I haven’t blogged very much about my own writing; it’s exciting to be about to share something very special about my debut cozy mystery series! I recently had character portraits commissioned as a fun way for readers to get to know my characters before my book is released on June 13, 2023 with TouchPoint Press. It’s amazing to be able to see the faces of these characters who’ve lived inside my head for four years. They seem so real now!
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It’s my pleasure to introduce to you the residents of Rose Shore!
Meet Jessamine Rhodes! She’s the new owner of the Rose Shore Community Art Center and the town’s very own amateur sleuth. A little bit sassy and sarcastic, but a whole lot sweet, Jessamine loves teaching members of the community all sorts of art and crafts mediums such as acrylic paints, sketching, and textiles. She lives in a cozy cottage on the shores of Opal Lake with her beagle, Margo, and they love walking along the beach every morning and evening.
Meet Emilia Kent! Emilia is Jessamine’s best friend and the owner of the Secret Garden Tea Shop. Originally from London, England, Emilia has a flair for the dramatic, loves retro sitcoms, and will furiously defend those she cares for. She can almost always be found with a cup of tea in hand and has a delicious secret recipe for just about every dish she makes. Always up for a bit of trouble, Emilia is the perfect companion to dive into a mystery with.
Meet Andrew Marsh! Andrew works at the Rose Shore Community Art Center as the administrative assistant. He’s the first person people meet when they come in for a class, and they’re always welcomed with a big smile and, more than likely, a joke or two. Andrew has a huge sweet tooth and can often be found at the Secret Garden Tea Shop on his lunch break enjoying a delicious sugar cookie.
Meet Molly Williams! Molly is a teacher at the Rose Shore Community Art Center. She’s kind, loyal, and extremely talented at all art mediums. Molly loves to read and is a member of the local Literary Classics Book Club. Definitely the most serious member of their group, Molly tends to remind her friends to be cautious when it comes to investigating murder mysteries and, perhaps, it might be better to leave things to the police.
Meet Jackson Yeung! Jackson and his dog, an Italian Greyhound named Poe, live next door to Jessamine. Jackson works as a paramedic in Rose Shore and volunteers as a science tutor at the high school. He gets caught up in Jessamine’s adventures and helps her with figuring out who the killer is, though, thankfully, his extensive first aid training sometimes comes in handy along the way.
Isn’t the character art amazing? It was all done by Leah of Kwoking on Sunshine. I hope the portraits make you as excited for the release of Paint Me a Crime as I am!
What a great idea. I wrote several books in one series and always wanted to see the characters. Finally a graphic artist put them on the cover. Will you share who did these drawings?
Thank you! I love them all so much. The artwork was done by Leah of Kwoking on Sunshine. She’s so talented! https://www.instagram.com/kwoking.on.sunshine/