Crewel World: 1 (Needlecraft Mystery) - Softcover

Mysteries are thrilling, authentic *stories*!
When I teach creative writing to elementary-age children, they almost universally agree that they have had wonderful ideas for stories, and have set off to write them, but somehow never finish. I tell them they should write mysteries, because there is one way to write a mystery that guarantees an ending: Write that ending first. If you know "who dunnit" and how, and why, and where, and when, *before* you begin, then all you have to do is write towards that ending and you will have a complete story. Of course, it isn't quite as easy as that. But I believe one reason for the popularity of mystery fiction today is that the reader is guaranteed that the story won't end until the puzzle set before her or him at the start is solved. When I set out to write "Framed in Lace," I found myself faced with a dilemma of another sort. I had agreed to write a mystery featuring needleworkers. So I invented a pleasant needlework shop in a great little Minnesota town full of interesting characters. And then I discovered that while I had a more-than-nodding acquaintance with needlework, I didn't have the depth of knowledge necessary to sustain believability in the owner of the shop. Worse, I didn't know anything at all about how to run a small business. So I had to murder my nominee for sleuth. I felt bad about it, she was a terrific lady, but what else could I do? I liked the town and the shop, and wanted to set the series there, but I couldn't do it with Margot Berglund as sleuth. So I gave her a sister who inherited the shop, one who knew nothing about running a small business and next-to-nothing about needlework. (When you read about Betsy's frustration with Quicken and on learning to knit, you are hearing me.) The needlework pattern included with each novel was my editor's idea. The first one is kind of complicated -- I got carried away. The second one will be much easier. I have an excellent designer of these patterns in Denise Williams. I hope you workers of needlepoint, knitting, counted cross stitch, bobbin lace, et al, will enjoy these books. I stand in awe of you, especially now I am attempting to emulate you. And for fans of the cozy mystery, here's another one just for you. Monica Ferris

When her sister Margot turns up dead in her own needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy Devonshire launches her own investigation into the murder, uncovering an array of suspects ranging from an ambitious former employee to a greedy landlord. Original.