Browse Author by Debra Sennefelder
Coffee & Chat, Life, Pets, The Uninvited Corpse

Coffee & Chat #18

The heat is on here in Connecticut. Though, it’s significantly more comfortable than last week. That heat wave was brutal. But when temps hover in the upper 80s with humidity, I’m definitely not a happy camper. Luckily I’m hunkered down at my computer working with coffee and water – need to stay balanced. 🙂

I have ventured out for walks with the pups, usually early in the morning or evening because of the heat. A few times I’ve taken Susie out to the pen we have set up for the pups because the pavement was just too hot. Though, Susie prefers to walk. Walking these days have been challenging because of Billy’s blindness. He’s become more skiddish, more uncertain and seemed stressed when I took him out. While he may be content staying inside, where he feels safer, I think it’s important he gets out for some fresh air, feel the sun and summer breezes on his little body. And I found a solution. A stroller.

He absolutely loves it. He settles right into the stroller and off the three of us go. Susie has had a chance to ride it in but since she’s capable of walking, walk she does. Though, I saw how easily she could get used to riding in the stroller. I think it’s their breed that has resulted in both of them pretty much being easy going about things.

The stroller even has cup holders (yay!) and a little cargo basket beneath the seat. It’s perfect. And I’m so happy we all can walk together again.

Staying on the topic of animals, our turkeys are back! I’ve been seeing three turkeys by our bird feeder over the past few weeks. I think they’re cool and it’s really funny seeing them next to the itty-bitty birds that also visit the feeder. I wonder what those little birds think when they see the BIG turkeys. Also at the feeder I’ve spied mama raccoon with her five babies. Yeah, they’ve been at the feeder and the trash container. Busy, busy. I’ve also seen our wild rabbit make an appearance a few times, more than usual. She was across the stream the other morning, hopping about then I lost sight of her. Depending on the day and the activity outside, having this view from my study can be distraction. 🙂

Luckily, I haven’t had too many distractions. I’m coming close to the end of the first draft of book 2 in the Resale Boutique mystery series. WooHoo!!! I expect to be finished by Friday and then I’ll indulge in a week of no writing. One whole week and I’m looking forward to it. I have a book I want to finish reading and a new one to start. When my little vacay is over, I’ll begin working on the third draft of book 3 in the Food Blogger mystery series. Speaking of which, book 1, THE UNINVITED CORPSE, is available in audio format if that’s how you prefer to read your books. I absolutely love the cover of the CD set the publisher created.

Wednesday’s question: Do you listen to audio books? If so, when do you listen to them? Commuting, exercising, cleaning, etc?

I’m going to wrap up this post. It’s been great catching up with you!

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Coffee & Chat, News & Events

Coffee & Chat #17

Today we’re celebrating the 4th of July here in the states and it’s a hot one today. Actually, it’s been a hot one all week and we still have more days left for this heatwave to bake us. I’m trying to keep this in perspective but I’m not gonna lie, it’s hard. And while it would probably be a good idea to sip an iced coffee, I don’t like iced coffee so I’ll grab my mug of freshly brewed coffee and start today’s chat with you. I have something to share! And it’s below!

THE HIDDEN CORPSE (book 2 in the Food Blogger mystery series) has a cover and I’m thrilled with it. If you subscribe to my newsletter you’ve already seen the cover (if not, check your inbox). My publisher, Kensington, did a fabulous job creating the cover and I just adore Bigelow on the cover. Love him to pieces.

Here’s the blurb from the back cover:

Former reality TV baking show contestant and recent divorcée Hope Early is trying to find her recipe for success as a food blogger—but murder keeps getting in the mix . . .

When Hope’s elderly neighbor perishes in a home fire, she can’t help but feel somewhat responsible. Only the day before, Peggy Olson had called her over, having burned a pot on the stove while she was sleeping and filling the house with smoke. In fact, she couldn’t even remember cooking. Clearly, it was dangerous for the woman to live alone.

But it turns out she wasn’t alone. When a second body is discovered in the basement of the burned house, suddenly what appeared to be a tragic accident is beginning to look like premeditated murder. As rumors spread like wildfire, Hope is determined to sort out the facts and smoke out a killer, but she might be jumping from the frying pan straight into the fire . . .

Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!

The book will be released on March 26, 2019 but is available for pre-order from your favorite book retailer (links are on the book page for The Food Blogger series if you’d like to place your order now.)

Keeping with writing updates, I’ve hit the 40,000 word mark in my first draft of SILENCED IN SEQUINS. I’ve mentioned before I work from a detailed outline but it’s flexible which came in handy a couple of days ago. I felt there needed to be an extra scene to heighten the danger Kelly has put herself in by nosing around the murder and to also let her have some reflection on her granny’s recent passing. The scene came together and I wrote it and so far it’s my favorite scene in the book.

Sometimes it seems like it’s all work and no play but I did manage to get out and work in the garden. I admit, it’s not my most favorite thing to do (bugs, poison ivy, excessive sunblock) but after awhile I do find myself enjoying the gardening tasks. And I definitely find myself enjoying the flowers that bloom.

I caught a glimpse of our raccoon and her FIVE babies the other morning. They were heading for their little home after a night of foraging. The babies were adorable. I also caught a glimpse of our wild rabbit. She was out for quite a while munching on leaves. I love all of the wildlife that I get to see here on our quiet little road.

I’m going to wrap up this post. It’s been great catching up with you and I hope you’ll take a moment and let me know  what you’re doing this week? Any vacay plans? What are you reading? I’m always looking for recommendations to add to my TBR.

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Coffee & Chat, Life, Writing Updates

Coffee & Chat #16

Time flies, doesn’t it? The fourth of July is just days away and then summer will be in full swing. Wasn’t it just Memorial Day weekend? LOL. I’ve been so focused on writing I guess the days just got away. I’m so glad you’re here now so we can catch up. Go ahead and grab your cup of coffee (I’ll get mine) and I’ll fill you in on what’s been happening.

I’ve been spending a lot of my time at my desk working on two manuscripts. I’ve finished the third book in the Food Blogger Mystery series and sent it to my critique partner. So far, I’ve gotten half of the manuscript back and it’s parked safely in my inbox while I finish writing the first draft of book two in the Resale Boutique Mystery series. I’m having a lot of fun writing the  book, tentatively titled Silenced in Sequins but I admit I’m having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. The book is set around Christmas and I need to find my inner HoHoHo as I brace for a stretch of 90+ degree days coming up. I saw a commercial for the Hallmark channel and I think they’re doing a Christmas movie marathon. I’m confident a week of watching Christmas movies will get me in the holiday spirit. What do you think?

I started thinking I needed to get out more. It’s so easy to stay inside at my desk and only venture out to run necessary errands. I remembered that last year, my first year as a full-time writer, I missed out on a lot of beautiful days because I was all work-work-work or write-write-write. 🙂 This year I wanted to make a change. Now, I’m pretty good at working out on my own. I have boundless resources for a variety of workouts, but I wanted to get outdoors – fresh air, sunshine, and some pretty sights. So I teamed up with my neighbor, Ginger, and twice a week we go for an hour walk. Some mornings we catch a glimpse of the sheep on the farm across from our road. One morning we saw a bobcat. Yeah, that was interesting. Mostly though, we spy chipmunks and rabbits. Best of all, spending time outdoors is a wonderful way to fuel the creative process. It’s not just with Ginger I walk outdoors, my pups Susie & Billy make sure I get a walk (though shorter) in practically every day. Yay, walking!

If you haven’t had the chance to read THE UNINVITED CORPSE it’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in print, e-book and audio book format. Because of my amazing readers I was able to hit 50 reviews on Amazon. Thank you!

A couple of weeks ago I received my author copies of my audio book and I donated one to my town’s library. While I was there I took a few moments to enjoy the serene courtyard. Isn’t a beautiful spot to sit and read?

This past weekend I attended a full-day event in Stamford, CT hosted by the New York Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. There were panel discussions from research to self-publishing to forsenics anthropology. It was also a great day to catch up with a few of my writer friends and dinner out.

If you’ve joined the Cozy Mystery Crew you’re eligible to join our Summer Reading Program. Book your summer with a great list of reads from 12 cozy authors. For more info click here and you’ll be directed to the About section.

I’m going to wrap up this post. It’s been great catching up with you and I hope you’ll take a moment and let me know what you’re doing this week? Any vacay plans? What are you reading?

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Life, Make Wednesday

Make Wednesday

For the first part of yesterday I was convinced it was today. Don’t you hate when that happens? You get all excited because you’re closer to Friday, well you think you are and then the rug is pulled out from under you and you’re a day behind, which you’re really not. Confusing, I know. That’s how I felt. Confused. Until my fellow Cozy Mystery Crew member, Tina, reminded me it was Tuesday. Once I got a grip on the day of the week I went on with my day, no harm, no foul, except maybe fellow Cozy Mystery Crew member, Libby’s brief moment of panic when she thought she’d messed up her schedule. Yeah, one of those mornings. Three cups of coffee morning. For sure.

Since the winter I’ve gravitated away from needlework. It happened slowly. My schedule kept getting filled with work and my evenings were spent reading so needlework just slipped away. Last week while on You Tube I came across a knitting vlog and then I decided to check out some FlossTube videos (I know, time suck but the break was needed) and I realized I missed knitting and stitching. I decided I needed to carve out a little time each day to do some needlework. Cross Stitch or knitting. I thought a perfect way to keep me honest and accountable was to post about my projects on a regular basis. Since I don’t work on multiple projects and it takes me forever to finish a project I’m thinking I’ll write Make Wednesday posts a couple times a month. For the first post, I thought I’d share some of my projects with you. And share a little bit about them. Ready?

Let’s start with a success! My first ever baby blanket I knitted in 2016 for our niece’s first born, Jackson. I came across the pattern while I was in a yarn shop in Massachusetts with my friend, fellow author Megan Ryder. She’s an advanced knitter, really advanced. I can hold my own with a knit or purl stitch, that’s about it. There was a baby blanket on display and it was soooo soft and pretty. Megan and the shop owner convinced me that I could knit the blanket, it was easy. I’d knit two yarns together on a circular needle. Easy, peasey, right? Not completely easy despite being a beginner project but I was able to finish it. Then I had to block it. Yeah, that was interesting but the blanket survived. Yay! And I was able to gift it to our niece. Looking back, I’m glad I tackled the project.

Next up is another knitting project – a hat. But this one was a failure. I loved the color of the yarn and the project was labeled at beginner. Unlike the blanket (I was spurred on by the success of the blanket to tackle the hat), it was a kit. All the yarn I needed, the correct sized needles and the pom-pom maker (I never got to make the pom-pom). Sounds like it should have been a homerun. Not even close. I finished the hat, sewed the seam and then tried it on. Ugh. It was too stretchy, unflattering and not cute like the picture on the website. That’s when I stashed my knitting needles away. It’s been months and I’m seriously thinking of pulling my knitting supplies out to try again. Maybe I’ll knit another blanket.

 

Now onto my counted cross stitch projects on linen. I don’t have many of them because it takes soooo long to stitch them and I’m not a binge stitcher. I grab ten minutes here and ten minutes there and at some point the sampler is finished. I haven’t framed these yet and I need to do that. I also need to press them. 🙂

This was the first counted cross stitch sampler I ever did. Up until then I’d stitched on Aida. I’d gone into a needlework shop and the owner talked me into trying linen and I’ve never looked back.  This project was very challenging because of it’s size but I was determined. I have no idea where the pattern is for this sampler so I don’t know the name of it or who designed the chart. I just love it. I stitched the sides of the fabric to help keep it from unraveling.

 

This sampler, also on linen, was was one I purchased online from a small needlework shop in Connecticut. Sadly,the shop has closed. The customer service was wonderful. While I don’t know where the chart for this project is now, I do have the other charts I purchased on my little shopping spree tucked away ready for me to stitch them someday.

This is my current project. I snapped this photo a few months ago. I’ve made some more progress since then. This is a four season row from Bent Creek. I’d like to have it finished by the end of summer.

There’s also a quilt top I made years ago. One day I’ll pull it out and take a photo and maybe one day I’ll finish it. 🙂 I think I like the relaxation and stress relief that comes with doing crafts and needleworks rather than the actual completion of  a project. Curled up on the sofa with some yarn or a piece of linen and stitching focuses my brain to stop thinking, to stop racing with ideas and snippets of dialogue. Hopefully in a couple weeks I’ll have an updated photo of my current cross stitch project.

Do you craft? Do you knit or stitch? What project are you currently working on?

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Coffee & Chat, The Uninvited Corpse, Writing

Coffee & Chat #15 – After the release

Happy Monday! Has spring come to your area? Spring showed up a couple of weekends ago and then quickly disappeared. What the heck is going on? I’ve seen some really crazy snow totals over the past few weeks. Now, understand I’m not a fan of hot weather (when we got a preview of  spring I was getting the A/Cs ready) but I do enjoy warm weather and sunny days. It would be nice to have spring back. I can totally do without summer. 🙂

A lot has been happening here. I released a book. I finished a first draft of a book. I started an Facebook reader group with eleven other authors. Yeah, it’s been busy. But I’m loving every minute of it. Go ahead and grab your cup of coffee (I’ll get mine) and I’ll tell you a little about each one of those things.

My debut novel released on March 27th  and it was an amazing day. It felt like Christmas morning and the first day of school wrapped up into one. There was a flurry of activity online as blogs shared reviews of the book and as well wishes came from friends and family. I visited my local Barnes & Noble and saw my book on the shelf. Wow! Talk about a surreal moment. Then there were flowers from my husband and critique partner. There were text messages from those close to me wishing me a wonderful release day. Yeah, it was pretty cool.

With the release behind me, it’s now time to focus on what’s next and that would be the second draft of book number 3 in the series. The first draft has been sitting aside quietly for about three weeks now and last week I pulled out my index cards and began going through each scene in the manuscript. On each index card I wrote a brief description of every scene. I added a few new scenes that I need to add into the manuscript somewhere. That’s when my handy-dandy big kitchen island comes into play. All the cards are set out and it’s time to arrange the the manuscript.

And just to keep things interesting, I started a Facebook group with eleven other cozy mystery authors for readers. We can’t help ourselves, we’re a group of cozy mystery authors with a flair for murderous mischief and a killer appreciation for our readers so we decided to pool our resources and start the new group. We plan to dish about all things cozy mystery, host giveaways, and celebrate special occasions. So far the response has been amazing. We’re definitely feeling the love from our readers. Who are the other authors? Jenny Kales, Lena Gregory, Shari Randall, Sarah Fox, V.M. Burns, Linda Reilly, Bethany Blake, Jody Holford, Tina Kashian, Libby Klein, JC Eaton. Interested? Want to join? Come on over! Click here and you’ll be directed to the group’s page on Facebook.

 

Yeah, it’s been pretty busy here and there have been moments when it all feels overwhelming but I just remind myself that I’m doing what I always dreamed of doing so a couple of deep breaths, a quick workout and some cuddling with my pups usually sets things right. I’m looking forward to this new week. I’m diving into the second third of book 3 of the Food Blogger series. What are you up to this week?

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