I’ll admit it, I’m not quite used to all this publicity but I’d like to thank Dru Ann for inviting me. My name is Shelby Cox and I’m more comfortable behind the book covers. I moved from my job as an editor at a small regional press to Alexandria Bay, NY several months ago. And now, I find myself in the position of co-owner of Bayside Books. And what’s really cool about this is that I run the location that’s in Blye Castle on Blye Island in the Thousand Islands, during tourist season. We close over winter and I’m looking forward to my first winter here, working in the main store.
I love being a bookseller. Each day I get to meet such a variety of new people, tourists coming from all over the world, and wanting my suggestions on books. A lot of them ask about local authors or settings, and I’ve got a good selection of those. Although I’m so sorry that one of them, who was also in charge of the castle volunteers, has been murdered. I never thought I’d ever be searching out a killer but there is the problem of the wrong person being suspected!
My days usually start with a sprint to the boat shuttle that takes staff over to Blye about an hour before the tourist boats start arriving. I say sprint, because I sometimes get up late, and I often have to stop in at my friend’s shop, Chocomania for a truffle and a latte. At the store, it’s a routine now of get the coffee going, dust the shelves, maybe indulge in some castle gossip, then meet and greet.
It hasn’t been an easy transition for me, even though it’s an ideal location. Knowing nothing about retail, nor the bare basics about running a book store, it’s been quite a learning curve. Who knew there was so much paperwork! I’d imagined I’d get to read a lot of books. Well, I’m still trying to find the time. But there’s my amazing aunt to guide me. It’s basically her baby but she’s sidelined with a knee replacement. And, there are helpful staff. So, I spend my spare time learning about ordering, bar codes, inventory systems, and other basics of the trade.
And then at night, I retreat to the houseboat I’m renting, and sometimes, if I’m real lucky, there’s a certain Coast Guard Investigative Service officer who’s helping me adjust to life in the Bay. All in all, I’m really a lucky gal.
Contest: If you’d like the chance to win a signed copy of Trouble On The Books, please leave a comment. U.S. entries only, please. Contest closes March 15, 2019. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Shelby in Trouble On The Books, the first book in the NEW “Castle Bookshop” cozy mystery series, released March 13, 2019.
Essie Lang’s series debut is perfect for fans of Lorna Barrett, Vicki Delany, and book lovers everywhere.
Rookie bookstore owner Shelby Cox must hit the books to learn the ropes before she loses a killer in the stacks.
Shelby Cox never intended to become a bookseller, so when the former editor returns to her hometown of Alexandria Bay, nestled in upstate New York’s breathtaking Thousand Islands region, to take over her aunt’s bookstore, she has no idea what to expect. To her amazement, she discovers that she now owns a fifty-percent share in Bayside Books, and will also run the store’s second location in the majestic castle on nearby Blye Island.
But just as Shelby is gearing up for the start of the tourist season, the Castle volunteer coordinator is found murdered in the nearby Grotto. Castle caretaker Matthew Kessler is suspect number one, but Shelby thinks the killing may be connected to an earlier era, when violence among Prohibition-era smugglers was rampant in the region. As Shelby launches her own investigation, handsome and unnerving Special Agent Zack Griffin of the Coast Guard Investigative Services tries to quell her smuggling theory and keep her safe. But Shelby is determined to summon all her savvy as a book editor to plot the murder—and find the killer before he strikes again—in Trouble on the Books, Essie Lang’s clever and captivating series debut.
Purchase Link
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Meet the author
Adding a second pen name, Linda Wiken has written the first book in the Castle Bookstore Mysteries written as Essie Lang, and it’s just out from Crooked Lane Books. As Linda she wrote the Dinner Club Mysteries and as Erika Chase, the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries. She was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel and has also been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada for Best Short Story. She is a former mystery bookstore owner and still loves reading all the mysteries she can get her hands on. Please visit me at lindawiken.com, on Facebook and Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like a start to a great new series.
Thanks, Doward. I hope so!
A brand-spanking new series!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Shelby sounds like someone I would like to know! Thanks for the chance to win!
This is super duper exciting to have a brand new book series starting with an awesome book store and book seller….sounds really thrilling! I love 💕 the awesome cover too! Oh how I would truly love 💕 to win it! Thanks so much dear Dru Ann and dear Essie Lang for the opportunity! 😊💜🌈🤗😻
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book, it sounds like a great cozy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I love trying new series from the beginning, with book 1.
Thanks for the chance to win 😃💖😍💗
This book looks great 👍
Shared post 😍💗😍 on Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1105795208485179397
This is a series I am definitely interested in reading! Thanks for the introduction, Dru Ann. Thanks for the chance to win a copy, Linda. ❤😊
I am really excited about this series! I love bookstores, islands and I think it is totally cool, that we have a Coast Guard investigator as the law enforcement protagonist.
I’ve been looking forward to this new series for awhile now. So glad it’s finally here! Congratulations on the new release!
NOT entering contest. I have difficulty holding print books BUT I can not believe I have not noticed this series before! It sounds great. I will be keeping an eye on it. Already put it on my Amazon wish list.
This sounds so interesting. The setting really interests me and I am sure a ton of others. Congrats on the new release and thanks for the chance to win.
I have this book on my to be read list. I love the cover. Thanks Dru Ann for including Essie Lang’s book on your blog. Finger’s crossed.
A captivating new series which I would enjoy greatly. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.
This sounds like a wonderful series. Thanks for the chance.
Would love to read this one!
My kind of book. Love the bookstore and castle setting. Can’t wait to read.
Good morning Dru. It appears that NONE of our local area county libraries intends to offer this book to its patrons. So I need to win it.
Toss my name into the Magic Contest Hat please.
Sounds like a fun read. Thank you for this chance to win.
Bookstores, castles, and murder are a wonderful combination. I’m looking forward to this new series by Essie Lang/Linda Wiken. Thanks, Dru Ann, for featuring a day in the life of Shelby Cox on your blog ~
I’m reading a Killer Read right now and love it. Dinner Club Mysteries are one of my absolute favorites. So, I can’t wait to start this series, I’m sure it will be fantastic! I would love to win this book, thanks for the chance!
I love the idea of a bookstore located in a castle!
Can’t wait to dive into this series! I love this author’s work. What could be cooler than a bookstore in a castle?!!
Love this!!! Happy Release Day Essie Lang!!!!
Thanks everyone for your comments. I am on the road, or rail tracks actually, right now so unable to reply to each one of you. But I am reading them and I do appreciate your thoughts!
What a neat setting for a series. And a hunky Coastie to boot!
New author to me,check, great book cover,check, favorite subject book store check.Been on my way to read for months..
Being involved lifelong in my family’s independent bookstore for over 42 years, I can tell you now……I am going to love this book!!!!
I’ve loved the dinner club mysteries, so another series by this author sounds great; and I love the idea of going to a shop called Chocomania.
Looking forward to this one.
This new series sounds great!! I’d love to be the lucky winner of this signed book!!
Please! I’d love to own this one.
I’d love to visit a bookstore in a castle. So cool.
This sounds like a great read! Thank you for the chance to win a copy!!
I am excited to read this book! Thanks for a chance to win!
Looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Great cover! I’d love to win this one. Thanks.
TROUBLE ON THE BOOKS is on my list – thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Sounds like a really good book. Can’t wait to check it out.
A great cover. I adore the Thousand Island area. A book store in a castle; what a great idea. This will be a must read for me.
Sounds like a solid start to a fun new series.
This looks so good. Thank you for the chance.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Great post… looking forward to reading this!
Cheers-
Kelly Braun
Wow – a Coast Guard Investigative Service officer . That’s a new twist for me.
Sounds like a good book to get lost with.
Sounds like a great book ! Thank you for the chance to win one.
Thank you for the chance to win
That is so great that LINDA has another series. I have read a few of her books but like to start with a new series so I don’t have as much catching up to do. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and review Dru ANN.
Shelby is after my own heart – a book and chocolate lover! Sounds like a wonderful new series and a book I would enjoy reading.
Books, chocolate…popcorn…lol. Hot tea and books for me…love to bake chocolate desserts but usually give away! You had me at “books.”
It honestly sounds like a great start to what could be a fabulous series. I know I’ve truly enjoyed Linda’s books in the past and look forward to exploring everything about this series. Thank you for the chance to win.
Thanks so much for offering this chance!
**** WINNER ****
Trouble on the Books is Ruth Nixon
Congratulations!