Today I welcome guest author Katherine H. Brown as she shares how she lost the cat in a book -- three times! Read all the way through for a sweet gift one lucky reader will receive.

Hello, readers!

Thank you for joining me here today. My name is Katherine H. Brown and I write clean fiction, typically cozy mysteries but occasionally low fantasy or steampunk as well.

I wanted to stop by and share a little about myself, my books, and some funnies from my time writing the Sassy Supplies Cozy Mystery series, a holiday novella series of which Costumes & Cadavers is the fun Halloween themed first book.

When I was writing Costumes & Cadavers, it was intended for a contest (an anthology which I did end up getting accepted into with this story!) and I knew that I needed to up my cast of characters with an animal sidekick, something I hadn’t previously done. You see, I do not have any pets so I usually don’t write pets in. I have a toddler, an aversion to extra messes and extra work beyond her, and a love of being able to travel without needing to first make plans for an animal.

So, I decided my main character, Charity Basham, would have a cat. Not just any cat. A cantankerous cat, a persnickety Persian to be specific.

Things went fine for a few chapters. The cat, Jinx, found the murder weapon, added humor, added depth. And then I forgot to write about Jinx for a little bit. Seriously. I took him to work with the MC and then forgot all about him. The next day, I had to go back and edit him back into the story.

Y’all…this happened at least three times throughout the series LOL. It was becoming a habit to text my sister, “I lost the cat again,” because since I don’t have pets, I would constantly focus on the murder and suspects and forget that my MC had a sidekick. Silly, but true.

I hope that you will give Costumes & Cadavers a read this Halloween holiday season and keep an eye out for Jinx for me.

Getting to know Katherine:

• What do you enjoy most about writing?

Writing is a lot of work to actually complete and finish the book amidst the distractions and chores of life, but my absolute favorite part is when new ideas come out of nowhere. I have designed so many book covers based on new ideas (I use them as inspiration before I start the book) and brainstormed so many fun characters that the struggle is how to choose which story to prioritize and write first. Imagining a character, a conversation, a setting, those are the best part for me.

• Do you have a dedicated place to write, or a nook or corner of a room, or the kitchen table?

I write in my bedroom, and more often than not on my bed with laptop on my lap and some chocolate, tea, or a protein shake beside me. The only free time I have to write during the day is when my toddler is napping so sometimes I struggle to write when all I want to do is enjoy the quiet and relax.

• What can your readers expect from you next?

As I said, ideas are always flowing. I have two books that I’m working on next. First, I very much need to finish writing A Spoonful of Madness, the steampunk cozy mystery sequel to A Spoonful of Gunpowder (think Mary Poppins meets steampunk). Second, I recently participated in a Christmas Cozy Mystery anthology with several authors and started a brand-new series with my story that was included. My story in the Merry Little Mysteries anthology, Murder Takes the Train, is set in Arkansas mountains and involves three sisters reuniting and the messes and murders they have to sort out to stay out of trouble. I want to get book 2 ready for the early part of next year, maybe February 2023.

Giveaway:

What are your favorite three genres to read?

One commenter will win a selection of my bookmarks mailed to them. Please cleverly disguise your email address so the bots don’t find you. For example: donna AT livebytheword DOT com

Entries without an email address won’t be included in the drawing.

About Katherine:

Katherine H. Brown is a Texas girl, wife, mom, author and reader. Words have forever been some of her favorite things and she hopes to inspire a love of reading in others with each word she has written through witty characters and descriptive adventures. Click here to join the newsletter for updates, polls, and fun.

Connecting online:

www.instagram.com/katherinebrownkatie

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18681694.Katherine_Brown

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-h-brown

https://www.facebook.com/katherinebrownkatieauthor/

https://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Brown/e/B078J72H8M