A few weeks ago my life was still very hectic: no time for an elaborate breakfast, long hours at the ad agency where I worked, tight deadlines, and hardly any time to explore the green spots of the big city where I lived. My life was nice and secure but my heart was with my portfolio of cute crafting projects built in my rare free hours, a reflection of what I really wanted to do: draw, draw, draw, and create my own line of stationery products. Then I turned thirty and Gran gave me a mysterious envelope that changed my life. Her gift enabled me to buy a share in the stationery shop of my best friend since college, Hazel Bray, in smalltown Tundish, Montana. I resigned from the day job, packed up my belongings and drove out to my new hometown, dubbed ‘the town with a heart of gold.’ Gold mining is a large part of Tundish’s history and our shop – can’t believe I can say ‘our’ now! – is in the town’s historic center, in the old sheriff’s office. Hazel kept it authentic using lots of elements like the old sheriff’s desk, the cells and the hitching post to present our offer. The shop’s name, Wanted, reflects exactly how I feel about stationery. I want it all!

Now my day looks completely different: first a big breakfast with Hazel at her cute cottage where I’m living until I’ve found a place of my own. Then we drive out to the shop where I’m learning the ropes of running a business: advising customers about washi tape, working the cash register and bookkeeping, which is frankly not my favorite part of it. After working hours Hazel and I dig through catalogues to find new and exciting stock for the store. You can never have too many notebooks, right? But tonight we won’t be sitting at home, over pizza. Tonight is our first workshop together, with a Glitter Galore theme, fitting for the venue: the luxurious Lodge hotel. Our workshop coincides with the goldminers party, a tradition in the area dating back to the roaring twenties. I’m hoping we can experience a bit of it: see the guests all dressed up for the occasion, hear the big band playing. We’re serving mocktails to our participants to stay in style.

I’m sure I’ll make new friends among the so-called Paper Posse, a group of ladies enjoying paper crafting and wildwest names! Mrs. Cassidy started it all, with her outlaw obsession. Instead of looking for royalty among her ancestors, she wants to find a famous outlaw there. Preferably female. “Seamstress by day, bank robber by night,” as she puts it. Her dog Nugget seems to approve. That little diva will need a walk during the workshop so I can see a bit of the beautiful surroundings of the Lodge hotel: its tranquil lake and the mountains topped off with snow. My life never had room for outdoor activities but here I want to go boating, biking and bird watching. Hazel told me there is a wildlife guide I have to meet: Jonas Nord and his retired K9 Spud. Can’t wait to do some exploring with them. The only thing I can’t quite figure out is what Hazel’s brother Finn is doing in Tundish. Hazel seems to be a bit secretive about him. But I’m sure that will all work out fine. Tonight is going to be a killer party. . .

Follow Delta’s new life in Last Pen Standing, the first book in the brand NEW “Stationery Shop” cozy mystery series, released September 24, 2019.

Will this paper trail run cold?

As the new co-owner of Tundish Montana’s stationery shop WANTED, Delta Douglas knows how to organize a killer crafting event. Creativity and cardstock are all she needs to move one step closer to her ultimate dream: developing her own line of crafting products. But on the night of the workshop, at the swanky hotel venue, glitter isn’t the only thing found sprawled on the floor. A hotel guest is discovered dead in the bar, and amid the confusion, Delta’s best friend is suspected of the crime.

Enlisting the help of her Paper Posse and Spud, her canine sidekick, Delta dives into the investigation. But with many high-powered suspects on the line, Delta soon realizes her sleuthing may come with deadly consequences.

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Meet the author
Vivian Conroy is the author of the brand-new Stationery Shop Mysteries. The first book in the series, Last Pen Standing is on sale September 24. Vivian also writes the contemporary Country Gift Shop Mysteries and the historical Murder Will Follow Mysteries, paying tribute to her favorite mystery author Agatha Christie. Away from the keyboard, she loves to hike, craft and hang out on Twitter where readers can connect with her via @VivWrites.