Guest Post: Amanda Flower - The Final Vow

Join Amanda Flower as she shares a peek into the life of Laura Fellow, a character in Amanda's latest Living History Museum Mystery, The Final Vow. There's also a recipe included!

Most of the year, I'm a high school history teacher, but during the summer, I dress up in long skirts and shirtwaists as a historical interpreter at Barton Farm. In this getup, I pretend to be living in 1863 and spout off mostly accurate Ohio and America Civil War history. My best friend, Kelsey Cambridge, is the director of Barton Farm, and she always tells me not to share bad historical facts. My philosophy is different. If I can make a student or visitor think by feeding them questionable facts, that’s when really learning can occur. The ability to question something lead to true critical thinking. Unfortunately, Kelsey doesn’t see it that way and thinks the Farm will be sued some day for my misrepresentation of history. She worries too much.

Another aspect of my job at Barton Farm is to cook meals in a hearth, so that tourists can taste test the delicacies of years gone by. To be honest, it's hot and steamy work. There are no air conditioning in any of the historical buildings on Barton Farm where I cook. The recipes are usually labor intensive and need my constant attention, which means many long hours over the fire. However, when I see a child taste of my recipes and smile, it is all worth it because now that child has a taste for history. As a history teacher and historical interpreter, I can’t think of anything better.

However this year, a typically peaceful summer of stories and recipes at Barton Farm has been interrupted with the upcoming wedding of Eddie Cambridge and Krissie Pumpernickel. Yes, you read that last name right. It’s the same as Kelsey. She is hosting her ex-husband’s wedding at Barton Farm. She doesn’t have any choice in the matter. The Cherry Foundation, which sponsors the Farm, agreed to it. To make matters worse, Krissie got it into her head that she wants a Civil War-themed wedding.  I’m helping her anyway that I can, so she asked me to help her with the Civil War era menu since that’s my expertise at the Farm. I agreed it do it for Kelsey. I certainly have no interest in helping Eddie or Krissie. I even have gone so far as to share my rice pudding recipe. I sure hope Krissie appreciates it. Knowing that bridezilla she won’t.

But maybe you will. You will find the recipe below. Enjoy!

Recipe for Barton Farm Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rice

1/3 cup of sugar

1 quart of milk

4 tbsp. butter, diced

dash of salt

1/2 cup raisins

Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl and allow it to sit for half hour, so that rice can soak up the milk. Bake mixture in baking dish at 275 degrees F for 2-3 hours. Stir twice during the first hour at 20 minute mark and 40 minute mark.

Serves four. Serve hot or cold.

***

Summer weddings at Barton Farm’s picturesque church were standard procedure for museum director Kelsey Cambridge—until the Cherry Foundation, which supports the museum, ordered Kelsey to host her ex-husband’s wedding on Farm grounds.

Ambitious wedding planner Vianna Pine is determined to make the bride’s Civil War-themed wedding perfect. But each time Vianna’s vision threatens the integrity and safety of the Farm, Kelsey has to intervene. And when she finds Vianna’s dead body at the foot of the church steps, everyone’s plans fall apart. With both the wedding and Barton Farm at risk of being permanently shut down, Kelsey has to work hard to save her own happily ever after.

Amanda Flower (Tallmadge, OH) is an academic librarian and the Agatha Award-nominated author of Maid of Murder, the Appleseed Creek Mysteries, and the India Hayes Mysteries. She also writes the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries under the name Isabella Alan. You can visit Amanda at www.AmandaFlower.com.

First Line Friday #14: The Final Reveille

Now available from Midnight Ink, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, and your local bookseller!

Q&A with Amanda Flower

This week, we sat down with Amanda Flower. Her Midnight Ink debut, The Final Reveille, is out now!

Midnight Ink: How long have you been writing?

AF: I’ve been writing ever since I was a child, but my first novel, Maid of Murder, was published in 2010.

MI: What influence have other authors had on your writing?

AF: They have influenced me in knowing the kind of books I wanted to write. I wanted to write cozies before I even knew what a cozy was. I just knew at an early age, I wanted to write mysteries that made people laugh.

MI: If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

AF: Be a librarian, which I am.

MI: If you have a job outside of writing, what is it?

AF: Yes, I am a full time college librarian. I love it. I keep toying with the idea of leaving and writing full time, but I just can’t let go of my library life just yet.

MI: What is/are your favorite thing/s to do when you’re not writing or working?

AF: Travel. I’m headed to Prince Edward Island this summer. I’m going to totally geek out over all things Anne of Green Gables. Anne and I have a lot in common. We are kindred spirits I am sure.

MI: Who is your favorite mystery sleuth and why?

AF: Goodness, that’s a tough question. I would say Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon. She so resourceful and can survive in the woods, desert, or polar ice caps. I hate to camp, so I find her fascinating.

MI: Do you have a favorite murder case from a book (either yours or another author’s)?

AF: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. I have read it several times. She was a genius. I’ve even read the play Ten Little Indians based on the book. It has a different ending. You should read it.

MI: What was your inspiration for this series?

AF: When I was in college, I worked at a living history museum one summer and thought, “Holy cow, there are a lot of ways to take someone out around here.” I was already writing Maid of Murder then, so I had already set my course to be a mystery author.

MI: How does this series compare to your past works?

AF: I’ve a very successful Amish mystery run that’s still going strong. I’ve written Amish mysteries under my name and the pen name Isabella Alan. There’s no Amish in this book, but there are plenty of quirky characters and humor, which are my specialties.

MI: Tell us about Kelsey Cambridge.

AF: Kelsey is a single mom and the Director of Barton Farm. She sees it as her life’s mission to keep the Farm open despite some serious financial challenges not to mention the dead bodies she runs into.

MI: How did you come up with Barton Farm?

AF: It is loosely based on several living history museum I have visited.

MI: Do you have a pet? Tell us about him/her.

AF: Yes, I do! I have two cats Reepicheep AKA Cheeps and Mr. Tumnus AKA Tummy. Can you tell I am a Chronicles of Narnia super fan? Cheeps and Tummy are my first editors and get lots of air time on my Facebook Page. They have their own Instagram account too. In my opinion, the Internet would crash and burn without cat photos to keep it going.

Tummy

Cheeps

MI: What food could you live off of for the rest of your life?

AF: Ice cream.

MI: Do you have a favorite recipe?

AF: Hmmm… this is assuming I can cook, which I can’t. Not too long ago, I caught a pot on fire while hard boiling eggs. I’m still in recovery over the incident.

MI: What’s your favorite part about being an Inker?

AF: I like how supportive the network of authors and the awesome books they write.

The Final Reveille is available online and in bookstores now!

May 2015 Books Available Now!

Don't miss Midnight Ink's latest releases!

"[McPherson is a] master of psychological thrillers."

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Come to Harm

"Even teetotalers will enjoy these Martinis."

—Kirkus Reviews on Murder with a Twist

"Recipes for both dogs and humans add enjoyment in this clever cozy that will taste just right to fans of both foodie and pet mysteries."

—Booklist on Bite the Biscuit

"This one will appeal to readers who enjoy contemporary cozies with a history frame."

—Booklist on The Final Reveille

Now available from Midnight Ink, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, and your local bookseller!

Celebrating Women's History Month #2: The Ladies of 2015 Series Starters

Here at Midnight Ink Headquarters, we find that the best way to celebrate Women's History Month is to talk to our authors whose books feature strong female protagonists. Every day this week, return to this blog to find out more about the ladies portrayed in our various series and stand-alone releases this year!

Check out the first in this series here.

Gigi Pandian

Gigi Pandian is the USA Today bestselling author of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mystery series for Henery Press. A cancer diagnosis in her 30s taught her two important life lessons: healing foods can taste amazing, and life's too short to waste a single moment. Therefore she writes the Accidental Alchemist mysteries while drinking delectable green smoothies and eating decadent home-cooked meals.

Zoe Faust is a centuries-old alchemist. Her character came to me because I loved the themes of immortality explored in The Highlander TV show, but the experiences and challenges would be different for a woman. Living forever isn’t necessarily a blessing, and Zoe has lost many loved ones over the years. When The Accidental Alchemist (January 8, 2015) begins, Zoe has been running from human connections for years – until she’s sought out by a fellow misfit who needs her help. In helping the gargoyle who was accidentally brought to life through alchemy, she embraces her strengths and finds joy in life once again. 

Loretta Ross

Loretta Ross is a writer and historian who lives and works in rural Missouri. She is an alumna of Cottey College and holds a BA in archaeology from the University of Missouri—Columbia. She has loved mysteries since she first learned to read. Visit her online at www.lorettasueross.com. 

In real life, some of the strongest women I know are also some of the kindest. It was this realization that helped to define my female main character, Wren Morgan. Her strength comes from kindness and a desire to care for those she cares about.

In Death Bogart, she sees a good man broken down by war and tragedy. Letting him into her heart would be scary even if they weren't being stalked by homicidal jewel thieves. But Wren is strong and she will do whatever it takes to see them both through in Death and the Redheaded Woman (February 8, 2015).

Elizabeth Perona

Elizabeth Perona is the father/daughter writing team of Tony Perona and Elizabeth Dombrosky. Visit Tony online at www.tonyperona.com.

Our main character in Murder on the Bucket List (July 8, 2015) is Francine, based on Tony’s mother (Liz’s grandmother) Frances. Frances grew up in a very poor family in Terre Haute, Indiana during the Depression. She was the oldest child. When she was ten or eleven, she was put to work picking berries for a landowner during the summers, day after day in the hot sun. Her income was necessary to help her family survive. When she reached her teens, her parents wanted Frances to quit high school and work full time, but knowing she needed an education to get a better job, she worked long hours after school as a soda jerk until she graduated. Her determination is honored in our stories. 

Deirdre Verne

Deirdre Verne is a mystery writer, college professor, and an active college blogger. A writer for the millennial crowd, Verne regularly delivers straight-forward and often hilarious advice on her college blog. Prior to teaching, Verne worked in new product development for Time Inc., representing the magazine titles Fortune, Money, and Parenting. Visit her online at www.deirdreverne.com. 

I’ve been a rule follower my whole life and according to my mother, I was the easiest child to raise. I never strayed from the path, I did well in school, I got the right jobs and then I raised my own family.  If this was the start of a novel, you’d probably put the book down and so would I. That’s why I created CeCe Prentice, an unconventional, off-beat, Dumpster-diving freegan who thrives on challenging the rules. Although she does and says as she pleases, her higher power is the environment. Sure, she steps on toes along the way, sometimes even her own, but the socially conscious CeCe genuinely cares about the world and those closest to her. And when people mess with that world? Well, you can find out how far CeCe strays from the path in Drawing Conclusions (February 8, 2015).

Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower is an academic librarian and the Agatha Award-nominated author of Maid of Murder, the Appleseed Creek Mysteries and the India Hayes Mysteries. She also writes the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries under the name Isabella Alan. Visit her online at www.amandaflower.com. 

Kelsey Cambridge is a single mom and the director of Barton Farm, a living history museum thirty minutes south of Cleveland, Ohio. Like all single moms, she is strong and does everything for her son. Her dream is to preserve history for all children, and she took the job as Barton Farm’s director because of her love of Ohio and American history. She is determined to help the struggling Farm succeed so that future generations can learn from the past. She brings new ideas, like a Civil War re-enactment, to the Farm, but not everyone embraces those ideas, as in The Final Reveille (May 8, 2015).

Tracy Kiely

Tracy Kiely is the author of the Elizabeth Parker Mysteries for Minotaur Books. Murder with a Twist is her Midnight Ink debut.

My character Nicole “Nic” Martini is a modern-day twist on Dashiell Hammett’s iconic detective, Nick Charles. Like her predecessor, Nic is a former NYC detective who has married into wealth. Husband Nigel shares Nic’s wit, quickness, and love of a “dirty Martini.” In Murder with a Twist (May 8, 2015), the couple is in NYC for Nigel’s cousin Audrey’s birthday party. Unfortunately, Audrey’s shady husband is missing. Nic reluctantly agrees to find him and quickly realizes that there are darker forces at play. Nic’s tenacity and innate sense of justice lead her to seek the truth, even if that truth ruins Nigel’s family.

Return to this blog tomorrow to hear about the protagonists from some of our longest-running series from: Sue Ann Jaffarian, Jess Lourey, Kathleen Ernst, and Sheila Webster Boneham.