A visit and giveaway from Granny and Julie Seedorf...

Today we have a visit with Julie Seedorf, author of the wildly popular Granny Series! 

If you don't already know Granny here is just a little bit about this wild sleuth....
Granny leads a secret life in the small, unique community of Fuschia, Minnesota. It’s not just her all junk food diet, multiplying pets, or her shocking bedtime attire that makes Granny one in a million. No, Granny is an undercover cop, charged by “the Big Guy” (the town’s police chief) of preventing theft in local stores. Granny takes her job seriously and daily foils many shoplifters using her trusty spiked umbrella and amazing acting skills. When some startlingly brazen burglaries begin to occur that Granny can’t solve, along with mysteriously appearing bad guys, disappearing clerks, and misplaced Corvettes, Granny begins to wonder if she isn’t ready for the wrinkle farm. Maybe, it’s fortuitous when she accidentally-on-purpose falls in the lap of an attractive older gentleman who is soon roped into her wild adventures, as they try to figure out what’s happening in their little town.

Now it is time to get to know a little bit about Julie.....

As human beings, we are always a work in progress. From birth to death we live, hurt, laugh, cry, feel, and with all of those emotions we grow as people, as family members, and as friends. I am a dreamer and feel blessed to have the opportunity in my writing to pass those dreams on to others. I believe you are never too old to dream and to turn those dreams into a creative endeavor. I live in rural Minnesota and I am a wife, mother, and grandmother.


I have worn many hats throughout my lifetime such as working as a waitress, nursing home activities, office manager and finally computer repair person eventually owning my own computer repair business. I never forgot my love of writing and quit my computer business in 2012 after signing a contract with Cozy Cat Press for Granny Hooks A Crook, the first book in my Fuchsia, Minnesota Series.

Adding four more books to the Fuchsia Series, adding a new Brilliant, Minnesota Series and writing a column for local newspapers feeds my writing creativity.

I also dabble a bit in watercolor painting and hope to eventually add pictures to my children’s book series, Granny’s In Trouble.

Oh, and did I tell you I like to be a little bit silly.

Learn more about Granny and Julie by visiting Julie's Author Website by clicking here. 
Find her on Facebook by clicking here
Follow her on Twitter by clicking here

Now for a giveaway and your chance to get to know Granny! Julie has kindly offered Granny Hooks A Crook to be given to one of my wonderful readers! If you would like a chance to win a copy please email me at karenmowen@gmail.com with GRANNY in the subject line. Monday August 1st I will draw a name from those emailed and announced a winner early next week.
Thank you so much to Julie and Granny for joining us here today we would love to hear from you so please  leave me a comment below or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

A Special Request and Announcement From My Etsy Shop Tea Leaves and Angel Wings

Today I am writing a very special post about a dear friend of mine who is in need of assistance. A few years ago I was introduced to a remarkable and inspiring lady who pushed me into writing about the books I was reading and enjoying and who gave me the kick I needed to reach out to others and start  this blog, A Cup of Tea and A Cozy Mystery Blog. That lady's name is Lisa K of Lisa K's book reviews. Lisa introduced me to some of my most favorite and admired authors and paved the way to help me get noticed as a professional reader and blogger. I owe her a great deal of respect and thanks for the opportunity to share daily with all of you.

  Over the past year Lisa and her family have gone through tremendous hardship. Lisa and her sister who live together, experienced a huge loss when their older brother passed away after a brief and impossible battle with brain cancer. During this time one of her sisters, whom she lives with lost her job and in the year that they have been living off of her sisters savings, which has ultimately run out. Lisa's sister has also become ill and unable to find work. Lisa herself is on disability and she and her sister have been trying to make ends meet on just that. Unfortunately things have become quite dire and the sisters are in danger of losing their rental housing. One of the authors Lisa has tirelessly supported & promoted has kindly set up a fundraiser to help Lisa and her sister cover their back rent. Many of the authors, bloggers and readers in the cozy community are doing what they can to help these sisters get on their feet again.  If you would like to help Lisa and her sister in this way please click here for the Go Fund Me Raiser.  A huge thank you to Author Julie Seedorf for spearheading this fundraising effort. 

This leads me to my next announcement. I have very recently reopened my Etsy shop in order  to try to help bring in funds to help Lisa and her sister. 

While it is my goal is soon offer my own line of cozy teas, I am currently offering three types of card readings that proceeds will go to helping Lisa and her sister with their expenses.  I have renamed my

Etsy shop Teal Leaves and Angel Wings and I hope you will stop by. 

ANOTHER WAY YOU MAYBE ABLE TO HELP

If you are reading this post today and you are in a position to help with information on how to access services and funding as a person with disabilities living in the USA and you are able to share that with me I would appreciate it so that I may pass it on to Lisa and her sister.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my friend and if you can add her and her sister to your prayer list I would be forever grateful. Thank you for taking the time to join me for a cup of tea and a cozy call for help. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment below or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Granny Hooks A Crook, by Julie Seedorf

My dear friend Lisa sent me this book on Amazon as a gift last week and I truly enjoyed this very humorous cozy. I had not read any of the Granny series by Julie Seedorf and Granny Hooks A Crook is the first in this series. There is so much to love and admire about Granny, her undercover work and her menagerie of animals.  I needed a light and humorous cozy this weekend and this one was delightful.  

Granny leads a secret life in the small, unique community of Fuschia, Minnesota. It’s not just her all junk food diet, multiplying pets, or her shocking bedtime attire that makes Granny one in a million. No, Granny is an undercover cop, charged by “the Big Guy” (the town’s police chief) of preventing theft in local stores. Granny takes her job seriously and daily foils many shoplifters using her trusty spiked umbrella and amazing acting skills. When some startlingly brazen burglaries begin to occur that Granny can’t solve, along with mysteriously appearing bad guys, disappearing clerks, and misplaced Corvettes, Granny begins to wonder if she isn’t ready for the wrinkle farm. Maybe, it’s fortuitous when she accidentally-on-purpose falls in the lap of an attractive older gentleman who is soon roped into her wild adventures, as they try to figure out what’s happening in their little town.

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

On my table and in my January 21-28th

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a week in review. This has been a very difficult week for me, in many ways. While I was very lucky to have had some fantastic books to read and take me away from the world for a few hours each day, I have been troubled by how much pain and suffering has surrounded so many people I know this week. I am so very blessed in my own life, but I am not with out anxiety and stress. This Wednesday was Bell.ca's Let's Talk day, a day to bring awareness to the important task of removing the stigma around mental illness. A very large sum of money was raised with each text sent, or #letstalk tweet, message and more. The photo above was my contribution, I salute Bell for this campaign . This week I have witnessed strength and courage previously not witnessed by own eyes and it has had a impact on my life I have yet to fully understand. There are people in life that will have the most profound effect on the trajectory of your future, by how they become solidified in your past. The ones we seek the most are in the happy memories, however it is the difficult defining moments and memories that show our true character. I have lit many candles this week and said many prayers for strength for so many.

There have been incredibly happy moments this week as well, my son turned 16, I got flowers twice, from my husband this week, visits from friends and support from people placed so very perfectly in my life. I also sipped tea from some of the most beautiful and delicate vessels, tea made from perfectly formed leaves and infused flavors complemented each moment of reflection and self care.
And there have been so many wonderful books! And yes I have read them all this week!

Currently on my table is Granny Hooks A Crook, by Julie Seedorf, a gift of humor and mystery from my wonderful and thoughtful friend Lisa from lisaksbookthoughts. 

Nell Hampton's April 11th release was a delight to have on my table and a great escape, imagine working for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace! Honestly this was a great cozy in a very perfect imagined great British home. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table by Janet Finsilver was not at all what I thought, not exactly a paranormal mystery however this was a fun book 3, first I had read in the series and I enjoyed the team feeling of this book.

An impromptu visit to Scotland this week with Of Books and Bagpipes, a true arm chair travelers delight. I could picture so easily this setting and the story was filled with history and mystery. I highly recommend it. 

I was off skiing in Colorado with Lynn Cahoon's Fatality by Firelight, a lovey writers retreat mystery with Cat as she handles her second writers retreat while living in her own mystery. So many elements of this story to love, the food mentions as well had me making soup and feeling as though I was snowed in and loving it. 

I shared a review of a very fun cozy by CeeCee James, this one is out now and a great deal of fun.

I also was delighted with Snowed in with Murder by Auralee Wallace, I was very lucky to have so many wonderful stories to read and escape with. I hope that you may also have the same experience with these titles, a cozy spot and a cup of tea too. 
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com