I’m nervous. Yep, I never imagined that I would be judging the glass category at the annual Spinnaker Art Festival. It’s a world famous highly-competitive art venue that has been going on for decades right on the waterfront in St. Petersburg, FL. I think the committee wants everyone to think they chose me in tribute to my dad, John Webb. He was one of the original organizers of the festival and enjoyed bringing new talent into the area. Secretly, I believe they want to rub Frank Lattimer’s nose in his own political shenanigans and are using my appointment as a perfect opportunity to snub him again.
Another explanation for my uneasiness is that my former mentor, Keith Irving, will be in town and it will be strange to see him as a colleague. We’re going to meet at 3 Daughters Brewing tonight to share some craft beer and catch up on news from Seattle. I still miss glass blowing in an itchy scratchy sort of way, but introducing students to stained glass in my family’s shop has been immensely rewarding.
My main reason for meeting Keith is to get some pointers on judging the high quality glass exhibits in the festival. What does he look for? How does he approach narrowing down the selection to a manageable few? How does he choose a winner? In any case, I’m sure he’ll give me the same kind of patient, straightforward logical advice I didn’t follow when I was his student. The difference this time – I’m going to listen.
Shards of Murder is the second book in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series, published by Kensington Books, February 2016.
When a glass-making competition turns deadly, glass shop owner Savannah Webb must search for a window into a criminal’s mind. . .
As the new proprietor of Webb’s Glass Shop, Savannah has been appointed to fill her late father’s shoes as a judge for the Spinnaker Arts Festival, held in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With her innovative glass works, the clear winner is Megan Loyola, a student of Savannah’s former mentor.
But when Megan doesn’t show up to accept her $25,000 award, rumors start flying. And when Savannah discovers the woman’s dead body on festival grounds, the police immediately suspect her of murder. To keep from appearing before a judge herself, Savannah sorts through the broken pieces of glass scattered around the victim for clues as to who took this killer competition too far. . .
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All comments are welcomed.
About the author
Cheryl Hollon writes full time after she left an engineering career designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, 
Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind the house, Cheryl and her husband George design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass and painted glass artworks.
You can visit Cheryl and her books at www.cherylhollon.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a signed copy of Shards of Murder along with a pair of handcrafted glass earrings created by Cheryl and her husband George. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway will end March 2, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
Looks like a great book and Love the earrings Thanks for the chance to win
I love glass working. I had a college friend who made stained glass pieces. She was always had terrible cuts. The work was beautiful though. I’d love to read this book, plus the earrings are to die for! Thanks for the chance.
Good location for what sounds like a good story – and what a terrific giveaway. Thanks!
Sounds like a great mystery! The earrings are lovely. Thank you for the chance to win.
Oh wow….the earrings are so beautiful! This sounds like a super duper awesome mystery! I loved the first book in this series and can’t wait to read this one too!! Thanks so much Dru for the chance to win!!!! God bless you!!!
Glass blowing sounds interesting.
I’ve never read a book with a glass shop setting before but I would like to. Thanks for a chance to enter.
I love and collect various pieces of glass, shoes, vases etc. This sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading and those earrings are a great bonus! Thankyou for the opportunity!
I think Savannah will make a great judge! I am looking forward to this, really like the first one! Thanks for the chance to win!
This sounds like a fun interesting book. Thank you for sharing and the chance to win
A chance to learn something new. I do a lot of crafts but don;t know much about glass and glass blowing. This would be a fun read! And the glass earrings are beautiful! Thanks for the chance.
Eagerly awaiting the next book in this series! This is a lovely give-away!
Sounds interesting-and a fun read. Thanks Dru and Cheryl for today’s post. Someone is going to be thrilled to win!!! 😮 🙂
An intriguing and fascinating cozy. Thanks for this lovely feature and giveaway.
I love to watch glass-blowing! This sounds like one ‘sharp’ book, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Sounds like a great read.
I read the first book in the series and loved it, can’t wait to read this one. The earrings are beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway
Love your series. This would be a great title to add to my cozy challenge list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
This sounds interesting. Always looking for new mystery series. Has great reviews, so I am anxious to read. The earrings are beautiful.
I am intrigued by this series and would live to give it a try! 😃
Glad to get a glimpse at where this series is going. it’s a good one.
And the earrings? Delightful.
I have friends who do lead glass panels and they are beautiful but can’t say I’ve ever known an actual glass blower. The earrings are very pretty and would go well with my wardrobe.
The first book in this series (Pane & Suffering) was very enjoyable. I’m looking forward to reading Shards of Murder–love the titles! The earrings are beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I would love to read the books in this series. Thanks for the great review. robeader53@yahoo.com
Glass blowing has always intrigued me, as does this book. Beautiful earrings too! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I loved the first book in this series and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
The books sounds wonderful! I would love to win a copy.
Can’t wait to read this book. Reading the first one now.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and look forward to reading this new book. The earrings look terrific.
I haven’t started this series yet. I really admire people who work with glass. I don’t know anything about the process, but it is truly a work of art. Would enjoy reading about glass making.
Recently read the first book in the series and really, really liked it – it exceeded my expectations! I can’t wait to read this one! Congrats on the new release of this one!
Sounds like this is going to be an interesting book. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win.
I like the setting of a glass shop for a mystery. It hasn’t been done. I’d love to read this series. It’s definitely been on my list.
I love this series. Thank you for the chance to win a signed copy of Shards of Murder and the beautiful handcrafted glass earrings.
Shards of Murder and the beautiful earrings–what a wonderful giveaway opportunity. The book sounds like a fun read. Thank you.
Beautiful handcrafted earrings – thanks for the chance to win them and a copy of Shards Of M.urder
Sounds fun.
This sounds like a great fun and exciting read and of course being in St.pete has to be fun!
Handcrafted glass items can be so beautiful! I’d love to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Awesome beautiful earrings would love to win 💟💟 sounds like your book would be a great read 👍👍👍
Blue like my wedding bowl! All I can say is I can’t wait to read more!
What great looking earrings! I love that shade of blue. I’m very intrigued by this mystery series and would love to read the book. glindathegood@bellsouth.net
Love some many things about this book! Can’t wait to read it!
I loved Pane and Suffering and the earrings are beautiful.. Thanks for the chance to win!
I loved Pane and Suffering. I learned lots about glass blowing