End of the Line for Barbour Cozy Mysteries

I received a sad bit of news this week. Due to financial pressures, Barbour has made the difficult decision to cancel its cozy mystery line. What does this mean for cozy mystery readers? Check out the following article posted by Rebecca Germany, Senior Editor at Barbour Publishing:

2008 was the season for the cozy mystery romance at Barbour. We spent 2 years planning for our new book club. We built a strong team of managing editor and authors who worked hard on both content and marketing of the books. Then we launched the club early 2008 based on strong initial membership drives.

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All was going well until our early fall membership drive (traditionally a strong time for adding new members) hit at the same time as the news from Wall Street about the financial crisis. The membership drive had the worst response that we have ever experienced or even heard of in the industry. At that point, to save the club would have required major investment dollars. By the end of 2008, we knew that the national financial climate would not allow for a marketing gamble on something that was still new and unproven.

2008 was a pretty good year overall for Barbour, but with 2009 looking to be a hard one for retailers, we know we have to tighten our belt and keep our money where we are confident it can give us the most return. So, for that reason, we will be closing the Heartsong Presents Mystery Romance Club. We have a couple more shipments that will go out, then books we have contracted will be used in other ways. Most likely they will go into 3-in-1 collections like Cozy in Kansas and Alibis in Arkansas. These 2 books released in late fall 2008 and had very good sales showings over Christmas. We hope you cozy mystery lovers out there will look for these books and support your author friends by buying them.

To read the complete article, check out The Edit Cafe.

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We here at Spyglass Lane have enjoyed introducing you to these fun-filled mysteries, and we look forward to many successful ventures at Barbour Publishing. As the weeks roll on, you will continue to see fun games and puzzles posted. When the job queue expires, we'll bid you farewell. Until then, continue to enjoy all the Heartsong Presents Mysteries books have to offer!

Fun Friday

This week, Spyglass Lane is showcasing Kitty Litter Killer by Candice Miller Speare. To learn more about the Trish Cunningham Mystery Series, check out her website!

Mystery Door

Thursdays are Mystery Door Days! Choose a door. A surprise is waiting for you!

MYSTERY AUTHOR RIDES AGAIN!

Time for another Mystery Author! Congratulations to "Reborn Butterfly" who wins a signed copy of Dana Mentink's newest book, TREASURE UNDER FINNY'S NOSE!

Here the the clues for our next author. Remember, you must leave a comment, along with your e-mail address to be entered into our drawing for a copy of our Mystery Author's latest Heartsong mystery novel.

Here goes!

Welcome, Mystery Author! Where do you hail from?

I’m from Chicago originally, but I’ve lived in Maryland for the last 16 years, so I consider both to be “home.” Fortunately, my favorite baseball and football teams play in different leagues so I can be loyal to all of them.

How many books have you written (and had published) in the Heartsong Mystery book club?

I have two books out in the book club. I guess if I give you the titles, that makes it pretty easy to guess who I am...

Tell us something you like to do besides writing.

I have one hobby that would be a dead giveaway to anyone who read my first book, so I’ll skip that one. I’m going to say jumping rope with my daughter. (That won’t come into play until the third book, so it’s not much of a hint!)

In three words, can you describe the romance in your latest Heartsong mystery novel?

Stalled
Uncertain
Theatrical (meaning that a lot of it takes place in a theater during play practice)

Describe one item on the cover of your most recent Heartsong mystery.

A grandfather clock

Do you have a hint you’d like to drop to our readers?

I think my books may be the only ones that don’t involve murders.

Thanks, Mystery Author!

Short Story Mystery

Sweet Charity by Elizabeth Ludwig

Special FOUR part series!

Part 1

“Jasmine McDrew is a man-stealing, gossip-spreading flirt, and I hate her.”

Charity jabbed a hairpin into her voluminous curls, followed quickly by a second, and then a third.

“Now, Meez Charity, why you do not let me finish your hair?” Lit by the flicker of candles, the bronze face of Charity’s maid, Luisa, appeared even warmer as she peered at Charity in the mirror. She reached up and wound one of Charity’s blond curls around her stubby finger. “You will only ruin what I’ve worked so hard over, chica.”

Charity twisted to glare at her maid. Though balanced precariously on a footstool, she still barely came to Charity’s shoulder. “I can’t help it, Luisa. I just know Jasmine has set her cap for my Ambrose. I’ll do anything to stop her from sinking her claws into him. Anything!”

Cooing in Venezuelan, Luisa gently pried a pin from Charity’s fingers and proceeded to insert it properly in Charity’s hair. “There.” She patted the last lock into place and stood back to admire her handiwork. “You are muy bonita. Why you worry about that devilish Jasmine McDrew, anyway? She is like a weed next to you. The doctor, Señor Ambrose, would be a fool to look at anyone else.”

Charity’s heart melted at the mention of her fiancé. Tonight was supposed to be their night, when they celebrated their engagement with loved ones and friends at her family’s plantation home. Instead, here she sat worrying once again about that vile, fiancé-grabbing Jasmine.

Her fingers curled into fists. She meant what she’d said to Luisa. She would do anything to stop Jasmine from getting her hands on Ambrose.

Anything.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of Sweet Charity.

Monday Mystery Theater

THE CASE:

Swami Morishi was on a hunger strike until his followers could raise two million dollars to pay off the mortgage on their cult compound.

Even into the third week of his fast, the Swami kept to his routine. He would meditate in the mornings, then meet privately with Michelle, his second-in-command, to work on any business. He would then teach in the afternoons and in the evenings tour the compound.

One night, right after his tour of the kitchen, the Swami collapsed. Michelle was called from her cabin and rushed to the scene. By the time the ambulance arrived, the Swami was already dead.

Michelle took over the cult leadership until a week later when she was arrested for murder. The Swami had been poisoned with cyanide.

THE MYSTERY:

How did Michelle poison a man who had sworn not to eat anything?

THE CLUES:

1. The Swami followed a deadly routine.
2. In some cases the cure is worse than the disease.

THE ANSWER:

Think you know the answer? Fill in the comment box to submit your guess. Winner receives a free Heartsong Presents Mystery!

Special Feature !!

Another Hour to Kill

By

Anita Higman

WHERE BAILEY WALKER LIVES, BEING NEIGHBORLY TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING. . . .
Bailey has survived the mysteries of Volstead Manor, but her latest threats are more ominous than ever. Did her neighbor B.J. die of natural causes? Or was he murdered? And why does the new neighbor, Vlad Tepes, seem to always be watching her?While searching for a lost treasure and planning a wedding the size of an amusement park, Bailey must discover what monster is still lurking in the neighborhood. Will she unravel the puzzle in time, or will Bailey merely provide the villain with Another Hour to Kill?

About the Author

ANITA HIGMAN hopes to give her audience a "Gasp and a Giggle" when they read her mysteries. She's the award-winning author of nineteen books. Anita has a B.A. in speech communication, and she's a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Anita enjoys hiking with her family, visiting show caves, and cooking brunch for her friends.

To read Another Hour to Kill be sure to subscribe to: Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Other Heartsong Mysteries by Anita:

Another Stab at Life

She has nowhere to go, except the dilapidated mansion she's just inherited from her Granny Minna. Unfortunately, Bailey discovers the house has a history as shadowy as its hidden passages and finds the neighborhood overflowing with some rather quirky folks. Bailey suddenly feels like she's trapped inside the pages of a gothic novel - but with a comedic twist. In order to honor her grandmother's wishes and stay at Volstead Manor Bailey must unravel a string of mysteries and secrets, which all seem determined to stay happily ever buried.