New Release: Ellen Jacobson's Funny Cozy Mystery, Poisoned by the Pier

Hello and welcome to a fun blog post! Zany author Ellen Jacobson is here to tell us how her adventure on a sailboat led to writing The Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery series.

Thanks so much, Ellen, for visiting today. Now tell us about the setting of your series and the latest book #3, Poisoned by the Pier.

The Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery Series by Ellen Jacobson

Thanks, Janet.

"How Did I End Up in Florida?" by Ellen Jacobson

Sometimes I wake up in the morning and wonder, “How in the world did I end up in Florida?” Then I have a cup of coffee, the neurons in my brain start firing, and I remember how it all happened—a few years ago my husband and I bought a sailboat right here in the Sunshine State and moved aboard.

Life on a Sailboat
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

Although we've spent time cruising in the Bahamas on our boat, somehow life, work, and boat projects have gotten in the way and we've ended up spending far more time living at a marina in southern Florida than we originally planned. But you know what they say—when life gives you lemons, make a gin and tonic. Or, in my case, start writing a cozy mystery series set in Florida.


While the setting of my books is fictitious—a small town I've named Coconut Cove on the Gulf Coast—some of the places we've traveled to in Florida shape how I picture it in my head. Places like Cedar Key and Anna Maria Key full of cute shops, inviting restaurants, colorful buildings, tropical foliage, and amazing waterfront scenery. Sometimes, Coconut Cove seems so real that I wonder why I can't find it on the map.


It's been a lot of fun to see how my environment influences my writing. When I look back at my first two books, my main character, Mollie McGhie, always seems to be complaining about sweating to death in this insane heat. Funny, that sounds a lot like someone else I know. {Ahem, that would be me.}

Mollie also worries about the alligators swimming in the water at her marina. Me too. I had fun writing a scene where she was worried that the planks on the dock would break, she'd fall in the water and become gator bait. And, of course, there are the deadly coconuts. I tend to skirt around the palm trees at our marina—you never know when a coconut might fall down and hit you on the head. Mollie has the same issue at her marina.

The third book in the series.

It's not all scary stuff like gators and killer coconuts that end up in my books. I've also featured plenty of positive things about Florida too, such as dolphins swimming in the bay and efforts people are taking to protect sea turtles.

There's so much to inspire my writing living in Florida, that I've started to jot down notes for books I have planned later in the series. I'm pretty sure a hurricane is going to threaten Coconut Cove at some point. And I'm already thinking through a scene set in the mangroves—sounds like a perfect place for a dead body to turn up, doesn't it?

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Poisoned by the Pier Now Available!

When Mollie's husband signs the two of them up for an extreme diet, she's not amused. When someone ends up poisoned by a cake, things get even worse.

The famous, or infamous, Mrs. Moto, the cat.

While she tries to identify the killer, Coconut Cove’s annual boating festival is in full swing. In between getting ready for her first sailing race and cheating on her diet, Mollie and her cat, Mrs. Moto, uncover clues, interview suspects, and do their best to avoid rutabagas.


Can Mollie nab the killer before someone else is poisoned?


If you like quirky characters, adorable cats, and plenty of chocolate, you'll love this cozy mystery. Pick up a copy of Poisoned by the Pier and laugh out loud from the first page to the last.

Poisoned by the Pier, the third book in the Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery series, is now available in ebook, paperback, and large print.
Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play

If you're new to the series, you might want to start with Book #1-Murder at the Marina. Now is the perfect opportunity as the ebook is on sale for 99c/99p for a limited time. Click the links below to download your copy now.

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play

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About the Author

Ellen Jacobson lives on a sailboat with her husband and an imaginary cat named Simon. When she isn't working on boat projects or seeking out deserted islands, she writes cozy mysteries and sci-fi/fantasy stories.

Connect with Ellen on her Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub | Blog

You can also sign up for her newsletter for updates about new releases, current projects, sales and promotions, and other fun stuff.

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Janet's Review of Poisoned by the Pier--When you read a book from the Molly McGhie Cozy Mystery Series, prepare to just sit back and relax and let Ms. Jacobson's wit and silly side take over. Truly escape reality with these zany characters and situations. The solution to the mystery will keep you guessing until the end. I recommend this light read for cozy mystery readers.

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July1-31 2019 Smashwords is having a 75% off SALE! Check it out at Smashwords.com.

Click here to download these mysteries for $1.50 each only through July 31.

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