Originally published as a character guest post on The Frugal Freelancer Blog as part of the Great Escapes Tour for Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses, this post is now officially “coming home” and living here on my site.
If you’re new here, welcome! And if you read it the first time around, I hope you enjoy revisiting Taryn O’Kelly’s not-so-ordinary party planning life (and her very inconvenient habit of finding dead bodies). Either way, I’m thrilled to have this story housed here on my blog for readers to enjoy anytime.
And if you’re enjoying Taryn’s chaos, you’ll be happy to know her newest adventure, Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals, is on tour now! You can follow along, grab your copy, and step right back into her world of parties, trouble, and very questionable timing.
Finding Bodies Wasn’t on the Party Planning Checklist
A Cozy Mystery Character Post
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Taryn O’Kelly. I have Auburn wavy hair that hangs below my shoulders and green eyes. I am an Irish Catholic girl who loves planning parties, cooking, running, coffee, and wine. I have been told I work too much and get hyper-focused on the task at hand, sometimes forgetting to have fun along the way. My best friend, Kandice, is my remedy for this troublesome trait. She probably has a little too much fun in her life, if you know what I mean. I like to think we balance each other out. The reality is she is a loose cannon, and peer pressure is real. I would love to blame all of my life’s shenanigans on her, but that probably wouldn’t be fair. Especially since she isn’t the one stumbling across dead bodies. Apparently, a new habit of mine.
I never dreamed I would be labeled a sleuth. I never dreamed of finding a dead body, but for some reason, I am becoming the dead body magnet. I love mysteries, and I love puzzles; I just didn’t know I would star in one. I should have seen it coming, being a small-town girl, hopelessly romantic with a side of confusion, and the appearance of a lot of free time on my hands.
I started my own party planning business because I wanted an adventure. I didn’t want the regular 9-5 job; working for myself was the dream. I love organizing and planning things. Holidays and Weddings are my absolute favorite. So how did dead bodies find their way into my life? That’s a question I will probably ask myself forever.
Before the Miller/Peterson wedding, my little business was growing, a bit slower than I wanted, but still steadily growing. Starting your own business takes hard work and time. Their wedding was going to launch my business into the big girls’ circle, and I was ready! That’s when things got tricky, and I stumbled across the first dead body I had ever seen. Let’s just say I didn’t have the stomach for it, and things weren’t pretty. I have since controlled the need to vomit. I guess you really can desensitize yourself to things with more exposure. Ugh… Again, not my plans.
But not all bad things have come from this new job title. I mean, I did almost die, and I did almost become an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, but positivity is the key, right? These things were almost, it’s not like they actually happened. Try telling that to my mother. She just wants me to get married, have kids, and stay away from dead bodies. Every mother’s dream. I promise the last bit, I am trying really hard to do. Some things are easier said than done, though.
Alex, my possible marriage and grandchildren potential boyfriend, and I really tried to have a great vacation, but the bodies followed me there as well. Maybe God is trying to tell me something. I am not very good at listening, at least not when it’s something I want to control, so I probably can’t hear what He is trying to say to me. As a matter of fact, I have been told to stay out of things before, but when someone needs my help, I cannot sit on the sidelines either. I mean, what’s the point of trying to be a good Catholic if I am going to look the other way when someone could use my help, right? I am a people person and a people lover.
So you can see the dilemma I find myself in. Taryn O’Kelly, lover of wine and finder of bad guys! It’s not all bad. I must say I secretly enjoy the challenge, and I think Kandice may enjoy it even more. She insists upon referring to us as ‛Charlie’s Angels’ even when we have been called Lucy and Ethel. Kandice has the figure of an angel. She’s tall, dark, and curvy. Her African American bloodline gave her excellent skin and the perfect butt. Her Italian bloodline gave her the Grecian goddess finishing touch. If she were carved out of stone, she could pass for an even prettier Aphrodite. I have curves; mine are just smaller. I look fantastic in an emerald green wrap dress and feel like a princess while wearing it.
I have no idea what the future holds for me or my dear friend, however, if I were a betting girl, it would be more dead bodies, more parties, and more Alex. Mmm. I like that last part. My mom will have to accept that I am truly trying to get to motherhood. And Kandice will have to accept that playing Angels probably isn’t healthy, but we will keep trying. As for me, since planning things is my specialty, you can find me wherever there’s a party and probably a dead body.
Thanks so much for stopping by and spending time in Taryn O’Kelly’s world—where party planning rarely goes as planned and trouble always seems to RSVP.
If you enjoyed this glimpse into her story, don’t stop here. There’s a whole series waiting for you filled with mystery, humor, romance, and just the right amount of chaos.
👉 Read the full series and follow Taryn’s adventures as they unfold
👉 Or join my newsletter for behind-the-scenes extras, new releases, and exclusive updates straight to your inbox
Either way, I’d love to have you along for the ride.
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! – Michelle ❤️
