In the Wick of Time
Series: Magic Candle Shop Mystery #2
Author: Valona Jones
Genre: Cozy Paranormal Crafts and Hobbies Mystery
Pages: 288
Setting: Savannah, Georgia
Release Date: October 17, 2023, by Crooked Lane Books
Format(s): ebook, Audiobook, Hardcover
Summary:
Tabby Winslow will help her twin sister Sage with anything and everything—and that includes putting out the flames of suspicion when Sage’s boss is found murdered in this magical mystery, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Sofie Kelly.
December in Savannah, Georgia, is a sight to behold. With all the festivities—including the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade—twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever setting up for the big celebration. But that isn’t the only thing on the sisters’ minds. Both Sage and her fellow employee Mary Nicole are vying for the sought-after assistant manager job at the plant nursery. But when Loren Lee, their boss, is found dead, and Sage becomes the police’s favorite suspect, both Winslow girls know that they’ll need more than a flicker of magic and their sisterhood to solve the murder and clear Sage’s name.
Soon, Tabby realizes that this is just one of the many problems they have. If being a suspect for murder wasn’t enough, there are more magical problems that they have to fix: Sage’s boyfriend is having a paranormal experience of his own he can’t control, there’s an energy vampire searching for his supposedly lost cousin, her cat suddenly dislikes her, and oh—every time Tabby hiccups, she turns completely invisible. The suspect list grows with each day and it seems everyone has a reason or a connection to Loren Lee.
Tabby and Sage are burning the candle at both ends—but will it be enough to keep their friends safe and find this killer? Or will they be burned by their efforts?
Goodreads | Bookhype | BookBub | Storygraph | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Nook | BookShop | Kobo | Book Review
Character Interview with Tabby Winslow
How did you and your author meet?
I met Valona Jones on a misty morning. She was sitting by a flickering candle and pondering a story about a candlemaker in Savannah, Georgia. It was a role I’d longed to play, so I waved my hand wildly in the pool of characters who’d turned out of the story-ether for the role. Valona later told me she was impressed by my enthusiasm for the part.
Why did this writer decide to feature you in a whole series of books?
I kept bugging her about it, for real. Though at first I wasn’t keen on sharing the spotlight with a twin sister, once I realized that added character trait helped readers accept our telepathy, I jumped on the twin bandwagon. It’s odd really, how extroverted I was about landing the role. As a true introvert, I went way out of my comfort zone to make sure I got to be this psychic candlemaker.
Do you have any friends or family helping you out?
My twin sister Sage likes to go snooping with me at dark-thirty. She even learned how to pick locks from her boyfriend. She and I are a good team, and I value her willingness to try anything. Our aunt, “Auntie O,” is both our only surviving relative and a second mother to both of us. We rely on Auntie O so much, even though she and our late mother handed over the family business to us and told us to figure it out.
Do you have a regular job and investigate on the side or are you a full-time detective?
Yes, I have a fulltime job, and I adore it. My role at The Book and Candle Shop is to craft homemade and custom candles and soaps for our business. Most of our products are infused with my energy, giving good vibes to customers. Our business is doing better and better with every passing day. I’ve created several new scent-blend recipes for candles and soaps.
What is the funniest thing that happens to you or another character in this story?
It’s a bit…ah…embarrassing to admit, but my invisibility talent recently went on the fritz. Normally I can bend light and shadow to hide myself and anyone/anything I’m touching, but a crazy thing happened. One day in the shop I got the hiccups and much to my distress I saw that every time I hiccupped I became invisible. I don’t want anyone to see this because our family motto is to keep a low profile. No one but my twin knows I can go invisible. Or at least that’s what I’d thought.
Have you solved other cases or is this your first one?
The poisoning of Sage’s boss, Loren Lee Suffield, is my second case. The other investigation I assisted in was SNUFFED OUT, when one of our customers was murdered. Said customer got into a shouting match with my store clerk the day before. Customers taped the argument and the resulting videos went viral. Consequently, the cops hounded our clerk.
Do you have a gift or a special talent?
I do, but it’s a secret. I can tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else. I come from a family of energetics. We manipulate energy and read auras. The energy part is easy. I can freely donate my energy to a person who’s having a bad day, and I can also take energy from others if I overextend. Reading auras is complex as other variables come into play.
Who is the most important individual in your life?
I have a boyfriend! This is huge news for me as I have dated casually a few times but nothing ever came of those dates. But all of a sudden I was mad for my childhood best friend. We went from the friend’s zone, to friends-with-benefits, to being madly in love in a few short weeks. It’s been a whirlwind for me, but I love Dr. Octavian Henry Quigsly IV. Everyone calls him Quig, and he’s the Medical Examiner and Coroner.
What is your ideal vacation?
I’m a “staycation” kind of gal. Truly, for my family, there’s no place like home. I grew up above the shop on Bristol Street, but when Quig and I became an item, I moved two doors down in the same block to live in his apartment. My twin took a trip to Europe once, and it was a disaster for her. No way I’m putting myself in such dire energy jeopardy. I’m bedding down on Bristol Street for the rest of my life.
If you could change anything about your life what would it be?
I’d pay better attention to my mom overextending her energy as she “nursed” a sick friend. Mom knew she couldn’t win against cancer, but that didn’t stop her from pouring every drop of energy she possessed in her friend. Ultimately, her recharger broke after so many total refills asked of it. I wish Mom were here to see our progress with the shop and to meet our boyfriends. I would give anything if she was here for our weddings, babies, and all of the years of our raising children. Love you, Mom, and miss you!
Magical Candle Shop Mysteries
About Valona Jones
Valona Jones writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the unexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal observations when she began to write fiction. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where she’s seen time and tide wait for no one.
Maggie Toussaint writes cozy mystery and suspense under her own name and the pen name Valona Jones. She writes science fiction as Rigel Carson.
Giveaway
Prize: $25 Amazon gift certificate
Tour Organized by:
To find all the tour information, click the banner at the top of the page.
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Thank you for dropping by! So, what do you think of Tabby Winslow and In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones? Check out the other stops and enter the giveaway.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
Thanks for hosting In the Wick of Time here on its Great Escapes Book Blog Tour. It’s great to see Tabby’s interview on the screen. Aopreciate you being part of the cozy mystery community!