Cast for Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome back Jeanne Quigley to the blog today. Jeanne pens the Veronica Walsh Mystery series. CAST FOR MURDER is the third book in the series.

Kathy: In CAST FOR MURDER, Veronica takes to the stage for a community theatre production of BLITHE SPIRIT. Have you participated in community theatre? Either in production or the audience?

JQ: Though there are two community theaters in my area, I have to admit I haven’t enjoyed a performance at either in a long while (Can I make a New Year’s resolution in February to start attending shows?). The last time I participated in a production was 1980. I was in the eighth grade and a member of the drama club. The show was Oklahoma!; I played the part of a dance hall girl in the dream sequence. The year before, I was one of the Kit Kat Club dancers in our production of Guys and Dolls. We sang “Take Back Your Mink” and we each wore a sequined bodysuit, wide-brimmed hat, long strand of fake pearls, and fishnet stockings.

Don’t assume I’m blessed with dance skills (I’m not). I was lucky a former Rockette was the club’s choreographer. She came up with moves even a klutzy adolescent could do.


Kathy: Veronica is excited to play the part of Madame Arcati, a medium. Have you ever met a medium? Or been to a seance?

JQ: I’ve neither met a medium nor attended a séance. Like Veronica, I’m skeptical that some people are able to communicate with the dead, but I’m also curious enough that I would meet with a medium for a one-on-one session if an opportunity (free of charge!) presented itself.


Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

JQ: I knew at some point in the series Veronica would return to acting; it would be silly not to have her, an award-winning actress, do what she loves. In my original plan for the book, Veronica’s leading man was a professional actor who ended up the murder victim.

It was while I “auditioned” a few plays for the show within the cozy mystery, looking for one that would be compatible with my story, that I realized my idea wasn’t developing well and I changed the murder victim to my fictional production’s director, Gigi Swanson. When I read Blithe Spirit, I knew immediately the play, about the return of a dead woman’s spirit, was the right fit for my story. Though Gigi’s spirit does not return to wreak havoc as Elvira does in Blithe Spirit, her murder certainly causes problems for her husband, Zach. Blithe Spirit got my creative juices flowing and inspired me to create a character who is a medium. Readers will have to check out the book to see if she’s anything like the play’s wacky Madame Arcati.


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Veronica?

JQ: In the next book Veronica will enter the world of academia to solve the murder of a professor.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?

JQ: This is my favorite part—doing a blog tour to promote a new book. I enjoy working with you, Kathy, and other bloggers to present my work to readers. I’ve also met with a few library mystery groups, in person and via Skype, and found the events to be great fun. That was a surprise to me; I’m a shy person and speaking in front of a group always makes me very nervous.

I also enjoy blogging and am always looking for interesting topics for my posts. Cozy fans, what do you like to read on an author blog?

The cost of some marketing tools is the downside to having to do it myself. Blog tours, library visits, and blogging are great because they cost almost nothing to do. They’re free advertising, which is so much better than spending big bucks on a traditional type of ad. Attending a convention is a great way to meet other writers and cozy readers, but the expense would wipe out my book budget. I always have to pause and consider what my return on an investment will be before I write the check or whip out my credit card.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

JQ: I’m working on a book for a new series about an accountant who’s turning her photography hobby into a side business. It’s inspired in part by my cousin Jean. She’s a teacher who’s now building a second career as a portrait photographer.

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To keep in contact with Jeanne Quigley, follow these links:

Amazon Author Page

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads

For a chance to own your own paperback advance copy of CAST OF MURDER simply answer Jeanne's question, what do you like to read on an author blog? Leave your comment on this post no later than 11:59pm EST Sunday, February 18, 2018. Sorry US addresses only.

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Review

 

CAST FOR MURDER by Jeanne Quigley

The Third Veronica Walsh Mystery 

Gigi Swanson, founder and president of the Barton Community Theater, usually only asks former soap opera star Victoria Walsh for financial donations for her group, but now she's asked Victoria to play a prime role in their upcoming production of Blithe Spirit. Although retired from television and happy managing her store, Veronica is thrilled to be performing once again. But it's Veronica's other talent, the one for sleuthing, that's required after she finds Gigi shot dead behind the theatre. The show must go on and Veronica continues with rehearsals, not only in order to give a stellar performance, but to catch a killer.

I'm so glad to be back in Veronica's world and delighted to see her back in her element, both on the stage and as a sleuth. Despite having two Emmys Veronica is completely relatable. She's a mature woman who goes about her sleuthing methodically without rushing into danger willy nilly. She's smart and competent. I like the addition of a real medium to the cast of characters, and the fact that she's not a caricature. While the run of Blithe Spirit will be over by the start of the next Veronica Walsh mystery, I hope Agnes Steinert will appear again.

CAST FOR MURDER is a skillfully crafted mystery with a slew of interesting suspects. A fun and intelligent read, I hope to be entertained by many more Veronica Walsh adventures.