Olive and Let Die - Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to turn over the blog to Susannah Hardy today. I return at the end of the post to share my review of her latest release.

Thanks for having me back, Kathy, and helping me celebrate the release of the second book in my Greek to Me Mysteries, OLIVE AND LET DIE. (You can read the interview I did back in January for FETA ATTRACTION here—and yes, I still have peanut butter, chocolate chips, eggs, and wine in my pantry or fridge. I am a creature of habit, LOL!)

Do you ever have recurring dreams? I do. The one I have most frequently, at least every other month or so, is about a house. The location changes from dream to dream, but it always starts out in a place I’ve lived or a place I’m very familiar with, such as my grandparents’ old farmhouse. The dream always starts out with my dream-self walking around and thinking I like this house but there’s not enough room. Then I find a door I’ve never seen before, sometimes a stairway, and when I investigate further, I realize that there is another room, sometimes a whole suite or even wing of rooms, beyond the part of the house I knew.

Dream interpreters say that a house represents the self, and that dreaming of finding a new room means that one is developing new strengths and taking on new roles. I like that interpretation, because who doesn’t want to grow and get stronger? But I think I’d prefer it to be a sign that the universe wants me to add a sunroom off my kitchen, LOL!

If you’ve read FETA ATTRACTION or OLIVE AND LET DIE, you’ll probably notice that houses—especially houses that have been transformed—play a big role in the stories. The historic Bonaparte House has been transformed into a Greek restaurant by my heroine/sleuth’s family. The castle on Valentine Island is now an exclusive spa, catering to the very rich and famous (or not so famous, rich being more important). And in OLIVE AND LET DIE, the reader is introduced to the home where Georgie’s mother grew up. Trust me, the old place will have a new use by the end of the book. No secret rooms, though, LOL!

Do you have recurring dreams? What do you think they mean?

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Olive and Let Die, the second book in the Greek to Me Mysteries, published by Berkley Prime Crime, is available now. The first book in the series is Feta Attraction, which released in January.

Olive and Let Die Book Description:

As manager of the Bonaparte House, a historic landmark and Greek restaurant in upstate New York, Georgie Nikolopatos knows her local legends—and her traditional Greek recipes are to die for.

Between her soon-to-be ex-husband Spiro coming out of the closet and her budding romance with Captain Jack Conway, Georgie’s life is beginning to feel like a soap opera. And that’s before a surprise visit from her estranged mother Shirley, better known as soap star Melanie Ashley. But the dramatic family reunion takes a chilling turn when another long-lost relative turns up dead.

Just outside Spiro’s new restaurant, Georgie and Melanie find the body of Doreen Webber—a cousin Georgie never knew she had. With Spiro’s partner Inky on the list of suspects, Georgie begins to wonder what else her mother may be hiding. Is the dead-broke diva capable of murder? She’d better find out before someone adds a new twist to the family plot.

Includes delicious Greek recipes!

*****

Links:

Olive and Let Die: goo.gl/4pPol3

Feta Attraction: goo.gl/M7DutM

Website: www.susannahhardy.com

Facebook: goo.gl/cZKbC6

Twitter: goo.gl/v3bVFF, @susannahhardy1


Bio: Susannah Hardy thinks she has the best job in the world: making up stories and inventing recipes to go along with them. A native of northern New York, where she attended St. Lawrence University, Susannah now lives in Connecticut with her husband, teenage son, and Elvira the Wonder Cat.

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Review

Olive and Let Die by Susannah Hardy
The Second Greek to Me Mystery

Things are going well for Georgie Nikolopatos. Her amicable divorce will soon be final, she's developing a relationship with another man, and she's continuing to manage the Bonaparte House with her (soon to be ex) mother-in-law. When a celebrity comes to the restaurant everyone is abuzz with excitement. It's not everyday a grande dame of daytime television makes a live appearance. But Georgie finds something familiar about her and finally realizes that the soap star is her mother-the woman who left her when Georgie was 18, and whom she hadn't heard from since!

Olive and Let Die brings with it an exploration of family. What are the ties that bind us? Who constitutes our family and while blood may not be thicker than water, does it deserve some consideration? Georgie has to deal with the fact that the mother who basically abandoned her has come back in her life-and she's unsure of the motive. When the two of them discover a dead body, Georgie learns that the murdered woman is in fact, a relative. Family discovery is at the heart of this book and the mystery itself.

Susannah Hardy has raised the bar with her second installment of the Greek to Me mystery series. We get a complex mystery, growth and added depth to the characters, as well as a thought provoking look at what it means to be family. While the mystery comes to a resolution there are lots of undercurrents which lead to lots of possibilities in future installments. Is Jack as good as he appears? What about the slightly mysterious, always intimidating Lieutenant Hawthorne? I'll just have to sustain myself with some of the delicious sounding recipes included until the next Greek to Me Mystery arrives.

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If you'd like a chance to win a print copy of Olive and Let Die simply leave a comment on this blog post telling us if you have recurring dreams and what you think they mean or what family means to you no later than 11:59 pm EST Wednesday, November 11, 2015. Please leave your e-mail address as well so that I may contact you should your comment be chosen. Sorry US addresses only.

Flipped for an Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Maddie Day to the blog today. Maddie, who also writes under the name Edith Maxwell, is starting a new series. Flipped for Murder is the first in the Country Store Mystery series and was released October 27th.

Kathy: When I was a kid my parents and I would often take drives out to the country. I'd love it when we'd find old fashioned country stores. We'd always stop in to look around, and usually buy something. I'd especially loved finding the old fashioned candies. What is your favorite commodity found in a country store?

MD: I like the pickle barrel and the chess board set into a table, and I incorporated both of those into Robbie Jordan's store.


Kathy: Is Pans ‘n Pancakes, the country store in your new series, based on a real country store or is it solely the product of your imagination?

MD: The inspiration is the Story Inn in Story, Indiana, which some friends bought and fixed up a few decades ago. It's under other ownership now, and isn't just a breakfast place anymore, but it gave me the idea for the series. Story is also in Brown County, where I set fictional South Lick.


Kathy: Robbie Jordan has skills as both a cook and carpenter. Do you?

MD: I'm a pretty good amateur chef and love cooking. I have done some carpentry in the past but really simple stuff. However, I live with a skilled carpenter, so I've seen those skills in action.


Kathy: The Country Store Mystery series is set in a small town in southern Indiana. Why choose this location for your new series?

MD: I love the midwest and lived in southern Indiana myself for five years while earning a doctorate at Indiana University. People are friendly, the pace of life is slower, and there's a sense of community you don't always find on the coasts. My Maxwell roots go back five or six generations in that part of the world, too.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MD: I love reading them! I got tired of reading books written by men about men, where I had to suffer through lots of comments about legs and boobs. Many cozies are written by women with female protagonists, so I decided to write one (or a dozen...).


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MD: My first two mysteries, the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries, also feature an amateur sleuth but are more of a traditional mystery, with darker themes. And no recipes. ;^)


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

MD: The Country Store Mysteries (written as Maddie Day) take us into Robbie Jordan's life as a chef/owner of a small town country store restaurant, her encounters with murder, and the community, both supportive and at times suspicious, of South Lick, Indiana. In the Local Foods Mysteries, organic farmer Cam Flaherty is faced with local foods enthusiasts, the vagaries of growing organic produce year round, and locally sourced murder. In the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (debuting in April 2016), Rose Carroll hears secrets as she attends the births of both rich and poor, which helps her solve crimes in an 1888 Massachusetts mill town. And the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries (written as Tace Baker) feature a contemporary Quaker linguistics professor coping with intrigue and danger in a small Massachusetts coastal town as well as the college campus where she teaches.


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

MD: Possibly Rose Carroll, my historic midwife. But really it's too hard to choose - just as choosing your favorite child is!


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MD: I wanted to reach a wider reading audience than I could if I published independently, and so far it's working. Also, self-published books are typically not eligible for awards.


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

MD: Anais Nin, Dorothy Sayers, Simone de Beauvoir, and Dame Agatha Christie.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MD: I am reading Death on the Trek, the manuscript of Kaye George's second pre-historic mystery, and next up will be Sheila Connolly's latest Apple Orchard mystery, A Gala Affair.


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

MD: I garden, cook, take fast walks, and read mysteries. I also love weather and maps, and have lived abroad all over the world in the past.


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

MD: Black beans, French roast decaf, dark chocolate, and cheese.


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

MD: Yes! I'm in the lucky position to have three multi-book contracts. The second Country Store Mystery, Grilled for Murder, will be out in late May, as will the fourth Local Foods Mystery, Murder Most Fowl. Delivering the Truth, the first Quaker Midwife Mystery, releases April 8. That series is contracted for at least two more, and the other two for at least one more. For now I'm putting the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries on hold.


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

MD: I love the magic of telling stories, especially when things flow through my fingers and the keyboard that I had no idea I was going to write. And my other favorite thing is meeting readers, and having people from across the world whom I have never met tell me they liked my book and ask when the next one is coming out!


Kathy: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

MD: My pleasure. Thanks so much for having me over. I hope readers will find me on Facebook, twitter, and on my web site and keep in touch.

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Review

Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day
The First Country Store Mystery

Robbie Jordan has just opened her dream, Pans 'N Pancakes, a combination country store specializing in antique cookware and breakfast and lunch comfort food restaurant. Not only is Robbie the owner and head cook, but she restored most of the cabinetry herself, a skill taught by her recently deceased mother. Helped by her Aunt Adele and friend, Philostrate, Robbie's grand opening is a huge success culminating in dinner and dancing with her good looking real estate lawyer. However, her happy day comes to a troubling end when she finds the police waiting for her. Stella, mayor's aide and problematic thorn in Robbie's side, at least in regards to permits for her business, is found murdered...with one of Robbie's cheesy biscuits stuffed in her mouth!

The past plays a major part in Flipped for Murder, and not just the antique cookware. Old relationships, current animosities, and burgeoning friendships, all play a part in the town and the mystery. There's more to South Lick, Indiana than meets the eye. There's a backstory of intrigue which we learn slowly. We see glimpses and piece things together as Robbie does.

The opening of the Country Store Mystery series is just as successful as that of Pan 'N Pancakes. The combination of comfort food and cookware set against a midwestern background with secret undercurrents create a satisfying read.

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Review & Giveaway- A Dickens of a Murder

Review

A Dickens of a Murder by Joyce and Jim Lavene
The First Canterville Book Shop Mystery

The story starts in mid November as we meet Simon Canterville and Lisa Wellman, a unique duo who, while knowing each other for about a year, just became partners in a new venture-a book store. Looking at their Victorian shop they see a man and ponder what he's doing on their roof. While still attempting to figure out the truth of the matter the police arrive on the scene, but it's not just any patrol office, it's the Deputy Chief of Police, who happens to be Lisa's ex-husband. Unfortunately, the man on the roof is not the cable man, he's a dead man!

Joyce and Jim Lavene have brought another great group of characters to life in their new Canterville Book Shop Mystery series, featuring Simon Canterville, the slightly mysterious, steely, yet vulnerable, older partner and Lisa Wellman, the woman who needed a change after the loss of her mother and was willing to take a risk on a new venture. Lisa is down to earth, and I think mystery fans will find a distinct kinship in her, a former librarian who goes into partnership of a book store giving her extra time to write her own mystery novel! Sounds like heaven to many of us! Also endearing are the facts she remembers from her many classes about crime and how she relates them to her current situation. We have our nefarious characters as well; the ne'er do well son, the neighbors, and of course, our victim. The most unique character however, is the ghost of Charles Dickens. The Lavenes have a knack for making the paranormal normal. It seems almost natural that the ghost of Dickens would appear in a Victorian book shop, even if it is located it Portsmouth, Virginia, not England. What was even more normal was Lisa's initial reaction!

The Lavenes lay out a brilliant plan by telling us that many literary ghosts have appeared in the shop. In A Dickens of a Murder we meet and say goodbye to Charles Dickens. Now we're hooked-what literary figure will appear next?! Literary ghosts aside, there are other reasons I'm hooked on this new series. I want to return to the Canterville Book Shop to see how the store flourishes, to see how Lisa's book progresses, if her relationship with Daniel progresses, if the ghost hunters return, and yes, whose ghost will show up next!

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Currently Reading...

I just started reading Olive and Let Die by Susannah Hardy. This book is the second in the Greek to Me Mystery series and was released yesterday! Things are going well for Georgie Nikolopatos. Her amicable divorce will be final soon, she's developing a relationship with another man, and she's continuing to manage the Bonaparte House with her (soon to be ex) mother-in-law. When a celebrity comes to the restaurant everyone is abuzz with excitement. It's not everyday a grande dame of daytime television makes a live appearance. But Georgie finds something familiar about her and finally realizes that the soap star is her mother-the woman who left her when Georgie was 18, and whom she hadn't heard from since!

Interview in a Two-Seater & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Billie Thomas to the blog today. Billie writes the Chloe Carstairs Mystery series. Murder in a Two-Seater is the second book in the series and was released September 25.

Kathy: Chloe and Amanda Carstairs are interior decorators turned amateur investigators. Are you interested in interior design? Do you watch lots of HGTV?

BT: I do watch a lot of HGTV and I love getting design ideas on Pinterest. My mother wasn’t a professional decorator, but she could’ve been. She had great taste. And several years ago, I wrote a monthly column for Birmingham Magazine about some of the most beautiful homes in town. I got to interview a lot of interior designers, including one who did Christmas decorating like the kind Chloe and Amanda do in my first book, Murder On the First Day of Christmas. Since this is going to be an on-going series, being decorators will get my main characters into a lot of houses, where they can find lots of skeletons in the closets.


Kathy: The Chloe Carstairs Mystery series features a mother-daughter relationship. Is this relationship similar to that of you and your mother?

BT: It’s exactly like the relationship I had with my mom. In fact we collaborated on the first book in the series together. We had something of a rollercoaster relationship when I was a teenager but became much closer in later years. The dynamic between Chloe and Amanda is so similar to our own. Chloe, for instance, is self-deprecating and a little ditzy. Amanda is more sophisticated and has a dryer sense of humor. Their differences make their banter funny, but their affection for each other keeps it light.


Kathy: In Murder in a Two-Seater we find a cheating wife in a classic car. Are you a classic car fan? If so, what would be your favorite classic car?

BT: I do love classic cars, but my dad is the real fan. He’s had a 1956 Austin Healey like the one Chloe drives since before I was born. That’s how you know this is a work of fiction – he’d never let me drive it! He does, however, advise me on all the wonderful cars in Murder in a Two-Seater.


Kathy: I'd love to live in a creepy old castle, with all the modern conveniences, of course. Would you prefer an updated classic, or a sleekly modern new construction for yourself?

BT: I live in a 1920’s craftsman-style bungalow so I definitely prefer an updated classic. But then I see all the closet space in a newly constructed house and I’m so jealous.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

BT: My mom and I always traded mysteries back and forth when I was a kid. She got me hooked on Agatha Christies when I was nine! I love the interpersonal relationships in cozies, as well as the mysteries. They’re the perfect books to curl up with and lose yourself in for a few hours. I mean, cozy – the name says it all.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

BT: I do write some literary fiction and I have a mentoring blog for young women ages 15-25 called AuntieVenom.com, where I write about career development, finances, health, relationships and self-discovery.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

BT: The Chloe Carstairs Mysteries feature a mother-daughter team of interior decorators who get embroiled in investigations in the houses they decorate. The books are filled with humor, memorable characters and baffling mysteries.


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

BT: I’d say Amanda, because she reminds me of my mom. The mother-daughter relationship in the book is like a greatest-hits version of the one we had. Working on this series makes me feel close to her.


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

BT: Several parts of the book have real-life inspirations. The setting, for instance. I love Birmingham and want everyone to know what a great city it is. It’s a character itself – often underestimated, full of surprises. Another Birmingham author, the late Anne George, was a master at using Birmingham as a backdrop for her stories. She was a definite inspiration. Also the relationship between Chloe and Amanda, as I’ve mentioned is very much like the one I had with my mother. Even better though, the relationship between Chloe’s parents is similar to the one my parents had. A true love story, full of humor and affection. Definitely something to aspire to!


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

BT: As I mentioned my mom and I worked on the first book in the series together. As I wrote each chapter, she gave me feedback. When she died unexpectedly of an aneurysm at the end of 2011, I became more determined than ever to see it published.


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

BT: Agatha Christie for her ability to craft baffling mysteries, Judy Blume for having such an influence on my childhood, Anne George for her hilarious depictions of Birmingham and Tina Fey for her humor.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

BT: Furiously Happy by The Bloggess, Jenny Larson. I recently met her at the Rocket City Lit Fest and she’s as sweet and hilarious in person as she is on the page.


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

BT: I love cooking, hiking with my Rhodesian Ridgback, Kamali, and traveling. Every chance I get, I take off for somewhere exotic: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru and Costa Rico just to name a few.


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

BT: Pomegranate juice, for pomegranate martinis, fresh spinach for green smoothies, film because my boyfriend likes to keep his unexposed film cold and cheese because I can’t live without it.


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

BT: Absolutely! I’m hard at work on the third book in the series. The end of Murder in a Two-Seater sets up the mystery in Book Three – the search for one of the recurring character’s missing sister. Chloe and Amanda will have to team up with Amanda’s nemesis to crack this case, which won’t be easy for anyone but hilarious to watch unfold.


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

BT: Connecting with other writers. I’ve met some of the best, most creative and generous people through writing. 

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For a chance to receive an e-copy of Murder in a Two-Seater simply leave a comment on this post telling is your favorite classic car along with your e-mail address no later than 11:59 EST Wednesday, November 4 2015. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter as well! 

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White Colander Interview & Giveaway

I'm so happy to welcome Victoria Hamilton back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Tomorrow is release day for Victoria's latest Vintage Kitchen Mystery, White Colander Crime!

Kathy: In White Colander Crime the Heritage Society wants to recreate a perfect Victorian Christmas for Queensville's Dickens Days Festival. Have you ever attended a similar event?

VH: I never have, though I think it would be awesome. But when I created Queensville I knew that their most viable local business would be tourism, and that they would use the town’s history, from the Victorian era, as the hook. So what could be more appropriate at Christmas for a town like that than Dickens Days? That idea was built in to the series right from the start. Their two anchoring events are Tea with the Queen on Victoria Day weekend (one weekend before Memorial Day weekend) and Dickens Days in December. I envisioned a small snowy town with strolling Victorian garbed singers, and a hot cider booth, etc. Since then I’ve researched many on the internet; the one in Wellsboro, PA is probably closest!


Kathy: What makes Victorian themed Christmases so special?

VH: I think we’ve all been steeped in the Victorian Christmas images, from Dickens to Currier and Ives, so when we sing songs like Jingle Bells, with the horse and sleigh dashing through the snow, we’re thinking of the Victorian era. Half the Christmas cards out there have Queen Anne style houses (like Jaymie Leighton’s, and the Queensville Historic Manor) with sleighs and horses in front of them, or Victorian garbed carolers or party goers depicting that time, too. It just seems so idyllic.


Kathy: Is there something special about writing a book set during the holidays?

VH: It’s special writing it, but it’s even more special promoting one. It allows me to give stuff away (which I love!) and really get in the spirit of it all while promoting my book! I’ve always adored Christmas-set romances and mysteries. In fact, I save a few to read every year in the one week I always take off from writing (when possible) between Christmas and New Years.


Kathy: What is your favorite Charles Dickens novel?

VH: I have to admit it: A Christmas Carol. I used to read it every single year the week before Christmas. I haven’t for a few years, but maybe I will again this season. I love other Dickens novels too, Great Expectations and David Copperfield, but not as much.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for White Colander Crime?

VH: I had a few that came together, but I can’t really talk about them because they’d be spoilers! LOL. I can say that in this case though I didn’t read a certain popular novel – you’ll know which when you read White Colander Crime - nor did I see the movie made from it, the idea of it triggered my ‘what if’ thoughts, and I just went with it.


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

VH: That is tricky. For those who don’t know, the conglomerate that is Penguin, Berkley and Random House has gone through a bit of a shake up recently and not all of the bits and pieces have fluttered to the floor. As a result many of your favorite authors (I hope I’m one of them!) aren’t sure which of their mystery series will survive. At this point I don’t have a new contract for the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, but that doesn’t mean an end for Jaymie! I’m still hopeful I can keep writing them. Heck, I love her and the town of Queensville so much, I’d probably keep writing the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries even if I didn’t get a contract.

In fact, I’d be truly interested to hear from readers where they see Jaymie’s story going after they read White Colander Crime. Drop me a line!


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

VH: As many know, I write two mystery series other than the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries. I write the Merry Muffin Mystery series, and I also write the Teapot Collector Mysteries as Amanda Cooper. Much Ado About Muffin, Book #4 of the Merry Muffin series comes out in July, and The Grim Steeper, Book #3 of the Teapot Collector Mysteries comes out in February!


Thanks so much, Kathy, for having me. I’d love to give away some books. This is open to Canadian and US address; whoever comments is entered to win Death of an English Muffin (Book #3 of the Merry Muffin Mysteries ) as well as a copy of White Colander Crime… and maybe some other goodies!!

To qualify, simply leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite aspect of a Victorian Christmas along with your e-mail address no later than 11:59pm EST Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

~::~

About White Colander Crime:

In the new Vintage Kitchen Mystery from the author of No Mallets Intended, the Heritage Society is re-creating a perfect Victorian Christmas—until good tidings go bad...

Queensville has great expectations for their Dickens Days festival. A tourist-trade boom means a big turnout for the opening of Queensville Historic Manor and for Jaymie Leighton, food columnist and vintage cookware collector, a chance to promote the manor and give away homemade goodies. At the end of a long day of festival fun, Jaymie discovers the battered body of local woman Shelby Fretter.

Shelby predicted her own murder in journal entries—and all clues point to Cody Wainwright, the troubled son of Jaymie’s beleaguered newspaper editor. But considering the entire Fretter family had its share of dirty secrets, Jaymie’s not convinced by the case against Cody. With twists all over, she’s going to have to work like the Dickens to wrap up this investigation before Christmas—especially with the real killer ready to kill again.

INCLUDES A RECIPE!

~::~

Victoria Hamilton is the national bestselling author of three series, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries as Victoria, and the Teapot Collector Mysteries as Amanda Cooper. She is also the bestselling author of Regency and historical romance as Donna Lea Simpson.

Victoria loves to cook and collects vintage kitchen paraphernalia, teacups and teapots, and almost anything that catches her fancy! She loves to read, especially mystery novels, and enjoys good tea and cheap wine, the company of friends, and has a newfound appreciation for opera. She enjoys crocheting and beading, but a good book can tempt her away from almost anything… except writing!

Find Victoria online!

Victoria Hamilton Mysteries: http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com

Victoria Hamilton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaHamilton

VKM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VintageKitchenMysteries

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vintagekitchenm/vintage-kitchen-mysteries-by-victoria-hamilton/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria - or - @MysteryVictoria

Diner Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Terri L. Austin back to the blog today. Terri writes the Rose Strickland Mystery series. Diner Knock Out, the fourth in the series, was released October 20th.

TLA: Hi, Kathy! Thanks so much for having me on today. It’s a pleasure to be here!

Kathy: In Diner Knock Out Rose Strickland's BFF has found another BFF and left Rose out in the cold! Has a best friend ever done that to you? Or did you ever trade in your BFF?

TLA: Nothing that dramatic has ever happened, fortunately. But my bestie from high school and I drifted. We moved to different parts of the country and don’t stay in touch as often as we should. I miss her!


Kathy: Rose works in a diner. I love diners and diner food. Do you have a favorite diner menu item?

TLA: I love diners, too! I either go with a short stack or a ham and cheese omelet (Rose’s favorite).


Kathy: Rose discovers an illegal fight club in this book. Have you attended legal fights? Wrestling, boxing, mixed martial arts, ultimate fighters? Are you a fan of any of them? I admit to enjoying a good boxing match!

TLA: I’m so with you, girl. I love MMA. I keep nagging my husband to take me to Vegas so that I can see one live and in person. He pacifies me with pay-per-view instead. I’ll take what I can get!


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

TLA: I didn’t know I was writing a cozy. I just started writing a mystery. Rose was a fun character and that was all it took.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

TLA: I write vera, vera steamy romances. They have a fair amount of humor in them as well.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

TLA: I write the Rose Strickland Mystery series. Rose is a former rich girl-turned-waitress. She’s a part-time college student with an eclectic group of friends and a criminally mischievous boyfriend. If you want to know how they met, start with the first book in the series, Diners, Dives and Dead Ends. But if you want to start with the latest book, Diner Knock Out, you can jump right in. You won’t feel left out, I promise!

In my steamy romance writerly life, I write about bad boy Brits living in Vegas. It’s called the Beauty and the Brit series.


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

TLA: I love all my characters. They’re real people to me. There’s a new character in Diner Knock Out named Sugar de la Tarte. She was great fun.


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

TLA: No, I just wing it.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

TLA: I can’t imagine not wanting to publish. The goal for me is sharing my work with others. If I can give someone a chuckle, I’m pretty happy.


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

TLA: Agatha Christie, Erma Bombeck, Jane Austen, and Charlaine Harris. How’s that for a dinner party?


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

TLA: A YA called The Remedy by Suzanne Young.


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

TLA: I love to bead and I love reality TV. In fact, I started blogging about reality TV for an online site, AllAboutTheTea.com. I can talk Housewives and whip up a bracelet at the same time. Mad skills, right?


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

TLA: Coke Zero, cheese sticks, rice cakes, and a jar of olives that has probably been sitting there for decades.


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

TLA: I have tons of ideas for Rose. With her chaotic personal life and her snoopy investigative endeavors, I’ll never run out of plots.


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

TLA: I can wear pajama pants all. Day. Long.


Kathy: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

TLA: Thanks for having me! This was so much fun. Best wishes!

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