Olivia sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings.

What is your full name?
Olivia Rose Penn

How old are you?
I’m in my early thirties, and we’ll leave it at that.

What is your profession?
I’m an advice columnist and work for a newspaper in Washington, D.C. Until about seven months ago, I lived in Georgetown, close to my office. After some unexpected events last spring, I moved back to my hometown of Apple Station, Virginia. My employer gave me the green light to work remotely, though I have to travel occasionally to D.C. for staff meetings.

Do you have a significant other?
The simple answer is no. I can’t deny that I’m interested in someone, and I wouldn’t mind testing the waters to see if what I feel is mutual. Over the past month, we’ve met up for coffee several times at Jillian’s Cafe. I didn’t know him before moving back home, but we’ve grown close through some unique circumstances. Who knows? Maybe the season’s spirit will spark a new romance.

What is their name and profession?
His name is Preston Hills, and he is a detective with the Apple Station Police Department.

Do you have any children?
No children yet.

Do you have any siblings?
I’m an only child.

Are your parents nearby?
My mom is deceased. My dad still lives in the home I grew up in. I’m staying with him until I decide whether I want to move back to Apple Station for the long-term.

Who is your best friend?
I’m blessed to have two, Sophia and A.J. Sophia is a physical therapist who has a clinic in town. It’s so cool that her clinic used to be a bakery. When she leased her suite on Blossom Avenue, she kept a portion of the commercial kitchen intact. Now her mother and grandmother often use the kitchen after the clinic is closed to make weekly get-together dinners, of which I’ve enjoyed many. A.J. and I grew up next door to each other. He’s a couple of years older than me, and he’s always been like my big brother.

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I don’t own a pet, but last December, I surprised my dad by bringing him a beagle puppy as a gift. Buddy has turned out to be quite a rascal, but we love him to pieces. We couldn’t imagine our lives without our adorable, mischievous fur baby.

What town do you live in?
I live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in a town called Apple Station. It’s a postcard of a cozy, small town. Think town square, gazebo, historic inn, coffee shop, bookstore … well, you get the picture. If there is something to celebrate, you can count on Apple Station having a festival to mark the occasion. For Christmas, I’m looking forward to the Festival of Lights with the live nativity scene, carolers, and visit from Santa on Christmas Eve.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I used to own a condo in Georgetown, but I sold it when I thought I would be moving to New York last May. Long story. I’m now living with my dad in his house, which is a colonial-style home with a full-length covered porch.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My favorite “spot” in my home is what was once my mom’s writing office. It’s in our backyard, and it looks like a miniature New England Cottage. It’s a one-room building with two windows and an arched trellis around the door. When I moved back, it was the perfect space for me to work. Spending time there always makes me feel close to my mom, especially because that’s where all her writings are kept. I’ll often pull out one of her binders and read some of her poetry or letters she left behind for me.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
I’m not much of a foodie. Favorite meals for me aren’t about the food. They’re about who I’m with. I love a casual picnic or a backyard BBQ with friends and family. As for desserts, anything with blueberries will do: tarts, tortes, pies, muffins, cake, cobbler, crisp, buckle, bars, smoothies, or scones.

Do you have any hobbies?
Though I’m a writer by trade, I enjoy the “other” writing I do for pleasure. I have a manuscript in my drawer that I’m letting sit for the time being. Somehow, I just got wrangled into writing a baking column for our local paper, The Apple Station Times. I don’t officially work for the paper, but I’ve been doing a weekly hometown advice column since I moved back. Again, a long story. So, my advice column has morphed into “The Twelve Bakes of Christmas” for this holiday season. I don’t know where this will lead, but I think I’ll have a good time with it.

What music do you listen to?
I listen to a wide variety of music, and it depends on what I’m in the mood for. I live in an area where there are a lot of local bluegrass bands, so I’ve always enjoyed that style. I get together from time to time with three of my friends for girls’ night out, and we’ve been known to rock an 80s playlist at inappropriate volumes.

What is your favorite color?
Blue. When I was a baby and my mom dressed me in pink, she said I always spilled my juice or food over my clothes. She thought it was intentional because it never happened when she dressed me in blue. I plead the fifth.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
I’m more of a country girl, so I always choose destinations that are more scenic than glitzy. As a child, I vacationed every summer with my parents in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, so that area has a special place in my heart.

Are you a morning or night person?
Morning person. Long gone are the days when I could stay up past midnight.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
What I like most is hanging out with my friends and dad. Having a lakeside picnic or simply watching television with my dad at night are the simple things that I enjoy.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
We’ll See What Happens. My whole life has been about never knowing until I try.

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I guess you can say amateur sleuth. But to be clear, I don’t fancy myself more capable than the police. It’s true that I’ve been involved in two murder investigations. There were compelling, extenuating circumstance in each, and I don’t go out looking for dead bodies. I don’t expect the need for any more sleuthing. It’s Christmas after all. What possibly could go wrong over the holidays?

What is a typical day in your life like?
I’m up early and have a morning routine, nothing too exciting or fancy. After breakfast, I head out to my office and write for my column. During the afternoons, I’ll run errands in town or stop in and say hi to Sophia at her clinic or A.J. at his office for his general contracting business. Once or twice a week, I’ll spend a morning at the office for The Apple Station Times writing my local column. Somewhere in each day, I try to fit in exercise and reading. In the evenings, I have dinner with my dad, and we usually watch TV together for an hour or two after we eat.

Giveaway: Kathleen has generously offered to give away one print copy of Under the Cocoon Moon. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends November 12, 2023. Good luck everyone!

Under the Cocoon Moon, An Olivia Penn Mystery Book #3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: November 2023
Format: Digital
Purchase Link

A dead body in the woods … A rare sapphire is missing … The connection changes her life forever.

Olivia Penn is looking forward to spending time with her friends and family over the holidays in her hometown of Apple Station, Virginia. The Christmas season’s spirit has sparked a new romance, and all is looking merry and bright, until she is mistaken for a dead woman.

When a stranger makes a wild accusation involving the parents of the man she’s falling for, Olivia faces a no-win situation. As evidence mounts supporting the claim, a mysterious murder occurs near his father’s cabin that attracts the attention of the FBI. Wedged between mother and son, Olivia investigates to clear his family’s name while matching wits with a legendary thief.

With the clock ticking, Olivia must set a trap using herself as the bait or the killer may disappear without a trace. Her new love hangs in the balance, and her life is on the line. Justice will hinge on sixty minutes and a phone call.

Will the call be answered? Or will the thief recover the sapphire and silence her forever?

If you like Clue, Nancy Drew, and small town, cozy mysteries with heart and humor, a charming cast of characters, and a twisty plot, you’ll love Under the Cocoon Moon, the third book in The Olivia Penn Mystery Series.

About the author
Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. Kathleen has degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She previously worked as a pediatric physical therapist for over twenty years with children who have special needs. She now spends her days plotting and sleuthing in Virginia where she lives with her husband and adorable feline fur baby. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the James River Writers. Visit online at kathleenbaileyauthor.com.