Book Tour and Apple Pie Recipe

Cassandra Sato’s new dog, Murphy, makes his first internet appearance!

With Dead of Winter Break’s book birthday on Tuesday, this week has been a whirlwind. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my Facebook page to offer good wishes for the success of the latest episode in Cassandra’s story. We’re a few days into the 20-stop Great Escapes Book Tour, and I wanted to highlight a few things you should check out.

First up, was the fun interview between Murphy and Sneaky the Library Cat on her blog. For sure, life at Morton College looks different from Murphy’s perspective!

“Hi, there, Mr. Dog. Welcome to Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog. Please introduce yourself and your author.

Hello, I’m Murphy, a West Highland White Terrier. Only recently, I heard about my author, Kelly Brakenhoff. Before she came along, my owner and I were basking in the glow of early retirement in sunny Arizona. Abruptly, we moved to a teeny town in Nebraska where it is so cold I can barely stand outside long enough to pee before I hurry in and lay near a warm heating vent.

TMI, but it’s doggone good to have you here. . . .” (Continue reading the interview here on Sneaky’s Blog.)

Next was a lovely book review from author Frankie Bow who writes the Professor Molly, Mary-Alice Files, and Miss Fortune World mysteries. (My personal favorites are the hilarious Professor Molly Academic Mysteries!)

Frankie says, “I love campus cozies and always wonder why there aren’t more of them. After all, academia, with its singular personalities and petty grudges, is a perfect setting for murder. Fortunately, Dead of Winter Break comes at the perfect time, just as the winter holidays are upon us. Reading Dead of Winter Break reminded me why I love this series so much. . .” (Read the rest of the review here)

Dianne Ashcroft of the Ashcroft, eh? blog hosted me today for an author interview about the making of Dead of Winter Break. She asks tough questions about the story idea and themes. This was the part where I admitted that after living in Nebraska for twenty five years I knew very little about corn and soybean seeds until I interviewed my brother-in-law, Craig Franzen, who works for a farmers’ cooperative.

Here’s the link to the Ashcroft, eh? interview.

Lastly, just in time for your Thanksgiving Apple Pie baking marathon, I shared my Grandma Ruth’s Apple Pie and Oil Pastry recipe. Shhh. . . don’t tell my aunts. I don’t want to get into trouble for spilling family secrets. Please stay safe next week. With thanks and gratitude we will enjoy whatever the day brings.

Here’s the link to Socrates Book Reviews and the pie recipe!

Please follow the Great Escapes Tour for more interviews and guest posts or to enter the tour book giveaway.

And this week’s last nerdy tidbit:

Read a sneak peek of the first chapter on Goodreads!

“December in Nebraska was best left to poets droning on about the dubious merits of frosty icicles and face-freezing temperatures. Inside the stuffy Performing Arts Center, Cassandra Sato felt sweat rivulets slide down her back under her academic regalia. Easing the light blue velvet sash a few inches away from her throat, she crossed her ankles and inhaled deeply to slow her heartbeat.” …to be continued…