Peete and Repeat (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries Book 3) (21 page)

Happy Camper Tip #20

The Burden River and the bike trail are based on the Root River Trail in southeastern Minnesota. There really is an old power plant, a tunnel and an environmental learning center, but farther upriver than depicted here. Deborah does not work at the center and the people there are very helpful. Burdensville is based on the delightful town of Lanesboro, and you can find the pie shop in Whalen.

You can get a free copy of the second

Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery,

THE BLUE COYOTE,

if you sign up for my Favorite Readers email list to receive occasional notices about my new books and special offers.

Go to this link:

www.karenmussernortman.com

For taking your time to share Frannie and Larry's adventures. Just as the sound of a tree falling in the forest depends on hearers, a book only matters if it has readers. Please consider sharing your thoughts with other readers in a review or emailing me at [email protected]. My website at www.karenmussernortman.com provides updates on my books, my blog, and photos of our for-real camping trips.

If you enjoyed
The Blue Coyote
, you may want to try the other Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries:

Bats and Bones:
a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree. Frannie and Larry Shoemaker are retirees who enjoy weekend camping with their friends in state parks in this new cozy mystery series. They anticipate the usual hiking, campfires, good food, and interesting side trips among the bluffs of beautiful Bat Cave State Park for the long Fourth of July weekend—until a dead body turns up. Confined in the campground and surrounded by strangers, Frannie is drawn into the investigation. Frannie’s persistence and curiosity helps authorities sort through the possible suspects and motives, but almost ends her new sleuth career—and her life—for good. As a bonus, each chapter ends with a camping tip or recipe—some useful, some not so much.

The Blue Coyote
: Frannie and Larry Shoemaker love taking their grandchildren, Sabet and Joe, camping with them. But at Bluffs State Park, Frannie finds herself worrying more than usual about their safety, and when another young girl disappears from the campground in broad daylight, her fears increase. The fun of a bike ride, a flea market, marshmallow guns, and a storyteller are quickly overshadowed. Accusations against Larry and her add to the cloud over their heads. Frannie begins to puzzle out the mystery: Are the itinerant road workers as much of a threat as Frannie thinks? What about the lone woman camper who also disappears? Or is the girl's deadbeat dad behind it all?

There is no way I can adequately thank all the people who supported and helped me on this book, but of course I will try. Several people in Lanesboro, Minnesota supplied valuable information; especially the staff at the wonderful Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center and the volunteers at the Lancaster Historical Museum for background on the 1915 Root River Power Plant. And I borrowed names from several friends and readers: Valerie Lanning and Virginia Miehe, both diehard walkers but not twins or photographers, graciously consented to be murdered. Mary Larson, Deb McCabe Musser, Joan Rump and Mary Sorenson volunteered (and won the chance!) on my website to be characters in Peete and Repeat.

My husband, Virginia Miehe, and Marcia Stientjes were my early readers and all made important catches and suggestions. The cover art was again the wonderful work of my sister Gretchen and pulled together and formatted by my sister Libby. And I need to mention our camping friends who unwittingly provide much of the material for my books. Finally to my readers for their great and honest reviews and feedback, thank you all.

Karen Musser Nortman is the author of the Frannie Shoemaker Campground cozy mystery series, including the BRAGMedallion honoree,
Bats and Bones
. After previous incarnations as a secondary social studies teacher (22 years) and a test developer (18 years), she returned to her childhood dream of writing a novel. The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries came out of numerous ‘round the campfire’ discussions, making up answers to questions raised by the peephole glimpses one gets into the lives of fellow campers. Where did those people disappear to for the last two days? What kinds of bones are in this fire pit? Why is that woman wearing heels to the shower house?

Karen and her husband Butch originally tent camped when their children were young and switched to a travel trailer when sleeping on the ground lost its romantic adventure. They take frequent weekend jaunts with friends to parks in Iowa and surrounding states, plus occasional longer trips. Entertainment on these trips has ranged from geocaching and hiking/biking to barbecue contests, balloon fests, and buck skinners’ rendezvous. Frannie and Larry will no doubt check out some of these options on their future adventures.

More information is available on her website at www.karenmussernortman.com.

Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads can be very helpful to an author. If you have time to do so, I thank you in advance.