Courtny Bradley needs no introduction to those of us in the cozy mystery world. She's the incredibly talented Courtagonist on YouTube with a booktube channel that celebrates all things cozy mystery. She has a done bucketloads for lifting up our genre. On top of that, Courtny is the warmest, kindest human being you could hope to meet, and I'm lucky to call her my friend.
To top off all the good work she does everywhere else, Death on Deck is Courtny's very own debut cozy mystery. I read an early copy and can highly recommend this adventure on the high seas!
Here's what to expect:
Embark on a thrilling nautical adventure in "Death on Deck," a captivating cozy mystery by Courtny Bradley. Meet Lisa-May Midé and her Cruising Crew-a spirited group of women in their 60s facing retirement head-on.
When a lifeless body is discovered, their leisurely cruise takes a sinister turn. Lisa-May finds herself entangled in a web of mystery and murder. Battling ageist suspicions and navigating the waters of friendship, the group of women unravel the secrets hidden beneath the ship's glimmering surface. With humor, resilience, and a bond forged through decades, the Cruising Crew proves that the journey to solving a mystery is just as exciting as the destination.
I asked Courtny to share with us a little about the inspiration for her main character, Lisa-May, and why she chose to write about a group of vivacious older characters.
Lisa-May is loosely inspired by my maternal grandmother, Nonnie. Her name is Connie, and she is the feistiest, most stubborn, and most independent woman you will ever meet. She has never needed a man to complete her, and she has married three...or was it four times? I can't remember, ha! She taught me what it means to depend on myself first. She would teach herself how to do something when she wanted it done. I would walk into her house growing up, and a wall would be gone where there was one, and another would be erected where there wasn't one. I wanted Lisa-May to show that kind of tenacity while also showing that it can be lonely to never ask for help or be open for more.
As I write this, I am lucky to have all three of my grandmothers still alive. That is who I have dedicated Death on Deck to. They are all a hoot in a half. The stories I could tell you about my Nonnie, Nannie, and Grandma Janet would have you gripping your ribs, laughing, or shaking your head in bewilderment. I love vivacious older characters because I think that is a time in our lives when we truly can be ourselves 100 percent. We don't have to worry about the latest fashion, the food we eat (as much), or keeping with the it crowd. We can be ourselves. My friends and family will tell you that I am eager for the day that I get my first grey hair and when I can be a snuggly grandma. Until then, I'll write about them in The Cruising Crew. I hope I do my ladies justice.
I want to meet all of your grandmothers, Courtny! They sound amazing!
As for you, lovely reader, you can preorder Death on Deck now, ahead of its September 30th release date! Click here -- Wild Rose Press -- to find purchase links!
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