My fingers hover over my laptop as I desperately wait for a burst of inspiration. The blank white screen kind of freaks me out, so I peck out the words A DAY IN MY LIFE with the three fingers I generally use to operate a keyboard.
That’s a bit better, doesn’t look quite so imposing. You know, I’m not much of a writer. I’m more action-oriented. And I’m a great big sucker.
Jessie Chandler, a goofy-ass mystery author chick, is a regular here at the Rabbit Hole. She downs a ton of our specialty dark hot chocolate with extra whip while she writes. Trust me, you don’t want to see what happens if she doesn’t get her whipped cream. Anyhoo, we’ve become pals, and she asked if I’d write a blog post for her. Said it would help her book promotion or something. So here I am.
Every time Jessie shows up, weird things happen. Not long after the first time she visited the Hole, my best friend, Coop—a six-foot-four, chain-smoking vegetarian—became a suspect in the murder of his super-skanky boss, Stanley “Kinky” Anderson. After all was said and done, I told Jessie about what happened. She decided to write about the insanity, and it actually became a book called Bingo Barge Murder.
A wet nose nudges my arm as I gear up to plunk out another sentence. Sitting next to my leg, paws akimbo, is an ex-police bloodhound with a wicked penchant for sniffing crotches. That’s why he’s an ex.
“Hey Bogey,” I say and give the top of his furry noggin a rub. Bogey’s butt shakes as he wags his tail and lets loose a gigantic string of drool that lands on my leg. I adopted the mutt when his previous owner was found dead, stuffed in a circus desk. Yeah, a circus desk. After nearly being blown to smithereens by a drug runner, and then surviving a Mexican cartel shootout, I brought Bogey home. Jessie turned that fiasco into a caper called Hide and Snake Murder.
“Shay! Eddy’s got a question.” That’s Kate. She’s the whirling dervish who co-owns the Hole with me.
“What?” I heave a sigh and glance across the front counter to see Kate on the phone, apparently with Eddy, who owns the huge Victorian that houses the Hole and her apartment.
“She wants to know if Coop’s coming tonight for the Mad Knitter meeting. And she wants you to pick up a jar of pickles for the festivities.”
I make a face. “Not sure, and I suppose.”
Kate sees the look on my face and laughs. “Just kidding,” she says.
Should I kill her now or later? Let me tell you, I don’t ever want to see another jar of pickles. Just a few months ago, JT dragged me to the Renaissance Festival for the first— and last—time. In search of a restroom, I accidentally came across a corpse. Yup. A very dead one. In a privy. With a pickle stuffed in his mouth. A little later, JT showed up wearing pickle chunks, and was promptly arrested. I didn’t know that the lead cop on the case was JT’s archenemy, and he wasn’t looking anywhere but at my girl for the homicide. Someone had to prove JT innocent, and that someone was me. Jessie ran with that and embellished the facts a bit. The story became Pickle in the Middle Murder. Just remember, you can’t believe everything you read.
Now, it’s the day before New Year’s Eve, and somehow, JT and I both managed to finagle some precious time off. Tomorrow we’re heading up north to Duluth, a seaport–or actually—lakeport city north of Minneapolis. It’s going to be the first real vacation we’ve ever taken. I can’t wait.
I’m pulled from my hot Jacuzzi, cold beer, and Coney dog daydreams when the bells attached to the front door jingle. In strolls Jessie. She spots me sitting at one of the round café tables, waves a hello at Kate, and heads my way. Damn. I’m never going to get this thing done. Then another thought strikes me. Oh shit. What’s going to happen after she leaves this time?
Yup, more trouble comes for Shay when her bar-owner dad goes missing on the busiest liquor-selling day of the year: New Year’s Eve. His gun has been used in a murder, and the dead guy who’s frozen in a huge block of ice isn’t talking. Follow Shay and her zany friend’s latest adventures in Chip off the Ice Block Murder, book 4 in the Shay O’Hanlon Caper Series.
You can read more about Shay in Chip off the Ice Block Murder, the fourth in the “Shay O’Hanlon” caper series, published by Midnight Ink. The first book in the series is Bingo Barge Murder. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on May 27, and you will be entered for a chance to win an autographed copy of CHIP OFF THE ICE BLOCK MURDER. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Jessie Chandler is the author of the Shay O’Hanlon Caper series, and is a board member of the Midwest chapter of Mystery Writer’s of America. Her debut novel, Bingo Barge Murder, won the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society. Hide and Snake Murder, Jessie’s second book, won an Independent Publisher’s Book Award and a Goldie in the Mystery/thriller category from the Golden Crown Literary Society. Visit her online at JessieChandler.com.
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Sounds like an interesting new to me series.
Gram, I like to think the series is fun and will hopefully make you laugh 🙂
Jessie
I’m looking forward to reading this book. I enjoyed the blurb and the writing style. Thank you for having this giveaway.
Melody, Dru is amazing, and we as writers think she’s the bomb. Me as a person love her to death. She’s wonderful! Hope you get a chance to check out Shay and her crazy life, and good luck!
Jessie
I haven’t tried this series, but I will now! Thanks for the review!
Yay Jan!!!! I hope you enjoy! Good luck!
Jessie
Sounds like a great read, thank you for the chance 🙂
Lisa, if you like to laugh, follow my characters and see what happens next!
Jessie
PS Good luck!
Sounds like a series I would like. They are going on my to read list.
Thanks for adding me to your list, Pamela! Good luck!
Jessie
Also I just wanted to say I always like starting with the first book so thank you for listing them all here.
Pamela, yes, Shay thought it would be a good idea to give a brief recap of each title, and I have to say I agree with her!
Jessie
PS Poor Shay. I’m always getting her into trouble. It’s a good thing she’s a loyal friend!
Sounds wonderful, look forward to reading this book. Thank you for a chance to win it
Good luck, Debbie! I aim to entertain!
Jessie
Sounds so good. thanks for the chance to win.
Hey Nancy, Dru has amazing authors on her blog, and she does a fab job. Adding the giveaway is a great idea 🙂
Jessie
I love books with humor, so this will fit the bill nicely.
Hi Nancy, I really like to try and take people out of their day for even just a little while and make then laugh. And perhaps hold their breath wondering what’s going to happen next in Shay’s crazy world. If you like the humor of Evanovich, you’ll like my books!
Jessie
I would love to try this series. Thank you for the offer.
Good luck Nancy!
Jessie
This book sounds wonderful. I love the pretty cover. Thanks for this chance to win it.
Anita, isn;t the cover awesome? Lisa Novak is my cover designer and she’s fantastic. Good luck!
Jessie
I love the cover and alway love cozies with dogs in them! Thank you for the chance!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Hi Carol! Who doesn’t love dogs?? Dawg and Bogey are totally loveable, and in the first book, Bingo Barge Murder, Dawg plays a huge role at the end! Good luck!
Jessie
YAYYYY Carol! Good luck!
Sounds like a good book, I can’t wait to read it.
Hi Rita! Reviews are finally coming in, and folks are liking it! Check out http://www.jessiechandler.com to see what people are saying if you feel like it. Good luck!
Jessie
I think I’d enjoy spending some time with Shay, Kate and Bogey. Please enter my name in the draw.
Hey Carl, I think Shay, Kate, Eddy, Coop, Dawg, and Bogey would LOVE to hang with you!
Good luck!
Jessie
Would love to win–always looking for new series to dive into since I read much faster than most of my favorite authors can write. thanks for the great background stories.
Stephanie, I totally understand the chomping at the bit feeling as your fav writers do their thing, and it’s never fast enough. Give Shay and Co a run for their money! Good luck!
Jessie
It amazes me that you continually find an author that I haven’t heard of . This sounds so good, thanks for the chance to win.
Hi Debbie! Dru is like a book wizard. I’m continually amazed by that woman. Good luck!
Kate, the whirling dervish, sounds like quit the girl. Should be fun reading about her adventures!!
Kate is a whirling dervish. Shay can hardly keep up! Good luck, Ronna!
Jessie
I love to read about authors…and bingo. Sign me up, please.
Hey Judy! BINGO it is! I worked for 17 years in a bingo hall in Minnesota. Oh the crazy tales! Good luck!
Jessie
One of my absolute favorite series by far!! I’d love to win this one!
YAYYYYY Jessica! Sending you squishy hugs! Good luck!
Jessie
This one sounded great at Malice Go Round. It’s on my TBR list!
Hi Diane! I’m still recovering from Malice Go Round LOL That was a blast! Hope you do take a chance on the series, and GOOD LUCK!
Jessie
Don’t enter me in the draw – I’ve already got it (and read it (and loved it)) – just wanted to say hi.
Awww Catriona. I adore you. If anyone on this list hasn’t yet read Catroina McPherson, she ROCKS!!!!!
New to me series, but the title is absolutely wonderful enough to make me want to read this.
Annette! I’m beaming! That title is awesome, isn’t it? Good luck!
Jessie
Annette, the titles are great, aren’t they! Good luck!
Jessie
Annette, the titles are great, aren’t they? Good luck!
Jessie
Annette, the titles are fun! Good luck!
Jessie
LOVE THIS! Can’t wait to read it!
Tracy, Tracy, Tracy. Between your totally cool Downward Dog mystery series and all that yoga-ing you do, I’d be honored for you to read about Shay and Co. Maybe one day Shay could meet up with Kate Davidson, the star in your series. At the dog park, perhaps LOL
The title grabbed me. The description convinced me. Must read this book!
I love your altitude, Barbara! Good luck!
Jessie
These all sound like a good read. I look forward to them.
Good luck, Libby!
Jessie
I haven’t read this series but it sounds like something I would really enjoy. Thank you for listing all the books; it is so helpful. Thanks for the chance to win.
Glad you liked the fact that Shay talked about all of the titles 🙂 Sometimes she does what I ask her to!
Good luck!!
Jessie
I can highly recommend all four of these books! Fun, smart, well written. And the author is a cutie!
Allison, I love you, and no, I didn’t pay her to say this LOL!
I honestly cannot believe that I have missed out on Jessie’s Shay O” Hanlon’s caper series but I do have book 1, Bingo Barge in my stacks to be read. I would love to get caught up with this series especially now when I have more time to read due to best rest so many hours a day. Thank you for the great blog post, Dru, and for getting us readers up to speed on this series. Sincerely,
Cynthia
Have a great long weekend everyone.
Cynthia, I sure hope you’re up and around soon! Until then I hope you read and laugh at Shay and company’s antics, and have time to read lots more of the many fab authors out there. Good luck!
Jessie
This looks like a really fun book!
Hey Sherry, I hope it’s fun. It was great fun writing it, especially the scene in the abandoned epileptic hospital in the boonies. Good luck!
Jessie
I’ve read the first two and looking forward to reading this. Hopefully soon!
Just realized that I’ve read pickle in the middle, too! Wow, up to date on a series for once!
Lindar! YAYYY! Good luck on number 4!!! And thank you for reading 🙂
Jessie
I’m a Minnesota gal and I enjoy reading books set in our state. Please enter me in your drawing.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Four sounds great. Now to locate the first three.
It sounds like a fun read.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Thanks Jessie for interacting with my readers and also thanks for the kind words towards me. Introducing readers to authors give me pleasure and it’s may way of spreading the wordl
Contest is closed.