The Showcase Must Go On
Book One of the Sammy Shepherd Series
Sammy Shepherd practically grew up at the Magic Box in Silver Dollar City, so it was almost inevitable that she would land her dream career at The Branson Showcase. Well, sorta.
As the manager of the largest magic theater in the biggest tourist town of America’s Heartland, Sammy might not be a full-time magician but at least she’d built her career around magic. She was probably the only theater manager who also performs a weekly show. Every Thursday at 10 a.m., Sammy Shepherd: Professional Magician got to live her best life, for two hours at a time.
Sammy’s oldest friend and Showcase magician headliner, Victor, inherited a surprise windfall that would allow him to buy the kind of theater he’s been dreaming of all his life. Sammy would be happier for him if The Showcase itself wasn’t having so many financial troubles of its own; she’s afraid Victor has no idea what he’s getting himself into.
Ally Kazam, the daytime children’s magician, is afraid The Showcase might have to close its doors if things don’t turn around soon. Damon Sterling, the egoed former magic star of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, bitterly knows that if The Showcase shuts down, he’ll have nowhere to go.
Showcase owner and Sammy’s boss, Redd, knows only too well that this new theater would only end up as business-crushing competition. Redd also knows that his top performer, Marco the Magnificent, isn’t above jumping ship and joining Victor as soon as Victor chooses a location. Somehow the Showcase must go on.
Victor is having nightmares. His dream theater is being snatched away from him, night after night. The Grand Opulent belonged to Victor in his heart and he would have it in reality. Unable to wait any longer, Victor throws all he has in order to rush the sale of his dream theater.
Victor invites Sammy to go on a final walkthrough. If only they knew how final it would be.
Sammy teams up with Detective Dunnitt, a fellow Elk’s Lodge member, to set out to discover the murderer before someone else gets killed. Meanwhile a local scandal is shaking the community. Time is running out. Can Sammy pull a rabbit out of her hat?
Inside the Book
[{"id":256,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/magic-trick-guides\/","name":"magic-trick-guides","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Magic Trick Guides","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"HBIC HQ","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/hbichq\/"},"date":"Oct 21, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-21 19:16:53","modifiedDate":"2025-10-21 15:44:32","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-21 20:44:32","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/in-showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase Inside<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/in-showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase Inside<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":36},"status":"publish","content":"Magic Trick Guides The end of each chapter of The Showcase Must Go On reveals instructions for the magic trick referenced in the story. Master"},{"id":251,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/featured-recipes\/","name":"featured-recipes","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Featured Recipes","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"HBIC HQ","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/hbichq\/"},"date":"Oct 21, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-21 18:31:17","modifiedDate":"2025-10-21 15:44:32","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-21 20:44:32","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/in-showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase Inside<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/in-showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase Inside<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":24},"status":"publish","content":"Recipes Featured in the Book Sammy\u2019s Savory Breakfast Bake Sammy\u2019s Strawberry Shortcake Bars Jane\u2019s Creamy Cajun Tomatoes and Okra Jane\u2019s Cornmeal Fried Trout Filet Jane\u2019s"}]
Every chapter ends with a unique little gift. Where the Hannah Swensen stories provide a delicious recipe served up with each chapter, the Cozy Ozarks Mysteries also serve up it’s own surprises for each chapter, on theme for each book.
The Showcase Must Go On provides fun slight-of-hand magic tricks that you can try at home. Master the same captivating illusions performed by the cherished magicians of Branson’s renowned Showcase Theater. And, as tradition, each book mentions some lovely recipes, and we hope to share those with you here on the blog.
Behind the Scenes and Recipes from the Book
[{"id":126,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/oh-brown-betty-bramble-jam\/","name":"oh-brown-betty-bramble-jam","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Oh Brown Betty, Bramble Jam by Baked On The Lake","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"admin","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Oct 20, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-20 02:49:26","modifiedDate":"2025-10-21 15:26:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-21 20:26:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/baked-on-the-lake\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Baked on the Lake<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/desserts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Desserts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/baked-on-the-lake\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Baked on the Lake<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/desserts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Desserts<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":48},"status":"publish","content":"Jump to Recipe Oh Brown Betty, Bramble Jam by Baked On The Lake The October air in Branson wraps around you like a soft flannel"},{"id":98,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/sammys-savory-breakfast-bake\/","name":"sammys-savory-breakfast-bake","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Sammy\u2019s Savory Breakfast Bake","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"admin","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Oct 19, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-19 21:51:03","modifiedDate":"2025-10-21 15:26:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-21 20:26:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/breakfast\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Breakfast<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/gluten-free\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Gluten Free<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/breakfast\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Breakfast<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/gluten-free\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Gluten Free<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":57},"status":"publish","content":"Jump to Recipe Sammy\u2019s Savory Breakfast Bake Sammy Shepherd was thinking of the delicious aromas of food at the Silver Dollar City theme park. She"},{"id":103,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/miss-cathys-angel-chicken\/","name":"miss-cathys-angel-chicken","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Miss Cathy\u2019s Angel Chicken","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"admin","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Oct 19, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-19 23:26:48","modifiedDate":"2025-10-21 15:26:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-21 20:26:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/gluten-free\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Gluten Free<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/main-entree\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Main Entree<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/gluten-free\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Gluten Free<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/main-entree\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Main Entree<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":42},"status":"publish","content":"Jump to Recipe Miss Cathy\u2019s Angel Chicken (Gluten Free) Potlucks on Sundays at the Branson Bible Baptist Church has always left me with my belly"},{"id":112,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/sammys-strawberry-shortcake-bars\/","name":"sammys-strawberry-shortcake-bars","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Sammy's Strawberry Shortcake Bars","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"admin","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/admin\/"},"date":"Oct 20, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-20 02:16:31","modifiedDate":"2025-10-21 15:26:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-21 20:26:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/desserts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Desserts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/desserts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Desserts<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/recipes\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Recipes<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":3,"sec":26},"status":"publish","content":"Jump to Recipe Sammy\u2019s Strawberry Shortcake Bars Sammy\u2019s kitchen was one of her comfort spots. When she saw the photos of it in the real"},{"id":260,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/the-magic-shop\/","name":"the-magic-shop","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/the-magic-box-sdc-scaled.jpg","alt":""},"title":"The Magic Shop","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"HBIC HQ","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/hbichq\/"},"date":"Oct 21, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-21 19:41:08","modifiedDate":"2025-10-23 12:05:56","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-23 17:05:56","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/showcase-bts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase BTS<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/showcase-bts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase BTS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":34},"status":"publish","content":"'The Magic Shop at Silver Dollar City is all dressed up for the holidays and ready to light up the night. Of course I had"},{"id":266,"link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/mystic-river-falls\/","name":"mystic-river-falls","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mystic-river-falls-sdc-scaled.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Mystic River Falls","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"HBIC HQ","link":"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/author\/hbichq\/"},"date":"Oct 21, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-10-21 19:54:24","modifiedDate":"2025-10-23 12:19:48","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-10-23 17:19:48","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/showcase-bts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase BTS<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/showcase-bts\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Showcase BTS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cozyozarks.com\/category\/showcase\/\" rel=\"category tag\">The Showcase Must Go On<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":50},"status":"publish","content":"Every now and then, on a Monday, Sammy would treat herself to extra time with her book, with a heavenly homemade lunch or an occasional"}]
This book is in its final draft. We need Beta Readers!