Dixie Spicer is a sleuth in the “Sugar & Spice” mysteries. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions. So, let’s get to know Dixie.

What is your full name?
Dixie Diana Spicer is my full name. You’d think with a name like that my nickname might be DeeDee or something like that, but years ago people started calling me Spicy or Spice because of my red hair. And maybe because of my attitude. The name has stuck with me, at least with those who’ve known me all my life. It used to bother me but I’m sort of immune anymore.

How old are you?
I’ll be 36 on my next birthday.

What is your profession?
I’m co-owner of Sugar & Spice Cookbooks with my best friend, Sugar Calloway. We publish community cookbooks for organizations who mostly use them as fundraisers. Or families wanting to preserve recipes like the Arbor Family Cookbook we’re working on right now. Sugar is the brains of the operation. I handle the recipe testing and any other cooking related things. Sugar’s business savvy is amazing, but cooking? Well, let’s just say, it’s best she leave that part of the business to me.

Do you have a significant other?
I married young and lost my husband to a farming accident several years ago. I’ve not remarried and I don’t know if I ever will.

Do you have any children?
No, I don’t. We’d always thought we’d have a big family but then he was gone.

Do you have any siblings?
I have two brothers, Hirsh and Kris. Both still live in the area.

Are your parents nearby?
They are. In fact, they still live on the farm where I grew up.

Who is your best friend?
Sugar is my best friend. She’s my support and always has my back. Sometimes that means propping me up when I’m down and sometimes that means a kick in the pants when I need it.

Do you have any pets?
I have one very spoiled dog, Moto.

What town do you live in?
St. Ignatius, Iowa. I’ve lived here all my life.

Would you say you live in a small town or a big city?
It’s a small town. And like many small towns everybody seems to know way too much about everybody else’s business.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
After my husband died, I sold our farm house and moved into town. I own my house and though it’s not huge, it’s plenty big for Moto and me.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
The kitchen. It was part of what sold me on this house. It has a lovely big country kitchen which gives me plenty of room to experiment with recipes.

Favorite meal and dessert?
My favorite meal is my mom’s spaghetti and meatballs. Nobody makes them like Mama Spicer and one bite takes me back to childhood. As for desserts, I like basic things – like cobbler or pie – hopefully made with fresh-picked blueberries or cherries or other local fruit.

Do you have any hobbies?
Cooking is my passion and my hobby. When I’m not trying out recipes for our cookbooks, I’m testing new ideas for my Iowa State Fair entries. I’ve proud to say I’ve won blue ribbons in several categories, but they’re always adding new categories to the competition. And I’m always trying something new.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
My family took very few vacations when I was growing up, but one year we rented a cabin on Madeline Island in Lake Superior and I’d love to go back there sometime. Such a beautiful area and so relaxing.

What music do you listen to?
I like most music but I’m partial to 80s oldies. Give me some Bon Jovi or Queen and throw in a little Journey or Prince and I’m a happy camper.

Do you have a favorite book?
Not really. I read a lot of different types of books mostly mystery or romance, but also the occasional historical fiction.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
A big family picnic with hot dogs and burgers on the grill. And a side of homemade potato salad. Oh, and apple pie for dessert! My dad always puts cheese on his apple pie, but I like mine with a dollop of freshly churned vanilla ice cream.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
That’s a great question. Though, why in heaven’s name I would ever write a memoir, I don’t know. If I did for some crazy reason, I’d call it – ** Starting Over ** – because that’s definitely what I did with going into business with Sugar.

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Truly I never intended to be any kind of sleuth at all, but Sugar and I have worked together on a couple of murders. Much to the chagrin of the local sheriff.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Lately I haven’t had many typical days. It seems like we’ve had way too much excitement in town. But I’ll try. . . I’m an early riser by habit so I get up and let Moto, my dog, outside. I have a fenced yard so he has plenty of room to run. While he runs and barks and takes care of business, I fill up his food dish and refill his water. Then I usually fix something to eat for myself. I’m not a coffee-drinker like Sugar is, but I often pour an orange juice or a milk to go with whatever I’m having.

Once, I get breakfast over and my dishes done, I get dressed for work. One of the great things about working for yourself is no dress code! Usually it’s jeans for me and then a top or sweater depending on the weather.

Next, I hop into my pickup and head toward the town square, which is where our Sugar & Spice Cookbooks office is located. We park in the back so I can always tell if Sugar is already there or not. Often, I arrive first and, if I do, I start the coffee. Because even if Sugar has had coffee at home, she’s going to need more. Then I unlock the front door to the shop. We don’t often have walk-in customers wanting to work with us. Our work comes mainly through referrals and Sugar mostly handles talking with clients. But I unlock the door anyway, just in case. Besides, it would be unfriendly to our friends and neighbors around the square to keep the door locked.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one (1) print copy of Quiche of Death, limited to U.S. residents. Giveaway ends July 25, 2020. Good luck everyone!

Quiche of Death is the third book in the “Sugar & Spice” cozy mystery series, released July 21, 2020.

When editor Sugar Calloway and baker Dixie Spicer went into business creating cookbooks, they found a sideline as amateur sleuths. Now a bitter family grudge could leave a fatal aftertaste. . .

At Sugar & Spice Community Cookbooks, the friends and business partners have secured a tasty new commission: producing a cookbook for the Arbor family. The Arbors have made their fortune in quiches, and Sugar and Spice have been invited to a weekend gathering where all the siblings, along with crusty matriarch Marta, will be in attendance. But it’s soon clear that this trip will come with a hefty slice of drama.

Theo, the only grandson, arrives with his flaky fiancée, Collette, who quickly stirs up trouble . . . and is found dead the next day. As the investigation unfolds, secrets—and recipes—are shared, and Sugar and Spice realize just how messy and murderous the situation may be. As another family member falls ill, can they solve the case without getting egg on their faces . . .and a target on their backs?

* Includes delicious recipes! *

Purchase Link
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About the author
Mary Lee Ashford is a lifelong bibliophile, and avid reader, and supporter of public libraries.

In addition to writing the Sugar and Spice series for Kensington Books, she also writes as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey, author of the national bestselling Pampered Pets mystery series from Bell Bridge Books. Prior to publishing Mary Lee won first place in the Daphne du Maurier contest, sponsored by the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA, and was a finalist in Murder in the Grove’s mystery contest, as well as Killer Nashville’s Claymore Dagger contest.

She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a past board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death the RWA Mystery Suspense chapter, Sisters in Crime, and the SinC internet group Guppies. She loves encouraging other writers and is a frequent presenter for writers’ groups.

Mary Lee has a passionate interest in creativity and teaches a university level course in Creative Management to MPA candidates, as well as presenting workshops and blogging about creativity. She currently resides in the midwest with her husband, Tim and cat, Zoey. Her delights are reading and enjoying her two sons and daughter-in-laws, and six grandchildren. Visit her website at maryleeashford.com.

All comments are welcomed.