Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Spotlight/Book Giveaway/Guest Post: Death Is Like A Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons



About the Book

Genre: Cozy Mystery, #1 in A Chocolate Covered Mystery Series
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
Release Date: September 2014


Synopsis from Goodreads...

Whether it’s to satisfy a craving for chocolate or pick up the hottest new bestseller, the locals in charming West Riverdale, Maryland, are heading to Chocolates and Chapters, where everything sold is to die for…

Best friends Michelle Serrano and Erica Russell are celebrating the sweet rewards of their combined bookstore and chocolate shop by hosting the Great Fudge Cook-off during the town’s Memorial Day weekend Arts Festival. But success turns bittersweet when Main Street’s portrait photographer is found dead in their store, poisoned by Michelle’s signature truffles.

As suspicion mounts against Michelle, her sales begin to crumble and her career seems whipped. With Erica by her side, Michelle must pick through an assortment of suspects before the future of their dream store melts away…

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES

Includes Scrumptious Chocolate-Making Recipes!


Author Guest Post

Transitions R Us

My life is full of transitions right now. My youngest daughter is off to college and in one weekend, my husband and I have become empty nesters. My oldest daughter is a senior in college and will soon be out in the world. My first book, Death is Like a Box of Chocolates, is coming out on September 2nd and I am now a published author. (That last line requires a few exclamation points!)

I’ve been very involved in my girls’ lives, from being PTA president to puppet making assistant, from soccer, swimming, and basketball mom to high school writers’ conference volunteer. Through it all, I’ve improved my writing craft through workshops, conferences, classes, and reading just about every writing book known to man.

The book launch in a few days couldn’t have come at a better time, as I say good-bye to full time mother and say hello to full time writer. I’ve learned so much about publishing and still have so much more to stuff into my brain – especially juggling marketing 1 one with editing book 2 and writing book 3 in the series. I wish the days had more hours in them!

From here, in the middle of all three, I can see how the characters in the book are experiencing their own transitions in each story and even over the three books. While I wish I could control my own transitions as much as I do my characters’, we’re all going to have to navigate whatever comes next together.

****

Kathy Aarons is the author of Death is Like a Box of Chocolates, the first in the CHOCOLATE COVERED MYSTERY series by Berkley Prime Crime. It will be available at your local bookstore, Amazon and Barnes and Noble on September 2nd.

Research for the series was such a hardship: sampling chocolate, making chocolate, sampling more chocolate, and hanging out in bookstores.

After growing up in rural Pennsylvania and attending Carnegie Mellon University, Kathy built a career in public relations in New York City. She now lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters where she wakes up far too early, and is currently obsessed with the Broadway Idiot documentary, finding the perfect cup of coffee, and Dallmann’s Sea Salt Caramels.

You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com.


BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

How would you like to win your own paperback copy of Death Is Like A Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons? Thanks to the author and Berkley, I have one paperback to giveaway to one lucky winner.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US Residents Only

4) For one extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway.

5) For one extra entry: Leave a comment for the author.

6) For one extra entry:  Follow this blog...old followers, too!  Just let us know how you follow and under what name.

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on September 3rd (midnight est) and ends on September 10th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

52 comments:

  1. Sounds like my kind of book! Does Kathy need a research assistant?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as it's a volunteer position. I think it would be considered community service to taste all the chocolate and give me feedback. :-)

      Delete
  2. thank you for the chance to win

    ReplyDelete
  3. So I can eat a piece of death by chocolate, while reading a book of the same title? That's my kind of bookstore. How about opening a branch here in Brooklyn?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I attended a release party yesterday for this book, online, but missed out on the book giveaways. Maybe this time?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck! Thanks for attending the party. I had the best time!

      Delete
  5. Transitions is a spooky time. It can also be a good time. It seems like a good time for you. Congratulations on the launch of your book. I really want to read this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I do feel like so much is changing all at once. :-)

      Delete
  6. A book store and a chocolate store, throw in a kitty named Coco, how can this not be a great read. Congratulations on the launch of your first book in what I hope will be a long series.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great store .... books and chocolate! Would love to visit there!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds good... The title is an interesting twist on the famous Forrest Gump line, especially as this summer marks the 20th anniversary of the movie. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I didn't know it was the 20th anniversary. Man, time goes by fast.

      Delete
  10. Thank you for hosting this wonderful giveaway! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds like a great book! I love the mix of chocolate and mystery!

    ReplyDelete
  12. A delightful mystery. Thanks for this lovely giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cat on the cover. Chocolate is always okay.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I didn't know it was the 20th anniversary of the Forest Gump movie. Cool!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the congrats! The book came out yesterday and I'm having a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chocolate and books are two of my favorite things! I'm looking forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congrats, Kathy! Thanks, Yvonne! Can't wait to read...and the cover is awesome!


    patucker54 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I had so much fun at your release party.
    I love the idea of chocolate and books (who doesn't) add a cat and it's purrfect. (groan)
    Life is going through many changes for you but they all sound exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Books and chocolate!...two of my favorite things! And I love the cover!
    Being an empty nester isn't so bad once you get used to it.

    Congratulations on getting your first book published. I wish you much success as an author.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am excited for you..a first and it sure sounds as if it is a great book.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I start drooling as soon as I read the title, lol, this definitely sounds like my kind of read.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh awesome! I need to be at a chocolate book store. Or a book chocolate store. Either way. ;) This sounds like an awesome new series! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow! You have so much happening all at once. And the book sounds delicious!

    Norma Huss

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just the cover alone makes me want to sit in a chair (with the cat) and read for hours!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love discovering new cozy series. Can't wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Kimberlee
    girllostinabook@hotmail.com
    www.girllostinabook.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. This sounds like a great book I look forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm sorry the research was such a hardship... Next time give me a call to help you out!

    ReplyDelete
  28. You had me at chocolate. Be seriously, the book sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Cozy mystery and chocolate ? Count me in ! kathambre@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Books and chocolates---if we had a store like that in my town I'd be there every day.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Can't wait to read!


    patucker54 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Cosy read are the best sandwiched in-between the heavy historical novels and other genres I tend to find myself reading. I've even been known to pull one up in the middle of one of them to settle myself down.

    ReplyDelete
  33. congrats to Kathy!!
    will there be MORE chocolates?!?!?

    ReplyDelete
  34. How can anything with chocolate be bad, right?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Way to go, Kathy!! So happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Well done, Kathy! As a fellow recent empty-nester, I wish you luck in your new full-time writing life. And your book sounds delightful -- chocolate, books, cats, and Maryland. It's going on my TBR list this instant.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog! I always love reading comments and getting to know my readers!

After some careful consideration, I've decided to become an award-free blog. Although I appreciate and am honored by each and every award I've received, your comments and friendship are enough award for me. Thank you all so much for your thoughtfulness.

Due to way too many spam comments, I disabled the Anonymous User comments. We'll see if this works, otherwise I'll have to go back to word verification.