About the Book

Book: Time After Tyme

Author: Kay DiBianca

Genre: Cozy mystery

Release date: November 29, 2021

Time After Tyme is a fun and thought-provoking mystery about secret codes, university intrigue, and two young girls who fancy themselves 21^st-century Nancy Drews.

When strange, coded messages turn up in the chapel prayer box at Bellevue University, the minister suspects a recent campus death may have been murder, so he enlists the help of amateur sleuths Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman to decipher the codes and solve the mystery. But when a couple of young girls get wind of it, they decide to find the killer on their own. Almost everyone on campus has something to hide, and the story fluctuates between the rational search for the truth by the adults, and the occasionally misguided, but surprisingly perceptive, insight of the children.

Set on the campus of a modern university, Time After Tyme is both a joyful romp through a cozy mystery and a serious look at the search for truth. The book reminds us of the seasons of our lives, from the irrepressible curiosity of youth to the treasured experience of maturity.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kay DiBianca is an award-winning author who loves to create literary puzzles in the mystery genre for her readers to solve. Her characters come to life as they struggle to solve murders and create relationships amidst the ongoing themes of faith and family. Her first novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, won an Illumination Award for General Fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for Mystery. The second book in the Watch series, Dead Man’s Watch, was a Silver Falchion Award finalist.

Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the Collierville Christian Writers Group. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. Her background in software development fuels her fascination with puzzles and mysteries, and her dedication to running helps supply the endurance and energy she needs to write about them.

Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee. You can connect with Kay through her website at https://kaydibianca.com.

More from Kay

When ten-year-old Reen Penterson overhears the words “foul play” in a conversation not meant for her, she jumps to the conclusion that a murder has been committed and says, “Foul play? Murder! My heart pounded and my future life unfolded in front of me like a YouTube video. I could solve the mystery and expose the killer! I’d be famous. I’d be rich. I’d be one of those people who gets a college degree without having to go to school.”

To aid in her “investigation,” Reen enlists the help of her nine-year-old cousin, Joanie Finelson. And the chaos begins.

Writing Time After Tyme was great fun for me. This is the third book in the Watch series of cozy mysteries, and I wanted to add another dimension to the stories. Since I intended to dedicate the book to my best friend from childhood, my cousin Joan, I thought the misadventures of two young girls would be the perfect addition. Although Reen and Joanie are secondary characters in the book, they steal the show from the adults with their misguided attempts to find a killer.

Set on the campus of fictional Bellevue University, the story revolves around the recent death of the university librarian, Mr. Tyme. When strange, coded messages are found in the university chapel prayer box, main characters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman are asked to decipher them. While Kathryn and Cece work to solve the mystery behind the codes, Reen and Joanie are turning things upside down in the search for a killer.

There were several things I particularly enjoyed about writing this book. I loved creating the coded messages, each of which relates to a Biblical proverb. I also liked exploring the secrets many of the adults in the book harbored to avoid being associated with Mr. Tyme’s death.

But more than anything else, I enjoyed the all-out approach to solving the mystery by the two young girls. At times, their unfiltered approach to their quest made me laugh out loud and reminded me of the wonder of that special time of life.

Interview with Kay

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Thoughtful, Determined, Grateful

What has been your favorite part of the publishing journey? 

I love the time I’ve spent learning, studying and writing. However, my favorite part of this publishing journey has been the relationships I’ve made. The writing community is full of people who are smart, creative, and willing to share their knowledge with others. Through writing groups, conferences, blogs, podcasts, and various other means, I’ve been able to connect with other writers. Some are industry professionals who write books on the craft of writing, some are long-time authors, others are new to the field as I am. I’m very grateful to be a part of this special group.

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

One fun fact that I share occasionally is that I use a word in each of my books that’s not in any dictionary. The word is “kinestatic.” This word was coined by my husband, Frank, in the 1980’s when he invented and patented a medical imaging device and named it the Kinestatic Charge Detector. Frank combined “kinetic” (moving) with “static” (still) to come up with the word. I wrote a blog post at the Kill Zone Blog about Frank’s word. I even made “Kinestatic” the title of one of the chapters in Time After Tyme.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

I have to name two characters: Reen and Joanie, the young girls who want to solve the murder mystery on their own. I had decided to dedicate the third book in the Watch series to my cousin Joan who was my best friend growing up, and that’s why Reen and Joanie were created. Their antics and misadventures are loosely based on the friendship and shenanigans Joan and I shared as children.

The epigraph I use in the book is a quote from Agatha Christie: “One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood.” Joan and I were both very lucky, and I hope some of the irrepressible joy and curiosity of childhood is reflected in Time After Tyme.

What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

The theme of the book is stated in the tagline: “With Time All Things Are Revealed.” If you’re willing to search long and hard enough, you’ll always find the truth.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 20

lakesidelivingsite, April 20

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 22

Texas Book-aholic, April 23

Inklings and notions, April 24

Blogging With Carol, April 24

For Him and My Family, April 25

Book Looks by Lisa, April 25

deb’s Book Review, April 26

Vicarious Living, April 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 27

Mary Hake, April 27

She Lives To Read, April 28

Bigreadersite, April 28

Older & Smarter?, April 29

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 30

Paula’s Persuasion, April 30

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 2

Pause for Tales, May 2

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 3 (Author Interview)

I luv the books, May 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kay is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1d0ae/time-after-tyme-celebration-tour-giveaway