ANNOUNCEMENT! The winner in the giveaway for Kate Young’s book is Gloria Browning! Jessie will be in touch with her to make arrangements to send her the prize.
Jessie: In New Hampshire where summer is in full swing!
With all the events in real life cancelled recently it is not as easy as it has been in the past to attend author events. So it is with real pleasure that the Wickeds have been hosting guests here on the blog. I am delighted to have Kate here visiting today and to be able to visit her charming fictional town through her post! Kate is offering a signed paperback to one commenter residing in the U.S.
Welcome, Kate!
Hey, y’all! I’m so happy to be here today, and I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
At this moment, I should be in Seaside, Florida, beachside with a frosty adult beverage relaxing after my signing at The Sun Dog, one of my favorite independent bookstores. Sadly, all my signings are canceled this year. While composing this post, I’m in my cozy little mountain town, sitting on the back deck dreaming of the day when I can return to my beloved beach and plunge my toes into the grainy depths and feel the caress of the waves against my skin.
The setting of my mystery series, Peach Cove Island, is loosely based upon the little coastal towns of Seaside, Florida, and historic Savannah, Georgia. Peach Cove has everything, a slower pace of life, beautiful beaches, a historic downtown with hosts of unique family-owned shops, and boutiques. And of course, right in the middle of Main Street is The Peach Diner, owned and operated by my protagonist, Marygene Brown, who is always serving up the most sought-after comfort food.
When I decided to begin writing cozy mysteries several years ago, I knew that I’d be writing a culinary cozy. Coming from a background of catering and wedding cake design, it just made sense. Marygene Brown, like me, is a foodie through in through. And, also like me, she bakes when she’s stressed, eats too. But she’s so much more. Marygene has a problematic past. She made a bad decision that altered the course of her life. She’s had to struggle to become the woman she is, and to thrive despite her troubles. And I love her for it!
When writing this series, I sought to create an immersive experience. To ignite a reader’s senses, you can smell the salty air and feel the heat on your skin while relishing in the coolness of the surf. While in the diner, you’ll hear the audible sounds of the clattering dishes, scrapes of silverware on the plates, and experience the aroma of all the food being fried, scattered, and smothered. Yum!
The small island has a host of quirky characters you’ll love to hang out with. The dose of realism within the stories, I hope, will remind us that sometimes life is messy yet not completely defining, and your near and dear will always have your back.
Peach Cove is a beautiful place that, despite all the dead bodies dropping, I hope you’ll wish to visit again and again.
A word to wise: while on your next visit, you might want to steer clear of early morning swims, they have proven precarious and have been known to send Marygene running to the diner for the comfort of a crispy potato waffle and a sweet pastry.
Readers, When you’re having a bad day, what’s your favorite comfort food? To celebrate the release of Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse, Kate is giving away a signed paperback. Just leave a comment to enter.
Bio: Kate Young writes Southern mystery novels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Guppy Chapter. Kate lives in a small town in Georgia with her husband, three kids, and Shih Tzus. When she is not writing her own books, she’s reading or cooking.
Website: https://www.kateyoungbooks.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayoungbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateyoungbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKateYoung/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kate-young-b3339e9c-d2e4-482d-a637-5afd7b064d73
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527572.Kate_Young