Cozy Wednesday with Author Erika Chase (Giveaway too!)

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!!

Today I am excited to welcome Erika Chase to Escape With Dollycas!

Hi Everyone!

I love writing cozies. I love reading cozies. And I love sharing cozies. I don’t necessarily mean lending a copy of a new find to a friend but rather, telling that friend she’s missing out on a great new read if she doesn’t try author X’s new book.

 In this day of social media trumps all, I still believe it’s the old-fashioned way that works best. You enjoyed reading a book, tell a friend. Or tell all your Facebook friends. Tweet it, also. The reader is the most important ingredient once that book hits the bookstands.

 I’m sure every author agrees that the hours and cost of doing promotion can be staggering. But that’s what it takes. Once you are writing a series, a certain amount of would-be writing time must now be dedicated to getting the word out about the latest book or the new series, even though the next deadline is already looming.

 The publishers are not doing this to any great extent any longer. It’s just not viable in this shrinking publishing industry. And so, the task must belong to the writer who has to make sure review copies reach the necessary people, order swag if that’s part of the promotional plan, organize a launch, appear as a guest blogger many times over, keep refreshing the author website, regularly post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and whatever else works. Then there are the conventions to attend, the stores to buzz, the signings to arrange, the book clubs to visit, the libraries to check in with, and anything creative the author can devise.

 Believe me, that takes time. And yes, there’s still that next book that needs to be written.

 Don’t get me wrong…this isn’t a rant. I’m just stating facts and I enjoy every minute of it. But what it comes back to is the reader. And, I’m a reader. I always have a cozy or two on the go and I’m quick to tell friends when I’ve come across a keeper. And, I do have to be choosy these days as my shelf space is dwindling while my TBR pile grows higher.

That’s the lure of books. Seeing a stack just ripe for the picking, whether it’s on your nightstand or piled on the floor. Knowing that no matter what your mood, there’s a book that meets all your reading requirements at any given time.

If you like a book, love a series…tell a friend and hopefully, they’ll get hooked too and also spread the word. That’s a good way to ensure that cozies survive and thrive as publishers continue to evaluate their future directions. I do believe it’s a bright future for cozies. Just check out the attendance at Malice Domestic, Left Coast Crime or the Festival of Mystery held yearly by Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA.  Look at the new titles put out monthly by Berkley Prime Crime, Obsidian, and the many other devoted publishers. In fact, look at the number of new small press coming on the scene. It’s reassuring and quite a delight for the reader.

When I’m not writing, I’m reading. Okay, maybe I’m also doing other things like cleaning the house, shopping for groceries, attending a dental appointment – that’s life intruding on pleasure. But I wait with eagerness for each month’s new releases, I’m sure I’m among the first to read the next book by my author friends, and I don’t hesitate to tell all who can hear or read, that I just loved that book.

I truly hope your reading is providing you with such delight that you’re also eager to spread the word. Because, readers rule! As do blogsites like Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book. Thanks, Lori for having such a great spot to meet with other readers.

Thanks Erika for dropping by and writing the stories for us to enjoy!!

 About Erika Chase

Erika Chase writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries for Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime. In a parallel life she is also known as Linda Wiken, a former mystery bookstore owner. The first in the book club series, A Killer Read, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel from the Malice Domestic conference in 2013. Linda/Erika is also a short story writer and a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies’ Killing Circle. She has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada.  Find out more about Erika on her website.

Cover Story
(An Ashton Corners Mystery)
3rd in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (August 6, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425252116
E-Book File Size: 1038 KB
ASIN: B009KUOGPG

 

Murder is nothing novel for the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society—but this time the police want to throw the book at one of their own…

Teensy Coldicutt has moved back to Ashton Corners and reunites with her childhood friend Molly Mathews. Molly is very excited to have her friend back in town and thrilled to learn that Teensy has written book, a steamy novel. She quickly enlisted the help of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society, the local book club, to plan a book signing tour to promote the book.

But there must be more to this sexy story than it appears because Molly is attacked and several boxes of Teensy’s books are stolen. Then the publisher of the book is murdered and fellow club member and former police chief Bob Miller is taken into custody. Why would a titillating novel written by an elderly widow draw such criminal attention? and what in the world could Bob have to do with it? Lizzie and her friends are determined to find out the rest of the story before the killer gets the chance to write someone else off…

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love this series and adore all of the characters but Molly is my favorite. She is my kind of lady, nothing and no one stands in her way. In this story she even gets attacked and injured and she barely misses a step. Thankfully Lizzie knows how to handle/take care of her and does her very best to keep her safe. The Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society group as a whole are all unique and real and a grand group of people. I would love to be a member of this group!

Erika Chase gives us quite a mystery to solve in this installment with the twists and turns that keep us guessing until the very end. This reader was very surprised with the way this one played out.

The author brings the book club feel by starting each chapter with a line from a popular mystery and includes the reading list of each book club member at the end of the book. I really enjoy seeing both current and past mysteries and their authors mentioned throughout the story. Like when the youngest member of the group is concerned about the killer blowing up Lizzie’s car to stop her from investigating, the other members try to steer her away from reading too much of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. It is touches like this that make the story so enjoyable.

Book Fair and Foul is the next title in this fun and entertaining series. I can’t wait for my next escape to Ashton Corners.

Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 1 copy to give away!

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 Erika 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 21, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner 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.”