Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My mother tells me I was born in Texas a very long time ago, but I’m not so sure—my mother can’t be trusted. These things I do know: I was raised in Texas on barbecue, Mexican food and beer. I’ve lived in every time zone in the U.S.; the most memorable stint being the time spent in Las Vegas, where I currently reside and where my friends assure me I cannot get into too much trouble. Silly people.
The only constant in my life (besides my family, who deserves hazardous duty pay for sticking with me) has been change (my mother is still waiting for me to grow up). Silly woman.
I’ve been an accountant, a business owner, a tax lawyer, a pilot a flight instructor, and always a mom. But all of this career ADD made me incredibly unemployable. Hence the whole writing thing.
Actually, from a young age I’ve know stories would be a big part of my life. To date I’ve written five humorous romantic mysteries, WANNA GET LUCKY? ( double RITA(tm )finalist and a NYT Notable Crime Novel for 2010–but don’t let that throw you, yes there’s mystery but each book, at its heart is a romance), LUCKY STIFF. SO DAMN LUCKY, LUCKY BASTARD, and LUCKY CATCH, releasing August 26th, 2014) and several between-the-books-novellas, LUCKY IN LOVE, LUCKY BANG AND LUCKY NOW AND THEN.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
LUCKY CATCH is the next in the series, releasing August 26th, 2014.
And this whole story started with a smoking gun.
You see, I’m not much of a foodie. And, I’m not much of a cook either. In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with food—I love it, but I hate it when my jeans don’t fit. And it doesn’t help that I’m more of a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives kind of gal rather than one who favors an exorbitantly-priced, twenty-item tasting menu that stills leaves you lusting after a Whataburger. So, when it comes to fancy food prep, I’m a bit clueless.
Which leads me back to the smoking gun thing.
I was eating dinner at one of my favorite local restaurants in Vegas, Due Forni, with two of my best buds, one of them a chef. As a first course, we ordered some of the homemade mozzarella and their famous bread (totally to die for). I ordered the smoked cheese and, through mouthfuls I expressed my pleasure and my wonder at how they imparted the smoky flavor. I’m originally from Texas and the whole smoked thing is a religion there—but it requires a huge smoker and tons of hickory and I didn’t see that sort of set up at Due Forni. So, I wondered out loud how someone might give fresh mozzarella a smoked flavor.
My bud, the chef, looked at me as if I’d been living under a rock and announced, “With a smoking gun, of course.”
But, of course! A smoking gun. Who knew?
That little tidbit stopped me mid-bite and totally derailed his dinner as I peppered him with questions.
I mean, there’s just something so prosaic about killing someone with a smoking gun, don’t you think?
So, off the story ran, as stories are wont to do. Before long I found myself mired hip-deep in the world of gourmet cookery. And I became interested in the conundrum of serving incredibly fresh food in a place that is as hospitable to the nurture of delicate plants and exotic fish as the surface of the moon. And that led to research into the pipeline for gourmet foodstuffs, the need for temperature control, for impeccable and consistent quality and lightning fast shipments. All of this is incredibly competitive, with the top-tier chefs locked in a fierce battle for the freshest, most unique items on the planet.
The perfect recipe for murder.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write with music playing…loudly. And I sing along….poorly…while I write.
Apparently I have at least a two-track mind:)
And, for the sake of those around me, I write at home, alone.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Probably Evanovich the most. her books showed me that breaking the rules and writing funny are indeed okay.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the next Lucky novella. this one will be set in the entertainment world in Vegas and will be dual first-person, Lucky and her friend, Flash, n investigative reporter, will both tell the story. I’m having fun with it, which is what the novellas are for, to try new things.
I’m also working on a totally new series, women’s fiction with romance (there always has to be romance) set in Napa. The first book is CRUSHED and I’ll tell you more about it later….
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still word of mouth–whether in person or digital. I love doing blog tours and engaging with readers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write the stories your feel in your heart. Work tirelessly topeprfect your craft. And never quit.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Join a good critique group.
What are you reading now?
The third and last installment in Deborah Harkness’ trilogy that began with Discovery of Witches.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The new series mentioned above. More Lucky books. Hopefully improving my craft as I go.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
One For the Money, to make me laugh. Atlas Shrugged to make me think. And anything by Nora Roberts, because we all need romance.
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