Showcase: A Plain Scandal (Appleseed Creek Mystery Series) by Amanda Flower

A Plain Scandal 

(Appleseed Creek Mystery Series #2)

A PLAIN SCANDAL follows computer specialist Chloe Humphrey into the heart of Ohio's Amish Country where the quiet Appleseed Creek community is under attack. An unknown assailant is cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men. Chloe is alarmed over the crimes against the Amish and worries how the events will impact her close friends. When she discovers an Amish man dead, Chloe decides to take matters into her own hands and find the culprit before someone else pays the ultimate price. As she seeks help from her friends who are more connected to the Amish way of life, together they attempt to restore Appleseed Creek to its natural peaceful state.

Book One

Welcome to Appleseed Creek, the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, where life is not as serene as it seems.

While her Cleveland friends relocated to Southern California and Italy, 24-year-old computer whiz Chloe Humphrey moves with some uncertainty to Appleseed Creek to direct technology services at a nearby college. Her first acquaintance is Becky, an ex-Amish teenager looking for a new home.

While driving Chloe’s car, Becky collides with a buggy, killing an Amish elder. But what looks like an accident is soon labeled murder when police discover the car’s cut brake line.

Now, Chloe must take on the role of amateur sleuth to discover who the real intended victim was before the murderer makes a second attempt. Becky’s handsome Amish-turned-Mennonite brother, Timothy, a local carpenter, comes in handy along the way. With God’s help, they’ll solve the mystery that’s rocking this small community.

Book Three:  Out September 2013

USA Today recently hailed award-nominated author Amanda Flower forA Plain Death, calling it “the first Amish rom-com . . . bring on the next one!” As the enthusiastic reviews continue to mount, she’s back with her third Appleseed Creek mystery, A Plain Disappearance.

It’s Christmastime in Amish Country, and Chloe Humphrey has begun settling into her life in Appleseed Creek excited to see where her new relationship with Timothy Troyer will lead. Unfortunately it leads to murder when the couple discovers the body of Amish teenager Katie Lambright while on their first date.

Near the scene there is evidence that Timothy’s friend and auto mechanic Billy Thorpe is involved with the crime. The police reveal Billy is not really who he said he was and has been living the last decade in Knox County under a stolen alias. Now, Chloe and Timothy must find Billy, bring him to justice, or prove his innocence.

Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland. She also writes mysteries as Isabella Alan.

Q.  What inspires your writing?

A. Great question! So many things inspire me, but I think I get most inspiration from people. My characters are quirky, and there are a lot of quirky and funny people in this world.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being an author?

A. Connecting with readers either in person at a book signing or online via Facebook or Twitter.

Q.  What is the toughest part of being an author?

A. Waiting. Authors do a lot of waiting. We wait for contracts, release dates, reviews, and royalty statements.

Q.  If you could not be author, what would you do/be?

A. I’m also a college librarian. I would happily still be a librarian. It’s a wonderful career.

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

A. Librarian Plots Murder

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

A. To Kill A Mockingbird

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

A. I’m most like India Hayes, the protagonist from my first series. Maid of Murder is the first novel.

Q.  What character from all of your books are you most like?

A. Same answer as above. Really we are sort of twins. She’s just a tad more outwardly sarcastic than I am.

Q.  What is your favorite season?

A. Summer! I love sunshine.

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

A. For the Appleseed Creek Series, my covers are inspired by the countryside in Ohio’s Amish Country. My publisher did an amazing job with each of them. My favorite is the cover of A Plain Disappearance, which will be released in September. It is beautiful.

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.

A. When I travel or have book signings I take a toy called Dead Fred with me and take funny photos of him while I am there. Fans love it and are disappointed when I leave Dead Fred at home. He’s become a mascot of sorts and even has his own Pinterest Board.

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A. Currently, I writing the second mystery of my Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series, which I write as Isabella Alan. The first book will release the first week of September 2013. A Plain Disappearance, #3 in the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, will release the same week.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A. Thank you so much for allowing me to stop by! Readers can learn more about me on my website, www.amandaflower.com, or through social media. As I mentioned before, I love connecting with readers through Facebook and Twitter.

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