Book Tour Featuring *Purls Before Swine* by Rebecca McKinnon @dollycas #giveaway

Purls Before Swine (Clear Creek Mysteries)
by Rebecca McKinnon

About Purls Before Swine

Purls Before Swine (Clear Creek Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Rocky Mountains
Independently Published (March 23, 2023)
Length: ~250 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BRJYRQZX

Autumn has arrived in the Rocky Mountains. The resort that was almost the death of the small town of Clear Creek is trying to mend relations by hosting a local artisan show.

Jemma has been asked to create a display showing beginner projects all the way up to expert. Hoping to knit up attention for the shops in Clear Creek, she agrees. The last thing she expects is to trip over a body in the middle of the exhibits.

Curiosity piqued, she wants to know how someone was killed under the watchful eyes of the resort’s security staff — headed by the man she loves.

Even though her past experiences have taught Jemma she doesn’t want to be anywhere near a killer, when Deputy Chase surprises everyone by asking for her help she can’t bring herself to say no. Because if the killer isn’t bound off before the resort guests leave, someone will get away with murder.

CHARACTER GUEST POST

Let me be the first to welcome you to the Rocky Mountains!

You might have heard that the resort down the road is about to host a “local artisan show.” What that means is that the resort is hoping the locals will forgive them for almost killing the small-town charm in this area of the Rocky Mountains. I’ve been asked to provide a display showing my growth from a beginning knitter who couldn’t cast on to someone who can follow any pattern and fix their mistakes along the way.

Today, I thought you might be interested hearing about some of the knitting projects I’m going to include.

On the beginner end is the first thing I ever knit. Last spring when I came to Clear Creek, I could crochet anything but knitting wasn’t something I’d ever wanted to try. But when you’re running a yarn store, it’s a necessary thing to know. The lopsided hat with uneven stitches was made from a luscious green alpaca and merino blend.

Next, I have a cowl. The brown and rust nylon and wool yarn played up the colors nature had dressed herself in for the season. It’s not a difficult pattern, but sometimes the simple things look the most elegant.

After that, I made a tea cozy. I know. I don’t normally drink tea. It would have made more sense to knit mug cozies for my coffee mugs, but this was a present for a friend of mine. It looks like a fairytale mushroom — the kind with the red cap with white spots. It’s made to be a little house, with a door, and windows. It even has a little knitted porch light.

A little ways down the line there’s a pair of socks. The yellow and purple yarn makes me think of pansies, and is a better fit for spring than fall. They’re a blend of merino, silk, and nylon, and have the cutest cables going up the sides. It was my first cabling project, and I only messed up the cable direction once. With any luck, no one will even notice it.

I love the little stuffies I have next. I don’t normally make stuffed toys, but when I saw the pattern for the adorable little Loch Ness Monster, I couldn’t help myself. It was too cute!

The final project is my expert example. It’s a shawl. Made with fluffy angora yarn the same color the aspen leaves have turned, it’s a stunning design of lacy leaves. To top it off, there were individual leaves hanging around the edge of the shawl, attached with I-cords.

There are going to be a lot of other artists and artisans at the show. I know there will be an oil painter, and several crafters. I’ve heard there’s a teenage girl who’s going to display her rock people. She finds rocks that look like they have faces, and glues googly eyes onto them.

The show is going to take place in the resort’s atrium, and is scheduled to last a whole week. If you’re in the area, I think you’ll enjoy it!

Just a word of warning: I’ve been told this show is featured in the next Clear Creek Mystery. If I know anything about the author, that means something bad is about to happen. So, if you do come, be extra careful! I’d hate to be responsible if anything happened to you.

About Rebecca McKinnon

Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere, but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.