Murder Mystery Parties & Big Book Giveaway! (Blog Tour Update #2)

Have you been following the trail of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks? Be sure to check the blog tour page each day for direct links! Today's stop is right here, where we've got a BIG book giveaway happening!

Author Cindy Vincent has very generously offered 7 books for 4 lucky winners! The prizes are divvied up as follows:

• Grand Prize: Winner receives paperback copies (1 each) of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks, The Case of the Cat Show Princess, AND Cats Are Part of His Kingdom, Too (a cat-themed devotional)
• 2nd Prize: Winner receives paperback copies (1 each) of  The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks and The Case of the Cat Show Princess
• 3rd Prize: Winner receives a paperback copy of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks
• 4th Prize: Winner receives a paperback copy of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks 

And here's a glimpse at all those prizes (with purchase links, in case you'd rather not wait to see if you're a winner, or if you want to buy extra copies for Christmas gifts!):

 The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks  

(A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper, Book 2)

The Case of the Cat Show Princess 

(A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper, Book 1)

Cats Are Part of His Kingdom, Too

(33 Daily Devotions to Show God's Love)

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and entries will be accepted through December 20, 2013. There are a ton of ways to enter, and you'll find all the links and info you'll need in the Rafflecopter form below, which you'll use to submit your entries. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
One of the ways to enter this giveaway, as you'll see on the form, is by entering the Pinterest contests set up for the blog tour. (Yes, you can double up entries in all these exciting contests/giveaways! Cool, huh?)  In case you missed hearing about these, you can learn more on the blog tour page, or you can check out an update on the "Pin Your Cute Cat Pic" contest from a few days ago HERE.

Today I wanted to show you why you'll want to enter these Pinterest contests. The prizes are murder mystery party games.

You might think, "Party kits. That's interesting. But they're just boxes... What do I do with them? Are they hard to set up? Is it worth the effort?"

Let me tell you, murder mystery party games are awesome!! I've hosted several of them, and while, yes, there is some work involved in sending out invites, preparing food, etc., these kits are basically just "add humans and serve." You've got the whole story, scripts, and instructions all right there! (Visit the Mysteries by Vincent website to see exactly what the prize kits include.)

Want to see how much fun you can have hosting a murder mystery party?

You have the chance to dress up, for starters! How many events do you get to attend after high school/college that include wearing costumes or dressing up? Seriously??

Food and friends! Together!

Epic photo ops! Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

For all you fiction-lovers out there (like me!), you get the chance to play a role for an evening. Possibly someone very, very different than your usual self. ;) (That's my godmother and one of my high school friends above.)

What else is that dummy in your basement good for other than serving as the dead body and scaring your friends? (You mean you don't have one of these lying around?)

You can learn more about the parties pictured above in the following posts: On the Verge of a Mystery, A New Beginning, & And the Murderer Was...

I currently have two unused party kits - Pasta, Passion, & Pistols and Diamonds Are For Eva. While my friends and I have had a lot of fun with the games from the former's line, I'm really excited to try out a Mysteries by Vincent game! For one, having chatted with Cindy and edited/read her latest Cat Detective Caper book, I imagine her games are a little more...*ahem*...clean than the others. A little less awkward content will be nice! Plus, the 1960s, elegant, bejeweled, Frank-Sinatra theme sounds like it will be super fun to dress up and decorate for. It's been a while since I've hosted a murder mystery party, and I'm eager to try another one soon!

So how about you? Want to host a Diamonds Are For Eva or Lies, Spies and Allies murder mystery party - maybe for New Year's Eve? Entries are currently low for the Pinterest contests, so chances are high for winning your very own party kit! Remember that you can find all the rules on the blog tour page. And don't let the fine print intimidate you. I have to articulate things to avoid confusion and potentially frustrated entrants, but these contests are really super easy to enter - and fun! Hope to hear from you via e-mail soon!

Launch of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks Blog Tour!

Meet Buckley Bergdorf, Cat Detective and star of the recently published The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks, the second Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper. His latest case? Well, beyond catching those crafty Christmas crooks, his mission in the next two weeks is to search for his cutest cat brethren and discover new friends on his first-ever blog tour! Read on to learn more...

The Background

I "met" author Cindy Vincent when I was working on a publicity project for May the K9 Spy this past summer. (I know right? K9 spies and cat detectives...awesome combo!) Cindy hired me this fall to edit her latest book about cat detectives. It sounded cute - and let me tell you, it definitely satisfied in the adorable department! From the sweet and real Christmas message, to the loving and hilarious antics of a Maine Coon cat named Buckley and all his feline (and human) friends, I fell in love with The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks. So I was more than happy to take on Buckley's story as a publicity project. It's my hope that after you meet Buckley during the tour, hear more about his book, and celebrate the Christmas season with us, you'll fall in love, too.

Check out the schedule for the tour below...and don't miss the fun contests Buckley's hosting via Pinterest!

The Timeline

• Sunday, December 8th: Introduction to the tour at Seasons of Humility ← You are here!
• Monday, December 9th: Spotlight at Dreaming Under the Same Moon
• Tuesday, December 10th: Interview at The Wonderings of One Person
• Wednesday, December 11th: Review & interview at To Be a Person
• Thursday, December 12th: Interview at CatTipper
• Friday, December 13th: Review at That's What I'm Here For
• Saturday, December 14th: Spotlight at Too Read or Not Too Read
• Sunday, December 15th: Contest Update at Seasons of Humility
• Monday, December 16th: Review at A BookLover's Heart
• Tuesday, December 17th: Spotlight at The Writer's Window
• Wednesday, December 18th: Review at Take It From Me
• Thursday, December 19th: Spotlight at Whispers in Purple
• Friday, December 20th: Double Review at West of Newbury Street
• Saturday, December 21st: Conclusion to the tour at Seasons of Humility

If there are any changes to this schedule, they'll be posted on the blog tour page. And while you're checking that page out, be sure to grab a blog button to help us spread the word, and learn more about Buckley, his partner in crime (Bogey), his Mom, and his books!

The Rewards

Every good detective (or reader) should get a reward for a job well done, right? While Buckley & Bogey are big fans of cat treats, Cindy knows you might wish to play for different prizes. So enter one or both of the Pinterest contests for a chance to win one of three murder mystery party games from Mysteries by Vincent!

Contest #1

"Pin the Cover Contest" Official Rules:

• Take the cover image for The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks from the blog tour page or Buckley Bergdorf, Cat Detective's Pinterest page. 
• Pin it to one of your boards on Pinterest.
• E-mail the publicist at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com saying you've participated. Please write "Pin the Cover Contest" in the subject line, and include your Pinterest user name and the name of the board you pinned the cover to in your e-mail.
• One winner will be randomly drawn from all e-mailed entries and announced at Seasons of Humility on December 21, 2013.
• Please note that you must have a Pinterest account and be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to be eligible for this contest.
• Prize: Lies, Spies and Allies, 8-player murder mystery party game from Mysteries by Vincent!

Contest #2

"Pin Your Cute Cat Pic Contest" Official Rules:

• Select a cute/fun picture of your cat that you're willing to have pinned on Pinterest. (If you don't have a cat, you may send a picture of any craft you've created that includes a cat theme. For example, a cat drawing, a cat quilt, a cat cake, etc.)
• E-mail the photo to the publicist at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com. Please write "Pin Your Cute Cat Pic Contest" in the subject line, and include your name and the cat's name (if applicable) in your e-mail. In addition, please select a line from The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks to go under your picture as a caption. (If you haven't read the whole book, you can browse the beginning in the sample from Amazon.)
• The photos will be pinned to the "Buckley's Cutest Ever Cat Photos in the Universe" board on Pinterest soon after they have been received.
• The pic with the most "like"s (click of the heart button) will win their choice of the two murder mystery party games listed above. (In the case of a tie, the winner will be chosen randomly using the List Randomizer on Random.org.) A second winner will be randomly drawn from all qualifying entries for the other murder mystery party game. Both winners will be announced at Seasons of Humility on December 21, 2013.
• Please note that you must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to be eligible for this contest.
• Disclaimer: Refer to Pinterest's Terms of Service and Copyright information if you are unsure whether or not you're willing to share your picture on Pinterest. By submitting your cat pic, you agree that the picture is yours to share, and Editing Through the Seasons and Mysteries by Vincent are not responsible for any copyright violations. 
• Two Prizes, Two Winners: Diamonds Are For Eva and Lies, Spies and Allies, 8-player murder mystery party games from Mysteries by Vincent!

The Clues

Here are some clues to solving the "mystery" of how to make the most of this tour: 1) Check the blog tour page and/or follow me on Twitter for the latest updates; 2) Check out every stop along the tour - there will be chances to win the featured book, along with reviews, interviews, and more; 3) Check out the contests! Basically, we need you to make the tour the most fun it can be... So Holy Catnip! What are you waiting for? ;)

(If you have any questions about the tour or contest, you can e-mail me at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com. I'd be happy to answer your questions!)

And the Murderer Was...

First of all, thank you to everyone who played the Who Dunnit? game over a week ago! It was fun to see who your guesses were, and I hope you enjoyed seeing some pictures from my last Murder Mystery Party.

So, who was it that murdered poor ol' Bubba? (Don't read on if you ever plan on using this particular kit--the "Honky Tonk Homicide" one--because then you'll know the answer and have no reason to play!)

The murderer was...

...my godmother! (AKA The Televangelist)

Casey guessed correctly, so she won! I'm sending her an e-book that's been on her wish-list. Congratulations, Casey!

Thank you again to everyone who joined in the fun!

A New Beginning

This week is my first week back at school. It is a new semester, with new classes and a new schedule. A new beginning.

So the next few days will be a bit busy for me as I get caught up and settle into a new routine. I probably won't be posting as much for a little while as I adjust, and I probably won't be getting around to the "Sightseeing by the Seasons" giveaway this week. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I do appreciate your patience!

I'll still be around off and on, with book and movie reviews and such, and eventually I hope to find a good schedule for blog posting, as well. I'm trying to make some new author contacts for the "Mondays for the Military" feature, and plans for a progressive Valentine's Day blog party are in full swing! Until then, enjoy these pictures from the Murder Mystery Party my mom and I hosted over Christmas break:

This Murder Mystery Party kit was called "Honky Tonk Homicide." We had quite a few interesting suspects, including a T.V. evangelist (that's my honorary godmother in a wig!) and "his" wife (one of my friends). (And in case you were worried, that's just Root Beer!)

This is me and my mom. I was Sheriff Sissy Wesson, and my mom was the host of Karaoke night.

This is the whole gang (minus my godmother). The dummy on the chair (between the girls in the dresses) was the murdered man, and since he was supposed to have been killed in his office, we set him up in our downstairs office. The murdered man's name was Bubba, and the funny thing is that the dummy's name was Bubba long before we ever got this game!

As I'm sure you can tell, we had a great time! I always love hosting these parties, and my mom was so sweet about helping me bring it all together and even joining in and playing a man's role. ;)

Now, the question is: Who dunnit? Guess which person (in any of these three pictures) was the murderer, and if you guess correctly, I'll put your name into a drawing for a book! I'm not sure yet which one, but you can be certain it will be Christian fiction. I do realize that you don't know any of these person's motives, means, or opportunities, but this is just for fun, so go ahead and guess! (You must have a Canadian or U.S. mailing address in order to win.)

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

On the Verge of a Mystery

Yes, it is almost that time! Monday is the official launch of "Mystery Week," but I must say that it might be a little different than what you're thinking. Of course, you could ask me how I know what you're thinking . . . and I could answer you that I don't know, at least not for sure. ;) Either way, just think of it as all part of the mystery!

Now that I've thoroughly confused you, I thought it would be fun to talk about our favorite mystery books, movies, T.V. shows, games, etc.

As far as books go, one Christian fiction mystery book that sticks out in my mind is Under the Cajun Moon by Mindy Starns Clark. I bought it last year when I was at Walmart (a favorite hangout for the college student), and I really enjoyed it! I loved the setting and the characters--and the mystery/suspense kept my interest.

Here's a description of the book from the author's website:

"What Secrets Can Be Found by the Light of the Cajun Moon?

New Orleans may be the "Big Easy," but nothing about it was ever easy for international business etiquette expert Chloe Ledet. She moved away years ago, leaving her parents and their famous French Quarter restaurant behind. But when she hears that her father has been shot, she races home to be by his side and to handle his affairs—only to learn a long-hidden secret that changes everything she knew to be true about herself and her family.

Framed for murder, Chloe and a handsome Cajun stranger must search for a priceless treasure, one whose roots weave through the very history of Louisiana itself. But can Chloe depend on the mysterious man leading her on this cat-and-mouse chase into the heart of Cajun country? Or by trusting him, has she gone from the frying pan into the fire?

Following up on her bestselling Gothic thriller, Whispers of the Bayou, and Amish romantic suspense, Shadows of Lancaster County, Mindy Starns Clark offers another exciting standalone novel, one full of Cajun mystery, hidden dangers, and the glow of God's unending grace."

As for movies, I love Murder She Purred! This movie is great for animal lovers as well as mystery lovers--so cute and so fun!

Here's a description of the movie from Amazon.com: "A fun, spoofy thriller, MURDER SHE PURRED is based on a book from Rita Mae Brown's popular MRS. MURPHY mystery series! In the spirit of AIR BUD, a crime-solving cat named Mrs. Murphy talks with her canine counterpart, Tucker ... and together, they conspire to help their unsuspecting owner, amateur sleuth Mary "Harry" Haristeen (Ricki Lake -- MRS. WINTERBOURNE), get to the bottom of some baffling local mysteries! So when there's a suspicious death in their cozy little Virginia town, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker become the secret accomplices in Harry's investigation! Your entire family will be entertained as this intrepid threesome set out to sort through the bizarre events, wild rumors, and shocking revelations that stand between them and the truth!"

Plus, I have a fun story that goes along with this movie! I watched this when I was younger, and my cat (who stays at my grandparents' house) was simply called Murphy for the most part. After seeing this movie, my grandpa called my cat Mr. Murphy (to parallel Mrs. Murphy in the movie), and the name has stuck through the years. ;) Of course, his name is often shortened to Murphy or sometimes "Murfin" when I'm thinking about my sister's cat Muffin Man. But I digress . . .

There's only one obvious choice for my favorite mystery T.V. show (actually two if we're going to be technical): Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys from the 1970s! LOVE those shows, especially the earlier actors and actresses. Don't even get me started about Parker Stevenson, the actor who plays Frank in The Hardy Boys--talk about BLUE eyes! ;)

Below is a YouTube video I found with the introduction of one of the seasons of the show:



And as far as games go, there's nothing like a good game of Clue to get you in the mood for a mystery! I love the original version, but I confess that some of the newer versions, including Clue DVD, are pretty entertaining!

At this point I must add my love for Murder Mystery parties!!! Some of my high school friends and I have done a couple of these parties at my house, and they're always so much fun! We use the kits that come in a box, and my mom and I have a lot of fun planning, decorating, etc. The one we did last Christmas break, for example, was Mardi Gras themed, and we had lots of food (including jambalaya!), Mardi Gras themed plates and cups, decorations we had left over from my 10th birthday party, etc.

What really helps with these Murder Mystery parties is having a dummy in the house. ;) We have a dummy named Bubba (which my dad has used when teaching at the Police Academy at a local community college), and he's always good for a scare (and laugh!). Definitely adds another element to the party when you can see the "body"--and when you can hide it and have someone accidentally stumble upon it. Oh, the memories . . .

Here are some pictures from our last Murder Mystery party (my parents also got in on the fun!):

Note the food! Food is a very important part of every party. ;) As you can see in the above picture, everyone was getting into their roles and diving into the story.

Staying in character throughout the Murder Mystery party is key!!! This is what makes it fun. Everything you do or say can be a clue to all the other characters, and vice versa. Plus, it's just so entertaining being able to accuse each other! ;)

Have I already mentioned that Murder Mystery parties are fun? ;) Don't we look like we stepped right out of Clue? Note Bubba playing his role quite well on the floor! (As a warning, some of the kits can be somewhat inappropriate in their story content, so I just want to make sure you're aware of that if you have an interest in purchasing one.)

Well, I've gone on and on about mysteries, and I'm sure I could continue to do so. But now I'd love to hear your thoughts! Do you enjoy mystery stories--whether reading about them, watching them, or acting them out? Any favorites you want to share?

Be sure and stop by tomorrow for a fun interview with author S. Dionne Moore, who has written a couple of cozy mysteries for the Heartsong Presents Mysteries collection! (And yes, this is all just to get you excited for next week--it's not "Mystery Week" in the sense that I'm planning on quite yet--but soon!)

Christmas in July: Day Four

Today we're going to talk about the well-loved and beautiful tradition of . . . the Christmas tree! From setting up the tree, to decorating it, to simply admiring it, the Christmas tree is a gorgeous symbol of cheer, growth, family, and celebration.

Our family actually has an artificial tree. (The tree pictured at left is my grandparents' tree, and that's my beautiful mother standing next to it!) There are some really great points to having an artificial tree, including the fact that it's far less of a mess! It lasts much longer, and there's not much of a chance of it housing a squirrel (for those of you who have seen Christmas Vacation!).

But I can definitely see the good points to having a real tree. For example, it seems that there's a whole grand experience involved in picking out a tree that is lost when one has an artificial tree. And then I'm sure there's an earthy, fresh fragrance that comes with having a real tree, as well.

So, does your family have an artificial tree or a real tree for a Christmas tree? And what do you like about whichever one you have?

Now, we also must discuss another big part of having a Christmas tree--ornaments! There are so many different kinds of ornaments. Our family is a big fan of Hallmark ornaments, and we have LOTS of them! From Mickey as Steamboat Willie to the Wizard of Oz, our tree is fascinating to look at, in my opinion. And Hallmark allows for not only a pleasant visual experience, but also a fun listening experience! Whenever we turn our tree on, a lot of the ornaments all chime in at once. The Wizard of Oz ornament is usually the last one to go off, leaving us with the echoing statement, "The great Oz has spoken." =)

What kind of ornaments do you have on your Christmas tree? And do you collect Hallmark ornaments?

Christmas trees are wonderful for bringing family and friends together, even serving as a lovely background for pictures! The picture at right is one taken this last Christmas break, when some of my friends and I got together at my house for a Murder Mystery Party. That's our Christmas tree in the background. As far as Murder Mystery Parties go, I've hosted two of them and they are soooo much fun!!! Of course, it takes a good sense of humor and people who are willing to stay in character, but my friends always make it a memorable experience! (And yes, I know that I was supposed to get copies of these pictures to my friends that were there . . . which I haven't done yet. Sorry, guys! Maybe I can get this done before next Christmas break!) ;)

OK, since I've already gone off on one tangent, I have a couple more (but please stick with me!). These next couple of pictures are in honor of Ashley (see her comment from the first day of "Christmas in July" if you're confused!):



That's my grandpa! ;) This is only really funny if you've seen A Christmas Story, so I hope these pictures elicit a smile and/or laugh for those of you who have!

And one more thing. Yes, I have a different blog background again! I'm just wondering if it's too dark for "Summer," or too blue. What do you think?

Thanks for putting up with my randomness today, and I'm curious to hear about your Christmas tree memories!