Hi! My name is Molly Owens and I am really grateful to be back on your blog. I wasn’t sure that much would have changed since the last time I posted, shortly after I decided to make Britton Bay my home.

This sleepy little town is under my skin and so are many of the residents. If I’m being honest, and I always try to be, I didn’t think my job would change much. In a sense, it hasn’t but on the other hand, it’s grown and expanded and become so much. . .more.

While I continue to spend the bulk of my days editing copy, organizing stories, setting up interviews, and managing social media, one thing that has impacted my day to day routine is the fact that I don’t feel like an outsider looking in. In a very short period of time, Britton Bay has become a home to me unlike any other I’ve known. That says a lot seeing as I’ve been around. As a former army brat, I’ve lived in some pretty cool places and I’ve always been okay moving on. It, in my mind, means we’re moving forward.

When I took the editor in chief position at the Britton Bay Bulletin, I thought I was slowing my pace. This hasn’t been the case at all. In addition to the somewhat surprising turn of events that have happened lately (you’ll have to read the paper to find out more), I’ve come to see the people of this town as an extended sort of family.

Objectivity is key in reporting. And in editing said reporting. Having lived and worked in large cities, I was not prepared for the impact this familiarity would have on my ability to report the news in a detached way. It’s something I really have to be careful of when I’m editing the stories my writers put on my desk.

Fortunately, they’re consummate professionals and are pretty good at keeping their objectivity glasses firmly in place when they’re sharing facts.

The best part of my day, at work, is when we all gather around the layout table. We bring our ideas together, scratching them out on the whiteboard in a way that would seem like chaos to anyone passing by. To us, however, it’s how we get the issues ready: one step, one idea, one story at a time.

Another part of my day that brings me joy is connecting with people. Bringing pieces of Britton Bay into the newspaper—through the people and their stories—makes our paper more valuable to the people purchasing it.

We’re trying to increase our online presence at the Bulletin and I’ll admit, that takes up more of my day than I’d like right now but you never know, maybe I’ll be promoting from within or bringing on someone new.

Either way, my days are unpredictable enough to keep me on my toes but familiar enough to make me feel like I’ve finally found a place to call home. For good.

You can read more about Molly in Deadly Vows, the second book in the “Britton Bay” cozy mystery series, released April 9, 2019.

Former Army brat Molly Owens is happily settling into her new life in the seaside town of Britton Bay—and into new her job as editor-in-chief of the local paper. But as tourists discover the desirable spot, the tide along the Oregon Coast is turning . . .

Britton Bay is buzzing with preparations for a wedding at the bed and breakfast where Molly rents a small carriage home. Molly is even helping out and plans to interview the rising star caterer—until the woman is found dead. And then the bride-to-be goes missing. To make matters worse, the venue is owned by Molly’s new boyfriend’s mother—and Molly was among the last people to see the victim alive. All of which makes solving the crime her top priority . . .

With the nuptials indefinitely on hold, Molly will have to sift through a sticky mix of suspects, including a rival caterer with a short fuse, a groom with an illicit secret, and a wedding party riddled with personal drama. And if she doesn’t discover the truth soon, Molly might be her own front-page news . . .

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About the author
Jody Holford is both a contemporary romance and cozy mystery author. She lives in British Columbia with her family. She’s a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell, Nora Roberts, Carly Phillips, Lori Foster, Sarah Fox, and Agatha Frost. She’s unintentionally funny and rarely on time for anything. She has an equal amount of love for writing and reading the sigh-worthy moments in a book. Visit her at jodyholfordauthor.com.

All comments are welcomed.