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Location: United States

Member Since: Oct. 31, 2009

25 readers have added this author as a 'Favorite Author'.

Columbine Publishing Group, LLC

Publisher info

Connie Shelton has been writing for more than twenty years and has taught writing (both fiction and nonfiction) since 2001. She is the author of three cozy romantic-mystery series and has been a contributor to several anthologies, including Chicken Soup For the Writer's Soul.

"My husband and I love to do adventures. He flew helicopters for 35 years, a career that I've borrowed from in my Charlie Parker mysteries. We have traveled quite a lot and now divide our time between the American Southwest and a place on the Sea of Cortez. For relaxation I love art -- painting and drawing can completely consume me. I also really enjoy cooking, with whatever ingredients I find in whatever country we are in at the moment. We walk every day and love watching and photographing wildlife."

Smashwords Interview

When did you first start writing?

Writing was something I always enjoyed in school but as far as serious writing with a career in mind, I didn't really start on that until I was in my thirties. I began with no knowledge of the process other than what I'd read in a how-to book on writing romances. I'm not sure what I was thinking....I really didn't read a lot of romances at that point, but I knew that I wanted to write.

I began with a family saga that ultimately ran over 500 pages long. I entered the first three chapters in a contest and took third place. That, I think, is what gave me the confidence to keep writing. I did a second book, another saga of nearly 400 pages (it would take me awhile to figure out that family sagas were about fifteen years out of date at that point!). Neither of those first two books were ever published, but that's okay. Looking back on the quality of my writing that that point---it's really a relief that they never made it to print. Anyhow, while those manuscripts were making the rounds of NY I turned to my first love in reading....mysteries.

I attended a lot of writers conferences in those days, meeting some of the big names in mystery like Tony Hillerman, Mary Higgins Clark and Sue Grafton. I began to see that writing is a learned craft that takes a lot of practice, not something that most people can dash off quickly and hope for publishing recognition.

Tell us a little about your path to publication.

I finished two mysteries and noticed that my rejection letters were getting more complimentary. I ran into the same things that so many writers today are saying. Editors would say, "I love the characters, but--" or "The writing is really good, but--" There were always too few slots and too many manuscripts under consideration at any given time.

After I'd been at the game for nearly ten years (I did a LOT of writing during this time, really practicing and honing my craft) I decided to take a big risk. These were the days of print-only publishing and a time when self-published was a dirty word. I made the leap and invested a lot of my savings and started my own publishing company. I guess you could say that I was indie when indie wasn't cool (to paraphrase the country song). Pretending it really wasn't me at the helm, I published a few of my own books in hardcover, picked up other authors, and built the press into a thriving little house, one that gained the approval of some fairly stodgy organizations (no names shall be mentioned) and we garnered good reviews in nearly all the prestige publications, such as Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal.

We got enough attention that about six years into the venture I got an offer and sold out to a larger company. Suddenly, I was being traditionally published---hardcover, paperback, book club deals, audio and movie rights. While I missed working with my authors, I was very appreciative of the additional time to write my own books.

A few more years went by, and then things began to slip. My editor and publicist moved on and no one seemed to be taking over their jobs. I had a manuscript ready to go but no indication of when I might see it published. It was deja vu all over again, except this time I had fans of my mystery series who were repeatedly asking me when my next book would be out. When a series of shakeups occurred at the publishing house I requested and received my rights back on my older titles. At last I owned my whole series and could do anything I wanted. This was 2009 and you can guess the rest of the story. Amazon initiated its Kindle Direct program . . . Smashwords came along. Suddenly, indie actually was cool!

I immediately republished all my backlist, along with the new manuscript-in-waiting. I started a second series, sales were picking up and now whenever a fan asked about my next book I had an answer for them. From ten books that were barely scratching out enough for lunch money, I've gone to twenty-two titles and am approaching sales of a million books total. Mostly, I'm making a decent living at what I love to do. Every time I get a letter from a fan, my gratitude meter pings---I feel very, very lucky.

Where to find Columbine Publishing Group, LLC online

Website: http://www.connieshelton.com
Twitter: @connieshelton
Facebook: Facebook profile
Wattpad: authorconnieshelton
Blog: http://connieshelton.com/blog-get-links-for-writers-booksellers--libraries.html

Where to buy in print

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=connie+shelton&x=0&y=0

Publisher of

Callahan and the Spy by Rebecca Barrett

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Pre-release—available June 6, 2024. Price: $4.99 USD. Language: English. Published by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Callahan and Dax are in Key West, working for the owner of a local B&B. When one of the guests dies in her suite, Cat Callahan manages to sniff out the most important clues right away. As police question the inn’s proprietress and her friend, who runs a struggling fishing charter, the gray Scottish Fold cat consults several of the island’s Hemingway cats and goes on the trail of the real killer.

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Steve and Sarah Miller—along with an American paleontologist, a couple of dwarves, a wizard, a dragon, and a gigantic bug—have set out on the quest of all time, and it’s a race against a familiar enemy, the invading pirate Captain Flinn. The stakes are high, as the pirates seek to capture the Alchos Stones and harness the power of the Ancients. Steve and his team must stop them, at all costs!

Callahan Goes Rodeo by Susan Yawn Tanner

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 63,270. Language: English. Published: April 11, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Cat Callahan finds himself in the midst of the pro rodeo circuit when he jumps into a trailer to comfort a frightened teen girl and ends up in another state. Then, when rodeo competitors start dying under suspicious circumstances, Callahan is determined to find the answers, and he’s one cat who knows how to follow the clues and catch a killer.

Cruises Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery by Connie Shelton

Series: Charlie Parker New Mexico Mystery Series, Book 22. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 64,160. Language: English. Published: March 12, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Talbot Farber lost his wife thirteen years ago, during a fire aboard their cruise ship. Now, he tells Charlie and Ron, he has spotted Jenna alive and well in the Denver airport. He begs them to find her. But what’s really going on? The deeper they dig, the more complicated the story becomes. Is Talbot’s sighting merely wishful thinking or is Jenna Farber actually still alive?

Creeps, Cache, & Corpses by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 72,570. Language: English. Published: March 7, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

A road trip with her students, for a memorial service, turns into a mystery when one of the first people Katie, Maverick, and the kids meet turns up dead less than a day after their arrival. When the sheriff begins questioning their group, Katie pays attention to clues. How can she find enough evidence to convince him they’re innocent, especially when she’s been warned to butt out—many times?

Festive Shadows by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 7. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 65,580. Language: English. Published: March 4, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

There’s trouble at Mesa’s biggest arts and crafts fair, right from day one. Booths are vandalized, items stolen, dogs are becoming ill—and the police have their hands full with bigger crimes than these. Everyone is begging Libby and Shadow to track down the perps, but it seems someone wants to frame Libby for the mischief. She needs to find the answers, and quick!

Callahan's Savannah Caper by Rebecca Barrett

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 62,030. Language: English. Published: February 22, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

A missing insurance adjuster, a fortune in Russian art and artifacts, a Southern belle, and a devilishly handsome man who isn’t what he first appears to be. Cat Callahan senses a mystery and definitely has his work cut out for him this time.

The Hammer is Strong With This One by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 8. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 83,270. Language: English. Published: February 14, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

It’s the ruthless pirate Captain Flinn versus Steve and Sarah Miller and their Lentarian allies, as Flinn is determined to steal the powerful Narian Power Hammer. He already has the Fang of the Red Oskorlisk and one of the Alchos Stones to protect him. Can the Millers overtake him and prevent the pirates from wreaking havoc on the kingdom before they get what they want and escape back to Perz?

Case of the Hobbit Heist by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Corgi Case Files. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 62,640. Language: English. Published: February 2, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Zack is in his element when he receives VIP tickets to a local comic-con, and beyond thrilled when he gets to meet one of his favorite actors, Michael Biehn. But immediately there’s a bigger problem. Valuable memorabilia and movie props are disappearing, and Zack and the corgis are tasked with finding and recovering the priceless items from what may be an international ring of masterminds.

Charlie Parker Mysteries Boxed Set (Books 1-4) by Connie Shelton

Price: $7.99 USD. Words: 237,600. Language: English. Published: January 28, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

Boxed set of the first four titles in the USA Today bestselling Charlie Parker cozy mystery series. “Charlie is just what readers want.” –Booklist

Callahan and the Horses of Hope by Susan Yawn Tanner

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 66,300. Language: English. Published: January 25, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Dax takes a job at New Hope Ranch, where equine therapy is used to treat veterans. To qualify, the operation must undergo an inspection, but when the inspector arrives a series of serious mishaps begin. No one is above suspicion as Callahan, Dax’s big gray cat, is once again on the case, tracking the clues to figure out the truth before a terrible fate comes to the owner and her beloved horses.

Callahan on the Case by Rebecca Barrett

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 61,520. Language: English. Published: January 4, 2024 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Cat Callahan. The big gray cat with the battered right ear takes up with a drifter named Daxter, “Dax” for short—hobo by choice. And it’s within days after Dax arrives that the murders begin. But Callahan knows how to be in the right place at the right time to gather clues and provide his own special brand of assistance. The cops may be a little slow on the uptake, but Cat Callahan is on the case.

Callahan's Christmas Feast by Rebecca Barrett

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 10,360. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

It’s Christmas Eve, and Callahan and Dax are invited to the annual holiday party at the home of Dax’s employer. But the festive occasion is marred by death. Is it murder, or did the poor man get a bad cherry from the Tizzington sisters’ infamous fruit compote? Cat Callahan, in his usual fashion, searches through clues and is way ahead of the humans in the room in figuring out the solution.

A Callahan Christmas by Susan Yawn Tanner

Series: Cat Callahan Mysteries. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 16,330. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Mace Walker went to prison, but his fiancée never believed he committed those thefts. Now that he’s out, Felecia wants as badly as he does to find the guilty party and clear his name. The big gray feline who showed up in Felecia’s life, Cat Callahan, has already solved a number of cases, and he’s just the cat to help make this holiday season a whole lot better than it started out.

Haunted Sweets: A Sweet's Sweets Bakery Mystery by Connie Shelton

Series: Samantha Sweet Magical Cozy Mystery Series, Book 17. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 62,640. Language: English. Published: October 12, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

Samantha Sweet teams up with Emily Plankhurst, the research librarian in Taos, to track down answers to a murder that happened a hundred years ago. The truth goes much deeper than the story that was reported at the time, as they discover hidden tunnels and plenty of ghostly secrets, lurking in the shadows. Can they uncover the truth before those secrets catch up with them?

Shadow's Christmas Wish by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 6. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 61,290. Language: English. Published: August 15, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Libby, Greg, Shadow and friends head to Taos, New Mexico, for a wedding, but things turn dark when shortly after the ceremony the groom goes missing. Meanwhile, Libby discovers Sweet’s Sweets, a bakery in Taos and meets the owner who has a magical touch. When the bakery is vandalized, they all put their heads together to figure out if the two mysteries are somehow connected.

May the Fang Be With You by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 7. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 101,090. Language: English. Published: August 11, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

A band of pirates from a faraway land have invaded Lentari and raided the dragon’s cave to steal a powerful artifact, the Fang of the Red Oskorlisk. Kre’Mikal, the acting king, calls upon Steve and Sarah Miller to help retrieve it. Can their jhorun prove to be a match against that of the ruthless pirate captain?

Diamonds, Diesel & Doom by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 74,430. Language: English. Published: August 10, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Katie Wilk is still reeling from astounding news about her late husband. And then, ZaZa Lavigne shows up, the woman who can push all of Katie’s buttons. But her personal problems are set aside when an heirloom diamond ring seemingly gets switched at the local jewelry store, giving Katie and Maverick a new mystery to solve.

Close Encounters of the Magical Kind by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 6. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 99,880. Language: English. Published: August 6, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

Sarah and Steve are called to the magical island of Dynwe, where the local faerie population is dying. They need the magic of a certain golden flower to save them, and Sarah’s ability to teleport is the only way they will get it in time. What seems like a simple request turns into the most difficult quest of their lives and a race against the clock.

Wizard in the Woods by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 5. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 92,300. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

The villages of Lentari are in big trouble, as their homes and businesses are blasted by dragon fire. Who could be behind this? Crown Prince Mikal takes on the task of investigating and discovers a rogue wizard has cast a spell on otherwise friendly dragons. The quest to find the perpetrator and stop the attacks becomes complicated, and Mikal finds himself and his allies in dangerous waters.

Something Wyverian This Way Comes by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 2. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 90,090. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

A terrible sickness has afflicted the dragons of Lentari, and it’s up to Americans Steve and Sarah Miller to travel the land with their dragon ally, Pryllan, to discover its source. They suspect some kind of spell or curse, and it will be the challenge of their lives to solve this before all the dragons are gone.

A Portal for Your Thoughts by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 3. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 92,490. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

There’s a mysterious anomaly in the Lentarian forest and people who discover it seem to disappear. Americans Steve and Sarah Miller are called upon to find the missing villagers, but then the unthinkable happens. Sarah vanishes into the portal and when Steve goes after her, he finds himself in a completely different time and place.

Lost City by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 1. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 101,600. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

Lukas, a young dwarf, accidentally falls into a forge. Amazingly, he comes away from the near miss with only a mark on his back. The mark is somewhat disfiguring, so his father takes young Lukas to consult the most respected wizard in the kingdom. They learn this is a Questor’s Mark. To lose it, Lukas must follow the roadmap and follow the dream of all dwarves—to find the Lost City of Nar.

Thoughts for a Portal by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Tales of Lentari, Book 4. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 93,820. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

Steve and Sarah Miller find themselves back in the manor house—but it’s 120 years before their time! The portal which delivered them into this mess is one-way, leaving them no way back to their present lives. Sarah has been kidnapped, Steve must return to Lentari for the special crystal to create the two-way portal, and anything they change now will have far-reaching repercussions into the future.

Case of the Ice Cream Crime by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Corgi Case Files. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 60,710. Language: English. Published: June 25, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

The Cookbook Nook has been broken into and ransacked. It’s a puzzle indeed, when it appears the only stolen were tubs of ice cream from the café section. Sherlock, Watson, and Zack are on the case to figure out why anyone would steal very specific flavors of ice cream, leaving others behind. Zack has a lot riding on the hope that the dogs can spot enough clues to solve this ice cream crime.

Spooky Shadows by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 5. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 67,030. Language: English. Published: March 30, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Taking over as the massage therapist at a touristy haunted hotel turns into a real-life mystery for Libby Madsen, especially when her beloved pup, Shadow, is the one who finds the body of the town’s notoriously horrible dog groomer and is accused of murder! Luckily, Libby quickly discovers there is no shortage of other suspects the victim had antagonized, and any of them could be the killer.

Road Trips Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery by Connie Shelton

Series: Charlie Parker New Mexico Mystery Series, Book 21. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 61,800. Language: English. Published: March 23, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

(5.00 from 1 review)

Charlie is assigned to drive a teen runaway girl back to her home in Arizona. Should be easy enough and she’ll be home in time for Thanksgiving. Or not. Sophie is a challenging 13-year-old with attitude. When they arrive the girl’s mother is a no-show and there’s a dead boyfriend in the kitchen. The simple case has become a more complicated mystery than Charlie ever imagined.

Fishing, Festivities, & Fatalities by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 71,600. Language: English. Published: March 16, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

It’s Christmas in Minnesota, a time for decorations, hot chocolate, carols, and fishing! Katie agrees to participate in the ice-fishing tournament. But she finds that a place where one of her students fell through the ice was deliberately cut, and the intended victim was the town’s least loveable man. When Dr. Pete is accused, Katie and Maverick track the leads in this very tricky investigation.

Case of the Secret Staircase: A Corgi Case Files Cozy Mystery Short Story by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Corgi Case Files. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 11,140. Language: English. Published: March 6, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

A family celebration for Dia de los Muertos gets interrupted by a series of thefts, small items intended to honor the ancestors. Does it have something to do with the B&B that harbors a few of its own ghosts? At once, the smart and lovable corgis are on the case. Sherlock and Watson, along with their human helpers, Zack and Jillian Anderson, will unravel the mystery, clue by clue.

Halloween, Hound, & Housesitting: A Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries Short Story by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 12,520. Language: English. Published: March 6, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Katie takes a housesitting job, then learns she has to host a party on behalf of the owners. The old place is spooky and there’s a murder to be solved. As always, Maverick the search-and-rescue retriever makes sure the clues are found before the witching hour!

Case of the Unlucky Emperor by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Corgi Case Files. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 57,310. Language: English. Published: February 2, 2023 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

A penguin breeding facility in need of funding, a missing newborn penguin chick, and a quick trip to Alaska for Zack, Jillian, and the corgis. If Sherlock and Watson can’t find the baby soon, it spells disaster all around. As the dogs seek out the clues, it all adds up to another can’t-put-it-down cozy mystery.

Amulet of Aria by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Bakkian Chronicles, Book 3. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 111,690. Language: English. Published: December 28, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

It's been four years since Steve and Sarah Miller discovered the magical portal to the kingdom of Lentari and became guardians to the crown prince, Mikal. The young prince is adapting to life in modern-day America, but their peaceful existence is shattered by an attack. Now they must return to Lentari and find out how someone from there has crossed into their world to endanger their lives.

The Prophecy by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Bakkian Chronicles, Book 1. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 125,660. Language: English. Published: December 28, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

(5.00 from 2 reviews)

After learning they’ve inherited property, Steve and Sarah Miller decide to take a few days off to investigate in the quiet Idaho resort town of Coeur d’Alene. In their new home, disguised as a simple door, a portal is accidentally activated and Steve and Sarah find themselves in a whole new world--a land where people have strange powers and mythical creatures abound.

Insurrection by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Bakkian Chronicles, Book 2. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 98,880. Language: English. Published: December 28, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Fantasy » Epic

A year after the Millers became guardians for the young crown prince, their peace is shattered by the news that the queen has been kidnapped. It’s back to Lentari to try and rescue her, but it turns out the prince is really the person the evil entities want. Keeping them both safe provides more action than any of them bargained for, as they battle trolls, griffins, and an evil wizard!

Shadow Retreats by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 4. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 59,810. Language: English. Published: December 21, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

Libby joins her friend Bella for a weekend retreat led by one of the world’s most popular gurus. The setting is gorgeous, peaceful, and calm—until things begin to go sideways. Bella’s California friend disappears, another young woman dies suddenly, and Libby begins to wonder if this is a legitimate religious group or some kind of cult. Can she unravel the secrets before the next bad thing happens?

Snake Eyes by Susan Slater

Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 69,700. Language: English. Published: November 3, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

An elderly Seminole man paddles to the Everglades, a place known for alligators, snakes, and quicksand, a place he intends to end his life. The secret he carries with him will be discovered by authorities, he hopes. Meanwhile, Ben Pecos’s new job is at a huge casino on Seminole land. But more is going on and Ben is warned that he’s being monitored in his office. He has no idea who he can trust.

Tricky Sweet: A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery by Connie Shelton

Series: Samantha Sweet Magical Cozy Mystery Series, Book 16. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 57,520. Language: English. Published: October 20, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

A trio of California college kids set out for their Taos rental cabin for a week of spring break snowboarding fun, but when their families don’t hear from them in several days, Samantha Sweet and her daughter are called upon to find out why the police investigation shows they never arrived. Sam has a bad feeling about this, and the clues all seem to be coming from the mysterious book of runes.

Secret Staircase Holiday Mysteries: A Collection of Cozy Short Stories by Connie Shelton, Jeffrey Poole, Mary Seifert, Rick Adelmann, & Jennifer J. Morgan

Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 72,720. Language: English. Published: October 17, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - multi-author, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

Take a mysterious secret staircase into the holiday season, from Halloween to New Year’s Day, with this collection of seasonal cozy mystery short stories from an elite group of authors. Each story features the characters from the author’s ongoing series. Read about your old favorites, meet some new ones!

Santa, Snowflakes, & Strychnine by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 71,540. Language: English. Published: October 12, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

Christmas is fast approaching, but the holiday season is marred. Katie’s landlady, Ida and her neighbor, Grace hadn’t spoken in 40 years and just recently made up. But when they both bid on the same unusual art piece at the Holiday Gala, the claws come out again. Two deaths happen and police attention focuses on Ida. Can Katie and Maverick find the real killer before Ida spends Christmas in jail?

Shadowed Treasures by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 3. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 59,290. Language: English. Published: August 30, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Libby and friends get in their RVs and caravan to Utah. Enjoying live music one night, they meet Eugene Walker and his third wife Agatha, old folks who are dancing the night away. They are the cutest! But soon Libby and her companions become a bit frustrated. The pair say they’re on a treasure hunt but their stories don’t add up. And then Eugene goes missing, leaving Libby to figure it out.

Tinsel, Trials, & Traitors by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 71,850. Language: English. Published: August 18, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Katie and Maverick are out walking when Maverick dashes through the moving gate at a self-storage facility and they get locked in. By the time the police respond to the silent alarms the pair have set off, a car inside one of the garage-sized units is engulfed in flame. Was it a suicide that turned extra messy, or did someone rig the expensive sports car to explode and kill the woman inside?

Case of the Rusty Sword by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Corgi Case Files. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 56,970. Language: English. Published: August 11, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Zack and Jillian are starting their dream home, and the old farmhouse where they’ve been living must be razed. Things get complicated when the first bulldozer cut reveals a secret chamber under the existing house. How did a Civil War-era sword and other old artifacts get there? Sherlock the corgi takes an interest—there’s a mystery here, one Zack and his canine companions will be working to solve!

Spa Shadows by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 2. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 60,060. Language: English. Published: July 20, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Libby’s world is rocked to the core when her business partner Alexis—working late one night—is attacked by an intruder at their spa. JJ shows up in full cop mode, terrified that his wife has barely escaped the serial rapist who's been plaguing the city in recent months. But Lexi isn't convinced. Too many seemingly unrelated incidents mean that there’s something more going on.

Rescues, Rogues, & Renegade by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 70,820. Language: English. Published: July 14, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Katie and Maverick are training for Search and Rescue certification, and Katie is working with her math and science students. But several shocking events rock their small town—a teenage girl is found dead in a state park, a neighbor’s three-year-old daughter is abducted, and Maverick’s SAR exercise turns into a real emergency. Are the crimes connected, and can Katie figure out the puzzle in time?

Shadows in the Forest by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 1. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 59,270. Language: English. Published: July 2, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Libby Madsen offers a favor for a client, to deliver critical medication to her daughter who has gone camping in the Arizona mountains. But when Libby and her black Lab, Shadow, arrive at the campground, the young woman is nowhere to be found, and no one has seen the group she claimed to be traveling with. Something feels sinister, and Libby’s own life will be in danger as she seeks the answers.

Maverick, Movies, & Murder by Mary Seifert

Series: Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 72,290. Language: English. Published: June 15, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

After losing her husband of 17 days, Katie Wilk is starting over—new town, new career, and with Maverick, a Labrador retriever puppy she isn’t really sure about. When the pair discover a dead body in a marshland, Katie finds herself caught up in the investigation of two deaths, a slew of preparations for a movie premier, and a new man who may find his way into her life.

The Christmas Fairy: A Libby Madsen Mysteries Holiday Novella by Jennifer J. Morgan

Series: Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries, Book 0. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 17,380. Language: English. Published: May 17, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy

Libby’s new day spa venture will open with a gala evening to launch the business in fine style. When she gets a tip on a party planner, she’s thrilled. It’s the holiday season and no one else is available. But the guy takes off with the money and there’s not a decoration or nibble of food in sight. What will she do?

Widow's Walk by Susan Slater

Series: Dan Mahoney Mysteries. Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 71,990. Language: English. Published: April 7, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense

Dan Mahoney is investigating an insurance claim, his private-eye wife Elaine sets out to prove a suicide was really a murder. The two cases intersect in ways neither could have foreseen, while a hurricane is closing in on them. It’s crime fiction filled with twists and turns.

Case of the Stuttering Parrot by Jeffrey Poole

Series: Corgi Case Files. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 57,250. Language: English. Published: March 24, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

Zack and Jillian are back from their honeymoon. Life is filled with exciting plans, and the couple’s two corgis are getting along well with their new housemate, Ruby the African grey parrot. But suddenly Ruby is quoting Shakespeare and coming up with random sayings. And what does any of this have to do with a bank robbery and the death of a security guard in a town a hundred miles away?

Money Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton

Series: Charlie Parker New Mexico Mystery Series, Book 20. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 73,870. Language: English. Published: March 15, 2022 by Columbine Publishing Group, LLC. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Cozy, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Amateur sleuth

There’s cash missing from a local charity thrift shop—lots of it. And when it looks like her surrogate grandma might be accused, there’s nothing for Charlie to do but take a job there and try to catch the thief from the inside. But when her top suspect suddenly and mysteriously dies, she discovers she’s tracking both a thief and a killer.

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Series

Cat Callahan Mysteries by Rebecca Barrett

Cat Callahan. The big gray cat with the battered right ear takes up with a drifter named Daxter, “Dax” for short—hobo by choice. The two seem to find trouble wherever they go, but Callahan knows how to be in the right place at the right time to gather clues and provide his own special brand of assistance. This series is co-authored with bestselling author, Susan Yawn Tanner

Callahan's Christmas Feast

Price: $1.99 USD.

Callahan on the Case

Price: $0.99 USD.

Callahan's Savannah Caper

Price: $4.99 USD.

Callahan and the Spy

Price: $4.99 USD.

Tales of Lentari by Jeffrey Poole

The Tales of Lentari continue where the epic fantasy began in the acclaimed Bakkian Chronicles trilogy. Explore the fantastical world of Lentari, following the action-packed adventures of Steve and Sarah Miller, along with their friends-- the dwarves, dragons, and wizards, and many more mystical creatures.

Lost City

Price: $5.99 USD.

Something Wyverian This Way Comes

Price: $5.99 USD.

A Portal for Your Thoughts

Price: $5.99 USD.

Thoughts for a Portal

Price: $5.99 USD.

Wizard in the Woods

Price: $5.99 USD.

Close Encounters of the Magical Kind

Price: $5.99 USD.

Cat Callahan Mysteries by Susan Yawn Tanner

A Callahan Christmas

Price: $1.99 USD.

Callahan and the Horses of Hope

Price: $4.99 USD.

Callahan Goes Rodeo

Price: $4.99 USD.

Charlie Parker New Mexico Mystery Series by Connie Shelton

This nearly-cozy mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton introduces Albuquerque CPA Charlotte "Charlie" Parker. Charlie and her trusty sidekick dog are supposed to handle the business side of RJP Investigations while her brother, Ron, does the detecting. However, somehow Charlie always manages to get more involved than she wants to be.

Holidays Can Be Murder: A Charlie Parker Christmas Mystery

Price: $2.99 USD.

Deadly Gamble: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery

Price: $0.99 USD.

Vacations Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Partnerships Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Small Towns Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Memories Can Be Murder: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries by Mary Seifert

After losing everything, Katie Wilk is starting life over in Columbia, Minnesota, with a new career—giving up cryptanalysis in favor of teaching school—and a canine companion, Maverick, a black Labrador retriever. Each mystery is filled with puzzling clues, adventures, and friendships. Katie and Maverick are quite the sleuthing team.

Halloween, Hound, & Housesitting: A Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries Short Story

Price: $1.99 USD.

Maverick, Movies, & Murder

Price: $2.99 USD.

Rescues, Rogues, & Renegade

Price: $4.99 USD.

Tinsel, Trials, & Traitors

Price: $4.99 USD.

Santa, Snowflakes, & Strychnine

Price: $4.99 USD.

Fishing, Festivities, & Fatalities

Price: $4.99 USD.

Libby Madsen Cozy Mysteries by Jennifer J. Morgan

Libby Madsen, professional massage therapist and co-owner of the luxurious Dharma Inspired Day Spa, has probably heard it all. During what she thinks of as ‘tabletop confessions,’ her clients often talk about way more of their personal lives than she really wants to hear. Libby and her trusted black Labrador pup, Shadow, find themselves entangled in webs of mystery--you don't want to miss this series!

The Christmas Fairy: A Libby Madsen Mysteries Holiday Novella

Price: $2.99 USD.

Shadows in the Forest

Price: $2.99 USD.

Spa Shadows

Price: $4.99 USD.

Shadowed Treasures

Price: $4.99 USD.

Shadow Retreats

Price: $4.99 USD.

Spooky Shadows

Price: $4.99 USD.

Corgi Case Files by Jeffrey Poole

Soon after Zach Anderson sadly finds himself a widower, he decides to move from Phoenix to the cozy small town of Pomme Valley, OR. He has barely settled into his new surroundings when he finds himself the proud daddy of two corgis, Sherlock and Watson--and accused of murder. Join the wildly popular corgi duo as they become the most successful crime-solving team the police department has ever seen. You’ll find yourself laughing, crying, and always amazed—how do these corgis do it?

Case of the Secret Staircase: A Corgi Case Files Cozy Mystery Short Story

Price: $1.99 USD.

Case of the One-Eyed Tiger

Price: $0.99 USD.

Case of the Fleet-Footed Mummy

Price: $4.99 USD.

Case of the Holiday Hijinks

Price: $4.99 USD.

Case of the Pilfered Pooches

Price: $4.99 USD.

Case of the Muffin Murders

Price: $4.99 USD.

Samantha Sweet Magical Cozy Mystery Series by Connie Shelton

There's a little romance, a little magic and a lot of mystery in this cozy series from USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton

The Woodcarver's Secret: Prequel to the Bestselling Samantha Sweet Mystery Series

Price: $5.99 USD.

Sweet Masterpiece - The First Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery

Price: $0.99 USD.

Sweet's Sweets: A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Sweet Holidays: A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Sweet Hearts: A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Bitter Sweet: A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery

Price: $4.99 USD.

Bakkian Chronicles by Jeffrey Poole

Follow Steve and Sarah Miller on an epic journey to the land of Lentari in this fantasy trilogy. After learning they’ve inherited property from reclusive grandparents he hardly knew, Steve and Sarah Miller decide to take a few days off to investigate their newfound fortune in the quiet Idaho resort town of Coeur d’Alene. The inheritance turns out to be beyond their wildest dreams, a vast mansion with lovely gardens. While exploring, they discover a unique set of carved doors on the top floor of their new home. Disguised as a simple door, a portal is accidentally activated and Steve and Sarah find themselves staring at the amazing sight of a lush forest beyond. It’s a tantalizing decision: to check it out or to run. Curiosity getting the better of them, they step through, the portal disappears, and they are on a one-way journey to a land where people have strange powers and where mythical creatures abound.

The Prophecy

Price: $5.99 USD.

Insurrection

Price: $5.99 USD.

Amulet of Aria

Price: $5.99 USD.

Dan Mahoney Mysteries by Susan Slater

Insurance investigator Dan Mahoney travels wherever United Life & Casualty sends him to investigate suspicious claims. But when the mystery goes beyond a missing item or unbelievable tale, Dan finds himself involved in murder.

Flash Flood

Price: $0.99 USD.

Rollover: Dan Mahoney Mysteries, Book 2

Price: $4.99 USD.

Hair Of The Dog: Dan Mahoney Mysteries, Book 3

Price: $4.99 USD.

Epiphany: Dan Mahoney Mysteries, Book 4

Price: $4.99 USD.

Widow's Walk

Price: $4.99 USD.

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