Today's message:

Many people know I got my start writing standup, and some of that carries over to my books.  An example of the kind of humour you can expect:

I'm going to a writers' group luncheon tomorrow and was told to 'dress scary.'

   I thought about wearing a bikini, but nobody needs that level of trauma. 

 

Idealized photo of me after the meeting...

WORST DATE EVER on stage in Port Washington, New York!

Absolutely delighted that the acting troop 'Theater for Dessert' 

in Port Washington NY, performed my romcom  

Worst Date Ever this summer!

I'm often asked by interviewers to name the highlight of my writing career.  

You'd think it would be hitting bestseller lists and winning awards, and that's all wonderful.

But truly, seeing my work performed on stage is pretty close to the top of the list.

Thank you, Theater for Dessert!

 

Introducing PIZZA WARS! First in the Steeltown Blues comic crime series

Easy to read, funny, and full of heart - a new novella series from GEMMA MEDIA in Boston!

 Now available at AMAZON!

 

IT'S LIVE! Delighted to be on the podcast ANY GIVEN RUNWAY!

Many thanks to Randell Green out of Harvard University, for hosting me on ANY GIVEN RUNWAY!  

Definitely the most fun I've ever had in an interview - Do tune in!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/melodie-campbell-the-pharaohs-curse-murders/id1490162729?i=1000764395804

 

Saturday May 2! In Kingston Ontario, with Vicki Delany and Barbara Fradkin - See you there!

 

Such a wonderful interview on Cozy up with Kathy today! And a heart-warming review of The Merry Widow Murders, first of the series.

Here's the review!  Link below to the interview.  With many thanks to Kathy!

THE MERRY WIDOW MURDERS by Melodie Campbell
The First Merry Widow Murders Mystery

A voyage back to England aboard the Victoriana should be a relaxing time for Lady Lucy Revelstoke. A dead body dumped in her stateroom the first evening aboard quite dampened that notion. Was this a personal message, something related to her past, or was her room just a handy location. With her maid and sidekick, Elf, Lucy intends to use the knowledge instilled in her as a youth to track down a cunning killer.

I absolutely adored THE MERRY WIDOW MURDERS. With quick wit, impeccable plotting, and intriguing characters I was completely immersed in this novel. Vivid descriptions made it easy for me to picture myself aboard this luxury ocean liner in 1928. 

My favorite part of the first Merry Widow Murders Mystery was the characters, each with an interesting backstory that really fleshed them out. I particularly like the fact that all of the women were strong, intelligent people. No wall flowers here, from minor characters to Lucy and Elf. They can handle themselves and, though it's nice to have a decent chap, it's certainly not necessary. It also goes to show you should never underestimate a woman. The final line found a broad grin on my face!

Embark on a delightful transatlantic voyage in THE MERRY WIDOW MURDERS where mystery, murder, and humor combine to create a captivating start to a wonderful series!

https://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-merry-widow-murders-interview-and.html?sc=1776090926486&fbclid=IwY2xjawRKAzlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKajF5WXd1YmgxN0FqcXNxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi7l3vdkRFWZzdOBfJAIBXSukhsSgLaXk6hVEkIhESQdmvduVvsLuVd1GjYB_aem_di40i7oNMQHrqWJU7Tm3bg#c7198214578988679657 

 

 

 

On Dru's Musings today with a delightful interview of my Heroine, Lady Lucy Revelstoke!

 https://drusbookmusing.com/melodie-campbell-lady-lucy-revelstoke/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRKAiBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEehuRR7oOlGUeo9umkbWqLE4dZr3FBKQkA9qLj-4BvzSEbeH1or6nCd2Rh2b8_aem_dDbVGlBMrn0I7JCot-5uaw

 Here's a sample!

 

 

You can't take the Italian out of the Writer!

On Sleuthsayers today, and repeated here for my regular readers...

It’s been brought to my attention that some readers here might not know that I got my start writing stand-up.  (30 years later, I have to work hard to simply stand up, but that’s another column.)

It’s also quite possible that since I collect husbands with Celtic last names (Campbell and O’Connell), readers might not know that I am predominantly Italian.

So when I was asked by Gemma Media – a terrific publisher of short, easy to read adult books- to write a crime series for them, it was just possible that my Italian background might come through.  As it did for The Goddaughter series.  As it did for…okay, all the others.  I’m an Italian gal masquerading as a WASP, and I couldn’t keep a straight face if they ironed and botoxed it.

Melodie Campbell is Canada’s “Queen of Comedy” – The Toronto Sun

Comedy is my lifeline.  Laughter is my survival kit.  I love the Merry Widow Murder series that I’m currently writing for Cormorant books.  It has humour in the form of my beloved character Elf.  But I miss the old standup days.

Writing PIZZA WARS brought me back to my early comedy-writing days.  It’s perhaps my most loopy book.  Take a city (Hamilton) that’s known for steel mills.  Take a population where a good many came from Sicily between the wars. 

Take all that, try to fit it into a Police precinct, arm the place with Officer Rita “Mom” Gallo, and you can have some pretty funny things take place.

After all, who needs a gun when you have a wooden spoon?

Now available!  At Amazon, and all the usual suspects.  (If you like The Goddaughter books, check out PIZZA WARS!)

 

I predict Everyone There will be Laughing! Join us

 

SALE! Bestseller Rowena and the Dark Lord - 99 cents on Amazon!

 

COMING MARCH 11! a new series by Melodie Campbell... STEELTOWN BLUES!

 STEELTOWN BLUES book 1

PIZZA WARS! 

 

Terrific Write-up in the Queen's University Alumni Review!

 

BOOKLIST Advance review of THE PHARAOH'S CURSE MURDERS!

THANK YOU, BOOKLIST, for this terrific Valentines Day present! 

 (We are allowed to post one sentence before the issue release date)

THE PHARAOH'S CURSE MURDERS - Book 3 in the Merry Widow series - out April 11!  

Available for preorder pretty much everywhere.