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It’s launch party day here in Salty Inspirations! The ePub of Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals is live, and tomorrow the paperback arrives, so the celebration has officially begun.
To kick things off, I’ve rounded up my friends Robert, Kandice, and Alex for a little behind-the-scenes Q&A with Racheal Post from the Silver Springs Times. Think of it as your all-access pass to the chaos, laughs, and surprises that seem to follow us wherever we go.
And don’t forget, Michelle will be posting snippets from the launch party all day on social media, so you can follow along in real time. Plus, I brought s’more cups for everyone, recipe included below so you can join in on the fun from home!
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals Launch Party
Exclusive Silver Springs Q&A and Recipe
Good morning, Silver Springs!
I’m Racheal Post, reporting for the Silver Springs Times, and today, I finally got my interview.
Now, some of you may remember that the last time I tried to sit down with this group, I was politely, and by politely, I mean completely, redirected to the VFW, where the “Old Man Battalion” was more than happy to take over the conversation.
While I can’t say I didn’t enjoy that assignment… I think we can all agree it’s time I got the story straight from the source.
So today, I’m here with the cast behind the latest events unfolding in Silver Springs: Taryn, Alex, Kandice, and Robert.
This should go smoothly… right?
Racheal: For our readers at home, can each of you tell us who you are, and why Silver Springs can’t seem to function without you?
Taryn: I own Amazing Memories. I was born and raised here in Silver Springs, and the farthest I’ve ever been from home was that cruise we recently took.
Kandice: (clears throat) And I am her best friend.
Taryn: (smiling) And Kandice is my very best friend. This world would be boring without her.
Robert: What about me?
Taryn: Oh, you definitely make things interesting.
Kandice: I’m the sister she doesn’t have… and the reluctant help at all her parties.
Taryn: Hey!
Kandice: And we are the newest Charlie’s Angels.
Robert: They do look good in leather.
Taryn: (rolling her eyes) We are not that cool. I wish we were, but we’re not.
Kandice: Speak for yourself.
Robert: I am Taryn’s first love.
Kandice: (laughs) I’m glad you said first and not only. Honestly, I’m surprised.
Robert: Ooh, that’s better. She’ll come around.
Taryn: Um… no.
Robert: (shrugs) I had to try. I moved to Silver Springs when I was three. Taryn and I were high school sweethearts.
Racheal: And what about you, Alex? You’ve been awfully quiet over there.
Alex: As you can see, it’s hard to get a word in with this group.
(silence)
Alex: Really? Nothing? Not even a reaction? (laughs)
Taryn: (smirking, nudging him) We were waiting for you to get your word in.
Alex: I recently moved here from Denver, but I’ve lived all over. Taryn is the reason I plan on making this my permanent home.
Taryn: Ahh… that is so sweet.
Kandice: Plus, you love us. We’re very lovable, you can’t help yourself.
Robert: I’ve been a pretty good Robin to your Batman.
Alex: Yeah… you all have changed my world in ways I can’t really explain.
Taryn: Silver Springs seems to need us… especially since I keep finding bodies. Maybe it’s my fault?
Racheal: While we’re addressing the elephant in the room, does that make you the main character of this story?
Taryn: I guess so. I’m the one telling the story Michelle writes, but I like to think we all contribute.
Kandice: Oh, we definitely do!
Robert: We’re the spice of your life. We add variety. (raises his eyebrows and winks at Taryn)
Alex: (chuckles) “Variety” is one way to put it.
Kandice: If it weren’t for Taryn, we wouldn’t have anything to investigate.
Alex: I’m sure the ulcers forming in my stomach would agree.
Taryn: I can’t help it, you know that.
Racheal: Speaking of things this town can’t ignore, the murder rate has risen since your side hustle began. So tell me, what’s been going on around Silver Springs lately?
Taryn: We had an unusually rainy start to the summer, and as you know, several wildfires have broken out that don’t match the snowpack we had this year, or the current rainfall patterns.
Racheal: It’s been quiet… the kind of quiet that usually means trouble?
Kandice: Exactly. I knew something was up. I tried telling these guys, but—
Taryn: (interrupting) You brought over obituaries and wanted to investigate random deaths. How does that prove something was wrong?
Kandice: I could feel it, okay? I just didn’t know where to start.
Robert: Admit it, you were wishful thinking.
Alex: You all were.
Taryn: Not me. I just wanted my campground event to run smoothly.
Racheal: And speaking of that event, I see you didn’t come empty-handed today.
Taryn: (grinning) Of course not. I brought s’mores cups for everyone.
Kandice: Everything she makes is good!
Robert: The cups are cute since no one is really up for a fire right now.
Alex: She’s the best cook I know.
Racheal: Well, for our readers at home, Taryn has kindly agreed to share her recipe below, so you can bring a little bit of Silver Springs to your own kitchen.
Now, with everything going on, how have your relationships changed through this latest case?
Kandice: I found out more about my boyfriend’s very secret government job.
Robert: Taryn and I had a bit of a James Bond moment. I was pretty happy about that. My contacts really helped the case.
Taryn: (glancing at Alex, squeezing his hand, turning to answer Robert) We did have fun at dinner, didn’t we? I think we’re all figuring out how we fit together, as a family.
Alex: (slight eye roll, smirking) I’ll say this, as the outsider… they’re restless, fearless, and very good at getting what they want. They’re valuable teammates, that’s for sure. But someone has to keep an eye on them.
Racheal: If something goes wrong, and it will, who’s most likely responsible?
Taryn: (in unison with Kandice) Robert.
Robert: Hey!
Taryn: Just kidding… mostly. You’ve been helpful, except for my first case.
Robert: Fair. I was working through some things.
Kandice: Yeah, like trying to convince Michelle, our writer, to keep you around. (smirks)
Robert: True.
Alex: Typically, things go wrong when someone isn’t being honest or tries to go it alone. I think we all learned that from the first case.
(The group nods in agreement.)
Taryn: We do work better as a team.
Racheal: Let me ask something I’m almost afraid to know, has anyone here ever made a situation worse while trying to fix it?
Taryn: My first case, I tried to do everything without knowing what I was doing.
Kandice: She means she walked straight into the middle of it with zero plan.
Taryn: Pushed into it, thank you!
Robert: (looking ashamed) I may have caused some of the drama during that case, and intern put Taryn in more danger.
Alex: You cause her stress she didn’t need. Confuse her!
Robert: Like you were any better!
Alex: I tried to keep everything under control. That usually makes it worse with this group.
Kandice: That’s because you try to stop us.
Taryn: Which never works.
Robert: Ever.
Alex: I’ve noticed.
Racheal: Before we wrap up, I have to ask, who in this group knows you best, and is that a good thing?
Kandice: Taryn. And yes… most of the time.
Robert: Taryn. And no, that is not always a good thing.
Taryn: Kandice. She knows everything… even the things I wish she didn’t.
Alex: Taryn, and I am happy to share my secrets with her.
Racheal: All right, quick answers before we run out of time, coffee or tea?
All: Coffee.
Racheal: Secrets or surprises?
Kandice: Secrets.
Robert: Secrets.
Alex: Surprises.
Taryn: Surprises.
Racheal: Trust your instincts or follow the clues?
All: Instincts.
Racheal: Go it alone or call the group?
All: The group.
Racheal: One word to describe what’s coming?
Taryn: Unpredictable.
Alex: Complicated.
Kandice: Stressful.
Robert: Scandalous.
Racheal: And finally… any warnings for the people of Silver Springs?
Robert: Don’t mess with Taryn’s parties.
Alex: Or her grandpa.
Kandice: The Angels are always watching.
Taryn: Don’t do bad things… and you won’t have to worry about me showing up.
Rachael: Well… there you have it.
I can’t say I got all the answers I was looking for, but I have a feeling the real story is just getting started.
Stay tuned, Silver Springs.
—Racheal Post
Silver Springs Times
About Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher : Salty Inspirations (April 13, 2026)
Print length : 293 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8990881778
ASIN : B0GTC1TW97
Wildfires weren’t part of Taryn O’Kelly’s summer plans. Neither was arson.
When a string of suspicious wildfires erupts in the mountains, authorities clear out the KOA Campground and surrounding homes, forcing Taryn to postpone her long-planned summer kick-off picnic. As smoke drifts over town and neighbors settle in at the fairgrounds, unease spreads right along with it. Then an insurance adjuster goes missing, and rumors of arson begin to take hold.
Determined to protect her town and her livelihood, Taryn starts asking questions. Corporate land grabs, bitter zoning disputes, and simmering grudges point in several directions. Even Silver Springs’ resident prankster seems to know more than he is saying. But the deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone is playing a dangerous game, and the fires may be only the beginning.
Set against the backdrop of a Colorado mountain summer, Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals blends small-town charm, wry humor, and heartfelt community spirit with a mystery that smolders long after the last ember fades.
About Michelle L. Clifton
Michelle L. Clifton writes lighthearted, high-stakes cozy mysteries filled with humor, romance, and small-town shenanigans. She is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly Mysteries, a fast-paced series featuring party planner and amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly and her growing circle of friends who somehow keep stumbling into trouble. Her stories blend the charm of traditional cozies with the quick pace and comedic flair readers love in Janet Evanovich books, always with a satisfying, happy ending.
Michelle serves on the board of the Southwest Florida Fiction Writers and is Editor-in-Chief of Inkwell Magazine. She is also the founder of Salty Inspirations, her blog, journal pen name, and publishing imprint, which serves as a home for her writing, creative projects, and behind-the-scenes insights into life as a cozy mystery author.
She lives in Cape Coral, Florida, with her husband. Her books are perfect for readers who enjoy humorous mysteries with heart, memorable characters, and a touch of romance mixed with murder.
Links to your webpage and social media:Website: Website
Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Instagram
Goodreads: Goodreads
Purchase Links: Amazon
Barnes and Noble TOUR PARTICIPANTS
April 13 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR KICK OFF
April 13 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
April 14 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
April 14 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
April 15 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 15 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
April 16 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
April 16 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
April 17 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
April 18 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 20 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
April 21 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
April 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 22 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
April 23 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 23 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
April 24 – Hall Ways Blog – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
April 26 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals Excerpt
“Taryn, honey. I know you’re busy, but your grandfather has declared war on whoever set your grandmother’s rose bushes on fire. He’s at the VFW right now recruiting anyone who can see in the dark. He’s building his own civilian army. If you have a moment, can you go down there and please tell him to stop? Your grandmother and I have already tried. He won’t listen to reason. And your father seems to be okay with it. He doesn’t think, at their age, they can get into much trouble. Does he know this family?” My mother sighed.
I rolled my eyes. I loved my family. I really did. Taking a deep breath, I said, “Absolutely, Mom. I’ll go down there and take care of it right now.”
“Thank you, sweetie,” my mom replied.
I disconnected and turned to my friends. “My grandpa’s causing a ruckus, and we need to go stop him first.”
They exchanged glances.
“The apple didn’t fall far from the tree now, did it?” Alex said, grinning.
“Not funny,” I snapped, stomping my foot.
“He’s not wrong,” Robert added, laughing
Kandice just laughed.
“Whose team are you on?” I argued. “Either you guys get your coats and come with me or stay here, but I’ve got to go deal with my grandpa.”
We grabbed our things and headed out.
Taryn's S'mores cups
These cozy little S’more Cups are a sweet twist on a campfire classic, no firepit required. Made with buttery crumbs from Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thins, each bite has a warm cinnamon graham flavor that pairs perfectly with gooey mini marshmallows and melted chocolate chips tucked inside.
Baked in silicone muffin cups, they come out perfectly portioned with a soft, slightly crisp base and a golden crumble topping that adds just the right amount of texture. They’re simple, nostalgic, and just a little indulgent, exactly the kind of treat you’d imagine Taryn whipping up for a cozy night in.
Perfect for gatherings, book club treats, or a quiet evening with a good mystery, these s’more cups bring all the comfort of a fireside favorite right to your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 box Simple Mills Cinnamon Graham Crackers (crushed)
- 6 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place your silicone muffin cups on a baking sheet (for stability).
- Crush the cinnamon graham crackers into fine crumbs (a zip-top bag + rolling pin works great).
- Mix crumbs with melted butter until it feels like damp sand.
- Set aside about 1/4 of the mixture to use as your crumble topping.
- Press the remaining crumb mixture firmly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of each silicone cup. You want a little “well” in the center for the filling.
- Sprinkle in mini marshmallows
- Add chocolate chips. - Don’t overfill—leave a little room for topping.
- Sprinkle the reserved graham mixture over the tops.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until: Marshmallows are puffy, and the tops are lightly golden.
- Let them cool in the silicone cups for 10–15 minutes before removing.
They’ll firm up as they set.
Notes
Optional Cozy Upgrade: Add a small drop of peanut butter to the centers, before the chocolate and the marshmallows to make it a peanut butter s'mores cup.
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I hope you enjoyed meeting Taryn and the gang. Thank you so much for being here to celebrate the launch of Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals and to kick off the tour with us!
If you’re new here, I’d love for you to take a look around the blog. Be sure to check out the Taryn O’Kelly series, and you’ll also find features from several other cozy mystery authors. I’m sure you’ll discover something to add to your TBR pile.
Thank you again for celebrating with us! If you enjoyed this post, please consider signing up for my newsletter, where I share cozy fun on the first Friday of every month.
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! —Michelle❤️
