EC: I chose Michigan for my location, because I have a friend who has a summer cottage on Swan Lake there, and I needed an isolated area for the story to work. I used Swan Lake as one of the locations also, but when I was looking for a mysterious name for the small town near the lake, I couldn't come up with anything until I happened to be reading an Edgar Allen Poe story, and thought of: "Quoth the raven…"
Kathy: They say that no one ever forgets their first love. Charlotte has to deal with seeing her first love in Once Upon a Crime. Do you remember your first love? Did you ever meet up again later?
EC: I will always remember my first love. But I have never met up with him again. And it's been so many years now that I doubt if we'd even recognize each other.
Kathy: You write "mysteries with light romance and a little humor". Do you consider your mysteries cozies?
EC: I consider my mysteries to be a blend of cozy mystery, humor and light romantic suspense.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
EC: I love to write mysteries, because I love to read them. I've read all of Agatha Christie's Dorothy L. Sayres and of course, Sherlock Holmes, along with so many contemporary authors, too numerous to mention. As I'm sure everyone reading this has too, for the obvious reason: the who done it or the puzzle aspect. But when I write a mystery, I like to add an the element of romance to my stories. I think it gives the story heart, and adds to the readers enjoyment even well after the puzzle is solved.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
EC: No, I only write mystery.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
EC: This series about two capricious friends who's misadventures induce them to become amateur sleuths is the only series I have at the moment. The first in this series is titled: Love, Lies and Murder, followed by Masterpiece of Murder. And the next in the series is my current novel, Once Upon a Crime.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
EC: That's like asking me if I have a favorite child. My answer is…I love all my characters, equally and for many different reasons.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
EC: I don't have a specific inspiration for the series, but one of the main characters is named for my sister, Jane, who is and always has been a fun-loving and outspoken person.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
EC: I think my stories are great light entertainment. And what author doesn't want to see their stories in print? I submitted my first manuscript to several online publishers. But after getting rejection after rejection, I decided to rewrite it and resubmit. One morning I got an email from my current publisher, Wings ePress, saying they wanted to offer me a contract for my manuscript. I was overjoyed.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
EC: I would invite: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Arthur Conan Doyle and Jane Austen.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
EC: I’m currently reading Home of the Braised. A White House Chef Mystery by Julie Hyzy.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
EC: I play the piano, I'm an amateur lapidary, which means I make cabochons out of semi-precious stone to place into jewelry settings, and I'm an organic gardener.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
EC: The 4 items I always have on hand are homemade almond milk, tahini, garbanzo beans and freshly made coconut cream. As you can see, I'm somewhat of a health nut.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
EC: Right now I'm working on the final novel in this series. The next and final novel is titled, Ever After. In it, I hope to tie up all the lose ends and bring the series to a satisfactory conclusion. I have a few ideas for stand-alone mysteries, but I haven't decided whether or not to begin another series.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
EC: My favorite part of being an author is creating interesting characters, plotting the story and after the manuscript is finished, seeing my work in print.
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Once Upon a Crime is available at:
Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/l4lhxxb
Barnes and Noble : http://tinyurl.com/lcpl5d9
Wings ePress: http://www.wings-press.com/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/evelyncullet
To learn more about Evelyn Cullet, check out these links:
Website and blog: http://evelyncullet.com/
Facebook Author's page: https://www.facebook.com/EvculletsAuthorPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynCullet
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3425303.Evelyn_Cullet
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ecullet/
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Really enjoyed the interview with Evelyn and hope to read Once Upon A Crime soon. It sounds great! And congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy being introduced to another new author. Thanks for the interview.
ReplyDeleteInteresting interview. It never occurred to me to make my own almond milk. I'll look out for Once Upon a Crime, it sounds like one I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteAnn