Ferry Tails - An Interview

I'm pleased to welcome Ted Mulcahey to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Ted writes the Whitbey Island Thrillers. Ferry Tails is his most recent release.

 

Kathy: In Ferry Tails Deputy Sheriff Roger Wilkie stumbles upon a sinister polygamist sect. Recently I've been reading about several polygamist cults. What do you think is the draw of these groups, both for members and those fascinated by the subject.

TM: For the men, it’s power, and for the women, it’s all they have ever known, most members being raised in the cult. The fascination from the outside looking in is how insular the groups have managed to stay, a testament to their far-flung locations. 

Kathy: Whidbey Island outwardly has a tranquil charm, but has a seething underbelly. What makes an island setting so appealing in a thriller? 

TM: The “seething underbelly” is manufactured, of course. It’s a rural island that most folks have only heard of. It’s also a rare individual who visits the place and is not overcome by its charm. 

Kathy: Two sharp-nosed German Shepherds are there to assist Wilkie. Although I only have cats at the moment I have had dogs in the past, two of whom were Shepherd mixes. Do you have any canine friends, or other pets? 

TM: Yup. We’ve had a GSD (German Shepherd Dog, their registered breed title) for almost thirteen years. 

Kathy: What first drew you to thrillers? 

TM: As kids, we always got books for Christmas. Mysteries were my favorites, and the best was the volume of Edgar Allan Poe's collected works. 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

TM: My blog stories are based on actual events, but other than that, I stick to cozy mysteries.

Kathy: Tell us about your book. 

TM: Like most of my recent books, Ferry Tails is about an island-based sheriff’s deputy and his team who are faced with quirky crimes that must be solved and the perpetrators apprehended. The location for most of the recent books is Whidbey Island, the quintessential “Hallmark” community smack in the middle of Puget Sound.

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

TM: I have two: Henry, the German Shepherd. He’s a devoted protector and fiercely loyal to his pack leader. And, of course, Francis, the scary dude with the bald head and prison tats and a heart of gold.

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

TM: I live on Whidbey Island, and the sometimes quirky events and residents provide ample fodder for my stories.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

TM: It started with my desire to leave something behind after I reached the finish line. One thing led to another, and now I’ve written eight of them. Who knew?

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

TM: Poe, of course. Carl Hiaasen, John Connolly, and my sportswriter dad, also a Ted Mulcahey.

Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

TM: The latest from Hiaasen and Connolly.

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

TM: Sure, I love playing golf…writing too (I do love it)

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

TM: Shallots, bananas, mustard and beer.

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

TM: Yes, working on one now. Another Whidbey Island mystery concerning a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company.

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

TM: Simply the act of sitting and writing. I enjoy the hell out of it. 

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Blurb:

On Whidbey Island, where serenity masks danger, Deputy Sheriff Roger Wilkie must outsmart a deadly sect in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.

Beneath the tranquil charm of Whidbey Island, a storm of deception and danger brews. When Deputy Sheriff Roger Wilkie stumbles upon a sinister polygamist sect with a violent enforcer, he’s pulled into a relentless game of cat and mouse. The deeper he digs, the more he realizes that beneath the island’s postcard-perfect scenery lurks a deadly undercurrent of corruption, power, and murder.

But Wilkie isn’t facing the darkness alone. Armed with his signature dry wit, a rogue’s gallery of eccentric islanders—including an ex-con with a knack for trouble—and two sharp-nosed German Shepherds, he sets out to bring the killers to justice. As the body count rises and the stakes grow higher, Wilkie must outwit an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

Packed with razor-sharp dialogue, unexpected twists, and the perfect dose of offbeat humor, Ferry Tails is a whip-smart cozy thriller that will keep you hooked until the final revelation. 

 

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About the Author:

 

Ted Mulcahey has lived most of his life in the Pacific Northwest. He is an Army Veteran, sales and marketing VP, entrepreneur, business owner, avid reader, one of nine children, and proud husband who attributes his sense of humor to his mother and his wife. Visit Ted at his website for more information.