Spotlight/Interview/Giveaway: Yarn to Go by Betty Hechtman

About the Book

Dessert chef Casey Feldstein doesn’t know a knitting needle from a crochet hook. But after her aunt dies unexpectedly, leaving Casey to run her yarn retreat business, the sweets baker finds herself rising to the occasion—and trying to unravel a murder mystery…

When Casey finds out that her late aunt’s business, Yarn2Go, has one more yarn retreat scheduled, she decides to go ahead and host the event, despite her complete lack of experience as a knitter. At least the retreat is on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula.

But the idyllic setting is soured when a retreat regular is found murdered in her hotel room. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Casey begins to weave the clues together and detects a pattern which may shed light on her aunt’s suspicious death. Despite the danger, the last thing Casey plans to do is retreat. She’ll catch this killer…or dye trying.

Includes a knitting pattern and a recipe!

Author Interview

Socrates’ Book Review Blog and Socrates’ Cozy Café would like to welcome author Betty Hechtman to our little corner of the blogger book world. Betty is the author of two cozy mystery series – “Yarn Retreat Mysteries” and “Crochet Mysteries”. Her newest release is “Yarn to Go” – the first book in the “Yarn Retreat Mystery” series.

Thanks to Berkley I will be reviewing this one shortly, but I can offer a book to giveaway right now! So, check out the interview with Betty and then enter the giveaway to read this one for yourself!

Let’s get started…

1. Who is the greatest influence in your writing career?

I would say it was my father. He was a writer, too, though he wrote all non fiction. He showed me the ropes, not only telling how to submit to magazines, but let me know there would be a lot of rejection. I never liked the rejection, but I never let it stop me.

2. As a child, did you read mysteries?

I discovered Nancy Drew first and loved the books. I started reading Agatha Christie’s when I was in high school and knew I wanted to be like her.

3. Do you have any favorite authors or books to recommend?

Right now I am reading some of Agatha Christies short stories.

4. Do you knit or crochet?

I do both, though I am a lot more comfortable with crochet. Actually the whole idea for the crochet series came out of my desire to learn how to crochet granny squares. To make a long story short, I found the answer in a kid’s kit at a toy store in Las Vegas. The idea was if the instructions would work for a ten year old they ought to work for me. They did and once I’d conquered granny squares I felt like the golden door to crochet had opened for me. Then I got the idea of mixing crochet with mystery. The rest, as they say, is history. I love having a yarn craft theme in my books. All the time I spend knitting and crocheting is really research and I have a great excuse to add to my stash of yarn.

5. How did you come up with the idea for your books?

It usually shows up as the first scene of a book. The pieces come from all over. I overhear a bit of a conversation or pick up something at a yarn show I attend. I have a basic idea and then it evolves as I write a synopsis to show my editor.

6. How long does it take for you to write a book?

I get about six months a book.

7. How did you feel when your first book was published? What was your first published work?

The first book to get published was Blue Schwartz and Nefertiti’s Necklace. It is a middle grade mystery about a thirteen year old babysitter who gets accused of stealing a priceless necklace from one of her baby sitting clients. She also loves to cook and I included some of her favorite recipes. It takes place in the Chicago neighborhood I grew up in. I still remember the moment I got the call from the publisher sayingt she wanted to publish my manuscript. What a thrill!

8. What kind of environment do you do your actual writing in? Describe the setting for us.

I mentioned that my father was a writer. He had to have just the right situation to write in. I decided I didn’t want to be that way, so, I can write almost anywhere at any time. My main computer is in a tiny room with too much stuff. I often start writing by hand on a yellow pad at my kitchen table.

9. Now that you started a new series, does this mean the end of your first series? Or will we be seeing more of both series?

There will be at least two more books in the crochet series. FOR BETTER OR WORSTED comes out in November and the next one will come out the next year. There will also be at least two more books in the Yarn Retreat series.

10. Can you give us a sneak peek into your future releases?

I am writing the second book in the Yarn Retreat series right now. It is called SILENCE OF THE LAMBS WOOL and this time Casey puts on a sheep to shawl retreat. She’s still baking up a storm and thinking about the hunky cop who lives down the street. As mentioned above the next crochet mystery comes out in November. You might guess by the title FOR BETTER OR WORSTED that a wedding is involved. As usual Molly gets in plenty of trouble. There’s murder, yarn bombing, a mini pig, a new crisis for Adele and hopefully a lot of fun.

Thank you so much, Betty, for taking the time to visit with us.

BOOK GIVEAWAY !!!!

Now you can win a copy of this book for your very own. Thanks to Berkley Publishing, I can a paperback copy of Yarn to Go to one lucky winner.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the form below (including a valid email address).

2) US residents only.

2) For an extra entry: Follow this blog

3) For an extra entry: Follow me on Twitter

4) For an extra entry: Follow me on Goodreads

5) For an extra 2 entries: Post this giveaway on your blog.

6) For an extra 2 entries: Tweet about this giveaway.

The giveaway begins on August 8th (midnight est) and ends on August 15th (midnight est).

The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

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