Love your books

I've just ordered decaffeinated corpse and I'm looking forward to reading it soon.. Thanks, Joanna

Cleo here. Thanks, Joanna, for keeping me and my husband in coffee beans! (As you can imagine, we purchase A LOT.) I hope you'll drop back to tell me how you liked the book. Good reading!

--Cleo Coyle

Love it

Just finished the newest book and loved it like I knew I would. Ok am I missing something..........what "ghost" books?? Barbara

Cleo here. Hi Barbara! Thanks for your kind words about Decaffeinated Corpse - and thanks in the x-treme for supporting the series. Here's the explanation on the ghost books...

(With apologies to frequent site visitors who've read about this already)...

I also write under the pen name "Alice Kimberly" and  the Alice Kimberly series (the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series) centers around a small, independent bookshop in Rhode Island. A young widow who owns the shop solves murders with the help of the ghost who haunts her store. This ghost is the spirit of a private detective who was gunned down in 1949 in the building that the bookstore occupies. The gumshoe "Jack Shepard" is hard-boiled in the tradition of Chandler and Hammett while the young widow is much more prim, a more typical cozy heroine. One reviewer described it as Philip Marlowe meets a young Miss Marple, another reviewer described it as Mike Hammer (a hard-boiled detective written by the great Mickey Spillane) meets Jessic Fletcher (of Murder She Wrote). To read more, CLICK HERE and the link will take you to Amazon's page for the first book in the series, The Ghost and Mrs. McClure. There is lots of description via reviews and you'll get a sense of whether it's something you'll enjoy or not. There are three books so far in my "Haunted Bookshop" series: The Ghost and the Dead Deb (#2); The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library (#3); and a fourth coming next year, The Ghost and the Femme Fatale (#4).

Cheers!

And thanks again for reading and for posting. I hope you'll come back again to visit my virtual Village Blend!

--Cleo Coyle

Coffee is the essence of life...for me at least

A few years ago, I had a stomach condition and was unable to eat ANYTHING! Yes, I drank friut & veggie juices but one can really only do so much with a glass of juice or smoothie. It was the jolt from my cup of coffee, espresso or latte that got me through those dark, dragging days. It was the one thing that I could look forward to and truly enjoy when I was deprived of food. For me, coffee truly was (and continues to be) LIFE!

Cleo here. Holy crow, you and Clare would certainly get along like peas in a pod. LOL! I shudder to think about what you went through with your stomach condition (I hope you're feeling better these days).

Here's a very special VIRTUAL LATTE ART POURING JUST FOR YOU! 

(Click on the pic and it will take you to more examples of great Latte Art at CoffeeGeek.com)

As far as what you're saying, I completely understand. And I think a lot of the CM readers do, too. I myself work very hard. Many weeks go by without two days off together. So I really look forward to my "reward" of a good meal, or a nice piece of cake, a muffin, or a really good pot of coffee. So many of us feel that way. We're stretched so far with work and/or kids and/or obligations that's it hard for us to take time for ourselves. That moment of having a cup of coffee, pot of tea, something that's a treat...it becomes a bit of a life vest in a sea of trouble (if you'll excuse the sappy metaphor)! Hard to describe it otherwise. To people who don't get it, what can I say? Go golf a few holes, take a drive in your Beemer, and enjoy your $55 lamb chop and $75 bottle of wine at the best restaurant in town. For the rest of us, I'm all for the little moment of luxury we CAN afford. A freshly made cup at our local coffeehouse (whether it's an independent, local chain, or Starbucks). I'm not a snob about Starbucks, by the way. I like them, too. And Dunkin' Donuts and even McDonald's gets my business too. If the local management is vigilant about giving you a fresh, delish experience, more power to them.

--Cleo Coyle

Hi Cleo, Here's a weird one for you!!

Hi Cleo Here's a strange problem for you. Have you ever heard of coffee making people sleepy? LOL no kidding! I drink a cup of coffee and it relaxes me to the point where I'm almost asleep. In the Quinn verse Matt debate, I prefer Quinn. Hmmmm wonder if that was a freudian slip I accidently typed Matt first when I was meaning Quinn lol. I probably prefer him because I've been with a Matt before and plus he's a manly man. My ex Fiance turned gay on me a few weeks ago!!!!! How does one deal with that? I also have a coffee question. What is a good coffee brand to start with as I don't have much money I can't afford Gourmet but I sure don't want store brand either lol. The only brand I think I've ever tasted is Folgers. I always liked that Jingle how did it go "The best part of wakin up is folgers in my cup" I think Randy Travis sang it.

OOPS! Hi Cleo I sent the wierd one message and as soon as I clicked Save realized I forgot to sign. "Chelle" Rochelle from Canada's Coffee Coast

Cleo here. Hi Chelle from Canada! Thanks for posting again. LOVED your message (weird or not). Okay, forgive me but my eyes popped on your "my ex-fiance turned gay on me a few weeks ago"! ACK! I'm glad he's an "ex"! I have an acquaintance whose new bride turned gay on him within the first two years of their marriage. So count yourself lucky that you didn't tie the knot. This is EXACTLY the point I touch on in the second Coffeehouse Mystery, by the way (Through the Grinder). Clare sings up for an evening of Speed Dating. She doesn't actually do this to to meet anyone. She secretly wants to SCREEN the guys who are at the event because her grown daughter Joy has signed up for the same event, and she's worried about the kind of guys Joy is going to be meeting at one of these things. Anyway, one of the guys announces that he's a bi-sexual. His last companion was a man but now he's looking to date a woman. Clare basically tells him to "pick a team" because when you don't make that decision, you end up hurting people down the line. If you're gay, you're gay. If you're straight, you're straight. If you don't know (???!!), then for goodness sake figure it out, certainly BEFORE you marry someone!

To the Matt versus Quinn question, I liked what you said. Interesting! Certainly both men have things to recommend them to Clare, and I can see how each is attractive in his own way. All things considered, it's a nice dilemma to have, choosing between those guys!

As far as the store coffee, you should definitely let your taste buds do the choosing for you. Try different roasts. Some of the store brands are trying to lift their quality. Some offer darker roasts, some lighter. I'd say don't be afraid to try different brands. I don't drink much alcohol or smoke, so I splurge with whole beans from coffeehouses and online vendors. I haven't had store coffee in a long time. My mother used to buy all kinds, so I grew up on Maxwell House, Folger, and Chock Full of Nuts. I also have an elderly aunt who drinks Sanka (and that's been her brand for the last 40 years!)

The sleepy issues is understandable. One cup of coffee to a person used to ingesting caffeine is not going to jolt you much. Coffee is warm, too, like cocoa, and we often put cream in there, so I can see where it would be a good way to relax and yes even make you sleepy! I myself still get a JOLT from it. So I don't drink it very late in the day. One or two cups after dinner and that's usually it for me (unless I find myself deciding to write very late into the night, then all bets are off and a new pot gets brewed to aid in keepig me awake).

Nice to hear from you Chelle! Drop by the virtual Village Blend and post again anytime.

Cheers!

--Cleo Coyle

sign me up

one of my best memories of my grandparents when i was small my pop carrying in a fresh brewed cup of coffee to my nani while she told us stories then we got to have a cup with plenty of milk!love your stories please more info on your ghost story series. where do i sign up for e-mail linda lonetto@comcast .net thanks oh still hoping you will reunite clare with matt ttt ewed cup of coffee(not instant)to my nani

Cleo here. Hi Linda! I LOVE your coffee memory. Thank you so much for sharing that! Thanks also for weighing in on the Matt versus Quinn debate (for other site visitors, we're discussing reader preferences on who Clare should end up with! Even though the truth is, Clare's the one who is going to tell me who she wants to end up with. In a series like this one, believe me, characters start taking on a life of their own and tell the writer what to do next. It's a bit cosmic, but other writers will know what I'm talking about. The characters kind of take over! The best thing you can do as a writer is get the heck out of their way.

GHOST: I answered the question about the  "ghost" series in some other posts...so if you want more info, just keep reading the messages. The first book in my other series is called "The Ghost and Mrs. McClure" and it's written under "Alice Kimberly" my other pen name. The name of the entire mystery series is called "The Haunted Bookshop" mysteries, and there are three books released thus far with a 4th coming next years.

As far as the newsletter, all you have to do to sign up for the newsletter is send a regular old e-mail to VillageBlend@aol.com  Just say Sign me Up, and you'll be all set. Thanks for taking the time to post, Linda. I hope you'll come back again to the virtual Village Blend!

-Cleo Coyle

Love the books but not caffeine

Just finished THE DECAFFEINATED CORPSE and really enjoyed it -- as I did all the others in the series. Also enjoy the "ghost" books. Unfortunately, I have a problem with insommnia. But if Ric's Estate Decaf was real, I'd be first in line for it. Husband JJ and I passed by Greenwich Village last night and thought of the Village Blend. Marcia

Cleo here. Hi Marcia! Thanks for posting! I wish Ric's Estate Decaf was real, too. But here's the good news for you and so many like you who have problems with caffeine. There are real coffee industry people out there like Ric who are actually trying to create an organically decaffeinated coffee plant. I'll be posting the news here if and when someone makes the breakthrough and is able to bring those beans to market! Stay tuned! (And hi to husband JJ!!)

Thanks for dropping by and come on back anytime to post at the virtual Village Blend.

--Cleo Coyle

A Special Blend. . .

There really is nothing better than curling up with a fresh, hot cup of coffee and the latest Coffeehouse Mystery. Your books are a unique combination of mystery, a heroine I can relate to, and delicious sounding coffee drinks and bean blends!! Keep up your "special blend" of storytelling! Barbara from California

Cleo here. Hi Barbara from sunny California! What a wonderful post! Thank you sincerely for reading and supporting the series. It's fans like you who make it possible for me to keep writing. I'm thrilled that you enjoy spending time with Clare, Matt, Madame and the rest of the Village Blend crew. Thanks for posting. Come on back anytime to my virtual coffeehouse! (If you keep reading, I'll keep writing!)

--Cleo Coyle

Completely hooked!

One Christmas, my kids gave me a coffee grinder and my niece gave me On What Grounds. I've been hooked on the Village Blend Mysteries and fresh ground coffee ever since. This summer I discovered the haunted mysteries. (I also discovered the Stephanie Plum books and got a real kick out of Penelope selling a full set for beach reading 'cause that's why I bought them too.) When I'm not writing, I read, and lately I can't get enough of your books. Keep 'em coming! Alison

Cleo here. Hi Alison! Thank you so much for sharing that Christmas story. I love my coffee grinder, too. Okay, I know that sounds weird to some people, but I still remember the first time I figured out that I could grind my own whole beans and then tasted how fantastic and fresh the coffee was just doing that one thing. So, I hear you, girl!

I laughed out loud when you mentioned the Stephanie Plum reference in the Alice Kimberly ghost books. I LOVE Janet Evanovich. She is a fantastic writer and an amazing role model. There's nobody like Stephanie! It's a lot of fun to reference books and writers in the Haunted Bookshop mystery series--since it's a bookshop, I get to have fun with that. And Jack, too. He's A LOT of fun, I can tell you! Thanks again for posting, Alison. I'll keep 'em coming as long as you keep reading 'em!! Come on back to the Blend again, y'hear?!

--Cleo Coyle

Love both series

Thanks to the people at Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA, I have enjoyed both series. I live in Lakeland, FL and get their newsletters and visit each summer. Your stories are great fun! In defense of decaf drinkers (who would love to drink the "real thing"), some diseases make caffeine a nightmare for us. Keep those great stories coming! Nancy

Cleo here. Hi, Nancy in super sunny Lakeland, Florida! It's great that you have such loyalty to a bookshop. Sending virtual pots of fresh brewed decaffeinated java to you and to the folks at the Mystery Lover's Bookshop in Oakmont, PA (my home state!) for turning you onto the Coffeehouse Mystery series as well as the Alice Kimberly Haunted Bookshop series. You know, I wrote Decaffeinated Corpse just for you--and your fellow decaf drinkers. Some day Ric's beans really will be a reality. People in the coffee industry are working hard to create a viable decaffeinated coffee plant. And when they finally do it, I'll be sure to trumpet the news on this site, so stay tuned. Thjanks again for your support of the series. It means the world to me. Drop back anytime to visit the virtual Village Blend!

--Cleo Coyle

i love these books and i love java

i have all of the books in your series and throughly enjoy the characters, the mix of mystery, reading and driking my coffee, my girlfriends all thrilled that i have become addicted to these wonderful stories. my dear mother bettina azzarello, raised in brooklyn, married and raised our family in california was so unique and so NY, i used to have cafe'au lait and eat wonderful italian cookies from local deli's or when her friend back east would send her a little pretty pink box of the real deal italian biscotte. i miss her very much and love the fact she introduced me into yummy coffee, expresso, and the finer yet simple pleasures in life, write on, we will read,thanks for the great books, valerie ferrari-haag

Cleo here. Hi, Valerie! By now, you kow that I enjoyed your post so much that I spotlighted it in my feature Blend article "Remembrance of Foods Past." If you didn't get a chance to read it, then just take a look at the article archives (click on the titles on the bottom of the Home Page). Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful memory! And thank you especially for supporting my Coffeehouse Mystery series. It's readers like you who make it possible for me to keep writing! My very best to you and yours...and I hope you'll back again to visit my virtual coffeehouse!

--Cleo Coyle

Who Is Mason Casey

Hi Cleo Good Luck with the new book. I need your advice on a strange happening in the East Village. Do you remember me writing to you about that guy I met in Tompkins Square Park? Well the strangest thing happened. The other morning Edgrr, (my trusty beagle) and I went out for a quick cappucino and a croissant at Le Gamin. Kerry was at "Comic Con", so I had nowhere that I had to be and could enjoy a leisurly East Village breakfast. Anyway, I was reading the personals in the Village Voice,(always very entertaining) and noticed an ad. "Mason Casey last seen in NYC"S East Village Tompkins Park Area". If you had seen him or have any info about his whereabouts, Please respond VV765. Cleo, that was the guy from Seattle that I met in the park. I knew there was something a bit strange about him .Should I respond? JCM

Cleo here. Hi JCM. I think you have a real mystery on your hands! If I were you, I'd respond to the Village Voice inquiry. But then I'm a writer, always looking for a good story! My bet is it's a jilted lover, looking for the guy that got away. Why do I say that? Because if it were foul play, you'd have read about it in the New York Daily News crime file! I hope Kerry enjoyed himself at Comic Con. That thing appears to get bigger and wilder every year! Thanks for stopping by again, JCM! You are most welcome to post anytime at the virtual Village Blend!

--Cleo Coyle

Call Me Madame!

Used to be I imagined myself as the young heroine in a novel...now @ age 66 I aspire to be Madame. Thanks for the new roll model!

Cleo here. God love you, girlfriend! You know, yours is the very best post I've read on this message board since it started. Bless your heart! I'm Clare's age, but I think you can tell that I aspire to be Madame, too. I think we all should!

Thanks very much for posting and for reading the series and admiring my beloved Madame. I hope she never disappoints you.

Come on back now and post again, y'hear?!

--Cleo Coyle

Hi Cleo

I love your books. I have read them all. My friends enjoy them also. I was wondering if you could post the recipies in your books on this web site. My friends keep borowing your coffee house mystery books from me, so I never have access to them. Thanks a lot. Keep writing. Wanda

Cleo here. Hi Wanda! I'm thrilled you enjoy my books and the recipes too. I'll be posting some of the published recipes as well as new ones on this site from time to time. Stay tuned! And tell your friends to check out the Web site. Who knows, maybe they'll even buy copies of their own. (It's a little known fact that when too many readers lend a writer's book, the writer's dip in royalties leaves her electric bills unpaid, and her laptop finally goes black.) *Grin* All kidding aside, Wanda, I'm really thrilled you like the books and recipes that much. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to post. Come on back anytime (and stay tuned, new recipes will be posted over the coming months).

--Cleo Coyle

Cleo Coyle/Alice Kimberly--I've read them all so far!

Hello, Cleo/Alice! Since I am a bookstore haunter and a lover of a cup of good coffee at B&N, your books were a natural attraction for me. There is nothing better than to sip just plain coffee with a bit of half-and-half and begin to read my newest volume at my favorite bookstore. I don't know which series I like better. Your characters are so likable, even lovable. I like Clare, but my real favorite is Jack, the ghost, in your haunted bookstore series. I started reading your coffee house series and then, through the Internet, found out about Alice and the real folks behind the books. Anyway, I keep abreast of your publication dates, and head for B&N as soon as they are available. Thanks for writing such fun characters into such great reads! Ann from Tucson

Cleo here. Hi Ann from beautiful Tucson! I'm so excited that you like both series! I love writing them both, too (in collaboration with my wonderful husband). Jack, the hard-boiled ghost, is especially fun, isn't he? (For readers who are wondering Jack who? He's part of the series I write under the name "Alice Kimberly". Keep reading the posts on this message board and you'll see more info on that series, which is called The Haunted Bookshop mystery series. The first book is "The Ghost and Mrs. McClure." Anyway, Ann, thanks for the vote of confidence. It means a lot to me. I hope you'll drop back again and again to my virtual Village Blend!

I also hope I'll get to do a signing at a B&N in Tucson someday and I can meet you. Wouldn't that be fun? A coffeehouse tour/party at some of the cafes in B&N? If the series continues to grow, maybe it'll actually happen someday!

--Cleo Coyle

Coffee Expenditures Increase

Since I started the coffee mystery series, my coffee consumption increased. For Starbucks that is a good thing. I live in Seattle, so Starbucks is convenient and consistant, however, on a recent vacation in Arizona, I stoped by Coffee Plantation and they had some pretty awsome choices. Look forward to trying some of the coffee recipes soon.

Cleo here. Hey, there Seattle Poster! Wow, you live in a real coffee town. New York is just catching up to you guys. I've never heard of Coffee Plantation. I'll have to check them out! (I did find their Web site. So site visitors can click on the link to learn more). Thanks for the heads up, and thanks in the x-treme for reading and supporting the Coffeehouse Mysteries. You made me laugh about the increased coffee consumption. Ain't it the truth! LOL! People tell me it makes them crave a cuppa. No kidding, thanks for posting. Drop back to the virtual Village Blend anytime to tell us about other cool coffeehouses, blends or roasters you like, or anything else on your mind!

--Cleo Coyle

Love the books!

I have read all the coffeehouse mystery books and just love them, can't wait till the next one!! I am going to purchase the haunted mystery books as well, didn't know that you wrote them! Thanks for a great website!!

Cleo here. Hey, there! I don't know where you're writing from, but I want to thank you in the X-treme for making my day! Come on back anytime. And let me know how you like the Haunted Bookshop mysteries. For fans who don't know what the heck I'm talking about: my other pen name is "Alice Kimberly"  - Under that name, in collaboration with my very talented husband, I write the Haunted Bookshop mysteries featuring the ghost of a hardboiled private eye named Jack Shepard, who was gunned down in the 1940s. He haunts Penelope, the young widowed owner of a Rhode Island bookshop. With all Jack's years of crime-solving experience, he helps Penelope solve murder mysteries. Till next time!

--Cleo Coyle

Newsletter Sign Up & Fraps

Hi, Cleo! My brother-in-law used to be a coffee salesman, and I became a bit of a snob about coffee and espresso (wanting only the best). Thanks to your books, I've discovered that there are lots of us out there, and that maybe I'm not a snob, but just have a "refined taste"! Your books are all on display in my kitchen, and inspired me to dig out my espresso machine again after a move (you know how it is with unpacking all those boxes :) The recipes are so much fun, and delicious, too! My favorite coffee "house" is Barnes & Noble, and I just discovered iced Frappuccino's, with shots of espresso for that caffeine kick; YUM! Usually, it's a Breve for me, but in the hot summertime, the iced Frap hits the spot. I'd love to sign up for the newsletter, but I can't get into the "passport" site. Is there any other way for me to sign up? Thanks in advance, LuAnn. P.S. Please say hi to Clare, Matt, Tucker, & Mike for me, give Joy a (gentle) tug on her ponytail, and give Madame a big hug from Northern Minnesota! Thanks again, and I already can't wait for the next book.

Cleo here. LuAnn from Northern Minnesota, you are the sweetest! First of all, thanks for your hugs for Madame and shout-outs to the rest of the Blend staff.  Second: I would love for you to sign up for the newsletter! Just send a plain old e-mail that says "Sign me up!" to VillageBlend@aol.com - and I'll add your e-mail to the quickly growing newsletter list. Thank you very much for pointing out that you had trouble singing up, because if you had trouble, it's possible others did, too, so I made sure to put up notices on the Home Page and above for people to send e-mails directly if they have any problem with the newsletter sign-up button in the left column.

Very cool that your brother-in-law was a coffee salesman. This whole "snob" thing in the USA is going away quickly because so many young people are discovering and enjoying the coffeehouse experience (let's face it, Planet Starbucks is the reason why by sheer numbers alone, but they've paved the way for many other coffee shops to open). Since my heritage is Italian, I never thought of the drinks as snobby - just another way to enjoy a beverage. The pricing of the drinks sometimes makes people smirk, but I wouldn't call someone who has a few beers or cocktails after work a "snob" - and that's about the same amount of money anyone would spend hanging out at a coffeehouse. I prefer caffeine (and a delish pastry) to alcohol, so there you go! To each his own. Also, I've discovered a really passionate (if not fanatical) community online. www.CoffeeGeek.com makes me feel right at home with their discussions. I always learn something new in their forums - coffee roasters or coffeehouses are mentioned, etc. We're NOT coffee snobs. We're coffee GEEKS, thank you very much! Glad to have you among us, LuAnn. (We'll teach you the secret handshake at our next meeting.) Until then, no kidding, thanks for reading the series and taking the time to post! Come on back again to visit us at the virtual Village Blend.

--Cleo Coyle

Loved the new book!

I really enjoyed the new book. It is being passed around my office right now as I drink a hot cup of Chai Latte. That's right-I am a tea drinker with an open mind.

Cleo here. LOL! Well, you made me laugh today! As you know, Clare has an open mind, too. She welcomes tea drinkers at the Village Blend as warmly as she welcomes coffee drinkers (and now decaf coffee drinkers, too)! And just to prove it, here's a lovely VIRTUAL pot of tea for you!

No kidding, thanks for stopping by and posting. And thanks for your support of the series. I hope your office mates enjoy Clare, Matt, Madame, and the Village Blend gang as much as I enjoy writing about them.

--Cleo Coyle

yes!! to matt and clare

can we say rebound i like Quinn but also lovematt and clare in a world gone crazy with no loyalty no permanence we need strong couples like them look at j.d. robb power couple eve and rourke she keeps them interesting AND together .whether real or not we need more happy endings in our leisure time because we sure do not have them in real life thats why most read to escape REALTY fan from jersey

Cleo here. Fan from Jersey, howya doin' from the great state of Stephanie Plum! I appreciate your feedback on the Clare and Matt issue. It's VERY interesting. Here's the other side of the coin. Some readers have told me that if they were Clare, they would never forgive Matt for all his cheating - and they still don't trust him. They think Mike Quinn would treat her better and she'd be better off with him since he's a snoop at heart, too! BUT, it seems other readers believe that Clare and Matt have the real chemistry. They have the history and there is real love there, not to mention the passion for coffee. Does anyone else want to weigh in with an opinion? This line of discussion "Clare and Matt" versus "Clare and Quinn" is a hoot! Thanks, Jesey Fan, for your support of the series. It means the world to me. Thanks also for taking the time to post. Come on back now, y'hear!

--Cleo Coyle

Canadian Mystery Fan

I just wanted to say I saw something on here about another series you write the Haunted bookshop. I picked up the Ghost and Mrs McClure at the library and couldn't put it down I finally had to just because I could no longer see straight. My neighbours were most likely wondering why the heck the lady next door was cackling at 3 in the mornining for. Can't wait to find the rest Rochelle

Cleo here. Hi, Rochelle "Chelle"! You are TOO kind. Glad you like Jack, the friendly P.I. ghost. He's haunted me for years. Now you're stuck. He's going to haunt you up there in Canada, too! But he's actually a very cool ghost to have around. Enjoy him!

--Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly)

Grw up on Coffee

Back in Northern Minnesota along the Snake River where we lived. Mom would cook coffee on the old cook stove. From the time we were able to sit on dad's knee we drank coffee. Started out with cream in it the way dad liked it. We kids would dunk our sugar lumps in it and suck the coffee out. Rarely drank milk but had to have real cream for the coffee. Still do. But sometimes drink it black. We don't have any close coffee houses where I am at in South Dakota. Nearest one is 150 miles away. But the cafes sometime brew good coffee. I have had some terrible tasting coffee from there also. I just started your series of Coffehouse Mystery books am enjoying them. Can't wait to try your Haunted Bookshop mysteries. Connie from Bison, South Dakota

Cleo here. Awesome coffee tale, Connie from Bison, SD. I can just see you and your sibs sucking on the sugar cubes around the kitchen table, with your dad sipping his after-dinner mug! LOL! Your post made me realize that coffee can be a real memory trigger for some of us--when we first started drinking it, when we shared a pot with friends, the best cup we ever had... One of my own best cups was in Alaska, after a meal of local salmon and the coffee served to me was pure, real Kona from Hawaii. At the time, I'd been passing through Anchorage on the way to visit my sister, who was working as a physician for the Indian Health Service in Bethel--a small community in the western region. So even though I've been living in the big, bad city for years, I know that living in a more remote, rugged region can be a beautiful way of life (my sister loved it--the community was very tight). Thanks for posting, girl. And thanks also for your kind words about the series. I hope you enjoy the Alice Kimberly Haunted Bookshop books, too. Here's the cover of the first one if you're curious: The Ghost and Mrs. McClure, written under my other pen name Alice Kimberly. There are three out thus far, and I recently turned in a new manuscript to my publisher for publication next year. Come on back anytime to tell me what you think. Until then, cheers out there in beautiful South Dakota,where "under God, the people rule."

--Cleo Coyle

clare and matt

i really loved your stories but the direction of clare and matt (who i think have all the chemistry) is too sad i like quinn but i love matteo and clare

Cleo here. Well, well, well..we have another Clare-Matt fan! *GRIN* This makes me laugh because I've had many readers tell me that they can't wait for Clare to get together with Mike Quinn and now we have two posts in a row wanting Clare to give her ex another chance. Hmmmm...as I told Hollina (post below), nothing is written in stone. Stay tuned--and thanks in the X-treme for reading the series. Drop by again!

--Cleo Coyle

Another Great Cup of Coffee

Hi. I stumbled upon your books while purchasing my Caramel Frappacino with 3 floating shots so I can taste the Espresso at my local Barnes And Noble/Starbucks Cafe. I think they are quite wonderful and witty. I do look forward to more, but I can help but say it would be nice to see Clare and Matteo together again since he thinks he can now commit why not to her and not the snob Bree? Just a thought. Thanks. I am looking forward to your next book. Ciao. Hollina Compiano

Cleo here. Hi Hollina! Love the idea of floating 3 shots in a Caramel Frap. I'll have to try that! (And I'm sure more than a few readers of this post will give it a try, too.) Thanks for the very nice words about the books. Clare and Matt have a long history and their future is far from set in stone. As I've heard other writers say, when you create characters that are real to you (and hopefully the readers), they begin to take on lives of their own. They begin to tell YOU what their future is. What will happen with Clare and Matt? I only know what they tell me, so stay tuned and we'll see what happens! LOL! In the meantime, thanks for stopping by the virtual Village Blend. Come on back now, y'hear?!

--Cleo Coyle

Loving the website

Just wanted to drop another line(I was the inspired one) and say that I love this website and all the different avenues you can explore. I also love hearing the feed back from YOU, I think that is cool that you are in touch with your readers. And lastly can't wait for the next book the latest one was just as fun as the others.....Sam, a beach bum....

Cleo here. Hey, Sam! THANKS for your vote of confidence on the books and the site. I be tryin'. So I'm assuming you are a coffee-loving, mystery-reading surfer. Awesome, dude. Come on back for a cuppa anytime. In the meantime, here's a virtual cappuccinio and biscotti for your trouble. Stay cool!

--Cleo Coyle

Canadian Mystery Lover

hi Cleo I'm an avid mystery lover and you're books are one of 13 series on my shelves at home (maybe I should find another series that's a scary number lol) I don't drink coffee other then Iced in the summer. I didn't grow up with it though My mom while loving coffee gets sick while drinking it and didn't have it around much. I discovered that I like Medium blends dark and extra dark are way to strong for me. I'm thinking of getting myself a coffee machine and maybe some of those flavoured coffee syrups. Any advice for a newbie coffee drinker? I have an authors wall of fame of sorts in my home library with their pics and autographs. If I emailed you my snail mail addy would you be able to send me one of you so I can add it to my wall? thanks for taking time to answer and write these fun books. Rochelle in Vancouver Canada (P.S. my friends call me Chelle)

Cleo here. Hi Chelle in the great country of Canada! (If you're a fan of the series, we're definitely friends, so I hope it's okay to call you Chelle.) LOL on the 13th series. (I've found that 13 can be a lucky number, too!)  Per the coffee...I like medium blends as well as dark, so more power to your preferences. As you know, medium blends have more caffeine, so I epsecially enjoy them in the morning. As far as a coffee machine, I don't have a fancy espresso machine in my home for two reasons: I can easily get espressos at nearby coffeehouses in NYC and I can't do them better. And the truth is that very few home espresso machines can produce the heat and pressure necessary to give you an excellent espresso experience in your own kitchen. I mostly enjoy drip or French press brews at home for that reason. If I want something stronger and really want an espresso but don't want to venture out, or I want to prepare a coffee latte or another coffee cocktail, I'll start with an espresso made on my stovetop with a Moka pot. I'm putting a photo here for you to see what I mean. These pots were invented in Italy in the 1930s by a man named Alfonso Bialetti. They're inexpensive and come in small and large sizes. If you want more info on buying an espresso machine CoffeeGeek.com recently posted a good article. here's the link. GUIDE TO BUYING AN ESPRESSO MACHINE. But, frankly, if you don't care for the taste of dark roast coffees, I'd venture to guess that espresso or coffee made in a Moka pot isn't going to float your boat. I'd stick with a good fresh medium roast in a drip machine or French press. I think syrups would be fun to try in your iced coffee. Put some coffee and flavored syrup in your blender and take it for a spin with some ice cubes and milk. To keep the coffee from getting too diluted by the ice, brew it double or triple strength, or make ice cubes out of the coffee itself. Try vanilla or chocolate to start and venture into other flavors if you dare! (I noticed raspberry and chocolate frozen lattes are big in NYC this summer.) Coffee syrups are available at many sites on the Internet. Amazon even sells them, just do a search on coffee syrup to find a flavor you like... Also...I am flattered in the x-treme that you'd want my pic and autograph. At this point in time, I don't have a press kit or photos to send out. For now, this Website is how I'll be keeping in touch with you and other readers--and any other curious visitors who might find the time to stop by for a virtual cuppa. I hope that's okay. If there's an author tour in my future, I'll be sure to let you know via this Website and my newsletter, and perhaps we can meet in person some day. Until then, come on back anytime to the virtual Village Blend! And thanks, Chelle, for your support of the series and the lovely things you said. It means the world to me.

--Cleo Coyle