Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, where you can learn more about what makes them tick.
Let’s see what Shelby has to say today.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What is your name?
– – My name is Shelby McDonald (I know—funny name for a farmer—believe me, I’ve heard it plenty of times!)
How old are you?
– – Are you supposed to ask a lady for her age? Let’s just say late thirties.
What is your profession?
– – Farmer
Do you have a significant other?
– – Right now there are several contenders and you’ll have to read Bought the Farm to find out who I choose!
What are their names?
– – Well, there’s Jake Taylor, Matt Hudson and Frank McDonald
What are their professions?
– – Jake is a dairy farmer; Matt Hudson owns the Lovett General Store and Frank McDonald is Lovett’s only detective.
Any children?
– – Billy is nine and Amelia is fourteen.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
– – I’m an only child.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
– – Two dogs—Bitsy my mastiff and Jenkins, a Westhighland white terrier. Also Patches our barn cat, Jack Sparrow our rooster and a whole bunch of chickens.
What town do you live in?
– – Lovett, Michigan
House or building complex?
– – A farmhouse that’s old and creaky but I love it.
Do you rent or own?
– – The house and farm have been in my family for generations.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
– – Out on the farmhouse porch sitting in a rocking chair and drinking some ice cold lemonade.
Who is your best friend?
– – Kelly Thacker who is our local vet even though she smells like manure most of the time. (Just kidding, Kelly!)
Amateur sleuth or professional?
– – Strictly amateur!
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
– – Sometimes Kelly and I work together and Matt has been known to lend a hand from time-to-time.
Favorite meal?
– – That’s a tough one! I’d have to say roast chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy and a vegetable freshly picked from my kitchen garden.
Favorite dessert?
– – Apple crisp made with apples from the orchard down the road.
Favorite hobby?
– – Well, it’s not knitting! I’m terrible at it. Are cooking and baking hobbies?
Favorite vacation spot?
– – Vacation? What’s that? There’s not much time for taking vacations when you’re a farmer, but when I get a chance I love to spend a day on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Favorite color?
– – Blue
Favorite author?
– – Agatha Christie
Favorite sports team?
– – Lovett High School Baseball team
Movies or Broadway?
– – I’ve never seen anything on Broadway.
Are you a morning or a night person?
– – The chickens are up early and so am I!
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
– – I’m not kidding when I say I get up with the chickens! They want to be fed early. After I get the children off to school I’ll either do some weeding or planting depending on the season. After lunch I might can some produce or make the herb cheese I sell to the General Store. After dinner I’m ready to collapse!
You can read about Shelby in Bought the Farm, the third book in the “Farmer’s Daughter” mystery series. The first book in the series is No Farm, No Foul.
In the third Farmer’s Daughter Mystery from the national bestselling author of Sowed to Death, finding a dead body in her own backyard lands blogger and farmer Shelby McDonald in one trough spot. . .
Wedding preparations are in full swing at Love Blossom Farm as food-and-lifestyle blogger Shelby McDonald transforms the property for her friend Kelly’s down-home country-style reception. But when the lead singer of the wedding band turns up dead–drowned in a trough full of rainwater and strung up like a scarecrow–the police round themselves up a barnful of suspects.
It seems that Travis sowed the seeds of discord wherever he went, and when it becomes clear that everyone from the groom to Shelby’s own staff has motive, tracking down Travis’ killer is going to be more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. As Shelby finds herself drawn deeper into the investigation, she’ll have to move quickly before the killer decides to put her out to pasture. . .
Includes Delicious Recipes
Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #
Giveaway: Tell us, what is your favorite farm animal? Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Bought the Farm. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends June 7, 2018. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Peg Cochran is the national bestselling author of the Farmer’s Daughter Mysteries, the Cranberry Cove Mysteries, and the Gourmet De-Lite Mysteries. She also wrote the Sweet Nothings Lingerie Mysteries under the name Meg London.
All comments are welcomed.
Another favorite series of mine! I think I like cozies set on farms because I’m a city girl.
Want it!
First of all I want to say I love these interviews. I love a horse, I guess that would because my grandparents had them. Thanks for the chance.
Who could resist a good old fashioned trough drowning! I’m there. On the porch with the lemonade. This sounds like grand fun, Peg. I come from farm people although it wasn’t quite that interesting. We had a porch and lemonade though.
I would have to say a horse is my favorite farm animal.
wfnren at aol dot com
My favorite farm animal would have to be a horse.
My favorite farm animal would probably be chickens. Mostly because I love farm fresh eggs in the morning. Thanks for the giveaway!
Such a fun series! And now I can admit my favorite farm animal is a sheep-especially the baby lambs! Not only are they adorable, but my initials spell BAH!
Fun question, Peg! Thanks for asking.
My favorite farm animal is a horse.
Donkeys! Grandpa kept a pair for us kids to ride on. He figured they were closer to the ground than horses if we fell off!
My favorite is the new born calves.
For twenty some odd years my family and I vacationed in upstate NY in Gilboa at Golden Acres Farm. It was a kosher resort with 50 horses, 1600 acres of property and lots of chickens, sheep, and goats for the kids to play with. My kids would say that the horses are their favorite since they learned to ride up there. With my eldest working there years later as head wrangler and his wife in charge of the dining room. My granddaughter would say the bunnies. She loved to visit the bunny hutch to play with them.
My favorite farm animal is a goat. They are so cute and so much fun.
Our niece (who just got a PhD Doctor of Nursing Practice. Clinical doctorate. Her project was on sleep deprivation, fatigue and safety in midwifery practice!) has a farm with angora goats, Jacob sheep, horses, and dogs. I love to see the baby goats! We managed to visit one time only 15 minutes after one was born.
Favorite animal is a goat
My favorite farm animal is chickens. I loved them growing up, we got the chicks and watched them grow – until we had to kill them and eat them. (That was the hardest part!)
favorite farm animal is a lamb
I love sheep. I really like this series and so glad Shelby will pick one of the guys.I.know who I am hoping for,liked him since bookone.
I would go with the barn cat. My grandmother had a few. But, if they do not count I would say chickens, my grandmother raised chickens and sold the eggs.
What a charming cover! Thanks for the opportunity.
I always loved our cats. But had the most fun with a baby pig that kept getting out of its pen.
goats, especially baby goats!!!!
I love cows! They seem so gentle when you see them out in a field, but they are sooo big when you get up close! I am looking forward to reading this one! Thanks!