Please give a warm welcome to my guest, Vanetta Chapman.
Murder Tightly Knit releases today (December 16), and I thought I’d share with you a little bit about the genre of Amish cozy mysteries. This is the second book in my Amish Village Mystery series—the first was Murder Simply Brewed (ebook is now on sale for $2.99) and the third, Murder Freshly Baked will release in the summer of 2015. Each is a stand-alone story, but share the same characters who are solving a different “case.”
So what is the deal with Amish murder mysteries? After all, we read Amish stories because they describe the plain and simple life, they remind us of the way our grandparents lived, and they focus on faith. Can a murder mystery do those things? I think so! Here’s a recent review:
“Readers will enjoy figuring out the murder mystery while also growing close to the characters as they fall in love, learn more about one another, and grow deeper in their faith.” – Booklist
So what IS a cozy mystery? Here’s my definition:
- It takes place in a small town. In this series, my characters live in Middlebury, Indiana http://www.middleburyin.com which is located in the northeast corner of Indiana—3 hours north of Indianapolis, 2 hours east of Chicago, and 90 minutes south of Grand Rapids.
- Someone stumbles over the body and then becomes involved in the investigation. There are no violent or descriptive scenes. Think of the old Agatha Christie books, or the television show Murder She Wrote. These are gentle reads and although here may be some tension, you never have to worry about encountering a grisly scene.
- There’s an amateur sleuth and a sidekick. This is part of what makes a cozy mystery fun. My “amateur sleuth” is Amber Wright (now Amber Bowman), and she runs the Amish Village which is remarkably similar to the Essenhaus in Middlebury (http://www.essenhaus.com). I was able to interview quite a few people at the Essenhaus including the general manager. This helped me to bring real aspects of the area to the story! My sleuth usually ends up in trouble, but she also brings a fresh perspective to the investigation. In a cozy mystery, the sleuth knows more about the people in the town and so is able to figure out the mystery before or in conjunction with the police. In Murder Tightly Knit, my sidekick is Hannah Troyer, an Amish girl who works at the Village.
- There’s a degree of humor in cozy mysteries. I know that murder investigations are not funny, but my characters are! In this story, I introduce Pam Coleman, the new assistant manager to the Village. She is a smart, funny, perceptive black woman who brings warmth and humor to the story.
- It always comes back to faith and friendship—and perhaps a little romance. When we go through trying times, often our beliefs are reinforced, and the people of Middlebury certainly rely on their faith as they try to solve this mystery. Friendships are strengthened and the community as a whole comes together in a closer more genuine way.
I find cozy mysteries fun to write. I’m able to explore a lot of different topics. For instance, in this story I’m able to incorporate a lot of details about knitting, survivalists, Amish teens who leave home, and how we can reach out to the homeless. There’s even a prodigal son aspect to the story. It’s a fun read with a lot of faith, humor, and plain and simple living thrown in.
I’d love to give away a free copy (ebook or print) to one of Kate’s readers. So leave a comment below, telling me whether you knit, crochet, or craft in any way (and it’s okay if you don’t – leave a comment any way). We’ll randomly pull one name and select a winner. US only.
You can find out more about me and my writing at the following links:
http://vannettachapman.com
https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman
https://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks
http://vannettachapman.com/blog/
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Vannetta Chapman
Thank you Vanetta!
Sadly, I do not crochet, knit, or do any type of craft. There is just no time. ) : I would love to find the time to read a book, however! ( :
Well, Betty. My response to you went to the top of the page. I guess I hit the wrong “reply.” 🙂 Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Thanks for entering, Betty! Good luck!
I like to crochet. I don’t get to do it much.
Love your books Kate and Vannetta’s!
Thank you, Cheryl. I try to work on projects while hubby is watching sports. That way we’re in the same room together, but you know … I’m less bored. lol
Thanks, Cheryl! Good luck in the giveaway!
Sounds like an intriguing read…Would love to win.
Well I tried, Leona. 🙂
Thanks for entering, Leona!
Can not wait to get it. I know, I know, yes I have a bag of books from Lifeway waiting to be read. Honestly what is one more book?? I enjoy great clean writing. Love stories, mysteries, suspence…but CLEAN is the key word. And I CRAFT! 🙂 I work with flowers, wreathes, decopodge, glass…..
You’ll get them read, Tammy. Don’t worry about that! 🙂 And your crafting sounds beautiful!
Good luck, Tammy!
Would love to have the opportunity to win these ,,, cannot wait to read all of them
Thank you
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon!
Good luck, Sharon!
Love to learn to crochet. ..looks like fun!
Crocheting is fun, Anne. There are a lot of good youtube videos, and a skein of yarn doesn’t cost much at all. 🙂
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Anne. I like Vannetta’s idea of watching videos!
Been waiting for this one to release!!! Crochet the easy stuff and quilt a little too, but just not enough time with all the books I have waiting to be read.
My husband often tells me that I have too many hobbies, Johnda. As if that is possible!
Thanks for entering, Johnda! Never too many books or hobbies!
sounds like a gd book would love a chance to win
thanks for stopping by, Lois!
Good luck, Lois!
I crochet and sew. I have a working knowledge of how to knit, but have yet to finish a project. I have WIP baby blanket I probably would have finished by now if it wasn’t for I knit when I should have purled and my pattern is off. I need to suck it up, pull out multiple rows of stitches and correct the problem. Being a rookie I’m worried about not getting the yarn back on the needles.
Just crochet the blanket, Jennifer. I should have written a book titled, Murder Easily Crocheted. Lol
Like that title, Vannetta. Thanks for entering, Jennifer!
Can’t wait to read this ~ I tried learning to knit and crochet numerous times, it just wouldn’t click for me 🙂
I know what you mean, Patti. I’ve tried several things that didn’t “click.” It’s supposed to be fun, so if I don’t like doing it, I try something else!
Good luck in the giveaway, Patti!
This sounds like another great book.
I actually shared this from Vanetta’s author
page. I’m drawn to this cover. Love it!
Thanks for sharing, Cathy. I appreciate that!
I love the cover too, Cathy!
I mostly cross stitch but I also sew and am learning to crochet.
It’s all fun. Isn’t it, Hannah?
Good luck in the book giveaway, Hannah!
Sounds like my kind of book. I like humor and family, but not violence! I
I’ve working on projects! Quilting, cross stitch, needlepoint, and drawing and painting!
Hi Deb. Wow. You are very talented, and I think you would love MTK. 🙂
Thanks for entering, Deb!
I crochet, almost every day I have some project under way. I also read a lot
I usually have too many projects underway, Sharon. 🙂
Good luck, Sharon!
This sounds like another amazing book, Vannetta! Being from Northeastern Indiana originally (near Middlebury), these books bring me home! I really hope I can win! Thank you both so much for this giveaway, and God bless! Merry Christmas as well!
It’s your stomping ground, Mallory!
Hello , My name is Tina Cappa I’m from CT but I moved here to Lancaster pa in 2001 after being married . I love living here with the Amish . It’s so peaceful and very inspiring to learn about the way they live. We bought a house right in front of a Amish farm its beautiful . I love to read Amish stories and I would love to have a copy of any of Kate’s books I have been reading Beverly Lewis . I am a stay at home wife and I love to craft and read . Thank you for the chance and also I just subscribed to the blog . Merry Christmas
HI Tina. I used to live in CT. 🙂 Thanks for commenting on the blog!
I used to live in CT too, Tina! Merry Christmas to you!
And in answer to your question, I’m always knitting and learning to crochet!
It sounds like you stay busy, Mallory!
Good luck, Mallory!
This looks great like all her books.
Thank you, Virginia.
Thanks for entering, Virginia!
I do not do the crafty things. I read. I have tried crocheting and knitting but couldn’T KEEP MY CONCENTRation.
I do not knit or crochet although I’ve tried both, but I make chunky necklaces. I’ve never read an Amish mystery although I read a lot of Amish. This sounds like it would be really good.
Now that sounds like fun, Fay.
Good luck, Fay!
I have done a lot of crocheting and made a lot of doilies which my great-aunt inspired me to learn. Now I like to do cross-stitch and read.
I like cross stitch too. And of course I love to read! 🙂
Good luck in the book giveaway!
Love Amish books, this sounds like it will be really good !
Thanks, Dolly. I appreciate your stopping by!
Good luck, Dolly!
I enjoy all of your books. I look forward to each & every new release.
Thanks so much, Darlene.
Good luck, Darlene!
I have not mastered the art of knitting but did crochet years ago.
Vannetta is such an amazingly talented author. One of my favorites. I haven’t started reading this series yet, but hope to start soon.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Murder Tightly Knit.
Hi Cindi. Thanks for stopping by! You know I first started knitting, and crocheting, when one of my high school students taught me how. Isn’t that funny?
Vannetta is talented, Cindi! Good luck.
I tried to knit a sweater once, only got as far as the waistband. Tried to crochet, didn’t happen. I do sew. I have made many things for myself, my nieces when they were little and other family members.
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
I can relate, Karen. My knitting is NOT good. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. It curls up. As far as crochet, I’m very good with hats and scarves, but THAT IS IT.
Good luck, Karen!
I sew, crochet and embroider. I enjoy Amish books.
Thanks for entering the book giveaway, Diane!
I’m not too crafty either, but Vannetta’s books are wonderful! Kate you don’t need to enter my name in this contest, but I wanted to comment because you are both such wonderful authors and I love each of your many books! Just keep on writing!
Ahhh … thanks for stopping by, Sonja!
You’re a sweetheart, Sonja. Thanks so much for writing!
I learned to crochet and cross stitch many years ago but got away from both.
I loved “Simply Brewed” and can’t wait to read the all the series.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Hi Marsha. I’m glad you enjoyed book 1. I think you’re going to have a lot of fun reading book 2. 🙂
Thanks for entering, Marsha!
Would love this book! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Gael.
Good luck, Gael!
ohh. two of my favorite things knitting/crochet and anything amish or mennonite. would be blessed to win this.
Hi Mistie. I hope you’re having a good Christmas season.
Wishing you good luck, Mistie!
I love to crochet, knit and sew! Subjects that were taught to me when I was very, very young….and grew to love. Now nimble fingers and waning eyesight keep me from doing theses crafts, I still do just not every day. I would love to win this book! My eyes can still see to read
Hi Linda. I understand totally. I thought I was going to have to stop sewing, because I can barely thread a needle anymore. Then someone told me to hold the needle in front of dark fabric and I’d be able to thread it. THAT has worked! Blessings.
Good luck, Linda!
Look like it would be an awesome read. Love reading Amish books.
Thanks for stopping by, Carla.
Good luck, Carla!
I knit and teaching myself to crochet. I love both and I love Vannetta Chapman books. Can’t wait to read Murder Tightly Knit…the cover is intriguing….thanks for the opportunity to win. Linda
I love that cover too, Linda. I think they are FUN. 🙂
Thanks for entering and good luck, Linda!
I knit and crochet and I love a good mystery! I look forward to reading this one!
You sound like my perfect reader, Lori. 🙂
You sound like a great fit for Vannetta’s books, Lori!
I knit and crochet but not a lot these days. I would love to win Vanetta’s book!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon.
Good luck in the giveaway, Sharon!
I dont know how to do either right now. Im in middle of learing to crochet.
I learn a lot about crocheting through youtube videos, Brittany. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog, Brittany! Those youtube videos sound like a great idea.
I sometime do crafts to decorate my home but I really enjoy sewing. I used to sew for my daughter and now, I have a 9 month old granddaughter so I plan to do a lot more!
Thanks for this interview and Merry Christmas!
Connie
cps1950@gmail.com
Thanks for entering, Connie! Merry Christmas to you!
Oh my goodness!! I am in heaven!! My two favorite things, together………..Amish fiction, and Knitting!!
Fun, right, Kathy?
Thanks for writing, Kathy!
I love to crochet!These series look very interesting 🙂
I especially like to crochet in the winter, Sarah.
Thanks for entering, Sarah!
I’ve love all the books I’ve rate by Kate Lloyd and her books are keepers. I no longer can do crafts but I do love to read. I used to do needle point, cross-stitch & crewel. Also worked on hook rugs. Fingers just won’t do that anymore. Love Vanetta’s books too. Started reading both of you about the same time. My local bookstore loves me and my reading habit.
I remember hook rugs, Pat! Merry Christmas.
I treasure the hook rugs my grandma from CT made. Thanks for entering, Pat!
Hi Betty. Oh, sounds like you are too busy. I know that feeling. 🙂 Blessings!
Love Vanetta Chapman’s books. Great day when I can find books by both of you when I go to the bookstore. Then I know I will have a couple books to keep me busy for a couple of days.