Kilned at the Ceramic Shop: A Braddock Mystery
by Donna Clancy
It is my pleasure to welcome Donna Clancy to
Escape With Dollycas today.
Hi Donna,
Hi Everyone,
I am happy to be here today.
In 1968, when I was only eight years old, I wrote my first book. It was a project for school and it was nothing fancy. It was titled, A Day in the Life of Mr. Quarter. It was created out of plain white paper folded in half, and the contents of the book was done in pencil.
It followed the path the quarter took in one day from being in a cash drawer to someone’s pocket when given back in change and everywhere in between. He finally ends up in a big glass jar with lots of other new friends in the man’s bedroom at the end of the day.
I hadn’t thought about the book in many years, and actually, I had forgotten all about it.
In 2011, I self-published my first book, The Baby Factory. It was a hot mess. I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t have a support system in place to help me. The book was edited by a friend (first mistake) and when it was printed it was done in 8X11 size because I didn’t know you could convert documents to different book sizes (second mistake). Like I said, I was really green.
None the less, I was so proud of actually putting a book out into the world.
My mom was the first one I gave a print book to. She was excited as I was to be holding a book I wrote. Don’t get me wrong, the story was great and it’s still on Amazon now that it has been since fixed.
My mom told me to close my eyes, she had a surprise for me. She told me to hold out my hands. When I opened my eyes, I was amazed to see the very first book I had ever written sitting there in front of me, forty-three years later.
I had told her all those years ago I was going to write books, books like Nancy Drew and A Wrinkle in Time. I was an avid reader and she believed I would do what I said I was going to do.
She held on to that book all these years so she could give it back to me when I published my first book.
I was amazed that after all my mom had been through, divorces, moving many times and all the financial problems, she held on to the book. Having it is even more important to me now that I lost her in September of 2022.
It has been a long writing road to get to where I am now being traditionally published. My mom prayed every night that I would find an agent and sell a book. She died two short months before I signed with my awesome agent, Cindy Bullard, of Birch Literary Agency, and three months short of me signing my first book contract with Level Best Books. She never got to celebrate the things she prayed so hard for every night.
I have my “first” book, framed and hanging above my writing desk. I gaze upon it every day that I sit down to write and it is a reminder of how much confidence my mom had in me and my writing even when all those years had passed by.
I guess what I am saying is never give up. I wrote my first book at eight years old and am being traditionally published at sixty-five years old. Hang on to those dreams and share them with others who will help you to believe they can be accomplished.
My mom never gave up on me and I am sure she is doing a happy dance in Heaven, along with my dad who passed five years before her. He encouraged me to believe in myself and read each and every one of my books even though he didn’t like to read.
Always, always, make room for your dreams.
Thank you Donna for visiting today!
Keep reading for info about Donna’s new book. My reading calendar didn’t allow me to read it now but I plan to read it soon.
About Kilned at The Ceramic Shop
Kilned at the Ceramic Shop: A Braddock Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher : Level Best Books (March 12, 2024)
Print length : 234 pages
Digital ASIN : B0CV7J53PQ
Tammy Wright, a bestselling mystery author returns to her hometown to give her Aunt Clara a hand with running her ceramic shop during tourist season. She discovers that two vindictive realtors have been bullying her aunt and others into selling their properties to make room for new housing developments. Those who don’t comply pay the consequences.
Tammy stumbles upon a body, and when her aunt refuses to give in to either realtor she disappears without a trace.
With the help of an old schoolmate turned policeman, the writer must step out from behind her computer screen and her fictional mysteries to confront real life crime. If she doesn’t, she may never see her aunt again.Great Escapes Praise for Kilned at the Ceramic Shop: A Braddock Mystery
by Donna ClancyI enjoyed this book and could not put it down. This is book one of a new series, and I can’t wait to revisit the small town of Braddock in the future!
~The Storybook LadyOverall, “Kilned at the Ceramic Shop” is a captivating read that combines the best elements of cozy mystery and small-town intrigue. With its well-crafted plot, memorable characters, and atmospheric setting, this book earns a solid four stars and is sure to delight fans of the genre. Donna Clancy has crafted a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end, cementing her place as a talented storyteller in the genre.
~ReviewThickAndThinBottom Line: Kilned at the Ceramic Shop by Donna Clancy kicks off a new cozy mystery series with small-town vibes, delightfully feisty senior citizens, and an investigation that gets very personal for our heroine. It sets up the community and relationship arcs nicely for the rest of the series, and the mystery took some turns I wasn’t expecting.
~Reading is my SuperpowerKilned at the Ceramic Shop is a cute cozy with a dead delivery driver, tyrant realtors, feisty sisters, a kidnapped Clara, a friendly deputy, rampant rumors, and peacock keys!
~The Avid ReaderEntertaining and interesting beginning to a new, cozy mystery series. I recommend KILNED AT THE CERAMIC SHOP for cozy mystery readers, especially those with an interest in the hobby of making ceramics.
~Boys’ Mom Reads!A compelling mystery, a touch of romance, and the love of family and friends make KILNED AT THE CERAMIC SHOP a wonderful start to a new series. I look forward to spending more time in Braddock!
~Cozy Up With Kathy
About Donna Clancy
Donna Clancy lives on Cape Cod. She has three grown children and one rescue Papillion named Zumiez. She has a seven-book deal with Level Best Books for The Braddock Mysteries, writes The Trash to Treasure and Paint and Sip cozy series’ for Summer Prescott Books Publishing as well as self-publishing The Shipwreck Cafe and Jelly Shop Mysteries. She loves to write in various genres including suspense, thriller, romance, and YA.
Author Links
Website Facebook BookBub
Purchase Link –
Amazon
Also written by Donna Clancy
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Your parents sound like lovely people. How wonderful that they supported your talent.
Sounds like a great cozy.
What an interesting mystery! Great cover too. Thanks for sharing.