This book event is through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
Holidays & Homicides book tour includes an author interview and giveaway. Enter, comment, share, follow. And check out the latest products in the shop, including today’s $1 Deal Christmas Elf Holiday Recipe Planner with coupon code $1DailyDeal9 and today’s freebie, my Cake in a Jar cookbook with the code cake. Comment in my FB group, tag me on social, respond to my latest email, or contact me to redeem your freebie.
Book Details
Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection
Holiday Cozy Mysteries
Publisher : Gemma Halliday Publishing
Publication date : December 2, 2025
ASIN : B0FSNH17GM
From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!
Stories include:
A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries)
by Rosalie Spielman
Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory
Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries)
by Kelly Rey
Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries)
by Anne Marie Stoddard
Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries)
by Jennifer Fischetto
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries)
by Annie McEwen
You Can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries)
by Christine Knapp
Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries)
by Misty Simon
Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries)
by Erica Wynters
Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries)
by Jamie L. Adams
Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries)
by Catherine Bruns
A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries)
by Gin Jones
About the Authors
Catherine Bruns is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in New York with her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in English and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. She also writes the Italian Chef mysteries, Cindy York real estate and Carrie Jorgenson (Aloha Lagoon) culinary series. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the 2019 Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.
Get a free ebook when you sign up for Catherine’s newsletter at https://www.catherinebruns.net/contact
Please feel free to connect with her on social media as well:
facebook.com/Catherine-Bruns-Books-218522341685434
Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.
Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.
To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her website at http://www.lenagregory.com/ and be sure to sign up for her newsletter http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
Rosalie Spielman is a mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. Her cozy mystery novels are set in locales that have chickens—such as sunny Kauai and rural Idaho—writing for the multi-author Aloha Lagoon mystery series and her own Hometown Mystery series.
She currently lives in Maryland with her husband in a rapidly emptying nest. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman-author.com, follow her Facebook page (Rosalie Spielman author), or join her Facebook group (You Know The Spiel). Rosalie strives to provide you a cozy escape…one page at a time.
From her first discovery of Nancy Drew, USA Today bestselling author Kelly Rey has had a lifelong love for mystery and tales of things that go bump in the night, especially those with a twist of humor. Through many years of working in the court reporting and closed captioning fields, writing has remained a constant. If she’s not in front of a keyboard, she can be found reading, working out or avoiding housework. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and lives in the Northeast with her husband and a menagerie of very spoiled pets.
Gin Jones is a retired lawyer who specialized in ghost-writing for other lawyers. She prefers to write her own books, though, since she doesn’t have to worry that her sense of humor might get her thrown into jail for contempt of court. In her spare time, Gin makes quilts, grows garlic, and advocates for patients with rare disorders.
Jamie L. Adams fell in love with books at an early age. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott opened her imagination and sparked a dream to be a writer. She wrote her first book as a school project in 6th grade.
A graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature as well as member of American Christian Fiction Writers, The Writing Desk and several critique groups, she spends most of her time writing, reading or learning more about the craft near to her heart.
The parents of three very active children, she and her husband live in the Ozarks surrounded by forest and wildlife.
Erica Wynters started as most authors do – as an avid reader. Cozy mysteries and romantic suspense offered her just the escape she was looking for! The combination of great love and great danger keeps her turning pages late into the night.
Now they keep her writing pages late into the night. Her goal is always two-fold: help you fall in love with love all over again and take you on an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Falling in love has never been so fun…or so dangerous!
Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.
Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania, where she is hard at work on her next novel or three.
Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as a fiction author. Christine currently narrates books for the visually impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston. Visit thoughtfulmidwife.com
Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy (storyline idea!), she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her.
Annie and her husband are empty nesters—their son is married to his high school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies who just might make some special appearances in Annie’s books.
When Annie isn’t writing, playing with her grandsons, or tackling trash-to-treasure projects, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones…you can’t hide much from her! Writing, though, is her first love.
Jennifer Fischetto is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the Gianna Mancini paranormal cozy mystery series, as well as a dozen other titles. She writes family-centric murder mysteries and things that go bump in the night.
A lover of rainstorms and snow, she prefers fiction over reality and longs to live in a world where French fries grow on trees, chocolate appears whenever desired, and every day is October. She watches too much television and movies, which fuel her never-ending supply of plot ideas, and is a rabid fan of suspense, horror, and everything supernatural.
You can learn about her next book by subscribing to her newsletter at https://jenniferfischetto.com/newsletter/
Visit Jennifer at:
Website: http://jenniferfischetto.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennfischetto
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennFischetto
Anne Marie Stoddard is a USA TODAY bestselling author and former Amazon Mover & Shaker. She writes supernatural suspense and humorous cozy mysteries with an edge. Her Amelia Grace Mystery series, inspired by her years working in radio, and concert venues and music festivals across the U.S., has won several awards, including the 2012 AJC Decatur Book Festival Writing Contest, the 2013 Book Junkie’s Choice Award for Best Debut Fiction Novel, and nominations for the 2014 & 2016 RONE Awards Best Mystery/Thriller Category.
Aside from writing, Anne Marie loves her husband and their dog, college football, hula hoops, music, coffee, and anything pumpkin-flavored.
For more details about Anne Marie’s upcoming projects, giveaways, and more, visit her online and subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.amstoddardbooks.com/.
Connect with Anne Marie on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmStoddardBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMStoddardBooks
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple
Kobo
Smashwords
Interview questions:
Christine Knapp, author of the Modern Midwife Mysteries/ Author Interview
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
“Holidays & Homicides” is a fabulous cozy mystery anthology featuring twelve bestselling and
award-winning authors. The short stories combine sleuthing and holiday cheer. I love the fact
that you get exposure to a variety of series in one book. What can be better than snuggling up
with a mug of hot chocolate and a delectable array of seasonal mysteries?
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?
My story in the anthology is “You can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees,” and it features
the cast from The Modern Midwife Mysteries. I would spend the day with Maeve O’Reilly
Kensington, the modern nurse-midwife. Maybe I could watch her bring new life into the world!
Since we are both nurse midwives, I would like to meet her colleagues and compare notes.
Visiting with her large Boston Irish family, especially her mother, Mary Margaret Callahan
O’Reilly, and exploring the quintessential seaside New England town would also be at the top of
my agenda. A stop at Maeve’s husband’s bakery, “A Thyme for All Seasons,” would allow me to
sample a chocolate fudge cupcake. After a fun-filled day, I would be excited to attend a weekly
family dinner with the fabulous O’Reillys. I hope it’s Olivia’s turn to host, because I’d be anxious
to see her always-on-point décor and menu!
What books/authors have most inspired you?
Walter Mosley’s advice on writing is without compare. He says to write every day, not to be
afraid of failure, and not to wait for inspiration. I am a fan of all his work, but especially his
Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins series.
Dame Agatha Christie’s work was my first introduction to cozy mysteries. I could not get enough
of Miss Marple and Saint Mary Mead, Tommy and Tuppence, or her noble Hercule.
Interestingly, I discovered Christie’s work as I started my midwifery education, and it planted the
seed of a midwife who solves mysteries.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
My characters are all fictional, but of course, I am always taking note of mannerisms, dress, and
interesting stories in real life.
What made you want to become a writer?
From a young age, I was a frequent visitor to my local library, where I dreamed of becoming an
author one day. I read many genres, but even at a young age, I was drawn to mysteries.
During my career as a nurse-midwife, I wrote textbooks but always kept the dream of writing
fiction alive. It was a thrilling day when Murder at the Wedding, Book #1 in the Modern
Midwife Mysteries, was released by Gemma Halliday Publishing. The series consists of five
books and now a seasonal short story in “Holidays & Homicides.”
Along my writing journey, I have been fortunate to meet wonderful people and excellent
storytellers who inspire me to be a better writer.
It’s a dream come true to have my books in libraries!
HOLIDAYS AND HOMICIDES TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
December 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
December 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 5 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
December 6 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
December 7 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW – INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 9 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
December 10 – Caboodle of Cozies – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
December 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – Salty Inspirations – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
December 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
Giveaway
