Lia Geiger sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we, the readers, can get to know her better. Are you ready? Lia, take it away!

What is your full name?
Lia Geiger

How old are you?
I’m in my early fifties.

What is your profession?
I spent several years as a surgical nurse. Now, my knitting hobby has become my profession, and I manage a booth at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair for myself and my fellow Ninth Street Knitters.

Do you have a significant other?
My husband, Tom, died unexpectedly shortly before we both planned to take early retirement from our long-time careers. I’ve only recently met Pete Sullivan, the Crandalsburg Chief of Police. He very nice, but we’re taking things slowly for now.

Do you have any children?
My only child is Hayley, who is in her early twenties and getting close to knowing what she wants in her life.

Who is your best friend?
I’ve known and been great friends with Belinda Peebles since our school days. She manages the craft fair and had urged me to become a part of it. That turned out to be a lifesaver for me after Tom died and I was struggling with his loss.

Do you have any pets?
I have a delightful ragdoll cat named Daphne.

What town do you live in?
Crandalsburg

Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Crandalsburg is a small town in Pennsylvania, not far from Gettysburg.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I bought a small, pre-Civil War house in Crandalsburg that spoke to me when I first toured it. Charming and just big enough for one and a guest. That worked when my daughter briefly needed a place to stay. It works for Daphne, too.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
I love spending lots of time in my knitting chair in the living room.

Do you have any hobbies?
Knitting was my hobby, but since it’s now become more of a profession and murders have been happening close to home, I’d have to say investigation is my new hobby.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Tom and I enjoyed renting a cabin in woodsy areas for a quiet get-away, with opportunities for hiking or just relaxing and taking in the scenery. I miss those times.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Binding off a perfectly knit, patterned sweater is close to the top. But celebrating with friends after we’ve saved an innocent person from prosecution can’t be beat!

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
It Isn’t Over ’Till It’s Over

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m strictly amateur. I get leads and input from the people around me, which includes my daughter, Hayley, my knitting group friends, craft fair friends, and a little help from the police, though that comes with a lot of warnings and advice to leave it all to them.

What is a typical day in your life like in general and when you are on a case?
“Typical” rarely describes my days. The Craft Fair takes up my weekends, but I meet so many different people who come there to shop that it’s always unique. My knitting group meets once a week, and besides knitting we often discuss the latest murder. It’s surprising how often one or more of them comes up with a good lead or information. When I’m “on a case” (though I think of it as simply helping out) I sometimes meet up with people who have motives for murder. Of course, if they realize what I’m looking for, that can put me in a bad situation, but it often is a risk worth taking.

Stitched in Crime, A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: December 2021
Purchase Link

When murder pierces the fabric of the close-knit Crandalsburg Craft Fair, it’s up to the Ninth Street Knitters to make a killer slip their stitch.

The Craft Fair may have hit a few snags lately, but knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger is hopeful her quiet life will return to its usual patterns in no time. Her daughter has officially moved back home, and sure, the house is a little crowded with Hayley’s take-home work from the alpaca farm, but that’s a price Lia will happily pay. All seems well until Cori Littlefield, a new vendor with a gift for crochet, is found dead, sending shock waves through all of Crandalsburg.

What begins as a tragic accident turns into a snarled spool of lies that only the combined efforts of the Ninth Street Knitters can untangle. When Lia makes a connection between Cori’s death and a decades-old murder, it’s up to her to weave together the clues and find the truth.

About the author
Emmie Caldwell is the author of the Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, which begins with A Wicked Yarn and continues with Stitched In Crime. Under her own name, Mary Ellen Hughes, she’s written four cozy mystery series, the most recent being The Keepsake Cove Mysteries. Find out more at emmiecaldwell.com and maryellenhughes.com.

All comments are welcomed.