I’m excited to have Liz Mugavero here today to talk about her new book, A Biscuit, A Casket. This series is a lot of fun and I hope everyone gets a chance to read this great series.
1. Tell me about your new release.
A Biscuit, A Casket is the second in the Pawsitively Organic Gourmet Pet Food Mysteries.
Stan Connor’s Pawsitively Organic pet food business is taking off – she’s even catering doggie parties. That’s what she’s doing at the local dairy farm during Halloween season – but the party is derailed when the farmer’s dead body is discovered in his haunted corn maze and Stan finds herself once again mixed up in murder.
2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?
When I was discussing proposal ideas with my now-agent, John Talbot, we talked about my interests and weaved those into what he thought the market might want. I’ve always been an animal lover and a mystery lover, and one of my constant quandaries was, how would I combine my two passions? When John suggested gourmet pet food, I thought, Yes! Because it allows me the opportunity to touch on rescue, as well, which is very important to me.
3. What was the most interesting thing that you had to research as a writer? Do you base characters on people that you know?
I’m working on revisions for a darker mystery that I wrote before Pawsitively Organic. This book touches on a lot of topics: alternative education, state social services, child abuse, mental illness, to name a few. The research on those topics was crazy – and there’s so much to understand.
As far as basing characters on people I know – I don’t take people in their entirety, change their names and plop them in my books, but I do infuse parts of many people into my characters. I love people watching and noting traits, habits, gestures, speech patterns, and all of that (and more!) makes it’s way into my books.
4. Which authors do you feel have influenced you to become a writer?
I’ve loved mysteries since I was a kid, and of course the Nancy Drew books were top of that list. Those were my first influence. And there have been so many since! Janet Evanovich’s humor, Dennis Lehane’s poetic darkness, Agatha Christie (of course!).
5. What are you working on now?
I just completed a proposal for the 4th, 5th and 6th books in the Pawsitively Organic series. I’m also working on revisions of the book I mentioned above. I’m anxious to get that out into the world. Maybe you all will see that in the near future!
6. Favorite TV guilty pleasure? Favorite Food? Favorite place to travel? Favorite movie you’ve seen recently?
Oh, the fun questions! Let’s see. I love to watch Gilmore Girl reruns. My favorite food these days is any yummy smoothie I can make in my Vitamix – I love some of Kris Carr’s recipes. Travel? I am counting the days until I can visit San Francisco again. And movies – I’ve been so busy I’m terribly behind. But some of my all-time favorites are The Outsiders, Mystic River, Shawshank Redemption.
About the Author:
Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”
She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.
Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.
The small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, has wholeheartedly embraced Kristan “Stan” Connor’s new business – preparing quality organic treats for dogs and cats. On a healthy diet, the animals may live longer…but one local farmer won’t be so lucky. As Halloween approaches, Stan is asked to cater a doggie costume party hosted by the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Part of a local co-op, Happy Cow specializes in organic dairy products, and farmers Hal and Emmalee Hoffman have started opening up the farm for parties, offering a “haunted” corn maze as an added attraction. When Hal’s lifeless body is found in the maze, the police at first suspect his wife, but Stan soon learns the dairy farmer had plenty of enemies – from bitter family members to shady business associates. If Stan can’t extract a kernel of truth from the labyrinth of lies, she may be the next one to buy the farm…
Jennifer’s Review of A Biscuit, A Casket
Review (4 Stars): This is a very cute series and I love how Stan has created her own business from doing something she loves such as creating special organic treats for animals. In this book, Stan is gearing up for Halloween and is invited to Happy Cow farms to host a doggie costume party with her delicious treats. After arriving at the farm, the body of Hal Hoffman is found in the corn maze and Stan immediately finds herself involved in another murder investigation. The victim wasn’t a very likeable guy and had a handful of people that wanted to see him dead but no clues on who the killer could be. Stan must find the answers quick before the Happy Cow farm goes under and Hal’s wife is charged with the murder.
A Biscuit, A Casket is a great addition to a charming mystery series that is bound to entertain. I’ve liked Stan since the first book Kneading to Die because even though she lost her high-powered publicity job she realized that things happen for a reason and it was time for her to enjoy the simple things in life. She has a new home, new furry friends and a new career in a place that is absolutely delightful. I love books that center around Halloween and I enjoyed A Biscuit, A Casket from beginning to end. Such a fun well-written mystery that you can’t help but love. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Ms. Mugavero and her third book in the Pawsitively Organic mystery series in the future.
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