You can never predict where your interests will take you, or what path they will provide for you to follow. Love for my husband and his Mexican culture led me to create the Lola Cruz mystery series (Bare-Naked Lola, book 3, came out in April).
I never imagined I’d write a second series, and I certainly never imagined that learning to sew when I was in elementary school would factor into the concept behind that second series.
I learned to sew in elementary school. It takes determination, fine motor skills, patience, and sheer will to learn to sew, especially when you’re young. And I had those things. I was a homebody, even then, and sewing quickly turned into one of my favorite things to do. If Project Runway had been around then... watch out!
Fast forward to post college. I spent hour after hour making the bridesmaids dresses for my wedding--and I had 7 bridesmaids in a very traditional Catholic ceremony! A few years later, we were having kids and I sewed and dressed my children in homemade wonders which makes them burst out in laughter over now. “Mom! We looked like clowns!”
True.
I’m not inordinately skilled at sewing, so simple works best ;) Baggy one-piece outfits were my specialty for a while. And infant and toddler clothes should have tons of color, que no?
I also love magical realism and pretty much wish it was the way the world really worked. And old outlaws? There’s just something about them that gives me a thrill.
So (sew) when it came time, eons later, to develop a book concept (you know how cozy mysteries need that all important hook), sewing was the first thing that popped into my mind. I added a touch of magic, and a few old outlaws, and, voila! A Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series was born.
From Pleating for Mercy, book 1:
All the Cassidy women possess special gifts. Harlow Jane Cassidy’s is creating beautiful dresses. But she’s about to discover secrets in her own family, and another gift—one that can reach beyond the grave…
When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow Jane Cassidy leaves her job as a Manhattan fashion designer and moves back to Bliss, Texas. But soon after she opens Buttons & Bows, a custom dressmaking boutique in the turn-of-the-century farmhouse she inherited, Harlow begins to feel an inexplicable presence…
One of her first clients is her old friend Josie, who needs a gown for her upcoming wedding. But when Josie’s boss turns up dead, it starts to look as if the bride-to-be may be wearing handcuffs instead of a veil. Suddenly Josie needs a lot more from Harlow than hemming a dress. Can Harlow find the real killer—with a little help from beyond?
I love Harlow’s world, intertwining history and ancestry with her contemporary world, and most of all, I love all the books on fashion I’ve had an excuse to buy... all in the name of research!
A Fitting End is now available and I’m so excited to share Harlow’s continued journey in Bliss, Texas. You don’t have to love sewing in order to be spellbound by the Margaret Moffette Lea Pageant and Ball and the mystery at the Bliss Country Club.
From A Fitting End:
Former Manhattan fashion designer Harlow Jane Cassidy has a gift for creating beautiful dresses. But when Harlow becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, she’ll more than her sewing skills to unravel the mystery…
Business is booming at Harlow’s custom dressmaking boutique, Buttons & Bows, even with the presence of her great-grandmother’s ghost hanging around the shop. But thanks to the fast approaching Margaret Moffette Lea Pageant and Ball, Harlow has her work cut out for her when Mrs. Zinnia James hires her to make her granddaughter’s pageant gown.
With the debutant ball getting the whole town of Bliss, Texas into a tizzy, Harlow knows her dress has to be perfect. But when a local golf pro is found stabbed to death with dressmaking shears, the new deputy thinks Harlow and Mrs. James conspired to commit the crime. Now Harlow has to finish the dress on time and clear
Book three, Deadly Patterns, comes out in October. More magic and mischief for Harlow Cassidy! So tell me... if you were to write a cozy mystery series, what would the hook be?
The Magical Dressmaking Mysteries
A Fitting End
A Magical Dressmaking Mystery 2Obsidian, February 7, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages
Read an excerpt
Former Manhattan fashion designer Harlow Jane Cassidy has a gift for creating beautiful dresses. But when Harlow becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, she’ll need more than her sewing skills to unravel the mystery...
Business is booming at Harlow’s custom dressmaking boutique, Buttons & Bows, even with the presence of her great-grandmother’s ghost hanging around the shop. But thanks to the fast approaching Margaret Moffette Lea Pageant and Ball, Harlow has her work cut out for her when Mrs. Zinnia James hires her to make her granddaughter’s pageant gown.
With the debutant ball getting the whole town of Bliss, Texas into a tizzy, Harlow knows her dress has to be perfect. But when a local golf pro is found stabbed to death with dressmaking shears, the new deputy thinks Harlow and Mrs. James conspired to commit the crime. Now Harlow has to finish the dress on time and clear her name before the next outfit she designs is a prison jumpsuit...
Pleating for Mercy
A Magical Dress Making Mystery 1Obsidian, August 2, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 320 pages
When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow Jean Cassidy leaves her job as a Manhattan fashion designer and moves back to Bliss, Texas. But when she opens a dressmaking boutique in the turn-of-the-century farmhouse she inherited, Harlow senses an inexplicable “presence”. Her old friend Josie orders a gown for her upcoming wedding, but when Josie’s boss turns up dead, Harlow has to find the killer—with a little help from beyond.
And the cover for Deadly Patterns (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery 3), which will be published in October 2012.
About Melissa
She is the Marketing Director with Entangled Publishing, is the founder of Books on the House, the co-founder of The Naked Hero, and is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled Publishing, and A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL. She also has two romantic suspense novels, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox, all to be released in 2012/2013. Visit her at her website: melissabourbon.com
Connect with Melissa
Website: MelissaBourbon.com
Facebook: Author Misa Ramirez/Melissa Bourbon
Twitter: @MelissaBourbon
Goodreads: Misa Ramirez / Melissa Bourbon
The Giveaways
There is a giveaway of A Fitting End (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery 2) with this guest blog. You can also enter to win the Grand Prize by using the Rafflecopter. The comment you leave to enter to win A Fitting End may also be used to enter to win the Grand Prize. Both Giveaways are open internationally.
To Enter to Win a Copy of A Fitting End
What: One commenter will win a copy of A Fitting End (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery 2) by Melissa Bourbon. The novel is generously provided by Penguin.
How: Leave a comment answering Melissa's question:
If you were to write a cozy mystery series, what would the hook be?
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted. You must also leave a way to contact you. Entries without contact information will not be counted.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Saturday, August 4, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
To Enter to Win the Grand Prize
How: Fill out the Rafflecopter
Terms and Conditions:
1) There will be one winner of the Grand Prize.
2) The Grand Prize is separate from any giveaway associated with individual author visits during Paranormal Cozy Mystery Month.
3) You must leave a way to contact you with your comment. If you do not leave a way to contact you, your entry will not be counted.
4) The Grand Prize Giveaway is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address.
5) Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
6) Giveaway Terms and Condition are subject to change at any time.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I guarantee you that it wouldn't be sewing--anyone who reads my blog knows I have enough accidents where the sewing machine is concerned...I think if I write another cozy it will involve ghosts, but we better stick with the ghost of my cooking grandmother because so far as I know there isn't a sewing gene anywhere in my family tree...
ReplyDeleteDang it, I was supposed to leave an address, wasn't I?
ReplyDeletewww.BearMountainBooks.com or shelf
(at)BearMountainBooks
(dot)
com
Art! I love art to little tiny pieces - naturally, I'm extremely unskilled and untalented - and can peruse art of all sorts, styles and mediums all the day long. So I'd have to use art in some way as the hook. Probably not a gallery, those are usually to posh and upmarket for me. Maybe a little hole-in-the-wall gallery run by an art enthusiast who caters to new and undiscovered artists.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I have no talent or skill in writing either so it is all imaginary...
april dot vrugtman at gmail dot com
I'm afraid that my hook could not possibly be anything crafty. I'm a disaster when it comes to that sort of thing! It would have to be dog-related, because I've known so many great dogs with weird quirks.
ReplyDeleterwschwarz11ATgmailDOTcom
The hook would be something that has to do with a book club.
ReplyDeleteSkk25@aol.com
My hook would be a tourist attraction- maybe disneyland like
ReplyDeletegreat giveaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com
I really enjoyed Pleating for Mercy and am looking forward to A fitting End which I hadn't known had been released already.
ReplyDeleteMy hook has been done by others like Joanne Carl, but I would choose a candy shop because I'd love to do the "research".
acm05atjuno.com
thanks for a fun post and giveaway! Like some of the others, I"m not crafty... *atall*... and I've been politely asked to never ever again cook... so my cozy mysteries would also have to be dog centered ;)
ReplyDeletegfc: erin
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
I have the first book in this series and would love to win the second. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletejustpeachy36@yahoo.com
Thank you for sharing with us today. I so admire your ability to sew. While I have learned to sew and am proficient at it, it has been noted than when I sit down at a sewing machine entire blocks may be evacuated LOL (not much patience here) If I were to try my hand at a cozy perhaps the hook would be a book blogger who likes to enter giveaways and book related contests :)
ReplyDeletedz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for the giveaway, there are so many theme that cozy mystery books had used. Maybe I'll use some office theme, or dormitory theme
ReplyDeleteIt would have to be my craft work: knitting, sewing, embroidery.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
It'd probably be something about cooking or food.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Must have something about loving cat.
ReplyDeleteMy hook would somehow involve a large black cat, after my first true love, my late cat, Teddy.
ReplyDeleteOops, darn177 at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteMy idea for a cozy mystery would be a
ReplyDelete"cowboy" guest range, with a background
of the Canadian Rockies.
Thanks, for the heads up on her interesting sounding books.
Melissa Bourbon, seems very talented WTG.
dayleb at telus dot net
I have two cats and two dogs--so my hook would have to be something about a mixed animal household.
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying the Lola Cruz books---so I'd like to try these, too.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Hmmm... hook? Something to do with books & cats... but it's already been done -- a LOT! So I'd have to think really, REALLY hard to add a creative twist to it... {puts thinking cap on} [think think think]
ReplyDelete:-D
My hook would be around the color pink. It's my favorite color.
ReplyDeletexzjh04(at)gmail(dot)com
My hook would be music. Rock music.
ReplyDeletespav05(AT)gmail(DOT)com