Guest post: Scent of Mystery and Giveaway

I am happy to welcome Kathleen Kaminski to the blog today.  I know Kathy through the cozy mystery community. She be a book reviewer and blogger. You may know her as Katreader, a commenter on many mystery blogs, or as Cozy Up With Kathy, the cozy mystery blog she writes (http://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/) and it’s corresponding Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CozyUpWithKathy). Kathy interviews mystery authors, writes reviews and posts her own literary musings. She’s also started a new business that mixes well with her love of mysteries. I’ll let her tell you about it…

Scent of Mystery

by Kathleen J. Kaminski

I love bringing fragrance into my home. That’s one of the reasons I became an independent consultant for Pink Zebra. Pink Zebra is a direct sales company for home fragrance products.  We make Sprinkles, a unique scented wax melt. The wonderful thing about Sprinkles is that because of their small size, they blend really well. So, even though we have over 50 scents, you can mix and combine to create your own personalized fragrances!

As I was reading Isabella Alan’s Murder, Plain and Simple I could imagine myself walking around Rolling Brook, Ohio. To make it even more real I began to smell…apples, and to help celebrate Watermelon Fest-watermelon! I was inspired by the book to create a scent that would always remind me of it, and I can do that because I’m a Pink Zebra! I got my Sprinkles and mixed.  Equal parts of Red Delicious Apple and I Love Watermelon became Amish Festival, my Pink Zebra recipe inspired by Murder, Plain and Simple.

I came up with that recipe for the whole book, but you could create recipes for individual characters as well. For Rachel, what about mixing Blueberry Muffin with Mom’s Lemon Bars? Or perhaps Chocolate Whoopie Pie and Vanilla Crème?

When thinking about Amanda Flower’s Appleseed Creek Mystery series I came up with a blend inspired by the whole series thus far. Red Delicious Apple (of course, it is Appleseed Creek) and Citrus and Herbs. I call that recipe Amish Countryside.

It’s wonderful to be able to combine my love of mysteries with my love of home fragrance-and my new business.

GIVEAWAY

I’d like to share Pink Zebra with you. One winner will receive a light green simmering pot and 2 jars of Sprinkles, Red Delicious Apple and I Love Watermelon in celebration of the release of the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries. I trust that melting these scents will transport you to the Amish Countryside.

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling us what we like about Amish mysteries or novels with your email address. Amanda will chose a winner from the comments.

Contest ends Tuesday, September 24 at 4pm EDT. Winner will be announced in the comments to this post on Wednesday, September 25.

Restrictions:

Contest is only open to US and Puerto Rico residents

I hope I’ve piqued your interest in Pink Zebra. Let me tempt you to create scents for your favorite mysteries and characters. Come check out my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CricketHollowSprinkles ) and website (http://www.pinkzebrahome.com/crickethollowsprinkles) where you can order any time you’d like. If you have any questions about Pink Zebra, please e-mail me at CricketHollowSprinkles@aol.com.

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Don’t forget to enter my Amish Quilt Giveaway!

It’s SUPER SEPTEMBER! Amanda Flower (also writing as Isabella Alan) has three novels releasing in September 2013. To celebrate, she is giving away an authentic Amish Quilt hand-stitched by Amish in Holmes County, Ohio.

Enter to Win an Authentic Amish Quilt from author Amanda Flower! Click here to Enter!

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