Hey, there. Good to meet ya. My given name is Benjamin Joseph Hayes, but everyone calls me Granddaddy. My granddaughter Hattie runs the Moonshine Shack. It’s a little moonshine shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Prettiest city on earth! You got the Great Smoky Mountains to the east, the Tennessee River winding through town, and the Chattanooga Choo-Choo over on Track 29. What more could a person ask for?

I’m the one who taught Hattie how to make moonshine. ‘Course I learned how to make hooch from my own daddy, Eustatius Hayes, way back when. He made the best ‘shine in the southeast and ran it all the way from Chattanooga down to the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. Broke my little heart when my daddy got busted selling bootleg whiskey during Prohibition but, once he got released from the pokey, liquor was legal again so he went right back to doing what he did best.

So, what’s my typical day like? Well, I wake up in my bed at the Singing River Retirement Home and start my day with what some folks call a “coffee lace” – a cup of coffee with a shot of moonshine in it. Once I get myself cleaned up and into my overalls and boots, I take my cane or scooter (depending on how my balance is that day) and I go out front to wait for Hattie to pick me up for work. She’ll swing by in her neon green van and off we go to her Moonshine Shack. I’ll help some around the store, stocking shelves and whatnot, and when I get tired I’ll settle my old bones in a rocking chair out in front of the store and whittle. I whittle cute little critters like horses and squirrels and frogs, even cats that look like Hattie’s cat Smoky. Hattie sells my little whittled critters in the store along with her moonshine and gives me all the money they bring in to supplement my social security. I tell all the folks who pass by to get on into the store and try a sample or two of Hattie’s fruit-flavored shine. ‘Course I tell them to try a shot of Granddaddy’s Ole-Timey Corn Liquor, too. That’s the pure stuff. It’ll cross your eyes and rot your gut if you drink too much, so folks gotta be sure to ‘shine smart.

Hattie makes sure I get fed my lunch, either something she’s brought from home and warmed up in the microwave or sometimes takeout from one of the restaurants up the street. In the afternoon, I take a nap in the stockroom with Smoky curled up beside me. After my nap, it’s back to helping in the shop or sitting out front and steering people into the Moonshine Shack. Hattie’s boyfriend Marlon takes every chance he can to stop by. He’s a mounted Chattanooga Police officer, and his horse’s name is Charlotte. She’s a big, beautiful filly. She and I sometimes engage in conversation out front while Marlon is inside flirting with my granddaughter. Horses are darn good listeners. While I’m sitting in front of the store, I keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior. The guy who used to run the Irish pub across the street got hisself killed out here not too long ago. I’d hate to see something like that happen again, especially if it sullies the name of my family’s moonshine and Hattie’s shop. At the end of the day, Hattie drives me back to the Singing River Retirement Home, where I play cards with the fellas and do my best to keep the ladies at bay. What can I say? I might have been on earth for nearly a century, but I’m still quite a catch.

Fiddling with Fate, A Southern Homebrew Mystery Book #3
Genre: Cozy
Release: April 2023
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

When a local bluegrass musician disappears and a jug of her shop’s corn liquor is implicated, moonshiner Hattie Hayes must stop further trouble from brewing in this delightful cozy mystery series.

It’s August in Chattanooga, Tennessee and moonshiner Hattie Hayes has collaborated with a nearby vineyard to serve her moonshine at a Wine and ‘Shine event. Not only is this an opportunity for Hattie to gain more moonshine fans, but she’s also excited to hear the Bootlegging Brothers, a popular bluegrass band. But not every attendee is looking for harmony. When one of the brothers disappears and is presumed dead, Hattie realizes her grace note gathering has suddenly turned more sour than her mash.

Unearthing what happened to the missing musician is more difficult than Hattie first expected. Hattie’s moonshine is tied to the crime and there’s no time to fiddle around—she has to step up to solve the case. Luckily, Hattie’s cool head and quick mind help her understand that when investigating a musical crime, always stay sharp.

About the author
After spending several years in Nashville, Tennessee, Diane Kelly ventured to the eastern side of the Appalachian range and now resides in the heart of North Carolina. She found herself fascinated by the region’s rich past, especially the moonshiners who served up spirits during Prohibition. She also fell in love with the beautiful Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. With its natural splendor, storied history, and southern charm, Chattanooga is one of Diane’s favorite vacation spots, and she is excited to set her Moonshine Shack series along its riverfront. Find Diane online at DianeKelly.com, on her Author Diane Kelly page on Facebook, and on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @DianeKellyBooks.

All comments are welcomed.