URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Jodi Casstevens‑Short, a born-and-raised Midwesterner and proud University of Illinois alum, has turned the page on a new chapter of her life — from longtime educator to published author.
Her debut novel, Murdered by the Books, is the first in the Murdered in Willow Springs series, a cozy mystery collection set in a charming fictional Illinois town. The story follows bookstore owner Jillian Edwards as she unravels a murder mystery tangled in her close-knit community.
A third-generation educator, Casstevens‑Short spent 35 years teaching elementary school before retiring to pursue her dream of writing full-time. Now, she’s balancing multiple projects, including a humorous memoir of her teaching career, a series of children’s books, and the next two installments in her Willow Springs series.
“I’ve always loved storytelling,” she says. “Now I get to explore that passion in a whole new way.”
Casstevens‑Short lives in her Central Illinois hometown with her firefighter husband and their two spirited schnauzers, Riley and Finley. She remains active in local writing groups and says she draws daily inspiration from the people and places that shaped her life.
Books Two and Three in the mystery series are currently in the works, with the next release, Murdered by the Blooms, expected soon. To find out more about Casstevens-Short, visit Welcome Page | My Journey to the B.
