Ellen Butler

Interview with Ellen Butler

Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! I am Ellen Butler, and I write the Ariadne Winter mysteries, and the Karina Cardinal mysteries. When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, working on home decorating projects, and attending car shows. I have a passion for classic cars, especially the bright colors of the 1950s vehicles replete with fins and bulbous lights.

How long have you been writing?

Technically, I’ve been writing since elementary school, but I didn’t begin writing novels until about a dozen years ago. My first book was published in 2014, and Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle will be book number 15.

Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose the cozy mystery genre?

Finish reading the interview at Christy’s Cozy Corners

DEADLY SECRETS AT BALLYFORD CASTLE TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

October 20 – Christa Reads and Writes -REVIEW

October 21 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

October 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 29 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 30 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 31 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 1 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

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Today, I am blogging over at Sand In Our Shorts and talking about 1950s fashions.

The 1950s was a decade marked by optimism, prosperity, and a return to traditional values in many parts of the Western world, particularly the United States. After the hardships of World War II, people were eager to embrace stability, comfort, and a sense of normalcy.  It was the reason I chose to place my historical mystery, Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn, in the year 1958. This cultural shift was clearly reflected in the fashions of the era—which remains iconic to this day.

Fashions of the 1950s

Since my character, Ariadne Winter, is employed at a women’s fashion magazine, I dedicated time to researching the fabrics, textures, and styles of the 1950s. Though she dreams of becoming a hard-hitting investigative journalist, her upper-middle-class New York upbringing and journalism degree make her a natural fit for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine—a tribute to iconic publications of the era like Ladies’ Home Journal and Look. Despite her ambitions, Ariadne never loses her sense of style. When it comes to fashion, Miss Winter is always impeccably dressed and effortlessly on point.

To  read the rest of the article head on over to the site, Sand In our Shorts.

Life in Ireland During the 1950s

By Ellen Butler

Deadly Secrets at Ballyford Castle is set in 1958 Ireland, not far from the dramatic Cliffs of Moher. The idea for the novel’s setting—and its murder—was sparked during my 2023 trip to Ireland. As part of crafting an Ariadne Winter mystery, I immersed myself in researching what life was like in Ireland during the 1950s.

The 1950s was a decade of transition for Ireland, marked by cultural tradition and a slow but steady shift toward modernity. Horse-drawn gypsy carts—often referred to as Traveller wagons or vardos—were still a familiar sight on Ireland’s rural roads. Travelling families moved from place to place, stopping at small towns to trade goods and sell handcrafted items such as tins, baskets, and ornaments. Though often remembered as a time of economic hardship and emigration, daily life in Ireland during this era was also deeply rooted in family, faith, and community. During our vacation, we found those values remain the same today.

Unfortunately, for many Irish families, the 1950s was defined by departure. Following WWII, economic stagnation and a lack of job opportunities drove thousands of young men and women to emigrate, in particular to Britain and the United States. Rural towns often felt the loss most acutely, as sons and daughters left the family farm for better prospects abroad. Letters home carried news of new lives, while monies sent back provided much-needed financial support to the family remaining on the home front.

Finish reading the article at Salty Inspirations. 

While Visiting Jody Joy’s blog, I discuss the dinner Ariadne Winter was offered her first night at Ivy Tree Inn ( Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn). Here is a short excerpt of the post. To get the recipes and read the entire post please visit the blog here:  Jody’s Bookish Haven

Dinner at Ivy Tree Inn

Vintage Menu Fair

Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn takes place at a lovely Victorian-style home that has been converted into an updated 1958 inn. The guest house serves both breakfast and dinner to patrons. On the first night, our heroine, Ariadne Winter, is offered one of two entrée choices – SPAM Fiesta with a Peach Cup, and Yankee Pot Roast.

Introduced in 1937 by Hormel, SPAM became a staple during WWII and was still a popular dish well into the 1950s. Hormel once stated the original meaning of the name SPAM was “Shoulder of Pork and Ham.” Many witty acronyms for the canned meat have been devised over the years including, “Something Posing as Meat” and “Spare Parts Animal.” Today, the state of Hawaii has the highest per capita consumption of SPAM in the United States, bringing in sales of 7 million cans of SPAM per year.

I had the pleasure of revisiting Alex Greenwood’s “Mysterious Goings On” Podcast last week. We had a great conversation!

Visit the link to hear the full show.   Mysterious Goings On

We discussed the new book, but also my favorite holiday, Halloween. Alex and I realized we were sympatico when it comes to Halloween. After the podcast he shared photos of his front yard, that included a 12 ft. skeleton. And I have to say, I am kind of jealous. I’ve been holding off on the twelve-footer, but after seeing Alex’s decor, I may have to make the leap.  Do any of you have the twelve foot skeleton in your front yard?

Although, I don’t have a 12 foot skeleton, I do have a suit of armor in my dining room. He is named Sir Lancelot, and originally, he was supposed to just be a Halloween decoration. I have never put him in storage. Instead, I dress him up for all the holidays through out the year.

Visit the tour stops to be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card!

INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 23 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 24 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 25 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 25 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

October 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

October 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 28 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

October 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

October 31 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

November 1 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

November 1 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

My new novel Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn, takes place in 1958, and my main character, Ariadne Winter, faces hurdles when it comes to workplace equality. This week, I had the pleasure of writing an article for Reader’s Entertainment Magazine. It highlights the gender bias and struggles women faced  and continue to face in the workforce. Specifically detailing their forced exodus from the workforce after WWII. Below is an excerpt from the article.

Thanks Rosie, Now it’s Time to Return Home

World War II marked a significant turning point in the role of women in the workforce, both in the United States and around the world. Prior to the war, women were largely confined to domestic roles or certain “feminine” occupations such as teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. However, the unprecedented demand for labor during the war, combined with the absence of men who were deployed to fight, created new opportunities for women to enter industries that had been traditionally dominated by men. Yet, this period of female empowerment was short-lived, as the end of the war saw many women pushed out of their jobs to make way for returning soldiers. Since then, women have faced an uphill battle for workplace equality, especially in terms of pay and promotions.

Women’s Entry into the Workforce During WWII

With the onset of World War II, millions of men left their jobs to serve in the military, creating a critical labor shortage in industries essential to the war effort. This included manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture—sectors that had long been male-dominated. The government and private employers launched extensive recruitment campaigns to encourage women to fill these vacancies. One of the most iconic symbols of this effort was “Rosie the Riveter,” the cultural figure representing the capable and patriotic female worker, popularized by the “We Can Do It!” poster. Women were called upon to join the workforce, not just as a matter of necessity but as a demonstration of national loyalty.

Women responded to the call in large numbers. By 1944, over 6 million women had entered the workforce in the United States alone, bringing the total number of working women to nearly 20 million…

Read the full post at Reader’s Entertainment.