#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Daphne Silver

/

I’d like to welcome Daphne Silver to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of: Ideas or energy. Unfortunately, I have seemed to run out of the energy part already.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Shoes that hurt and don’t have support, even if they are cute

Things you need for your writing sessions: A laptop and being left alone, even in a busy cafe or place

Things that hamper your writing: People talking to me, which is slightly ironic because I’m a big extravert.

A few of your favorite things: So many books, especially the first edition Edgar Allan Poe I gave my husband.

Things you need to throw out: my maternity clothes. My kiddo is 7 years old already.

Words that describe you: Creative, enthusiastic, generous of spirit

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Bombastic, talkative, speaks before thinking.

Favorite foods: Pizza, dark chocolate, paneer makhani

Things that make you want to gag: Mint, coffee, red meat

Favorite smell: Vanilla, gardenia, tea rose

Something that makes you hold your nose: canned tuna

The last thing you ordered online: Winter gloves

The last thing you regret buying: Pillow covers instead of pillows

Things you’d walk a mile for: My family

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: My family

Things you always put in your books: Unexpected history factoids

Things you never put in your books: Graphic gory violence

Things to say to an author: I can’t wait to read your book!

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Why do you waste your time writing?

Favorite places you’ve been: Italy and Ireland

Places you never want to go to again: Middle school

Favorite books (or genre): Cozy mysteries

Books you wouldn’t buy: Horror, unless they’re for my husband

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Painting. I was a painting major in college.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Learning a new language. I don’t have any linguistic abilities.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The missing bejeweled covers to the ancient Book of Kells

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: I’m not as daring or smart as my heroine Juniper Blume

About Daphne:

Daphne Silver is the author of the Rare Books Cozy Mystery series. She’s worked more than twenty years in museums and has the great fortune of being married to a librarian. When she’s not writing, she’s drawing and painting. She lives in Maryland with her family. Although she’s not much of a baker, she won’t ever turn down a sweet lokshen kugel.

Let’s Be Social:

http://daphnesilver.com

http://facebook.com/daphnesilverbooks

http://instagram.com/daphnesilverbooks


#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey

/

I would like to welcome Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey to the blog this week for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you never want to run out of:

Breakfield - Chardonnay wine and stories

Burkey - time and family

Things you wish you’d never bought:

Breakfield – That trampoline in the backyard next to the cliff.

Burkey – A new car with the first book published and those 4” heels

A few of your favorite things:

Breakfield – Harley Road King motorcycle, my dogs, WWII book collection

Burkey – Families with crazy schedules, puppies, and travel

Things you need to throw out:

Breakfield – Nothing, I might need everything.

Burkey – Those 4” heels, everything else I donate

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Breakfield – Coffee.

Burkey – quiet and morning are best

Things that hamper your writing:

Breakfield – bathroom breaks.

Burkey – phone calls, text, and puppies wanting outside

Hardest thing about being a writer:

Breakfield – finding just the right word.

Burkey – Finding the problems before the editor and not enough time

Easiest thing about being a writer:

Breakfield – Lots of words to use.

Burkey – Lot of ideas

Words that describe you:

Breakfield – Handsome and svelte.

Burkey – Tenacious, determined, and sometimes too nice

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

Breakfield – Too generous with praise.

Burkey – Stubborn

Favorite foods:

Breakfield – Pizza

Burkey – broccoli, mushrooms, and chicken.

Things that make you want to gag:

Breakfield – Eggplant pizza.

Burkey – Lima beans

Favorite music or song:

Breakfield – Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd.

Burkey Til You Can’t by Cody Johnson

Music that drives you crazy:

Breakfield – Country.

Burkey – Opera (I simply can’t hit those notes)

Favorite smell:

Breakfield – Smell of a pretty lady all dolled up for a night out.

Burkey – Baking bread

Something that makes you hold your nose:

Breakfield – That same lady after a really hard workout.

Burkey – Sour milk

Something you’re really good at:

Breakfield – Lying.

Burkey – Working hard when I believe in the goal

Something you’re really bad at:

Breakfield – Telling the truth.

Burkey – Putting up with nonsense and liars

Last best thing you ate:

Breakfield – Elk bratwurst sausage.

Burkey – Scrambled eggs with onions and mushrooms

Last thing you regret eating:

Breakfield – Jimmy’s Chinese #31 with shrimp.

Burkey – Peppermint bark ice cream – but I couldn’t find the plain.

About Breakfield and Burkey:

Breakfield, is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Burkey, a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments for customers worldwide with a focus on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documents with a marked preference for fiction.

Together they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, young and experienced adults, and bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today https://www.EnigmaSeries.com.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kalee Boisvert

/

I’d like to welcome Kalee Boisvert to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: My kids, Starbucks, McDonald’s or just French fries in general, books, watching Real Housewives, and yummy smelling candles.

Things you need to throw out: Items that have accumulated in the dreaded “junk drawer,” also probably some expired food in the cupboards and fridge.

Things you need for your writing sessions: My chai tea latte with coconut milk, a creativity meditation, and my bed (where I do my writing).

Things that hamper your writing: Having my phone nearby, having my email open on my computer, and sleep deprivation (I have two little ones).

Hardest thing about being a writer: Sitting down and just getting started.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing down the random ideas as they come to you (making sense of how they will fit into what you are writing is the hard part).

Words that describe you: Empathetic, Introvert, Kind, Funny, Disciplined, and Driven

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Perfectionist

Favorite music or song: Empowering female artists – Taylor Swift and Beyonce, and “Under the Sea” sung by Sebastian the Crab in the Little Mermaid.

Music that drives you crazy: Country

Last best thing you ate: Sushi from a new spot.

Last thing you regret eating: Pizza (probably because I ate a slice too many)

The last thing you ordered online: Baby diapers and wipes (love that Amazon)

The last thing you regret buying: Another black hoodie (I probably should have opted for another color.)

Favorite places you’ve been: Tokyo, Paris, London, Disneyland

Places you never want to go to again: Disneyworld (sorry but Disneyland is definitely better)

Favorite books (or genre): Thrillers, and romance. And for Non-fiction – spiritual, business, and personal growth.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Cookbooks (I have accepted my inability to cook).

Best thing you’ve ever done: Become a mom

Biggest mistake: Dating before doing inner work on myself

The nicest thing a reader said to you: That my book felt like they were having an uplifting conversation with a friend.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: That there were too many dating references in my money book (I’m single so what can I say!)

About Kalee:

Kalee Boisvert has been in the financial industry for over 15 years, but her love of money started very young. Growing up in a single parent household, she watched her mom struggle with finances and wished there was something she could do to help. She also realized that she needed to find her own way to save and earn if she wasn’t going to allow her circumstances to define her. And so, her own journey into financial literacy and wealth management began.

To further her efforts supporting financial literacy, Kalee had two books released in 2023 – a children’s picture book called MoneyWise Mabel’s Bursting Bank, and a non-fiction book called Make Money Your Thing! Which aims to build confidence and empower people in their financial lives.

Let’s Be Social:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleeboisvert

Twitter: https://twitter.com/boisvertkalee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleeboisvert

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleeboisvertwealthandwellness/

Book Make Money Your Thing! https://www.amazon.ca/Make-Money-Your-Thing-Design/dp/1738670287

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Freddy Cruz

/

I’m excited to welcome back author and podcaster, Freddy Cruz, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Things you never want to run out of: Coffee, toilet paper

Things you wish you’d never bought: Dessert after a big dinner (makes my clothes shrink)

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing

Things you need for your writing sessions: Sanity

Things that hamper your writing: Lack of sanity

Something you’re really good at: Negative self-talk

Something you’re really bad at: Positive self-talk

Favorite smell: Lavender

Something that makes you hold your nose: Fish

The last thing you ordered online: Handheld camcorder

The last thing you regret buying: Candy

Things you’d walk a mile for: Coffee

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Reality TV

Things to say to an author: Anything beginning with the words “you should have”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: See answer above and realize it’s THE AUTHOR’S STORY. Not yours.

Favorite places you’ve been: Santa Rosa Beach

Places you never want to go to again: New Orleans

Favorite books (or genre): Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, You by Caroline Kepnes, Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

People you’d like to invite to dinner: Chuck Palahniuk, Alex Hormozi

People you’d cancel dinner on: American commies

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Helped a client with producing thirty-one straight podcast episodes for breast cancer awareness month.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: A shelved novel I thought would be the most amazing thing I ever wrote.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: My wife’s obsession with Hallmark Christmas movies and General Hospital made it into Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: AC’s story arc from They Canceled the DJ and/or Lex’s story arc from Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas

About Freddy:

Freddy Cruz is a podcast host, author, and founder of Speke Podcasting, a podcast agency in the Greater Houston area. In his spare time, you can find him nose deep in a book, snuggling with his dog Sparrow, or jogging on the trail (trying hard to not sound like a horror movie villain).

Let’s Be Social:

FB/IG: @thefreddycruz

#ThisorThatThursday with Author Ruth Hartman

/

I’d like to welcome my friend, the fabulous Ruth Hartman, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday, the Christmas edition!

A few of your favorite traditions: Getting together with family for dinner.

Something holiday-related that you’ll never do again: Put up a Christmas tree. With three energetic cats who play and eat the ornaments and climb and knock over the tree, it’s not worth it!

Favorite holiday song: Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Holiday song that always gets stuck in your head for the wrong reason: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. I mean come on - it’s mean!

Favorite holiday treat: Anything and everything chocolate

A holiday treat that makes you gag: Fruitcake – ick!

Favorite holiday show or movie: The Grinch (original cartoon version) I love the dog, Max 😊

A holiday show or movie that you’ve seen too much: Home Alone. I like it, but some of those painful looking stunts look all too real.

Favorite holiday smell: When my mom used to cook ham or chicken for our Christmas Eve meal.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Beets – they’re horrid!

Best holiday memory: When I was eighteen, I received my engagement ring on Christmas Eve

Something you’d rather forget: I volunteered to work on Christmas Eve Day (I was a dental hygienist) and the kids were already hyper and overloaded on Christmas cheer and sugar.

Funniest holiday story: When I was dating my husband, he bought me a sweater for a gift. It was a size 18 and I wore a 10. He thought you were supposed to buy the size according to your age, and I was 18.

Something embarrassing that happened during the holiday season: A guy I dated in high school had invited me to a party at his house right before Christmas. Soon after I got there, a klutzy guy tripped and spilled his drink all over the front of my pants. They were so wet I couldn’t keep wearing them. My date gave me a pair of his jeans to wear. He was six inches taller, weighed thirty pounds more than I did, and he didn’t have a belt small enough for me to keep the jeans up, so I had to hold them tight at my waist the whole rest of the evening. Oh, and my underwear was damp from the spilled drink. But no way was I asking to borrow some underwear!

Best holiday gift you gave to someone: In high school, a friend and I gave each other the exact same stuffed bear as a gift.

A gift that needs regifting: Small gadgets that never work right or have no real purpose except to help fill out someone’s Christmas stocking and you end up tossing them out by New Year.

A tradition you share with others: My cats really did love when we used to have a tree.

A tradition that can be retired: Definitely still the tree!

Favorite place you spent the holidays: As long as I’m with my husband, Garry, I’m good!

The worst place to spend the holidays: When I was little, my sister’s boyfriend broke his leg, so we had to visit him out of town in the hospital over Christmas vacation.

About Ruth:

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's.

 Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying.

 Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her despite her insistence all of her books have at least one cat in them. See updates about her cozy mysteries at http://Ruthjhartman.com.

Let’s Be Social:

https://www.facebook.com/ruth.j.hartman

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=ruth%20j.%20hartman%2C%20author

https://www.ruthjhartman.com/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ruth-j-hartman



#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with J. P. McLean

/

I’d like to welcome author J. P. McLean back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

The thing that you will most remember about your writing life:

The feeling of accomplishment when I hold a book I’ve written in my hands.

Something in your writing life that you wish you could do over:

If I had a do-over, I’d learn more about how to market and promote my book before it hit the shelves. There was much I could have done to improve the success of those early books, if I’d only known.

Something you’re really good at:

Organizing things like closets and drawers. Annoyingly so (or that’s what I’m told).

Something you never learned how to do:

Speak a second language. I’ve tried, and I can repeat a few passable phrases, but I wish I could carry on a full conversation in another language.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid:

I imagined myself as an inventor, but it never came to be. Turns out great ideas aren’t enough.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do:

Scuba diving. It was my husband’s idea. We got certified on our honeymoon and diving has been great fun and something to look forward to on vacations (in warm water).

Things you always put in your books:

Magic! The possibility of the supernatural being real is a never-ending source of fascination and inspiration.

Things you never put in your books:

Hurting animals. It’s just wrong. It ruins me.

Things to say to an author:

I loved your book and of course I’ll write a review.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

When I have nothing better to do, I might write a book, too.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living):

Taylor Swift. She’s an impressive young woman.

People you’d cancel dinner on:

Putin.

Favorite things to do:

Enjoying dinner with friends. It doesn’t matter if we dine in a restaurant or eat in.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing:

Playing games like charades.

The funniest thing that happened to you in an airport:

A group of women in a bar kept staring at me. Awkward. Eventually, one of them told me they were staring because they thought I looked EXACTLY like one of their other friends. And funnier still, it wasn’t the first time I’ve been identified as someone’s doppelganger. Weird.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you in an airport:

Hands down it was hearing my name being paged overhead. I’d forgotten about the time zone change and nearly missed my flight. It felt like a walk of shame slinking down the narrow airplane aisle, long after everyone else was buckled in. And making it worse? I had a window seat.

The best job you ever had:

Easy answer! Fiction writer. Who wouldn’t want to daydream and make things up all day long?

The worst job you ever had:

Making cold calls. For anything. Just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable.

The one thing you cook/bake that is better than a restaurant dish:

Spaghetti and meatballs. Mostly the meatballs.

The one thing you cooked/baked that turned out to be an epic disaster:

I recently invited guests to dinner and planned to serve ribs, which normally turn out fall-off-the-bone yummy. But my timing was way off, and the ribs came out terribly chewy. My guests were gracious, but I was horribly embarrassed.

About J. P.:

JP (Jo-Anne) McLean is a bestselling and award-winning author of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. Reviewers call her books addictive, smart and fun. Raised in Toronto, Ontario, JP now lives with her husband on Denman Island, which is nestled between the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cooking dishes that turn out looking nothing like the recipe photos or arguing with weeds in the garden.

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JPMcLeanBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jpmcleanauthor

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/jpmclean

Goodreads Author Profile ID: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6429987.J_P_McLean

Library Thing: https://www.librarything.com/home/JPMcLean

Amazon Author Central Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jpmclean

Amazon Follow Author Link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00JSZOXTC/#author-footer-B00JSZOXTC

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jp-mclean-15b91064

Instagram ID: https://www.instagram.com/jpmcleanauthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/jpmcleanauthor/

BookBub Scorch Mark: https://www.bookbub.com/books/scorch-mark-dark-dreams-book-3-by-jp-mclean

BookBub JPMcLean: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-p-mclean-cd5829f0-6e0d-4189-b561-44651ad67b9e

WriterSky: https://www.writersky.com/user/publish-story/3180

SoundCloud JPMcLean: https://soundcloud.com/jp-mclean

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwKvYQlzVE482HuqudE1cUg/

Scorch Mark Book Trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/twIN7E5CzlI or https://youtube.com/watch?v=twIN7E5CzlI

Website Links: https://jpmcleanauthor.com

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Alan Orloff

/

I’d like to welcome the one and only Alan Orloff to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday on Thanksgiving. Alan gave me one of the best pieces of writing advice early in my writing life, BICFOK (Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keyboard). He’s right. Check out his interview and his new novel.

Things you need for your writing sessions: a computer and a chair (usually, but not always)

Things that hamper your writing: that Internet thing

Hardest thing about being a writer: The muddle in the middle

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing Facebook posts

Favorite beverage: water

Something that gives you a sour face: any hot beverage (I know, weird)

Favorite smell: Freshly baked bread is pretty awesome.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Cooked cheese. (It grosses me out even typing that.)

Something you’re really good at: I’m really good at the carnival game where you squirt water into the clown’s mouth to blow up and pop a balloon. Like really good. If this was an Olympic sport, you’d see me on the podium.

Something you’re really bad at: Singing. Like really bad.

The last thing you ordered online: Barley (I know, weird)

The last thing you regret buying: Compact floating light-up pool fountain (I know, sounds great, but it didn’t work. Alas…)

Things to say to an author: I really enjoy your work

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I’d like your work if the characters were more likable/real/unlikable/relatable/humorous/serious/whatever.

Favorite places you’ve been: Hawaii

Places you never want to go to again: Genoa, Italy. The entire city smells really bad (at least the night I spent there).

Best thing you’ve ever done: Married my wife and started a family

Biggest mistake: Pulling ivy off the trelliswork in the backyard. All of a sudden, the ivy released and I fell backward, landing on my lawnmower. I think I broke a bone in my back. This was about fifteen years ago, and my back still hurts from time to time.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Constructed built-in floor-to-ceiling bookcases

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Tried to build a water fountain next to the back deck. It did not work.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I went on a ride-along with a local police department, and I used one of our calls as the opening scene in a novel called…Ride-Along.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My second and third books were part of the Last Laff mystery series, featuring a stand-up comic. Some people thought that I was actually a stand-up comic. Um, no.

About Alan:

Alan Orloff has published ten novels and more than forty-five short stories. His work has won an Anthony, an Agatha, a Derringer, and two ITW Thriller Awards. His latest novel is SANCTUARY MOTEL, from Level Best Books. He loves cake and arugula, but not together. Never together. He lives and writes in South Florida, where the examples of hijinks are endless.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: http://alanorloff.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alanorloff

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/alanorloff

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanorloff/



#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Jackie Layton

/

I’m so excited to have the fabulous Jackie Layton back on the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite thing that you always make time for: Walking on the beach.

The thing you’ll always do just about anything to avoid: For some reason, I hate to go grocery shopping. I put it off as long as possible, but eventually I’ll go.

The thing you like most about being a writer: Creating characters, communities, and the relationships between the characters.

The thing you like least about being a writer: Marketing.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: A handheld massager. It’s great for my shoulders after sitting at my desk for a long time.

The thing you wished you’d never bought. A fondue pot. For some reason I thought it would be a lot of fun, but I’ve never taken it out of the box.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Music, coffee, and pretzels or sesame sticks. I also have my series notebook with maps and house plans.

Things that distract you from writing: If I’m in the writing zone, not much distracts me. Other times the TV, nice weather, or even the sound of a lawn mower can distract me.

The thing that you will most remember about your writing life: I’ve made a lot of great friends through writing.

Something in your writing life that you wish you could do over: I wish I had started sooner.

Things you always put in your books: I always have pets in my books.

Things you never put in your books: Alcoholism runs in my family, and I’ve never been a drinker. It’s a personal choice. Some of my friends drink, and some don’t. I really don’t pay attention to what they order though. I have been questioned why my characters don’t drink, and it’s because I just don’t think about it. I can be authentic about drinking coffee, eating pizza, or eating ice cream.

Things to say to an author: I enjoyed your book, and I’ll leave you a review.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I didn’t think your book was authentic.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Vince Gill. He was so nice, and he was taller than I expected.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Paula Deen. She was so tiny when I met her last year, but she went out of her way to be kind when we crossed paths with her.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: Recently a reader told me he laughed out loud at a scene in a book. After my husband read the book, he said the same thing. That really made me feel good.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: After I agreed to a speaking engagement, the reader told me I needed to speak for an hour. I thought that was crazy, but I had already agreed. So, I asked a few friends and family members what they’d like to hear authors talk about. When the day came, I talked for an hour. The audience was engaged. They laughed at the right time and oohed at other times. It was a great experience.

The funniest thing that happened to you in an airport: My flight was late arriving in Atlanta, and I RAN, and I rarely run, down to catch the train, also know as the APM (Automated People Mover). I made it to my concourse and crowded onto the escalator up, then I ran again. I made it to my gate, sweating and out of breath, just in time to hear the announcement that my connecting flight had been delayed. Once I could breathe, I laughed. At least I didn’t miss my flight.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you in an airport: After a writing conference, I placed my suitcase on the scales when I checked in. I joked to the man about hoping I hadn’t gone over the weight limit. The scales tipped up to seventy-five pounds, and my heart dropped. Then he pointed to his foot. He’d stepped on the scale as a joke. We laughed, and thankfully my suitcase was under the limit.

The best job you ever had: Being an author is the best job ever.

The worst job you ever had: I was a candy striper at the local hospital when I was a teen. I worked in the physical therapy department, and my job was to clean out the tubs after burn patients soaked in them. I felt terrible for the patients, and it broke my heart to see how much pain they were in.

The one thing you cook/bake that is better than a restaurant dish: My baked beans are better than most restaurants. My husband always says nobody can make baked beans as good as I do.

The one thing you cooked/baked that turned out to be an epic disaster: Kale chips. Epic disaster. Not only did they taste terrible, but the house stunk too.

The craziest thing you’ve ever researched for a story: I tried to figure out how to jump off a balcony and survive. I needed to decide where to place my feet and hands and how to move and turn to make it possible without injuring my character.

Something you never include in your books: I’d never include the death of a pet or a child.

About Jackie:

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her, because it might end up in a book.

Let’s Be Social:

Clutter Free

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.