My life revolves around my store and my four pets, not necessarily in that order.
I have two dogs, Sally-Forth and Tally-Ho, a brother and sister pair who are part Border Collie. Their Border Collie heritage means that if I don’t give them jobs, they make up their own. Because of other breeds in their ancestry, though, they are mellower than purebred Border Collies. Still, they are attentive and eager to please. Their bond with each other is heartwarmingly strong.
Mustache and Bow-Tie, the two cats, are younger, and I’m guessing that they are brothers. Sally-Forth, carrying out one of her self-assigned and sometimes rather surprising jobs, brought them into our little family when they were tiny kittens. She and the cats seem to believe that she is the cats’ mother. Tally-Forth is skeptical about it, but his sister never allows him to question her. She is the reigning queen of the pets.
As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time looking after the four darlings. We live in Threadville, Pennsylvania, which has hiking trails, a river, and beautiful beaches on Lake Erie. Walking the dogs is always fun and interesting. Strangely, snooping around the village has actually led us to clues that have helped solve a few murders…
Owning my machine embroidery boutique, In Stitches, is my dream career. I sell amazing sewing machines that also embroider. My customers and I can buy ready-made designs and embroider them on fabrics, but most of us prefer to create our own designs, and I sell sophisticated software that makes it easy—well, almost. I offer workshops in my store most days. In the beginning, I was the teacher, and I still play that role, but I also learn from my students and customers.
Meanwhile, something new and exciting has arrived in Threadville—the Threadville Academy of Design and Modeling, TADAM for short. TADAM students will undoubtedly become our customers, and I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from them about design.
Even more exciting, the school’s director has asked seven of us from Threadville to make outfits for a fundraiser fashion show for TADAM. He’s going to give us sketches for the outfits he wants us to create. Most of us design and make our own clothes already, but imagine the thrill of working with a real fashion designer!
He said he’d drop by with the sketches for me soon. And then, I’ll spend my spare time planning, shopping for, and making the outfits in the sketches. I sell some fabrics at In Stitches, and I also carry a huge range of embroidery thread, but I’m sure to find whatever else I need at the other Threadville shops—The Stash, Tell a Yarn, Buttons and Bows, Batty About Quilts, and maybe even at Country Chic. I can hardly wait to get started.
I am a little concerned, though, about actually being in the fashion show. Me, a model? I may be tall and thin, but models are usually a little more coordinated and graceful than I am. I hope I won’t trip over my feet and fall flat on my face. I’ll try my best not to make a fool of myself.
And amid all the festivities, I won’t forget to look after my pets. Maybe the dogs and I can go for walks without snooping for clues in murder cases . . .
You can read about how Willow commits a sin of fashion and, with the help of her friends and those two snoopy dogs, solves yet another murder in the fifth Threadville Mystery, Seven Threadly Sins, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on May 11 for the chance to win a print copy of Seven Threadly Sins. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Janet Bolin learned to sew before she could thread a needle. In addition to sewing, Janet’s hobbies include reading, writing, knitting, and using software and sewing machines to create original embroidery designs. Discouraged by the lack of sewing and yarn shops near her home, Janet invented Threadville, Pennsylvania, a village of textile arts shops.
In breaks between her more sedentary hobbies, Janet walks her dogs, who are strangely similar to the dogs in the Threadville Mystery series. For more information, check out her website.
These stories make me want to embroider again. Be involved with a murder, not so much.
I enjoyed what I’ve read in this series but I need to catch up so I am ready to read this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Love this series and can’t wait for this one. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
Thank you for the giveaway! My mom loves this series so I’d love to win for her!
This mystery series sounds delightful! I will check out the books. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
This is a special series for me, as Janet is the first author I met when I went to my first & only Malice….
This sounds interesting!
Sounds very good. Like the cover too. Very appealing. 🙂
As I’ve not yet been able to afford an embroidery machine, reading this book may be the next best thing. Besides, I love a good cozy, and this one sounds like fun!
Such a fun series. Looking forward to this new addition.
This looks like a fun book – thank you for the chance to win
This is such a great series. The author is so clever and I love the main character’s hobbies. Thank you for the chance.
love everything I’ve read so far — notice I said so far! Looking forward to reading this one.
Love to hand embroidery so no machine here but this still is up my alley. Sounds like a good series.
This book sounds wonderful! Another series I must add to my list.
I sat next to Janet at my one and only Malice, she was a very popular author and a lovely person. I’d love to read this book.
Nice series, thanks for the chance
Enjoying the series and eagerly awaiting the new installment! lkleback@hotmail.com
What fun the animal names are.
New author to me, can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy 🙂
This looks like fun! (especially the pets 🙂 ). I look forward to reading the series.
I love this series—thanks for the chance to win her latest offering!
this is a new series that I’m looking forward to starting.
Nice:) Love this series! Couldn’t ask for more,mystery,dogs, and snooping:) Thanks for the chance to get this book:)
Wow the book looks great! I love how it sounds like the pets are a big part of the story. The book looks great! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
What a great series and giveaway. Thanks for this feature.
Good looks very interesting, ty for chance, gl2all
Sounds like a great series.
How awesome….the cover is soooo cute. I have never read any books by this author, but can’t wait to read this one. Would love to win a copy of this book. I just love, love, love reading mysteries with cats and dogs in them…they are my favorite! Thank for the opportunity!!! God bless you dearest Dru!!!
I love this series. I’ve read all of them so far and would love the opportunity to read this one. Thanks for the opportunity. robeader53@yahoo.com
My mom taught me to embroidery at an early age and I haven’t done in quite a while but I never thought of it with mystery. This book could get me started again because I love mysteries. Looking forward to the read. Thanks
Sounds so fun. Thanks for the opportunity!
I need to catch-up with this series; I’ve only read the first book. Love the canine characters as much as the human ones!
This book sounds great.
Thanks, Dru and Willow/Janet. I’m looking forward to another visit to Threadville.
Thank you so much for the great write up and review of a good book. I love the books that have any of the crafts that i do as it is so funny to imagine it as you are reading.
love the pets being part of the story!
Would love to win and read
I love to do embroidery and I’m really interested in reading this.
Enjoying this series.
I love this series.
I love series in cozy mystery.
Looking forward to reading this one.
It’s amazing that I love reading this series as much as I do considering that I don’t do any type of needlework. A true testament to Janet’s writing skills to get me interested & hooked past the first one. Thanks for the giveaway chance!
I love this series…I wish I could visit Threadville! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love this series always enjoy a visit to Threadville.
This is one of my favorite series.
I’m especially interested in reading any books about a craft such as knitting, sewing, crocheting, needlepoint, quilting and cross stitch. I love Threadville.
Love the cover,tittle looks great!!!
Intriguing cover! always love series about needle arts – can’t wait to read this one!
I, too, have 2 cats and 2 dogs—-so this must be the book for me. It simply must be a match for my tastes.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Looking forward to reading this latest book in the series.
Love the title, thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thank you for the contest
thanks for having the giveaway would love to win
I have only read one book in this seseries and really need to give it another chance since so many other readers love it. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Seven Threadly Sins sounds like a great read. Thanks for the opportunity.📖📚
Love this author. Can’t wait for every book.
If I had a Border Collie, I think I’d call him/her Threads. I surround myself with stitchery. Please put me in the draw.
It’s on on TBR list
glad to see a new book in the series. Look forward to reading it.
This is one of my favorite series and is on my wishlist! I always look forward to her latest book.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
The cover alone is what caught my eye.
contest is closed.