Sunday, May 3, 2020

In Our Time by Abby Collette

JENN McKINLAY: Author serendipity: that time, at Bouchercon in Dallas, when I went to the Berkley cocktail party with my fellow Red, Rhys Bowen, and met a lovely author named Abby Collette. We all bonded over the amazing guacamole being made right in front of us and started chatting about our books, as authors do. 

Abby mentioned her first mystery with Berkley was coming out and it was set around an ice cream parlor. I had just been asked to read a new mystery in the same setting. Abby and I realized her book was the book I was about to read! Crazy, right? 

Suffice to say, I loved the book and I adored my time with Abby. She is delightful in person and on the page, and she's here to tell us about how she's getting through quarantine and about her fabulous cozy mystery: A Deadly Inside Scoop.


On Sale: MAY 12th

Abby Collette: Books can transport us from the world we’re in and the troubles that surround us to the good places within its pages. A much needed getaway. Inside books we find heroes, love, laughter, beauty, escape and mirrored characterizations of our wonderful world with all of its quirks and flaws. I love getting lost in a book, and as a writer I love creating those worlds. But since our real world has been turned upside down, I’ve had a hard time writing. Someone told me I was grieving. I can’t say that isn’t true. 
In these days the invasion social media has into our lives may have turned into a good thing. (Never thought I’d say that!) Many have used it to reach out, share and comfort. I especially appreciate the encouraging words coming in from the literary community.
Recently, as inspiration, it has been floated around how Newton, while quarantined, wrote an essay that was the basis for calculus. And how Shakespeare, on being ordered to stay inside, penned King Lear. Proof certain good things can come from bad times (although I don’t know whether there are many of us who think calculus is a good thing.) 
Most everyone appreciates Shakespeare and what he has given to the literary world and our lexicon. While it isn’t for sure that he wrote King Lear while on quarantine, it is true that he and all of London (during Shakespeare’s London years) were often ordered not to venture outside during many of the years he wrote plays. Reading his works, it is evident how that world seeped into the words, characters and plot devices of the stories he created.
For instance, in Romeo and Juliet, a sudden plague outbreak forces the messenger dispatched to take a letter to Romeo into quarantine. The note explained that Juliet had faked her death. But for the “shelter at home” order given to the messenger, Romeo would not have thought Juliet was dead and that story could have had a happy ending. And in Macbeth and indeed King Lear, Shakespeare included references to the ongoing pandemic of his time.  
Unlike Shakespeare, I don’t want the stories I pen to be plagued (no pun intended) with the circumstances of our present time. As I move through these days and try to make my isolation period more productive, I have been reminded by my writing community that writing can help to work through feelings, to stay positive because writing for me is familiar and comforting and I too can escape.
I write cozies, and in them we always find that the amateur sleuth makes the best of a bad situation, which, as you know, is usually murder. And in my latest book, A Deadly Inside Scoop, Win, the main character is no different. She reopens her family’s ice cream shop after a long remodeling delay only for an unexpected snow storm to hit. Because of it, no one shows up. But like Newton and Shakespeare, she does. She shows up and doesn’t let her circumstances keep her down. Remembering how her grandmother persevered, Win decides to take that snow and make snow ice cream. 
After a slow start, I’ve found ways to stay motivated by staying connected. I’ve taught a three-week class with Literary Cleveland, a local organization committed to helping writers and readers, and I’ve been able to check in and spend time with my weekly library #amwriting group, both via video chat. And I’ve been inspired by the stories I’ve again started to write.
The time that Newton was quarantined history has called his annus mirabelis—a remarkable or auspicious year. Maybe we, like Newton, Shakespeare and Win in my book, can turn this year around into something better, maybe even great. Only history will tell.

How about you, Red and Readers, how are you finding your time in quarantine? Anyone coming up with a new calculus? Please say no.

WALL STREET JOURNAL, USA TODAY, and internationally best selling author, Abby L. Vandiver, also writing as Abby Collette, has always enjoyed writing, combining that with her gift for telling stories and love of mystery, she became an author.

Abby's an hybrid author. Her debut novel, In the Beginning and its sequels, Irrefutable Proof and Incarnate are fact mixed with fiction, mystery/sci-fi novels not written as action packed or fast paced, but as "what-if" alternative history stories. After those books were published, Abby switched to writing cozy mysteries. Finding much success, she has three series so far, Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery, Normal Junction Cozy Mystery and Tiny House Mysteries, all self-published. In 2017, she contracted with Henery Press for a 3-book deal to pen the series Romaine Wilder Mysteries. Her new #ownvoice cozy mystery series, An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery by Berkley Penguin will debut in May 2020. The first book in the series is A Deadly Inside Scoop. 

Abby, a former lawyer and college professor, has a bachelor's degree in Economics, a master's in Public Administration, and a Juris Doctor. A lifetime resident of Cleveland, Ohio, Abby spends all of her time writing and enjoying her wonderful grandchildren.

Abby's got many more books to come, so stay tuned!

Visit her: www.abbyvandiver.com
Email her: abbylvandiver@aol.com
Follow her: @AbbyVandiver
Keep up with new releases: www.bookbub.com/authors/abby-l-vandiver

88 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Abby, on your newest book. I love that Win can see her way to turning a difficult situation into something positive. I’m looking forward to reading her story.

    I am getting lots of reading [and lots of baking] done while we sit in quarantine [but no calculus, new or otherwise]. Truthfully, although I haven’t missed driving, I will be glad when we can return to some semblance of normal and I can go back to church, back to the library, back to work, and back to grocery shopping whenever I want to wander through the store . . . .

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    1. Thank you, Joan. I'm really excited about my new book.

      I feel the same way, I miss going to the store and the library. I was always one to say, I just wish I could stay home and have nothing to do, now that's happening, I miss all the running around. I been trying to read, can't seem to finish a book (although I've started about four of them) and I've been baking, too! What do you have cooking??

      Happy Reading!

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    2. Same. I used to live for days with nothing to do but be home, now I'm ready to sell my house and move!

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    3. Abby, today there's a just-baked Apple Cider Donut Cake cooling in the kitchen . . . .

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  2. No, no new calculus here. Please, no. The original is more than enough.

    Congrats on the debut. I love ice cream!

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    1. Confession - I never took calculus. No regrets.

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    2. Hi Mark! I took calculus in high school and college (lucky you, Jenn) and I don't want any new calculus here, either.

      Thank you, I'm so excited about the debut. Check out my book. Lots of ice cream in there!

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    3. I took one semester of calculus in college. My mom was a math major and my dad was a civil engineer, so you took calculus when you go to college. I figured out half way through the semester I didn't need it. I'm still not sure how I got a B in that class, but it was the last semester of calculus I took.

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    4. I never took calculus, either!

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  3. Abby, you are certainly a prolific writer. I can't wait to visit your web site and take a look at all the series you written and are writing. Tiny House Mysteries has me really intrigued. And, A Deadly Inside Scoop sounds just perfect for reading now, with a main character that keeps on going through the obstacles thrown in her way. With a beautifully bright cover and a theme of perseverance, I think many readers will gravitate towards your new book. Congratulations on the start to a new series.

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    1. I love the cover! Talk about an eye catcher!

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    2. Thank you, Kathy for taking a look at my work. I love that Tiny House Mysteries series, it was so much fun to write. After Hallmark, HGTV is my favorite channel, that's where I got the idea. It's another two books in the series yet to come . . .

      Happy Reading!

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    3. Oh yeah, that cover . . . I love it too. Berkley did such a great job!

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    4. Abby, love the Tiny House idea. I'm going to check those out!

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    5. Hi Deborah, I hear they're fun books. Lol. Happy Reading!

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  4. Congrats on the new book Abby!

    I'm not inventing or reinventing the wheel or calculus while under the stay at home advisory. Being at home hasn't really changed much of how I go through my day other than that I'm at home in the daytime a lot more.

    I read, listen to music, write my review articles on books, CDs and my Cassette Chronicles series. I would say I write concert reviews but I'm pretty sure the last concert I attended for this year was on March 3rd and I won't be seeing any more because of everything being shut down and socially distanced into oblivion.

    I watch a lot of TV too. Not that there's actually much on because all the shows are shut down early and what episodes hadn't aired are just now airing or they just finished airing.

    And my sleep is all messed up because I can stay up late. As evidenced by me writing this response at 3:20 am.

    I really need to start putting myself on a bedtime routine.

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    1. all you'd need for that Jay is a cat who is always up at daybreak and wants you up too!

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    2. The only problem with that is I'm not a cat person. And the doctors are pretty sure that a scratch from a cat was what left me 36 hours from death when I was a kid.

      So...no cats for me.

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    3. I should add that now that I've read the description for the book, I'm going to order myself a copy of 'A Deadly Inside Scoop'.

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    4. Jay, as you suggested yesterday in your reply, I went to the site and found an Astérix in the silver comics.
      As for your bedtime problem, I think the routine is a good way to help and I hope you will soon get normal sleeping.

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    5. Every night I’m up later and later. I’d blame my deadline but I think I’m just stir crazy.

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    6. Jenn, I think starting tomorrow I'm going to get on a schedule again. Or maybe tonight. Or maybe next week. LOL

      Danielle-momo, glad to hear it. The Diamond Comics distributor is reportedly going to start shipping to stores beginning on May 20th, so assuming that Massachusetts opens back up on the 18th, I'll be able to start getting my regular material again. The free books won't be out until the reschedule the FCBD event though.

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    7. Well, Jay, it does sound like things have been shaken up a bit. Less sleep, no concerts, no new TV episodes! But you read (I'm finding that hard to do) and music always makes everything better (at least for me). I can't seem to sleep either . .

      Glad you read that description and I hope you enjoy my book and get back on schedule. Happy Reading!

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    8. LOL. Next week...next month...

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  5. Congratulations on the launch of a new series, Abby!

    I was fortunate to get an eARC from Netgalley (and you) a few months ago.
    You had me at artisan ice cream...it was a fun, tasty read!

    I'm baking here at home A LOT. Sourdough bread, and today, banana bread scones.

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    1. Thank you, Grace! So happy you were able to get an ARC (they seemed to be doled out sparingly) and that is exactly what I was going for--fun and tasty.

      I love sourdough bread and banana bread, but I've never tried banana bread scones! Sounds delicious!

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    2. Sourdough! I love it but am afraid of the work required to "feed" the starter.

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  6. Congratulations, Abby! Now I want some artisan ice cream...

    I'll have to check out your Tiny House series - the protagonist in one of my series lives in a tiny house. ;^)

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    1. Hi Edith! Thank you! Tiny house?? Lol I'll definitely have to check out your book.

      I had hoped to write another book in the series while I'm hanging out at home. We'll see how that goes.

      Happy Writing!

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    2. Thanks, Abby. It's the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries (written as Maddie Day) from Kensington.

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  7. Congratulations on your new release! Waves from Cincinnati.

    I spent the month of April banging out a truly awful first draft of my next book. I was free, especially when I swerved off my carefully constructed ten point plot outline. Like riding a bike downhill with no hands.

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    1. Hi Margaret! Waving back. I used to live in Cincinnati! Way back in the 80s. Lol.

      Great you're getting some writing done, detours, shaky drafts and all. I'm sure it'll turn out just fine. Down hill with no hands, whee!!

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  8. Wonderful, Abby! (One of my very first jobs was in an ice cream store—Dairy Queen!)
    What is snow ice cream?
    And sigh , I’m sure some kind of inspiration will arrive, sure. Soon. Xxxx Congratulations!

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    1. Hi Hank! Thank you!

      Ha! Just had Dairy Queen last night with my grandchildren. We have to savor it when we have warm weather around here, might not last and what better way than with a Blizzard!

      Snow ice cream, is ice cream made from snow! There's a recipe for it in the book. You'll need a bowlful of snow, which hopefully we won't see for awhile. I think some sunshine would be the perfect inspiration.

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    2. Like in the Laura books, Hank!

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  9. Congratulations on the new book, Abby! I love the idea of “when life gives you snow, make snow ice cream.”

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    1. Yes! Win, the heroine, is very pragmatic. I love her.

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    2. Thank you, Cindy. I'm excited about the book. I had planned a big book tour that is now sidelined. But I'm taking my cue from Win and making the best of it!

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  10. Welcome to the blog Abby! your post about the creative types who made the most of their quarantines gives me hope! I would love to hear more about your path from self-pubbed to Henery to Berkley. I think that could give some aspiring writers hope too...

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    1. Hi Lucy! Thank you for having me. It's so cool to be on a blog with such great writers. I'm honored.

      My path was filled with luck, Lucy. I started writing because I was home, in bed, sick. Took the doctor's four years to find out what was wrong (very rare malignant ovarian tumor), meanwhile I needed something to do. I decided to write. Henery Press read a sample of a self-published book I submitted to a promotion they were having. They asked me for a three-book deal. Then an agent saw that HP was publishing me and asked to represent me. She got me the deal with Penguin in less than six months after I signed with her. Like meeting Jenn, it was all serendipitous! And all of it when I was in my 60s! I hope my story does inspire others not to give up.

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    2. Abby, my first mystery was published two months before I turned 60 in 2012, and my 20th came out in March. Agree- it's never too late!

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  11. It's so funny to read about inventing new stuff right now, when last night I had a dream that I invented all kinds of amazing things. None of which I can remember, of course. I'm quite sure none of them involved calculus.

    Who doesn't like ice cream? Sounds like a fun read, Abby. I look forward to meeting Win!

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    1. I saw your reply to Margaret. A longtime Cincinnatian here. What neighborhood did you live in? (We are out near Coney Island.)

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    2. Hi Karen! I've always wished I could invent something. I think writing stories is my limit on that.

      I lived in Pleasant Ridge and Springfield Township. My ex-husband still lives there so I visit there a couple times a year.

      I'm sure you and Win will get along great (she loves living in Ohio)!

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    3. I lived in Pleasant Ridge until we got married in early 1982, and I worked at Kitchen Gallery later. It's a lovely area.

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    4. Karen, we might have ran into each other. I lived in Pleasant Ridge in 81-82. What a coincidence.

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  12. Thanks for visiting Jungle Reds, Abby, and congratulations on you book release! I remember making snow ice cream many, many years ago ~

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    1. Thank you, Celia. So happy to be here! Snow ice cream is a fun treat. And living in Cleveland, its main ingredient is available more often than I like!

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  13. Congratulations for your new book Abby ! A Deadly Inside Scoop is calling out to me .
    I love ice cream and perseverance but I don't know what is snow ice cream.

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    1. Thank you, Danielle. Heed that call!

      Snow ice cream is ice cream made from snow! Quite good. There's a recipe in the back of the book. But let's not hope for snow anytime soon.

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    2. Next time I'm in MA in winter, I am absolutely making snow Ice cream!

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  14. Congratulations on the new book! It especially speaks to me because my first job, which I credit with teaching me a lot of the good work habits that have carried me through 40+ years since, was at a Baskin Robbins. Sending my regards from Columbus -- normally, so close to you, now, might as well be the other side of the world.

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    1. Hi Susan. Yes! So close and now so far away. I lived in Columbus, too. I eent to Otterbein College (I hear now it's a university). I love Columbus. Before all of this I had planned two book events there.

      Baskin Robbins sounds like the best job. I love their chocolate almond. Hands down my most favorite ice cream.

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  15. Jenn, thanks for introducing me to a new author! I had that happen to me too - I would meet an author of a book that I was interested in reading. That happened at the mystery conferences and at the local Sisters in Crime meetings.

    Abby, congratulations on your new book! Love the cover of your book. How did you decide that you wanted to write cozy mysteries?

    How am I doing during the quarantine? I have been working on my book blog. I am catching up on my Net Galley reading, which is great! I am participating in Reese's Book Club, a Nancy Drew Book club, an Agatha Christie monthly book club, and a Classics Readalong (we are reading Lorna Doone). I have been baking and cooking. I am trying to improve my organizing skills (we will see..LOL). I have been exercising with my Bar Method through live streaming. And I an continuing my voice lessons via Face Time.

    Right now I am reading the Henna Artist for the Reese book club and I love it. I think I will finish reading it today. I started last night.

    Diana

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    1. Wow, Diana, you are keeping busy. I need some of your motivation! And thank you, I excited about the book and super happy with the cover. They did such a good job with the cover. I saw Reese book recommendation. Maybe I'll pick that book up, although I've got a ton of books sitting here that I can't get through (what's your secret??)

      I started writing cozies after my first series. Some reviewers complained because there wasn't peril around every corner and no blood and guts. I just couldn't do that, or the swearing, or the intimate scenes. Cozy was the perfect alternative for me.

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    2. Abby is as delightful as her book!

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    3. Abby, thank you! I joined the bookstagram community on Instagram. Since I read books with virtual book clubs, they keep me on my toes! Your comment about no blood and guts reminded me of Agatha Christie, mentioning in her autobiography that her brother in law complained that her books had no blood or gore in them. LOL. I am a big fan of cozy books!

      Jenn, thanks!

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    4. Bibliophile, thanks for stopping by. And yes! Gotta keep it clean. Lol

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  16. I'm still having to work but I've been looking forward to your book. Sounds like a great new series. I'm anxious to give it a try.

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  17. With the heat hitting the triple digits here in AZ, I would kill for some snow ice cream. Congrats on the release of your book, Abby. I loved it!!!

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    1. Jenn, you are the best. Thank you so much for the words of encouragement, for reading my book and helping me introduce it to the world. And for giving me a spot on this awesome blog. It truly was serendipity. So happy I met you. Love you, love your books.

      And be thankful you don't have snow! I haven't put away my winter coat or boots yet, just in case. Around here you never know. Can you share some of that sunshine??

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    2. I will box up some sunshine and mail it tomorrow. Use oven mitts to open - we're having a scorcher :)

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  18. Abby, congratulations on A DEADLY INSIDE SCOOP! Here in Boston, the local food is much more ice cream than it is beans. So interesting that you can go from mystery/sci-fi to cozy... wondering how you found one different from the other in terms of the writers... and your readers?

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    1. Hi Hallie. Thank you! I loved writing my sci-fi/mystery books and I got a lot of good reviews, but some reviewers reminded me that a little more violence than I cared to write into a story was part of the deal. So I switched to cozies. I even did a spin-off of that series into a cozy. So those characters, who I loved got to continue on. Some readers stuck with me, and some I met later went back and read those books.

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  19. I can’t wait to read your new book — I love ice cream. Although we don’t get much snow in Texas, when we did, my dad would make snow ice cream. I have read one of your Romaine Wilder books and really enjoyed it. I will also check out the Tiny House books.

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  20. Hi Chris. Thanks for checking out the blog post and my book! I'm happy you enjoyed it.

    A Deadly Inside Scoop will be out soon, I can't wait either!

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  21. Abby, this was the first time I tried the recipe, and it's a winner (in my opinion). Much quicker to make than a banana bread loaf.

    And like you, I still have my winter coat and boots out. The weather forecase here in Ottawa (ON) calls for several days with overnight lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s.
    again. I want warmer gardening weather but mother nature is not cooperating!

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    1. Feel free to send that cold front our way, Grace. Rhys and I would appreciate it!

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    2. i love to have that recipe, Grace.

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  22. Hi Abby and congratulations on your book! It's getting hot in north Texas--I'd love to read about ice cream! Thanks for the very inspiring essay this morning. If Shakespeare could write in a pandemic, I have no excuse lol!

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    1. Hi Deborah! And thank you. Lol. Yes, if only I could be that prolific.

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  23. Congratulations on the new release!

    With temps kissing the 90s we could use some of that ice cream! We made snow ice cream as kids, I remember using soda fountain flavorings for the good stuff, and Kool-Aid when left to our own devices.

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    1. There's a soda fountain in the book! We're a long way from getting 90 degree days. You definitely need a scoop to stay cool.

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  24. Congratulations on the new release, Abby! I'll be exploring all your series -- of which there are many, it seems. Wow! It's turned cold again up here on the Canadian prairie, where it's sunny today but with a biting wind and just-below freezing temps overnight. There'll be no ice cream eaten in my house, but reading about it is always fine. I'm looking forward to it...

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  25. We made snow ice cream when we were kids. I always have regular ice cream in the freezer.
    I'm doing my normal things in this pandemic, reading, watching TV, being on the computer. I did some baking but have no one to share it with now. Best thing is that the nursery reopened so I bought plants and will buy some more. Lovely to see flowers in the garden.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Sally. Glad you're able to keep busy and get outside.

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  26. Thank you, Jenn for inviting me here today. What good fortune I had going to Dallas and that cocktail party. And thank you everyone that left comments, well wishes and thoughts on calculus, quarantine and ice cream!

    Happy Reading!

    ~ Abby

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  27. Abby, those online connections are a life line, yes? My online writing course has become so important, allowing me to "meet" with students and share their work. And everything---phone calls and emails---have all taken on a new poignancy. Everyone matters. (As for Calculus...if you ask my granddaughter, Olivia will suggest you change that to Statistics, her last "biggie" course before she graduates from high school in two weeks. It's not a foreign language...it's an alien invader!)

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    1. Hard classes when it's time to graduate is the worst!

      Yes, Victoria, online meet-ups are proving to be a lifesaver for me. Wonder how Shakespeare and Newton made it through!

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  28. Congrats on the new series, Abby. It's wonderful that social media has proven to be so useful during the pandemic. I have "met" with family and friends I wouldn't see for years otherwise. Also, I hope the experience of so many people working from home will mean more employees will work from home most of the time, which will cut down on travel time and pollution. No calculus for me, but I may go have a bowl of ice cream. :)

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. So cool that you're hanging out with relatives. That is the best! And I can't say enough about ice cream!

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  29. Congrats on the series, Abby! (Ice cream--yum!)

    I'm grateful that I can still read for pleasure during this time. The writing was hard in the beginning, but it's getting better now.

    All the best to you!

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  30. Hey Abby!

    What a great post - and so timely. I love that you have the intent to NOT let present events seep into your work. It's hard, right not to let the images of the media color our stories, but like you I strive to write stories that are true to my original intent. And as a cozy writer, we have a responsibility to create that cozy world (albeit rife with murder!) that readers want to escape to! The last thing I personally want to see in my cozies (and really all of my stories) is the bad stuff we're seeing on social media and the news. So, I appreciate your goal to keep it cozy. I'm doing the same - in fact writing in this way is an escape for the writer as well.

    I've already read an ARC of this story, and I loved it. I can't wait to read the next one!

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