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Tonya Kappes Tonya Kappes

News & Chit Chat

IT’S HERE!!!

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THE WAIT IS OVER

Get ready to pitch your tents and light the campfire for a wildly entertaining mystery with “Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls,” the latest page-turner in the A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series. When the peaceful plunk of fishing lures at Happy Trails Campground is replaced by the startling bang of gunshots, Mae West and the Laundry Club ladies gear up for their most adventurous case yet in the heart of Daniel Boone National Forest.

Imagine stumbling upon a body in the woods—only it’s not hunting season, and this isn’t a deer we’re talking about. This twist sends Mae and her gang on a trek through a forest thick with secrets, where every turn in the trail could be the clue they need or a dead end. The victim, a real outdoorsman with a complex web of connections to the wilderness, has left behind a trail as puzzling as a switchback path.

“Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls” isn’t just any cozy caper; it’s a romp through the great outdoors, complete with twists, turns, and Tonya Kappes’ signature dose of humor.

So, pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a flashlight) and join Mae and the gang as they navigate the wilds of human nature. “Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls” is more than a mystery; it’s an expedition into excitement, proving once and for all that where there’s smoke… there’s laughter, lies, and a darn good read. Catch your copy today and become a happy camper in the world of cozy mysteries!

→Order now https://amzn.to/4bpqwMa

Readers Take Denver 2024

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We had such a great time on the road. But first I wanted to talk about the event.

It was a very large event with over 3000 readers…and 300 authors. It was so large but you were able to pick and choose the activities you wanted to do.

I was involved in two book signings and the murder mystery supper as Dusty, the librarian! I’m happy to say that I wasn’t the murderer!!

BUT I was able to visit with a couple of Patreons who came as well a met a bunch of new readers!! I was so excited and happy to meet new friends.


Traveling wasn’t just traveling and seeing all the cool things. We did have to work. Every day while Eddy did most of the driving I wrote at least ten pages a day.

Rowena did her best to help navigate or just sleep. We have a book release this week and one of Eddy’s jobs is to make sure the print books are ready. That’s what he is doing with his computer.

The other photo of Eddy is how he put together 200 goody bags for the murder mystery. And did you see that snow??? Kill me now!!

Literally when we woke up and saw the snow…I guess you don’t need to know what we said but trust me, it wasn’t pleasant!

Yesterday we rolled into our drive and it was gorgeous!! Sunny and warm. Eddy grabbed the lawnmower and while he mowed, I put in the laundry and started supper.

Today…my goodness…it’s raining. So I guess I’ll write my words this morning and then go clean the camper!

Reader of the Week

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Susie Lee Gray
“Tonya’s books provide me with a wonderful getaway. A vacation from the reality of chronic illness, family stress, and gives me that reprieve I need to face those realities refreshed and in a lot better mood! You gift your readers with intrigue and happiness. Thank you!”

Small Town Chit Chat

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There is just something about a small town. . .
I grew up in a small rural Kentucky town. It’s one of those thing when someone asks me where I’m from, I’m going to say the county name instead of the city. That’s just the way a small town rolls. That is just ONE of the things that I loved about growing up in a small town in the south.
In most small towns there is that one diner, the one greasy spoon that no matter what time of day you go, there is a line and the counter stools are filled with the same local, little old men in their John Deere hats with a cup of coffee in their hand. The one in the photo is a real diner in my hometown that is run by a friend and she also does the cooking.
When you go to open the door, you have to give the bottom corner a little tap with the toe of your shoe because it gets a little stuck every once in a while and the above the door dings as soon as you fully open it, our hearts swell with joy. Then our stomach rumbles as the smell of homemade biscuits, sausage gravy, and bacon grease swirl and curl around our nose with strong coffee chasing shortly after. Our eyes scan the top of the full diner just so we can find a couple available seats. After we find that seat, our usual waitress, the only waitress, comes over and fills the foggy plastic glass with the chip in the rim with water and a pot of coffee dangling from her hand. You don’t need a menu. You know what they serve at your diner as if it were tattooed on your brain.
And just thinking about that fried egg has your mouth watering. . .
Awe. . .wasn’t that a great step back into a wonderful memory? What about your memories? Do at least half of them revolve around food?
Food is such a wonderful way to gather people. It is magical really. Food creates community, builds relationships, and fills our souls. Doesn’t this sound exactly how a novel should feed your mind?
I think so too! In every single novel, mostly all in series, I’ve written I make the diner and settings of my small, southern towns just as much a character as my heroine and hero. It’s a comfort to the reader to open a novel in a series and know what it feels like to flip the first page and step back into the diner they have grown to love because of all the warm and fuzzy they get from visiting.