Hi, I’m Becca Robins, and I’m from the small town of Monson, South Carolina.

I think the best part about what I do is that I get to be outside most of the time. Of course, I’m inside when I’m making jams and preserves, but other than that I’m usually in the middle of my pumpkin and strawberry crops or in my stall at Bailey’s Farmers’ Market. It’s a lot of hard work, but there’s fresh air, and uncomfortable shoes aren’t even an option.

I try to get to Bailey’s early every day, but most of the time I run a little late. I don’t sleep in, but there’s always something to distract me at home – the need to pull some weeds, do some extra cleaning in my converted barn/kitchen, or just hang out with the best dog ever, my long-footed retriever, Hobbit.

The amount of time I spend at Bailey’s each day depends on how quickly I sell out of my jams and preserves, but usually I’m there about five hours, and I rarely take a day off. Some market vendors only work part of the year, but no one really takes days off – well, unless there’s a murder that needs investigating. And, we seem to have had a number of those lately. Fortunately, my sister’s the market manager and she understands. Mostly.

In the late afternoons and evenings I’m either back in the middle of my crops, or making more product, or with my boyfriend, Ian, at his soon-to-be lavender farm. There’s always plenty of work to do which is truly more energizing than exhausting.

South Carolina is ideal for the farmers’ market life. It’s beautiful, and living out in the country, having my own farm, and doing what I get to do each day makes it a pretty perfect situation. Except for the murders, of course, but we’re working on it.
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You can read more about Becca in FRUIT OF ALL EVIL, the second book in the “Farmer’s Market” mystery series. The first book in the series is FARM FRESH MURDER and the third book, CROPS AND ROBBERS, will be available December 6, 2011.

The life and times of Becca Robins is written by Paige Shelton who as a kid moved around a bunch, but went to both high school and college in Des Moines, Iowa. She moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1988. After college, she spent many years working in advertising, mostly for the local Salt Lake City newspapers. Her attempts to become a published writer began in 1997, but it wasn’t until 2008 that the first contracts with her agent and Berkley Prime Crime were signed. Her pile of rejections is quite impressive.

Visit Paige at www.paigeshelton.com

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.