Beth Groundwater

, Female

Breckenridge, CO

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Breckenridge, CO
About Me:: Bestselling author Beth Groundwater writes two mystery series, the Claire Hanover gift basket designer series and the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures series starring whitewater river ranger Mandy Tanner. The first book in her Claire Hanover series, A REAL BASKET CASE, was released in hardcover in 2007 and re-released in trade paperback and ebook in November, 2011. The book garnered good reviews from national reviewers and was nominated for the 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award. The second book in the series, TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET, was released in hardcover in 2009, also to good reviews, and was re-released in trade paperback and ebook in November, 2012. A BASKET OF TROUBLE, the third book in the series, was released in November, 2013.

DEADLY CURRENTS, the first book in Beth's Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures series starring whitewater river ranger Mandy Tanner, was released in trade paperback and ebook in March, 2011 with good reviews from Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Scene, among other reviewers. The Kindle format was a bestseller on Amazon. The second book in the series, WICKED EDDIES, was released in May, 2012 and was a finalist for The Rocky Award, for best mystery set in western North America. The third, FATAL DESCENT, was released in June, 2013.

Beth was an avid "river rat" in the 1980s, running whitewater rivers in the eastern US, and enjoyed reacquainting herself with that subculture while researching this series. In June, 2011, she was the parade VIP for the First in Boating on the Arkansas River (FIBArk) whitewater festival in Salida, Colorado, which is featured in DEADLY CURRENTS. Beth lives in Colorado and enjoys its many outdoor activities, including skiing and whitewater rafting.

Beth's science fiction novella, THE EPSILON ERIDANI ALTERNATIVE, was released in ebook and paperback in 2009. Also, she has published nine short stories, many multiple times in various formats, including audio. She enjoys meeting with book clubs in person or via Skype or speakerphone to discuss her books. Visit her website at http://bethgroundwater.com/ and her blog at http://bethgroundwater.blogspot.com/ for more information or to arrange a visit.
I Am A:: Reader, Writer
Website:: http://bethgroundwater.com
Books And Authors I Like:: I read a wide variety of books. I'm in a Book Club that meets monthly to discuss literary and women's fiction. Some of my favorite reads from that group were The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant, Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I read a lot of mysteries, of course. Some of my favorite authors are Western writers who I've gotten to know at conferences: C.J Box, Kathy Brandt, Christine Goff, Maggie Sefton, and Margaret Coel. I also enjoy light-hearted series by Alexander McCall Smith, Donna Andrews, and Tim Cockey. My all-time favorite mystery writer is Sharyn McCrumb, and I'm collecting all her books. I read romance and science fiction occasionally and have enjoyed Diana Gabaldon, J.D. Robb, Anne McCaffrey and Douglas Adams.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: The Amazing Race, Downton Abbey

Comment Wall:

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Marta Stephens

Hi Beth!! Nice to see you here too!

Jan 30, 2008
F.T. Bradley

Agree with Bret: the page looks great.

To answer your question on my page, I'm trying to find an agent for my YA suspense novel DEATH TO TERRY FONTAINE, plus I'm editing THE GROUND CREW, another YA. And I started a reporter job, so busy, busy. But in a good way.

How about you? Will there be a sequel to TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET?

Jan 30, 2008
Jeri Westerson

Hey Beth. Guppies and now "friends". I'm getting a little teary here. :)

Feb 1, 2008
F.T. Bradley

Good luck with finding a home for WICKED WHITEWATER! And I'm looking forward to catching up with you at LCC.

Feb 3, 2008
Dick Lochte

Thanks for the friend request, Beth. I'll be on the lookout for your "basket" cases.

Feb 3, 2008
Cheryl Norman

Hi Beth! I'm happy to be your "friend!" Hey, our mysteries debuted the same month! I'll need to read BASKET CASE. Sounds like my kind of read.

Cheryl

Feb 3, 2008
Earl Merkel

Hey, Beth-- many thanx, and I'm honored to be added!

Feb 4, 2008
DADavenport

I'm not far from you, Beth. I live between Bailey and Conifer. Would be honored to hang around a fellow Coloradan! Congratulations on A Real Basket-Case and I look forward to reading it. Will you be at LCC 2008? If so, I'd love to meet you and get one of your books.

Feb 5, 2008
A. C. Ellis

Beth:

Thanks for the contact!

Do you know about Left Coast Crime being held in Denver in March?

Al

Feb 5, 2008
Earl Staggs

Hi, Beth. Nice place you have here. I have a copy of Basket Case and plan to jump into it soon. I'm sure I'll enjoy the read. Best to ya. Earl

Feb 22, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Hi Beth
I keep meeting mystery writers from Colorado Springs.
Do you know Madge Walls?

Feb 28, 2008
Mary Saums

Hi, Beth - Congrats on your Agatha nomination! See you at Malice - Mary

Feb 28, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Madge's book club is going to read The Sex Club this July. I'm honored to be able to say that.

Feb 28, 2008
Mark Stevens

Congrats !

Again, congrats.

Go Beth.

And, good luck.

Feb 29, 2008
Mark Stevens

Win for the Rockies (the mountains, that is).
Win for the region!
Win .... just because!
Win for RMFW.

When will we know???

Feb 29, 2008
Joan Hiller

Beth,
You are the reason my closet isn't clean. Aren't you ashamed? I had to finish your book just in case it was taken by some book nut. It was very good and congrats on the nomination.

Mar 1, 2008
Beth Groundwater

Joan,
Thanks so much for the compliment on my book, A REAL BASKET CASE. We authors just love it when we make readers neglect household chores. :)

Mar 1, 2008
Gerrie

Hey Beth, let's be friends. I "know" you from Dorothy L and the ABNA contest.

Mar 3, 2008
Beth Groundwater

Thanks for the friend request, Gerrie!

Mar 3, 2008
Gerrie

Congrats on your Agatha nomination :)

Mar 3, 2008
Beth Groundwater

And thanks for the contrats on my Agatha nomination for Best First Novel, Gerrie. I'm still flying high and enjoying all the congrats messages!

Mar 3, 2008
Margaret Grace

I expected to see you in Hawaiian dress!
Camille/aka Margaret Grace

Mar 17, 2008
Maggie Bishop

Congratulations on the Agatha nomination. Have you been to the bug museum in Colorado Springs? Great way to spend an afternoon.

Mar 19, 2008
ed goldberg

Hi, Beth--
Loved your Hawaiian drag.
I don't pay much attention to the Facebook stuff, but I check in here from time to time.
Thanks for thinking of me.

Mar 23, 2008
L.J. Sellers

HI Beth
Congratulations on getting great local coverage. You earned it.

Apr 9, 2008
L.J. Sellers

Surprisingly enough, I don't get any real media attention. I think THE SEX CLUB makes them nervous about reader/caller backlash. The local paper covered my novel in a roundup story, but that was it. I have been on my own entirely to market this book.

Apr 9, 2008
Austin S. Camacho

Thanks for the add, Beth! Nice to be connected. :-)

Apr 12, 2008
Bill Cameron

Nice to see you, Beth!

Apr 16, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

What do you think of the Rocky Mountain Writer's Conference? Is Jimmie Butler still connected with it? I suggested it to a friend for next year.

Apr 17, 2008
Doug M. Cummings

Y'know, I meant the Pikes Peak conference! I hope Jimmie's doing okay. We used to run into each other at various conferences. What a terrific fella.
Yep, on Facebook, too!

Apr 17, 2008
carole gill

Hi Beth!
thanks for the invite.Pleasure!

Apr 23, 2008
T. L. Cooper

Beth,
Thanks for the add!
Take care!
TL

Apr 23, 2008
Alison Bruce

Hi Beth,

thanks for adding me to your good looking bunch of friends. Good luck with your book too, Alison xx

May 21, 2008
Karen from AustCrime

Thanks for the invite as well. I hope you enjoyed your time in Australia :)

Aug 6, 2008
Mari Sloan

Hey! I've heard about "To Hell in a Handbasket" and it sounds like a fun book! I've heard that expression used all of my life and it's about time it made print. :-) It's nice meeting you and I hope you find your way over to SoCal sometime soon and hang out with us LA Sisters in Crime. Thanks for the invite!

Aug 6, 2008
Pepper Smith

Thanks for the invitation, Beth!

Aug 7, 2008
Paul Bishop

I'm happy to help if you ever have procedural questions.

Aug 7, 2008
karen vaughan

Thanks Beth although I love reading the suspense type books I have trouble writing them. ALl the stories I write have to have humour. I have sort of been told I write like janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes.

Aug 8, 2008
Jean Henry Mead

Thanks for the add, neighbor. I live north of you. :)

Aug 9, 2008
Michelle Gagnon

Hi Beth! Great seeing you here too...

Aug 10, 2008
David Ritchie

Dear Beth,

Just a note to introduce myself as yet another former resident of Hampton. Born in Newport News, I grew up in Hampton during the 1950s and early 1960s, and graduated from Hampton High in 1969. My family's home was off North King Street near the beloved Smitty's, which apparently is still in business. Recently I was saddened to learn that Bill's Barbecue is no more; but at least the whale sign and some of the interior booths were preserved, I understand, at a local museum. One might say my hometown had three of the world's great restaurants: Bill's, Smitty's, and Fuller's. I'm also well acquainted with the donut shop at Willow Oaks Mall. Haven't been back to Hampton Roads for many years; I'm now working with a publishing company in the ESL business in Korea. Online, I try to keep up with changes in the community. Coliseum Mall was demolished a couple of years ago to make way for some new development. Please let me know how things are going in Colorado.

Aug 17, 2008
John Boundy

Hey Beth..Good to have you as a friend, thanks for the invite. Althought I hate you (you live where I want to be!!!!) Actually, I'm just jealous and envious...Look forward to seeing you around the forums. Sounds like we write alike! What's that line about great minds?????? ;o)

Aug 20, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Hi Beth: Thanks for the "invite"! Nice to meet you...even if it is only in cyberspace. On second thought, maybe that's better. If my wife ever caught me hanging around anywhere else with someone as attractive as you, she'd kill me. :)

Aug 20, 2008
Jayne

Hi - I recognized your name from other writing lists. Will you be offended if I continue thinking of you as the Basket Case Lady'? I visited your blog and see by your 'real' bio that you and I share several aspirations, not least of which is to check some of them off our 'Before I Die' lists before we die. (I already got my motorcycle license, but I'd love to be scuba diving)

Aug 25, 2008
Cynde L. Hammond

Sorry I took so unforgivably long in getting back to you. Isn't it a small world? I just loved living in Hampton and I still have friends that live there. My husband and I plan on visiting them someday on our way through to Florida. Hey! Maybe we could work it out so that while you're visiting your parents, we could drive through at the same time and meet. Stranger things have happened, right? You never know.
By the way, I checked out your web site and I love it! What I learned from the "About Beth" section made me like you even more! You are such an interesting person and it definitely shows in the books you write. I can't wait to read them. Just reading the excerpts made me anxious to tear into them!
Anyway, thank you so much for inviting me to be your friend here on Crime Space. I look forward to getting to know you better and I know we're going to become great friends!
Sincerely,
Cynde L. Hammond

Aug 28, 2008
Donna Carrick

Hi, Beth, great space you've got here, and great website too!
All the best in writing...
Donna Carrick
www.donnacarrick.com

Sep 4, 2008
Ann Littlewood

Love your list of recent reads. It overlaps mine a fair amount. Have you tried Case Histories by Kate Atkinson? Excellent.

Sep 4, 2008
Sue Dawson

I will give your name and book title to Reading Time Books, newly opened in Dallas--every day but Sunday, and I had her hours wrong when I posted about her opening: 8:30 AM to 7PM so that Dawn is catching the people going to work and the ones coming home or the after dinner crowd. I am hoping that Dawn will or can get some relatively young, new talent to speak about their award winning books. You know the overnight sensation that only took 20 years to get to the overnight part.

I'll print out your title and bio information (new Epson printer has joined me in my husband's "confuser room."

Oct 5, 2008
Sue Dawson

Hey, I am writing this at 11:30 AM. I am a night owl, but...

Oct 5, 2008
Heirloom Bookstore

Beth -

You're welcome...although you should be coming to B'con!

Steve

Oct 6, 2008