Interview & Book Signing with Author Kristin Owens

For fans of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and The Jetsetters, Elizabeth Sails is a shipboard cozy mystery that features an unintended quest for self-discovery, forgiveness, and an awesome buffet.

Beth Schiff ghostwrites autobiographies for politicians, despite her own life not warranting a footnote. Excitement for her is re-watching classic movies with a Whitman’s Sampler. But when her adventurous Aunt Ethel dies, Beth must scramble out of her comfy sweatpants and into some Spanx to find the missing will aboard a luxury cruise ship.Figuring out which fork to use at dinner becomes the least of Beth’s worries. The will isn’t lost ... it’s hidden. Aunt Ethel has devised an elaborate scavenger hunt, and each port stop forces Beth to confront her list of insecurities to get the next clue. If she fails, Ethel's millions will revert to a much-hated relative, Max, who is responsible for her dismantled family.When someone starts trying to sabotage her search, the game becomes personal and her energetic septuagenarian tablemates rally to help. But Beth must make the puzzle pieces fit before the cruise ends or Max will get his greedy hands on the money destined for charities.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

"... part mystery, part travelogue, and part scavenger hunt and all-around great fun." – Booklist Online

"A touching, humorous tale of self-discovery and adventure, Elizabeth Sails is the perfect escapist weekend read." – Elizabeth Penney, Edgar-nominated author of mysteries and women's fiction

“Owens creates an unlikely yet absolutely delightful protagonist in Elizabeth Sails that readers will easily identify with, commiserate with, and ultimately fall in love with.Beth Schiff sets out on a mysterious journey that reduces her comfort zone to a mere memory, discovering she is stronger than she thought and deserves much more than she was previously willing to accept.Add the fabulous luxury liner, exquisite fine dining, and practically unlimited clothing and cruise allowance, and readers will adore every page.” – Barbara Conrey, USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye and My Secret to Keep

"Oh, what fun it is sailing with Elizabeth Schiff, solving an elaborate international scavenger hunt while enjoying glorious days and nights aboard a luxury liner.Readers who enjoyed Annabel Monaghan’s Nora Goes Off Script, or Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry will love Owen’s quirky, stumbling, but clever Elizabeth, as she races the clock to prevent a sleazy character from stealing a fortune meant for charity.But under the surface of the beautifully painted cerulean waters is a story of a woman who needs to dig deep within herself and her past in order to forgive and free herself in order to move on." – Tracey Enerson Wood, Internationally Best Selling Author of The Engineer’s Wife, The War Nurse, and The President’s Wife.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristin Owens grew up in Buffalo, New York and moved immediately after the Bill's fourth Super Bowl loss for better odds. She now resides in sticky southwest Florida and watches her hair expand by the minute. She earned a PhD in Higher Education Administration and held academic positions at Penn State, University of Maryland, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Mat-Su College. She also taught a variety of subjects (from ballroom dancing to graduate statistics) and was chosen Teacher of the Year by Aims Community College students.

Holding certifications with the Court of Master Sommeliers and Cicerone, she travels the world writing about wonderful wines, beautiful beers, and surprising spirits. She speaks fluent German and crappy French.

Kristin's a contributor for award-winning magazines such as Wine Enthusiast and 5280. Her personal essays have appeared in Writer's Digest, Writer Unboxed, and Outpost. Her work has won Honorable Mention for the New Millennium Writing Awards and was a finalist for the New Letters' award in nonfiction. Her work is included in Colorado's Book of the Year, RISE! Her debut novel, ELIZABETH SAILS, (2024 Rising Action Publishing/Simon & Schuster) is a Gilda Award finalist. By combining her love of teaching and writing, Kristin's a frequent workshop instructor, conference presenter, and lecturer. Her high-energy presentations are geared toward motivating new writers to stick with it. She can usually be found onboard a cruise ship.

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