FEATURED AUTHOR: KATHLEEN VALENTI

ABOUT THE BOOK

Former pharmaceutical researcher Maggie O’Malley is losing sleep. Constantine’s aunt is a multitasking sleepwalker who, in addition to wandering her stately home, prepares meals, folds laundry and, one winter night, stumbles across her husband with his throat slit. 

It’s a rude and gruesome awakening that’s upsetting to Aunt Polly. And interesting to the police. 

Maggie and Constantine work to uncover who killed the cosmetic surgery mogul and why. As they dig into the lives of those who knew him best, they discover that the truth is only skin deep and doctoring perception is a treatment with deadly side effects. 

A gripping page-turner with more twists than a surgeon’s suture, 39 Winks is a tale of lies, betrayals and greed that will keep you up at night. And looking over your shoulder.


BOOK DETAILS

Title: 39 Winks

Author: Kathleen Valenti

Genre: Medical Mystery/Thriller

Series: Maggie O'Malley Mystery, book #2

Publisher: Henery Press (May 22, 2018)

Print Length: 298 Pages
On tour with: Great Escapes Book Tours

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT INTERVIEW WITH KATHLEEN VALENTI

Things you need in order to write:
To write, I need a steady supply of coffee and licorice, not necessarily in that order. Peace and quiet also help, but those are in short supply when my children are around.
Things that hamper your writing:

For me, distractions are public enemy number one. Whether it’s Facebook, losing myself in another author’s book or going down the rabbit hole of research, distractions seem to lurk around every corner. They’re like Styrofoam. No matter how hard you try to get rid of them, they’re always there. 


Things you love about writing:
Creating the kinds of stories I love to read.
Things you hate about writing:
Deadlines! Like vegetables, they are a necessary evil.


Things you love about where you live:
I live in one of the most beautiful, amazing places on earth. (Of course, I could be a little biased.) It’s in a rain shadow at the foot of sleeping volcanoes and has so many recreational opportunities that it’s become one of the West’s favorite places to play.
Things that make you want to move:
All of these wonderful attributes have created growing pains for our area. Whether it’s burgeoning traffic or shrinking housing options, these changes can impact quality of life. Even paradise isn’t perfect.



Favorite foods:
Do wine and coffee count as foods? What if I freeze them? Seriously, though, other than my favorite diuretic beverages, I’m a big fan of pizza, chips, and the kind of candy kids tend to favor. (Think FunDip, Laffy Taffy, etc.). Other than my beverage choices, I have the palate of a seven year-old.
Things that make you want to throw up: 
I refuse beets, lima beans, and Brussels sprouts. Yes, yes, you probably have a special way to prepare them that I’ll just love. I’ll have to take your word for it.


Favorite music or song:
I’m a huge Led Zeppelin fan. In fact, before I was an author many of my social media handles were Led Zeppelin homages, making them now very embarrassing.
Music that make your ears bleed:
I’m not wild about country music. No disrespect to the genre. Just not my thing. Or thang, maybe.


Favorite smell:
I love the smell of lavender.

Something that makes you hold your nose:
Looking at roses: delightful. Smelling them? Not so much—at least for me. I find them to be too sweet and cloying.


Something you’re really good at:
Besides writing? (Shameless plug.) I’m a darn good flutist (although a bit rusty) and armchair psychologist. I can also hold my breath for a really long time.
Something you’re really bad at:
Parallel parking. Seriously. I have literally driven away in shame in order to find an alternative to my embarrassing 14-point parking maneuvers. 



Something you wish you could do:
I wish I could play the guitar.
Something you wish you’d never learned to do:
I wish I hadn’t learned to proofread. I automatically correct the grammar on reader boards, menus and pamphlets.


Things you’d walk a mile for:
I’d walk many a mile for a great book.
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room:
Conflict sends me running for the door.


Things you always put in your books:

My books always have humor. Sometimes it’s witty repartee. Sometimes it’s the gallows variety. 

Things you never put in your books:

I don’t really have sexy-time stuff in my books.


Things to say to an author:

“I love your books!” Or “How cool that you write!”


Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

“You wrote a book? What a cute hobby!”


Favorite things to do:

I love to hang out with my family and friends, read and do Jazzercise. (Not even kidding.)


Things you’d run through a fire wearing gasoline pants to get out of doing:

I find public speaking very painful, which is inconvenient since I now do a lot of author events. Fortunately, people are awesome and make me feel right at home. Which means I leave the gasoline pants at home.


Most embarrassing moment:

How to choose? I have so many. A memorable one involves sheerer-than-I-realized exercise leggings, white granny panties and being asked to demonstrate downward dog for a yoga class. I’m still mentally scarred. 


Proudest moment:

Having my debut novel, Protocol, nominated for an Agatha and a Lefty was probably my proudest moment.


Best thing you’ve ever done:

Having children is by far the best thing I’ve ever done.
Biggest mistake:

This isn’t the biggest mistake, but a memorable one featured a lunchtime makeover in which the artist “played up” my features by overdrawing them, after which I had to go to a client meeting.


Most daring thing you’ve ever done:

I’ve done some shipwreck scuba dives, which I found pretty daring.


Something you chickened out from doing:

I never finished working toward my pilot’s license.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Valenti is the author of the Maggie O’Malley mystery series. The series’ first book, Agatha- and Lefty-nominated Protocol, introduces us to Maggie, a pharmaceutical researcher with a new job, a used phone, and a deadly problem. The series’ second book, 39 Winks, releases May 22. When Kathleen isn’t writing page-turning mysteries that combine humor and suspense, she works as a nationally award-winning advertising copywriter. She lives in Oregon with her family where she pretends to enjoy running.

Connect with Kathleen:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes  |  Kobo


Other books by Kathleen Valenti:

Protocol

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FEATURED AUTHOR: CHRISTINA FREEBURN

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Caribbean cruise is the perfect setting for a Roget wedding, and Faith meeting Ted’s family. She also hopes the vacation gets their stalled romance moving, but it doesn’t take long for that dream to capsize. Ted’s daughter hates her. The ex-wife is adored. Odessa Roget is surly. And the banned father of a groom, John Roget, requests Faith’s assistance in bringing down a jewel theft ring masterminded by his ex-wife.

Having had a man she loved accuse her of a crime, Faith won’t let Odessa travel down the same path and agrees to help. Faith sets her course on uncovering the true criminals—which might be a groom’s best friend. The romantic week turns disastrous as a wedding is interrupted, suspicious deaths point to murders, and Ted’s daughter schemes to reunite her parents. Instead of diamonds being a girl’s best friend, Faith finds they’re cruising her toward Davy Jones’ Locker.

INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINA FREEBURN

Christina, do you write every day?
No. For me, I need to give my brain at least one day of rest from writing a week. If I don’t take a day off, I find myself struggling to get the words out. I need a break from the computer and to not think about the story to come back to it fresh and ready to create.

How often do you read?
I try to read every day, though last year I didn’t read as often as I wanted (unless I counted message boards). This year, I’m going to limit the amount of time I spend on messages boards so I have more time to read books. I missed reading books and there are so many on my Kindle and my shelves that I’m a little said I didn’t get around to reading last year.

What do you think makes a good story?
For me, a good story has main characters who are actively involved in the plot and not ones where all the events just happen in the story and the heroine and hero are only reacting. I don’t even mind unlikeable characters as long as they are true to themselves and are engaged in what’s going on in the plot and realize some of the drama happening to them was created by them.

What books do you currently have published?
Masked to Death is the thirteenth book I’ve had published. Two of my books are out of print, and I have no plans to self-publish. The books I have out that are still in print are in the Scrap this Series: Cropped to Death, Designed to Death, Embellished to Death, Framed to Death, and the most recent Masked to Death.
I wrote The New Beginning Series which are inspirational romantic suspense (this series is complete), and those books are: Lost Then Found, Led Astray, Safe and Sound, Long Gone, and Far and Away
Then there’s Dying for Redemption which is a traditional detective novel where the main character is a ghost who helps the recently murdered solve their own case. I’d love to write another in this world (I had planned on it being a series), but I haven’t been able to work it into my schedule the last few years.

Is writing your dream job?
Yes.  I wanted to be a writer  when “I grew up” in the ninth grade. Before then, I loved reading but not so much writing. I will admit that there are some days when writing (especially the business side of it) can almost feel like a nightmare, but I know every job (and dream) has those days where you question yourself and wonder why you thought it was a good idea.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
The Food Network. I can get some great cooking and baking tips and learn a lot, and I love most of the shows. But probably the best thing about the Food Network is there isn’t any negativity, except for some of the competition shows when the contestants get sassy with each other. But even then, it’s limited and not too horrible or leaves me feeling depressed.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I like Facebook. There are days when I spend way too much time on it and days I wonder why I bother because my feed contains so much negativity. On those days,  I remind myself Facebook is a way I can keep connected with family and friends that I don’t get to see that often, and it’s what I make of it. If I know I’m in a mood where pretty much the world seems to irritate me, I need to not click on the icon and wait until I’m feeling better.  Like with anything, there’s positives and negatives and I’m the one that controls if Facebook is a positive or negative experience for me.

What five things would you never want to live without?
The five things I wouldn’t want to live without are cars, cameras, scrapbooking supplies, computer, and luggage…all things that help in traveling, creating memories, and documenting them.

What do you wish you could do?
Swim. I never learned as a child, and when I was almost thirty I took swim lessons, but I didn’t master it and still struggle in the water. I can not drown for a short length of time, but I still don’t know how to swim. I’ve thought about trying lessons again but there isn’t a place near me that teaches adults. I really want to learn as I enjoy cruising, and I know I’d love it even more if I could swim because I’d be able to participate in more of the excursions available as most involve water.

What’s your least favorite chore?
Laundry because it just never seems to be done.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery Series brings together Christina’s love of mysteries, scrapbooking, and West Virginia. When not writing or reading, she can be found in her craft room or at a crop. She’s working on the sixth book in the series published by Henery Press. Christina served in the US Army JAG Corps and also worked as a paralegal, librarian, and church secretary.

Connect with Christina:
Website  |  
Blog  |  Facebook  |   Twitter   |  Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: LARISSA REINHART

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Cherry Tucker’s invited to paint the winning portrait for Big Rack Lodge’s Hogzilla hunt contest, it seems like a paid vacation. Back in Halo, Georgia, a Hatfield-McCoy-style standoff builds, forcing Luke and Cherry to keep their relationship secret. She’s ready for a weekend away, hobnobbing with the rich and famous of hunting.
But as the Georgia sunshine turns to bleak December rain, Cherry’s R&R goes MIA when she finds a body. While the police believe the town drunk took an accidental spill, Cherry has her doubts, particularly when a series of malicious pranks are targeted at the rifle toting contestants and she’s warned off investigating. With loyal companions at her side — sort-of-ex-husband Todd and a championship bayer named Buckshot— Cherry tracks suspects through a forest of pitfalls and perils. And all the while, a killer’s stalking the hunt party with Cherry and the contestants in their crosshairs.

INTERVIEW WITH LARISSA REINHART

Larissa, what's your favorite thing about the writing process?
Coming up with stories. I’ve always planned stories in my head as cheap entertainment. I still love to do that. The real work comes when applying those thoughts to paper. I’ve got so many stories waiting to write, it’ll probably take me through retirement to get to them all. Which is a good way to keep me off the streets. That and chocolate.

How long is your to-be-read list?
So long, I can’t even count that high. I stopped marking “Want To Read” on Goodreads because it just got ridiculous. Luckily, my mother and I share a Kindle account, so all the books that are waiting on me to read, she can work on. I’ve got a problem with trying a new author or book in a series, then dropping everything else to read the complete series. Then I’ll reread my favorites. I’m a big re-reader, which doesn’t do my TBR pile much good. And that pile is in print and digital.

What books do you currently have published?
The Body in the Landscape is my fifth Cherry Tucker book but sixth publication. The Cherry Tucker Mysteries: Portrait of a Dead Guy, Still Life in Brunswick Stew, Hijack in Abstract, Death in Perspective, and the prequel novella, “Quick Sketch” in Heartache Motel.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
Does Netflix count as a TV station? I’m in Japan now, so I can’t get anything other than Netflix, although we do get HBO Now. That’s pretty sweet because I can watch all the old miniseries. Right now, I’m watching Benedict Cumberbatch in Parade’s End. But I’m a Netflix junkie. I love to binge watch series. Just like I love to binge read series. And all my guilty pleasure viewing is done on Netflix. You don’t even want to know, but if it involves teenage vampires, I probably watch it.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I love Facebook, despite its obvious flaws. I think the world is becoming a lonelier place, and Facebook is a great way to reach out and touch people’s lives, let them know they are not alone.

I’m living in Japan now and able to keep up with friends and family best through Facebook. I actually began Facebook the last time I lived in Japan. I meet new people all the time, people I’ve grown to consider friends although I’ve never met them in person. My street team, The Mystery Minions, are on Facebook and they’re like family to me. When I travel, I always get postcards to send to them. My girls love to help me pick out postcards for the Minions!

YouTube is . . .
Great for funny cat videos and . . . what else is on Youtube?

Who would you want to narrate a film about your life?
Morgan Freeman. He could make the phone book sound interesting. Which would be a similar reading.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
I make popcorn on the stove. Just oil and kernels. It’s the best and the stove does all the work. I never touch the microwave stuff. If I wanted to go nuts, I’d add M&Ms to the popcorn. That’s my favorite childhood treat. They melt in the hot popcorn and get all gooey on your fingers. Salt and sugar. Sooooo goood.

Here’s my recipe: use a heavy bottom pot, cover the bottom in kernels, pour cooking (vegetable) oil to just cover the kernels. Put on a lid and turn the heat to medium high. Start your movie. When you start to hear popping, get out a bowl. When you haven’t heard a pop in three seconds, turn off the stove. Pour it in a bowl. Salt. Toss in M&Ms. My kind of cooking.

Yum! You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be?
Lucy from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I named a daughter for her. Wouldn’t everyone love to meet Aslan and save Mr. Tumnus? Lucy’s such a spitfire and so wonderfully brave, despite her age and naiveté. Plus her love conquers all and isn’t that heart of the best stories?

Do you sweat the small stuff?
The small stuff is what drives my deodorant shopping. TMI?

What are you working on now?
Cherry Tucker #6, which is still untitled. However, it’s set back in Halo at an independent living home, Halo House. Cherry’s trying real hard to stay out of trouble, but the ninety-year-old CEO of Meemaw’s Tea likes Cherry’s suspicious way of thinking so much, she confides in Cherry that she’s afraid she’ll be murdered. Then has a heart attack. What’s Cherry to do but suspect Belvia Brakeman’s been murdered?

Lightning round:
Cake or frosting? Cake.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop.
Chevy Chase or Bill Murray? Bill Murray
Emailing or texting? Emailing.
Indoors or outdoors? Indoors with a window. And a couch. And some books. And coffee. And chocolate.
Plane, train, or automobile? Train!

Books in the Cherry Tucker Humorous Mystery Series:

• QUICK SKETCH (Novella prequel to PORTRAIT in HEARTACHE MOTEL)
• PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1)
• STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2)
• HIJACK IN ABSTRACT (#3)
• DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE (#4)
• THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE (#5)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery series. The first in the series, Portrait of a Dead Guy (2012), is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. The fifth mystery, The Body in the Landscape, released December 2015. Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, now live in Nagoya, Japan, but still call Georgia home. Visit her website, find her chatting on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, or join her Facebook street team, The Mystery Minions.

Buy the book:Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes  |  KOBO
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FEATURED AUTHOR: WENDY TYSON

ABOUT THE BOOK


When image consultant Allison Campbell attends an award ceremony to honor a designer friend, she’s thrust into a murder investigation. Only this time, it’s personal.

A former boyfriend is dead, slain on the streets of Philadelphia. His widow claims he was meeting with Allison, yet Allison hadn’t spoken to him in years. Nothing about his death—or life—makes sense. When compromising photos from their past arrive at Allison’s office, they raise more questions than they answer.

Driven to find justice, Allison deconstructs the image her ex had created for himself, looking for clues about the man he’d become. As her hunt for the truth unveils secrets, Allison’s past and present collide—with deadly results.


INTERVIEW WITH WENDY TYSON

Wendy, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?
I’ve been writing most of my life. I penned my first short story when I was in elementary school — it was about a ghost dog, and I think my mother still has it in a drawer somewhere — and that was the start of my love affair with the written word. Despite years of learning and practicing craft, my journey to publication was long and winding. I had a number of short stories published after college, but I didn’t write my first novel (which remains unpublished!) until I was in my thirties.

Do you have another job outside of writing?
I’m an ERISA attorney.  I work full-time for a mutual fund company — quite a contrast to writing mysteries!

How did you create the plot for this book?
The book started with an idea for an opening scene. I had a vision of Allison receiving an upsetting phone call from someone in her past while attending an award celebration for a designer friend. I based the novel on that concept, working through the details and adjusting the plot as the idea developed.

How do you get to know your characters?
Great question. While in college, I took an advanced fiction writing class. As a class assignment, I had written a short story about a woman whose life unraveled when her husband left her for his mistress. In one of the scenes, I had my character make instant coffee. My classmates nailed me for that during the critique session. They said my character was the kind of particular individual who would take the time to brew coffee — she would never serve instant. I realized they were right, but back then, all I made was instant coffee. I had to go outside my own experiences to portray my character in an authentic way. It was a lesson I’ve never forgotten. 

Now, I live with my characters for a long time before I write a single word of a manuscript. I do a lot of freewriting about them, old-fashioned pen to paper, and once I have a firm sense of who they are, I play little games, quizzing myself about their preferences, likes and dislikes, etc. Details are critical.

Who are your favorite authors?
I’m an eclectic reader — I love everything from science fiction and horror to literary fiction and historical romance. My favorite authors, however, write mysteries and thrillers. Elizabeth George, Jonathan Kellerman, Agatha Christie, Harlan Coben, Donna Leon, P.D. James . . . just to name a few. 

What book are you currently reading and in what format?
The Girl on a Train, by Paula Hawkins, in hardcover. I just started it, and I can’t put it down.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
Anywhere with a view! I especially like ski lodges. I enjoy having people around me — the background noise helps me focus — and I love the views. Big Sky in Montana is a favorite spot. My husband and boys ski and I write.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?
Stephen King’s The Stand. I have read it at least a dozen times, and I learn something new about craft each time I open it.

Let's pretend you’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?
My mother’s eggplant parmigiana! It’s long been a favorite, and if I’m leaving the country for a year and I can can’t convince her to join me, that’s what I’d choose.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love to travel with my family, and garden/cook. Last year, my husband, kids, and I drove from our home in Pennsylvania to Montana, where we stayed for two weeks before driving home again. The time in Montana was wonderful, but the process of getting there — visiting points along the way in Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Wyoming — was pretty amazing. This year we’re heading to Europe and plan to spend time visiting (by car) several countries.
Gardening is another passion. We’re avid organic gardeners. Years ago, affected by the market downturn and concerned about the price of organic produce, we decided to grow our own vegetables. Our small garden plot now takes up most of our third of an acre yard and we enjoy our own vegetables year-round. 

What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up the first book in a new series. The novel is called A Muddied Murder, and it’s the debut in The Greenhouse Mystery Series, which will be published by Henery Press beginning in the spring of 2016. The series centers on a young, widowed environmental lawyer who returns home to rural Pennsylvania to care for her spirited, aging grandmother and launch the family’s organic farm and café. In the first book, she and the town’s hunky veterinarian find the body of the local zoning commissioner in her barn — and she, of course, is compelled to find the killer. 

I’m also writing the next Allison Campbell novel, Fatal Facade, which is due out next summer. I’m thrilled to announce that I have a contract with Henery Press for three more books in that series. In Fatal Facade, Allison and friends head to Italy where Allison becomes entangled in the murder investigation of a beautiful, mysterious ex pat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wendy Tyson is an author, lawyer and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers. Wendy has written four published crime novels, including Dying Brand,the third novel in the Allison Campbell Mystery Series, released on May 5, 2015.  The first in the Campbell series, Killer Image, was named a best mystery for book clubs in 2014 by Examiner.com. Wendy is also the author of the Greenhouse Mystery Series, the first of which, A Muddied Murder, is due to be released just in time for spring 2016. Wendy is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers, and she is a contributing editor for The Big Thrill, International Thriller Writers’ online magazine.  Wendy lives near Philadelphia with her husband, three sons and two dogs. Visit Wendy at http://www.watyson.com/.

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Featured Author: John Gaspard

About the book:

Newly-single magician Eli Marks reluctantly attends his high school reunion against his better judgment, only to become entangled in two deadly encounters with his former classmates. The first is the fatal mugging of an old crush’s husband, followed by the suspicious deaths of the victim’s business associates.

At the same time, Eli also comes to the aid of a classmate-turned-movie-star who fears that attempting The Bullet Catch in an upcoming movie may be his last performance. As the bodies begin to pile up, Eli comes to the realization that juggling these murderous situations -- while saving his own neck -- may be the greatest trick he’s ever performed.

A great book club recommendation: A murder mystery book filled with sly wit, clever magic, and a charming amateur sleuth – see which of your group figures out whodunnit first!

Praise for The Bullet Catch:

“The Bullet Catch is a wonderfully engaging, delightfully tricky bit of mystery. Fans of magic will delight in John Gaspard’s artful use of the world of magicians, onstage and offstage. It’s a great story and great fun!” – Jim Steinmeyer, Author of Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear

“Gaspard's latest Eli Marks mystery, The Bullet Catch, has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likeable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure.” – Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series and Co-Writer of My Favorite Year

“The Bullet Catch is a real winner of magical proportions. Filled with snappy, delightful dialogue and plenty of sleight-of-hand humor, Gaspard's latest mystery in the Eli Marks series does not disappoint. Head to the bookstore and get yourself a copy now!” – Jessie Chandler, Author of the Award-Winning Shay O'Hanlon Series

“The author does a fantastic job juggling the separate plots and keeping readers’ minds thoroughly engaged...The relationships between Eli and his remarried ex are interesting, to say the least, and the pure entertainment of the industry will leave all readers hoping that there will be a ‘number three’ very soon.” – Suspense Magazine

“The Bullet Catch has a quick pace and dialogue that engages the reader from the first page...Gaspard has written a great character into an original storyline...I will definitely be seeing/reading more of Eli as Gaspard expands this promising mystery series.” – Examiner.com

“Readers, get ready for your mind to expand as Eli Marks returns and uses his powers of prestidigitation, intuition and deduction to solve another mystery. If David Copperfield and Sherlock Holmes had a child, it would be Eli Marks.” – Scott Wells, The Magic Word Podcast

Interview with John Gaspard

John, your main character, Eli Marks, is a magician. Why did you come up with that profession for your main character?
I realized that I had several friends who are magicians – in fact, as a non-magician, I have a surprising number of friends who are magicians. So I’m familiar with their world and the issues that crop up in their work. And I realized that magicians – with their focus on misdirection and fooling people – would be in an ideal position to see how a criminal might be using misdirection to cover their tracks.

Why is Eli uniquely qualified to solve crimes?
On some levels, he isn’t qualified at all. In fact, he often gets things wrong. He is way too trusting and inclined to only see the best in people. However, as a magician, he is used to looking at the world a little differently and he understands how easy it is to fool people. He’s able to see the mechanics behind the trick and that helps him see the mechanics behind some crimes.

What are Eli Marks’s best qualities?
He has a sense of humor that often gets him out of tight situations. He is curious. He is very trusting.

What would you say his worst qualities are?
He has a sense of humor that often gets him into tight situations. He is curious. He is very trusting.

Very funny. Does Eli secretly pine for anyone, or is he currently involved?
It’s the classic story: In the first book, The Ambitious Card, Eli gets the girl. In this new book, he loses the girl – at least, for a while. And so the book looks not just at the struggle of how to get her back … but also at how hard it is to come to the realization that she might not be coming back at all.

What is a Bullet Catch?
The Bullet Catch is a classic trick in magic, in which the magician gives a loaded gun to an audience member, who then shoots it at the magician. If the trick is successful, the magician catches the bullet in his teeth. If not, well, that’s the end of the show.

The Bullet Catch is not often performed these days, because it truly is a dangerous trick. In fact over the years, more than a dozen magicians have died while performing The Bullet Catch.

Yikes! Are you a closet magician?
I am not now nor have ever been a magician.

However, my goal was to learn the title trick for each book in the series. So, for the first book (The Ambitious Card) I took lessons from an exceptionally talented local magician and got pretty good at performing that trick.

When I decided that the second book would use The Bullet Catch as its basis, I quickly abandoned the idea of learning and performing every title trick.

Very prudent of you.

In addition to talking to lots of magicians, I also attend magic conventions, read books and periodicals about magicians, and go to as many live performances and lectures as I can. It seems to have paid off, as I’ve heard back from many readers (including magicians) that they are amazed that the books are not written by a working magician.

The Bullet Catch involves the world of movie making, with which I believe you’re involved in real life. Can you tell us about that part of your life?
I’ve been producing and directing low-budget feature films since my late teens, using virtually every format out there (Super-8mm Sound, Three-Quarter Inch video, 16mm, and HD video). I’ve also written several books on how to create low-budget movies.

My most recent feature, Ghost Light, is available for viewing on Vimeo for free here. 

The current feature I’m working on, The Cookie Project, consists of seven shorts that will all tie together as a feature. You can see the shorts here.

Who would you cast as Eli Marks if you were to make a film of one of his books?
Well, I don’t work with the kinds of budgets it would take to bring any of the Eli Marks books to the screen. But if Hollywood wants to tackle it, I’ve always pictured Neil Patrick Harris. Not only does he have the chops as a magician, but he would also bring the humor, sincerity, and vulnerability that Eli needs.

Which do you like better: directing or writing?
They both have their own appeal. Writing I can do anywhere, any time. Directing takes a lot more planning and scheduling, so you can’t be particularly spontaneous. And with directing, you’re at the mercy of the elements, the budget, and the vagrancies of location and timing. Writing offers a lot more control of the finished piece.

What are you working on now?
I’m well into the third book in the Eli Marks mystery series, The Miser’s Dream, in which Eli discovers a body in the movie theater next door and is pulled into the bizarre world of high-priced movie memorabilia.

About the author:

In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films.

His blog, "Fast, Cheap Movie Thoughts,” has been named "One of the 50 Best Blogs for Moviemakers" and "One of The 100 Best Blogs For Film and Theater Students.” He’s also written for TV and the stage.

John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.


Connect with John:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Publisher

Buy the book:
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Featured Author: Wendy Tyson

CLP Blog Tours brings Wendy Tyson here today to talk about the second book in her Campbell Mystery series, Deadly Assets.

About the book:

An eccentric Italian heiress from the Finger Lakes. An eighteen-year-old pop star from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Allison Campbell’s latest clients seem worlds apart in every respect, except one: Both women disappear on the same day. And Allison’s colleague Vaughn is the last to have seen each.

Allison’s search for a connection uncovers an intricate web of family secrets, corporate transgressions and an age-old rivalry that crosses continents. The closer Allison gets to the truth, the deadlier her quest becomes. All paths lead back to a sinister Finger Lakes estate and the suicide of a woman thirty years earlier. Allison soon realizes the lives of her clients and the safety of those closest to her aren’t the only things at stake.

Interview with Wendy Tyson

Wendy, what’s the story behind the title of your book? 

A great deal of thought went into choosing the title for Deadly Assets. It was originally called Murderous Looks, but after the book was finished, my editor at Henery Press and I decided we needed a new title. We wanted something that reflected the overall story, the main character’s occupation (image consultant) and that also worked with the cover image.  After brainstorming dozens of potential titles, we both felt Deadly Assets nailed it.

Do you have another job outside of writing? 

I do! I’m an ERISA attorney, which, in my case, means I work on retirement plans. Before that, I practiced corporate and securities law, and before law school I was a therapist in a residential treatment program. Working full-time while writing has its challenges, but my experiences have definitely influenced my ideas. A background in law and psychology can come in handy when you’re plotting murders!

I can see that. How do you get to know your characters? 

I live with them for a long time before I start writing. I think about them while I’m driving, cleaning, exercising and cooking. I do free-writing in spiral notebooks to flesh out their likes, dislikes, histories and motivations. I try to capture the way they look in my mind. Sometimes I’ll live with a character this way for months, or even years. Even after I’ve written a first draft, I’ll go back and free-write about a particular character, especially if I feel like he or she is flat, or if I’m having trouble identifying their motivations or subsequent actions. I think for many authors, characters become like real people. Eventually, I’ll get to a point where my characters enter my dreams — or I’ll see something and find myself thinking “Oh, Allison would like that!”

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I enjoy writing all of them, but I really like writing Mia. Whereas most of the characters in the Campbell series have reinvented themselves to be more successful, Mia has done the opposite.  At one point, she had it all: the big house on the Philadelphia Main Line, a successful career as an image consultant, a family. After losing her adult daughter in a tragic accident, she gave it all up and moved to a house in the country—alone. When we meet her in Killer Image, she’s still battling the demons of her recent past, but by Deadly Assets, she’s re-discovering a Mia who is completely different from the woman she once was. Mia’s brave and smart and doesn’t care what people think about her or her choices. I have a blast with her.

What would your main character say about you?

Oh, wow — she’d say, “Sweetheart, you could use a few sessions with an image consultant.  Call Vaughn and make an appointment!”

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose? 

Helen Mirren. Probably a little below her pay grade, but I love her voice.

Why dream if you aren't going to dream big? What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 

Ann Rice’s Queen of the Damned. It’s a signed paperback copy. I saw Ann Rice speak recently at ThrillerFest and then had the opportunity to attend her book signing. I’ve read many of her novels already, but was inspired to re-read this one after meeting her.  She’s lovely!

What’s your favorite candy bar?

Almond Joy!  While growing up, I detested coconut, but now I love it.
 
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

The French Alps. We spent a few weeks in Chamonix, France two summers ago and we loved it. The views, the food, the ready access to Italy, Switzerland, and other parts of France, and the numerous outdoor activities ... very beautiful and peaceful. 

And finally - what are you working on now?  

Several projects! I’m currently writing the third Campbell novel, Dying Brand—look for it in May 2015. I’m also writing a second mystery series — the Delilah Percy Powers series — which features a team of four female private investigators: a displaced cowgirl, a former nun, a militant homemaker, and an ex-stripper. The first novel in that series, The Seduction of Miriam Cross (E-Lit Books), came out last fall, and I’m now writing the second book in the series, The Initiation of Carolyn Wu. And finally, I’m working on a standalone thriller set on the island of Corfu, Greece.

Excerpt from Deadly Assets

The hawk fell from the sky like a bomb, its body graceless in death.  It plummeted through a canopy of oaks, their foliage laced with the vestiges of afternoon sun, and landed just feet from Allison’s bumper in a limp, twisted heap. Heart racing, Allison slammed on the brakes.  She bolted out of the car in time to see a young woman emerge from the forest.  The woman wore a rifle slung over one shoulder, a rucksack across the other. A wild mane of black hair flew behind her like a cape.

“That one's mine,” the woman shouted. “Don't touch it!”

Allison glanced down at the dead hawk with equal parts sympathy and disgust. She certainly had no intention of touching it. 

“Bastard's murdered a dozen chickens in two weeks.  Damn thing had it coming.” The woman leaned down, grabbed the bird by the throat and shoved it into the canvas satchel. Finished, she looked up at Allison as though registering for the first time the presence of a stranger on her property. “Who are you?”

“Allison Campbell.  The image consultant.”  Allison started to hold out her hand, but with a second look at the rifle, opted instead for a friendly nod.

The woman harrumphed a hello, wiped her hands on her jeans, and gestured toward the house behind them. “I suppose you're here for Francesca.”

“Is she ready for me?”

The woman shrugged. She was in her late twenties, lean and muscular, and now that she was closer, Allison could see the face beneath the hair. Beautiful features–dark almond-shaped eyes, a regal nose, full lips, and high, defined cheekbones–clashed with an almost savage indifference. 

Allison tore her gaze from the woman with the gun and looked around at her surroundings, too startled by the bird to have taken in the Benini estate–the home of her potential client, Francesca Benini–before now.  The house lay sprawled across a hilltop, fronted by woodland that sloped down to the angry edge of Cayuga Lake. A winding driveway meandered its way up the hill, ending in a semi-circle in front of the house. The town of Ithaca was visible in the distance, an urban island in a sea of forest and farmland.

The house itself stood as testament to Benini Enterprises’ dwindling finances. A dilapidated three-winged monstrosity with a triple gabled front, a look-out tower and multiple entries, its wood trim was in desperate need of paint. Small patches of stucco had disappeared off the fascia, leaving scars like pockmarks across the broad facade. The building’s height blocked out the sun and shadows slashed across a yard that was unkempt around the edges.
               
It was a warm August day. Storm clouds bruised the distant skies, and a sticky breeze offered no relief from the heat.  Allison wiped the sweat beading along her brow.  Her attention now back on the young woman, she asked, “And you are?” 

But before the woman could respond, the front door flung open and a tall, athletic-looking man in his early forties came down the steps toward them. He was slim, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, and his movements were quick and elegant, especially for a man of his height. A day or two’s worth of stubble gave a rakish air to a strong nose, sharp cheekbones and smooth olive skin. And, most noticeable of all, were his cerulean-colored eyes, which pierced Allison's own with a knife-like gaze.

He flashed Allison an apologetic smile. “Please ignore my sister, Maria. I’m Alessandro Benini. Most people call me Alex.” He held out his hand. “You must be here for my aunt.  Let’s get you inside where it’s cool.” To Maria, he said, “Don't just stand there gawking. Do something with that bird.”

About the author:


Wendy Tyson is a corporate lawyer and former therapist whose background has inspired her mysteries and thrillers.  She’s the author of three crime novels.  Her latest, Deadly Assets, the second Allison Campbell mystery, was released on July 22. The first Campbell novel, Killer Image, was named by Examiner.com as one of the ten best mysteries for book clubs in 2014. She’s also written The Seduction of Miriam Cross. Wendy lives near Philadelphia with her husband, three sons, and two muses, dogs Molly and Driggs.


Connect with Wendy:


Website | Twitter | Facebook

Buy the Book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo  

Books by Wendy Tyson:

Killer Image (Campbell Mystery No. 1) |
Deadly Assets (Campbell Mystery No. 2)
The Seduction of Miriam Cross

Featured Author: Larissa Reinhart

Fans of Larissa Reinhart will be happy to know the third book in the Cherry Tucker cozy mystery series, Hijack in Abstract, is out. She's on tour with Buy the Book Tours, and she's stopping here today. Follow the tour and enter to win a $25 gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the book:

Humor, Hijackings and a Handful of Hunks . . .

With a classical series sold and a portrait commissioned, Cherry Tucker’s art career is in Georgia overdrive. But when the sheriff asks Cherry to draw a composite sketch of a hijacker, her life takes a hairpin as the composite leads to a related murder, her local card-sharking buddy Max Avtaikin becomes bear bait and her nemesis labels the classical series “pervert art.”

Cherry’s jamming gears between trailer parks, Atlanta mansions, and trucker bars searching for the hijacker who left a widow and orphan destitute. While she seeks to help the misfortunate and save her local reputation, Cherry’s hammer down attitude has her facing the headlights of an oncoming killer.

Interview with Larissa Reinhart:

Sophie’s choice, Larissa: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

Obviously, Cherry is always my first choice, but in Hijack in Abstract, I love the orphan, Jerell. He lives in a trailer park with his great grandma who’s dying of emphysema, and his father’s been murdered. But he’s more accepting of his life situation than Cherry. He’s a tough, little kid. I wish I could hug him, but he’d probably just push me off and tell me to get a grip.

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

In the Cherry Tucker series, she has her motley crew -- Luke Harper, her on & off flame; Todd, her sort-of-ex-husband; Max Avtaikin, the local, foreign racketeer; her sister and brother, Casey and Cody; Grandpa Ed and his girlfriend, Pearl; her uncle Will, the sheriff; Red, the bartender; and Leah, her best friend -- and of course, that list grows because it’s a small town and you run into some of the same characters. They come and go with the setting.

Then, I begin to build my new characters that specifically go with the new story. My antagonist is the most important. They have to have a backstory, even if I never reveal much of it in the story. And that antagonist will have a company of characters that go with him/her. My victims are also important, but sometimes they crop up as I write. And as I write, more characters, some helpful and some adversarial, will just pop into the story.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

It’s kind of random. I’ve used obituaries (to keep the names Southern) and random name generators. Sometimes, the name pops into my head and sticks. Cherry Tucker did that. Occasionally, I’ll let my daughters name someone (Luke). And in my upcoming book, one of my Mystery Minions street team crew won a contest and her name’s used in the book. That was fun.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Only one. Max Avtaikin. He was inspired by the rich Russian with the tiny giraffe on the DirectTV ad a few years ago. I love that guy.

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

Cherry’s best friend, Leah. She’s the epitome of grace and charity, always knows the proper thing to say, but is also a talented musician and singer. And she’s got a super hot body she hides under bulky clothes. I’d be strutting around in a bikini if I were Leah. Well, maybe not...

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

Max Avtaikin. He could probably charter us a helicopter for a rescue. There’s a few Max fans out there who probably wouldn’t mind getting stuck on an island with him for different reasons...

What song would you pick to go with your book?

That’s an awesome question! I always have a soundtrack. I listen to a lot of Miranda Lambert and Eric Church for the Cherry Tucker books. I’ll choose “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert for Hijack in Abstract because Cherry’s suffering from a broken heart, having broken up with Luke Harper at the end of the previous book, Still Life in Brunswick Stew. But I also like “Lemon Drop” by the Pistol Annies because it’s about optimism when life is looking pretty negative. Cherry’s an optimist. And the fan of life has turned a pile of horsehockey on her since book one.

Where’s home for you?

I live in a planned community south of Atlanta called Peachtree City. It’s beautiful with parkways, trees, and about sixty miles of golf cart paths winding inside the city. It took some time for me to get used to seeing people walking their dog from a golf cart, but now I drive my girls to school on a golf cart. This area has become movie-filming central lately. The Walking Dead & Drop-Dead Divas are filmed nearby, and Pinewood Studios have moved in down the road. That’s kind of fun, although I never see anyone famous because I’m always at home in front of my computer. Or at Target.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?

Showers are awesome for plotting! So is driving. And that dream-infused state just before you fall asleep, although I sometimes forget what I was going to use and that’s frustrating.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

I have trouble saying no, so this is my virtual sticky note quote on my computer: “Don’t write a check with your mouth you can’t cash with you a**.” It’s from Sucker Punch, which was a so-so movie, but I love that quote.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

Double Dip by Gretchen Archer (hilarious, especially if you’re a fan of Carl Hiaasen.) Small Town Spin by LynDee Walker (she’s awesome at fast paced dialogue). And Diner Impossible by Terri L. Austin (she is so funny and very talented with the romance scenes).

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

We’re hoping to visit Japan this summer. My husband and I have lived there three times, the last time was three years ago with our children and they miss Japan. But since that trip is somewhat planned, I’m going to pick Spain. I’ve always wanted to travel to Spain ever since I read The Seville Communion.

What are you working on now?

I just finished Death in Perspective, the fourth Cherry Tucker mystery that comes out June 24th. Before I start number five, I’m working on a paranormal detective agency set in Japan, kind of an urban fantasy. The heroine is an English teacher in Japan with a  missing roommate, but she’s also hiding her own preternatural abilities. I’m having a lot of fun with the Japanese mythology.

About the author:

After teaching in the US and Japan, Larissa writes full time, with a particular focus on sassy female characters with a penchant for trouble. The Cherry Tucker Mystery series is published by Henery Press. The first in the series, Portrait of a Dead Guy (2012), is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. Still Life in Brunswick Stew (2013), Hijack in Abstract (2013), and Death in Perspective (June 2014) follow, with the Cherry Tucker novella, Quick Stretch, in the 2013 anthology, Heartache Motel, as a prequel to Portrait.

She lives near Atlanta with her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website or find her chatting with the Little Read Hens on Facebook; at her Facebook page; Twitter; and Goodreads.




Connect with Larissa:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Publisher 

Buy the book:
Amazon

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