It feels like we have book birthdays for Sheila three times a year. Oh, wait–we do! Today is the birthday of Picked to Die the eighth book in Sheila’s flagship Orchard Mystery series. Let’s see what it’s about.
A TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUIT
It’s harvest time in Granford, Massachusetts, and orchard owner Meg Corey and her fiancé, Seth, are both racing to beat the New England winter. Meg is bringing in her apple crop with a team of workers, while Seth is working to restore an old building in the center of town. But when his project is set back due to the unexpected discovery of a skeleton under the building—and even worse, a young man related to one of Meg’s former apple pickers is found dead behind the local feed store—the couple’s carefully laid plans are quickly spoiled…
Meg can’t help but wonder: are they just unlucky, or is there something rotten in Granford? If so, she knows she’s got to seek out the bad apple before it ruins the whole bunch…
Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?
Barb: Happy Book Birthday, Sheila! Hard to believe this is the eighth Orchard Mystery. I’ve been around so long, I remember when you announced the deal at a Sisters in Crime New England meeting. Does it ever get old?
Edith: I remember that meeting, too! It was my 
first SINC NE meeting, at Kate Flora’s house. So many congrats on your continued success. I love all three of your series, but I think I like the orchard series the best, so I can’t wait to read Picked to Die.
Sherry: I’m so happy for you, Sheila! I don’t know how you manage three series and your romantic suspense but as a reader I’m grateful you do!
Jessie: Sheila, you are an inspiration to us all! Thanks for showing us it can be done!
Julie: Barb and Edith, I remember that meeting too! Sheila, happy book birthday!! I love the Orchard series, and can’t wait to read this one. I may need to go apple picking this weekend to celebrate–and of course, get some apple cider doughnuts.
Liz: Sheila, so happy for you. You’re truly an inspiration. I love this series, and can’t wait to get to this book. Wishing you many more series and much success!
Readers: Which of Sheila’s books have you read? (Or, why haven’t you?) Any questions for this NYT-bestselling, award-winning, super-productive, and extraordinarily nice (and generous) author?
Looking forward to this one, too. I also like the Ireland series. 🙂
I’m a big fan of the Ireland series, too, Gram
Thank you. In a way, the Orchard series and the County Cork series represent the two halves of my family tree (my mother’s family was always from Massachusetts, and my father’s father came from County Cork). They’re very different places, but they share a lot of characteristics too–like people looking out for each other.
Thanks, everybody. I love all my series, but the Orchard mysteries were the first books that really took off. And to think the whole series started when I happened to stumble on a website for a B&B in western Massachusetts, when my daughter was looking at colleges, and said, “I know who built that!” And then when my then-agent Jacky Sach and I were kicking around ideas for the series, and I said “Apples.” And that was that.
It’s a pleasure to write the series, and I’m so glad people enjoy it.
Reblogged this on F4l ~ FLECK and commented:
Happy Birthday Sheila Connolly =)
Congrats on book 8. And you aren’t going to make me confess that I have the first in the series on my TBR pile but haven’t gotten to it yet, are you?
Then you have a lot to look forward to! But I know the feeling–my TBR stacks just keep growing.
Congratulations, Sheila! I’m amazed by how much you write. How do you do it? Any tips? Happy book birthday!
Easiest answer is that I love writing. When I started, I had no idea how fast any writer worked–I just jumped in. I do know I read early in my life, and I’ve always read fast (that drives my husband crazy). Everybody has their own pacing–there’s no one right speed. Plus I feel like my characters are friends now, and I want to see what they’ll do next.
I’ve read all the Orchard books and reading “Seeing the Dead” now. Love both series. Starting to listen to the Orchard series on audio. Happy Book Birthday
Great! I haven’t seen (heard) the audio of any of the Orchard series yet.
Hi Sheila! Happy Book Birthday!
I’ve read two of your books, Buried in a Bog and Skibbereen, and loved them both. The West Cork setting is a favorite of mine, probably because my Harrington side came from Clonakilty and out on the Bandon road originally before settling in Salem, Massachusetts .
By the way I tried to access the Wickeds blog starting this morning. I used the same link that I do every day but kept getting an error message. A couple of times I was hooked up to a Wickeds post about Hank’s new book??? BUT… I just tried again and got on! I don’t know what happened, but I’m very sorry I wasn’t here sooner.
Reine
PS: I am about to start your Orchard series, Sheila!
I’m reading the book now and loving it. Love the characters!