Spotlight on Nancy Mehl and In the Dead of Winter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Mehl's novels are all set in her home state of Kansas. Although some people think of Kansas as nothing more than flat land and cattle, she believes they really are quite interesting. Nancy is a mystery buff who loves the genre and is excited to see more inspirational mysteries becoming available to readers who share her passion. Her "Ivy Towers Mystery Series" combines two of her favorite things – mystery and snow. Unfortunately, the past several winters have been pretty dry. She enjoys writing fiction because she can make it snow as much as she wants!

Nancy works for the City of Wichita, assisting low-income seniors and the disabled. She also spends time with her volunteer group, Wichita Homebound Outreach. She lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband of thirty-five years, Norman. Her son, Danny, is a successful graphic designer. He designed covers for several of her previous books.

IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
by Nancy Mehl
Published by Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

ABOUT THE BOOK

College student Ivy Towers reluctantly returns to Winter Break, Kansas to settle the estate of her late, great-aunt Bitty Flanagan, owner of Miss Bitty's Bygone Bookstore. Bitty's fall from a library ladder seems suspicious to Ivy, and items are missing from the store. An anonymous note confirms Ivy's worst fears. Someone in Winter Break murdered Aunt Bitty. But why? Ivy and her former boyfriend, Deputy Sheriff Amos Parker, search for the truth about Bitty's death and discover dark secrets that are worth killing for. As harsh winter weather rages all around Winter Break, another storm brews deep in Ivy's heart. Everything she believes will be tested, and in the end, she will discover that love lurks in the most unexpected places.

Buy Your Copy Today!

In the Dead of Winter will be available on Amazon sometime this month. For anyone who is interested in purchasing a copy, you can e-mail me at nancymehlbooks [at] hotmail.com, and I will notify you when it's available.

One important note: Cozy in Kansas is already available for preorder on Amazon and on Christianbook.com. Cozy will contain the first three Ivy Tower mysteries: In the Dead of Winter, Bye, Bye Bertie, and For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls. It will be released in December.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this your story in this anthology?

Believe it or not, I think it began with frustration over the lack of snow one winter. My agent told me Barbour's new mystery book club was accepting proposals for cozy mysteries. So I sat down at the computer and started typing. I created a place in Kansas where it snowed more than anywhere else in the state. A place where "winter comes early and stays late." Truth be told, Winter Break, Kansas is my perfect town. The place I'd live if it existed. The rest of the story evolved from there.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I truly believe authors transfer some of their own traits to their characters. To create characters with depth, you must be able to understand them. Some authors who craft particularly villainous individuals may not admit to this, but all of us have had selfish motives and desires in our lives. Perhaps we would never go to the extent our antagonists go – but we understand the drive behind their deeds.

In reference to In the Dead of Winter, I related to Ivy in many ways. Her desire for a simpler life in a small town is mine. Her attraction to old Victorian houses comes from me, along with her enjoyment of books. Her love for God and her desire for justice stems from me. Unfortunately, her nosiness and impatience are mine also. One of my friends said that when she read In the Dead of Winter, she just envisioned me as Ivy. Nice to hear since Ivy is in her twenties and I'm in my...(cough, cough).

As far as traits that belong to my characters that are not mine: I would never tackle a one pound cheeseburger like the one made by Ruby in Ruby's Redbird Diner. (Maybe one half now and one half later!) I find a pound of meat a rather unsettling proposition. Also, I think Ivy is a little braver than I am. She spends time alone in a funeral home because it's the only place where she can use a computer. I don't think you'd ever find me doing the same thing. When she hears a noise, thinking someone is in the mortuary who shouldn't be there, she tries to escape out the front door. I would either be crouched in a fetal position inside a locked room – or passed out on the floor – making myself a much easier target!

3. What themes exist in In the Dead of Winter that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

There are a few things. First of all I want everyone who reads my books to come away with something more than a good story. I certainly want them to enjoy themselves and get away from life for a while, but I also want to let them know that God loves them. In the Dead of Winter is about a girl who discovers that God has a plan for her life. And even though it looks different than the life He has for her parents, she finds out that it's just as important. God has a plan for all of us. To me, one of the saddest things in life is to find someone who feels like a "generality" instead of a "specific" – someone who has a purpose. We all have "the mark of the high calling" to achieve. We're all important to God. Whether we feel purposeless or whether we've cut God out of our future with our own plans and purposes, it’s important to bring our lives and lay them down at His feet, asking Him to put us on the "ordered path" he has for us. Our true fulfillment lies in this.

Also, there is a theme of forgiveness in my book. Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Forgiving others and forgiving yourself will set you free to be everything God has called you to be. Holding on to resentment, jealously or self-pity will stop you in your tracks. These things are life-killers. The idea of forgiveness did tend to grow as the story progressed, even though I did plan to address it. In the end, it became very important to the plot.

There is one truth that I have determined to always make a theme in everything I write. It is the fact that God is good. In In the Dead of Winter, Pastor Taylor says over and over, "The goodness of God gives me strength." It's important for everyone to know God for who He truly is. This is where our strength and our comfort come from. There is an unfortunate perception in the world (and in some parts of the church) that God is going around giving people diseases or taking loved ones from them. This is absolutely false. God is a good God. He is loving, kind, and merciful. He gave His most precious gift to a sinful world to bridge the gap between sin and holiness. He has made it clear that His love never changes, and it is to be trusted above everything. I've promised God that I will never, ever write anything that compromises that truth.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Actually, I enjoyed writing all of it. It's the editing that gets to me! When I find that I've repeated words or used the same non-verbal actions ten times in one scene – I get very frustrated. In one part of the story, I had Ivy touching people so often, she appeared to be in need of some kind of counseling!

In the Dead of Winter was my first cozy mystery. My other books had more suspense. In cozies, humor is a part of the story. I had a blast trying out my "funny side, not only in dialogue but in creating quirky characters. I've had more fun writing these cozy mysteries than anything else I've ever done.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Bye, Bye Bertie has already been released to the book club. It will available to the public in six months. In Bertie, Ivy finds a map she thinks will lead to a treasure. Instead, she finds something much different. Also, Ivy and Amos (the local deputy sheriff) will take an important step in their relationship. And a new character will be introduced. Someone who has been missing a long, long time. Can't say anymore because it will give the plot away!

There are two more in this series, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls, and There Goes Santa Claus.

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Thank you, Nancy, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of In the Dead of Winter.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Spotlight on Sandra Robbins and Pedigreed Blood Lines

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandra Robbins is a former teacher and principal in the Tennessee public schools. She now writes full time and teaches as an adjunct college professor. She and her husband have four children and five grandchildren. Sandra is active in her church where she plays the organ and directs the handbell choir. Her love of mysteries can be traced to her childhood and the thrill of losing herself in the Nancy Drew mysteries.

PEDIGREED BLOOD LINES
by Sandra Robbins
Published by Spyglass Lane Mysteries

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Leigh Dennison's friend Addie Jordan is murdered and Leigh inherits her kennel of show dogs, Leigh finds herself a person of interest by the police in the crime. Leigh is determined to find the killer of the woman she loved like a mother and clear her name. Her list of suspects includes a homeless Vietnam veteran, a young high school dropout, the owner of a rival kennel, and the man with whom she's falling in love. As the clues begin to fall into place, Leigh finds out there's another reason why dogs are called man's best friend.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this book?

I heard about Barbour's new Heartsong Presents Mysteries line, and I thought I would try my hand at writing a cozy mystery. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and graduated to more sophisticated mysteries as I grew older. However, I think there's still a part of that young sleuth in me.

Before I began to write, I familiarized myself with all the ingredients of a cozy—a quirky character for a sleuth, a crime that happens off-scene, and red herrings thrown in to divert the reader. Barbour also requires a Christian theme to run through the story and at least 20% romance.

After understanding all the requirements, I began to consider all my interests and which ones could grab the attention of a reader. I'm a dog lover and dote on my Yorkshire terrier Belle. Since everyone knows that dogs are man's best friend, I thought a story set in a kennel for show dogs would be appealing.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

One of the most appealing things about a cozy mystery is the quirky cast of characters that inhabit the story. I spent a lot of years in education as a teacher and a principal, and one of the things I dealt with on a day-to-day basis was that many children today suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder. Of course many adults do, too, but there wasn't a name for it when they were growing up. I thought it would be interesting to write an adult character that suffers from ADD but also has a desire to solve mysteries.

One of the misconceptions about people who suffer from ADD is that they aren't very smart. On the contrary they are very intelligent people who have to find alternate ways of dealing with their inability to concentrate. I try to show that by the way Leigh deals with staying focused on a task. One of her traits is that every time she puts clothes in the washer she has to keep repeating put the soap in the washer, put the soap in the washer, or she knows the machine will grind its way through every cycle without detergent.

I suppose my experience in education influenced the fact that Blake, the heroine, is a teacher with a heart for kids. He demonstrates this in his concern for a young high school dropout. I've also seen the effects that dropping out of school can have on someone's life.

3. What themes exist in Pedigreed Blood Lines that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The main theme that I wanted readers to come away with is that we aren't placed in this world to live for ourselves. Jesus commanded us to love the Lord with all our hearts, but He also said for us love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I found it interesting to develop the changes in Leigh's life as she comes to understand what Jesus meant by loving those around us. I hope also that readers will examine their own lives to see if they open their eyes to the needs of others or if they find ways to simply ignore them.

As for themes that developed as the story progressed, I suppose I would have to cite the effect Addie's death had on Leigh. I believe our words and actions live on in the lives of those we've encountered after we're gone. Leigh found it easy to ignore Addie when she talked about really seeing the people around her, but she later came to understand what Addie had been trying to tell her all along. I hope readers will recognize the lasting effects our lives have on generations to come.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I suppose the parts that dealt with the character of Preacher were the most difficult parts to write. He is patterned after a homeless Vietnam veteran I heard of some years ago. At the time he was living under a bridge and had suffered some horrible experiences at the hands of some people. I had friends who were victims of the Vietnam War, both in battle and in their lives afterwards, and it has always troubled me that the horrors of that time in American history still haunt so many today.

My favorite parts had to do with Leigh and Blake falling in love. I'm just a romantic at heart and love to read a good love story.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is Murder in Small Doses. It will release in February, 2009, from Barbour and is the second in the Leigh Dennison Mystery Series. In this story Leigh has just completed the Citizens' Police Academy and sees herself as a trained investigator. She talks the chief of police into letting her volunteer at the police station, much to the dismay of Detective John Sawyer. When Leigh's high school librarian is murdered and her cat disappears, Leigh stumbles onto another mystery that will take her into the world of illegal bunchers and unscrupulous class B animal dealers. Also Leigh and Blake encounter a few roadblocks along the way in their romance.

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Thank you, Sandra, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Pedigreed Blood Lines.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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Spotlight on Cynthia Hickey and Fudge-Laced Felonies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cynthia Hickey and her husband live in Surprise, Arizona along with two of their seven children, two dogs, two cats, and a fish named Floyd.

FUDGE-LACED FELONIES
by Cynthia Hickey
Published by Heartsong Presents Mysteries
ISBN: 978-1602601819

Only available through HeartsongPresents/Mysteries bookclub or directly through the publisher at Barbour 1-800-847-8270 until the end of the year where it will be available in Retail stores.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first book. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

A friend of mine heard about Barbour's new mystery line and pretty much dared me to write a cozy for them. I didn't even know what a cozy was! I had to look it up.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Summer Meadows is as ditzy as I was at that age. I think the trait that is hers alone is the fact that she got her teeth into the mystery and wouldn't let go. Despite the obstacles in her path.

3. What themes exist in Fudge-Laced Felonies that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed? I didn't begin the story with any theme in mind, but one of forgiveness and letting go of the reins so God can take over kind of inserted itself.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I loved all of it. Even as the author, Summer makes me laugh. I guess the hardest part was watching her struggle over her feelings for Ethan, the hero of the story.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Candy-Coated Secrets is due out in Spring of 2009 and continues Summer's story and takes place at a county fair. The book opens with Summer volunteering to help a disabled circus caravan and gets roped into guiding an elephant a mile down the highway. And that's just the beginning of her mishaps!

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Thank you, Cynthia, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Fudge-Laced Felonies.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Spotlight on Susan and Megan Davis and Homicide at Blue Heron Lake

Happy Good Friday to you today. Only 2 more days until Easter, and we're headed out of town. So, I'm getting this one posted a smidgeon early.

Spotlight #2 this week features another of Heartsong Presents Mysteries cozy mystery books. Only this time, it's a mother and daughter team, where the mother is also a web design client of mine. That makes it double special. :)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Page Davis is a Maine native and author of mysteries, suspense novels, and historical romance. She has won the short historical category of the ACFW Book of the Year and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She’s the mother of six home-schooled children. Three daughters now hold degrees in creative writing. Her husband, Jim, is a news editor.

HOMICIDE ON BLUE HERON LAKE
by Susan and Megan Davis
Published by Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Join the Club Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first novel with the recently launched Heartsong Presents Mystery Club, and one you've co-written with your daughter. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I grew up in the beautiful town of Belgrade, Maine, nestled among several lakes. One of these served as Ernest Seton Thompson’s inspiration for On Golden Pond, complete with the mail boat that STILL runs in summer on Great Pond. I wanted to write a story about a guy (Nate in our book) who took mail to people in cottages on islands, who transported people over the lake and delivered packages. So Baxter Marina was born. I had the basic story line, and when I told my daughter Megan about it, she had a great idea for the plot. I asked her to write it with me. The result was our first book, Homicide at Blue Heron Lake.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Emily and Nate? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

Emily is really more like Megan than me. She's young, lovely, poised on the brink of adulthood. Our heroine has been hurt, but she's made the best of it. We're proud of Emily and the way she deals with a scary situation.

3. What themes exist in Homicide on Blue Heron Lake that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Confession and forgiveness are prominent. The character Raven Miller especially portrays this. The past has warped her, and she needs reshaping. Emily and Nate, on a smaller scale, have to overcome the past. All of them learn that, even when you thought a situation was irreversible, there’s always hope.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

For me the hardest parts were scenes where several people gathered to talk about the murders. It's difficult to keep a scene moving when several people are talking and moving around. You have to focus on what will advance the story and stay with that, not get distracted by everything going on.

My favorites were when Emily and Nate were together. The chemistry between these two is great. Megan and I alternated chapters, and we both went over each section and then the whole thing to be sure the end product was seamless.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next suspense book, Witness, releases in April from Love Inspired Suspense. In it, a woman witnesses a murder, but the police don’t believe her when they find no evidence of a crime. A couple of months later, I'll have a historical romance from Heartsong presents—Return to Love, set in Dover, New Hampshire, 1694. And Megan's and my second cozy mystery will release in August: Treasure at Blue Heron Lake. Those are written. I'm now working on my third Frasier Island Series book, Inside Story, for January 09 release.

Our MAINEly Murder series (Blue Heron Lake books) can be found at: http://www.heartsongmysteries.com/SusanDavis0001
And visit me at my Website: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/.

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Thank you, Susan, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Homicide at Blue Heron Lake.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Spotlight on S. Dionne Moore and Murder on the Ol' Bunions

I'm thrilled to introduce to you a great new author who actually sold her book a full year before I did, but due to publisher delays, the book club released occurred one year later. Despite the frustration for her, I'm thrilled because it means our first books released at the same time.

And now, here's Sandra:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S. Dionne Moore is a bunion-free super mom, able to leap piles of homework and loads of laundry in a single bound. Not only does she write, homeschool her daughter, and help her pastor-husband, but she also plays piano, loves to garden, and encourages other writers.

MURDER ON THE OL' BUNIONS
by S. Dionne Moore
Published by Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Join the Club Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first novel with the newly released Heartsong Presents Mystery Club. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

So many things, really. My love of laughter--too many people take life and themselves too seriously--; an agent's comment that she enjoyed my strong, mature women characters; a passion for good mystery; and, not least of all, knowing the Barbour was getting ready to release a new mystery line. I decided to combine a mature woman heroine with a sidekick husband who complements her perfectly, set them in a small town, and have her stumble upon the body of her former employer. The fact that LaTisha Barnhart is an African American is extra fun! By the way, LaTisha is modeled after one of my dear friends, attitude and all!

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of LaTisha and Handy? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

As I'm sure you can imagine, there is a little of me in all of my characters. LaTisha and Hardy enjoy a deep respect for each other that belies their humorous, and often times blunt, interactions with each other, reminiscent of my husband and I. Marion Peters is the woman you love to hate. We all have some of those in our lives. But most of my characters have traits of people I know and love.

3. What themes exist in Murder on the Ol' Bunions that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Don't take yourself too seriously. Love and laugh. Showing a couple with deep respect for each other, who could also have a lot of fun together was really important to me. So many couples never connect on a level where they learn to respect and trust each other, and it sets them up for a rough time in their marriage.

I also wanted to show life after children. As a mother, it's so easy to become entangled in the accomplishments of your children, that you lose yourself. Though LaTisha misses her children, she must learn to fill the void.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

My fav parts to write are the fun scenes between LaTisha and Hardy. They are so real to me. So quirky and fun, and so aware of each other on so many levels. My least favorite part of writing is editing. Ugh!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Polly Dent Loses Grip is the second book in the LaTisha Barnhart Mystery series. Polly Dent Loses Grip on the treadmill and takes a fatal spill that's ruled an accident. Helping her mother-in-law move into Bridgeton Towers Assisted Living, LaTisha picks up on the residents' gossip that reveals all kinds of motives for murder. Gertrude Herrman is out looking for love in the form of Thomas Philcher's fat wallet, and Polly's fall eliminates her competition once and for all. Otis Payne, the venerable director of Bridgeton Towers, is over a barrel when his wife demands cash or she'll carry on without him. Mitzi Mullins' penchant for rhyme puts her in direct line as perpetrator of the crime, and and Sue Mie's mistake seals Polly's fate.

It releases in March of 2009. Join the book club and make sure you don't miss a single cozy mystery!

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Thank you, Sandra, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Murder on the Ol' Bunion.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Spotlight on Darlene Franklin and Gunfight at Grace Gulch

Today, I have a new author to cozy mysteries introduce to you. And as I look at my list of upcoming, I've noticed there are a LOT of debut author in the coming weeks. I hope you enjoy them! Darlene isn't new to publishing, but she is new to this genre.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin resides in the Colorado foothills with her mother and her lynx point Siamese cat, Talia. She has two grown children and two grandchildren. She loves music, reading and writing. She has published one book previously (Romanian Rhapsody, Barbour, 2005), as well as numerous devotions, magazine articles, and children's curriculum. Gunfight at Grace Gulch is the first book in the "Dressed for Death" series. Visit Darlene's website at http://www.darlenehfranklin.com/.

GUNFLIGHT AT GRACE GULCH
by Darlene Franklin
Published by Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

ABOUT THE BOOK

The feud between the Graces and the Gaynors is still going strong more than a century after its inception in the 1891 Oklahoma land run. Newspaper editor Penn Hardy is murdered during the reenactment of the most famous gunfight in the history of Grace Gulch, Oklahoma. Cici Wilde, owner of a vintage clothing store, feels compelled to investigate when police suspect people close to her. She soon discovers her talent for sleuthing equals her flare for wearing period clothing. Theater director Audie Howe never expected the reenactment to end in a real murder. He cares too much for the future of the Magda Grace Mallory Theater - and the charming Cici Wilde - to let her face danger alone. Cici and Audie take a dangerous gamble to nail the killer - and lay their lives on the line.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first cozy mystery and part of a brand-new line with Heartsong Presents. It's also the first in your "Dressed for Death" mystery series. What gave you the inspiration for this story? "

Since I once lived in Oklahoma, and my son lives there now, I decided to take advantage of the centennial of Oklahoma statehood. I missed it by three months, but I trust God's timing!

I came up with the idea of Gunfight at Grace Gulch because I wanted to tie Oklahoma's unique history of land runs into my contemporary mystery. Accusations of cheaters and "sooners" stirred a lot of bad feelings. In my story, the land run started a feud that resulted in a gunfight. Present-day descendents reenact the gunfight, only one of them dies.

My sleuth, Cici Wilde, sprang into mind complete with her dandelion 60's style hair and long gauze skirts when I read a newspaper article about a vintage clothing store.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Cici and Audie? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

As I mentioned above, I lived in small town Oklahoma for several years, so I drew from that experience in creating the mythical town of Grace Gulch. Cici's self doubts very much reflect me. My son's acting career in high school gave me insights into the theater.

Having said that—Cici and Audie draw a lot less from my personal experience than do the characters in my first book, Romanian Rhapsody. I traveled with a Christian music group through college and know the experience well!

I don't know fashion all that well, but it's Cici's passion. I have never lived on a ranch. Unlike Audie, I don't read a lot of Oscar Wilde, and Proverbs may be my least favorite book of the Bible. Well, that’s not true, but I don't have it memorized chapter and verse the way he does.

3. What themes exist in Gunfight at Grace Gulch that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I hope that, like Cici, my readers learn to accept themselves as unique and special just the way God created them. To stop wanting to be someone different.

Other themes cropped up in telling the story, of course. Settler Bob Grace struggled with his conscience during the land run—should he cheat and become a "sooner" or trust God and make the run for the land with everyone else? History tells us that three times as many people made the land runs as there was land available; he couldn’t be sure of staking a claim.

Also, evangelism often crops up in my stories. One of the murder suspects becomes a Christian. I won't spoil the surprise by telling you which one.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

In a way, writing the ending was the most difficult. I wanted to FINISH the book and tended to hurry. My favorite part was probably the reenactment of the gunfight and the letters from Bob Grace to his fiancé. I got to throw a bit of history into a contemporary story.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The second mystery featuring Cici and Audie, A String of Murders, is due out in December. Pearls belonging to Magda Grace Mallory, Grace Gulch's leading patron of the arts, are found at a murder scene. Which just happens to be Cici’s store. So once again Cici is on the trail of a murderer. Before A String of Murders, however, my first historical novella Dressed in Scarlet will appear in Snowbound Colorado Christmas. The biggest snowstorm in Denver's history dumped almost four feet of snow over a six day period in December 1913. My heroine, heiress Natalie Daire, gets into a car accident trying to drive home and she ends up staying at the Brown Palace Hotel. Fabrizio Ricci fixes her car, and romantic sparks flare. Can the heiress and the immigrant find true love?

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Thanks, Darlene, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Gunfight at Grace Gulch. Because Darlene is still waiting for her author copies, the book might not ship until the middle of March.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'follow comments to" when you leave a comment. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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