This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour and more chances to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC.
What is the favorite book you remember as a child?
Swiss Family Robinson. I remember asking my mom why we couldn’t live in a tree house, too.
What is your favorite book today?
Can I mention two? I just finished The Nightingale, which I loved, but I’m also thrilled they’re making a movie version of The Light Between Oceans, because that’s another favorite.
Tell us about your current book in 10 words.
Murder comes to the antebellum mansions that line the Mississippi.
What are you reading right now?
I’m finally getting around to Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See. (Embarrassing, isn’t it? The book came out in 2009.)
What books do you have on hold at the library?
Winter Garden, also by Kristin Hannah, and When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi.
Do you have any bad book habits?
I hate to admit this…I dog-ear if I don’t have a bookmark nearby. (Yes, I’m ashamed.)
E-Reader or print? and why?
I finally went all digital this year. (My husband bought me an e-Reader for Mother’s Day.) I like that I can read my books and check email on one slim device.
One book at a time or multiples?
I’m a serial monogamist…I like to savor one book at a time.
Keep books or give them away?
Can I vote for loan them out? I don’t expect my friends to return them tomorrow, but I do like to get my favorites back at some point.
Thanks for the interview…it was fun!
But then Missy discovers a murder among the magnolias, and even the worst “bridezilla” seems suddenly tame.
Before Beatrice could say more, the front door flew open and in stomped an elderly gentleman. He was on the verge of a good old-fashioned hissy fit.
“Y’all don’t deserve a say in this wedding!” he said to a young woman who’d slunk in behind him.
The girl looked to be the right age for his daughter. She wore flip-flops and a wrinkled peasant blouse, and she buried her head in her hands. Well, that lifted the blouse an inch or two and exposed her bare stomach.
Lorda mercy. It seemed the girl and her fiancé must have eaten supper before they said grace, as we said here in the South, because an unmistakable bump appeared under her top. She looked to be about four months along, give or take a few weeks, and I could see why her daddy wasn’t too happy with her right about now.
After a piece, she lifted her chin and glared at him. “I hate you!” Her voice rippled as cold as the river water that ran nearby. “I wish you were dead.” She stalked away.
I fully expected the man to cringe, or at least follow her. Instead, he merely glanced our way and shrugged. After a minute, he pivoted on the spectacle he’d caused and casually strolled away, leaving a bit of frost in the air.
“Oh my. Why don’t we continue,” Beatrice said.
Poor Beatrice. She obviously wanted to divert our attention elsewhere. It couldn’t have been every day one of her hotel guests wished another guest was dead. She hustled us farther into the ballroom, as if nothing had happened, all the while explaining the history of Morningside Plantation.
Her Missy DuBois Mysteries series debutted from Kensington/Lyrical Underground in May 2016. Bretting’s previous mysteries include Unholy Lies (2012) and Bless the Dying (2014). Readers can reach her online at www.SandraBretting.com and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/sandra.bretting.
Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me here today. Happy Monday, everyone! *groan*
ReplyDeleteCould you describe the mundane details of writing: How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)?
ReplyDeleteHi, Mai! I write for about five hours a day, and I always work on my laptop. I don't think I could function anymore without it :)
ReplyDeleteDo you ever suffer from writer’s block and, if so, how do you overcome it?
ReplyDeleteHi, Peggy. I DO suffer from writer's block sometimes, and I think the best way to combat it is to leave the computer for awhile. Sometimes you just have to walk away. Thanks for asking!
DeleteI admit....I gasped when I read that you dog-ear your books. Remind me to never loan you a paperback.
ReplyDeleteScandalous, isn't it? Though, to be fair, my first choice is always to find a napkin or bookmark. Maybe I should go to "bad borrowers anonymous" and try to mend my ways :)
ReplyDeleteMonday so soon? Hope you have a great week and thank you for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. It would've been nice to have another day in the weekend :)
DeleteReally great post, I loved the interview! That serial monogamist made me LOL :).. great way of putting it, I guess that makes me polyamorous haha.
ReplyDeleteLOL right back at ya, Victoria!
DeleteI really enjoyed your comments. I loved, loved the excerpt. This sounds like such a good story.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I've really enjoyed working on this series and getting to know these characters.
DeleteReally enjoyed the excerpt. Sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Becky. I've had a lot of fun spending time with Missy and her friends :)
DeleteI liked the interview.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita! They were great questions, so it was a breeze to answer them.
DeleteSounds like a very good book. Do you have a go to author?
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry. I know I'm going to love anything by Ann Patchett today, and I'll reread Hemingway for inspiration. What about you?
DeleteI really like the dialog in the excerpt. Since the characters talk with a dialect it gives them a lot of personality, and I can feel them "come to life". This isn't my typical genre of choice, but I may check it out, since the characters seem very likable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment! I've lived in the South for almost 20 years now, so I've learned to speak "Southern" with the best of 'em. The hardest part was writing a Cajun accent for one character, which is a mix of English/French/Creole. That character's lines tested my research skills!
ReplyDeleteI always like a good murder mystery. Sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this. I just love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Misty! I really like the cover, too 😊
DeleteThanks for the Giveaway
ReplyDeleteLove that cover! Congrats on the book :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Judy! It was a fun book to write, and my publisher priced it right at only $3.99, so more people can enjoy it. I've loved spending time with Missy DuBois and her friends. I hope everyone else does, too!
Deletehow many books do you write a year.
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie. I usually finish one book a year, but I also might outline the next one during that time. I'm not the quickest, but I try to make them good!
DeleteThanks for the opportunity to win.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. This is a really fun series!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGreat Giveaway, thanks for the chance of winning
You're very welcome, Melanie! I hope you have a chance to read about Missy DuBois and her friends.
DeleteThanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lena! I want as many readers as possible to have a chance to meet Missy DuBois and her friends.
DeleteThanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love fun and interesting characters. Can't wait to read the book!
ReplyDeleteHi, Deb. If you like quirky characters, I think you'd like this book. (Best of all, my publisher priced it at only $3.99, so more people can enjoy it.) Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThere shouldn't be a big debate as to whether someone like digital or print books.
ReplyDeleteAgreed...I feel that books are books, no matter in what form :)
DeleteDo you have a muse or do the story ideas come from your imagination or people around you? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie - I like to think I have a pretty good imagination. I try to take common scenarios and take them to the next level :)
Deletesounds like a fun one!
ReplyDelete