countdown!

It's starting to hit me--in 15 days the Nun the Wiser Mysteries launches with the release of Old Habits Die Hard. FIFTEEN DAYS! I feel a bit like Kermit the Frog at the beginning of each episode of The Muppet Show, running around frantically waving my arms and checking to make sure every element is in place for the curtain to rise, except I'm not dealing with live chickens.* I also don't have Scooter standing nearby with a clipboard, but my friend Kara has been a champion for this project, setting me up with swag and promotional materials. In 15 days the excitement kicks off with Facebook drop in at the Cozy Mystery Cafe Reader Group, guest posts on a variety of websites, and a local launch party April 5. Early reviews have been posted on Bookbub and Goodreads. My brain is buzzing with all the details, deadlines, moving parts, and other projects I'm working on.

You'll also find me hanging out at Dru's Book Musings on April 2!

Chris Null will prime the pump for readers over at his blog on March 28th.  

It's BANANAS, I tell you. Bananas and terribly thrilling.

In the midst of this excitement, I find myself wide awake in the middle of the night with a hundred thoughts swirling around in my head. Checklists, edits on another manuscript, locking down events this summer, G home for his spring break, and my routine tasks and obligations make it awfully hard to relax. Adding to my jitters, we're having a new roof installed as I type this. The constant pounding and knocking makes me think someone's at my door! Thank goodness I wrapped up a huge project last night before the racket started! (and NO shade to the roofing crew, I'm thankful for their service--I sure wouldn't be comfortable up there!)

One reviewer called Old Habits Die Hard a "palate cleanser," which is delightful praise. It means they thought it was a solid read, a positive experience. I have go-to authors who provide me with palate cleansing reads. They set my mind right after reading something depressing or overwhelming or heavy and they reliably entertain me, so I know opening books by them isn't risky. Alan Bradley, MK Graff, Anthony Horowitz, Sujata Massey, Deanna Raybourn, Elly Griffiths, Catriona MacPherson, Allison Montclair, Richard Osman are some of the palate cleansing writers I turn to when I'm looking to reset. That same reviewer called my book "Golden Girls meets The Sopranos." No joke!

I'll be back soon with more links to the launch events and to report about an exciting adventure I'm taking (requiring me to use my passport!). If you haven't subscribed to my newsletter, please do! It includes exclusive content delivered direct to your inbox once a month.

Until then, spill it, reader! What "palate cleanser" authors or books do you recommend?

*YOU GUYS! There's a page dedicated to Kermit the Frog's freakouts! The fact that Muppet Wiki even exists just adds joy to my life.