Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Laura Childs Spills The Tea In Great New Mystery

Broken Bone ChinaTea Shop Mystery #20
By Laura Childs


Imagine floating in a hot air balloon high above scenic, historic Charleston amid a flying parade of a half dozen others in flight. Theodosia Browning gave it a try and thought this must be the coolest thing she’d ever done. Her long time friend and tea sommelier Drayton Conneley disagreed, deciding it was terrifying. He was about to be proven right. Suddenly a drone narrowly missed them and wildly crashed into another balloon floating next to them, killing three. A terrible accident, or was it intentional?

Broken Bone ChinaScared by their near miss, and concerned about the direction of the investigation under Detective Tidwell, Theodosia finds herself gathering clues and analyzing suspects. It’s a fascinating collection of characters, and a fun puzzle to try your hand solving as you read along and Theodosia shares her clues and observations with you.

While detecting, Theodosia still has the fabulous Indigo Tea Shop to run along with Drayton and also beloved cook and baker Haley. Along with the everyday delicacies and custom tea blends served both in the cafĂ© and also to-go, special events are routinely scheduled. Delight in reading about the Nancy Drew tea, and be on the alert for suspect activity. Savor the detailed description of the elegant Beaux Arts event as it is planned, decorated, and enjoyed. There are so many tasty tidbits of historical, baking, and tea information for the reader too, as Drayton says at the Beaux Arts Tea, “And now that we’ve got you half-tipsy on tea, champagne, and knowledge, I’d like to introduce our hostess, Miss Theodosia Browning.”

At the end of the book the author shares Haley’s recipes, and a couple from other characters, great ideas for tea parties, and an extensive list of tea resources. Laura Childs is a prolific mystery writer with her multiple series – Scrapbooking Mysteries, Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, Anthologies, and Afton Tangler Thrillers (written as Gerry Schmitt).

You can find more information about the author and her books at Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Laura Childs. Included in the podcast is an interview at our own friends at  Edmonds Treasures and Teas Shop where a personally blended Laura Childs Mystery Tea was blended and sent to the author. She loved it, of course! Recommend you stop by and try a mystery blend of your own to enjoy while you read. 

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Visit Quilcene with Poet Avis M. Adams



QuilceneBy Avis M. Adams


This Poet shares poignant glimpses into the joys, beauty, and struggles of everyday life amidst this rugged, rural setting. The language in this poetry conjures powerful imagery that feeds the imagination with contemplative visions and a captivating energy. The full array of true human emotions lace the lines of these poetic stanzas, each telling its own short story of Quilcene.

Quilcene is an unincorporated community with a population of 596 in the 2010 census, located on the Olympic Peninsula at the head of Quilcene Bay. The wikipedian facts are one thing; the poetry of the people and the place are another, and truly a treat for the reader. Explore the poetry of the childhood delights of a surprise snow; joys of scampering in the great outdoors with beloved pet dogs; the glory of the flora; the contrasting seasons; the love, humor, and pathos of family, and so much more.

This description luxuriates in this excerpt from the poem titled Gracefully Nude which rolls over the tongue when spoken out loud –
“Tinted in shades of sepia, the Cascade
foothills lay behind a brown malaise
that enters lungs on the inhale,
is not exhaled. Clouds rush to embrace

Mount Rainier, a movement her husband
once made toward her. The clouds
loose an abundance of spatters, wet and
large. They married on such a day. . . .”



Local Poet and Author Avis M. Adams is a native of the Pacific Northwest. She lives with her husband on a small farm between Auburn and Black Diamond.  Her poems have won awards and been published online and in literary journals.  She also writes short stories, upper-middle grade novels, and picture books. She teaches as well, and in her spare time she enjoys travel and anything in the great outdoors. Immerse yourself in this collection of Quilcene, published by Finishing Line Press, already in advance sales and the release date is May 19, 2019.