Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am excited to welcome Riley Adams back to Escape With Dollycas!
The Reading Life—During Busy Times and Slower Ones
By Riley Adams (Elizabeth S. Craig)
I feel like I could chart the busiest, most-active times of my life by tracking my reading habits.
When I was a kid, I had all the time in the world. I loved reading. I’d eat up whole series—all the Nancy Drews, all the Trixie Beldens—then reread them while I discovered new series. I’d read after school, after homework, at bedtime…after bedtime. I’d check out four or five books at a time from the library and read them back to back…then beg for a ride to the library again. It was wonderful to have the luxury of time back then!
As a young married woman in my 20s, I also had a surprisingly large amount of time to read (I wasn’t in the habit of bringing work home with me.) But I wasn’t sure what I wanted to read. I figured I needed to find some new mystery writers to enjoy. Once I’d discovered Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George, I was set for a while. I spent many hours with my nose in a book.
In my late 20s and 30s, I had babies. Ack! My time for reading became sporadic at best…and I had an additional problem. I’d be so exhausted from the children that I’d fall asleep shortly after I started reading. If there were too many characters, I’d get confused or lose track of who was who. And, if the chapters were too long, I’d lose my place. When I discovered M.C. Beaton’s series, I felt like I’d made a major find. The books had recurring characters, short chapters, a strong protagonist, and a recognizable and reliable story pattern to follow. I was so relieved!
These were enjoyable books that I could easily follow. I gobbled up her books as fast as I could…particularly the Hamish Macbeths.
Now my schedule is so full that I’m using technology to help me make time for reading. My time is spent writing as much as reading, but I really guard my reading time…I need it. I use the Kindle app on my phone so that anytime I find a pocket of free time, I can open up my book—which opens right at the spot where I left off.
Have y’all noticed patterns to your reading habits over the years? Are they tied into your free time as much as mine are?
Thanks to Dollycas for hosting me today!
~Riley
Thank you Riley for stopping by and writing the stories we love!!
About Riley Adams
Riley’s latest book is Rubbed Out: book four of the Memphis Barbeque mysteries. Her next book, Quilt Trip: A Southern Quilting Mystery (written as Elizabeth Craig) releases December 2013. Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin/Berkley (as Riley Adams), the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin/NAL, and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She blogs at Mystery Writing is Murder which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2010-2013. Find out more about her books on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com .
Rubbed Out
(A Memphis BBQ Mystery)
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (July 2, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425259993
E-Book File Size: 523 KB
ASIN: B009NY2KZM
Even Lulu Taylor—proprietress of Aunt Pat’s Barbeque Restaurant in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee—needs to get out of the kitchen now and then. But at the Rock and Ribs festival, she finds more than a taste of trouble…
There’s trouble in Tennessee when a buffoon named Reuben Shaw stirs up more the Barbecue Sauce and rubs nearly everyone at the Rock and Ribs Festival the wrong way. Lulu’s best friend, Cherry, tangled with him as soon as she realized his booth was next to the Graces booth. But no one was more surprised than her to find him dead with a butcher knife in his chest just a few hours later. While the police start grilling suspects including Cherry, Lulu sets off on her own investigation to make sure her friend is spared from ending up behind bars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I was so excited to see this book come out. It has been way too long since our last visit to Aunt Pat’s to visit some of my favorite people. The characters continue to bring the humor to the story. Their little quips never fail to crack me up. From Lulu and officer Pink Rogers to Cherry, Ben, Sara, Monty and on to younger generation these characters are so real and true, they just jump off the page and into your heart.
I really enjoyed the interactions between the generations. Derrick is starting to get comfortable in his new home. He and his new friend Finn have some real heartwarming moments with Lulu and Morty. Finn even helps get Lulu on the right track with her investigation. This was a tough one to solve too!
I hope Riley Adams doesn’t wait too long for the next installment. I am already ready for another huge plate of ribs and another visit to Aunt Pats!!
This is a perfect summer read, so fire up your grill, pour a glass of your favorite beverage, kick back and relax and enjoy this wonderful cozy mystery. There are even some fabulous recipes in the back of the book for you to try.
Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
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 Riley 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 August 7, 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.
Yes, reading time has changed through the years. Now that I am retired I read much more books for pleasure than I did when I was working. I do find that I read more slowly though so only get through 200 plus books a year. Dee
I’ve been a voracious reader since I first learned how. Before that, my mother read to my brother and I every night. I preferred the Hardy Boys over Nancy Drew, but I read her too. In my 20’s and early 30’s I read romantic suspense books by people like Helen MacInnes, Victoria Holt, and Mary Stewart. I’ve always read mysteries through the years, as well as spy stories by Jack Higgins and Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs. Pollifax. Some Science Fiction/Fantasy is in the mix also. Now that I’m retired and in my 60’s I read mostly cozy mysteries. Can’t wait to read Riley’s new one.
I’ve always been a voracious reader. When I was a kid I used to get mad at my Mom because she wouldn’t take me to the library as often as I wanted to go.
I would read every available second as a child and teenager. Slowed down to mostly childrens book while my daughter was younger, but now as an “empty nester” I again have more time to read, but it still never feels like enough time!! Can’t wait to get my hands on this book to read!
When I was a kid I read all the time. In my 29s I didn’t read much as I was busy with college and starting my career. Now I always have a book with me.
I enjoyed the review and can’t wait to read the book. I read a lot more now, when I had kids at home I didn’t have as much time to read.
I’ve always liked to read, but it wasn’t till the sixth grade that I was able to take myself over to the local library and stock up on books every Friday after school. There were days I’d get caught in class with a book inside whatever school book I was supposed to be looking at (I’d get bored of classwork easily). From those humble beginnings began my personal home library which stands at over 3000 books today spanning 50 years of collecting everything from Golden Age Sci Fi to today’s Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Cozies.
Sounds like a fun read…thanks!
I have enjoyed reading since I was a child, yes there were some years that I did not read much but now read all the time.
This book sounds so good.
I started this series a couple of years ago and just didn’t get into it but now that I have really gotten into the cozy genre I am going to give it another try.
You sound like me. I never was able to get enough time in the library or enough books. (We lived out of town so we had to pay a nickel a book to check them out. And the only time I had to be there was while my mom was buying groceries.) Then I got married and had kids. Still I read whenever possible. But the tiredness was a big factor. Now that the kids are out on their own I do have more time, and sometimes I read a lot and sometimes I am too tired. But I still love the books and reading and the books. Books are kind of an obsession!
I have always read a lot – try to read everyday
This is my very favorite cozy mystery series of all time. It could be because of the fact that I love everything Memphis because of Elvis and I love food including BBQ, and I love culinary mysteries with a passion, it’s for the most part all I read. I am in love with all the characters but Lulu has to be my favorite, I would love to have her for a grandmother.
Me, I read every day, every time I have a spare moment my head is in a book. Thank you for the giveaway and thank you Riley for this series, you are a talented writer.
I always loved to read, and since the kids are older I have more time. I have found the cozies and love them and am busy trying to catch up.
I haven’t read this series yet, but it sounds yummy!
I have been reading since I was very young and still savor every word in every novel. Cozies are great.
This cozy sounds unique and very special.
I enjoyed the interview with Riley Adams. I can’t wait to read a book from this series. Since I have family in Memphis and I love bar be cue, I probably will want to read the whole series.
Oh, I’ll bet you do miss your kitties. Thank goodness we can keep our Boots in the apartment.
I’ve loved to read as a child and still an avid reader. There are times it seems something is happening all the time and it cuts into my reading time.
Congrats on all your success! I can’t wait to read your new book!
I love reading and carry a book with me every where.. You brought back fond memories to me with your mention of the Trixie Belden books. My mom used to bring home the newest in the series from J.J. Newberry’s where she worked part time.
Can’t wait to read your book. Oh I don’t use a Kindle etc as I love the feel of the actual book!
Your amazing!
Blessings & Hugs to your continued success! You “ROCK”
Posted this giveaway on Twitter..finally figured out how to do it..lol
I read less now because I spend far too much time playing on the computer.
I cannot wait to start this series!!!
congrats to Riley!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!
I was a reader of several books a week for years—-then I started to work from home and found I had little time to read. Now I plan to retire next spring and I’m anxious to get back to my old reading habits.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love to go to the library and take out books and I love my kindle fire and the free books I get from Amazon.
I enjoyed your “book trip down memory lane” 🙂 I used to always have a nose in a book as a child, carried a paperback in high school for those random free minutes, and managed to read while raising kids. Now that I am not working, I have much more time but find myself fussier about when/where to read–have to be in the mood for the particular book I will start reading, and I like the house to be quiet. But I know I will be reading hours a day, every day, for the rest of my life. A great habit to have and your books look like such fun! Good luck.
I remember reading many of the books in our small grade school library and wanted more…so we looked into a local Library mail delivery system ( back in the late 60’s ) ..it was great! Now..I read as much as I can on my nook and also “regular books”.
Love your books!
I truly enjoy this series and so very glad there’s another one to read! Thanks for the insightful post and the chance of winning a giveaway.
I was so excited about Rubbed Out that failed to mention my reading habits. I used to read a book a week. But with TV programs holding little appeal to me, I tend to read rather than veg out in front of TV. And with digital books, I can get them fast! Plus I have a long commute to & from work so I read “audiobooks”. Even with more reading time, my TBR list grows alarmingly.
I love the Memphis setting for your BBQ cozies. I look forward to checking out this tasty series!
I really like this title!
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Just the kind of book I enjoy reading . Good cozy mystery and theres foods involved . I like Memphis BBQ on my ribs
I have always enjoyed reading, especially mysteries and romance. Love BBQ and will be putting this book on my wishlist!
Thank you so much for the giveaway For Rubbed Out!
I love this series and it always makes me hungry for good BBQ. Thank you for the chance to win
This sounds like a great read. Now that I only have to read for pleasure, I read a book a day (or 300+ pages of a really huge book). If I cannot find enough time during the day, I shave some time off my sleeping time.
I am looking forward to reading Rubbed Out. I love your work.
So glad a new book in this series is out- Love it~
i.ve always loved to read.this book sounds great would love to read it.
this sounds like a book I would like. I hope I can check it out.
I really want to read this! It looks really good! I have always been a bookworm, ever since I was 5 years old.
thanks … needed at gift for a person who has everything
I didn’t like to read until I was 30! And now, you won’t see me without a book!