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New Blogs, Updates and Not-to-Miss Activity in the "blogosphere"Betty Hechtman | The Best of All Worlds...Why Craft Mysteries Rule!
July 13, 2009
Writing a craft mystery series is the best. I get to mix my
love of making things with my love of mysteries. Like lots of other people, I
got hooked on mysteries by reading Nancy Drew books - the originals. Who didn’t
want to be her with all the adventures and cool little car? I was thrilled to
find out I do have one thing in common with her - we both drive roadsters. My love of mystery grew as I read Agatha Christie’s books. I
guess I ended up with a little something in common with her, too. Her Miss
Marple knits and my character, Molly Pink, crochets. And just like you don’t
have to know how to knit to enjoy Miss Marple’s stories, you don’t have to know
how to crochet to read my series. Though I have heard from people who were
inspired to pick up the hook after reading my books.  Actually mixing in crochet grew out of my own desire to learn
the craft. I have
a degree in Fine Arts and have always sewed and done different crafts, but
always wanted to learn how to make granny squares. I ended up using a
children’s kit to learn how. I was so excited about crocheting, I thought it
would be fun to put it in a mystery and all that time I spent with my hooks and
yarn would be considered research.
 I include a pattern in every book. They are always easy enough
so a beginner
can make them. I include a recipe as well. HOOKED ON MURDER has a
pound cake recipe. DEAD MEN
DON’T CROCHET has one for cheesecake cupcakes, and BY HOOK OR BY CROOK has
directions for California Noodle Pudding. My taste-testers (husband and son)
are voting for more recipes per book.
And, of course, there’s at least one murder in each book. I like to think that
while there are dead bodies, everybody still manages to have a good time. In BY HOOK OR BY CROOK,
Molly and the Tarzana Hookers (get it, they’re crocheters and they’re in
Tarzana, California) find a mysterious package containing a confusing crochet
piece – is it just somebodies handiwork or a code of clues waiting to be
unraveled? When the stitcher who made the piece turns up dead, the stakes go
up. There are poisoned candy apples, boat trips to Catalina, and a lawyer and a
homicide detective both trying to be the one in Molly’s life. Leave a comment today and you could win a signed copy of BY HOOK OR BY CROOK!
Comments
29 comments posted.
Re: Betty Hechtman | The Best of All Worlds...Why Craft Mysteries Rule!
That sounds like a great book. Exactly why I always come back to Fresh Fiction... so I can find new authors (to me anywa!!)
(Emmanuelle Jappont 6:17am July 13)
Sounds like a great mystery to be solved!
(Joanne Reynolds 6:53am July 13)
This is fun. I hope I win!
Thanks!
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 7:56am July 13)
I love your titles. I'm definitely going to try your books ... you are a 'new' author to me. Thanks!
(Sandy Miresse 8:29am July 13)
i love the titles of your books you would never think they were about murder! There are many of us who love mysteries without it having to be dark and gruesome and yours sound like these are fun and witty
(Diane Sadler 9:36am July 13)
Your books sound great! I haven't crocheted for 40 years - may have to get out my hooks and use up some of that yarn tucked away in the upstairs closet.
(Karen Barnett 9:55am July 13)
I haven't read a good fn mystery in awhile, sounds good!
(Teresa Warner 10:19am July 13)
You are a new to me author. Your work looks great I hope to read it soon!
Pam S
(Pamela Sinclair 10:32am July 13)
Your books sound like fun! Thanks for a chance to win!
MarthaE
(Martha Eskuchen 11:14am July 13)
The titles of your books are so compelling that you need to read your book just to find out what happened, who and why.
Keep writing my friend.
Shirley
(Shirley Sego 1:14pm July 13)
My mom is reading them and I'm next! I
love the idea of recipes and patterns -
Thanks!
(Maggi Savage 1:45pm July 13)
Having started with police procedurals, Ed McBain, I am surprised that I like the 'cozy' mysteries as much as I do. I like the recipes, craft ideas and quirky characters.
Love the name of the crochet group!
(V Scott 2:32pm July 13)
GREAT BOOK AND HOPE YOU HAVE BEST OF LUCK WOULD LIKE OT WIN AND REAL ALL YOUR BOOK
(Desiree Reilly 4:11pm July 13)
I bought your first book in the series because I want to learn to crochet. My daughter crochets and I got her a copy as well. I'm looking forward to getting the second and third books in the series. Fixed income greatly hampers my book addiction!
(Kay Martinez 9:04pm July 13)
I really like the covers of your books. My mother and I crochet and I once knitted a hat (that project went horribly awry) but I have always found myself coming back to crochet. Great job and best of luck with your books.
(Tabatha Basham 9:31pm July 13)
I enjoy a good mystery. When it's combined with my other love,I'm hooked! Oh by the way my favorite sleuth when I was growing up was Judy Bolton. Good luck with 'By Hook or by Crook'.
(Rosemary Krejsa 10:01pm July 13)
I haven't read a mystery in some time.
These look like a great read.
(Seung-Ju Ahn 10:04pm July 13)
Going to have to try your books! They sound great, maybe I can even learn to crochet! I've always wanted to learn how!!
(Martha Lawson 10:06pm July 13)
Your books sound interesting. If I read one while traveling I can try out the crochet and if I read it at home the recipe :>)
(Karin Tillotson 8:19am July 14)
I love these kinds of books. Just finished reading all of Kate Collins' books on Abby Knight. Little mystery/murder with a wannabe detective who owns a flowershop. These are great reads! Yours sounds like another set I'll have to check out.
(Jo White 9:01am July 14)
Hi Betty,
I picked up your first book when it came out loved it & have read all of your books. It makes it interesting to learn about different kinds of crochet-I can only crochet single lines & don't tell Adele but I also knit(can only knit & purl nothing fancy). Can't wait for the next book so write faster!
(Joann Lord 11:31am July 14)
I love mysteries and your sound great.
(Robin McKay 11:41am July 14)
I love craft mysteries! Laura Childs got me hooked with her Scrapbooking Mysteries! I'll definitely have to try your books!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 12:23pm July 14)
I have read the first book, Hooked on Murder and loved it and just got the Dead Men don't Crochet. You have a diehard fan here. Keep em coming.
(Patricia Reed 12:24pm July 14)
Book series with a common theme are
very popular at our library. Most have
had menus and recipes as part of the
work. With the interest in needle
work, this series should do well, and a
little murder doesn't hurt.
(Patricia Barraclough 9:28pm July 14)
I really like the covers of your books, and I like craft mysteries. I also grew up with Nancy Drew and moved on to Agatha Christie. Miss Marple was my favorite sleuth.
I hope I will be reading your books for many years to come.
(Ruby Davis 11:21pm July 14)
I love the covers of your books. I crochet so this would be neat to read about. Have a great day.
(Roberta Harwell 6:13pm July 16)
Two of my favorite things combined, reading and crocheting, how fun. I can't wait to read your books. I usually wait for all the books to be released before I start reading a series, since waiting for the next book tries my patience. The recipes also sound good. I love the covers and titles of your books. Have a great day.
(Lisa Walters 5:35pm July 19)
Just discovered the crochet books and I'm Hooked!!
Love the books and the Hookers and I can't wait to find more
(Ronnie Lipkin 10:18pm July 24)
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