The Blurb
Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is trying to keep her grandmother from spending her golden years in an orange jumpsuit . . .
The small town of North Harbor, Michigan, is just not big enough for the two of them: flamboyant phony Maria Romanov and feisty Nana Jo. The insufferable Maria claims she's descended from Russian royalty and even had a fling with King Edward VIII back in the day. She’s not just a lousy liar, she's a bad actress, so when she nabs the lead in the Shady Acres Senior Follies — a part Nana Jo plays every year in their retirement village production — Nana Jo blows a gasket and reads her the riot act in front of everyone.
Of course, when Maria is silenced with a bullet to the head, Nana Jo lands the leading role on the suspects list. Sam’s been writing her newest mystery, set in England between the wars, with her intrepid heroine Lady Daphne drawn into murder and scandal in the household of Winston Churchill. But now she has to prove that Nana Jo’s been framed. With help from her grandmother's posse of rambunctious retirees, Sam shines a spotlight on Maria’s secrets, hoping to draw the real killer out of the shadow
The Novel Art of Murder by V. M. Burns
Series: A Mystery Bookshop Mystery, #3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Date: November 27, 2018
Publisher: Kensington
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1496711858
ISBN-13: 978-1496711854
Kindle ASIN: B07B7B4C8Q
Publisher: Kensington
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1496711858
ISBN-13: 978-1496711854
Kindle ASIN: B07B7B4C8Q
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | BAM! | Hudson Booksellers
The Guest Post
Following the Dream
After the death of her husband, Samantha Washington comes to the realization that life is too short not to follow your dreams. She quits her job as a high school English teacher and follows their shared dream, to open a mystery bookshop. She sells her house and uses the money from the house and her husband’s life insurance to buy a building and open a bookstore. Opening a mystery bookstore was the dream she shared with her husband, but Sam has another dream, a private dream. In addition to the bookstore, she dreams of writing British historic cozy mysteries. Writing helps her fill the lonely nights after Leon’s death, even if no one ever reads the books, it gave her something to do. That’s how the protagonist in my Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series came to live her dreams. Sadly, it often takes a traumatic life event like the death of a loved one or the wisdom that comes with reaching a certain age before people have the courage to pursue their dreams. It’s not easy to get off the corporate ladder, take a chance and pursue a dream. People often ask where I get the ideas for my books. In this case, it’s easy because owning a mystery bookshop and writing British historic cozy mysteries is my dream.
You’re probably asking, what’s the hold-up? In a time when the fate of independent bookstores is in question, opening one, especially a store that specializes in mysteries is risky. Old fashioned bookstores seem to be following the same path as the dinosaur… a path that is leading to extinction. Readers don’t have to drive to a physical store to find the books they want. Instead, they can go online and download books instantly to their ebook readers, tablets, computers or cell phones. Or for people who still prefer physical books, they can order them online and have them delivered to their homes in two days with express shipping. However, for book lovers, there’s nothing like a bookstore to set your heart racing. Walking by shelves and shelves of books is like walking into a room filled with old friends and new ones that you know you’ll love once you become acquainted. In my opinion, one of the greatest things about a specialty bookstore is the knowledgeable staff and the community. There’s nothing like walking into a bookstore and asking for the latest, Victoria Thompson mystery and having the salesperson know exactly the book you’re talking about and then spending the next twenty minutes talking about the author as well as other books you might enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, Big Box Bookstores are great, but it’s impossible to be an expert on the vast category of books they sell and most aren’t exactly what you might describe as cozy.
So, if you want to know where I get the ideas for my Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series, here it is. Samantha Washington dreams of owning a mystery bookshop and writing British historic cozies because that’s my dream too. While I haven’t obtained the courage, or reached the age of wisdom that has allowed me to quit my day job and buy a building, I have finally come out of the closet and declared to the world that I WRITE COZY MYSTERIES. One out of two ain’t bad.
The Author
About V.M. Burns
V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles.
Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder, was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com
Find Valerie on the web at
The Giveaway
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Follow the tour, to read other Guest Posts, plus interviews and reviews.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
January 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
January 30 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW, GUEST POST
January 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
February 1 – Teresa Trent Author Blog - REVIEW
February 2 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
February 2 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 2 – The Editing Pen – GUEST POST
February 3 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
February 4 – The Layaway Dragon – REVIEW
February 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
February 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 5 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 6 – Rae’s Books and Recipes – SPOTLIGHT
February 6 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
February 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
February 7 – Jody’s Book Reviews, Book Tours & Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT
February 8 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 8 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 8 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
February 9 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
February 9 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
February 10 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 10 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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Click Here For Details and Sign Up Today!
January 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
January 30 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – Laura`s Interests – REVIEW, GUEST POST
January 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
February 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
February 1 – Teresa Trent Author Blog - REVIEW
February 2 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
February 2 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 2 – The Editing Pen – GUEST POST
February 3 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
February 4 – The Layaway Dragon – REVIEW
February 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
February 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 5 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 6 – Rae’s Books and Recipes – SPOTLIGHT
February 6 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
February 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
February 7 – Jody’s Book Reviews, Book Tours & Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT
February 8 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 8 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 8 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
February 9 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
February 9 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
February 10 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 10 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here For Details and Sign Up Today!
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