We are delight to welcome back Debra Sennefelder and share the cover of her debut book The Uninvited Corpse! It’s available for pre-order here. It comes out March 27, 2018 from Kensington Publishing.
Thank you Wicked Cozy Authors for inviting me to reveal the cover of my debut novel, The Uninvited Corpse. I’m beyond thrilled to here today and I’m so excited to have the cover my book. It’s truly a dream come true.
Here is the back cover copy for the first book in the Food Blogger Mystery series: Leaving behind a failed career as a magazine editor and an embarrassing stint on a reality baking show, newly divorced lifestyle entrepreneur Hope Early thought things were finally on the upswing–until she comes face-to-face with a murderer . . .
Hope’s schedule is already jam packed with recipe testing and shameless plugs for her food blog as she rushes off to attend a spring garden tour in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Unfortunately, it isn’t the perfectly arranged potted plants that grab her attention–it’s the bloody body of reviled real estate agent Peaches McCoy . . .
One of the tour guests committed murder, and all eyes are on Hope’s younger sister, Claire Dixon–who, at best, saw Peaches as a professional rival. And suspicions really heat up when another murder occurs the following night. Now, with two messy murders shaking Jefferson and all evidence pointing to Claire, Hope must set aside her burgeoning brand to prove her sister’s innocence. But the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to a killer intent on making sure her life goes permanently out of style . . .
I had a blast writing The Uninvited Corpse. For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be an author. I had visions of spending my days writing scenes, chapters and hitting bestseller lists. Silly childhood dreams, right? I discovered mysteries beyond Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, cozies in particular when I found the Miss Marple books. I was hooked.
Fast forward a few more years and I was browsing in the local bookstore of my new hometown after I married and I found the Faith Fairchild mystery series by Katherine Hall Page. Once I read The Body in The Belfry I knew what I wanted to write. Then I discovered Valerie Wolzien, Diane Mott Davidson, Claudia Bishop and so many other wonderful writers. Then life happened and I stepped away from fiction writing. I eventually started a food blog, The Cookbook Diva. In that space I was in control of everything – content, schedule, promotion. No one was editing me. No one was rejecting my work. I loved it. I enjoyed sharing my recipes, I enjoyed the blogger community and I really enjoyed spending time in my kitchen. But over time I felt that tug of something that was missing. What was missing was fiction writing. When I really thought about it I couldn’t see myself in ten years from then still writing a food blog but I could see myself as an author.
One weekend I decided to pull out my idea file (writers usually have thick folders of ideas for books) and I started thinking up plots and characters. I slowly got back into the writing community, found my critique partner, mystery author Ellie Ashe, and set forth to write a novel. I knew my amateur sleuth would be involved with food somehow. I considered several options and the one that seemed the best fit was food blogger. I had experience with that world and it was something different for the cozy world. Once I was well into the first draft of The Uninvited Corpse I made the decision to shut down my food blog and focus entirely on fiction writing. I’m so glad I did because I’m exactly where I should be writing novels.
Thank you for sharing my cover reveal with me today!
Readers: What is your favorite thing about culinary mysteries? Or what is your favorite thing about finding a new series?
I love to try new recipes so cozies with recipes are great for me.
Good morning Gram, Isn’t that so much fun, to try a new recipe? I never know when I’ll find a keeper. Thank you for sharing this celebration with me! Have a great day.
Wow, welcome to the Wicked Cozy world, Debra – and to the world of crime fiction authors (not to mention the lovely Kensington-author world)! It sounds like you put everything together and are following your chosen path. Some of those same authors are the reasons I write cozies, too. I love to try out new series and find a group of regulars I can look forward to reading about again and again.
Thank you! I’m very happy to be a part of Kensington. Never in a million years did I think when I started to food blog I’d be writing a cozy mystery about a food blogger. I guess some unexpected turns in life happen for a reason.
I’m so happy for you, Debra! Thanks for being with us today! I love your cover and look forward to reading The Uninvited Corpse.
Thank you, Sherry.
Congratulations on joining Kensington. Love your cover. Love your concept!
Thank you. Kensington did do a great job with the cover. I had a lot of fun writing the book and I’m enjoying writing the second book right now.
I love your cover! Welcome back to the Wickeds, Debra. I hope you’ll visit us many more times.
Thank you, Barbara. I appreciate the opportunity to share my cover here. Revealing my cover here with the Wickeds seems right. 🙂
This sounds so much fun. Can’t wait to read it!
I read a lot of culinary cozies, which is funny since I don’t really cook. Yet I almost always flip to the back of the book first to see what the recipes are. I enjoy living vicariously through the characters, I guess.
I love connecting with the characters in a new series and knowing I’ll have more great books to watch them grow.
Hi Mark,
I peek at the back o the book too for the recipes when I start reading a new book. I feel the same way about new series. In fact I’m reading book 1 in the new Lucky Paws Pet Sitting series by Bethany Blake. I’m looking forward to the next book coming out soon.
Love the cover, love new series and new authors. I can’t wait to read this one.
Thanks, Jessie. I hope it’s fun.
What a wonderful cover! It sounds like a fun new series! My favorite thing about finding new series is discovering new voices and fresh characters that I love spending time with!
Thank you, Jessie. I agree with you about finding character that I love spending time with. That’s a great part of cozies.
Culinary mysteries are so fun! I love reading about the food and wondering if I could possibly make the recipe. If there are recipes in the books then that’s just a bonus! Looking forward to reading this! Congratulations!
Thank you, Meg. I hope you’ll enjoy the book and the recipes that I’ve included.
So cute Debra!! Congrats.
Hi Lynn. Thank you!
I love the cover and can’t wait to meet Hope! I started reading culinary cozies via Diane Mott Davidson too.
Hi. I read every one of Diane’s books. I loved Goldy. I hope you’ll like Hope and her friends.
I love the cover and the premise with your protagonist as a food blogger! Recipes are always a huge plus in a book too 🙂 I’m anxious to read your new release next spring… congratulations!!!
Thank you, Kim. It’s fun writing a food blogger. I hope you enjoy The Uninvited Corpse.
Great cover! I love the premise of your book — it sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to read it. I like culinary cozies because what the characters cook and eat tells you something about them (“tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you what you are”). I love that insight into the characters’ lives and worlds — and food is definitely a part of that. Also, I love collecting and trying new recipes. Congratulations on your book and see you tonight at the Cozy Pajama Party!
Hi Jennifer. Oh, boy, I’m gonna have to be careful what I eat if we’re ever at a conference together. LOL. I’m looking forward to tonight’s Party. See you there!