FEATURED AUTHOR: DOROTHY ST. JAMES

ABOUT THE BOOK

Join Penn and Stella on their latest adventure!

There’s a legend in the Sea Islands that before a hurricane hits the Gray Lady can be seen walking down the beach warning of doom. Penn doesn’t believe in such silly stories, but she does believe weather forecasters. A powerful hurricane is heading their way. Everyone on the island of Camellia Beach is busy boarding up windows and securing valuables to upper levels of buildings. Joe Davies, a local treasure hunter with an unquenchable sweet tooth, claims to have seen the Gray Lady walking toward him just that morning and is terrified for his life.

After the storm passes everyone returns to survey the damage. As Penn walks her little dog Stella on the beach, she finds Joe Davies’ body washed up onshore. Not only that, it looks as if an exploding transformer caused Joe’s seaside shack to burn to the ground. Did the Gray Lady claim another victim? Many on the island believe that is exactly what happened.

Penn is sure there’s another explanation. She follows the clues and hints of lost gold to discover that the truth behind the treasure hunter’s death is as much of a maze as the boating channels winding their way through the local marshes.

Book Details:


Title: Bonbon with the Wind

Author: Dorothy St. James

Genre: cozy mystery


Series: A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery, book 4


Publisher: Barking Dog Press (December 9, 2019)


Print length: 251 pages

On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours



IFs ANDs OR WHATs INTERVIEW WITH DOROTHY ST. JAMES

IFs


If you could talk to someone, who would it be and what would you ask them?

If I could, I’d take Agatha Christie out for tea and dessert. I’d love to ask her what happened when she went missing for 11 days in 1926. Did she have a mental breakdown? Was she escaping from writing pressures? Or did she do this in order to make us all wonder about her and talk about her? It’d be fun to find out the truth behind her disappearance. Of course, after learning her secret, I’d write a tell-all book about it.

If you could time travel for an infinite period of time, where would you go? 

If I could travel through time, I’d go everywhere! I’d like to be there for the big bang. I’d ride on the back of a gigantic dinosaur. I’d grunt with cavemen. I’d visit with ancient Egyptians. I’d want to visit Jane Austen and tell her how much I enjoy her novels. I’d also dive into the future and use what I see to help mankind make better decisions.

If you had to do community service, what would you choose?
I’m going to start fostering dogs this winter. I’m looking forward to experiencing the challenges of bringing home a dog that needs some special attention. I think it will be a joy to share this experience with my young daughter.

If you could meet any author for coffee, who would you like to meet and what would you talk about? 

Oh my goodness, if I could, I’d so enjoy sitting down and having tea with one of my favorite authors, Jenn Mckinlay. I love her books. She seems so friendly online. Even though I’d be nervous and awkward, I feel like she’d be easy to talk with. I’d want to know how she approaches her writing process. How does she make her books so wonderful? Plus, I’d ask her to sign a book for me.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where in the world would it be? 

This is SO hard. There are so many great places to live. I do love living in Charleston, South Carolina, with its historic downtown and beaches nearby. I’ve lived here my entire life. However, lately, I’ve been thinking about how much fun it would be to live in a small English village on the trainline and being able to take the train to explore the England and European countryside. I would love to do that for a year or two and then return to live in a big city, like New York City, for a year or two. I have a growing desire to explore new areas.




ANDs



5 favorite possessions:
    •    Kindle Paperwhite
    •    the pretty purple laptop computer
    •    my used but wonderfully reliable electric car
    •    my cell phone
and
    •    my favorite warm knit blanket

5 things you need in order to write:
    •    tea
    •    chocolate (for courage)
    •    quiet
    •    my purple laptop computer
and
    •    my ideas notebook

5 things you love about writing:
    •    having written (two words I love writing the most are “THE END”)
    •    the moment when a scene or a book starts to come together and everything feels great
    •    discovering new things about myself
    •    surprises that my characters throw at me
and
    •    the thrill (and terror) of inviting others to read what I’ve written

5 favorite things to do:
    •    sneak away and read
    •    talk about books with others who love books
    •    craft projects
    •    dog training
and
    •    trying new foods (preferably while traveling to new places to try them)

WHATs

What’s your all-time favorite place? 

The beach. When I gaze out into the vast ocean, I’m humbled. Things slow down at the beach. My thoughts slow down when I’m at the beach. It’s my happy place.

What’s your all-time favorite place in your town?

That’s easy. The beach is my happy place. And my favorite beach in Charleston is Folly Beach. Here’s a picture of its fun downtown.

What’s your all-time favorite author? 

Elizabeth Peters. Her mysteries are always page-turning fun. I loved everything she wrote. There will never be another writer quite as special as her.

What’s your favorite time of day? 

Nighttime. After putting my young daughter to bed, I get ready for bed in cozy pjs. And if I don’t need to write, I lose myself in whatever book I’m reading. This is my time to catch my breath and recharge.

What’s your favorite candy bar? 

Small batch, bean-to-bar dark chocolate bars made from criollo cacao beans take me to my personal nirvana. Once I’ve discovered these candy bars, everything else pales in comparison.

What’s your favorite social media site? 

For good or ill, I spend most of my time on Facebook. I’m comfortable there. And the cozy reader groups are filled with people who are fun to get to know.


What’s your all-time favorite place you’ve visited?
One of my favorite towns to visit is Washington, D.C. Most of the museums are free. Fun things are always happening there. And Malice Domestic, the cozy mystery fan convention, takes place close by every year. This is a picture of me visiting the White House gardens while collecting research material for my White House Gardener Mystery series.

What’s your favorite color?

Blue. Light blue, dark blue, teal blue, and—my, my, my— beautiful aqua blue. The color makes me happy. I make purchase decisions for kitchen appliances on whether it comes in blue. I buy clothes that are blue. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to the calming color.


What book are you currently working on? 

I’m writing the second book in my new series, the Secret Bookroom Mysteries. It’s set in a small town library that has been modernized. Printed books have been replaced with electronic versions. My intrepid librarian, in an act of rebellion, has created a secret bookroom in the library where lovers of the printed word can still access their favorite books. What she doesn’t realize is that protecting the printed word would turn out to be so dangerous.

What’s your all-time favorite picture of yourself? 

This picture was taken several years ago. It’s a picture of my first experience participating in a dog show. Iona was still a puppy! And I was quite the novice. Actually, I still am a novice when it comes to dog shows. We only lasted one season. But it was great fun talking with the other dog owners and spending the day with my best dog.

What’s your latest recommendation for:
Food: Criollo Chocolate. It’s a chocolate made with a bean variety that is more difficult to grow than the Forastero chocolate that most common chocolates are crafted out of. Criollo chocolates have a sweeter, more tropical flavor. It’s my favorite!
Movie: Knives Out. There’s a cameo appearance by the Agatha Award teapots (the mystery novel awards given at the traditional/cozy convention Malice Domestic) in the movie, which is reason enough to see the movie.
Book: Besides my books? (Kidding!) I read and reread everything Elizabeth Peters has written. She’s a master of the cozy mystery genre. I especially adore her Vicki Bliss series. I enjoy so many books in the cozy mystery genre, it is difficult to pick one to recommend, so I’m going to simply tell you which book I’m reading and enjoying right now: It’s Dead Eye by Alyssa Day, a Tiger’s Eye Mystery, which is a new series for me. And it’s different from most of the cozies I read. There’s a strong paranormal element in the story. But, so far, the writing is funny and the mystery is making me think. I look forward to reading more of the series.
TV: I don’t watch much TV. There are too many books to read. But I have been enjoying The Good Place.
Netflix/Amazon Prime: On Netflix, I’m a huge fan of Lucifer, a show that explores what might happen when the devil decides he wants to play detective. On Amazon Prime, my daughter and I have enjoyed the documentary series, First Peoples. It traces the evolution of the human race and spread of our species across the world. It’s a fascinating look at the rise of civilizations in the world.
Miscellaneous: Drink herbal tea and give tai chi a try. Herbal teas are my go-to stress relievers. And practicing tai chi (offered free at my local library) is a great way to stretch and strengthen my muscles without straining anything. I highly recommend it!

What books do you currently have published?
The Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries
Book 1: Asking for Truffle
Book 2: Playing with Bonbon Fire
Book 3: In Cold Chocolate
Book 4: Bonbon with the Wind

The White House Gardener Mysteries
Book 1: Flowerbed of State
Book 2: The Scarlet Pepper
Book 3: Oak and Dagger

Aloha Pete Mysteries
Birds in Paradise (Novella available exclusively on Amazon.)

The Secret Bookroom Mysteries
Book 1: The Broken Spine (Available September 2020)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, a crazy dog, and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn't as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader's Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: "amazing," "perfect," "filled with emotion," and "lined with danger."



Connect with Dorothy:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Indie Bound

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CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH DOROTHY ST. JAMES' CHARITY PENN

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chocoholic Charity Penn must smoke out the killer to stop her newly inherited beachside chocolate shop from going up in flames in Dorothy St. James’ decadent follow-up to Asking for Truffle.

Chocolate shop owner Charity Penn is finally settling into life in the quirky South Carolina seaside town of Camellia Beach cooking up chocolate treats. She’s even helped organize the town’s lively beach music festival which has brought rollicking crowds eager to dance the Carolina shag. That is, until one of the band’s lead singers is found dead beside a beach bonfire.

While also trying to balance the amorous attention of music star Bixby Lewis, in town for the festival, and her quest to perfect a new hot flavored bonbon, Charity dives into the investigation. Though it’s more spice than sugar when she discovers a threatening note, comes across decades of age-old secrets, and Bixby comes into the line of fire when a gas grill explodes on the deck of a beachfront house.

Now Charity must turn up the heat and catch the killer before her chance melts away in Playing With Bonbon Fire, the delightful second Southern Chocolate Shop mystery served up just right for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke.

Book Details

Title: Playing with Bonbon Fire, A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery

Author: Dorothy St. James

Genre: Cozy Mystery, 2nd in series


Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (March 13, 2018)


Page count: 352 pages
On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours

ABOUT THE CHARACTER

Charity Penn grew up in Chicago and worked in advertising in Madison, Wisconsin. She never felt as if she’d found her home until she moved to Camellia Beach, South Carolina and inherited the Chocolate Box, a bean-to-bar chocolate shop on the island. Although she’s not much of a cook, the self-described chocoholic knows how to pair flavors with different varieties of chocolates to create the most amazing mouth-watering candies.

INTERVIEW WITH DOROTHY ST. JAMES’ CHARITY PENN

Charity, how did you first meet Dorothy?
Dorothy St. James was wandering around in a funk when I met her. She wanted to get back to writing after taking a few years off to be a full-time mom, but she wasn’t sure what to write about. Every character she’d interviewed made her doze off before the interview was over. (She was taking care of a 2 ½ year-old at the time and tended to doze off easily from lack of sleep.) And then I walked in with my arms filled with emotional baggage and personal mysteries, and Dorothy immediately sat up and took notice.

Want to dish about her?
She’s a neurotic one, my writer. I mean, I thought I had problems, and then I started telling my life story to Dorothy St. James. And I was all like, “Whoa, stop obsessing over where to put that dang comma already. Just write what I’m telling you and not worry so much about how it’s coming out until the edits.” She’s nice, though. She truly wants my story told right. She wants the truth about everything to come out. Sometimes that scares me.

Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
My life is a mess. Or at least it was. I was a walking, living version of a car wreck. People were rubbernecking all over the place to see what was going on in my life. Of course all that drama has ended up in a book. Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long to happen.

There are also these pesky murders that keep happening around me. I hate it. I can’t stand to see my friends in danger, so of course I do my best to help the police conduct their investigations. Detective Gibbons is capable, but he doesn’t live on Camellia Beach. He hasn’t heard the conversations I’ve heard. And sometimes he doesn’t listen to me like he should, which is all the more reason why I’ve needed to take matters into my own hands once or twice.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
I loved, loved, LOVED it when Bixby Lewis (yes, the Bixby Lewis who is the hottest pop star in the country right now) kissed me. It does amazing things to a woman’s ego to be kissed by a hunky rock star. I get tingly all over just thinking about it.

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
When I’m not solving mysteries on the pages of a book, I’m either making chocolate or eating it. Chocolate is my passion. Getting everyone to taste high-quality chocolate from the more flavorful cacao beans is my mission. Not all chocolates are created equal. The complex flavors you get from a specially sourced cacao bean will make you think you’ve found Nirvana.

If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
Let’s be honest with ourselves—we all sometimes make stupid decisions that we regret. I’m not too proud to admit that I might have made a mistake or two along the way. One recent one that really makes me blush is how goofy I acted around the famous and gorgeous pop star Bixby Lewis. He gave me one kiss and, apparently I lost my mind. It wasn’t my best moment. I cringe when I think about it. I acted like a silly fan-girl. I wish I had stayed cool. If I could do it again, I’d like to rewrite all of that. Some things might have happened differently if I had.

What’s Dorothy’s worst habit?
She keeps upping the stakes. I solve one problem, and bam! what I did to solve it creates an even bigger problem. I’m mean, give me a break already! I’m working hard here.



How do you feel about your life right now?
While I don’t like that people keep getting murdered around me—that’s not good—I love my life. I’m blessed. I’m truly blessed. I’m living on an idyllic Southern island. I own the best chocolate shop in the world. And I’m surrounded by people who love me.

What, if anything, would you like to change? That’s easy. My family. Let’s just say they’re not friendly people and leave it at that.

Describe the town where you live.
I live in the small town of Camellia Beach, which is located a few miles outside of the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina. At first glance, the town isn’t much to look at. The buildings could all use with a fresh coat of paint. Everything looks rusty and old. But the people who live here are gems. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and are always happy to help out with anything. And the buildings in the town don’t dominate the landscape, like has happened to some beach towns. The houses and businesses are generally one-story. The quaint small cottages that have been torn down nearly everywhere else can still be found on Camellia Beach. Also, ancient oaks trees and tall grasses are still a large part of the island. It’s wild and beautiful here. I have truly found a paradise here in Camellia Beach.

What makes you stand out from any other characters in your genre?
I grow and change (hopefully improve) with each book. I’m not a static character. I don’t always make the best decisions. But I’m trying. I’m really trying to improve. And there is nonstop action on the page. This isn’t your grandmother’s cozy mystery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, a neurotic dog, and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn’t as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

Known for the White House Gardener Mystery series, Dorothy is going back to her roots and setting a mystery series in a Southern beach town much like the one she’s called home for the past 20 years. The Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries combine her love of fine chocolates, quirky Southern charm, with a dash of danger.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of the award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: “amazing,” “perfect,” “filled with emotion,” and “lined with danger.”

Connect with Dorothy:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway