GUEST POST WITH LISA THOMAS

ABOUT THE BOOK

Burned-out high school teacher Deena Sharpe is ready for a change. She has no idea a fifty-year-old murder case is about to turn her life upside down.

The Perry County Sheriff’s office has found a skeleton in the closet . . . literally. When they identify the man’s body fifty years after his disappearance, his family turns to Deena to uncover the truth about his murder. The clock begins ticking when she discovers a mysterious writer is about to implicate the victim in his latest conspiracy theory book. She must channel her inner super-sleuth to solve the puzzle and protect her family name. With the help of her off-beat brother and others from the cozy town of Maycroft, Texas, Deena takes on a quest that leads to more questions than answers.

Sharpe Shooter is the first book in the Cozy Suburbs Mystery Series. With antique shopping, car chases, and ghosts in the night, the story will keep you guessing as you follow Deena on her quest for the truth.

GUEST POST BY LISA THOMAS

My first novel, Sharpe Shooter, is based on a real-life drama from my own life. When I wrote it, I never imagined I would turn it into a cozy mystery series. At the time, it was more of a catharsis—something I had to do to get peace of mind about a family tragedy.

Consequently, the main character, Deena Sharpe, is loosely based on me. In the story, Deena sets out to uncover the mystery behind her great uncle’s death. He had gone missing fifty years earlier. Then, his body was discovered in an old police department evidence room. It had been there the whole time. He had been murdered.

That’s actually what happened to my mother’s cousin. But instead of searching for answers to his murder in real life like Deena, I did it through my imagination. I wanted to bring closure to the mysterious death so I would no longer feel the need to obsess over it. That’s how I came to write Sharpe Shooter.

Like many first-time authors, I never dreamed the book would be published, much less be the start of a series. If I had, I might have made Deena less like me. Instead, we are similar in a number of ways (gray roots and all)! My friends and family see the connections. I thought it would be fun to show some of the similarities and differences between Deena and me. Here are a few:

Same: Both burned-out former journalism teachers.
Different: I taught English the last 12 years of my career.

Same: Both have supportive, caring husbands.
Different: I have two children; Deena is childless.

Same: Both live in Texas suburbs.
Different: I live in a larger, more urban area than Deena.

Same: Both love Mexican food and margaritas.
Different: Deena drinks wine; I can’t stand it.

Same: Both too insecure to become professional journalists.
Different: Deena gives it a shot after retirement; I write mysteries.

Same: Both obsessed with the Kennedys and the JFK assassination.
Different: I didn’t visit Dealey Plaza until I was in my fifties; Deena first went there as a child.

Same: Both have older brothers.
Different: I also have a sister. Some people ask if the character of Russell is based on a real person. The answer is no. But if I were casting the book as a movie, I’d cast Michael Keaton as Russell.

Same: Both have small black dogs.
Different: Mine is a female peekapoo; Deena’s is a male terrier mix.

Same: Both have antique booths and love collecting pottery.
Different: I also collect figural creamers, salt & pepper shakers, pie birds, and teapots.

Same: Both intensely curious people.
Different: Deena is brave and thinks of herself as a ninja; I’m a big chicken.

Same: Both have a sarcastic sense of humor.
Different: Deena holds her tongue better than I do.

I am sure there are more similarities, but I’ve got to keep some things secret!

To learn more about Deena Sharpe (and me), you can get Sharpe Shooter from Amazon in paperback and ebook. To read the true account of the mystery, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.lisabthomas.com and receive a free copy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Born and raised in Texas, Lisa always knew she wanted to be a writer. Finally, after thirty-three years as a high school Journalism and English teacher, she dusted off the laptop and released her first novel. Having grown up reading Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and Agatha Christie, she was drawn to the mystery genre.

With two grown children out of the nest, Lisa lives a quiet life with her husband and Peekapoo puppy. Besides writing, she enjoys her grandchildren, photography, traveling, and antiquing (aka. buying and selling used junk). Like her main character, Deena, she has an antique booth and enjoys treasure hunting and reselling vintage finds.


Connect with Lisa:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter   |  GoodReads 

Buy the book:
Amazon 

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