FEATURED AUTHOR: LAURA BRADFORD

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Tobi Tobias decided to open her own ad agency, having to moonlight in a pet shop wasn’t part of her vision . . . of course, neither was murder.
 
Sometimes when opportunity knocks, the door you open leads to a closet. That’s certainly the case for Tobi, whose weekends spent cleaning cages in her best friend’s pet shop may soon be over. She’s just landed her first big break—Zander Closet Company needs a catchy campaign slogan ASAP, and Tobi thinks she’s got the right hook to knock ’em dead: “When we’re done, even your skeletons will have a place.”
 
But when a real dead body topples out of a showcase closet, she’s about to discover there is such a thing as bad publicity. To save her fledgling business and not get killed by the competition, Tobi takes on a new pet project: solving the murder. But with a stressed-out parrot as the only witness to the crime, Tobi will really have to wing it to put the cagey killer behind bars.

INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BRADFORD

Laura, do you have a writing routine?  
I do. I’m a morning writer. Unless I’m on a deadline, I’m pretty much good until about 3 p.m.  If I’m on a deadline, I can write all day/all night.  I tend to write in a certain corner of my living room couch . . . or sometimes I head to the café at my local B & N and write there.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
The middle. The beginning is always exciting because it’s new. The end is always exciting because everything is coming together.  The middle is when it’s hard to make myself write day after day.

I totally agree! How often do you read?
My reading time comes on the elliptical machine at the gym. If I’m at the gym, I’m reading. Keeps me motivated to keep exercising.

What do you think makes a good story?
Characters I care about.

What books do you currently have published?

I’ll tell you by series . . . 

Jenkins & Burns Mysteries (my first series)
*Deadly Readings (formerly Jury of One)
*Deadly Getaway   (formerly Forecast of Evil)
*Deadly Expression  (Formerly Marked by Fate)
*Deadly Ambition

Amish Mysteries
*Hearse and Buggy
*Assaulted Pretzel
*Shunned and Dangerous
*Suspendered Sentence
*A Churn for the Worse

Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries
*Éclair and Present Danger
*The Silence of the Flans (coming 3/7)

Tobi Tobias Mysteries
*Death in Advertising
*30 Second Death (coming in july)

**I also have 11 books in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries I write under the pen name, Elizabeth Lynn Casey (# 12 will release in June) . . . and a handful of romance novels.

Wow! You're obviously very talented. Do you have any secret talents?
I can recite the Big Mac ingredient list backwards.

Awesome! How often do you tweet?
I’m a horrible tweeter. But I try.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I love Facebook. I’ve become friends with many of my readers via my Facebook author page (that’s the one with me sitting in an Amish buggy as my profile picture).

What five things would you never want to live without?
Photographs. A pen. Paper. Books. Music.

What’s one thing you never leave the house without?
My purse.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
Milk Duds.

What’s your favorite beverage?
A vanilla milkshake.

What drives you crazy?
Liars, insincerity, a lack of empathy.

Yes! What do you wish you could do?
Play the fiddle.

What is one of your happiest moments?
Walt Disney World with my kids (specifically if we’re in Mickey or Minnie’s presence).

Where is your favorite place to visit?
If I have a day to myself, I like to go down to New York City (upper west side) and have a quiet breakfast in my favorite café, and then walk across Central Park to watch the sea lion feeding. 

Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Sure. My sweet tooth.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
"What you are is God’s gift to you.  What you become is your gift to God." Love that.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
I work as a patient ambassador for those living with Multiple Sclerosis. As part of the program, I had to write “my story.” Writing about myself as opposed to characters—especially about something so close to me—took a lot out of me. But it was worth it a million times over.

How do you like your pizza?

Plain cheese.

Describe yourself in 5 words.
Loyal. Honest. Sincere. Empathetic. Kind.

What is your favorite movie?
I loved The Intern!

What are you working on now?
I just turned in the 3rd Tobi Tobias Mystery (out in December) and am now turning my attention to a brand new genre/project I just contracted with Kensington Publishing. But I’ll wait to share more details until it gets a little closer.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura is the national bestselling author of several mystery series, including the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, the Amish Mysteries, the Jenkins & Burns Mysteries, and the brand new Tobi Tobias Mysteries. She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award in romance. When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys making memories with her family, baking, and being an advocate for those living with Multiple Sclerosis.
To learn more, visit her website, or hang out with her on Facebook. She can also be found occasionally tweeting at: @Bradfordauthor.

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