Hi friends,

We’re right in the middle of the merriest mystery celebration of the season — and I hope you’ll join us!

Every day through December 12th, I’m going live on the ReaderCrate Facebook page at 4PM CST for our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!

It’s been such a joy to connect with you all — chatting about favorite books, cozy traditions, Christmas treats, and more. Each day we draw TWO winners (and yes, there’s a grand prize on the final day!). Whether you’re a longtime cozy mystery fan or just found us, this is your chance to join the fun, meet new readers, and maybe win something sweet.

No need to be on camera — just come say hi and enjoy a little community and coziness with us.

And Speaking of Cozy… Let’s Talk About the January ReaderCrate!

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect post-holiday escape — the January ReaderCrate is exactly what you need. This month’s theme is:

Mystery in the Making

It’s a cozy celebration of slowing down after the hustle, curling up with a good book, and treating yourself to something that feels just-for-you.

Inside you’ll find:

• Signed cozy mysteries to spark your sleuthing spirit
• A sprinkle of baking-inspired goodies (yes, it’s as fun as it sounds)
• Exclusive bookish swag curated for comfort and joy
• A special hardcover edition with sprayed edges (a rare treasure in the cozy world!)
• And a surprise gift tucked inside from one of our bestselling featured authors

It’s a box full of charm, comfort, and bookish delight — the kind of thing you’ll want to light a candle and savor.

But… the January Crate is only available until December 12th, and quantities are limited.

Click here to grab yours before they’re gone »

Let’s Stay Cozy Together

Whether you’re joining us live each day or just peeking in between the hustle, I’m so grateful to have you here. This community is what makes ReaderCrate so special — and I can’t wait to send some of that joy straight to your doorstep.

See you at 4PM CST for the next giveaway!
And maybe… for a January crate too.

Warm wishes & happy reading,
Lyssa

The post 🎄 Cozy Giveaways + A January Crate You Won’t Want to Miss appeared first on Lyssa Lund.

We usually have a flock of about 13 mature turkeys who strut and flap about like they own the place—but this little family was something special. Mama kept a sharp eye on her crew while the babies darted and scrambled like Keystone Cops, every rustle in the grass sending them skittering in different directions. It was more comedy than crime scene, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

There’s something comforting about nature carrying on, especially with a touch of drama and humor. (Sound familiar?) It reminded me of the balance we love in cozy mysteries—a bit of chaos, a bit of suspense, and a whole lot of heart.

Back inside, I found myself imagining a mystery plot involving a secret message hidden in a trail of turkey tracks. Would the amateur sleuth follow the breadcrumbs—or breadcrumbs of cracked corn? Who knew the local wildlife could be such good inspiration?

Until next time, stay curious, keep cozy, and maybe peek outside—you never know what kind of mystery might waddle by.

Love a good mystery with a bit more danger and sophistication? Don’t miss
Brushed By Danger—where journalist Maya Rodgers finds herself tangled in a web of secrets, stolen art, and high-society intrigue as she hunts down a missing Rembrandt in London’s elite art world.
Can she uncover the truth before it disappears forever?

The post Feathers, Footsteps, and Fowl Play appeared first on Lyssa Lund.

This recipe makes a large amount of lefse – about 100 rounds. If you like you can easily cut the recipe in half or even in quarters. Just a couple of things I would like to emphasize. 1) That you refrigerate the mashed potato mixture UNCOVERED overnight or at least 8 hours until it is really cold. 2) that you do NOT add flour until just before you’re ready to start rolling out the lefse. If it stands too long, either at room temperature or in the fridge, it will water down and you’ll have a mess on your hands. However, this makes delicious lefse.

Oh, I know – many people have their own favorite recipe, but this one works!

Beatrice Ojakangas teaches lefse lessons at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota in November.

Ingredients:

10 pounds Russet potatoes (very important that they are Russets!)

1 pound butter (not margarine)

1 pint (2 cups) whipping cream

1 and 1/2 tablespoons salt

3 tablespoons sugar

Flour (added later)

Utensils you will need:

Lefse grill

Lefse sticks

Rolling pin and sock

Pastry cloth covered board

Potato ricer

Potato masher

Ice Cream Scoop that measures about 1/3 cup

Large piece of plastic, like a garbage bag split open

Terry Towels

Ziplock bags for storing the finished product

Peel, boil (just until done, don’t let the potatoes get mushy), drain, rice, and mash the potatoes.

Mash in the butter, whipping cream, salt and sugar until no lumps remain. Turn into a large bowl, smooth the top and cool, UNCOVERED, in the refrigerator overnight.

Next day, preheat the grill to 480 to 500*F. (You don’t grease it, it must be dry.)

Place a large plastic bag on the counter and lay a terry towel on top – you will stack the cooked lefse on one end and fold the towel and plastic over. The towel absorbs moisture, the plastic keeps it just moist enough. Rub the rolling surface with flour. Rub flour into the sock-covered rolling pin. Cut cold mashed potato mixture into quarters. Remove one quarter into a bowl and put the rest back into the fridge. Working with one quarter at a time, mix in 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour. Using your hands, mix the flour into the potato until well blended. Once you add flour to the potatoes, you are committed to that batch of dough – if you let it stand too long it will get soft and sticky. (You can keep the remaining 3 quarters in the refrigerator, uncovered, for 24 to 48 hours.) With an ice cream scoop, scoop out balls about the size of a golf ball and form quickly into a ball. Dust the ball with flour and flatten it out. Place onto the floured, cloth-covered, pastry board and with a floured sock-covered rolling pin, roll the dough out evenly into a large circle. Don’t hesitate to use plenty of flour at first. Wet spots can become a problem. (If you do get a wet spot, rub flour onto it and with the straight edge of a plastic dough cutter, scrape carefully to remove as much of the wet spot as possible.) Using a lefse stick, transfer the round onto the heated grill. The lefse will begin to bubble. Peek at the grilled side – you’re looking for nice, light brown spots. Slide the stick under it and carefully flip it over. If edges of the lefse begin to get dry, brown and curl, you are grilling them too long. If it is not browning well, but remains light, your grill temperature is to low. Stack the cooked rounds one on top of the other and cover with the towel and plastic. You’ll need a towel and plastic for each quarter of the dough. Cool 4 to 5 hours, then carefully, fold each lefse into quarters and place into ziplock bags (I usually put a dozen in a bag). Refrigerate up to 2 days or freeze. Makes about 100 lefse.

The post Lefse Time! Let’s Roll! appeared first on Lyssa Lund.

I am thrilled to announce the release of the much-anticipated sequel to A Touch Of Prophecy, where you will get to delve deeper into the world of magic and prophesy and learn about Niomi and The Dark King of the Unseelie court Callan in The Dark King’s Heart.

In the sequel, you will get to experience Niomi’s struggles as she tries to unlock the secrets of her hidden powers, all while navigating the treacherous world of the Unseelie court. Along the way, she will face new challenges and make new alliances, all in the hopes of fulfilling her destiny and stopping the evil Dark King from wreaking havoc on the realms.

Don’t miss out on this exciting continuation of the story that you fell in love with in A Touch Of Prophecy. Get your copy now and join Niomi on her journey! Available on Amazon.

The post The Dark King’s Heart appeared first on Lyssa Lund.

Thanks for your interest in staying in touch! The best way to stay in the know is to sign up for my newsletter here. What’s in it for you? 

• Updates about what book I’m working on
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• News about travel
• Exclusive contests and giveaways
• First looks at covers/trailers/teasers

You’ll also receive an alert when I have a new book out, so this is the best way to keep updated on what’s for sale or preorder.

As a thank you for signing up, I’ll include a free bonus short story delivered right to your email.

The post Lyssa’s Newsletter appeared first on Lyssa Lund.