Carole Brown and I met when I attended an
Ohio writers’ retreat with a fellow
Michiganian. I was intrigued by Carole’s
ideas as we sat in a brainstorming
session together.
She will be giving away an e-book copy of her latest cozy mystery, Bat Crazy.
Please leave a comment to enter. You MUST leave your email address with
your comment to qualify. Thank you!
TWEET TO SHARE: Why does Carole Brown like to write cozy mysteries? via @kathleenrouser @browncarole212 http://bit.ly/1DvT7NI #cozymysteries #amwriting
TWEET TO SHARE: Why does Carole Brown like to write cozy mysteries? via @kathleenrouser @browncarole212 http://bit.ly/1DvT7NI #cozymysteries #amwriting
Welcome, Carole! I’m glad to have you at my blog this week. Please tell us about your latest release, Bat Crazy. That is an intriguing name!
Thanks! Bat Crazy is a fun lighthearted book, as was Hog Insane, and I hope all of them
in this series. Upcoming titles include:
- Ÿ Daffy’s Duck
- Ÿ Mad Dog
- Ÿ Kitty’s Mania
- Ÿ Horse Senseless
Here is the blurb for Bat Crazy:
Monster Bats with red eyes that attack
humans?
Denton doesn’t think so and Alex hopes
not, but who are they to quibble with the local gossip?
Transmission problems and a blown tire
land Denton and Alex Davies right in the middle of a dilapidated, unfriendly
town that’s welcoming no strangers, least of all nosy ones with a bent toward
solving mysteries.
But with support from the town
detective--an admirer of the Davies--and their own tenacious personalities,
Denton and Alex aren’t easily scared off. Not when warnings in the form of
painted bats show up on the porch of their rented cabin, not when the mayor
threatens to run them out of town and not even when Denton finds the bones . .
.
An ancient story, a bit of a map, a lost
jewel and even a bat clan serve to provide the
Davies and their sidekick, Taffy, the
dog, their hardest case so far.
I understand this is the second book of a
mystery series. What inspired you to write these and to invent these
characters?
I’d initially written the first book, Hog Insane, as a short story. Later on,
I wanted to develop it into a book and thought their personalities would make
great characters for a mystery book.
I suppose I’ve given them many of my own
(and hubby’s) loves and traits:
- Ÿ Mystery books
- Ÿ Traveling
- Ÿ A pet: a dog, in this instance
- Ÿ Alex has a love of shoes and is a bit headstrong
- Ÿ Denton loves fishing, likes his own way, and is intuitive.
I like to give Denton and Alex a bit of
dry humor, episodes of dry teasing, and plenty of love. They don’t always
agree--in fact, seldom do, but since the first book, they’ve learned to deal
with their differences.
I’ve always loved mysteries. Especially
cozies. They are so warm, fun and well, COZY! Lots of fun to read. So it made
sense that someday I would attempt writing a mystery series along with my
suspense novels.
When I decided to do a mystery series, I
wanted to use titles with “insane-type” words in them. Hog Insane is the first
book introducing the characters Denton and Alex Davies who are early retirees,
who travel around the country in their RV solving mysteries with their pet dog,
Taffy.
Do you have a theme which runs through
your writing? If so, what is it?
In this series, the main plot is the
mystery, of course, but I filter in relational threads too.
In the first book, it was the
relationship between Alex and Denton. Their personal likes and differences,
Denton’s stubbornness and insistence on having his way in a certain instance,
and Alex’s independence, caused a rife between them that was both serious and
complex. Not only did Denton have to learn what/who is important but that his
opinion isn’t what always matters. Alex, on the other hand, needed to learn
that life doesn’t always flow in the direction we desire. Happiness can be
found in areas for which we hadn’t planned.
Fortunately--for readers!--it resolved
satisfactory.
In Bat
Crazy, there are two:
- The second couple is young, hardworking, and smart. Their love might cause difficulties in the way they handle situations, but that same love covers a multitude of “sins.”
Both of these couples play an important
secondary part of the mystery, and in that same secondary way, I hope readers
get a hint of what true relationships are meant to be. Not perfect, but
determined, faithful and compromising as needed. Love isn’t easy at times, but
it’s sure worth fighting for!
Is coffee or tea your favorite beverage
when facing a deadline? Or something else?
Coffee, of course! And I like mine hot,
with a bit of cream. NO flavors. Yeah, I know. In today’s world, that’s a bit
odd, but it is what it is.
In my normal writing days, I jump up
every so often for a few minutes break. Deadline periods find me so focused on
reaching goals that I forget--or don’t have the time--to think about food,
drink or much else.
I can “reward” myself later with favorite
snacks.
Is there any part of scripture which you
feel guides your writing?
I suppose the time I realized I needed to
be faithful to what God wanted me to write, was the most freeing, satisfactory
period of my writing. Of course, that came with choices.
- Ÿ What’s popular in today’s reading world and what type of book(s) did God want me to share with others?
- Ÿ What publishers require/want to sell: is that what God wants ME to write? If so, wonderful! If not, can I be brave and determined enough to follow his leading in my writing journey?
Ÿ Restrictions on how or what to include in
your books. This is a toughie. Not everyone can write/deal with some of the
real world’s topics and that‘s okay. But abuse, a loosening of marriage morals,
trust and deceit, and many other issues are not going to go away. God’s given
me the ability to address some of these topics, and I have to be faithful.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe there are
rules and boundaries and suggestions that are good and right. I appreciate that
and do my best to accept them. These help make me a better writer.
I love this scripture found in Revelation
chapter 17, verse 14b:
. . . For he is the Lord of lords, and
King of kings: and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful.
Beautiful, and meaningful to me.
Please tell us about where your favorite
place is to write.
Lol. My huge desk that hubby refurbished
for me. Somewhere (don’t ask me where!) hubby found this huge, ugly, black
wooden thing. Rounded on one corner, it was far from anything I’d ever desire.
UNTIL, he showed me what he wanted to do with it. Ah, it’s beauty was revealed.
I have plenty of room and with the bookshelves he built on the wall above it,
plenty of nooks and crannies around me, you can find me there in my little
corner many hours of many days.
Other than that, I find myself enjoying
my writing hours while we’re traveling at times. I not only get writing done,
but have a brain-stormer, sounding board, and critique partner all wrapped up
in one with my husband beside me. (He can’t escape, see, cause he’s driving! J )
A fun,
lighthearted mystery series began with the first book: Hog Insane, introducing Denton and Alex Davies and now her
second book in this series, Bat Crazy.
Her WWII romantic suspense Spies series began with With Music In Their Hearts,
featuring three red-headed sisters, three spies, and three stories.
Besides
being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown
enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough
topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always
on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband
reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and
internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening,
good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?
Where to
find Carole online:
Personal
blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
Stitches in
Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/
Barn Door
Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/
Thank you for allowing me to visit, Kathy! You did a good job.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thank you for taking time to be a
ReplyDeleteguest on my blog, Carole. It's a pleasure to have
you here.