Callie Reed first appeared in A Fatal Collection and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Callie.
What is your name?
Callie Reed.
How old are you?
I’m in my late twenties.
What is your profession?
I had a variety of jobs until my Aunt Melodie’s untimely death. To my shock, she left me her collectible music box shop—a totally unexpected event that changed my life.
Do you have a significant other?
Moving to Keepsake Cove pushed me to finally break up with Hank, a struggling (and self-absorbed) country western singer. I haven’t been in a hurry to replace him, but a really nice guy in Keepsake Cove is becoming an important part of my life.
What is his name and profession?
Brian Greer owns the Keepsake Café across the street from my music box shop.
Any children?
Nope.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
I’m an only child.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Jagger, a Russian blue cat, came with the shop and cottage I inherited. He’s quite a personality (named fittingly after the rock star) and has been a great comfort, as only a cat can be, during a few down times.
What town do you live in?
Keepsake Cove is a section of the town of Mapleton on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It’s filled with a wonderful collection of quaint shops that offer a variety of collectibles: music boxes, vintage jewelry, unique salt and pepper shakers, and many more.
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I’m so lucky to be the owner of the fairy tale-like cottage that Aunt Mel refurbished and decorated in her special way. It’s little, but wonderful.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
I think the Wedgewood blue sofa in the living room, where I can curl up with Jagger on my lap, a cup of coffee or tea, and, of course, a good book.
Who is your best friend?
Delia Hamilton lives next door and has been so welcoming and helpful when Aunt Mel died and I felt overwhelmed with taking over House of Melody.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Definitely amateur, new to the game, somewhat reluctant but determined to uncover the truth.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
At first, I only had help in bits and pieces from the new friends and acquaintances in Keepsake Cove. Then Lyssa Hammond, an author who came for a Halloween-themed book event I helped arrange, joined me in looking into the murder of the B&B owner. We made a pretty good team, and just might work together again!
Favorite meal?
Not being a great cook, nor having much time for it, I enjoy running over to the Keepsake Café as often as I can for meals. Of course, that gives me a chance to see Brian more, an added bonus.
Favorite dessert?
Can’t beat ice cream!
Favorite hobby?
Goodness, who has time for a hobby between running my shop, solving murders, and trying to have a life in the middle of it all?
Favorite vacation spot?
Keepsake Cove and the many other towns of the Eastern Shore are such wonderful destination spots with their history and charm, that I’m still exploring them. The beach town of Ocean City, Maryland is farther away, but it beckons. I’ll make it there eventually.
Favorite color?
With all the murders and other disruptions happening, lately, a soft and soothing green has become my favorite color.
Favorite author?
Suspense author Lyssa Hammond, of course, who did a bang-up job with her book event here at the Cove.
Favorite sports team?
As I settle into being a Marylander, the Ravens, of course!
Movies or Broadway?
Can’t afford Broadway, yet, so the occasional movie is just fine. Anything happy and fun to counteract the stress that comes with investigating.
Are you a morning or a night person?
I tend to start my days with energy. Evenings, I wind down.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
On a workday, I raise the shade on House of Melody at nine. Customers might show up pretty soon, and I love finding the perfect music box for each one—whether it’s a beautiful antique in a polished wood case, or a novelty snow globe that plays a song from Frozen.
If all goes well, sales are steady and the day is calm. But news of a murder has intruded far too often for a little town like ours. When that happens, “typical” goes out the window and it’s all hands on deck (to mix a metaphor.) Luckily, all has ended well, so far. But who knows what will happen next. . .?
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of A Vintage Death. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends November 14, 2018. Good luck everyone!
You can read about Callie in A Vintage Death, the second book in the “Keepsake Cove” mystery series.
Callie Reed has put together a special event, but a killer is ripping it apart at the seams
As the new owner of a music box store in Keepsake Cove, a quaint town full of collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Callie Reed is eager to get more involved in her community. So she volunteers to plan the fall street decorations and welcome a visiting author who’s come for a special book signing. But the celebratory mood is cut short when the local B&B owner is found dead, killed with a pair of vintage scissors.
Suspicion is cast on the victim’s estranged wife, Dorothy, who owns Keepsake Cove’s vintage sewing shop. Callie is sure Dorothy is innocent, and the visiting author agrees. Together, they begin their own investigation, only to discover that many people in Keepsake Cove have secrets. Secrets that are worth killing to keep.
Purchase Link
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About the author
Mary Ellen Hughes is the bestselling author of the Pickled and Preserved Mysteries, the Craft Corner Mysteries, and the Maggie Olenski Mysteries, along with several short stories. A Fatal Collection began her Keepsake Cove series, which continues with A Vintage Death.
A Wisconsin native, she has lived most of her adult life in Maryland, where she’s set many of her stories. Visit her at maryellenhughes.com.
All comments are welcomed.
A must-read for me!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Sounds like a bucolic setting…like Cabot Cove.
This sounds like a place I would like to live! I love little towns with touristy shops in it.
Keepsake Cove sounds like a lovely place!
Sounds like a charming series that I missed somehow! I am going to read A Fatal Collection right away so I will be ready for A Vintage Death soon. Thanks for today’s post and the chance to win a copy of Vintage Death! ✂
I’m adding this to my Want to Read list. Thanks for the giveaway.
I loved the first installment in this series and am looking forward to this one. There’s something about the East Coast that makes a perfect setting for a mystery.
I’m glad you think so, Rochelle, because I love setting my books there (here.) There’s something both cozy and mysterious about East Coast towns.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “A Vintage Death”.
wfnren at aol dot com
This is an author whose books I have not read yet but this one sounds really interesting. Thank you for the chance.
I enjoyed the first book.
Nice to meet you Callie, I look forward to spending more time with you.
Dru Ann you and your blog are a treasure to me. I enjoy reading your insight into new books and the authors that write them. It would be fantastic to win this book so my fingers are crossed. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’d love to read more about Jagger! I love books with cats as side kicks!!
Keepsake Cove sounds like a great place to visit – and I love collectibles, especially music boxes. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Thank-you for this interview and giveaway!!
Love this kind of book and am eagerly looking forward to reading this one!
Sounds like my kind of book.
This looks like a series that I would love to read.
Russian Blues are good looking cats.
I agree, Libby. They can be very sweet, too.
Sounds like a fun book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds like an quaint little town. Would like to read more about Callie and Keepsake Cove.
I would enjoy reading this and meeting Callie and get to know the people of Keepsake Cove! Thank you for the chance to win!
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “A Vintage Death”.
Thanks for a chance to win a new to me book/series.
Thanks for introducing me to a new author and a very interesting series and the chance to win a copy of A Vintage Death.
I love the name Jagger for a cat.
I really enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to this one, thanks for the giveaway!
This is a new series to me. I’d love to read this! Thanks for the chance to win!
Have wanted to read this. Thanks for the opportunity.
Sounds like a great read.
**** WINNER ****
A Vintage Death is Tari Hann
Congratulations!