Clocked Out, a cozy mystery by Anna St John
Author Guest Post + Book & Author Info + a Giveaway!
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Clocked Out
Josie Posey and her posse of Mahjong Mavens are at it again, in this cozy mystery where the retired big city crime reporter turned small town crime solver uncovers another murder in picturesque English Village.
When the clockmaker’s daughter returns home for a visit, reporter Josie Posey is assigned the task of interviewing the talented watch designer. That very afternoon the young woman falls from a ladder while inventorying antique clocks.
At first, Josie is certain the fall was an accident. Everyone loved Ella McGregor Benjamin. But Ella’s deathbed statement is a mysterious riddle that can’t be ignored. With her Old English Sheepdog Moe by her side, and an ever-growing list of suspects, Josie scrambles to identify the killer before anyone else gets hurt.
The local police chief wants Josie to help solve the puzzle, but stay out of his murder case. The editor of The Village Gazette wants an in-depth story for the next edition. And somebody wants Josie to stop asking questions. Deadlines loom.
In this fast-paced rollercoaster ride of a mystery, the clock is ticking as Josie vows to find the killer before time runs out.
Clocked Out – A Josie Posey Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting: A small town in Sunflower County, Kansas, named English Village
Level Best Books (February 6, 2024)
ASIN : B0CRFY4R6P
You can purchase Clocked Out from Amazon
Guest Post for Clocked Out
“Research and Rabbit Holes” by Anna St. John
You’ve probably seen a few posts about the personalities and habits of mystery writers. A couple of my favorites include:
- “Don’t judge me because I’m quiet. No one plans a murder out loud.”
- “I’m a Cozy Mystery Writer. I kill people, but nicely.”
One of the most common jokes about mystery authors focuses on the topics we research online, thus inspiring t-shirts that say “Don’t use my Internet history against me … I’m a mystery writer!”
While it’s true that writers spend hours searching for information about murder weapons and other gruesome details, we also dig into tons of other subjects in an effort to bring authenticity to the story. For example, in Clocked Out, book two of my Josie Posey Mystery Series, I went down plenty of rabbit holes chasing information to flush out tiny details. I thought I’d share some of those searches with you.
- The entire book is about watch designs and the people who make them — and I had never heard the term “horology” before I began my research. Obviously, this was an important topic. I studied reports of the most exclusive watch manufacturers in the world, dug into their training processes, and explored the history of the craft.
- Tools of the Trade. I always like to figure out an unusual murder weapon to kill my victims. For Clocked Out, I wanted an item that could be used by a man or a woman. It had to be commonly available so any of my suspects could access it. And I preferred the weapon to have a unique name. Believe me when I tell you this one took some thinking. When you read the book, I hope you’ll agree the one I chose was far better than a convenient heavy vase or a nearby hammer.
- The Ordinary. Sometimes the little things require the most research. For this book, I found myself searching out the correct spelling of CROCS shoes (the word is a brand name and is always plural, even if you’re talking about a single shoe). I also searched for information on the opossum which some refer to simply as the The interesting thing to me was that opossum could be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent. The shorter version has become more common, but the longer version is still preferred – particularly in technical contexts. I flipped a coin and decided to use opossum.
- Sometimes my research is primary (first-hand_ information directly from the source) instead of via GOOGLE. If I don’t ask the right questions, mistakes happen. In my first book, Doomed by Blooms, I made a serious error when I referred to one of the Mahjong Mavens as an ex-Marine. After the book was published, my real-life, mahjong-playing friend pointed out the error. She kindly explained that U.S. Marines are always Marines. They might become retired Marines, but they are never ex-Marines. You’ll see the way I corrected myself in book two.
- The Murder. Since I’m not an experienced killer, I always have to research how to accomplish the death of my victims. On any given day, I may search for information on common poisonous flowers, methods of freeze-drying ingredients for a powerful potion, or the best placement for a deadly blow to the head. Whatever I learn always leads to additional questions. Inevitably, I want to know: Does the flower bloom in May or August? What are the symptoms my victim would exhibit? Can a forensics investigator determine whether a left-handed suspect caused a head wound?
Even though I try to incorporate plenty of facts into each mystery, it’s important to remember that I’m writing fiction. This gives me the latitude to stretch the truth when it enhances the story. So, maybe my floral poison is stronger than a botanist would predict. Or my fictional law enforcement officer allows the amateur sleuth to interview a suspect before he is booked, when a real police chief would never allow that to happen. Fortunately, readers expect to see a few unexpected twists and turns. They welcome the surprises, and they forgive me when I fudge a little on the details.
Ultimately, research is essential to the foundation of the tale, but it is only one part of the equation. As an author, my goal is to draw you into the book with enough truth to make the story believable, and enough fantasy to make it fun. I hope you’ll enjoy reading the Josie Posey books as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.
Anna St. John, author of Clocked Out
Anna St. John writes cozy mysteries featuring a mature, yet feisty, former crime reporter, Josie Posey, as the amateur sleuth.
Her debut novel, DOOMED BY BLOOMS, was released by Level Best Books in February 2023. CLOCKED OUT is the second book in her Josie Posey Mystery Series. It is scheduled to release Feb. 6, 2024.
A former journalist, award-winning advertising copywriter, and ad agency owner, Anna is married to her high school sweetheart. She writes from her home office in Kansas, with her Old English Sheepdog by her side.
Anna is represented by Cindy Bullard, of Birch Literary Agency. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Kansas Authors Club.
To learn more about Anna, click on either of the following links: Website & Facebook
Visit all the Stops on the Tour!
January 31 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
January 31 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
February 1 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
February 1 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
February 2 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 2 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – RECIPE
February 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 4 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
February 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
February 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 7 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
February 8 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
February 9 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 9 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT/PODCAST
February 10 – Reading Authors Network – AUTHOR GUEST POST
February 11 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
February 12 – The Book Diva’s Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
Thanks for allowing me to chat about the importance of research for CLOCKED OUT– whether it involved digging into the brand of CROCS shoes, or figuring out the perfect murder weapon in a clock shop. I appreciate the opportunity to share thoughts with your readers.
Great to have you join us!