An interview with Lucy Resnick of the new Dewberry Farm mysteries, conducted by author Karen MacInerney. . .
Karen: So, Lucy. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Lucy: Gosh. . . I used to ask questions like that all the time when I was a reporter. It’s a bit weird being on the other side of the interview! Let’s see. I’m a single, thirty-something former Houston reporter who now lives in Buttercup, Texas with a bald poodle, several chickens, and an escape artist cow whose primary goal in life appears to be eating the geraniums outside the Town Hall.
Karen: A bald poodle?
Lucy: Poodles don’t make particularly good farm dogs – particularly if you have a lot of burrs on your property. Poor Chuck looked like a ball of Velcro after the first day on the farm. He looks a little odd bald, but he’s a lot happier.
Karen: And a cow who likes geraniums?
Lucy: I found out after I bought Blossom that her nickname was Harriet Houdini; she can slip through fences like water, and loves nothing more than a trip to town to graze on window boxes. She plowed through the geraniums in front of the Town Hall on one escapade, and I know she has her eye on the tomato plants outside the Red and White Grocery. Life with Blossom always an adventure.
Karen: You moved to Buttercup from Houston? Why?
Lucy: My grandparents owned a farm there when I was growing up, and it was my favorite place in the world. I learned to can peaches and bake pies at my grandmother’s side, and I’ve always been a bit of a closet homesteader (closet because that’s about the size of my balcony in my Houston condo; there wasn’t much room for tomatoes). When my grandmother’s farm came on the market, I decided that life was too short to spend the rest of my life investigating murders. Of course, I soon learned that even places like Buttercup aren’t completely immune to violence, but I love the life I’ve made for myself – even if it is a challenge keeping crops going in the Texas heat.
Karen: What is a typical day like for you?
Lucy: Mornings are my favorite time of day; the sun on the rolling hills is just beautiful, and I have to pinch myself to believe I actually live here! The first thing I do is head down and milk Blossom and take care of the chickens (and collect any eggs). In the morning, while it’s cool, I water and weed, harvest anything that’s ripe, and make sure everything’s humming along. In the afternoons, I might make a batch of soap, or put up some jars of jam, or I might head into town and help my friend Quinn out at the Blue Onion café – and catch up on gossip.
Karen: What’s something that nobody else knows about you?
Lucy: One Christmas, I made brown sugar fudge for all my friends and relatives, but misread the recipe and put in two teaspoons instead of a quarter teaspoon of salt. I figured it out when I tried a piece and just about choked – which was after I’d wrapped it all up and given it away.
Karen: What inspired you to chase your dreams?
Lucy: When the farm came up for sale, I almost chickened out, to be honest; it was a big, scary step. But I visited my old college roommate, Natalie Barnes, at her inn in Maine, and seeing the life she’d made for herself convinced me to take the plunge. I won’t say it hasn’t been hard at times, but it’s still the best decision I ever made.
Karen: What plans do you have for the farm?
Lucy: I’m thinking about adding some goats. And maybe expanding the peach orchard.
Karen: Have any favorite recipes?
Lucy: Here’s my brown sugar fudge recipe. Just make sure you limit the salt to ¼ teaspoon!
Lucy’s Brown Sugar Fudge
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons evaporated milk
2 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Line an 8-inch square pan with wax paper. Combine the evaporated milk, brown sugar, butter, and salt in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring until smooth. Let the mixture simmer, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 238° on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and pour into a heat-proof bowl. Add the vanilla and combine with a mixer. Add the powdered sugar in quarter-cup increments while continuing to beat with the mixer, until all sugar has been added and mixture is smooth. Spread the fudge into the pan and chill until firm.
You can read more about Lucy in Killer Jam, the first book in the NEW “Dewberry Farm” mystery series, published by Thomas & Mercer.
About Killer Jam
A big crime in a small town turns Lucy’s focus from life on a farm to solving a murder.
When Houston reporter Lucy Resnick cashes in her retirement to buy her grandmother’s farm in Buttercup, Texas, she’s looking forward to a simple life as a homesteader. But Lucy has barely finished putting up her first batch of Killer Dewberry Jam when an oil exploration truck rolls up to the farm and announces plans to replace her broccoli patch with an oil derrick. Two days later, Nettie Kocurek, the woman who ordered the drilling, turns up dead at the Founders’ Day Festival with a bratwurst skewer through her heart and one of Lucy’s jam jars beside her. . .and the sheriff fingers Lucy as the prime suspect.
Horrified, Lucy begins to talk to Nettie’s neighbors, but the more she gets to know the townspeople, the more she realizes she’s not the only one who had a beef with Nettie. Can she clear her name, or will her dream life turn into a nightmare?
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on August 14 for the chance to win a print copy of Killer Jam. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected.
About the author
Karen MacInerney is the housework-impaired author of several mystery series, including the Agatha-nominated Gray Whale Inn mysteries, the Margie Peterson mysteries, and the new Dewberry Farm mysteries. Killer Jam, the first in the Dewberry Farm mysteries, was released in July. You can find Karen at www.karenmacinerney.com or on Facebook.
Love the chance to read this series. Especially because of the poodle. ( My favorite type of dog 🐩) Thank you for the chance.
This sounds like a fun and interesting new series, especially the Houdini cow and bald pup! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love this concept. The farm stories sound like they’ll be very humorous. I love that there’s a female protagonist here too. Al in all, I’d saying Killer Jam sounds like it’ll be jam-packed with fun & entertainment. I’d love to have this. Thanks, Dru & Karen for the chance.
Are Nook and/or iBook versions forthcoming? Thus far I only found the Kindle version for a digital option although hard copies and audio appear available through all the usual channels. Many thanks.
I wish I could say there were! I chose to publish Killer Jam through Thomas & Mercer, Amazon’s mystery imprint, because of the creative control it allowed me. This whole book is mine, from concept to cover to cover copy. (I even got to send a picture of the farmhouse that inspired the book to the cover artist!) The downside is that it’s not available through Nook or iBooks. Perhaps you could download a Kindle reader to your computer? Thanks for the question, Readingprincess; wish I had a more helpful answer!
Many thanks, Karen. I have the Kindle app, so it is not an issue. Looking forward to reading. 😎
I love this kind of interviews. When I read a story, I always wonder about the character beyond what is said in the story. I invite these characters into my life; I’d like to know as much about them as possible. And brown sugar fudge? Delicious!
I enjoy reading first in the series cozy mystery books. Thank you for the chance to win the book.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Love starting out with book one of a new series! Kuzlin at AOL.com
This will definitely be going on my wish list. I love the idea of a woman deciding to become a homesteader on her own. Thanks for the giveaway.
Yes please Dru. We spent almost 25 summers at a farm/ranch in Green County NY. Heck, my older son even ended up as the head wrangler one summer while his wife managed the dining room. I’d love to win this book for my home library.
Love the recipe, thanks for the chance to win 🙂
I really enjoy Karen’s work. Would love to own this one!
Life on a farm is peaceful, yet exciting. Thanks for a chance to win!
A bald poodle and plant loving cow…can’t wait!
I love reading the interview and looking forward to reading the book. I think the idea of a Houdini cow is awesome! Hope I am a winner as I am sure the book will be!
Should be Harriet Houdini – LOL! love the cow, and the bald poodle is funny too. Sounds like a great series!
This sounds like the start of another great series for Karen. I am looking forward to reading this book soon.
Sounds like a great new series
This sounds like a fun and interesting new series! Thanks for the chance to win!
This sounds like a great new series. Thanks for introducing us to this new series and thanks for the giveaway.
What a yummy way to spend the day a mug of tea and Jam. Thank you for the chance.
Great interview–can’t wait to start the series! Thanks for the giveaway!
If the book is written by Karen, it automatically goes on my “to read” list. She is one of my favorite authors.
Jam and farming are two things I’m sure will make for a great mystery mixup. Thanks for a great review. robeader53@yahoo.com
What a delightful and special series. Thanks.
Great interview! This book sounds like a must read for me!!!
Love the interview, this looks like it’s going to one fun read. I totally understand the bald poodle thing, we keep trying to get rid of the burrs in our yard and it doesn’t matter our dog finds some more…he’s due for a shave now. Thanks for the chance to win.
A part of me would love to have a small farm and homestead. The fudge recipe sounds great-I will definitely have to try it. I love fudge!
This sounds like a fascinating book-a new author for me! 🙂 Thanks Dru for having Karen on the blog-and thanks to you both for the opportunity to win a copy of a must read book!
Great interview. Series sounds like a fun one too. The fudge recipe is a plus . Thanks for sharing
Lucy cracks me up! She makes farm life sound like a fun adventure. I can hardly wait to read this! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love a good series. Looking forward to reading as it is a new authors for me.
Can’t wait to check out a new series!
Oh wow…what an awesome book this looks to be. Karen and I have just become FB friends and I have never read any of her books. I am so excited to read this one of hers. How neat it would be to win this one!!!! Thanks so much dearest Dru and Karen for the chance!!! God bless both of you beautiful girls!!!!
This sounds like a great book
I liked the interview. The book sounds great.
loved review..I would love to read this book
Sounds like a great read. I love the wandering cow and also the oil derrick. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Sounds wonderful! Full of quirkiness (is that a word?)
Brown sugar fudge sounds yummy, and Lucy sounds like a fun character. Thanks for the giveaway.
Yum, I love fudge! Thanks!!
Really liked your interview and the book and fudge recipe sound great. Count me in.
This sounds like a fun new read!! If I don’t win, I hope my local library gets a copy….
Thanks for the giveaway. Would love to win a copy.
When I had my farmette-only three and a half acres-not only did I garden, I raised calves for beef and boarded horses. The horse boarding led to me watch show horses while their owners were on the circuit which brings me to Souix-Joe! He was a Shetland/Morgan cross we used to wean the foals and was an escape artist of the highest order! He could even open pinch latches with his lips, the little fiend, then go walkabout to visit his friends!
Great interview, I know exactly what you’re talking about!
Love the interview and the recipe. I will try to remember not to add too much salt. Love the animals mentioned. Cant go wrong with a dog!!
This book looks great! And the fudge looks delicious! I live in Texas, and agree that in the summer the heat is killer! Thanks for the giveaway, and the chance to win! 🙂
Love the Grey Whale series and know this will be as great.
looking forward to reading about Lucy’s adventures
I KNOW this book is going to speak to my heart. My own dream is to live at my grandparents farm. It has at least stayed in the family and I may visit whenever I wish. So as I read I can live vicariously through Lucy.
I loved Killer Jam and can not wait for a second book in this new series.
Sounds like a blast to read! Can’t wait!
Will have to try this brown sugar fudge recipe!
This sounds like a fun new series. I love the author’s Maine series. Looking forward to reading this one.
This book sounds great. I’d love to win this. Thank you Dru!!
This sounds like a great book. I’d love to win this. Thank you for the chance Dru!!
Oh, yum. Brown sugar fudge! Awesome. I have to try it!
That fudge sounds incredible.sounds like my type of series.
This is on my wish list and is especially appealing to me with its Texas location. Thank you for the chance to win.
Sounds like the beginning of a fun series.
Yummy sounding recipe and great sounding book.
Can’t wait to read this one. I love the cover, it reminds me of my childhood growing up on my parents dairy.
Love the Gray Whale Inn series and I’m sure I’ll enjoy this new one. Thanks for the recipe, Karen, um…Lucy!
First off I look forward to your posts on Facebook. You are a kick and a half. 😊 Loved reading the interview and getting to know a little bit more about you. I grew up in Idaho, and spent several spring breaks helping out on farms. (I have a print of a cow’s face that you’d swear was a photograph, but it was done completely in colored pencils. I got it in Rockport, on a day trip up from Boston.) Looking forward, with a smile, at reading your book. I have no doubt I will enjoy it. All the best with your escape artist. 😉🐮
Thanks for the intro to this new series! Would love to win!
Those “little” recipe mistakes are amazing, aren’t they?
Killer Jam sounds like a fun read. I’d love to win a copy!
I enjoy Ms. MacInerney’s writing (love her Gray Whale Inn mysteries!). I’m looking forward to reading Killer Jam. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I love the Gray Whale series, and am looking forward to cracking the spine of Killer Jam! Sounds like a fun read!
i’ve had my fair share of failed recipes, fudge is one of the hardest things for me to make – either too hard or too gooey.. i have chickens that like to disappear too like Blossom, but the rooster is pretty good about reigning his hens back in. looking forward to meeting the citizens of Buttercup TX
I really enjoy the Gray Whale series so I am looking forword to this new series.
This sounds like such a fun book! I also have enjoyed the Grace Whale series — so this is something I need to read!
love the title……
would love to read this!!!
I love the Gray Whale Inn series. I’d really like reading a new series by Karen MacInerney!!
Brown sugar fudge, brown sugar fudge. I’ll bet Killer Jam is just as tasty. Count me in for the giveaway.
I love cozies set in Texas – thanks for writing one 🙂
This really brings back memories–my grandmother had milk cows that were really more like pets. Can’t wait to read this and try the brown sugar fudge recipe.
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