FEATURED AUTHOR: J.C. KENNEY

ABOUT THE BOOK

Murder hits the stacks when literary agent Allie Cobb investigates a fatality in the local library . . .  



Allie Cobb returns home from a book conference armed with hugs for her cat and her boyfriend, and dreams of a long, hot bath. She’s also getting ready to take the plunge by hiring an intern for her expanding literary agency. But it’s one for the books when Allie finds the town’s librarian—and her longtime role model—seconds away from death on the library floor.
 


Who would want to poison Vicky Napier—one of Rushing Creek’s most beloved citizens—on the eve of her retirement? But it seems there were toxic people in her life, like the handyman with an obsessive crush, and a wood carver with a hair-trigger temper. The list of suspects includes Allie’s boyfriend, Brent, who’s in the running to take over as town librarian. Avenging her friend’s murder could be a trap as she goes up against a killer determined to write Allie’s epitaph . . .

Book Details:

Title: A Mysterious Mix Up

Author: J.C. Kenney

Genre: cozy mystery

Series: The Allie Cobb Mysteries, book 3

Publisher: Lyrical Press (January 7, 2020)

Print length: 189 pages
On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours




IFs ANDs OR WHATs INTERVIEW WITH J.C. KENNEY

IFs


If you could talk to someone (living), who would it be and what would you ask them?

Oh man, there are so many people I’d love to visit. I think it would be really cool to talk to Elon Musk. Between SpaceX, Tesla, and his other ventures, it would be fascinating to spend time with someone who not only dreams big but puts those dreams into action.

If you could talk to someone (dead), who would it be and what would you ask them?
My dad died when I was 16. As the youngest of eight kids, I never got to know him. Nor did he get to know me, I think. He was only 57 when he died, yet he fought in the Pacific in World War II, went to college, raised a family, witness a man walk on the moon, and so much more. It would be nice to just hang out and have a drink with him.

If you could live in any time period which would it be?
I wouldn’t mind checking out life a hundred years from now. I like to think it would pretty amazing technologically.

If you could time travel for an infinite period of time, where would you go?
I’d tour the Caribbean. I’d start at Bermuda and work my way south through the Virgin Islands and all points in between to Trinidad and Tobago. From there, I’d go west through Aruba and Jamaica to the Cayman Islands. After a stop in Havana, I’d wind up the tour in The Bahamas, before returning to the States via the Florida Keys.

If you could be anything besides a writer, what would it be?
I’d love to be a songwriter. I think is it an incredible gift to be able to tell a story or something similar than bring about an emotional response in three minutes. Either that or a musician. When I was in high school, I was a virtuoso at air guitar, but that’s the limit of my talents. My younger son is a trombone player studying music education. His musical ability astounds me.

If you had to do community service, what would you choose?
I’m a regular platelet donor, so I’m happy to be able to help folks who need platelets for surgery. Over the years, I’ve donated almost reached 20-gallon donor status.


If you could meet any author for coffee, who would you like to meet and what would you talk about?
I’d love to meet Agatha Christie, so I could ask her about the craft of writing whodunnits. She will always be the Queen of Mystery and to have a chance to spend time with her and soak in her brilliance would be incredible.


If you could live anywhere in the world, where in the world would it be?
Australia be cool. The thought of exploring an entire continent is really exciting. Plus, I’m a big fan of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, so it would be so much fun to visit the home of the series. 




ANDs


5 favorite possessions:

    •    my laptop
    •    my Kindle Paperwhite
    •    my collector’s edition of the Lord of the Rings
    •    my music collection
and
    •    a striped quilt my sister made for me.

5 things you love about writing:
    •    meeting other authors
    •    being able to make stuff up
    •    having my characters surprise me
    •    hearing from readers that they’ve enjoyed my stories
and
    •    learning so many interesting things through my writing research.

5 things you love about where you live:
    •    the colorful leaves of autumn
    •    I’m only fifteen minutes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
    •    the vibrant cultural districts of Broad Ripple Mass Ave.
and
    •    Fountain Square—my family is nearby and it’s the home of Kurt Vonnegut.

5 things you never want to run out of:   
    •    caffeine
    •    popcorn
    •    chocolate
    •    story ideas
and
    •    more caffeine.

5 favorite foods:
    •    Arroz con Pollo
    •    pizza
    •    chili
    •    a juicy cheeseburger
and
    •    oatmeal.

5 favorite places you’ve been:
    •    New York City
    •    Yellowstone National Park
    •    The Bob Marley Birthplace in Jamaica
    •    Wrigley Field
and
    •    EPCOT at Disney World.

5 living people you’d like to invite to dinner:  
    •    Barack Obama
    •    Jimmy Buffett
    •    Malala Yousafzai
    •    Anson Mount
and
    •    Grace Potter.

5 favorite things to do:  
    •    reading
    •    attending concerts
    •    going to musicals and stage plays
    •    snuggling with my kitty, Maria
and
    •    watching Murdoch Mysteries.

WHATs

What’s your all-time favorite memory?
The day I got married to my lovely wife Nancy. We had such a great time that day. The day before had been hot, humid and stress filled. On our wedding day, the weather was perfect, the ceremony went off without a hitch, and the reception was a blast. The best day ever!

What’s your all-time favorite movie?
Field of Dreams. I can almost quote it line by line. The soliloquy delivered by James Earl Jones’ character Terrence Mann about baseball and its importance throughout American history gets me every time.

What’s your all-time favorite author?
There are so many amazing authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading. If I had to pick one, it would be Terry Pratchett. I’ve read every one of his Discworld books, over forty, and loved them all! As a mystery writer, I also adore Agatha Christie, the Grand Dame of the genre.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who talk in movie theaters. Please, folks, be considerate of others.

What’s the loveliest sight you’ve ever seen?
The Grand Canyon was a breathtaking sight to behold. She sheer size of it, along with the almost infinite variety of colors make describing it sufficiently impossible.

What’s your favorite time of day?
I really like bedtime. Work is over, the day is done, and it’s time to unwind with a book. I read every night before turning off the light. All too often, I end up staying up way too late because I’m so engrossed in the story. LOL

What’s your favorite song?
It’s hard for me to so with a single song because there are so many amazing tunes of almost infinite variety. A few of my all-time include:
“One” by U2. I love the song’s message of unity and love for one another despite our differences. After 9/11, the depth of the lyrics took on a whole new message.
“He Went to Paris” by Jimmy Buffett. The ability to tell the story of a lifetime with such nuance and beauty, all in the span of three minutes, is staggering. I’m awestruck every time I listen to it.
“Maybe” by Ingrid Michaelson. When I was writing my first novel, I couldn’t figure out how I wanted to end it. Then one day, I was listening to this song, and the perfect ending came to me. I will forever be in Ingrid’s debt for that inspiration.
Last, but not least, “Our House” by Madness. The sheer joy of this song makes me smile every time. It’s so much fun and, as the youngest of eight, reminds me of life growing up in a busy household.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?
The gulf coast of Florida. I love the soft, sandy beaches, the blue skies, and the warm temps.

What’s your favorite beverage?
Lady Grey tea. It tastes wonderful, with a hint of citrus, and it wakes me up in the morning.

What’s your favorite ice cream?
I’m a vanilla guy. I love it by itself, and you can add so many fun things to it!

What’s your favorite thing to do when there’s nothing to do?
I really enjoy watching mysteries on Acorn TV. It’s so much fun watching shows from all around the world. Thanks to Acorn, I’ve seen shows from Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

What’s your favorite quote?
“If you have the power of wonderment, you are forever young.” It’s a quote from naturalist and author Sigurd Olsen. It reminds me the world’s an amazing place and to take time to bask in it.

What’s your favorite candy bar?
Baby Ruth. OMG, between the chocolate and the peanuts, it is so good!

What’s your favorite movie snack?
Popcorn. It’s not a complete movie experience without a box of popcorn.

What’s your favorite social media site?
I’m a Twitter person. It has its faults, but overall, I like that I can get my news, follow my favorite people, and enjoy cat memes.

What’s your favorite color?
I love green, especially the darker shades, like Kelly and Forest. To me, it’s such a calming color.
 

What movie genre do you prefer?
My favorite is sci-fi. I’m a Star Trek fan. You can’t go wrong with a good thriller, though.


What book are you currently working on?
I’m writing the first draft of book 4 in The Allie Cobb Mysteries. It’s tentatively called A Frightful Find. If things go as planned, it will arrive early next year!


What’s your latest recommendation for:
Food:
Due to a wheat allergy, I have to be on a gluten-free diet. Recently, I’ve become a fan of cauliflower crusts for pizza. They’re light, taste good, and I can tell myself I’m getting another veggie in my diet! Lol

Music:
Grace Potter’s latest album, Daylight, is fabulous. It’s stripped down to the essentials without an overproduced track to be found. Grace’s songwriting and powerhouse vocals are on fire. It’s great to have the first new music from her in four years!

Movie:
Knives Out. This film is so much fun! As a mystery writer, I adore the way it salutes traditional mysteries while telling a contemporary story. And it’s so funny. This is a can’t miss in my book.

Book:
I’m currently reading Lori Rader-Day’s The Lucky One. It’s a fabulous mystery with incredibly believable characters. Lori is an absolute master of storytelling.

Audiobook:
I don’t listen to audiobooks often, but I adored As You Wish. It’s a memoir by Cary Elwes recounting his time making The Princess Bride. He narrates the book, which made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. It’s a book that leaves you feeling good.

TV:
I think Jordan Peele’s adaptation of The Twilight Zone is fantastic. It captures the sense of wonder of the original while standing on its own two contemporary legs.

OTHER BOOKS BY J.C. KENNEY

A Literal Mess, Allie Cobb Mysteries book 1
A Genuine Fix, Allie Cobb Mysteries book 2

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  J.C. Kenney grew up in a household filled with books by legends Agatha Christie and Lilian Jackson Braun, among many others, so it was no surprise when he found himself writing mystery stories. When he's not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two kiddos, and a cat who is the inspiration for Ursula in the Allie Cobb Mysteries.


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