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Check out this fun interview!

Interview with Tonya Kappes By : Lesa's Book Critiques

A couple months ago, I reviewed Tonya Kappes' latest book, Cake & Punishment, written under the name Maymee Bell. Since then, she's come out with the first ebook in her new Campers & Criminals mystery series,  Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries. I don't know how she found time to answer questions, but she did. Thank you, Tonya.


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Lesa: Tonya, I don’t even know where to start with questions because you’re such a busy author. Why don’t you tell us about yourself and Maymee Bell? Tonya: Hahhaa!! Yes. I am busy. But we are one in the same. Originally, when I took the contract from Crooked Lane for the Southern Cake Baker Mystery Series, it is a straight cozy. There’s no paranormal in it, which is what I’ve written for so long in my cozies. My granny’s name is Mamie and I love that name. It was in her honor that I decided to use a variation of her name as my pen name. Now I look back and think that I probably didn’t need to do that.


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Just released under my pen name!!! Buy it here>>>>🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳 Batter Off Dead Book Two Southern Cake Baker Mystery 👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁👩‍🍳🧁 https://amzn.to/2PhfCgp

Lesa: Would you introduce Sophia Cummings? Tonya: Sophia is what I’d call a typical twenty-something going into her thirties that’s realized family and friends are really what the world is about. She’d spent so much time trying to get out of that small hometown, she’s rediscovered it after she goes back for a visit. This time she’s more mature and finds everything she’d been searching for while she’s been gone is actually right there in her small town.  Lesa: Tell us about Cake & Punishment, without spoilers. Tonya: Sophia is a “famous” pastry chef. Her heart has been broken and she flees to her small hometown to hide. It just so happens (wink) that her high school best friend is getting married that same weekend and the cake baker has backed out on baking the wedding cake. Of course, Sophia steps up to make it and just so happens to stumble upon a dead body.  Lesa: I may be wrong, but I count ten series that you’re writing or have written. Which ones are currently active? Tonya: Yes! I’m currently writing The Kenni Lowry Mystery Series, which is a ten book deal with Henery Press. The Southern Cake Baker Mystery Series with Crooked Lane. The Killer Coffee Mystery Series, The Magical Cures Mystery Series, and (new) A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series all self published. 


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Lesa: The first in the Camper and Criminals series is just out. Would you tell us about it?   Tonya: OMG….let me tell you how much I love this series. As a child, my parents had a camper. We had so much fun in that thing. I was a campground rat, running around barefoot, jumping in the rivers/lakes and had such fond memories of traveling around. I knew I had to write a series based in a campground in the Daniel Boone National Park set in Kentucky. You find a lot of funny characters in campgrounds, so they fit right on in with my characters. It was perfect. I’m happy to say that readers are LOVING it! Lesa: You have to pick one. What’s your favorite series, and what’s it about? Tonya: The Magical Cures Mystery Series hands down. June Heal and the fun gang put me on the cozy mystery map and they still continue to sell so well. Lesa: You seem to specialize in Southern mysteries with humor. What authors influenced you? Tonya: None! I’m southern and when I started writing, there weren’t any out there. That’s when I knew it was my niche. Lesa: Where do you like to take friends when they come to visit you in Kentucky? Tonya: I live about ten miles from Cincinnati. Our zoo has a famous little hippo named Fiona. Everyone wants me to take them to see her. If you’ve not seen her and her story, look her up! Lesa: I’m a public librarian, so I end my interviews with the same question. Would you tell us a story about a library or librarian in your life? Tonya: Yes! I live about three streets over from our library. I always love to go over there and talk when they ask. Our librarian, Lisa, is awesome. She and I instantly clicked. We also do Jazzercise together. We sweat and read together, what a perfect combo!! ***** If you're exhausted just reading this interview, you're not the only one. Tonya is hard to keep up with. The only way to keep track of her books is to check out her web site at www.tonyakappes.com Cake & Punishment by Maymee Bell. Crooked Lane Books, 2018. ISBN 9781683315711 (hardcover), 320p. You can check out the full interview here: Interview with Tonya Kappes

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

We love to have a nice casserole for Christmas morning before the hustle begins for the day. I took it straight from Vivian Lowry, mama in A Kenni Lowry Mystery!

I, Vivian Lowry, was raised a to be a true southern lady. I’ve never left my house without lipstick. I’m not a bragger by any means, but the man upstairs has blessed me with an amazing daughter and loving husband, as well as a sharp tongue and I truly don’t believe I wasn’t given the gift of my boldness if it weren’t in my destiny.
I truly was born to have greatness and when I came up with my famous Chicken Pot Pie, I knew it was my ticket to be a star.

Who made it famous? Well…anyone who has ever gone to a funeral repass in Cottonwood, Kentucky knows that I always bring my chicken pot pie. It’s all the rage, besides the body lying corpse. And it’s no secret that all the women in Cottonwood always make their best recipes for the after funeral supper.

It just so happens that The Culinary Channel had gotten a tip about little ole me and my famous chicken pot pie. So much so that they’ve sent Chef Frank Von Lee to come see me and try my delicious casserole to be featured on the Culinary Channel.
Now, I’m not braggin’. Like I said, I knew I was destined for greatness. I’m not gonna spill the beans on my recipe just yet, but I’ve been told that my breakfast casserole is to die for.

I, Vivian Lowry, did not kill anyone. You remember that!



Photo courtesy of Tonya Kappes

All other food photos courtesy of Google Images unless otherwise marked
Ingredients:
1 package (16 oz.) of bulk ground sausage. I like a little spice to mine so I get a mild or hot sausage.
1 onion (chopped or you can buy a bag of the frozen already chopped)
1 red pepper (chopped or you can buy a bag of the frozen already chopped)
3-4 cups frozen square hash browns
2 cups cheddar cheese
3/4 cups Bisquick (I use gluten free Bisquick because Eddy is gluten free and it's the same measurements)
2 cups of milk
6 eggs
Optional black pepper

Directions:
I preheat my oven to 400
Spray a 3 quart baking dish ( 13 x 9 inches) with cooking spray
Over medium heat, cook the chopped onion and red pepper along with the sausage until the sausage is cooked with no pink.
Drain the meat.
Add the meat mixture, frozen hash browns, and 1.5 cups of the cheese in the baking dish.

In a bowl, combine the milk, Bisquick, eggs, and pepper (optional). Pour over the sausage mix in the baking dish.
Bake for around 30-35 minutes.
Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over top and bake another five minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Photo courtesy of Tonya Kappes
I'm a big believer in letting the food stand for 5-10 minutes after taken out of the oven.
Enjoy!

Mmmmm...What a great way to start any day!
I'm not against eating breakfast for dinner either.😉

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

On to the recipe!


BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Photo courtesy of Tonya Kappes
All other food photos courtesy of Google Images unless otherwise marked


Ingredients:

1 package (16 oz.) of bulk ground sausage. I like a little spice to mine so I get a mild or hot sausage.

1 onion (chopped or you can buy a bag of the frozen already chopped)

1 red pepper (chopped or you can buy a bag of the frozen already chopped)

3-4 cups frozen square hash browns

2 cups cheddar cheese

3/4 cups Bisquick (I use gluten free Bisquick because Eddy is gluten free and it's the same measurements)

2 cups of milk

6 eggs

Optional black pepper




Directions:

I preheat my oven to 400

Spray a 3 quart baking dish ( 13 x 9 inches) with cooking spray

Over medium heat, cook the chopped onion and red pepper along with the sausage until the sausage is cooked with no pink.


Drain the meat.


Add the meat mixture, frozen hash browns, and 1.5 cups of the cheese in the baking dish.





In a bowl, combine the milk, Bisquick, eggs, and pepper (optional). Pour over the sausage mix in the baking dish.

Bake for around 30-35 minutes.


Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over top and bake another five minutes or until the cheese has melted.



Photo courtesy of Tonya Kappes


I'm a big believer in letting the food stand for 5-10 minutes after taken out of the oven.


Enjoy!





Mmmmm...What a great way to start any day!
I'm not against eating breakfast for dinner either.😉


~*~*~







BATTER OFF DEAD IS WOMEN'S WORLD MAGAZINE BOOK CLUB PICK OF THE WEEK!
Pick up your copy of Women's World!!!

Christmas Traditions and Furry Friends and Recipe

 This is my first Christmas in Honey Springs (because I just moved here) and I have to say that I'm very excited about participating in all the annual activities, not only personally but also professionally.
I entered Pepper into the Christmas Pawrade and so excited to see how cute he's going to look in his  new sweater I got him from WALK IN THE BARK ANIMAL BOUTIQUE.
Everyone I know with a furry friend will be there too. We get to walk around the town square before the annual Christmas Tree lighting where my fiance, Patrick Cane, is going to be playing Santa for all the little ones. Plus I opened up a pop-up shop in the makeshift Christmas town the committee had made in the town square.
Everyone in Honey Springs will be there along with many tourist who have come to love our small southern town all year long and not just during the summer months. The tourist committee has really worked hard to get the stigma of a "lake town" out of the minds of the tourists. Honey Springs has something every season to offer everyone.
I'm looking forward to seeing all the merchants I share the newly renovated boardwalk with. Especially Otis Peavler. He owns the tattoo parlor, Odd Ink. It's next door to my coffeehouse, THE BEAN HIVE, and he's been very quiet lately. I sure hope he's not getting ill. He's up there in age and still pretty active, but I guess I just worry about him. After all, I'd heard he'd made a few people mad recently. But that's just hearsay and around here the gossip is as hot as the coffee....if you know what I mean.

Anyways....Do you have any holiday traditions that you love? Leave a comment along with your name and email address to be entered to win a Tonya Kappes Southern Mystery tote bag along with some goodies! The winner will be announced tomorrow!
SPEND THE HOLIDAYS IN HONEY SPRINGS, KENTUCKY, where the gossip is as hot as the coffee!
Check out Pepper the Schnauzer and all the people who live in Honey Springs here!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xZNKpQ

If you’ve never been to Honey Springs….Check out the first book in the series, SCENE OF THE GRIND.

Enjoy this fun recipe you can make for your furry friends or even enjoy yourself!

Gingerbread Mischiefs Animal Treats

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
In a small bowl, whisk together molasses, water, and oil. Using a wooden spoon, slowly mix liquid ingredients into the flour mixture, stirring until well-combined.
Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thick and cut out shapes, gathering dough and re-rolling as necessary. I use a cute gingerbread cutter.
Bake for 20 minutes and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
There are many more recipes in all of the KILLER COFFEE MYSTERY SERIES books! Check out Tonyakappes.com for details and a tab full of southern recipes for you to download and enjoy!
Also by Tonya Kappes
A Killer Coffee Mystery
SCENE OF THE GRIND
MOCHA AND MURDER
FRESHLY GROUND MURDER
Magical Cures Mystery Series
A CHARMING CRIME
A CHARMING CURE
A CHARMING POTION (novella)
A CHARMING WISH
A CHARMING SPELL
A CHARMING MAGIC
A CHARMING SECRET
A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)
A CHARMING FATALITY
A CHARMING GHOST
A CHARMING HEX
A CHARMING VOODOO
A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series
A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING
A GHOSTLY GRAVE
A GHOSTLY DEMISE
A GHOSTLY MURDER
A GHOSTLY REUNION
A GHOSTLY MORTALITY
A GHOSTLY SECRET
Spies and Spells Mystery Series
SPIES AND SPELLS
BETTING OFF DEAD
GET WITCH OR DIE TRYING
Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
FIXIN’ TO DIE
SOUTHERN FRIED
AX TO GRIND
A Laurel London Mystery Series
CHECKERED CRIME
CHECKERED PAST
CHECKERED THIEF
A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
A BEAD OF DOUBT SHORT STORY
STRUNG OUT TO DIE
CRIMPED TO DEATH
Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series
SPLITSVILLE.COM
COLOR ME LOVE (novella)
COLOR ME A CRIME

ANSWERING A READER QUESTION

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