A Report From Left Coast Crime and A Lesson In Gratitude...

They say you should never meet your heroes, and after this weekend I cannot fathom why! I had the most amazing opportunity to attend Left Coast Crime here in Vancouver this weekend and I got to meet some of the most amazing people in the writing world, many who I have long respected, read and cherished, I got to see in the flesh. I was in complete awe, had many "fangirl" moments and very much inspired to return to work.

 Working on something that gives me a huge creative outlet, a great escape and the opportunity for joy is what writing, reading and blogging gives me. As readers of my blog you may already know that the last year has been very difficult for me as I have been trying to navigate my way through one of life's hardships and reflections. It has not even been a month yet since my father's passing and while I have taken quite a bit of time to mourn and process, and struggling with the realization that I am an orphan, I feel reborn and I have found that like spring I am feeling inspired to bloom again.

This past weekend I met, laughed, shared, ate and learned from some of the best in the business. I made memories I hope I never lose. I found a sense of not just belonging but acceptance in who I am, what I do and what I love. It was truly magical.

On Friday, I had an opportunity to share what I know and what I love with two people I have respected, and whom I have looked up too. Their books I have read and taken to heart and to whom I had a chance to entertain in a reciprocal way. 

The gracious nature of these literary heroes was not at all lost on me.

Posing for photos, waves and winks, hugs and handshakes, in that personal connection, not only did I get the opportunity to meet the authors but I got a chance to connect with the characters they created.

The words of encouragement, the engaging discussions, the professionalism and the perfect moments, kept coming and coming all weekend long.

It was an opportunity I can honestly say I never could have imagined and getting to share space and time with these amazing people, their positive energy, their creative mindsets and a chance to let them know just what a profound effect that their work has on readers like me was second to none.

It took a bit of courage on my part, placing anxiety and self doubt aside, to connect with and chat with and even get photos with those authors I so look up too and admire, boy am I glad I did. 

From the book room to the banquet hall gratitude, carried and overroad social anxiety.

Sometimes you leap and you fall, sometimes you leap and the net catches you, sometimes you leap and you are inspired. . .

Sometimes you leap and find the courage and then your hair fails you... Excitement over vanity...

Autographs and opportunities...

And a truly amazing time had by all. 

Thank you all for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy look back at Left Coast Crime 2019. Thank you to all my sisters in crime for making this happen! I look forward to reading, reviewing and continuing writing. 

May you all take that chance, to meet your heroes. 

I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

A Cup of Tea and A Chat with Kathy Arrons and A Cozy Mystery Giveaway, Behind Chocolate Bars

Today is the day I get to share a give away with my readers in the USA, I am sorry I can not include everyone but I am thrilled with the ability to have these giveaways. Behind Chocolate Bars is a great cozy, third book in the Chocolate Covered Mystery series and a really great for Halloween. I love the community feel I get when I read this series and I hope you will too.  This mystery was particularly well written and the cover is fantastic! I reviewed this book in September and I loved it, you can read my review by clicking here.

Kathy kindly stopped by for a quick up and and a chat about Behind Chocolate Bars her new release in the Chocolate Covered Mystery Series.
KMOT: When you are writing what sustains you? Tea, Coffee, or perhaps liquid chocolate?
KA:Lots of coffee! I love strong coffee -- I use a French press and my favorite beans are from Philz Coffee. The first book took one year and the other two took 9 months.

KMOT: Be honest how much chocolate though did you consume while writing this book?
KA: Way too much! But it was all in the name of research.

KMOT: Can you share something about yourself with us that we may not know about you?
KA: Something readers might not know about me is that I'm a huge supporter of arts education for youth. I'm president of the board for Playwrights Project, which teaches playwriting and literacy to students, seniors and the incarcerated. I advise and teach for the CCA Writers' Conference (only free writing conference for high school students in US) and the San Diego Middle School Writing Workshop series.

Best friends and business partners Michelle and Erica have a monstrous to-do list as they prepare for the annual West Riverdale Halloween Festival. Their shop, Chocolates and Chapters, will have a booth at the event, where Michelle will serve spooky delights while Erica displays an assortment of spine-chilling books. Thank goodness the teenagers from Erica’s comic-book club are chipping in to help. But one of their volunteers winds up in trouble after a woman’s body is found in an abandoned house—with the teen’s superhero key ring close by. The teen swears he didn’t do it, but he’s obviously hiding something—leaving Michelle and Erica with a witch’s cauldron of questions. Soon they discover that the dead woman was tricking a whole bunch of people out of more than just treats. Now these two friends must go door-to-door if they hope to unmask a killer…

Now it is your chance to get a copy of Kathy's book on your table! To enter to win please email me at karenmowen@gmail.com and write CHOCOLATE BAR in the subject line. Please include your USA mailing address so that when the random draw is done I can forward the winners information to the publisher. Contest is open from today October 12th to Friday 14th at noon PST. Winner will be chosen at random from number of entries received and announced on my week and review on Saturday the 15th of October 2016.
To order your own copy of Behind Chocolate Bars from Amazon please click here.
Good luck and thank you Kathy and you lovely reader for taking time to join me today for a cup of tea and a cozy giveaway.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table and In My Cup September 10th-17th

Another week has gone by and this was such a fun one for my family and I. Last Saturday morning we left for a very quick and very far trip to the very West Coast of Vancouver Island for a Surf Camp Weekend for our boys put on by Rip Curl and SUPA (Surfs Up For Autism) and we had a blast. I got to read a bit on the trip and discover a lovely tea shop too! Thay Tea in Ucluete (You-Q-let) BC was a tea lovers oasis in a very picturesque location. Such a delight to visit them and I am looking forward to seeing them at the Vancouver tea festival in November.

I picked up a lovely Double Cream Earl Grey, which I am absolutely loving. It was a lovely weekend and a beautiful view with my morning  tea.  I finished Night of the Living Deed while in Ucluete and absolutely loved it, I can not wait to read the entire series.

Penny Warner's The Code Busters Club, A book I ordered for my 8 year old son arrived on Tuesday and even though he and I are reading it together, I could not help but finish reading the entire book that night. I will be sharing my review with you all tomorrow and I have already ordered book number 2.

I have also been enjoying the Miss Marple Complete Short Stories this week another book I received for Buy A Friend A Book Day! Such a great book to have on hand and in my purse for afternoon school pick up time!

Also on my table mid week A Charming Voodoo by Tonya Kappes, some mornings you just need a little magic!

Last night I finished Old Haunts by E.J. Copperman, a book I checked out of my wonderful library who stock the most wonderful cozies, after last weekends read I knew I wanted to read the entire series! Review to follow next week.

Friday morning a delivery at my door had me jumping for joy! I can not wait to share the October Releases with you all soon!
Thank you so much for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Kathy Aarons October Release of Behind Chocolate Bars

A week ago Monday I finished reading Kathy Aarons October 4th release, Behind Chocolate Bars, the third book in the Chocolate Covered Mystery Series. I found myself to be keenly interested and emotionally invested in this story of an unlikely sleuthing team of book store owner and chocolatier. I read book one but not book two in this series, somehow missing it and yet even though I had not read book 2, book three flowed very naturally and was I familiar enough with the characters to quickly fall into step. I like the concept of this series, the community involvement, the relationships that the duo Michelle and Erica, have with the local teens and with each other. I like the love interests, I love the mysterious relationships and I love the chocolate too! Kathy does an amazing job with the character of main character Michelle's brother Leo, who has a fantastic story line himself. He is a wounded veteran, who suffers from PTS and that story line feels very real and raw in this very emotional side of the story. It is a good story, it is an important story and this cozy mystery is a series to love and grow with.

Best friends and business partners Michelle and Erica have a monstrous to-do list as they prepare for the annual West Riverdale Halloween Festival. Their shop, Chocolates and Chapters, will have a booth at the event, where Michelle will serve spooky delights while Erica displays an assortment of spine-chilling books. Thank goodness the teenagers from Erica’s comic-book club are chipping in to help. But one of their volunteers winds up in trouble after a woman’s body is found in an abandoned house—with the teen’s superhero key ring close by. The teen swears he didn’t do it, but he’s obviously hiding something—leaving Michelle and Erica with a witch’s cauldron of questions. Soon they discover that the dead woman was tricking a whole bunch of people out of more than just treats. Now these two friends must go door-to-door if they hope to unmask a killer…

Behind Chocolate Bars comes out October 4th and is a Halloween themed cozy not to miss! Click here to find it on Amazon.
Learn more about Kathy Arrons and her writing by clicking here. 
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Death Is Like A Box Of Chocolates by Kathy Arrons Was Iressitable

I used to struggle at the though of starting a new series, this one however was too tempting not to dive into! The idea of a chocolate making cozy mystery series was just what I was in need of. Kathy Arron's new Chocolate Covered Mystery is a series I can really get excited about!

This story revolves around a large cast of characters, long standing friendships and a picturesque little town.
When a friend is murdered the cast of characters put their personal pain aside to try to help solve this horrible crime.

I like the way that Kathy incorporated a stray cat whom the main character  Michelle calls "Coco" who seems to show up in the story when ever there is trouble. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot and subplots of this yummy series!

I took a few days to read Death is Like A Box of Chocolates and was thrilled to be able to read it while sitting in the chairs under the tree in the September sun. Both my Cat named Squirrel and I will be sad when the leaves fall and the rains return but until it does you can find us most afternoons out there reading!
If you are looking for a new series to tempt your sweet tooth this fall pick up Kathy Aaron's new book Death is Like A Box of Chocolates.

 *I ordered my copy of Death is Like a Box of Chocolates from The Book Depository as there is no charge for shipping!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com