September: A Season for Reading by Teresa Inge

As summer ends and September arrives with cooler mornings and shorter days, our routines change, encouraging us to slow down, reflect, and read a good book.
Whether you're a student cracking open textbooks or a mystery reader reaching for a cozy paperback, September feels like the unofficial start of the reading season. With the beach reads tucked away, deeper, more intriguing stories emerge, accompanied by a warm beverage and a cozy blanket.

Why September is Made for Reading

• Weather That Whispers “Stay In”: Cooler evenings and rainy afternoons practically beg for a reading nook. The sound of pages turning becomes the soundtrack to a slower, more intentional pace.

• New Releases: Many new releases come out in September, offering fresh content. It’s a great month to explore new genres and authors.

• Book Clubs: Join a book club, as many resume in September and offer valuable opportunities for community engagement.

What to Read This Month

• Cozy Mysteries: The transition from summer to fall creates a cozy atmosphere ideal for reading quirky characters, small towns, and just enough suspense to keep you guessing.

• Seasonal Reading: Choose books that reflect the mood of a specific season like fall, winter, or that season’s particular holidays.

• Memoirs and Reflections: September is a season for reading and reflection due to the transition to fall, a season often associated with introspection. Reflecting on the year’s progress can motivate personal and professional development.

As September calls us in from Summer’s playground and prepares us for fall and winter, it’s a great time to choose books that reflect the season’s atmosphere. Take advantage of the cooler months to enjoy some reading.  

Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance marks 50th anniversary by Teresa Inge

Jimmy Hoffa’s story captivated me from an early age. I was a teenager when his disappearance dominated the news and became a topic among my family, friends, and even my mother—who loved true crime. Around that time, I read Marilyn Monroe’s biography, which sparked my interest in biographies and later true crime figures like Hoffa and Lizzie Borden.

50^th Anniversary of Hoffa’s Disappearance

This July marked the 50th anniversary of Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance, a story I’ve followed for years through articles, TV movies, and ongoing curiosity about his fate.

 

Jimmy Hoffa, a name synonymous with labor unions, organized crime, and one of the top 20^th century mysteries, remains a subject of intrigue and speculation. Born James Riddle Hoffa on February 14, 1913, in Brazil, Indiana, he was a pivotal figure in the American labor movement through his leadership of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

Early Life and Union Leadership

Hoffa began his union work during the Great Depression, motivated by low wages and poor working conditions he experienced while working for a grocery chain as a teenager. His efforts to organize better pay quickly led him into union leadership.

By 1957, Hoffa became the president of the Teamsters, a powerful union in the United States. Under his leadership, the union's membership expanded, and he became known as the “worker’s hero” for his tenacity and negotiation skills.

Controversies and Legal Battles

Despite his achievements, Hoffa faced allegations of corruption and ties to organized crime, leading to his 1967 conviction for jury tampering, attempted bribery, and fraud. Sentenced to 13 years, he was released in 1971 after President Nixon commuted his sentence.

Jimmy Hoffa, six days before his disappearance

Disappearance and Theories

On July 30, 1975, Jimmy Hoffa disappeared from a Detroit restaurant parking lot, allegedly due to a mafia dispute with Anthony Provenzano over Teamsters leadership. Theories about his burial include Giants Stadium (the Meadowlands) and a New Jersey landfill, where Frank Cappola worked. Cappola claimed his father, Paul, placed Hoffa's body headfirst into a steel drum outside the landfill to evade authorities. This method occurred because rigor mortis made it difficult to position the body correctly. 

Jimmy Hoffa's green Pontiac Grand Ville found July 31, 1975
in the parking lot of Machus Red Fox restaurant, Bloomfield, Township, Michigan

Hoffa's story is dramatized in Killing Jimmy Hoffa, directed by Alan Bradley, Hoffa, directed by Danny DeVito, and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, which portrays him being killed and cremated.  

To this day, Hoffa has never been found. 

Thanksgiving: A Time for Gratitude and Togetherness by Teresa Inge

Thanksgiving is a cherished holiday that is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It's a time when families and friends come together to express gratitude, share a bountiful meal, and celebrate traditions. Let's explore the origins, traditions, and modern-day celebrations of this beloved holiday.

The Origins of Thanksgiving

The roots of Thanksgiving trace back to 1621, when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans shared a feast to celebrate the Pilgrims' first successful harvest in the New World. This event is often considered the "First Thanksgiving," symbolizing gratitude. But it wasn't until the Civil War in 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to foster unity and thankfulness.

Traditional Thanksgiving Feast

The centerpiece of Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the feast. A traditional Thanksgiving meal typically includes roast turkey, stuffed, and roasted to perfection. Then there’s stuffing made with a savory mix of bread, herbs, and spices. Side dishes include mashed potatoes with gravy, and cranberry sauce to add a tangy-sweet burst of flavor to the entire meal.  

Of course, there’s always room for dessert. Classic pumpkin pie made with spiced pumpkin filling and a flaky crust plus mouthwatering apple pie makes the entire house smell delicious.

Modern-Day Celebrations

While the traditional feast remains central, modern Thanksgiving celebrations include a vegan meal with seitan tofu roast, plant-based side dishes, and decadent desserts.  

Many people volunteer at shelters or participate in food drives during Thanksgiving, while others watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and football games as a popular pastime. The day also marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season with Black Friday discounts and Cyber Monday which occurs the Monday after Thanksgiving.  

The Spirit of Thanksgiving

At its core, Thanksgiving is about gratitude. It's a time to reflect on the blessings in our lives, appreciate the company of loved ones, and extend kindness to others. Whether through a heartfelt toast at the dinner table or a simple act of generosity, the spirit of Thanksgiving reminds us to cherish what we have and share it with those around us.

What are some personal or regional favorites that you celebrate on Thanksgiving?  

We are thrilled to welcome Teresa Inge as a regular blogger to Writers Who Kill! Take it away Teresa. 

Where are you from?

I live in southeastern Virginia with my husband A.J. and dog Luke, a brown, mixed-lab shepherd. Living near Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks of North Carolina has advantages. Beach days, fresh seafood, and scenic views make it a beautiful place to live.

What writing organizations do you belong to?

I am a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime and president of the SinC Mystery by the Sea chapter. I belong to the Short Mystery Fiction Society, Hampton Roads Writers, and Virginia Writers Club.

What are your last publications?

"Maid of Murder" appears in First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder on June 4. The story features wine shop owner Lainey Gentry who discovers a dead body in her wine room and tries to clear her name after being accused of murdering a bridesmaid. Before that, my short story "What’s a Little Murder Between Friends" appeared in Malice, Matrimony, & Murder last year.

Do you have a writing process?

Since I work full-time, I often write in my car during lunch. Some weather conditions that I encounter while writing are snowfall, pouring rain, thunderstorms, and heat. But mostly, the climate is mild, and I find it to be the most peaceful part of my day to write. I also write after work and on weekends at home and at my OBX beach house.

What brings you to WWK?

I love reading the Writers Who Kill blog, so I’m thrilled to be part of it. Many of the bloggers are author friends who are great writers.

Tell us about yourself.

By day, I work for a global financial firm as an assistant, notary administrator, and reporter. When not working or writing I attend classic car shows with my 1955 Torch Red, Ford Thunderbird. I also have grown daughters and a granddaughter.

What do you write?

I write short crime fiction and cozy mysteries. My protagonists are female business owners and amateur sleuths who solve crime and murder. The stories appear in over a dozen anthologies that include Virginia is For Mysteries, Mutt Mysteries, and Costal Crimes.

An Interview With the Authors of To Fetch a Killer

by Grace Topping

People love their pets and enjoy talking about them. Mystery writers go a step further and include them in their writing. It was a pleasure talking to the authors of To Fetch a Killer, the latest in the Mutt Mysteries Series, and hearing about their dogs and their short stories in the collection. 

 

To Fetch a Killer

Book 4 in the Mutt Mysteries Series

 

Four Fun “Tails” of Chaos and Murder

Contributing authors:

Maria Hudgins

Teresa Inge

Heather Weidner

Jayne Ormerod

It’s a dog-meet-dog world as a pack of canines team up with their humans to solve mysteries and track down killers. Four mutt-loving authors join their talents in creating this collection of canine-themed novellas which will transport you into the chaotic world of hero dogs who have a nose for murder. Grab a leash and hang on tight…the mutts are on the loose again!

                                                                                              http://muttmysteries.blogspot.com

 

Welcome, Maria, Teresa, Heather, and Jayne, to Writers Who Kill.

 

Maria Hudgins – “Sandy Paws” 

The Sand Fiddler’s Writers Group has rented a beach house for its annual retreat, but the writers and their canine friends can’t get much done after murder rears its ugly head.

Your main character, Jessica Chastain, who is deaf, has a service dog, Trey. How does Trey help her?

 

Trey has a cold, wet nose and he uses it to get Jessica’s attention when she’s lost in her work. Her home is rigged with flashing lights to let her know when the doorbell is ringing or a timer is going off. But Jessica, like most writers, can zone out and ignore everything but her story. Trey’s nose on her bare skin jolts her back into the real world.

 

They take walks together and Trey is always alert for traffic noises or anything that Jessica might not be aware of. He’s also a good judge of character and has, on occasion, “told” Jessica to be wary of a new acquaintance.

 

In “Sandy Paws,” a group of writers go on a writers’ retreat at the beach. Have you ever participated in a writers’ retreat? If so, have you found it beneficial?

 

Yes. Last summer our Mystery by the Sea writers rented a house in beautiful Cape Charles, on what we call the Eastern Shore. I got the most help from our talks during breaks. I live alone so I don’t have a lot of noise and distractions to get away from, but I do like the Write, Talk, Write, routine we used. A year before we stayed at a vintage hotel in Manteo, NC, and followed the same schedule. I think a new setting, particularly if it’s serene and quiet, is good for stimulating new ideas.

 

In one of your short stories in this series, you wrote about puppy mills and conditions in kennels run by unethical breeders. It was obvious from your story that this is something that is important to you. Were you hoping to raise awareness of these things? What can others do to help?

 

Thank you for asking! I wish I could put these people out of business. There are more unwanted dogs and cats in the world than we know what to do with. More lovable pets is not the problem. We need more loving owners. Trey and Kim, the two bichons in my stories, are based on my dogs, Holly and Hamilton. They were rescues. My daughter has a new dog they are showering with love to help her get over a horrible start in life. These early traumas don’t go away easily.

 

 

Teresa Inge – “A New Leash on Death”

Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers, has a knack for finding dead bodies, but when she and her pups are on the case, there’s no way the killer will get away with murder.

Each of the books in your series feature short stories that include dogs. What is the appeal of dogs in stories, and in particular, mysteries?

 

It’s a combination that has become very popular. It’s also one of the reasons we created the Mutt Mysteries series to give our readers the two things they love the most! But don’t ever harm a dog or animal in a mystery. Our readers do not like that and frankly it’s not something I would write since I am an animal lover with dogs of my own. I keep my stories on the cozy, lighthearted side when featuring animals. They are characters in each story.  

Your characters in "A New Leash on Death" have appeared in the previous book. Do all of you continue to feature the same main characters?

 

I am the only author who writes recurring characters in each book. I like featuring my protagonist Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers, and her trusted sidekicks, Cagney and Lacey, two Yorkshire Terriers, in each book. Together they solve crimes and murder, and it’s fun for readers to connect and watch them grow. 

 

How do you manage what goes into each book? Does someone come up with a theme and everyone writes to it? Or does each writer simply submit what they want?

 

We create the title and theme for each book and then write our individual novellas. Each author submits a 15,000-word story based on the theme. It keeps the overall book consistent and is easier for the authors. It’s a well-oiled machine now with all the books and the authors working great together. I just love writing the series! 

 

 

Heather Weidner – “Wags to Riches”

When a prickly guest ends up dead in his booth at the rummage sale, race track owner Cassidy Green and her Rottweiler Oliver have to sniff out clues and find the killer before another murder is forever linked to her business. 

In “Wags to Riches,” Oliver, your main character’s dog, is a Rottweiler. A lot of people hear Rottweiler and immediately become uneasy. Oliver sounds like a friendly dog and one that comes to Cassidy’s rescue. What accounts for a Rottweiler’s reputation? 

 

Their size and ferocity have always made their reputation. My uncle has had quite a few of them through the years, and each one was a teddy bear. Oliver is friendly, but he is very protective of Cassidy. At the track, he is the Director of Security, and the staff always send the troublesome guests to see him at the office.

 

You write knowledgably about a race track and promoting various forms of money streams for the business, which all sound interesting. Do you have a background in business promotion? 

 

No, not really. I learned a lot about marketing and social media promotions when I became an author. It’s fun, and I love for my characters to have interesting careers. I love talking to people in those fields and gaining research. The racing comes from my dad and husband who love all kinds of cars and speed.  

 

You’ve written full-length books and short stories. Which do you find more challenging? 

 

I enjoy writing both, but I think short stories are harder to craft. You have a smaller container and few characters who could be the bad guy. I get to experiment more with short stories and novellas, so they are different from my series. I write the Delanie Fitzgerald series (set in Richmond, Virginia) and the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries (set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia at a resort with vintage trailers and tiny houses). 

 

 

Jayne Ormerod – “Bone Appetit” 

 

A dead guest at private chef Molly Perkins’s dinner party draws her and house dog Tater in a chaotic search for the secret ingredient to murder.

 

Your story “Bone Appetit” features a huge Newfoundland dog. In a previous book in the series, you feature a Great Dane. Why such large dogs? What does featuring a large dog add to your stories? Do you own a large dog yourself?

I love big mutts, and I cannot lie. We have owned a few in our lifetime. Our first round of dogs we picked a tiny wriggling puppy out of a box at a flea market. He grew into a long-legged, big barrel-chested boy who topped the scales at 120 pounds. Most recently, we rehomed a little one who was said to have Carolina Dog in him, expecting to grow to about 40 pounds. Well, he’s definitely got some Great Dane in him (surprise!) and has become my 100+ pound “lap dog.” Big dogs have big hearts. Also, when it comes to trouble, they are very effective in knocking down bad guys!

To Fetch a Killer is the fourth book in the Mutt Mysteries series. What do you think accounts for the success of the series?

All credit goes to the dogs: their love; their loyalty; their intuitive desire to protect. The companionship and support they provide to their humans make for heart-warming, satisfying read. Okay, a little bit of credit goes to the talented authors who penned the stories. The two elements combined has turned out to be very popular with cozy mystery lovers.

Throughout the series, have any of your characters crossed paths?

A different heroine/BFF/mutt combination has appeared in each of my Mutt Mysteries stories. They have never crossed paths, but I have toyed with the idea of having all of them meet to solve a mystery. I suspect if I threw the four dogs (a tiny terrier named Cannoli, a black lab mix named Natti, a Great Dane named Mr. Belvedere, and Newfie Tater), the fur would really fly! But it’s a possibility, because I love all the dogs (and the sleuths) in my stories. I want to hang out with them some more.

What’s next? Will there be a fifth book in the Mutt Mysteries series?

There is talk of continuing the series and introducing a few new authors as we say goodbye to others who are moving on to bigger and better projects. That decision should be made early next year.

 

Thank you, Maria, Teresa, Heather, and Jayne.

 

To learn more about the Mutt Mysteries Series and the authors, go to http://muttmysteries.blogspot.com/

Teresa Inge Talks Mutt Mysteries

An Interview with Shari Randall

Please welcome Teresa Inge to Writers Who Kill!

Teresa, along with Jayne Ormerod, Heather Weidner, and Rosie Shoemaker has put together a fun pet-themed anthology, To Fetch a Thief. These four "tails" of theft and murder are just the beginning of the future Mutt Mysteries series.

What a great idea for an anthology! How did the book come about? The four of us met over a glass of wine in Williamsburg Winery to discuss our next project. We came up with the idea to write a “dogvella” which quickly turned into dog mysteries. From there came the Mutt Mysteries series. 

How did the four of you meet? We met through Sisters in Crime. Heather and Rosie are members of the Central Virginia chapter in Richmond and Jayne and I are members of the Mysteries by the Sea chapter in Chesapeake, Va.

Please give us a teaser for your story. Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack dog walkers is recruited to recover a stolen necklace. But when she and her pups Cagney and Lacey go looking, they find much more than they bargained for...

I'm assuming that you all are pet lovers. Please tell us about your pets. We all have pets and support animals. Jayne’s dogs are rescues Tiller and Scout. Heather’s dogs are Jack Russell Terriers Disney and Riley. My dogs are Luke and Lena, mixed shepherd breeds and also named after my husband’s grandparents. And Rosie has a family dog named Current. 

How long have you been writing? I started writing poetry when I was young then wrote professional business articles and combined my love of reading mysteries with writing mysteries.  

Teresa Inge grew up in North Carolina reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Today, she doesn’t carry a rod like her idol, but she hot rods. She assists two busy executives and is president of the Sisters in Crime Mysteries by the Sea Chapter. Teresa is the author of “Shopping for Murder,” and “Guide to Murder” in Virginia is for Mysteries, “Fishing for Murder” in the FishNets anthology, and has coordinated other anthologies.

Thank you for visiting Writers Who Kill, Teresa! If you have a question for Teresa, feel free to comment. Readers can find a copy of To Fetch a Thief here.

Virginia is for Mysteries with Teresa Inge

I’m talking with Teresa Inge today, who serves with me on the Steering Committee of SinC’s online Guppy chapter. Like many members, Teresa also belongs to her local Virginia Beach SinC chapter. The Virginia Beach and newly formed Central Virginia chapter combined their talents to write short stories. The result: Virginia is for Mysteries, a delightful mix of seventeen mystery stories written by fourteen authors. Please welcome Teresa Inge to WWK.                      E. B. Davis

Teresa, tell our readers about the SinC Virginia Beach chapter and how the collaborative effort evolved with the Central Virginia chapter?

About ten years ago, I searched for a mystery writer’s group in Hampton Roads and discovered there was only romance, inspirational and poets in the area. After receiving the SinC newsletter in the mail, I noticed a list of members at large and mailed each one of them a hand-written note about chartering a chapter. Keep in mind this was before the SinC website and Internet tools we have today. The group met at a local restaurant and we formed SinC Mysteries by the Sea, Virginia Beach chapter. 

In 2011, I attended a one-day Mystery Writer’s conference at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. During the conference, I discussed collaborating an anthology with the Central Virginia chapter attendees. Everyone loved the idea and we began brainstorming.

How was the theme decided, and what were your guidelines to authors?

During the brainstorming session, I suggested Virginia is for Murders, and the group agreed. We also discussed that each story should have a dead body and a Virginia landmark. Later, I discovered we needed permission from Virginia tourism to use the trademark -Virginia is for...I then worked with a state official that approved the more appropriate title Virginia is for Mysteries.

How were the submissions judged?

Each author who submitted a story read three stories submitted by other authors and judged

each story based on character, setting, voice and guidelines. 

Who served as editor or did a team edit the stories?

Multi-published authors Meredith Cole, Maria Hudgins and Jayne Ormerod served as editors.

How did you find a publisher?

As a SinC online Guppy chapter member, I searched the database for a list of publishers and began the submission process. The database is a great resource for guppy members. 

Did your publisher provide the wonderful cover art?

Yes, Koehler Books has an outstanding cover art design team who created the beautiful cover.

I anticipated that the stories would be set in and around Virginia Beach, but the first story was set at the Monticello and the other settings were scattered around Virginia. Did you encourage geographic diversity or did it just happen?

Yes, we required each story to be set in or around Virginia.

I’m familiar with both settings of your stories, Teresa. I travel through Chesapeake frequently, and the Cavalier Hotel was one of my parents’ favorites. I remember staying there in the 1960s. What prompted you to set your stories in these places?

I’ve always been fascinated by the historic Cavalier on the Hill hotel in Virginia Beach. Built in 1927, it’s unique architecture and rich history of presidents, royalty and celebrity guests made a perfect setting for murder.  When doing my research for “Guide to Murder,” I took my family for a weekend stay at the elegant hotel. As soon as we arrived I began combing the grounds for where the murder would take place. I took pictures, explored areas that were not meant for guests and did lots of snooping around! I even stumbled across a vintage sauna that had a huge lock strapped across the front. It was tucked in a dark corner on the bottom floor and was very scary looking. I could only imagine guests of the 1920’s and 30’s going into that sauna.  

In “Shopping for Murder,” I was inspired by a fabric store in the Great Bridge Shopping center in Chesapeake since the center is a staple in the community near the historic Battle of the Great Bridge. The center made a dynamic location with lots of options to create great characters and a murder.

Would you give us a description of your current WIP?

I recently submitted two short stories to be considered for publication, and I am working on a series about a virtual assistant in Virginia Beach who continues to stumble across dead bodies.

This is probably a no-brainer, but do you prefer beach or mountains, Teresa? 

I prefer both! I love the beach since I live near Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks but also love visiting the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia.