Readers and editors alike have been befuddled by some of the things that appear in my Pecan, Texas Dog Groomer Mysteries. My latest addition to the series, A Wiener Dog Wedding released today so I figured I should give y’all some insight into my Texas madness.
The Stetson Stallion cowboy hat
Worn by Mr. Williams when he was found dead in his hot tub, this is a Texas older gentleman staple. The first hats were actually created by a man traveling west from Pennsylvania but soon the cowboys of Texas took hold, with the ten gallon hat and now if you ask about Stetson Stallions to a life long Texan man, they may have a collection to show you for winter and summer wear.
Bunco
This has become a rising popular past time of women in the last few years, but no greater than church women, bringing pot luck meals and gabbing over this game. Yes the author is a frequenter to the Lutheran church round up of this dice game. It’s a simple, rolling the dice with partners to get to a certain number but it’s more about meeting about with other women and trying to beat them to 21 for the prize.
FFA or Future Farmers of America
This is more than a Texas thing but a group that focuses on agriculture. Our local chapter is also affiliated with the school and agriculture classes that aren’t just about animals but included horticulture as well.
Dr Pepper
All of the characters drink it and it’s available everywhere. That’s because Dr Pepper originated in Texas and you can still visit the Dr Pepper museum in Waco! Most restaurants will serve Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper around here, which is always very upsetting when this author visits her parents in IL and can’t get said Dr Pepper.
Clay soil
It was a big thing in A Corgi Conundrum and how Texas soil is harder to grow certain crops in. Texas has clay, not red dirt clay, but this is like muddy play-doh that takes an art to growing certain things in (which is why we use fertilizer and container gardens). It’s also why houses are built more with bricks, because if you’ve ever been to Texas during a draught, you may find big holes and craters in the yard. That’s the separation of the clay and you don’t want your house separating with it! (Which is also why, yes, we do have a soaker house, to water our house every six months. You heard that right, watering our gardens and our houses).
What other Texas things from the Pecan, Texas Dog Groomer Mystery series have you been confused about? Happy to answer in the comments!
About the author
M. Alfano is a crazy dog lady from a small town in Texas. When not writing cozy mysteries you can find her as the substitute elementary school music teacher or writing contemporary romance under Magan Vernon.
Okay, confession time! In the name of research, I’m addicted to True Crime books, shows and podcasts. I’ve gone down some pretty wild rabbit holes in the name of research. And let me tell you, the history of dessert-related crimes is WAY more bonkers than anything I could make up! 🍫
In my latest mystery, “Fudge and Felonies,” my amateur sleuth Ava finds a beauty pageant contestant dead next to a plate of chocolate cupcakes (because apparently, some people will literally die for my recipes 😅). But while Ava’s adventures are purely fictional, history serves up some seriously dark dessert drama that would make even my mischievous Lucky’s fur stand on end! 🐱
1 | The Chocolate Cream Killer (AKA The Original Mean Girl) 🍬
Picture this: Brighton, England, 1871. Christiana Edmunds (who clearly needed a better hobby) decided the best way to deal with her past relationship drama was to poison a box of chocolates and send them to her ex-lover’s wife. When that didn’t work out (shocker!), she thought, “Hey, why not poison ALL the chocolates?” Classic overachiever move, right?
She started buying chocolates, adding strychnine (because apparently arsenic was too basic), and returning them to the shop. Several people got sick, and sadly, a four-year-old died. Not cool, Christiana. Not cool at all. 😔
2 | The Bradford Sweets Disaster (Or Why We Have Food Labels Now) ⚠️
In 1858, a candy maker in Bradford made the mother of all oopsies when he grabbed arsenic instead of plaster of Paris as a sugar substitute. I mean, we’ve all mixed up ingredients before (like that time I used salt instead of sugar in my first batch of cupcakes), but this mistake was next level! Twenty people died, and over 200 got sick. Talk about a bad Yelp review waiting to happen!
The 1930s Australian Norman Pether apparently thought regular Easter eggs weren’t exciting enough, so he added arsenic to his recipe. Spoiler alert: This did not end well. This case is basically why we can’t just walk into stores and buy arsenic anymore. Thanks a lot, Norman! 🙄
Modern Food Safety (Because We’re Not Savages Anymore) 📋
These days, bakeries like my Frosted have more rules than a beauty pageant contestant’s diet plan. Temperature checks, ingredient tracking, proper storage – the works! Though between us, Lucky the cat occasionally thinks these rules are more like suggestions. But hey, at least he’s not adding arsenic to the mix!
Why We’re Still Obsessed 🤔
Let’s be real – there’s something deliciously ironic about murder-by-dessert. It’s like finding out the head cheerleader is secretly a math nerd, or discovering your high school nemesis became a “kindness coach” (looking at you, Brittany Westerheide!). The contrast is just too good to resist!
When I’m writing the Frosted Misfortunes series, I love playing with this sweet-and-sinister contrast. Though unlike these historical cases, my heroine Ava solves crimes instead of baking them into her cupcakes. And her only partner in crime is a slightly chaotic Abyssinian cat who thinks red ribbons are his personal play toys!
So next time you’re enjoying one of my cupcake recipes, rest assured the only thing killer about it is the taste! Unless you’re a character in my books – then all bets are off! 😉
Want to dive into a world where the cupcakes are sweet but the crimes are sweeter? Grab Fudge and Felonies today! I promise the only thing you’ll die from is laughter (and maybe a sugar rush). 🧁✨
About the Author
Lisa Siefert is a USA Today Bestselling Mystery Author who writes humorous cozy mysteries. She dedicates all of her free time to testing out different latte flavors at every coffee shop she comes across and has never once skimped on dessert because life is too short not to. She lives in San Diego with Lucky, her own devious but adorable Abyssinian kitten. She excels at recounting every Hallmark Movie plot ever conceived and can also whip up a mean batch of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Her books feature amateur women sleuths that always believe in silver linings despite all of the murderous clouds surrounding them.
Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes an exciting lineup of books you won’t want to miss! Whether you’re in the mood for heart-pounding thrillers, warm and charming cozies, or twisty mysteries that will keep you guessing, these upcoming titles are sure to keep you turning pages well into the season.
To celebrate these new releases, we’re hosting a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive an eBook of one of the upcoming releases. To enter, simply comment below and let us know: What’s your favorite mystery or thriller trope?
We can’t wait to see your answers, and good luck!
She just wants to share her delicious sweets. But a sticky surprise has this amateur detective dusting off her snooping skills.
As the chill of February settles in, there’s no better way to warm up than with a good book—especially when it involves a little mystery, a lot of intrigue, and a dash of cozy charm. This month, we’re beyond excited to introduce two brand-new cozy mysteries that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, all while keeping things comfortably cozy.
Did the professor get what he deserved, or is murder on the prowl in small-town California?
As a late-summer heat wave scorches the sleepy town of Citrus Grove, the suspicious death of a notoriously unpopular professor puts Rebecca and her talking cat, Aneksi, hot on the trail of another cursed artifact and a killer.
Police Detective Nick Devon, her dashing new flame, is following the rulebook in his investigation, but the Cuthbert Exotic Antiques manager is trusting her instincts as she follows the clues. With her grandfather distracted by an unexpected visitor—who may not be what he seems—and Aneksi rekindling a bond with a long-lost sibling, Rebecca knows she’s on her own to search for the ancient scepter that may hold the key to the dead professor’s medical miracle…and the reason behind his demise.
In this twisty tale of hidden motives, intensifying danger, and a dash of magic, Rebecca must rely on her wits—and, hopefully, Aneksi’s sharp claws—to solve the case before she becomes the cunning murderer’s next victim.
What you can expect: plenty of feline antics, sharp detective work, and a sense of humor that’ll have you chuckling through every chapter. Whether you’re a die-hard cat lover or just looking for a mystery that’s both lighthearted and gripping, this cozy is your perfect companion for a chilly February evening.
Join the Shepherd sisters in solving a mystery…before it’s too late! This artful cozy mystery is perfect for fans of Krista Davis and Joanne Fluke.
Savanna Shepherd is a former art authenticator―someone who can tell a forgery from the real thing. She’s got a talent for spotting secrets hiding in plain sight.
After being fired and dumped in the same terrible day, Savanna moves back to her idyllic hometown on the banks of Lake Michigan. At least she’s close to her sisters again, and she’s enjoying her new job as a grade school art teacher.
Savanna even rediscovers her creative soul when an old family friend hires her to paint a mural. But when a cozy book club meeting ends with a possible murder, and then dangerous incidents occur in and around the friend’s mansion, Savanna’s sharp eye is put to the test. With a little help from her sisters―and from Aidan, the intriguing town doctor―will she be able to figure out what’s wrong with this picture?
What you can expect: It’s not just the cleverly crafted mystery, but the rich, atmospheric setting and the fun loving cast. You’ll find yourself guessing at every twist and turn, unable to put the book down until the final page. If you’re looking for a new book to cozy up with, this one will keep you hooked.
Now, more than ever, women are “carrying” films based on their perceived value in the industry. More are considered “box-office-valuable” and are carrying more wight in the film industry. Women have been contributing to the film industry for decades, but it is most recently that they are finally recognized as having the box office power that men have had.
Women authors have made themselves known in all genres. Women write about women, and a better description cannot be found. Of course, women authors write about many things, but most show us as strong women in challenging circumstances, also known as a day in the life of most women.
When I write, the idea or inspiration usually comes from something a woman has said or done, or both. It’s as if I hear a call to arms—come on, tell my story. Then, having heard it, I must. The main character is soon joined by her friends, and maybe an enemy, and I have to write it all down because they are getting to be too many to carry around in my head. This is my process, and it works for me.
Women, in whatever role in life they find themselves, are finally being recognized, whether in the creative arts or medicine, science, education, and so on. They are being judged on their abilities, and that was/is a welcome change.
I will continue to do my part by writing to represent women as we are, and with all of our talents, and yes, even human flaws, and I hope to do it with the respect that women deserve. Because women are, in fact—main characters.
In my most recent series, I have more women in “starring roles” than men. When I introduced a man, Ted, into a relationship with Helen, I tried to make them equals, real partners in life as well as at work. I tried to show their faults, their humanness, along with their talents, and how, with a little help from our friends, we can all be main characters.
Congrats on your release of Retirement Can Be Deadly,Vickie! As for the rest of you, be sure and mark your calendars for Retirement Can Be Deadly book 3, A Wedding and A Murder, releasing May 12th!
Vickie is a published author of over two dozen books, from cozy mystery to paranormal, and a recent jump into romantic suspense, with a new release coming out in July (Savannah Heat). She has published many short stories and articles and has won various awards and commendations over the years. Vickie has been a fulltime writer for the last eight years. She is working on a new blog site, Sweet Tea and Sympathy now, and plans to have it up and running this summer. The blog will focus on the writer’s life, but in particular, the life of a Southern writer. You can find her books on Amazon and sign up to follow her there: Amazon.com/author/vickiecarroll or on Facebook.
