I'm pleased to welcome Marilee Dahlman to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Marilee's first novel, THE NIGHT NURSE AND THE JEWEL THIEF was released yesterday!
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Kathy: In THE NIGHT NURSE AND THE JEWEL THIEF we meet Nancy Norman a glamour-obsessed home care nurse. Would you say you're glamor-obsessed?
MD: Haha, I would have to say no. This is one area where Nancy and I are pretty different. I’ll leave the bedazzling and bling to Nancy. We do share a couple interests, though—we both adore Persian cats and love following the British royals!
Kathy: Nancy's latest assignment leads her to an eccentric billionaire's remote estate, where eco-activism hides darker secrets. What are your thoughts about eco-activism? Do you engage in any related activities?
MD: We need to protect our planet and conserve what we have. I support our national parks and zoos. Recently I visited a conservation center and bought a bracelet that came with an app that lets me track an endangered red panda on the other side of the world!
Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries and thrillers?
MD: I’ve always been a big reader. My favorites growing up and as a young adult were books like Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, the Jason Bourne series, John le Carré novels and, of course, the works of the ultimate mystery writer, Agatha Christie.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
MD: Yes, my short stories can veer into sci-fi and even a bit of horror. My next novel, MALL GODDESS, is more straight-up fiction with plenty of humor mixed in. The common thread in my writing tends to be personal transformation—strong women, middle-aged or older, who decide to change who they are and go after what they really want.
Kathy: Tell us about your book.
MD: Sixty-five-year-old home care nurse Nancy Norman takes one last night shift, which happens to be at a billionaire’s mansion. Her quiet night is interrupted when intruders break in to steal a legendary sapphire collection.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
MD: I should say nurse Nancy…but villains are so fun! Elvira LeSabre was a blast to write. She’s evil, a badass, a boss, and has her own talents, flaws, dreams, and vulnerabilities. And then there’s GHOST, the mansion’s computerized home operating system, who began as a minor character and ultimately became part of the emotional heart of the story.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your book?
MD: I come from a family of nurses, so that no-nonsense, capable, and caring type of personality inspired main character nurse Nancy. And I’m originally from Minnesota, hence the setting in the remote Northwoods. And my mischievous Persian cat Cosmo (RIP, bless his heart) inspired the cat character, Dr. GoldenPaw.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
MD: I’d been publishing short stories and taking creative writing classes for a while, and I kept going back to this plot, setting, and characters, over and over. Coming up with the winter wonderland Geyser House, on the shores of Lake Superior, was especially fun. I guess I didn’t want to leave, and the novel, bit by bit, came to life!
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
MD: Octavia E. Butler, because PARABLE OF THE SOWER is one of my all-time favorite novels. Ken Follett, to learn about his amazing storytelling ability. Agatha Christie – of course I would want to invite the most bestselling novelist of all time. And finally, William Shakespeare. I was an English literature major in college. I’ve got to invite him!
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
MD: THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans and THE DEMON OF UNREST by Erik Larson.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
MD: I’m a huge fan of farmers markets, cooking, and going to the movies.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
MD: Coffee, half ‘n half, oolong tea and dark chocolate. I’m possibly a caffeine addict, what can I say ;-)
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books?
MD: Yes. MALL GODDESS, a novel about the custodian of a ghost mall, comes out this August. And hopefully there will be a sequel to Night Nurse someday.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
MD: Easiest question of all—meeting readers! Thank you for reading!
Nancy Norman's world collapses when a fire destroys everything she owns. The glamour-obsessed home care nurse faces an impossible choice: retire with nothing-or take one last night shift that could change everything. She takes the job.
Her assignment leads her to an eccentric billionaire's remote estate, where eco-activism hides darker secrets. But her quiet shift erupts into chaos when thieves storm the mansion, hunting for a legendary sapphire collection. Suddenly, Nancy is fighting for her life against trained criminals, high-tech traps, and the mansion's bizarre defenses.
Caught between loyalty and desperation, Nancy discovers an unexpected talent for deception. As she matches wits with the charming mastermind Stephen Sinclair, she realizes the biggest heist of the night might be her own transformation. In a house where nothing is what it seems, Nancy must decide who she is-and what she's willing to steal to survive. This glittering thriller delivers a night of crime, betrayal, and self-discovery where the real treasure might be finding yourself.
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