Veronica Adams, Author at Seaside Southern Mysteries

On countdowns to launch and fried chicken

October 6, 2026 in books, Occasionally I Cook, Talbot & Andrews Investigations

I’m busy gearing up for the HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS release, clearing off everything that piled up on my desk during edits, and settling into my next book. HERE YOU COME AGAIN is the second Talbot & Andrews Investigation. I’m having so much fun with Liz, Nate, and the Stella Maris crew! I had forgotten how easily I get lost in their world.

Before we get to April, though, there’s Christmas. HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS, the very first Talbot & Andrews Investigation, arrives October 27, and preorders are open everywhere.

Signed and personalized paperbacks come straight from my store. Did you know you can also order ebooks and audio books directly from me? The folks at BookFunnel handle the delivery, and it seems to work seamlessly. And of course, ebook and audiobook preorders are open at all the usual online retailers.

Now, about the donkey. Back in June I showed y’all the cover for HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS and asked what we ought to call him, and whether anybody had notions about the chickens. Y’all did not disappoint. I do have a confession, though. The donkey actually already had a name. I’d settled it in the manuscript before the votes came in, and he is Balaam, called Bally for short, after the fellow in Numbers 22 whose donkey turned out to have considerably more sense than he did.

But oh, the suggestions. Cletus Burrito took six votes, and I’m told burrito means little donkey in Spanish, a thing I did not know and will now never forget. Jack, short for Jackass, got two. So did Leon, which is Noel spelled backwards, and I think that’s clever. Somebody put forward Mister Higgins, from Magnum P.I. Somebody else said Lucifer and noted that this is what Mamma would have named him, and I’m sure that’s probably true.

Two of you voted for Frank, which I take to mean two of you wanted the donkey named after Liz’s own daddy. I laughed out loud. And one reader wanted him introduced the way James Bond introduces himself. I will not be repeating that one.

The chickens are still wide open, and I will be picking from your list. Henrietta and Harriet each pulled three votes. Reba, Maybelline, and Blanche got two apiece. Then there was Loretta, Wilhelmina, Magnolia, Fricassee, Nugget, Abbott and Costello, a pair called Thelma and Louise, another pair called Shrimp and Grits, and somebody’s Biscuits and Gravy. Whichever ones I settle on will be named in the next book. Thank you for playing along. Y’all are a delight.

My mother’s fried chicken was legendary. When it was on the menu, we organized our lives around it. My sister jokes that she lured her husband into our family with Mamma’s fried chicken, and I’m pretty sure she thinks there’s some truth to that. That man asked for it every year for his birthday. Not cake. Not a steak. Fried chicken, and plenty of it—lots of drumsticks, please.

I was sure I had shared this recipe with y’all years ago. I thought it was one of the very first. Mamma’s fried chicken turns up in nearly every book I have written. Liz talks about it. Daddy schemes for it. Joe’s eyes light up at the sight of a platter. So I went digging through my whole newsletter history, then my website, then my photographs, and it is nowhere. I never gave it to you. I apologize for that, and I am fixing the situation today.

Liz’s family is not my family. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. But I do borrow some of the sweet little stories—and the hilarious ones—that have happened around our table and hand them over to the Talbots. That is life turning quietly into fiction, and I only ever do it with the sweet parts. I never tell the messy ones. Not that we have messy ones. We don’t. We are a perfectly normal, unmessy family.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

I went looking for Mamma’s own recipe first, and this is where the story takes a turn. Years ago my mother chaired the committee that put together her church’s cookbook, Cooking with Grace. She wanted a real cookbook, a thick one, so she gathered recipes from every woman in the congregation and of course used several of her own.

But she didn’t want to use too many of hers, because how would that look? So, she used some of my recipes, her sister’s, friends who weren’t even Methodists….and when she still ran short of her target, she filled in the gaps by quietly using a few more of her recipes and putting other people’s names on them…my sister, who does not cook. (Which was an inside joke to anyone who knows her.) My daughters, who were too young at the time to have recipes of their own.

Mamma was not going to have a church cookbook with her own name on every other page. That book has been our family’s go-to for family recipes for decades and it is still the first place I go looking.

So I opened it up expecting Mamma’s fried chicken, and it isn’t there. It isn’t anywhere. My mother never wrote it down. She probably never made it exactly the same way twice, and I don’t believe it ever once crossed her mind that there was anything special about the way she fried a chicken. She was completely oblivious.

Now I’ll let y’all in on a secret. It has been years since I fried chicken. Frying chicken is messy and exhausting. For a good while now I have bought mine at Publix. I like their fried chicken just fine and I am not the least bit ashamed.

But…it is not my mamma’s fried chicken by any stretch of the imagination.

And because I could not find Mamma’s recipe, this month I decided to rally. I went back to the version I put together the last time I stood over a cast iron skillet, and tried to recreate Mamma’s chicken, sort of… (I ALWAYS make my own tweaks, even to perfection. It’s a character flaw) …and I updated it for 2026. The translation for that is: I added even more fat and every calorie possible. That is simply the way I roll. Then I fried a big mess of it this weekend, and I have the pictures to prove it, chicken and kitchen both.

If you give it a try, I would love to hear what you think.

On Southern Susans and Tomato Sandwiches

September 2, 2026 in books, Occasionally I Cook, Talbot & Andrews Investigations

I hope this finds you with your feet up somewhere shady, because it is hotter than blue blazes here in Greenville. The kind of hot where the sidewalk feels soft under your shoes and the dog won’t even chase the mail carrier anymore. If you’re anywhere south of the sweet tea line this week, you know exactly what I mean.

I’m taking a little breather myself right now since HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS is currently with my very capable editors. In just a few days, I’ll be back at my desk polishing the manuscript, but in the meantime, I’m using this pause to catch up on a few things that a book deadline always shoves to the back burner–like email, exercise, and every single other thing except the book. I’m really excited about this one, and I just can’t wait to get it in your hands. I’ve missed Liz and Nate and their whole gang.

Over on Facebook, the Lowcountry Book Club spent the whole month of August celebrating my friend and fellow “Southern Susan” Susan Beckham Zurenda’s new release. Susie is a wonderful co-host for our monthly book chats, and it’s always such fun to read and feature her work. If you’re not in the group yet, come on over and join the discussion by clicking here.

The other fun thing I’m working on is a special surprise for next month’s newsletter. So mark your calendar for the third week of September, because I’ve got a little something exclusively for newsletter subscribers. I’m not ready to spill the details just yet, but I don’t want you to miss it. Stay on the lookout for September’s installment. All will be revealed…

And because nobody wants to stand over a hot stove in this weather, this month’s recipe is Liz Talbot’s Favorite Tomato Sandwich, a classic Southern treat guaranteed to keep the kitchen cool even when the thermometer isn’t cooperating. You can find the recipe by clicking here. And yes, of course, I know none of y’all need a recipe for a tomato sandwich. It’s really just a bit of fun. I do love a tomato sandwich…

On second editions and trifle

August 3, 2026 in books, Occasionally I Cook, Talbot & Andrews Investigations, The Liz Talbot Mystery Series

I’ve got an exciting update to share. Lowcountry Book Club—book five in the Liz Talbot series—just got a fresh coat of paint. The second edition is out now, with a brand-new cover from the talented Elizabeth Mackey and a new “Folks You’ll Want to Know” cast list up front—a handy who’s-who for keeping the Stella Maris crew straight. My editorial team and I also gave the text a light polish along the way.

For those of y’all who’ve already read it, the story’s the same one you remember—it’s just looking sharper on the shelf. But if Lowcountry Book Club has been sitting on your TBR pile, now’s a good time to grab it. Like all the Liz Talbot mysteries, it’s a great read for the beach or a pool day, and the second edition is live now in eBook and print. My plans right now are to leave the first edition audio in place, but discussions with the audio folks are on-going. For now, it’s still available.

If you’d enjoy a preview, there’s a little taste of Chapter One right here on my website.

For those of you who enjoy the recipes I share, last month’s newsletter contained Poppy’s Chocolate Celebration Trifle!

As you might imagine, it was intimidating for Blake’s wife Poppy the first time she brought something to Carolyn Talbot’s table. For years, Carolyn kept telling her, “Don’t bring a thing. There’s really no need,” and while Poppy knew that was true, when she had children of her own, she wanted to start a few new traditions.

She worked really hard to develop something unique that she knew Frankie and Emma Rae would love, and something that wouldn’t compete with one of Carolyn’s well-established desserts.

I couldn’t wait until October to share this one. Poppy’s Chocolate Celebration Trifle turns up in Hard Candy Christmas—browned-butter brownies, dark chocolate pastry cream, peanut butter filling, and mascarpone whipped cream, layered up into the kind of dessert that makes folks take notice and save room.

Now, this recipe I dreamed up myself after seeing variations of similar similar concoctions online. I made it for our Fourth of July celebration, and my family positively loved it. If you try it, I hope yours does too!

I put a donkey on my book cover and I regret nothing

June 30, 2026 in Appearances, books, Carolina Tales, Family, in person appearances, Talbot & Andrews Investigations

It’s officially the season of front porch swings, lightning bugs, and lemonade down here—and the kind of heat where getting yourself from the car to the front door counts as the day’s exercise. I hope wherever you are, you’ve found yourself a shady spot and a good book. And if you’re still hunting for that last part, well, do allow me to help with that…

If you haven’t yet spent a few hours with Hadley Cooper in Trouble’s Turn to Lose, here’s a quick and easy fix: just click right here and grab your copy. It’s the most fun I’ve had writing in a long while, and—just between us—it’s the perfect way to get yourself ready for what’s coming this fall. (Hold that thought.)

Hard Candy Christmas, the very first Talbot & Andrews Investigation, arrives October 27. Which means (y’all!) Liz and Nate are officially back.

Now, I have to tell y’all about this cover, because I had no business whatsoever having as much fun with it as I did. There’s a whole little menagerie tucked in there, and every last one of them has a place in the story.

You’ll remember the dogs, of course—that’s Rhett and Chumley. But the chickens? I don’t believe we’ve ever named them, which feels like an oversight, so I’m officially taking suggestions.

Did you spot the donkey? Any guesses what his name might be? I hope your imagination is already running positively wild over the kind of chaos Frank Talbot and that donkey are bound to cause.

If you’d like to reserve your copy while you’re thinking about it, the preorder link is right here. And as always, a signed, personalized copy makes a lovely treat for yourself or a gift for a fellow reader. They’re available in my store.

Gallivanting, gratitude, and Steel Magnolias

June 1, 2026 in Appearances, books, Carolina Tales, Family, in person appearances, Talbot & Andrews Investigations

What a joy these past couple of months have been! Trouble’s Turn to Lose is out in the world, and the very best part of a launch is getting to hug as many of your necks as possible in person.

It started before the book even released, with a pre-launch party at As the Page Turns in Travelers Rest, and a Lunch & Lit luncheon at Soby’s in Greenville with my friends from M. Judson Booksellers. What fabulous events they both were! This was my first luncheon event with M. Judson, so I was a bit nervous. What if we didn’t sell many tickets?

But it was amazing—we filled nearly every seat, the food was divine, and my husband Sugar and my granddarling Ciera came out to cheer me on. One sweet reader drove hours to be there, detouring to scoop up her mother-in-law on the way and arriving with a bag of boiled peanuts for me. The official snack of South Carolina, handed over with a hug. I’m still smiling about that.

From there it was a happy blur of libraries, bookstores, and book clubs, each one its own kind of treasure. The Moveable Feast down at Pawleys Island never disappoints. The Florence County Library turned out a wonderful crowd. And just a few days ago, I wrapped the whole thing up at the World Famous Blue Crab Festival in Little River—sunshine, salt air, and so many of you stopping by to say hello.

To everyone who came out, who brought a friend, who drove farther than was reasonable: thank you. You are the whole reason I get to do this.

If Trouble’s Turn to Lose found a place in your heart, there’s a small thing you can do that makes such a big difference: tell another reader. Mention it to the other book lovers in your life, or jot down a few words on Goodreads, Amazon, or wherever you talk books. Reviews are how new readers stumble onto Hadley and the gang and decide to give the series a try—and every single one means more to me than I can say.

In between all that gallivanting, I made sure to steal one perfect evening right here at home in Greenville—a night that had nothing to do with book tour at all.

Some of you have met my granddarling Ciera—she sometimes holds down the fort at the World Wide Headquarters of Stella Maris Books, handling shipping, inventory, errands, and whatever else I throw at her on any given day. She is nineteen, precious, a talented hairstylist, and one of my favorite people on the planet.

Ciera and I have both loved the movie Steel Magnolias for as long as either of us can remember, but neither of us had ever seen the play—the original, the one that started it all. So when the Greenville Theatre put it on, we made a real night of it. Dinner first at O-ku, because Ciera loves sushi, where she had her very first mocktail and felt impossibly grownup. Then on to the theatre, where we laughed and cried in all the places you’d expect.

This evening is a memory I’ll keep tucked away for a long, long time.

I can hardly believe we’re quickly headed into summer. I’m back at my desk, finishing up HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS. I positively adore the cover—and many of y’all let me know you did too—thank you SO much for all the kind words! And now it’s time for me to finish the story, because it arrives October 27, and there’s SO much to do. I’m so, so excited to be working on a brand new Liz & Nate story! (Can you tell?)

Have you preordered your copy yet? All versions are available for preorder through the Stella Maris Bookstore—signed hardcovers, paperbacks, and large print paperbacks, and eBook and audiobook. Ebook preorders are live on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Google Play. Audiobook and print preorders are coming soon to the other retailers.

Until next month…

Thank you! (And a surprise cover reveal!)

April 30, 2026 in Appearances, books, Carolina Tales, Family, in person appearances

I’ve had so much fun over the last couple of weeks getting out and about, meeting readers, and chatting about Trouble’s Turn to Lose. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has come out to see me, everyone who’s already read Trouble’s Turn to Lose, every bookseller who has helped get my new book into the hands of readers, and every reviewer who’s had kind words to say. Y’all have made this launch so special and I can’t say thank you enough!

If you’ve read and enjoyed Trouble’s Turn to Lose, please tell a friend. Word of mouth is so, so important to a book’s success. One way to tell a friend is to mention Trouble’s Turn to Lose to the book lovers in your circle. Another way is to leave an online review. Even a sentence or two on Goodreads, Amazon, or wherever you chat about books is appreciated more than you can imagine.

If you still need to grab yours, I left a few signed copies at the stores I’ve visited. Signed, personalized copies in your choice of format—large print, trade paperback, and hardcover—are always available through my online store. Just enter your personalization details at checkout. I’ll sign it exactly as you request and ship it directly to your door.

Did you know you can also order ebooks and audiobooks directly from me? Just select Stella Maris Bookstore on my website menu, choose the title, select the format, and add to cart. After checkout, the download link and instructions will be sent to your inbox from BookFunnel. Follow the prompts to deliver it to your preferred reading device, and enjoy!

All formats are available at the usual online retailers.

If you love shopping local, and your local bookseller or library doesn’t carry my books, please let them know they are available through Ingram, a major national distributor, and through my website. Several libraries have ordered their copies direct, which made my day.

I have a few more South Carolina events on the calendar this spring before I have to pivot back to my desk. I’m on deadline for the next release, and it requires me to spend some quality time in Stella Maris!

Speaking of returning to my desk to meet deadlines…

I’m thrilled to share the cover of my next book, HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS, launching October 27, 2026. This is the first book in my new Talbot & Andrews Investigation series—and for readers who’ve been asking when Liz and Nate are coming back, this one’s for y’all.

All versions are available for preorder through the Stella Maris Bookstore. Ebook preorders are live on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Google Play. Audiobook and print preorders are coming soon to the other retailers.

Until next month…

A Little Easter and A Lot of Trouble

March 31, 2026 in Appearances, books, Carolina Tales, Family, in person appearances

I’m looking out my window at the purple flowers on the redbud tree and daydreaming just a little. It’s nearly Easter—my favorite time of year—and I have some Easter photos I want to share with y’all.

This first one is so precious to me—just about the whole crew together, and every time I look at it, I smile. This was some years ago now, back when the grandchildren and my nieces were small and Mamma and Daddy were still strong and healthy. Mamma and Daddy put on a big Easter to-do every year. It’s my mother’s table—her food, her abundance, her gift for loving people by feeding them, whether it was a Thursday supper or Easter dinner—that inspires every spread Carolyn Talbot puts together.

And I love this one—Sugar with the grandkids and nieces. That man. I could look at this photo all day long.

And this last one is very dear to my heart—Daddy, me, and my sweet granddaughter Morgan. This is my daddy just as I want to remember him—happy. As I write this, Morgan is in Washington, D.C., serving with the National Guard—and we couldn’t be more proud.

Sharing these with y’all felt right today, because Easter has me thinking about one of my very favorite scenes in TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE—which releases in just a few days!! I am SO excited to share this book with y’all!!

There’s an Easter dinner scene at the Talbot family home that may be one of my all-time favorites that I’ve ever written. Carolyn Talbot does not do anything by half, and her Easter table is something special. What happens before the coconut cake arrives at the table? Well—that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourselves. I hope it brings y’all as much joy as it brought me to write it.

I’ll be honest with y’all…I’m the teentsiest bit nervous about this release. The last few years have been really hard for my family, and 2025 was a year when I simply didn’t have a book to give you. The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club came out in September 2024, and then everything caught up with me. I’m so eager to get back on the horse—but there’s been this nagging voice in the back of my mind wondering if I may have missed my moment.

And then something wonderful happened that shushed that voice for a few minutes, anyway. The lovely folks at Kirkus reviewed TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, and y’all—this sent me dancing around the house grinning like an idiot.

“A well-executed murder mystery featuring smart women, strong friendships, and ghosts.” —Kirkus Reviews

I’ve also been so humbled and thankful for all the early reader reviews on Goodreads, NetGalley, and beyond. Y’all have not let me down—and I am truly grateful for every single review. It’s impossible to overstate how important these are.

If you haven’t already grabbed your copy, there’s still time to preorder! Signed, personalized copies are available exclusively in my online store—just enter your personalization details at checkout and I’ll sign it exactly as you request. It makes such a thoughtful gift for the reader in your life, or a special treat for yourself. Print, audio, and ebook versions are also available for preorder at all the usual online retailers. All the links are available by clicking here.

If you’re anywhere near Greenville the week before launch day, I would love to see your face at one of my pre-launch events!

Lunch & Lit with M. Judson Booksellers — Thursday, April 2 at Noon

Do you enjoy a bookish luncheon? Join me for Lunch & Lit hosted by M. Judson Booksellers at the gorgeous Soby’s New South Cuisine in downtown Greenville! Tickets include a scrumptious three-course meal and a signed copy of the book. Seating is limited, so grab your tickets soon! I’d so love to see you there!!

Pre-Launch Party at As the Page Turns — Tuesday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m.

Tied up at lunchtime but free in the evenings? Come sip a festive beverage, nibble appetizers, and chat with fellow book lovers at As the Page Turns in Travelers Rest! This event is free — just grab your free ticket so we’ll know to expect you.

I also have a few other South Carolina events on the calendar this spring (and I’m still trying to work in one or two more) before I have to pivot back to my desk. I’m on deadline for the next release, and it requires me to spend some quality time in Stella Maris! Click here for the current list.

A Little Trouble Is Headed Your Way in 46 days!

February 26, 2026 in Appearances, books, Carolina Tales, in person appearances

The countdown is on—TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE releases April 7th, and I cannot wait for you to get your hands on it! If you haven’t preordered yet, now is the perfect time. Early orders make a real difference and I am so grateful for every single one.

The advance reviews have been pouring in, and I have to say—it is pure joy to see how much readers are already loving the return of Hadley and Cash. Here’s a small sample of what people are saying—oh my stars, y’all, this review sent me dancing around the room!

“This book could be Susan Boyer’s best book ever!! I did not want it to end!! There’s tears, laughter, SUSPENSE, family relationships, private investigations, ghosts, chickens, cats (yes, cats), all wrapped up into one bundle of fun!!” – Jamie, Goodreads reviewer

I would also love to see you at the upcoming pre-launch celebration! Here are the details:

Tuesday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m.
As The Page Turns Books
3 Plaza Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
(864) 834-8100

It’s a free, drop-in party, but please reserve a ticket so we know how many goodies to prepare. Click HERE to reserve your spot. Come whenever you can, stay as long as you like, get your signed copy of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, and enjoy some festive beverages and appetizers. I would truly love to see you there!

I’ll also be joining M. Judson Booksellers on Friday, April 2, for a pre-launch Lunch & Lit at Soby’s in Greenville. I’ve used Soby’s as a setting in at least two previous books, and it’s one of my very favorite Greenville restaurants. I hope you’ll be able to join us! Please click HERE to grab your ticket.

Florence area friends! I’m coming to see you on April 16 for a luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Florence County Library. This is a ticketed event and tickets are selling quickly — please click HERE to grab yours today!

I’m also thrilled to be returning as a guest author at The Moveable Feast at Pawleys Island on April 8. This event will be at the Hot Fish Club, which is another of my personal favorites! Grab your ticket HERE.

I do want to apologize in advance to friends I’ve promised a visit — I won’t be venturing far from home with this release. My next book is due out October 27, 2026, and I have to pivot quickly back to writing after launch. I hope to do a bigger tour with the next one!

I cannot wait to see you all soon! Until next month…

Trouble’s Coming in 75 Days!

January 30, 2026 in Appearances, books, Carolina Tales, in person appearances

Here at Stella Maris Books, LLC, we are gearing up for the April 7th launch of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE! Y’all I am SO thrilled to finally get this book into your hands! Have you preordered your copy yet?

If you’re anywhere near Traveler’s Rest / Greenville, South Carolina, please join us for the pre-launch celebration on March 31 at As The Page Turns (3 Plaza Drive, Travelers Rest). This is a free, drop in-party, but we ask that you reserve a ticket so we can get a headcount. I certainly don’t want to run out of food, festive beverages, or books at this special event! Click HERE to reserve your tickets.

It begins at 5 p.m., but we’ll be happy to see you whenever you get there! Stop by and say “Hi,” and get your signed copy of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. Hang out with us for a while if you can–there will be festive beverages and appetizers to snack on!

Later that same week, on Friday, April 2, I’ll be joining M. Judson Books for a pre-launch Lunch & Lit–more details on that coming soon!

Florence area friends! I’m coming to see you! I’ll be there April 16 for a luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Florence County Library. This is a ticketed event and tickets are selling quickly! Please grab yours today–I’d love to see you!

I’m also thrilled to announce I’ll be a guest author at The Moveable Feast at Pawleys Island again on April 8. Location is still TBD, but keep an eye out HERE for more information and to purchase tickets!

I’ll be doing a few other launch events, and there’s a list below. We’ll probably add a couple more in South Carolina, but I won’t be venturing far from home with this release. Apologies to everyone who I’ve said the words “I hope to get there with the next release” to! I would love to do a big tour and visit as many states as possible, but I have to pivot really quickly back to writing as my next book is due out October 27, 2026, and I have a fast approaching deadline.

Happiest of New Years!

On New Reading Lists and Christmas Parties

December 31, 2025 in books, The Liz Talbot Mystery Series

I hope you’re enjoying a warm and joyous holiday season! One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is the parties–I love getting together with family and friends to celebrate the season. Every year, I promise myself I’ll find a way to do more of that throughout the year.

Did you see we released the 2026 Lowcountry Book Club Reading List? I so hope you find a new favorite this year! If you’re not yet part of The Lowcountry Book Club, you can click HERE and it will take you directly to the group.

Speaking of the Lowcountry Book Club, Susan Zurenda and I recently chatted about Lowcountry Bordello. The video was posted Monday, December 29 and is now available to watch in the Facebook group and on YouTube. Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years!

Until next month…

On Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays…

December 2, 2025 in books, Occasionally I Cook, The Liz Talbot Mystery Series

I love Thanksgiving! It’s actually one of my favorite holidays…family, food, and fun, and the weather in South Carolina is usually pretty enough we can wander in and out watching the parade and watching the turkeys Sugar is mysteriously cooking on our large outdoor cooking apparatus. Some years he smokes them, some years he air fries them, and some years he does one of each, or tries something new. Anyway, we have so much to be thankful for. As we reflect on another Thanksgiving, I hope you know how truly grateful I am for you–for all my friends who have been so supportive over the last few years of upheaval in my life!

Last weekend, I took part in the GFWC Cape Fear Women’s Club third annual Sip & Sign hosted by Cape Fear Winery, which was SO much fun! I got to spend time with readers and also a fabulous group of fellow authors–Jennifer Moorman, Grace Helena Walz, and Ashley Winstead.

If you haven’t picked up your copy of the second edition of Lowcountry Bordello yet, it’s a great holiday read, and it makes a great gift too! Signed copies are available through my online store.

Charleston area friends! I’m thrilled to join Mary Alice Monroe, Angela May, Signe Pike, and Kristen Ness for a book signing at the Mount Pleasant Barnes & Noble on Saturday, December 6. This is a stellar lineup and I’m honored to be a part of it! We’d love to have you stop by and see us! We’ll be there from 1-3 pm EST.

As for the recipe this month, a few members of the Lowcountry Book Club group on Facebook noticed that Liz Talbot’s mamma, Carolyn, often makes butter peas and asked for the recipe. This was one of my mother’s favorites, and mine as well. So this month, I’ll share the recipe I’ve developed over the years. I hope you enjoy it!

Until next month…

On Sweet Tea, Podcasts, and Fall

October 31, 2025 in books, Carolina Tales, Refreshing Beverages, The Liz Talbot Mystery Series

I’m just back from the coast, where I was scheduled to be at The Little River Shrimp Festival. Unfortunately, that was canceled due to rainy, windy weather, but Sugar and I had a few other things scheduled in the area–and I ended up doing a rainy day pop-up signing at Barnes & Noble, which was a lot of fun. Perhaps because it was a last minute thing, I was in laid back mode and didn’t take a single picture! I did manage to get a few pictures sitting on the beach after the storm cleared, though. One evening we took a picnic out and ate dinner in our beach chairs. October may be my favorite month at the beach even if it does rain.

In other news, I’m hard at work on next year’s fall release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal in the coming months. I think I mentioned this book will feature Liz Talbot, right? I know I told y’all she shows up in Hadley’s next book, TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, out April 7, 2026.

While I’m enjoying fall, I can’t help but feel Thanksgiving fast approaching and of course Christmas won’t be far behind. The second edition of my first book set at Christmas, Lowcountry Bordello releases November 4 with a beautiful new cover. (It would make a great Christmas gift for all your reader friends! Get signed copies of most of my books directly from my store!)

While you’re shopping, preorder your copy of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE as a little Christmas gift to yourself–my lips are sealed.

This month in the Lowcountry Book Club, the Two Southern Susans chatted with Joy Callaway about her June release, Sing Me Home to Carolina. If you’re a group member, I hope you’ll watch the interview at your convenience. If you aren’t a member and would like to join, we’d love to have you! If you don’t use Facebook, all of my book of the month discussions are available on YouTube! Speaking of the Lowcountry Book Club, my team has been discussing the possibility of adding a podcast in addition to the Book of the Month videos posted in the group and to YouTube. Stay tuned for more on that.

I know iced tea can sometimes feel like a summer recipe, but at our house, we drink it every day. Even as the days grow colder, I keep a Tervis tumbler full of iced tea close at hand. Who knows, it may give me a creative boost. This month, I hope you’ll enjoy my Mamma’s Iced Tea recipe, which is the newest addition to my recipe archive. It’s the one I use to make a gallon every other day.

Until next month…

On Fall, Preorders, and Celebrations

September 25, 2025 in books, Carolina Tales, Occasionally I Cook, The Liz Talbot Mystery Series

Last week, Sugar and I were in St. Pete Beach, Florida, for the annual NINC (Novelists, Inc.) conference. As the weather turns crisp at night in South Carolina, I was thankful to enjoy the warmth of Florida for a few days. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the cooler weather as well, but there’s something about the sun on my face, a refreshing dip in the pool, and a warm ocean breeze that does my heart good. And it’s so wonderful to reconnect with friends and colleagues I don’t see very often as we meet to discuss the business of writing and publishing.

I’m looking forward to what fall holds, as moving into a new season on the calendar also means I’m starting a new project–one I hope you’ll be as excited about as I am. I’ve turned in the edits for my April release, TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, and I’m ready to dive into my fall release for 2026. I don’t have a cover to share yet, but look for one around January – February. Speaking of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, preorders are now live!

Before I go and get too sentimental about changing seasons, there is much to celebrate this month. The second edition of Lowcountry Bordello is coming out on November 4, and I’m excited to share the new cover. There are a lot of fun elements we were able to include, but I think the starfish under the tree are my favorite.

Now, for a moment, please walk with me down memory lane. Who remembers this cover? This is the very first cover for Lowcountry Boil! (We’ve come a long way since then.) The first edition was released on September 18, 2012. So much has happened since then!

When it was released, I couldn’t imagine all the fabulous friends I’d make along the way or all of the incredible readers I’d meet. My readers are the reason I write, and I hope you’ve enjoyed being along for the journey!

And now for this month’s recipe…

Mamma’s Baked Country Ham will be served on Carolyn Talbot’s table in the upcoming TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. Yes, this is a Carolina Tales series book, starring Hadley Cooper. But, Liz and her whole family will appear as well, and Mamma will put on an out-of-this-world Easter feast featuring this savory baked country ham alongside her legendary sides—think fluffy biscuits, deviled eggs, and all the trimmings that make a Southern holiday table unforgettable.

Until next month…

On New Character Profiles and Recipe Updates

August 29, 2025 in books, Carolina Tales, Occasionally I Cook

Thank you so much for your grace and understanding regarding the delay of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. I deeply appreciate all the kind messages y’all have sent, and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted.

Exciting news! There’s a new bundle in the store for you to enjoy. It’s the Carolina Tales Series, available in print or eBook. We do not have an audio version of Beginnings – The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club, so no audio bundle, I’m afraid. This is perfect Christmas gift for your friends who want to be caught up before TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE comes out!

Are we friends on Facebook? Have you seen the “Meet the Sullivan’s Island Supper Club” post? I know some of you saw it last month on Instagram, but not everyone is on Instagram, and I love these profiles so much! My team worked really hard on these and I’m excited to share them with more readers!

Do y’all ever change the way you make things over time? I surely do, and when I made Mamma’s Picnic Potato Salad over the weekend, I remembered that I hadn’t updated the written recipe in a while. I love this potato salad so much it’s dangerous to have it in the refrigerator! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. You can view the newly updated recipe just by clicking here!

Until next month…

On Tomatoes and Tough Decisions

July 24, 2025 in books, Carolina Tales, Occasionally I Cook, Refreshing Beverages, The Liz Talbot Mystery Series

I hope you’re doing well! We’re deep into a Carolina summer here, and beginning to enjoy fresh vegetables from the garden. You may recall that gardening is not my gift at all, but thankfully, Brandon enjoys it. I’m looking forward to the homegrown tomatoes he’ll be ready to pick any day now. June Pinks are my favorite, and have been since childhood. My grandmother used to grow them, and I special ordered some seeds. In my view, there’s nothing better than a tomato sandwich made with a ripe, juicy June Pink.

I’m sure you’ll understand when I tell you the thing I’m most grateful for is that Brandon is feeling good and enjoying time in the garden.

Thankfully, things are finally beginning to settle down in my world. I know you know how crazy things have been for our family over the last five years, and I have to say how much all the kind words that have come my way have meant to me. I deeply appreciate the encouragement and especially all the prayers.

Because I have the absolute best readers–and I count every one of you as a friend–I never want to give you anything less than a book that’s been professionally prepared all the way through every phase of editing, proofreading, formatting, et cetera. I want to release the audio version on the same day as all the other formats. I don’t ever want to rush a book through any part of the process. I also don’t want to release another “beach book” in late summer or early fall.

I’m afraid I’ve been tempted to rush things so I could get this book out in July. But what I really need is a complete schedule reset, which brings me to a difficult announcement regarding TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. I’ve decided to postpone its release until April 7, 2026. This allows me the breathing room to get myself back on schedule and not take shortcuts. This is the right thing for me, and it’s the right thing for this book. I so hope you won’t lose patience with my repeated delays–I really do apologize. I promise this is the last one, and this time, I’m giving myself the time I need instead of band-aiding the whole process.

This will set us up to release the next book in early November 2026, and in 2027, we’ll keep the same pattern and give readers a consistent release schedule: early April and late October / early November. Thank you so much for your patience with me. I so hope you’ll enjoy TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE when it finally arrives in the spring.

Do you have a friend who enjoys ebooks, but has never read the Liz Talbot mysteries? Here’s a great way to introduce them! The Liz Talbot Mystery Series: Volume One is now available exclusively in my bookstore. This bundle is offered at a discount and includes the first three Liz Talbot Mysteries, plus Postcards From Stella Maris AND a bonus–the first book in the Carolina Tales series, Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island!

Audio and print bundles coming soon!

If you or your friend has read the first two Liz Talbot Mysteries, the second edition of Lowcountry Boneyard is now available. The second edition of Lowcountry Bordello is still set to release in early November.

Lowcountry Book Club members…Thursday, July 31, Susan Zurenda and I will chat with Kaira Rouda about the July Book of the Month, her brand new release, Jill is Not Happy. We are beyond excited to chat with Kaira about her newest book and hope you are able to join us.

Fellow foodies, it’s too hot to cook where I am, but I hope you’ll enjoy Hadley’s favorite smoothie. She (and I–and Brandon too) love this smoothie and it’s so good for your brain, we call it a “Brain Smoothie.” I actually developed this years ago, after Dad was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and have tweaked it over the years. If y’all make one, I hope you enjoy sipping it on the porch, or by the pool, or at the lake or the beach or wherever you love to read and sip.