Interview with Shelley Costa, Author of You Cannoli Die Once

Welcome, Shelley! Can you tell us about You Cannoli Die Once...what inspired you to write a mystery series about an Italian chef?

Not what, but who! My agent. The story I originally started to write was set in Greenwich Village in a tap dance academy, and when my sleuth (the dancer/owner) walks in one morning, she discovers a corpse in her studio, wearing a pair of Fred Astaire's old tap shoes. After getting the word from publishers that there are already too many dance-related mystery series, my agent ran the idea by me of a series set in an Italian restaurant. Well, it felt like a great fit for me, considering I'm half-Italian and it's a world I feel I understand. To top it off, I have three Costa first cousins who are chefs. Once I got under way with the new world and setting (I moved the series to a fictitious town forty minutes north of Philly), the characters "came" to me quickly. You'll note that Eve, my head chef, has had a previous career as a tap dancer -- which, in a way, is true!

What's your favorite Italian food? Any special recipe you'd like to share? 

To place a new spin on Italian cooking, I've made the restaurant specialize in northern Italian cuisine, and this very definite regional bias is a source of great fun throughout the series. Northern Italian -- which is where my Costa family hails from (little coastal and hill towns outside Genoa) -- is very influenced by its neighbors to the north and its topography. As for my favorite Italian food, too much to narrow down to a single dish, but my earliest memory of my Italian grandmother, Pia Costa, who was a fabulous cook, is eating her stuffed artichokes. I was hooked! Trim your artichokes in the usual way, discarding the tough outer leaves and cutting off the prickly tips of the remaining ones. Then, with your thumbs, spread them gently outward to give yourself some room to work. Score the bottom stalk. Make a mixture of finely minced fresh garlic and finely diced Italian parsley, to taste. Stuff the artichokes, then steam in about an inch of water until tender (usually about thirty minutes). In the last ten minutes, add some red wine to the pot -- it'll soak up through the stalk. Test for doneness by how easily an outer leaf comes off when you tug gently. Serve with some garlic butter you've melted. Enjoy!

What's a typical writing day like for you?

When I'm really hard at work, I'm my most disciplined, and I generally start in the morning and write for four hours. At that point, I'm pretty fried. There are days when the schedule switches, though, and I find I can work well in the afternoon. If I write 1,000 words a day I'm really happy about, it's been a good day and all is right with the world.

Do you have any pets?

Right now we have a "grandkitty," my daughter's one year old tabby, Edgar, living with us. His middle names are Highclerc (after the castle depicted in Downton Abbey) and Branson (after the lovely Branson in Downton Abbey). Much for a tabby to live up to. . .

What are some of your favorite books/authors?

Ah. Again, so hard to choose. I'll stick to mystery, since it's virtually all I read. C.J. Sansom's Shardlake series, set in the time of Henry VIII. Anne Perry's World War I series. Peter Robinson, Louise Penny, Elizabeth George, Laura Lippmann, S.J. Rozan, Jasper Fforde, P.D. James -- all writers I return to hungrily. Recently I motored through all seven books in James R. Benn's Billy Boyle series set in World War II. I also really liked Preston and Child's Diogenes trilogy. I'm sure I'm leaving out plenty. You can see I like historicals, traditionals (some cozies), police procedurals, PIs -- but I'm not much one for thrillers.

I've already check out the second book in the series on Amazon...The Ziti That Never Sleeps. (You have the yummiest looking covers!) What's that one about?

So glad you like the cover! But don't get too attached to the title because it's been chucked in favor of something (yet to be determined) that will be less of a head scratcher. A few minds (including mine) are presently at work on it. For now, we'll call it Book Two, and it's a story I really like. Just to tempt you, there are two plot threads. In one, Eve's grandmother, Maria Pia, has been tapped for initiation into Belfiere, a secret, two hundred year old, all female cooking society, and Eve and her cooking cousins are deeply concerned when they get wind of the possibility that Belfiere is at least shady, at most homicidal. So they need to get the society-smitten Maria Pia out of their clutches. The other plot line has to do with the basic cooking skills class Eve has agreed to teach at a local career center. . .and things get dangeorusly lively when she discovers the truth about her students. Needless to say, these two stories come together like a delicious pomodoro sauce in Book Two -- and Eve's got a murder on her hands.

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About the Book: At Miracolo Northern Italian restaurant, one can savor brilliantly seasoned veal saltimbocca, or luscious risotto alla milanese, but no cannoli. Never cannoli. Maria Pia Angelotta, the spirited seventy-six-year-old owner of the Philadelphia-area eatery that’s been in her family for four generations, has butted heads with her head chef over the cannoli ban more than once. And when the head chef is your own granddaughter, things can get a little heated.

Fortunately, Eve Angelotta knows how to handle what her nonna dishes out. But when Maria Pia’s boyfriend is found dead in Miracolo’s kitchen, bludgeoned by a marble mortar, the question arises: Can a woman this fiery and stubborn over cream-filled pastry be capable of murder?

The police seem to think so, and they put the elder Angelotta behind bars, while Eve, sexy neighborhood attorney Joe Beck, and the entire Miracolo family— parenti di sangue and otherwise—try every trick in the cookbook to unravel a tangle of lies and expose a killer.

Malicious Masquerade Blog Tour: The Hidden, by Alan Cupp

How well do you know those closest to you? I’m talking about your family and friends that you interact with on a frequent basis. My guess is that most people would claim they know their closest friends and family members quite well. Imagine you heard something scandalous about one of those individuals that completely caught you off guard. Would you circle the wagons and brace yourself to shoot down any suspicion of that person’s guilt or could you approach such a discovery with objectivity? That would be a tough situation to be in and I think it’s difficult to predict how we would react. 

This recent Cleveland, Ohio case involving Ariel Castro and the three women he held captive for so many years reflects the frightening reality that people are capable of masking their most heinous traits from everyone else around them. It’s mind boggling to me that this man’s neighbors, friends, and even family members were unaware of his deplorable actions over the last decade. The fact that he continued to interact with his victims’ family members and participate in vigils while these poor young ladies were locked up in his home, subject to unspeakable on-going abuse makes this all the more disturbing.  

I think we all, to some extent, keep secret certain unattractive qualities that we identify in ourselves. Perhaps it’s pride or selfishness or insecurity that we bury deep below the surface that’s visible to our friends and family. These may be qualities we know exist, hate to admit, and are working to change within. Nobody wants to advertise his or her weaknesses or faults. So we hide them as we work toward self-improvement, hoping we can overcome these shortcomings before they’re revealed. For the most part, these aren’t qualities that would qualify us as monsters or dangers to society.  

Unfortunately, there are those in our society, who hide their true unflattering nature, putting on a friendly mask, while preying on those around them. They aren’t all quite as appalling as Castro, but they do pose a threat nonetheless. Whether it’s the businessperson who is cheating his or her customers, the power-hungry politician buying votes, the minister on TV defrauding his viewers, or a trusted employee embezzling from the company, there is no shortage of wolves in sheep’s clothing.  

In my novel, Malicious Masquerade, Cindy Bedford discovers this reality the hard way, when those closest to her are exposed. The reader gets to see Cindy go through this painful process of revelation as the private investigator she hires, Carter Mays, uncovers dirty little secrets about her fiancé and her family. With Carter’s help, Cindy soon realizes that everything she believes to be true about those closest to her is merely a fabrication, designed to either use her or protect her. As the truth unfolds, Carter and Cindy are hurled into the middle, fighting to survive.  

Enduring this kind of betrayal of trust would tend to make a person guarded or cynical in his or her future relationships. A certain level of loneliness or isolation would be understandable. If you’re like me, you are probably reading this and thinking, “Yeah, that happens to other people, but not me.” We all want to believe we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the character of our close friends and family. That confidence is what makes it all the more shocking and sorrowful for those people who find themselves fooled by the ones they love.

About the Book: Chicago PI Carter Mays is thrust into a perilous masquerade when local rich girl Cindy Bedford hires him. Turns out her fiancé failed to show up on their wedding day, the same day millions of dollars are stolen from her father's company. While Carter takes the case, Cindy's father tries to find him his own way. With nasty secrets, hidden finances, and a trail of revenge, it's soon apparent no one is who they say they are.

Carter searches for the truth, but the situation grows more volatile as panic collides with vulnerability. Broken relationships and blurred loyalties turn deadly, fueled by past offenses and present vendettas in a quest to reveal the truth behind the masks before no one, including Carter, gets out alive.

About the Author: Alan Cupp loves to create and entertain, whether it’s with a captivating mystery novel or a funny promotional video for his church, he’s always anticipating his next creative endeavor. In addition to writing fiction, Alan enjoys acting, music, travel, and playing sports. His life’s motto is, “It’s better to wear out than rust out.” Alan places a high value on time spent with his beautiful wife and their two sons. He lives his life according to his 4F philosophy: Faith, Family, Friends, and Fun.

Mail Order Man by Heather Gray Book Blitz Tour

A well-meaning friend places an ad to find a mail order husband for Sarah, the proprietress of Larkspur’s stage and mail office. Sarah, who is generally quiet and reserved, doesn't know about the ad and has no idea what to do with all the people that are showing up in her community. Before long, the town is overrun with men and mail alike. Sarah is trying to avoid some men who have accosted her on the street when she stumbles into Samuel. Through long days spent together at the stage office, some very adventurous pots of coffee and a shared faith, the two become friends.

Sarah knows that Samuel is hiding something from her, something important, but that doesn't stop her heart from leaping wildly into love. Lacking the confidence to trust her heart, Sarah wars with herself over the feelings she can no longer deny. When some of the men who have come to town show their true intentions, a shootout follows. Sarah finally gets answers to many of the questions circling through her mind. One question remains, though. Where will her mail order man go when the dust settles?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

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Excerpt

Right then Claudio and Cesar came through the door. Both boys chimed a “Good morning!” in Sarah’s direction as they headed straight for the coffee on the stove. Sarah saw their intent and inwardly cringed. Not only was she not sure about how many scoops of grounds she’d put in, but the coffee had been percolating much longer than normal because she got distracted with the letters.

Samuel had his back to the stove and did not see the boys as they each poured a cup of coffee. Sarah was about to warn them as Claudio, the middle boy at age sixteen, took a big swig of the hot brew while Cesar, the youngest, opted to blow on his first. Claudio’s eyes grew wide as he swallowed. “Miss Sarah, I do believe that’s the best coffee you've ever made. That’s the kind of coffee vaqueros drink!”

Samuel visibly perked up at the mention of coffee. Sarah was sure he couldn't know a vaquero was a Mexican cowboy and that they drink their camp coffee strong. If he understood what the boys were saying, he definitely wouldn't be in a hurry to get a cup of his own. Cesar finally took a drink of his coffee. Sarah could see him trying not to make a face as he swallowed the brew. “Vaquero coffee for sure, Miss Sarah. Papa would be proud.”

Sarah had barely started to warn, “Uh, Samuel…” when he took a big gulp of the coffee Claudio had poured for him. She watched the shock on his face as he first paled and then grew red. His eyes flew wide as he tried desperately to swallow the coffee. He finally ran out the front door and spit the coffee out over the edge of the stage platform.

The boys could not contain their howling laughter as Samuel walked back into the stage office, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

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About Heather Gray

Aside from her long-standing love affair with coffee, Heather’s greatest joys in life are her relationship with her Savior, her family, and writing. Years ago, she decided it would be better to laugh than yell. Heather carries that theme over into her writing where she strives to create characters that experience both the highs and lows of life and, through it all, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her.

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Review: Cat Nap by Claire Donally

Blurb: Let sleeping cats lie…

 
Kittery Harbor, Maine, may not be a hotbed of criminal activity, but Sunny Coolidge and her feline companion, Shadow, have a knack for nosing out trouble. While Shadow copes with a sore paw and an irritating puppy invading his turf, Sunny gets mixed up in a financial dispute between rival vets and ex-spouses Jane and Martin Rigsdale. Sunny agrees to help Jane confront Martin about his moneygrubbing ways, only to find herself caught at the scene of a crime: Martin has been murdered.

Though Jane is pegged as the lead suspect in the investigation, Martin, with his greedy ways and his catting around, did not have a shortage of enemies. Did a scorned lover or cheated creditor put Martin down for good? It’s time for Sunny and Shadow to team up again, sniff out a killer, and clear Jane’s name before someone decides to put them to sleep, too.

My Review: Cat Nap, the second Sunny and Shadow Mystery, is the story of two vets, recently divorced Jane and Martin Rigsdale. The crime-solving duo gets involved in the couple's financial disputes when Shadow ends up at the vet after injuring his paw on a winter excursion and Jane vents about her problems. When she decides to confront Martin one night she asks Sunny to go with her as backup, where they find Martin "put to sleep" on a cold metal exam table. In spite of numerous romantic entanglements and the fact that he's been laundering money for Ukrainian mobsters, Jane becomes the prime suspect and Sunny is once again asked to help solve the murder.

As someone who has cared for ailing parents, I really enjoy the relationship Sunny has with her dad Mike, and how Shadow has made their little house a home, as every cat does. Mike's "friend" Mrs. Martinson is a fun character, and Shadow's thoughts on her new "Biscuit Eater" (aka puppy) are hysterical. But when the little guy overreacts to the situation and leaves home, he soon finds himself in the clutches of a killer. Once the final revelation happens, I have to admit this is a case where I can understand the killer's motives.

This is one of my favorite cat cozy series on the shelves today. A special kitty and a fun cast of human characters set in one of my favorite locales for a cozy, Maine in winter, make this a must read for all ailurophiles.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher with the request for a review.

The Sunday Post #43

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Last week on Mochas, Mysteries and More:

* Whiskers Behind the Words: Mister Tumnus Joins the Flower Family, by Amanda Flower

* The Cat That God Sent Blog Tour: Book Review and Character Guest Post

* Tara Featured on The Cat Blogosphere (6th Gotcha Day)

* The Great Cozy Debate of 2013, by Kendel Lynn

* Mini-Book Charm Giveaway: The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

* Interview with Nancy J Parra, Author of the Baker's Treat Mysteries

* BlogPaws Disaster Response Network-Team Up for Oklahoma!

* Paranormal Properties Book Tour: Ghosts and Jake, by Tracy Lane

* Interview with JD Shaw, Author of the Vivienne Finch Magical Mysteries
* Mr Tea and the Traveling Teacup Book Tour: Meet Mr Tea the Macaw
* Always the Baker, Finally the Bride Blog Tour: Book Spotlight/Excerpt

Thank you, Kate Carlisle!!!

Thank you, Kensington Books!!!

For an upcoming book tour:

Netgalley:

   

Bought/Downloaded:

  

Murder on Warbler Weekend by Jan Dunlap

Annie's Answer by Pam Andrews Hanson

Dead Man Talking by TM Simmons

A Right Good Choice by Amy Metz

Mr Tea and the Traveling Teacup Book Tour: Meet Mr Tea the Macaw

Howdy-do!  This is Mr. Tea, the macaw, from the book Mr. Tea and the Traveling Teacup.  I have a mystery going on.  Terry and Karen Sutter turned their childhood home into a teahouse.  At night, while Terry and Karen are asleep upstairs teacups fall off the shelves and crash on the floor.  Actually, the teacups only fall off one particular shelf.  The whole family is unnerved.  Uncle Henry and Aunt Rose live next door. They are two very spunky senior citizens.   Rosey is afraid the ghost might be her sister Madeline, Terry and Karen’s mother.  Henry wonders if it might be a former owner who built the house.  Of course, it could be the elderly sisters from next door who disappeared without a trace over forty years ago.  .   

Karen Sutter thought running a haunted teahouse might be fun.  She is beginning to change her mind.  It is taking more and more of Uncle Henry’s margaritas to help her cope.  The Sutter sisters are getting a lot less sleep.    The police are involved.  Detective Greg Mullins, a definate hottie, is trying to help the family figure out what is going on.  Of course, police are slightly useless when it comes to ghosts, but he tries.    I recently came to live in the teahouse and I enjoy watching this mystery unfold.  During the day, I keep the teahouse guests entertained.  I love to give kisses for peanuts!   I know much more than everyone thinks I do.   The problem is that no one listens to me.  I am doing the best I can to guide these lovely but clueless  people.    Every day brings something new.  

About Mr Tea & the Travelling Tea Cup: After the death of their mother, sisters Terry and Karen Sutter, turn their childhood home into a teahouse. It’s a dream come true, but the dream begins to resemble a nightmare when teacups start crashing to the floor in the middle of the night. Could the teahouse be haunted? There’s a list of possible ghostly candidates: the prior owner who is rumored to have left behind a buried treasure, two spinster neighbors who disappeared without a trace over forty years ago, or perhaps it’s Terry and Karen’s own mother trying to communicate with them. Karen, the older sister, thinks running a haunted teahouse might be fun, until the sisters come home one night to find the attic stairs covered in a trail of what appears to be blood. Is it a ghost or a warning? The teahouse’s new mascot, a psychic macaw, may provide some unexpected clues, but the sisters will encounter many more surprises before they solve this mystery.

About Leslie Matthews Stansfield: LESLIE MATTHEWS STANSFIELD is the author of MR. TEA AND THE TRAVELING TEACUP, the first book in the Madeline’s Teahouse series. She is the author of a previous book, Windsor Locks, on the town she lives in. She grew up in Delmar, New York, and credits her friends with developing her imagination. Leslie is a graduate of University of Hartford and recently received her Masters’ degree from the University of Phoenix in Educational Leadership. She is a math tutor in a public school as well as the Christian Education Director of her church. She is currently working on her second book in the Madeline’s Teahouse series. She has four children and eight grandchildren and lives in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Purchase from Amazon.
Connect with Leslie Matthews Stansfield: Website | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY: Cozy Mystery Book Tours will be giving away THREE (3) Kindle copies of Mr Tea and the Traveling Teacup by Leslie Matthews Stansfield to three random commenters during the tour.

Always the Baker, Finally the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker Blog Tour: Book Spotlight/Excerpt

ABOUT ALWAYS THE BAKER, FINALLY THE BRIDE

In the first book, readers fell in love with Emma Rae and Jackson, and they’ve gotten more acquainted with them in the two books that followed. But now it’s time for the diamond to meet the road as Jackson fields an offer to sell The Tanglewood, a move that will uproot this high-flying family act once and for all. Get reacquainted with all of the lovable and quirky characters from the first three books as your favorite diabetic baker figures out if she’ll achieve her greatest goal of all: Will Emma, at last become FINALLY the Bride?

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

ABOUT SANDRA D. BRICKER

Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for 15+ years. She is now a best-selling, award-winning author of laugh-out-loud fiction for the inspirational market, and the mastermind behind the Another Emma Rae Creation series that started with Always the Baker Never the Bride. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics and a cure.

Visit her Web site at www.SandraDBricker.com and her blog at http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com.

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Book Excerpt:

 

“A champagne flute of vanilla bean gelato topped tableside with a shot of espresso.”

            “Seriously?”

            “Chocolate chip bread pudding drizzled with warm caramel.”

            “Oh. My.”

            “Tiramisu lady fingers in coffee liqueur and cocoa.”

            Emma balled up the lapel of her jacket in her fist and whimpered. “Jackson. My heart.”

            Jackson leaned toward the waiter and clicked his tongue. “I’m thinking we should just move on to the sugar-free menu. She’s diabetic.”

            “Oh. All right.”

            The gentleman pointed at the other side of the dessert cart as Jackson interrupted. “But I’ll have that bread pudding,” he whispered.

            “Yes, sir. And for the lady, our sugar-free menu includes a warm berry tart with frozen vanilla yogurt.”

            “Oooh!”

            “A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing sweetened with agave.”

            “You can stop right there,” Jackson told him. “You had her at red velvet.”

            “Not so fast,” she countered, and Jackson’s heart began to thump. “Go on. What else?”

            “Pumpkin spice cake with creamy buttermilk icing.”

            “Oh, that sounds lovely.”

            Perspiration puddled over his top lip, and Jackson wiped it away with his napkin. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “Red velvet is your favorite.”

            “Yes, but I can make my own sugar-free red velvet. The pumpkin sounds—”

            Jackson’s attention darted to the waiter and they shared a lingering exchange before the waiter offered, “The red velvet is our specialty. It comes highly recommended.”

            “Really?” she reconsidered. And by the time she nodded, Jackson’s heart had begun to pound at double-time. “Okay. I’ll try the cupcake.”

            “Very good.”

            “Coffee for me, and a pot of tea for my date, please,” Jackson said, leaning back against the leather booth with a sigh.

            “Are you all right?”

            “Hmm? What do you mean?”

            “I don’t know,” Emma replied. “You seem a little tense tonight.”

            “Oh. No. I don’t know. I guess—”

            Fortunately, the waiter reappeared so that he didn’t have to concoct some lame excuse. He stopped breathing as the waiter set the beautiful red velvet cupcake down in front of Emma. A shiny pink cupcake tin held the confection, and a ring of intricate white chocolate made to look like a crocheted doily surrounded it. The carefully-chosen diamond ring shimmered on top of it, catching the light from the chandelier overhead and reflecting the glint of recognition in Emma’s brown eyes.

She looked up at him, and those spectacular eyes of hers crested into turbulent waves of gold-flecked recognition. Her perfect lips parted, but not a single syllable passed over them. She blinked several times before glancing back at the cupcake, and Jackson knew this was his moment. He slipped from the booth and hit one knee beside her.

            “What…What are you…Jackson?”

            He took her hand and grinned at her.

            “Are you serious?”

            “I’ve never been more serious in my life. You’ve changed me, Emma. You are the center of everything for me. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get here, but I can’t even think of living without you. Will you marry me?”

            And with that, she turned her head away from him and began to sniffle.

            “Are you crying?” he asked on a laugh. “Emma, this is not a night for tears.”

            “I can’t help it,” she chuckled, and he watched her struggle to pull herself together. “You’ve really surprised me here.”

            “In a good way, I hope,” he said, and he plucked the ring from the icing and gave it a quick lick.

            “Frankly, I thought the best part of this night was going to be the cupcake.”

            “Emma. Will you give me an answer, please?” he asked, wiping the ring clean with the corner of a napkin. “Before my legs go numb?”

            “Oh. Sorry.”

            He waited. “Is that a yes?”

            A mischievous glint betrayed her amusement. “Can I let you know after I eat the cupcake?”

            Jackson laughed. “I’d kind of like to hear it now, if you don’t mind.”

            “If you insist,” she told him, and she tilted her head slightly and smiled. If he’d been standing, he thought his knees might have gone weak under the weight of that sweet little smile.

“You’re killing me here,” he said with raspy emotion. “But I adore you.”

“You do?”

“Oh, now you’re just messing with me.”

“You really do adore me?”

Jackson sighed, glancing at the floor.

Emma touched his jaw with one finger and nudged his face upward. “Yes, Jackson. I’ll marry you.”