Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, where you can learn more about what makes them tick. Let’s see what Kelly has to say.

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What is your name?
– – Kelly Jackson

How old are you?
– – I’m in my late twenties.

What do you do for a living?
– – I work for Resorts International. I recently became the manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. I absolutely love my new job!

Do you have a significant other?
– – No. I went through a very difficult divorce. I’m taking my time in terms of starting a new relationship. I will admit I enjoy visiting with Scott Thompson who is an executive administrator with Resorts International. He’s thoughtful, kind, and always willing to help people out.

Any children?
– – No, but my sister recently had twins. I enjoy playing with them when I’m home on the ranch.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
– – I have two brothers and one sister.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
– – I have an American Quarter Horse buckskin mare named Lucy. I don’t consider her a pet, I think of her as more of a partner.

What town do you live in?
– – I live in Redwood Cove, California. It’s a quaint town on the northern coast of California and a popular tourist destination.

House or building complex? Do you rent or own?
– – Living space at the inn is provided to the manager at no charge. My living quarters have stunning views. When you open the door, large picture windows frame the constantly moving blue water of the Pacific Ocean, a strip of sandy beach, and dark, rocky cliffs. Windows on the right side of the room deliver a view of the inn’s gardens where there are always several types of flowers in bloom. There is a bedroom and a small kitchen with a commercial grade coffee maker provided by my boss, Michael Corrigan. He values a good cup of coffee and makes sure his employees have top quality brewing equipment.

What is your favorite spot in your room?
– – There is a bench seat underneath the picture window across from the door. I can enjoy the ocean as well as look over at the gardens.

Who is your best friend?
– – I don’t have a best friend at the moment. The one I had stole my husband. That’s part of the reason the divorce hurt so much.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
– – By all means, I’m an amateur! I don’t go looking for reasons to investigate crimes. I get involved when someone I’m close to needs help.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
– – I work with the Silver Sentinels, a crime-solving group of seniors. The group is made up of three men and two women. Herbert Winthrop, a retired university professor, who prefers to be called the Professor, and Ivan and Rudy Doblinsky, two Russian brothers, are the male members. Mary Rutledge and Gertie Plumber make up the women on the team.

Favorite meal?
– – Mom’s homemade chicken noodle soup with freshly baked bread. She makes the noodles from scratch, and they’re delicious. It’s a hearty soup with a lot of chicken and vegetables from the garden. She feeds the ranch hands as well as the family and puts a lot of effort into serving everyone nutritious food.

Favorite dessert?
– – Choosing one favorite dessert is hard. Let me think for a moment. I guess I’d opt for warm chocolate lava cake served with French vanilla ice cream.

Favorite hobby?
– – That one is easy. I love to ride horses.

Favorite vacation spot?
– – I grew up on the family ranch in Wyoming and worked there for a number of years. It’s located in a vacation destination. People come from all over the world to spend summers at our ranch and visit nearby Jackson. In the winter we have some of the finest skiing in the world. Vacation for me meant taking a few days off to enjoy what the area had to offer. I never thought about going elsewhere. I was happy where I was with my family and the animals. When I take a vacation from managing the inn, I’ll be headed home.

Favorite color?
– – I have to go for two colors to answer this question—cobalt blue and emerald green.

Favorite author?
– – I never tire of Agatha Christie.

Are you involved in any sports or competitive activities?
– – I barrel race. Lucy, my quarter horse, and I won a championship a while back. That’s one of the reasons I think of her as my partner. I snow ski in the winter.

Movies or Broadway?
– – Being located on a ranch didn’t give easy access to Broadway. When the weather was bad, the family would gather and make a group decision about what movie to watch. Mom would make a huge bowl of popcorn, and dad would build fire in the fireplace. It made for some special family time together and gave me memories I’ll always cherish.

Are you a morning or a night person?
– – Definitely morning. Getting up early came with ranch work, but I’ve always enjoyed that time of day. The air is fresh, and as the sun comes up, the birds began to chirp and sing. On the ranch the horses, cows, and goats all added their voices as we made our rounds feeding them.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
– – Being an early bird is an asset in my work at Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. Helen Rogers, the inn’s assistant, and I prepare breakfast baskets for our guests and deliver them to the rooms. During the day I do chores related to running the inn such as food orders and planning maintenance work as well as answering questions from our guests. Late afternoon finds Helen and I putting out the appetizers and wine we provide to people staying at the bed and breakfast.

You can read about Kelly in Murder at the Mushroom Festival, the fourth book in the “Kelly Jackson” mystery series. The first book in the series is Murder at Redwood Cove.

There’s a corpse among the chanterelles!

Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast manager Kelly Jackson is hosting a cooking class during the Week of the Mushroom festival to attract guests, not drama. But soon after she finishes foraging for an edible mushroom species on sacred Native American land, a local newspaper reporter gets shot dead at the same site. With suspicions spreading like fungi in the quaint Northern Californian community over the culprit’s identity, Kelly and a savvy gang of sleuthing seniors known as the “Silver Sentinels” must uncover the truth about the secluded property before a tricky killer prepares another lethal surprise . . .

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About the author
Janet Finsilver is the USA TODAY best-selling author of the Kelly Jackson mystery series. She majored in English, earned a Master’s Degree in Education, and taught at the secondary level for many years. She loves animals and has two dogs—Kylie and Ellie. Janet has ridden western style since she was a child and was a member of the National Ski Patrol. One of the highlights of her life was touching whales in the San Ignacio Lagoon. Murder at the Mushroom Festival is the fourth book in the series. Janet and her husband reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.

All comments are welcomed.