ABOUT THE BOOK
As autumn air settles into the quaint small town of Silver Hollow, there’s nothing more popular than Sasha’s teddy bears—and murder in cold blood . . .Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .
Book Details
Title: Bear Witness to Murder
Author: Meg Macy
Character’s full name: Sasha Silverman
Genre: cozy mystery
On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours
INTERVIEW WITH MEG MACY’S SASHA SILVERMAN
Sasha, how did you first meet Meg?
Meg chose the teddy bear shop before me, believe it or not. First I was a widow and then I became a divorcee instead. Given my ex-husband’s wackiness, I rather wish she’d stuck with widowhood. I think she named me Kit at first, and then Julie, but I prefer Sasha – a nickname for “Alexandra Victoria”. I adore my dad and sister. Mom’s another story.
What do you think of Meg?
I can’t complain too much, because Meg did come up with a neat guy for me in book 2, Bear Witness to Murder. But I’m the one in the hot seat, stumbling over dead bodies and getting labeled as a “corpse magnet.” Here’s hoping someone else finds the next one in book 3, Have Yourself A Beary Little Murder.
Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
I’m pretty lucky, living with family and friends in a small town, selling shamelessly adorable teddy bears – I love seeing kids hugging a new toy! – and planning bear-themed events for Silver Hollow’s seasonal celebrations.
Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
That’s tough – I loved all the fun at the village’s annual teddy bear picnic in book 1, and seeing all the painted fiberglass statues in the Parade of Bears in book 2. I guess my favorite, though, was seeing the kids having a blast with their teddy bears at the Cranbeary Tea Party.
Did you have a hard time convincing Meg to write any particular scenes for you?
Nope, Meg includes me in everything. I would rather convince her to exclude me from finding the next dead body. (wink)
What do you like to do when Meg's not writing about you?
I love to relax with a bowl of popcorn and a classic movie like My Fair Lady, or any Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, or Astaire/Rogers films. But I want to try my hand at painting – not the walls, though. My sister Maddie is an artist, and I’m going to convince her to host a “paint” party in book 3. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Absolutely. If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
Um . . . finding the body. That was awful, on a foggy morning, and my poor teddy bear dog led me right to her. (shiver) Way too soon after finding our company’s sales rep’s in our shop’s factory – stuffed to death! Murder’s a nasty business.
I'll say! Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
I love my sister Maddie – she’s so creative and fun, pixie-petite and adorable. I’m lucky to have two wonderful besties, Mary Kate and Elle, and we are so needing a Guilty Pleasures Gossip Club meeting again. We’ve all been swamped, and I haven’t had a chance to share my news about Jay Kirby.
Do have any secret aspirations that Meg doesn’t know about?
I’m not about to spill. Not yet! That’s what secrets are for . . .
If you had a free day, what would you do?
Go to Mackinac Island! But that would take a whole weekend. For a day off, I’d take my dog Rosie to the local dog park. Or pack a picnic basket, a book to read, plus my gravity chair, escape to Hudson Mills Metropark and find a remote spot with a shade tree, and chill away from everything.
What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?
They’d find me open and friendly, easy-going. If they knew me for a while longer, they’d know I was reliable and willing to drop everything to help in a fix.
What's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
Finding my ex in our bed with one of our bridesmaids, on New Year’s Eve, a mere nine months after our wedding day. Flynn Hanson cheated regularly, but I’d been blind to it until that fateful day. Ugh. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. I wish I could say I’ve learned to be less trusting, but nope. Must be a built-in flaw.
Tell us about your best friends.
My besties are the best! Mary Kate Thompson is a first class baker at Fresh Grounds, the coffee shop she and her husband manage. She has an adorable baby, too. Elle Cooper is married to my first cousin, and they own The Cat’s Cradle, a children’s bookstore. Elle has two adorable daughters. How do they manage careers and kids? I’m jealous! I want a family, but need to find a decent, honest guy I can trust first.
What are you most afraid of?
Not having a child – I love kids, and my biological clock is ticking away. I really want to pass on the family business and keep it running for future kids and families, but if a son or daughter had other plans. . . Sigh. But so far, Maddie and I haven’t had much luck in the love/marriage game.
What’s the best trait Meg has given you?
I’d have to say my independence, despite being close with family.
What’s the worst?
My worst, being vulnerable and way too trusting.
What do you like best about Jay Kirby?
I have to admit I was intrigued by Jay Kirby when he showed up at the end of Bearly Departed with our new mailbox. Hand-carved, a mother bear and two cubs, unique and stunning! I vaguely remembered him from woodshop class back in high school, which I dropped after a month. He remembered me, though! Hmm. Or was it my banged-up thumb? We’re so busy, I hope we have time to get to know each other more. We’ll see.
What’s Meg’s worst habit?
Too much time on Facebook with friends! (LOL)
How do you feel about your life right now? Is there anything you would like to change?
I love my life, my family, my friends. But I really wish some woman would marry Flynn Hanson, my ex, and take him out of state. Or out of the country.
What do you like best about Meg's writing style?
I love all the details – especially the outfits, hats, and designer purses she lets me wear. But my sister Maddie always looks more stylish. Hmm.
If your story were a movie, who would play you?
If it can’t be Audrey Hepburn, then I guess Emily Wickersham of NCIS.
Describe the town where you live.
Silver Hollow – a quaint, Southeastern Michigan town where most of the streets are named for Teddy Roosevelt’s family, everyone knows everyone else’s business.
What's an average day in your life like?
I roll out of bed, yawning like crazy, take a shower, dry my hair or gather it in a wet ponytail, get dressed for work – black jeans and one of our silver logo tee shirts – and then drag my lazy pooch outside. Rosie’s not a morning dog! Breakfast is coffee, a bagel with peanut butter, or a muffin from Fresh Grounds, maybe string cheese or a hard-boiled egg. Shop opens at ten, and I’m busy until the lunch hour when I take Rosie for a walk to the Courthouse square. I usually take along a sandwich and a bottle of water. Then it’s back to work, sometimes leading a tour of the factory and shop, and then dinner with my sister, mom, dad, aunt and uncle – unless they’re all busy doing something else! Maddie does our shop’s social media and graphics, and she’s swamped with painting her statue for the Parade of Bears. I love going for a bike ride after work, or a swim at the Y, or just watching my favorite TV shows like NCIS or a Brit series on Netflix. That’s a typical day, but only if there’s not something crazy going on that puts sleuthing on the agenda.
What makes you stand out from any other characters in your genre?
There aren’t any other cozy mysteries with someone who manages their family’s teddy bear shop and factory!
If you could be “adopted” by another writer, who would you choose?
Sharon Farrow of the Berry Basket mysteries. I love berries of all kinds, and the small town of Oriole Point sounds wonderful. I love the Lake Michigan coast.
Will you encourage Meg to write a sequel?
I believe Meg is working on book 3 now – set at Christmastime. My favorite season!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Connect with Meg:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
