Cover Reveal: Dash Away All

Here it is…the cover for Dash Away All, the third book in the Merry & Bright Handcrafted Mystery Series, and my ninth book with Henery Press.

In Dash Away All, Merry Winters is taking a break from her hometown of Season’s Greetings–and all her problems there–and heading to Indiana to become the on-site crafter for a Christmas movie. The tidings of joy are short-lived as she finds herself becoming a referee, dealing with a raging Ebenezer, participating in a bucket brigade, and finding evidence in a “murder.” Is someone trying to stop the production or is it tied to a secret someone has on Luna Carmichael, the queen of Christmas?

When Marie, Luna’s assistant, stumbles away from a car accident and dies, Merry believes the accident wasn’t quite so accidental. Was Luna or Marie the target? Merry finds more questions than answer and one thing is certain: everyone has an ulterior motive for being part of the production—including Marie. After another murder, Merry wonders if the deaths are tied to a baby born long ago and then abandoned. And more importantly, will Merry live long enough to find out?

I had a love-hate relationship with writing Dash Away All. I loved the story: the plot, taking Merry out of hometown and away from her family and friends, Christmas movie setting, some of the scenes (which caused some of my problems). It was a new challenge to write Merry without using the other characters I had grown to love in Not A Creature Was Stirring and Better Watch Out. I found I missed them a lot and Merry’s reasoning for getting involved just wasn’t strong enough without her having a personal tie as her love for her friends and family is her strongest driving force. In the fourth draft, I brought in a personal connection for her: Marie is Paul McCormick’s cousin.

And then there were the scenes I loved. Capital L.O.V.E.D. That made it really hard to get the right flow for the book as I wanted to use these chapters so badly I was forcing them into the story…which is probably why writing scenes as they come to me isn’t the method of writing for me. My love of a scene even had me starting the book at the wrong point. I wanted this scene so much but it made no sense at the beginning. If that scene took place there was no reason for the production to continue so it couldn’t be the reason for Merry’s investigation, so back to the typewriter. I rewrote the first quarter of the book four times before I finally found the right start for the book. And, I evidently had to concede that one scene I adored had no place in the book anymore. It was so hard to pull it out.

There was also another part of the story I struggled with and even when I turned in the book I still wasn’t quite happy with the ending but it was time for me to stop fighting with the manuscript (I had my deadline extended while I wrestled with it). The main problem was I have a few will-not-ever-do/write rules in my head. There are just some things I like steering clear of but these self-imposed rules placed restrictions on the story and didn’t allow it to flow naturally. By forcing the direction too much, it took out the emotion in the book. Everything was just happening because I wanted/needed it. (I’m keeping this part vague as I don’t want to give away a big part of the story.)

Fortunately, I have a wonderful editor who is patient and understanding of my angst and helped me get over the hurdle I created for myself and encouraged me to see that there was nothing wrong with “breaking” one of my rules. I’m now very happy and excited with this story, and I love it. It’s more authentic to itself–and all because in the end I said screw it and broke a rule.

 

 

 

SRP Heroine Interview: Rory Anderson from Ghosts of Painting Past

Let’s give a big Self-Rescue Princess welcome to Rory Anderson. She’s joining us at the start of this holiday season to share a little bit about herself.

Please tell us a little bit about what is currently going on in your life?

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love attending the events around Vista Beach where I live like the pier lighting ceremony and school concert. This year my BFF, Liz Dexter, and I had a booth at the local craft fair so we worked on painting ornaments to sell at it for months beforehand. I also helped my parents out with the annual sand-snowman contest. But Christmas didn’t turn out to be as fun as I expected. When developers tore down the house across the street from mine, they found a decades old skeleton. A skeleton! It didn’t take long for the police to identify it as someone my father knew in high school. When he was implicated in the crime, I just had to prove that he was innocent.

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

Concern for my dad. I know he’d never kill anyone, but everything seemed to point to him as the culprit. I just had to get involved and prove he was innocent before it completely ruined his career and his life.

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

No, never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have anything to do with murder and now I’ve been involved in five investigations!

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

That would be my boyfriend, Martin Green. He’s a detective in the Vista Beach police department. He’s not thrilled when I investigate on my own. He’s afraid I’ll get hurt. No, detective work isn’t my normal career. I’m a freelance computer programmer. I write apps, put together websites, that sort of thing.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My willingness to drop everything and help out friends and family. I’m persistent and a good problem solver. I’m also a bit analytical, which I think helps in investigations. But, sometimes I’m too concerned about what others think of me.

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

A strong, confident woman tries to solve her own problems. At the same time, she knows she can’t always do everything by herself so she knows when it’s time to ask for help.

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

Don’t let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dreams. Persistence pays off.

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

Life can take surprising turns but, no matter what happens, I know I’ll get through it with the help of my family and friends.

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

The Gloria Gaynor song, “I Will Survive.” I’ve been involved in quite a few murder investigations now and have even been suspected myself. I’ve survived it all.

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

I’ve said before that I hope I never see another dead body in my life. But I keep on being drawn into investigations. I have the uneasy feeling that it’s going to happen to me again, and soon.

SRP Heroine Interview: Roxanne (Roxy) Bloom from the Killer Coffee Mystery Series

I’d like to welcome Roxy to the Self-Rescue Princess.

1. Please tell us a little bit about what is currently going on in your life? 

Well, it’s Christmas in Honey Springs.
Our town’s annual Christmas in the Park is underway and includes a Christmas Pawrade that’ll help the furry residents at Pet Palace get a home for Christmas.

I’m afraid It’s not the four-legged creatures that stole the show, it’s the pair of legs sticking out from the Christmas tree lighting ceremony that has all the town talking.

I own The Bean Hive Coffeehouse and I have to tell you that
the suspects are piling up faster than the falling snow, while a murderer is on the loose.

The gossip is as hot as the coffee I serve.

Of course I can’t let this ruin my first Christmas in Honey Springs, so I’m keeping my ear to the rumors and checking out a few things on my own. I sure would hate to have this murder hanging over our heads at the Christmas table!

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

Otis, bless his heart, was a friend of mine. He was the sweetest man and owned Odd Ink, the tattoo parlor next to my coffeehouse. He came in everyday to get a sweet treat and cup of coffee. I just hate what happened to him.

3. Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

Oh my….how do I say this without running you off. I’m sorta like a murder magnet. Somehow I stumble upon bodies while minding my own business, then I make it my business. A few months ago I’d tell you that I’d never get involved in a murder. A few months ago is a long time.

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

I’d have to say it’d be my fiancé Patrick Cane. He just don’t understand why I can’t just keep brewing up coffee instead of trouble.

5. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I’d have to say that I’m a good listener, which helps me weed out the gossip from the truth. My Aunt Maxi always said there’s a wee-bit of truth in all of that gossip, I just have to find out what’s the truth.

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

A couple of years ago I was a lawyer in my own firm. I was unhappy and not following my life. I realized real fast that no man or job was going to make me happy. I was the only one who was going to do that, so that’s when I moved to Honey Springs, took a leap of faith and opened up The Bean Hive Coffeehouse.

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

Follow your dream! Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.

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

I realized how strong I am when faced with hard problems. If I could get through law school, a nasty divorce and a complete lifestyle change…I know I can get through anything!

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

Bullet Proof by David Goetta.

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

Listen, I don’t go looking for trouble, but if my friends need me…I can’t say I won’t stick my nose in something.