Merry Wynter first appeared in Bran New Death and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Merry.
What is your name?
Merry Grace Wynter (I took ‘Grace’ as part of my name when I married Virgil Grace!)
How old are you?
Upwards of 40.
What is your profession?
Well. . . muffin baker, property developer, many other things, depending on the day.
Do you have a significant other?
Yes.
What is his name and profession?
Virgil Grace, former sheriff and now private investigator, partner in a PI firm with his friend, Dewayne Lester.
Any children?
No.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
No.
Do your parents live near you?
No. Both died many years ago.
Who is your best friend?
Can’t name just one! Best Male friend: Pish Lincoln. Best Female Friend: Shilo Dinnegan McGill. Best Friend Who is Also a Lover: Virgil Grace. Best Teenage Friend: Lizzie Proctor. Best Librarian Friend: Hannah Moore.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Just one, Becket, a ginger boycat, brave and wonderful. . . he survived for a year in the woods somehow, after my uncle died! So now he gets to do whatever he wants, and knows I will always come home to him.
What town do you live in?
No town, though I’m close to Autumn Vale, NY.
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I own a castle (Yes, really. . . a castle!) but now live with my husband in a remodeled Craftsman style house on my own property. Owning a castle is expensive and fabulous. . . it makes a great party venue, but. . . it’s a little odd to live in. So big! To get a snack in the middle of the night requires traipsing along a corridor, down a steep staircase, through a cavernous great hall and finally to an enormous kitchen. . . I leave all of that to Pish now!
What is your favorite spot in your house?
I love my kitchen! In fact, I love both my kitchens, the one in the castle, where I bake the muffins I sell to local businesses – (it is a proper commercial kitchen) and the one in my Craftsman style home; it overlooks our back patio and the Fairy Tale Woods.
Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
Oooh, meal. . .? Anything pasta-ish. Actually, in New York City one of my favorite places is John’s of 12th Street, and their Pasta Fagioli (soup) with a side of Bruschetta (they make it with avocado!! Yum!) is the best meal on the planet on a cold New York City day. Dessert? Hmmm. . . I couldn’t name just one. . . but if I had to it would be something that is not exactly a dessert. . . Binny’s (our local baker) biscotti dipped in hot chocolate.
Favorite hobby?
No actual hobbies. . . sleuthing, I guess. 😉
Favorite color?
To wear? I’m a lifelong New Yorker. . . black of course. But I also love earthy tones; when it came time to choose a color for our house, I chose olive green.
Favorite author?
I don’t actually read a lot. (Unless you count Vogue’s Spring Collection edition. . . LOL) I have a sentimental spot in my heart for Agatha Christie because she was my grandmother’s favorite.
Favorite vacation spot?
Spain is glorious. I’ve spent a lot of time there because my late first husband Miguel’s family has an estate there. But I’d have to say, New York City is my favorite vacation spot since I’ve moved to Autumn Vale. It’s like seeing it with new eyes to go there with Virgil; we do touristy things now, when we go there. In fact, we spent our honeymoon there and did the horsedrawn carriage through Central Park thing! I felt like I was in a scene from the movie Barefoot in the Park, when Jane Fonda and Robert Redford arrive at the hotel for their honeymoon in a horsedrawn carriage.
Favorite sports team?
My husband Virgil’s hockey team and, (because. . . my husband!) the New York Rangers NHL team.
Movies or Broadway?
Oh, Broadway, for sure! I love live theatre and the symphony and the opera. Which explains what Pish and I are doing with my castle and the property. . . 😉 (Read the book to find out more!)
Are you a morning or a night person?
Mmmm. . . in past I would have said a night person. But lately I’ve become a morning person, I think because I love a coffee on the patio in nice weather, and a walk in the woods.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Rank amateur! I have a mind that leaps to conclusions. . . and sometimes I’m lucky. But really. . . my brain seems to make connections. Back in the old days they would have called it women’s intuition, but I think it’s just paying attention and talking to a lot of people and making random connections.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
LOL. . . whoever has time! One of my favorite friends to work with is Hannah Moore, my wheelchair-bound librarian friend. She is an intrepid online sleuth and can find out anything, given a minute. She is amazing; intelligent, caring, and inventive. But my teenage friend Lizzie is a fierce determined woman and makes an ideal sidekick, though she can be a wee bit precipitous.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
It depends on the day. . . there is no typical. But what often rules my schedule is the need to keep up with muffin orders. So that takes priority; baking, packaging, and then delivering to local coffee shops and the retirement home my mother-in-law Gogi Grace owns and operates. Other than that I spend the rest of the time with Pish, as we work out what we are doing with the castle and property, now that we’ve made decisions. But I try every day to be home when Virgil is. Now that he is in the private investigator business with Dewayne he sometimes takes out of town jobs. I miss him when he’s gone, but it sure is nice to show him how much when he gets back. . . 😉
You can read about Merry in Muffin But Trouble, the sixth book in the “Merry Muffin”cozy mystery series, released July 2, 2019.
In the new Merry Muffin Mystery from the author of Muffin to Fear, baker Merry Wynter must confront a spiritual guru who may be up to something far from heavenly . . .
With plans for a new performing arts center at Wynter Castle taking up all her time, baker Merry Wynter has been all but unaware of the fringe group compound near her small town—until a street preacher accosts her with taunts of doom and damnation. When she learns close friends may have fallen prey to the lure of the group Merry, worried for their wellbeing, begins digging into the Light and the Way Ministry and its charismatic leader. She fears they may have ties to the recent death of a young woman and the disappearance of many others.
With her rebellious teen sidekick Lizzie Proctor, Merry steps in to investigate the eerily submissive community and its misguided members, concerned that their friends are being led terribly astray by a sect that has little to do with real faith, and everything to do with mind control. When another young woman vanishes and Merry realizes their friends are in danger, she will stop at nothing to uncover the group’s sinister secrets before the murderous ministry can strike again . . .
Includes tasty baking recipes!
Purchase Link
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About the author
Victoria Hamilton is the bestselling author of several mystery series including the national bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries. She does, indeed, collect vintage kitchenware and bake muffins. She drinks tea and coffee on writing days, and wine other times. It doesn’t do to confuse days. A solitary being, she can be coaxed out of her writing cave for brownies and cat videos.
She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.
Victoria recently published a historical mystery set in the Regency era, A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder.
If readers would like to know when giveaways are coming up, or when new books are coming out, they can sign up for her newsletter on her website, victoriahamiltonmysteries.com, and check her out on social media: Author Facebook, Merry Muffins Facebook, or Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks to AUTHOR for donating a print copy of Muffin But Trouble. Giveaway ends July 6, 2019 and is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents. Please leave comment in box below. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!
I love this title and cover! Looks like a good series to try. Thanks for the opportunity!
Can’t wait to read it! It’s a awesome series. Lots of fun to read. Thank you for the chance. Donakutska7@gmail.com
So excited to return to Merry’s world, this is a great series. Thanks for the chance to win!
This is a new to me series. Sounds so good. Can’t wait to start reading it
I hadn’t heard about this series but it sounds interesting.
I have been a fan of this series from the beginning.
Love this book title and book cover!!
Loved this interview. Someone who loves going into New York City catches my attention, have not heard of this series. Will check it out. Thanks.
I love this series and I’m so happy there is a new book! I can’t wait to read it!
I love this series and can’t wait to read this next book.
I have not read any of the books in this series yet, but after Getting To Know Merry Wynter, I would really like to start!
Hi, when will this hit audio?
This looks like a good series. Thanks for the contest.
“Muffin But Trouble” sounds like a great addition to the series. Looking forward to reading the series.
This is a great series and I’m happy to see another installment. Thank you for the giveaway!
This sounds like a yummy cozy and what a cute cover!! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thanks for this lovely giveaway. This series is a delight.
I enjoy Victoria Hamilton’s books. They are entertaining as well as a great read. Thank you Dru Ann for hosting Ms. Hamilton on your blog as well as her latest book.
I have read many books by this author, but none in this series. I would love to read this…and the other books in the series. Sounds great! Thanks for the blog today, Dru Ann. Thanks to Ms Hamilton for the chance to win a copy!
I own three of the previous titles and have read all five to date. I’d love to be able to add this newest one to my home library.
I’ve enjoyed both series of books from Victoria and hope she continues to write for many many more years.
I love this series and am so happy to see it back. Thanks for the giveaway.
I look forward to returning to Autumn Vale and Wynter Castle.
I always envied (just a little bit) Merry and her friends being in the Castle. However, being a bit on the reality side, having to clean the Castle would not be fun!
So glad to see this series is continuing! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the new book.
I am so happy to see a new book in this great series. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Muffins – Yum! Thank you for this chance.
Sounds good—ty for the giveaway! Legallyblonde1961 at yahoo dot com
What a fun series! I’m a sucker for food related stories, especially baking. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
I’m behind on this series
Love this series and the cover. Thank you so much for this chance. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
On my TBR list.
I’m so glad Merry is back!
Merry sounds like such an interesting character. This is a new to me series.
Sounds delicious! (And a fun read.)
rebarger(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Thanks for the chance! Looks like a great series!
I like that title.
a must-read on my list…
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I love both of this author’s series–mysteries with food, animals and romance are always on my list to read
I’m another fan who follows both the Vintage Kitchen and the Merry Muffin mysteries. Love both series and often check to see when the nest book is coming out. Can’t wait to start Muffin But Trouble as soon as I finish my current read. Had to take time off today for my birthday… LOL
Oops… the heat is getting to me, can’t even spell my own name correctly! Its Humberta, not Humberts.
I love this series! It would be great to win the new book for my collection.
I enjoyed getting to know Merry through this interview. I haven’t read this series yet, but I would love to read it.
**** WINNER ****
Muffin But Trouble is Autumn Trapani
Congratulations!