Interview with Kim Foster- A Beautiful Heist Author

Photo credit: TLC Book Tours

Kim Foster was nice enough to find some time in her schedule to stop by, answer some questions about her debut book, A Beautiful Heist, her #literaryconfessions and #literarycrush- and many other things. Plus, we know she’s all cool and everything- because like most of us- she also has a bit of a Pinterest obsession!

Interview with Kim Foster:

1. What was the inspiration for A Beautiful Heist?

I thought it would be fun to write a story about a woman who is basically a good person, but whose job happens to be entirely illegal. I personally love stories with criminal protagonists—heists and capers, with lots of action, and you find yourself rooting for the people who would traditionally be the villains. It’s a common setup for the big screen (Ocean’s Eleven, The Italian Job…) but I don’t see it in books very often. I thought it would be fascinating to explore what motivates people to either do good or do bad…and all the shades and nuances in between.

2. From the beginning to end, how long did A Beautiful Heist take to write?

I had the initial germ of the idea when my firstborn was about 1. He just turned 8. But the path to publication was long and convoluted (as I suspect it is for every writer) because over those years I had another baby, went through two literary agents, lived in the UK for a year, and wrote two entirely different versions of the story.

3. Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

I’ve had to readjust my writing schedule many times—through various stages of motherhood, maternity leaves, and overseas moves. Currently my writing schedule starts at 5 am and I write until 7 am, when my day as a working mother begins (I’m a family doctor in my regular life). Recently I’ve been writing in the evening, too, after the kids are in bed…and then on the weekends, whenever I can sneak out to the nearest Starbucks.

A coffee shop is my preferred writing space. The ambient sound, the comforting aroma, the endless supply of caffeine…but mostly I like to write in a café because there are no kids there. Well, that’s not strictly true–there are kids there, of course, but they don’t happen to be mine, and conveniently enough, nobody seems to need me to feed those kids or change their diapers or anything. It’s great.

4. Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

Some of the characters are inspired by people in real life—not wholesale, but little pieces of them, stitched together with other bits, like Frankenstein. My protagonist, Cat, has a rival in this story, Brooke—and she’s an amalgamation of all the mean girls I’ve encountered in my life. Most characters, though, are pure figments of my imagination.

5. Kim, do you enjoy hearing from fans about their thoughts of the book?

Yes, of course! If I wasn’t interested in hearing what people think, I might have been satisfied leaving this story on my hard drive, for my own entertainment alone.

It’s especially fun to hear people’s feelings about the love triangle in A Beautiful Heist. I’ve heard from a few readers about this recently, and it’s so fascinating. A friend—someone I would have pegged as Team Jack—just told me she was totally Team Ethan, so we giggled about that.

6. Do you want A Beautiful Heist to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

That would be a dream come true. And to be honest, I’ve thought about it a lot, because my book is very visual and the scenes have plenty of action. I created Pinterest pages, in fact, for my dream cast for the major characters, and wrote a post on my blog about that when I was counting down to book launch.

For Cat, my protagonist, I see Rachel McAdams, or maybe Emily Blunt. Jack (her FBI agent ex-boyfriend): Hugh Jackman or Eric Bana. Ethan (the charming art thief): Chris Pine, perhaps, or Bradley Cooper.

7. Are you working on another book? If so, can you tell us what the book is about?

A Beautiful Heist is the first book in the Agency of Burglary & Theft series, so I’m absolutely working on the next stories. I just sent the manuscript for the second book to my editor this week, actually.

In book two (which is slated for publication in June 2014), you’ll see Cat’s adventures become even more international—the story is set, in large part, in Paris. The heists in the next stories get even bigger (she goes after a very famous target in book two—and it’s something everyone has heard of) and the personal stakes get deeper. She comes face to face with some of her deepest fears and has to struggle with those, while attempting to pull off an impossible job. As far as romance goes: sadly, I don’t make things easy for Cat. Let’s just say the love triangle that emerges in book one gets a lot more pointy in subsequent books.

8. Could you tell us some of your favorite authors?

I have eclectic tastes in fiction, and there are so many fabulous authors out there it’s hard to narrow it down. That said, I love Kate Morton and Diana Gabaldon and Ken Follett. Philip Pullman and JK Rowling are the masters when it comes to combining action and suspense with humor. I recently read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and that book rocked my world, to be honest, so I’d like to read more of her. Probably my all-time favorite author, though, is Jane Austen.

9. What book (or books!) will you always make room for on your shelf?

Well, this is an ongoing problem, of course, because who has the room for all the wonderful books out there? Actually, I thought I’d solved this problem once, because my husband and I opened a secondhand bookstore in Vancouver several years ago—and for a little while I had the most kickass personal library. It was great fun running that store. But, alas, we had to sell it when life became crazy with the birth of our first son.

Our house now has bookshelves covering pretty much every spare wall. Technology has provided the most recent answer to the bookshelf space conundrum, however, in the form of my beloved e-reader. Hundreds of books in my purse!

10. Do you have any #literaryconfessions?

My #literaryconfession is that I’m not a very fast reader. And it’s not for lack of trying; I’ve read tons of books throughout my life. But somehow I just didn’t get that gene. My dad and my sisters have the lightning fast reading gene—my baby sister can polish off a book standing in the bookstore (something I’ve scolded her for: give the author the sale, for crying out loud!).

11. Do you have a #literarycrush?

Jamie Fraser, hands down. And both of the Darcy reincarnations (Mr. in Pride and Prejudice, and Mark in Bridget Jones). *Editor’s note: For those that have been living under a rock like me- Jamie Fraser is from Outlander.

12. What are some of the books that will be in your beach bag for 2013?
A Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling has been sitting on my TBR list for a few months, so I’m pretty excited to dive into that. Also, I’m curious to try A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. And I’ve been meaning to read something by Sarah Jio for a while; her stuff has piqued my interest. Maybe Blackberry Winter, or The Last Camellia. We’re taking our boys on a road trip to California this summer, so I’m positively salivating to do a little beach reading.

*Special thanks to Kim Foster for this interview.

Photo credit: TLC Book Tours

For more information on Kim, visit her Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest, and website.

Want to win a copy of A Beautiful Heist? Sure you do! Visit Traveling With T’s review of A Beautiful Heist– leave a comment and an email address- and you are entered to win! *Note this is book is in e-book format only.

Interview with Kimberly McCreight: Author of Reconstructing Amelia

Kimberly McCreight’s novel, Reconstructing Amelia, had me hooked from page 1. Dark, twisty, and full of surprises- it was a book that I enjoyed.

With this being Book Lovers Unite Online Book Club’s inaugural pick, I was beyond excited at the response we received from people in the group. But, even more, when the author agreed to an interview.

Kimberly McCreight Interview

Kimberly, Reconstructing Amelia has parts that remind me of Gossip Girl and a movie called The Skulls. Did either the TV show or the movie I mentioned have any influence in your writing process of Reconstructing Amelia?

No, neither did. I’ve never seen The Skulls and, though I did watch the first episode of Gossip Girl, I didn’t watch long enough to even realize that the voice over was a gossip blog. I found that out long after, when I was finished Reconstructing Amelia and an early reader mentioned it. But I would like to go back and watch Gossip Girl now. The fact that I didn’t keep watching wasn’t a reflection on the quality of the show, only that I had a colicky infant at the time.

How long did Reconstructing Amelia take to write?

It was about two years from the time I started it until the book was sold.

Are any of the characters in Reconstructing Amelia based on people you know in real life? Or are they created from your imagination?

None of the characters are based on people I know, though Adele, physically, is based on a very beautiful friend of mine. I pictured her when I was writing. But again, just the physical aspect. Unlike Adele, my friend is a very lovely person!

Social media plays a large role in Reconstructing Amelia. What do you think of social media? Do you have advice for parents who have teenagers about social media?

Social media is a wonderful way to connect if used properly and with good intent. But it’s a pretty frightening tool in the wrong hands. Particularly for teenagers who are still developing their decision making capabilities.

I consider myself a very liberal person and a forward thinking parent. I believe in allowing my children to be themselves. I believe in early sex talks and truthful answers to genuine questions. And I definitely believe that each family has to make their own decisions about what their values are with respect to social media. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions.

Personally, though, I will monitor my kids’ online activity heavily, but not secretly. In other words, I think it’s wrong to snoop, to give the illusion of privacy and violate it. But I don’t think teenagers have an inalienable right to online privacy. I have no doubt that there are experts that may disagree with me, and I certainly am not an expert. But I object to the message in our culture these days that there’s something wrong with us as parents—or wrong with our relationship with our kids—if we don’t trust them enough to set them loose online. I disagree. I do trust my kids. Totally. They are good kids with big hearts and great values. I just don’t trust the world.

And, I know, it’s easy for me to say I’ll watch them like a hawk. My kids are still little. They’re not yelling that they hate me because I don’t give them privacy. That’s why I’m writing it down here. To remind myself when the going gets tough.

What are you working on next, Kimberly? Can you give us any hints?

It’s another dark mystery from multiple points of view with a deep emotional center. And one of the characters from Reconstructing Amelia makes an appearance!

When people finish Reconstructing Amelia, what do you hope they take away from the reading experience?

First and foremost, I hope they find it an entertaining mystery. I also hope they ask themselves about the secrets that might be impacting their own lives, whether it’s the ones they are keeping or what their children are keeping from them. I also hope that its gets us all talking about the role of electronic media.

*Special Thanks to Kimberly McCreight for agreeing to the interview.

Kimberly McCreight, author of Reconstructing Amelia, is working on her next book. To find out more about Kim, visit her website and follow Kim on Twitter. If you loved reading Reconstructing Amelia, you’ll be happy to know that HBO has optioned the film rights- and Nicole Kidman is to play the role of Kate!

Interview with Susan Rebecca White author of A Place At The Table

Susan Rebecca White, author of A Place At The Table, stopped by to answer a few questions.

If you have not read A Place At The Table– go immediately to the nearest bookstore and buy it. Borrow it from library or a friend! Just get your hands on this book. Trust me.

Interview with Susan Rebecca White:

Susan, what was the inspiration for A PLACE AT THE TABLE?

Though A Place at the Table is a work of fiction, and neither Bobby Banks nor Alice Stone are stand-ins for Scott Peacock and Edna Lewis, the seeds of inspiration did indeed come from the friendship between Scott and Edna, dubbed “the odd couple of southern cooking.” Miss Lewis has now gone on to her glory, but back in the day she and Scott were great friends, despite the many outward differences between them, most notably race and age. Raised in a community of freed slaves in Virginia, Miss Lewis was over fifty years older than Scott, a young white boy who hailed from a tiny town in Alabama. The two bonded over cooking. Eventually they wrote a cookbook together, The Gift of Southern Cooking, which is a fantastic record of the South’s long and esteemed culinary tradition and heritage, the roots of which come from Africa.

My mom gave me a copy of The Gift of Southern Cooking when it was first published, and I fell in love both with the recipes and the story of Scott and Edna’s friendship. That was long before I ever thought I might write a novel inspired by the two of them. Instead I cooked nearly every recipe in the book, especially when I was living in San Francisco, far from my native South. I would make Scott and Edna’s roast duck stuffed with red rice or something simpler, cheese straws or preacher’s cookies. Doing so allowed me to be back in the South, at least while eating.

This is a long way of saying that while I had my own story to tell in this novel, I wanted to pay homage to Scott and Edna’s atypical and beautiful friendship, to shed light on the unexpected connections between us, rather than the things that keep us divided and suspicious of one another.

The characters of Alice and Bobby were inspired by the real life friendship of chefs Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock. Was Amelia or Kate inspired by any real life people? Or are they created from your imagination?

On some levels every single character I write about contains some element of me within them. I guess stating that is to admit that I have many flaws, because my characters are all far from perfect! When I was writing the character of Amelia I was living in the carriage house of my good friends Peter and Bruce, and spending a lot of time with their family, including their daughters Teagan and Olivia. I got to participate in the daily routines of life with young kids: the afternoon bike rides, the early dinners, the bath time rituals before getting to choose a treat for dessert, the stories read and songs sung before bed. I loved the gentle rhythm of family life (though my friend Peter would laugh at my use of the word “gentle” to describe getting his girls to bed—they often fight hard against the day ending.) My time with Teagan and Olivia really influenced my understanding of the type of mother Amelia was to her two girls. I wrote lots and lots of detailed scenes showing Amelia raising her kids, but I ended up cutting a lot of those scenes because while they were important for me to understand, they weren’t important to show the reader in order to carry the story forward. But having written about Amelia as a mother helped me to better know her as a woman. I guess what I’m trying to say is that my personal experience with my friends’ kids helped me build the character of Amelia.

As for Editor Kate, well she’s sort of my ideal. I’ve known a few women like Kate in my life, women who are utterly competent and forthright. Women who make it a point of pride to always keep their word, to be someone their friends and family can rely on. This type of woman doesn’t let society define who she is—or at least she resists definition. For example, Kate doesn’t mind being traditional (she has prepared many dinners for her husband) but she also has no qualms breaking all types of boundaries in terms of the work she does and the space she makes for herself in the world. Through Kate I wrote a model of a woman I would one day like to be.

Have we, as readers, heard the last from Bobby, Amelia and others in A PLACE AT THE TABLE? Or are you open to revisiting those characters in a future book, perhaps?

Oh wow, I haven’t ever thought about writing a sequel to this book but I appreciate the question because it makes me think you want to read more! I would certainly be interested in knowing what happens to both Amelia and Bobby over the next fifteen years. I have a feeling that Bobby will settle down with another partner at some point. Maybe he’ll even become a dad. As for Amelia, I think her life will be much calmer than it was when she was with Cam. She’ll live lower on the hog but she’ll be happier, more content. The problem is that happy and content lives aren’t always the most interesting to write about. So I wouldn’t hold your breath for a sequel, but I can promise you that there will be another novel from me. I’m working on it now!

*Special thanks to Susan Rebecca White for answering the questions and to Al for her help as well.

Susan Rebecca White is working on her next novel. For more information on Susan, please visit her website.

* Traveling With T’s review of A Place At The Table can be found here.

Interview with Marybeth Whalen author of The Wishing Tree

Marybeth Whalen took some time from her busy writing, cooking and taking care of her gorgeous family schedule to answer a few questions about The Wishing Tree, her latest book. On Friday, she’ll be back with answers about her favorite books, #literaryconfessions and more!

What was the inspiration for The Wishing Tree?

I ran across the concept of a wishing tree when I was doing some research on the history of guest books for my last novel (appropriately titled), The Guest Book. As I read about this idea, the story elements began to emerge and I knew this would be my next Sunset Beach novel. I love creating stories set at Sunset, with a unique element serving as a connection point between people, a la The Mailbox, The Guest Book and now, The Wishing Tree.

From the beginning to end, how long did The Wishing Tree take to write?

I wrote it from January to May. That’s pretty typical.

Do you have a writing space? A writing routine?

My writing space is SO unglamorous. I write sitting on my bed with my laptop balanced on my lap. Sometimes I get really wild and move to the couch in the den. I have six children so there really is nowhere in the house for a “writing space.” As for a routine, I try to confine my writing time to when the kids are in school. When they’re home, I want to focus on them. I love that I can make writing fit around my family.

Are any of the characters based on people in real life? Or just figments of your imagination?

Elements of real people are always woven into my characters based on my own observations and interactions. In this book, the character of April is based on my real-life friend April. The rest are all hodge-podged together.

Will you be going on a book signing tour? If so, what are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

Not this time, though I have a few events I will be doing with book clubs and groups. I love meeting readers and hearing from them. It is a full-circle moment, to see your book in someone’s hands.

Do you want The Wishing Tree to be made into a movie one day? If so, who are the actors that would comprise your dream cast?

I’d love that! I actually have a Pinterest board and there are pictures of the actors I had in mind as I wrote. I always have to have someone in mind since writing, for me, is like transcribing a movie playing in my head. You can take a peek here: The Wishing Tree Pinterest Page

Marybeth- how do you find time to sleep?! You have 6 kids, you are an author, you are a co-founder of She Reads and you still find time to bake desserts that are homemade- seriously, how do you do it all? Do you feel struggle between mom life vs author life?

My first priority is being a mom. I work hard to make sure nothing impinges on that. Jacqueline Kennedy said “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.” I think about that often and try to live that way. Not that life always stays neat and in order—it gets messy! But the baked goods and the carpooling and the listening ear and the meeting needs—that’s what I try to do first and best. After that, it just somehow falls into place and what needs to happen, happens. I’ve had to learn to let a LOT go and to know I’m not in control. Not even close. God fills my gaps. My life is a series of little miracles. The trick, for me, is managing to remember that every day.

The Guest House and now The Wishing Tree are both set in beach areas- what is about this type of area that makes it the setting you choose for the books?

I was just joking about this with a friend! I don’t have the time to go research anywhere else so I have to depend on a place I know well in order to render the sense of place I like to create in a story. So that means I can write about where I live in the suburbs or I can write about where I vacation each year. Where I vacation is much better so that makes it the obvious choice. And also, I truly love it there. It’s where my heart lives. Every time I’m there, I feel like I can really breathe. What better thing to share with others than that sense of your soul expanding? I try to create that on the page.

Are you working on a new book? If so, can you reveal anything yet?

I am just finishing my fifth novel which will be out, Lord willing, this time next year! I don’t want to say the title yet because I’m not sure the publisher will keep it. I will say it’s another Sunset Beach NC story with a unique element that serves to connect people. This one has been great fun to write and I can’t wait to share it!

*Thank you Marybeth Whalen for the interview.

To find out more about Marybeth Whalen, please visit her website, Twitter or Pinterest page. When Marybeth is not writing, or cooking or at the grocery store- she can be found at She Reads– helping women find great books to read.

Interview with Erika Marks

Erika Marks, author of Little Gale Gumbo, The Mermaid Collector, and her newest novel- The Guest House, found time in her busy writing and book touring schedule to answer a few questions for me at Traveling With T.

I’ve had such a “fan girl” feeling about Erika since I read Little Gale Gumbo around 2 years ago. Then last October, my IRL book club picked Little Gale Gumbo for their read- and I was able to talk to Erika on the phone- I don’t think I quit grinning about that for some time!

So, my readers, knowing that backstory- you can understand exactly why I’m so excited to have Erika here for an interview!

Interview with Erika Marks:

What was the inspiration for THE GUEST HOUSE?

Tamara, let me first say thank you so much for hosting me and all these wonderful questions! Most of my novels come out of an idea for a character or a relationship, but in the case of THE GUEST HOUSE the inspiration was place. At eighteen, I was fortunate to spend a summer on the property of a massive shingle-style cottage like the one in the book and the experience never left me. It was a deeply romantic place and I always imagined fantastic stories in its walls, all the summers it had been filled with guests and parties and, of course, all the drama that must have gone on.

The characters in each of your books (LITTLE GALE GUMBO, THE MERMAID COLLECTOR, and THE GUEST HOUSE) are beautifully written, yet flawed and very human. How long does it to take you to create the characters?

Thank you for saying so! It really depends. Some characters come to me fully-realized right away. Camille Bergeron and Ben Haskell from LITTLE GALE GUMBO were like that. Writing them was like recalling friends I had known for a long, long time. Others, such as Tess from THE MERMAID COLLECTOR, eluded me for a while as I wrote, hiding themselves from me. I think I know how I want them to be, but often their personalities evolve through contact with other characters—and they surprise me.

Each of the past books have been set in the New England area- does that area’s rich history enable a better creative experience for you as a writer? Do you have plans to change your setting one day?

New England is where I grew up and certainly a setting I feel so comfortable writing about and one that is so much a part of me. That said, now that I live in North Carolina and am getting to experience and fall in love with the Carolina coast, I look forward to setting future stories along these beaches.

As a writer, do you ever hope that any of your books will be made into a movie? And if so, do you have any idea about actors and actresses you would like to see play the characters in your books?

Oh, of course! I am such a movie buff and frankly, I usually “cast” my novels as I am writing them—I can’t help it! I think of all my novels, THE MERMAID COLLECTOR seems the most naturally suited to be made into a movie, but I would certainly be thrilled to have any of my novels made into a film!

How long does it take to complete a novel from beginning to end?

That depends. Usually I write a first draft in a few months, and then the revisions go pretty quickly after that. With my debut, LITTLE GALE GUMBO, the revision period was longer simply because my agent and I weren’t really under a deadline—but then once it sold, my editor and I worked on revisions within a time frame, of course, to meet established deadlines. I like to believe, too, that the more I write, the more efficient my writing gets—that I can troubleshoot issues along the way, see area that will need work, plotting concerns, etc. As writers, I think we are all working to strengthen our craft with every book, always. There is always a way to make my writing stronger, and I value that tremendously.

Erika, do you have a writing routine? Or a writing space?

While my children are in school, I keep to a fixed writing work day. Mornings start with checking in with social media and then I get right to it. But of course, when deadlines get fast and furious—and summer schedules change our routines—I may write at odd hours, and much more at night. When my girls were little, I would soak up any available moments to write so I’m very much a believer in being flexible too. If you have ten minutes free, write for ten minutes. Don’t wait for “the perfect” block. It rarely comes—and I also think it sets up an expectation for performance that can be daunting and ultimately unproductive. That said, I can’t write in a coffee shop or any kind of public place, and I have to have music on—but always instrumental.

Are there plans for a 4th novel?

Yes, I’m writing it now—and I’m really excited about it. Not to give too much away—since I’m terribly superstitious—but it’s set in Folly Beach, South Carolina, and centers around a woman who revisits her past as a champion surfer—and the life and loves she left behind when heartbreak caused her to give it all up.

Liked the interview? Want to know more about Erika Marks? Check back Thursday at Traveling With T for an Author Spotlight with Erika Marks- find out her favorite books, #literayconfessions and #literarycrush. Plus- a GIVEAWAY- one lucky commenter on Thursday’s Author Spotlight will win a copy of The Guest House! Want to read a review of The Guest House? Here is my review of The Guest House by Erika Marks.

To find out more about Erika Marks– her past books, book events, and more- please visit Erika’s website. It’s filled with tons of good information! Also, The Guest House, Erika’s latest book made not 1, but 2 Summer Reading Lists this year- so yay for Erika! Here’s the links for She Reads The Books of Summer and Deep South Magazine’s Summer Reading List.

** Special thanks to Erika Marks for taking time to answer questions. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

A Cookbook Conspiracy by Kate Carlisle (Author Q&A and Giveaway)

Today on Traveling With T, I have an Author Q&A with Kate Carlisle and a giveaway of her latest book, A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY (June 4th). Take some time, read the Q&A and then enter the giveaway!

Kate Carlisle, author of the Bibliophile Mystery series, says that a life-long love of books lead her to the writing of the Bibliophile Mystery series. To find out more about Kate, visit her website or her About Me page. To connect with Kate, check out her Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest pages. To see the list of Bibliophile mystery books, visit her Books page.

To buy A Cookbook Conspiracy, visit Amazon, Indiebound or Barnes and Noble.

To read an excerpt of A Cookbook Conspiracy, read HERE.

Author Q&A with Kate Carlisle:

1. What drew you to writing cozy mysteries? What inspired you to write the Bibliophile mysteries?

I’ve always loved to read mystery series, where you really get to know the characters. After the first book, they feel like friends, so it’s a reunion and a celebration when the next book in the series comes out. I love that the culprit is always caught, I love the humor in the genre and the fact that the violence is not the sort of gore you get in thriller novels.

My tagline is “Smart. Funny. Murder.” and I think that really captures the feeling I so love when reading – and writing – cozy mysteries.

As for what inspired me to write the Bibliophile Mysteries, book binding has been a hobby of mine for many years. I try to take at least a couple of classes in book arts every year. The process of restoring well-loved books has always fascinated me. I wanted to write a book series that centered around books in a different way than any other author had done. And so Brooklyn Wainwright, world-class bookbinder, came to be.

In each Bibliophile Mystery, Brooklyn is asked to restore a different rare book. She can bring any book back to life. Sadly, she doesn’t have the same power to revive the murder victims she finds. Somehow, their death is linked to the book she’s restoring, and Brooklyn is doggedly determined to bring the killer to justice.

2. Do you have a favorite character in your series? A character that is fun to write?

I adore so many of the characters, it’s hard to choose just one! I love writing Derek Stone, Brooklyn’s love interest. Derek is a British security expert – like James Bond, but without the license to kill and without the fear of commitment. He’s smooth, sexy, and he has an edge of danger that I personally find irresistible. So does Brooklyn!

I also love writing Brooklyn’s parents. Jim and Becky Wainwright followed the Grateful Dead on tour for years and named their six kids after the place each was conceived. When they got off the road, they raised their kids on a wine country commune. Through hard work and smarts, they helped the commune thrive, so that now all its members have beautiful homes and plenty of cash.

In A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY, the character I really enjoyed getting to know better was Brooklyn’s sister Savannah. Savannah is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who specializes in vegetarian cuisine with gourmet flair. When Savannah is discovered over her ex-boyfriend’s dead body with a bloody knife in her hand, Brooklyn knows instantly that she must prove her sister’s innocence. But it won’t be easy – there are so many people with a grudge against the obnoxious celebrity chef, that Brooklyn will have a tough time figuring out which one took that final, irreversible step. All she knows is that it wasn’t her sister.

** For the giveaway- please make a comment and leave your email address (you may use the AT and DOT to help prevent spam). The giveaway will end Monday night, 11:59pmEST. A winner will be randomly selected from the eligible entries (Sorry! US Only)

While, it will not add extra chances to your potential of winning- I do hope that you’ll consider either following the blog or “liking” me on Facebook- that would be the extra sprinkles on my ice cream sundae of a day 🙂

Topped Chef (Key West Food Critic Mystery) by Lucy Burdette (and interview!)

Topped Chef

ISBN:978-0451239709

Publisher: Signet

Author: Lucy Burdette

Series: Key West Food Critic Mystery

Reviewed by: Traveling With T

Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest magazine, enjoys food. She enjoys writing about food, letting the public know of the food that can’t be missed- and she enjoys eating! What Hayley does not enjoy is writing a review that is critical- but as a food critic, it just has to be done. When the owner of the restaurant that happened to be the recipient of a negative review (hey she gave them 3 times to get the act together!) and Hayley wind up as judges for a Key West Topped Chef contest- Hayley wonders how fun the Key West Topped Chef contest will be.

So Hayley’s not thrilled about that part of her life- neither is she too happy over her potential romance with Detective Bransford- it’s beginning to look like a case of DOA. Then when Hayley finds out about Sam Rizzoli, the restaurant owner that she just gave a bad review, is hanging from his boat-dead and dressed oddly- she realizes that she is in the middle of another mystery- yet again. Did someone have a grudge against Sam? He was a mover and shaker in town- with his own agenda. Or is someone picking the judges of the Key West Topped Chef off one by one? Could someone want to be so famous that they would stoop to any depth to make it happen?

Hayley knows this: She has to find out what’s going on- or else she may have written her last article for Key Zest magazine.

Blogger’s note: I really enjoy the Key West Food Critic series. Adore Hayley (how can you not ADORE Hayley?) She’s a great character- someone who looks like she could be your BFF. Plus, her tendency to have her tarot cards read when facing an issue- that’s just great. I would love to have my tarot cards read with Hayley! Good plot, some romantic entanglements, and a mystery that was fun- with enough red-herrings to not guess the villain.

Readers of Traveling With T- you are in for a treat! Roberta Iselib, the person behind the pen name of Lucy Burdette, agreed to a quick interview!

Interview with Lucy Burdette:

1. Is Hayley based on anyone in your life? Or just a figment of your imagination?

Hayley is right out of my imagination. Which really makes for a lot of fun because I don’t have a mental script to stick to. She is quite different from the last character I wrote about (Rebecca Butterman in the advice column mysteries), who had a career similar to mine as a psychologist.

2. If the Key West Food Critic Mysteries were made into a movie/TV show- do you have anyone in mind to play the cast?

Amy Adams as Hayley…and Meryl Streep as her mother. *Note: After I asked this question, Roberta confessed that she’s terrible at picking actors for this type of thing- but I (and I think other readers) could agree that these 2 actresses could definitely work!

3. Can you let the readers in on some tidbits of information for future books about Hayley and friends? And, do you as the writer have a specific end in mind? Or are you taking it on a book by book basis?

I have a contract for two more books in this series, and hope there will be more after that–because I LOVE writing them. Right now I’m closing in on finishing #4, MURDER WITH GANACHE, which will be out in February 2014. (Don’t you love the title?) There is a wedding coming up (I won’t say whose so I don’t spoil the story), and Hayley’s family is descending on Key West. All of them!

And the news just keep getting better! Cozy Mystery Reviews is sponsoring a BIG HUGE GIVEAWAY! Details HERE!

Thanks to Roberta Iselib for answering some questions about Key West Food Critic Mystery series!

Interview with Kimberly Freeman author of Lighthouse Bay

Recently, a copy of LIGHTHOUSE BAY was sent to me so I could read and review. Not being familiar with Kimberly Freeman’s other book, WILDFLOWER HILL, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I recieved LIGHTHOUSE BAY. Within a few pages, I learned to expect a nice story, characters that are interesting- flawed, but well-meaning; with their own hidden stories just waiting to be revealed. The more I read, the more I wanted to know the backstory, how Kimberly Freeman created these characters, this setting. Luckily for me, an opportunity presented itself and I was able to ask Kimberly Freeman a few questions about writing process, the characters of LIGHTHOUSE BAY, and more.

Interview with Kimberly Freeman:

1. The characters in Lighthouse Bay- were any based on people you know in real life? Or were they just characters you created?

They were all characters I created except one. Lady Berenice is based on a friend of mine. She has such a big heart, and she doesn’t suffer fools gladly, that I thought she’d make an excellent character in a book. I sometimes think that Matthew, the lighthouse keeper, is a little bit based on my boyfriend though they’ve nothing much in common than a lovely steady maleness (and beards! they both have beards!). Isabella is like nobody I know, and she was quite difficult to spend time with, as she had such a wildness about her.

2. How long did it take you to write Lighthouse Bay -from the beginning of the idea to publication date?

About eighteen months. I wrote Lighthouse Bay during one of the worst years of my life. My marriage had broken down, I was recalibrating my duties towards my two young children, and I had to take on extra work because divorce is so expensive. So I was terribly distracted while writing it. But at the same time, it was also one of the best years of my life. I met a lovely new man and I spent a lot of time at the Sunshine Coast, looking at the sea, and writing down ideas for the story. So there was a lot of emotional ups and downs writing it. I’m a lot calmer now, and can write a lot quicker.

3. When I read author interviews, most speak of having a routine to their writing. Do you, Kimberly, have a writing routine that you would care to share?

I used to, but my life is very full and busy and I have a 10 year old and a 6 year old, so my routine is write whenever I find the time. If I waited around for long stretches of free time, I wouldn’t write another thing.

4. If Lighthouse Bay was to be made into a movie, do you have any ideas about the cast? Would you prefer to have famous actors or unknown ones?

I never picture actors as my characters because actors are all so perfect and beautiful, and I always think of my characters as being more real, with flaws, imperfections, texture. Having said that, if a big Hollywood studio wanted to give me money to make a movie, I would happily take the money and buy a lot of great shoes.

5. Have we, the readers, heard the last from Juliet and Libby? Or might they be featured in another book one day?

No, I’m done with them. We had a great time, but now they are going to get on with life and I have new imaginary friends to play with.

6. What is next on the agenda as far as writing? Do you have any ideas for another book?

I have just finished the first draft of a novel called “Ember Island”, about a young woman who becomes the governess to a prison superintendent’s daughter in the 1890s. There is intrigue, crumbling manor houses, a feisty little girl with a big imagination, and a wooden cat named Pangur Ban.

A special thanks to Kimberly Freeman for answering the questions and to Saraciea for presenting the opportunity to interview.

Interviews, Giveaways, and Happy Pub Days!

Today’s a day where several books are released- and it’s got Twitter and Facebook a-buzz with the excitement. Out of the 5 books that I know that were released today- I’ve read 3- so buckle up for the wild ride through interviews, reviews and giveaways!

Happy Pub Day to Gods of Mischief by George Rowe, The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones, Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler, The House Girl by Tara Conklin, and The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers!

Giveaways:

She Reads is giving away a copy of The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers. Just comment on She Reads post for a chance to win!

Women’s Fiction Writers is giving away a homemade bracelet to celebrate Julie Kibler’s pub day of Calling Me Home. They also have an interview with Julie Kibler for your reading delight. Read the post, follow the directions, and good luck to you for the bracelet!

Interviews:

Bookmagnet interviews Tara Conklin, author of The House Girl.

Bookmagnet also interviewed Julie Kibler, author of Calling Me Home.

Book Reviews:

Katherine Scott Jones reviews Gods of Mischief by George Rowe

Bookmagnet (aka Jaime Boler) reviews The House Girl by Tara Conklin.

Bookmagnet reviews Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler.

And lastly I (Traveling With T) review:

Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones

Gods of Mischief: My Undercover Vendetta to Take Down the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by George Rowe

It’s a good day book lovers- a really good day!

Michael Morris: On Story-Telling (a guest post for She Reads)

Michael Morris and his guest post for She Reads: the first questions he’s asked at book club meetings, a teacher who helped him discover his potential, the authors that changed his life, and being from a member of a family of story-tellers.

Heart-warming and insightful guest post by Michael Morris- a story that is defintely worth reading. On Storytelling: A Guest Post by Michael Morris.

Remember to pick up a copy of MAN IN THE BLUE MOON to read and discuss with She Reads online book club all month long!