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 

I Know What You Bid Last Summer by Sherry Harris...

I finished Sherry Harris' I know what you bid last Summer, and I loved it. This was a fun cozy mystery. It has lots of suspense but also a fun side to it. Easy to picture the events throughout the book and it has a truly cozy feel to it. I never thought of a garage sale planners job as if it was a party planner but I guess it really is. It is fun and genius!  For me this is the second in the series I have read and I loved reading it, it was a great weekend read and it is coming out February 27th from Kensington!

FOUL PLAY IN THE GYM
When it comes to running a successful garage sale, Sarah Winston believes in doing her homework. She also believes in giving back. But when she agrees to manage an athletic equipment swap, she doesn't bargain on an uncharitable killer. The day of the event, the school superintendent is found dead in the gymnasium. 
 
HAS SARAH PLAYING DEFENSE
Suddenly the murder suspects are the school board members—including the husband of a very difficult client who's hired Sarah to run a high-end sale and demands she do her bidding. In between tagging and haggling, Sarah studies the clues to see who wanted to teach the superintendent a lesson. But as she closes in on the truth, the killer intends to give her a crash course on minding her own business . . .

You can find I know what you bid last summer on Amazon.com by clicking here. 
Thank you for joining me here 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 

On My Table and In My Cup March 25th-April 1st

It is Saturday again and I am not home, third week in a row, not normal for me. This morning I am in Penticton BC at a hockey tournament with my two younger sons. This is a huge moment for us and one I don't take lightly. Being a Hockey Mom is a huge deal to me. The Canucks Autism Network helped our family in so many ways and changed our lives beautifully with the addition of the hockey program and I am so proud of my boys and our team for learning this game and having this life long skill like their typical peers. 

While home briefly this week I was thrilled to find the mail lady has brought me 5 wonderful April releases to read through and I am reading Silence of the Jams right now. 

Also on my table this week was the third book Mississippi in Me, a collection of Poems by Patricia Neely-Dorsey. Her inspiring words will transport you and her love of Mississippi is contagious! More on this book early next week.

This week I read No Charm Intended by Mollie Cox Byran. This is out later in May I believe and a good read, love the idea of a crafting get away weekend.

I tried out a new cookie cutter this week which I love and I got to use my new little chick salt and pepper shakers I bought at Cracker Barrel while I was in Arizona. I was so thrilled to be home this week and enjoying my loose leaf Vanilla Murchies Black tea. No time to get out and grab something different this week and on my last trip I did not get to a tea shop I had wanted to so nothing new to try and share this week in the tea department.

It was a good week of reviews as I shared my love of A Good Day To Buy, the 4th book in the series by Sherry Harris...

I thought that Sharon Pepe's Magick and Mayhem was fantastic as well. 

Laura Childs wrote what I think might be my most favorite of the series with Devonshire Scream! 

I also enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland themed The Tempting taste of Danger by CeeCee James this week.

One book I read this week was so incredible and I can not wait to share more about it. I read a new paranormal cozy mystery book that will be coming out by Vicki Vass that will stay with me forever. She is working on the cover art now and as soon as I get word of the cover and publishing date I will let you all know. Stay tuned for more on that!

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend and I look forward to sharing more photos and reviews upon my return. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

A Good Day To Buy by Sherry Harris

A Good Day To Buy is an excellent read. Sherry Harris has written a brilliant mystery. This is the first I have read in this series and it blew me away. I found I cared so much about each and every character, was so emotionally involved in the story and even cried when it was over. I have so much respect for Sherry and how she wrote this book, the great care and attention she put into each character and how she highlighted & evoked the need to show more appreciation for military families, their struggles during deployment and the much needed after care even decades later. Even though I am new to this series I can tell you that this series has so much heart you will want to read the entire series! This one is out April 25th and one to read for sure.

When Sarah Winston’s estranged brother Luke shows up on her doorstep, asking her not to tell anyone he’s in town—especially her ex, the chief of police—the timing is strange, to say the least. Hours earlier, Sarah’s latest garage sale was taped off as a crime scene following the discovery of a murdered Vietnam vet and his gravely injured wife—her clients, the Spencers.  BUT IS HE A KILLER?All Luke will tell Sarah is that he’s undercover, investigating a story. Before she can learn more, he vanishes as suddenly as he appeared. Rummaging through his things for a clue to his whereabouts, Sarah comes upon a list of veterans and realizes that to find her brother, she’ll have to figure out who killed Mr. Spencer. And all without telling her ex . . .
 
To pre order this April release from Amazon please click here.
To learn more about this series and Sherry Harris please click 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