Finders Not Keepers An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome D.E. Haggerty to the blog today. D.E. pens the Not So Reluctant Detectives Mystery Series. In Finders, Not Keepers is the first book in the series and was released late last month.

Kathy: In Finders, Not Keepers Terri finds an exquisite diamond pendant necklace. Have you ever found a treasure while cleaning out an attic?

DEH: I haven’t found a treasure while cleaning out an attic, but I did find a personal treasure during my last move. I lost my dog tags at least a decade ago. If you’ve known anyone in the military, you will understand how upsetting such a loss is. For our move to The Hague, I had our storage container brought over, but we don’t have any storage in our apartment! So, I went through things I usually just keep in storage – such as an accordion folder full of my military documents. And low and behold inside the folder was my dog tags!! They are now hanging from my law school degree on the wall.


Kathy: If you were to find a valuable piece of jewelry would you go to the lengths Terri does to find its owner, or would you just say, "Finders Keepers!"?

DEH: I would! I am not a big believer in the finders, keepers theory. You don’t believe me? When I was in college and surviving on $5 a week for groceries, I found several hundred dollars at a cash machine. I ran after the person in front of me who had left the money instead of keeping it for myself.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

DEH: I like how cozy mysteries are actually a mishmash of genres. There’s not just a mystery, but humor and often romance as well. I love that cozy mysteries usually feature a strong female protagonist. We need more of those!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

DEH: Yes, I also write historical romance and romantic comedies. Romantic comedies aren’t too different from cozy mysteries, but they aren’t clean reads.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

DEH: The Not So Reluctant Detective series will be three books with each book featuring a different protagonist. The protagonists are connected by the high school where they all work and the library of the high school in which they congregate to sometimes reluctantly but often not reluctantly discuss murder cases in which they are personally involved. My previous cozy mystery series, Death by Cupcake, was also a series of three books. These novels were set in a cupcake bakery where murder investigations were on the menu. My first cozy mystery series, The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives, centered on a bunch of elderly knitters who were too busy pretending to be Jessica Fletcher to actually get any knitting done.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

DEH: Oh gosh, choosing a favorite character would be like having a favorite child – totally not allowed but everyone does it anyone. I’m usually in love with the character I’m currently writing. Then, I’ll finish and start a new book only to fall in love with my new protagonist.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

DEH: The current series was actually inspired by my love for Nancy Drew. I was planning to write a series as a sort of tribute to Nancy Drew, but my characters weren’t down with that.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

DEH: I’d switched careers several times – from the military to attorney to business owner – and still wasn’t happy. My husband suggested I grab one of the manuscripts I’d buried in the attic and publish it myself. Several years later, I’m still at it.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

DEH: Janet Evanovich. Her books are such fun! I’d love to get some tips on writing funny mysterious novels from her.

Mark Dawson. His marketing knowledge for self-published authors is incredible. I’d kill to pick his brain for an evening.

Jasper Fforde. His writing is incredibly quirky and witty. I could learn a lot from him.

Orhan Pamuk. Having spent three years in Istanbul during these turbulent political times, it would be interesting to hear a native Turk’s (who has been outspoken against the current regime) views on the country’s future.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

DEH: The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman. It’s for my book club. The writing is quite good and quick paced, but I’m not in love with the story.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

DEH: Besides books? Is there anything else in life? When I force myself to put down my kindle, it’s often to play tennis. I play several times a week. I also love movies, visiting museums, and attending lectures. Hmmm… I sound like a nerd.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

DEH: Milk (can’t drink coffee without it), yogurt, Diet Coke, and crackers.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

DEH: I’m working on the second book in the series now. I’m hoping to bring it out before Christmas. There’s a third book in the planning as well. I also have plans of a memoir and new historical fiction novel.


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

DEH: Besides getting to make up stories all the time, I love the freedom to work when I want, where I want, in whatever clothes I want. I’m currently sitting at my desk in my PJs while it’s still dark outside.

**************************************************************************

Finders, Not Keepers (The Not So Reluctant Detectives) by D.E. Haggerty

About the Book

Finders, Not Keepers (The Not So Reluctant Detectives)  

Cozy Mystery/Romantic Suspense  

1st in Series Self Published (August 20, 2018)  

Print Length: 244 pages

What do you do with a diamond no one wants? You can’t keep it. Or can you?

While cleaning her ex-husband’s effects out of the attic, Terri finds an exquisite diamond pendant necklace. She’s determined to return the necklace to its proper owner, but the owner was brutally killed, a murder which remains unsolved, and her heirs want nothing to do with the diamond. Terri embarks upon a journey researching charities to which she can donate the diamond. When her research becomes dangerous, Terri contemplates solving the murder herself. Her best friend, Melanie, jumps feet first into investigating the murder, but her neighbor, Ryder, doesn’t want Terri exposed to any danger. Ryder, to Terri’s surprise, also wants to be more than neighbors with Terri. Luckily, he’s prepared to take any measure necessary to keep her safe because someone is determined to stop her inquiries.

Join Terri on her quest to find a home for the diamond, which may result in the unveiling of a murderer – if she survives long enough.

About the Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom's Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn't flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book. Finders, Not Keepers is my thirteenth novel.  

Author Links:
Website – Blog – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – Goodreads Amazon author page – Newsletter signup – Google+ – Pinterest - BookBub

Purchase Links: Amazon Smashwords Barnes and Noble Kobo Goodreads iTunes

a Rafflecopter giveaway