Greetings by Sharon Love Cook

My third Granite Cove Mystery, Laugh 'til You Die, was published this summer. The book's setting, the "sleepy fishing village" of Granite Cove, was inspired by Gloucester, Massachusetts., America’s oldest working seaport, where I grew up—with the smell of fish sticks in the air. Here is a brief synopsis: 

It's midnight in Granite Cove. Only the sea clams are open. Rose McNichols, reporter for the Granite Cove Gazette, moonlights as a stand-up comic at Shady Nook Retirement Home. There she meets Mabel Smithwick, former Boston socialite. The elderly woman claims she witnessed a drowning at her Hemlock Point pool last summer. Mabel, however, is partial to gin and tonic and is not a credible witness. But when she turns up dead, Rose wishes she'd paid more attention. Before long, Rose herself is a target . . .  

They  say “write what you know.” In this case I know nursing homes, having worked as an Occupational Therapist in various facilities. This evolved—or, devolved—into doing stand-up comedy for the residents. I’d had experience in this field. Thus I polished my act and traveled the retirement home circuit. On the whole, I don’t advise this as a career path. The nursing home population can be brutally honest. If they don’t like your act, they’ll get up in the middle of it, say “Bah!” and walk out.

Like my protagonist, I wrote for a weekly newspaper and continue to write a humor column. Additionally, I draw cartoons for a Boston newspaper. An art school grad, I’ve illustrated the covers of my books.

The first book in the Granite Cove Mystery series, A Nose for Hanky Panky, was originally published by Mainly Murder Press, a New England publisher. When my contract with Mainly Murder Press ran out and the publishing rights reverted to me, I published it under the imprint Neptune Rising Press. The book was later translated into German by Amazon Crossing. 

Laugh ‘til You Die was a global effort: My copyeditor was from England, the text-formatter from Australia, and the graphic designer from India. Thanks to the Internet’s “global village,” everything came together, although in different time zones.

 

I tend to be a late bloomer, going to college in my forties. Later I got an MFA in writing at Bennington. At home I’m VP of Friends of Beverly Animals, a non-profit. My husband helps watch over our cats and Sampson, an elderly rescued Lab-mix.

Every time I finish a Granite Cove Mystery (there are 3), I’ll say, “That’s it.” However, a few months go by and I find myself nostalgic for that sleepy fishing village and its denizens. I’m sure this time will be no different.

Thank you for letting me introduce myself to the readers of your lively blog.

Sharon Love Cook