Thursday, October 8, 2015

Guest Post- Susan Furlong

I am so delighted to have Susan Furlong with us today. Susan is the author of Peaches and Scream (A Georgia Peach Mystery. Are you a foodie? Do you love trying new foods? After reading this post you will want to for sure.






All my favorite cozy mysteries feature great food descriptions and many of them include recipes, too. Therefore, when I began writing the Georgia Peach Mysteries, I knew a little extra research was needed. After all, the south is known for its delicious food and I wouldn’t want to get any details wrong. So, I embarked on a research trip. Armed with a printout of Back Road Georgia Gems and outfitted in stretchy pants, I was a woman on a mission: Taste as much of central Georgia as possible—no foods barred and all in the name of book research. Would I find some tastes and textures, recipes and culinary traditions that I could use in my book? I sure was willing to find out!

I kicked off my quest in Macon at a hole-in-the-wall joint that served up an amazing fried pork chop sandwich that was succulent and juicy on the inside, salty and crispy on the outside and with just enough heat to balance the coolness of the lettuce and tomato--all stacked on a hard roll smothered in a zesty blue cheese cream sauce. Oh yum! I’d keep that one in mind for a lunch while my characters discuss the story’s suspects—assuming they can keep their minds off something besides their taste buds. Down the road, somewhere in Peach County, I stopped at a family-owned restaurant for what was supposed to be the world’s best corn fritters. They weren’t exaggerating. Shallow fried, starchy sweetness with bits of corn kernels throughout, served with your choice of fruit jam or honey. This was southern cooking at its best! I couldn’t wait to prepare that recipe for my own fictional family’s Sunday breakfast.

But what southern food research would be complete without fried chicken? And in Cordele, I found a chicken shack that did it right: juicy, melt-in-your-mouth, dark meat cloaked in a perfectly seasoned, paper thin crust and paired with crisp slaw and a buttery roll—a bit of heaven! Did I mention that I wore stretchy pants? Good thing. Because I rounded off the day with my favorite dessert: peach cobbler, made fresh daily at one of Fort Valley’s largest orchards. Rich and gooey, sweet and tart, crumbly, buttery, and just a wee bit sinful, it was served hot and topped with creamy, melting ice cream, and was probably the single tastiest thing I’d ever eaten. Now this confection would definitely make it in my book!

Calorie overload? Yes. An extra pound or two on the hips? You know it. But I believe no sacrifice is too great when it comes to getting my facts straight. And one thing for sure, the characters in the first Georgia Peach Mystery, Peaches and Scream, know how to eat. Whether it’s a slice of pecan pie at Red’s Diner, peach scones from Sugar’s Bakery, or a simple glass of sweet tea out on the front porch, readers can enjoy eating right along with them--calorie free even! Just be careful, though. Because all the good food in Peaches and Scream is served up with a side of spicy mayhem and a generous dollop of murder. What’s YOUR favorite southern dish or peach recipe? Comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of Peaches and Scream.



About the Author: Susan Furlong has lived throughout the United States, including the South, but is now happily settled in the Midwest on a small hobby farm with her husband and four children. Writing about peaches comes naturally to her as she grows several varieties of her own. Susan also writes the Novel Idea Mysteries under the pen name Lucy Arlington.


You can find Susan here:
Web: http://susanfurlong.com
Twitter: @foulplayauthor
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17Gn0YJ


Giveaway: One Lucky reader will receive a copy of Peaches and Scream. Leave a comment about your favorite food place and email for a chance to win. Winner will be chosen on Oct 12th and will have three days to respond.

33 comments:

  1. kat8762@aol.com. I am excited for another chance to put this book onto my reading cue...thanks! Favorite food place? It's a local place called Papapavlo's specializing in Greek food. My favorite meal is pita bread with tzatziki, fresh Greek salad, moussaka, washed down with a nice red wine. Oh, dessert! Baklava with a Greek coffee!

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  2. Red Lobster has to be my all time favorite, and Cracker Barrel second, depending on what I am in the mood for. Hard to pass up cheesy garlic biscuits....or country fried steak with corn bread! Thank you for a chance to win! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  3. I love greens. Collards and kale. Etc. Also peach cobbler.
    Thank you for the chance.
    Lady dot Janel at hotmail dot com

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  4. I love sushi, Japanese food, in general.
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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  5. Golden Corral love the buffet mamorr69 at gmail dot com

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  6. There is a great little seafood place in Wisconsin called Joey's (that seems to have changed its' name since our last visit) that was so delicious!
    Thanks!
    JHolden995(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. Love southern cooking. Pork chops with gravy and rice, greens, with Mac and cheese.

    xzjh04@ Gmail.com

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  8. I have a story about peaches: at the time I got pregnant with my first I used to eat a lot of chips and soda. Never had any fruit. But while I was pregnant I craved peaches and didn't want the chip. So now every time I think about peaches it reminds me of when I started liking them.

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  9. Ah, so many good food places, but I have to pick Cheddars because everything I've ever tried there has been good. I've heard a lot about this book. Thanks.

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  10. I do love Southern food. Yum. Let's see, corn fritters are yummy, macaroni and cheese, chicken and waffles (had that last weekend) . Oh and iced tea, it's the best. Dnrocker@yahoo.com

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  11. I love Ippolito's in Atlanta for Italian and Greenwood's for Southern style and amazing blackberry pie!
    rebarger@bellsouth.net

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  12. Love your books, I have to say my favorite eating place is call Portillos, located in a number of locations in Chicago. There Italian Beef is to die for. So if you are ever in Chicago be sure & stop by there & eat. Linda May my email is: lindamay4852@yahoo.com

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  13. Living in NE Ohio I enjoy going to Middlefield, Ohio which is Amish country. We go to Mary Yoder's Amish kitchen and enjoy their wholesome menu including fresh peach pie that is to die for! Your book is going on my TBR pile today!
    dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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  14. What a delightful feature. I enjoy authentic Italian food which is my favorite. Capri's is the best. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  15. Paradise here which has sushi, great stir fry and kale. Love this unique book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. My favorite food place is a good farmer's market---Oh, the wonderful things that I can discover there. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.fararell@gmail.com

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  17. I love Red Lobster. My hubby and I go every year for our anniversary. Their shrimp and lobster is to die for. They melt in your mouth.
    I so loved reading your book. It will be a honor to have a signed copy of a wonderful book and great author. My email is kimcooper28@gmail.com.

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  18. My husband and I have a favorite little Italian restaurant called Biscotti's. This is our place where we celebrate our anniversary, Sweetest day, Valentine's day, etc. My favorite dish is Penne Putanesca. It is of course penne pasta with chunks of chicken, spinach, grape tomatoes, kalamta olives, and a creamy sauce with parmesan cheese shaved on top. Delicious. I hope I haven't made your mouth water. Your book looks great and I would love to read it. My e-mail is robeader53@yahoo.com

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  19. I love Randy's Bar-B-Que in Red Oak, Texas. They have wonderful customer service, tender meat and their loaded baked potato is big enough to feed three adults.
    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

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  20. There is a little Mexican restaurant a block away from where I live that has the best food IMHO. jmvarner50@hotmail.com

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  21. h5apby@yahoo.com Kathleen Bylsma
    Aladdin's, a family owned place here in AK...my favorite meal is Kefta...lamb meat balls with tatsiki and pita bread...I've watched the children from infancy to young adulthood...so good and a lovely family

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  22. Mac and Cheese!!!
    poohbus_13@yahoo.com

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  23. I always eat shrimp when I go to the coast.
    Theresa n
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. Peach cobbler is one of my favorites. Husband dieting so haven't had it for a while.

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  25. My favorite food place is my kitchen because I can cook whatever I want whenever I want. I am not patient when I have to eat out. I hate the wait. But I must say that when we went to Maine this spring, I did love the lobster and clam chowder there that I would not have been able to make here in the Midwest.

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  26. living in the south most of my life i am lucky to get some wonderful food all the time. my mother is German so i was raised on southern food with a German flair. my favorite has to be these amazing biscuits my grandmother (father's mother who was from Alabama and called her 2-momma) made. they were so light, powdery and oh my gosh yummy. just want to say i loved this book!! what a great start to a wonderful new series. kayt18 at comcast dot net

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  27. I would love to read this. Thanks for the chance. brichardson0056@yahoo.com

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  28. You poor thing...such torturous research! :-) You made my mouth water several times, and especially over the fried chicken!!! The only thing I love more than food is my family, so you can imagine how much I loved your post.

    Great job, Susan!

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  29. My favorite place is Davidson's, a locally owned restaurant in Oregon.

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

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  30. My favorite Southern dish is Salmon croquettes, chip fries, slaw and sliced garden tomatoes and homemade cobbler...and you can find that at Mama Jean's Restaurant a local place...thanks for the giveaway...
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  31. My favorite food place is Rosalindas in Greenville, but Tupelo Honey is a close second.

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  32. Winner is Becky!!!!Congratulations!!

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