Gourmet De-Lite Mystery

Meg London writes the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie Mystery series (she also writes under he real name of Peg Cochran, The Gourmet De-Lite Mystery Series). Read on to find out why you should be reading her cozy books!

Interview with Meg London

1. Meg, how would you describe the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series?

It’s set in Paris, Tennessee, and I’d like to think it’s full of Southern charm :). The series revolves around Arabella and her niece Emma. They have renovated Arabella’s lingerie shop (ripped out the pea green shag from the 1970s and it’s now pale pink with black and white toile accents) and found their niche in vintage lingerie. There’s mystery and murder (of course) but romance, too. Emma realizes she’s in love with her best friend, Liz’s, brother. Arabella has several men interested in her and Sylvia, the crusty ex-New Yorker they’ve hired as a bra fitter, finds love in the Laced with Poison. Oh, and I won’t tell you what Pierre, Arabella’s French bulldog, gets up to!

2. Emma Taylor, the main character in the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series, how would you describe her? How did you create the character of Emma?

She crystalized for me when I saw a picture of Carey Mulligan with short, dark hair. I thought, “that’s Emma!” Emma is a bit of a wounded bird at first—her ex-boyfriend was cheating on her with several high profile models—but she’s tough, too. She’s the sort who makes the best of things and tries to remain cheerful no matter what comes her way.

3. What is the best thing about writing cozy mysteries?

Being able to create my own world and then lose myself in it! I love cozies because they’re all about the people, their secrets, the gossip they spread, their relationships. I’m not as interested in the forensics and the grooves on a bullet leading to the killer but rather the analysis of personalities and putting the pieces together through what people say and do.

4. Meg, do you have a street team to help promote your books? If you don’t, is this something that you might consider?
I don’t have a street team. I’ve only recently heard of the term. I think I could use one!
5. Meg- you have 2 series- one, the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series and the other written by you as Peg Cochran- the Gourmet De-Lite Mystery series. Emma and Gigi are the main characters- which character is more like you?

I think Gigi is probably a little more like me—she’s a bit older than Emma, has been married and loves to cook (which I do, too.) She also went to Catholic school (same here). I suppose writers put a little bit of themselves in every character, but I view Emma and Gigi as people in their own right. Sometimes I have to remind myself that they don’t really exist.

6. What can readers of the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series expect from Emma next?

Well…I don’t want to give away too much about the next book, but she faces some family issues, and her romance with Brian heats up nicely!

*Thanks to Meg London for the interview!

Meg London, also known as Peg Cochran, writes 2 different cozy mystery series. One is the Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie series by Meg London and the other is the Gourmet De-Lite Mystery series written by Peg Cochran. Both Meg and Peg can be found on her website!

To see my review of Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran- read HERE.

Steamed to Death

ISBN:978-0425252208

Series: Gourmet De-Lite Mystery

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Cozy Mystery Review

Gigi Fitzgerald has signed soap-star, Felicity Davenport, as one of her clients for Gigi’s Gourmet De-Lite. Gigi is pretty excited as she hopes that this will help put her business on the road to success. Gigi is also excited because her and her best friend, Sienna, will be working together some to help Felicity re-brand her image (Gigi with weight loss and healthier living, and Sienna with public relations). All seems to be going well until Gigi sees an article in the paper questioning if Felicity has a new boy-toy and the boy-toy in question is Sienna’s husband.

Later, when Felicity’s body is found- the police question Sienna about her work relationship with Felicity. Gigi, being no fool, knows that Sienna could not have killed Felicity- and also knows that the police are considering her a suspect. So Gigi, Sienna and Alice team up to find who could have killed Felicity. The list is long- and each person has a motive. Could it be Felicity’s husband? Or her manager? Or the actress, Vanessa, that wanted more air-time on the soap opera where her and Felicity were actresses?

Gigi’s hands are pretty busy with trying to figure out who had the most to gain by Felicity’s death- but to add more to her plate- she has 2 men in her life. One is an incurable flirt, Declan, owner of a restaurant in town. The other is Detective Mertz, who Gigi would like to get to know better; but work seems to get in the way.

Does Gigi solve the mystery? We, as readers, need to hope so- or it’ll be the end of delicious recipes from Gourmet De-Lite!

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my first Gourmet De-Lite mystery. Enjoyable. Characters that are interesting. Romance. Good plot. Funny at times. I would definitely consider reading more of Gigi!

Ice Cream Novelties

This is a fun, extremely versatile dessert that you can whip up on the fly for unexpected guests. It takes plain ice cream to a new level. It can be adapted in a myriad of ways—if you are serving children instead of adults, use Oreo cookies mixed with sprinkles or chocolate chips or whatever comes to mind. If you don’t care for Amaretto, you can substitute another liqueur or leave it out. Same with the nuts—try chopped pecans, pistachios or peanuts.

Vanilla ice cream

Approximately 3 handfuls of vanilla wafers

1/3 cup sliced almonds

2 – 3 TBL Amaretto

Put vanilla wafers in a plastic zip-lock baggie. Crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Spread out on a cookie sheet and mix in sliced almonds. Sprinkle with Amaretto if using.

Roll individual scoops of ice cream in mixture. Place coated ice cream scoops on a cookie sheet. Put in freezer for at least an hour to harden.

Peg Cochran writes Gourmet De-Lite Mysteries featuring Gigi Fitzgerald. She also writes as Meg London. To find out more about Peg, please visit her website.