Blog Tour and Author Interview: CAKE AND CORRUPTION Sweetwater Springs Southern Mysteries Book 6 by S. C. Merritt

Synopsis: 

It's wedding week and as mother of the bride, Glory wants her daughter’s wedding to be a day she’ll never forget. But when her address is found in the pocket of an unidentified body in a car crash, Glory’s biggest nightmare becomes reality.  The past has

followed her to Sweetwater Springs and it’s not going away without a fight. Can she solve the mystery and maybe even her husband’s two-year-old cold case murder in the process?

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SLJKWN2 

Link to the entire Sweetwater Springs Southern Mystery series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0897YBPBZ 

Interview with S. C. Merritt 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m a wife and mother of two grown and married children. My husband and I live in Mississippi. We’ll be moving very soon to Georgia where he just accepted a new job. I have worked as a full-time church secretary for over 25 years. Would love to write full time. Maybe soon.

What sparked the idea to write this novel? This is Book 6 in my series, so it was the natural progression of the characters. My readers have been questioning when this or that might happen, so I knew I wanted certain events to happen (along with solving a murder or two, of course). 

Tell us something about your book that isn't mentioned in the publisher synopsis. The church choir Easter fiasco that happens at the beginning of the book actually happened. It’s been a running joke with all our church friends for years and it was so fun to be able to use it in one of my books. 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Most of my books relay a bit of my faith. I always hope my readers see that Glory turns to her faith when she’s anxious or just being thankful for her family and blessings, and maybe inspire them to do the same. 

What are your favorite things to do besides writing? Travel (pre-covid), spend time with family, relax by a pool, try new restaurants. 

How long have you been writing? Just over a year. I published my first book in January 2020. I began writing it as a bit of fun, just as a hobby in 2019. Never, ever dreamed I’d actually ever publish it. 

Wow! That's impressive - six books in 2 years. What inspires you to write? I love light-hearted, fun, whodunits. I love giving people an alternative to graphic sex, violence and gore that is in a lot of mainstream TV crime drama and film. And these days, there’s so much drama around us, it’s nice to escape. 

What was your favorite scene to write? Glory and Hunt’s engagement scene, for sure. It had been a long time coming.

Who designed the book cover? Kim with Kim’s Covers has done all of my covers for this series. She’s wonderful to work with. 

Can you give us a sneak peek on what you are working on now? I’ve just finished a novella that will be included in a pet themed anthology with 10 other authors to be released this summer. And I have begun the first book in a new series about a couple of retired friends living in Florida. They pool their money and buy an RV and hit the road to visit places on their bucket lists (and of course, solve murders along the way). 

What is the most fascinating/craziest thing you have done in the name of research? I did a lot of interesting research for my prequel to the Sweetwater series, Sideburns and Suspicions. (Free to my NL subscribers) I live near Graceland (just outside of Memphis) and have friends who work there, so I got tons of insider info. Plus, I did a lot of digging and I’m not ashamed to admit I got sucked down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole a time or two. I’ve visited there, and it’s a treat no self-respecting, music fan should miss. And the food at the restaurants in the Graceland complex is fabulous. Some of the best BBQ in Memphis. 

What do you do when you aren't writing? Read, watch Hallmark Movies and Mysteries and BBC Mysteries. Big fan of Midsomer Murders. Also love binge-watching the Great British Baking Show. What book are you reading right now? Michigan Mayhem by Hope Callaghan. She’s got several series that I love, and this is one of my favorites. 

Thank you for being with us today and keep on writing. 

About S.C. Merritt 

S.C. Merritt writes cozy mysteries featuring female sleuths, plots with a twist, lots of humor, and a little sprinkle of romance. Her Sweetwater Springs Southern Mystery Series is set in a small, Alabama town full of quirky characters, delicious restaurants, and lots of murder. Recipes are included in each book. When not writing, she is traveling, watching classic movies and tv shows, or collecting flamingos. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and miniature Schnauzer, Izzy and dreams of living in a tropical locale someday. 

Online links: 

Website: https://www.scmerritt.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scmerrittwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scmerrittauthor/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19874419.S_C_Merritt Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/scmerritt BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/s-c-merritt