FEATURED AUTHOR: VICKI VASS

 ABOUT THE BOOK

Antique hunter Anne Hillstrom’s whirlwind shopping tour to Paris comes to a dead stop, as dead as the man sitting next to her on the plane. And to make matters worse, her identity has been stolen, leaving her to face her worst nightmare. She must sell all her precious antiques with the help of her business partner and co-blogger, CC Muller. Together, they open a pop-up antique store in the quaint suburb of Glen Ellyn Illinois. Their blog fans flock to the store looking to find that perfect treasure and so does a killer. When the Sweet Shop lady next door is found caramelized, the success of the pop-up sale turns bittersweet. Anne and CC dust off the clues, unraveling a centuries-old mystery that leads them to one conclusion. They must find the killer before the killer finds them.


INTERVIEW WITH VICKI VASS

Vicki, how did you get started writing?
I’ve been writing ever since I could read. I started reading when I was four and wrote my first short book when I was five.

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
I love creating characters and imagining them in their world.

Do you have a writing routine?
During the week, I try to write at least five pages a night and on the weekends at least 10 pages every day. This allows me to stay current with whatever story I am working on.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
I’d say character. If the characters are not interesting or the reader doesn’t care about the character, then the book can fall flat. The books that resonate with me are ones where the characters seem to jump off the page, to become real, and you don’t want the book to end.

How often do you read?
As often as I can. Right now I am reading several different books, all research for the new Antique Hunters mystery.

What books do you currently have published?
There are three books in the Antique Hunters series: Murder by the Spoonful, Pickin’ Murder and Killer Finds (I am working on the fourth book currently). I recently published the first book in a new series called Gem Hunter. And, I wrote a mystery novel based on my real-life neighbor called The Postman is Late.

Is writing your dream job?
Yes, I’ve always wanted to write.


What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
I’ve had several jobs, actually my friends call me a serial job hopper, but the worst was working at a rebate center where I literally typed in rebate forms all day. Or, perhaps it was the 4-1-1 call center. It taught me that you have to do what you have to pay the bills but there’s something better out there.

What scares you the most?
Snakes. I am irrationally afraid of snakes. I see them in places where it makes no sense. My science fiction novel, the Lexicon, uses this as a theme throughout the book.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
Popcorn. I love buttered, movie popcorn so much that I have actually walked into the theater, bought popcorn and then left.

What is your superpower?
I have an almost photographic memory. I remember conversations, emails, and even where something appeared in a book, came in handy on tests in college.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Yes, my main character, Anne shares my obsession with shopping. I have been known to go out of the way for a sale and spend a little more than I should.

Do you procrastinate?
All the time.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
Faith is believing even when common sense tells you not to. 


Who is your favorite fictional character?
I actually would have to say Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind. She is anachronistic living in the wrong time period but she does what she has to survive I admire her spirit. 


What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
It is a picture of my large dog surrounded by 12 feet of snow. I lost him a few years back, but he loved the snow and willingly trudged through it.


What is your favorite movie?
My all-time favorite movie would be Casablanca. I watched it as a child with my father and enjoy watching it now. There are so many great lines and characters in that movie. It never gets old. 


What are you working on now?
I am working on the fourth book in the Antique Hunters mystery series, the second book in the Gem Hunters series and already have ideas spilling for the fifth book in the antique hunters series. I wish I had started all these about 20 years ago.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With a passion for shopping and antiques, Vicki Vass turned in her reporter's notebook to chronicle the adventures of Anne and CC, two antique hunters who use their skills to solve a murder case. 

Vicki has written more than 1,400 stories for the Chicago Tribune as well as other commercial publications including Home & Away, the Lutheran and Woman's World. Her science fiction novel, The Lexicon, draws on her experience in Sudan while writing about the ongoing civil war for World Relief.

Connect with Vicki:

Website  |   Blog  |    
Facebook  |    Amazon

RAFFLECOPTER: ENTER TO WIN

a Rafflecopter giveaway