I Thee Dead: The Wedded Bliss Series
About I Thee Dead
Murder, false arrests, her business on the brink...
But if anyone's ready for the unexpected, it's a wedding planner.
After being dumped by her fiancé, let go from her job and dealing with the passing of her beloved aunt, Leah has picked up the pieces and returned to Ashford, Ohio to take over her family’s wedding planning business. Quickly she learns the business is not doing well and could close in a few months. She jumps in with both feet and focuses on an upcoming wedding for a local wealthy socialite which could be their saving grace.
Everything seems to be falling into place until the night of the rehearsal dinner, when someone ends up dead and Leah’s best friend is the number one suspect. With the help of her friends, a handsome local detective, and a sexy private investigator, will Leah be able to catch the killer and clear her best friend’s name before they strike again or will there be an unhappily ever after?
Author Guest Post
by Christine Lawrence
My unusual and lengthy journey to publication . . .
When I was small, my mom would read to me all the time. I loved a particular book so much that I would ask her to read it repeatedly. One night, exhausted, she handed me the book and asked me to read it. Much to her amazement, I did. I was four.
As a young child, my mom instilled a love of reading into her children. She ran a home babysitting business, and we traveled weekly to the library. We never left with less than a huge armful of books. She would read them to us, or we would read them, and then we would go back the following week and exchange them for a new stack.
I was a curious child, let’s be honest, nosy. One day, I stumbled upon a story my mother had written. I was amazed and enthralled. My mom, my mom had written a story? It was a romance, and one of the characters had amnesia. I will forever remember that moment.
If my mom could write a story, then I could, right? I began writing my own short stories. They usually didn’t get finished, and I would have several started, but I loved it. My favorite series was The Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin. I loved the various characters, each with different personalities and relatable.
As I grew older, I began reading romance novels. Starting with Barbara Cartland, then Harlequins. I soon moved on to the larger three-hundred-page historical romances. We kept B. Dalton in business, much to my dad’s chagrin and pocketbook. Then one day, my mom picked up a Sue Grafton novel in her alphabet series and the rest was history.
I took up mysteries and fell in love with them. Cozy mysteries were the best. My mom and I would share books and try to see if we could figure out the killer. Some of my favorite authors at the time were Janet Evanovich, Joanne Fluke, and Earlene Fowler.
When I began college, I decided to minor in English. I struggled and I ended up dropping it. Writing a book was still ate at me, but I lost confidence in my ability to pursue it. Several years later, I graduated and while I felt accomplished, there was something still missing.
In 2008, I decided that I wanted to throw caution to the wind and go forth with my dreams of becoming a published author. I researched writing groups and found a local one in my town, began attending meetings, and conferences to learn the craft. I realized that every time I came home, I was inspired. It gave me a spark of joy. One that I had been missing.
My love of cozy mysteries had not waned and when I was deciding on which genre to write in, I knew that was the one for me. My educational background is in Forensic Science, and based on my experiences, plus my obsession with True Crime, I thought it would be great material for my books.
I began writing my first story (which may never get published). I also joined a critique group to obtain feedback. It was a good experience. I learned a lot and met some amazing fellow authors in the field.
Then my mom grew ill and required a kidney transplant. Plus, my relationship was Amidst all the chaos, I stepped back from my writing. I was still writing, but my focus was on my mom and my family.
Luckily, my mom received the gift of life. My situation had changed, and writing was still there for me. Slowly, I got my mojo back, and I began writing more. In 2014, I started writing the first book in The Wedded Bliss Mystery series, which I recently published in August of 2024.
I remarried and became a stepmother and then mother to my son whom we adopted. I focused on the book and finished the completed first draft in 2018. It was sadly one month before I lost my mom. She saw me accomplish my goal of writing a book, and I am so grateful.
I continued working on the following stories in The Wedded Bliss Mystery series and by 2022 had finished five of the six books. I have an amazing critique/accountability group who has been very supportive, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.
My original goal was to publish the first book in 2023, but then I became very ill and spent most of the year battling health issues and running all over the place for a ton of doctor visits. So again, I had to place my publishing dreams on hold.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I want you to know that you should always follow your dreams. Even if it takes longer than you plan, it will be worth the journey. Never give up!
About Christine Lawrence
Christine Lawrence resides in a small town in Northwest Ohio with her husband, stepdaughter, son and four spoiled dogs. An avid reader since childhood, she decided to mesh her two favorite genres, romance and mystery. Working hard to complete the next book in The Wedded Bliss mystery series, she spends her free time participating in local writing groups, traveling and spending time with her family.
Christine has a bachelor’s degree in forensic science with a specialization in Crime Scene Investigation and a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Her background as a private investigator and obsession with all things crime related gives her endless fodder for her small-town cozy mysteries.
Author Links
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Linktree: writerchristinelawrence | Facebook | Linktree
Purchase Links Amazon Barnes and Noble Gramercy Books
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December 4 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 5 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 6 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 7 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
December 7 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 8 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW
December 8 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - REVIEW
December 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 9 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read - SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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December 10 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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Sounds like a great cozy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me!!!
ReplyDeleteThis will be a fun mystery to read and try to solve.
ReplyDelete