Happy Tuesday, book people! It’s another rainy day here in Charleston, West Virginia and I don’t relish the thought of having to get up, dressed in outside clothing, and go out to pick up my meds and other items, but I must. I love seeing nature rebound in the Spring but my seasonal allergies and asthma aren’t big fans! On the plus side, I can go out early, run my errands, and then get back home so I can spend the rest of the day reading!
Well, back to more bookish discussions. Today, I’m pleased to welcome Abby Vandiver (also known as Abby Collette), author of A Deadly Inside Scoop scheduled for release next month. Like many of you readers, I’m passionate about books as well as learning about new books. As a result, it’s always a pleasure to welcome a new-to-me author to The Book Diva’s Reads. Thank you, Ms. Vandiver for taking the time to stop by today. I hope that all of you will enjoy learning about Ms. Vandiver’s writing journey and add A Deadly Inside Scoop to your TBR list. Is it too early for ice cream because I’m beginning to crave some just looking at that cover?! 🍨
My Writing Journey
By Abby L. Vandiver
Having the life of your dreams, including having a job that excites you, is probably not a dream you can hope to come true. Sure some people are lucky, but many don’t get to do it. They just don’t get to follow their passion and do the things that satisfy them. Passionate people are happy people. There are moments, I’m sure you’d agree, when you slip away and do the things you love—read, bake, travel. Moments we look forward to. Moments we cherish. But many aren’t able to find that same satisfaction in our jobs.
Like many people in search of doing something they enjoyed, I’ve done a lot of things in my life—work-wise. When I was young I had dreams of being an actor, a teacher, and a pediatrician, while I did teach for a few years, I never did realize those dreams. It seemed that I was never satisfied with the path my life was going and kept switching up. Finally, I decided I wouldn’t ever be passionate about what I did for a living. That is until now.
It took me getting sick—nearly bedridden for more than four years—to realize what it was I enjoyed doing. Writing. Sometimes I guess, you just have to stand still instead of chasing things down to find out where you belong in life. Although, in hindsight, I realized that in all of my endeavors throughout my life, I have always been drawn to jobs where writing was a big part of the position. And I see that I was always good at it. (It would have been nice to have realized that about myself long ago, I could have been on my writing journey so much earlier!)
When I first started writing I was ill and it took my mind off of how sick I was. It took my mind off of all the tests and hospital stays and the worry of what was wrong with me (it took doctors four years to figure it out). I don’t talk much about it or share my illness, other than to say that’s when I started writing, but it was a turning point in my life that I’m sure I will always remember.
Writing came easy for me. At first, I did it just for something to do but then I wanted to share my work with others. Online retailers like Amazon made it super easy to upload a manuscript and get my book out into the world. And after my first book was published, I found I enjoyed sharing my work with readers and learning from the feedback I was received.
As a self-published author, I penned more than fifteen books (and hope to write more). Transitioning to a traditionally published author took no talent of mine. Many authors have to query (and query and query) but thank the lucky stars I didn’t. Henery Press, a small cozy mystery publisher, saw my independently published book, Bed & Breakfast Bedlam, and asked would I do a three-book deal with them. I didn’t hesitate (well, maybe for a moment while I was jumping around with excitement). Next, before my first traditionally published book was released, a literary agent contacted me for representation.
It seems that my passion found me.
It’s been a fun ride and now I have a new cozy out published by Penguin called A Deadly Inside Scoop. Hope you’ll check it out. It’s a cozy with ice cream and of course murder!
A Deadly Inside Scoop
An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery Book 1
by Abby Collette
Genre: Cozy Mystery
This book kicks off a charming cozy mystery series set in an ice cream shop—with a fabulous cast of quirky characters.
Recent MBA grad Bronwyn Crewse has just taken over her family’s ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and she’s going back to basics. Win is renovating Crewse Creamery to restore its former glory, and filling the menu with delicious, homemade ice cream flavors—many from her grandmother’s original recipes. But unexpected construction delays mean she misses the summer season, and the shop has a literal cold opening: the day she opens her doors an early first snow descends on the village and keeps the customers away.
To make matters worse, that evening, Win finds a body in the snow, and it turns out the dead man was a grifter with an old feud with the Crewse family. Soon, Win’s father is implicated in his death. It’s not easy to juggle a new-to-her business while solving a crime, but Win is determined to do it. With the help of her quirky best friends and her tight-knit family, she’ll catch the ice cold killer before she has a meltdown…
Buy Links: Amazon * B&N * Kobo * PenguinRandomHouse
I write as Abby L. Vandiver and Abby Collette but you can just call me Abby . . .
I love mysteries! Whatever I write, I put a little mystery into it.
Now I’ve got a new cozy mystery coming out May 12, 2020. A Deadly Inside Scoop, is part of my new series, An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery from Penguin Berkley. I’m so excited for its release.
Stay tuned as I gear up for Release Day with giveaways, interviews and of course. ice cream. (Okay, I won’t actually have ice cream on my page, but I’ll talk about it. A lot.) Pre-Order here!
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
An ice cream maker and one-time ice cream delivery and scooper
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
The Book Diva's Reads 
Thank you so much for taking part in my book tour! Great blog! Abby Collette
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