Our feature today is on author Polly Holmes and her new book, Cupcakes and Conspiracy.
Do you read as well as write?
I try and read as much as I can, time permitting. Working full-time as well as writing sometimes leaves little space for reading. My aim when I’m reading is to read the genres that I’m writing. With a focus on cozy mysteries, I tend to read Leighann Dobbs, Molly Fitz, Annabel Chase.
Cupcakes and Conspiracy is the exciting prequel to The Cupcake Capers Series by Polly Holmes.
What was something you loved doing in recent times?
I have always loved to travel; however, recently it
has become a new love of mine. As I delve more into writing rich characters and
wonderful locations, I am finding that I want to experience these locations in
real life and not just through research. Life is short so my new goal is to
visit at least two to three new location each year, including places within my
home country of Australia.
What are the most important magazines for writers
to subscribe to?
I have found I tend to read blogs or online articles
more than subscribing to magazines. If I’m researching a particular aspect of
my story or writing technique, I tend to go directing to sources that will help
me. I love Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing Show which gives great tips and has
some wonderful speakers. I also enjoy learning the craft through Joanna Penn’s
work/blogs and books.
Do you read as well as write?
I try and read as much as I can, time permitting. Working full-time as well as writing sometimes leaves little space for reading. My aim when I’m reading is to read the genres that I’m writing. With a focus on cozy mysteries, I tend to read Leighann Dobbs, Molly Fitz, Annabel Chase.
What type of a reader are you?
A would consider myself a visual reader. I love to
imagine and visualise the story as I’m reading it, the locations, the
characters, the action and sometimes even put myself in the heroine’s shoes. Generally,
I’m a slow reader, but if it’s a great book I can’t put it down until it’s
finished.
Tell us
about your book...
I loved
writing Betty’s story in Cupcakes and Conspiracy. Betty Brookson is passionate
about her home town of Ashton Point and when it’s threatened she isn’t one to
keep quiet. Standing up to a business developer, Derek Pantell Betty strongly
voices her objections to his ideas off progress. But when he is found brutally
attacked, she becomes the main suspect. Betty is inspired by my late mother.
She loved unconditionally and was loved by everyone. When Betty’s
broken-hearted granddaughter Charlotte arrives, she can think of nothing else
but to comfort her. Teaming up, they both tackle the accusations together to
find the real culprit facing danger head on.
About Polly Holmes
Polly
Holmes is the cheeky, sassy alter ego of Amazon best-selling author, P.L.
Harris. When she's not writing her next romantic suspense novel as P.L. Harris,
she is planning the next murder in one of Polly's cozy mysteries.
According
to Polly, the best part about writing cozy mysteries is researching. Finding
the best way to hook the reader, a great way to murder someone, a plethora of
suspects and of course a good dose of sweet treats thrown in for good measure.
Her
books are rich in storyline and location with characters that stay with you
long after you turn the last page. She publishes her cozy mysteries solely with
Gumnut Press.
Cupcakes and Corpses was a finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of
America’s 2019 IDA International Digital Awards, short suspense
category. Cupcakes and Curses claimed second place and Cupcakes and
Cyanide gained third place making it a clean sweep in the category.
You can visit P.L. Harris/Polly
Holmes at her website: www.plharris.com.au or www.pollyholmesmysteries.com or
follow her writing journey on Facebook:
P.L.Harris/PollyHolmes
P.L.Harris/PollyHolmesReadersGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/217817788798223
Cupcakes and Conspiracy (The Cupcake Capers)
A cozy mystery prequel about family ties, friendship and juicy town gossip. Who will attempt murder to protect their idyllic way of life?
Armed with an over-zealous love for her town and unlimited tenacity, Betty Brookson takes no prisoners when she openly challenges a construction tycoon at an emergency town meeting. No-one wants to see the nursing home turned into high-rise apartments in the name of progress, least of all Betty.
The arrival of her broken-hearted granddaughter peps her up. Charlotte McCorrson, an award-winning baker and passionate soul was just like her grandmother. But she arrives amid the cops questioning her grandmother. And she doesn’t like what they were saying.
Derek Pantell is found floating unconscious in the nursing home pool with a horrific head injury, all evidence points to Betty. She soon becomes the number one suspect.
Betty’s stellar reputation is on the line and with the help of her trustworthy granddaughter, they set out to uncover the truth. Will they find the person responsible, or will they become the next victims in their master plan?
Armed with an over-zealous love for her town and unlimited tenacity, Betty Brookson takes no prisoners when she openly challenges a construction tycoon at an emergency town meeting. No-one wants to see the nursing home turned into high-rise apartments in the name of progress, least of all Betty.
The arrival of her broken-hearted granddaughter peps her up. Charlotte McCorrson, an award-winning baker and passionate soul was just like her grandmother. But she arrives amid the cops questioning her grandmother. And she doesn’t like what they were saying.
Derek Pantell is found floating unconscious in the nursing home pool with a horrific head injury, all evidence points to Betty. She soon becomes the number one suspect.
Betty’s stellar reputation is on the line and with the help of her trustworthy granddaughter, they set out to uncover the truth. Will they find the person responsible, or will they become the next victims in their master plan?
Cupcakes and Conspiracy is the exciting prequel to The Cupcake Capers Series by Polly Holmes.
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What we once had to get out of magazines we can now find online. Totally saves paper...
ReplyDeleteIt sure does Liz and I love that we can then find it again in a moments notice. Well, usually.
DeleteCongratulations on the new book. I like the sound of it. And thanks for sharing all these answers. I liked reading about you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally. I had so much fun writing it. I love this series. I always find it so hard to write about myself so I'm glad there was something you found interesting.
DeleteSo lovely to learn about you. Congratulations on the release of your book.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mandy. I can't believe I waited so long to write Betty's story, but so glad I did. I love it.
DeleteCongratulations on the release of your new book. I like the sound of this story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janie. I really enjoyed working Betty's story into the existing books already published.
DeleteAwesome on the new book. I like the cover. And the story sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amanda. I love my covers so much. Mariah Sinclair from The Cover Vault did an amazing job on them. They are the reason I started writing cozy mysteries.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! The book sounds exciting!
ReplyDeleteGreat important post, where you make the main focus, really makes me happy for its necessary of importance.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover! I get Mark Dawson's emails. I'll have to pay more attention to them.
ReplyDeleteI love to travel too and this past year have been traveling all across the cities in Australia! She lives in a beautiful place and I hope she enjoys getting to explore it. And yay for being a visual reader and trying to translate that into their writing ^.^
ReplyDeleteOlivia-S @ Olivia's Catastrophe
This sounds like a great book!
ReplyDelete