Ending a series is always hard on an author and most of us don’t like to talk about it. I’ve had a lot of readers reaching out and asking me when the next Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery would be out. Sadly Absence of Alice is most likely the last book in the series. While writing is joyful, publishing is a business and sometimes a tough one.
On the bright side – I have nine books—NINE—in a series. I loved writing them all, but especially love Absence of Alice. I feel like I get to go out on a high note. Readers have always said each book has gotten better and I can’t ask for more than that.
Let’s take a little waltz down memory lane. On a Monday morning in December 2012, Barbara Ross reached out to me saying that her agent, John Talbot, was looking for someone to write a garage sale mystery series for an editor at Kensington – Gary Goldstein. Would I be interested in giving it a whirl? I told Barb I had to think it over. While I loved garage sales, I’d never thought about writing about them. The next morning, I woke up and thought, why am I hesitating? Of course, I want to try.
Barbara connected John and I via email. He said he needed the proposal fast. I had no idea what that meant, but Liz and Barb, both sent me their proposals and by Friday I turned it in. John had a few tweaks and sent if off to Gary who had a few tweaks and then boom, we had a contract signed for three books. I will always be grateful to John and Gary for taking a chance on an unknown me.
Tagged for Death came out on December 2, 2014. I will never forget how I alternated between scared and excited. What if everyone hated it? What if there were trolls who trashed it? Would I ever be able to show my face again? Of course none of that happened and three more contracts for two books each followed. The team at Kensington is amazing and I’m so grateful I got to work with them. Here are the original sketches for the cover of Tagged for Death. I still remember how thrilled I was to see them:
I’m so grateful to everyone who reads my garage sale mysteries. So many of you took the time write me notes saying how they helped you through a hard time or made you laugh or that you loved the sense of community and the strong, compassionate woman Sarah was. I loved highlighting a little bit of what military life is like as a spouse and touching on the amazing history of the area around Bedford, Massachusetts.
I also have good news! The muse is still inspiring me and I have several projects in the works including writing the fourth book in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries. A Time to Swill releases on July 27th! Three Shots to the Wind, the third Chloe Jackson book, is up for preorder and comes out on March 29, 2022! I LOVE the cover and the story–I hope you will too.
Here’s the cover copy: Chloe’s Windy City ex-fiancé gets blown away in the Florida panhandle…
DEAD EXES TELL NO TALES
Saloon owner Chloe Jackson appears to have a secret admirer. She’s pouring drinks at the Sea Glass Saloon in Emerald Cove when an airplane flies by above the beach with a banner reading I LOVE YOU CHLOE JACKSON. She immediately rules out Rip Barnett. They are in the early stages of dating and no one has said the L word. Then a bouquet of lilacs—her favorite flower—is delivered to the bar, followed by an expensive bottle of her favorite sparkling wine. It couldn’t be…
Sure enough, her ex-fiancé from Chicago has flown down to Florida for an accountants’ convention. But is he trying to mix business with pleasure and win her back? Unfortunately he’s not in a hotel conference room, he’s floating facedown in the lake next to her house, clutching a photo of Chloe. Who murders an accountant on a business trip—it just doesn’t add up. When Rip becomes the prime suspect, Chloe is determined to find the secret murderer. But if she isn’t careful, it may be closing time and lights out for her…
Readers: What do you think of the new cover? I’ll giveaway one copy of any of my books to someone who leaves a comment.
I’m really sad that the Garage Sale series is ending. It’s one of my favorites. I love the cover of Three Shots to the Wind, and I’m anxiously awaiting the release of A Time to Swill. I’ll miss Sarah Winston but am looking forward to see what Chloe Jackson does next.
Thank you! I’ll miss Sarah too!
Love the cover! I admire anyone artistic enough to be able to create a cover to accurately represent the book and entice people to read it. I loved From Beer to Eternity and have been anxiously awaiting more.
Kensington does such a great job with the covers!
This is one of my absolute favorite series—I’m glad there are more books on the horizon but I’m going to miss Sarah!
Thank you so much! I’ll miss her too!
What a whimsical cover!
It’s bittersweet about the Garage Sale Mysteries ending, but I’m glad you went out on a high note.
All the best to you, Sherry!
Thanks so much, Jennifer!
The cover makes me want to go to the beach. I love that the sand castle is thre and it’s not perfect.
I love that too!
The book cover is good. You got me at the beginning and I am now hook. Let me know when this comes out. I would love to read and give this one a review. I am adding this to my TBR list.
Thank you! It comes out on March 29, 2022
I like it. It makes me feel like I am right on the beach.
I haven’t read this series but now I am intrigued. I have enjoyed the Sarah Winston/ garage sale series, sad for it to end. I look forward to reading this series. The cover is creative, and has mystery to it.
Me too!
Here’s to bigger and better things!
Thank you, Clea!
Here’s to bigger and better things for you, Sherry!
Cozy mystery books always have the best book covers! This one made me think of out family vacations to Santa Cruz each year!
I love Santa Cruz!
I love this! I live in the Florida panhandle so a book based in my area is such a treat. Great cover too!
It’s such a beautiful area!
LOVE.
Thank you!
I love the cover! So beachy.
It is!
The cover is beautiful. The colors are perfect. I love the way the sea and clouds indicate wind, and the three shots on the bar, and the funny looking blue fish on the side of the bar. Altogether great!
I agree — Kensington’s art department is fabulous!
Sherry, I’m so sad to hear of the end of the Garage Sale Mysteries. I’ve loved every single one. But I also enjoyed the first Sea Glass Saloon mystery and look forward to having 2 more to read — one soon. And, yes, I like the cover for the third. So, a toast to series past, series present and series yet to come!
I’m sad to hear the Garage Sale Mysteries are ending. I am really enjoying the Sea Glass Saloon Mysteries, also, and I like the cover for book three. 🥰📚
Thank you!
I love your new book cover. It is colorful and very eye catching!
That cover is amazing!!!
I’ll miss Sarah… but maybe she could go visit Chloe! I like the cover on the new book!
Thank you so much!
LOVE the cover and am intrigued by the blurb.