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Friday, September 11, 2020

Meet Cozy Mystery Author Stephanie Cole with a giveaway!


Today Suspense Sisters are proud to welcome cozy mystery author, Stephanie Cole, who has a new series, Tuscan Cooking School Mysteries. Book one, Al Dente's Inferno, was released in the spring from Berkley/Penguin Random House.

First the interview:

If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say? I’m a friendly introvert, who loves the arts, enjoys smart and funny books, values kindness above all, and is grateful for the love of friends and family.

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies? I audit Art History courses, take fiddle lessons, enjoy cooking classes, and practice meditation and yoga daily.

What was your favorite book as a teen or child? As a child, Nancy Drew and Winnie the Pooh, as a teen. . .REBECCA!

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers. I am a closet egghead and weep in academic libraries; from a theater background, I took a term off from college and went to acting school in Manhattan; I am a hobbit and prefer to stay at home in the shire rather than go adventuring (my greatest adventures of my heart happen in art museums).

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not? Literary short stories. Still do them, although less frequently. It takes me quite a long time to “get it right” when a storyline matters enough to me to write it. Suspense imbues my short stories, so there’s that crossover with mystery novels. And as a reader, I love mystery novels that have literary qualities.

Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why? Not really. Although I might want to try writing about art. (Yes, really.)

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be? I would have cut my losses much sooner and tried a different subgenre. I spent twenty plus years writing and trying to sell two female PI novels, and never getting anywhere. What I thought was admirable persistence seems now a bit like dimwitted stubbornness.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors? Have a downright honest conversation with yourself. There is a staggering number of people writing, publishing, striving, writing, not publishing, still striving. The competition is formidable. Ask yourself how badly you want to pursue it, given difficult odds.


Here's a little bit about Al Dente's Inferno:
When American chef Nell Valenti is hired to design a cooking school at the villa of renowned Chef Claudio Orlandini, she eagerly moves to Tuscany. But Nell gets more than she bargained for when she arrives. The villa is in shambles, Chef spends all his time on the bocce court, and local dignitaries have been invited to dinner the very next day. Bad enough the filmmaker who shows up to document the affair turns out to to be Nell's ex-boyfriend, but worse yet when he's discovered murdered later that evening. To top it off, Chef has disappeared. Can Nell save the Orlandini family, the villa, and her own job before the accusations of murder shut the school down for good -- before it's even opened?

Here's a little bit about Shelley Costa, writing as Stephanie Cole:

SHELLEY COSTA's work has been nominated for both the Edgar and Agatha Awards. Writing as Stephanie Cole, she is the author of the new Tuscan Cooking School Mystery Series (Berkley/Penguin Random House), which debuted in February with Al Dente's Inferno. Shelley wrote her dissertation on suspense, taught creative writing for many years at the Cleveland Institute of Art, enjoys violin lessons, yoga, plotting murder (pure fiction), and time with friends and family. www.shelleycosta.com. Her books are available on Amazon, IndieBound, and Barnes & Noble.

Buy the book Al Dente's Inferno here: https://www.amazon.com/Dentes-Inferno-Tuscan-Cooking-Mystery/dp/0593097793/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22TRQ7LLS0DRJ&dchild=1&keywords=al+dente%27s+inferno&qid=1598468392&sprefix=Al+Dente%27s+%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1

Leave Stephanie a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Al Dente's Inferno. US and Canada only. You MUST leave an email address to win. Drawing in one week.

31 comments:

  1. I am also an introvert. It usually surprises people to know I went to school for theatre for acting. You sound like a very interesting person with all of your different interests. I love reading cozy mysteries, so Al Dente’s Inferno sounds great! Thanks for the chance!

    Rose
    harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. Sounds like a great book.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

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  3. Great interview!
    Theresa Norris
    weceno at yahoo dot com

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  4. I'm so impressed by the continuing number of clever cozy titles!

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  5. Stephanie Cole sounds like a fascinating person and author. I enjoyed reading about her in the interview.
    susiesellner at gmail dot com

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  6. Sounds good and I love the cover!

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  7. Thank you for the interview with Stephanie Cole. I enjoy learning more about the author whose book is on my TBR list. I am like her in that I'm happy being at home. The stay at home orders have not been that big of an adjustment to me as it seems to be with others.

    Love the cover of "Al Dente's Inferno". The storyline sounds wonderful. Can't wait for the opportunity to read it.

    Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy! I feel that leaving reviews on a book is giving back to an author for their creative works that we enjoy so much.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  8. Cozy mysteries are wonderful. Thanks for the introduction to yours.
    debby236 at hotmail dot com

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  9. This sounds like a really neat premise. Love the name!

    amybradsher at gmail dot com

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  10. That title sure grabs you. Would love to win. Stella.potts77@ gmail. Com.

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  11. I love the cover on the book! This sounds so good!
    duellonlysis(at)aol(dot)com

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  12. fun title
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  13. Love the photo! Looks like I might be there sharing a coffee with you.
    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. This book sounds intriguing and I love the cover! Thank you so much for sharing this interview and about the authors book, Stephanie is a new to me author, nice to meet you. Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  15. Such a good book! Thanks for sharing some insights with us, Stephanie!

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  16. Had I known how difficult the odds are of getting published, I doubt I would have pursued publication.
    tlw131 at gmail(dot)com

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  17. Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the opportunity to win. janeen dot bair at gmail dot com

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  18. "Rebecca" is one of my all time favorite books! I think it's time to re-read it. I really enjoyed reading about your cozy mystery and I'm looking forward to reading it. I'm adding it to my TBR list.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. I love the cover of this book and the description.

    connie.carpenter1215 at gmail.com

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  20. Wow! Sounds like a lot of action in this book! Would love to read about the geographical location info too! Thanks for an opportunity to win! Badawson16 at aol dot com

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  21. New author to me. Sounds like a wonderful book. I will need to read.
    Blessings
    Diana Lynn

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  22. Great book cover and excerpt. Would love to read and review print copy of this book.
    New author to me but that's OK because I like trying new authors, books and genres. That's how I find my favorite authors. I love reading cozy mysteries.
    Hope I Win.
    My email: don(dot)stewart(at)zoominternet.net

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    Replies
    1. Hi Crystal, Congrats! You are my lucky winner of Al Dente's Inferno by Stephanie Cole. I will be contacting you via email for your mailing address. Thanks for being a Suspense Sister reader.
      Mary Ellis

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  23. Nell sounds like she has stepped into a mess!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. sounds interesting! sheliarha64@yahoo.com

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  25. Great interview. Nice cover. It sounds like a very interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
    dianah7272@gmail.com

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  26. I absolutely adore this cover. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  27. Looks like a fantastic story!
    cluedn{at}embarqmail{dot}com

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  28. This sounds great! pat at ptbradley dot com

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  29. Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave Stephanie Cole a comment!! Our winner of Al Dente Inferno is Crystal Stewart. Congrats, Crystal. I will contact you privately. And thanks to everyone for reading Suspense Sisters.

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