Guest Korina Moss plus #giveaway

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News Flash: Crystal is Korina’s lucky winner! Congratulations, Crystal, and please check your email.

Edith here, a month through Fall and finally accepting the season!

I’m delighted to welcome my Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen blogmate back to the Wickeds. She has a new Cheese Shop Mystery out, and one lucky commenter will win a copy of Fondue or Die! Check out this yummy cover.

Here’s the blurb: In Korina Moss’s Fondue or Die, the lazy, hazy, dairy days of summer are coming to a close in the Sonoma Valley. . . and so is someone’s life.

The small town of Yarrow Glen’s neighbor, Lockwood, hosts an annual Labor Day weekend bash: Dairy Days. And Willa Bauer and her cheese shop, Curds & Whey, refuse to miss out on the fun. Willa is thrilled to celebrate her favorite thing—she is a cheesemonger after all—and this festival goes all out: butter sculptures, goat races, cheese wheel relays, even a Miss Dairy pageant. Too bad the pageant runner, Nadine, is treating Dairy Days prep like it’s fondue or die and is putting everyone around her on edge. When Willa finds Nadine’s dead body under years’ worth of ceramic milk jugs, the police aren’t sure whether the death was an accident. But fingers are pointing at Willa’s employee, Mrs. Schultz, who steps in to help the pageant after Nadine’s death. Someone wanted Nadine out of the whey, and Willa is going to find out who.

Inspired by the Big E

I’m very excited for Fondue or Die to release tomorrow, October 22nd. It’s the fifth book in my Cheese Shop Mystery series, so readers often ask how I continue to come up with ideas for my books. It always starts with the cheese. Besides the fact that my protagonist, Willa Bauer, is a cheesemonger and cheese shop owner, I also try to find a way for cheese to play a central role. Thus, I chose a Dairy Days Festival for Fondue or Die.

I love fairs and festivals, so I took a lot of inspiration from the annual September fair I’ve been attending for the last 20 years, The Big E.

The Big E is a large fair representing all the New England states, but at heart, it’s an agricultural fair, so some of the fun stuff in Fondue or Due came straight from The Big E – the butter sculpture, the dairy cows, sheep, and goats, mac and cheese cones, and the milk and cookie bar.

The singing refrigerator with milk and cheese wrapped in a feather boa didn’t make it into my book, but it was always a highlight of our time at The Big E.

Making up new dairy-related games like cow chip bingo and a musical udders contest (with fake udders, of course), was also fun.

The best part about writing Fondue or Die was getting to spend so much time at my fictional festival. Since I’ve been promoting my book for months now, I’ve had an excuse to break out my old photos and keep my fair memories alive. I hope reading Fondue or Die stirs up some happy fair memories for you, or at the least, sends you in search of some cheesy fair food!

I’m giving a signed paperback copy of Fondue or Die to one lucky reader who comments on this blog. Share your favorite thing about the fair – it can be a memory, a ride, a game, an animal, fair food… I’ll randomly choose one winner, U.S. only. Giveaway ends at midnight ET October 22nd.

KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series set in the Sonoma Valley, including the Agatha Award winner for Best First Novel, Cheddar Off Dead and the Agatha Award finalist for Best Contemporary Novel, Case of the Bleus. Her books have been featured in USA Today, PARADE Magazine, Woman’s World, AARP, and Fresh Fiction. To learn more or subscribe to her free monthly #teamcheese newsletter, visit her website, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Website: korinamossauthor.com

Facebook: facebook.com/korinamossauthor/

Instagram: instagram.com/korinamossauthor/

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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 Dot and Amelia Mysteries, 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.

75 Thoughts

  2. I enjoy the fairs in NH and the Big E in MA for the exhibits. It’s so hard to decide on what to eat first. The fried dough or the blooming onion. Always buy pumpkin fudge to take home. The entertainment can be great too. We saw Trisha Yearwood years ago at the Big E. Looking for the baby pigs is fun for us too. Thank you so much for this chance at your giveaway.

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  3. Hi Korina,

    I’m looking forward to reading Fondue or Die. The cover is great. Unfortunately, it’s making me crave fondue to the point that I was forced to make reservations at The Melting Pot (a great fondue restaurant in Sacramento, part of a chain, I believe, but incredible fondues).

    Evidently The Big E has decided to one-up the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair.

    Oh for the good old days when I could actually eat all that wonderful/awful deep fried fair food. I’m missing me some deep fried twinkies and corn dogs and . . . Unfortunately, my arteries just phoned and said we’re having a salad for dinner.

    I’m still awaiting a Cheese Shop Mystery title using Pantysgawn (a Welsh goat’s milk cheese). The possibilities for that one seem endless!

    I remember back in the day when your first Cheese Shop Mystery had just been published. Congratulations on number FIVE!!!

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    1. Thank you so much, Lee! I went to the Melting Pot for the first time last year when I was in PA. It was delicious! I did not know about Pantsygawn and now I’m obsessed, lol. You’re right, the punny title options for that abound! I can’t believe it’s #5 myself!

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  4. Korina,

    I’m so excited for Fondue or Die. I love the Cheese Shop mystery series so each time a new book comes out, it is cause for celebration. I love cheese as well, though I’m by no means as well versed as you are much less Willa and her companions.

    I haven’t actually been to many fairs of any kind. I went to the Brockton Faire a few decades back when I was a young kid but since it has been so long, I really don’t have any clear memories of it.

    But I am so looking forward to getting my hands on Willa’s new adventure. So I’m raising a slice of Vermont cheddar cheese in toast to Fondu or Die!

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      1. I love the funnel cakes and all the delicious food we find at a fair. I also enjoy a fair at night with everything lite up so pretty.

        Thank you for the chance!

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  6. While I’ve always had a soft spot for animals and have loved the animal barns where you can see some of the most beautiful critters, including some I’ve never seen before, in the past decade or so, I would have to say my favorite thing about the fairs (local, county and state) are the photo competitions. That’s probably because we have entered our photos into them and won several blue ribbons. Photos are a person’s personal view of the world. No one sees it quite the same. It’s fun to see how others see the world and then find out if the judges enjoyed seeing your view. Then I also love the baking/canning competitions. Although I don’t enter those, it’s fun to see knowing all the work that went into just that one jar or one baked sample. I guess you can sum all this up into saying I love the competitions at the fair. It’s where entering can be fun whether you win or not. Yes, you are judged, but there’s no criticism, which gives a person the nudge to try again next year.

    Congratulations on the release of FONDUE OR DIE! Love it when a book releases on my birthday. 🙂 Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy. It’s already on my TBR list and can’t wait to read and review it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  8. Hi, Korina! Oh, for me it was always the animals! I remember all the goats, cows, huge pigs, and I’d cry at the horse pulls because it was so mean to them. And of course the candy apples! Seemed magical as a kid, now it just seems dirty!

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    1. The animals still hold my attention, although I agree it’s a little different as an adult than as a kid.

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  10. I LOVE all these pictures! When I had my small farm, I won several blue ribbons for my vegetables, and one year for Best Family Farm display. I haven’t been to the Essex County Topsfield Fair in years (me+crowds=No), but you can always find me in the vegetable barn. And also checking out the quilts – my mom won quilting awards at the Ventura County Fair a number of times.

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    1. Wow! I feel like winning a blue ribbon at a fair would be the ultimate! I love looking at the quilts too. Such talent.

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  12. I have fond memories of going to our county fair. My dad liked to go to the horse races. His uncle was a trainer.

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    1. That’s so cool! Another fair I went to once had horse races. It was the first time I’d ever been. The Big E has equestrian competitions.

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  13. I have many fond memories of the NY state fair – the food, the animals, the exhibits – but alas it has changed in recent years and is not nearly as enjoyable. I guess that happens when things become less agricultural.

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  14. Welcome back and congratulations on the new book, Korina! We had a county fair near our house growing up. But most memories of it were going as a teenager to meet friends and flirt with boys. I did go to the Iowa State Fair once in college. It was amazing.

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    1. Thanks, Sherry! It’s on my bucket list to go to the Iowa State Fair. The memories of my teen years at the Dutchess County Fair are very similar to yours!

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  15. Haven’t been to a fair in many years and only went a couple of times then. I enjoyed the midway when I went as a teen and the only time I remember going as an adult, I loved the craft barns. All those lovely canned goods, baked goods, sewing, quilting, and various arts. Such wonderfully talented people!
    Congrats on the new book, as a huge cheese lover, I am hooked on the Cheese Shop Mysteries and look forward to tomorrow!

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    1. Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the series. I agree — I love all the crafts, baked goods, and produce. The Big E has been getting a little big lately and it seems to not have as many of those things now. I need to find a smaller fair because I really appreciate when people participate and seeing everything that’s been entered.

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  16. My favorite thing about a fair is the funnel cakes or cones they’re so awesomely good
    Would really love to read and review this book in print format really looking forward to reading this book

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  17. When I was young going to the fair was a wonderful experience and memorable. The feel of the place, the fun involved, the food, and the sights gave me great enjoyment. I miss those special days as this simple pleasure has disappeared.

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  18. Big time congratulations on the new release, Korina! The more cheese in the world, the better! My wife attend the Indiana State Fair annually and soft serve ice cream from the dairy barn is a can’t miss. Hope tomorrow is fantastic with lots of sales!

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    1. Thank you so much, Jim! It’s in the 70s here in CT today and all it took was you talking about soft serve ice cream to get me to want one right now…

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  21. I loved your pictures and congrats on your book! I have got to read it. I loved going to the fair and taking my boys when they were little. I think seeing the animals was the best part and seeing the awards after the food of course. The singing refrigerator is so cute. belindamoodydawsonmann blin0123@att.net

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  22. I had never been to a state fair until my friend and I visited the NY State Fair some years ago. She was a regular visitor, used to take the kids when they were younger & went many times since then, so she was excited to share this with me. There was so much to see! Butter sculptures, sculptures made of canned food, amazing crafts, so many fried foods! My favorite thing was the wine slushies – they were so good!

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  26. Congratulations on your new release. I’m looking forward to reading it. My favorite things about the fair has to be the food. So much to pick from that you don’t see except at the fair. The butter cow is also a must see.

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  27. I went to the State Fair in Minneapolis once with my sister when she lived in Minnesota, and I had fun, but I still don’t know what a funnel cake is. But I bet it’s fried! Korina, as someone who has lived in Switzerland for thirty-six years, I’m all for books about fondue. My husband and I make cheese fondue for ourselves or with company about once a month during the winter, and it’s always a treat. But more would be overkill. It’s a very rich meal!

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      1. Well, we certainly have many, many wonderful kinds of cheese in the country of only nine million people, and I’ve tried a lot of them. But France, of course, has more!

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  29. Hi Korina! My family and I love your cheese series. It just started with me reading it, but when I recommended your books to my family, they all fell in love with them too. My favorite thing about the fair is definitely the food! All the greasy and fried food is sooo comforting! Along with this, I love seeing everyone get together, be happy, and create memories that everyone will remember for a long time. Sometimes the food is just a good plus!

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  31. I remember going to the Oregon State Fair one year and just eating my way from one end to the other. My favorite food that day was chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick! So, cheese adjacent. Congratulations on your latest release!

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  32. My sister and I caused a riot at a county fair. We were in the poultry building, and I swear we were merely admiring the plumage of different sorts of chickens. One of them must have taken exception to our admiration (or did one of us make a noise???? I don’t remember . . . Must have been my sister.) All of a sudden the rooster we were looking at decided to crow, and he set off every rooster and every hen in that vast building. It was VERY noisy!

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  33. One thing that I like about the Big E is that each of the six New England states are represented separately. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island all have special attractions unique to their state!

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  34. Congratulations on book #5 for #teamcheese. I like the Topsfield Fair just big enough for me. My favorite fair is our local 4 H fair where there is a fundraising chicken bar b que.

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  35. Congratulations on the new book. We have a local fair that features all things agricultural and rural, Our Washington Town and Country Fair. The State Fair in Sedalia, Mo is awesome. One of my favorite things about the fair is Funnel Cake. I also love the lemon shake ups to drink. The exhibits are really interesting, too.
    laurie.anismom2@gmail.com

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  36. Congratulations on your new book, Korina. I loved the previous four books (and their recipes) and I’m looking forward to this one. My family loves the Big E and we can’t pass up the giant creampuffs!

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  37. How wonderful that your fifth Cheese Shop Mysteries’ book will be born tomorrow, dear Korina! I love to see how you include photos of your son. Nothing is more important than our family! I have only been to the San Diego County Fair, and my favorite activity is a pig race, which is a hoot! I will enjoy catching up with Willa and the gang! I love everything cheese, and I love to discover new varieties while traveling…there are so many wonderful cheeses in this world…surely you won’t have any problem coming up with fabulous cheese-based titles! There are some funny names here: https://culturecheesemag.com/blog/top-15-hilarious-cheese-names/ Thank you for your endless efforts to provide us readers with hours of fun reading your cozy mystery books! JOY! Luis at ole dot travel

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  38. It has been years since I have been to the fair. I remember the French fries. I have always loved them, but they had a different twist to them. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy book birthday. God bless you. dpruss@prodigy.net

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  39. Congratulations on the release!

    October is fair/ fall festival season in the southeast. From Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega to the Georgia State Fair in Perry to the Shrimp and Grits Festival in Savannah, my favorite things are twofold – the people and the food. Fair food – need I say more? And the people – talking with everyone from the young men raising money for their college baseball team by selling lemonade that they squeeze right in front of you to the 80- year-old woodworker who will tell you about the different types of wood in his pieces, it’s always fun and I often learn something.

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  40. I love your pictures and stories. I love the candy apples, funnel cakes, the rides, animals, sights, sounds and everyone enjoying themselves. Thank you for this chance.

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  41. Always love going to fairs as a kid and ride all the rides until a group of us rode the Ferris wheel and the guy ride us for so long that I got sick and could not ride one for years.enjoyed getting a corn dog and candy apples. Love the pictures and your story. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  42. So excited for Fondue or Die. I did 4-H as a young person. One memory is that I modeled the sewing project and knitted sweater that I made one year at the state fair in Idaho. It was cool

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  44. Happy Release Day, Korina. Love the book and the series. My favorite thing about the fair is Skeeball, funnel cakes, and riding the carousel.
    barbiefan at comcast dot net

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  45. I remember the going to the VA State Fair with another couple. I remember the barely-haunted house, questioning the oddities in the Oddities show, the little orange kitten thst climbed my husband’s shoulder and stood there meowing, and riding in a helicopter. My favorite memory is my husband giving me a plain gold wedding band to wear when I travel. It’s one of my favorite set of memories.

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  46. Congratulations on your new release!! Woo-hoo to No. 5!! I love Korina’s Cheese Shop Mystery and the inspiration behind her 5th book of this series!!
    I have been to my local Monterey County fair a couple of times, and California State fair once. They were very fun and exciting, especially the food!!
    However, my most memorable fair would be the one that my uncle took me and my second brother to back at my hometown in Southeast Asia, when I was a kid. That was the time Disney had its first live performance in my state during our annual state fair!! The tickets were expensive (I didn’t think my father can afford that), and my uncle decide to take me and my brother, together with his children to the show!! I would never forget that, and the song “It’s A Small World” is the first Disney song I learned.. My uncle passed away a couple years ago, and I missed him so much..
    cwkuen(at)yahoo(dot)com

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