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The Beloved Teddy
Bear
The
teddy bear is one of the most popular toys ever, but how many kids (or adults)
know just how long they’ve been around? Care to take a guess?
1950?
1930? If you said 1902, you’d be right. The honor of creating the first teddy
bear belongs to Germany’s Richard Steiff. He joined his aunt’s Felt Toy Factory
in 1897 and produced “Bear 55 PB” with moveable
joints in 1902. Meanwhile in the United States, President Roosevelt – a well
known game hunter – had particularly bad luck on a hunting trip in Mississippi.
Everyone else had success except for Roosevelt, but he refused to shoot a bear chained
to a tree – calling it unsporting. The story was quickly reported in the nation’s
newspapers. Novelty store owner Morris Michton saw a political cartoon mocking
the scene, since the full-size bear had diminished to a mere cub. He wrote to
the White House for permission to use the president’s name for the stuffed bear
he and his wife sewed. Once Michton displayed them in his shop window, “Teddy’s
bear” sales jumped.
Within a few years, over a million teddy bears had been sold.
Teddy bears remain the most popular gift to this day, and antique bears are
collected and auctioned off for thousands of dollars. Who doesn’t love a soft,
cuddly bear? I’ve bought several collectible bears myself – resistance is
futile! I own a ‘Beary Poppins’, a ‘My Bear Lady’ dressed in the black/white
Royal Ascot gown, a Steiff bear (replica, not antique), and many others. And I
always buy a small teddy to add to a gift whenever I attend a baby shower.
I even included my ‘Minky’ bear in Book 2’s plot for my
‘Shamelessly Adorable’ Teddy Bear cozy mysteries for Kensington. Fashioned of
real mink fur, incredibly soft – and while I would never wear a fur coat, I do
love petting that bear. I also enjoy miniature bears, and bought several
hand-sewn ones about the length of my thumb. They are too sweet. And I also own
an original Hudson’s Santa Bear – Hudson’s had a long history in Detroit retail
before being taken over by Macy’s.
The protagonist, Sasha Silverman, loves teddy bears as well and
enjoys seeing children’s delight when they visit the Silver Bear Shop &
Factory in Silver Hollow. And in Book 3, Have
Yourself A Beary Little Murder, she’s been swamped preparing for the
Christmas holidays. Locals and visitors from afar swarm to the village for the
annual Festival of Lights parade. But unfortunately, someone has targeted the
parade mascot, Santa Bear, for murder . . .
Award winning author Meg Macy writes the “Shamelessly Adorable”
Teddy Bear cozy mystery series for Kensington, and is also one-half of the
writing team for the Agatha Award-nominated historical mysteries featuring
Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins. As Meg Mims, she’s written
award-winning western historical mysteries and sweet Christmas-themed romance
novellas with rescue dogs and cats. Meg tackles her to-be-read pile between
deadlines, and enjoys tearooms, flowers, and gardening. Visit her on Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, or her website at www.megmacy.com
A Teddy Bear Mystery, Book 3
Cozy Mystery
Kensington
September 24, 2019
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1496722655
ISBN-13: 978-1496722652
Digital ASIN: B07MRC5KZG
About the Book:
This holiday season, teddy bear shop manager Sasha Silverman must solve the slaying of Santa Bear . . .
Sasha and her sister Maddie are thrilled that the Silver Bear Shop and Factory has won the Teddy Bear Keepsake Contest, which means they get to produce a holiday specialty toy, a wizard bear named “Beary Potter.” Promising to be just as magical is Silver Hollow’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and village parade. Only one hitch: the parade’s mascot, Santa Bear—played by Mayor Cal Bloom—is missing.
After a frantic search among the floats, Bloom is found dead. When the outfit is removed, it’s clear the mayor’s been electrocuted. Who zapped hizzoner and then stuffed him into his Santa Bear suit? While the police investigate the grisly crime, Sasha attempts to track down the murderer herself, with some help from the Guilty Pleasures Gossip Club. Can they wrap up this case in time for Christmas—or will Sasha meet her own shocking end?
About Meg Macy:
Meg Macy is an award-winning author and artist, and lives in Southeastern Michigan, the setting of her Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear cozy mysteries for Kensington. Her first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Spur Award for Best First Novel from Western Writers of America. Meg is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland, authors of the Eliza and Henry Higgins Mystery series—of which two titles have been Agatha Award finalists. Meg love gardening, watercolor painting, and reading books of various genres.
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Thanks for having me on your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I love this series :)
DeleteExcited to read this book!! One of my favorite series!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne my favorites, too!
DeleteBest wishes to the author on the new release. Thanks for sharing and since I was unaware of this series, I'm checking into it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful series - I hope you enjoy it!
Delete