Susan M. Boyer's Blog

I’m looking out my window at the purple flowers on the redbud tree and daydreaming just a little. It’s nearly Easter—my favorite time of year—and I have some Easter photos I want to share with y’all.

This first one is so precious to me—just about the whole crew together, and every time I look at it, I smile. This was some years ago now, back when the grandchildren and my nieces were small and Mamma and Daddy were still strong and healthy. Mamma and Daddy put on a big Easter to-do every year. It’s my mother’s table—her food, her abundance, her gift for loving people by feeding them, whether it was a Thursday supper or Easter dinner—that inspires every spread Carolyn Talbot puts together.

And I love this one—Sugar with the grandkids and nieces. That man. I could look at this photo all day long.

And this last one is very dear to my heart—Daddy, me, and my sweet granddaughter Morgan. This is my daddy just as I want to remember him—happy. As I write this, Morgan is in Washington, D.C., serving with the National Guard—and we couldn’t be more proud.

Sharing these with y’all felt right today, because Easter has me thinking about one of my very favorite scenes in TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE—which releases in just a few days!! I am SO excited to share this book with y’all!!

There’s an Easter dinner scene at the Talbot family home that may be one of my all-time favorites that I’ve ever written. Carolyn Talbot does not do anything by half, and her Easter table is something special. What happens before the coconut cake arrives at the table? Well—that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourselves. I hope it brings y’all as much joy as it brought me to write it.

I’ll be honest with y’all…I’m the teentsiest bit nervous about this release. The last few years have been really hard for my family, and 2025 was a year when I simply didn’t have a book to give you. The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club came out in September 2024, and then everything caught up with me. I’m so eager to get back on the horse—but there’s been this nagging voice in the back of my mind wondering if I may have missed my moment.

And then something wonderful happened that shushed that voice for a few minutes, anyway. The lovely folks at Kirkus reviewed TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, and y’all—this sent me dancing around the house grinning like an idiot.

“A well-executed murder mystery featuring smart women, strong friendships, and ghosts.” —Kirkus Reviews

I’ve also been so humbled and thankful for all the early reader reviews on Goodreads, NetGalley, and beyond. Y’all have not let me down—and I am truly grateful for every single review. It’s impossible to overstate how important these are. 

If you haven’t already grabbed your copy, there’s still time to preorder! Signed, personalized copies are available exclusively in my online store—just enter your personalization details at checkout and I’ll sign it exactly as you request. It makes such a thoughtful gift for the reader in your life, or a special treat for yourself. Print, audio, and ebook versions are also available for preorder at all the usual online retailers. All the links are available by clicking here.

If you’re anywhere near Greenville the week before launch day, I would love to see your face at one of my pre-launch events!

Lunch & Lit with M. Judson Booksellers — Thursday, April 2 at Noon

Do you enjoy a bookish luncheon? Join me for Lunch & Lit hosted by M. Judson Booksellers at the gorgeous Soby’s New South Cuisine in downtown Greenville! Tickets include a scrumptious three-course meal and a signed copy of the book. Seating is limited, so grab your tickets soon! I’d so love to see you there!!

Pre-Launch Party at As the Page Turns — Tuesday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m.

Tied up at lunchtime but free in the evenings? Come sip a festive beverage, nibble appetizers, and chat with fellow book lovers at As the Page Turns in Travelers Rest! This event is free — just grab your free ticket so we’ll know to expect you.

I also have a few other South Carolina events on the calendar this spring (and I’m still trying to work in one or two more) before I have to pivot back to my desk. I’m on deadline for the next release, and it requires me to spend some quality time in Stella Maris! Click here for the current list.

The post A Little Easter and A Lot of Trouble appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

The countdown is on—TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE releases April 7th, and I cannot wait for you to get your hands on it! If you haven’t preordered yet, now is the perfect time. Early orders make a real difference and I am so grateful for every single one.

The advance reviews have been pouring in, and I have to say—it is pure joy to see how much readers are already loving the return of Hadley and Cash. Here’s a small sample of what people are saying—oh my stars, y’all, this review sent me dancing around the room!

“This book could be Susan Boyer’s best book ever!! I did not want it to end!! There’s tears, laughter, SUSPENSE, family relationships, private investigations, ghosts, chickens, cats (yes, cats), all wrapped up into one bundle of fun!!” – Jamie, Goodreads reviewer

I would also love to see you at the upcoming pre-launch celebration! Here are the details:

Tuesday, March 31 at 5:00 p.m.
As The Page Turns Books
3 Plaza Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
(864) 834-8100

It’s a free, drop-in party, but please reserve a ticket so we know how many goodies to prepare. Click HERE to reserve your spot. Come whenever you can, stay as long as you like, get your signed copy of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, and enjoy some festive beverages and appetizers. I would truly love to see you there!

I’ll also be joining M. Judson Booksellers on Friday, April 2, for a pre-launch Lunch & Lit at Soby’s in Greenville. I’ve used Soby’s as a setting in at least two previous books, and it’s one of my very favorite Greenville restaurants. I hope you’ll be able to join us! Please click HERE to grab your ticket.

Florence area friends! I’m coming to see you on April 16 for a luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Florence County Library. This is a ticketed event and tickets are selling quickly — please click HERE to grab yours today!

I’m also thrilled to be returning as a guest author at The Moveable Feast at Pawleys Island on April 8. This event will be at the Hot Fish Club, which is another of my personal favorites! Grab your ticket HERE.

I do want to apologize in advance to friends I’ve promised a visit — I won’t be venturing far from home with this release. My next book is due out October 27, 2026, and I have to pivot quickly back to writing after launch. I hope to do a bigger tour with the next one!

I cannot wait to see you all soon! Until next month…

The post A Little Trouble Is Headed Your Way in 46 days! appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

Here at Stella Maris Books, LLC, we are gearing up for the April 7th launch of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE! Y’all I am SO thrilled to finally get this book into your hands! Have you preordered your copy yet? 

If you’re anywhere near Traveler’s Rest / Greenville, South Carolina, please join us for the pre-launch celebration on March 31 at As The Page Turns (3 Plaza Drive, Travelers Rest). This is a free, drop in-party, but we ask that you reserve a ticket so we can get a headcount. I certainly don’t want to run out of food, festive beverages, or books at this special event! Click HERE to reserve your tickets. 

It begins at 5 p.m., but we’ll be happy to see you whenever you get there! Stop by and say “Hi,” and get your signed copy of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. Hang out with us for a while if you can–there will be festive beverages and appetizers to snack on!

Later that same week, on Friday, April 2, I’ll be joining M. Judson Books for a pre-launch Lunch & Lit–more details on that coming soon!

Florence area friends! I’m coming to see you! I’ll be there April 16 for a luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Florence County Library. This is a ticketed event and tickets are selling quickly! Please grab yours today–I’d love to see you! 

I’m also thrilled to announce I’ll be a guest author at The Moveable Feast at Pawleys Island again on April 8. Location is still TBD, but keep an eye out HERE for more information and to purchase tickets!

I’ll be doing a few other launch events, and there’s a list below. We’ll probably add a couple more in South Carolina, but I won’t be venturing far from home with this release. Apologies to everyone who I’ve said the words “I hope to get there with the next release” to! I would love to do a big tour and visit as many states as possible, but I have to pivot really quickly back to writing as my next book is due out October 27, 2026, and I have a fast approaching deadline.

Happiest of New Years!

The post Trouble’s Coming in 75 Days! appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

I hope you’re enjoying a warm and joyous holiday season! One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is the parties–I love getting together with family and friends to celebrate the season. Every year, I promise myself I’ll find a way to do more of that throughout the year.

Did you see we released the 2026 Lowcountry Book Club Reading List? I so hope you find a new favorite this year! If you’re not yet part of The Lowcountry Book Club, you can click HERE and it will take you directly to the group.

Speaking of the Lowcountry Book Club, Susan Zurenda and I recently chatted about Lowcountry Bordello. The video was posted Monday, December 29 and is now available to watch in the Facebook group and on YouTube. Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years!

Until next month… 

The post On New Reading Lists and Christmas Parties appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

I love Thanksgiving! It’s actually one of my favorite holidays…family, food, and fun, and the weather in South Carolina is usually pretty enough we can wander in and out watching the parade and watching the turkeys Sugar is mysteriously cooking on our large outdoor cooking apparatus. Some years he smokes them, some years he air fries them, and some years he does one of each, or tries something new. Anyway, we have so much to be thankful for. As we reflect on another Thanksgiving, I hope you know how truly grateful I am for you–for all my friends who have been so supportive over the last few years of upheaval in my life!

Last weekend, I took part in the GFWC Cape Fear Women’s Club third annual Sip & Sign hosted by Cape Fear Winery, which was SO much fun! I got to spend time with readers and also a fabulous group of fellow authors–Jennifer Moorman, Grace Helena Walz, and Ashley Winstead. 

If you haven’t picked up your copy of the second edition of Lowcountry Bordello yet, it’s a great holiday read, and it makes a great gift too! Signed copies are available through my online store.

Charleston area friends! I’m thrilled to join Mary Alice Monroe, Angela May, Signe Pike, and Kristen Ness for a book signing at the Mount Pleasant Barnes & Noble on Saturday, December 6. This is a stellar lineup and I’m honored to be a part of it! We’d love to have you stop by and see us! We’ll be there from 1-3 pm EST.

As for the recipe this month, a few members of  the Lowcountry Book Club group on Facebook noticed that Liz Talbot’s mamma, Carolyn, often makes butter peas and asked for the recipe. This was one of my mother’s favorites, and mine as well. So this month, I’ll share the recipe I’ve developed over the years. I hope you enjoy it! 

Until next month… 

The post On Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays… appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

I’m just back from the coast, where I was scheduled to be at The Little River Shrimp Festival. Unfortunately, that was canceled due to rainy, windy weather, but Sugar and I had a few other things scheduled in the area–and I ended up doing a rainy day pop-up signing at Barnes & Noble, which was a lot of fun. Perhaps because it was a last minute thing, I was in laid back mode and didn’t take a single picture! I did manage to get a few pictures sitting on the beach after the storm cleared, though. One evening we took a picnic out and ate dinner in our beach chairs. October may be my favorite month at the beach even if it does rain.

In other news, I’m hard at work on next year’s fall release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal in the coming months. I think I mentioned this book will feature Liz Talbot, right? I know I told y’all she shows up in Hadley’s next book, TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, out April 7, 2026.

While I’m enjoying fall, I can’t help but feel Thanksgiving fast approaching and of course Christmas won’t be far behind. The second edition of my first book set at Christmas, Lowcountry Bordello releases November 4 with a beautiful new cover. (It would make a great Christmas gift for all your reader friends! Get signed copies of most of my books directly from my store!)   

While you’re shopping, preorder your copy of  TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE  as a little Christmas gift to yourself–my lips are sealed.

This month in the Lowcountry Book Club, the Two Southern Susans chatted with Joy Callaway about her June release, Sing Me Home to Carolina. If you’re a group member, I hope you’ll watch the interview at your convenience. If you aren’t a member and would like to join, we’d love to have you! If you don’t use Facebook, all of my book of the month discussions are available on YouTube! Speaking of the Lowcountry Book Club, my team has been discussing the possibility of adding a podcast in addition to the Book of the Month videos posted in the group and to YouTube. Stay tuned for more on that.

I know iced tea can sometimes feel like a summer recipe, but at our house, we drink it every day. Even as the days grow colder, I keep a Tervis tumbler full of iced tea close at hand. Who knows, it may give me a creative boost. This month, I hope you’ll enjoy my Mamma’s Iced Tea recipe, which is the newest addition to my recipe archive. It’s the one I use to make a gallon every other day.

Until next month… 

The post On Sweet Tea, Podcasts, and Fall appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

Last week, Sugar and I were in St. Pete Beach, Florida, for the annual NINC (Novelists, Inc.) conference. As the weather turns crisp at night in South Carolina, I was thankful to enjoy the warmth of Florida for a few days. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the cooler weather as well, but there’s something about the sun on my face, a refreshing dip in the pool, and a warm ocean breeze that does my heart good. And it’s so wonderful to reconnect with friends and colleagues I don’t see very often as we meet to discuss the business of writing and publishing.

I’m looking forward to what fall holds, as moving into a new season on the calendar also means I’m starting a new project–one I hope you’ll be as excited about as I am. I’ve turned in the edits for my April release, TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, and I’m ready to dive into my fall release for 2026. I don’t have a cover to share yet, but look for one around January – February. Speaking of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE, preorders are now live!

Before I go and get too sentimental about changing seasons, there is much to celebrate this month. The second edition of Lowcountry Bordello is coming out on November 4, and I’m excited to share the new cover. There are a lot of fun elements we were able to include, but I think the starfish under the tree are my favorite.

Now, for a moment, please walk with me down memory lane. Who remembers this cover? This is the very first cover for Lowcountry Boil! (We’ve come a long way since then.) The first edition was released on September 18, 2012. So much has happened since then!

When it was released, I couldn’t imagine all the fabulous friends I’d make along the way or all of the incredible readers I’d meet. My readers are the reason I write, and I hope you’ve enjoyed being along for the journey! 

And now for this month’s recipe…

Mamma’s Baked Country Ham will be served on Carolyn Talbot’s table in the upcoming TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. Yes, this is a Carolina Tales series book, starring Hadley Cooper. But, Liz and her whole family will appear as well, and Mamma will put on an out-of-this-world Easter feast featuring this savory baked country ham alongside her legendary sides—think fluffy biscuits, deviled eggs, and all the trimmings that make a Southern holiday table unforgettable.

Until next month… 

The post On Fall, Preorders, and Celebrations appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

Thank you so much for your grace and understanding regarding the delay of TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. I deeply appreciate all the kind messages y’all have sent, and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted. 

Exciting news! There’s a new bundle in the store for you to enjoy. It’s the Carolina Tales Series, available in print or eBook. We do not have an audio version of Beginnings – The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club, so no audio bundle, I’m afraid. This is perfect Christmas gift for your friends who want to be caught up before TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE comes out!

Are we friends on Facebook? Have you seen the “Meet the Sullivan’s Island Supper Club” post? I know some of you saw it last month on Instagram, but not everyone is on Instagram, and I love these profiles so much! My team worked really hard on these and I’m excited to share them with more readers! 

Do y’all ever change the way you make things over time? I surely do, and when I made Mamma’s Picnic Potato Salad over the weekend, I remembered that I hadn’t updated the written recipe in a while. I love this potato salad so much it’s dangerous to have it in the refrigerator! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. You can view the newly updated recipe just by clicking here!

Until next month… 

The post On New Character Profiles and Recipe Updates appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

I hope you’re doing well! We’re deep into a Carolina summer here, and beginning to enjoy fresh vegetables from the garden. You may recall that gardening is not my gift at all, but thankfully, Brandon enjoys it. I’m looking forward to the homegrown tomatoes he’ll be ready to pick any day now. June Pinks are my favorite, and have been since childhood. My grandmother used to grow them, and I special ordered some seeds. In my view, there’s nothing better than a tomato sandwich made with a ripe, juicy June Pink.

I’m sure you’ll understand when I tell you the thing I’m most grateful for is that Brandon is feeling good and enjoying time in the garden. 

Thankfully, things are finally beginning to settle down in my world. I know you know how crazy things have been for our family over the last five years, and I have to say how much all the kind words that have come my way have meant to me. I deeply appreciate the encouragement and especially all the prayers.

Because I have the absolute best readers–and I count every one of you as a friend–I never want to give you anything less than a book that’s been professionally prepared all the way through every phase of editing, proofreading, formatting, et cetera. I want to release the audio version on the same day as all the other formats. I don’t ever want to rush a book through any part of the process. I also don’t want to release another “beach book” in late summer or early fall. 

I’m afraid I’ve been tempted to rush things so I could get this book out in July. But what I really need is a complete schedule reset, which brings me to a difficult announcement regarding TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE. I’ve decided to postpone its release until April 7, 2026. This allows me the breathing room to get myself back on schedule and not take shortcuts. This is the right thing for me, and it’s the right thing for this book. I so hope you won’t lose patience with my repeated delays–I really do apologize. I promise this is the last one, and this time, I’m giving myself the time I need instead of band-aiding the whole process.

This will set us up to release the next book in early November 2026, and in 2027, we’ll keep the same pattern and give readers a consistent release schedule: early April and late October / early November. Thank you so much for your patience with me. I so hope you’ll enjoy TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE when it finally arrives in the spring. 

Do you have a friend who enjoys ebooks, but has never read the Liz Talbot mysteries? Here’s a great way to introduce them!  The Liz Talbot Mystery Series: Volume One is now available exclusively in my bookstore. This bundle is offered at a discount and includes the first three Liz Talbot Mysteries, plus Postcards From Stella Maris AND a bonus–the first book in the Carolina Tales series, Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island!

Audio and print bundles coming soon!

If you or your friend has read the first two Liz Talbot Mysteries, the second edition of Lowcountry Boneyard is now available. The second edition of Lowcountry Bordello is still set to release in early November.

Lowcountry Book Club members…Thursday, July 31, Susan Zurenda and I will chat with Kaira Rouda about the July Book of the Month, her brand new release, Jill is Not Happy. We are beyond excited to chat with Kaira about her newest book and hope you are able to join us. 

Fellow foodies, it’s too hot to cook where I am, but I hope you’ll enjoy Hadley’s favorite smoothie. She (and I–and Brandon too) love this smoothie and it’s so good for your brain, we call it a “Brain Smoothie.” I actually developed this years ago, after Dad was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and have tweaked it over the years. If y’all make one, I hope you enjoy sipping it on the porch, or by the pool, or at the lake or the beach or wherever you love to read and sip.

The post On Tomatoes and Tough Decisions appeared first on Seaside Southern Mysteries.

Just a quick hello from the writing sanctuary, otherwise known as my office, or the Worldwide Headquarters of Stella Maris Books! I’m hard at work getting  TROUBLE’S TURN TO LOSE ready to go out into the world. Because of everything that’s happened in my world over the past year, and because I did have to postpone the release of this book, I won’t announce a release date until everything is fully buttoned up. But I will say…for sure…it’s coming soon! (It will be released this summer, I promise! Please stay tuned.) 

If you missed last month’s announcement, there is a brand new Liz Talbot Mysteries bundle available in my bookstore for ebook and audiobook readers who might be new to the Liz Talbot Mysteries Series! You can now read Lowcountry Boil, Lowcountry Bombshell, Lowcountry Boneyard, Postcards from Stella Maris, and as a bonus, Big Trouble on Sullivan’s Island, all in The Liz Talbot Mystery Series: Volume One. I’m also working on a print version of this bundle, which will be available soon. If you need a print version for your next beach trip, don’t forget the second edition of Lowcountry Boneyard is available. Look for the second edition of Lowcountry Bordello in early November.

This month in The Lowcountry Book Club,  Susan Zurenda and I chatted with Kristy Woodson Harvey about the June Book of the Month, her brand new release, Beach House Rules. We were beyond excited to chat with Kristy about her newest book and hope you joined us or tuned in on Facebook or YouTube at the best time for you. 

Finally, fellow foodies, I am so sorry to not have a recipe for you this month! I am so focused on the new book, I haven’t had a chance to select one and kitchen test it. Y’all are thinking about vacation right now anyway, right? I promise there will be a recipe next month!

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