by Crystal Caudill | Mar 18, 2025 | Character Interview, Crystal's Books
It’s release month for Written in Secret, so I thought it would be fun to get to meet some of the characters from the book. Today, it’s my honor to introduce you to Lydia Pelton, the heroine and a fellow author. Before we dive into the interview, here’s a bit about Written in Secret. AND I’m hosting TWO special giveaways this month on my all my blog posts related to Written in Secret. At the end of the month, I’ll draw a winner. Check out the details in the end! Oh! and if you’ve already read Written in Secret, I’ve created a Facebook Discussion group where you can talk all about it with others who have read it too! I hope to see you there!
If you haven’t gotten the chance to meet Abraham Hall and Billy Poe, here’s your chance!
Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill
In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history.
What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.
With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.
As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple Books | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Christianbook | IndieBound | Kobo | Kregel Parable Christian Book Store
Now for our interview with Lydia.
CC: It’s always fun to interview another author, especially when said author is the heroine of Written in Secret. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
LP: Do you want the socially acceptable introduction or the real me? Never mind, I’ll give you both. I am Lydia Pelton, the daughter of Dr. Pelton, a respected and well-loved coroner for the Cincinnati Police Department. I attend church services every week, no matter what–thank you, Momma–and am a single, good Christian woman. There. That should make any parent proud.
Now for the part my parents really wish I wouldn’t band about: I am also the author of romance dime novels–no, not the scintillating kind, but you wouldn’t know that by how many people decry romance authors, especially of the female variety. I also write other stories, but not even my parents know that. Only my dearest and closest friends, the Guardians.
CC: You and your friends call yourselves the Guardians? Why? There has to be a story behind that.
LP: When we were in school together, there was this brute of a boy who used to corner girls and force them to kiss him. If they refused, he spread rumors that ruined their reputations. Because he was the schoolmaster’s son, nothing was done about it. Flossie was new to the school, and Nora overheard him bragging to his friends that he would corner her. So Theresa, Nora, Flossie, and I taught him a lesson. While he was swimming in his birthday clothes with his friends, we stole them and lined them with poison ivy. When he returned to school after recovering at home for a few days, he found a note from the Guardians warning him to be a gentleman, or he might find other uncomfortable consequences awaiting him. Since then, we have come together to help protect the defenseless and have a good time together. These women are my sisters at heart, and I don’t know where I would be without them.
CC: Having such a close-knit group of friends is a wonderful blessing. It sounds like me and my Masters of Mayhem group. We probably get in just as much trouble as you, at least in our fictional minds. Speaking of fiction, you said your parents wish you wouldn’t band about being a romance novelist. Why?
LP: Dime novels are a highly controversial topic. There are a great many people who vehemently oppose them and try to get them banned. They argue that they are soul-corrupting and lead to the degradation of a person’s character. It doesn’t matter that these little books–usually 100 pages each and affordable to the general public at ten to twenty-five cents–allow everyday people access to reading. They aren’t the classics and thus have no place in our society. *eye roll* It’s ridiculous really. And heaven forbid if a woman writes romance or, worse, a mystery novel.
CC: Are there many female mystery authors?
LP: There are a few, but probably far more than you would guess by looking on your shelf. E.A. Dupin is generally thought to be a man; however, I know for a fact that he is not a he at all but a she.
CC: And how do you know this?
LP: I suppose I can trust you, but your readers must be sworn to absolute secrecy. It’s dangerous for E.A. Dupin right now. The city is in an uproar because someone is taking his stories, claiming to be the hero, and then murdering the criminals that each story was based upon.
CC: I can assure you, and speak on behalf of my readers, that you can trust us. Who is E.A. Dupin?
LP: Me.
Growing up around police officers and stories of crime all my life, I wanted nothing more than to provide justice for those whom justice has been denied. Cincinnati has a reputation for a corrupt justice system. If a criminal has the right connections and funds, he can walk away a free man or with a lesser punishment, no matter how egregious the crime or how much evidence proves their guilt. But women aren’t allowed to write crime novels. It’s bad enough that they write romantic ones. My publisher accepted my first mystery novel until he realized I was a woman. He had no problem accepting my romance novels, so that is what I wrote for him first. Once I felt secure in my standing with him, I submitted a mystery novel under the pseudonym E.A. Dupin, requiring that Dupin’s identity remain a secret, even from him. It worked splendidly until recently.
CC: And you say that someone is killing people in the name of your fictional hero?
LP: Yes. All of my novels are based on real crimes and criminals who walked away from their deserved sentencing because of corruption in the justice system. I wrote new endings to those stories to bring those poor victims justice. Just ones. Detective Billy Poe was the man who collected all the evidence and proved the criminals guilty, but before they could be arrested, they always died in a manner befitting their crime. Only someone is pretending to be Billy Poe and is murdering the real criminals just the way they died in my books. It’s a horrible situation, and the police suspect E.A. Dupin of the murders.
CC: Then why don’t you come forward and tell them you are E.A. Dupin and couldn’t possibly have committed those murders so they can start looking for the right man?
LP: It’s complicated. Even more so now that I’ve met Detective Abraham Hall. *sigh* This whole situation is a mess, and I just don’t know what to do. Somehow, no matter what happens, I will be viewed as the villain.
CC: Detective Abraham Hall? Why would that matter? Actually, don’t answer that. As much as I’d like to continue this interview, we’ve run out of time and space. If you’d like to learn more about Lydia’s dilemma, her choices, and who this Detective Abraham Hall is, check out Written in Secret.
Month-Long Blog Giveaway #1
Help me celebrate the release of Written in Secret and get the word out about the new series. From March 4 to April 1, this giveaway will be open to those legally allowed to enter both domestically and internationally. International winners will be given a prize of equal value as shipping costs are prohibitive. See my giveaway policies for more details.
Prize: homemade book cozy, fuzzy socks, journal, reader mug mat, bookmarks, stickers, tea, and chapstick.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Month-Long Giveaway #2
Already have the book?? This giveaway is for you. Somewhere in the first fifty pages of Written in Secret is the answer to “What attacked Lydia and Abraham inside the circus tent?” Fill out the below Google Form to be entered for your chance to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or Baker Book House. The giveaway runs until April 11, 2024. The winner will be selected the week of April 12 and notified by email.
Enter Here
Readers, comment with:
What would your pen name be if you were a dime novelist?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 11, 2025 | Character Interview
IT’S RELEASE DAY FOR WRITTEN IN SECRET!!!! What better way to celebrate than to get to know the hero, Detective Abraham Hall, who steals a romance writer’s heart? Before we dive into the interview, here’s a bit about Written in Secret. Don’t forget I’m hosting TWO special giveaways this month on all my blog posts related to Written in Secret. At the end of the month, I’ll draw a winner. Check out the details in the end! Oh! and if you’ve already read Written in Secret, I’ve created a Facebook Discussion group where you can talk all about it with others who have read it too! I hope to see you there!
Reading Is My SuperPower did an interview with Billy Poe on March 3, so be sure to check that out too!
Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill
In the heart of nineteenth-century Cincinnati one woman holds the power to rewrite history.
What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her.
With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall’s only lead is Lydia’s fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the “Killer Queen of Romance.” Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself.
As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati’s citizens, but for their own hearts too.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple Books | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Christianbook | IndieBound | Kobo | Kregel Parable Christian Book Store
Now for our interview with Abraham.
CC: Hello, Detective Hall. It is a pleasure to interview you.
AH: It’s Officer Hall. I’m not a detective. Not officially–even if my partner Detective Talbot Lawson refers to me as one. If I help solve the Dupin Murders before the city implodes, it is likely a promotion.
CC: The Dupin Murders? Could you explain what you mean?
AH: I’ve long believed that dime novels corrupt the soul, and this set of murders proves my thoughts correct. E.A. Dupin is the author of eight murder mysteries based on real Cincinnati crimes. Only instead of allowing the criminals to be arrested in his book, the criminals all die through means similar to their crimes. It’s never at the hands of the hero, Detective Billy Poe. Still, someone has claimed Billy Poe’s identity and is now murdering the real men whose cases inspired the books.
CC: Do you have any suspects?
AH: I did, at least until I discovered who E.A. Dupin actually was. Cincinnati suspected Dupin of the murders due to the descriptions and access to information he shouldn’t have included in his books and how closely the murders matched the endings in his books. However, anyone with access to the dime novel could leave quotes from the hero, Billy Poe, on the victims’ bodies, meaning that any of Cincinnati’s 250,000 residents with access to the book, the motive, and the means could commit the crime.
CC: Anyone but E.A. Dupin? Why is that?
AH: E.A. Dupin is the pseudonym Lydia Pelton uses to pen her soul-corrupting novels. I feel like such a fool for having any interest in her. She lied to get her position as a mystery author, manipulated others to get the information needed for her books, and kept her identity secret even though she knew the police were looking for Dupin.
CC: So you don’t believe she is capable of those murders?
AH: Not physically, but she penned each and every one of them. She is responsible, at least on some level, for the deaths of those men. Even if she cannot be held accountable to the point of facing a trial.
CC: And yet you say you are attracted to her?
AH: I was, was being the key word. I should have known when I arrested her and her friend, Theresa, for attempting to steal a three-legged goat from the circus that she was not a woman to be trusted. Yet, the woman captured my interest even after discovering she was a romance novelist. That was bad enough, but I cannot tolerate the deception needed to be E.A. Dupin and the delay to this case she caused by forcing us to uncover her identity. I am determined to keep her firmly in the criminal box of my mind and off-limits from any other influence she may have over my thoughts.
CC: So there is no future together?
AH: Not if I can help it. Perhaps a shift in conversation would be best. Just thinking about her puts me on edge.
CC: Absolutely. I heard that Billy Poe insists that he is carrying out justice by killing these men. What are your thoughts on the matter?
AH: I am no blind idealist. I know our judicial system can sometimes be corrupt, but only God can carry out judgment. And that is what Billy Poe is doing. Enacting judgment, not justice. Justice allows for restoration. Judgment is final. I admit I wrestle with this idea of not being able to combat the injustice of this world, but God has appointed the judges over us, and whatever their rulings, we must abide by them. God will correct things in the end, and who knows? He may use the release of a criminal to glorify His name and bring them back to Him. At least, that is the hope I cling to.
CC: Sometimes Christ is the only hope we have to cling to. I have one last question before we wrap up. What about Lydia Pelton draws you to her, even when you don’t want to be?
AH: I told you that we are done with that topic. Lydia is a puzzle I cannot figure out. It is like two people reside within her—one capable of writing such evil that it sets a city to rioting and one who is determined to bring light and hope to the world. She is fanciful yet serious, intelligent yet foolish, considerate yet selfish. She is a woman of contradictions, and she makes my head hurt.
CC: Don’t all women make men’s heads hurt? I look forward to reading about the headaches she brings and how this case works out for you. I’ve met Billy Poe, and let’s just say he’s one twisted man.
AH: Wait, you know who he is?
CC: And you will too. Eventually. Readers, I hope you’ll pick up Written in Secret and see if you can beat Abraham to the revelation–and see if maybe Lydia is the one who will give him a lifetime of headaches instead of just a season.
Month-Long Blog Giveaway
Help me celebrate the release of Written in Secret and get the word out about the new series. From March 4 to April 1, this giveaway will be open to those legally allowed to enter both domestically and internationally. International winners will be given a prize of equal value as shipping costs are prohibitive. See my giveaway policies for more details.
Prize: homemade book cozy, fuzzy socks, journal, reader mug mat, bookmarks, stickers, tea, and chapstick.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Month-Long Giveaway #2
Already have the book?? This giveaway is for you. Somewhere in the first fifty pages of Written in Secret is the answer to “What attacked Lydia and Abraham inside the circus tent?” Fill out the below Google Form to be entered for your chance to win a $25 gift card to Amazon or Baker Book House. The giveaway runs until April 11, 2024. The winner will be selected the week of April 12 and notified by email.
Enter Here
Readers, comment with:
What do you think, readers? Do you think books have the power to corrupt someone?
by Crystal Caudill | Feb 28, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s another month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away. Since this year is based on your TBR pile, I will not have a recommendations page, but I’m leaving the link here so it’s easier for me to set up NEXT year’s blog posts.
Find recommendations at Reading Challenge Recommendations, Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends Facebook group, Avid Readers of Christian Fiction, or Inspirational Historical Fiction Index.
Don’t forget to comment at the bottom of the post for your chance to win a book off my prize shelf. *The list of prizes from my shelf can be found here.*
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month: February – Author of a different generation
Next Month: March – Author with the same starting letter as you
Calico Spy
by Margaret Brownley
Review by:
I can always count on Margaret Brownley to provide a completely satisfying romance blended with mystery, crime, and adventure. This final installment of the Undercover Ladies series is definitely my favorite from her so far.
Katie is a wonderful Pinkerton operative, different from any of the other “Pink” women in her series. Her own set of observation skills paired with the handsome sheriff, and reluctant love interest, is perfect for the hunt of the Harvey Girl Killer. While her observation skills were envious, they were human.
As a woman, she has a strong personality, but with the vulnerable undertone we all try to hide. She is a character who draws you in and molds you into her. Her emotions, thought patterns, and uncertainties are complex and real. She is my absolute favorite character developed by Margaret Brownley thus far.
Sheriff Branch Whitman is his own strong character with a past that emotionally attaches you to him. His is the tall, strong hero who is not really intimidated by an equally strong-minded woman. He is wounded, yet gentle. He is intelligent, but a complete buffoon at times. I love him to no end as a character.
There is a restrained passion that emerges and evolves naturally as the story progresses. Honestly, it made me want to curl up in my husband’s arms and feel that strong connection Katie and Branch have but fear to acknowledge. It is a love that feels real and not just the pat on the back, superficially love found in a lot of romance novels.
The plot is fantastic with several twists, turns, and added layers which hold your attention from beginning to end. While the murder does seem to drag on, it was a realistic drawing out of how murders are not solved in an hour. I don’t wish to give anything away, but let me assure you every layer is addressed satisfactorily, and all loose ends are tied up.
I highly recommend picking up Calico Spy if you like historical crime solving mixed with romance. Margaret Brownley is a master.
Genre: Historical Romance, Western
Plot Overview:
Pinkerton operative Katie Madison’s newest case takes her to Calico, Kansas, where two Harvey House restaurant waitresses were murdered in mysterious circumstances. Calico s sheriff, Branch Whitman, has never met a Pink he liked and is stunned to learn the pretty redhead s true identity as she works undercover as a Harvey girl. A tornado hits town, and a past deception puts Branch s eight-year-old-son in danger. Now the Sheriff has no choice but to work with Katie or chance losing everything he holds dear.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter widget. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Feb 26, 2025 | Uncategorized
Welcome to the 2025 Winter Clue Quest
38 Authors – 6 Days – 3 Winners
It’s time to dust off your detective hat and join in on a fun scavenger hunt where you’ll search for answers about some amazing authors.
How to play:
Visit each featured author and hunt for the answer to their question. Collect all the answers and then submit them via this Google Form. Take one or all six days to complete the scavenger hunt. Be sure to sign up for the authors’ newsletters that interest you and spread the word to others.
Recording Sheet if you desire it.
DAY ONE AUTHORS
- Crystal Caudill– What is the name of the free novella you can download when you sign up for Crystal’s newsletter? https://crystalcaudill.com/
- Kelly Goshorn– What is Kelly’s nemesis? https://kellygoshorn.com/
- Sarah Sundin– What World War II plane did Sarah ride in? https://www.sarahsundin.com/
- Heather Tabers– When Heather’s not writing, what does she enjoy creating out of polymer clay? https://www.heathertabers.com/
- Carrie Turansky– What is the title of Carrie’s free short story she’s offering readers when they sign up for her newsletter? https://carrieturansky.com/
- Erica Vetsch– What is one of two sports teams listed on Erica’s home page? www.ericavetsch.com
- Roseanna White– What’s the name of Roseanna’s patron group? http://www.roseannamwhite.com/
DAY TWO AUTHORS
- Jennifer Diebel– What two foods would Jennifer live off of if she could? https://www.jenniferdeibel.com
- Laura Frantz– Where is the author from and where does she live now? https://laurafrantz.net
- Jessica Gustafson– In addition to writing, what type of art does Jessica Gustafson specialize in? https://www.jessicagus.com/
- Carrie Hachadurian– What did Carrie buy during the pandemic in a delusional attempt to improve her skills? https://www.carriehachadurian.com/
- Nicole Miller– How many purebred Arabian horses does Nicole own? https://nicolemillerwriter.com/
- KyLee Woodley– What’s the title of the free short story you get for signing up for KyLee’s newsletter? https://kyleewoodley.com/
DAY THREE AUTHORS
- Elizabeth Daghfal– What does Elizabeth have a *slight* addiction to–but never manages to do? https://elizabethdaghfal.com
- Kristine Delano– What is the name of Kristine’s audio Novella? www.kristinedelano.com
- Elly Gilbert– Name one or more of Elly’s dogs. https://ellygilbert.com/
- Breana Johnson– What is the title of Breana’s free novelette? https://breanajohnsonwrites.com/
- Katy Lee– What is Katy’s free book on her website called? https://katyleebooks.com/
- Dana Lynn– Where did Dana meet her husband? https://danarlynn.com/
DAY FOUR AUTHORS
- Alena Auguste– What state is Alena originally from? alenaauguste.com
- Lisa Jordan– What is Lisa’s tagline? www.lisajordanbooks.com
- Carrie Padgett– How many pets does Carrie have? https://carriepadgett.com/
- Jenny Snow– What mountain has Jenny climbed but never reached the top? www.jennysnow.net
- Angela Ruth Strong– Which of her books was made into a movie? https://www.angelaruthstrong.com
- Jeanne Takenaka– What is the name of Jeanne’s community? https://jeannetakenaka.com
- Dalyn Weller– What does Dalyn have too many of? https://dalynweller.com/
DAY FIVE AUTHORS
- Mindy Graham– Who told Mindy the story that inspired her to tackle one rock at a time? https://www.mindygraham.com
- Sarah Popovich– What are Sarah’s favorite reads? https://www.sarahpopovich.com/
- Rebecca Reed– What’s the name of Rebecca’s dog? https://rebeccareedwrites.com
- Cynthia Ruchti– What four word answer does she hope to hear readers say when they finish one of her books? https://www.cynthiaruchti.com
- Jessica Stone– According to her Home page, what is Jessica’s story? https://www.jessicastonestories.com/
- Amanda Wen– What type of pet does Amanda have? www.amandawen.com
DAY SIX AUTHORS
- Brianna Foster Barrett– What type of cuisine is her cooking specialty? https://briannagrams.com
- Leslie DeVooght– What is Leslie’s hometown? https://lesliedevooght.com/
- Jen Dodrill– How many kids does Jen have? https://jendodrillwrites.com/
- Erin Kohler– What was Erin’s first car? https://erinkohlerwrites.com
- Gabrielle Meyer– What is something Gabrielle includes in each of her stories? https://gabriellemeyer.com/
- Carolyn Miller– What country does Carolyn Miller live in and come from? https://www.carolynmillerauthor.com/
by Crystal Caudill | Feb 25, 2025 | Book Reviews
The Scarlet Ribbon
by Naomi Stephens
Review:
The Scarlet Ribbon is a masterful reimagining of the story of Rahab set during the American Revolution. Stephens weaves the heartbreaking and gritty reality of Rebekah Stanton’s life with redemption, hope, and the dream we all have: to be loved for who we are and not what people see us as. The historical details are superb, the romance satisfying and noble, and the Truth spoken lovingly and clearly. My heart ached for the characters; it stuttered with fear for their safety; and it sighed in contentment at the end. This is a story that needed to be told and needs to be read.
Genre: Historical Romance, American Revolution
Plot:
As the Revolutionary War unfurls around her, Rebekah Stanton is abandoned by the man who once claimed to love her. Shunned by her father and forced to give up her child, she finds herself thrust into prostitution at the local boarding house.
When the British seize control of the nearby fort, she gives little thought to the officers who frequent the boarding house. Men are men regardless of the color of their uniform…or so she believes. But then a young man—a Patriot spy named Benjamin Renshaw—stumbles upon her in the darkness, and she saves him from a group of pursuing Redcoats.
With an attack on the fort brewing in the background and the father of her child returned to serve with the British, Rebekah is torn between old dreams and new hope, struggling all the while to find peace and forgiveness in a place of rising conflict.
Author Website: https://www.naomistephens.com/
Purchase Link: Amazon | Whitefire Publishing
What is the most recent book you’ve read? What did you like about it? Who would you recommend it to?
