Some readers have asked me if there will be more books in my Top Shelf cozy mystery series, and the answer is "yes." I'm about three-fourths of the way through Double Shot, the fourth in the series, and I expect to publish it in November. It will be on pre-order before then, so keep a watch.

I absolutely love writing the Top Shelf series because I love my main character, Ricki Fontaine. When I started this series, I did it as an experiment to see if I could write something that was both funny and a good mystery. Some of the things that come out of Ricki's mouth surprise me, and I'm embarrassed to say that sometimes when I'm rereading one of the Top Shelf books, I laugh out loud at something she does or says. But then I've often said that when I write, it's as if I'm channeling the characters rather than creating them. I suspect other writers know exactly what I mean.

Anyway, those of you who have already enjoyed the Top Shelf mysteries, keep an eye out. It won't be long. And for those of you who haven't tried it yet, I hope you will. Psssttt...Name Your Poison, the third in the series, will be free for a couple of days in November. I don't have the exact days yet, but I'll post here when I do. FYI, although the books are part of a series and the characters' personal stories do evolve, the books can be read as standalones.