Welcome to Janis Patterson, author of Beaded to Death, today’s New to You Book pick!
What is your book about?
A widowed, middle-aged bead artist returns from a tour of craft fairs to find the dead body of a man she’s never seen before on her living room rug. From there she is drawn into a world of drug smuggling, murder and the care of a 7’3″ nephew on the run from an unwanted basketball scholarship. To complicate matters, a saturnine FBI agent is not only attracted to her, but believes her to be involved in the drug trade.
What type of reader would your book appeal to most?
Someone who likes cozy mysteries with wit, adventure and ordinary characters caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Who is the main character? What does he or she want or what is his or her biggest struggle to over come?
Lilias Ruiz is a tall, blonde throwback to her Viking forebears. A kindly, ordinary sort of woman with an occasionally fearsome temper, she travels the craft fair circuit selling her bead art. She wants a quiet life, perhaps too quiet since her husband’s death. Her biggest struggle is proving herself innocent of the shadow of drug smuggling, a quest not help by her pulling a gun on an FBI agent.
What plot line drives the story?
Her determination to prove that she is innocent in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. A sub-plot is the unexpected appearance of her 7’3″ nephew who is on the run from an unwanted basketball scholarship and how in spite of all – including his lack of cooperation – she tries to do what is best for him.
How is your book different than other books in the same genre?
I haven’t seen many books with a heroine who is willing to use a gun to protect herself, however reluctantly.
Does your book have romance in it? If so how important is it to the story?
Not so much romance as the promise of a romance to come. There is attraction between Lilias and the FBI agent, but also suspicion. We are left hoping…
Is your book part of a series? If so what are the other books (in order) in the series and will there be more?
Not yet. I’ve been asked to continue it, but as I am at best lukewarm about series — as well as being buried by deadlines on other projects — it will be a while. If ever.
Where can readers get your book and when?
Available now as an ebook from Carina Press (through most reputable outlets as well as the Carina site) and as a paperback from Worldwide Publications (available through WWP’s club program or — I think! — the Harlequin online store.
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Find Janis at her web site ! Get your own copy of Beaded to Death at Amazon now.
To be entered to win an ebook copy of Beaded to Death leave a comment below by March 31, 2014 U.S. central time.
I think there are advantages to writing a series if the initial book is well-received. It’s one way to build a following, although I don’t know if that’s actually happened with my Kim Reynolds series!
Best of luck with BEADED TO DEATH, Janis! It sounds like a fun book. I love cozies. This sounds like the beginning of a good series, so I hope you find the time to write more of them.
I love the premise of this book! Sounds quirky and original!
This sounds like a very interesting read. The plot line with the nephew is particularly unique!
What a fun premise! Can’t wait to read it.
I love all of the descriptions of your characters. They feel quirky and seem like they would be great fun.
This sounds like such fun. A friend and I were just talking about how we’d like to find more books with bright, capable female lead characters who are older. Seems like Lilias fits the bill perfectly!
good luck with this one, girl. well, good luck with them all
I love my craft work. It sounds like working with beads could be deadly.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Crafting mysteries are always popular. You could include bead work tips if you continue this as a series. Mystery readers do seem to prefer ongoing series rather than stand-alones.
This one sounds really interesting!!!
Sounds great! I love a strong heroine, so a pistol packin’ gal should prove a fun read.
Hey this book sounds great. It is my type of book . Sounds like a good strong lead character.
You mentioned that you were lukewarm about making Beaded To Death a series. I’m curious as to why you feel that way.
looks like a great novel; i hope to get a chance to read it :) thank you for the chance to win
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
And the winner is… (picked by random luck) Pam! Congrats! Janis will be contacting you to work out the details.