Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
Today’s author, Nancy Haddock, brings us a brand new series!
The Devil is in the Details …
And so is the Delight!
Hello, and thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here!
I’m Nancy Haddock writing the new Silver Six Crafting mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series, Basket Case
Okay, I usually love research. I’m not so enamored when I’m in the middle of editing a scene and find I’ve forgotten to dig up some specific piece of information I absolutely need. And it’s two o’clock in the blessed morning. At that time of night, do you think the tidbit I need to know is to be found on the Internet? Grrr, argh! No it is not.
Now, I do fully admit that I’m juuust a touch challenged when it comes to plugging the magic combination of words into Google. Thankfully I’m improving and/ or I get lucky, but my secret weapon is to simply phone experts. Might as well put unlimited calling to work for me, right? Besides, I get a wealth of tidbits in speaking with people that I’d never find online.
I also admit I’m a little obsessive when it comes to getting facts 100% correct. I once phoned a local national monument park multiple times and talked with multiple park rangers to get definitive answers to two very simple questions. It cracked me up to get different answers from the rangers—and, yes, drove me a bit nuts, too.
The same thing happened when I researched precisely what an Arkansas county coroner does and doesn’t do at a crime scene—for that matter, what a corner does and doesn’t do in general. I didn’t need the particulars to write an eye-witness description in the book. I needed to understand the processes so my detective could outline the basics to the heroine. This happens to me a lot. I must have a clear idea of how things work in order to write about them.
Thank goodness so many amazing people are willing to share their time and expertise to patiently answer writer questions!
For my new Silver Six Crafting mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, I researched fun topics online, by phone, and in person. I live in St. Augustine, Florida where we’re fortunate to have several farmer’s markets each week—markets that feature produce, various ready-to-eat foods, and a wide range of crafts from jewelry making to carving. We also have at least two sizable, juried art and craft events each year. The artisans at the markets and the large fairs are wonderful about explaining how they create their work and allowing the public to take photos.
In Basket Case
In other aspects of research for Basket Case
So I’m writing about art. I suppose that begs the question: Am I artsy or crafty? Yes and no. Unlike my Silver Six ladies, I don’t basket weave, carve, or make my own herbal lotions and potions. I do occasionally torture a canvas with brushes and acrylic paints. In the past I needlepointed and crocheted, and I’ve hung onto yarn and needles just in case I find more hours in the day to use them again.
How about you? Are you artsy or crafty? What kinds of projects do you most enjoy? What is the most unusual project you’ve done?
Whatever your creative outlets, I hope you’ll enjoy reading about the Silver Six when Basket Case
~Nancy
About the Author
Nancy Haddock is an award-winning and national bestselling author of mystery romance who now writes cozy mystery. Basket Case
Visit Nancy on her Webpage, Facebook and GoodReads.
Basket Case
(A Silver Six Mystery)
1st in Series
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Arkansas
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
Cover Illustration by Ann Wertheim
Cover Design by Diana Kolsky
The Berkley Publishing Group (September 1, 2015)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425275726
E-Book ASIN: B00SI0268I
First in a crafty new cozy mystery series from national bestselling author Nancy Haddock!
There isn’t much crime in Lilyvale, Arkansas, but local authorities have their hands full with Ms. Sherry Mae Stanton Cutler and her housemates—a crafty group of retirees who’ve dubbed themselves the Silver Six. But when Sherry Mae’s niece, Nixy, arrives to keep them in line, Lilyvale also plays host to a killer.
When Leslee Stanton “Nixy” Nix gets the latest call from Lilyvale detective Eric Shoar, she knows it means trouble. There’s been another kitchen explosion at her Aunt Sherry’s farmhouse, and the dreamy-voiced detective has had enough. If Nixy doesn’t check on her aunt in person, the Silver Six could become wards of the court. But the trouble Nixy finds in Lilyvale is not at all what she expects.
The seniors are hosting a folk art festival at the farmhouse, featuring Sherry’s hand-woven baskets, when land developer Jill Elsman arrives to bully Nixy’s aunt into selling the property. When Jill is later found dead in the cemetery, Sherry is suspected of weaving a murder plot, and it’s up to Nixy and the Silver Six to untangle the truth.
Recipes and crafting tip included!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Leslee Stanton “Nixy” Nix arrives in Lilyvale for a quick trip to find out what is happening with her aunt, Ms. Sherry Mae Stanton Cutler, and her housemates (The Silver Six) but the stay gets extended when a land developer is found dead and Ms. Sherry is a prime suspect.
Nancy Haddock introduces us to Nixy and the Silver Six, Ms. Sherry, Dwight Aloysius Baxter, Maisie Holcomb and her sister Aster Parsons, Eleanor Wainwright and Fred Fishner. A group of crafty seniors that all live together in Ms. Sherry’s farmhouse. They all have their strengths and weaknesses but stand by each other no matter what. Even during a murder investigation. She does an excellent job of of giving the reader time to get to know them all before the main mystery begins and I really appreciate that.
But when “Hellspawn”(love this nickname) Jill Elsman is killed and Nixy starts to dig into her background and investigate her business we soon have several suspects and the story’s pace picks up. Then we are caught up in solving the mystery right along with Nixy. Detective Eric Shoar at times wishes he never called the nosy niece to town but she seems to be growing on him.
I love the Silver Six and would love to be friends with them in real life. The entire community of Lilydale sounds like a great group of people. It is nice to see just a glimmer of romance on the horizon for Nixy.
I truly enjoyed my first visit to Lilyvale from the folk art festival to the beautiful town itself. Haddock has laid a great foundation for this series and given us a great mystery to boot. She also tempts us with a preview of GOODBYE GOURDEOUS, the next book in the series, and a craft tip and recipes too. What a fantastic start!
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 2 copies 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.
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will earn you 3 Bonus Entries.
Leave a comment for Nancy for 5 Bonus Entries.
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Contest Will End September 16, 2015 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 am so glad to see a cozy mystery with main/secondary characters that are seniors. I would love to read about this group of crafty and energetic seniors.
I like the featuring of seniors too. I try all kinds of arts and crafts. Lately mosaics and embroidery with beads.
I am not artsy or craftsy. When I did projects with my children they definitely looked like children did them! But I do love to read! Thanks for the giveaway.
Really think this sounds like a great new cozy series. Looking forward to checking this one out. Thanks for the giveaway
I love “Senior” sleuths!
This looks like a good book and I would love the chance to win a copy of it.
Congrats to Nancy on the new series, it looks fantastic! I can’t wait to read it! Can you imagine what people did before the ease of the internet? Research would be restricted to business hours! I have gone through crafty moments in life like everyone, I still do some stamping, since I have lots of supplies! Thanks for the chance to win!
Nancy Haddock is a new author for me, and this book sounds like a fun cozy! Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you for a wonderful introduction to a new author, book, and series. From your blog it sounds like a fun and interesting story to follow. robeader53@yahoo.com
Love a good mystery. You are a new author for me. Looking forward to reading your books.
This series sounds captivating and unique. What a delightful book.
What a great job you do with research! I really appreciate the depth that gives to a story when I read.
This sounds like it is going to be a great series indeed. And I’m glad to see that the characters are older. Most cozies have main characters that are young, in their mid 20s to early 30s. Which can make it hard to relate to sometimes. Older characters are easier to relate to in my book.
I love reading cozy mysteries with crafts!!
This sounds like a great start for a new series. With my silver hair, I fit in with them perfectly. I’d love to be the lucky winner and start with number one in this series.
Sounds like a good read. Good luck with those feisty seniors!
Sounds like a great read.
Entering this giveaway and the one on GoodReads (open till Sept 4 y’all!) I love cozies in general, and cozies featuring seniors in particular! I’ll be there soon enough as I was thinking of my grade school years this morning and realized it was nearly a HALF CENTURY ago! *faint*
OK, for the question: I am more craftsy that artsy, but a little of both. I love needle- and beadwork. My artsy side tends toward the stage acting area.
Can’t wait to read this series. THanks!
I’ve added this one to my TBR list!
This book sounds really good. I will.have to read it. Thanks
This sounds like my kind of read. Yes, I am artsy/craftsy, not as much as I would like, there are so many things that I want to try. I have oil painted in the past, I loved cross stitching, my hands started cramping so badly that I haven’t picked it up in awhile. I really want to try mosaics, I hoping once the holidays are through (I work retail, so holidays are here for me right now, LOL), I want to try that. Thanks for the chance to win and congrats on your new release.
Loved doing crafts with my kids – now we have a monthly craft class at my winery.Cheers!
Looking forward to reading this book 🙂
Hey, what’s wrong with us “older” folks kicking up our heels and having some fun? Just cause we’re older then dirt we still got rights!…. LOL
I’m looking forward to reading this one. It looks like a “killer” read.
It’s always a blast when the characters are older, closer to my age. I feel a close connection to them. Love the title and whimsical cover too!
This book sounds great. I love to start new cozy series. I follow through email and on facebook.
This sounds SO good! I’m not all that crafty…but used to crochet a bit, and miss being able to do so. Nothing unusual, just patterns that were fairly easy to work. Research sounds like fun, except I do miss looking things up in real books instead of through Google. Being able to get answers without leaving home is so wonderful, but I do miss the old library back home where one could go in and spend hours looking for answers…
Hi nancy, your son told me about your new mystery. Great advertisement. It was on my TBR list already, but it’s nice to have this connection. Looking forward to reading.
Hey, Nancy! Long time, no see! Hah…you know I am not crafty at all. I can fix stuff ( due to my engineering brain), but crafting it, no way. LOL!
This series sounds really good! I love that it showcases seniors as it’s main characters.
Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like a great book! Good luck everyone!
Congrats on the release of Basket Case! The Silver Six sounds like a fun group of crafty retirees. I have added this mystery to my wishlist.
Sounds like a good story.
Good luck Nancy! Sounds like a fun book & I’ll be checking it out!
congrats to Nancy!!
I love 1st books in a new series!!
I want to meet the Silver Sis—I need people like that in my little town.
Thank you for a wonderful post on a new book for me, and for hosting the giveaway.
First, thank you so much to Dollycas for hosting me here – and hosting the contest, too! Second, my profuse apologies for the delay in responding! A little family health glitch kept me away from the computer, and my tablet wouldn’t work. Ack! I will do my best to respond to you individually, but please know it could be a while. If at all. I DO appreciate all the fabulous comments, and congratulations, and good wishes! Best of luck to all of you in the drawings, and have an awesome week!
I am so excited to read another book by Nancy Haddock. Her writing is fabulous and I feel like I’m in the scene along with the characters. Can’t wait!
Great review.mthanks for the heads up on a “must read” book.
I am so excited for this new cozy series. Going on my TBR!!