Up early. (And by early I mean somewhere around ten.)
First things first . . . breakfast. Coffee. Lots of coffee. And a couple Hostess cupcakes.
Shower and become the Chili Chick and–
What’s that? Who’s the Chili Chick?
Something tells me you haven’t been to a Chili Showdown, that fabulous chili show and cook-off that travels the country. If you had been, you would certainly know the Chick.
Tall black stilettoes.
Fishnet stockings.
Giant red chili costume that covers her from hips to head.
The Chili Chick dances in front of Texas Jack Pierce’s Hot-Cha Chili Seasoning Palace to draw in customers and it’s not being too swell-headed to say that in chili circles, she is a legend! If it was up to me, I’d dance as the Chick all day, but sometimes, I need to help out with selling our dried peppers and our spices or my half-sister, Sylvia, gets all prune-faced. Of course there are other times when dancing and selling peppers are the last things on my mind.
Take our latest Showdown visit to San Antonio, home of the famous Chili Queens. Long ago, the Chili Queens would cook up batches of their secret-recipe chili at home and then cart steaming pots of chili to the town’s plazas in the evening. Musicians showed up and so did lots and lots of people, and the plazas became the center of San Antonio social life.
We were in San Antonio to help re-create the Chili Queen scene. Each night for a week, I set aside the Chick costume and dressed as a Queen of old and we raised tons of money for charity.
It was perfect. I mean, except for the annoying beauty queens who were there. And the drag queens who had another agenda. And the queens of society who thought they were better than everyone else. And the two descendants of real Chili Queens who were at each others throats all the time.
And then, of course, there was the murder.
Murder has a way of ruining even the best bowl of chili, and this time, it hit a little too close to home. Nick Falcone (head of Showdown security and hotter than a ghost pepper) ended up being the prime suspect and I needed to move fast to keep him out of real trouble. Along the way . . . well, I’m not going to reveal the surprise. Let’s just say that things got pretty hot in San Antonio, and I’m not just talkin’ chili!
You can read more about Maxie in Revenge of the Chili Queens, the third book in the “Chili Cook-Off” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first two books in the series are Chili Con Carnage and Death By Devil’s Breath.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on September 2 for the chance to win a print copy of Revenge of the Chili Queens. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Two lucky commenters will be randomly selected. 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
Kylie Logan is the author of the Chili Cook-Off mysteries, the League of Literary Ladies mysteries and the soon-to-premier Ethnic Eats mysteries. As Casey Daniels, she’s also written nine books in the Pepper Martin mystery series. “Revenge of the Chili Queens” is the third Chili Cook-Off mystery. It will be followed by League #4 next March, “And Then There Were Nuns.”
When she’s not writing, she’s home with a family that includes Oscar, a Jack Russell who came as a rescue and 12 years later, hasn’t left, Ernie, an adorable Airedale and Casey, the newest member of the menagerie, a 14-year-old Airedale just recently adopted. There is also a cat in the house, a troublemaker named Marvin who is way too smart for his own good!
Visit Kylie at www.kylielogan.com, on Twitter and on Facebook
Love these books! Thanks so much for the chance to win.
I am looking forward to reading the books in the Chili Cook-Off mystery series. Thank you for the giveaway.
A must read! Thanks for the chance 🙂
Kylie Logan is a new author for me and Revenge of the Chili Queens sounds like a great read! Thank you for this chance.
Love the chance to read this. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds great
I love the Literary Ladies, so this series should also be good.
I love the title of this book! Description sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks Dru for your reviews – can’t believe I have missed this book series! I will have to add these to my TBR list.
The title alone makes me want to read the book. Please let me win!
This is a fun series – thank you for the chance to win the next in the series
I would love to win. Thanks for the chance!
Good thing Hostess emerged with a buyer, so Maxie can take part at breakfast! San Antonio and chili! Sounds like a winner, thanks for the chance to win!
Wow, ok Chili and a great mystery rolled into one, I am in:) Thank you Dru Ann
would love to have a copy of your new book 🙂
Looks like great cozy mystery.
Oh no, now I not only want to make chili, I want to buy some Ding Dongs.
I love this series and Chili-chick! Thanks for telling us about the newest book. 😉 I appreciate the chance to win a copy, Dru and Kylie. Thanks! 🙂
I never cared for chili when I was a child but can’t get enough now. Thanks for the review of this book. I’ve added it to my must be read list. robeader53@yahoo.com
I would LOVE to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
sounds like a fun read, ty for the chance to win
I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Kylie/Casey!
Sounds like a good read.
I’ve read the previous books in this series and loved them. I can’t wait for this next book in the series.
Thanks for a chance to win a copy for a new-to-me series. Sounds like fun.
I love Kylie’s books! Thanks for offering this one in a contest!
Thank you for introducing us to all these authors!
I’ve read all the books in this series and they continue to entertain me. Hope you all get a chance to read them.
Guess I’ve missed this series, I’m putting it on my tbr list! Yay for chili!
Sounds like a fun series. Thanks for the giveaway.
My kind of book, thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Chili Chick & Chili Queens in San Antonio combines to make this sound like a must read. Thanks for the chance in the giveaway.
I just love this series! This is the perfect book for this Fall season. Congrats on your latest release!!
Light and lively, love it. Thanks, Dru.
This is a really fun series and makes a great fall read
Love this book series!!
I just bought the first book and so far it is fantastic. I can’t wait to get to this one!
Kylie here, so nice to hear from everyone. Good luck to you all!
I love her books and haven’t read this series.
Love Chili. Would love to sleep until 10 – breakfast sounds familiar also.
Sounds interesting. Want to try this new (to me) series.
I would love to read this book. I have never read any of her books yet. thanks
I’ve loved every one of Kylie’s books that I’ve read. Can’t wait to see where this one will go. Thanks for the chance to win.
This book looks great! I read the 2nd book ( the first one for me ) last summer and I loved it! Thank you so much for the giveaway. I’m crossing my fingers!
WOW! What a great give-a-way! I hope I win because I’d love to read & review this book. It sounds like a fun read!
WOW! This looks like a fun read! I hope I win because I would love to read & review this book! Thanks for this exciting give-a-way!
A series I need to start!! Thank you for the giveaway!!!!
This would be a new author to me but have seen the names before. Happy to start with the first book in a series.
contest is closed.