I signed on as a co-host on a new baking competition show, The American Baking Battle. I don’t do drama, but the network promised this show is not like reality television. It’s a civilized baking show where the competitors support and help one another. Set in a castle turned resort tucked in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, how could the show not be peaceful and civil?

After one very long day of filming, let me tell you how. . .

Contestant Mick Henderson eavesdropped on my producer Eric Iverson and my conversation. Once again, I was talking about something private in a public place. The conversation pertained to my television cooking show, Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter, which became an instant hit and viewers assumed I was a farmer’s daughter like the title of my show implied. The network ran with the idea and due to a gag order in my contract, I pretend it’s true. Okay, not pretend, lie. I hate lying. My dad’s a pediatrician and I grew up in Chicago. Thank goodness Eric grew up on a farm and helps me field viewer questions that pertain to rural living. I want to be clear. I love my show. I love my viewers. What I don’t love is the lie about my background and lately it’s wearing on my conscience which is what I was discussing with Eric. (Since it’s a secret, I’m trusting you to not tell anyone).

Once on set, Mick continued to stir the drama pot. Not only does he know my secret, I think he has dirt on renowned chef Harrison Canfield, a judge on the show. Mick’s insinuations toward Harrison wound the already uptight judge tighter. Mick seems to know another contestant, Tabitha, who doesn’t hide her hatred of him. His actions created so much unnecessary tension on the set that it’s safe to say Mick won’t win any congeniality awards.

Sadly, my day didn’t end when the baking competition wrapped for the day. I needed to bake a cherry cobbler in a cast iron fry pan for an episode of Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter being taped on location at the resort. The good news is cooking relieves my tension and it’s the first thing that has went right all day. My cobbler came out perfect. I have a dilemma though. It’s too hot to carry to my suite and I’m so tired I don’t want to wait for it to cool down. Would anyone care if I leave it on one of the set’s counters to cool overnight? I internally debate on if I should stay here and let the cobbler cool or leave it. I’m exhausted and have an early call for hair and wardrobe. I can pick it up first thing tomorrow so it’s not in the way of the crew readying the set. I give my cobbler one last glance then chide myself for worrying and I head out the door. After all, what harm could come to it?

You can read more about Courtney in Cobblered to Death, the first book in the NEW “Courtney Archer” mystery series, released November 26, 2019.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .

Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .

During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . .

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Meet the author
Rosemarie Ross is neither a chef, gourmet cook, nor television cooking star, but she loves watching cooking shows and turned that love into a cozy mystery series. Rosemarie Ross is the pseudonym of multi-published author Rose Ross Zediker, who writes contemporary and historical inspirational romance novels which have appeared on ECPA bestseller lists and been finalists for the RITA, National Reader’s Choice, Booksellers Best, and Book Buyers Best award contests. In addition, Rose has hundreds of publishing credits in the Christian magazine genre for children and adults. Visit Rosemarie at her website: rosemarieross.com, or on her Facebook author page, or on @SDAuthor.

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