Bleeding Heart Librarian by Jackie Layton | Author Q & A

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Bleeding Heart Librarian by Jackie Layton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Bleeding Heart Librarian
Series: A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery #3
Author: Jackie Layton
Publisher: Level Best Books
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Emma Justice is friends with the local librarian and brings her extra flowers once a week. On a hot July morning, when people are gathered outside the closed library past opening time, Emma calls the police. The librarian’s body is found in the building and beside the body is a pink and white bleeding heart plant.

Tess Carranza was a lovely person dedicated to children and patrons of the library in Lutz, Texas. Tess recently confided to Emma about her fear someone was using the library to gather information to commit crimes. Emma didn’t get the entire story from Tess before her death, but now she’s determined to stop the crime and catch Tess’s killer.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Q & A with Author Jackie Layton

Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!

Bleeding Heart Librarian is about Emma’s librarian friend’s murder, so I’d love to know if you have any favorite library memories from when you were a child. 

I don’t remember getting my first library card, but when I was eight, I remember my mom took us to find the library and get our card. I was so excited to explore the new-to-me library. As an adult, whenever I’ve moved, finding the library has been a priority.

What or who inspired you to become an author? Was it always something you wanted to do?

I always dreamed of writing, but I never believed it was possible. When I was in my teens, my mother and I often read the same books and would discuss them.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I have an office in my house, and I love to go in there and write.

Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, but I also read non-fiction for research and enjoy that.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

There are so many places, Paris was my first thought. However, I think I’d like to live on the coast of Maine. It’d be so cool to rent a house or apartment in town and get to know the locals. I’d also like to hike and explore the culture of the area. It seems like there are so many unique areas to include in a murder mystery.

Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I’m writing a closed circle mystery, and I’ve never tried writing one before. It’s interesting to have a limited number of suspects. The amateur sleuth doesn’t know who to trust, except her dogs.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!

Thank you so much for hosting me.

More In This Series

About the Author

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. Jackie always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Many of her ideas come from people watching and watching Dateline and American Greed.

Connect with Jackie by visiting jackielaytoncozyauthor.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Texas-and-flower themed prize bundle which includes an ebook of Bleeding Heart Librarian, a $5 Starbucks card, lip balm and holder, a blue and white bag, a fabric coaster, a designer Wet-It swedish cleaning cloth, a journal, a car coaster and an alarm key chain!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 19, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 26, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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