Nikki Weber | Updates

Help Me Raise $ to Save Beagles!

Nikki Weber — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Helping Beagles in Honor of Corny!

To readers and followers of Nikki Weber Books:

Corny—the beagle in my cozy mystery books—was inspired partly by my childhood beagle who came camping with us every summer, and very much by the beagles rescued by the team at Beagle Freedom Project.

So many of you have fallen in love with Corny in the last year, so as I approach the 1-year anniversary of my first book, Campfires & Corpses, I wanted to do something special.

Instead of asking you to buy more books or write reviews, I ask that you to consider a small donation to Beagle Freedom Project, to help them save more dogs like Corny.

The world is an unpredictable and scary place right now.

But for the beagles in cages who have never played with a chew toy or slept on a soft bed, it's always been unpredictable and scary.

Beagle Freedom Project's lifesaving efforts give animal cruelty survivors a second chance at life, love, and freedom!

Every donation helps, no matter how big or small. Only got $2.00 to spare? That's plenty! It all adds up!

Please make a donation today and support a future for animals tomorrow. Click here to donate: love.bfp.org/nikkiweberbooks

Thank you so much for enjoying my books and for loving Corny. And THANK YOU for considering a donation to this organization that is dear to my heart.

Embedded Youtube video removed, see original post to watch.

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Beagle Freedom Project Video

Nikki Weber — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If you have read any of my books, including the series prequel, Freedom & Fosters: A Beagle Rescue Short Story, then you know that Corny the beagle had a rough start in life. The character of Corny is based on beagles rescued from Beagle Freedom Project, an organization that rescues beagles and other dogs and animals from laboratory testing all over the world.

I try to walk a fine line about sharing information regarding animal testing in my books, here on the website, and on my social media. I know that you come to cozy mysteries for the cozy and sweet, and probably to escape the horrors of the real world. But, it's also really important to me that I do share some of it.

The video below is difficult to watch, although not as graphic as it probably could be. I hope you'll watch it.

- Nikki

Embedded Youtube video removed, see original post to watch.

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It's time for the annual holiday #12DaysOfCozies!

Nikki Weber — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Every year, cozy mystery blogger and podcaster Angela Maria Hart celebrates the holiday season with 12 Days of Cozies. It's a daily celebration of cozy mystery tropes, authors, and holiday fun.

This year, I'm participating in the fun with a post all about my family's cozy Maine holiday traditions.

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Why I drop song titles into my stories

Nikki Weber — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Have you noticed my habit (necessity?) to drop song titles into each of my books? If you've wondered what my obsession is all about, I wrote a guest blog post over on the Reading Is My Superpower blog.

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5 Cozy Mystery Books with Fall Vibes

Nikki Weber — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I recently released my fall-themed campground cozy mystery, S'mores & Suspicions. In the book, it's autumn in Maine, the air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and there's a mystery afoot.

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5 Easy Ways to Support an Author You Love

Nikki Weber — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you’ve ever finished a book and thought, “Wow, I really enjoyed that!” you might have also wondered what you could do to show a little love to the author.

The good news? You don’t have to spend a dime or write an essay-length review to make a big difference. As a cozy mystery author, I can tell you firsthand: the smallest things matter.

Here are five super simple (and free) ways to support an author you love:

1. ⭐️ Leave a Star Rating

You don’t have to write a single word if you don’t want to. Just click those stars!

On Amazon, scroll down to “Write a Customer Review” and tap the star rating that feels right.
On Apple Books, tap “Ratings & Reviews” and hit the stars.
It's probably the same on the other stores where you bought the book, just go check.
No need to log in again or make it complicated—it usually takes less than 30 seconds!

2. 📝 Write a Quick Review

Reviews help readers decide what to read next and help books get discovered.

Not sure what to say? Try something like:

“Fun and fast-paced!”
“Loved the small-town setting and the characters.”
“Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and dogs!”

Seriously, that’s all you need. One sentence = a huge boost for the book.

3. 📣 Tell a Friend (or Five)

Word of mouth is powerful.

Mention the book to a friend who loves mysteries.
Post a pic of the cover on social media.
Share the link in a Facebook group or book club you’re in.

Just saying, “Hey, I really liked this one!” could be what Susan from your first job fifteen years ago needs to hear to go out and buy the book!

4. 💌 Sign Up for Their Newsletter

Most authors (like me 🙋‍♀️) send fun updates, sneak peeks, giveaways, or even free stories to their email subscribers. For readers, it’s a great way to stay in the loop and support an author directly.

📬 Join My Newsletter Here (it's free)

5. 💕 Follow on Social Media

Likes, comments, and shares help us authors get seen by new readers.

Follow your favorite authors on:

Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Threads or Bluesky if you’re there

Every little heart ❤️ helps!

Want to support me?

Here’s where you can rate or review my latest book, Whoopie Pies & Alibis:

Thank you for reading and for supporting indie authors like me. It means more than you know. 💙 🐾

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5 Heartwarming Books That You’ll Want to Hug

Nikki Weber — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I’m a sucker for recommendations. Back in 2017, I started a blog that recommended podcasts.

One of my favorite podcasts was—and still is—the Currently Reading podcast. It was from that podcast that I learned about the cozy mystery genre and immediately knew that I wanted to write a series based in a campground in Maine.

So, it’s only too logical that a lot of my blog posts here on my author website will be for recommending books.

I read in a variety of genres—cozy mystery, contemporary literature, some romance, a little fantasy, plenty of non-fiction, and travel memoir.

Over the years, I’ve read books in all of those genres that leave me feeling all warm and gushy inside. Here are five that I highly recommend. They are all great on audio, too (really fantastic narration), so I'm linking everything below to Barnes & Noble, where you can get print, digital, or audio versions of these books.

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

This unforgettable debut novel centers on a lonely woman cleaning an aquarium, a grieving young man searching for answers, and—yes—an intelligent, observant octopus named Marcellus. The result? A touching, whimsical story about grief, healing, and unexpected connections. Marcellus the octopus steals the show with his sharp insights (I love him so much!), and the human characters will make you believe in second chances.

I listened to this book on an international flight, and when we landed, I had about 70 minutes left. I thought, "Darn it, I want to finish it!" (but, you know, I didn't really want to finish it!) And then...at an airport I've been to dozens of times, at the Immigration line that always moves quickly...there was a massive delay. So, I finished the last 70 minutes of this book standing in line with my luggage. I was possibly the most peaceful person in that whole terminal :)

You’ll want to hug this book and then immediately lend it to a friend. It's narrated by Marin Ireland (a favorite narrator of mine and many others) and Michael Urie (as Marcellus).

Finally, A Shameless Plug (and a Huggable Pup)

If you haven't read the books in my Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series yet, you should know that there's a very huggable character in those books: Corny the beagle. This dog is the breakout star of the series, and you can start at the very beginning with the free prequel/short story all about Corny just by signing up for my email list.

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How Beagle Freedom Project Inspires My Writing

Nikki Weber — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you’ve been following me on Instagram or have read the back pages of my books or my short story, Freedom & Fosters, you already know that I wrote a rescue beagle into the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series.

But not just any rescue beagle. An animal testing survivor beagle.

Corny, the main dog in my books, is not based on any one beagle (although I did have a beagle-mix growing up). He’s based on the thousands of beagles that have been rescued by Beagle Freedom Project, an organization that I support.

Yes, animal testing in laboratories is still a thing that is done all over the world. The biggest offenders are for-profit companies and universities. You might see the “Vegan” label and “hopping bunny” symbols on your shampoo or cosmetics, but animal testing is still very much in practice.

Because cozy mystery readers want books that are light and without too many heavy themes, writing about Corny and his past trauma creates some challenges for me. That's why I'm going in-depth in this blog post.

BFP's approach is hands-on and relentless

Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) is a nonprofit organization that’s been flipping the script on animal testing since 2010. Founded by animal rights attorney Shannon Keith, BFP rescues animals—mostly beagles, but also cats, pigs, and others—from labs where they’ve been used for testing. Instead of letting these animals be euthanized when the experiments are over, BFP steps in to give them a second chance at life.

they negotiate directly with lab owners to release the animals
they push for legislative changes (like the Beagle Freedom Bill, which mandates labs to release animals for adoption)
they educate the public through tools like their Cruelty Cutter app, which helps consumers find cruelty-free products

Here are just two of the rescues that BFP has done over the years.

Rescue #1: Oklahoma Lab Shutdown (February 2024)

BFP shut down a massive animal testing facility in Nowata, Oklahoma, in February 2024. This lab was responsible for about one-third of the U.S. flea and tick product testing industry. BFP rescued over 200 animals—including dogs, cats, newborn puppies, and even a family of pigs—from a lifetime of toxic experiments. Then, BFP bought the 30-acre property and transformed it into "Freedom Fields," a sanctuary and adoption center where these animals now receive medical care, nutritious food, and, most importantly, love.

Rescue #2: Operation April – Korean Rescue (April 2015)

Back in April 2015, BFP extended its reach internationally with "Operation April," rescuing 10 beagles from a laboratory in Seoul, South Korea. While five of these dogs found homes locally in Seoul, the remaining five were flown to Los Angeles. There, they received the "Hollywood treatment," complete with media attention and celebrity support, before being adopted into loving homes.

Beagle Freedom Project isn’t just about rescues; they’re about changing the entire system.

Through direct action, legislative advocacy, and public education, they’re working to end animal testing for good. If you want to support their mission, consider adopting, donating, or using their Cruelty Cutter app to make informed, cruelty-free purchases.

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Win a Copy of Campfires & Corpses

Nikki Weber — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

For the next two weeks (through June 9, 2025), Campfires & Corpses, book 1 in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series will be featured on a book blog tour, popping up all over the book-related Internet. As part of this tour, I'm giving away 2 paperback copies AND two digital copies of the book.

To enter to win, simply go to any one of the blogs listed below. At the bottom of the page for my book, you'll find the spot where you can enter to win a free copy of Campfires & Corpses!

So far this week, the book (and I) have been featured on:

Jody's Bookish Haven

Christy's Cozy Corners book blog (besides info about the book and the giveaway, this page features a guest blog post that I wrote all about how Maine stereotypes influenced how I wrote the setting of Campfires & Corpses.

Read Your Writes Book Reviews book blog (this page also includes an interview with me, which asks the question, "Did I know who the killer was before I started writing?")

View from the Birdhouse book blog (this blogger wrote a lovely review about the book)

Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books blog (Sarah wrote a mini-review after reading the book)

Books, Ramblings, and Tea

Infinite House of Books

Rebecca M. Douglass' blog (this post includes Rebecca's personal review of the book, and an interview with one of the book characters, the campground gossip named Claire Blais).

Socrates' Book Reviews

Author June McCrary's blog (Reading, Writing & Stich-matic) (This post includes a guest post written by me, all about creating the character of Corny the beagle.)

The FUONLYKNEW blog (Laura's Ramblings and Reviews)

MJB Reviews

Sneaky The Library Cat's Blog (a post in which Sneaky the Cat INTERVIEWS Corny the Beagle!)

Sapphyria's Book Reviews

As a former blogger myself, I know how time consuming it is to format all the images and links on these posts, so please show some love to the bloggers who are helping to share books with the readers of the world!

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7 Cozy Mystery Series Set in Maine

Nikki Weber — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I recently listened to an episode of the podcast What Should I Read Next? in which one of the podcast team members said she loves books set in New England. The host of the podcast, Ann Bogel, said she likes books set in Maine, specifically. And if you’ve been on the internet, you know that this is totally a thing!

People love books set in Maine (almost as much as they love a cozy mystery set in an English manor house!).

As a writer of a cozy mystery series set in Maine, I’ve read quite a few cozies that take place in my great state, so I decided to put together a list and share it!

Below you will find the name of the cozy mystery series set in Maine, as well as the first book in each series.

*Sometimes I include affiliate links to books or stores, which means I may earn a small commission from the store, but it doesn't cost you any more to purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Maine Clambake Mysteries (12 books)

By Barbara Ross

Book 1: Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

This is a bake shop mystery that takes place in a fishing village in Maine. The shop is called The Chocolate Moose, which is a wicked great name for a Maine business!

This series started in 2018 and has almost a thousand ratings on Amazon (4.4 out of 5 stars)

This series is a spin-off from the author’s Home Repair is Homicide book series, with many of the same characters (but from what I understand, you can start with this one without any problems).

I hope this list introduces you to a new series or two! I love sharing books about my home state. If you have any questions about Maine, send me an email at nobinmarketing@gmail.com

Get a FREE cozy mystery short story + updates on new books!

Snuggle up with charming small-town sleuths, adorable dogs, and a mystery that’ll warm your heart.

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My Favorite Authors (Right Now)

Nikki Weber — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Just because I'm a cozy author doesn't mean I only read small town murder mysteries. I only actually discovered the cozy genre a few years ago. I read in many genres, the only real exclusions being graphic horror and poetry. Oh, and I don't read books about witches. I just haven't had good experiences with witch books, so if I'm reading the back cover copy and I see the word 'witch', I make myself put it down.

I’ve always loved to read. In my nearly 45 years, I’ve had many favorite authors.

In the 90s, I was into R.L. Stine thrillers (not Goosebumps, I don’t think I ever read those) and The Babysitters Club books.

In the early 2000s, I read a lot of Jodi Picoult and Wally Lamb. I still remember racing home from work to finish reading My Sister's Keeper, and bawling. My own sister happened to call me a few minutes later, and I was blubbering into the phone. She was shocked that I could be so affected by a book.

In the 2010s, I read a lot of Liane Moriarty and really enjoyed a couple books by Helen Russell.

In the last five years, five authors have consistently made me giddy to read. Here they are:

Fredrik Backman

You might know this name because Alix's book The Ten Thousand Doors of January was everywhere a few years ago. And with good reason. That book is on my forever shelf, and I've re-read it recently (something I don't often do, but just really wanted to immerse myself in January's world again).

Alix is a gifted writer and specializes in magical realism. She creates characters with deep and interesting backstories and issues to work through. I really enjoyed her latest full-length book, Starling House, and her fairy tale novellas. Since I don't read books with witches, so I have not read one of her more popular books, but I'm sure it's great.

I sincerely hope you find a new author or book in these recommendations!

Get a FREE cozy mystery short story + updates on new books!

Snuggle up with charming small-town sleuths, adorable dogs, and a mystery that’ll warm your heart.

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Free Cozy Mystery Books for March

Nikki Weber — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Need something to read? Or just can't wait to add another cozy mystery to your TBR pile? Look no further! These top-selling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for a limited time.

Click the link below to find 50 books with female amateur sleuths as the main character. Most of these titles are cozy; some are a little edgier, and many have animal sidekicks!

Click here to access the free books!

Happy Reading!

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Free Cozy Mystery Books for February

Nikki Weber — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Searching for your next favorite cutesy whodunnit? Look no further! I've teamed up with a group of cozy mystery authors to bring you FREE books! Scoop them up today!

Click Here to Check Out the Cozy Mystery Madness Offerings

✤ FEATURED AUTHORS ✤

➤ Annie Mooney
➤ Betty Cage
➤ Greta Sinclair
➤ H. C. Cardona
➤ L.B. Dayton
➤ Maisie Diamond
➤ Nikki Weber
➤ PJ Peterson
➤ Ruby Poole
➤ Sandi Scott
➤ Tessa Parks
➤ Tessa Silver

This is a perfect opportunity to discover a new author or cozy mystery series!

This is a BOOKMOJO promotion - BOOKMOJO: Helping You Find Your Next Favorite Read.

BookMojo Reader Central | BookMojo Authors & Publishers

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Mood Board for Campfires & Corpses

Nikki Weber — Thu, 6 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you love a good mood board or vision board, here's one for Book 1 in my Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series, Campfires & Corpses.

🚗 The main character drives a classic 70s VW Beetle

🎵She loves music (mostly classic and 80s rock)

🐶 Her dog is a beagle rescued from research testing

🥵 They're in the middle of a heatwave in Maine

⛺ It's all happening at a campground in a small town

🍦There is a fair bit of stress-eating of ice cream

🔥Fire is a major theme (if you couldn't tell from the title)

There is, OF COURSE, a dead body (or two?) and a list of suspects. Grab your copy of Campfires & Corpses today to follow along and solve the crime!

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This New Cozy Mystery Series is Fun & Fast-Paced

Nikki Weber — Mon, 3 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you love a good cozy mystery set in a small town, Campfires & Corpses should be your next read! The book will be available in digital and paperback formats on February 25, 2025.

Written by Nikki Weber, the book is inspired by her real-life experiences camping with her family in rural Maine. There's a beagle, also inspired by her childhood dog, Max.

(Yes, it was the 90s. Yes, the dog was mortified.)

Nikki discovered the cozy mystery genre during the pandemic, and immediately recognized the opportunity to set a story in her favorite place in Maine.

Campfires & Corpses: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery is a clean, contemporary story (there is no language or graphic violence, and it takes place in present-day). It is the first in a planned series; follow-up titles include: Whoopie Pies & Alibis and S'mores & Suspicion.

Click here to read the book description and to order your copy today!

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