Big Author News!
Murder Mystery releasing June 24th
Hello, there! We’re going to take a quick pause from my usual homesteading-meets-life-lesson format to share some exciting news!
But first, context.
Once upon a time, (about twelve years ago to be more precise), I started writing a murder mystery. Just for fun, and only on Sundays. It was my creative outlet during a time when I mostly wrote health articles for a local magazine.
At the time, my husband and I enjoyed streaming several murder mystery series online and reading G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries, Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, and Alexander McCall Smith’s Number #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. The written mysteries excepted, we were growing more and more frustrated trying to find mystery shows which didn’t offend our moral sensibilities. I know that might sound hypocritical in a genre with “murder” in the title, but for me, the murder is the premise, not the point of a mystery.
The point of a mystery is to discover the truth and bring justice to bear.
Mysteries show us that no matter how clever the bad guy is, evil cannot hide forever. And since I live in a broken world, I find this deeply encouraging.
Plus it makes me feel smart when I can guess “Whodunnit.”
But when the detective of a murder mystery series — the good guy who’s supposed to reveal the truth — bends the rules without consequences, ignores or excuses their own brokenness, pardons the bad guy if they feel he had a good reason to commit murder, treats the local authorities like trash, or — the most egregious overstep — commits murder themselves in the name of vigilante justice, then the protagonist is betraying their own genre. There were several shows we had to discontinue watching.
So I wrote the murder mystery I wanted to see. And here’s a quick overview of the main plot:
Not to Be, the first novel in the Pen & Paintbrush Mysteries, introduces us to journalist Kathy Waters as she’s thrust—unwillingly—back into covering hard news when her role in a community theatre production of Hamlet puts her center stage in a murder investigation. As a former news writer still taking anti-anxiety medication, Kathy would rather forget opening night altogether. But her editor won’t have that. With this new assignment forcing her to face uncomfortable realities, Kathy finds support from a surprising source—her snarky younger sister, Liz. Having both witnessed the crime from opposite sides of the curtain, the Waters sisters must combine Liz’s eye for detail with Kathy’s way with words to catch the killer before their own relationship is threatened.
When I completed Not to Be, I wanted to share it with others. Thus began an arduous process of pitching my manuscript to agents and publishing houses. When I did finally get a literary agent, she couldn’t find anyone interested in my mystery. So I shelved it (or “desktopped” it) and began to work on other stories.
Those of you early to my Substack possibly recall reading chapters from a draft of my sci-fi novel, Ephemeral, based on a girl who travels to a planet with accelerated aging — not ideal in a time when Earth has a global age limit and the shuttle can’t pick you up soon enough.
I pitched this sci-fi novel to a small publisher called Bandersnatch Books. Then on a whim to show I could write in other genres as well, I also submitted my mystery novel and its sequel. Bandersnatch Books was not seeking mysteries at the time, and they typically published books for the Young Adult market. There was absolutely no reason for them to want my mysteries. But as it happened, they offered me a book contract for the mystery novels and gave me helpful feedback for my sci-fi novel (which I am planning to edit and resubmit).
Now, after a year or so of further refining, my first murder mystery, Not to Be, is due to release on June 24th and is open for preorders!
I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to work with a quality Christian publisher to help my work reach more people. Many, many prayers have been said (and some tears have been shed) over the last decade as I’ve pursued publication. God is kind.
If you’d like to hear Not to Be’s first chapter, I recorded it for the Bandersnatch podcast channel which you can listen to by hitting the button:
Also, before you go, I have a favor to ask. As I seek to generate interest in Not to Be, I am trying to connect with folks who may be willing to:
Purchase a copy of my book (or eBook) and leave an Amazon review (Apparently, if you can get 50 reviews from verified purchasers, it really helps boost your book’s presence online.)
Interview me on their podcast (or connect me with someone who has a podcast) to discuss writing while mothering, faith & clean entertainment, my writing/publishing story, or murder mysteries in general.
Do a Q&A regarding my novel or writing process on a blog post.
Connect me with a book club or book review platform once the novel is out. Happy to schedule a Zoom call to discuss the book with folks who’ve read it!
Give me any tips or tricks to connect with readers who enjoy clean cozy mysteries with a wry sense of humor.
If this sounds like something you’d be willing to do, could you please email me at katherine.ladny.mitchell@gmail.com? I would really appreciate it.
As always, thanks for reading. I’m blessed if my words can entertain or encourage you.
CONGRATULATIONS KATIE!!! This is awesome, praise God!
Congratulations! God is good!