My name is Lillie Mae Harris and I live in Mount Penn, a small mountain village on the eastern slope of the Appalachians. The Mason Dixon line and the railroad tracks are one in the same, and separate our village into Pennsylvania and Maryland sides. Whether we like it or not, we’re as much Yankee in Mount Penn, as we are Southern. I live in Maryland.
Everybody tells me that I have the best view of the valley from my living room window, and they’re right. The scenery is beautiful. Not only do we have four seasons in Mount Penn, but each one is exactly three months long, offering me the most marvelous array of natural vistas right out this window, 365 days a year.
It’s summer now, and folks from all over the area drive up to High Mount, the highest point in the area, to gawk at the magnificent view, and also to cool off a bit. It’s ten degrees cooler up here in the mountains, than down in the valley, especially on these dog days. There’s usually a breeze from somewhere, so we rarely need our air conditioners.
On Sunday afternoon from May through September folks drive up to the Mount Penn Park to listen and dance to the bands that come to play in the pavilion that overlooks the railroad tracks and the valley. On the Sundays that I don’t go down to the park, I’ll sit out in my front yard and listen to the music. Very often a neighbor, usually Hester Franklin or Alice Portman, will stop by to share a glass of ice tea and a chat.
My days start early. John, my husband of just short of 15 years, passed away when he was only 42 of a heart attack, leaving me with John, Jr. and Stephen, who were still in school at the time. Fortunately, he had a good insurance policy, so financially the kids and I were fine. Our marriage was a good one. He was such a fun guy. I still can’t believe he’s gone.
I was lucky, though. John took care of me in the end. I didn’t have to work, but I wanted something to do. The Antioch Press, our local daily newspaper, hired me as a freelancer, and now, after all these years, that’s still what I do. I write articles about Mount Penn and the area – local interest tidbits. Some of the weeklies and monthlies in the area have picked up my pieces, so each year I’m writing more. It keeps me busy. I have a data base of all my articles that I hope to get out on the web soon. I’m going to call it Lillie Mae’s Blog.
So I’m up early each morning to write. In the spring, summer, and fall, I like to hike on the trail, the weather permitting, before I buckle down to write. I hike up as far as High Mount, which is two miles up the hill, then two back down, but I don’t always go that far. Sometimes I walk to the Cascade, which is along the railroad tracks, about a mile each way. That’s an easy trip, because it’s a flat hike. At other times, I walk to the Mount Penn Post Office, which is about a mile and a half down the mountain, the other way, toward Antioch. The trip back up is fun, since there is the windiest curve you have ever seen to challenge me.
Once I’m back home, I sit my butt in a chair, and get to work. My information comes from interviews, so I spend the next couple of hours on the phone. My goal is to have the article written and posted by noon each day, but that’s not always possible. More often than not, I work late into the evening, taking breaks during the day to spend time chatting with the ladies of Mount Penn. If I do finish on time, I reward myself with a book, and sometimes a nap, in the afternoon.
Of course, this was my life before the murders began in Mount Penn, and the Thursday morning breakfast club ladies became detectives. I still write most days, but now I have so much more to do.
Liz is giving away one (1) digital copy of THURSDAY MORNING BREAKFAST (AND MURDER) CLUB. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends August 1.
You can read more about Lillie Mae in Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club , the first book in the new “Thursday Morning Breakfast Club” mystery series, published by Sartoris Literary Group.
Meet the author
After some thirty years writing everything from political encyclopedias to software manuals, Liz Stauffer retired from corporate life to write fiction, travel, and play on the beach. Since that time, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. With her two dogs, Liz lives in Hollywood, Florida, where she owns and manages a vacation rental business.
Visit Liz at website, Facebook or Twitter
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Sounds like a good series.
Thanks Elaine, The reviews for Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club have been good. I’m hopping it’s a series people enjoy. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
Always interested in a new series!
Thanks, Jan, Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club is the debut novel in the Thursday Morning Breakfast Club series. If this book goes well, book #2 won’t be too far behind. Liz Stauffer
yays!! another 1st!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Hi Cyn209 – It is another first – my first novel. I hope if you choose to read Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club, you’ll want more. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
looks cute!
Hi Sarah, Lillie Mae Harris and the Breakfast Club ladies are adorable – but they’re also loyal, and caring, and willing to do what they need to do, to take care of one of their own. It’s a story about friendship and community as much as it is a murder mystery. I hope you enjoy any time you spend with these amazing women. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
Just added this book to my booklist a few days ago and now I’m even more interested in it! Thanks for the review!
Thank you so much, Jane R, for adding Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club to your booklist. Please let me know what you think once you read it. I would be so pleased. Liz Stauffer
I enjoyed meeting Lillie Mae and think Mount Penn and her breakfast group sound intriguing! Thanks!
Hi Holdenj, I’m delighted you enjoyed meeting Lillie Mae! Mount Penn is a special place – although it’s out of yesterday it’s residence definitely have a foot in to today. If you read the book, please let me know if you liked it. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
Sounds like a wonderful life before the murders, hiking everyday. I’d love to read this new book, sounds like a good read.
Thank you all for your comments about Lillie Mae. She is my best friend, and I hope she might become your best friend, too. Thanks for checking out Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club
This absolutely sounds like a wonderful premise and a good book. I think Lillie sounds like a strong woman who will make an interesting character to follow.
Hi, Annette, Lillie Mae is a strong woman, and she cares so much about her friends and community – which helps drive her strenght. I encourage you to spend an afternoon or two with her in Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
So nice to find another author to follow with a cozy series. Love my cozies. I thought of my neighborhood book club as sleuths when I just read the “interview” with Lillie Mae; sounds awesome and I am sure our book group will relate well to the premise. Can’t wait to read the first book and to follow Liz’s writing. Much luck with everything, Liz. Would love to be able to win this book; fingers are crossed!
Hi, Cynthia, I would love for your book club to select Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club as one of its books. That would be a wow. If you did, I’d love to join you in the discussion – virtually!!! That would be so much fun. Please let me know what you think of Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club after you read it. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
First, I’m not a morning person, so even the idea of a breakfast club intrigues me. [I might make it up early 1 morning a week, or 1 a month if I tho’t I’d get a good breakfast and fun out of it. 🙂 ] And then all that walking! Glad Lillie Mae is a fictional character ’cause I’m not sure anyone real could keep up with her! *written with a big wide grin on my face*
Thanks for the intro to Lillie Mae and her community of Mount Penn. I do think this will be a fun read, and I’ve added it to my TBR list.
Although I am a morning person, Donna, I’ve raised non morning children, so I can relate to you. I tweet a saying you might enjoy: Early morning cheerfulness can be extremely obnoxious — William Feather
That said, I think you’d like Lillie Mae and the Thursday Morning Breakfast Club ladies – even in the early morning. I’d be so pleased if you read my book.
Thanks, Liz Stauffer
I am definitely a morning person. Sounds like a fun series. I am eager to read it.
Hi Barbara – I’m a morning person, too – as are most of the ladies on the mountain. I would be very pleased if you read Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club. If you do, please tell me what you think.
Thanks, Liz Stauffer
A breakfast club might be the only thing to get me out of the house that early. This book sounds good!
Hi Nancy, The ladies of Mount Penn have been meeting for so many years, and as you’ll find out in the book, will not miss a Thursday morning breakfast – unless something really serious comes up.
I do hope you enjoy Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club when you read it. Please let me know what you think.
Thanks, Liz Stauffer
My favorite meal for the day! Breakfast! And a club soounds great! As does the mystery. Definitely going onto my TBR list. Thanks for the review & giveaway.
Hi Linda R, Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, too – although lunch and dinner are OK, too :0). So pleased you’re adding Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club to your TBR. Do let me know what you think of the book, after you a chance to read it. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
Sounds delightful
Hi Libby Dodd, I hope the book is delightful – and enjoyable. I’d be pleased if you’d read Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club and let me know if you enjoyed it. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
I like the idea of a breakfast club–my mother always met her friends at the restaurant for coffee every morning, but it seems like no one does that in our area any more. I’d love to read this book, too.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Hi Suekey12, Community and friendship are two very important threads that run through Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club. The ladies have been meeting on Thursday morning for breakfast for many years, and are loyal to their weekly ritual. Maybe Thursday morning breakfast is so important in my book because I wanted to be part of the same kind of community. I do hope you read the book and enjoy it. Liz Stauffer
Sounds like a book that I will love.
Hi Nancy Bradford, I do hope you love Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club and the ladies and gentlemen that live in Mount Penn. I loved writing the book. Please let me know once you read it what you think. Thanks, Liz Stauffer
I can’t wait to see what the murders are about.
Hi Lisa Garrett, Murder comes to Mount Penn and the ladies of the Thursday morning breakfast club band together as detectives to help solve the crimes. I do hope you read the book and enjoy it. Thanks for your comment. Liz Stauffer
what a fun way to learn about lillie mae.
Thanks Kathy. Lillie Mae is a good friend. All the best, Liz Stauffer
Thanks Liz for giving Lillie Mae the floor on my blog today.
Thank you, Dru for giving me a platform to introduce Lillie Mae to the world. She’s had a grand day. You do wonderful work. Liz Stauffer
This be great book for me to read, in the morning to my mother. I sometimes read, to her. She is in the middle-later stages of Alzheimer’s. Thanks, Dru, for hosting the giveaways.
Hi Teresa H. I think your mother would enjoy Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club. I wish you the best during this challenging time in your and your mother’s life. Liz Stauffer
Count me in. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
contest is closed.