I am Teresa Michael and I’ve always enjoyed a good mystery. So, I turned my love of writing and mystery stories into the Mariposa Café mystery series. I love to read, especially sitting on my back patio. I'm a member of the Sarasota Ex Libris book club and forever grateful they've pushed me out of my genre comfort zone into enjoying all kinds of fiction and nonfiction, though a good mystery or thriller is still my first choice. After retiring from a career in health information management and technology, I am now a full-time author and back porch sitter.
I love to travel. I've visited 49 states, having spent nine years on the road working for a healthcare software vendor. I had the privilege to spend many years as the Team Manager of the U.S. Archery team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, as well as other international tournaments all over the world.
I live in Sarasota, Florida, with my husband and cat, Lily. I enjoy visiting our children and grandchildren and spending time creating new memories. I'm busy completing my new B&B mystery series, developing the next Mariposa Café mystery, planning the next trip, and still trying to get to that fiftieth state.
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Title Murder in Mariposa Beach
Author Teresa Michael
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher Let Love Glow Author Services
Book Blurb
Libby Marshall has one rule. She doesn’t date lawyers or cops.
A former prosecutor, Libby was once married to a lawyer, which about got her killed. . . literally. Self-imposed Witness Protection provided her with a new life, a new home and a new career as a café owner in Southwest Florida. Instead of focusing on her espresso machine and scones, however, Libby finds herself in the middle of yet another investigation and involved with super-hot detective Jack Seiler. Will Jack make her consider breaking her rule a second time, and if she does, will she live through the consequences?
Excerpt
Ida Sullivan was about seventy-five years old and dressed all in pink, including the baseball cap with rhinestones in the shape of a star. She pushed a wheeled walker with a thermos and her Maltese dog, Zsa Zsa, in the basket. Zsa Zsa wore a matching doggie hat, her white furry ears sticking out on both sides.
Libby pulled out a chair and then opened the umbrella to give her some shade.
“I heard about your adventure last night,” Ida said. Lifting the thermos out of her basket, she added, “I thought you might need a drink.”
Libby opened the lid and sniffed. “It’s a bit early for margaritas, isn’t it?”
“It’s cocktail time somewhere, I always say,” Ida cackled. “Heard it was quite a sight—blood and dead bodies all over the place.”
“Apparently, the Mariposa Beach grapevine is in full swing,” Libby said. “Just one body and Pilar is missing.”
“Missing? Where did she go?”
“Don’t know. The police are looking into it.”
“She’s a cute little thing with those big brown eyes. Maybe she was fooling around with someone’s old man, and the wife caught them and went into a wild, jealous rage.” Ida winked.
“Ida, you have such an imagination.”
“Libby,” Mimi called. “Detective Seiler is on the phone for you.”
“Maybe they found the bodies,” Ida said. “By now, bet they’re gator bait.”
“Good morning, Ida. I see you and Zsa Zsa are out for your morning walk,” Mimi said.
“Yes, and she brought us cocktails,” Libby said.
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Author Biography
Teresa Michael is the award-winning author of the Mariposa Café Mystery series. “Murder in Mariposa Beach,” received the Firebird Book Award in the mystery category. Teresa enjoys reading, writing, chocolate chip cookies, a great cappuccino, good food and wine, and traveling with friends and family. She was the Team Manager for US Archery at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and has visited 49 states and many foreign countries. She is a member of Florida Writers Association, Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and is a past president of Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime. Teresa lives in Sarasota, FL, with her husband and hopes to someday visit that 50th state.
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Title Mistletoe and Missing Persons
Author; Teresa Michael
Genre: Cozy Mystery Holiday Novella
Publisher: Let Love Glow Author Services
Book Blurb
It’s the holidays and Libby Marshall and the Mariposa Café have a new neighbor – gallery owner Steve Devereaux. But, as the Mariposa Beach shopkeepers begin decorating their stores for the holidays there’s a lot more than crystal ornaments with mistletoe to focus on. Mr. Devereaux has a skeleton in his closet… literally. Could it be the remains of a teenage girl who disappeared from the town over forty years ago?
A former prosecutor, Libby finds herself in the middle of yet another murder investigation. And no worries, she’s still involved with super-hot detective Jack Seiler. Will they be able to solve the identity of the skeleton before ringing in the new year? With the help of their quirky, but talented friends, they just might be able to figure it out.
Excerpt
Detective Seiler turned to Fletcher. “Mr. Smith, I am surprised that you let these two pull you into this.”
“I couldn’t let them come by themselves. Besides, I had nothing better to do today.” Fletcher was as calm as the glassy water of Sarasota Bay.
“He’s our backup. He has enhanced interrogation skills,” Ida said.
Fletcher shrugged and smiled. “I took the course.”
Turning to Libby, Jack asked, “And you, Miss Marshall. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Well, Detective, how else are we going to find out the identity of that poor girl in the wall?”
“You need to leave this to law enforcement.”
“Law enforcement? How much time are you and Sam spending on a forty-year-old cold case?” Libby pointed at Jack.
Jack looked away. “There are more recent cases I need to work on.”
“You know as well as I that the likelihood of solving this case and getting justice for that girl is next to nothing. What else can we do?”
“Buddy knows something,” Fletcher said. “He was hungover and became agitated, even more so when Libby mentioned those names.”
“What names?” Jack looked from one to the other, resting his gaze on Libby.
Libby averted her eyes.
“Names of missing persons,” Ida said.
“Libby?”
“All right. I have a few names of missing persons around the time Buddy was on the crew that did the gallery remodel.”
Jack leaned into her. “Where did you get these names, Libby?”
“Uh. I have a guy.”
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Title: Deception in Mariposa Beach
Author Teresa Michael
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Let Love Glow Author Services
Book Blurb
Welcome back to Mariposa Beach for the third book in the Mariposa Café Mystery Series, where it’s all about fun Florida mysteries featuring fearless, female sleuths.
There’s a new, big-time New York City director in town–Jerry Mann–but whether or not he’ll live to see opening night of the play he’s there to direct isn’t a guarantee. With several new crimes to solve that appear to have followed Mr. Mann to Mariposa Beach, Libby Marshall, a former prosecutor, and her super-hot detective boyfriend, Jack Seiler, will need all the help they can get from the quirky crew and patrons of the Mariposa Café.
But, this time, it’s more than a little personal for Libby. Her Aunt Julia appears to have a mysterious past with Jerry Mann, and it’s looking like a past that will have a major impact on Libby’s future.
Excerpt
It had been a little over two years since David had relocated to Mariposa Beach from New York, about a year after Libby had moved to Florida from Ohio.
“How’s rehearsal going?” she asked.
“There’s a lot of tension on the set. You can feel it in the air.”
“That’s unfortunate. Tension can surely make for a difficult few weeks and probably results in not the best performances.”
David gave a little snort, laid his head against the seat, and closed his eyes.
Approaching the narrow bridge, Libby slowed down. No oncoming lights were visible from the opposite side, but she caught a sudden flash behind her and checked the rearview mirror. Blinding headlights appeared, bearing down on them way too fast.
“Holy crap! What’s this guy doing?”
David sat up with a start. “What?”
“He’s trying to pass us.” Libby braked and began to steer toward the right.
“On the bridge? That’s crazy!” David turned to look out the back. The truck’s headlights illuminated his face like a spotlight.
Libby braked harder and tried to move onto the shoulder to allow the truck to pass. She heard the shrill scrape of metal as the large pick-up truck sideswiped the Jeep, pushing it into a skid. The truck sped across the bridge as the Jeep slammed through the guardrail and over the side. They slid down the short embankment, coming to rest with a body-shaking thud against a concrete post, and then sank into the mud at the edge of the canal.
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Title Redemption in Mariposa Beach
Author Teresa Michael
Genre Mystery, Cozy Myster
Publisher Let Love Glow Author Services
Book Blurb
Welcome back to Mariposa Beach for the fourth book in the Mariposa Café Mystery Series, where it’s all about fun Florida mysteries featuring fearless, female sleuths.
It appears that dead bodies continue to be following Libby Marshall all through the otherwise quiet little beach town of Mariposa Beach, Florida. And this 4th of July is no exception. The problem is that the recently deceased was someone who had very important information for Libby regarding the man who had kidnapped her not so long ago – Max Holden.
The question really is who knows what about Max … and that includes how much Libby’s boyfriend, Detective Jack Seiler, knows too. And what does Max’s status have to do with the trafficking ring that seems to be attempting to get back to business as usual?
Excerpt
Libby had just hopped out of the shower when Carrie knocked on her front door with an armload of cocktail dresses, a few with sales tags attached.
“Did you raid Macy’s?”
“Retail therapy and I raided my mother’s closet. I couldn’t decide, so I came early for your opinion.”
One at a time, Libby laid the dresses over the back of the sofa. The women scrutinized the display of various styles and shades of black and navy, one sparkly silver sheath, and a dusty rose dress with a flared skirt and flowers across the halter top.
Libby held up the dusty rose dress. “I think you should wear this one. It’s cute and flirty, and the way it’s cut will accentuate your waistline. The black and navy ones are too dreary for a summer cocktail party.”
Carrie agreed, eyed the remaining dresses, and pointed to the silver sheath. “You’d look so hot in this dress! You should wear this one.” She wiggled the hanger, so the fringe shook and the sparkles shimmered.
Libby held the dress up to her chest and posed in front of the hallway mirror. “It’s a little short for me. As gorgeous as this dress is, it screams New Year’s Eve.” She removed the dress and returned it to the pile on the sofa. “Besides, that dress would draw too much attention. Remember, we want to slip in and slip out and try to be as inconspicuous as possible.” And there’s no way I could run in this dress.
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