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 Wee Dose of Death and Shards of Murder A Double Cozy Review Sunday

January has been a busy review month for me and this review is 11 and 12 for the month. I do believe this is a personal best for me. A Wee Dose of Death is the second in the Scotshop Mystery Series and is a carefully written and cleverly entangled mystery.

While I enjoyed visiting with the characters from the first book I did find I missed Peggy's twin brother in this book and hope he is in book three.  I don't think that the write up about the book does the story much justice. This story was very complex and more intense a murder then the first story. The Scotshop Mystery Series has the type of inviting covers I just love! Also spoiler alert, you may be reaching for more then a few cups of hot chocolate while reading this chilling tale.

 
 "While business is booming at the ScotShop in Hamelin, Vermont, proprietor Peggy Winn doesn t have time to toast her good fortune thanks to her hot-tempered, fourteenth-century Scottish companion. Being thrust into the modern world hasn t been easy for Dirk, but Peggy is at her wit s end trying to keep the ghostie galoot in line. But when the local police chief finds the body of Peggy s friend Karaline s college professor in a deserted mountain cabin, everyone is thrown for a loop. It seems the secretive professor may have been killed over his ecological work, an idea that s only reinforced when Karaline herself is shot. Now Peggy and Dirk must set aside their differences to put the cold-blooded killer under loch and key..."

In the end Fran Stewart left me wanting more! I guess I will have to wait for Book # 3! To order A Wee Dose of Death or to learn more about the series please click here. 

Shards of Murder by Cheryl Hollon  was a first for me. I did not read book one so I felt like I was at a bit of a loss while reading this second in series. Truly my own fault as I should have started with book one Pane and Suffering. Such a wonderful title for a Glass Shop Themed Cozy don't you think! 

But Book Number two 

Shards of Murder is full of surprises as well. The idea of this series is intriguing and fun.  This book is out February 23rd and can be ordered by clicking here.

"When a glass-making competition turns deadly, glass shop owner Savannah Webb must search for a window into a criminal's mind As the new proprietor of Webb's Glass Shop, Savannah has been appointed to fill her late father's shoes as a judge for the Spinnaker Arts Festival, held in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With her innovative glass works, the clear winner is Megan Loyola, a student of Savannah's former mentor. But when Megan doesn't show up to accept her $25,000 award, rumors start flying. And when Savannah discovers the woman's dead body on festival grounds, the police immediately suspect her of murder. To keep from appearing before a judge herself, Savannah sorts through the broken pieces of glass scattered around the victim for clues as to who took this killer competition too far "

Fans of this series will not have to wait long as Cracked to Death is due out this June.  Don't you love these covers. The puppy and the colors stand out perfectly in this cover! 
When a treasure hunt leads to deadly plunder, it's up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb and her trusty investigative posse to map out the true motives of a killer . . . It's the dog days of summer in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Webb's Glass Shop proprietor Savannah Webb has an eco-friendly plan to help locals escape the heat--a recyclable bottle-crafting workshop taught by reticent store manager Amanda Blake. Turns out, the class is a bigger smash than expected, thanks in part to a pair of staggeringly old bottles brought in by snorkeler Martin Lane . . . Linked to a storied pirate shipwreck, the relics definitely pique Savannah's interest. But intrigue turns to shock when Martin's lifeless body washes ashore the next morning, another glass artifact tucked in his dive bag. With cell phone records connecting Amanda to the drowning, Savannah must voyage through unchartered territory to exonerate her colleague and capture the twisted criminal behind Martin's death . . . 

Click here to learn more about this up coming release! 

Thank you for joining me for A cup of tea and a couple of cozy mystery reviews. 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 January 16th -23rd

What a week and such a treat to have made the time to read and review some lovely cozies this week. A Gift of Ghosts was spectacular and I can not wait to read the rest of the trilogy.  This story stayed with me most of the week and I found myself wondering about the characters and spirits in the book as if they were real people in real time, I love to daydream about what happens next. I got the next two books so I wont have to wonder long.

You can find A Gift of Ghosts by Sarah Wynde for your kindle app by clicking here. 

A Sunday Romance I read was Sea Green by Alice Smithers,  A lovely cozy romance, British and full of fun this was a lovely change for me.

A mid week escape to Ireland with Murder in an Irish Village is just what I needed. I had so many things I loved about this upcoming cozy by Carlene O'Connor, easy to relate to and characters you too will just love, I highly recommend this Irish Cozy!

Rounding out the week with Cheryl Hollon's Shards of Murder that I started Thursday. I hope to have this review for you very soon. 

New themed teas in my cup this week with Doctor Who inspired teas, I enjoyed these new blends in my cup and my new Tardis Mug. It was a nice change for my afternoon teas this week.
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 us a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com