Welcome to a Special Thursday Edition of Cozy Wednesday!
Liz is one of the busiest authors I know so I am delighted that she can
still squeeze in a visit to Escape With Dollycas.
Wow! It seems like only yesterday I was a guest with Dollycas to promote book two of my Clueless Cook series from Berkley. How time flies! Here I am, again hocking another book – – or two – – or three.
Yep, you heard me right. Now that I have your attention I wanted to tell you a funny story about my research for Murder for the Halibut,
Anyway, the first thing I had to do was get the crazy characters from the Empire Apartments on the ship with her – – orders from my editor! With that figured out, I started the actual research.
You guessed it. Hubby and I took the seven-day cruise from Miami to the Western Caribbean islands. On the day we boarded the ship, I marched right down to the main desk and announced that I was a writer and that I needed to interview the head chef and the head of security. The lady looked at me as if I had three heads. It seems you have to schedule stuff like that months in advance, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to talk to someone.
Well, anyone who knows me already suspects I didn’t take no for an answer. On our first day at sea, there was a cooking demonstration in the main lobby, and several of the chefs were there. When it was over, I made my way to the head honcho, introduced myself, and basically asked if he wanted to help me write a book. Of course, that drew a crowd of interested chefs, all foreigners, mind you, and it was decided we would all meet the next morning in the coffee shop.
When I rounded the corner and saw four of them, all in their white starched uniforms and gigantic hats waiting for me, I nearly died. I introduced myself again, told them the name of my book and the basic plot, and voila! Before long I had all four of them chiming in with ways to kill someone using food on a cruise ship. I can’t even begin to describe the faces of the other passengers who couldn’t help overhearing as they sipped their cappuccinos. With enough material to get me started, I thanked the chefs profusely and left with a lot of great ideas to work with.
I never thought any more about it and concentrated on taking notes about the islands so I could include them in my story. On Friday night, our last night at sea, there was another huge cooking demonstration in the main theater, and hubby and I went. When it was over, one of the chefs came up to me and asked if I would meet him in an hour at the coffee shop. I figured he’d thought of another angle for my plot. Imagine my surprise when he was waiting for me with the typed recipe for Grilled Halibut Caribbean Style with the killer ingredient added. I nearly kissed the man.
Although he gave me his e-mail address, I haven’t received an answer back from him yet. I don’t know whether the e-mail is wrong or he’s ignoring me. I would like him to know that I acknowledged him in the front of the book and would love to send him a copy so he could see his own personal recipe included in the back.
All in all, we had a great time and I would do it again in a New York minute. Oh, what we sometimes have to do in the name of research!
And those other books I mentioned earlier—I have a romantic suspense titled SHATTERED DREAMS releasing in March and the first book of A Dead Sister Talking Mystery titled Heard it Through the Grapevine 
So tell me, have you ever been on a cruise, and if not, where would your dream cruise take you?
~Liz
So jealous, I have never been on a cruise but hope to someday!
About This Author
Liz Lipperman started writing many years ago, even before she retired from the medical field. Wasting many years thinking she was a romance writer but always having to deal with the pesky villains who kept popping up in all her stories, she finally gave up and decided since she read mysteries and obviously wrote them, why fight it? She now calls what she writes Romantic Mystery (RM) since there is always a hunky hero and a lot of flirting. In October of 2011, the first book of her Clueless Cook cozy mystery series, Liver Let Die,
She lives north of Dallas with her HS sweetheart hubby. When she’s not writing, she spends her time doting on her four wonderful grandchildren. She loves hearing from readers.
Murder for the Halibut
(A Clueless Cook Mystery)
3rd in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (December 31, 2012)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425251829
E-Book File Size: 624 KB
ASIN: B0095ZMK1I
Cover Illustration by Ben Perini
Cover Design by Laura K. Corless
A sports writing job would have been the perfect catch for Jordan McAllister, but in Ranchero, Texas, all she could reel in was the food column. Though she may not know her way around a kitchen, she has no trouble finding herself in a kettle of fish…
Tempted by the offer of a free Caribbean cruise, Jordan accepts a spot as a judge in a week-long big-time cooking competition aboard the Carnation Queen. She just better hope no one finds out that her famous palate is far from refined.
But there are bigger fish to fry when arrogant chef Stefano Mancini falls face first into his signature halibut dish during the first event. While evidence suggests that the handsome Italian chef’s death was an accident, Jordan thinks otherwise. But she’ll have to keep her wits about her—and the sea sickness pills handy—if she’s going to solve this one…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This third installment of the Clueless Cooks Mystery is the best one yet. We escape to the Caribbean on a cruise with fantastic food, the characters we have grown to love, and culinary mystery that will keep you entertained from the first page to the last. This story is absolutely hilarious. Caution: Do not eat or drink anything while you are reading about the appetizer portion of the competition. I will be sending my laundry bill to the author 🙂
As one of the worst cooks ever and a very picky eater I identify with Jordan very easily. Of course I am extremely jealous because I have never been on a cruise but hopefully someday I will be able to cross that off my bucket list.
Famous chef George Christakis, on the cruise to judge the cooking competition, quickly became by favorite character. Classy guy. Down to earth. Maybe he’ll visit Jordan in Texas someday.
Liz Lipperman has served up cozy worthy of 3 Michelin Stars or 5 Dollycas Starfish!!! Get ready to board the Carnation Queen and set off on an exciting adventure with Murder for the Halibut.
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
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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 The Escape With Dollycas Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for Liz for 5 Bonus Entries !
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End January 24, 2013 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’ve been on an Alaskan Cruise. Everything about it – the ship, the food, the sights – was amazing! I’d like to do more cruises – Mediterranean, Hawaii, and if time and money were no object, around the world.
Elaine, I love cruises, too. I’ve done the Alaskan one, also. Hawaii is on my bucket list. Thanks so much for commenting.
Great idea for a series. I love it!
Thanks, Deanna. Hope you win a free book.
I read liver let die, and all the clueless cook mysteries are on my to be read list. Would love to win. I loved reading about how this book came to be, Really excited to read it.
Thanks for the nice words about LLD, Tina. The cruise was so much fun and guess what?? I got to write it off!! Sheesh! What a girl has to do in the name of research!!
Love this interview. We love cruising, we are only able to cruise the Caribbean but love it!!!!
I mentioned in the interview that you can get a Caribbean cruise for under $300 in January and February–at least out of Galveston. And it doesn’t matter that you go to the same place more than once. The fun is on the cruise ship. Thanks for commenting, Nancy.
No, I’ve never been on a cruise but I’ve always wanted to go on one, maybe Australia or Alaska, might as well dream big right? lol
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Dreaming big is the way to go, Wendy. I hope you’ll come back and tell us all about it when your dreams come true. In the meantime, hope you win a copy of Halibut and go on the cruise with Jordan and her merry band of misfits. Thanks for commenting.
I love cruising. I love the Caribbean and have cruised through there many times. Thanks for the great giveaway.
Sherry, you have dollycas to thank for the great giveaway. She arranged it with my publisher. Thanks, Dollycas, and you can send that laundry bill, anytime!! Fingers crossed for you, Sherry.
So looking forward to reading this book! Maybe a cruise will be in my future after the kids are out of college.
Thanks, Suzie. I hope you get to take that cruise someday, but i know how expensive college is these days.
Murder and food always make good reading companions.
They really, do, Peggy. And anyone who has ever been on a cruise knows that the food is one of the biggest draws. I defy anyone to come home after taking a cruise and say they lost weight!! With the help of the four chefs, I added a little murder.
This sounds right up my alley! Looking forward to reading it! Have added it to my (seemingly never-endless) TBR list.
Amanda, I hear you about that TBR pile. When I am writing on a deadline, I can’t read other books as I get too invested in their characters instead of my own. However, I buy all my friends books and thus–the huge TBR list. Thanks for adding me to your stack.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time on your cruise! =) I havent been on a cruise yet..maybe someday.. =)
Love this series, and I cant wait to read this book!
Ah, what a nice thing to say, Melissa. I sincerely hope you do get to go on a cruise someday. Remember, they’re cheap right now.
I really enjoy the mysteries that include reciepes that I can try with my family
Then you have to try the ones at the back of my books. The premise is that my girl (who doesn’t cook) uses her friend’s casserole dishes after her gang slaps on a fancy name to pas them off as gourmet. Since i am one of 9 children, I grew up with casseroles and most of the recipes are my very own. Another thing I like to do is go to a restaurant, find a favorite food and then bring home a doggie bag and figure out how to make it myself. There are some of those in the backs of the books, also. (I have a couple of them on my website http://www.lizlipperman.com) Enjoy.
Never been on a cruise, but wouldn’t mind seeing the Greek Islands or the
Caribbean if the chance ever came up. The book looks really good.
Wow! Diva and vixen!! I’d love the Greek Islands, too. Hope you get the opportunity.
I have just been on small 2-4 hour cruises. I would love to go on a longer one that I can get to without flying.
Check out the nearest port, Rachelle. You might be surprised what they have available. Or take a road trip and go from there. It would be way worth it. Thanks for commenting.
I’m terrified of cruises but i’d love to read your book.
The perfect reason to read MURDER FOR THE HALIBUT. You get to go one a cruise without needing seasickness patches!!
I’ve been on several Caribbean cruises and they all were fun, too much food around the clock, and interesting people we would never had met if not for the cruises.
Sherry, that is so true about meeting interesting people. I’m a people watcher, so I am in my glory around the pool. And like my heroine, I don’t eat fancy food, although I will try some stuff on cruises since it’s free and I always know if I hate it, I can get three desserts!!
I’ve never been on a cruise, but I’d love to go on an Alaskan cruise so see all of Southeastern Alaska.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Suekey, I hope you do get to go there one day. The glaciers are amazing. Thanks for commenting.
I have never been on a cruise. Maybe this year i will go on one. I would like to head to the caribbean, italy, and alaska cruise. I hear it is a lot of fun.
Elisa, I hope you get to go, too. Although the Italy cruise is awesome, it is very tiring without much time spent on the cruise ship. It docks at a different city every day. You almost need a vacation afterwards!!
I only been on a short cruise -got sick so I dont think I would like a longer cruise.
Ann, I know the feeling. I can’t even do rides that whirl me around without getting sick at my stomach. But I discovered the patches that go behind your ear, and I never go on a cruise without them. One lasts for 3 days.
I’ve never been on a cruise but the one to Alaska would be my #1 pick! I would have loved to be the mouse in the corner when you met with chefs – how fun that must have been!
Karen, that was so awesome that the chefs took the time to help me. I am going to give it another try and see if I can get Maciek to respond. He told me he was leaving the cruise line after that cruise because his wife was having their first baby. I’d love to send him a copy. And Alaska is great, but I think the Caribbean is way more relaxing–and way cheaper.
Liz, What a fun series. I love the name of the new book. Thank you for the chance to win. I am not sure if I would like to go on a cruise or not. I would maybe like to do an Alaskan one.
Angela, I hope you win, too. If I had my way, you all would win, but Berkley might have something to say about that. Dollycas did good and got two copies to give away.
I love the author’ s stories about her interviews on board the cruise ship. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hey, Margie, thanks for commenting. It really was fun, especially watching the other passengers’ faces as we plotted murder by cruise food.
I really love mysteries that include recipes!
Then you really have to try a few of these.
My dream vacation is a cruise someday! This sounds like a fun cozy.
Never been on a cruise. Great food and murder, what’s not to like. This series sounds fun and I do love a series!
I love that this book is set on a cruise- I have cruised several times and would love to do a fall leaves cruise this year.
Sounds like a very cute book!
Sounds like a fun read — and a great way to collect your research!! (just did Western Caribbean myself!)
I’ve never been on a cruise – but i think an Alaskan cruise would be nice.
never been on a cruise an alaskan cruise sounds nice.book sound interesting.thanks for the chance to win
I’ve never been on a cruise but I’d love to go. This book sounds like a marvelous read.
I’ve never been on a cruise, but I think it would be lovely to see the Alaskan coast. I loved Liver Let Die, and your other books are on my to-read list!
I was on a cruise to the caribbean. There was a hurricane and we had quite an adventure.
I have never been on a cruise, but I’d love to take one some day! I’d love to tour through the Caribbean or Mediterranean!
I have, unfortunately, never been on a cruise. I’d love to go on a cruise if I ever get an opportunity. Your book sounds entertaining, and I’d love to give it a try.
wish i was in that wall paper about now … especially with the weather outside my window … burrrrrr!
looks like a good book.
I have been on 2 cruises already and am hoping to take a third for my 25th anniversary. My husband is a chef, so he chatted up all the chefs and even got a private tour of one of the kitchens.
Thanks for the giveaway! I adore books with a theme, especially cooking.