Guest – Joyce Tremel

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Edith here, delighted to welcome debut cozy mystery author Joyce Tremel to the blog. Take a look at this bio!Joyce Tremel 1

Joyce Tremel was a police secretary for ten years and more than once envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail. Her flash fiction has appeared in Mysterical-e, and her non-fiction has been published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Magazine. Her debut novel To Brew or Not to Brew is nominated for a 2015 Reviewers’ Choice Award for best amateur sleuth by Romantic Times. The second book in the series, tentatively titled Tangled up in Brew, will release late next year.

She’s going to give away a signed copy of To Brew or Not to Brew to one lucky commenter, too. Take it away, Joyce.

First, I’d like to thank Edith for inviting me to write a guest post (and Julie who asked me after Edith did!). This is one of my favorite blogs and I really appreciate the chance to be here—especially today. You see, tomorrow is my BIG DAY—the release of my first novel, To Brew or Not to Brew!

ToBrewOrNotToBrew finalWhen debut authors talk about the “roller coaster of emotions” that go with launching a book it’s one hundred percent true. Just in the past couple of weeks I’ve experienced elation, excitement, nervousness, and panic. Fortunately, all the negative emotions take back place to the positive ones. Part of the reason for this is because of the support from fellow writers.

Just like how you Wickeds stick together, I belong to a great support group of my own—the Pittsburgh chapter of Sisters in Crime. When I first joined way back in 2001 or 2002, I was a new writer. I’d dabbled with writing for years and finally decided it was time to take it more seriously. We didn’t have many published authors back then. Most of us were newbies. I was completely in awe of our president, Nancy Martin, who had numerous published novels (and now I’m on panels with her!). In the years since then, many of us have crossed the threshold into published authordom (I may have just made up that word!).

Joyce, Annette Dashofy, Jeff Boarts, and Martha Reed at Malice Domestic 2015.
Joyce, Annette Dashofy, Jeff Boarts, and Martha Reed at Malice Domestic 2015.

We’ve talked each other off the ledge after getting the umpteenth rejection from an agent, we’ve rejoiced for each other when short stories were published, and we’ve just about sung the Hallelujah Chorus when books were accepted for publication. I actually cried I was so happy when my good friend, Annette Dashofy told me her first book was going to be published. And I’m pretty sure I heard her scream from the next county when I emailed her that mine sold!

When I started writing this post, I had no idea what it was going to be about, but I kind of like where it’s gone. The writing community—especially the mystery community—is like one big family. Maybe it’s because we writers all experience the same highs and lows. We know exactly what it feels like to get that fiftieth rejection letter or when someone tells us they love something we’ve written. And readers are our extended family. Maybe they’re even the patriarchs and matriarchs. After all, what good is a writer without a reader?

I guess this is a pretty long way to say thanks to all my writer friends—Wickeds included. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Readers: Who is your extended family? Have you ever met a brewmaster? Ask Joyce a question about her debut experience! Remember, she’s giving away a copy of the book!

About the book: The Allegheny Brew House is a dream come true for Maxine “Max” O’Hara, who is preparing to open her own craft brew pub in a newly revitalized section of
Pittsburgh. But before she can start pouring stouts and lagers to thirsty throngs,
there’s trouble on tap. Suspicious acts of sabotage culminate in Max finding her
assistant brewmaster and chef  strangled in one of the vats. With a homicide detective for a dad, Max comes to criminal investigation naturally. And if someone is desperate enough to kill to stop her from opening, Max needs to act fast—before her brand-new brew biz totally tanks…

Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

54 Thoughts

  2. Yes, Joyce, that was definitely me you heard screaming when your series sold! And I’ll be there Saturday with bells on to help you celebrate your launch, AND to take pictures when you sign Mystery Lovers Bookshop’s bathroom wall!

      2. Yes, Edith, and it’s great fun to have your name up there with all the greats!

      1. Joyce and Edith, I overheard Trevor say the festival MIGHT be coming back. Not in 2016, but possible 2017!

  3. Can’t wait to party with you on Saturday, Joyce. Congrats! And Edith yes, the bathroom wall at Mystery Lovers is legendary. You must come visit!

  4. Yes, I met a brew master some years ago in a new restaurant in FL. I don’t know if it is still there but the owner was from New England. I do like the sound of this series.

  5. I was lucky to meet everyone in your picture last year at Malice! They are a wonderful support group. I can’t wait to go buy your book, Joyce — I’m so happy for you!

  6. Congratulations, Joyce. I’m so happy for you. Coming from Altoona, Pennsylvania, I’m always delighted to see more Pennsylvania writers get published. Although I live in Virginia, I set my mystery (unpublished) in Pennsylvania, where my heart is. You sound like you have a terrific group there in Pittsburgh. Martha Reed and Annette Doshofy would be a pleasure to have in any group.

    1. Thanks, Grace. There’s a new website called “Littsburgh” that focuses on Pittsburgh writers. I’ve lived here all my life and didn’t realize there were so many!

      Hubby and I have a cabin not too far from Altoona–maybe a 30-45 minute drive. We’re down off of the Lincoln Highway–Route 30, halfway between Somerset and Bedford.

      And yes, Annette and Martha are definitely pleasures to be around.

  7. Pingback: Guest – Joyce Tremel | Brand Fearless ~ Kim Fleck

  10. I’ve read this book, and it is so much fun. Can’t wait to revisit the characters in book two!

    Congrats, Joyce!!

  11. Sounds like a great book! I’ll have to get it, read it, and pass it on to my niece who has just completed her qualifications to be a brew master and is working in Colorado. Congratulations!

  13. I enjoy new authors and first in series books.. I live in Wine Country and not much of a brew drinker . When I drive to work and back I pass a Hop Field and a small tasting room. When it first appeared co-workers asked me what it was and I had no idea. One day it hit me they were growing hops and I remember fields of hops when I was very young, I’m 80 and most people don’t remember them. Beer has become very big in my area now but I’m still not a beer drinker but do have good memories of hop fields.

    1. Great story! There’s at least one brewery in Pittsburgh that grows their own hops.

      If you don’t like most beers, try a hefeweizen. It’s a rather mild beer that has a slight taste and aroma of banana and sometimes clove. It gets that flavor from the yeast–there are no bananas involved!

  14. Joyce, first of all CONGRATULATIONS!!! I know well this roller coaster. Best piece of advice I got to get through it came from both Hank Ryan and Hallie Ephron–enjoy every minute. You will have other books published, but will never be a first time novelist again. Ride that wave.

    Love the SinC shout out. We’re all Sisters in Crime as well–what a great organization. And you are completely right about this community–the nicest group of people anyway.

    I love the premise of your new series. I have several friends who brew at home, and one who is well known in the community. There are lots of craft beer places here in MA–once you realize the difference, and start to explore, you really can’t go back.

    Have a BLAST this weekend–will be there in spirit!

    1. Thanks, Julie. It is very exciting! I’ll enjoy the ride for sure.

      Most craft beer tastes so much better than what I’ve heard called “corporate beer.” There’s no way I could drink the stuff the big breweries put out anymore. One of the things I like about craft beer is that people don’t drink it to get drunk. They drink for the taste–not to see how stupid they can get, lol.

  15. Joyce–you seem to have picked a very timely theme! The pub downstairs here in Dublin is featuring craft beers this evening, and apparently they’re popular in Ireland. And yes, I have met a brewmeister: some years ago I organized a dinner featuring Yuengling beers, and at that time one of the daughters of the family. was their brewmeister. Can’t say if she still is.

    Great to see you here!

    1. Sheila, I am so envious that you’re in Ireland! There are only two countries I wouldn’t mind visiting someday–Ireland and Germany. Both of them have great beer. I know Guinness has been around for centuries and is sort of big, but I consider it a craft beer. There’s nothing like a fresh Guinness draft. I’ve tasted other great stouts, but Guinness is hard to beat.

  17. My niece’s husband “Steve” studied brewing here and in Europe. He was hoping to go into the business. He ended up running for local office someplace in Pennsylvania.

    I love the title and the cover of this new series and can’t wait to own and read it.

  18. Can’t wait to read your debut, Joyce! I’ve never met a brewmaster, although my inlaws had a tap installed on the side of their fridge so they could store their own kegs. Thanks to the subject matter I think this might be the first cozy mystery my husband will read, lol!

    1. Thanks! I have a feeling your husband won’t be the only guy interested. I’ve had more than one tell me they never read “that kind of book” but are interested in the beer!

  21. Congratulations Joyce. I love a good mystery so I am going to have to get a copy of this book. And since I knew you growing up a signed copy would be extra special. The best of luck to you and future publications.

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