Character Interview Feat Hope Early from Debra Sennefelder Food Blogger Series

 

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Interview with Hope Early the main character in Debra Sennefelder's Food Blogger Series . . . 

I am so excited to get a chance to talk! I have never met a Food blogger! How exciting that must be!

I love food blogging. There are days when it’s very exciting, like when I attend conferences or when I’m at an event representing a brand I love using. Then there are days when it’s not so exciting. Those are usually the long days of cooking, photographing, editing and finding that the internet is down. I’m left scrambling to get a Wi-Fi signal.

And look at these cookies! So sweet of you bake!

Thank you. Since my first attempt baking when I was a kid were cookies, I have a fondness and weakness for them.

I cannot imagine doing all the cooking and taking photo’s and all.

It’s a lot of work producing content several times a week for my blog. In addition, there’s the social media part as sell as the promoting and the outreach to brands. But I love what I do. As long as I have my trusty planner beside me at all times, I’m able to juggle all the tasks that need to get done.

Can you tell us how you became a Food Blogger?

It started as a hobby while I was working as the editor of a cooking magazine back in New York City. I wanted to have somewhere that I shared my love for cooking, baking and entertaining. At the time I didn’t think I’d ever be a full-time blogger, but life has a way of throwing you curve balls. There was a point in my life where I had to decide whether to continue on the career path I had been on since graduating college or make a major change and move back to Jefferson. I went the major change route and decided since I was turning my life upside down why not give myself a year to see if I could make it as a blogger. So far, so good. Sure, it had been scary but I’m so happy now and I can’t imagine going back to the life I had in the city.

Do you have help producing your blog?

I have recently hired a part-time assistant to help with administrative work but I’m mostly a one-woman show.

You have to love food since you blog about it. So what’s your guilty pleasure?

Anything chocolate.

I am glad to visit with you the weekend. Sundays are always a great day to relax. How do you spend a lazy Sunday afternoon?

I love Sundays. Being self-employed and owning an old home, I rarely have lazy Sundays. And I’m good with that because I love to cook and bake. It’s my job but it’s also a stress reliever for me. Since we’re into fall, I love cooking comfort food for my family. So, a perfect Sunday is having my home filled with family, my boyfriend Ethan, my friends and then after eating we settle in the family room to watch a movie.

I love riding horses. Do you have any pets?

My sister and I took riding lessons when we were kids. One day I’d love to have a horse. Right now, I have a dog, Bigelow, and a cat, Princess. I also have chickens.

Thank you for inviting me in for the Scavenger Hunt I am sure it will be exciting. Hopefully no corpses will be found.

Our annual scavenger hunt usually goes on without any hitches but I guess there’s a first time for everything and certainly this year’s hunt will not be forgotten.

I cannot believe that it seems everywhere you turn you run into a murder that needs to be investigated! But you seem to have a talent at sleuthing!

It’s no secret I love a good mystery but I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I’d be involved in real-life murders. And never in my beloved hometown. But I guess it doesn’t matter what your zip code is, there’s evil out there in the world. I’m not sure I have a talent; I think I’ve just been curious and lucky.

How do the local guys (P.D.) feel about your solving the crimes the are working on?

They’re not very pleased when I insert myself into official police business. One more than one occasion Detective Sam Reid has threatened to arrest me for interring in his investigation. I can see his point of view but the times I have inserted myself into his cases is when I really needed to help someone I care about.

Is there anyone friends or relatives that help you when your sleuthing?

I do. I have my best friend, Drew Adams. We grew up together. After college he returned to Jefferson to work at the local newspaper. I also have a dear friend, Jane Merrifield. Back in the day she wrote mystery novels but retired to raise her family. The both of them are wonderful sounding boards when I’m trying to work something out and they’re also great assets when it comes to digging up information.

You seem to be so good at investigating. Do you think that you’ll end up making another career change?

I never say never but if I do have another career change in the future, I don’t think it’ll be to investigate crimes.

Oh my look at the clock. I cannot believe I have kept you so long and you have such a tight schedule!

Thanks so much for chatting a bit. Best of Luck with that Scavenger Hunt.

It’s been my pleasure. I’ve truly enjoyed chatting with you today.

Read an Excerpt A Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennenfelder

Every twenty years, a woman died at Osbon House. Many people believed it wasn’t unusual to have deaths in homes, especially in old ones. Others thought Osbon House was haunted by Rudolph Osbon, and he was re-enacting the murder of his wife before his suicide on their wedding anniversary — Halloween.

Hope joined Marcus at the desk. She hated that she was going to ask because she wanted to be in the “people die all the time in houses” camp, not the “it’s a haunted house” camp. But she had to know.

“You wouldn’t know when the last death in Osbon House was?”

Marcus tidied the brochures on the desk, then looked at Hope. The corner of his lips curled up. “You mean the last time Rudolph re-enacted the death of his wife?” It was clear to which camp Marcus belonged.

Hope shrugged. She wasn’t about to commit herself either way. Not until she saw the ghost with her own two eyes.

“Give me a moment…I remember…Trudy. Trudy Gilligan! She fell down the staircase 

while cleaning the house. Poor woman. Broke her neck if I recall correctly.” He tapped his fingers on the desktop. “Twenty years ago. Yes! I remember because my youngest niece was born a week before, and my sister dressed her up in a pumpkin costume.”

Hope swallowed hard. “Twenty years ago tonight she died in Osbon House?”

“Just like Cornelia Fletcher,” Marcus said. “And the others before her.”

Hope wasn’t sure if it was the dramatic tone of Marcus’ voice or the reminder of so many deaths in one house that had her nerves skittering and wanting to bow out of helping Drew. But, of course, she was being silly because she still didn’t believe in ghosts.

“Normally, I would dissuade both of you from talking about death,” a familiar sharp, judgmental voice said from the other side of the room.

Hope winced as she angled her body to fully view Maretta Kingston, Jefferson’s mayor. She wore a perpetual scowl on her thin face, which was softened by a new layer of bangs. It appeared she was trying a new hairdo. Though on any age, bangs were risky. Hope had firsthand experience with that experiment and the grow-out wasn’t pleasant.

“But considering that old house brings in tourists because of its ridiculous ghost story, I’ll overlook it. This time,” Maretta said looking over the rim of her glasses. She was a formidable person with a clear vision of what she wanted for Jefferson. She’d made it no secret that the one thing she didn’t want was Hope playing amateur sleuth again.

Hope arched a brow. It sounded as if Maretta was doing her a favor by allowing her to speak her mind. She probably should thank the mayor, who she’d known since childhood, for the pass. 

“Good morning, Maretta.” Hope forced a smile before returning her attention to Marcus. 

“About what you were saying…if what you say is true, then…” She couldn’t even bring 

herself to say the words.

“There will be another death at Osbon House tonight,” Maretta said. Clearly, she had no trouble saying those words. Maybe it was because she hadn’t had the unfortunate task of finding one too many dead bodies like Hope had.

“We can’t let that happen.” Hope’s gaze bounced between Maretta and Marcus. Why weren’t they nodding in agreement?

“What do you propose we do?” Maretta pinned a pointed stare on Hope. Her small eyes narrowed while her thin lips pursed. “Cancel Halloween?”

Available on Amzon

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Todays Feature..The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch

 

About the book 

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

 

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

More chilling novels from Jessica R. Patch:

Her Darkest Secret

A Cry in the Dark

Endorsement . . . 

“Patch skillfully interweaves complex themes in THE GARDEN GIRLS via main characters navigating life after escaping religious cult that altered their future. The perfect blend of psychological thriller with a Christian perspective, this book is for readers who enjoy deeply emotional, intense thrillers that highlight the redemptive power of love, forgiveness, and faith.” ~ Sandra at The Big Thrill magazine

https://www.thebigthrill.org/2024/04/the-big-thrill-recommends-the-garden-girls-by-jessica-r-patch/

"A perfect storm of thrilling suspense and intricate plot twists that will leave readers breathless!” --Nancy Mehl, author of the Ryland & St. Clair series

Buy the book 

Available on Amazon click Here

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

 

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…

More chilling novels from Jessica R. Patch:

Her Darkest Secret

A Cry in the Dark

Endorsement . . . 

“Patch skillfully interweaves complex themes in THE GARDEN GIRLS via main characters navigating life after escaping religious cult that altered their future. The perfect blend of psychological thriller with a Christian perspective, this book is for readers who enjoy deeply emotional, intense thrillers that highlight the redemptive power of love, forgiveness, and faith.” ~ Sandra at The Big Thrill magazine

https://www.thebigthrill.org/2024/04/the-big-thrill-recommends-the-garden-girls-by-jessica-r-patch/

"A perfect storm of thrilling suspense and intricate plot twists that will leave readers breathless!” --Nancy Mehl, author of the Ryland & St. Clair series

Buy the book 

Available on Amazon click Here

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Death by Dacquoise 

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Retired sisters, Jo and Dottie Darby, never expected to find themselves taking over their sister’s tacky souvenir store-slash-bakery in the small coastal town of Starlight Ridge. But after her untimely death and the reading of the will, here they were. There were two problems with this. One- The souvenir store was in a state that would give hoarders nightmares. Two- Neither Joe nor Dottie knew how to bake. 

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An Unfinished Murder 

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Retired romance novelist Sara Medlar has been comfortably sharing her large home with her niece Kate and her “honorary grandson” Jack. It’s a convenient arrangement given the Medlar Three, as they’ve become known, are often working closely together to solve mysteries in their small town of Lachlan, Florida. But when real estate agent Kate announces she’s been given the listing for the town’s storied Lachlan House, it sets off alarm bells for Sara and Jack. The infamous house has a dark history, one that’s certain to haunt them all.  

Available on Amazon 

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Double Espresso Deception 

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Available on Amazon 

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Until Depths Do Us Part

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Newly widowed Charlotte McLaughlin is adrift following the sudden death of her husband of twenty years and the shocking discovery of the lavish double life he’d lived while purportedly traveling for business. When Charlotte’s only nephew and his fiancée are notified that their secluded wedding venue has flooded, her sister Jane suggests an alternative venue: a Thanksgiving week cruise from Seattle to Alaska aboard the private residence ship where Charlotte’s husband had purchased a two-bedroom unit without her knowledge. 

Available on Amazon 

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May Day

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This is a re-release

With a cheating boyfriend, a thankless career in waitressing, and her BA in English going to waste, Mira James jumps at the chance for a fresh start in rural Battle Lake, Minnesota. Right away she lands a job as a librarian, snags another as an on-call reporter for the weekly newspaper, and is swept off her feet by Jeff Wilson, a handsome archaeologist unearthing the town’s storied history. Moving here might be the best decision Mira’s ever made. 

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Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies 

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Humorous Mystery

All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series—is that too much to ask? Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life—the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life—Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case.

 Available on Amazon 

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Red Beans and Rituals

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Althea has accepted her witch heritage, but she still hasn’t committed to staying in New Orleans. In the meantime, she’s revived the coven’s shop and cafe with the help of her best friend, Evangeline. While planning the menu and selecting merchandise, Thea continues to investigate her mother’s murder and Evangeline’s husband’s disappearance. And she’s trying to convince her mother to restore her childhood memories. 

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Road Trip to Ruin

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The remodel turning their joined apartments into one big house is done and living with Detective Nik Stevens is cruising along like a Sunday morning drive, until he asks Kalli to marry him. Nik wants children, but Kalli has just come to terms with cohabitation and coparenting multiple fur babies. She stalls, asking for a weekend away to see what married with children looks like, but promises she will have an answer for him when she gets back. 

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The Write to Remain Silent 

by Jasmine Webb 

Winter has hit San Francisco, and a surprise snow‐ storm has hit the city. But instead of staying warm and curled up with a cup of hot cocoa, Poppy quickly finds herself mired in a case of theft from a local art gallery. While battling the elements, as well as the thieves, Poppy finds her life taking another unexpected turn, when her book begins generating buzz, and she finds herself becoming a bit of a celebrity in town. It’s great for her ego, but not the best when she’s trying to investigate a case. 

Available on Amazon 

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Pop Up feat. The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch

 

    Available on Amazon 

Click Here 

"A perfect storm of thrilling suspense and intricate plot twists that will leave readers breathless!” --Nancy Mehl, author of the Ryland & St. Clair series

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.

FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.

Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.

As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive… 

Visus facebook to enter for a chance to win a print copy.  1 copy offered. US only.  

Click Here

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A Twinkle of Trouble

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Courtney is delighted when her tiny friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm, appearing at the base of a Cypress tree. When her Ragdoll cat, Pixie, emerges from her own portal—aka the cat door—the three set off for a busy day. Busier than usual, since Courtney has rented a small plot of land at the Flower Farm, where she hopes to grow her own supplies for her fairy-garden business. Plus, the annual Summer Blooms Festival is coming up, and Courtney has booked a booth . . 

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Graven Images

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Callie’s mother Maggie, a notorious hobby jumper, has embarked on a new pursuit—grave rubbing. When she recruits her daughter to photograph her first endeavor at the local cemetery, Callie brings golden retriever Woody and tabby cat Carl along for the outing. It’s a breathtaking autumn morning in Rock Creek Village, Colorado. Golden aspen leaves rustle in the cool breeze, and the air is filled with the scent of pine. What could go wrong on a day like this? 

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Four-Alarm Homicide

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Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that has just come on the market—a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built nearly a century ago. The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition, while the left side falls into disrepair: the seven adult children who inherited it years ago refuse to lift a finger on repairs. 

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Museum of Murder 

by Leslie Langtry 

Who knew that the town of Who’s There was the murder capital of Iowa? And its new Museum of Murder is a hit, though Ex-CIA spy turned Girl Scout leader, Merry Wrath is less than happy that she’s featured in the exhibits. Besides its quirky and somewhat disturbing charm (and a gift shop with questionable practices), everyone wants to know who’s behind Who’s There’s hottest attraction? Some speculate it’s hometown boy Sheldon McBride—a reclusive, ultra-wealthy inventor of ethanol-fueled cars, drones (and, rumor has it, a flock of robot turkeys). 

Available on Amazon 

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Patchwork Quilt Murder

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When a community center opens in town, many embrace it as a space where locals of all ages can gather and create. Others view it as a waste of taxpayer dollars. The director, Darleen Busby-Platt, is no less controversial. Intense and showy, Darleen has huge plans for her new role. But Lucy believes the woman isn’t exactly as warm hearted—or qualified—as she seems. That hunch deepens when Darleen and a young employee vanish . . . and dismembered remains appear! 

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Marinated Conditions

 by Tyora Moody 

Eugeena Patterson-Jones is excited about planning her daughter Leesa Patterson’s wedding. With three months to go, there’s lots to do. They meet for lunch at the award-winning Smokin’ Ward barbecue food truck owned by Leesa’s wedding caterer. Lately the Smokin’ Ward owners has been at odds with a local barbecue competitor. When the competitor’s body is found inside his food truck, Leesa’s friends become suspects. 

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Torn Asunder

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Julia’s best friend and business partner, Zoey, is about to marry her policeman boyfriend. Of course, a gorgeous white wedding dress shouldn’t be within fifty yards of a plate of buttery lobster—so that treat is reserved for the rehearsal dinner. Julia is a little worried about the timing, though, as she works around a predicted storm.  

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Death on the Back Nine

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Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder 

by Joyce Proell and Brenda Whiteside 

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Available on Amazon 

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Cozy New Releases

A Taste for Crime

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Feline Fatale

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Spring flowers may be about to bloom in Crozet, Virginia, but Harry is thinking about snow. Her dear friend Ned Tucker is in the House of Delegates, advocating for a bill to improve road clearing during bad weather, and Harry and Ned’s wife, Susan, have gone down to the statehouse to support him. Tensions are high between political parties, and no one can agree on anything for long enough to get something done.  

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It’s Murder You Betcha

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No photo avialable

Tides of Trouble

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Maggie Romano has never been happier. She has a rewarding job, a loving boyfriend, and the best cat in the world. However, when a body washes up on the beach, her tranquility is shattered. As a reporter, she needs to follow the case wherever it leads. As a friend, she wants to protect the prime suspect, the local psychic who many believe murdered this man. It would also be nice if all the animals could learn to get along.  

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Death at the Spring Fling 

by Rosalie Spielman 

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Death Comes to St Ives

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Amateur sleuth Donna Nightshade should really be used to being accused of murder by now – after all, she’s found herself the prime suspect in nearly every case she’s investigated in the past year! – but when St. Ives sees not one, not two, but three suspicous deaths in quick succession, and Donna finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time for each one, she’s forced to defend her good name once again.

 Available on Amazon 

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Bummer at Luna Beach

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Available on Amazon 

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