GUEST POST WITH TRACY KIELY

ABOUT THE BOOK

The play’s the thing, but it’s the star-studded after-party that sends sparks flying

Thrilled that their friend’s Broadway debut was a rousing success, Nic and Nigel Martini, along with Nic’s college pal Harper, are trying to enjoy the exclusive after-party. Unfortunately, all the champagne and repartee in the world aren’t enough to overlook the churlish behavior of Harper’s husband, Dan. Nic is shocked the next morning when she learns that Dan’s been murdered. Nigel thinks the world may be a better place without him.

Still, Harper’s their friend and they’re intent on helping her any way they can. The Martinis will stop at nothing—with the possible exception of cocktails and walks with their bull mastiff Skippy—to see that the killer ends up behind bars.

GUEST POST WITH TRACY KIELY

“Come, come, Mr. Bond. You disappoint me. You get as much fulfillment out of killing as I do, so why don't you admit it?” - Scaramanga

I was recently re-watching the movie The Trip and came across the scene in which the two main characters argue over who does the better James Bond imitation. The argument eventually shifts to Bond villains, and the men take turns repeating the above line with varying degrees of silky menace. It’s a great bit, especially when it devolves into the two trying to maintain the quiet evil of the delivery all while drinking from a glass of wine. 

Villains, as we all know, are bad, nasty people. They cheat, steal, lie, and kill with nary a bit of remorse. Many times this reprehensible behavior can be traced back to an abusive upbringing, such as the one experienced by Austin Powers’ Dr. Evil: “My childhood was typical: summers in Rangoon ... luge lessons ... In the spring, we'd make meat helmets ... When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds — pretty standard, really.” In other cases, their evil stems from trying to play God by altering their human form, such as Voldermort, Dorian Gray, or any of the villains from the Marvel Comic Books.

But no matter what their childhood woe or genetic tinkering, all villains seem to share one important trait and that, to paraphrase Martin Blank, is that their psych profile fits “a certain moral flexibility” that lends itself well to killing.

Personally, I think it would be a blast to write over-the-top characters like Dr. Evil. How could you not enjoy writing for a character who says things like, “You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads! Now evidently my cycloptic colleague informs me that that cannot be done. Ah, would you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here! What do we have?”

Although my books are humorous, my villains aren’t in the same category as Dr. Evil.  Very few could be. However, I do have fun with my bad guys because I can make them say and do all the sorts of outrageous things that one can’t (or at least shouldn’t) do in real life. And up until the killing part, I think we all have moments when we’d just love to let loose on someone. Another benefit to writing a villain is having my protagonist respond to them in kind. And since most of the time my villains are composites of annoying people that I’ve encountered over the years, it’s somewhat therapeutic to tell them off and have them hauled off the jail.  

Over the years, however, I’ve realized that I can only deal with a certain level of evil. While in college, I read Thomas Harris’ The Red Dragon, and I didn’t sleep for at least a week. Harris’ character, serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, had me lying in my bed at night staring at the doorknob in case it began to turn. It took me a week to finish the book, but the unspeakable evil of embodied in the character of Dolarhyde messed with me for months afterwards. I don’t know how long it took Harris to write his book, but I’m certain it was longer than a week. I can’t imagine having to sit down every day, month after month, and put myself in a brain that demented and devoid of humanity.
So, while I enjoy my villains, I can only take them so far down the path of evil. To paraphrase Jane Austen, I’d say of them that, “of some delights a little goes a long way.” 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy Kiely is a self-proclaimed Anglophile (a fact which distresses certain members of her Irish Catholic family). She grew up reading Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and watching Hitchcock movies. She fell in love with Austen’s wit, Christie’s clever plots, and Hitchcock’s recurrent theme of “the average man caught in extraordinary circumstances.”

After spending years of trying to find a proper job that would enable her to use her skills garnered as an English major, she decided to write a book. It would, of course, have to be a mystery; it would have to be funny; and it would have to feature an average person caught up in extraordinary circumstances. She began to wonder how the characters in Pride and Prejudice might fit into a mystery. What, if after years of living with unbearably rude and condescending behavior, old Mrs. Jenkins up and strangled Lady Catherine? What if Charlotte snapped one day and poisoned Mr. Collins’ toast and jam? Skip ahead several years, and several different plot ideas, and you have her first mystery Murder at Longbourn.

While she does not claim to be Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, or Hitchcock (one big reason being that they’re all dead), she has tried to combine the elements of all three in her books.

Connect with Tracy:
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Buy the book:
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FEATURED AUTHOR: SHARON PAPE

ABOUT THE BOOK

Twenty-something Kailyn Wilde has learned to embrace her unpredictable life as a descendant of small-town New Camel’s most magickal family. She just didn’t expect to inherit her mother and grandmother’s centuries-old shop, Abracadabra, so suddenly. The surprises keep coming when Kailyn goes to finalize the estate at the local attorney’s office—and stumbles over the body of her best friend Elise’s husband . . .

 As a brash detective casts the blame on Elise, Kailyn summons her deepest powers to find answers and start an investigation of her own. What with running a business, perfecting ancient spells, and keeping up with an uninvited guest of fabled origins, Kailyn has her hands full. But with the help of her uncanny black cat Sashkatu and her muumuu-clad Aunt Tilly, she’s closing in on a killer—who will do anything to make sure she never tests her supernatural skills again!


INTERVIEW WITH SHARON PAPE

Sharon, how did you get started writing? 
I’m not quite sure. In first grade we were taught to write sentences, so I went home and wrote my first short story, "Wild Horse Valley." I drew a cover for it too. My teacher showed it to the school librarian who put it on display. From that day on, writing has always been a part of my life in one form or another. Even when I’m working on a book, other book ideas are spinning in the back of my mind.

Do you write every day?
Yes, because I suffer from chronic migraines, and I have to write whenever I am able to.
Then again, maybe I would write everyday anyway. When I’m working on a book, it’s always running in my head no matter what else I may be doing. I think my subconscious works on plot points and characters all the time. 

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
As much as I love writing, there are definitely days when the hardest part is putting my butt down in the chair at the computer.

What’s more important – characters or plot?
Can I say it depends? Most literary fiction is character driven.  Most genre books, like mysteries, are plot driven. That’s not to say that characters aren’t important in genre books.
It’s up to them to engage the reader and bring the plot to life.

How often do you read? 
Whenever I can —doctors’ waiting rooms are great places to read. Otherwise it’s wasted time.  Flying is another good time to dive into a book. It makes the time pass more quickly. I’m in a small book club and having a scheduled meeting forces me to make the time to read.

What books do you currently have published?
I’d have to go back to my first book that was published by PocketBooks in the ‘80s. I reissued it a couple of years ago under the title, For Everything a Season. After that I wrote The Godchildren and The Portal; all three were paranormal. In recent years, I've been writing cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist and a dash of humor. The Portrait of Crime series includes: Sketch Me If You Can, To Sketch a Thief, Sketch a Falling Star and Sketcher in the Rye. The Crystal Shop series has just the first book at this time, Alibis and Amethysts.

My new Abracadabra series debuts on May 2 with Magick & Mayhem. The second book, That Olde White Magick, will be released on November 7th. I’m presently working on the third book, entitled Magick Run Amok.

Do you have any secret talents?
Nope, not a one.

Is writing your dream job?
Absolutely!


How often do you tweet?
I know I don’t tweet enough, but when I have to choose between writing, reading, and tweeting, tweeting comes in third.

How do you feel about Facebook?
It’s a great way to engage with readers and other writers. My adult kids too. I think that young people probably share too much on Facebook and other social media. I’m from a different generation and have always been a very private person.

For what would you like to be remembered?
For being kind, for being a good wife, mother, daughter, and friend. For being a good listener if someone needs to talk, and for being a strong shoulder when talking is not enough. And, of course, for providing entertainment with my books, because we all need a little escape from reality in our lives!

What scares you the most?
Aside from normal worries about the welfare of my loved ones, there’s an item I read recently that I find truly frightening. Here it is paraphrased—As fast as technology is changing right now, it will never be this slow again.  WHAT???? I can barely keep up now!!!

What do you love about where you live?
The change of seasons, though I could definitely do without winter. I also love the Long Island beaches. I spent every summer of my childhood and teenage years at the beach. It’s even where I met my husband. I don’t get there as often anymore, but I’ve always loved walking on the sand at the ocean’s edge. 


What’s your favorite thing to do on date night?
I love to go out to dinner with friends — couples we’ve known for a very long time. We’ve supported each other through child-rearing ups and downs, illnesses and joys, empty nests, and the decline and loss of elderly parents. When we go out together we can always count on a lot of laughter, because we know each other so well.

What's the biggest lie you ever told?
When I met my husband he was eighteen and I told him I was sixteen — I was really only fourteen. My mom wouldn’t let me continue to date him unless I told him the truth. I thought I’d probably never see him again. Was I ever wrong.

What’s your favorite fast food?

Pizza—I’m not crazy about most other fast food, unless we’re talking ice cream.

What’s your favorite beverage?
A chocolate ice cream soda, but I would never turn down any flavor.

What is your superpower?

It probably doesn’t qualify as a superpower, but I’m like a weird magnet —strangers will often tell me their troubles whether it’s on line in the grocery store, in a doctor’s office, or other random places. It’s really odd.

What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
There’s never nothing to do!!

Where is your favorite place to visit?
Sedona, Arizona—one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  I was first there in the ‘80s and have been back dozens of times since then. I just wish they would stop all the building there. It should have been made into a national park a long time ago.

What’s your least favorite chore?
Cleaning the house, because it just gets dirty again, and ironing because I put more wrinkles in than I take out!


Do you procrastinate?
Who doesn’t? Oh wait—I have a friend who does everything ahead of time.

What’s in your refrigerator right now?
Nothing all that interesting, but in the freezer there are four half gallons of ice cream, an absolute minimum in my house.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” -George Eliot

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
I recently wrote the eulogy for my mother’s funeral. She was such an amazing mom and best friend, it was hard to capture all that she was in a short speech.

What’s your favorite song?

I love a lot of very different songs from early rock to pop to country: "The Song Remembers When" by Trisha Yearwood, "I loved Her First" by Heartland, "Halleluiah" by Jeff Buckley, "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner, almost any ballad by Elvis Presley to mention just a few.

If you had to choose a cliché about life, what would it be?

It’s not a cliché, but I love my grandmother’s words whenever things weren’t going right: “The first hundred years are the hardest.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sharon’s first novel, Ghostfire, was published by PocketBooks and went on to be condensed in Redbook magazine (the first paperback original the magazine had ever condensed). Redbook also published her first short story. Two books later, her writing career came to a grinding halt when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Once she was back on her feet, she joined the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program as a volunteer and went on to run the program for Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. In 2000, with the help of her surgical oncologist and two other volunteers, she started Lean On Me, a nonprofit that provides peer support and information to breast cancer patients. She says that the thousands of women whose lives she touched have enriched her own life beyond measure.  When Lean On Me celebrated its tenth anniversary and no longer required as much of her time, she found her way back to her first love— writing. Since then, she’s been writing cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist: the Portrait of Crime series for Berkley Prime Crime, the Crystal Shop series for Berkley Intermix and her new Abracadabra series for Kensington’ Lyrical imprint. Magick & Mayhem is the first book in that series.   

Connect with Sharon:

Website  |  Blog  |   
Facebook  |  Twitter  |   Goodreads
 
Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Nobel    

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CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH GAYLE LEESON'S AMY FLOWERS

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the latest Southern cozy from the author of The Calamity Café, small-town chef Amy Flowers can’t take her freedom for granted when she’s served up as a murder suspect . . .


It's Independence Day in Winter Garden, Virginia, and the residents are gearing up for their annual celebration. The Down South Café is open and flourishing, and Amy Flowers is busy making pies and cakes for the holiday. The only thorn in her side is Chamber of Commerce director George Lincoln, who is trying to buy the café so he can tear it down and build a B&B on the site.
When George collapses while eating at the Down South, everybody assumes it's a heart attack—until the autopsy declares it to be poisoning. Now, it’s up to Amy to prove her innocence before her liberty is lost.
Includes delicious Southern recipes!

ABOUT THE CHARACTER

Amy Flowers finishing earning her degree in culinary school when her beloved Nana got sick. She came back to her hometown of Winter Garden, Virginia, to be close and got a job as a waitress at Lou’s Joint, a café owned by Lou Lou Holman. When Lou Lou was killed (see The Calamity Café), her son sold the café to Amy. Amy has since renovated the café and is enjoying a booming business. She’s currently gearing up for the town-wide Independence Day celebration.

INTERVIEW WITH GAYLE LEESON'S AMY FLOWERS

Note: this post was supposed to run on April 7, but then strokes happened and I ended up in the hospital. I apologize to Gayle and Amy for the delay.

Amy, how did you first meet Gayle?
I met Gayle at lunch one day. She got to talking to me about her grandmother and how close they were. She said she used to stand at her grandmother’s side and watch her cook. I told her we had that in common, and I started telling her all about Nana. That’s the thing about writers—once you get to talking with them, you never know what will wind up in a story.
Want to dish about her?
Gayle tends to get distracted sometimes. I mean, I realize she’s a mom and a wife, and she has pets, and she’s trying to run a business and everything, but I’m over here demanding her attention and telling her about my life. I mean, that’s what she wants, right? Trust me—when I shut up, she gets nervous. So I tell her, “This is our time together. Put all those other thoughts out of your mind and concentrate on what we’re doing here.” And some days are better than others, you know? Some days, she puts those fingers to the keyboard, and we’re able to get a lot accomplished. But other days, she says, “Amy, I’m sitting here writing about all this delicious food you’re fixing, and I have no idea what I’m going to make for dinner.”

Why do you think that your life has ended up being in a book?
I think it’s because I came upon my former boss—Lou Lou Holman—slumped over her desk dead. And then I became determined to find out who’d killed her. I mean, for one thing, I was a suspect, and for another, I wanted to buy that café. Would you want to eat food prepared by someone suspected of murder? So, I guess I have a pretty interesting life . . . even though it doesn’t always feel that way to me.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
I really enjoyed going to the Independence Day dance. The dance takes place in a converted barn, and it’s just a fabulous old place. Anyway, Aunt Bess was there, all decked out in her Independence Day finest, and she told me she was waiting for her date.  Come to find out, she’d used my mom’s photo for her profile on an online dating site. That poor man was so confused!

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
I enjoy looking through cookbooks to find new recipes. I also love reading and watching movies.
Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
I love my mom, Aunt Bess, and cousin Jackie. Jackie works with me at the café, and she’s like my right arm. Aunt Bess is a total hoot. She has discovered the Internet and likes to be on Pinterest. She has boards named People I’ve Outlived; Lord, Have Mercy; and Stuff I’d Like to Eat. The Stuff I’d Like to Eat board is filled with things Aunt Bess wants Jackie and me to cook for her. And we usually do.
That gorgeous deputy Ryan Hall is wonderful. He and I have been on a few dates since the murder case of Lou Lou Holman wrapped up. We couldn’t date before that because I was a suspect in her murder.
The only person in town I really have a problem with is George Lincoln. That man is as pushy as all get out. He wanted the café before I bought it. And now, even though I’ve put all this time, money, and work into it, he asks me just about every day to sell it to him so he can tear it down! He won’t take no for an answer.
If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
I’d love to take that gorgeous deputy I was telling you about, along with a picnic lunch, and go to the lake. We could rent a paddle boat or a canoe, have a picnic, and then sit on our blanket and watch the sunset.



What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?
I have to tell you, people must think I’m like a bartender except with food because they typically start to confide in me first thing. And it doesn’t stop when they’ve gotten to know me. I guess I just have one of those faces. Maybe I look trustworthy. I mean, I am trustworthy, but they don’t know that . . . at least, not at first, they don’t.



What's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
The absolute worst thing that ever happened in my life was the death of Nana. And about all I learned from that was that you never quite get over losing someone you love. The next worst thing was finding my former boss dead at her desk in the café office. That was terrible, but it taught me that I’m stronger than I realized.

Tell us about your best friend.
My best friend is my cousin Jackie. She’s just a little older than me, so it sometimes feels like we’re sisters instead of cousins. Aunt Bess is Jackie’s grandmother, and Jackie and I make Sunday lunch for Mom and Aunt Bess every week. Jackie is (finally) dating Roger. Roger has been our friend since we were kids, and there has been a special spark between the two of them for years. I finally talked him into asking her out. So far, so good. But if things go south, I’m afraid they’ll both blame me for it.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. She also writes as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, she write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee,  she writes the Embroidery Mystery series.
Gayle lives in Virginia with her family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. She's having a blast writing this new series!

Connect with Gayle:
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Buy the book:
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FEATURED AUTHOR: TERESA TRENT

ABOUT THE BOOK

Not everything stays buried. When Betsy, a notorious brown thumb gets roped into a gardening contest sponsored by the Pecan Bayou Gazette, she finds herself digging up more than weeds. She is ridiculed by the garden club ladies, and now her heart breaks for a newly single mom whose world has just collapsed.  The Happy Hinter is back so take some time to revisit the cozy little town of Pecan Bayou, Texas. Grab a glass of sweet tea before you turn the dirt in the garden and sit a spell with all your favorite characters who dole out heartfelt caring and compassion with a side of humor.  Till Dirt Do Us Part includes bonus recipes and helpful hints from Betsy’s column!




INTERVIEW WITH TERESA TRENT

Teresa, what books do you currently have published?
Till Dirt Do Us Part is the seventh book in my Pecan Bayou Series. I also have a brand-new series that takes place in Henry Park, Colorado. If you are just starting Pecan Bayou, I suggest you start at A Dash of Murder, although this book can stand alone. We’ve seen Betsy, the Happy Hinter go from being a single mom to a mother of three with a really her handsome meteorologist husband, Leo.

What would your main character say about you?
I think Betsy Livingston would probably get me together with her Aunt Maggie who is also the parent of a Down syndrome child. We’d laugh, we’d cry, and I’d enjoy some of Aunt Maggie’s excellent cooking.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
I have a third series that will be coming out in the future. This book has been edited by my agent and publisher, and I can tell you the entire book was emailed back to me several times with a list of changes. It was a frustrating process, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way.


Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?  
I love the Harris County Public Library in Houston, Texas. I am home with my son much of the time, but they have such a wonderful section on ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines that I visit their site every single day.

What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book in my Henry Park Series that features a psychic artist who sketches out clues to solving murders. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teresa Trent writes cozy mysteries that take place in small towns in Texas. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee but with her father in the military, didn't stay for long. She's lived all over but has a special place in her heart for Colorado, Illinois, and of course, Texas. 

Being a fan of the Andy Griffith Show and Murder She Wrote, she loves creating quirky small towns and colorful characters. She decided to feature a character with Down syndrome in the Pecan Bayou series because after giving birth to her son with DS, she discovered there were very few people like him in the world of cozy mysteries. Teresa lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, two of her adult children and a needy dachshund mix named Martin Luther. 

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

Buy the book:
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PICK UP A FREE COPY THROUGH MAY 5!!

FEATURED AUTHOR: PATTI LARSEN

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Poo Poo Kind of Morning

I tried not to look down the mouth of hell staring back at me from inside the glaringly pristine outer ceramic shell of the white throne, my throat catching, stomach doing half flips and a rather impressive rollover routine that would have gotten at least a 9.5 even from the Russian judges. Instead, I forced myself to smile and swallow and remind myself the elbow length yellow rubber gloves grasping the handle of the standard issue plunger were all that stood between me and Pooageddon.

Suck it up, Fee. Big girl panties and adulting and all that.

“At what point,” I waved the dripping plunger, wincing as droplets of yuck flew, “did I think owning a bed and breakfast was going to be glamorous and romantic?”

Fiona Fleming hasn’t lived in Reading, Vermont in over a decade, her escape from small town living leading her to New York City and a life of adventure. An adventure that has left her with no career, an ex who cheated on her and zero plans for the future. Her grandmother’s death grants her a new chance–inheriting Petunia’s, Iris Fleming’s bed and breakfast, seems like the ideal fresh start. But when Fee finds out ownership of the property Iris willed her might be in question, she’s drawn into the seedy underbelly of the cutest town in America after being singled out as the main suspect in a murder.

GUEST POST WITH PATTI LARSEN

I love writing long series. It’s just the way I’m wired. I find it hard to let go of characters I fall in step with, especially those that really tug at my heart. And Fiona is no exception. I knew from the moment she started chatting with me in her snarky, sarcastic way we’d be hanging out together for a fair stretch. She was my kind of girl. Sharp witted, a bit awkward, genuine and full of curiosity and that natural propensity for trouble that gave me endless story fodder. But I had no idea there were twelve books in her series until she laid it all out for me.

One book for each month of the year, over a three year period, her time. Okay then, Fee. If you say so.

Nice of her to be so accommodating. Because not all of my characters are, to be honest. I have one in particular who holds back most of what I need to know, only trickling out a book at a time. Fee, on the other hand? Not a secret between us. And just as well, too. Especially since she expected me to write them all very quickly and close together.

So, the secret thing? I should have known better. I was halfway through book two when she pointed out there was actually a thirteenth and oh, apologies, had she failed to mention that?

Grumble, mumble, bossy characters and building timelines.

Mind you, I’m not really complaining. How fun is it to spend all that time in a place you start to know as well as your own hometown, with people that make you laugh or get riled up or even set you off in tears? To brand out covers and swag and paperbacks all lined in a row, readers who beg for just one more adventure, when turning off the lights of that particular world seems unfair and too painful to consider?

So. Much. Fun.

We have lots of time before I have to say goodbye. And I have a feeling she’s going to fight me tooth and nail when the day comes we reach the end of #13 and it’s over.

Because by the end of book two, Fee whispered to me that thirteen might not be enough. I think I agree with her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patti Larsen is an award-winning author with a passion for the voices in her head. Now with over 80 titles in happy publication, she lives on the East coast with her patient husband and multitude of pets.

Connect with Patti:
Webpage  |  Blog  |    Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon
 
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FEATURED AUTHOR: WILLIAM R. LEIBOWITZ

ABOUT THE BOOK

REVERED     REVILED      REMARKABLE

The victim of an unspeakable crime, an infant rises to become a new type of superhero.  Unlike any that have come before him, he is not a fanciful creation of animators, he is real. 

So begins the saga of Robert James Austin, the greatest genius in human history.  But where did his extraordinary intelligence come from?

As agents of corporate greed vie with rabid anti-Western radicals to destroy him, an obsessive government leader launches a bizarre covert mission to exploit his intellect.  Yet Austin’s greatest fear is not of this world.

Aided by two exceptional women, one of whom will become his unlikely lover, Austin struggles against abandonment and betrayal.  But the forces that oppose him are more powerful than even he can understand.

Miracle Man was named by Amazon as one of the Top 100 Novels of 2015, an Amazon Top 10 thriller, an Amazon bestseller and an Amazon NY Times bestseller. 

INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM R. LEIBOWITZ

William, what's your favorite thing about the writing process?
The opportunity to create characters that take on lives of their own in the minds of readers.

Do you write every day?
No, but when I’m not writing I’m often thinking about the plot and where it should go.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Keeping the reader wanting to turn the pages—to read “just one more chapter.”

Do you have any marketing tips you could pass on to indie authors?
I think virtual book tours are worthwhile.  I found out the hard way that Google Ad Words have a very low conversion rate from clicks to book purchases.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I think it is a good way to spread the word.

Would you make a good character in a book?
Probably too good.  That worries me.

What do you love about where you live?
I live in a small seaside town.  The beach is gorgeous.

I'm jealous. What’s your favorite fast food?
Pizza for sure.


What’s your favorite beverage?
After 8 pm –Bombay Gin.

Where is your favorite place to visit?
Gloucester, Massachusetts.


Do you give your characters any of your bad traits?
Yes – the protagonist in my novel, Miracle Man, has all of my bad traits.  Fortunately for him, he has many good traits that I don’t have.

What would your main character say about you?
I think we would get along famously although he’s far more intelligent than I am.

Who is your favorite fictional character?
James Bond.


If you had a talk show who would your dream guest be?
Ian Fleming.


What’s one thing that very few people know about you?
I’m a terrific ping-pong player.


How do you like your pizza?
Pepperoni, thin crisp crust.


What are your favorite foods?
Grilled lamp chops; any kind of cheese; virtually anything that is fried; and Italian food generally.


What do others say about your driving?
There is unanimous agreement that I’m a terrible driver.


What are you working on now?
The sequel to Miracle Man. The saga of Dr. Robert James Austin continues.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Leibowitz has been practicing entertainment/media law in New York City for a number of years. He has represented numerous renowned creative people and many leading intellectual property companies. William has a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and a law degree from Columbia University. He lives in the village of Quogue, New York with his wife, Alexandria, and dog, George.

William wrote Miracle Man because of its humanistic and spiritual messages and because he feels that in our current times--when meritless celebrity has eclipsed accomplishment and the only heroes are those based on comic books, the world needs a real hero--and that, of course, is Robert James Austin, the protagonist in Miracle Man.

Connect with William:
Website  | 
 Facebook  |  
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CHARACTER GUEST POST BY ZARA KEANE

ABOUT THE BOOK

Movies. Muffins. Murder.

Maggie Doyle moved to Ireland to escape her cheating ex and crumbling career in the San Francisco PD. When the most hated woman on Whisper Island is poisoned at her aunt’s Movie Theater Café, Maggie and her rock-hard muffins are hurled into the investigation.

With the help of her UFO-enthusiast friend, a nun, and a feral puppy, Maggie is determined to clear her aunt’s name. Can she catch the murderer before they strike again? Or will her terrible baking skills burn down the café first?

Cozy, quirky, and fun, this tongue-in-cheek mystery is a delicious introduction to the Movie Club Mysteries Series. Grab a cocktail and join Maggie as she takes her detective skills across the pond in Dial P For Poison.

GUEST POST WITH MAGGIE DOYLE

MOVIES CAN BE DEADLY

When I was a kid, I spent many summer vacations on Whisper Island, the blink-and-you-miss-it Irish island where my dad grew up. Coming from a city as large as San Francisco, I loved the freedom that I had on the island. I could roam unsupervised with my friends and get up to all kinds of mischief. We swam in the sea, climbed rocks, and explored the medieval ruins that dotted the island.

One of my favorite places to explore was the old movie theater in Smuggler’s Cove, Whisper Island’s one and only town. Every time we drove past or walked by, Aunt Noreen would tell me she planned to buy the movie theater one day and renovate it. We’d peek in through the cracks in the boarded up windows and plan the décor. Before long, my aunt’s dream became mine, and I threw myself into Noreen’s fanciful plans for the place.

When I was older, my cousin, Julie, showed me a way to sneak inside the abandoned movie theater. We explored every inch of the building, unstable staircase and all, and found old film reels still in their metal boxes, as well as old movie posters. Noreen collected vintage movie magazines and Julie and I pored over their contents and experimented with styling our hair like Forties movie stars. By the time I turned eighteen, I’d watched every old movie I could get my hands on, including the silent classics. I was more knowledgeable about movies made long before I was born than I was about the modern pictures the kids at school raved about.

Although I hadn’t been back to Whisper Island for eleven years before I moved there a couple of months ago, I never lost my love of old movies. One of the wonderful aspects to moving to Whisper Island was discovering that Noreen had made good on her dream. She’s now the proud owner of the newly renovated Movie Theater Café. Every month, her movie club watches a classic movie in the small theater at the back of the café. I love the club, but our meetings don’t always go according to plan. But how could any of us have known that Sandra Walker, Whisper Island’s most vicious gossip, would be poisoned during a screening of Dial M For Murder? With the killing taking place in my aunt’s café, and the poison added to a cocktail that I’d made, I had to help solve the crime. It wasn’t like the bumbling Sergeant O’Shea was going to interrupt his golf plans to catch a killer! If you’d like to read more about my adventures, check out Dial P For Poison, Book 1 of the Murder Club Mysteries, out April 13. And for even more movies, mayhem, and murder, join me in the second book, The Postman Always Dies Twice, out April 20.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Zara Keane grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and spent her summers in a small town similar to the fictional Smuggler’s Cove, the setting of her new cozy mystery series.

She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing or wrestling small people, she drinks far too much coffee, and tries – with occasional success – to resist the siren call of Swiss chocolate.



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