SRP Heroine Interview: Jolie Tucker from Cast Iron Stake Through the Heart

 

Welcome, Jolie, to The Self-Rescue Princess. Please tell us a little bit about what is currently going on in your life.

On again, off again, ON AGAIN–Jolie Tucker and Mick Meiser are giving their relationship another try. Things seem to be working out for them so far, and love is on the menu all over Leavensport! An unexpected pregnancy with a surprising partner, a therapist pairs off with the chief of police, and the mayor of Leavensport falls for Jolie’s Aunt Fern! 

Although Leavensport is serving up affairs of the heart, there are a lot of mysterious activities lurking in the air. The townspeople awake to find freshly dug empty holes throughout the fields that were recently up for sale under suspicious circumstances. Jolie and Ava believe they are taking a break from solving murders when they start teaching an online cooking course–until they witness one of their students take a stake through the heart!

 Welcome to Leavensport, OH, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn.

What made you decide to take on such a risky endeavor?

Lately, my life has been nothing but risky. Crime has been on the rise in my little village and I seem to always find myself in the middle of it. My BFF, Ava Martinez, got her PI license and started a PI service called BOUNTY-FULL Investigative Services, figuring we should at least make a little money off of solving so many mysteries. 

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

Honestly, no. My life has always been ho-hum, and that’s the way I like it—well, other than my helicopter family—which, don’t even get me started with them. I mean, they mean well—I think? My mom wants to run my life—and my grandma—oh man, she is a pistol—all four-foot eight of her, but don’t let her height fool you. Then, there’s my Aunt Fern, who is the village gossip and always butting into my love life—well, my mom and grandma always are popping into my home unexpectantly and at the worst times too . . . wait, I told you DON’T get me started on them—GEESH! I guess my point is that I’m flawed—seriously flawed in so, so many ways—but I’m working on it—going to therapy, journaling, trying to figure it all out. Wait, what? No, don’t judge me—if you were raised in my family, you’d need therapy too!

Who would you say is the least pleased about your additional career choice of amateur sleuthing? Or is detective work your only career?

H-E-double toothpicks—who ISN’T annoyed at my sleuthing? My boyfriend, Mick Meiser, is a detective, but he has MS and has been having some balance and leg weakness lately—he’s never happy to see me in harm’s way. My family, well, we won’t go there again—but yeah, they can’t stand it. I mean, the criminals—they typically seem to hate my guts—oh yeah, and Lydia, my frenemy from toddlerhood. 

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Did I mention I’m flawed? Yeah, I analyze things way too much. I have trouble trusting. There’s maybe a handful of people that I completely trust, but I am loyal and dedicated to those people—beyond loyal. I’m a cat lover—tend to love animals more than most people. I’m an excellent cook but horrible with numbers—that’s why I hang out in the kitchen and leave the front of our restaurant (did I mention Ava and I co-own Cast Iron Creations?) to Ava who is ALL PERSONALITY all the time!

Describe what being a self-rescue princess (a strong, confident woman) means to you.

Hey, I’m still figuring it all out. I just turned twenty-five in May. My guy, Mick–he’s ten years older than me, with a lot on his plate. I’ve come to realize I need to get my act together, hence therapy and journaling. Solving crimes has proven to help me grow up and have more confidence in myself. I’ll get back to you in a couple years when I’ve worked through more stuff!

What one advice/wisdom would you like to pass onto young women?

Be yourself and trust yourself—go with your first instincts because it will save you a lot of time, trouble, and energy in your life.

What was one lesson you learned during this challenging time in your life?

To trust my instincts—I haven’t mastered this yet. I’m slowly getting better at it!

If your story or life had a theme song, what would it be?

 Beyonce’s “Girls Run the World” because it’s true, babeee!

Do you plan on dabbling in amateur sleuthing in the future, or have you hung up your detective hat?

Oh, it’s FAR from over! Look for the dum-dum writer, Jodi Rath, to get me into more trouble coming up with Deep Dish Pizza Disaster this September 4, 2020, then Yuletide Cast of the Iron Skillet coming December 18, 2020, and three more crimes to solve in 2021—this chick needs to chillax!