Weekly Notebook: Why Spring Always Brings Me Back to Maple Grove
🌿 The Maple Grove Update
Spring has arrived in Maple Grove — and if I know Jenna McGregor, she's already opened every window at Brewed Awakenings, declared it "coffee weather, not patio weather," and argued with Mildred about what that actually means. Meanwhile, Lisa has almost certainly consulted her charts about what the equinox portends. (Spoiler: it portends snacks and mild chaos, same as always.)
On my end, I've been doing that very spring thing where I look at everything I've been building and ask: where did all of this begin? Which, not coincidentally, is exactly what Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints is about. April 18th is coming fast — if you haven't grabbed your pre-order yet, now's a great time.
📜The Weekly Tasting Menu
Five Guest Sleuth picks this week — each one hand-selected because I think you'll love them. Here's the lineup:
🔍 Guest Sleuth Spotlights
🎂 Revenge Takes the Cake — Molly Blake When a beloved local bakery becomes the scene of something far more sinister than a soggy bottom, it's going to take more than a good recipe to sort this one out. Charming, funny, and exactly what a cozy should be. Grab it here.
🗳️ Murder on the Campaign Trail — Angie Frost Politics, small-town drama, and a body nobody saw coming. Angie Frost delivers sharp wit and sharper plotting in this one. Get your copy
❄️ Murder at the Winter Magic Parade The holiday lights are up, the crowds are out — and someone isn't making it home. A cozy with real atmosphere and a mystery that keeps you guessing. Find it on Amazon
🥧 Pies, Lies, and a Deadly Slice — Oscar Tate This one has everything: a pie contest, a suspect list longer than a dessert menu, and enough small-town gossip to keep you warm on a cold night. Grab it here
🛣️ Icy Roads & Cold Justice — Ivy Featherstone A winter drive turns into something much more complicated in this atmospheric mystery. Great for readers who like their settings as vivid as their suspects. Find it here
🧁 The Main Course
If you're caught up on the Jenna McGregor series and waiting impatiently for April 18th — first of all, same — here's a reminder that Parade of Peril (Book 4) is still waiting for you if you haven't read it yet. Small-town parades are never as simple as they look. Especially in Maple Grove.
✍️ Behind the Scenes
This week I've been thinking a lot about origin stories — what it means to go back before the beginning and find the moment that set everything in motion. It's the heart of what Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints is about, and it's been one of the most meaningful things I've written. I can't wait for you to read it.
See you next week,
Willow 🌿
Meet Willow
Author, School Board member, and gluten-free baker. I write the Jenna McGregor mysteries from my home in Michigan, fueled by coffee and Peloton PRs.
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