Review: South of Hell by PJ Parrish

Retired cop and now PI, Louis Kincaid is asked to go back to Michigan by a local cop to check into the missing person's case of Jean Brandt.  He teams up with his lover, Joe who is also a cop.  When looking into the case, they discover a young girl, Amy.  Amy is the daughter of Jean and believes she saw her father kill her mother.  Only under hypnosis, the details she describes do not match the evidence and when bones are found on the family property, they are determined to be quite old. 

While trying to sort out the truth, they have to fight to avoid her abusive father from getting access or custody of Amy.  Only her father is a violent man, and he certainly does not want the truth uncovered.

A very suspenseful story with flashes to the past they made be reincarnation of epigenetics, it is a lot of tragedy and very dark happenings.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit, but truthfully, my favorite character was Amy.  I would love to see a spin off of just her story - she is fascinating!

Review: Sister of the Mist by Eric Wilder

Interesting book.  Sort of two different mysteries in one.  Both set in New Orleans amidst its craziness.  One mystery is the story of men investigating the murder of a jockey and a racehorse.  Another is a group of very different people on a magical quest to save a woman who joined a convent after the death of her twin sister.  Only the convent was a front for a very evil priest and nun who were human trafficking.  Throw in some vampires, Swamp monsters and a Scottish warrior and it is very dramatic and intriguing.  I am honestly not sure why the two divergent mysteries in the same book though.

That said, it is an amped-up New Orleans Halloween blast!

Review: Need by Joelle Charbonneau

In Notttawa, High school students receive requests to join

NEED, a new social networking site.  They get to ask for something they need and then they are requested to complete a task and then what they asked for is provided (not always in the way they expect).  Soon all the students are participating and some are getting new iPods and other goodies.  Then the tasks they are asked to do become darker and some kids are dying.

The main character, Kaylee, asks for something that is truly a need (not a want) - a kidney for her sick brother.  What it will take for that to happen is worse than she could have imagined.

Labels

This is a wonderful story told from the point-of-view of many of the teens.  It makes you think of the differences between wants and true needs and what people are willing to do under the cloak of anonymity.  I loved this book.  It made me think while enjoying the ride.

The big question of WHY?  who is behind it, is very unexpected.

Terri

Review: Brain Storm by Elaine Viets

Angela Richman is a Death Investigator whose life is upended when she suffers a series of strokes after being misdiagnosed and sent home by Dr. Gravois.  While she is recovering in the hospital, he is murdered and the chief suspect is Dr. Tritt who is the surgeon who saved her life after Dr. Gravois' misdiagnosis.  Everyone at the hospital despises Tritt because he is not part of the tight knit society that Gravois was.  

Angela is determined to find the real killer and clear Tritt's name despite the resistance of everyone around her.  All the while, trying to recover.

This book is a character study as much as a solid mystery.  Angela's journey is an intense exploration of recovery and the emotional roller coaster that comes with it.  She is smart and driven and ultimately a survivor.

I was emotionally invested in her story more than I have been in a long time!

I was also fascinated by the information about death investigators and their role.

Terri

An Interview with Janel Gradowski

by Pamela James

MM: Janel give us the backstory on your writing career?

I decided that I would like to be a writer when I was in the fifth grade, after my classmates asked our teacher to read my story about a talking car to them a second time. I was hooked! It wasn’t until 10-years ago that I decided to actively pursue those dreams. I began my career by designing and writing beadwork patterns, which were published in major beadwork magazines.

After a few years of success in that realm of publishing I decided to try my hand at my first writing love: fiction. I began writing flash fiction stories and was delighted when some of them found their way into anthologies and even online magazines. Eventually I accomplished one of my bucket list items, writing a culinary mystery. “Pies & Peril” was published in July of 2014 as the first book in my Culinary Competition Mystery Series.

MM: Tell us about your latest book/s?

“Fudge Brownies & Murder” was released on December 17. It is the fourth book in my series. The main character, Amy, is trying to help her best friend through the last month of a difficult pregnancy. While she’s helping make meals and calm frazzled nerves, Amy is also trying to solve the murder of a restauranteur.

MM: What is your writing schedule and where is your favorite place to write?

I get up at 6 a.m. with my teens during the school year. After they leave for school I check my email and social media as I drink my coffee. I usually begin writing mid-morning then try to continue writing, for the most part, through the afternoon. One of the beautiful things about writing is the flexibility, so on busier days I fit writing time in around errands.

My usual writing spot is a recliner in the living room, where I get to watch geese and deer in the field across the road. If I want more privacy, I have a rolltop desk in my bedroom which I can use.

MM: Do you ever reread any favorite books?

I do reread non-fiction books. I have a huge collection of cookbooks. Some of those are like old friends to me. It’s comforting to sit down and read them. Also, self-help books are often on my reread agenda because sometimes they have so much information that I feel like I need to go over it all again to absorb everything.

MM: If you were going to sit down with five authors that you admire. Who would they be and what would you ask them?

The authors would be: Diane Mott Davidson, Joanna Carl, Barbara O’Neal, Judi Hendricks and Erica Bauermeister. They all write culinary fiction in some form, either mysteries or women’s fiction novels. I would ask them where they get the inspiration for the food they mention in their books and about their writing process. I am fascinated by how other writers write – do they outline, do months of research beforehand, etc.

MM: Now for a few get to know you questions. What is your favorite movies/s? What is your favorite meal, dessert, songs, place to vacation, favorite shows to binge watch and favorite person who always had faith in you?

Movie: Frida, about the life of artist Frida Kahlo, starring Selma Hayak.

Meal: A shrimp ceviche tostada with a grapefruit Jarritos soda pop from my favorite food truck, Tony’s Tacos.

Dessert: A tie between cheesecake and tiramisu.

Songs: I’ve been listening to Damien Rice, Hozier and Adele a lot lately.

Places to Vacation: I love the mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Shows to Binge Watch: Eat St., Super Soul Sunday, Destination Truth, any cooking show starring Nigella Lawson or Rachel Khoo.

Favorite People: My husband and children have stuck by me and been understanding throughout all of the ups and downs and sometimes craziness of my publishing career.

MM: Tell us about where you live and be our tour guide on why you love your life?

I live in a rural, agricultural area in central Michigan. The nearest town has two stoplights and the high school mascot is an ear of corn, because the school was built on a former corn field. While I love visiting bustling, larger cities, I adore living in a small town.

MM: What would you like to say to your readers?

I adore my readers! When someone takes the time to post on my Facebook wall or send me an email I can’t help but smile. It’s like getting a warm, virtual hug.

MM: Do you have any hobbies or a collection of anything?

I do several crafts - beading, knitting and crocheting, although I don’t have a lot of time to do those now. Every night I turn off my computer and wind down by reading. My house and ereaders are full of books, so that would be my biggest collection.

MM: What would your protag tell us about you?

Amy would say that I should take the time to cook more, because my life can get crazy and cooking is her favorite way to calm down.

MM: Break down how you write your books. Does it start with plot, character, setting or a situation?

I always begin with an idea for the murder victim. I write notes and scene ideas on index cards. As I begin to fill in the story I come up with a culinary competition and decide on the characters, old and new, who will star in that book.

MM: They say it takes a village to write and publish a book. Who is in your village?

My husband and kids, who put up with a messy house and lots of take-out meals when I’m on deadline. My publisher, Gemma Halliday, who is such a wonderful, kind person to work with and for. And my friends who are also writers. Even though most of them live too far away to meet in person, there’s nothing like daily check-ins with someone who knows exactly what I’m going through to keep me going.

MM: How do you stay focused on your book?

Noise-canceling earbuds and Amazon Prime streaming music. While I can write while in the thick of family stuff, squeezing in a paragraph or two here and there. When I really want to get some serious writing in I turn on music.

MM: Okay what are your favorite conventions, writing retreats, bookstore, conferences?

I’ve been going to the Kerrytown Bookfest in Ann Arbor, Michigan for years, as a spectator. It is all about books, so you can find everything from authors, to small presses and artists who handcraft books.

MM: What makes you laugh and do you have a favorite artist, comedian and if your books were going to be a made for television movie. Who would you want to play your protag?

My Golden Retriever, Cooper, makes me laugh every day. No matter how bad of a mood I’m in, his antics make me smile.

I think Megan Hilty would be the perfect actress to play Amy in a television movie.

MM: Lastly, give us a favorite quote? Also a quote by your protag and share with us how, when and where we might buy your book?

My favorite quote is: It’s never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot

A quote from Amy from Fudge Brownies & Murder: "I guess she has a big personality, to match her big hair."

Fudge Brownies & Murder, the 4^th book in the Culinary Competition Mystery Series, was released on December 17^th. It is available at Amazon and many other online book retailers.

An Interview with Lois Winston

MM: Lois, give us the backstory on your writing career?

Unlike many authors, I didn’t grow up wanting to write books. Illustrating them, maybe. I went to art school and have a degree in graphic design and illustration. After a brief stint working in advertising, I began designing needlework and crafts for magazines, book publishers, and kit manufacturers.

One day about 20 years ago, a story popped into my head, and much like the song that becomes an earworm, this story wouldn’t go away. I finally decided to write it down. The next thing I knew, I’d written a 50,000 word manuscript. That book, after 10 years and many revisions, became the romantic suspense Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception, my second published novel.

Eventually, I segued from romance and romantic suspense into humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, publishing the first of my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series in 2011. There are currently five full-length novels in the series, which include Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, Death by Killer Mop Doll, Revenge of the Crafty Corpse, Decoupage Can Be Deadly, and the recently released A Stitch to Die For, as well as three mini-mysteries: Crewel Intentions, Mosaic Mayhem, and Patchwork Peril. I’ve also started a second amateur sleuth series, the Empty Nest Mysteries. Definitely Dead is the first book in the series. I’m currently working on the second.

MM: What comes first person, plot, place or idea?

Usually idea. Then I decide on characters to fit the idea and formulate a plot. Place is always a given because I prefer to set my stories in real locations that I know very well. So most of my stories are set in either the NY metro area or the Philadelphia metro area.

MM: Is there a mentor or other people you would like to thank for their help?

I had a critique partner for several years who really pushed me to be the best writer I could be. I owe a lot to her, both for her editorial skills and her friendship. Sadly, she died suddenly, shortly after my second book was released. Sadder still, we never actually met. She had lived overseas for years. She was about to move back to the States when she died. We were looking forward to being able to meet in person finally. She was a huge believer in Anastasia and would have been thrilled when I sold the series.

MM: What are you looking forward to in 2016?

World peace? Writing more books and having more readers discover my work would also be nice.

MM: Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have a writing schedule?

I have a dedicated office where I do the bulk of my writing, but since I have a laptop, I can write anywhere. I need silence, though. I’ve never understood how some people can write in a noisy coffee shop. I’d find all that noise far too distracting.

MM: You write a hobby mystery series. Do you have a hobby?

Not any more. I don’t have time for hobbies. My life revolves around my writing and my family. I do occasionally drag my husband to the theater. I love Broadway musicals, and living close to New York City means I can indulge my passion—when we can afford tickets.

MM: If you could sit down with five authors to a wonderful meal. What would the meal be? Who would you invite and what would you want to know from them?

Do they all have to be alive? Agatha Christie, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Mark Twain (minus his stinky cigar!), and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Pretty eclectic, right? And I’d just sit back and soak it all in. Although, I would try to wheedle out of Agatha where she disappeared to and why for those 11 days back in 1926.

As for the meal, I’d choose some of my favorites: lobster, asparagus, twice-baked potatoes, and crème brûlee for dessert. And wine, of course.

 

MM: Do you ever binge watch movies, or television series? If so, which ones?

Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. Everything else I watch on a weekly basis, usually a day or two after it airs so I can fast-forward through the commercials.

MM: What is your favorite dessert, song, movie, place to vacation and season?

Crème brûlee, “Rhapsody in Blue”, Shakespeare in Love, anywhere my grandchildren are currently living, and autumn.

MM: Be our tour guide and tell us about where you live?

I live in what’s called a “bridge and tunnel” community of New York City. I’m on the New Jersey side, about 18 miles from Lower Manhattan. Most people who have never been to New Jersey have a negative opinion of the state, but I love living here. Within little more than half an hour I can be in Manhattan, up in the mountains, or down the shore, depending on the direction I travel. My town is often used for the backdrop of television shows and movies because of it’s quaint downtown and many Victorian homes.

MM: What would you like to say to your readers?

Word-of-mouth is so very important for a book’s success. If you’ve enjoyed one of my books (or any other authors’ books, for that matter,) please tell your friends and family. Also posting honest, thoughtful reviews online is always appreciated.

MM: What would you like to say to your friends?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

MM: Lastly, what would your characters tell us about you? Leave us with a quote that is strictly invented by you or your character?

Anastasia Pollack: “Lois Winston? What does that woman have against me? I was living a typical middleclass suburban life with a loving husband, two fabulous kids, and a great job until she came along and mucked it all up. Now I’m a widow who’s got debt up the wazoo, and I’m permanently saddled with my communist mother-in-law and her devil incarnate dog. And if that weren’t enough, Winston keeps writing me into situations where I’m constantly stumbling over dead bodies! What did I ever do to her?”

BIO:

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Visit Lois/Emma at www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. Follow everyone on Tsu at www.tsu.co/loiswinston, on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/anasleuth, and onTwitter at https://twitter.com/Anasleuth. Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.MyAuthorBiz.com/ENewsletter.php?acct=LW2467152513

An Interview with Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames and Giveaway!

 

MM: Daryl, tell us what new releases you have coming out in 2016?

GIRL ON THE RUN, my first stand-alone suspense, comes out April 9^th. It’s getting excellent early reviews.  GRILLING THE SUBJECT, the 5^th Cookbook Nook Mystery, comes out August, 2016. Wild West Extravaganza is coming to Crystal Cove.

 

MM: Both personally and professionally what has you excited this year?

Trying my hand at a self-published book, GIRL ON THE RUN, is particularly exciting to me. It’s taken a lot of work and effort, but I love this story, and I’m thrilled to see others are enjoying it!

MM: Where is your favorite place to write?

I write anywhere I can. In my office, in my kitchen, outside, at Starbuck’s. I love listening to music when I write.

MM: Tell us about all of your series and what would your protagonist tell us about you?

As I said, I am currently publishing a suspense novel. I love suspense. I’ve read suspense and thrillers, as well as mysteries, all my life. GIRL ON THE RUN tells you I love the thrill of the chase! It also tells you I love Lake Tahoe!  My Cookbook Nook Mysteries are set on the coast of California. I love writing about a culinary book shop. I entered one a few years ago and fell instantly in love.  The Cheese Shop Mysteries, which I write as Avery Aames, are set in Ohio. I adore cheese and I adore cooking. The two make for a very tasty time when I write.

MM: Give us an example of your writing schedule?

I wake early and walk Sparky, my darling and very energetic golden-doodle. I eat, exercise, and then get to work and write until noon. I do my emails and social media, and then hopefully get right back to work after lunch until dinner. I do take fun days.  One to play golf. Another to go to the movies or spend time with friends and family. When I’m doing either, my mind is still working on ideas and segues and characters. Fun!

MM: Here is a fun question. Dead or alive if you were going to host a dinner party. What authors would you invite? What meal would you serve? Who would be your guest of honor?

Well, I hope I’m alive when I host the party!  J  I would love to have Mark Twain, Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Lisa Gardner, Krista Davis, Hannah Dennison, and Mary Higgins Clark. I think that would make a great complement of authors. Pithy, funny, fun!  Definitely barbecue. It’s easy and everyone loves it, and I have the best barbecue sauce!  I think Shakespeare would be my guest of honor. I studied his works back in college and fell in love with the comedies. I hope he’s as funny as his work is. Did you see “Shakespeare in Love”? One of my all-time favorite films. Do you think he might be that handsome?

MM: Tell us about where you live? Be our tour guide with the sights, sounds and smells that makes where you live unique?

I live in Los Angeles, in a suburb called Encino. Our house is in the hills and surrounded by gorgeous trees. My backyard is my haven. I have planted all sorts of white, purple, and yellow flowers, as well as a bunch of roses. I adore roses!  Butterflies and hummingbirds love the yard.  My favorite time of day is going out after breakfast to do the crossword puzzle and listening to the birds wake up each day and hearing squirrels race through the pines.

MM: What would you like to say to your readers?

Hi.  (Oh, you wanted more than that?) I’d like to say that I hope my readers are open to reading more of my work than just my cozy mysteries. I will never write dark. I will never harm a child or pet. But I do love suspense and I also love romantic comedy, so who knows what else I might write in the coming years! But most of all, readers, I hope I am entertaining you. That is my main goal.

MM: It seems to take a village to write a book. Who, what when and where is in your village?

Right now, my village is Berkley Prime Crime. But I also have a wonderful website maven, a fabulous virtual assistant who has helped with every step of this self-publishing process.  My sister is my computer guru and keeps me from throwing my computer out a window on occasion. I have author friends, like Krista Davis, who has helped build additional social media platforms where we can reach out to readers. She is a blessing! And I have author friends with whom I can chat and share stories and network. Having these kinds of friends keeps me level-headed and in the game at all times. I love them all.

MM: What advice will you give other mystery writers who want to write a series? Also how is writing a stand-alone different than writing a series?

A series requires a “bible” meaning make sure you write bios for each of the characters and now their background. Know where they are going through 3-5 books. What are their personal arcs? Map out your town so you know which direction your characters are moving. Keep notes and more notes (the more organized, the better) so you can be sure that the dog’s name is X and the best friend’s name is Y and they met how and when…  Writing a stand-alone, you’re solely responsible for that one story. Yes, you need your characters’ histories, but you won’t have to drum that up for another book down the line. There’s some relief in that!  However a stand-alone is creating a whole new world, whereas, in a series, there’s a familiarity each time you start a new book. It’s like going “home.”

MM: Do you binge watch any shows or movies? If so which ones are your favorite?

I love a few right now. Quantico, Elementary, Blindspot, NCIS, and Dancing with the Stars! That’s my only reality show, but I love it. I used to be a dancer, so I can really relate to the drama of it.

MM: What mystery panels are you looking forward to seeing or hosting this year?

I’ll be on a foodie mystery panel at Malice Domestic. That should be fun. It’s always fun to talk about food and how it plays as a “hook” in a mystery.

MM: Tell us something humorous that has happened to you at a book signing or convention?

It’s not humorous, but it’s oh, so fun!  I was at a book signing at Malice Domestic and Harlan Coben walked in. He’s SO tall!  I hurried to him to say hello and to remind him that we’d met years ago at another conference. I love his work. He knew my name, which surprised me. It wasn’t the one on the placard. Avery Aames (my name for the Cheese Shop Mysteries) was on the placard, but he said, “You’re Daryl, right?”  So cool!

MM: Who do you think is the most overlooked author of our time?

Me.  LOL  Um, I’m not sure.  I read but I’m not as extensive a reader as so many of you.

MM: Lastly where do you like to vacation?

I like to go where there’s water. Lake Tahoe, Hawaii.  I don’t bask in the sun any more, but I love to hear the water when I’m reading and resting.  I love the sound of seagulls and I love watching whales and dolphins play.

MM: In closing what life lesson has writing books taught you?

That you have to persevere. If you give up before you reach your goal, you will NEVER reach your goal. Against all odds, I got published! It took a long time. I was rejected numerous times. I had a seventh grade teacher who told me I shouldn’t write. If I’d listened to him…  So never give up. Believe in yourself. I do believe in myself, but there are days when that is tough to do, so I post notes everywhere.  On occasion, I give myself pep talks in the mirror. It works.

GIVEAWAY

And for one lucky person - Daryl is giving away a copy of Fudging The Books - The 4th Cookbook Nook Mystery!

Just enter a comment below!

The Drawing will be on 4/15/16!

An Interview with Larissa Reinhart

Pamela James Interview: Larissa Reinhart

MM: Larissa, give us the backstory on how you became a published author?

Thank so much for having me on! My backstory is not so exciting. I wrote a lot when I was young, then abandoned writing for things like teaching and raising children. We’ve moved overseas on and off over my marriage and six years ago I found myself in Japan, not teaching and with children old enough to be in school. I returned to writing.

I returned to the US with two manuscripts in two years. I got advice from a published author friend, joined Georgia Romance Writers, RWA Kiss of Death, and Sisters in Crime and took a lot of notes. Went to a great GRW conference where I pitched my manuscript and sent it off to agents and editors. And because I’m not patient, I waited about three months, then queried Henery Press. I got “the call” about two weeks later. And the rest is history. Not really. It’s still the present. I’m still publishing with Henery Press!

MM: Where is your favorite place to write?

We have an inherited Danish modern chair with matching footstool my husband’s grandparents brought back with them from their European stint after serving in WWII. It is the most comfortable chair you will ever experience but has a lot of support. I put up my feet, put my laptop in my lap, and keep a notebook and coffee on the side table. It’s all I need.

MM: Give us a breakdown on how you write your books?

I try something new every book because I want to become a more efficient and better writer. Sometimes the new thing works and sometimes not.

Basically, I start with a core idea and main characters. Usually I’ve been thinking about them for a long time before I start writing. I take notes in a notebook on the characters, their basic background, and motivations, internal and external. If it’s a mystery, I work up the means, motive, and opportunity for the crime. How the victims fits in. Who else can possibly be murdered. But I don’t set anything in stone.

Then I just start writing. I’ve tried outlining and it doesn’t work for me. My brain works best if I let it explore with words, working linearly through the story. Generally I use a catalyst for each scene to bring me into the next scene. If I get stuck I try to think of what all the major players would be doing at that moment, whether they’re in the scene or not. And I keep doing that until I get to the end. Then I go back and look for plot holes, places to tighten, scenes that need to be added in. That sort of thing.

And after that is editing. And then I send it to my beta readers and revise as needed. And then send to my editor and revise again.

MM: Let's talk about your latest book and how many books you have written?

The Body in the Landscape is the fifth Cherry Tucker mystery and sixth Cherry Tucker story (there’s also a novella in the anthology, The Heartache Motel). The Body finds Cherry in a bad place mentally. Her brother’s in jail, the town has sided against her family, and the man she in-loves, not only arrested her brother, but he’s also related to the Bransons, the Hatfield family to her McCoy. So her family is not too pleased with Luke Harper. She can’t turn her back on her family. Particularly with her brother in jail and all.

But, Cherry is offered a weekend trip by her Slavic, ex-mobster buddy, Max Avtaikin. He’s made a bet with rock star and pro-hunter, Bob Bass, over Big Rack Lodge’s Hogzilla hunt. Their side bet in this contest is for Cherry to paint the winner’s portrait. With the giant hog.

Whatever. It’s a weekend trip away from her problems and she’s heard Big Rack’s got good food.

Unfortunately, she takes a side trip to the woods for a bit of landscape painting and finds a body. And that’s where our story begins. And the title of the book happens. Cherry teams up with the victim’s dog to hunt down the killer. She just has to find the killer before they track her down first.

MM: What would you like to say to your readers?

A big THANK YOU! I appreciate all their support, especially the reviews they post. Reviews really help a writer. I love chatting with readers, particularly my Mystery Minions on our private Facebook page. They’ve gone from readers to friends. I love making new friends all over the world!

MM: What are you looking forward to and what can we look forward to from you in 2016?

I’ll be turning in my sixth Cherry Tucker mystery, which still doesn’t have a name, although it’s almost finished. Any suggestions? It’s set in an independent senior residence. I’ve had a lot of fun with that one.

I’ve got a short story, “Pig’N a Poke,” in an anthology that might be out in January and another story 15 Minutes for a new series, waiting on a deal, so I hope to hear about that in the new year. And I hope I get to work on some non-mystery ideas that I’ve been bouncing around, waiting for time to spend with those characters.

I’m also going to Okinawa for spring break with my family. I’m really looking forward to that!

MM: What would your characters tell us about you?

I’m afraid to know the answer to that! I put them through some bad stuff. They probably think I’m pretty sick.

MM: Dead or alive if you could sit down with five authors for a meal. What would you have and what would you ask in your interview?

Cake. I always start with food. PG Wodehouse, Jasper Fforde, Mary Stuart, Agatha Christie, Meg Cabot. I’d be too in awe to ask them anything interesting, so I’d probably just talk about the amazing cake.

MM: Is there a favorite family recipe or just a recipe of your own that you would like to share with us?

In Japan, the big Christmas food is KFC. Seriously, Kentucky Fried Chicken is synonymous with Christmas. And they order Christmas cakes, which are white cakes with holiday decorations on them. I may do take out this year.

Here’s an easy way to roast a chicken, which in America, I do all the time. Crank up the oven to 425. Rinse and pat dry the whole chicken. Mix up a handful of salt, pepper, and tarragon and rub it inside the cavity. You don’t need anything else.

Put her in the roasting pan breast side up and into the oven for about an hour and 30 minutes (depends on the bird size). I use a thermometer that dings me when the chicken gets to 160-165 (it’ll continue cooking in its own juice). The bird should feel firm and the skin will look crispy. Take her out and flip her over breast side down. Cover with a lid or tented foil. That’s how to get the breast from drying out. Leave it for about 10 minutes, then cut and serve. You can make a sauce with drippings, tarragon, sour cream, and dijon mustard (2-3 T of drippings, sour cream, & mustard and 1/4 t of tarragon) or just serve as is.

MM: Now for some fun questions. What movies, television shows o you binge watch? What is your favorite songs, holiday, do you have a book or author that influenced you to lean toward writing as a career choice?

Vampire Diaries is my big secret. I love TV shows about teenagers who act like they’re 43. Particularly if they’re dead and come back to life. Then die again. And come back. It’d be an awesome gig as an actor because you’d always have a job.

MM: What is your favorite meal and place to vacation?

My favorite meal is usually pizza, but they make this breaded pork cutlet in Japan that’s incredible. If I’m in Georgia, I like to vacation on Tybee Island off Savannah or in the North Georgia Mountains. I’m looking forward to Okinawa, though!

MM: They say it takes a village to become a published author. Who is in your village?

My mom. Gina Niebrugge. Terri L Austin. Gretchen Archer. Debby Guisti. The folks in Andover, Illinois. The Funks, Reinharts, and Hoffmans. The Henery Press writers and crew. And too many writers to name in Kiss of Death, Sisters in Crime, and Georgia Romance Writers. My village is a city.

MM: What advice would you give a younger version of yourself?

Don’t date guys named Rick.

MM: If you were going to pay a compliment forward who would you pay it forward to and why this person?

My sister. She’s amazing. She’s the rock of our family. She’s steadfast and loyal and you can always count on her. I wish I were more like Gina.

MM: Give us a glimpse of your family life?

I’ve got 1 husband, 2 daughters, 1 dog, and currently, 3 fish. Because of my husband’s job, he only sees us on the weekends. So my girls and I (and the dog and the fish), hang loose all week. We live in Nagoya, Japan, and they go to an international school that’s a 30-45 minute drive away, but 12 kilometers by a crow’s flight. I walk to the doctor, hair salon, grocery store, and the 100 yen shop. I drive when I have to and there’s also a subway for fun. When the girls are in school, I write. When they are at home, I’m focused on being a mom.

I spend most of my time troubleshooting technological devices. And not because I’m good at it.

MM: What is your most productive and favorite season?

I love fall but I’m probably most productive in the winter. There are a lot of school holidays in the fall. And I’m trapped inside in the winter.

MM: Tell us about where you live?

I live in Nagoya, Japan. It’s the 3rd biggest city in Japan, but the most ignored. We’re pretty much in the middle of the main island and it has a midwestern vibe. The shoguns came from this area. Toyota came from here. Also Toto, the toilet makers. I don’t know what that tells you, but it’s true.

MM: What is your writing schedule?

I would like to say I sit down and write as soon as the girls leave for school at 7:30 until they come home at 4:00, but there’s emailing and social media sizing and marketing in there. And I shower and sometimes get groceries. I walk to the dog. But the plan is for me to write every day between 7:30 and 4:00. That plan rarely happens. And for some reasons the children can’t go 2 weeks without a school holiday here.

MM: Detail for us your plans for 2016 and tell us what you are looking forward to in 2016? 

Around May of 2016 my family will appear on House Hunters International. Look for the Nagoya episode. That’s pretty exciting. Even though we don’t get HGTV in Japan. I hope someone tapes us in it!

MM: Lastly, leave us with a quote by one of your characters?

“Sometimes it takes a person a few minutes to adjust to my creative ingenuity.”— Cherry Tucker

Review: Starboard Secrets by Hope Callaghan

I thought I would really like this book based on the premise: an older woman, Millie,  starts a new life with a job on a cruise ship after her husband dumps her for a younger woman.

The book opens with her arriving on a cruise ship to work as an assistant cruise director with no experience (a fact which even SHE questions).  First thing she sees a bunch of people standing over a dead body.  No word of police activity, investigators or anything.  Huh?  Next thing we know she has taken it upon herself to investigate and just starts questioning everyone she meets about the dead woman and who disliked her.  Huh?  Turns out the woman died of a brown recluse spider bite (intentionally murdered via spider bite???)  So that just made me irritated - young healthy people don't die from recluse bites.  Period.  Death is so rare that it is even hard to find cases and it certainly wouldn't cause a sudden death.  Lots of sickness, necrosis, eventually maybe gangrene leading to loss of a limb but no - get bitten, drop dead.... Not to mention how would a killer expect a spider that tries to avoid contact with people to bite and kill the victim?  It doesn't make sense.

Moving on, there is no real police investigation, just Millie and a nominal ship security officer that doesn't seem to do anything at all.

Then there is her motive for involvement -- to prove to her ex that ran a PI firm with her as admin support that she CAN?  I realize in cozies, getting the amateur sleuth's involvement to be involved is a tricky thing, but this is weak.  Then there are the interchangeable, flat, one-dimensional characters.  None are interesting because they aren't developed. Their interactions do not feel natural at all either.

This is also labeled a Christian cozy.  There are a few Bible quotes, she goes to church once and she prays a few times but I actually was a bit upset when she prayed for God to help HER solve the crime.  I think it annoyed me mostly because it wasn't let the crime be solved, or help the Police solve the crime but her.  It seemed so self-serving.  That is what I disliked the most:  it was all about HER solving the mystery - not justice for the victim or protecting someone wrongly accused or something noble at least.

So, the bottom line is that I normally give a lot of leeway when I see lots of good elements of a story that outweigh the bad, especially with the first in a series.  Honestly this time there really wasn't much I did like.  I can hope that as the series continues there is real character development and it gets more believable.  Maybe down the road I would be able to enjoy one but for now, if I want to read a cruise ship cozy, I will read Lori Avocato.

Terri