The Hindenburg Spy - An Interview & Review

I'm happy to welcome L.A. Chandlar back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Laurie writes the Lane Sanders Mystery series. THE HINDENBURG SPY is the fourth book in the series and was released last month.

 

Kathy: In THE HINDENBURG SPY Lane visits several jazz clubs and is treated to the music of people who are now legends of the jazz scene. With a musician father and love of Ken Burns I am quite familiar with several of these jazz artists, including Chick Web. If you could only see one of these performers live who would it be, Billie Holliday, Josephine Baker, or Ella Fitzgerald.

LAC: Only one?!? Haha, like choosing your favorite child. Well, I’d have to say Josephine Baker. I love her vitality, her kindness, and her power. She led a fascinating life and backed up her strong beliefs with strong actions. So seeing her in real life would be amazing. I know I’d be just as happily rattled as Lane was when she met her! 

Kathy: Lane enjoyed a lot of historic experiences in the fourth Lane Sanders Mystery. Tell me, would you rather go dancing at the Savoy, take a trip on the Hindenburg (not THAT trip), have lunch at the Algonquin Round Table, or infiltrate the Cloud Club? 

LAC: Though I love to dance and the Savoy would be dreamy, I’d take the ride on the Hindenburg. I don’t think we have anything today that can compare. When Lane takes that ride, she knows that airplane travel will be happening soon —Pan Am already had clipper service possible to Europe, but the US was waiting for England’s approval. England was trying to catch up to America’s air service beforehand. And she realizes that speed always eclipses the experience. Especially in America. Lane is already certain that the experience of lightly floating above Europe, able to ascend and descend at the captain’s will to see the famous sights below, was something that would not last long. Then you add on the romance and the elegance of that floating airship…I’d love to have experienced it. 

Kathy: I was intrigued to read about the "creation" of chicken and waffles. Researching The Hindenburg Spy were there any interesting facts that surprised you? 

LAC: So many! That’s why I love research so much. I am always learning something. With that particular scene —chicken and waffles— I was delighted to learn that it came out of the jazz culture and mixing late night / early morning dining. I love it when I come across tiny details that end up being something ordinary that becomes extraordinary. Or when you put facts together and you find a surprising understanding. For instance, I knew that on Roosevelt Island (a slip of land between Manhattan and Queens – used to be called Welfare Island), there was what used to be called a “lunatic asylum.” I knew I wanted to feature it in my books and I do. But after I’d researched it for a while, I learned that it was the place that a hero of mine, journalist Nellie Bly, did a huge investigative journalism piece by getting committed to infiltrate. It was her gusty work revealing the horrible treatment of the mentally impaired (and sometimes not impaired – it was grossly easy for men to commit any woman who didn’t cooperate) within those doors.

I was also surprised by some of the social justice and early civil rights movements that were happening in the Thirties. The Savoy itself was an influential, integrated dance hall and the stories and images that come from those days are hypnotic. The art of dance and music brought people together whether they were uptown or downtown, Black or White, Protestant or Catholic… What mattered was if you could dance. I love highlighting women and men who did big things but didn’t get all the glory in the history books. I give a cameo in The Pearl Dagger to Jane Bolin whom Fiorello appoints as the first Black woman judge and then in Hindenburg Spy the fantastic Eunice Carter. She was the first Black woman prosecutor and it was her work that took down the infamous Lucky Luciano. The DA Thomas Dewey got more fame from it than she did. But I have to say, the prosecutors today definitely know all about her! There’s a plaque in 100 Center Street of her and a current ADA told me all about her. And I loved writing about Dead Shot Mary. She is highlighted in earlier books – one of the first women detectives. She made over 1000 arrests in her career and headed up the pick pocket squad. She was a better shot than most of the men which was fabulous to discover. 

Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story? 

LAC: Well I knew that this book would feature the actual Hindenburg disaster because it happened right in the timeline of this book. But as I read and appreciated the high concept novels of Susan Elia Macneal in Winston Churchill’s Secretary and Mariah Fredericks’s The Lindbergh Nanny, I decided why the heck not place Lane right on it? The Hindenburg crash actually had more survivors than deaths. It was shocking that such a wildly violent disaster could have anyone survive let alone the majority. This theme is part of the heart of Lane’s stories. I always write about beauty out of adversity and I felt that it was an important message of survival. 


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

LAC: I am currently developing a draft for her next adventure at Coney Island! In real life, Fiorello’s first wife (and this is mentioned in earlier books) died at a young age. He was certain that it was the doing of a fortune teller influencing her – a kind of self-fulfilled prophecy. He harbored a lot of grief and ill will for fortune tellers and created a law that their shops could not be on the street level. To this day palm readers and fortune tellers are mostly in basements or upper floors off the street. So I’m going to mess with this whole thing and I think I’ll call it The Fortune Killer. We’ll see – I’ll keep you posted. 


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pantsers, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or do you fall somewhere in between? 

LAC:  I cannot fully plot out a book to save my life. So I’m mostly in the pantser category. However, I tend to follow a timeline then circle back to pantsing, then add more to a timeline, then circle back again. I tried plotting but for me, the soul of the novel completely dies. I believe it’s because my own creativity is in tune with flow and on-the-scene character creation. What I mean is, I get the best ideas and dialog when I’m in the moment with the characters. They continually “surprise” me because as I’m writing, I’ll get great ideas or even pivot major points because a character comes up with a sentence that changes EVERYTHING.

But I am also a student of studying what brings me joy in reading and writing, which is more in tune with plotting. For instance, in the middle of writing Hindenburg, I had this fantastic plot, wild action, surprising scenes…and there was a big part of me that was bored! I couldn’t figure out why. I started to chat about it with my husband and it dawned on me that I was missing the teamwork that Lane has with her colleagues and family. But she was on the Hindenburg thousands of feet in the air, I couldn’t just add them all to the airship. So I came up with the idea of using the radiograms between them and then having scenes that go back and forth with them at home in NYC and her on the ship.

It did two things: One, I was instantly so much happier and interested. I realized I deeply feel the connection between my characters and when it’s missing, I’m personally BORED even in the middle of the most actiony action scenes. Secondly, it gave me the idea of how unhappy Lane must feel working on her own. I ended up making that a major character arc of hers. She learns about herself in that she’s just not happy when she’s not being her true self and though Lane’s never taken her team for granted, she learns to love them all even more profoundly. I also enjoyed writing the POV chapters from some of her friend’s perspectives. I love that they knew Lane really well and were even making bets with each other about her actions. LOL 


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? 

LAC: I love the people part of marketing. Like this interview, going to conferences, etc. The part I dislike the most is trying to figure out algorithms and what works / what doesn’t. Sometimes that is truly disheartening. So I focus on the things that bring me life and I keep on writing. I also enjoy speaking and I have several lectures and workshops that I give on a variety of topics including history (I have one on jazz, Josephine Baker, and the Hindenburg; the history of holiday traditions; and several on the psychology of creativity and creative writing). 


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books? 

LAC: Yes! I have a great new book coming out at Thanksgiving this year: THE LOST STORIES. “Based on true holiday events that changed the course of history.” I adore this book. It’s a modern day novel about an investigative journalist —Lara Smith— who is tasked with what she thinks will be a fluff assignment to write about the hidden holiday stories behind the traditions. She struggles with celebrating holidays because she’s been through a lot of hardship and as a journalist has seen the worst of the worst. So just how do you “do” a fluffy holiday? But as Lara meets with historians and ancestors of the people behind famous hymns, events, and even poems, she learns that holidays have some grit even in the midst of the lights, the candy, and the frou frou. So in the midst of the novel, the reader is taken back in time to be an eyewitness to these events like the WWI Christmas Truce, the first Rockefeller Christmas tree during the Depression, the first radio transmission in 1906, the Korean war hero who became known as the Jewish Santa Claus, and how the end of the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination happen over Passover and everything weaves together to create one of the most beloved of all time hymns. Lara learns that her editor was right: this just might be the most important story of her life.

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Review

THE HINDENBURG SPY by L. A. Chandlar
The Fourth Lane Sanders Mystery 

Lane Sanders' boss, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, is on the warpath when he hears two young boys are being held in jail after witnessing a murder. While the boys finger a well known mob boss as the trigger man, Lane and her compatriots aren't so sure. A hit in broad daylight is not his style and he would never do the dirty work himself. Lane can think of one person who would love to take the man down and take over his turf, her nemesis Daphne Franco. While visiting various jazz clubs to get the word on the street Lane finds that other gangs are antsy and everyone feels something big is brewing. Then she hears words that fill her with dread, Hindenburg hit. While she has an extraordinary team in New York City, everyone realizes that this a mission for Lane and only Lane. Heading to Europe to board the Hindenburg Lane knows it's up to her to stop the death and destruction that Daphne is surely planning.

Excitement abounds in the fourth Lane Sanders Mystery! While a general sense of unease occupies the first part of the book (Who's trying to frame Uncle Louie? What's going on with Valerie?) danger soon increases exponentially until the heart stopping climax aboard the Hindenburg!

I love how Lane's team are more than friends, they're family. They easily work together playing to each other's strengths. Even when apart they rely on each other.

One of the things I love most about THE HINDENBURG SPY, indeed this whole series, is the historical detail. Small details or a tiny historical footnote are given their moment in the spotlight. The Lane Sanders Mystery series brings history to life and I love feeling as if I'm a part of it!

Captivating, jaw dropping, and ultimately satisfying THE HINDENBURG SPY is a fast paced time bomb of a mystery. 

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 BIO: L.A. Chandlar is the award-winning author of the Lane Sanders MYSTERY SERIES. She’s been nominated for the Agatha, Lefty, Macavity and Anthony Awards; and winner of Suspense Magazine’s Crimson Scribe and GANYC Apple Award. She’s been living and writing in New York City for over 24 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences including a women’s group with the United Nations. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band. She is a fierce advocate for women’s rights. She loves coffee and wine; and hates thwarted love and raisins.


 

 

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Currently Reading...

I just finished reading The Hindenburg Spy by L. A Chandlar. This book is the fourth in the Lane Sanders Mystery series and was released last week.

Lane Sanders boss, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, is on the warpath when he hears two young boys are being held in jail after witnessing a murder. While the boys finger a well known mob boss as the trigger man, Lane and her compatriots aren't so sure. A hit in broad daylight is not his style and he would never do the dirty work himself. Lane can think of one person who would love to take the man down and take over his turf, her nemesis Daphne Franco. While visiting various jazz clubs to get the word on the street Lane finds that other gangs are antsy and everyone feels something big is brewing. Then she hears words that fill her with dread, Hindenburg hit. While she has an extraordinary team in New York City, everyone realizes that this a mission for Lane and only Lane. Heading to Europe to board the Hindenburg Lane knows it's up to her to stop the death and destruction that Daphne is surely planning.

2019 - A Look Back

I'm excited to enter 2020 as I reminisce about the year 2019. I enjoyed welcoming new authors to the blog and renewing acquaintances with others. I discovered many new series and continued savoring many others. While the number of books I loved is too daunting to list...and I cannot commit to naming my top ten as there are too many variables to consider, I thought I'd at least make note of some favorites.

I was delighted to start several new series in 2019. A Dream of Death by Connie Berry, A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman,  Peach Clobbered by Anna Gerard, And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder, The House on Hallowed Ground by Nancy Cole Silverman, and Death by Committee by Alexis Morgan were real standouts!

I also really enjoyed Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young, Steeped in Murder by Kirsten Weiss, Designs on Murder by Gayle Leeson, Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass by Heather Day Gilbert, Murder's No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher, and Mrs. Morris and the Ghost by Traci Wilton.

Of course I couldn't wait for new books in series I already loved and was thrilled to read 3 books in Carolyn Haines' Pluto's Snitch Mystery series. I had only recently discovered this fantastic Gothic paranormal mystery series and caught up. The most recent book is A Visitation of Angels, which was the only one actually published in 2019. I was also excited to read the second Rose Gallagher Mystery by Erin Lindsey, A Golden Grave, another historical mystery with a paranormal bent. Speaking of historical mysteries, The Pearl Dagger by L.A Chandlar, Deadly Deception by Kate Parker, and both of Peg Cochran's follow ups in her Murder, She Reported series, Murder, She Uncovered and Murder, She Encountered were top notch.

Gigi Pandian's latest Jaya Jones mystery, The Glass Thief, made me giddy at the ending and Vivien Chien gave two new Noodle Shop mysteries leaving me constantly craving Chinese food. Two Barnabas Tew novels had me laughing at the bumbling Victorian detectives as they dealt with Mayan and Hindu gods. Sarah Fox gave another standout with her fifth Pancake House Mystery, Crepe Expectations and Lena Gregory's fourth Bay Island Psychic Mystery, Spirited Away, had me on the edge of my seat.

I look forward to jumping into the new releases of 2020 as well as books I may have missed!

The Pearl Dagger - A Review

Review

THE PEARL DAGGER by L. A. Chandlar

The Third Art Deco Mystery

Thrilling, exciting, and dangerous, working for Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia is never a walk in the park and Lane Sanders continues to find herself in some tight spots. But Little Flower's latest push to rid New York City of pinball machines leads to results both unexpected and deadly. While the threats could stem from various gangs vying for power, it seems more likely that the Red Scroll Network is back in business. When the heir to the network is identified Lane and her boyfriend, Detective Finn Brodie, head to London.Will they find a way to end this criminal organization once and for all or will they find themselves beset by demons of a more personal nature?

The third Art Deco Mystery continues highlight the importance of the past. While the threat at first seems to be pinball, it is actual dual threats from the past coming for both Lane and Finn in the forms of the Red Scroll Network and Finn's family. Unchecked ambition is at the core of our villains, although, unlike Macbeth and his wife, the modern counterparts are much more patient.

Lane Sanders is an amazing woman. She's strong, intelligent, loyal, determined, and not afraid to be true to herself. I am delighted that I get the opportunity to watch her adventures and see her grow as she learns more about her past. Although she loves fashion and dressing up, Lane is no simpering miss and she doesn't rely on a man to save her. She's a partner, able to support and be supported. In fact, the Art Deco Mystery series is filled with strong independent women. Aunt Evelyn, Vivian, Gwen, and Daphne are also fiercely self reliant with definite purpose, surrounding themselves with people to assist them in their endeavors, but fully able to go it alone, for good or evil!

My favorite part of the book is learning about Orson Welles's VOODOO MACBETH. Indeed the story of MACBETH correlates precisely to THE PEAR DAGGER. I grinned as each similarity appeared. As with Shakespeare's MACBETH, the characters of Chandlar's THE PEAR DAGGER feel the pull of ambition and find it leading them to the edge.

THE PEARL DAGGER is a finely crafted mystery bathed in historical detail. Richly developed characters, dramatic chases, and surprising twists make this book a first rate novel you won't want to miss.

Curently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Pearl Dagger by L. A. Chandlar. This is the third book in the Art Deco Mystery series and will be released next week.

Thrilling, exciting, and dangerous, working for Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia is never a walk in the park and Lane Sanders continues to find herself in some tight spots. But Little Flower's latest push to rid New York City of pinball machines leads to results both unexpected and deadly. While the threats could stem from various gangs vying for power, it seems more likely that the Red Scroll Network is back in business. When the heir to the network is identified Lane and her boyfriend, Detective Finn Brodie, head to London.Will they find a way to end this criminal organization once and for all or will they find themselves beset by demons of a more personal nature?

2018 - A Year of Reviews in Review

As 2018 draws to a close I thought I'd take a look back at some of the great books I was privileged to read.

By the time the year ends I will have read at least 91 books. The most books I've read in a year, primarily due to me overextending myself...and also because so many interesting books are being published!

I was introduced to a lot of new series this year. I think my favorite is one that cannot fully be categorized. It's a historical, a paranormal, and a comedy all rolled up in a traditional mystery: the Barnabas Tew Mystery series by Columbine Noonan. I actually read the first two in the series this year. Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab and Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds are a delightful romp through mythology and great mysteries.

It should come as no surprise that I am partial to historical mysteries as well as paranormal ones.  MURDER ON MILLIONAIRES' ROW by Erin Lindsey also fits both of those categories. 

Vampires are quite popular and I was delighted to discover a Vampire Mystery series. THE VAMPIRE KNITTING CLUB is the first in this series by Nancy Warren. Other top paranormal entries this year include A MAGICAL MATCH by Juliet Blackwell, CLAIRVOYANT AND PRESENT DANGER by Lena Gregory, and the new Magic Garden Mystery series by Amanda Flower which starts with FLOWERS AND FOUL PLAY.

I also love Gothics and THE BOOK OF THE BELOVED by Carolyn Haines fits that bill.

A historical series that really stood out for me is the Art Deco series by L. A. Chandlar. This series really should be read in order so start with THE SILVER GUN and continue with THE GOLD PAWN. Other historical mysteries that stood out this year include DEADLY FASHION by Kate Parker, MURDER, SHE REPORTED by Peg Cochran, and TURNING THE TIDE by Edith Maxwell. I also adore series that combines the present with the past. PAST AND PRESENT by Judy Sheluk is the second Marketville Mystery and I read all three of the Dr. Pimms Intermillennial Sleuth Mystery series by L.J. M Owen this year: OLMEC OBITUARY, MAYAN MENDACITY,  and EGYPTIAN ENIGMA.

The return I was most excited about was seeing Jack Shepard again. I waited ten years to hear from my PI and was thrilled for his return in THE GHOST AND THE BOGUS BESTSELLER by Cleo Coyle.

I also love food and was thrilled to find two new series showcasing Chinese and Mediterranean restaurants. I love Vivien Chien's Noodle House Mystery series, not only for her great characters and intriguing mysteries, but the setting, Cleveland, Ohio, where I once lived. Start with DEATH BY DUMPLING and continue with DIM SUM OF ALL FEARS. Baklava is one of my favorite desserts and, although known for their hummus bar, I might be able to find some in Tina Kashian's Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. Start with HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE and continue onto STABBED IN THE BAKLAVA. Want some breakfast? I love Sarah Fox's Pancake House Mystery series. The fourth book in this series was released this year, YEAST OF EDEN. She also started a new series, the Literary Pub Mystery series. I really enjoyed WINE AND PUNISHMENT. When speaking of food we can't forget beverages and I love the Whisky Business Mystery series by Melinda Mullet. DEADLY DRAM, the third book in the series, was released this year.

I'm fond of several religious mysteries and was delighted to discover Sister Agnes. You can find her in the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery series by Jane Willan. Check out my review of the second book in the series, THE HOUR OF DEATH.

New books in favorite series also include LETHAL IN OLD LACE by Duffy Brown and TOUCAN KEEP A SECRET by Donna Andrews.

If you like short stories, you mustn't miss Gigi Pandian's THE CAMBODIAN CURSE & OTHER STORIES: A JAYA JONES TREASURE HUNT MYSTERY COLLECTION.

I read many more delightful mysteries and I know that I'm leaving out some great ones...but I hope you enjoy seeing some of the books that meant a lot to me this year. I'm certain that 2019 will bring even more great reading.

The Gold Pawn - A Recipe, Review, & Giveaway

I'm so pleased to welcome L.A. Chandlar to the blog today. L.A. pens the Art Deco Mystery series. THE GOLD PAWN is the second book in the series and will be released September 25.

Hanukkah and Christmas Champagne Cocktails

Champagne was big during Prohibition. So here are two holiday Champagne or Prosecco cocktails in The Gold Pawn at Thanksgiving.

Cranberry & Lime Champagne cocktail:

Beautiful green and red colors with some pizzazz. Use Champagne or Prosecco. Pour cranberry concentrate or just cranberry juice in the bottom of a flute, a squeeze of fresh lime, curlicue of lime rind on the glass.

Blueberry Champagne cocktail:

Beautiful blue and fizzy – for extra glitz, add edible silver glitter. Place one sugar cube in the bottom of flute, top with Champagne or Prosecco, float 2 blueberries on the top (the sugar cube fizzes!). Alternate option: instead of sugar cube, pour a small amount of blueberry schnapps in the bottom of the glass, top with champagne.

For mocktails, both recipes can substitute the Champagne or Prosecco with ginger ale or seltzer. 

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Review  

THE GOLD PAWN by L.A. Chandlar

The Second Art Deco Mystery

It's 1936 and Mayor Fiorello La Guardia keeps his personal assistant, Lane Sanders, hopping. If he's not off chasing fires, he's adding fuel to the fires he makes with Tammany Hall and other enemies. His current concern though is a missing high powered banker and personal friend. In hopes of uncovering some secrets that may help the problems in New York, Lane decides it's time to travel to her childhood home in Michigan. But it's more than a missing banker and the resurgence of the Red Scroll Network; Lane is about to face her most dangerous enemy yet...her own inner demons.

The second Art Deco Mystery is filled with fantastic period details, from the clothing and the cars, to the cocktails (I want a Hilty Dilty) and more! This incredible research infuses the book with such an authentic atmosphere that as I read I felt as if I was actually in 1936. Despite all the fine trimmings, the heart of the book looks at darkness. Darkness, not only in the bad guys, but in the good ones as well.

THE GOLD PAWN is a gripping novel that had me glued to the pages whilst at the edge of my seat. It is an emotional rollercoaster filled with plenty of action, treachery, romance, and love. Lots of multilayered characters exist here, obvious villains, bad guys who may have some good, good people with foibles, and loved ones with secrets.Who will Lane trust? And ultimately, can she trust herself?

I absolutely loved this riveting book. There are plenty of laughs, but plenty of shocked gasps as well. THE GOLDEN PAWN is a fine mystery that probes much deeper into the human psyche, even as it entertains.

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Cover Reveal - The Gold Pawn

The Gold Pawn

 

November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing person case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

Finally summoning the courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains—and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . .

Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane’s virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia. Fio’s fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term—and his life . . .

Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City’s most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?

Ready . . .

                                             

Set. . .

                                             

Reveal!!!

                         

Coming September 25 from Kensington Books!

Pre-order your copy today!

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About the Author

L .A. Chandlar is the author of the Art Deco Mystery Series with Kensington Publishing featuring Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and a fresh take on the innovation and liveliness of 1930s New York City. Her debut novel, The Silver Gun released August 29, 2017, and the sequel, The Gold Pawn, will release September 25^th, 2018. Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.

Author Links Website  
Social Media  
YouTube for Behind the Scenes Tours  
GoodReads

The Silver Gun - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm quite pleased to welcome L.A. Chandlar to Cozy Up With Kathy today. L.A. pens the Art Deco Mystery series. THE SILVER GUN is the first book in the series.

Kathy: When it comes to design the Art Deco period is one of my most favorites. Is it one of yours as well?

LAC: It is! I love the designs of geometric lines mixed with natural elements. Like the brass elevator doors of the Chrysler building etched with lilies and palms. And whether or not you’re an art afficianado, people always recognize art deco. Which says a lot, because that era was so quick. Just two decades sandwiched between two world wars. In fact, that’s one of the themes I love to carry throughout this series, the idea of tremendous beauty out of adversity.


Kathy: What sparked your interest in this time period?

LAC:  I’ve always loved the Twenties and Thirties, all the fun fashion, the jazz, the dancing and cocktails, the delicious cars… But what really got me interested in the Thirties was a biography I picked up that compared Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Both NYC mayors came into office when the city was particularly corrupt and dirty. Right away I adored the gumption and humor of LaGuardia. Plus, I moved to NYC just two weeks after 9/11. I saw firsthand how a city like New York deals with adversity: with sacrifice, solidarity, art, and cocktails. Just like the Thirties. Plus, I realized I had pigeonholed the Thirties in my own mind, to a time that was solely about the Depression. But there was so much more going on! Everything I mentioned above, plus women rising to prominent positions in the workforce, unrecognized steps in civil rights, crazy moves forward in technology, innovation like I could hardly believe. All this despite those hard bookends of the world wars and a depression smack in the middle. I felt like that era had a lot to say for us today! I wanted to tell that part of the story.


Kathy: In THE SILVER GUN we meet Lane Sanders, the new personal assistant to New York City Mayor Fiorello “Fio” LaGuardia. How did you decide upon this career for your protagonist?

LAC:  Since women were moving up in the workforce before I’d realized –I had thought there was more movement after WWII—I wanted a woman in a significant job, with a close relationship to the mayor. I wanted her to be able to grow both personally and professionally. And in this role, I thought she could easily move into more significant roles as she grew.


Kathy: Was it a common practice at that time for a woman to hold such a position?

LAC: There were female secretaries and aides, although most were male. Fiorello personally had male aides/secretaries at the time, but he’d had female ones earlier.


Kathy: Do you have an interest in politics in general, or really only the machinations of the mayor of NYC in the 1930s?

LAC:  I am more interested in politics now than I ever have been. I like reason and logic. Both seem to be somewhat lacking the past several years. So I try to form my own opinions on issues and really research a lot before I land on an opinion. I think what drew me to the mayor of the Thirties, was that Fiorello really fought hard for the little guy. He listened to the people, he cared. It wasn’t just about money or his own career. And boy oh boy, was he funny. I also enjoy that humor. In fact, be sure to read my author notes. I always highlight what was real and what was fictitious. Often, when it comes to Fio, the more spectacular or funny the stunt, the more it’s probably real.


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

LAC: I love mysteries because I like a good puzzle and a good adventure. It’s fun to have something to solve. And I’m just not into sad and tragic. I guess for me, real life dishes out enough of that. I like living in a different era, feeling what that was like, a new place…


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

LAC:  I have a nonfiction book on the psychology of creativity called, BRASS: STOP SLEEPWALKING THROUGH LIFE. (Brass as in brass knuckles. Creativity doesn’t happen naturally, you have to fight for it). I use it in my Fight to Keep Creativity Alive workshops on figuring out how to be creative – whether or not you think you’re creative. I like to teach people to be a student of themselves, how they are uniquely wired. And I LOVE to encourage people. So that’s a fantastic outlet. I also currently have a holiday novel that is kind of short stories woven into a novel. It’s called THE CHRISTMAS JOURNALIST and a modern day journalist talks with historians and ancestors about the people behind some of our beloved holiday traditions. Like the first Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in 1931, the heartfelt NYC Jewish response to Lincoln’s assassination (during Passover!), a 4th Century monk who had a mischievous and sweet side that brought about the Christmas stocking idea, a trip to the Holy Land in 1860s… Delightful stuff!! I also am tinkering with a coming-of-age novel set in the 1980s and I plan to write a series of YA novels that center around a figure introduced at the very end of THE SILVER GUN (and she plays a prominent role in book two, THE GOLDEN PAWN).


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

LAC: The Art Deco Mysteries follows Lane Sanders, aide to the firecracker mayor of NYC, Fiorello LaGuardia. As threats come in against the controversial mayor, Lane endeavors to help solve the mysteries because of her love of their devoted mayor and family friend, but also because she realizes the key to solving the current crimes may be linked to her own mysterious past.

One thing that makes this series a little different, is that I wanted to highlight the importance of art in that era (and ours). So every novel has a piece of art in the background that comes alongside a character and helps them navigate. I feel like art does this in our own life, helping us figure out our feelings in ways that words sometimes can’t. So in book one, there is a famous artist (not then) and Lane discovers a journal with the artist’s quotes about life. In book two, there is a classic haunting novel that everyone knows about and no one has read, that comes alongside both Lane and a villain as their stories intertwine. Then in book three –this gives me chills I love it so much—Orson Welles in 1936 put together the first ever all-black theater cast and they performed MacBeth. Instead of setting it in Scotland, it is set in Haiti with jungle and skeletal scenery. This is Voodoo MacBeth – and oh, I would do anything to go back in time to see it! It was very successful and this comes alongside Lane’s love interest, and then Lane, as they delve into the ghosts of his past to uncover truths to the current mystery. It’s so much fun.


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

LAC:  I really love Lane’s aunt, Aunt Evelyn. I love her exotic background and because she’s an artist, she draws people of all backgrounds to herself. I love and admire that. She adds a lot of color and interest to the book, she’s got an eccentric sense of humor, and she gives the perfect way to add in a lot of fun cameo appearances. There are a lot!


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

LAC:  I love series set in New York City, so books like the Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson were very inspirational. I love adventure, too, so books that are not just detective-based have inspired me such as Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series. As I noted above, I do enjoy a spot of humor, so books that make me laugh inspire me.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

LAC:  I love to learn, so I self-published those other books I mentioned, BRASS and THE CHRISTMAS JOURNALIST. But I wanted to see how the traditionally published route differed. Plus, there was part of me that just really, really, really wanted to see my books in Barnes and Noble.


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

LAC: Yummy question. C.S. Lewis so we could talk about creating Narnia. Jane Austen, because I’d love to see her verbal sparring in person. Maya Angelou, because Come On!!! I’d just like to be around her. And lastly, Jasper Fforde, creator of the Thursday Next series. His wonderfully creative series is a go-to read for me (I’ve read the whole series probably five times) AND I went to a signing of his, and his words actually helped me get over an obstacle in writing. I had found that I could NOT write by first creating an outline. I’m just terrible at it! That had really stymied me. But he had talked about a few aspects of his own writing, and it motivated me to just start writing scenes that I loved. Then I would go back and create a loose outline, write more scenes, adjust the outline, etc… I’ll always be grateful for that spirit of his, and his advice. And I don’t know if he’ll ever know. Kind of cool.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

LAC:  I am just finishing up THE CRUEL PRINCE by Holly Black. And I just picked up the second book in a new favored series by Andrea Penrose: MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE.


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

LAC: I love cooking and am binge-watching The Great British Bake Off. I love trying new speakeasies in NYC. I often go to the Met to look around and have a glass of wine. I love coffee with friends. And I have two cats that are the best pets I’ve ever had! I love all animals. I grew up with a Great Dane and my sons had two hamsters I fell in love with. So now it’s cats.


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

LAC: Green olives, wine, cheese, half n half for my coffee.


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

LAC: I probably wrote more than you wanted above on this question. Lol.


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

LAC: Two things, actually. I love creating a scene that makes me happy. Makes me laugh right out loud (you should see how Lane gets out of a scrape in THE GOLDEN PAWN! It still cracks me up!) or makes me feel inspired, a kind of city magic, or a scene that tugs at your heart strings. I love my characters – they’ve become friends. And the second thing I didn’t see coming at all: I LOVE meeting readers and other writers! I’ve been to a couple of book conferences (going to Malice this month!), have met readers for coffee, and talked with other writers and encouraged them along the way. I love the people part of writing. It’s really so much fun.

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Review

THE SILVER GUN by L.A. Chandlar

The First Art Deco Mystery

Working for Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia is always an adventure, but after Lane Sanders runs into a mysterious good looking man exiting his office and locks eyes with another man with an evil glare who's watching her at the subway things get even more thrilling. Lane must not only keep up with the mayor's antics and deal with two sourpussed secretaries jealous of her promotion, but she must join forces with friends and family to work on "the case". There's a threat against the mayor, but the attacks are aimed at Lane. Could she be the real target? Should she trust that mysterious man who seems to pop up whenever she's in danger? And what is the meaning behind the silver gun in her dreams?

Intrigue, adventure, and a touch of romance, this historical mystery has it all!

THE SILVER GUN is filled with unique richly developed characters. Lane Sanders is an eager young woman willing to reach out for what she wants and who is not one to sit by the sidelines. She thrusts herself into danger and rescues herself, no wilting flower is she! Lane lives life to the fullest. She's a woman I'd love to know and call friend. Finn Brodie is not only swoonworthy, he's a complex character with hidden depths. Speaking of hidden depths, there are lots of characters with mysterious backgrounds. Not everything nor everyone is as it seems, which adds to the excitement and surprises which continue to unfold throughout the book.

I love just about everything in this first Art Deco mystery. The rich attention to detail provides added layers. I love hearing about the artists and songs from the time, and laugh as Lane gets the lyrics wrong. I appreciate the architecture, fashion, and the food. I never realized potato chips where a thing in the 1930s and I desperately want some fried olives.

THE SILVER GUN grabbed my attention from the start and would not let go. There are so many dimensions involved and the novel captivated me in so many ways. With laugh out loud escapades, romance, camaraderie, danger, and special dreams, it's thrilling, charming, and funny, and not to be missed.

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