SRP Heroine Interview: Rosie Hardie from Fowl Murder

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

Life’s become rather complicated.  My husband, Craig, and I moved to Nanyuki, a small market town three hours north of Nairobi, when he retired as a farm manager.  We expected a peaceful life: Craig enjoys his crossword puzzles and I still work as a community vet, treating animals and wildlife in Nanyuki, and the surrounding area known as Laikipia.

That all changed when my old schoolfriend, Aisha Onyango returned.  She was looking into a case I hoped would remain in the past, but before we could discuss it in detail she was killed.  Our local Police Commissioner was told by the ‘powers-that-be’  in Nairobi to close the case.  

I was angry that there would be no justice for a friend who had dedicated her life to fighting corruption, and promoting her vision of Kenya, with equality and economic prosperity for all.  

Aisha’s son, Thabiti has persuaded me to help him find his mother’s killer.  He called in a debt I owed his mother.  She intervened and saved me from going to prison for shooting a poacher, the case which I thought was dead and buried.

So here I am, in my mid-60’s investigating the murder of an influential lawyer, anti-corruption advocate….and my long lost friend.

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

My conscience.  It’s not right that someone who spent her whole life fighting injustice and corruption in Kenya, should be killed and her assailant allowed to escape punishment.  As the bible says in Psalms, ‘blessed are those that act justly, who always do what is right’.

I try to do what is right, to treat people kindly and fairly so that my conscience is clear and I have peace of mind.  The trouble is I don’t…have peace of mind.  I mentioned the case in which I shot a poacher.  He was a young man and I was acting in self-defense, but I still took a life and that is a sin.  One I cannot justify or seek repentance for.  So if this investigation is dangerous and I am injured or killed?  Perhaps that is the justice I deserve.  If I can help Thabiti discover who killed his mother then maybe I can begin to seek atonement for what I did.

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

At my age certainly not.  Sure we all do our bit and there have been occasions where I have administered my own judgment and punishment.  I’m afraid our police and justice system in Kenya cannot always be relied upon.  A culprit may languish for months in jail without a trial and sometimes the wrong person, such as the culprit’s wife, might be thrown into prison for her husband’s misdeeds.

There is so much that needs doing to help the community that I prefer a practical and useful sentence, such as digging latrines or a new vegetable patch for my local church’s orphanage.  Generally the wrongdoers are not career criminals, just someone trying to improve their way of life, or feed and clothe their family.

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

I wouldn’t call my work a career.  I began treating injured animals in the local community 40 years ago and over time my experience, expertise and following have grown.  So has my workload.  I get paid by the European farmers but the Africans can barely afford to pay for the medicines.  For my time I am often giving a basket of vegetables, or a stallholder at the local market will put something aside she knows I will like.  It’s kept us fed and to an extent clothed over the years.  

My husband Craig is not happy that I’m running around Nanyuki looking for a dangerous killer.  He knows how impulsive and headstrong I can be.  At first he argued against my involvement but he understands why I feel compelled to help Thabiti.  He has his own guilt from the shooting incident and also feels indebted to Aisha.  I am afraid Craig is not well.  He caught polio as a boy which damaged his left leg and left him with a limp.  After all these years he’s developed a secondary complication and I think it’s causing him pain, although he won’t admit it.  I’m sure he would prefer me to stay safely at home with him.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I’ve become rather less tolerant with age.  Whilst there are those people who suffer through poverty, there are others who are lazy or selfish which I cannot abide.  I value honesty, hard-work and resourcefulness.  

I know Craig thinks me impulsive, and at times stubborn.  I am not generous in monetary terms, as we barely seem to have enough ourselves, but I try to be with my time, and to help those who are really in need.

I think I’m becoming forgetful with age.  I can never remember where I’ve put my glasses!

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

I’m no princess, more likely the ugly step mother…but I would prefer to be the fairy godmother.  As for being strong and confident, it’s not always possible as life is not easy and sets us many challenges.  We have to strive to do what is right, to act with a clear conscience as we judge ourselves, and as God will judge each of us when the time comes.  I have done a great wrong.  I took a man’s life so I do what I can to make amends by helping the innocent, and those who are less able or poor.  

I survived some very difficult times, begging for a roof over our heads and with barely enough food to feed the family.  This made me stronger but also more aware of other people’s struggles, especially here in Kenya.  If I am strong now it is so I can assist those who are not.   

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

I’m not one for popular music so I asked my younger friends Chloe, who recently arrived from the UK, and Thabiti.  They suggested ‘Bright Side of the Road’ written and sung I believe by Van Morrison.

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

I shouldn’t say this but it’s rather exciting being involved in an investigation.  Craig would not be happy with me but…

 

Readers can learn what Rose and her friends become involved in next by joining my mailing list and receiving a free novella, Grevy Danger.  

Two deaths. No crime.  For this determined sleuth the answers are not black and white.

When Rose joins an endangered zebra expedition, she’s shaken to her core when an injured girl she treats suddenly dies. And after another death days later, Rose can’t silence the alarm bells in her head that point to murder.

 

Blurb for Fowl Murder

A shooting on the savannah. A tragedy she’d rather forget. When past and present collide, will she survive to see her future?

Kenya, 2016. Semi-retired vet Rose Hardie just wants to enjoy her golden years and care for her disabled husband. But her peace of mind shatters when a forgotten confidant returns and reopens a case where Rose pulled the trigger. With her memories of a poacher’s shocking death flooding back, she barely catches her breath before her childhood friend is brutally murdered.

Braving blackmail and entrenched corruption, our tireless heroine dives headfirst into helping the victim’s son solve the crime. But when the lead suspect is killed, Rose’s plans for a peaceful life end up dead and buried…

As her own traumatic history unravels, can Rose catch a killer before she becomes the next victim?

Fowl Murder is the first book in the compelling Kenya Kanga Mystery series. If you like Agatha Christie and Agatha Raisin, determined heroines, unpredictable twists and turns, and vivid African settings, then you’ll love Victoria Tait’s pulse-pounding tale.

Buy Fowl Murder to solve a searing whodunit today!

 

SRP Heroine Interview: Courtney Kelly from A Sprinkling of Murder

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

I believe in inviting magic into one’s life, but, um, when uninvited trouble enters my shop, I realize I’ll need more than a sprinkling of my imagination to solve a murder. Yes, a murder. Since childhood, I have loved fairies. After my mother died, however, I lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, I rediscovered it when I left my father’s landscaping business to spread my wings and start a fairy garden business in beautiful Carmel, California. But the light of the magical world I’ve created inside the shop is darkened when I find the neighboring dog-grooming business owner, Mick Watkins, dead beside the fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect me of the crime. Me! Utter nonsense.

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

After my mother died, I studied hard to make my father proud. In college, I turned my attention to chemistry and earth sciences. After graduation, I joined Dad’s thriving landscaping outfit in Carmel and dedicated myself to working the land: dig, plant, don’t have fun, repeat. Boring. Dad loved it, but me? I needed something more. When I went to a Renaissance Faire, I met a fairy garden designer. I was so enamored by the whimsical creations, I begged the woman to teach me the art. As I learned to design gardens, the woman gave me tips on how to attract fairies. I remembered laughing at the notion. But guess what? When I took the risk, spread my wings, and invested in Open Your Imagination, it happened. 

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

My father is NOT pleased with me trying to clear my name. A former cop who turned to landscaping after an injury that sidelined him, he believes the police will uncover the truth on their own. But I’m not so sure. With Fiona’s help—Fiona is the fairy who revealed herself to me the day I opened the shop—I’m sure I can discover the truth faster. I do not want to go to jail. I will not look good in an orange jumpsuit.

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

During high school, I had a steady boyfriend. When we went to college, we remained faithful. After we graduated, we became engaged. And then, the day after we had a co-ed bridal shower, he announced he didn’t want to be married. Ever. He needed to focus entirely on becoming a judge. Luckiest day of my life. That was when I realized that I did not need a man to complete me. I needed me. My energy. My artistic gifts. Don’t get me wrong, I like men, and there might be someone in Carmel who will catch my eye, but I won’t need him. I have created a business that is blossoming. I surround myself with supportive friends. And if I need saving, I’ll do it with my wits, brain, and spunk.

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

Find your passion and pursue it with all your heart.

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

Persevere. Despite all the naysayers, you know what you want, and you can have it if you keep focused on the goal. Also, if you’re ever suspected of murder and you know you’re innocent, fight, fight, fight for justice and the truth.

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

Oh, gosh, I’d like to think this is the only time I’ll run across a dead body. Honestly, how many times does that happen to a person in a lifetime? I’m hanging up my hat. Definitely. Unless, of course, something happens…

Thank you so much for asking me such thought-provoking questions.

 

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!

 

 

 

SRP Heroine Interview: Marygene Brown from Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse

We’re welcoming Marygene Brown to The Self- Rescue Princess. Here’s a little bit of intriguing information about her before we jump into the interview:

On Georgia’s picturesque Peach Cove Island, a killer is serving up a two-for-one special . . .
 
After their mama’s passing, Marygene Brown returned to Peach Cove Island to help her sister Jena Lynn run the family diner, renowned for its homemade peach desserts. But Mama is never too far away—her sassy spirit haunts the island, and more specifically Marygene. Lately, Mama has been warning her that the dead will seek her out to solve their murders, an idea Marygene is far from peachy keen on.
 
But that prophecy appears to be coming true when she goes skinny-dipping off the island and swims right into a woman’s charred corpse floating in the waves. And when Marygene and her brother Sam come upon a second burned body in a wine cellar at an event they’re catering, it appears they have a double homicide on their hands. It soon turns out the victims have more in common than their charred remains, and Marygene will need to double down to find a killer who has no aversion to playing with fire. Good thing Mama has her back . . .
 
Includes Seven Recipes from Marygene’s Kitchen!

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

I don’t have a choice in the matter. From what I’ve gleaned from Mama, when one of the deceased is forced to remain, it creates an energy around the person they’re communicating with. An aura, if you will. The deceased will be drawn to that person to enlist their aid. In this instance, me. 

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

No way! I saw myself hosting a Food Network cooking show. Too bad that didn’t work out. 

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

My father Sheriff Edward Carter isn’t at all happy that I’ve gotten involved in these sorts of cases.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Interviewer note: Question six is: describe what being a self-rescue princess (a strong, confident woman) means to you.) 

Wow, I think this answer would cover both questions 5 and 6.   I’ve been through a few trials in my life. The one that shaped me the most was choosing Mr. Wrong. Since my painful marriage and equally painful divorce, I’ve come to terms with the abuse I’d endured by my ex’s hand. I’ve been surprised by how much sharing with a group of others who’ve had similar experiences helped me along my healing journey. I’ve learned that I possess the strength to endure and grow. And that our pasts do not define our futures.

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

Never give up. Ever. 

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

Failure is not fatal nor is it final. Keep moving forward. 

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

Song? I have an entire playlist! https://www.kateyoungbooks.com/marygene-browns-baking-playlist.html

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

My amateur sleuthing days are just beginning. Stay tuned. 

 

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: Belinda Blake from The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Today, Belinda Blake is stopping by to chat with us.

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

As part of my exotic pet-sitting business, I’ve decided to take a job at a wolf sanctuary. But I haven’t even been there a full day and I’m already realizing that might not have been the smartest decision…

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

My sister, Katrina, would tell you that I’m not one to look at things and recognize risks…in all honesty, sometimes I accidentally plunge right into dangerous situations. But I usually have a very good reason for doing so! In this case, the wolf sanctuary owner was desperate for help and she was willing to pay me handsomely.

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

My mom gets distressed when she finds out I’ve been in danger, but since I live a few hours from her, she doesn’t always KNOW all the situations I’ve been in…and my sister Katrina and my friend Jonas also tend to spend a lot of  time warning me to be careful. I’m not an amateur sleuth by trade—I pet-sit exotic pets and just happen to run into some dangerous situations in my line of work. I also review video games on the side, and that’s actually becoming a pretty successful endeavor for me.

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

I live alone, and I’ve been on my own for quite a few years (some of those years in the Peace Corps and in New York City), so I’ve had to learn to be more aware of my surroundings and look for red flags. But I am an optimist by nature, so I tend to be a bit too trusting. Just ask my sister Katrina, who trusts NO ONE when she first meets them!

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I think I’m a very compassionate person, but that can be a blessing and a curse, since I don’t tend to realize when people have nefarious motivations. When wrongs have been done, I want to get to the bottom of things and make things right for the victims’ families. But I tend to rush into things without thinking, and I don’t like being locked down, so I kind of roll along in life without planning things out thoroughly.

 

 

SRP Heroine Interview: Jen Ward from Number’s Up

Today, we’re meeting Jen Ward.

Jennifer Ward’s To-Do List:

1) Turn in my business partner and his lying, cheating, law-breaking client to the SEC for insider trading.

2) Cooperate with the FBI. Do not kiss— scratch that. Do not yell at Special Agent Nicholas Kelly, the FBI agent leading said investigation.

3) Discover a dead body…

Jennifer Ward, MBA, CPA, and business consultant, likes a nice, orderly lifestyle. Schedules and To-Do lists are what get her through the day. So when the by-the-numbers fashionista finds her business partner was breaking the law, she turns him in to the SEC. Which brings the FBI to her door, and her ordered world to an end.

But that was three weeks ago. Things couldn’t possibly get worse. Right?

Until Jen discovers her business partner dead in his hotel room. With Nic the handsome FBI agent dogging her every step, Jen must use her skills to discover the truth. Who killed Henry? And will she be next?

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

He was my partner. Yeah, he might have ruined our business and caused the FBI to investigate me, and… Okay, maybe it was the grief that made me do it. Logic would suggest not getting involved.

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

No. No fighting. We have gone over this. I’m supposed to stay away from guns, and ranting at the bad guys. I’m not like Lark. I listen. Most of the time.

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

I’m not making this a career… it’s more of a side hobby. That I don’t tell people about.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I’m smart. I’m an incredible CPA and business consultant. I’m logical and organized. And maybe a little lost. But only a little.

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

It means I get the job done, no matter what happens. I do what’s right, no matter the cost. I depend on me.

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

Don’t let one thing over take your life completely. It’s easy to prioritize work over your life, but then you might end up a stressed out ball of anxiety that never has food in there fridge. Don’t end up stressed out and foodless, buying shoes to make herself feel better.

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

Money does not give you security.

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

The Champion by Carrie Underwood

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

Well, there wasn’t supposed to be any other plans…

SRP Heroine Interview: Larklyn Davis from Stir Up

Please welcome Larklyn Davis to the Self-Rescue Princess.

After her last brush with murder, Larklyn Davis is relieved to be spending her time with the talented new horse at her stables instead of tripping over body parts. While she’s trying to figure out why her newest horse has lost his mojo, she’s also puzzling over her relationship with the brooding, uncommunicative Detective Brecken Wilson.

But then, disaster strikes, and both Lark’s reputation and business are on the line. Once again she finds herself pulled into a murder case and in close proximity to the handsome detective. Throw in a dashing veterinarian plus a matchmaking town, and Lark’s life spins out of control. As clues pile up and all evidence leads back to her barn, Lark gets saddled up to solve another mystery.

Who knew life in Barrow Bay would stir up so much trouble?

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

Wait, I had a choice? Can we go back to that moment? Because I would like to un-chose.

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

No. I train horses. That’s risky enough. If I wanted more thrills, I’d ride eventing.

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

My Gran, but Brecken’s a close second. Both are very good at reminding me that it’s a really bad idea. Not that bad ideas have ever stopped me from doing something. If they had, I wouldn’t have married my first husband.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Um, sarcasm and gossiping? Are those strengths? Because I can confirm that they can be weaknesses. I also don’t know how to throw a punch. I really need to figure that out.

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

Um, I guess it means female? I mean, what’s the point of waiting around for someone to rescue you? That sounds like a good way to get dead. Plus, taking care of it yourself is so much faster and more efficient. Get in, do something stupid, save yourself, get out. Not a great plan, but it’s worked for me.

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

Be you, be strong, be unafraid. Drink more coffee.

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

Love isn’t something to fear.

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

Zero, from the Wreck-it-Ralph movie. But that might be because I don’t listen to anything other than kid’s music these days. Or maybe Let It Go. I sing that to Hailey a lot. Yeah, let’s go with Let It Go.

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

I never plan on anything… but it happens. It will be happening again this fall. 😉

 

SRP Heroine Interview: Jolie Tucker from Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder

The Self-Rescue Princess took a bit of an unexpected hiatus. Nothing earth-shattering happened, fortunately, just trying to juggle too much at one time and getting lost in one project and (unfortunately) forgetting about others.

To get back into the swing things, today I’ll talking with Jolie Tucker from Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder . Here’s a little bit about what’s going on with her life:

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!

Financial fraud of elderly villagers in Leavensport, an urban sprawl threat to the community, disastrous dates, cross-sell marketing gone wrong, and another murder? Jolie Tucker is ready to try dating again. Well, she has no choice—since her family auctioned her off to the highest bidder. Her best friend, Ava, has agreed to a double date, but both friends find out hidden secrets about their partners as well as deception by one of the village’s own, who will soon be found dead. This plot is sure to be spicy!

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

I had no choice. I am semi-involved in a relationship with Detective Meiser. My friend, Bradley, was a suspect and my friends, The Seevers, are suspects as well. I couldn’t say no to my elder, Mrs. Bea Seevers, when she asked me to help her and Earl out.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I’m a great cook—I love creating recipes for cast iron skillet cooking. I’m introverted which I believe many see as a weakness, but it’s who I am and I’m okay with it. Investigating does get me out in the public more—but I still try to keep a low profile as best I can—sometimes that works for me and sometimes it works against me.

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

You know, I see what other people consider to be heroes. I don’t define hero in the same way as most. I think being a hero is being true to one’s self and not settling nor allowing yourself to feel selfish because you do what’s right for you and take care of yourself. A hero can just as easily put themselves in other peoples’ shoes too. I find myself feeling for not only the victims but the villains too. There is always a reason for why people do what they do.

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

I’d give three quotes from one of my favorite writers, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Self-trust is the first secret of success.”

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

“To be great is to be misunderstood.”

Don’t let other people decide who you are. That’s my quote.

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

Thanksgiving is coming up and I hear that there is some trouble brewing. Find out 11/18/19 when Turkey Basted To Death comes out.

SRP Heroine Interview: Carissa Shae from Herbs and Homicide

Today, we’re welcoming Carissa Shae to The Self-Rescue Princess.

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

A regular customer, a faerie woman named Miss Morgan, passed away in my shop, the Seelie Tree Apothecary. Sal and I tried to save her, as a pharmacist and a half-elf I should have been able to do something, but I didn’t have the medicine or magic to figure out what was wrong and save her in time. Poor Sal was just there to get some herbs for Hela’s engagement dinner. There was nothing he could have done. I know Miss Morgan wasn’t the most popular faerie, but she helped me once and I think she had a good heart for all her flaws. It looks like it wasn’t natural causes, which means there’s a killer somewhere in Moss Hill. I’m trying to help catch him or her.

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

I trusted the sidhe guard – the faeries in charge of investigating fae crimes – to find out what happened to Miss Morgan, but I think they’ll just settle on an easy suspect: Me. It was my shop after all. Of course I’m not guilty, but I think that sort of makes it my responsibility to help Miss Morgan since I couldn’t save her. If the sidhe won’t find the real killer, I think the least I owe Miss Morgan is to catch the culprit myself.

Did you ever imagine yourself being involved in fighting crime?

Never! I’d rather not be involved either, but I’m worried the people of this island might be in danger, the mayor’s helpless because it’s faerie jurisdiction and the sidhe don’t like to listen to humans.

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

Other than myself? That would have to be Cam. He’s a good friend whose boss pushed him into helping me. He can’t exactly say no, since his boss is the mayor. Truthfully, I doubt he’d have said no anyway. He makes a fuss, but he’s always there for me.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I do whatever I can to protect my friends and family, but I tend to take the world on my shoulders when I should trust others to help.

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

It doesn’t take a brush with death to rescue yourself in life. Working a job, owning a shop, raising kids, helping friends, all of it takes strength. Being a self-rescue princess means finding your own inner power to face whatever challenge life presents with a strong will and the belief that you will overcome every obstacle.

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

Fight Song by Rachel Platten would definitely be my choice.

There’s a lot I didn’t say or haven’t done perfectly. I would redo it now, but that’s not how life works. I’m not going to dwell on the past, but I have a lot of fight left for the future.

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

I wasn’t planning on being a sleuth in the first place. I received a note from a woman named Raven Corvus saying Moss Hill was in danger. I didn’t realize at the time that she might have been warning about Miss Morgan’s death. Or could she have meant that there is more crime to come?  I can’t know for certain, but I must protect my friends and family, and my hometown, from danger. Or else, what kind of self-rescue princess would I be?

Check out the rest of the series:

Book 2: Remedy and Ruins

Book 3: Elixirs and Elves

Book 4: Charms and Changelings