Friday, June 11, 2010

Welcome Liz Lipperman, Author of a New Culinary Mystery Series!

Liz Lipperman
I am delighted to welcome guest blogger Liz Lipperman to our kitchen today. She and I are actually doing a little switcheroo. While Liz is here, I'm blogging over at her group blog, a fun little cantina called Mysteries and Margaritas! I'm holding a hot instant giveaway there, too. Leave a comment and you could win The California Firehouse Cookbook. So after you've met Liz, come on over and visit me by clicking here (drinks are on the house). Take it away, Liz...   ~ Cleo Coyle


First off, I want to thank Cleo for having me here. I love her Coffeehouse Mysteries and was delighted to have an opportunity to tell you a little about me and my upcoming book.

Since both Cleo and I have series with yummy recipes involved, I’m posting one of the great ones from my story. The kicker is, you have to read all the way down to get it. (Yeah, I know – scrolling takes the impatient ones right to it!)

Cleo asked me to talk about my new Casserole Lover’s Series coming from Berkley in 2011 with the first book, Ducks in A Row, debuting in July 2011.

First a little back story. It’s funny how this all came about. I am a romance writer–-or at least I thought I was--until I consistently got dinged in romance contests because I didn’t follow the rules. I wanted murders and even though I always have a hot love interest and a “happily ever after”, I wasn’t writing romance. You’d think a smart girl like me would have figured that out a lot sooner and saved herself a lot of entry fees!


Temporary cover for Liz's
Ducks in a Row,
the first in her new
Casserole Lover's Mysteries,
 coming next year.
I was excited when my agent began shopping a mystery ghost series in NY and elated when an editor at Berkley called to say she loved the story and the voice. Unfortunately, she was looking for cozies and asked what else I had.

I had nothing that would work. I write mysteries with lots of twists, a fair amount of sex, language that wouldn’t work in a cozy and gruesome murder scenes. My agent asked if I could write one about food since that was what the editor was looking for. Initially, I said there was no way. We agreed I would sleep on it and let her know in the morning.

Here’s the problem. Most of the food cozies I read involved intricate gourmet cooking. I knew I could never pull off a series like that. Did I mention I grew up with 9 siblings in a household where casseroles were the only things that fed us all on our budget?

So, I fell asleep that night prepared to tell her I couldn’t write a cozy--until I awakened from a deep sleep at three in the morning and Jordan McAllister was born.

Jordan is a wannabe sports writer who graduated the top of her class and followed her boyfriend to Dallas where he promptly dumped her for a weather girl with “perky clouds.” She ends up in a small Texas town writing Personals until she's offered a chance to fill in for a local food critic off on sick leave.

Rationalizing that it’s one step closer to her dream, she jumps at the chance. However, when a dead body is found underneath her apartment stairwell with her name and number along with it, she becomes the prime suspect, as well as the main course on the murder menu.

Now, that I can write about--a girl whose idea of cooking is frying bologna and microwaving TV dinners. Now she has to write a column with fancy food recipes, and despite cooking a mean Pop Tart, has to rely on her hippy friend for recipes that are given fancy names and printed in her column. One such recipe is Potato Chip Chicken or Budine de Papitas Fritas con Pollo.

Click on the link below to download it.
It’s easy and really good.
Liz's awesome
Potato Chip Chicken Casserole
(or) "Budine de papitas fritas con pollo!"



CLICK HERE
to get Liz's
Recipe

 
To visit Liz at
her offical author website

click the link below




And that’s how the
Casserole Lover’s Mystery series was born.
I’d love to hear how your ideas were hatched.



Comments and questions for Liz
are most welcome.
Just click the "comments" link below.



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And now I'd like to tell you about our brand new contest here at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen!

My talented friend, mystery author Avery Aames, has an exciting contest for us now that Margaret and Ken won Julie’s May contest. We’re celebrating the upcoming release of The Long Quiche Goodbye and...

Here’s how you can enter!
 

Avery's "You Be The Sleuth" Contest!
Avery’s first book in A Cheese Shop Mystery series, The Long Quiche Goodbye, debuts July 6. To celebrate its release, Avery is running a contest from June 9 to July 6! You be the sleuth! Track down the recipe on Avery's website that includes eggs, Edam, and white pepper. Enter your answer by clicking on this link: CONTEST ENTRY FORM.

One of you will win a $25 gift certificate at your favorite bookstore.

Two of you will win signed copies of The Long Quiche Goodbye.

Three of you will win a Long Quiche Goodbye magnet. You can ask friends for help. Spread the word and share the fun. And while you're there, consider pre-ordering a book on Avery's booksellers pageHere is the link to Avery’s website to help get you started. Good luck!


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Cleo Coyle is also holding a
HOT instant giveaway today
during her guest blogger appearance at Mysteries and Margaritas blog.

Go to Cleo's blog post by clicking here.
Leave a comment for Cleo
and you could win
The California Firehouse Cookbook, which benefits a charity formed in the name of Terry Farrell, an heroic firefighter who lost his life on 9/11....

31 comments:

  1. Liz! I can't wait for your book to come out. It sounds soooo fun and good!

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  2. Wonderful story, Liz! You're making my mouth water this morning, both for your casserole and for your new book! Congrats!!

    Julie

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  3. I like the concept and I'm adding it to my book list.

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  4. Tonya, Julie, and Dru, thanks for the encouragement. I ended up really liking Jordan and fell in love with the male protag who was raised in a household of women and cooks AND does the dishes.

    You really should try this recipe. You won't regret it.

    I'd love to hear how you guys came up with story ideas.

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  5. This sounds like a great new series for us "every day" gourmets! Can't wait to read it!

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  6. Hi Liz. Like the book, this casserole sounds delicious :) I printed it off and I'm going to try it soon.

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  7. my grandma used to do something similar with tuna so I'm glad to have a similar recipe.

    As for the story- all the characters are marvelous - I know the entire series is going to be a blast!

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  8. Jeanne, hoorah for another casserole lover. Like my character, I rarely eat steak except for the cheap round steak that I make into a wonderful baked steak that cooks in its own gravy. Yum! That recipe will be in the second book of the series, tentatively titled Beef Stolen-Off.

    Thanks for commenting.

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  9. Chris, I think this would convert easily into a potato chip tuna recipe, although for the life of me I can't figure out why anyone would eat hot tuna!! As you can see, I'm not a seafood fan, either, although I do like salmon patties. For some reason, that was a cheap thing back in my childhood days. Go figure.

    And thanks for the comment about my characters. Being that you were one of my marvelous beta readers, I take that as a compliment.

    Thanks for commenting.

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  10. Liz, I can't wait to read your book. I love how Jordan came into being. It's the perfect set-up. Also, can't wait to try out your recipe. Nothing better than a good casserole.

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  11. Anita, your kids would love this. I use the fat-free chips and make it even less fattening. the best thing is that you use UNCOOKED chicken which really saves time.

    Thanks for stopping by. You are so good about that always.

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  12. June, I can't wait for you to read it, either. I have included ten recipes - all wonderful. I'm not sure how many Berkley will keep, though.

    Thanks for chiming in.

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  13. Ten recipes! Yipes, Liz! But with as large a family as you grew up in, I'll bet you have hundreds of casserole recipes. My mother loved casseroles. Her favorites always had a Mexican theme.
    ~Avery

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  14. Hey, Avery, I live in Texas so a lot of the recipes in the book have a Mexican touch - Tex-Mex Breakfast Casserole and Rattlesnake Pasta in particular. Both are yummy but with a bite. Mexican is one of my favorites.

    I can't wait to check out your book, The Long Quiche Goodbye. I love quiches also. Look at me! Not much food I don't like - except most red meat - just like Jordan.

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  15. Afternoon LIz,
    Had to go grocery shopping. The only problem with this blog and Cleo's website, looking at them I think I've gained 20 lbs.
    Of course you know I've got a spot already reserved in my bookcase for your series.

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  16. Ah, Lindsay, you are a sweetie. Thanks for commenting, and be sure and try this casserole. It freezes, too, although I'm sure your dog will love it!

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  17. Liz, can't wait to read your books! They sound awesome. I love a good casserole. My kids don't know what a side dish is. :) I will be cooking up this casserole this weekend.

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  18. Tiffinie, thanks for commenting. I usually take a rolling pin to the chips in the bag and use way more than this recipe calls for. It is delicious the first time you eat it, but the next day, it tastes like hash browns!

    Good luck with your Alaskan thrillers. I just got back from my cruise, BTW. I love your state.

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  19. Hi Liz
    think I might just have to try it. Of course Kebi's on a see food diet. Sees food and eats it

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  20. Thanks for joining us today, Liz! Your series sounds like so much fun! I'm looking forward to it.

    ~ Krista

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  21. Sounds like a great series, Liz! Thanks so much for coming by today and sharing with us. This sounds like a casserole that's right up my kids' alley! Thanks!

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  22. Liz - fried bologna? Jordan is already my idol.

    The recipe sounds delicious, as does your series. And way to go on coming up with those ideas overnight!

    Barbara
    www.barbarawhitedaille.com

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  23. I'm really looking forward to your book, Liz.

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  24. Liz, I love your story and I'm eager to read your first book. I'll check out your recipe, too. It looks delicious. Though not as delicious as the chocolate cake in the header. Yum.

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  25. Hey, Liz!

    Sounds like new series I must read. Any recipe with potato chips must be good!

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  26. Liz,
    Now that I'm home from that horrible foour letter word, work, I printed out your recipe. Think I'll try it this weekend.

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  27. Liz, thank you again for joining us in our virtual *kitchen* today. I'm really looking forward to your Casserole Lover's Mysteries launching next summer. And your potatoe chip chicken is now on my must-make list!

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  28. Cleo,
    Since this is a virtual kitchen then all the recipes have virtually disappearing calories in them?

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  29. Okay, I went off to play water volleyball with a whole bunch of butt-kickin' grammas.

    @Lindsay-I'll bet Kebi eats better than most humans.

    @ Krista and Elizabeth- Thanks for having me. I so enjoyed this. And you really do have to try the recipe. I'm not just blowing smoke about how delicious it is.

    @Barbara - Jordan is my kind of girl, too. I have a friend who just went through chemo for breast cancer and she is now on my case because of my serious love for bologna and hot dogs! Nitrates, she screams.

    More replies to come, as Cleo says.

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  30. @Rose - thanks for stopping by and smooches for the good words about my series.

    @Edie - man does not live by chocolate cake alone. You have to have protein first(try the potato chip chicken!) I have to tell you, Jordan is also addicted to Hostess Ho Ho's, so she is right there with the chocolate. And the cake does look sinful. Thanks for stopping by.

    @Lindsay - let me know how the recipe turned out.


    @Mary - Hey, girl, thanks for commenting. I can't say it enough. The recipe is yummy.

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  31. Again, a big thanks to Cleo and all the girls on the loop. This has been so much fun. Let's do it again soon.

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