Featured Author: Dawn Eastman

About the book:

Here is the newest Family Fortune Mystery, starring former cop Clyde Fortune, who — snowbound with her kooky family in a creepy castle — is climbing the walls and combing the halls, looking for a cold-blooded killer . . .

After their flight to Mexico is cancelled, Clyde and her detective boyfriend, Mac, end up snowed in with their families at a supposedly haunted hotel. Clyde’s tarot card reading mother, Rose, is making dire predictions for the weekend, and self-proclaimed pet psychic Aunt Vi is enchanted by the legend of the hotel’s ghost — until the power goes out and a body turns up.

With a hotel full of stranded suspects, Clyde will have to draw on all her skills — both the police ones she’d rather forget and the psychic ones she’d rather ignore — to solve the bone-chilling mystery before someone else gets iced . . .

Interview with Dawn Eastman

Dawn, tell us about your series. Is this book a standalone, or do readers need to read the series in order?
The Family Fortune Mysteries are set in western Michigan in a small town called Crystal Haven. It’s a tourist town with a twist — the main attractions are the psychics, mediums, and tarot readers. My protagonist has returned to town after several years away and must navigate her family dynamics while struggling with her own psychic gifts. A cast of quirky humans and animals ensure that nothing runs smoothly.

They do not need to be read in order, but that is the way I personally like to read a series. That said, if I have done my job, a reader can get caught up pretty quickly by starting anywhere and then can go back to the earlier ones if they choose. A Fright to the Death particularly lends itself to being read out of order because the gang is stuck in a castle hotel so the setting and the supporting characters are new.

Where’s home for you?
Des Moines, Iowa is where I live. Michigan will always feel like home.

Where did you grow up?
All over the East Coast and then Michigan from age twelve through college.

What’s one thing that you wish you knew as a teenager that you know now?
It will all work out.

What choices in life would you like to have a redo on?
None, because each choice led to where I am today.

What makes you nervous?
Public speaking.

If you could only save one thing from your house, what would it be?
Assuming my husband, kids, and dog were safe, I’d grab my laptop.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where in the world would it be?
London.

What would you like people to say about you after you die?
She was kind.

What’s your favorite line from a book?
From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?
Seth is my protagonist’s nephew. He is loosely based on a younger version of my son.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your writing?
I’ve been so fortunate to have a very kind and vocal readership, so I have received many lovely compliments. The ones I like the most are when they say they stayed up all night reading, or that it made them laugh.

However, the compliment that most inspired me to keep writing happened in a college creative writing course. One of the other students was an amazing writer. I loved everything he shared with the class. When it came time to share my piece, his comment was, “I wish I’d written this.” It was a long time ago, and I don’t remember his name, but it stayed with me and kept me writing even when no one else was reading.

What are you working on now?
I am writing book 4 for the series. The Fortune Family is back in Crystal Haven. A zombie fun run and a Founder’s Day celebration bring lots of people into town, including Clyde’s elusive sister, Grace, and a few other suspicious characters. That book will be released in April 2016.

About the author

Dawn Eastman lived in Michigan for many years, in a house full of animals, unusual people, and laughter. She now lives in Iowa with her family and one extremely bossy small dog. She is the national bestselling author of The Family Fortune Mystery Series, which features psychics, animal communication, quirky characters and murders.

Connect with Dawn:
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