Leslie here, pleased to welcome the marvelous Kim Davis to the coop, with a look at the not-so-fictional town where her Aromatherapy Apothecary mysteries are set. And she’s giving away a copy of the newest in the series, Essentials of Homicide to one lucky commenter! So, take it away, Kim:
[The winner of Essentials of Homicide is cherierj. Congrats!]
Thank you, Leslie, and all the Chicks for hosting me today! I recently released Essentials of Homicide, the third book in my Aromatherapy Apothecary Mysteries, and I’m still celebrating. A couple of months ago, I took a day trip to “Oak Creek Valley” with my sidekick, Missy (a mini Goldendoodle), and revisited the small tourist town setting of the series.
It was fun seeing the town through the lens of my stories now that I’ve had three books in the series published, and visiting where my protagonist, Carissa, had her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop. Spanish influence inspired the “Arcade” where shops line the sidewalk, and I love the featured arches on the entire block.
We romped in the park where Carissa visits the farmers’ market every weekend, and where the movie filming took place during the story.
Missy and I loved meandering down the eucalyptus and oak tree-lined walking trails and remembering the sleuthing Carissa got up to while walking her own dog, Pixie.
Walking through the town, I was actually surprised how much of the town’s characteristics I used across the three books… it was like taking a trip down memory lane!
So how did I end up with “Oak Creek Valley”? For starters, it was my childhood town until the age of 14. I changed the true name of Ojai (pronounced Oh-High) to Oak Creek Valley since I don’t want to stick to all the actual facts of the town and wanted the liberty to change details as needed. Ojai is, in reality, a small tourist town (population less than 8,000) and is about 80 miles from Los Angeles. The town has attracted movie and television studios for on-location filming, starting in 1915 (a silent film!), and continues to this day. A fun factoid for those of a “certain” age: the TV program, The Six Million Dollar Man was filmed in Ojai, and as a kid, I got to go watch the action. In fact, my mom’s car ended up in one of the televised scenes parked right next to the post office bell tower!
The premise of Essentials of Homicide is that Hollywood has descended on Oak Creek Valley to film a murder mystery movie. Carissa’s best friend, Ashley, has rented out her home to the movie studio for a few months. When Ashley has a run-in with the bad-boy leading man playing the part of a homicide detective, she becomes the star suspect when he’s murdered.
I actually had the inside scoop on what it’s like renting out your home to a movie studio because my cousin and his family rented out their Ojai home for the movie Easy A for three months! I chatted at length with my cousin’s wife, and she graciously shared their experiences and answered all my questions.
Carissa also lands a part as an extra on set, which was inspired by my long-time hairstylist and her husband. They used to style hair for actors and actresses and have been extras on movie sets—like Saving Mr. Banks—several times… and more often, their vintage cars have appeared in films. They’ve regaled me with their stories over the years and were more than happy to answer questions and walk me through the process of being an extra. Because of the tedious nature of being a real-life extra, I ended up fictionalizing Carissa’s experience, lol.
A huge thank you to Leslie for inviting me to Chicks on the Case today! I hope you enjoyed visiting Carissa’s hometown alongside me. If you ever have a chance to visit Ojai, I highly recommend it… even Missy gives it two paws up for its friendliness to dogs and its fine dining that caters to furry friends!
About the book:
Hollywood has descended on Oak Creek Valley to film a murder mystery. Carissa Carmichael, owner of the Aromatherapy Apothecary, has a front-row seat to the bad-boy leading man’s escapades as she works with the production to bring soothing essential elements to the stressed-out crew.
When the movie set becomes a true crime scene, Carissa’s best friend becomes the star suspect. Instead of enjoying the thrills of lights, camera, and action, she’s thrust into untangling the secrets of the glamorous actors who all seem to hide something. While working behind the scenes to sniff out clues and clear her best friend’s name, Carissa must apply pressure and find the killer before someone else is written out for good.
Includes essential oil and reflexology tips, plus a recipe.
About Kim Davis:
Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series, the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series, along with The Board Game Chronicles, a middle-grade fantasy series. She is also one of the bloggers at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, where she indulges her passion for food and creating unique cupcake flavors.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and very rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plot lines… that is, when Missy lets her sit down to write. Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
To learn more, please visit:
http://kimdavisauthor.com/
Readers, for a chance to win a print copy of Essentials of Homicide (limited to U.S. residents), comment below and tell me if you’ve tried either aromatherapy or reflexology.
I have not tried reflexology, but i have tried aromatherapy.
Thanks for stopping by today, Anne! I hope your experience with aromatherapy was beneficial!
Been looking forward to this book! I like seeing the inspiration behind the setting, and a movie set sounds like lots of fun for a plot. I’ve never tried either aromatherapy or reflexology but it is interesting.
Thanks so much, Alicia! I had a lot of fun imagining all that could go wrong on a movie set and the trouble the actors could get into 🙂
What a fun book concept, Kim! And thanks for the virtual tour with your fur baby. Cheers!
Thank you, J.C.! Thankfully Missy is a great travelling sidekick 🙂
Missy is one happy dog! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us.
Dedicated user of essential oils here! Love the many uses of aromatherapy. My first experience with massage was reflexology and I cannot recommend it highly enough! Loved the first two books in the series. Have this one on my list to read soon!
Thank you so much! And I love that you’ve found reflexology and aromatherapy so beneficial!! While doing research for the books, I’ve been amazed at finding so many different uses for aromatherapy… plus most of the oils smell so good 🙂
I have tried essentials oils and I love them. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com Thank you for the chance.
You’re very welcome, Deborah! I’m glad you’ve found essential oils to be beneficial!
Congratulations, Kim! Love the pictures and Missy. My husband did extra work on a couple of projects and yes, very tedious. And eye opening.
Thank you, Liz! How “fun” for your husband to get to work as an extra! I’m sure he came away with some stories to tell 🙂
Glad you’re here, Kim! I’ve always meant to visit Ojai, so now it’s on my list of to-visit-soon places. Hurrah for the third book in your aromatherapy series!
I’ve never rented a home out for movie filming or been an extra; the closest I’ve gotten to stars is getting brief glimpses of them and a (distanced) glance at a movie premiere!
Thanks so much, Jennifer! The nice thing about being in LA and visiting Ojai is that it can be done as a day trip. And who knows, you just might spot someone famous while you’re there too!
I’ve never tried either (unless you count walking into a bakery to inhale the heavenly aroma of freshly-baked bread to be aromatherapy, lol).
Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today, Kim, and congrats on the new book–it looks terrific!
Thank you so much for inviting me, Leslie! Oh yes, I do count freshly-baked bread as aromatherapy… so good for your soul 🙂
Indeed it is!
Leslie!!! Hilarious! My favorite type of aromatherapy. Ha!
I have never tried aromatherapy or reflexology.
I appreciate you dropping by today, Dana!
Congratulations, Kim! I’ve read, and loved, the first two in the series, and have this one in my TBR stack. I’m in Santa Clarita, about an hour away from “Oak Creek Valley” (and Bonnie Lu’s and Bart’s Books!), and love books set along the coast or thereabouts. I use aromatherapy and essential oils, mostly for sleep and calm, so lots of lavender, but I also like lemon and other scents to give me a boost, too.
Thanks so much, Laurie! And yay for Bart’s Books but I haven’t eaten at Bonnie Lu’s yet… will have to check it out next time! I’m so glad that you’ve found beneficial uses for essential oils and lavender has always been my fav.
Hi Kim:
Thank you so much for visiting! Love this post and all the pictures (I really feel like I went on tour with you and now definitely want to go to Ojai).
Missy is so blinking adorable. She seems to really enjoy the adventures.
Have tried aromatherapy and reflexology–liked both very much.
Congratulations on your newest book! 🎉
Thanks so much, Cynthia! Missy is definitely a terrific traveling companion, especially when food is involved 🙂 I’m glad I could provide a virtual “mini tour” of Ojai. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I definitely recommend!
I took a day trip out to Ojai not too long before you announced the series, and it’s been fun picturing it while reading these books. (No need to enter me in the giveaway since I finished enjoying this book over the weekend. Now, to get my review written.)
Thank you so much, Mark! I appreciate you taking the time to read and review Essentials of Homicide! And, I’m glad you could envision the setting as you read… Ojai is such a great day trip destination.
I’ve tried reflexology and use some pressure points for headaches. I’m afraid to try aromatherapy because I have allergies and some scents bother me. I do love Dr. Teal’s bath crystals with spearmint and eucalyptus. Thanks for the tour and the chance.
Acupressure for headaches really does help! I have some scent allergies as well, but thankfully lavender and peppermint haven’t bothered me and have helped with headaches as well.
Sally, I love Dr. Teal’s bath crystals, too!
I have tried a little aromatherapy, but not reflexology.
I love reflexologists who combine their craft with aromatherapy!
Kim!!! Thank you so much for visiting with us. Congratulations on the release of ESSENTIALS OF HOMICIDE! Excellent post! Thank you so much for inviting us behind the scenes of ESSENTIALS OF HOMICIDE. I’ve never tried reflexology. I’m open to it. I have an essential oil dispenser in my office. I love peppermint and eucalyptus.
Thanks so much for having me today, Patricia! Next to lavender, peppermint is my favorite essential oil… it helps with many issues from headaches to stuffy noses to others. Although I don’t use a diffuser often because it can sometimes be unhealthy for pets, so I err on the side of caution.
I have not used reflexology, but I have tried aromatherapy and still use it currently.
Thanks for stopping by, Cherie, and I’m so glad you’ve found aromatherapy to be beneficial!
Kim, we’re so glad you visited Chicks today! Great post, and congrats on ESSENTIALS OF HOMICIDE. Loved learning about your hometown, the setting behind the setting. Have to say, I’d be happy to eat off that doggo menu! We almost rented our tiny Brooklyn apt out to William Hurt while he was filming the movie Smoke (1995, so it would have been 1994, I guess). His rep thought the napkin size and wood floors would be just perfect because Bill wanted to keep up his yoga practice while filming. Catch: We needed to move out with our 4 and 6yo and live somewhere else for a few weeks, even tho Bill only needed the place for a few hours a day . The money would have been a lot (for us) but a temp move-out is hard to pull off with kids and a cat in NYC, ha.
Lisa, what an amazing offer you received on behalf of William Hurt! But I completely understand your reluctance to uproot everyone. My cousin & family had to move out for 3 entire months and they had 3 grade-school kids at the time… it was A LOT of work to comply with the studio but they said the money was too good to pass up.
It was indeed so much money, sigh. Ah well.
Kim! I’m sorry I missed this yesterday — I clearly don’t know what day of the week it is!! Thanks so much for your tour of Ojai. It makes me want to visit! I’ll just have to read the book and go vicariously. Thanks for stopping by and sorry I’m a day late!
I’m just happy you could take a vicarious trip to Ojai today, Marla!
Thank you, Kim Davis! I am looking forward to reading it.
You’re very welcome, Cherie! Cheers!