Airplanes, Atlanta, and an Assassin
Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries, Book #10
by
Mary Seifert
Cozy mystery
Publisher: Secret Staircase Books
Publication Date: July 10, 2025
Page count: 274 pages
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!
SYNOPSIS:
A National Competition and a Deadly Detour
High school teacher Katie Wilk is thrilled when her students qualify for Mock Trial America, a prestigious courtroom competition in Atlanta. Alongside her best friend and fellow teacher Jane Mackey, a team of eager teens, and a crew of devoted chaperones, Katie boards a flight from Minnesota—ready for a week of intellectual showdowns and Southern hospitality. But things go sideways before the plane is even off the ground.
With canceled flights, endless delays, and one particularly obnoxious passenger stirring up trouble, the trip turns into a logistical, almost deadly, nightmare. When that same rude traveler turns up later in Atlanta, the chaos takes a deadly turn—and suspicion lands squarely on the Mackey family.
As Katie digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets: stolen documents, corporate espionage, dangerous toxins, and enough motive to make her question everything. Can she untangle the truth before the killer strikes again?
Luckily, she’s got help—from Maverick, her sharp-nosed, loyal Labrador retriever and trained search-and-rescue dog, who’s always ready to sniff out danger.
Smart, suspenseful, and full of heart, this latest installment in Mary Seifert’s charming cozy mystery series delivers Southern intrigue, tricky puzzles, and the kind of dogged determination only a Lab (and a resolute teacher) can provide.
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AUTHOR GUEST POST:
Please welcome Mary Seifert, the author of today's featured book to the blog today!
A Day in the Writing Life of MARY SEIFERT
by Mary Seifert
“Write,” is the best advice I’ve ever received. You’ll never
have a book unless you start. Just write.
When I begin a mystery project, I create a story board,
identifying and describing the victim, crime, suspects, clues, red herrings, an
encryption process and biography of a cryptographer which I will include in the
story, and the resolution, so I have direction.
My daily routine seems to work for me. I rise early every
day and feed my dog. While my tea is steeping, I have a yoga flow I pretend to
perform, stretching and firing up those neurons and moving my muscles. I get my
cup of tea and sit down at my desk with my dog at my feet where I take five
minutes and attempt mindfulness meditation, focusing and observing present
thoughts and feelings without judgment (hopefully). Then I read aloud whatever
it was I wrote the prior day, and I find some of the irregularities, stunted
dialog, incomplete sentences, and occasionally, new ideas present themselves. I
find better words to describe my story and make changes. My goal is to write
until I complete a new scene, a chapter, or one thousand words, unless I’m on a
roll, in which case I continue until I’ve flushed out whatever innovation has
presented itself. My ending time is in flux, mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
If I get stuck, I have an arsenal of possible assists. I
work on writing something else: a short story, blog post, journal entry, or
poem. I may compose a letter, email, or work on my newsletter. Most often, I
attempt to write a chapter in a different part of my story, like the ending
which I’ve already figured out.
When I finish a manuscript, I print it out. The paper in my
hands solidifies the book and makes my story feel real. I grab my red pen (the
teacher in me returns with a vengeance), make more corrections, and send it to
my first line of beta readers, two of whom have been with me from book one.
They see the whole story and always have reminders and fixes to make. When I’m
satisfied, I send my finished story to my second line, my Sisters in Crime
Guppy group. They are authors and find plot holes or dead zones. And finally,
it goes to my editors who kindly point out more difficulties, discrepancies,
and grammar fixes. When we’ve agreed on the changes, they send it on to another
handful of beta readers who smooth over the rough edges, give it a final
polish, and comment on their feelings. Then it’s published, but by that time, I
feel I know my story inside and out, and it’s ready for the masses. I love the
entire process and am so lucky to have found people who are very good at
helping me.
Then I begin all over again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Seifert is the author of the Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries 2024
International IMPACT Award winner for books in a series, a collection of fun
and thrilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Her books,
including the 2023 American Fiction Award finalist Maverick, Movies &
Murder and the 2024 Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem finalist Santa, Snowflakes
& Strychnine, are must-reads for cozy mystery fans who enjoy a good puzzle
wrapped in a heartwarming story.
Set in the charming landscapes of West Central Minnesota, where the lakes
begin and the criminals are caught, Mary’s stories transport readers to
a world of intrigue, humor, and small-town charm. Each book is a delightful
mix of suspense and warmth, featuring memorable characters, ingenious puzzles,
and clever twists that keep you guessing until the very end.
Busy crafting her next mystery, Mary indulges in her love of research,
currently studying the flora and fauna of the Nantahala National Forest and
the magnetic call of Atlanta for the upcoming installment of her series. She
believes that every great mystery starts with a curious mind and a love for
uncovering the truth, but scrupulously scrubs her browsers history of any hint
of crime.
Join Mary on her literary journey, where a good story is always paired with a
cozy blanket, a glass of wine, and a touch of mischief!
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Thanks for letting me share my writing day!
ReplyDeletethis is Mary!!
DeleteThank you for sharing your daily practice and the overarching flow to your finished work. I find it so interesting to get a glimpse 'behind the curtain'. Your results are terrific: Your mysteries are suspenseful and fun to read!
ReplyDeleteMary, the blurb for this latest book, AIRPLANES, ATLANTA, AND AN ASSASSIN, pulled me right in. After reading your writing process, I can see how that success comes about. So much poured into a book. It's inspiring. And I love that the SinC guppies are part of the process ( ;
ReplyDelete