Friday, July 18, 2014

Pies & Peril Book Tour with Janel Gradowski: Meet Pogo the Pooch (w/Giveaway)


Hi, Melissa and Truffles! Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. My name is Pogo and I am a mutt. A dog, through and through, even though my human momma sometimes calls me a mutant dust bunny. I can’t help it if I’m small, gray and fuzzy. When you have ancestors that include chihuahuas, miniature poodles and a giant sheepdog great great grandpa…well, you end up with quite a gene pool full of interesting characteristics. Even my brothers and sisters from the same litter didn’t look anything like me. We’re all one of a kind.

My momma’s name is Amy Ridley. She’s a very good cook. I love the sweet potato and peanut butter treats she makes for me, but she also makes yummy food for daddy and her friend, Carla (I think her hair is crazier than mine). In fact, momma cooks so good she wins contests! Really. There are all kinds of shiny trophies on the mantle and bookshelves in the living room.

Something went wrong at the pie contest Momma Amy was in, though. Believe me, she made an awesome pie. But she didn’t win. Then she got really scared and nervous. How do I know that? Because she paces around the house and cooks a lot when something is bothering her. I’ve had to hide in the closet to get any sleep because she wanders around so much at night. Also, my treat jars are overflowing, but I am FINE with that.

Somebody keeps giving momma pieces of paper with writing on them. Notes are what she calls them. Whenever she gets one she gets even more upset. I saw the person deliver one of the notes. Since I can’t talk human, I can’t tell momma who it was, but I plan on biting the bad person if I ever see them again. I’m just happy that daddy and Carla are taking care of momma. A big man named Detective Shepler is also helping figure out who the bad person is.

You can find out more about me and my family in Pies & Peril. There isn’t a recipe for doggy biscuits, but there are recipes for yummy human food. Just be careful, it might make you hungry reading about all of the food momma makes!

***

Blurb: When Amy Ridley decided to compete in the Kellerton Summer Festival Pie Contest, the last thing she expected was to find the reigning pie queen, Mandy Jo, dead—a raspberry pie smashed on her face! Mandy Jo made fantastic pies, but she accumulated more enemies than baking trophies. But when Amy receives a note threatening her own life, she decides to do some investigating herself.

It seems that half the town has a reason to kill the mean pie queen, and Amy finds herself sifting through a list of suspects that’s longer than her list of recipes. Not to mention playing cupid for her love-shy best friend, fending off a baker intent on finding out her prize-winning culinary secrets, and ducking the deadly attentions of Mandy Jo’s killer. If Amy doesn’t find out who wanted the pie queen dead soon, her own goose may be cooked!

About the author: Janel Gradowski lives in a land that looks like a cold weather fashion accessory, the mitten-shaped state of Michigan. She is a wife and mom to two kids and one Golden Retriever. Her journey to becoming an author is littered with odd jobs like renting apartments to college students and programming commercials for an AM radio station. Somewhere along the way she also became a beadwork designer and teacher. She enjoys cooking recipes found in her formidable cookbook and culinary fiction collection. Searching for unique treasures at art fairs, flea markets and thrift stores is also a favorite pastime. Coffee is an essential part of her life. She writes the Culinary Competition Mystery Series, along with The Bartonville Series (women’s fiction) and the 6:1 Series (flash fiction). She has also had many short stories published in both online and print publications.

Website: http://www.janelgradowski.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanelGradowski

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanelGr

Purchase links: http://www.janelgradowski.com/culinary-competition-mysteries/1347-2/

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Wednesday, July 23rd for the chance to win an ebook copy of Pies & Peril.

13 comments:

Denise Z. said...

I want that dog! I would groom it and dress it up in costumes and post embarrassing photos on Facebook. I will put this one on my wish list.

Unknown said...

Looks like a fun book to read, thank you for the chance!
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com

holdenj said...

Loved Pogo's post! Thanks for the chance to win!

Nancy said...

This sounds like a cute book. It's one I'd like to read. Thanks for the giveaway!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Unknown said...

"A mutant dust bunny" I'd love to see that!
libbydodd at comcast dot net

CatInTheFridge said...

Anything with Pie sounds amazing! Are there recipes? I need a good one for liver pie or maybe tuna pie. - Crepes.

Alicia said...

Can't wait to read this one! afarage(at)earthlink.net

Anonymous said...

I have "mutant dust bunnies" at my house! :)

patucker54 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I have added this book to my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway!
Raquel36m(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Hi, Melissa! Just wanted to stop by and say thank you for being a part of the tour!

Cathy Keisha said...

Did someone say pie? Love that name— Pogo.

Sue said...

Nice to meet you Pogo. Sometimes mutts can be the best dogs ever.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Linda Henderson said...

I enjoy cooking storylines so I can't wait to read this one.

linda.henderson70 at yahoo dot com