I am pleased to welcome Paige Shelton back to Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book. She is the author of the Farmer’s Market Mysteries and the Country Cooking School Mysteries. A Killer Maize (A Farmers’ Market Mystery) hit stores yesterday and I am so glad she could squeeze in a visit.
Hi Paige!
Hi Everyone!
It’s hard to believe that it’s December 2012. I’m holding tight to the hope that the Mayans were wrong, or that we’ve misinterpreted their calendar, or perhaps that they just ran out of energy to continue writing said calendar, and we’ll all ride safely into 2013. I’ve made sure not to neglect deadlines for books I have publishing next year, just to be safe.
A Killer Maize
is the fourth book in the Farmers’ Market Mystery series, and it’s also my fourth book that has published over the last twelve months. Add in a Farmers’ Market ebook short story, and I’ve definitely experienced some confusing moments lately. Every time someone asks me about a specific book, or character, or plot point, I fall into what probably looks like a daze, but in fact I’m just going through the “files” in my head to track down the right answer. The older I’ve gotten, the slower those files are to be found and opened. So, if I’m ever fortunate enough to meet you in person, I hope you’ll forgive me if I have to take a moment.
These busy years have shown me how incredibly valuable those are who I have pulled into my writer’s life. My family is astoundingly supportive and understanding. My agent and editor have been perfect. They have been there for me in moments when I wasn’t sure if I was headed in the right direction, or perhaps I knew I was headed in the wrong direction but I didn’t know the way out. I even once chose a wrong direction on purpose, and they were quick to let me know it was okay. Phew.
I have a couple friends who read what I write and kindly warn me if I’m off track. They are always thorough and have met the challenge of my recent tight deadlines. It could be considered rude to send an almost three hundred page attachment to someone with a note that says: “Any chance I could get this back in less than a week?” I don’t even need to say that anymore; my Beta readers are up to the task.
There’s also a whole team of people I rarely talk to and will probably never meet but who work with my publisher. A smart and efficient publicist, cover designers, copy editors – I couldn’t do what I do without them. I’ve tried to thank them personally in the acknowledgments of the last couple books, but I can’t express my gratitude enough.
Bloggers, reviewers, everyone who takes a moment to say something positive about my books – your support is sometimes so incredible that I feel overwhelmed. Pardon me this moment of melodrama, but you have brought happy tears to my eyes many times. As a writer, there’s nothing like hearing that something you’ve poured yourself into -something you’ve created – actually resonates with someone other than yourself.
And, most of all, if it weren’t for you, the book lovers and the book readers, I wouldn’t get the opportunity to have four books (and that short story) publish in a twelve month time period. Deadlines wouldn’t matter –shoot, they wouldn’t exist. Agents and editors would have no reason to guide with grace and patience. Cover designers, publicists, copyeditors, bloggers – they’d all have to find something else to do.
So, as the end of the world potentially draws near, I’d really just like to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do. You’re the best, and I wish you the happiest of holidays, a fantastic new year, and blessings of good health, abundant happiness, and an always overflowing stack of good books.
~Paige
Thank you for giving us such wonderful stories to read that bring us so much enjoyment and finding time in your very busy schedule to visit with us!
A Killer Maize
(A Farmers’ Market Mystery)
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425251744
Cover Illustration by Dan Craig
A few of the vendor’s from Bailey’s Farmer’s Market are taking their products to the Swayton County Fall Festival. The festival director thinks their unique products will bring in new customers to the festival. After the first day the vendors think they have made a big mistake. This festival is dead, hardly any people there at all. That is until one of the carnival workers is founding hanging from his rickety Ferris wheel, dead from a gunshot wound.
Funny how murder brings out the people out to the fair, including one of Becca’s exes. He just happens to be running one of the games at the festival and he is acting quite suspicious. Becca just can’t help herself. She has to work her way through a myriad of clues, lies, and secrets to “find a kernel of truth before the killer starts stalking her.”
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love the setting! A fall festival with a huge corn maze and dilapidated rides and maybe even a ghost. Paige Shelton always surprises and never disappoints. A carny with a spider tattoo on his neck!!! Mysterious owners, a creepy little town, and gypsy magic. This story should have come out at Halloween but I am not complaining. I fell right into this story and there is more than one maze in this story. We are led through the clues and hit a few dead ends and have to back up, regroup and chart a new path. Masterfully plotted, just masterful!!
I did miss the regulars at Bailey’s a bit but the new characters were quite colorful and unique. Scott Two’s appearance at the festival gave us a peak at Becca’s past and of course Sam helps out the local police a bit and is in just the right place at the right time.
On top of solving the crime Becca is also making a very important decision of her own. She also learns what Scott has been up to these past few years. I also loved the addition of another furry friend.
Head to the bookstores online or brick and mortar and harvest the homegrown mystery today. A jam packed who-dun-it that will “a-maize” you!
Find out more about Paige and her books at her webpage here.

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 1 copy to giveaway!!
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for Heather for 5 Bonus Entries !
If you publicize the giveaway anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End December 19, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I kept checking for the publish date. I m so glad it is here since I enjoy the series.
I must find the first one in this series so I can get to know the characters. Dee
Love the autumn colors on the cover. I normally like to read a series sequentially, but maybe I’ll make an exception for this one. Sounds like a fun read.
I love the titles in this series. Thank you for the chance to win
I do like this series a lot. Would love to win.
The book sounds wonderful and I am looking forward to reading it!
Please enter me. Thanks
I’d like to thank you for doing what you do! You write wonderful stories for us to enjoy, and I’m sure this one will be wonderful! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hi Paige,
I love the series and have enjoyed reading and owning them. I hope I’m the lucky winner and can add this title to my collection.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
I love mysteries. If I win this one I will have to get the first three.
yippee!
I haven’t read any of your books, yet. But I enjoy a cozy mystery now and then, and I really love the title of this one. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve always wanted to go in a corn maize, maybe not after this, lol.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Love this series! Can’t wait to read Killer Maize.
I love the covers-thanks for the chance to win.
This series looks so interesting! =) I was raised on a farm, and the story description of this cozy sounds so appealing! I love visiting Fall Festivals in my area.
thanks for the chance to win!
I love the setting of the farmer’s market and fall festival—makes me long for those summer and fall days again. Also I want to read this fun cozy book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Well, if the Mayans are right, at least I won’t have to worry about my laundry that is constantly in the dryer waiting to be folded! This sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am always sorry when I miss going to the local farmer’s market. I live in rural PA and I should read your books.
I really enjoyed your visit today, Paige! It’s interesting what all is involved in getting a book to market 🙂 I’m amazed you wrote 4 this year! I have most of your previous books on my TBR shelf. I need to hurry & read them before the world comes to an end!
people think im crazybut i always do my happy dance when paigr’s books are released.
I can’t believe the amount you wrote this year but I’m so glad you did! Wonderfully enjoyable books!
How great to see some now familiar faces and names (I love Facebook) and meet some new people. Thanks for all your kind words. Good luck!
Paige
Am looking forward to reading your works. What a great review and interview. Blessings, Susan Fryman
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read this series.
This sounds like a lovely read. I wonder if our descendants will ever pick up an old calender of ours and state that we thought the world was going to end on December 31 because that’s when the calendar ran out.
Ann
Love Paige’s books, especially the farmers market series!
What a fantastic series. Have a Merry Christmas!!
Looks like another good story. I think the Mayans are somewhere laughing at us over their joke of the worlds end. Oh I know it was the blurb of a Mayan mystery.
Bruce
This book reminds me of the corn maze that I got lost in Bloomington, Indiana. It was so much fun. This book should bring back a lot of memories!
Love the cover and sure love this author’s books.
I really enjoyed both of Paige’s series, can’t wait to read this one! Corn mazes aren’t to be trifled with, people really can get lost in them!
Love this series- cant wait to read this one
Cant wait to read Love cozy mysteries. Love the theme.
This sounds awesome Heather!
I love to read cozy mysteries , and the cover picture of your book. I cant wait to read it , its sounds so interesting . Thanks for the chance to win it
I used to have a horse farm next to a produce farm. This sounds like a book I would truly enjoy.
sounds like a fun one thanks for the giveaway!
sounds great love mysteries.thanks for the chance to win
I’m new to the series, but I’d LOVE to give it a try!
DO NOT change the wall paper
looks like a great story, WANT to WIN
I love both of Paige’s series. I look forward to reading A Killer Maize. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Holidays!