FEATURED AUTHOR: JULIE CHASE

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lacy Marie Crocker’s whimsical pet couture has gained a following in New Orleans’s cozy Garden District, and word of mouth has traveled all the way to her favorite fashion designer, Annie Lane. Lacy’s thrilled when Annie schedules a private session at her home to discuss a companion line for her evening wear, but when Lacy arrives for the appointment, she enters the kitchen to two mewling Siamese cats--and one very dead Annie.



Lacy takes the kittens home to care for them until they can be properly claimed by Annie's family or friends, but after a busy day of work, she returns home to find them missing. And when Lacy learns the cats are set to inherit Annie's fortune, she begins to wonder if the killer was after the kittens all along. Now Lacy will stop at nothing to save the Siamese and find justice for Annie--if the killer doesn’t sink his claws into her first.



Luckily, Lacy has the help of handsome NOLA PD homicide detective Jack Oliver to help her catch the cat-napper before its too late in Cat Got Your Cash, the endearing second Kitty Couture mystery from Julie Chase.


INTERVIEW WITH JULIE CHASE

Julie, do you write every day?
Yes! But I try to take one weekend day off. (It doesn’t always work out.) I typically write Monday through Friday from the time my youngest child’s school bus leaves until my oldest child’s bus comes home. It’s a constant and ongoing affair, writing. The work never ends because my brain never rests, and the juggle/struggle is real. Being a mom who is engaged in the three miraculously full lives of her offspring while pursuing a personal dream is hard. Daunting, even. And some days it’s flat out impossible, but I never stop trying. I also write after they are asleep at night, and I get up at 5am for a jump-start on the work, before their alarms begin dragging them from bed. 

What do you wish you’d done differently when you first started the publishing process?
I wish I would have taken more time getting started. I tend to run headlong at my goals, full speed ahead, and I think if I could do it over again, I would have taken my time getting those first stories published. I wouldn’t have rushed to find an agent. I would have honed my craft and waited for the right opportunities, right presses, right representation, before entering the industry. But, that’s not like me at all, so… *laughs* The important thing is that I have all that now. I just wish I would’ve slowed down at the beginning and made better choices early on.

What books do you currently have published?
I’ve just finished a romantic suspense manuscript that will release in February 2018 from Harlequin Intrigue. That will be my twenty-first published novel. There are currently about sixteen out there in the wild. Some sweet romance. Some young adult. Cat Got Your Secrets, the third book in this Kitty Couture Mysteries series will release in September, and my first Christmas cozy, The Twelve Slays of Christmas (written as Jacqueline Frost) releases in October. My dance card is filling up fast!


Is writing your dream job?
Yes! I was thirty-three before I had any idea that I could be an author. I’d never given much thought to how books got on shelves until I saw an interview with Stephenie Meyer (the author of Twilight). She was a stay at home mother of three just like me, and she’d never written anything before Twilight, but she wound up on my bookshelf. That was all it took for me to be bitten by the writing bug. I walked away from that interview wondering if I too could write a novel. Turns out, I could! And I can’t imagine ever doing anything else.


What do you love about where you live?
Everything. I live in a semi-rural area of Ohio. The crime is low. The schools are good. We’ve got a great “small town” vibe here and a strong sense of community. People are friendly. Life moves a little slower. There are plenty of parks, tow paths, and rivers to get away and enjoy the beauty of nature or a day on the water. And the seasons. Wow. The seasons are magnificent. Absolutely mind-bogglingly gorgeous.


What’s your favorite thing to do on date night?
My favorite night out is a slow walk along a street of local shops with a coffee or an ice cream in hand and at least an hour lost in a book store.

What’s your favorite fast food? Chipotle! I LOVE the veggie bowl with white rice, fajitas, black beans, lettuce, cheese, guac, and tomato salsa. YUM.


Where is your favorite place to visit?
The ocean. I’m completely at peace there. Mesmerized by the sea air and endless movement, by the way the horizon meets the water. I think I am perhaps part mermaid.

What’s your least favorite chore?
Laundry. Good night. The Laundry! It never ever ends. There is no satisfaction from completing the chore because it’s never finished. And I hate it. 


Describe yourself in 5 words.
Kind. Compassionate. Loving. Fun. Determined.


What are you working on now?
I’m writing book 4 in the Kitty Couture Mysteries. Cat Got Your Crown, and so far, I’m in love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast, and the alter-ego of author Julie Anne Lindsey. Today she hopes to make readers smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie lives in rural Ohio with her fantastically patient husband and three spunky children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Connect with Julie:
Website  |   
Facebook  |   Twitter  |   Goodreads  

Buy the book: 
Amazon   |   B&N   |   BAM!  |  IndieBound

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FEATURED AUTHOR: RANDI PERRIN

Love has never been Cheryl Brigham’s plan. She’s not cut out for second dates, Love has never been Cheryl Brigham’s plan. She’s not cut out for second dates, relationships, or happily ever afters. All that changes when she’s on vacation in Paris. First dates lead to second dates, which leads to a whole lot more than she ever bargained for—but she knows it's all over when she returns home. That’s okay with her. When it’s no-strings-attached, what will Cheryl do when her heart gets tangled up?

Note: This is book of a series. While it is not necessary to read the predecessor, Virtue of Death, before reading this book, it is highly recommended.

INTERVIEW WITH RANDI  PERRIN

Randi, how did you get started writng?

I started writing poetry, actually. That’s how I was first published, back when I was thirteen. My degrees are in Journalism and Mass Communications so writing has always been there, it’s just at work I write non-fiction. But that never satisfied my soul, I always had something knocking at me. For years I denied the muse—I was in my early twenties, and I knew better than everyone, and writing wasn’t what I wanted to do, despite the fact sometimes ideas would come to me and not go away. When I had a health crisis, my entire perspective changed, and I realized life was too damn short not to do what you want to do, so I started writing. (You’ll actually see this referenced in the dedication of the first in the Earthbound Angels series, Virtue of Death.)

Do you write every day?

No. I don’t. I just don’t have it in me, I have to take a break from time-to-time, plus I would like the chance to hang out with my daughter before she hits her teenage years and hates me for existing. I’ll have plenty of time to write then when she’s slamming doors and avoiding me.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
Characters! I’m a big fan of letting the inmates run the asylum—I mean letting the characters write their story—so the moment they finally step up and throw my original plot for a loop is when it starts to get good. If the characters are strong and have a mind of their own, in my experience, the plot is better. I’ve started pieces where the characters never really became real for me, and those pieces were abandoned. I don’t believe in forcing it. When it’s ready to be written, it will be.

What books do you currently have published?

There’s the Earthbound Angels series and the first two books are out.Virtue of Death, which is Sera’s story, and Promises of Virtue, which is her best friend, Cheryl’s, story. There
will be one more in this series.

I’ve also got a m/m romance novella out, called Wreck You. This story is a slightly heavy
read, insomuch as it touches on addiction and depression. It’s a story of second chances and
miscommunication.

I’ve also been in an anthology here and there. There was Unintentional: North American
Edition, which is a collection of friends-to-lovers tales. In late April, I’ll be a part of another
anthology, called Food & Romance Go Together.

What’s the oldest thing you own and still use?
My husband?
No, really, I’m a book nerd like none other. When I was a teenager, I started collecting really old books, starting with a biography of Robert E. Lee from 1895 (don’t judge, I grew up in Virginia and we believe he walked on water there). I’ve learned how to spot good ones and some of my favorites include a dictionary from 1865; a first edition, fifth print of Gone With the Wind, a first edition, first print of Charlotte’s Web; and a printing of Mary Poppins with the spine printed upside down. I don’t crack the spines on these (for obvious reasons), but I do use them to make people jealous.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
Food Network.

I absolutely adore watching people cook, and I have since I was a kid. My mom used to catch me watching cooking shows on PBS before there was a Food Network. Virtue of Death actually features a baker, because I love baking (cheesecake is my specialty) and wanted to use all the cool baking knowledge I had both from experience and countless hours in front of Food Network shows.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

Paris, France and the surrounding areas (particularly the Loire Valley). I’ve been twice and if you asked me to start planning my next vacation tomorrow, I’d do it again. I just can’t get enough of it. There’s something so freakin’ cool about standing on the ground where French monarchy stood hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Therefore, it should come as no big shock that Promises of Virtue is all about Cheryl visiting the amazing places France has to offer. She’s obsessed with fine art, and there’s definitely plenty of it to spare in the City of Lights.

Would you rather be a movie star, sports star, or rock star?

Rock star. Oh, what I would give to be able to sing. I absolutely love music, so it seems a cruel joke that the tone-deaf fairy beat me mercilessly with the tone-deaf stick early in my life.

If you could be any movie star, sports star or rock star, who would you want to be?
Nicole Kidman, because she’s married to my favorite male on the planet, Keith Urban.

Have you ever killed off a character fictionally, as revenge for something someone did in real life?

So far, none of the characters I’ve killed have been based on real people, though my buddy Gen Ryan writes romantic suspense and she actually killed off a character based on a guy I was complaining about.
I have, however, written a villain with a particular person in mind. I have one novella that’s coming out this summer, called Anticipating Temptation, and one of my beta readers told me, “I want to throat punch Lee.” I laughed and told her that the person he was based on deserved it too.

What’s one thing that drives you crazy?

Just one? Come on, that’s hard. The list is long and distinguished.

Nope. Sorry. Gotta narrow it down.
All right, if I have to pick just one, I’d say poor grammar. I have a shirt that I’m surprised isn’t threadbare yet, because I wear it all the time. It says “I am silently correcting your grammar.” It’s true. Some people consider good looks a turn-on, for me, it’s if that person can speak the English language properly. (Okay, good looks doesn’t hurt. Neither does having a good sense of humor. Call me selfish, but I want all three.)

What’s in your refrigerator right now?

Half a gallon of milk, some leftover pizza, a quarter a bottle of red wine that I’m not really
digging, a whole bunch of Redd’s Apple Ales (I keep them on hand because I always bust out a #RejectionRedds for days when I receive a rejection.) Oh, yeah, there’s some healthy stuff in there like fruit, yogurt, and cheese, but you don’t want to hear about that.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?

The work-in-progress I’m working on now would be. It tackles some really dark issues that I have experienced in my life (so the emotion in it is coming from a very real place). Part of the difficulty stems from dredging up emotions I don’t want to feel again, part of it comes from the desire—nay, the need—to get it right to do the characters, and the people they are based on, justice.

You have a personal chef for the night. What would you ask him to prepare?

His name would be Gordon Ramsay and if Gordon Ramsay is in my kitchen, that man can prepare whatever the hell he wants. I’m a picky eater, but if he makes it, I’ll at least try it.

What’s your favorite smell?

I grew up in Virginia Beach (and that’s where Virtue of Death takes place!), so I spent a lot of time on the water. For me, it’s the very first whiff of salty sea air that hits my nostrils when I get home. Now, it’s really true of any beach, but all beaches I’ve been to smell different. (Believe it or not!) It’s a great smell elsewhere, but that first whiff of Sandbridge (my favorite beach back home), nothing can top that.

OTHER BOOKS BY RANDI PERRIN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Randi has spent her entire life writing in one form or another. In fact, if she wasn't writing, she'd likely go completely and utterly insane. Her husband has learned to recognize when the voices are talking in her head and she needs some quality time with an empty Word file (the key to a successful marriage with a writer).
A pop-culture junkie, she has been known to have entire conversations in movie quotes and/or song lyrics. (You'll see this come up in her writing as well.)

She is the author of Virtue of Death, Promises of Virtue, Wreck You, and a story included in the anthology Unintentional.

 
Connect with Randi:
Website  |    Facebook  |  Twitter  |   Goodreads   |   Pinterest   |  Instagram 

Buy the book:
Hot Tree Publisher   |    Amazon  

GUEST POST WITH STEVE HOCKENSMITH

ABOUT THE BOOK

Reformed con artist-turned-tarot reader Alanis McLachlan gets paid for predicting the future—too bad she didn’t see all the trouble in hers. First a figure from her past tries to drag her back into the life of crime she thought she’d left behind. Then a new suitor tries to sweep Alanis off her feet, forcing her on-again, off-again romance with hunky teacher Victor Castellanos to hit the skids. And then there’s the little matter of the client who gets an ominous reading from Alanis . . . and is promptly murdered. Danger is in the cards for Alanis, and she’ll need all her skill at reading people and reading tarot if she’s going to survive.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

A great read . . . ~Babs Book Bistro

This is a funny mystery filled with con men, an investigative reporter, mafia types, old ladies with uzis, a pony-tailed German man, and a touch of the occult. ~Teresa Trent, Author  

 

Give the Devil His Due is another fun addition to the Tarot Mystery Series. I must say that I am really enjoying this series! ~Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf 

I really love the layout of this book, you aren’t left guessing what the cards look like, they are in the book! An author that dots his i’s and crosses his t’s.

~Bibliophile Reviews 

In this book there’s mystery, action, a little bit of melodrama and humour, perfect for anyone searching a good read! ~Varietats

GUEST POST WITH STEVE HOCKENSMITH

Musicians, I’m guessing, are inspired by music. Painters are inspired by paintings. Sculptors are inspired by sculptures. People who make art out of cat fur are inspired by…well, cats, probably.  But filmmakers are inspired by films. Etc.

And, yes, writers are inspired by writing. But it seems to me that writers — and novelists, in particular — aren’t just inspired by work in their own field. They’re inspired by movies and TV shows and songs, too. Maybe even by art made out of cat fur. (Coming soon to a bookstore near you — Macaramé Is Meow-der: A Cat Fur Art Mystery.)

The Tarot Mystery series I do with Lisa Falco was — surprise surprise — inspired by tarot cards. Lisa’s a great tarot reader, and her deep knowledge of the deck has been woven into each book. (The latest is Give the Devil His Due, I should mention. Because you know what else inspires writers? Sales!)
But it’s not just the tarot that made the series what it is. There were other influences, too. Influences like —

A book: I loved the way Mma Precious Ramotswe, the hero of Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, helps her clients by solving mysteries that seem (when judged by the high bar set by, say, contemporary thrillers) low key and down to earth. Lisa and I wanted our tarot-reading hero, Alanis McLachlan, to do the same thing. We ended up straying a bit from that — the murder mystery in Give the Devil His Due is probably the wildest, wackiest one of the series — yet I think we’ve stayed true to our vision of Alanis as a sleuth who doesn’t just ask “Whodunnit?” but “Howyadoin'?” as well.

A series of movies: Alanis doesn’t have a socialite wife or a terrier, but like Nick Charles, the detective hero of the classic '30s and '40s Thin Man films, she’s got a breezy attitude and a shady past. Before I even knew I was a fan of the mystery genre, I watched those old movies over and over and over again. So when I finally started writing mysteries of my own, there was no way I could keep Nick’s irrepressible bonhomie out of my protagonist. (Big Red Amlingmeyer, the narrator of my “Holmes on the Range” mysteries, has it, too.)

A TV show: Speaking of irrepressible bonhomie, The Avengers has got it wall to wall. And I’m not talking about Captain America’s sprightly banter with Iron Man. The Avengers I’m talking about didn’t wear tights. Well, one of them kind of did. John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel, the superspy team at the heart of the eccentric 1960s series The Avengers, solved mysteries while swilling champagne and sporting the grooviest Carnaby Street threads. (Mrs. Peel’s outfits usually had only enough threads to cover her body very, very tightly indeed.) While the series was goofier than the Tarot Mystery books, the light tone was an inspiration, as were the title cards that hinted at events about to unfold. (From an episode called “The Joker: Steed trumps an ace; Emma plays a lone hand.”) The latter we repurposed in the structure of our novels, with an interpretation of a tarot card opening its chapter and teasing what’s to come.

Cat fur art: You’ve just combed your kitty as a good pet owner should, and now it’s time to peel off and throw away all the excess hair stuck to the brush. But wait! Don’t you know you can make finger puppets with that?!? Inspired by the DIY spirit of the cat fur art movement, Lisa and I….

Oh, alright — I admit it. Cat fur art hasn’t had any influence on the Tarot Mystery series. Although — true story! — the illustrator who did the cover for the first book tried to slip in a cat even though there wasn't one in the book. Maybe he was like, "This is a cozy, right?" So I added a cat to the second book . . .  and then the cat didn't make it onto the cover.

I guess that's what I get for taking inspiration from something as far-out as the cover illustration . . . 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Hockensmith’s first novel, Holmes on the Range, was a finalist for the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony and Dilys awards. He went on to write four sequels as well as a pair of bestselling follow-ups to the international publishing sensation Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. More recently, he wrote (with collaborator “Science Bob” Pflugfelder) the middle-grade mysteries Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab and Nick and Tesla’s Robot Army Rampage.

Connect with Steve:

Website    |   Facebook  |   Twitter  |   Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon   |   B&N

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Twenty Questions with Edith Maxwell

ABOUT THE BOOK

Quaker midwife Rose Carroll is enjoying the 1888 Independence Day evening fireworks with her beau when a teenaged Quaker mill girl is found shot dead. After a former slave and fellow Quaker is accused of the murder, Rose delves into the crime, convinced of the man's innocence. An ill-mannered mill manager, an Irish immigrant, and the victim's young boyfriend come under suspicion even as Rose's future with her handsome doctor suitor becomes unsure. Rose continues to deliver babies and listen to secrets, finally figuring out one criminal―only to be threatened by the murderer, with three lives at stake. Can she rescue herself, a baby, and her elderly midwifery teacher in time?

 

TWENTY QUESTIONS

Love or money? Love.

Plain or peanut? (M&Ms) Peanut, of course!

Beef or chicken? Chicken.

Coffee or tea? Coffee, but mostly dark roast decaf because I weaned myself from caffeine twenty years ago.

Oxford comma: yes or no? Of course!

Hardback or Kindle? Hardback when I can find it and I’m not traveling.

Salty or sweet? Salty.

City or country? Country, for sure.

Dog or cat? 3 cats!

Fame or fortune? Hmm. Neither? I guess I’ll go for fame.

Laptop or desktop? Laptop, but a large one I can see the screen and use a decent keyboard.

Health food or junk food? Healthy food.

Mountains or beach? Beach. Ah, toes in warm sand.

Gourmet or diner? Gourmet.

Sweet or unsweet? (Tea of course.) Unsweet.

Humor or drama? Drama.

Dr. Seuss or Mr. Spock? Dr. Seuss.

Halloween or Christmas? Halloween – I LOVE getting into costume.

Spring or fall? Spring, after a long New England winter, is heaven.

Morning or night? Morning, for sure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Edith Maxwell is an Agatha-nominated and national bestselling mystery author who writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries. Delivering the Truth, featuring a Quaker midwife sleuth in 1888, released in 2016 and is nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery. Her story, "The Mayor and the Midwife," is the second Rose Carroll story to be nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Short Story. Called to Justice releases in 2017.

Edith also writes the Local Foods Foods Mysteries. Mulcho do About Murder releases in 2017. Edith once owned and operated the smallest certified-organic farm in Essex County, Massachusetts.

As Maddie Day, Edith writes the Country Store Mysteries set in southern Indiana. When the Grits Hit the Fan releases in 2017.

Maddie Day also writes the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, with Murder on Cape Cod debuting in 2018.

Bluffing is Murder, the second in Edith’s Lauren Rousseau mystery series written as Tace Baker, features a Quaker linguistics professor. Edith holds a PhD in linguistics.

Edith's short stories have appeared in more than a dozen juried anthologies and magazines. She is active in Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime and is President of SINC New England.

Edith, a fourth-generation Californian, has two grown sons and lives in an antique house north of Boston with her beau, their three cats, a small organic garden, and some impressive garden statuary. She worked as a software technical writer for almost two decades but now writes fiction full time.

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

Buy the book:
Amazon

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FEATURED AUTHOR: MADDIE DAY

ABOUT THE BOOK

Despite the bitter winter in South Lick, Indiana, business is still hot at Robbie Jordan’s Country Store restaurant. But when another murder rattles the small town, can Robbie defrost the motives of a cold-blooded killer? Robbie and her friend Lou go snowshoeing and find a contentious academic frozen under the ice. Police suspect Lou might have killed him after their public tiff in Pans ‘N Pancakes the night before. To prove her friend’s innocence, Robbie absorbs local gossip about the professor’s past and develops her own thesis on the homicide—even if that means stirring up terrible danger for herself along the way.

INTERVIEW WITH MADDIE DAY

Maddie, do you have a writing routine?
I am at my desk and writing every day (except Sunday) at seven. I work all morning on creative stuff, either first draft or revisions, then take my power walk. After lunch I use the afternoon for the business end of being an author: writing guest posts, arranging events, and finances. 

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
The middle. The beginning is fun, and anything can happen. The end is exciting and it's satisfying to wrap up the story and make the puzzle work. But the middle? It's hard to get my arms around the first hundred pages, remember everything that happened, and still keep the story moving forward toward the end. I always despair, and I always get through it. But it's not easy for me.

How often do you read?
Daily, but sometimes I don't get through many pages. I love being on vacation or even after a surgery when I can read a book a day.

What is your writing style?
In this series, my style is light and funny. I love finding quirky Southern phrases for my police lieutenant, Buck Bird, to utter.

Well, if you like quirky Southern phrases, you just might like my Goose Pimple Junction series! What books do you currently have published?
This is my third Country Store Mystery. Writing as Edith Maxwell I have two historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries, with Called to Justice the most recent (and at least three more in the future), and four Local Foods Mysteries. Number five in the latter series, Mulch Ado About Murder, will release in late May.

Is writing your dream job?
Yes! I've been a writer all my life (journalism, academic writing, tech writing), but creating mystery fiction full time is the best job I've ever had.


What is the worst job you’ve ever had?
One summer in high school I went door-to-door with Fuller Brush catalogs. I hated it.  I don't like making cold calls, and even for a political candidate I adore I refuse to do door-to-door canvassing. I just can't. But I'll talk to a group of readers I don't know any day!

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
Our local public television affiliate. But that's the only one I watch, anyway (and that, rarely).

How do you feel about Facebook?
My names are Maddie and Edith, and we're Facebook addicts. I love it! I like to keep up with friends, relatives on the other coast, fellow authors. I spend way too much time over there.

For what would you like to be remembered?
Besides being a great mom to two sons, I'd like to be remembered for taking my readers out of their worlds, giving them a great story to live in for a few days, and restoring justice to the fictional world by the end of the book.

What scares you the most?
You realize I make up scary stuff for a living, right? I have always had a way too vivid imagination. Any noise in our antique home at night, particularly when I'm alone, terrifies me. The stories get cranking in my brain far too easily.

I hear you. Would you make a good character in a book?
Maybe. I've been pretty adventurous in my life I've had a half dozen careers, lived in places like West Africa, Brazil, and Japan, and taken certain risks that others find amazing.

What do you love about where you live?
I love the history in my town, and that I can walk everywhere (and do).


What’s your favorite thing to do on date night?
Strolling a few blocks to our local bistro and having an excellent meal. We always split the chocolate hangover cake for dessert.


What’s your favorite beverage?
An excellent glass of red wine.

What is one of your happiest moments?
Gazing at my adult sons when they are both home together and cooking dinner, music on, jokes being exchanged, and the kitchen full of delectable smells. I never get enough of them.


What are you working on now?
I am writing the first Cozy Capers Book Group mystery, Murder on Cape Cod. I'm excited for this new series, and just got back from a solo writing retreat week on Cape Cod where the books are set, soaking up flavors, accents, and scenery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

National best-selling author Edith Maxwell is a 2017 double Agatha Award nominee for her historical mystery Delivering the Truth and her short story, “The Mayor and the Midwife.” She writes the Quaker Midwife Mysteries and the Local Foods Mysteries; as Maddie Day she writes the Country Store Mysteries and the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries. Her award-winning short crime fiction has appeared in many juried anthologies, and she is honored to served as president of Sisters in Crime New England. A fourth-generation Californian and former tech writer, farmer, and doula, Maxwell now writes, cooks, gardens, and wastes time as a Facebook addict north of Boston with her beau and three cats.



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

Sales links:
Amazon

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FEATURED AUTHOR: ABBY L. VANDIVER

 ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s the sixth installment of an Amazon #1 Best Selling cozy mystery series by Author Abby Vandiver! South Seas Shenanigans continues the adventures of amateur sleuths, Logan Dickerson, archaeologist, and Vivienne Pennywell, aka, Miss Vivee - a five-foot nothing, ninety-something Voodoo herbalist.

Fans of this series have enjoyed the unusual, rarely heard causes of death that only Miss Vivee and her new husband can recognize, and this one doesn’t disappoint! Sail away on a Fijian paradise vacation with Logan, Miss Vivee and Mac as they suffer the shenanigans of a prankster, dance the Meke, and solve an untimely death. Oh, wait! Did I say “a” death? Make that two! Can you guess whodunit?

Additionally, Abby is offering a boxed set of the first three books in the series. Both South Seas Shenanigans and the Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery Boxed Set were released March 29, 2017. Meanwhile, Abby had only planned to write one more book in the series, but in listening to her fans, she has decided to continue writing the series a little longer. Check out her website for more information.

INTERVIEW WITH ABBY VANDIVER

Abby, how did you get started writing?
A college professor didn’t believe I wrote an assignment because she said my grammar was bad, but the writing was so good that I should be writing prose. The two didn’t mix for her. I tried to improve my writing, and then later found I was a natural.

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
My favorite thing is making people laugh. But it’s really hard. I’m funny in person, but to do that on paper is more difficult than I’d thought.

Do you have a writing routine?
I write thoughts and characters down in a notebook. I scribble in the margins, on the sides, bottom, and back of the pages. My son told me it looked like the writing of a madman. Actually, it’s just the beginning of my book.

Do you write every day?   
I try to write every day, but life gets in the way. But there is always a story going on in my head. Sometimes I have to write down ideas and conversations on napkins and receipts so I don’t forget them.

I can relate. What do you wish you’d done differently when you first started the publishing process?
Learned about writing. I wrote well, especially persuasive, scholarly papers, but boy is that different. I learned so much about the “rules” of writing after I published my first book.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Staying on track. I just have so many things I want to say – to share with my readers. But everything in my head doesn’t belong in a book.

What’s more important – characters or plot? (You cannot say both!)
Both!! Haha. No. I think it’s the characters, right? They drive the plot. When you figure out who they how, how they react, then you know what will happen with the story. You should of course have a plot in mind when you start writing. That always helps.

What books do you currently have published?
I have about ten books. Three sci-fi-ish mystery books, six cozy mysteries, an historical fiction novel, and a Kindle Worlds book based on A.G. Riddle’s Atlantis Gene. I also have a short story in an anthology that I keep saying I’m going to make into a novel. So far, that’s only an idle threat.


What’s the oldest thing you own and still use?
My fingers and toes.

That's cheating! Is writing your dream job?
Yes!


If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
It used to be MSNBC, but now it’s HGTV.

How do you feel about Facebook?
Facebook should not be for people to post all the happenings and drama in their life. I post info on my books, and sometimes I get suckered into debates, which I immediately regret after I post.

Would you make a good character in a book?
Yes. And I am a character in one of my books. Read them and see if you can guess!

What’s one thing you never leave the house without (besides your phone)?
I will definitely leave home with my cell phone. I usually don’t know where it is. But the answer is glasses. I need them for distance.

What’s your favorite beverage?
Pepsi. I think it’s a panacea.

What drives you crazy?
There are so many things that drive me crazy, consequently crazy is my normal state of being.

What is your superpower?
I have a way with people. 


What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
I like to do nothing. Sometimes I don’t even turn on the television or the radio. I just enjoy the company of me.

Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Yes, and boy did reviewers hate that character!

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
South Euclid/Lyndhurst Library (Shhh! I’m there now).


Five Fives

5 things you need in order to write: The internet, paper to write on, a pen, a computer, and somewhere I can work out the story out loud.

5 things you never want to run out of: Vaseline, ice, love, tweezers, and wrinkle cream.

5 favorite foods: Pizza, chicken, Stouffer’s Mac & Cheese, pork chops, and BBQ ribs.

5 things you always put in your books: Humor, mystery, true facts, personalities of people I know, and the copyright page.

5 favorite places you’ve been: Nicaragua, Jamaica, Montreal, Aruba, and Lakeview Cemetery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Through her various occupations, Abby discovered her love of writing. She'd always been told she had a gift for telling stories, combining the two, she became an author.



Her debut novel, the mystery/sci-fi, In the Beginning, Book I in the Mars Origin "I" Series was an Amazon #1 bestseller. It was written on a whim, packed away, and rediscovered some twelve years later. After publishing it in 2013, Abby decided to make writing a full-time endeavor. She's penned a slew of novels since then and has even more in her head. Although she writes mostly mystery, she has co-authored a historical/women's fiction novel with author and friend, Kathryn Dionne, under the pen name Kathryn Longino. Currently she is working on several cozy mystery series, including the Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery Series which was an Amazon #1 International Best Seller and soon-to-be released Normal Junction Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series.


A former lawyer and college professor, Abby has a bachelor's degree in Economics, a master's in Public Administration, and a Juris Doctor. A lifetime resident of Cleveland, Ohio, Abby spends all of her time writing and enjoying her wonderful grandchildren.

Connect with Abby:

Website  |  Blog  |  
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery Boxed Set   |  South Seas Shenanigans

FEATURED AUTHOR: MELINDA MULLET

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Abi Logan inherits her uncle’s quaint and storied single malt distillery, she finds herself immersed in a competitive high-stakes business that elicits deep passions and prejudices. An award-winning photojournalist, Abi has no trouble capturing the perfect shot—but making the perfect shot is another matter. When she starts to receive disturbing, anonymous threats, it’s clear that someone wants her out of the picture. But Abi’s never been one to back down from a fight.

Arriving on the scene with her whisky-loving best friend, Patrick, and an oversized wheaten terrier named Liam, Abi seems to put everyone in the bucolic village on edge—especially her dour but disturbingly attractive head distiller. Acts of sabotage and increasingly personal threats against Abi make it clear that she is not welcome. When one of Abi’s new employees is found floating facedown in a vat of whisky, Abi is determined to use her skills as an investigative journalist to identify the cold-blooded killer and dispense a dram of justice before he strikes again. But distilling truth from lies is tricky, especially when everyone seems to have something to hide.



INTERVIEW WITH MELINDA MULLET

Melinda, how did you get started writing?
I’ve always written, but I was forced to do a lot of very dry writing in my time as a lawyer. I was burnt out on it for a while, but then after I exited the profession I found my desire to write for pleasure coming back. We were in Scotland on vacation one year, and I’d been following my husband around a tour of the Speyside whisky distilleries. By the time we hit distillery number 437 I found myself thinking that the giant wooden vats would make a great place to find a dead body. (Other mystery lovers will understand that is not an abnormal thought, nor is it a subconscious desire to be rid of my whisky loving husband.) From there I started writing the Whisky Business Mystery series and the rest, as they say, is history.

I totally understand that thought. What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
Working out the characters and the little puzzles that they are dealing with. I’m a bit of a control freak so I like being able to work alone and to set puzzles that I would enjoy reading and solving. I usually end up with index cards all over the floor tracking the flow of the plot line. 

Do you write every day?
Every day I can. Usually four or five out of seven. With two kids, a husband, a large dog and an aging mother there are usually a string of other demands on my time on the weekends and evening, but I do what I can.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Deadlines. When you are on a deadline you have to write even when the words aren’t flowing. It’s frustrating, but it’s part of the discipline. It’s definitely more fun when you are in a good place and the prose is coming quickly and efficiently.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
Characters. Having a good plot is important, but especially in series, if you have a strong character and a setting that readers enjoy and feel comfortable in they will cut some slack on the plot line. It’s like watching your favorite TV show. Not every episode is brilliant, but if you have an affection for the characters they are like family and you enjoy your time with them even if they aren’t being aren’t in top form on any given day.

How often do you read?
Every day. I love a good mystery, but I also read a lot of biographies. Right now I’m reading Nick Mason’s and Misty Copeland’s bios. Both are fascinating by the way.

What books do you currently have published? 
Single Malt Murder is my first work of fiction. The second novel in the Whisky Business series is Death Distilled and it will be out in the Fall of this year.


Is writing your dream job? 
Absolutely!  It’s creative and cathartic, and it allows me to (usually) give my family the attention they deserve and to pursue other things that I am passionate about. I work with a number of literacy charities both here and overseas. I’m especially thrilled about working with an organization called Room to Read. They do many wonderful things to support girl’s education around the globe, but I’m most excited to support their work recruiting and training indigenous authors and artists in developing countries to help them create and publish meaningful native language children’s literature. It is virtually impossible to raise the level of literacy in a society without age appropriate content. With the help of Room to Read these authors are bringing culturally relevant stories to life for the first time. As they say, World Change Starts with Educated Children. I could go on forever but check out the web site, they are really a phenomenal organization.

How often do you tweet?
Whenever I see something that strikes me as odd or funny. The new local gun store and café is a good example. Interesting concept, get folks jacked up on caffeine and then sell them a firearm. Not sure how well this plan was thought out.

What drives you crazy?
Apathy. Can’t stand people who are apathetic. Politically, socially, professionally. I guess I usually find that people who are apathetic are people who haven’t bothered to inform themselves. In our society with all of the sources of information bombarding you every day there really is no excuse for ignorance. So to the opposite extreme, I love people who are passionate about what they do. Enthusiastic and energized  no matter what it is. 

What is your superpower?
Organization. Not sure if it’s a useful superpower, but it’s what I have to work with. I end up organizing everyone in the house much to their chagrin, but I always have a dozen projects on the go at one time. It would be impossible to keep up with out a system.


What do you wish you could do?
Sing! I am a frustrated Broadway diva. I’d love to be able to do musical theater. Phantom, Les Mis, Evita, maybe even one of the Schuyler sisters.  

What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
Curl up with a good book and a glass of whisky. Mysteries are my favorite. I’m very partial to Elizabeth George and Dorothy Sayers – and Macallan. 

What about Amy Metz? I hear her books are pretty good! ツ Where is your favorite place to visit?
Hands down London. My family is British, although I’ve lived all over the world. Touching down at Heathrow always brings me a sense of homecoming. I step out of the airport and get that first whiff of diesel and cold rain and I’m in heaven. Sounds weird, but we all have our happy place and that is mine. Theatre, shopping, museums, and believe it or not even the food. England gets a bad rap on the food front, but some of the best Indian food you’ll find anywhere is in London. Historically the problem has been bad cooks not bad food. My aunts could boil the life out of perfectly fresh lovely veggies, but that’s changing. British chefs have become so much more aware of the quality of the raw ingredients available to them and they are showcasing them beautifully.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
The library at Trinity College Dublin. It’s absolutely everything I think a library should be. It’s like a cathedral dedicated to the written word. Two stories high in the main reading room with polished wood shelves from top to bottom, and old fashioned rolling ladders to reach the dusty tomes at the top. 


How do you like your pizza?
Neopolitan. Thin and crispy with tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese. But Jimmy Buffett is right it truly is the eighth deadly sin.


What is the wallpaper on your computer’s desktop?
A picture of Lin-Manuel Miranda with my daughter. She is over the moon and he is such an incredible human being. I love his enthusiasm for everything in life. Such joy -- it’s contagious. Looking at that snapshot just makes me happy.


Describe yourself in 5 words. 
Over-extended, but disciplined. Festive even though I’m flawed, but most of all happy. Great question by the way. In the Whisky Business series, my protagonist, Abi, always makes a note of the first three words that pop into her head to describe someone she’s interviewed or photographed. She doesn’t always understand the significance of her verbal sketch right away, but the meaning comes into focus in the end. Instinct or insight, it hasn’t failed her yet and the best of her portraits always captured the essence of the crucial three words.

What is your favorite movie?
Lord of the Rings. Extended cut with background materials.  Bring it on!

What are you working on now?
I’m working on book three of the Whisky Business Series – In the Still of the Night. I’m also working on a more personal project, a mystery based loosely on my grandmother’s family. My gran was born in London in the late 1800’s.  She was the son of a lamplighter who spent his evenings lighting the gas lamps of London and then had time to kill until he had to go back out at dawn to extinguish them all. He chose to fill that gap in time honored tradition and he and his wife ended up having 18 children. The kids all came of age between WW1 and WW2. The family has some fascinating stories from my great uncles that died building the Burma road, to those who helped plan the evacuation of Dunkirk. There were journalists, artists, lawyers, secretaries, and laborers, but I was most intrigued by the siblings we knew very little about. It gave me the idea for a mystery about a woman trying to discover why one set of twins out of a family of 18 went missing and are never spoken of. Almost as if they never existed and yet they clearly did. It’s a more historical mystery but the roots are very intimate and personal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melinda Mullet was born in Dallas and attended school in Texas, Washington D.C., England, and Austria. She spent many years as a practicing attorney before pursuing a career as a writer. Author of the Whisky Business Mystery series, Mullet is a passionate supporter of childhood literacy. She works with numerous domestic and international charities striving to promote functional literacy for all children. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her whisky-loving husband, two exceptional young women she is proud to call her daughters, and an obedience school drop out named Macallan.




Connect with Melinda:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon 


 

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