Edith here, so happy to welcome today’s guest. Kim Davis is a brilliant baker (and food stager) and has featured recipes by several of the Wickeds on her Cinnamon, Sugar, & a Little Bit of Murder blog over the years. Now she has her own cozy foodie mystery out, Sprinkles of Suspicion.
Here’s the blurb:
One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.
Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect.
With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her? Includes recipes!
Take it away, Kim!
It truly is an honor being a guest at The Wickeds, so thank you for hosting me! I might have gone a little “fan girl” when Edith invited me to participate with a guest post!
5-1/2 years ago I started my blog, Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder, as a way to procrastinate finishing a suspense novel I had been working on for years. My blog started out with a twice a week post featuring a recipe I’d created, along with a short review of whatever mystery book I was reading at the time. And then I started noticing cozy mysteries and how many of the books included recipes! It didn’t take long for me to connect with the authors of the culinary cozy mysteries I devoured and start sharing those recipes along with my reviews.
I’m a huge fan of food bloggers and love to drool over their photos. As my blog started gaining more followers I became more disgruntled with my own photos using a cheapie point-and-shoot camera. Thanks to a generous birthday gift from my husband and some lessons (and many books on the subject) my photos started appearing more appealing.
I still have a long way to go to reach a professional level but I like to think that the dishes I prepare and photograph will tempt people to try them.
I also make YouTube videos with each recipe but I’ll be the first to admit I need to do some serious research and invest in a good lighting system to make those better. [Edith: I think the videos look great – check out this one of the Pumpkin Twists dog treats!]
As my blog expanded and as I developed my creativity in food styling, photography, and videography, I found my writing became easier and a lot less stressful. I finally finished that suspense novel and since then, started writing two cozy mystery series. One is being shopped for a publisher and the other is my Cupcake Catering Mysteries with the first book, Sprinkles of Suspicion just released in June. Maybe it’s the calming way baking settles my mind so while my hands are busy creating delicious dishes to share with family and friends, my brain has a chance to think of murder and mayhem for my protagonists to get involved in.
Readers: do you try the recipes included in cozy mysteries and have you found favorites that you make over and over again? (To celebrate the release of Sprinkles of Suspicion I’m offering a signed print copy, limited to U.S. residents. If outside the U.S. I can provide an e-book via BookFunnel. I’ll pick a winner on 7/9.)
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Sprinkles-Suspicion-Cupcake-Catering-Mystery-ebook/dp/B086XKRCJH/
Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing cozy mystery stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats. She has published the suspense novel, A Game of Deceit, and has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Hi Kim! I really enjoy the work you put into your blog–all recipes always look so good and inviting! I have made many recipes from culinary mysteries. Cookies are always a hit, plus I made some snickerdoodle bars that were all the best parts of the cookie, without all that rolling! I Can’t wait to read Kim’s book! Wishing you continued success and thanks for the chance to win!
Oooh, Snickerdoodle Bar cookies sounds fantastic! I’m still using recipes (especially cookie recipes) from books that I found 15 years ago. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the contest!
I love to try recipes from cozies and I guess favorites are from Joanne Fluke books.
Thanks for stopping by, Candy, and good luck! I’m still using some of Joann Fluke’s recipes from her first books out and my step-daughter even bought me one of her cookbooks. Now I’m craving cookies 🙂
I have made a few recipes from some of the cozies I’ve read and they have been so good. My husband even makes some of the ones I copy too. Thank you for this change.
You’re welcome and good luck in the contest! Lucky you to have a husband that likes to bake 🙂
Kim, your food pictures are gorgeous. If I could bake like you do I would do it a lot more often. So no, I don’t try many of the recipes in books, although there have been one or two exceptions. Mostly I either stick to one of my standard recipes or wait for someone else to cook for me, which, unfortunately, doesn’t happen as often as I’d like!
Thank you, Marla, I wish I could share some of the goodies with you (and other readers)! I was fortunate that my grandmother, mom, and aunts were all amazing bakers and cooks, so I started learning at a very early age. Good luck in the contest!
Congratulations, Kim! I’ve been known to try a recipe or two (I bet Koda would love those Pumpkin Twist dog treats).
Thanks, Liz! My grand-puppy, Piper, (who was also the model for my cover dog) is so spoiled by the homemade treats (like the Pumpkin Twists) that whenever I drop by her house she’s pretty insistent that I defrost one from the freezer for her before I do anything else 🙂
It’s been a pleasure getting to know the Wicked Authors through reading their books and trying out the recipes and even having the opportunity to meet up with some of them in person at Malice a couple years ago! Thanks so much for hosting me today!
We are happy to have you!
Congratulations on the release of “Sprinkles of Suspicion”!
Kim you do a fabulous job of bringing us great new recipes and even recipes with a new twists as well as informing us of wonderful books – most of which end up on my TBR list.
Love trying the recipes in the books and those you post. Picking a favorite is impossible because it’s a matter of timing and tastes. Something made with pumpkin might sound yummy today while tomorrow I’d prefer something savory. Let’s just say I have several that I’ve made often.
Can’t wait for the opportunity to read “Sprinkles of Suspicion” and appreciate the chance to win a copy!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thanks so much, Kay, and I’m delighted that I’ve introduced you to new books and to new recipes to try out! My family’s problem is they do have favorites but I’m the one who is always looking for a new recipe to experiment with or need to work on a blog recipe so they’re always my guinea pigs 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
Kay, you are the lucky winner! Check your email for a message from Kim.
I do love recipes, and have used many, several from the Wickeds, I also have used quite a few from Karen MacInerney Dewberry Farms and Grey Whale Inn series, I loved to do things in season so if I read a book with seasonal recipes, I am all over it. I also love to collect recipes for the holiday. Cozies have a lot of good recipes
Oooh, in addition the Wickeds’ recipes I enjoy Karen’s recipes from the Grey Whale Inn series too. So many yummy recipes, so little time 🙂 I love Christmas seasonal recipes, especially cookies 🙂 Good luck in the contest, Debbie!
Debbie, Candy Slain Murder comes out in September – with Christmas recipes!
I can’t wait, Edith!
Welcome, Kim! I’m so happy you are here with us. Congratulations on all your endeavors — you are amazing. And I think your photos are stunning.
Thanks so much, Sherry! I truly appreciate the opportunity to be on The Wickeds since I admire all of your wonderful books! By the way, I just finished a Netgalley copy of FROM BEER TO ETERNITY last night… it was fantastic!!!
I love your blog. I have made several recipes from it & from cozies I have read.
Thanks, Sharon, that makes me so happy to know that I’ve been able to introduce you to great books and yummy recipes! Good luck in the contest!
Kim, like you, my protagonist Robbie Jordan gets a lot of good sleuth-thinking done while she cooks, particularly doing prep in her restaurant the night before.
I loved hearing your story today. I’m a twice-monthly contributor on the Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen blog, and my food photos never look as good as yours!
It’s amazing how your mind can free up when your hands are busy prepping! RE: food photos… the secret is lighting and photo editing software 🙂 Thanks again for hosting me on The Wickeds!
I’m not a good cook so I don’t. I do like to see the recipes to see if I think I would like it. Your covers are always so cute. Thanks for the chance. I haven’t read these so I usually see the recipes on a blog.
One of my favorite things about food blogs is the photos, even if I know I probably won’t try the recipe. Thanks for stopping by, Lynn, and good luck in the contest!
Congratulations on the release of “Sprinkles of Suspicion.” I look forward to reading it. I enjoy cooking and baking and we’ve been baking a lot with the kids during this quarantine.
Thanks so much, Tina, and I’m glad you stopped by the blog! Baking and cooking with kids is a wonderful way to create lifelong memories as well as providing them with skills they’ll use the rest of their life. I still have special memories of learning to bake bread with my grandmother and making homemade donuts with an aunt when I was very young!
I have lots of your recipes bookmarked but as of last fall I’m in assisted living and no longer cook but I enjoying your blog – and your pictures always make me hungry!
Thank you, Karen! I agree with you, even when it’s not possible to cook it’s still a pleasure to look over photos of food. Best of luck in the contest!
Congratulations on the release of “Sprinkles of Suspicion.” I love reading the recipes included in the cozies and have made some of the cookie and soup recipes.
Thank you, Mary, and good luck in the contest! I’ll have to admit the cookie recipes in cozies are the first thing I check out 🙂
Welcome to the Wickeds, Kim! The first time I saw Kim’s photos of one of my recipes, I was convinced she was a former food stylist turned blogger. The photos were that amazing!
Sprinkles of Suspicion is on my Kindle and I cannot wait to dig in! All the best luck to you.
Thank you so much, Barbara! I’m a HUGE fan of Pinterest and have found a lot of inspiration for styling food from all the talented bloggers on there. It’s been a pleasure hosting you on my blog and of course all your yummy recipes!
I do try some recipes in cozies but I shouldn’t eat too much of them so I don’t try as many as I’d like to. I should still at least be able to read about other people eating them.
It is kind of nice to be able to vicariously enjoy other people eating goodies that we can’t (or shouldn’t) through books and movies! Good luck in the contest!
Your photos look better than mine would. Of course, it helps to have more options than my small condo for staging. Not that I’m trying to get into photos. I have enough on my plate as it is.
This is a fun debut. Be sure to pick it up.
I’m so happy you enjoyed my book, Mark! I’ve found that I get the best photos with a small pop-up photo tent to help with the lighting. And while I have a wide variety of dishes and linens for using, I’ve found my favorites that photograph well and tend to stick with them. Thanks for stopping by!
A cookie recipe in Joanne Flukes books that was delicious. I like dog food and treats in the books alot. Thank you for the chance
A cookie recipe in Joanne Flukes books that was delicious. I like dog food and treats in the books alot. Thank you for the chance Donakutska7@gmail.com
My grand-puppy, Piper, would have to agree with you that the dog treat recipes are the BEST! Thanks for stopping by, Donamae, and good luck in the contest!
I seldom try a recipe from any of the cozies, but I love to read them. I have taken ideas from a couple of them to make something to take to the book club.
Your series sounds wonderful and I would love to win a copy of Sprinkles of Suspicion.
That’s a terrific idea to make the recipe from a book for a book club meeting! Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the contest!
Congratulations, Kim! Loved the book and eagerly await the next in the series! xoxoxo
Thanks so much, Ellen!!! I’m working hard on edits for the 2nd book now! xoxoxo
Hi Kim! Welcome and congrats! As someone who had recipes in my first series, I have to confess I got someone to create them for me 🙂 Worked out much better that way!
Thank you, Liz! My grandpuppy, Piper, enjoyed all the treats I’ve made from your books, so I appreciate that you had someone who could create them 🙂
Your book sounds intriguing and like a very good page turner! I Love the book cover, especially the puppy on it! Your goodies look and sound Delicious! I bake a couple of rum cakes On New Years Day. Thank you so much for sharing about your book and it is very nice meeting you. Have a Great week and stay safe.
I try to make some recipes that are in cozies, but they never come out as great as they sound! 🙂 Thank you for this chance!
I’ve made some things from Joanne Fluke’s cookbook several times. Also a recipe from Joyce Tremel. I think that I’ve tried others but I always love reading the recipies. Your book sounds good. Stay safe and well.
I love the recipes!! They spark my imagination and tend to make my friends very happy with my tries at those great recipes.
Love your blog Kim!!! I love trying the recipes!!
Can’t wait to read this book.
Thanks for the chance to win it!!
Kim I’m thrilled with your book! Congrats! And, I have enjoyed any number of recipes from books! When I saw the picture of the Pumpkin Twist Dog Treats, I thought I need to get the book and make some of Liz Mugavero’s Murder Most Finicky’s dog treats! Thanks for the generous giveaway!
There’s only me, here, so, although I read the recipes, I don’t usually even attempt to make them.