Traci Andrighetti's Blog

Hey, y'all! Would you like to join our cozy mystery book club?

I cohost a book club dedicated to cozies with 11 fellow cozy authors. The book club is free to join.

At the beginning of each month, we send book club subscribers an exclusive FREE ebook. Mid-month, we send an interview with the author.

You’ll get this month’s free ebook when you sign up. You’ll also be added to our individual newsletters. You can opt-out at any time.

The Cozy Mystery Book Club authors for 2022 are Sara Rosett, Shéa MacLeod, Traci Andrighetti (me!), ReGina Welling, Zara Keane, Leighann Dobbs, Erin Johnson, Bonnie Hardy, Anne R. Tan, Morgana Best, Nikki Haverstock, and Lynn Cahoon.

Our February book club pick is Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett. To receive your FREE copy, sign up today at https://cozymysterybookclub.com/

Thanks!
Traci

P.S. After you've read Sara's book, here are some cool websites to help you discover new authors: booksradar.com, cozy-mystery.com, and one of my favorites tripfiction.com!

It’s December, so there is a lot going on (except for decorating, LOL). First, Shelf Unbound magazine named Franki Amato’s fifth investigation, Galliano Gold, a 2020 Top 100 Notable Book, which was an unexpected gift.

Also unexpected, I have started Franki book 7! Valpolicella Violet takes place in Venice on the occasion of Veronica’s Christmas Eve wedding. The theme of the book is “ghosts from the past,” so the mystery involves some little-known Venetian legends, Casanova, and grave robbers. Sounds Christmasy, right?

Now for the holiday extravaganza.

If you’re on Facebook, check out my post on the 5th Annual Holly Jolly Chick Lit Hop. For seven days (December 7–December 13, 2020) 60+ authors will reveal their holiday giveaways (two of mine are pictured). In addition to the author giveaways, the hop has overall prizes: the Treat Yo' Elf Grand Prize and three holiday prize packs (Festive and Fab-yule-ous, Best in Snow, and Sleigh All Day). https://www.facebook.com/traciandrighettiauthor

Next, if you haven’t done so already, sign up for the 2021 Cozy Mystery Book Club and you’ll receive a collection of holiday books, including “Rosolio Red.” As a club member, you'll also receive a free ebook each month, and you'll be added to each author’s mailing list so that you never miss new book news. https://www.subscribepage.com/cmbcholiday2020

And if you’re looking for new authors, several of my friends have holiday mysteries you might like:

Shèa McLeod (A Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery)

https://books2read.com/u/mBe2E

Leighann Dobbs (A Christmas Village Cozy Mystery)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WPR1JL1

Erin Johnson (A Winter Witches of Holiday Haven Mystery)

https://www.amazon.com/Cocoa-Curses…/dp/B08L415638

Laura Durham (An Annabelle Archer Wedding Planner Mystery) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L6SCVV8

Sara Rosett (A Murder on Location Mystery)

https://books2read.com/christmasmarket/

Last but not least, on Christmas Day, Franki Amato is taking over the Dru’s Book Musings blog to talk about Marsala Maroon and give away some last-minute gifts! https://drusbookmusing.com

Stay merry, and stay safe!

Traci

Marsala Maroon is one for the books! I couldn’t be more excited about the release, because it turns out that writing a book during a pandemic is hard. But Franki Amato had her sixth mystery to solve, so I did it!

Franki has a lot on her plate in book 6, but then again, she always does because she’s Italian (See what I did there?). Here’s the blurb for Marsala Maroon:

Jazz Fest is in full swing in The Big Easy, but PI Franki Amato is singing the blues. The owner of an historic Italian grocery and deli is murdered in a manner eerily reminiscent of the Axeman of New Orleans, a notorious serial killer who hasn’t struck in over a century, and someone Franki knows has been arrested for the crime. Adding to her distress, Franki, her mom, and her meddling Sicilian nonna finally meet her fiancé’s family, but the tone of their encounter is decidedly downbeat. And just as her personal life strikes a sour note, the killer jazzes up his techniques. The pressure is on Franki to decipher an odd assortment of clues—an old gramophone record, a stolen trumpet, and a bottle of marsala wine. If she doesn’t, she could be the next one to get the ax.

And that’s not all poor Franki is dealing with! There’s a new PI at Private Chicks, and she and Franki get off to a stressful start. To make matters worse, a witch from her past has resurfaced, and there are spooky goings-on among the Mardi Gras Indians…

Marsala Maroon is available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and large print (the audiobook is forthcoming) here.

GIVEAWAYS: I’m hosting an event on Goodreads to celebrate Marsala Maroon from November 19 through 22, 2020. I’ll give away print and e-copies of the book as well as New Orleans-themed gifts. And every giveaway includes Mardi Gras beads and an Aunt Sally’s creamy praline. Why? In The Big Easy they call it lagniappe (a little something extra), and I’m all about that tradition!

RSVP to the Goodreads event here, and friend me on Goodreads while you're at it!

Marsala Maroon is DONE! Yes, Franki Amato mystery #6 is one for the books (love that expression). This one is about jazz and the true story of the Axeman of New Orleans—who seemingly returns to The Big Easy after 100 years. Oh, and the guy in the picture below is in it.

Marsala Maroon comes out on November 17, so I’m hosting an event on Goodreads November 14 through 17. I’ll be giving away print and e-copies along with New Orleans-themed prizes and Mardi Gras beads with every gift. So, be sure to friend me on Goodreads, and join the event:

https://www.goodreads.com/even…

Now that Franki’s jazz adventure is done, I’m debating what to write next. It’s either Veronica’s wedding in Venice in Valpolicella Violet (lots of V’s!), or the new Italian series. Requests? Suggestions?

Which reminds me, if you still haven’t read “Mirto Magenta,” Franki’s short mystery on the Italian island of Sardinia, then grab a Kindle copy of the Passport to Murder anthology on Saturday, November 7, when it’s FREE in the U.S.! I'd love to hear your feedback on the story!

As I write this, I’m on a road trip, and my 81-year-old father is driving. He’s still in total control of his senses—and the steering wheel. The issue is that he drives like a bat out of hell, and that’s only okay when I do it. If you don’t hear from me on September 1st when my new Franki short mystery releases, you know what happened.

Speaking of health and wellness, last month when I asked whether I should write a mystery that reflected our lives during COVID-19, my inbox was flooded with emails. The responses can best be summed up as “Don’t TAKE my escapist reads from me!” So, rest assured, there will be no book or short story featuring a masked Franki investigating how she gained 15 pounds during the pandemic.

But, as I mentioned above, Franki is investigating a new short mystery in Passport to Murder: A Collection of Cozy Travel Shorts. Because it’s set on Sardinia, I named it “Mirto Magenta” after a liqueur native to the island. Here’s a teaser:

To escape a hellish New Orleans summer, PI Franki Amato takes a dream case investigating a theft in Sardinia’s Gulf of Angels. Will she find the culprit and get her slice of beach heaven? Or will dark forces on the island send her to the bottom of a watery inferno?

My favorite thing about this story, besides Glenda being on an island with Franki, is that I debut Midge and Madge Maven, elderly British sisters who look like dueling versions of Miss Marple. I’m thinking about making them secondary characters in a new series, so I can’t wait to hear what you think. If you're interested, here's a pre-order link:

https://www.amazon.com/Passpor…

In the meantime, stay tuned for a Passport to Murder “staycation box” giveaway and stay safe!

Long time no blog! I've been thinking about returning to my blogging roots, and the latest Franki Amato mystery seemed like a great place to start. It's called Galliano Gold, and it came out today, October 1.

If you're keeping count, Galliano Gold is the fifth mystery for Franki. This time she's investigating a murder on a Mississippi River steamboat. Because the steamboat is old, and because I like to mess with Franki, I made up some ghost legends about the boat. And of course I created a motley steamboat crew!

To up the pressure on Franki, I bring her mom and nonna to New Orleans to meddle. Time is ticking down on the Sicilian St. Joseph's Day lemon tradition that's supposed to land her a husband, and they have to make sure a proposal happens—any way they can.

Also, I took a reader's suggestion and threw in some misadventures from my own trip to The Big Easy last year. If you don't get my newsletter, you missed out, because I told my readers everything that happened on that trip. It was so bad that I couldn't have written one as good.

Last but not least, I have poor Franki investigate the murder in the wig pictured here. That was Madeline Mrozek's (my audiobook narrator) suggestion, and it was too good not to use.

BLOG TOUR: Yes, I highlighted this little tidbit so that you wouldn't miss it. For the first time in ages, I'm going on a blog tour starting today and ending October 14. Click here for the intinerary.

I'll be giving away books at every stop, AND there is a grand prize: a $100 gift basket of goodies from New Orleans!!

So, geaux for the gold––as in Galliano Gold! It's on sale for $3.99 for a limited time.

I hope your holidays have gotten off to a merry start! Mine started with a crazy idea, i.e., that I couldn’t decorate for Christmas until I painted the woodwork around 21 windows in my house. I’m doing the painting to save money and because I’ve been listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast, so now I don’t want strangers in my home because they could be serial killers.

My favorite takeaway from My Favorite Murder: If you yawn at psychopaths, they won’t yawn back. Yawning is tied to empathy, and psychopaths don’t have that, ergo the problem. So lately, any time I’m around someone who’s a little suspect, I feign a yawn to make sure they yawn back.

And yes, this is what writing mysteries does to you—you find yourself painting windows in your house and yawning at strangers. I don’t recommend it.

What I DO recommend: The Holly Jolly Chick Lit Hop AND the Cocoa and Cozies BookFunnel ebook giveaway.

Today is the last day of the hop, and you have to be on Facebook to participate. There is 1 grand prize, 4 runner-up prizes, and 63 author giveaways. That’s a LOT to be Holly Jolly about!

Start with my Hop giveaway because it tells you how to enter all of them.

If you didn’t get your free copy of “Cannellino Caramel” through my newsletter, you can download it at the Cocoa & Cozies BookFunnel promo, along with 31 other cozies! Incidentally, Franki’s little holiday mystery has been in the Top 20 on Amazon’s short reads in Mystery, Thriller & Suspense chart since its release in early November, which makes me holly jolly and cocoa for cozies!

And if you’re not subscribed to my newsletter, please join via the sign-up form above! I just offered my subscribers free download codes to the Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai audiobook, and I’ll be looking for reviewers for Killer Eyeshadow and a Cold Espresso very soon!

I just got back from a writer retreat I organized on the Amalfi Coast for LemonLit, and I’d like to share the yellow wealth. So, I’m giving away splendid-smelling Amalfi lemon soaps, a bar of lemon white chocolate, and a $100 Amazon gift card. (Some of you might think I saved the best for last in that list, but I’m telling you, that lemon white chocolate bar is practically GOLD.)

To enter for a chance to win, you have two options (for up to two total entries):

1. Follow me on BookBub

2. Follow me on Amazon

If you’ve already done one or both of the above, ask a reader friend to follow me. I’ll enter you both for a chance to win. The deadline to enter is October 30 at midnight central time.

DON’T FORGET to reply to this post to tell me which of the above you did so that I can put you on the entrant list. And please tell your friends!

Oh, and if you haven’t already signed up for my newsletter (the link is on the homepage of this website), be sure to do so. CANNELLINO CARAMEL, my new Franki Amato holiday story, will be free to my newsletter subscribers right after Thanksgiving. Next up: the COVER REVEAL!

Crazy news!

On Saturday, May 19, I’ll be signing copies of Campari Crimson at BOUTIQUE DU VAMPYRE in New Orleans’ French Quarter from 3 until 6 p.m. After the signing, there is a 7 p.m. meet and greet followed by a reading at a SECRET VAMPIRE SPEAKEASY.

If you’re wondering how this happened (and whether I’m a vampire), here’s the backstory:

While writing Campari Crimson, I wanted a creepy-sounding French Quarter shop that the psychic Chandra Toccato could pop out of while Franki’s walking down the street. I did some research and was psyched to find that one of the shops is vampire themed like my book.

I then visited Boutique du Vampyre on two subsequent trips to NOLA—the first time to ask whether it was okay to mention the boutique in the book, and the second to show a friend the funny stuff they sell (a vampire rubber duckie, a coffin-shaped handbag, a power drink in what looks like a blood bag, etc.). To my surprise, while I was in Italy in March, the owner tracked me down on Facebook and said that she liked Campari Crimson so much that she wants to permanently sell it in the boutique! And that led to the signing and meet and greet.

Now, THIS IS WHERE THE STORY GETS GOOD. In February, I actually went to the secret speakeasy (Don’t worry, I’m not a vampire!). If you buy something at the boutique, the cashier hands you an intriguing slip of paper with a single sentence and the name of a old bar—and you know I love a mystery! So, I went to the bar, and I said the sentence to the bartender. A woman appeared and led me out back to a gnarly old door. She unlocked it (without a word!) to reveal a red staircase and a “CAUTION: VAMPIRE DANGER ZONE, DUSK TO DAWN DAILY” sign. So I climbed the stairs…

If you want to know the rest of the story, and there are some surprises, meet me on May 19. I promise I don’t bite!

P.S. I’ll be giving away these bookmarks that I made (with my husband’s graphic assistance)!

I’m excited to announce that Amaretto Amber, my third Franki Amato mystery, is one of 11 finalists for the Mystery & Mayhem Award! I absolutely love the St. Joseph’s Day lemon tradition featured in the story, so it made me smile to learn that the book finaled.

Speaking of that series, on my recent trip to Italy I had a couple of “Franki moments” (a.k.a., those things that make you cock your head and say, “Wait. Now, WHAT?”)

The first happened in Verona at the Casa di Giulietta, which is where Juliet Capulet lived in the 1300s (Romeo’s place is less than half a mile away). The house and famous balcony (added in the 1930s!) is located inside a courtyard at the end of a long, covered walkway. And I was surprised to see people scrawling things like “Danny + Tracey 4 EVA!” on the walkway walls—and attaching love notes to the 700-year-old walls of the house and courtyard with their chewed gum.

But the biggest shock was the crowd of tourists lined up at a bronze statue of Juliet—to grab her right breast! (Note the shiny chest area.) Apparently, this boob grab tradition will bring you luck in love. Keep in mind that I brought my 15-year-old son with me because his English class is reading Romeo and Juliet. So seeing that with him was kind of awkward. And, ironically, one of the questions he has to answer is whether Shakespeare intended the play to be a love story or a tragedy. I’ll let you decide the genre, but what I saw at Juliet’s house wasn’t romance.

The second Franki moment took place in Rome at the home of some of our dearest friends (I was the “best man” at their wedding in a small village in Southern Italy, but that’s another story). They had us over for dinner and, because it’s so close to Easter, they bought us a Colomba di Pasqua (Easter Dove) cake and a uovo di Pasqua (Easter egg), which, in Italy, is chocolate and has a surprise inside.

Anyway, because our friends know how fascinated I am by these eggs, they wanted me to have the honor of cracking the thing open. So, I did. And the prize? Plastic shoelaces with the hashtag #PimpMyShoes on the package—in English, no less. I don’t know about you, but the word “pimp” in any context just doesn’t say “Easter.”

While I’m on the subject, if you celebrate Easter, I wish you a Buona Pasqua!