Featured Author: Cindy Blackburn

Cindy Blackburn is the author of Playing With Poison, the first book in the Cue Ball Mysteries series. Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction's main character, Tess Tramaine, got to sit down for a chat with Playing With Poison's Wilson Rye.

About the book:

Pool shark Jessie Hewitt usually knows where the balls will fall and how the game will end. But when a body lands on her couch, and the cute cop in her kitchen accuses her of murder, even Jessie isn't sure what will happen next.

Playing With Poison is a cozy mystery with a lot of humor, a little romance, and far too much champagne.

About the character:

Captain Wilson Rye is the chief homicide detective of the Clarence, North Carolina Police Department. Forty-eight, widower, one son in college. Rye thought he could handle anything. Then he met Jessie Hewitt.

Tess's Interview with Wilson Rye:

Wilson, your series is a humorous romantic cozy mystery. How did you first meet Cindy Blackburn?

In Jessie’s condo. Jessie and I were standing over the dead body of Stanley Sweetzer. It wasn’t the best Friday night I’ve ever had.

Want to dish about her?

About Cindy? The woman always takes Jessie’s side. The two of them are in cahoots.

Well...duh...women have to stick together. Of course they're in cahoots. So tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

When I won a pool game against Jessie. The woman’s a shark, and the look on her face when the eight-ball fell? Priceless.

Competitive much? If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?

When Jessie accused me of thinking she was an ugly, old, bitch murderer, I probably should have denied all of the above. Instead, I just told her she’s not ugly. Not my brightest moment.

Typical male move, if you don't mind my saying so, bless your heart. Do have any secret aspirations that your author doesn’t know about?

Yep. But you’re not expecting me to tell you, are you? Cindy will have to work to learn my secrets. Just like Jessie does.

Well aren't you a little dickens. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do? And leave Cindy out of this.

Go fishing on Lake Lookadoo with my son Chris. Spend the night with Jessie. Don’t tell her I said that.

Um...Wilson...remember when I said girls have to stick together? I'm pretty sure she's gonna find out about that one. What’s the best trait your author has given you?

Cindy gave me lots of good traits--I’m handsome and smart, and I like cats.

What’s the worst?

Cindy insists that I’m impatient. She might have a point. 

A man who's impatient. Shocking. What do you like best about Jessie? Least?

Least—the woman drives me crazy. Best—the woman drives me crazy.


Oh my. Okay...well...What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?

Cindy doesn’t pussy-foot around. Her books are fast reads. She cuts out the garbage.

Good trait to have in a writer. Describe an average day in your life.

I take care of my cats, call my son (Chris is in college), catch criminals, and argue with Jessie. Usually in that order.

There are currently three published books in the series. Will you talk her into more?

Yes. But Cindy and Jessie already had a sequel planned, even before I walked into Jessie’s condo that first night. They’re right now in cahoots writing book four of the Cue Ball Mysteries—-Four Play.

Well. That's certainly...an interesting title. I hope you'll come back when it's released. And bring Jessie next time. Okay?

Other books in the Cue Ball Mysteries series:

About the author:

Cindy Blackburn has a confession to make--she does not play pool. It's that whole eye-hand coordination thing. What Cindy does do well is school. So when she's not writing silly stories she's teaching serious history. European history is her favorite subject, and the ancient stuff is best of all. The deader the better! A native Vermonter who hates cold weather, Cindy divides her time between the south and the north. During the school year you'll find her in South Carolina, but come summer she'll be on the porch of her lakeside shack in Vermont. Cindy has a fat cat named Betty and a cute husband named John. Both are extremely lovable. When Cindy isn't writing or grading papers, she likes to take long walks or paddle her kayak around the lake. Her favorite travel destinations are all in Europe, her favorite TV show is NCIS, her favorite color is orange, and her favorite authors (if she must choose) are Joan Hess and Spencer Quinn. Cindy dislikes vacuuming, traffic, and lima beans.


Connect with Cindy:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon