Nicole Kimberling's Blog

Hey all, just dropping in to say what I’ve been up to in the last year. First, I’ve continued my cooking column for Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. I’ve also written several business spotlights for Bellingham Alive Magazine, which gave me the opportunity to meet lots of cool local entrepreneurs.

As editor of Blind Eye Books I shepherded Seth Haddon’s final book in the World of Reforged Series, “Reclaimed.” I also acquired a new Ginn Hale series, which will start releasing April 27, 2025. This new series is called, “Price of a Thousand Blessings.”

What will 2025 bring? Well, as an author, I’m hoping to complete another mystery set on Camas Island as well as maybe placing a couple of spec fic short stories here and there.

As for appearances: so far the only public appearance I have scheduled is Worldcon Seattle so if you’re also attending that event and would like to connect there let me know.

Best wishes to everyone for 2025! I hope you all find at least a little peace, happiness and prosperity in the coming year.

Hey, I’m on Shepherd.com talking about my 3 favorite books of 2023.

So yeah, if you’d like to know what inspires me to write then go on over there and find out. :)

Hey guys, I’m thrilled to announce that my book, Mystery On The Menu, which continues the story of Drew and Mac from “Entree to Murder,” has a publication date! May 23, 2023 is when I invite everyone back to Orca’s Slough. The book contains, “Entree to Murder” as well as 2 new novellas, “Recipe for Trouble,” and “Homicide and Hospitality.” The wonderful cover is from Amber Whitney of Unicorn Empire. If you haven’t seen her t-shirts, you should go check them out.

Just dropping by to announce that I have finally—after three long, long, long years—finished a sequel to Entree to Murder! It’s called Recipe for Trouble. Here’s a excerpt from the beginning.

Chapter One

On Wednesday night at six forty-five Deputy Cormac “Big Mac” Mackenzie walked into my restaurant. He was tall, just over thirty, dark-haired, handsome in a “rough-hewn from solid oak” way. Except for the days that some idiot had committed a crime, he darkened my door at this same time every Wednesday then sat at the same small table in the front window with his back against the wall and waited.

Without taking his order, the waitress, Savannah, brought him a beer. Likewise I started cooking, since I knew his order by heart—his order was whatever I cooked him AKA the Wednesday night special.

Today it would be crispy duck breast with tamarind rice and green papaya salad. It seemed summery and exotic without being aloof. I hoped he would like it.

It had been eight months since I started secretly sleeping with this cop and I still got nervous making him a plate of food.  

I shouldn’t have worried. Three hours later I was laying beside him on the ruckled, twisted sheets in his dilapidated old mansion on the hill, taking in the warm summer night, breathing heavily, sweaty, nude, limp as a fish. Mac’s chest heaved and he reached to lace his hot fingers with mine.

A pang passed through my chest. I tried to figure out when I started wanting him to fall in love with me. It wasn’t right away. At first I just enjoyed the novelty of his massively strong body and was fascinated by his stoic, self-deprecating nature. Then, gradually I started wondering what he thought of me. Did he like me back? What could be my appeal, apart from convenience and proximity? Camas Island was not so big that other gay guys were a dime a dozen. So I tried to keep the conversation light and focus on an area where I felt comfortable—the twin carnal pleasures of food and sex.

Mac seemed happy to follow my lead and over the weeks we fell into the habit of simply meeting on Wednesdays. There was no prior agreement and Mac didn’t text if he wasn’t showing up. A couple of months later Mac began appearing on different nights—giving me rides home from work, mostly. We both worked all the time so neither of us ever spent the night at the other’s place.

At some point I started getting disappointed if I didn’t see him and that’s when I knew I was in trouble. Like an idiot, I’d fallen in love with a cop who I was pretty sure was in the closet—or if he was out, only he knew it, which amounted to the same thing.

When I was alone in my crappy trailer I could access my self-respect and resent him for taking up so much space in my brain. But when he lay beside me in the hot timeless present I didn’t even know what the word ‘pride’ meant, I guess.

I’d never been a sucker like this before. Ever. I needed to know our status because if he thought of me as the sexual equivalent of the gas station burrito then I needed to take some evasive action before I became completely pathetic.

So I rolled over onto my side and leaned my forehead against his shoulder. I thought maybe it would be better if I took some initiative and just asked him if he was my boyfriend now. I could absorb the blow if he said no . . . probably.

And then his phone rang.

And then he let go of my hand and answered it.

And then he had to go.

I could not be more excited to announce that the Footsteps in the Dark anthology, which contains my story, “Entree to Murder,” is has been released! Kale Williams is just wonderful voicing my characters. Cannot thank him and Tantor Audio enough.

I’m a little late sharing the announcement but I’m thrilled that this fantastic anthology, which contains the story, “Oh Give Me a Home,” by yours truly, has been shortlisted for the Tiptree Award. Check out the short list, the long list and find out more about the Tiptree in general here.

How sweet that someone would think to include me on this list!

Hey all, just dropping in to say that my new novella, “Entree to Murder,” will be featured in this forthcoming anthology:

Four years ago, Peter Fontaine made a name for himself as Bellingham, Washington’s premiere investigative reporter. Since then he’s got an award, a cat, and a good-looking artist to come home to every night.

Nick Olson, Peter’s long-suffering lover has a lot of reasons for wanting Peter to stop investigating the many and varied crimes committed in the City of Subdued Excitement. Peter’s nasty habit of getting held at gunpoint by lunatics has Nick wondering if any story is worth losing Peter for good.

But Peter’s thirst for knowledge must be satisfied. And whether it’s at the Farmer’s Market, the microbrewery, or a mid-century meth motel, Peter will use his power of ultimate nosiness to uncover the town’s long-kept secrets.

Contains the novellas: One Man’s Treasure, Birds of a Feather, and Pentimento Blues.

“The storytelling here is uncluttered, the characters flawed and funny, the setting the perfect mix of homey and eclectic, and Kimberling’s prose is just so easy to lose yourself in for a while.” Lisa, The Novel Approach