My favorite compliment for the Chocoholic books came from a bookstore owner.
She said, “Hey, I like your books.”
My reply may have been a bit rude. One of the first things I learned about hanging around with writers is, just don’t try to discuss their books. That way lies confusion and saying things better left unsaid. The bookseller understands that principle.
So I was astonished by her remark, and I blurted out an incredulous “Why?”
But it was a sincere “why.” This bookseller had access to every mystery published in the English language. If my books appealed to her, I wanted to know what I was doing right.
“I like them because they’re about a young woman trying to run a small business,” she said.
Well, okay. That was understandable. The speaker was a young woman who was trying (quite successfully) to run a small business.
I didn’t go into the whole thing any more deeply, but I interpreted her comment as meaning that Lee, my viewpoint character, faced realistic problems and dealt with them in a realistic manner.
And that’s “A Day in the Life of Lee McKinney Woodyard.”
Lee’s most recent appearance is in THE CHOCOLATE MOOSE MOTIVE, out this month, in which she hires an assistant and the resulting commotion nearly stops the business she runs in its tracks.
Lee is the business manager of a small chocolate company, TenHuis Chocolade, which includes a retail shop and a mail order operation. Daily she must deal with personnel problems, a cranky banker, her line of credit, the UPS man, the Chamber of Commerce, and local, state and federal taxes. Not to mention chocolate sources, equipment, and sales. Or city politics, fellow business operators, the local historical society (they order chocolate) and even her own delivery van.
(And yet people ask mystery writers where they get their plot ideas. I’ve just named a dozen sources for ideas, and I haven’t begun to skim the surface of a small business as inspiration.)
Of course, Lee has two additional attributes that make her an effective detective. First, she admits she’s the nosiest person in Warner Pier, Michigan. Second, she truly likes people and wants to help them.
So a day in Lee’s life consists of getting up, having breakfast with her husband (a lawyer and boat builder – you’ll have to read a book to figure that one out), then heading for the office. She goes to the post office and the bank, and she handles orders for bonbons and truffles by e-mail, snail mail, and telephone. She serves on civic committees, and she cooperates with her Aunt Nettie, owner and chief chocolatier of TenHuis Chocolade. She keeps up with a chain of friends who all have a tendency to fall over bodies.
But Lee considers herself primarily an accountant, and if accountants are good at anything, it’s detail. And detectives are good at detail. What a coincidence!
I envy Lee. Not only is she good at figures, she’s also six feet tall and a striking blond. We short, dark, math-challenged people would kill to be like Lee.
Huh! Maybe that’s my next book.
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of THE CHOCOLATE CASTLE CLUE to give away. Contest open to US residents only and ends November 1. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
Meet the author
JoAnna Carl is the author of twelve mysteries in the Chocoholic series and of seven additional mysteries written as Eve K. Sandstrom. Her latest book, THE CHOCOLATE MOOSE MYSTERY, is out this month. She lives in Oklahoma, but vacations each year on Lake Michigan, visiting the area used as a setting for the Chocoholic books. She is a former president of Sisters in Crime and has also been active in Mystery Writers of America. She has been nominated for an Agatha and an Anthony. Visit JoAnna at www.joannacarl.com
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I have been enjoying this series. Thank you for the chance to win a part of it.
I can’t believe I haven’t read any of this series – my wishlist is really expanding now! Love how JoAnna got her pen name.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
The chocoholic mysteries is oe of my all time favorite series. I would love to win a copy of THE CHOCOLATE CASTLE CLUE.
Dru,
I love this series because Lee is such a likeable character, as are her Aunt Nettie and her husband. I enjoy that she is a normal person, not a PI or cop, who happens to be able to reason out the why behind the crime. Thanks for a chance to win this new one!
LOVE this series, it has been awhile since I have read any. Would love towin.
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
(Waving at my roomie/cousin!) I think you captured the “where do you get your ideas” question very well. If you let your imagination loose with a bunch of “what ifs” you’ll have plots galore!
And it is a true compliment when someone likes your character, because that means you’ve done your job well–you’ve created a believable and likable protagonist.
Sounds like a fun read to add to my TBR pile. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
I can’t wait to dig into this series!
This is one series I have to get back to…Count me in!!!
I had gotten the book out of the library but had to return it before I could finish reading it. I’d love to win this copy so I can finish the story. LOL
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
One of the reasons I like this series is the local. I live in the south of Michigan and love to vacation “up north”, although it has been a while. JoAnna Carl has the ambience of the area nailed. A big plus is all that chocolate! I can almost taste it while reading.
I meant “locale”, not local. 🙂
Love these books. I enjoy the relationship development between the characters. And chocolate is always appealing!!
I’m thrilled with the responses (so far) ! I’ll try to answer everyone, but today I have to get THE CHOCOLATE BOOK BANDIT off to my editor. Who’s probably so involved with the hurricane watch she could care less. Us folks on the Southern Plains are thinking of you all on the East Coast.
Eve/JoAnna
This is one of my favorite series. It may embarrass Lee, but I get a kick out of her mix-up with words.
lynettek51(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’ve never read this series but I would like to. I know about small businesses. My father used to own one. Of course, anything that has to do with chocolate has to be good! lol
mittens0831 at aol dot com
I read all her books since they are down to earth, believable stories.
Iwold love to win this book.
Dottie
This is such a clever series, the dialogue is fresh and crisp and the plots are wonderfully complex. No need to enter me in a drawing, I am a die-hard fan and always buy her books!
I haven’t read any of the books in the series, but it sounds like a wonderful series that I will add to my christmas wish list. I love chocolate and if i can relate to a character! I am sitting here at the house riding out hurricane sandy.
I’ve just finished a mystery with a spirit being and I’m ready for some real life. This sounds like just the trick. Count me in for the drawing. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I am going to have to start reading this series, I do love my chocolate!!!
This was one of the first cozy series I read. Always enjoy visiting Lee & the gang when there is a new release. Thanks for the giveaway!
Scouts579(at)aol(dot)com
I haven’t had a chance to read any books in this series yet. Must start I looked a list of her books and my mouth started watering. If I had a connection to a chocolate business, I would probably die of overconsumption of chocolate!
Thank you for this great giveaway!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I have not read any of this series but would love to start.
Sounds like a great book. Can’t wait to read it.
xzjh04(at)gmail(dot)com
I love this series, but I haven’t gotten my hands on The Chocolate Castle Clue yet. One way or another, I’ll get it, though! (Winning it would be great.) lovesdogsandbooks (at) yahoo (dot) com
I’m an accountant and like your shop owner I like detail—I also like chocolate and just love moose—so I think I need to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love these books, for some reason they always make me want to eat chocolate as I read them. LOL. Love to win this one as it is on my wish list to buy. 🙂
I love this series. And I’m always craving chocolate while I read! Congrats on the new release!
Looking forward to reading Jo Ann’s latest! Thanks for your “musings” Dru!
I love chocolate. I have the first book in the series.
catbooks(at)rocketmail(dot)com
Great series with some of my favorite elements. Chocolate, mystery and an accountant (I’m married to one!). I’m a bit behind with my reading but your review has given me the incentive to get caught up with Lee. Thanks for the review and the giveaway!!
Whoops, forgot my email address…
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I remember how excited I was when I first discovered this series – and I feel just as excited each time the next book comes out!
contest is closed.
Congrats to Stacie A.