Feeling Lucky? Enter a contest...or two.

With the release of The Scarlet Pepper a little less than a month away, I've chewed my fingernails and pushed my patient husband to the end of his rope as I worry about its release. Will the readers like it? It's a little different from Flowerbed of State. But there's still plenty of twists and turns to be had.

I dare you to figure out who the villain is before Casey does!

To help take my mind off my pre-publication jitters, I'm running several contests. I hope you take a moment to enter one, or two, or all of them! Here's the details:

1. Get in on the drawing to win one of 4 copies of THE SCARLET PEPPER this week from Books On The House! Contest winners will be announced on MARCH 14, 2012!

2. Head over to Goodreads for a chance to win one of 2 copies of THE SCARLET PEPPER! Contest winners will be announced on APRIL 5, 2012!

3. Go play the fun and games over at The Romance Reviews for a chance to win tons of prizes including a copy of the book that started it all, FLOWERBED OF STATE! The contest is running for several weeks, but Flowerbed of State is being given away at the end of the week of MARCH 14 and ending MARCH 21, the prize winners will be announce MARCH 22!

As the official organic gardener for the White House, Casey Calhoun is usually up to her elbows in something or other. But when someone starts tampering with the Presidential vegetable garden, she soon finds herself in way over her head.  

As if it wasn't bad enough that red peppers are growing instead of green ones and cabbage is popping up where the First Lady's favorite lettuce should be-a hard-nosed investigative reporter is found dead after targeting the President's unpopular Chief of Staff.

Raking over the clues and rumors, Casey knows that someone is sabotaging both her garden and the First Lady's reputation. But when she has one close call too many, Casey realizes that the next thing buried in the dirt might just be her…

Praise for FLOWERBED OF STATE:

"Credible characters, a fast-paced plot, and a light look at political life in Washington, D.C., will delight cozy fans." ~ Publishers Weekly

"This spunky new romantic suspense series is an obvious pick for readers who enjoy Julie Hyzy's "White House Chef" series (Buffalo West Wing), but also think of gardening mystery series such as Rosemary Harris's (Slugfest)." ~ Library Journal

"If you are looking for a great murder mystery book with a surprise ending? You MUST read this book." ~ Ana, Once Upon A Twightlight

No wilting plants can be found in this gardening mystery!"~ Sharon Galligar Chance, Fresh Fiction

"Simply put, I adore this book, and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.  Go out buy it now - you can thank me later." ~ Kat, The Season For Romance

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Dorothy St. James writes the White House Gardener Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Flowerbed of State is the first book in the series. Be sure to grab your copy while they're still available! Visit with Dorothy on the web or at Facebook. Or follow her on Twitter.

Praise for FLOWERBED OF STATE:
"Credible characters, a fast-paced plot, and a light look at political life in Washington, D.C., will delight cozy fans." ~ Publishers Weekly

"This spunky new romantic suspense series is an obvious pick for readers who enjoy Julie Hyzy's "White House Chef" series (Buffalo West Wing), but also think of gardening mystery series such as Rosemary Harris's (Slugfest)." ~ Library Journal

Order Flowerbed of State from your favorite bookseller. 

Look for The Scarlet Pepper in April 2012. Pre-order your copy today!

New Release Tuesday!

One of the most exciting days of the month is the first Tuesday, the day when many of the publishers release their new books.
 My book comes out NEXT MONTH (on the 1st Tuesday!)


Fire Engine Dead By Shelia Connolly

When the entire collection of the Fireman's Museum ironically goes up in flames, Nell Pratt discovers one of the charred pictures isn't the one that was originally exhibited. But getting to the bottom of the mystery is bound to get Nell burned... 

For more information or for links to buy a copy, visit the author's website: Shelia Connolly

Little Shop of Homicide by Denise Swanson

Dev Sinclair is the happy new owner of the old-fashioned shop in her small Missouri town. But if she doesn't focus on finding the killer of her ex's fiancée, this five-and-dime owner may find herself serving twenty-five to life...

"Swanson takes a break from Scumble River and delivers a top-notch new mystery featuring a dime store owner. Add two loyal friends, a local watering hope called Gossip Central and a hunky lawman and you have all the right ingredients for another successful series." ~ RT Magazine

For more information or for links to buy a copy, visit the author's website: Denise Swanson

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Dorothy St. James writes the White House Gardener Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Flowerbed of State is the first book in the series. Be sure to grab your copy while they're still available! Visit with Dorothy on the web or at Facebook. Or follow her on Twitter.

Praise for FLOWERBED OF STATE:
"Credible characters, a fast-paced plot, and a light look at political life in Washington, D.C., will delight cozy fans." ~ Publishers Weekly

"This spunky new romantic suspense series is an obvious pick for readers who enjoy Julie Hyzy's "White House Chef" series (Buffalo West Wing), but also think of gardening mystery series such as Rosemary Harris's (Slugfest)." ~ Library Journal

Order Flowerbed of State from your favorite bookseller. 

Look for The Scarlet Pepper in April 2012. Pre-order your copy today!

Made in America Monday: Farmhouse Yarns

It's Made in America Monday, where I feature a company that is producing (or selling) products that are made within the United States. Although you can find wonderful things made in other countries, I think sometimes we overlook the craftsmen and products that are being produced just around the corner.

So with the familiar slogan "Think Global, Act Local" in mind, I give you Made in America Monday.

This week's company is Farmhouse Yarns.

They sell wool, bamboo, cotton, alpaca yarns (just to name a few).

From their website: "Farmhouse Yarns are hand-dyed in America, and we buy much of our wool directly from American farmers.  Many are small, family farms with twenty or fewer sheep: farms that find it very difficult to compete in a global economy where foreign fibers have taken hold and driven down prices.  Farmhouse Yarns, LLC™ provides local farmers with a valuable market for their wool.  Fleeces are inspected and chosen by hand for quality, then the resulting yarns are hand-dyed to bring you the most beautiful high quality American yarns available.  We offer our yarns to fine shops all across America, so be sure to browse our retailer listing for a shop near you."

Find a retailer near you.

Do you have any suggestions for future Made in America posts? Please provide any thoughts/ideas you might have in the comment section. I'd love to feature the product and give you credit for sending it.

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Dorothy St. James writes the White House Gardener Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Flowerbed of State is the first book in the series. Be sure to grab your copy while they're still available! Visit with Dorothy on the web or at Facebook. Or follow her on Twitter.

Praise for FLOWERBED OF STATE:
"Credible characters, a fast-paced plot, and a light look at political life in Washington, D.C., will delight cozy fans." ~ Publishers Weekly

"This spunky new romantic suspense series is an obvious pick for readers who enjoy Julie Hyzy's "White House Chef" series (Buffalo West Wing), but also think of gardening mystery series such as Rosemary Harris's (Slugfest)." ~ Library Journal

Order Flowerbed of State from your favorite bookseller. 

Look for The Scarlet Pepper in April 2012. Pre-order your copy today!