Stella May Reid made her first appearance in the “Savannah Reid” Mystery Series and first appeared in her own story, Murder In Her Stocking. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Granny Reid.

What is your name?
Stella May Reid.

How old are you?
A true lady never answers a question that requires a number for an answer – like her weight, age, or phone number…unless she’s single and the gentleman asking for the phone number is especially charming. But since you asked, I’m in my 50s. Reckon that’s close enough.

What is your profession?
I am a professional raiser of grand-younguns. I’m well paid. . .with hugs and kisses. But the hours are long. I’m never, ever, never off duty.

Do you have a significant other?
My husband, Arthur, was killed six years ago in one of them all too common farming accidents. I miss him somethin’ fierce. But sometimes, when I’m laying in my bed, in the stillness of the night, he still whispers sweet nothin’s in my ear.

Any children?
Art and me had two sons. One died, serving his country. The other one? Well, let’s just say I pray for him a lot!

Any grandchildren?
Yes, a passel of ‘em. At the moment, there’s seven. But my daughter-in-law’s so fertile, if she passes by a cherry tree, it busts out in blossoms. She’ll probably pop out another one next year for me to raise. Not that I’m complaining. They’re my best reason for livin’.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
None by blood, but a sister that my heart adopted

Who is your best friend?
That sister I just mentioned, Miss Elsie Dingle. Elsie’s famous for her coconut cakes and hugs. Sometimes she gets carried away with them hugs, and your eyes plumb bug out, but once she turns loose of you, you feel like your troubles are all gone.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
Not yet. I can’t afford one, what with so many mouths to feed already. But someday, good Lord willin’, I’d love to have a bloodhound. When I hear one of them guys bay, I durn near laugh my fool head off.

What town do you live in?
I live in the fine city of McGill, Georgia. Actually, it’s just a wide spot in the road. If you blink you miss it when you drive by. But ever’body knows ever’body, and we take care of each other. All in all, it ain’t such a bad place to live and raise younguns.

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I still live in the little shotgun shack that me and Art bought when we first got married. The roof leaks, and the porch’s fixin’ to fall off, but it’s home.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
The kitchen. No doubt about it. Lots of good food has been cooked on that stove. Lots of good talking’s been done at that table. There’s tons of dirty dishes after every meal, but that’s the price you pay for feedin’ seven grandangels. That, and the fact that they grow up way too fast.

Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, and biscuits. I’ve already asked the Lord to make that my last dinner on earth, if he can arrange it. For dessert? That’s easy. Elsie’s coconut cake! In fact, the Lord can just skip the rest of that final dinner, if I can have one of them cakes.

Favorite hobby?
Hobby? Who’s got time for a hobby when they’re raisin’ seven grandchildren? I reckon my hobbies must be peeling potatoes, hanging clothes on the line, and settling squabbles about who’s gonna wear which hair ribbon.

Favorite color?
All of the ones that pop out on the trees every autumn. I just love ‘em all and can’t wait for that time of year.

Favorite author?
Back when I used to have time to read, before they gave me custody of the kids, I liked reading that ol’ Agatha Christie’s stuff. She always put too many characters in there, and I had trouble keepin’ up with ‘em all. But I never could guess who done it till she told me. I figure that’s good writin’.

Favorite vacation spot?
Vacations are as scarce around here as hobbies. I got no money for vacations. I spend every penny I’ve got on oatmeal, potatoes, and baloney. Seven growin’ grandkids can eat you outta house and home.

Favorite sports team?
I’d say the McGill High School football team. They did good this year and made us proud. In a town that’s only two blocks long, it’s kinda hard to find things to be proud of. So, them boys are heroes ‘round here ‘bouts.

Movies or Broadway?
Broadway? Hobbies? Vacations? Who wrote this here questionnaire? The closest I ever get to Broadway is watching the ball drop in Times Square every New Year’s Eve over at my next door neighbor’s house. And if I took these kids to the movies, heaven help us, they’d want popcorn and candy and sodas. I’d have to pawn the lot of them to pay for it. I ain’t got a TV neither. Mostly, we read books around here and talk to each other.

Are you a morning or a night person?
Both, now that the kids are here. Half of ‘em are the mornin’ kind. Some are night owls. I have to be awake for all of ‘em. Gotta keep ‘em from knockin’ each other cross-eyed or snatchin’ each other bald.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
I don’t get paid for it, so I reckon I’m an amateur. But I’ve solved more mysteries than the drugstore’s got pills, if you count stuff like who tipped over all them outhouses last Halloween.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Elsie’s just about as nosy as me, so she’s handy to have around when you’re tryin’ to find out stuff. My eldest granddaughter, Savannah, is the best little detective you’d ever see. She helps me more than anybody. She swears she’s gonna be a cop when she grows up. She’ll be a great un!

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Mostly, I feed and clean seven people who are knee-high to a duck. If you “are what you eat” them kids are 80% mashed potatoes and gravy ‘cause, bless their hearts, that’s about all I can afford to feed ‘em. But they don’t complain. Well, Miss Marietta does, ‘cause nothin’ pleases her. Lord, that child tries my patience. But as far as my day, it’s feedin’ and cleanin’ and keeping the other kids from clobberin’ Marietta for whatever meanness she’s done last. Savannah helps me a lot. I have a heart runnin’ over with gratitude for that child. She makes ever’ one of my “typical” days a treasure to remember.

You can read about Granny Reid in Murder in the Corn Maze, the second book in the “Granny Reid” cozy mystery series, released September 24, 2019.

The roots of the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency reach back to the 1980s in the little town of McGill, Georgia—where Stella Reid and her seven grandkids enjoy some spooky Halloween fun and stumble into murder . . .

It doesn’t take cash, just some good old-fashioned creativity, to turn a pillowcase into a ghost costume or a trashcan into a suit of armor. So even if she has to stick to a budget, Stella Reid always makes holidays like Halloween memorable for twelve-year-old Savannah and the rest of her grandchildren.

After joining the other townspeople for trick-or-treating and the annual parade down Main Street, Granny Reid and the kids head to Judge Patterson’s antebellum mansion, where a corn maze awaits. Most of the youngsters are too terrified to make it all the way to the middle. It’s lucky for them, because when Savannah and Granny get there, it proves to be even scarier than they expected—half buried in the mud at the center of the maze lies a human skull.

The grisly discovery uncovers a mystery that stretches back decades—and seems to be related to the long-unsolved murder of Granny Reid’s own part-Cherokee mother. After all this time, the culprit may be long gone . . . or still hiding among them. It’ll be up to Granny to dig into this Southern town’s history and a mess of old family secrets . . .

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About the author
Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored seventy published works, including the bestselling movie novelization of Far and Away and the critically acclaimed Savannah Reid Mysteries and Granny Reid Mysteries under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Massie’s novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, Massie now resides in New York.

To learn more about Sonja, visit her website at sonjamassie.com.

All comments are welcomed.