I love the smell of coffee in the morning. Although for me, it’s usually mixed with the hot breath of Murray, my 100-pound mutt. He hasn’t learned the subtleties of personal space.

Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s try that again. Hi, my name’s Emily Dalle. I’m a professional blogger. I didn’t start out this journey solo. Originally, my boyfriend and I did a blog together. We focused on couple goals and people were invested in our story. High school sweethearts who inspired others to find their own perfect love. Then he dumped me on live TV. The clip went viral and I was humiliated.

However, as my best friend Fitz reminds me, that moment made me who I am today. No more curated images based on a life I wish were mine. Now I share the good, the bad, and the ugly. The biggest lesson learned? People pleasing is a soul-crushing pursuit. My platform these days is all about shunning the need to please.

I post sporadically throughout the week about finding inspiration, the acceptance of imperfection, and embracing our individuality. I like to incorporate my day-to-day routines, highlight my favorite hobbies, and showcase my dog (of course). I’m lucky to have sponsors that pay me enough to afford my rent and make it easy to showcase my authentic self.

I live in a charming ski town in Western New York so it’s easy to find inspiration all around me. I’m a light hiker, a dessert fan, and a coffee aficionado. My happy place is the Longbourn Café. I live right upstairs.

Fitz is encouraging me to start cycling with him. Not only does he own the Longbourn, he’s also a volunteer firefighter and loves outdoor pursuits. What I’d rather pursue? His brother, Noah, our local Sheriff. Fitz doesn’t know my childhood crush on his brother has never gone away. Not that he’d care. Fitz is like a brother from another mother. Anyway, Noah barely knows I exist so let’s just keep that tidbit between us.

In the next few days, Fitz and I are planning to go for a pre-dawn peddle to watch the sunrise and soak up the crisp spring morning air. It’ll be fun but I’m not used to spending a lot of time in pitch darkness. Even with Fitz nearby, the idea makes me a little nervous. You never know what you’re going to run into in the dark…

Instagoner, A Bark and Blog Mystery Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: August 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

When lifestyle blogger Emily Dalle comes face-to-face with controversial talk show host Jackie Hunter, she’s in for the shock of her life. But this time, it’s not Jackie’s words that cause a stir-it’s her dead body.

Emily knows the chance of Jackie’s death being a random hit-and-run is about as low as the blows she dished out on her gossip feed. The police are doing their best, but with their limited resources, Emily enlists the help of her online audience to figure out what really happened. She gets some great tips, including one from the murderer, who tells her to back off.

Will Emily piece together who killed the Queen of Mean, or will she fall victim to the same fate?

About the author
Sydney Leigh spent several years running a seasonal business, working in the summer so she could spend cold months in cool places. Now she writes mysteries and thinks about murder. She served on the board of Crime Writers of Canada from 2018-2021. Her books include PERIL IN PINK (Crooked Lane Books) and INSTAGONER (Level Best Books). You can find her at sydneyleighbooks.com.