.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Ellen Byron, who also writes as Maria DiRico, joins me in the Cozy Corner to chat about Fatal Cajun Festival, the fifth book in her Cajun Country mystery series and Here Comes the Body, the first book in her new Catering Hall mystery series.

The Cajun Country Mysteries, which have won Agatha and Lefty Awards and hit the USA Today bestseller list, immerse readers in small town Louisiana. The Catering Hall Mysteries will take readers to New York City. Both contain recipes. Fatal Cajun Festival is available now and Here Comes the Body debuts February 25, 2020 under the pen name Maria DiRico.

Find out more about Ellen at https://www.ellenbyron.com

Find out more about Ellen as Maria DiRico at https://www.amazon.com/Maria-DiRico

Ellen/Maria is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/ and https://www.facebook.com/ellen.byron

All treat, no tricks. Just in time for Halloween, Catriona McPherson, author of the Dandy Gilver and Lexy Campbell mysteries, as well as almost a dozen stand-alones, joins me in the Cozy Corner to chat about A Step So Grave (Dandy Gilver Book 13) and Strangers at the Gate (a stand-alone suspense).

The Dandy Gilver series channels Golden Age detective fiction as it transports readers to the 1930s. Strangers at the Gate is set in an eerie contemporary Scotland, a perfect read for the spooky season.

Catriona is a Scottish-born California resident who says "book" in the most charming way. She's a multi-award-winning full-time author and a doctor (PhD) of linguistics. She's a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Crimewriters' Association, and The Society of Authors. She'll be the Toastmaster at Bouchercon 2020, the SleuthFest 2020 Guest of Honor, and a Left Coast Crime 2021 Guest of Honor.

Find out more about Strangers at the Gate and A Step So Grave on Catriona's website, http://catrionamcpherson.com/

She's also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catriona.mcpherson.54