Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery by Gerri Lewis. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery
by Gerri Lewis
Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
Publication date : June 10, 2025
Print length : 336 pages
Winter Snow has had it! With her business in a death drought, her best friend Scoop implicated in a string of arsons, and an obituary listing Winter herself as deceased, her life is heating up. But just as she’s trying to cool things down, she receives her newest assignment: an obituary for Chester, a homeless man found in a burning building.
Promising the local funeral home manager that she will have the obituary by the deadline, Winter is stonewalled at every turn, failing to discover Chester’s last name, or where he came from. When it is discovered that Chester was murdered and that the fire was set to cover it up, all fingers immediately point to Scoop. Not only is Scoop a person of interest in the arsons, he was also the last person to see Chester alive.
As more nails are pounded into Scoop’s coffin, Winter’s uncle Richard hopes to help by inviting the notorious town gossips, The Nosy Parkers, to a neighborhood food fest. Unfortunately, the breadcrumbs they toss set murder in motion.
More determined than ever, Winter must figure out the twists and turns of the case to clear Scoop’s name, putting her on a deadly deadline to solve the murder and avoid meeting the same grave consequences.
Author Interview
Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!
Thank you so much for inviting me.
Tell us a little about yourself.
The polished version is that I’m an award-winning freelance writer, columnist and reporter and have written my fair share of obituaries. So, it is only natural that my Deadly Deadlines Mystery series which debuted with The Last Word in February 2024 should be about an obituary writer. My second book Grave Words came out in June 2025 and the working title for my third in the series is Empty Words—all cozy mysteries. I live in with my husband in my Hallmark worthy hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut and the perfect setting for my books.
The real version. I’m just a regular wife, mom and grandma who has the same worries as everyone else. That thing said about only being as happy as your least happy kid, also applies to grandkids, siblings, spouses. I married young, had three children and spent a pretty amazing whirlwind life travelling the world with my husband (back then corporate wife was a real job!) Despite a Chinese seer predicting that I’d have a “charmed life,” I guarantee it hasn’t all been a walk in the park. I do however always look forward and I think that’s the one important thing you should know about me. My mantra: Those who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of the person doing it.
How long have you been writing? Writing–since I could write. Telling and creating stories, since I was a toddler. I can remember my brother and I making up stories together in our cribs. I entered a contest in a New York daily newspaper when I was in sixth grade and was paid $25 for a humorous story. When they called to notify me that my story would be published, they had to ask my parents’ permission.
Did you always want to be an author? I don’t know if I ever identified that goal, though as I look back, I think, yes. I would spend hours in the library as a little girl thumbing through books and imagining what I might write. I wrote stories, poetry, odes. One of my first jobs was to write the descriptions on a tool selling catalogue. When the kids were finally old enough to go to school, I wrote for the PTA. That caught the attention of the editor of our local paper and she brought me on board to be a columnist.
What made you choose the cozy mystery genre? I credit that to my agent Adam Chromy of Movable Type Management. I have a tendency to stray into the thriller lane and he reels me back in because that is what my publisher expects and what he sold. Which I am so grateful for. To me, cozies are very challenging to write.
Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now? I just love to read and I read everything. One of my favorite books was A Gentleman from Moscow. I love thrillers and enjoy Preston and Child’s Pendergast series. I’ve read Anne Rice’s vampire trilogy. Recently I finished Ghost Wires which I thought was a fascinating look at how convincing a scammer could be. I love Louise Penny and really really wish that Three Pines was a real place I could visit. The Thursday Murder Club is one of my favorites. To be honest, I didn’t know COZY was a genre until I started studying the craft. It’s not an easy thing to write. For the past two months I’ve been dealing with a detached retina and have had to keep my head parallel to the floor for six weeks. So instead of reading, I’ve listened to audio books and right now, head up again, I’m listening to my book, Grave Words, because I want to make sure I keep my characters “in character” as I write the third in the series.
Do you have a favorite place to write? I write in a lot of places. Sometimes on a nice day, I take my laptop outside. Cold winters send me snuggling up on a particular chair, with my favorite quilt hand made by a good friend. I could probably write anywhere.
What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)? My desk is more of a workstation and it’s usually very messy. Although—everyone in my family knows not to touch anything, because it’s organized chaos. I have a desktop computer which is where I tend to write articles I’ve been commissioned for. I also do all my volunteer work at my desk. I am the Public Information Officer for the Town of Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management. What that means is if our town has an emergency, I’m responsible for communications. Behind my desk is a wall flooded with photos of my family, pictures drawn by my grandchildren and all sorts of memorabilia.
What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child? I enjoyed picture books before I could read although I always recreated the stories in my head. One I particular book I remember is called The Lonely Doll. Whenever I got to the part where she got into trouble, I fixed it in my imagination. One of the first books I loved was Robin Hood. I could not put that book down. Of course, I also loved Nancy Drew and always wanted to have that blue roadster she drove. I used to read at dinnertime to my three children—I read all the books I was never introduced to like The Lord of the Rings, all the Judy Blumes, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe—we read so many good books.
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why? I don’t read a lot of ebooks because they wear my eyes, though I did embrace the concept early on. Imagine carrying one little sleeve around with hundreds of books at your fingertips…until the battery on your device dies! Today, I read physical books because I love holding them and always have several books going at once—I’m old school, I guess. I also embrace audio books which I listen to in the car instead of the news. Those audio books keep me sane.
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? The Salt Mines in Poland. How did those people and animals live below ground for so much of their lives? I would, of course, have to live above ground while writing because I’m claustrophobic! It took all my will to ride that elevator down into the mines in Wieliczka, which is just outside Krakow. Once there, I had to keep ignoring that creeping feeling I was getting by being so far below the earth. But I sure can imagine writing a mystery that takes place down there. The entire time I was there I kept imagining where I’d put the dead body. Truthfully though, in the end, I am a homebody and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else for an entire year.
What or who has influenced you the most as a writer? For me writing is as essential as air and while many people have encouraged me along the way, an empty notebook page, a clean screen—they lure me to share something I think is worth saying.
Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups? My family is amazing—every one of them is supportive. I have a son who is a great writer and often gives me tips on how to be better. My sisters are great beta readers and my husband is always up for a book tour. My friends always show up at my events. I belong to National Groups like Sync, Mystery Writers of America and the Authors Guild where you can share a lot of information. In the end though, this is a solo effort. I have writing acquaintances, and we share what we learn, especially when it comes to marketing, but I write alone.
Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?
I’m working on my third installment of the Deadly Deadlines Mystery series—my working title is Empty Words, and I like how it is moving my character into another stage of her life. She’s made mistakes and she’s learned from them. She is surrounded by people she admires, and she learns from them. I guess you could say, she is growing up. I’m also finishing up Thirteen Camels which is the story of my life through my travels and experiences. It’s for my family and includes real life adventures like being kidnapped on a camel. Another story is about a crazy African Balloon adventure gone wrong which challenged our survival skills. I’m also halfway through a mystery with a new character that is based on some real happenings in our small town.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions! Thank you for asking! I didn’t realize I had so much to say!!
About Gerri Lewis
GERRI LEWIS is the author of The Last Word (2024) and Grave Words (June 10, 2025), the first two books in her Deadly Deadlines Mystery series published by Crooked Lane Books. Set in her Hallmark-worthy hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut, this cozy mystery is about obituary writer Winter Snow, who solves murders along with a cast of lovable characters. During her career as an award-winning reporter, columnist, and feature writer, Gerri has become a go-to person in her community for obituaries. When she is not helping her protagonist solve mysteries, she writes magazine features and is the Public Information Officer for the Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management. She lives with her husband in Ridgefield, Connecticut, the picture-perfect setting for her books.
Author Links
Website: https://gerrilewis.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerri.lewis.author/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerrilewisauthor/
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse – Kobo – Apple
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Grave Words: A Deadly Deadline TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 2 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW*
October 4 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 7 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
October 9 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 11 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Infinite House of Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 15 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 15 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
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