Featured Author: Amy Beth Arkawy

I'm happy to feature another great cozy mystery today. Dead Silent: An Eliza Gordon Mystery is by Amy Beth Arkawy, published by Cozy Cat Press.
   

About the book:

It’s summertime, and in Goodship, New York, the living is anything but easy. Controversial radio shock jock Paul Hackett is found strangled to death with his headphone cord around his neck in the studio of local radio station WSHP. There’s little evidence beyond the initials V.O.S. scrawled across the studio window in red lipstick and a list of suspects that could easily fill the Goodship phone book. And that’s not all. Eliza Gordon, former soap star turned local soup aficionado and amateur sleuth and her pal and unwitting snooping partner radio DJ Midge Sumner must contend with in Dead Silent, the second in author Amy Beth Arkawy’s Eliza Gordon Mystery series. The locals are also on edge thanks to the rumors rolling across The Goodship Grapevine, a new toxic gossip site, and bemused by flyers heeding folks to follow an enigmatic cult known as “The Quiet.” Eliza’s instincts have her searching for clues and connecting the mysteries together, but they also put a strain on her burgeoning romance with Tom Santini, Goodship’s dishy police chief (who also happens to be her late husband’s best friend). The sudden reappearance of her elusive playboy brother-in-law, Jonas Gordon, sparks unexpected feelings in Eliza and may hold the key to connecting the mysteries and solving Hackett’s murder. Join Eliza Gordon and sidekick Midge Sumner as they embark on this intriguing and dangerous sleuthing escapade. Will they solve the mystery or wind up Dead Silent?

Interview with Amy Beth Arkawy:

Amy Beth, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I’ve been telling stories since I could talk. And actually wrote my first 2 (very  short) books at around 8 from a kit my mom bestowed upon me.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

For years my day (and sometimes night job) was in radio, as a DJ and talk show host. Now, in addition to writing I work as a creativity coach and writing instructor, helping others conquer artistic blocks and find their voices. I also recently got back behind the microphone hosting a popular Internet radio show featuring compelling conversations with authors and other storytellers. 

How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Radio can be murder! Will Eliza & Midge solve mystery or wind up #DeadSilent

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I have a basic idea of the plot lines, but the characters often take me on unexpected detours.

Did you have any say in your cover art?

Yes. The publisher sent me an array of designs and the designer was open to my suggestions. It took a while, but together we came up with an eye-catching cover.

What books have you read more than once or want to read again?

Drunk with Love (and almost anything) by Ellen Gilchrist is a great collection of stories that I often revisit.

What do you do to market your book?

I’m immersed in social media: Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, etc. All very helpful tools, but very time consuming. I’m also grateful to bloggers and readers who help spread the word and fellow radio hosts who have interviewed me. Oh, and I have a nifty trailer.

How do you get to know your characters?

While I don’t know where they come from, I get to know my characters as I do real people. They reveal themselves over time and as their stories unfold.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

I have most of the characters in mind. But, as in real life, unexpected people some time appear on the scene.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Oh, I can’t answer that. I enjoy them all. And if I dared choose, I’’m sure a few would make my life miserable.

What would your main character say about you?

Eliza on Amy Beth: I wish she’d stop complicating my love life!

What song would you pick to go with your book?

“I Heard it Through the Grapevine”

Who are your favorite authors?

Ellen Gilchrist, Michael Cunningham, Virginia Woolf, myriad mystery authors...too many to name (and you never want to get a mystery writer mad at you!)

What are your favorite books from childhood to adult?

I think I went from Amelia Bedilia and Harriet the Spy to Agatha Christie and Virginia Woolf.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I just started reading Sharp Objects. It’s the first book by Gillian Flynn, the author of the bestselling thriller Gone Girl. I’m reading it in paperback. I do have a Kindle, but I’m still partial to the feel (and smell) of a ‘real’ book.

Do you have a routine for writing?

I write all my first drafts in long hand, often in Starbucks. There’s something about that pen-to-paper soul connection that I find essential to my process. This practice, which a lot of people find arcane, also prompts me to get on the computer quickly for the second draft since I need a Rosetta Stone to read my own handwriting.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I used to write in the late afternoon/early evening, but lately I’ve started writing early mornings. This lets the Muse (and all my characters) grab my attention early before I have time to get distracted with everything else in my life.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

A blank notebook. I’m assuming I’ll have a stash of pens.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

Bookstore. Libraries are too quiet.

Where would your dream office be?

In a cottage overlooking the beach on Cape Cod or the coast of Maine. Cape Cod’s a better bet, I guess, since I don’t want Stephen King sneaking up on me in the middle of the night.

Do you ever get writer’s block?

You know I don’t think I ever had writer’s block. But I do often suffer from ‘idea overload.’ That’s when I have so many ideas or stories clamoring around my head. Then I have to wait and see which story emerges, which character demands to be heard. That’s the one I know will be next.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow?

It won’t shock my readers to learn there’s almost always music playing when I write as my books come with a soundtrack built in. As a playwright I am accustomed to reading my work aloud to listen for natural dialogue, and I often use that practice with fiction, too. It helps to hear the rhythm or musicality of the work.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

“We all shine on. Like the moon and the stars and the sun.” John Lennon

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Ah, tricky question. Because when I’m not actually writing I often talk about writing with other writers in coaching sessions, workshops or on the radio, but I’m also an avid movie fan. And in the summer I am (probably too) pre-occupied with the fate of my beloved, beleaguered New York Mets.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go? (Don’t worry about the money. A publisher is paying.)

I don’t write science fiction. But I’d love to go to Ireland.

What are you working on now?

I am in the very early stages of a psychological thriller and Eliza & Midge are starting to rumble around my head again, so the third in the series will be in the offing soon.

About the author:

Amy Beth Arkawy is the author of the Eliza Gordon Mystery series: Killing Time (Hen House Press)and Dead Silent (Cozy Cat Press) as well as several plays including: Psychic Chicken Soup;( MacLaren Comedy Award nominee) Full Moon, Saturday Night; Listening to Insomnia: Rage Amongst Yourselves; and The Postman Always Writes Twice. Her work has been produced in New York City and across the country and featured in several anthologies. She is also a creativity coach/writing teacher, radio talk show host and freelance journalist. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, and former MFA Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amy Beth also has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. She is at work on a psychological thriller and the third Eliza Gordon mystery.



Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Cozy Cat Press

Featured Author: Ellen Mansoor Collier

Historical Mystery writer Ellen Mansoor Collier is here today to talk about Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets, a Jazz Age Mystery #2. One reviewer called it "the ultimate fun read for the beach or backyard." With a whiff of romance, too!

About the book:

It’s 1927 in Galveston, Texas—the “Sin City of the Southwest.” Jasmine (“Jazz”) Cross is an ambitious 21-year-old society reporter for the Galveston Gazette who tries to be taken seriously by the good-old-boy staff, but the editors only assign her fluffy puff pieces, like writing profiles of bathing beauties. The last thing Jazz wants to do is compare make-up tips with ditzy dames competing in the Miss Universe contest, known as the “International Pageant of Pulchritude and Bathing Girl Revue.”

She’d rather help solve the murders of young prostitutes who turn up all over town, but city officials insist on burying the stories during Splash Day festivities. After Jazz gets to know the bathing beauties, she realizes there’s a lot more to them than just pretty faces and figures. Jazz becomes suspicious when she finds out the contest is also sponsored by the Maceos, aspiring Beach Gang leaders and co-owners of the Hollywood Dinner Club, where the girls will perform before the parade and pageant.

Worse, her half-brother Sammy Cook, owner of the Oasis, a speakeasy on a rival gang’s turf, asks her to call in a favor from handsome Prohibition Agent James Burton—an impossible request that could compromise both of their jobs and budding romance. While Agent Burton gives her the cold shoulder, she fends off advances from Colin Ferris, an attractive but dangerous gangster who threatens Sammy as well as Burton. In the end, she must risk it all to save her friends from a violent killer hell-bent on revenge. Inspired by actual events.

Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets is the sequel to Flappers, Flasks and Foul Play.

Interview with Ellen Mansoor Collier:

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I started writing as a kid, and my mom, who was a teacher and part-time writer, gave me my first functional toy typewriter when I was about 10. I took my first journalism class in high school, served on the school newspaper, and won a couple of writing awards (including a UIL award in News writing). In college (the University of Texas at Austin—hook ‘em horns), I majored in magazine journalism and wrote for the college magazine. I’ve been working as a freelance writer and editor most of my adult life.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

Obviously I like alliteration, and wanted to make the titles in my Jazz Age series consistent and recognizable.

I love alliteration too! You're a freelance magazine writer/editor, what else do you do?

I also dabble in antiques and collectibles. I worked for two antiques dealers right after college, between journalism jobs, and caught the bug early. Unfortunately I was too broke to buy much so always put things on lay-away, like Jasmine.

How did you create the plot for Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets?

When I found out the Miss Universe pageant originated in Galveston as a bathing beauty contest, I wanted to create a mystery around the actual events. My original idea was more ominous and menacing, but I didn’t want to kill off too many characters! 

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I’m definitely a pantser, not a plotter. With both books, I had a general idea of the plots, but they evolved and changed as I went along. Maybe I’d be more prolific if I plotted out everything first!

Tell us about your cover art.

As an indie, I get to pick and choose my cover artwork and fonts. Luckily my brother, Jeff J. Mansoor, is a talented graphic artist and pulls it all together for me in an attractive design. I’m very visual and enjoy the process of designing my own covers. Sure, I’d love to be traditionally published, but I’d hate to give up this creative control!

Have you ever bought any books just for the cover?

Yes, I hate to admit, I do tend to judge a book by its cover. I’ve found that an artistic cover usually means the writing is good as well, but not always. 

What do you do to market your books?

Since my mysteries are e-books, I’ve mainly spread the word through blog tours. I may get some hard copies printed up so I can distribute them to shops, hotels and bookstores. 

Are you like any of your characters?

I’m definitely most like Jasmine, outspoken and curious, but I’ve never wanted to cover crime scenes or murders. I’m a wimp in real life!

What five real people would you most like to be stuck on an island with?

As far as writers go, I’d love to meet Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, F. Scott & Daisy Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. They’ve all had controversy and mystery in their lives, and I’d probably interview them to death (no pun intended)!

Good one! What have been your favorite books from childhood up to adulthood?

I enjoyed the Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney mysteries, so they were my biggest influence though I don’t write romantic suspense. Of course, I love Rebecca, especially the final twist—so creepy and atmospheric! Also I read a lot of Dorothy Parker’s short stories and poems in high school.


Do you have a routine for writing?

Usually I just write when I’m inspired. I’m too hyper to sit and stare at a blank page. If I have writer’s block, I like to get up and move around, or go out and do anything but write. As a journalist, I like to set deadlines for myself since I’m a fanatic about meeting deadlines. I knew the Great Gatsby was coming out May 10 so I wanted to finish Bathing Beauties before then! 

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I like to write late at night or early morning, when it’s quiet outside. I moved my laptop to the kitchen so I could have a view. If the weather is nice, I often edit outside (usually at Café Express or La Madeleine).

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?

How nice! All over the US, Australia and the UK for a book tour. For fun, I’d love to visit Greece, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Turkey, Portugal, Morocco, New Zealand...I love to travel.

Excerpt from Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets:

Sammy appeared, looking disheveled and rumpled, his shirt half-buttoned and dark hair curlier than usual. “What happened to you?” I asked, stifling a laugh.

“All those dames!” He gasped for breath. “Get a few drinks in ‘em and they turn into vultures! They were all over me!”

“I noticed. So what are you complaining about?” I teased him. “I thought you liked having a fan club around.”

“I do, but...” He looked down, smoothing out his shirt, then buttoned it back up. “I just feel so bad. I don’t know what to do...” His mood turned somber.

“About what? Amanda?” No secret my best friend had a big crush on my handsome half-brother.

“About everything...” He paced the tiny office, rubbing his unshaven face, as if trying to think. “I’m in a jam and I don’t know how to get out.”

“What kind of jam?” I could tell Sammy was stalling for time, so I went over to him and shook his arm, to stop his pacing. “Sammy, tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s about the gangs. Their turf wars.”

“What else is new?” Galveston gangs had a long-standing rivalry, and it didn’t take much to set things off. Broadway served as the boundary separating the two gangs, and it was no-holds-barred if and when that line was crossed—the Beach Gang’s turf was located north of Broadway, and the Downtown Gang was south.

Naturally Sammy wanted to stay on good terms with both gangs, who controlled the flow of booze on the Island. Agent Burton had tried, but failed, to shut down their operations, but he did manage to cut off a few sources, including a dangerous bootlegger, for a while—with our help.

“What’s the latest feud about?” Word was, Ollie Quinn had set his sights on the Downtown Gang’s turf, and with his reckless wheeling and dealing, Johnny Jack seemed ripe for a coup.

“Let’s just say the Maceos don’t always see eye-to-eye with Ollie or Dutch Voight. They want to get out of the prostitution racket, but Ollie wants to line up houses all over the island, even set up shop in the clubs.” Sammy took out a Camel cigarette and lit it, avoiding my gaze.

I’d heard similar stories and Mack, our top reporter, confirmed several rumors in a hard-hitting series for the Gazette describing the turf wars, a string of eye-opening articles the gangs didn’t appreciate. In his latest piece, Mack quoted anonymous sources who claimed the Maceos were trying to oust Quinn and Voight, vying for the top spots in the Beach Gang.

“You don’t say. How does that affect you?”

“Word is, the Maceos want to break away from the Beach Gang, branch out onto new turf, start their own operation.” Sammy puffed away, hiding behind a cloud of smoke. “Johnny Jack knows we’re friends, and he didn’t care as long as they kept out of his way and left Market Street alone. But after the ice man hit, all hell broke loose. Now Johnny Jack wants to stop the Maceos cold before they muscle in on his territory.”

“How does he plan to do that?”  After a string of recent killings, I saw first-hand how vicious the Galveston gangs could be if you double-crossed them.

Finally Sammy quit pacing and plopped down in his worn banker’s chair. “Jazz, you’ve got to help me. I need a favor, a big favor. ”

“What kind of favor?” I eyed him, skeptical. Sammy always made it clear that I was supposed to stay out of his business, for my own safety, but now he wanted my help?

“Remember the night I spent in jail?  Somehow Johnny Jack got the idea that your Prohibition friend bailed me out. So now he thinks we’re best buddies.”

“That’s not true.” I bit my lip, feeling guilty, since I’d asked Agent Burton to get involved, to help get Sammy out of jail. Fortunately he’d managed just fine on his own.

“I just tolerate the guy ‘cause of you. But now I need his help.” Sammy leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Johnny Jack’s putting the squeeze on me. He threatened to tell everyone in the Downtown Gang that I’m Agent Burton’s squealer if I don’t do what he wants.”

“His informant? Bunk! What does he expect you to do?”

His shoulders slumped. “He wants me to convince Burton to raid the Hollywood Dinner Club and shut it down—during the bathing beauty dance routine this Friday night.”

About Flappers, Flasks and Foul Play, Book 1 in the Jazz Age Mystery series

The Great Gatsby meets Midnight in Paris in this soft-boiled historical mystery, inspired by actual events. Rival gangs fight over booze and bars during Prohibition in 1920s Galveston: the “Sin City of the Southwest.” Jazz Cross, a 21-year-old society reporter, feels caught between two clashing cultures: the seedy speakeasy underworld and the snooty social circles she covers in the Galveston Gazette.

During a night out with her best friend, Jazz witnesses a bar fight at the Oasis--a speakeasy secretly owned by her black-sheep half-brother, Sammy Cook. But when a big-shot banker with a hidden past collapses there and later dies, she suspects foul play. Was it an accident or a mob hit?

Soon handsome young Prohibition Agent James Burton raids the Oasis, threatening to shut it down if Sammy doesn't talk. Suspicious, he pursues Jazz, but despite her mixed feelings she refuses to rat on Sammy. As turf wars escalate between two real-life rival gangs, Sammy is accused of murder. Jazz must risk her life and career to find the killer, exposing the dark side of Galveston's glittering society.

About the author:

Ellen Mansoor Collier is a Houston-based freelance magazine writer whose articles and essays have been published in several national magazines, including: Family Circle, Modern Bride, Glamour, Biography, Cosmo, Playgirl, etc. Several of her short stories have appeared in Woman's World. She’s profiled a variety of people, from CEOs and celebrities (including Suze Orman), to charity founders (Nancy Brinker et al) and do-gooders. A flapper at heart, she’s the owner of DECODAME, specializing in Deco to retro vintage items.


Formerly she’s worked as a magazine editor, and in advertising and public relations (plus endured a hectic semester as a substitute teacher). She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Magazine Journalism, where she enjoyed frou-frou cocktails and lots of lattes. When she’s not concocting stories, she enjoys traveling, shopping at flea markets, listening to instrumental jazz, reading cozy mysteries (of course) and taking walks with her husband Gary and hyper Chow mixes (Coco and Champagne).


Connect with Ellen:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads: Flappers | Goodreads: Bathing Beauties


Buy the book!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Featured Author: Michele Lynn Seigfried

Cozy Mystery Book Tours brings Michele Lynn Seigfried here today to talk about her new cozy mystery, Red Tape.

About the book: 

Red Tape is a tale about a single mom, Chelsey Alton, who is trying to balance her family and career when things start to go haywire at her job in a quirky little town named Sunshine, located at the Jersey shore. She encounters an irate resident, corruption in the government, and destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. When Chelsey starts to figure out the truth behind the mayhem, she finds herself framed for a crime she did not commit. She narrowly escapes several attempts at her demise, only to find herself in a much more precarious situation.

Interview with Michele Lynn Seigfried:

Michelle, how did you come up with the title Red Tape? 

First I thought of calling it The Government, but everyone told me that was boring. They were right, it is boring! Then I thought of making my character of Robert Triggers, the irate resident, saying how he hates government red tape. Hence, the name Red Tape was born.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

Yes. I am a full-time municipal clerk. I’m actually answering these interview questions while at the International Municipal Clerk’s Association Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write? 

All of the above! I feel like I’m so all over the place when I write. I can’t seem to sit down and write out all chapters in order. I often don’t know if I’m writing chapter 2 or chapter 15 when I’m typing along. I try to do an outline too, to help me get the order of things straight in my head, but I usually don’t stick with it because the characters and plot take on a life of their own. 

What do you do to market your books?

In addition to book tours, I have done book talks at a local libraries. I’m also schedule to be at the Collingswood Book Festival in New Jersey in the fall. I periodically do giveaways and promotional pricing, so watch my Facebook page and Twitter accounts to get in on the deals and prizes!

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 

Yes! Bonnie, “Tex,” and Kathy Norcia.

Who?

Bonnie’s personality and off-the-wall comments are inspired by a friend of mine, who wished to remain nameless. I find her hysterical.

Tex is named after a police lieutenant at my work, Scott Texidor. He is an awesome guy, and he graciously allowed me to use his name in the book. The character of Tex has a similar personality to the real Tex.

Kathy Norcia is a municipal clerk in New Jersey and is a friend of mine. She also graciously allowed me to use her name.

I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could. Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories? Who, and in what category do they fall?

Bonnie absolutely says things I would never say in a million years. I think that’s why she is my favorite character. The way she describes the mayor, the way she gawks at the firemen, and how she speaks her mind. I would be likely get fired if I spoke like she does at work.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Again, I have to go with Bonnie. Bonnie is described as beautiful, rich, has a beachfront home and a nice family. Definitely Bonnie.

I wouldn't mind being her too! With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

I’d have to say Kris. He doesn’t really appear until the end of the book, but mmmmm, is all I can say about him! Officer Williams would come in a close second.


Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

With a fifteen-month-old, times and places for me to write are limited! That leaves after she goes to bed at night, sitting in the front of the TV with my laptop.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

One weird thing is that we have a three-eared rabbit in our neighborhood!

A nice thing is that we live within an hour’s drive of the beach, the mountains, the casinos and two major cities – Philadelphia and New York.

One fact is that we live along the Delaware River, which is great for fishing and boating.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?

My freedom! I’d quit my job in order to have more time to do the things I love to do.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I enjoy arts and crafts, spending time with my family, traveling, wine tasting events, fishing boating, and lots of other activities!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Near a beach on the island of St. John. It is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a children’s book (I’m also the illustrator!) and also a sequel to Red Tape.

Book Excerpt from Red Tape

It was Columbus Day and I was thrilled to have a four-day work week. I was due to meet Bonnie for lunch. I lived a little closer to Jackson than Bonnie did, but since I had to drop off Mandy, I told Bonnie I would pick her up.

Bonnie’s house was powder blue today. “You had your siding painted again?” I asked her.

“I get bored and now that I’m no longer employed, I have too much free time on my hands.”

“Your husband must want to kill you.”

“Just a little. I told him I did it for him since he hated the pink. He keeps telling me to find another job.”

“I’ll drive today since you drove last time.”

“Works for me! That means I can have a couple of drinks.”

We hopped into my car and I turned out of her driveway toward the causeway. Driving in my Honda Accord was quite a large step down from Bonnie’s fancy Mercedes. Bonnie turned and looked behind her.

“That’s strange,” she said.

“What’s strange?” I asked.

“That black sedan behind us. It had been sitting across the street from my house for the past hour and now it’s following us. All the windows are tinted.”

“You’re starting to be paranoid like me,” I told her. “It’s not surprising they are following us; this is basically the only route off the island.”

“I suppose.”

We continued driving off the island and through Madisen Township. I opted to take the back roads to Jackson to avoid traffic.

“Speaking of being paranoid, I have a story to tell you about the elevator at work...” I started to say when I was interrupted by the sound of a car revving its engine and speeding up behind us. I glanced into my rearview mirror and could no longer see the bumper of the black sedan. Then smack! We were jolted forward upon the impact. The black car hit us. I slammed on the brakes and the sedan swerved to my left into the lane of oncoming traffic.

“What the hell?” Bonnie screamed as we felt a second impact in the side rear panel of the driver’s side. My car was pushed over into the right shoulder. I held tight to the steering wheel, trying to force it left. It was all I could do to keep the car on the road. The black car slammed on its brakes and shot behind us when a tractor-trailer was approaching it head-on. It then revved its engine again, coming for us from behind.

Bonnie yelled, “Speed up! They’re going to hit us again.”

I frantically pressed the pedal down like she said. I could barely think. I tried to reach over to my purse and grab my cell phone, when whack! We were hit again, thrusting us forward. My head hit the steering wheel. My purse and its contents went flying. I was afraid the airbags would go off and I wouldn’t be able to see. My heart was pounding. I was terrified.

“They’re trying to kill us,” I said in a panic to Bonnie.

“Well, they’re not going to be successful. See if you can get them to pull up alongside of you again.”

“What? Are you out of your freaking mind?” I shouted. “You want me to get next to them? They probably have guns!”

“Well, so do I,” Bonnie said as she reached into her purse and pulled out a small handgun.

“Where the heck did you get a gun?” I asked.

The sedan pulled into the left lane again and increased in speed in an attempt to get alongside of us. I crouched as low as I could behind the steering wheel, took a deep breath, held it, and tried my best to hold the car steady. My whole body was trembling.

Bonnie rolled down her window and climbed halfway out, aiming and shooting at the black car. “Pop, pop, pop.” She fired three times. I heard car tires screeching and I looked into my rearview mirror to see that the mystery car had veered off the road and was smoking. I started to breathe again.

“Good shot,” I said as I sped off down the road as fast as my demolished Honda would go, trying to get away as quickly as possible.

“Thanks. My husband and I go to the shooting range on occasion. It’s a hobby of ours. We went this Saturday. I had forgotten to take the gun out of my purse. Good thing!”

My heart was in my throat. My hands were shaking uncontrollably and I was still in a frenzy. I had gone into survival mode and now that the adrenaline was wearing off. I think I was going into shock. “Are they following us? Where do you think the nearest police station is? Are you going to get in trouble for shooting a gun? Would you call 9-1-1 from your cell phone?”

“I’m already dialing. I don’t think they are following us, but keep driving just in case. Make a bunch of turns so they don’t know where we went. And no, I don’t think I’ll get in trouble for shooting a gun. I have a permit, and it was self-defense. And, if I do get in trouble, it’s better than being dead. Plus, I have enough money for a good attorney.”

About the author:

Michele Lynn Seigfried is an author and public speaker who was born and raised in New Jersey. In her debut novel, Red Tape, she draws from her personal expertise in the area of municipal government, in which she has served for over fifteen years. She holds state and international certifications in the areas of municipal clerk and vital statistics. She lives in Bordentown, New Jersey with her husband and daughter.

Connect with Michele:
Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords  

Featured Author: Ann Marie Stoddard

I'm happy to have Ann Marie Stoddard here as part of her Cozy Mystery Book Tour to talk about Murder At Castle Rock, her mystery/thriller that was just released.

About the book:

As the manager and booking agent for Atlanta’s famous Castle Rock concert venue, Amelia “Ame” Grace is ready for the most exciting week of her career: she’s booked three shows and a live DVD-filming for the comeback tour of none other than the eighties Pop Rock Prince himself, Bobby Glitter! Before the rock star can take a bow on the first night, however, trouble steals the show as Castle Rock’s owner takes a deadly tumble from atop the venue’s rear tower. To make matters worse, the police suspect foul play—and all signs point to two of Castle Rock’s own employees. Ame is in a race against time to clear the names of her friends and uncover the truth before the killer decides it’s curtains for her too!

 

Interview with Ann Marie Stoddard:

Welcome, Ann Marie! Murder at Castle Rock is your debut novel. Do you have another job outside of writing? 

I have two, actually. I work for an Internet software company in north Georgia that builds rewards club websites for radio, tv, and print media across North America, and I’m pretty convinced I have the best job at the company: I get to write music trivia and surveys and build contests and giveaways. The only downside is that I can’t ever win anything!
Getting to research and write trivia about music that I love every day makes up for it, though!


Also, I recently embarked on a new adventure--I've partnered with my book designer, Tiffani Hollis, to start Ampersand H. Book Design and Marketing. I love meeting and helping other self-published authors—-there’s such a tremendous amount of talent out there and so many great books being written every day. Getting those books in the hands of readers (including me, I love to read!) is so rewarding.

How did you create the plot for this book?

Well, I’ve always been a mystery lover, but I’ve rarely read one that’s centered around the music industry. I have a background working in radio and the music industry, so I got the idea to write a mystery set in a concert venue. Once I started writing, the plot just sort of came to me as I went. It just felt natural.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

It depends on the project, but for the most part, a mix of all the above. With Murder At Castle Rock, I started without an outline, but while I never officially wrote one, I did make little notes as I went along for scene ideas and changes to the plot. Confession:  The killer in the book changed from when I first got the idea. The more I wrote about that particular character, the less he or she felt like the guilty party. The unplanned scenes I wrote with the character ultimately changed my mind. The funny thing is that when I went back to the beginning chapters for re-writes, I had subconsciously already placed a few clues pointing in the direction of someone else. It was as if the characters in the book knew their roles and gave me a gentle nudge in the right direction.

I swear that happened with my second GPJ book! It's so cool when the characters take over. What about your cover art? Did you have any say in it?

I was able to select my cover art, and I won the cover artist lottery with Tiffani Hollis.  She listened to my ideas for a design that was a little more rock n’ roll than your typical mystery cover, and I was so thrilled with the design she came up with! The color scheme is so me, and I love the skull and cross guitars. (Forgive me for the shameless plug!) Tiffani is a talented artist and partnering with her to start Ampersand H. has been a really exciting opportunity.

What books have you read more than once or want to read again?

Ooh! Quite a few-—there are just some books that need to be relived over and over Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins, definitely. Also any of the Harry Potter books, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, the Sookie Stackhouse and Harper Connelly novels from Charlaine Harris. Any collection of short stories that Stephen King has every published. This list goes on and on!

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be? 

Definitely not. I have an idea about the few main characters for the central part of the story, but other characters pop into existence the more I write. I let most of them stick around, as long as they promise to behave. (Of course, some of them don’t always keep that promise, which is where the stories get interesting!)

Which character did you most enjoy writing? 

There is a definitely a tie, between Bobby Glitter and Bronwyn Sinclair. Bobby is a bumbling, aging rocker, and Bronwyn is a spunky, fearless teenager who’s not afraid to speak her mind. 

Who are your favorite authors?

Agatha Christie and Stephen King have always been favorites, but lately I’ve read a lot of Madelyn Alt, Charlaine Harris, and Victoria Laurie.


Name one thing you couldn’t live without.

Korean BBQ tacos! (Do they count as one thing?)

Your last meal would be...

Death by chocolate! After some Korean BBQ tacos.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

A bookstore—-most of them have cafes inside nowadays, and the second thing I couldn’t live without (besides those delicious Korean tacos) is coffee!

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

1) Heavy Mental by P.J. Morse. It’s another rock n’ roll mystery and it’s fabulous! (Read P.J.'s A Blue Million Books feature here.)
2) Head Case by Jennifer Oko. It’s told from a very unique point of view, and it’s a real page turner!
3) Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. It’s not so much a mystery as it is a paranormal/fantasy novel. It’s another one of those books that’s hard to put down.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?

While I’m not a fan of the cold at all, I would really love to go somewhere up north and see the Northern Lights. They’re absolutely breathtaking. Either that, or some private beach in the Mediterranean.

What are you working on now?

I’ve got several projects going on right now: I’m currently writing the second book in the Amelia Grace series, and I’m also doing re-writes for the first and second book in another series I’d like to publish. I’ve been very busy!

Tess talks to Bronwyn Sinclair:

Note: For those of you who haven't read Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction, Tess Tremaine is the main character. She likes to drop by now and then to talk to other authors' imaginary friends. For those who have read the book, may the sun shine upon you. For those who haven't yet read GPJ, I'll see you after class.

About the character:

Bronwyn Sinclair is the booking intern at Castle Rock, one of Atlanta’s hottest concert venues. Bron is nineteen, short and spunky with pink pixie cut hair and an attitude. Despite her devilish appearance, she’s Daddy’s little angel. Bronwyn has her police sergeant father wrapped around her finger—-and good thing, too, because she has to play him like a Gibson Electric to keep Castle Rock open when the owner, Parker Deering, is murdered on the night of a big show. Bronwyn becomes the unlikely sidekick to Amelia Grace as she tracks down Parker’s killer.

Bronwyn, how on earth did you first meet Ann Marie?

She just kind of barged in one day and started asking questions and looking over our shoulders while we were working. And on the same day that Parker was murdered, no less!  If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she killed him.

Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?

Well, I figured at the very least I’d have my own talk show or made-for-TV movie one day-—of course, in my scenario I get to be the lead role, not Ame. I think I did all right at graciously stepping out of the spotlight and settling into the sidekick role for this book...just this once. 

Absolutely. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

Any scene with me in it, duh! There should definitely be more scenes with me in them.  *cough* Anne Marie Stoddard, I’m talking to you! *cough*

And while I’m at it, would it be pushing my luck to ask for more scenes with Bryce?  Perhaps a kissing scene?  Pleeeeease!

Atta girl, you gotta take things into your own hands now and then. So you have a hard time convincing Ann Marie to write particular scenes for you?

Apparently. Did you happen to read any scenes where I got to kiss Bryce? Yeah, me neither. She should’ve skipped writing Laura Holly into the picture altogether and just put Bryce in the role of my super-hot bouncer boyfriend instead. Why do you think I work at Castle Rock --the money? The free concerts? (Okay, yes, that is a big reason, actually.) It’s mainly because of Bryce. Call me boy crazy if you must, but I get paid to stand outside and talk to a guy so smokin’ he could pass for Justin Timberlake’s more muscular older brother. What more could a girl ask for (besides a little lip action with that hot bouncer, at least)?

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?

I like getting into a little mischief when I can. My dad, the Sarge, likes to bring work home with him, so from time to time I listen in on his conversations about his cases at work. That’s how I found out a lot of good intel for Ame when we were trying to get to the bottom of who killed Parker. Other than that, I like to hang around at Castle Rock when I’m not grounded from spying on the Sarge and sneaking off to help solve mysteries. I enjoy sitting in the box office and reading Cosmopolitan. (Hey, I’m nineteen! I can read women’s magazines if I want!)

I like listening to our local rock station, 95Rox, a lot too—-unless Tim Scott is on the air. That dude thinks he’s so cool just because he used to be a roadie with Led Zeppelin or some other classic rock band. Newsflash, Tim: you’re old. And you’re arrogant. I’d rather listen to 95Rox’s other DJ, Charlie Chill, any day.

If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be? (Besides moonin' and smoochin' with Bryce.)

Well, for starters, I’d be the star of the show, not Amelia. And Bryce would be with me instead of Laura, of course. 

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?

I think Ame and Kat are pretty cool. You already know I’m crazy about Bryce. Laura—-not so much. Yeah, she’s nice and all, but I think she’s all wrong for Bryce (mainly because he’s so right for me, duh!). I think Bobby Glitter is just a washed up old hack with a guitar, and his manager, Shawn, gives me the creeps. I’m not a fan of Tim Scott either. And I swear, if Tony Spencer calls me ‘Half Pint’ one more time...

Well, Half Pint, what impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?

I think when people first meet me, they don’t see past my short spiky hair and eyeliner.  Or maybe it’s my constant scowling and dry humor that scares them off. Deep down I’m just an emotional teenager who’s “trying to grow up too fast,” according to Ame and my dad. I think I’m plenty grown up. Now if only I could convince our bartenders of that so they’d stop serving me cokes without the Jack in them..

.

What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?

I like that she tells the story of our ‘Little Venue that Could’ through the voice of one of our staff. Now if only she had told it from my point of view instead...

If your story were a movie, who would play you?

If Chloë Grace Moretz could rock a hot pink pixie cut, she’d be my first pick for sure.  Who wouldn’t want to be played by Hit Girl from “Kick-Ass”?!

Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?

You bet—-and I’ll be encouraging her to give me a little more face time with Bryce the next time around. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Well...good luck with that.

Watch the book trailer!

Excerpt from Murder At Castle Rock:

Sighing heavily, I flipped around to lean my back against the door and stared out into the open courtyard. The vast green lawn stretched on for at least a quarter-mile and was enclosed by a grey ashlar wall that matched the structure of the castle. The wall was lined with alternating hickory and maple trees, each spaced about twenty feet apart. The trees were my favorite part of the courtyard, especially during the fall. During the spring and summer, their leaves made a solid wall of vibrant green, and in the winter the brittle, bare branches jutted in every direction like protective barbs to ward off those punk neighborhood kids who might dare to climb the wall and sneak in the back door for a free concert. It was in the fall, however, that the trees gave their most breathtaking display. As the red maple and orange hickory leaves danced in the wind they looked like a moat of fire hovering above the castle wall.  

        

Most of my co-workers took their breaks from work in Piedmont Park just a few blocks away, but not me—this courtyard was my own private park. I often took walks along its perimeter when I needed an escape from my constantly ringing office phone. Sometimes I’d pretend that this was my castle and courtyard, and I’d pace the length of the fence, mapping out in my mind the additions I would love to make. Lately I had been envisioning an outdoor stage along the wall, facing inward to the lawn. While our capacity in either High Court or the Dungeon was one thousand, we could easily fit up to two thousand or more concert-goers in this space. This would allow us to book bigger, better acts and maybe even double our business. I had been working up the nerve to pitch these concepts to Parker, and if all went well with Bobby Glitter Week, that success might be just the thing to butter him up before I approached him with my ideas.

       

Sometime later I could feel the bass and the roar of the crowd vibrate through the door as Bobby and his band returned to the stage upstairs for their encore. One show down, I thought, pulling a cigarette from my jacket. Two to go. I fished a lighter from the depths of my jean pocket, then lit my cig and took a long, slow drag. It felt good to finally have a few moments to myself, just me and my thoughts in this dark and peaceful courtyard.

I blew a smoke ring and tilted my face upward to watch its progress as it slowly drifted higher and higher into the night sky. Through the haze, a dark object appeared to be falling from the heavens—no, it was falling from the rear tower! What the..

.

Time screeched to a halt, and in an instant that felt like a lifetime, the shape of the dark, falling mass came into focus. It had arms and hands with open palms and splayed fingers. It had legs that were eerily limp even as they moved downward in a rapid free fall...and in the moonlight, I could just make out a head of thinning chestnut hair...         

Before I could react, Parker Deering’s body careened into the flat ground of the loading dock with a sickening splat, a mere fifteen feet from where I was standing. The horrible sound of bones crunching upon impact sent my lunch on a mad dash back up from my stomach.

         

I doubled over and retched.

         

Then I screamed.

From the author:

Aside from my friends and family, I'm passionate about two things: writing and live music. When I can bring the two together, my life feels complete. I was fortunate enough to win the 2012 AJC Decatur Book Festival & BookLogix Publishing Services, Inc. Writing Contest with my manuscript for Murder At Castle Rock. Being published has been a dream of mine since kindergarten, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share my stories. I am currently working on several other projects, including a sequel to Murder At Castle Rock and another mystery series.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | 


Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble: Coming soon! (Follow me on Facebook of Twitter for updates!)


   

Featured Author: Larissa Reinhart

Larissa Reinhart is touring with Cozy Mystery Book Tours to talk about her novel, Still Life in Brunswick Stew, published by Henery Press. Larissa's book is a humorous southern mystery with quirky characters. What's not to love?

About the book:

Cherry Tucker’s in a stew. Art commissions dried up after her nemesis became president of the County Arts Council. Desperate and broke, Cherry and her friend, Eloise, spend a sultry summer weekend hawking their art at the Sidewinder Annual Brunswick Stew Cook-Off. When a bad case of food poisoning breaks out and Eloise dies, the police brush off her death as accidental. However, Cherry suspects someone spiked the stew and killed her friend. As Cherry calls on cook-off competitors, bitter rivals, and crooked judges, her cop boyfriend get steamed while the killer prepares to cook Cherry’s goose.

Interview with Larissa Reinhart:  

Larissa, it's no secret I love your genre. Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

No real people, although one of my characters was inspired by another character. Max Avtaikin, Halo’s notoriously rich foreigner and Cherry’s mental sparring partner. Max hails from an unnamed ex-Eastern bloc country, collects War Between the States artifacts, and hosts illegal poker in his basement. He was inspired by the rich Russian with the tiny giraffe in the Direct TV ads. I loved those commercials.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Cherry’s friend Leah is level-headed, a talented singer and musician, and patient with Cherry. Leah’s mother is too controlling, but Leah has all the virtues I wish I had. Particularly a tall, curvy body which she hides behind shapeless, ruffly, grandma clothes. I would ditch the clothes and walk around in a bikini. Maybe.

To be Cherry for a day would be fun, though...

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

Hmmm. Maybe Cherry’s brother Cody because he’s a genius mechanic. If we were on the S.S. Minnow’s three hour cruise, Cody would have fixed that boat by episode two and sent us back to Hawaii.

Now if I didn’t want to leave the island....probably Luke. Or Max, he entertains me. Todd’s pretty yummy, too. All three might be fun.

Where’s home for you?

I grew up in Andover, Illinois, a farming town of six hundred founded by Swedes. My parents moved to this town from another part of the state, whereas most of the people living there were from the area, so I spent my childhood feeling like I were stuck in an anthropology project. Of course, at eight I didn’t know anthropology. I did know I wasn’t Swedish.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

We live in Peachtree City, Georgia, a planned community with a ninety mile network of golf cart paths set in a heavily wooded twenty-four square mile area. What’s weird is to see people driving golf carts while walking their dogs. What’s nice is taking my children to and from school on golf carts. I’ve lived here for fourteen years and I still find it beautifully odd.

It sounds wonderful. Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do when it happens?

Of course, although getting writer’s block is nothing as dramatic as you see in the movies. When I can’t seem to move forward in a story, that means I’ve done something wrong. I have to back up, reread, and rewrite. Kind of like driving down the wrong street and having to turn around to go back and find my route.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow?

Showers are the best for finding your muse! What is it about showers? Long drives, too. Sitting in church. Singing actually helps me. I am inspired by country music when I’m writing Cherry Tucker. I’ll drive and sing and ideas just pop into my head. I think it’s a zen thing of emptying your mind while keeping your hands (or mouth) busy.

I totally agree. I get ideas while driving too. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

My family loves to travel. We’ve lived in Japan, and my little girls are excellent travelers. They are good with local or exotic destinations, will eat almost anything, and find other cultures fascinating. We’re really lucky. My daughters are adopted from China, so we spent our first moments with them in hotel rooms!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
 
I’m pretty happy where I am, but my family and I do miss Japan. We loved living there. I think we could live most anywhere, but I’d probably complain a lot if we were someplace really cold.

What are you working on now?

I’m doing my revisions for the third Cherry Tucker mystery coming out in November, Hijack In Abstract. I’ve also got a Cherry Tucker prequel novella that will be in The Heartache Motel, a mystery anthology coming out in December. The anthology is set in the Heartache Motel, a total dive, in Memphis. There’s many crazy Elvis inspired adventures set at that motel. It’s been fun to write with my Henery Press friends, Terri L. Austin and LynDee Walker.

Excerpt from Still Life in Brunswick Stew

The officials had abandoned the booth for the cook-off, but a gigantic source of distraction did stand in the empty tent. With hands on his hips, he surveyed the flyers scattered over a picnic table. When you’re five foot and a half inch, any guy over six foot is big, but this particular man would put a steroid-infused Soviet weight lifter to shame. A frown twisted his mouth and his glacier blue eyes appeared troubled.

I hesitated at offering help. Max Avtaikin might be a supporter of the arts, but he had a dubious criminal background. And I kind of accused him of murder a few months back. Which is just plain embarrassing.

Before I could skedaddle, Max turned and caught me gawking.

I skimmed a hand over my limp, blonde ponytail, flapped the sweat off my neon pink halter, and entered the booth. “Hey, Mr. Max. You need help?”

He leaned in for one of those European double kisses. “Cherry Tucker. A pleasure, as always. Do you have the artist stand?”

It took me a second to understand his meaning. Max grew up in one of those Eastern bloc countries when they were still more bloc than country. Using his wily business acumen, he got rich and then got the hell out of Dodge. He settled in small town Georgia because of his odd love for the War Between the States. His accent moved with him.

“I’m selling little oils,” I said. “Still lifes mostly. And trying to advertise my portraiture business. I’ve got a booth with my friend, Eloise Parker. She does pottery. You should check it out.”

“I am wanting to see this art works, but I was asked to judge a food competition,” Max said.

“Really?”

“You sound surprised, Miss Tucker.”

“I just thought, with your, uh, recent trouble, folks would kind of...”

“I am involving in the community services.” He shifted his stance. “You disapprove?”

“Helping the community is a good start.”

“But?”

“You’re still playing cards in your basement?” I asked, referring to his illegal poker games busted a few months ago. Men like Max would play it cool for a while, but find a stealthier way to restart their business. Some folks don’t care about local vice if it’s kept indoors. There’s a history of juke joints and moonshining in rural Georgia that’s transferred to other realms in the modern era. However, I grew up around a county sheriff and know for a fact that doings behind doors eventually seep outside and run havoc elsewhere.

“I’m not understanding your meaning,” he said.

“Oh, I think you do. But it’s none of my business.”

“That didn’t stop your interest a few months ago.”

I fiddled with my sunglasses, wondering what good manners dictated in this situation. Grandma Jo never covered apologies for accusing criminals of the wrong crime. “Well, I hope you’re not messing around with poker anymore.”

“I like games,” Max paused. “And you do, too.”

We shared a long look. I had an inkling Max had some tricks up his sleeve that might warrant closer scrutiny. And oddly enough, he seemed to enjoy baiting me. Maybe he missed the excitement of outsmarting the secret police in his old country. I couldn’t help a small shiver of pleasure at the thought of Max finding me a worthy opponent. Although he probably just found my antics amusing.

I gave Max a half-hearted shrug to show this rabbit wasn’t about to sniff around his traps. If he wanted to corrupt Halo with his shady dealings, well, he just better be careful. I was dating a deputy.

“I have noticed you no longer have use of my nickname,” Max said, steering the conversation down a different current.

“You want me to call you Bear?” Max’s shadier cohorts called him The Bear.

“You used to call me Bear.” He stroked his chin. “Maybe there is significance to your more formal manner?”

A shriek cut off our conversation. “Dangit, I’m missing the fight.” Thankful for the excuse, I fled the stuffy tent.

Max caught up with me in two strides. “What is this fight? A boxing match?”

“Maybe boxing if we’re lucky. Probably just some smart mouthing and shoving.”

“Is this usual at the American festival?”

“America, I’m not sure. But Sidewinder, you bet. Partly it’s the weather. My Grandpa says Southerners used to handle the heat until everyone got air conditioning. You find a shady spot for fishing or sit on your porch and wait for the sun to go down. Now we’re running around in the sun like stray dogs working up a lather.”

Judging by that shriek, it sounded like a stray dog howling up a storm.

And that stray dog sure sounded a lot like Shawna Branson.

About the author:

Larissa Reinhart loves small town characters, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. Still Life in Brunswick Stew (May 2013) is the second in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series. The first, Portrait of a Dead Guy, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website, her Facebook page, or find her chatting with the Little Read Hens on Facebook.


Connect with Larissa!
Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Featured Author: Joanne Lessner

Cozy Mystery Book Tours brings Joanne Lessner here today to talk about her novel, Bad Publicity. Hopefully, we'll give her some good publicity! And if you're lucky, she might give you something too. Cozy Mystery Book Tours is giving away three Kindle copies of the book to three random readers who leave a comment. So don't forget to comment!

About the book:

In the world of PR, there's only one crime worse than killing a deal--killing a client.

Aspiring actress and office temp Isobel Spice finds a warm welcome at Dove & Flight Public Relations, thanks to her old school friend Katrina Campbell. However, the atmosphere chills considerably when Isobel unwittingly serves an important client a deadly dose of poisoned coffee. Her stalwart temp agent, James Cooke, rushes to her aid, but balks when he learns that the victim was the fraternity brother who got him expelled from college. News that Dove & Flight is being acquired by an international conglomerate quickly supplants the murder as the hot topic of office gossip, but Isobel is convinced the two events are related. When all roads of inquiry lead back to Katrina, Isobel is forced to consider the possibility that her friend's killer instincts go beyond public relations.

Interview with Joanne Lessner:

Joanne, Bad Publicity is your third novel. How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

It started when I had to type a term paper for English my junior year in high school. My dad brought home an electric typewriter (yeah, I’m dating myself), and I was having so much fun typing that I kept going—and a novel came out!

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I work in corporate and financial public relations, which is one reason Bad Publicity was so much fun to write. I also review recordings and performances for Opera News. See? There is something practical you can do with a B.A. in Music!

Good to know--my son plans to major in music! How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Jason Whiteley never should have had that second cup of coffee. Isobel Spice never should have served it. http://tinyurl.com/a8v5nxz

Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it?

Yes, I worked very closely with my designer, Linda Pierro. She’s one of the publishers at Flint Mine Press, the niche imprint that put out my first (non-mystery) novel, Pandora’s Bottle. I loved that cover so much that when I needed one for The Temporary Detective, I went directly to Linda. She always reads the entire book, which I think many designers don’t take the time to do. For The Temporary Detective, we talked a lot about creating a look we could carry through the series, and because there’s something just the tiniest bit retro about it, she wanted a hint of “girl detective.” My favorite thing is the Isobel icon. At first I wasn’t sure about going monochromatic, but as I add more books, I think it’s really going to pay off. I hope to have a whole rainbow of Isobel Spice novels!

That would be cool. What books have you read more than once or want to read again?

I re-read Elizabeth Jane Howard’s four Cazalet books every five years or so. I just love them. I’ve read the Harry Potter books multiple times, including out loud to my kids. Even after they were old enough to read for themselves, they still preferred the one-woman show. And except for a few that really stick in my mind, I’ve forgotten all the perpetrators in Agatha Christie, so I think I can safely revisit her.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.

I recently discovered Kate Ross. She was a Boston-based trial lawyer who wrote four mysteries before she died of cancer at a forty-one. Her books feature Regency dandy Julian Kestrel. They’re all wonderful, but the best one is the last, The Devil in Music. I think it’s an exceptionally well-crafted mystery and there’s such depth and detail that it really transcends the genre in the best way. I even made my husband read it, and he’s not really into either traditional mysteries or historical fiction. I was very smug when he sat up late several nights in a row, unable to put it down.

What do you do to market your book?

All the usual stuff: Facebook, Twitter. I don’t have my own blog, although I know it’s recommended. But I love contributing guest posts! With Pandora’s Bottle, I sold a lot of books at wine festivals, since it’s about what happens to a man who buys a half-million-dollar bottle of Bordeaux once owned by Thomas Jefferson. I suppose I could hang around the Equity building and try to sell my Isobel books to actors, but they tend not to have as much discretionary cash.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Delphi is based on my friend Kate, who was, indeed, the first actor friend I made after moving to New York. She’s a very gifted actress and director who really shines in Shakespeare. Sunil was inspired by a friend’s ex-boyfriend who was an Indian Jew. I didn’t even know they existed! Physically, James is modeled on the temp agent who took a chance on me when I first moved to New York, but the similarity ends there. And, um, my victims were inspired by certain irritating people I was forced to work with over the years.

I love doing that! Are you like any of your characters?

Isobel is an idealized version of me at twenty-three. She’s a lot quicker on her feet and more resourceful than I was. But I’m letting her make the same rookie mistakes I did. Oh, and neither of us knows when to shut up.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

Oh, my God, I think they’d all drive me crazy.


What real people would you most like to be stuck on an island with?

My husband and kids. They would also drive me crazy, but somehow it’s different.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I love the scene where Isobel and Hugh are on their way out to dinner and they run into James. It’s awkward enough, but then this annoying gym rat who’s been stalking James shows up, and suddenly it’s Isobel’s turn to be jealous. It’s wonderfully squirmy all around, especially since the girl from the gym is sort of Isobel times ten. It’s primarily a backstory scene, but I think it’s my favorite.

Which author would you most like to invite to dinner, and what would you fix her?

J.K. Rowling. I am in awe of her. I like to think we have something in common since we share the same name and were born the same year, but she’s really in a class by herself. I’d make my husband cook. He’s the one with the entertaining gene. Besides, I’d probably be so nervous I’d burn everything.

Where’s home for you?

I’ve been proud to call myself a New Yorker for twenty-five years.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Complete Works of Shakespeare. They say there are only nine plots and Shakespeare invented them all, so I think I’d be pretty well covered.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

I worked in a bookstore when I was in graduate school, and I was allowed to use it as my own private library. I could borrow books and return them, provided they were still pristine, so that’s the best of both worlds.

You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be?

Elizabeth Bennet.

She's my pick too! What’s one of your favorite quotes?

From James Thurber: “Don’t get it right, get it written.”

Love it. Thank you, Joanna!

About the author:

Joanne Sydney Lessner is the author of BloodWrites Award-Winner The Temporary Detective, which introduces Isobel Spice, aspiring actress and resourceful office temp turned amateur sleuth. Isobel’s adventures continue in Bad Publicity. Joanne’s debut novel Pandora’s Bottle (Flint Mine Press) was named one of the top five books of 2010 by Paperback Dolls, and all three books are Awesome Indies Selections. No stranger to the theatrical world, Joanne enjoys an active performing career, and with her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit Fermat’s Last Tango and Einstein’s Dreams, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman. Her play, Critical Mass, received its Off Broadway premiere in October 2010 as the winner of the 2009 Heiress Productions Playwriting Competition.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | 

Featured Author: Madison Johns

Madison Johns is the author of Grannies, Ghosts and Guns, a cozy mystery. She's here on the last stop of her blog tour with Cozy Mystery Book Tours for an interview, and she also brought an excerpt. I ain't afraid of no ghosts! Don't miss the link at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.

About the book:

Senior snoop, Agnes Barton, has taken up residence in a Winnebago at a campground in East Tawas, Michigan. It’s not the ideal place for a woman of seventy-two to live, but she’s making do. She had planned to start a detective agency with partner in crime, Eleanor Mason, but a snag with the license has them free wheeling it, not that it matters because they are the ones folks call when dead bodies turn up.

A frantic phone call has Agnes and Eleanor racing to the scene of yet another crime scene. Herman Butler has fallen to his death from a third story window, and the widow, Betty Lou, is beside herself with either grief or competing for the Oscars, and it’s up to Agnes and Eleanor to unravel the mystery, which gets more interesting when a ghost is listed as a possible suspect.

This time around, Agnes and Sheriff Peterson can agree, the widow is nuts, but wait, a few days later the ghost ship, Erie Board of Trades, was spotted off the shores of Lake Huron. Ghost hunters, G.A.S.P., hightail it into town, and East Tawas is overrun with ghost sightings.

Agnes and Eleanor must sort fact from fantasy before another body is found or a curse is realized.

Interview with Madison Johns:

Madison, what prompted you to start writing?

I started writing four years ago. I have always wanted to be a writer and felt I was at the point where I had enough life experiences to draw from. I just started typing out short stories, but felt restricted and ended up writing novels.

How did you come up with the title Grannies, Guns and Ghosts for this book?

It’s the second in the series, and it’s about female senior-aged sleuths, so Grannies was a perfect fit. They always carry a pistol, so that’s where the guns came from, and the book has a ghost theme. Grannies, Guns and Ghosts fit perfectly.

It sure does! Do you have another job outside of writing?

I used to work as a nursing care assistant, one of the reasons my series features senior-aged characters, but now I work as a housekeeper.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

I totally write from the seat of my pants, but I will jot down a few ideas and try to fit them in.

How did your cover art come about?

I hired Paul Beeley from Create Imaginations. He read the manuscript and came up with a great concept for the cover. I absolutely love it.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.

Shoe Marks. It’s written by Karen Vance Hammond and it’s a great paranormal, and I usually don’t read books like that.

Have you ever bought any books just for the cover? Did you enjoy the book(s)?

Yes, I bought Girl of my Dreams by Morgan Mandel. It had a cartoon-looking cover and it turned out to be a great book. I love it!

What do you do to market your books?

Right now I’m trying to get onto some great blog tours, but besides that my first book in the series has landed on some high profile sites as a bargain book and that has helped with the sales of book two.

Do you have imaginary friends? When do they talk to you? Do they tell you what to write or do you poke them with a Q-tip?

Laughs. I have had imaginary friends for many years now, only now I start to listen to them. Having a vivid imagination is a gift, and I would never poke my imaginary friends with a Q-tip with fear that they would leave. What would I write about then?

I was just joking. Actually, speaking of characters talking to you--Pickle put me up to it. He has a t-shirt that says something about poking voices with a Q-tip. When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

With this series I do, but not all cast members return in a sequel other than the main character and her best friend. I try to let their love interests come back too.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I love writing about Eleanor Mason because she is based on a real person. I think that’s why she comes across so strong. She has opinions and has no fear. She’s also very fun to write about.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names and even troll the obits for good ones. How do you name your characters?

I have no idea where their names come from. I like to use real names. When I meet someone with a name that just sings to me, watch out. They’ll definitely end up in a book. I have also used the telephone book in search of names. My daughter likes to name characters too.

What would your main character say about you?

That I put her into difficult situations and find people to bug her like Sheriff Peterson. They have a love/hate thing going on.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Eleanor Mason, she’s a resident at a nursing home who I used to care for. She’s the one person where I kept her name as it is. Dorothy and Frank Alton were inspired by a married couple I used to care for also.

Do you put yourself into any of your characters?

I’m a little like many of them. It’s hard not to put yourself into your characters.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?

Eleanor Mason, because she can get away with anything. She can do anything or say anything and nobody ever messes with her.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck on a deserted island?

Trooper Sales, he’s a hot state trooper, what could be better than that?


Beats me! I wonder if your Trooper Sales knows my Trooper Butterfield. Hmmm...

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

My favorite scene is when Agnes Barton shows up at the scene of a crime and she questions the widow of the man they found dead. It brings up many fictional characters for laughs, and I play it off like she’s real, not fictional. It turned out to be very funny.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

The Ghostbuster theme song, “We ain’t afraid of no ghost.”

What books have you read more than once or want to read again?

I could read One for the Money more than once. I love Janet Evanovich.

Which author would you most like to invite to dinner, and what would you fix her?

I’d invite Janet Evanovich and make her fettuccini alfedo with chicken, garlic bread and have plenty of wine on hand. I bet she’d be funny to get tipsy with.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on yet another sequel to this book. This time the girls get to go to Florida for the winter.

Sounds fun! I hope you'll come back and tell us more about it.

Excerpt from Grannies, Guns and Ghosts

I rolled my eyes; following Eleanor’s directions, and drove up a drive that led to a well-manicured lawn of the Butler Mansion. I braked hard as I saw a group of seniors surrounding a man lying on the ground.

I narrowed my eyes. “They called us before the sheriff or the state police?”

“Yup, I told them to wait a spell,” El said.

“You do know that this is potentially a crime scene, right? The law should be here before everybody else is called.”

Eleanor fidgeted with her fingers. “They'll shoe everyone off and we'll never get to find out what happened. It's not my fault folks trust us more than that lame-brained sheriff.”

I didn't much care for Sheriff Peterson myself, but I do have some respect for law enforcement. Of course, I much preferred Trooper Sales to him, but it didn't matter who I liked or didn't like. I need to be a law-abiding citizen, and that means securing the crime scene at this point.

El and I got out real quick and approached the hysterical crowd.

“Oh my God, my poor husband is dead!” a woman's voice wailed. It belonged to fiery redhead poured into a tight, strumpet-red dress, her breasts nearly popping out. “I can't b-believe this, oh God why did you have to take my husband on our wedding day.”

“Wedding day!” Eleanor shouted and shuffled her feet as the woman turned to look at her.
“I'm Agnes Baron P.I. and this here is my assistant, Watson.” I thumbed in El's direction.

El's eyes narrowed. “That's fine, Watson is way smarter than Sherlock Holmes ever was.”

“Have you ever read Sherlock Holmes dear? If you had... oh forget it. We’re here to investigate.”

“Are you Miss Marple?” a woman dressed in a maid uniform asked me inquisitively.

I smoothed my hair back. “I fancy myself more of a Jessica Fletcher.”

“She's such a know-it-all, Aggie, you don't want to be her,” Eleanor laughed.

“I'm certainly not trying to be Miss Marple or any other fictional character. I'm the real deal.” I took an elegant stance like I was posing for a magazine. “I have never even read an Agatha Christie book before,” I insisted.

I walked toward the body, knelt to check for a pulse, but found none. I glanced at an open window on the third floor, and then back at the maid. “How long has he been laying out here?”

“Thing is,” the redhead started, “we’re just not sure. You see, we moved here yesterday and—”

“I thought you just were muttering that this was your wedding day.”

“I heard her too, Aggie,” Eleanor affirmed with a bob of her head.

The woman's eyes shifted slightly. “Like I was saying if you'd quit interrupting me. We were married yesterday and had a reception celebrating the event late into the night,” She giggled. “Of course, we did manage to consummate our marriage.”

“Why would I think anything else?” I asked.

Red glared at me, but continued. “He left momentarily and—”

“Needed to take another Viagra,” Eleanor slipped in.

“Point is, I must have fallen asleep, and when I awoke this morning, I realized he was missing. We then tore the place apart looking for him.” She started bawling something awful now.

“What did you say your name was?” I asked. It had occurred to me that I should tell somebody to call the sheriff's department, but I wanted the rest of this woman's story.

“I didn't,” the woman snapped. “My name is Betty Lou Butler, but don't you dare call me just plain Betty ever.”

“Okay, Betty, and your husband's name is?”

She glared at me and tightened her lips, not saying a word. I had struck a nerve.

“His name was Herman,” the maid said. “Herman Butler.” She nodded. “I'm Teresa,” the maid shook my hand vigorously. “I knew right away that I should call you.” She smiled just then. “I know you can find out what really happened to Mr. Butler.” Her black uniform with ruffed white collar flapped in the wind. Her round cheeks blushed slightly in a show of a possible sunburn. I guessed her to be about thirty.

“And Herman just moved here. Is that right?”

“He just inherited the house since the latest Butler died unexpectedly a few months past,” the maid said.

“I see, and how did the last Butler die?”

“Hunting accident.”

“I see. Herman inherited the house and got married to this Betty Lou and now he’s dead.”
“Yes, quite,” the maid replied.

“Gee, these Butlers sure are accident prone,” El said. “Presuming he fell out the window up there,” she observed.

Betty Lou pushed the maid aside, “I don’t know what you’re implying here, but I had nothing to do with—”

El interrupted her with, “Marrying a guy and then him kicking the bucket soon after?”

“And after he just inherited a mansion, quite coincidental if you ask me,” I added.

I stared at the body that was face down on the lawn. My eyes drifted upward toward the open window on the third floor again. It was a tiny window though; too tiny for this man to squeeze through, or so it seemed.

Herman's arms were both bent at the elbows and his legs were at an odd angle.

“His legs look broken,” Eleanor observed.

I nodded. “Somebody call the sheriff's department and please move away from the body.”

“It was just an accident,” Betty Lou said. “He must have gotten confused last night and fell out the window is all.”

“So now he was confused?” I countered. “But not too confused to get married just yesterday?”

“I just know that I didn't have nothing to do with this, and when the sheriff shows up he'll tell you so.”

“Will he now?” I couldn't help but stare at that open upstairs window. “Mind if I go inside?”

Betty Lou huffed in the background and pulled a pack of cigarettes from her cleavage complete with lighter and lit up while we made our way toward the house.


                                                                  Other books by Madison Johns:

About the author:

As a child, Madison Johns preferred to distance herself from other children her age, and had been described as a dreamer. Even as a small child, she remembers staying awake many a night fighting dragons, whisked away to foreign lands, or meeting the man of her dreams.

She was a voracious reader of historical romance in her teen years and has always wished to one day journey to England, France, Ireland, and Scotland.

The writing bug bit her at the age of 44 and she pounded out three books since that time. As the publishing climate changed she took a risk and decided to self publish, first a collection of two horror short stories geared for YA, Coffin Tales Season of Death.

Madison's caring nature had led her to work in the healthcare field, where she was employed as a nursing care assistant at a nursing home, and it was there that she was inspired to write her first mystery, Armed and Outrageous, introducing amateur detective Agnes Barton. The book depicts two elderly ladies digging up clues with enough laugh out loud antics to make James Bond blush.

Connect with Madison:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Amazon | Amazon UK

Cozy Mystery Book Tours Giveaway:

Cozy Mystery Book Tours is giving readers SIX chances to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card or Paypal cash!

To enter:
1. Complete the form.
2. Giveaway closes on May 26, 2013 at midnight, and winners will be contacted by email.
3. Don’t forget to follow their Facebook page because they will be giving away copies of six authors' books during the tours.