Welcome! Your visit lands at just the right time because Friday nights are special in my hometown of Covington Crossroads. More on that in a minute after a little about my days.

Mornings always start with taking my German shepherd, Scout, for a walk in the woods behind my house. He’s a retired K9 dog who I adopted several years ago. Mochi, my Ragdoll cat, was initially wary of having another four-legged friend around, but once she realized he wasn’t going to replace her in my lap, they became best buddies.

I love being outdoors, especially as the sun is coming up. I’m often asked if I know what the birds are singing so brightly about in the mornings, but my unique ability doesn’t quite work like that.

I’m an animal communicator, and I know that sounds a little woo to many people. And if that’s you, I’m totally fine with that. I’m not for you. I’m for those seeking help with their animal friends. Many of the animals I work with are acting out or something is clearly bothering them, and I help their humans figure out what’s going on. Sometimes, I get calls to assist in finding lost pets or the occasional roaming goat or escaped llama.

Being an animal communicator isn’t what I do for a living, though. I’m a ghostwriter by trade. I’ve written memoirs, business books, and more than a little fiction, though most of it lives out in the world under someone else’s name. Do you want to know which ones? I’d tell you, but I can keep secrets.

After my walk, I’ll return home and write in the morning and afternoon. I always have at least one project I’m working on, but now I sort of have two. I have this strange arrangement with a client. I usually have clear contracts with firm deadlines, but she paid more than my standard rate, so I agreed to her terms. She pays in cash and sends me notes about a mystery she wants written. I’ve never spoken to her, and just when I think I’ll never hear from her again, I receive her next request in the mail.

Most nights, I have dinner with Millie, who lives with me. She’s almost sixty now, and she’s been in my life as long as I can remember. She does most of the cooking, though to be clear, I can cook. She’s just better at it. Though we’re not related, we’re family all the same, thick as thieves.

If it’s a Friday night, I’m usually off to meet with friends at Crossroads. That’s local shorthand for the music venue at the back of the town’s General Store. Local bands play on a small stage as the floor fills with dancers of all ages, from children spinning in circles to couples who are still sweethearts in their seventies. It’s one of the best parts of living in my small town. Between the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the close-knit community, there’s no place else I’d rather be.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a paperback copy of THE FRIAR’S LAST CURSE. One entry per person. U.S. residents only, please. The giveaway ends November 12, 2026. Good luck everyone!

THE FRIAR’S LAST CURSE
Series: A Wren Meadows Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: November 2026
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

A buried treasure. A murder rooted in local legend. Small towns hide the best secrets.

Wren Meadows is an animal communicator and ghostwriter living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain town of Covington Crossroads, Virginia. Between helping lost pets reunite with their families and meeting deadlines for her latest client, life in her charming small town is just the way she likes it—until a frightened woman appears at her door with a desperate plea for help.

When Wren receives a cryptic message that triggers a memory from eleven years ago, she gets pulled into a murder investigation that quickly lands her on the police radar. Clues link the crime to a local legend of a buried treasure rumored to be cursed. Everyone connected to the victim seems to be hiding something, including the one person Wren needs to trust most.

As old secrets surface, Wren must form an unlikely alliance with a suspicious filmmaker to protect those she cares about. When a treasure hunt leads to a shocking discovery, the proof Wren needs fits into the palm of her hand. To bring the killer to justice, she must rely on her instincts, her German shepherd Scout, and her ability to see what others don’t before another life is lost.

Someone in Covington Crossroads knows the truth. And they’ll do anything to keep it buried.

THE FRIAR’S LAST CURSE is perfect for readers who love atmospheric cozy mysteries, found family, small-town charm, hidden secrets, loyal animal companions, and page-turning suspense.

The Wren Meadows Mystery Series blends folklore, Southern atmosphere, heart, and humor in emotionally immersive cozy mysteries featuring a strong female amateur sleuth you’ll want as a friend.

Come for the mystery. Stay for the characters.

About the author
Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series and The Wren Meadows Mystery Series. She writes atmospheric mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. A former pediatric physical therapist, Kathleen now lives in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When not writing, she can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime. Visit her online at kathleenbaileyauthor.com.