She has no plans, though, to leave her husband of 20-plus years, NBC reporter Kerry Sanders. She is survived by her mother, Madeline Sharp brothers, Donald Sharp (Jennifer) and Daryl Tater Sharp (Connie) sister-in-law, Kathy Sharp nieces, Jessica. program in psychology to become a reporter, and then left the news biz to write light-hearted fiction. It's the setting for her Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky ''Mama.'' To create it, Deborah borrowed from the present-day ranching town of Okeechobee, and from the south Florida of her family's past. And now, Himmarshee, her own slice of Authentic Florida. They live in south F Like the main character in her funny, Southern-flavored mysteries, Deborah's roots were set in Florida long before Disney and ''Miami Vice.'' A native and former reporter for USA Today, she knows spots not found on maps: Molasses Junction. 'Deborah Sharp's witty way with words makes Mama Does Time as much fun as a down-home visit with your quirky Florida cousins.'' - Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries 'With a strong, funny heroine, colorful characters, and a look at a part of Florida the tourists rarely see, Deborah Sharp has an engaging new series.

She has no plans, though, to leave her husband of 20-plus years, NBC reporter Kerry Sanders. Like the main character in her funny, Southern-flavored mysteries, Deborah's roots were set in Florida long before Disney and ''Miami Vice.'' A native and former reporter for USA Today, she knows spots not found on maps: Molasses Junction.

Mama Does Time by Deborah Sharp