Hello Everyone,

It’s blueberry season. For me that means eating as much blueberry cobbler as possible. Here’s my recipe. It works just as well with chopped peaches substituted for the berries.

Blueberry Cobbler

In a medium bowl mix: 1 cup of flour, ¾ teaspoon of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of baking soda.

Sprinkle 3 cups of blueberries with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

In a large bowl mix: ⅓ cup of sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 ½ tablespoons of flour. Add the berries and stir gently to coat with the sugar mixture. Pour into a medium (4 cup) baking dish.

Cut ¼ cup of butter into the flour mixture in the first bowl. Add ½ cup sour milk. Stir until a soft dough forms. Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto the berries. Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

This is great for breakfast the next morning, assuming there’s any left!

The 12^th Magical Cats mystery, A Case of Cat and Mouse will be available on September 1^st.

Kathleen has a part-time job doing research for a baking competition filming in Mayville Heights when she discovers one of the judges dead. And as usual, Owen and Hercules stick their paws in the case—and try to sample all the baking from the show. Click here to read an excerpt.

What am I Doing?

Reading:

Tiny Habits by B J Fogg

Fogg is the director of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University. Tiny Habits was strongly recommended by a writing colleague. So far, I think it’s the best book I’ve ever read on making new habits—and I’ve read a lot of them.

A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder by Diane Freeman

This is the second book in Freeman’s Victorian-era mystery series. American Frances Wynn, the now-widowed Countess of Harleigh, has adapted well to the quirks and traditions of the British aristocracy, but she keeps getting mixed up in murder. This time the victim is her friend, Mary Archer, whom Frances hoped might make the perfect wife for her cousin Charles.

This series has turned out to be just as much fun as I’d hoped. I’ve already bought the third book, A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

This is another book that a writing friend insisted I had to read. I’m glad I did. Trevor Noah’s path from South Africa to TV’s The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a relationship was punishable by five years in prison. His story is funny in places, sad and frightening in others, and incredibly inspiring. I literally carried the book around with me everywhere so I could read just one more page.

Watching:

The Junior Baking Show

This is a spin-off of one of my favorite shows, the Great British Baking Show. It features bakers between the ages of 9 and 15. It’s just as much fun as the original.

Leverage

Leverage follows Nathan Ford, played by Timothy Hutton, and his team of, well, criminals, who come together to act as modern-day Robin Hoods. Every episode features an elaborate “sting.” I love trying to figure out how the crew will manage to scam the bad guys. This is the second time I’ve watched Leverage and it’s just as much fun as the first time.

I was happy to learn that the executive producer of Leverage, Dean Devlin, has teamed up with actor Noah Wylie for a reboot of the series. I wonder if they’re looking for writers?

What’s coming from my writing friends:

Murder Take Two is the 10^th book in the Witch City mysteries from Carol J. Perry. This series just keeps getting better. I love Aunt Ibby!

A Sprinkling of Murder from Daryl Wood Gerber is the first book in the new Fairy Garden mystery series. Did you know Daryl used to be an actress? She appeared on an episode of Murder She Wrote.

Giveaways

Each month, two of our newsletter subscribers win a book from Sofie Kelly or Sofie Ryan. Stay subscribed, keep an eye on your email and not only could you win one of my books, sometimes you’ll get the chance to win a book written by one of my friends.

Congratulations to August winners Sarah and Debbie who each won a copy of Claw Enforcement.

Thanks for reading!