I had an interesting discussion with Elegante Mother as we ran errands today. She said that she had read that hobby fiction was the big thing these days. I nodded, thinking about the mysteries by Earlene Fowler that I've been reading, which all have a quilt block for their name.
"Dove in the Window," "Irish Chain," "Mariner's Compass," and "Goose in the Pond," are just a few of the titles in that series. You can find them at Amazon.com by typing in "Benni Harper Mysteries."
I hadn't given a lot of thought to this trend, but once EM said something about it, I took a look at our bookshelves. I've been reading the Elm Creek Quilters series by Jennifer Chiaverini. I've forgotten just how many books there are in the series, but there are at least eight of them, and they deal with a group of women in a college town who come together to create a quilting camp or school. This series is so popular that there are quilt kits and pattern books for the quilts described in the books.
I realized that I've also read the China Bayles mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert. Ms. Albert's heroine is a woman who grows and sells herbs and solves mysteries. We also have the Brother Cadfael series, about the 12th century monk and herbalist who solves mysteries. Ellis Peters wrote 20 of the Brother Cadfael mysteries.
Elegante Mother left a book for me to read by Debbie Macomber, called "The Shop on Blossom Street." The characters of this book are drawn together by knitting.
I was reading one of my quilt magazines, and there's another series by Emilie Richards with quilt block names. Leisure Arts is offering quilting instruction books as companions to the series.
This trend is firmly entrenched. I know there are mysteries for needlecrafters and others for cooks and owners of bed and breakfasts. I wouldn't be surprised if there is one for bowlers or poodle breeders! Are you invested in a "hobby series?"
Comments (2)
My to-read book list is getting way outta hand! But, I can't resist these titles!
Posted by Cowtown Pattie | December 29, 2005 10:32 PM
Posted on December 29, 2005 22:32
I think you might really enjoy the Benni Harper mysteries, Pattie. She's a no-nonsense California cattle woman who seems to be in the wrong place at the right time. The writing is so good that you can imagine living her life.
Posted by buffy | December 30, 2005 7:58 AM
Posted on December 30, 2005 07:58