Hi, I’m Courtney Kelly. I own a fairy garden store called Open Your Imagination in Carmel, California. What’s a fairy garden store? It’s a place where you can make a fairy garden, of course. What’s a fairy garden? It’s a whimsical miniature garden, if you will, complete with plants—living or faux—and decked out with structures like fairy houses or castles or huts, as well as swings and slides and whatever suits your fancy. Of course, you can add fairy figurines to create a story. In addition, when making a fairy garden, you’re trying to lure fairies to your home and bring good luck.
I haven’t always designed fairy gardens. Before I invested in my new business, I was working as a landscape architect in my father’s business. I have always loved plants and always had a green thumb. My mother, rest her soul, used to take me on walks in fields filled with flowers. When she planted a fanciful garden filled with yarrow, lilac, and a host of herbs to attract butterflies, I had my first encounter with a real fairy. Aurora. She was as pretty as the sunrise. When my mother passed away, I lost my ability to see fairies, and—nose to the grindstone—I focused on schoolwork. I studied chemistry and earth sciences and, after graduating college, dedicated myself to working the land: dig, plant, don’t have fun, repeat.
However, after attending a Renaissance Faire a short while ago, where I learned the art of building a fairy garden, my heart swelled with a need to expand my horizons. When Nana died and left me a small inheritance, I knew it was time for me to spread my wings and start my own business. My father wasn’t pleased, but the shop is thriving. It was on the first day that business opened, that I saw another fairy—Fiona.
What is my typical day like? Well, I rise and shine, do a quick walk or run on the beach, eat a protein-rich breakfast because I might skip meals the rest of the day, and then I nab my white Ragdoll kitten, Pixie, and I walk to work. If Fiona is hovering about, she might join us on the walk. Often, she’s already gone to the shop. She loves sleeping in the ficus trees on the shop’s patio.
Carmel is a delightful village filled with artists of all kinds. It became a haven for painters and authors after the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. Every street is unique. Shops are plentiful. I love my walks to and from work. Window shopping and dreaming of things that I might want to buy in the years to come is quite relaxing.
When I get to the shop, I switch on the lights, make sure all the gift items in the main shop are dusted and turned correctly—you have no idea how disorganized a shop can look after a day of customers oohing and aahing and touching everything from tea sets and garden knickknacks to bells and wind chimes. Then I make my way to the outdoor patio, which is where we keep all the garden items, like decorative pots, plants, and verdigris bakers’ racks filled with fairy figurines and houses and more. As in the main shop, I make sure everything is in order. The patio is where I teach the art of making fairy gardens. I love listening to the burbling fountain.
Next, if it’s a Saturday, when we serve high tea, I make sure that all the goodies our baker provides are ready to go.
It’s nonstop at the shop, but it gives me such pleasure to bring joy to my customers. To help them imagine possibilities. To see them delight in the wonder of whimsical things. If only everyone in the world believed. But, alas, there are many skeptics, and this has caused friction. There are a few in town who wish that my shop would disappear. I ignore them and soldier on. Life is a journey, and with luck, it will be a happy and fruitful journey.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one (1) print copy of A Sprinkling of Murder, limited to U.S. residents. Giveaway ends July 2, 2020. Good luck everyone!
A Sprinkling of Murder is the first book in the NEW “Fairy Garden” cozy mystery series, released June 30, 2020.
Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . .
Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when she was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes and trickling fountains. Now she’s starting a book club tea.
But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside a fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected new friend . . .
Purchase Link
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About the author
Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries as well as the brand new Fairy Garden Mysteries and the French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. Daryl also writes the Aspen Adams novels of suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, garden, and read, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line! Visit Daryl’s website at darylwoodgerber.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Had not heard of fairy gardens. Will be interesting to see how this turns out.
Sharon, I hope you’ll check out my website where I have displayed a number of my fairy gardens. I’ve even made videos of some of them. It’s so much fun! ~ Daryl
What a delightful cover and fun premise. Thanks for the chance to win!
Holden, thanks. I love what the artist did for this cover! Whimsical indeed.
What a lovely it sounds like a wonderful book
This is a new subject to discover and I know a change is always a treat so I’d very much like to read this book and then know a friend who is into making fairy gardens and who’d love this book as well. Thank you. And the cover is sooooo unique too!
Cynthia, isn’t that fun when it comes to reading? We can learn entirely new things, enter new worlds. Enjoy.
This sounds delightful and original. Love the cover!
Carol, I had so much fun writing this story. I hope you’ll have fun reading it.
A very special and captivating story which would be greatly enjoyed this summer. Thanks for this lovely feature and giveaway.
Laini, it should make for a fun summer read. The weather in Carmel is quite nice this time of year. 🙂
I enjoy this author’s books and this new release sounds unforgettable. Many thanks.
Annie, thanks for the compliment. I hope you’ll enjoy this new series, too.
Sounds like a great start to a new series. The book sounds magical and I’m looking forward to reading the book.
Interesting, sounds like a fun read. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Wendy, I love your Raggedy Ann/Andy avatar. So cute. I hope you do find this story fun.
Yes please Dru. I’d love to win a copy of Daryl’s newest book. As you know, I’m a big fan and own many of her books.
This new series looks like a real fun read.
Nora-Adrienne, always nice to see you on a blog tour. I hope you’ll enjoy this story as much as you have the rest.
Looking forward to reading this book.
Thanks, Lois!!
I really can’t wait to get into this book.
Heather, that’s great to hear. ~ Daryl
This is on my wishlist
Wishes can come true.
Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks, Rita. Enjoy!
Such a fun idea or a new series! Happy Book Birthday and thank you for the chance to win!
Autumn, I’m glad you like the theme. I had so much fun working on this.
I LOVE this theme for a book series!! As I LOVE fairies and fairy gardens! I have several in different gardens around my house. Everyone needs a little magic in their lives! 🙂
Dawn, sweet. I hope you’ll share a picture or two on my FB page. 🙂
I love fairy gardens and I want to visit Carmel! Looking forward to reading this magical book!
Peggy, you will love Carmel. It is a fabulous place.
That sounds so amusing! I’m actually creating my own whimsical garden in my yard! So this book is right up my alley!
Nancy, good for you. I’m finding lots of people who are making them know. Whimsy is “in.”
I am fascinated by fairy gardens—and fairy circles, too! Love this cover and can’t wait to read the book!!
Barbara, I’m quite fascinated by fairy doors. The entry into the next world…
I wish I had the energy and imagination for any kind of gardening! Fairy gardens sound lovely.
Pat, some gardens can be quite simple. Two little figurines in a teacup, for example. You might get all sorts of ideas if you go to some fairy garden sites and see what they have on hand. And check out Pinterest and Instagram for ideas. I’ve put a list of sites I visit on my website here: https://darylwoodgerber.com/fairy-garden-mysteries-world.php
I am looking forward to this book. It seems an interesting setting for a mystery. I am also intrigued by the fairy garden idea. Lots to look forward to in this story!
Lori, I hope you’ll enjoy it. The setting was so much fun for me. Visiting Carmel. Doing research.
Aurora is a beautiful name for the first fairy to awaken Courtney’s awareness & belief in fairies! I look forward to reading this 1st in series book!
Betsy, thanks. When the name Aurora came to me, it made me tingle. 🙂
Sounds like a real exciting read that will keep on the edge of your seat.
Karen, it might not keep you on the edge of your seat, but it will keep you on your toes. LOL
I really enjoy reading the other series by Daryl Wood Gerber and am sure this series will be just as delightful. Thank you for the insight into this book. My fingers are crossed I might get lucky.
Robin, thanks for being such a great fan. I need more like you. 🙂
A delightful sounding addition to the author’s works.
Libby, thank you so much. I had a blast writing this one, as I do with all the others, of course. 😉
Love fairy gardens!
Mary, I’m thrilled to hear it. 🙂 Me, too.
Thank you Daryl for introducing us to Courtney. Congratulations on your new series.
Thanks, DruAnn. I’m thrilled to be here along with Courtney. 😉 Love your readers.
Been looking forward to this new series.I have an old tree in back yard and it’s roots are begging for some Fairy Houses.
Ruth, or at least a fairy door and some environmental pieces. Chairs, mailboxes, fun stuff. Enjoy.
This sounds like a fun series. I love gardening so will enjoy that aspect of it. Do the fairies help solve the mysteries? Stay safe and well.
Sally, the fairy, Fiona, helps because she is a fairy in training and needs to help humans in order to get her adult wings. It’s whimsical.
I love fairy gardens & a mystery centered around them sounds like such fun.
Jana, I’m so glad to hear this. I hope you enjoy the story.
This is such a great concept for a cozy mystery – I was enthralled by the fairy gardens and fairies. 🙂 I loved getting to know Courtney more.
Brooke, I hope you will and become one of her “besties.” 🙂 You’ll have fun.
I would love to win your book!
Linda, good luck.
I am a huge fan of other books 📚 by the awesome Daryl Wood Gerber so am excited 😆 that she has a new series! I absolutely love 💕 the cute cover on the book 📖….really grabs your attention immediately! A cozy with a fairy 🧚♀️ garden is so different and sounds really thrilling! Can’t wait to read it! Thanks so much dear Dru and Daryl for the chance to win! 💜😊🌈😻
Beverly, how lovely for you to say that. Thank you. Enjoy this new series! I need lots of fans like you. 🙂
Beautiful cover. I liked the synopsis. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Diane, sometimes a synopsis can really enchant, can’t it?
I like the synopsis it looks fun to read
Diane above you said the same thing. 🙂 Like minds.
I would love to win a copy
Shout out to you, Rose. Thanks for stopping by.
Sounds like the start of a great series! Thanks for the chance!
Jess, I sure hope it goes on for a long time. I love these characters.
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one, sounds good!
Teresa, thanks for letting me know. Good to hear.
I enjoy seeing the fairy gardens made by others. I don’t have the room to make my own in our yard. Love the creativity and imagination of others.
**** WINNER ****
A Sprinkling of Murder is Sally Fortney
Congratulations!