Author Maggie Sefton was the guest today on the Yarn Thing with Marly Bird! They live in the same region so it was nice to hear from these near neighbors.
We always ask the fiber history of our guest, and Maggie says hers began in Virginia, specifically handwork like quilting, sewing, embroidery, etc. She knew people in college that knit, and admired them. But it wasn’t until after she wrote historical fiction and a career as an Certified Public Accountant, that she found in her research that people found comfort in knitting, and was referred to Lambspun of Colorado. Maggie refers to Faith Popcorn who was a trend spotter in the early 90’s, as saying that things that feel good to touch would become popular, which probably also inspired Maggie to write.
The Knitting Mystery Series, also know as the Kelly Flynn Series (now at #13) began with Kelly losing her Aunt, who’s property was adjacent to a coffee shop and 
knit shop which had been her Aunt’s support group and next to a golf course. Something was not quite right with her Aunt’s death and that began Kelly’s mysterious adventures in Ft Collins, Colorado. What Maggie herself found when visiting Lambspun she was able to capture and put into the book, the beautiful colors, the feel of the fiber and yarns, the feelings of learning to knit and she caught on, the comfort she’d heard about before. She uses the language of those who love yarn to tell the stories and makes it a very popular series which can be classified as knitting literature or knit lit.
Taking her knitting story ideas to her publishers sounds like an adventure, too. It was not a straight path. Having had success previously, her publisher was surprised, of course, and referred to this new idea as a ‘cozy’ novel. Maggie, having written many different murders, couldn’t imagine her writing as ‘cozy’ but clearly the combination of yarn and murder works for her! Plus, publishers LOVE series as Maggie says this sold faster than anything else she’s written.
Maggie has also written a trilogy of Political Suspense called the Molly Malone series. She also blogs as part of the Cozy Chicks. You can follow Maggie Sefton at her website, www.maggiesefton.com on Facebook and Twitter.
If you missed hearing this live it is available to hear as an archived episode where it aired originally: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/12/10/author-maggie-sefton or in iTunes.
I have not read these books about Kelly. But I do love to start new series. Winter is the perfect time to catch up!
This book would be just the read over a winter break.
After listening to the show I bought book 1. Looking forward to getting to know Kelly!
I am one lucky girl! Maggie picked her favorite number 7 which was my call and I won my lucky #13 in the series. I am catching up with Kelly and her life so that I can settle in with my new book when it arrives. Thank you!!
Kelly sounds fun to get to know. Thanks for another great podcast!
I cannot wait to read about Kelly. I love books that are in a series. So I am going to be starting these very soon!!!
I got into reading knitting mystery books about 6 years ago when I stumbled upon a series at my local library, but I haven’t done it since. I think I need to catch up on the knitting mysteries and read more about Kelly!
Kelly sounds like an interesting character to get to know…just like Maggie,lol!
Maggie is quite a character, I see a lot of Kelly in her!
I’ve not read any of the Kelly books but they sound interesting enough to try. Thanks for the introduction to Kelly.
The interview was so much fun- I can’t wait to get to know Kelly even better.
Such a fun show. Kelly sounds like someone I need to get to know.
I am curious to meet Kelly. Sounds like a fun series to read in the wintertime.
If there is a fan club for Kelly, I am in. Your books have brought great joy to me over the years of my knitting life. I look forward to reading your newest book.
I love the Kelly Flynn series. I cannot wait to read you new book. I used to dream about the perfect job with flex hours, working from home and close to a yarn shop with knit group. I had it for a year or so and really enjoyed that life. I had not believed the dream till I lived it. The yarn shop closed and I have to go into the office on a more regular basis but I still knit and look forward to spending some time with Kelly.
Shelly
I have read the first 2 books in this series, and I plan to keep going! Kelly is an engaging main character, and I especially love her dog, Carl! Thanks for featuring Maggie – always a pleasure to listen to the outcome of Marly’s and Tammy’s hard work!
I am in the mood for cozy mysteries. It’s time for me to meet Kelly and knit as I read about her.
The Kelly Flynn books are one of my very favorite fiber fictions series (and I’ve read most of them). The interview was so fun to hear how Maggie developed the descriptions of the yarn shop. Although I crochet far more than I knit, her descriptions of the colors and textures of the yarn connect with crocheters as much as knitters, and truly are “seductive”.
My friends call her books “Yarn Porn”! In fact they added a custom card with that phrase to their Cards Against Humanity deck after I read them the first paragraph of Dropped Dead Stitch. I would love to get her latest book!
I have really enjoyed Maggie’s series on Kelly Flynn I have read most all that I could find an am looking forward to reading more. Thanks Maggie for introducing us to Kelly and her friends.
I’ve not read any of the Kelly books but they sound interesting. Thanks for the introduction to Kelly.
When I think about knitting books, I think about Maggie Sefton. Hers was the first one I discovered. I fell in love with Kelly.
I love Maggie’s knitting books, also. Have them all. Not read the political ones but will see if the local library has them. Sorry I missed the podcast but will listen now. Very interesting venue.
I love mysteries so looking forward to adding Kelly to my list of favorite heroines.