Monday, March 1, 2010

Guest post & giveaway: The Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs



Today it is with much excitement that I welcome Laura Childs to Pudgy Penguin Perusals. Over the years Laura has been one of my top favorite cozy writers. Not only are her mysteries great fun but her recipes are truly yummy. Laura has included one of her famous recipes here after her guest post. To celebrate the March 2nd publication of The Teaberry Strangler, Laura has generously agreed to giveaway 4 autographed hard cover copies of The Teaberry Strangler. I asked Laura to tell us a little bit about her three series and here is what she has to share.

Pairing food with mystery.

Guest blog by Laura Childs, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries,
and Cackleberry Club Mysteries.

I’ve always considered food and mystery an inspired pairing. There’s nothing like cuddling under a quilt and reading like crazy while sipping cocoa and munching a cream scone. It just works. Maybe the sugar feeds your adrenaline or maybe it harkens back to that feeling you got as a kid when you ate jujubes and watched the Twilight Zone on TV!

Whatever the reason, I’ve taken to including recipes in all of my mysteries, which number 20 so far. When you read about Golden Monkey Yunnan Tea, Angel Biscuits, or Chicken Bog, I think you’re just naturally curious and want to know more. There’s also something very authentic about reading a story, then buzzing into your kitchen to whip up the very same chowder and scones.

Since I write three different mystery series right now, I’m always balancing characters, story, and plot lines with deadlines. To make things even more frantic, I’ve challenged myself to include three different sets of recipes in my three very different series. Difficult to do? You bet? Really fun? Absolutely.

My just-released Tea Shop Mystery, THE TEABERRY STRANGLER, offers recipes like Frogmore Stew and Charleston Breakfast Casserole. And, as you might guess, a fair amount of information on tea. Because tea, like great books, warms the heart and speaks to the soul. It turns acquaintances into friends, friends into confidantes. Tea’s heady scent can act as an aromatherapy to cheer your up or lull you into sleepytime. And just the very act of taking tea, of making time for this genteel ritual, can calm the most overwrought of hearts.

Mmm, time to put the teapot on and curl up with a good book? I think so!

A quick synopsis of The Teaberry Strangler
by Laura Childs

The Teaberry Strangler is the 11th in the bestselling Tea Shop Mystery series that readers continue to crave. Tea mania has swept the country and Laura Childs’ cozy mysteries have been carried along in a tide of Darjeeling, Earl Grey, and Assam!

In The Teaberry Strangler, Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, spearheads a Charleston back alley crawl. But on this candlelit evening, customers aren’t the only ones combing the twisted alleyways. Someone strangles a map store owner and Theodosia determines to seek justice. But who stands to benefit from inheriting a dusty map store, how are the quirky ladies from Jardin Perfumerie involved, and why is a mysterious woman suddenly stalking Theodosia?

Murder, tea lore, and tea recipes are brewing here and The Teaberry Strangler is certain to captivate readers – just as last year’s Oolong Dead did when it made the New York Times Bestseller List!

And here’s a Laura Childs recipe you might enjoy:

Easy Cream Scones

1 cup flour sifted with
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup cream
2 beaten eggs

Cut butter into sifted dry ingredients. Combine eggs and cream and add to dry mixture. Pat to 3/4 inch thick. Cut in squares or triangles, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 375 degrees until lightly brown, about 20 minutes. Serve hot with jam or preserves.

Laura Childs is the author of the bestselling Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Her books have been named to the USA Today and New York Times Bestseller Lists. Find out more about Laura at www.laurachilds.com

Now for the giveaway details. Laura is being most generous in allowing me to pick 4 winners for an autographed hard cover copy of her new book, The Teaberry Strangler.
Giveaway open to verifiable followers ( through google friend connect) of this blog who reside in the US or Canada. Be sure your profile is public and that it lists the blogs you follow. If you blog on wordpress or thinkpad just be sure PPP is on your blogroll. PO boxes are okay.

How to earn bonus entries:

+3 blog about contest or put a link in your sidebar and leave me a link

Deadline is Mar 15 th at 6 PM. Be sure to include an e mail address in your comment. Good luck!

60 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun read!

    * I'm a follower.

    * Blogged in my sidebar giveaways:
    http://bookfan-mary.blogspot.com

    meah56 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree food & books definitely go together. Thanks for the scone recipe! It looks super easy (my speed) so I will have to try it.

    kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oooo...I love Laura Childs. This one looks so good. Thanks for the giveaway and recipe!

    mparke[at]mts[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds great!

    I'm a follower with Google Friend Connect and Google Reader.

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I follow through google friends. Sounds like a great book!

    deborah150 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I follow publicly, thank you.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds like a fun cozy mystery.

    samantha.1020@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've been dying to read one of these.

    Bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well Kaye, you know me, foodie mysteries are my favorites! Definitely enter me!!

    jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I must read the first one in this series!! But I wouldn't mind winning this one :)

    stacijoreads@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh! I love the title of this and the recipes sounds so yummy! Please enter me!

    Thanks!

    ajpohren@iowatelecom.net

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a follower and love all three series!!!!! Can't wait to read this one

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my - I simply cannot imagine trying to write 3 different series simultaneously! She is indeed a superwoman :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love her books, thanks for the great post! Please include my in the giveaway, I follow via google friend connect! Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the great giveaway!! These books sound fun.

    I am a follower.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Food and mystery is the perfect combination! I would love to enter, and thank you both for this wonderful giveaway.

    I'm a follower through google friend connect.

    fforgnayr@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Count me in! I'm a follower
    I love that you keep introducing me to new cozy authors
    bookmagic418@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. This sounds a superb read. And I love the giveaway. Thank you.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm a follower on Google Friend Connect.

    Laura Childs is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. Please enter me!

    harvee44 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'd love to read it. Please include me.

    I am a follower with Google Friend Connect.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  21. I posted in my sidebar. Do I need to post three separate times ?

    Thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds like a great book!
    I'm a follower!
    nataliew2(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm a follower. I love this series and her other series, the scrapbook mysteries.

    k2reader@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sounds like it will be a fun books to read.

    I'm a new follower

    put a link in my sidebar: contests around the blogosphere: http://theserpentinelibrary.blogspot.com

    heartsbooks[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love a good mystery from time to time. This one sounds great!

    I am a follower and I added this giveaway to my sidebar:

    http://amandamakepeace.blogspot.com

    Thanks!

    Amanda
    makepeace.arts[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  26. This sounds like my favorite kind of book. Please include me in the giveaway.

    I'm a follower

    I posted this giveaway on my left sidebar under "Other Blog Giveaways" HERE

    readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Well, I love food, and I've been dying to get into mysteries so this seems like a great place to start!

    Please enter me!

    circlebooks(at)shaw(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have posted about your contest in my sidebar!

    www.bookblabbing.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. justpeachy36@yahoo.com

    Please enter me in the giveaway.

    I am a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am a follower and love cozy mysteries! Check out my cozy mystery Saturday that is a meme hosted by bookmagic.

    I bought several new mysteries over the weekend so I will be having a mystery fest for a while.

    I can't wait to read this one. I would love to have it for a Cozy Mystery Saturday. Thanks for the Title.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello,
    Could you please not enter my name as I won a copy on another blog,,,thanks...
    Devon

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you, Devonaz, for being so considerate and letting me know. I deleted your entry. Congrats on winning the book elsewhere!
    It's a really fun read. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the possibility!

    I follow via google friend connect.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sounds like a fun book...mystery and good food.
    I'm a follower.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love the combination of this
    novel and would really like to
    read a book by this author.
    I follow by google reader.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. please count me in it sounds good & thx..
    thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh Please enter me. Your wonderful blog was one of the first I put on my blog roll at Tutu's Two Cents

    tbranco(at)hughes(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  38. Please enter me I follow on google


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  39. have your button http://edna-myfavoritethings.blogspot.com/





    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  40. I would like to be entered!

    I'm a follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Looks like fun! Please count me in. I am a follower.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Please enter me. You're on my blog roll and I follow you in Google Friend Connect too.

    tbranco(at)hughes (d0t)Net

    ReplyDelete
  43. I want it, I want it!

    Please enter me!

    cyderryATyahooDOTcom
    Chèli
    Cheli's Shelves

    ReplyDelete
  44. http://chelisshelves.blogspot.com/

    Posted on my sidebar!

    cyderryATyahooDOTcom
    Chèli
    Cheli's Shelves

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love mysteries and I love finding new recipes, so this book is a perfect combination.

    I am a follower of your blog.

    I posted this giveaway on my sidebar of my blog.

    http://meditativereading.blogspot.com

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  46. I follow your blog and would love to be entered for this great mystery!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  47. This sounds like a great read! I am a follower! Please enter me!

    lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Love Laura Childs & I'd be thrilled to have this book!
    I am a follower of your blog=)
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

    ReplyDelete
  49. This sounds like a brilliant read, please enter me. I am indeed a follower.
    knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

    ReplyDelete
  50. +3 I have your contest posted on my blog, right hand side under Giveaways. http://www.rundpinne.com
    knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Love her books! I follow.


    kpbarnett1941[@]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I love reading mysteries!

    I'm a follower.

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm a follower :)

    Thanks!

    rjleflar at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  54. This would be perfect for the Cozy Mysteries Challenge! Thanks for the giveaway.

    libneas[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  55. +3
    I've got it on my right sidebar at:
    www.libslibrary.blogspot.com

    I'm a follower - Libby's Library

    libneas[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I really would love to read this for the "Cozy Mysteries Challenge"
    Need a break from the heavy stuff!
    Sally

    ReplyDelete
  57. I'm a follower, please enter me!
    red_handed99@yahoo.ca

    ReplyDelete
  58. Sounds like a good read! Please enter me! thanks

    lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com


    I follow through google friend connect!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Hi Kaye! Great giveaway! I've been out of the loop for a while but am glad to be getting back to blogging and reading my favorite blogs! Longtime follower, of course. Please enter me...

    Carey
    thetometraveller *at* yahoo *dot* com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I definitely want to read this.

    Follower (skyecam)

    karin56381 (at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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