by Carole Beers

It’s a pleasure to post for you and your KRL Reviews readers, Lorie Lewis Ham! This week I offer a Giveaway drawing for a free copy of my fun new book, Granny Gets Her Gun. The charming 212-page novel is a spinoff from the popular five-book series, the Pepper Kane Mysteries. To enter the Giveaway, merely post a comment below.

I’d love to share with you about my writing process for this book. It might strike a chord with those of you planning a project with multiple moving parts! Say a wedding or major birthday.

Active and outspoken elders with good hearts and inquisitive minds are my role models as I skip (and sometimes stumble) toward the big Eight-O. I admit to being somewhat north of 70. What do they know that I need to know? How can they love and laugh large, with time and various ailments marching on? That’s what I asked myself—and answered—in my latest cozy animal mystery, Granny Gets Her Gun. Available on Amazon and select stores.

First, I needed an appealing elder. Then I found I already had one in Martha Moses Kane. She’s the pie-baking, steadfast and spunky mother of the heroine of my Pepper Kane Mysteries that feature a Reba MacEntire-ish reporter/horse-show ace who opens a guest ranch and solves crimes. They, and a best friend from the past, can spar mightily yet love wholly.

Next, I needed a good story with a dash of romance. Since Martha and her daughter are both kin to sharpshooter Annie Oakley, and eighty-year-old Martha still horseback rides and does yoga, I came up with the idea that she lets herself be talked into starring in a wild west show to save The Best Little Bed, Barn & Breakfast in Oregon after its reputation was tainted by murder (in the five Pepper Kane Mysteries).

Carole Beers

The mystery and danger come in when Martha finds herself falling for her handsome shooting coach—who may be the neighborhood wildlife poacher, and whose alleged crimes imperil all. She must find out what’s up with that before, so to speak, she pulls the trigger on love.

I wanted balance and good secondary drama which I love seeing in books by other authors. So I added friction between Martha and her daughter and other neighbors in their rural/small town community. The leading lady’s “found” dog and beloved horse add to the merry mayhem. Her famous pumpkin-spice latte pies baked for a town cafe and Pepper’s resort guest add…spice. Haven’t I always found that a little delicious food and drink in books deepens enjoyment?

While researching crimes, guns, fashion, and Annie Oakley for the book, I learned the real Annie was a huge advocate for girls, mothers, orphans, and athletic and voting inclusion for women. I brought out those facets of “America’s Sweetheart,” Little “Sure Shot,” in this book.

It was so rewarding, to write Granny Gets Her Gun that I plan several more Granny Oakley Mysteries. After all, I’m creating a roadmap for old age. Whatever that is!

Follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/caroletbeersauthor and on Twitter at @CaroleTBeersAuthor.

I’ll keep the porch light on for you!

To enter to win a copy of Granny Gets Her Gun, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “granny,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 30, 2022. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode just went up.

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