Unlucky Lizzy, as she's called by those who know of her close relationship with misfortune, is headed to Sinful, Louisiana, to get her life back on track. But a missed bus, a squished sandwich, and screeching tires mark her dramatic entry into the world of Gertie, Ida Belle, and CIA-assassin-in-hiding Fortune “Sandy-Sue Morrow” Redding. When Lizzy reveals the nature of the job she's on her way to take up at a big, lonely, old house, the three Sinful ladies become suspicious, especially as Lizzy hints that she's learned something creepy about her new boss and says that he wants her to keep everything hush-hush. Things only get worse when the group arrives at the house, as Fortune discovers a body in the bayou, at the back of the compound. A string of revelations and further events send off alarm bells for Fortune, prompting the Swamp Team 3 to spring into action. Will they be able to act fast enough to save the life of a newcomer to Sinful who's clueless about the imminent danger that looms? Lizzy narrates this hilarious, breezy adventure which is chock-full of twists and turns that promise to take you by surprise. The events in “Body in the Bayou” take place between books six and seven in Jana Deleon's Miss Fortune Mystery Series Q & A with Morgan Draper Q: How would you describe “Body in the Bayou”? Morgan: It's a cozy murder mystery that takes place in the world created by Jana Deleon, author of the Miss Fortune Mystery Series. It imagines the thrills and spills that follow when Fortune and the Geritol Mafia become acquainted with a stranger nicknamed Unlucky Lizzy, who thinks of herself as a magnet for disaster. It's a quick, fun read. Q: Explain how you came to write a book based on Jana's series. Morgan: Jana dreamed up the delightful town of Sinful, Louisiana, and populated it with a wonderful mix of oddball characters. Jana has generously opened up her world and invited other authors to use her characters and setting as a base to explore their creativity and come up with their own stories. I had a blast with these characters and wish to thank Jana for the opportunity to play in the Sinful sandbox. Q: Why do you think readers should spend time with these characters? Morgan: Despite appearances, these women are sassy, intelligent, and deadly when they need to be. But there's also a tender vulnerability evident as they grapple with their romantic side. And it's easy to get caught up in their growing friendships. They don't back away from trouble, and when they get together, you can be sure that quite a romp will follow. In this novella, Fortune displays the toughness of a trained CIA-assassin that Jana Deleon breathed into her, and she also has a some of the characteristics of an amateur woman sleuth in the Agatha Christie mold. Q: Is “Body in the Bayou” a one-off or will you be returning to Sinful in another novella? Morgan: I love to laugh, and the world could certainly do with more humor. So, yes, there'll absolutely be more adventures with Unlucky Lizzy mixing up her kind of crazy with the gang from Sinful.

    I'm Merlin. Yeah, Fortune Redding's cat. I'm with the Sinful Feline League. And together with older-than-the-Sphinx Lula Mae and her sidekick, Spoolie, we solve mysteries and protect the welfare of cats all along the bayou.We make sure life is good for the cats of Sinful.Until one of us goes missing. Then another. And another. Something doesn't smell right, and it's not the kitty litter.Merlin's Misfortune is a fast-paced novella (approximately 24,000 words) set in the world of the Miss Fortune Mysteries, complete with tail-switching suspense and a few licks of humor.AUTHOR'S NOTE: Merlin's Misfortune is a story in the Miss Fortune World, wherein Jana DeLeon has allowed writers to create stories using the world of Sinful and the wacky characters it's famous for. I wish to thank Ms. DeLeon for graciously allowing other writers to explore their own writing in a most Sinful way.

    But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... SCARED MONEY – #13 When Savannah’s real estate company, Lamont, Briggs, and Associates, finds itself embroiled in a closing scam, broker Timothy Briggs asks Savannah’s help in figuring out what happened and who’s behind it. The task is a welcome distraction for Savannah, whose private life is rocky. Carmen Arroyo is in prison in Nashville, nine months pregnant, and no one knows whether the baby is Rafe’s or not. And while Rafe doesn’t seem too worried about it, Savannah can’t say the same. Meanwhile, down in Sweetwater, Savannah’s mother Margaret Anne is hitting the brandy while trying to come to terms with her late husband’s love child and her best friend’s thirty-four year silence on the subject. Between one thing and another, it’s all Savannah can do to keep everything moving along smoothly. The very last thing she needs is someone rocking the boat... BAD DEBT – #14 When every member of a rural Sweetwater family is murdered in their beds, Maury County sheriff Bob Satterfield calls on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for help. While Savannah’s husband, TBI agent Rafe Collier, heads to their shared hometown to help the sheriff figure out who and what is behind the grisly massacre, Savannah goes along to assist her old friend Yvonne McCoy’s quest to gain ownership of Beulah’s Meat’n Three restaurant. But when Beulah Odom’s death turns out to have been murder, suddenly Yvonne’s on the hot seat. And with the sheriff occupied elsewhere and Beulah’s family gunning for Yvonne, it’s up to Savannah to figure out the truth before her old friend lands in jail... or six feet under. HOME STRETCH - #15 The end is near. The end of Savannah’s pregnancy, that is. Less than a month to go, and she’ll be the mother of what will surely be the most adorable baby boy or baby girl in the world. But before that, there’s Thanksgiving with the Martins to get through. Not to mention a little spot of murder at the group home where Mrs. Jenkins, Savannah’s grandmother-in-law, lives. A spot of murder that leaves Mrs. Jenkins covered in blood, and with no memory of who else might have hurt night nurse Julia Poole. With Savannah’s friend, homicide detective Tamara Grimaldi, investigating, and Savannah’s husband Rafe insisting that the detective can’t find out about Mrs. Jenkins’s involvement, in case she doesn’t share his rock-solid belief that Mrs. Jenkins would never kill anyone, Savannah’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Can she help Mrs. Jenkins figure out the truth before Detective Grimaldi throws them both in prison… or before the real murderer comes back to finish the job?

    Voodoo rumors are flying, there's a dead body in the bayou, and strange things start happening.In other words, it's a normal week in Sinful, Louisiana.With a full cast of murder suspects, it will take the combined efforts of Pepper, Gertie, Ida Belle, and Fortune to catch the killer.But for Pepper, knowing there's a killer on the loose pales in comparison to the experiences she has with Olivia, who has taken a particular dislike to the woman her son is passing time with.Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride!NOTE: This quick-read novella is licensed fan fiction available as part of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune World. It was previously published under the same title through the Kindle Worlds program. Many thanks to Ms. DeLeon for allowing authors to tell new stories and create characters within her world!

    

    Maybe the inheritance in Louisiana was the change she needed. But when her uncle stepped in and offered her the trip of a lifetime... who could resist a trip to Europe? Louisiana could wait- for three months, anyway.But living out of a suitcase grew old in a hurry, so Sandy-Sue cut short the trip and returned home, planning to claim the inheritance her Great Aunt Marge had left her. Determined to make a clean sweep of her old life and leave Sandy-Sue behind, she changed her name to Sady, and bought a bus ticket to Sinful. There had to be a life for her somewhere between the limelight and the bookshelves of her past. So she travels Sinful to learn what her uncle is hiding. And along for the ride is Matt Meadows- Sady's handsome, but unwanted, traveling companion.

    He'd planned to spend a peaceful few weeks studying swamp rats. Instead, he discovers something that leads to Sinful's darkest secret. Ida Belle needs some extra income to buy a new car. Justin Lao needs a place to stay while he collects data for his master's thesis in Conservation Biology. Gertie is taking a creative writing class online, and Fortune is just planning to keep a low profile. The only excitement in Sinful is the annual Swamp Rat Festival, which Mayor-Elect Celia Arceneaux has re-branded as the Annual Sinful Nutria Jamboree. But then Justin makes a discovery that some people would rather keep hidden, and summer in Sinful heats up quickly. Fortune has to decide who can be trusted, and who would go to any lengths to keep someone from talking.A Kindle Worlds Novella in the Miss Fortune series .

    

    Fortune, Ida Bell and Gertie run into roadblock after roadblock before they receive help from an unexpected source. The victim's highly eccentric brother and sister arrive in Sinful with their own suspicions and a very special set of skills. A Blooming Fortune is filled with twists and turns as Fortune and her new friends work to unravel the mystery.This book was previously released in as "Devil's Helmet," and rose to number one position in KindleWorlds, in January 2018. This version has been re-edited with new material added.What readers have said about Stephen's other Miss Fortune books:Of the many other authors who contribute to this series Stephen John is one of my favorites. He continues with the main characters and weaves a series of intrigue and chaos into his story.I have now read a few of these stories by this author and this one I enjoyed most of all. The regular characters are back, joining a couple of newbies who prove to be interesting as well. Once again, the crime solving aspect of the story proves intriguing. It left me fulfilled and more than ready to read the next chapter in this particular writer's Miss Fortune setting. Great stuff.I absolutely love this series! Fortune has lost a dear friend which broke my heart, but she has also made some new friends as well. As always there is comedy, action, and a dash of love tossed in.Definitely a must read!While staying true to Ms. DeLeon's canon, Mr. John carves out a very nice niche for himself. I've come to really enjoy his stories featuring these characters and this one is a doozy.A well-structured mystery, and probably the most literary of the Kindle Worlds Miss Fortune Mysteries I've read so far. I loved this book as much as I loved the original books by Janet DeLeon. I wish he would write more.

     With her already full schedule and her grandkids’ upcoming tree fort construction/sleepover, plus trying to plan a fall party at her farm; she calls on the Garden Girls to help her solve the mystery of the missing man. As the clues are uncovered, they point directly at a lovesick stalker, who also happens to be Gloria’s friend, as the prime suspect. On top of that, there’s also the possibility that perhaps the missing man doesn’t want to be found. Gloria’s intuition tells her that maybe he has met with foul play, especially once they discover possible ties to the mafia. Will they find Milt alive - or is it already too late? BOOK 8: Bully in the 'Burbs "Garden Girl" Gloria Rutherford is on cloud nine since her recent engagement to Officer Paul Kennedy,and wedding plans are at the top of Gloria's to-do list...or they were until Gloria ends up on the receiving end of a financial windfall. With a generous heart, Gloria shares her newfound wealth with her children but the gift presents its own set of problems. Soon, Gloria is desperately trying to make sure her daughter and family actually move into the home of their dreams once it becomes clear that someone is trying to scare them away; but who and why? Never one to run from a bully, especially when they're messing with one of her kids, Gloria jumps in with both fists swinging. As the clues and the suspect list grows, Gloria enlists the help of the other Garden Girls, but the closer they get to solving the mystery, the more obstacles that are thrown into their path. If all of that isn't enough to make Gloria's head spin, one of the Garden Girls has just been diagnosed with a deadly disease! BOOK 9: Fall Girl With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the townsfolk of Belhaven are busy preparing for the upcoming feast with friends and family. When a body is discovered in the vacant farmhouse across the street from Gloria Rutherford's place, Gloria is horrified to think that someone...a killer, is on the loose. Things go from bad to worse when she discovers that the body found in the house is none other than her best friend, Lucy Carlson's ex-boyfriend. The police uncover evidence that points to Lucy as the murderer and possibly Gloria as an accomplice. Police are hot on Lucy's trail and the lead investigator is gunning for her arrest. Can Gloria track down the real killer before it's too late? Or will Lucy take the fall and spend Thanksgiving in the slammer?

    From Amazon #1 Best Selling AuthorCarol Taylor has been through it all.After going through a nasty divorce with Robert and her four grown children and grandchildren scattered across the country, Carol is planning to spend Christmas alone.That is until her dying father gifts her a month at a bay house in the Chesapeake Bay.When Carol arrives, she receives the surprise of a lifetime, but then tragedy strikes.Will she get to spend Christmas with her family like old times? Will she find new love?Christmas at the Bay is a touching stand-alone novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and fill your heart with warmth and love this holiday season.

    Meanwhile, a dark and blurry photograph puts the entire town on high alert, and the election recount goes Sinfully haywire. It's all fun and games until bodies start turning up... and Fortune might just be the next victim.Fan Fiction: works written by adoring fans of the original author, using the original author's characters and settings. Jana DeLeon has graciously allowed certain authors to write in her world and Aunt Tillie is proud to be one of them. Jumbalaya was Tillie's first effort, and she hopes you will enjoy this and other stories by fan fiction authors. The timelines for these stories may not coincide with current Jana DeLeon stories, but they should fit almost anywhere within the Miss Fortune series.

    

     Savage Sourdough: Book 4 For Winifred Page and her devoted corgi, Watson, the puzzle pieces of life are falling into place as they settle into their home in the Colorado mountains. Surrounded by family and friends, Fred begins to relax into the charm and beauty of being the owner of a bookshop. All of that is put on hold when she finds a dead body in the Cozy Corgi bakery. Scornful Scones: Book 5 Tourist season is about to begin, and the lovely weather has Fred and her corgi sidekick, Watson, leaving the comfort of the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery to reluctantly attend a celebration at the Black Bear Roaster coffee shop. But a chill of uncertainty settles over Fred when a choking death doesn’t seem so accidental—despite the dry, hazardous scones. Chaotic Corgis: Book 6 Winifred and her quirky corgi, Watson, celebrate the Fourth of July picnicking with family and friends—of the human and four-legged variety. As summer blooms with romance for Fred and Sergeant Branson Wexler, murder lurks around the corner. When relationships are tested and secrets exposed, Fred might lose more than one person she loves. (This anthology includes a recipe for delectable sourdough bread, scones, and human-friendly dog treats.)

    Together, they follow a trail of gold coins to Sinful, Louisiana, where a homeless guy named Bayou Bubba turns up dead with an alligator tooth in his hand and a gold coin between his teeth. Is Bubba Miss Chance’s long lost father? Or will the mystery of his disappearance suck her down into the bogs of the Bayou, and ruin her favorite purse?