FEATURED CHARACTER: LINDA LOVELY’S “PAINT” PAYNTER

ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s been seven months since Brie Hooker, a vegan, moved to Udderly Kidding Dairy to live with her feisty Aunt Eva, a confirmed carnivore. But tonight there’ll be no family feud over dinner entrees. Udderly’s hosting a campaign fundraiser for Eva’s best friend, who hopes to be South Carolina’s next governor. The candidate’s son, a pro quarterback, is flying home for the wingding. And Brie’s eager to get a close-up view of the cute tush she’s admired on TV, even though she’s reluctantly sworn off even more tempting local beefcake.

The campaign fundraiser promises to be a huge success until a pitchfork attack turns the goat farm into a crime scene—again. To protect her friends, Brie puts her sleuthing skills to work. Will she live long enough to find out who’s behind a vicious assault, a kidnapping, blackmail, and multiple murders?

BOOK DETAILS

Title: Picked Off

Author: Linda Lovely

Genre: Humorous cozy mystery

Series: Brie Hooker Mystery series, book 2

Print length: 270 pages

On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours

ABOUT DAVID “PAINT” PAYNTER

When David Paynter was still wearing short britches, he was nicknamed Paint. The name stuck. Paint is the handsome, 33-year-old owner of Magic Moonshine, a thriving legal purveyor of white lightning as well as fruit-flavored versions of ’shine. He lives in a cabin in the woods with Lunar, an orphaned wolf he’s raised from a pup. For purposes of his Magic Moonshine brand, he promotes a ‘bad boy’ image and reminds people he’s the grandson of a notorious moonshiner. However, he has an MBA and is an accomplished businessman.

Paint’s also a charming flirt and playboy, who’s never been tempted to limit himself to one woman until he meets Brie Hooker. Paint’s best friend since kindergarten is Andy Green, a veterinarian, who is also interested in Brie. Not long after meeting Brie, the boys start a good-natured competition for her affections. But the more time Paint spends with Brie the more enamored he is.  He seriously wants to win the girl.  

INTERVIEW WITH LINDA LOVELY’S “PAINT” PAYNTER

Paint, how did you first meet Linda?
She stopped by my legal moonshine store in Upstate South Carolina. Like a lot of folks, she couldn’t resist checking to see if we really kept goats on the roof of a retail store. The goats offered a logical common denominator between the moonshine owner and the goat dairy where Brie Hooker would soon come to live. Of course, I’m much more interesting—and sexier—than any actual moonshiners Linda Lovely might have met.

Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
My guess is that I share some traits with the man the author married four decades ago. I can make her laugh and she seems to think I’m sexy. She also likes that I don’t fit neatly into any stereotypes.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My favorite scene in Picked Off is when I take Brie for a drink at a B&B to do some undercover sleuthing.

Did you have a hard time convincing Linda to write any particular scenes for you?
No. I just have to keep reminding her that I deserve equal time with Andy Green, my best friend and rival for Brie’s affections. Actually, I don’t understand why Linda doesn’t see that I’m the best match for Brie. In just a few pages she could make us a couple.

What do you like to do when Linda's not writing about you?
I like to fish, hunt, and waterski.

If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
I’d be the one who escorts Brie into the forest on a drone-spy mission. That way she’d fall on top of me when she tumbles over a log.

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
I like to spend time with most of them. Have a great time ribbing Andy, Aunt Eva, and Mollye. I’ve known Andy and Mollye as long as I can remember and we know each other’s secrets.

Do have any secret aspirations that Linda doesn’t know about?
She recently discovered that I’m planning to expand my business to include fine whiskies and plan to open an outlet in the South Carolina Lowcountry. If she doesn’t have Brie fall for me soon it could complicate our relationship.

If you had a free day what would you do?


Well, my preference would require a little cooperation from Brie.

If your story were a movie, who would play you?
A young George Clooney.

Describe the town where you live.
I don’t actually live in the Town of Ardon. My place is out in the country. I love the woods and nature. Much of Ardon County is rural. But that’s changing fast. Our county butts up against fast-growing areas of Pickens and Greenville Counties, which means there’s a big development push into our undeveloped areas. Lake Sisel has become a big draw for wealthy retirees who like our climate and scenery. Of course a lot of the locals don’t like the newcomers. Okay some of them actually hate the new arrivals, especially if they’re rich and from the North. I say people are people, no matter their accent or where they were raised.

Will you encourage Linda to write a sequel?
She’s already working on the third book in this series, which is due out in the first quarter of 2019.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Lovely finds writing pure fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the years she’s spent penning PR and ad copy. She writes a blend of mystery and humor, chuckling as she plots to “disappear” the types of characters who most annoy her. Quite satisfying plus there’s no need to pester relatives for bail. Picked Off is the second humorous installment in her new Brie Hooker Mystery series. An active member of Sisters in Crime, Lovely served as her local chapter’s president for five years. She also belongs to International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Connect with Linda:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Pinterest  | Amazon

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

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