A writer all her life, Ms. Keam released the first of the Josiah Reynolds mysteries, which are set in the Bluegrass, in 2010.
“Death By A HoneyBee” won a Gold Medal Award from Reader’s Favorite in 2010.
“Death By Drowning”, her second novel, also won a Gold Medal Award for Best Mystery Sleuth in 2011.
Both books were listed as finalists on USA Book News “Best Book List 2011”.
The Josiah Reynolds mystery books have received wonderful reviews and have been described a “quirky, funny, and clever.”
Josiah Reynolds is a middle-aged beekeeper who sells honey at the local farmers’ market in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. She lives in an iconic house, called the Butterfly, on the palisades of the Kentucky River.
Reviews of the Josiah Reynolds mysteries can be read on Ms. Keam’s website, www.abigailkeam.com.
Born and bred in Kentucky, Abigail graduated with Distinction from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Middle Eastern Civilization. She then went into private business and kept bees as a hobby.
Retiring in 1999 after a life-threatening asthma attack, Abigail became a full-time beekeeper, launching Abigail’s, making honey/beeswax-based natural products. She sells at the Lexington Farmers’ Market, which was voted 15th in the nation.
Ms. Keam has won sixteen honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair and was the first recipient of the Barbara Horn Award, given to those scoring a perfect 100 for a beekeeping-related entry at the Kentucky State Fair. In 2004, Ms. Keam traveled to South Africa to study beekeeping in Africa.
Miss Abigail is a member of the Bluegrass Beekeepers Association, the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association, the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, and the National Society of Arts and Letters.
She is a past board member of the Lexington Farmers’ Market and Women in Agriculture boards. Also past president of the Friends of the Lexington Farmers’ Market, Lexington Rape Crisis Center, and the Lexington Art League.
She lives in Fayette County along the Kentucky River in a metal house along with her husband and various critters.
TBP: How did you become involved with That Book Place?
Abigail Keam: Frank and I met at the Kentucky Book Fair in 2010. Since that time, “Death By Drowning” and Death By A Honeybee” have both won a Gold Medal from Reader’s Favorite and been placed as a Finalist on the USA Book News “Best Books List of 2011”. “Death By Bridle” will be out in 2012.
TBP: Can you say how your main character first occurred to you and how he or she evolved from that first spark to a full character?
Abigail Keam: She was from a dream and stayed in my mind. I used to daydream of her and her life until she became so strong I had to write about her. I would say Josiah was actually born from the things dream are made of and then grew feet.
TBP: Did you choose your subject, or did your subject choose you?
Abigail Keam: She chose me.
TBP: How do you work?
Abigail Keam: I usually write four hours a day but not everyday. I spend a lot of time thinking of what I am going to write. By the time I sit down to the computer, I know where I am going – but then sometimes the characters go where they wish to.
TBP: Are you involved with email lists and/or social media? Why or why not?
Abigail Keam: I use Facebook and have a email newsletter letter. I have no idea if they help or not. I judge success by the number of books I sell.
TBP: If you could have an evening with one fictional character, your own or someone else’s, who would it be and why?
Abigail Keam: I would have Josiah Reynolds spend the evening with Sherlock Homes. I don’t think Josiah would be intimidated but I would be.
TBP: Thanks for visiting with us, and, as a reader and a bee-lover, this reviewer wishes you every success in both endeavors.
Abigail Keam will appear at That Book Place on December 17th, 2011. Please come meet her in person. To tide you over until then, here is a link to her book trailer for Death By Drowning.
MA