Clutter Free by Jackie Layton | Author Guest Post

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Welcome to the Blog Tour for Clutter Free by Jackie Layton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Clutter Free

Title: Clutter Free
Series: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery #1
Author: Jackie Layton
Publisher: Level Best Books
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Genre: Clean Cozy Mystery

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Kate’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

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Author Guest Post

Thanks for being here, Jackie!

What draws you to a particular setting, and do you base the towns on real places?

I love the beach, so it’s fun for me to write a story with a beach setting.

One of the first things I learned when I began to write was it’s not good to write about real places. It’s easy to make a mistake, and towns change. I was warned that it upsets readers when your details are wrong. Lots of authors are able to set their stories in real places, but for now, I’ll continue fictional settings for my cozy mysteries.

From the beginning of my writing, I’ve always created new settings. I often start with a map of a town I’m familiar with and that I think will work. Then I change the name of the real town, and I change details.

Fox Island, Georgia is similar to Tybee Island. Both are near Savannah. Both also have a lighthouse, a library, a police department, and of course a beach. Fox Island is smaller than Tybee, but it has a relaxed atmosphere.

I also added businesses that would work for my story. Fox Island Art Gallery and Coffee Shop is an integral part of Clutter Free. Most beach communities have an ice cream shop, souvenir shops, rental businesses that provide kayaks and beach supplies, multiple hair salons (because ‘beach hair don’t care’ isn’t true for everyone), a gym, a burger place, a pizza place, and much more.

I’ve lived most of my life in small towns. I enjoy knowing my neighbors and it’s fun to see friends, when I’m out and about. Fox Island is a small town, and when Kate Sloan returns to the place where she grew up, there are still plenty of locals that she knows.

Another advantage to a setting in the south is the nice weather. When it’s warm, people tend to be outside more. It’s easy to stay connected to your neighbors, when you see each other often. It makes for a tight-knit community. This is a plus in real life and in cozy mysteries.

Thanks for asking about my setting, and thanks for hosting me.
Jackie Layton

About Jackie Layton

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. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her, because it might end up in a book.

Connect with Jackie by visiting jackielaytoncozyauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free and Weeding Out Lies, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and a polka dot shopping bag!

(1) additional winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 11, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2023. Winner 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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