Murder at the Mushroom Festival by Janet Finsilver-Great Escapes Tour/Giveaway

About the book 

Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast manager Kelly Jackson is hosting a cooking class during the Week of the Mushroom festival to attract guests, not drama. But soon after she finishes foraging for an edible mushroom species on sacred Native American land, a local newspaper reporter gets shot dead at the same site. With suspicions spreading like fungi in the quaint Northern Californian community over the culprit’s identity, Kelly and a savvy gang of sleuthing seniors known as the “Silver Sentinels” must uncover the truth about the secluded property before a tricky killer prepares another lethal surprise . . .

And others are saying 

The author has given readers a solid mystery with plenty of twists. . . Readers like me will figure it out right before Kelly has her “aha moment”. Thankfully the woman can think on her feet.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

What a cute new addition to this wonderful series.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

 Interview with the author

Welcome, Janet!

Congratulations on the new book!  The series sounds like such fun.  I can’t wait to get into Murder At The Mushroom Festival!

I am so glad you chose to tour with Lori at Great Escapes Tours!

What is your favorite part of the tour? (reviews, interviews, guest posts)

 I enjoy them all. The reviews help me see what stands out to readers. The interviews often lead to insights about my characters and myself. I did a couple of guest posts for Murder at the Mushroom Festival. I enjoyed reflecting on what I learned while writing the book as well as remembering how much fun I had at the Mendocino County Mushroom, Beer, and Wine Fest.

I love to interview the authors but lately I am enjoying guest posts.  I think I would have loved interviewing Kelly or have her visit for a guest post!

Thanks!

 Before we get into the new book I have a few fun questions.  At least I hope they are fun!

 The first because we have some similar hobbies I have to ask…

English or Western?  Bay or Color?  Mare or Gelding?

Here’s my answers  Western, Paint or Dun.  Gelding.

 I see you know your horse colors! I ride Western. I love both paints and duns. Buckskins are also another favorite of mine. I’ve owned a gelding and a mare.

Do you have any pets that hang around and help you when you write? 

It’s interesting you should ask that. There are two dogs in the family. Ellie is a rescue boxer/coonhound mix. We love each other, but she worships my husband. Kylie, our young Rhodesian ridgeback, is more mine. Most of my books have been written in a loft with a ladder for access. No pets there. We recently did a remodel and a small room was created downstairs. I look forward to having the dogs join me there in the summer. I started taking Kylie down there this fall when I began writing book five. She immediately settled in on a bed I have down there. After only a few times, she’d jump up when I headed for the back door with my computer case over my shoulder. It’s been fun to have her there.

Which is more intriguing as a place to write.  A private island?  A cabin in the woods?

The busy city?    Have you ever written in any of these places?

I’d go for the cabin in the woods. I love nature. I haven’t done that yet, but maybe my husband and I will discuss it for a future vacation.

And one last one and we’ll get into the book.  So you’ve finished a long

exhausting productive day of writing and now it’s to relax with ____________.

Twitter. It’s hard to believe I’m saying that, but it’s true. I love the animal pictures. I almost always have a “laugh out loud” experience. I have my account set to screen any images I might find uncomfortable. I follow really fun groups.

Can you tell us about the location and how you chose it?

 My series takes place in fictitious Redwood Cove, California, based on Mendocino, California, a popular tourist destination. It’s in the northern part of the state on the coast. There are magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and forests of towering redwood trees. The town has worked hard to preserve its past and many buildings are from the 1800s. Boardwalks take the place of sidewalks in many places. The view of Cabot Cove at the beginning of Murder She Wrote was really Mendocino. I chose it for its beauty and the many unique aspects of the area.

Do you have a favorite book/plot from the series?  I love the idea of all the festivals and all the doggie characters that appear in each book.  Without hurting any feelings can you tell me if you have a

favorite?

There really is no favorite. I have favorite scenes in each book. All of the festivals are based on real ones, and each one has its own distinct character.

If you were to have dinner with one of your characters who would choose?

What would you eat?  What would you drink?  What would you talk about?

 I love all of my crime-solving senior citizens, the Silver Sentinels, but I’d probably have dinner with Kelly. We have a lot in common. I’d have chicken or shrimp with a nice local sauvignon blanc. We’d talk about horses, dogs, and what is was like for her growing up on a ranch.

I love the cover.  I was wondering how much input you have in the

cover design.  I admit I am a bit of a cover junkie I am always curious!

 I’m asked for ideas. I don’t have any “final say.” For Murder at the Mushroom Festival I provided photos of a goldendoodle and mushroom baskets. My editor thanked me.

Can you give us a sneak peek into the next book? 

Rudy and Ivan Doblinsky, two of the Silver Sentinels, will have their past revealed, and readers will learn how they came to be in the United States. You’ll “see” a dagger with a handle studded with jewels. A Russian heritage festival provides the event for the book and includes Cossacks and their horses. There’s a lot of baklava as well!

I have really enjoyed chatting.  I hope you’ll come back to visit 

And I thought

I jumped into this series at book 4 and that was A o.k! Although I 

really enjoyed the characters and need to go back and read the rest just because I want to!

My head was spinning though not in a bad way with all the villainous crimes!  Murder, theft, blackmail, the Indian land being 

dishonored and just a few threats thrown in to make everyone a 

little nervous.

The road is twisty and curving and will keep you a bit on the edge of your seat with all the action and mystery. 

I enjoyed meeting all the sleuthing seniors that help Kelly by snooping and solving the crime to clear her friends name.  

The addition of all the animals to the story made it especially fun for me!  

If you love cozy mysteries that have some great animal characters 

you'll enjoy this series. 

And one of my favorite parts was the cover.  I would pick this 

one up for sure and check it out.  I'd read the back and then Buy It!

I do have to say I was a little disappointed there was one of the 

animal characters that sadly missed being on the cover!

I am looking forward to reading much more!

I received a complimentary copy.

This review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads. 

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The tour

To read more reviews, interviews and guests visit the tour. 

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