January 7, 2015

MEET YOUR BAKER by Ellie Alexander {Guest Post/Giveaway}




Welcome to my blog tour stop for Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander. This is a cozy mystery that released December 30th.
Be sure to check out the schedule for the list of reviews, interviews and guest posts by the author!  The tour starts January 5th and runs through the 16th.

Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the treats are so good that, sometimes, it’s criminal…

After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte’s customers turns up dead, there’s much ado about murder…

Blurbs: Love’em or Leave’em?
Great question! I definitely fall into the love’em category. Here’s why. Blurbs aren’t for writers. They’re for readers. I think that’s an important distinction. 
As a reader if I’m choosing between two books and one has a great blurb I’m going to be more inclined to purchase it. That’s not to say that I only buy books based on blurbs. I buy books for so many reasons—a great cover, a great title, an author who I love, a debut author who I’m eager to try, subject matter—I could go on and on. But if I don’t know anything about the book, other than what’s on the back cover, having a blurb from a blogger or fellow author might help sway my decision. Full disclosure: usually I’m a pretty easy sell. I love reading which means I’ll read anything I can get my hands on!
Readers are so bombarded by choices these days. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. It means more books out in the world for all of us to discover. Blurbs are another way to help a book standout. As a debut author that’s especially important to me. I’m beyond thankful to the two incredible authors, Edith Maxwell and Jessie Crocket, who took time out of their busy schedules to read and blurb my book. I admire both of their work and talent. Reading their lovely praise for my series was so humbling.
As writers we spend a lot of time in our own heads. I love spending a morning plotting out a murder and imaging how characters will react to finding a dead body in an unexpected location—like a family bakeshop. Or spending an afternoon trying new flavor combinations in my kitchen. But writing can be isolating at times. Blurbs are a point of connection for authors. They pull us out of our headspace and offer an opportunity to chat in real life. Plus it means we get to read each other’s work. I’m all in for that!
So my vote is for blurbs both as a reader and a writer!
****

"Sure to satisfy both dedicated foodies and ardent mystery lovers alike."

―Jessie Crockett, author of Drizzled with Death

The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival’s newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her…but still. The silver lining? Jules’s high school sweetheart, Thomas, is the investigator on the case. His flirtations are as delicious as ever, and Jules can’t help but want to have her cake and eat it too. But will she have her just desserts? Murder might be bad for business, but love is the sweetest treat of all…

"Alexander weaves a tasty tale of deceit, family ties, delicious pastries, and murder.” ―Edith Maxwell, author of A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die 





Ellie Alexander is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter to learn more.




2 winners will get a paperback copy of Meet Your Baker, Chai Tea, designer baking liners and a Starbucks gift card.
Open to US addresses only.
Ends Jan. 21, 2015




This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.


2 comments:

  1. I have bought books from unknown authors based on blurbs by authors and bloggers I love. Not often, but it's been enough for me to at least give the book a closer look. I think it's good for first time authors especially.
    Thanks for hosting a tour stop Mandy!

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  2. Awesome guest post! I have been more interested in reading mystery books after following a blog based on them and them alone. So a cozy mystery is the perfect way to step into it!

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