Tag: cozy mystery

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12 Cozy Mystery Authors and Their Readers to the Rescue Down Under

Looking for cool cozy mysteries for hot summer days?

Then you’ll love the Summer Snoops Down Under collection of stories in this purr-fectly paw-some cozy boxed set from twelve USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon best-selling authors including Judith Lucci, Colleen Mooney, Anna Celeste Burke, Dianne Harman, Sam Cheever, Amy Vansant, Fiona Quinn, Cindy Bell, J.A. Whiting, Kathi Daley, Summer Prescott and Tonya Kappes.

These cozy, friendly stories are full of wily sleuths, cagey plots, and un-fur-gettable tails on sandy beaches, in shimmering waterways, at mountain top resorts, and small-town celebrations!

Judith Lucci: The Most Slippery Crime of the Year: Death on the Slopes – When the pour is just too perfect.
Colleen Mooney: Politicians, Potholes and Pralines – There’s no place like New Orleans to have a good crime!
Anna Celeste Burke: A Tango Before Dying – When trouble waltzes in, it’s not long before Georgie Shaw and Detective Jack Wheeler step in when a famous ballroom dance champion is murdered.
Dianne Harman: Murder in Cottonwood Springs – Sheriff Rich got the call every lawman dreads – a relative’s murder. And it’s even worse when it’s your sister.
Sam Cheever: Bayou Bubba – Where Miss Chance meets Cal Amity.
Amy Vansant: Pineapple Lies – If Janet Evanovich and the Golden Girls had a baby, it would be the Pineapple Port series!
Fiona Quinn: Mine – A sleepy town in southwest Virginia wakes up to a nightmare of untimely deaths.
Cindy Bell: A Tough Case to Crack – It is a race against the clock to solve a murder so Nuts about Nuts can open on time.
J A Whiting: Reversal of Fortune – Will Claire’s paranormal intuition help solve the case or will her skills fail her when she needs them the most?
Kathi Daley: The Curse of Hollister House – How is one to start again after losing the one thing that speaks to your heart and fuels your passion?
Summer Prescott: Spellstruck – If you liked Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, you’re going to love Spellstruck. Pirate, the talking cat, will charm your socks off!
Tonya Kappes: Stamped Out – More than mail is being delivered…there’s a murder ’bout to happen!

All proceeds from the Summer Snoops Down Under boxed set  support the Wildlife Victoria charity rescuing wildlife affected by the bush fires in Australia.

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There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’ in Divabetic’s 8th Annual Mystery Podcast, Kill Me Madam, set to debut on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 6 PM, EST.

But resentment, greed and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off. Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once! As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster, now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well. Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

TUNE IN 

 

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31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Thirty

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

On Day 30, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes, from September 2019.

“Our mystery podcast is the culmination of a year’s time spent creating characters, developing  storylines, choosing music and sound effects, and rehearsing with the full cast to educate people about diabetes in a fun, new way,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

The mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

 

 

Our monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their health care providers, a translator of clinical speak and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence

Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org

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Black Bean Brownie Recipe

Don’t let incorporating veggies into your desserts be an excuse to overindulge. It’s easy to convince yourself that you can enjoy more sweets and feel better about yourself in the process because you’re adding in extra nutrients between spoonfuls of sugar. An indulgence on one day doesn’t matter when looking at a week or a month.

Mr. Divabetic loves to infuse his desserts with healthy doses of vegetables which doesn’t always make for a winning combination. In Divabetic’s Diabetes Mystery podcast, “Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes” his original Kale Hot Cocoa recipe turns everyone’s favorite leafy green vegetable into something downright lethal! 

Chocolate Covered Katie’s Black Bean Brownie Recipe

Trust us, Chocolate Covered Katie’s black bean brownie recipe is far more tempting than Mr. Divabetic’s kale hot cocoa. And they’re easy to make!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo7KLufA2tP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox, The Huffington Post, and ABC’s 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day!

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Slightly Sinful Shortbread Recipe from SPLENDA®

A lot of us living with diabetes who are cutting back on high-carb foods like starches, desserts and processed snacks still have a sweet tooth.

Keep in mind, SPLENDA® contains maltodextrin and dextrose, two carbs that supply about 3 calories and 1 gram of carbs in each packet ( 6 ) even though it’s calorie-free. SPLENDA® can be substituted for sugar in a 1:1 ratio for most recipes.Happy baking! 

Slightly Sinful Shortbread Recipe: Total Carbs per serving: 8.5g

Combine flour, SPLENDA® Granulated and rice flour. Beat butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until smooth. Press evenly into a greased 8’ square baking pan. 
 
Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 35 minutes or until lightly browned at the edges and firm to touch. Cool on rack. Cut into small squares. Store in the refrigerator.

FULL RECIPE

Divabetic Bookshelf: Shortbread And Sorrow

“A light, cozy mystery read with a cat-loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small English village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes! Contains mild peril.“

Plot Summary: When Julia’s gran, Dot, wins an all-inclusive spa trip to Scotland, Julia finds it difficult to refuse the offer of a relaxing week away from her café. Along with her sister, Sue, they pack up her tiny vintage car and drive all the way from Peridale to Seirbigh Castle, ready to be pampered. The last thing Julia expected was to be caught up in another murder investigation, but when the cruel owner of the family-run spa, Henry McLaughlin, is shot dead, she can’t resist ditching the facemasks and massages in favour of cracking the case.

Julia quickly befriends the young cook and talented-baker, Blair, and acquires a job in the kitchen so she can observe the strange family in the wake of the murder. Henry’s wife and children are acting suspicious, and with an incompetent young Detective Inspector on the case, Julia makes it her mission to discover the secrets held within the ancient walls before Seirbigh Castle claims another victim.

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Divabetic’s Carb Kitty Video Game
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Gypsies, Tramps & Peas Mystery Podcast

Diabetes advocate turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Mr. Divabetic finally takes the plunge and ventures into a new career as a healthy caterer in Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, ‘Gypsies, Tramps & Peas’.

. With the help of his co-workers and nosy Italian mother, he heads for Coney Island to cater his first party aboard a yacht for his former swim coach, Ted Rockow. But his nautical soiree quickly capsizes when the guest of honor is found swimming with the fishes. What it an accident or foul play? Now Mr. Divabetic’s grilling Burlesque dancers, a lifeguard lothario and some sequined mermaids, all intent on keeping their secrets buried deep within the sand. Can Mr. Divabetic prove Coach’s death was a murder, not an accident? Or will he end up floating out to sea?

Will he sink or swim?

Tune in to find out if he can solve the murder of his former swim coach with the help of his friends, some sassy mermaids and a cooky fortune teller. Along the way to revealing the identity of the murderer he uncovers expert tips for diabetes self-care during the Summer months.

Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, Seveda Williams, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, Mama Rose Marie & Lorraine Brooks star in Divabetic’s ‘Gypsies, Tramp & Peas’ Mystery Podcast

LISTEN ON DEMAND

Mr. Divabetic at the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island
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Mystery Monday: Swan Wake

Zippora Karz’s life story of being a soloist ballerina with the New York City Ballet  (1983- 1999) living with type 1 diabetes inspires Divabetic’s Diabetes Mystery podcast ‘Swan Wake’.

Zippora was featured in a variety of roles choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins as well as works choreographed for her by such choreographers as Peter Martins and Lynne Taylor Corbett.

By age 20 she was starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, dancing roles by Jerome Robbins, and having new ballets created on her by Peter Martins: the company director following the death of George Balanchine.

Then her world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 21. Her body fell apart as she tried desperately to hold on to her dancing and life.

 Read Zippora Zarz’s memoir “The Sugarless Plum”  click here

Swan Wake

When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic heads to the Gotham City Ballet Company’s box office to fix a mix up with his ‘Swan Lake’ tickets he’s faced with a even bigger problem – a MURDER! To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten free cheesecake, seems to be covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and it’s members that have everyone walking around on tip toes. Could our happy healthcare host’s wacky culinary skills make him an accessory to the crime or even a possible side dish?

Now Mr. Divabetic with the help of his team of  Certified Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery Author and his own nosy Italian Mom must whip up his own crime-solving recipe, and fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.

Our Swan Wake cast features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, We Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR, Mama Rose Marie, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Poet Lorraine Brooks.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Leonard Berstein’s recording of ‘Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20” in celebration of the centennial of America’s greatest classical composer and conductor courtesy of SONY Music.

LISTEN

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Healthy Snack Tips for Book Lovers by Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND

How are you avoiding unnecessary stress and anxiety? 

Are you like me? I’m keeping my spirits up by reading, reading, reading and staying off of social media during the pandemic. One of my favorite book series is the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mysteries by Best-Selling Author, Tonya Kappes. 

Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series

The amateur sleuth in the series, Mae West, goes from lavish to lacking over night. Mae’s husband, now ex, had a huge Ponzi scheme going on until he got caught. Not only did he cheat their friends out of most of their savings but he also left Mae penniless. When Mae meets with their lawyer she quickly finds that the only thing she has left is an RV and a Campground located in Normal, Kentucky. When her ex escapes from prison and is then found dead in Normal there is no shortage of suspects to be had. Mae’s attempt at a fresh start in Normal is quickly overshadowed by a quest to figure out who wanted her ex dead the most.

Unfortunately I’ve been known to polish off a bag of pretzels while I’m reading Tonya’s Camper & Criminals series without noticing! Since many Divabetics like to read after dinner and/or before bedtime, I contacted our good friend, a Diabetes Late Nite podcast guest, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator and Best-Selling Author Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND for her recommendation on late night snack ideas.

3 Tips for Healthy Snacking for Book Lovers by Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, FAND

1. Plate your snacks. It’s pretty easy to polish off a bag of pretzels or a row of cookies if you eat from the package. It’s also pretty easy to remove a serving and put it in a dish. Why not treat yourself like you’re special enough to eat out of a dish. You are, you know.

2. Treat snacks as nutrition opportunities. Run through what you’ve eaten today, and take note of what’s missing. My guess is that most folks didn’t meet the recommendations for fruits and vegetables, so snack on one of those.

3. Be original.  If you’re worried about making poor snack choices, create your own snack menu. Write down at least 5 healthful snack ideas that you enjoy. Keep this list in the kitchen. When it’s snack time, choose one item from your personalized menu.

Jill Weisenberger’s Healthy Dip Ideas

And What’s one of Jill’s  favorite snack ideas?

JW: I’m a big veggie pusher, so I like any raw veggies, or veggies dipped into a healthful yogurt sauce or some salsa. If you want something a little different, I recommend the dehydrated or baked carrots or beets. They’re super crunchy and are delicious by themselves or with a dip.

Jill Weisenberger’s comprehensive guide, ‘Prediabetes: A Complete Guide: Your Lifestyle Reset to Stop Prediabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses’ will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle “reset,” this book will allow you to choose your own path to wellness, help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost your confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes and avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses. You’ll be feeling better than you have in years!

Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND is a great resource for all things nutrition, food and diabetes. Whether she’s speaking, writing, chatting on social media, appearing on TV or working with individuals, her candid and energetic approach appeals to busy people, and her sound nutrition and fitness advice gets results. In fact, her appreciation for science and ability to translate science into actionable information earned her a place in US News & World Report’s 10 Dietitian’s You Need to Follow on Social Media.

Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes

Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes. when he enters a baking competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.         

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

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Noodle Shop Mysteries Author Vivien Chien Guests on April’s Diabetes Late Nite

Author of the Noodle Shop Mysteries Vivien Chien guests on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 6 – 7:30 PM, EST.

Noodle Shop Mysteries

Vivien Chien first started writing simple stories about adventures with her classmates when she was in elementary school. As she grew up, her love of books and the written word increased, leading to the attempt of her first novel at age 16. After many struggled beginnings and several different genres, she found her passion in the mystery world. She currently lives in Cleveland where she is hard at work on the fifth book in her Noodle Shop series and writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier.

Author Vivien Chien

Speaking of noodles … you’ll find glass noodles on the menu at many popular Asian restaurants. Glass noodles are known by different names including cellophane noodles, mung bean threads, and mung bean noodles. While glass noodles seem lighter than other types of pasta, they have about the same amount of carbs as regular spaghetti and more than whole-wheat spaghetti. It takes about 54 grams of dehydrated noodles to yield a 1-cup serving of prepared glass noodles. This portion contains 47 grams of total carbohydrates, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Because the recommended dietary allowance for carbohydrates is 130 grams daily, you’ll get 36 percent of your daily carbs from one serving of glass noodles.

Glass noodles are gluten free, fat free and a 1/2 cup serving dishes up 8% of your daily requirement for iron.

If you have diabetes, you can still enjoy glass noodles. Just be sure to keep an eye on your portions.

Vivien Chien

Murder Lo Mein (A Noodle Shop Mystery Book 3) by Vivien Chien

Lana Lee’s stake in her family’s Chinese restaurant is higher than ever now that she’s been made manager. So when she enters Ho-Lee into Cleveland’s Best Noodle Contest, Lana makes it her business to win—at all costs. But when a local food critic receives a threatening note in a fortune cookie and is later found dead, face-down in a bowl of lo mein, all bets are off. . .

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Diabetes Late Nite

Country’s brightest star, Maren Morris inspires talk about coping with the coronavirus and diabetes on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 6 PM, EST. Guests include Author of the Noodle Shop Mysteries: Vivien Chien, Lorraine Brooks, Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, CDE,  Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport PhD, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and Alexis Gray. 

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Maren Morris’s Girl album courtesy of SONY Music.

TUNE IN

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The Happy Diabetic’s Roasted Fennel Recipe

Chef Robert aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ takes part in Divabetic’s sixth annual Diabetes Mystery podcast: Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes available for free on demand. LISTEN ON DEMAND.

The mystery revolves around a fictitious Gingerbread Man Cookie competition in New York City.

Not only can ginger help lower your blood sugar levels, fennel can too!  

Fennel seeds have alleviated diabetic properties which helps in fighting against diabetes. Due to its high source of nutrients like vitamin C and Potassium, fennel seeds have been known to help lower the blood sugar levels and increase insulin reactivity.

To get you in the spirit of Divabetic’s upcoming Diabetes Mystery podcast, The Fennel Curtain, we asked the Happy Diabetic to share his favorite fennel recipe. 

Roasted Fennel of Love Recipe by Chef Robert Lewis 

Ingredients: What’s in it?

1 lb. fennel, quartered lengthwise 

2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. kosher salt; more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper

Fresh lemon juice 

Parmesan cheese 

Directions: Let’s Put it Together 

Position a oven rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 475° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Trim the base and core of the fennel quarters, leaving just enough of the core intact to hold the layers together. Cut into 3/4- to 1-inch wedges. In a medium bowl, toss the fennel with enough of the olive oil to coat generously but don’t over do it, the salt, and generous  grinds of pepper.

Spread the fennel out onto the baking sheet and arrange the pieces so that they are evenly spaced and lying on a cut side. If the pieces cover the baking sheet sparsely, arrange them toward the edges of the baking sheet for the best browning. Roast until the fennel begins to brown on the edges, 15 minutes. Flip the fennel and continue to roast until tender and nicely browned, 10 minutes.

Return the fennel to the bowl in which you tossed them with the oil, or put them in a clean serving bowl. If the fennel seems a bit dry, drizzle it with a little oil. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, A nice dusting of cheese and granulated garlic will be predict. 

Chef Robert Lewis was diagnosed in 1998 with type 2 diabetes. “Much of what I heard in those early day was about the foods that were prohibited,” says Chef Robert Lewis.  “I suspected that my days of good eating were over, yet as I worked through my ups and downs, I came to realize that the selection of foods I could and should eat was vast and included many of my favorites. This motivated me to attempt to create delicious, diabetic-friendly dishes that were also easy to prepare.”

When the final curtain falls on opening night, the show might be over but it’s just the beginning of another one of Mr. Divabetic’s misadventures. Unfortunately, the happy healthcare host finds himself cast as the prime suspect when the leading lady is found dead backstage. Affairs and jealousy, not to mention old resentments, are all good motives for murder. But just which one brought the curtain down on the curvy community playhouse star? Now Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths with their sometimes questionable way of handling things, must search for the murderer.

Don’t miss Mr. Divabetic’s newest Diabetes Mystery podcast, The Fennel Curtain coming in 2021!

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Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes – Scene 2

The Annual Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree benefiting the Central Park Zoo is in full swing. Dozens of revelers are even dressed up like Gingerbread Men watching the seals and sea lions feeding nearby.

Everyone’s declining Max’s kale hot cocoa. Admittedly the smell isn’t that appealing. Hopefully, our judges, who are approaching, will have a different opinion. 

Oh, my! What I thought was an over sized collar around Natasha’s neck is an actual python. Let’s hope Max is too busy pouring cocoa to notice the anaconda. Too late! ‘Diamonds’ hissed at Max and he jumped clear across the table

He just knocked over the ‘Queen of Cream’, Sweet Sally Buttercup as she was sipping his kale hot cocoa. Brave woman. Oh wait, she’s grabbing her throat – she’s convulsing on the ground. Sounds like she is moaning, ‘Diamonds’, Diamonds’. This is terrible. Oh, no! The blonde celebrity chef has stopped breathing.

Ambulance Wow! That was quick! The EMTs are lifting Sweet Sally Buttercup’s lifeless body onto a gurney, covering her with a sheet and rolling her to the waiting ambulance. But even this tragic event can’t prevent the Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree competition from continuing.

Tonya: Max, isn’t it ironic for a celebrity chef to drop dead at a cooking competition? I’ve got a hunch Sweet Sally’s death was meant to be humiliating.  Take off that silly spotted apron. You owe it to her, as one of her devoted fans, to solve this murder!

Max:  No-no-no! I don’t have time to get mixed up in another one of your crazy investigations. I’ve got to focus on winning.

Tonya: The other competitors are the least of your worries. If you don’t stop tampering with the evidence. People are already blaming her death on your kale hot cocoa

Max: That slimy snake bit her! I’m as innocent — as my mother!

Natasha: There she is! Officer arrest that woman with the leopard purse. She killed my sister!

Sally’s twin sister, Natasha ‘Knock-Out’ Buchanan rushes forward with several police officers. She waves a stack of letters in Mama Rose Marie’s face. 

Natasha: See for yourselves, Officer! Here’s the proof! She’s  a cold blooded killer!

Mama Rose Marie: Me? Oh dear. 

A quick scan of the letters in Natasha’s hand confirms they contain deranged descriptions of what will happen to the star of Chew TV’s show, Triple Buttercream, Sweet Sally Buttercup, if she doesn’t comply with the demands to send money.

Natasha: You can drop the ‘sweet old lady’ act. Officers, she sent these letters to my sister. Her signature is right here at the bottom.

Mama Rose Marie: Oh dear, that is my signature. 

Natasha: Lock her up! 

Max: Officers, Officers this is a terrible mistake! She’s not a killer!  She’s my Mama!

Natasha: Save your tears for the courtroom. She’s going to prison!

The police take Mama Rose Marie off in their squad car. I can’t help to wonder ‘is this true’? Is our sweet Mama Rose Marie a modern-day Ma Barker? Could she pen dozens of vengeful threats in such gory detail? They seem to be the work of a sick, twisted, demented Wacko.

Max: I wrote those letters. But they’re funding requests, not death threats. Honest. I signed my mom’s name at the bottom, hoping Sweet Sally couldn’t say ‘no’ to a sweet little old lady. I have to confess to the police before my mother’s mug shot ends up in the Post Office.

Tonya: I’ve got a better idea, Max. Let’s just solve Sweet Sally’s murder. Now, what ingredients did you put in that lethally laced cocoa?

Max: My kale hot cocoa is NOT deadly. I drank several cups and I’m fine.

Tonya: After you added in the Almond Milk? I read somewhere that almonds are poisonous. 

Max: There’s only one thing poisonous around here. Natasha’s pet viper!

Patricia: Max, pythons aren’t venomous but wild almonds contain cyanide.

Tonya: Ah ha! That’s it!

MaryAnn: No, no, no you can’t buy poisonous almonds in the United States. And domesticated sweet almonds used to make Almond Milk don’t contain cyanide. It had to be something else! 

Tonya: Whoever did it, had to be very accurate with the dosage. The amount of poison you need for one particular person might not be enough for someone else. 

Max: And where did you get that little tidbit, Tonya?

Tonya: Research – my newest book – “Motorhomes, Maps and Murders”. 

Patricia: Of course! The same principle applies for managing blood sugars. I tell my patients all the time: what works for one person may not work for someone else. Everyone’s different.

MaryAnn: The best way is to know how different foods will affect you is to check your blood sugars before you eat and then again two hours after you eat

Tonya: Whoever killed Sweet Sally Buttercup had to be knowledgeable in both math and science. 

MaryAnn: Or have a culinary background. 

Max: Using that logic, everyone here competing is a suspect — including my mother!

Tonya: In my book, “Scene of the Grind”, Roxy Bloom faced your same situation, Max. The only way she could clear the name of her beloved Aunt was to prove who did do it! Now, who else was close enough to tamper with the cocoa?

MaryAnn: The other two judges were standing next to Sweet Sally. 

Patricia: Maybe Max is right – Natasha’s snake is at fault. Sweet Sally was moaning ‘Diamonds’ as she was gasping for air.

Max: And I wouldn’t be surprised if Renata Whisk was involved. 

Agnes: Max!  Max! Come quick! She’s disappeared!

Max: Who? Renata? 

Agnes: No, ‘Diamonds’ is on the loose!

Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

LISTEN NOW



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