The Next Big Thing

There’s a fun meme being spread around the blogosphere, a meme where writers can pretend they’ve made it big. Our new pal and Tweep Chloe Carstairs (@ChloeGetsAClue) tagged us in this meme, aptly called The Next Big Thing (don’t we wish!). We will take our turn by answering the questions as if the world awaits our answers (you know, like they do with J. K. Rowling or John Grisham).

What is the working title of your book?
Death in Door County

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The Door County part came from . . . well, Door County. It’s a heavenly place in Wisconsin. The Death part comes from our penchant for writing murder mysteries. (This is the third in The Val & Kit Mystery Series, but the first set outside of Chicagoland.)

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s a hodgepodge of murder, mystery, humor, and a little romance. But mainly mystery. Or maybe murder.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Christine Baranski has the elegance to play Kit. Val would be harder to cast. If Meryl Streep were available, and in her early fifties, she’d be good. (Who are we kidding? She’d be fantastic at any age.)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Best friends, with no business solving a murder, solve a murder (or two).

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

We are still working on it, but it is close to being finished. We started about six months ago.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

To Kill a Mockingbird, The Maltese Falcon, Witness for the Prosecution . . . No, we’re kidding. We don’t like to compare our books to anyone else’s, but other people have compared them to Janet Evanovich’s.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
It’s a total partnership, so we inspire each other. Besides, it’s some of the best fun we have together. Even though we live in different parts of the country, we don’t need our writing to keep us connected. It’s just a big bonus.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The two main characters are “real” people. They live in the real world. Hopefully, they are likable, caring, and a little funny, like any best friends. We all know someone just like them. Oh, and as for the plot, well, it’s carefully layered for the mystery lover. We’re hoping the reader won’t know whodunit until we tell them.

We’d love if these folks would play along, too. Simply answer the questions in your own blogs, tag us, and tag some others.

Jeff Whelan

Gillian Mawson

Wendy Cartmell

Raeann Blake

And here is this meme’s origin: http://www.andreajarrell.com/blog/2012/10/5/the-next-big-thing-my-creative-side-project.html

The Liebster Award

We thank the talented writer Raeann Blake for nominating us for the Liebster Award. Unlike so many other awards, there are no losers—only winners! The two of us took a vote and selected Roz to accept our nomination J

The Rules
·  When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you. 
·  Pass the award on to 11 other blogs (while making sure you notify the bloggers that you nominated them!). 
·  You write up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees. 
·  You are not allowed to nominate the blogger who nominated your blog!
·  You paste the award picture into your blog. (You can google the image; there are plenty of them!)

11 Random Facts about Roz

1. When a child calls me Auntie Roz, it stops my heart for a second. I'm putty in their hands after that and will give them anything.
2. I find the overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart absolutely thrilling, no matter how many times I hear it.
3. My favorite Christmas movie is The Bishop's Wife, starring Cary Grant and Loretta Young.
4. I wish I had learned to play the violin when I was young. It's the perfect instrument. Classical or bluegrass.
5. When I was a teenager in London in the ’60s, it was important to swear allegiance to either The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. I chose the Stones, and I think Mick Jagger's still got it.
6. I'm the elder of two sisters, but my baby sister has always been more mature than I am.
7. I have Post-it notes all over my desk and fridge, but sometimes I can't read my own writing.
8. I love lists and make them all the time, although I often forget to take my list with me when I go shopping.
9. I love being around people who make me laugh. It's essential in a friendship.
10. I like wearing hats.
11. I hate my curly hair (hence my love of hats).

Questions from Raeann

1. If money was not an issue and you could have any job in the world, what would it be? There isn't a job in the world that I'm excited about. I'd be done with working. (I don’t consider writing a job or work.) I'd like to stay home every day and just play with my friends (which includes writing with Patty).
2. Dogs or cats? Dogs, definitely. Cats don't really need an owner, but dogs are grateful for everything you do for them.
3. Log cabin in the mountains or expansive luxury house on an ocean shore? Luxury house on an ocean shore.
4. Have you ever traveled to any destination that required the use of a passport? Yes, too many to count. Most of Europe and the Caribbean, but not Asia or Africa. Any traveling I have left would be to see the rest of our amazing United States.
5. What is your dream vacation destination? Visiting my home country of England, surrounded by my family. Doing nothing special, just hanging around watching nieces and nephews grow.
6. What is your favorite type of music? I love all kinds of music: country, rock, pop, jazz and a little light opera.
7. What is your favorite spot and/or activity for relaxing? In my own bed, reading a good book or watching a good murder mystery on TV.
8. In school, were you a teacher’s pet, the class clown, or __________? A little bit of the class clown. But definitely the English teacher's pet (not so much the math or gym teacher’s). My English teacher taught me the love of words when put together in the right order. She once told me you should never start a sentence with the word And, but in my case she would make an exception.
9. Do you prefer clear blue skies or rolling thunderstorms? I live in a sunny, hot climate, so I really enjoy grey, gloomy days. Thunderstorms are okay, too, as long as they don't herald the arrival of a hurricane.
10. What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory? When I was very young, my baby sister was diagnosed with polio. As such, my family was quarantined for a week during Christmas and we missed the party our neighborhood had organized. One dear neighbor (I don't remember his name) dressed as Santa Claus and came to our house to bring us presents. I can still remember the thrill of opening the door on Christmas Eve and seeing the man himself who had taken time from his busy schedule to stop by and visit my sister and me. Don't tell me there is no Santa Claus!
11. What is the next book you plan to read? I have so many books waiting to be read, but it will probably be a mystery by John Sanford or the final in the trilogy by Stieg Larsson, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. It's old, I know, but I loved the first two and my boyfriend insists this is the best one.

Questions for Our Nominees

1. How old were you when you first fell in love?
2. Who is the most influential person in your life today?
3. What do you regret the most in your life?
4. What's the best thing about living where you live?
5. What are you most proud of in your life?
6. What is the best gift you ever received?
7. When you spend money on yourself, what do you indulge in the most?
8. Would you rather read a classic novel or see the movie?
9. Has a major occurrence recently changed your life?
10. If yes, was it good or bad? If no, what major occurrence would you like to experience?
11. Do you donate to any charity, and if so, which one(s)?

Our Nominees

Remember, this is not a punishment; it’s an AWARD J So NO PRESSURE to participate for those already trying to squeeze twenty-six hours of work into twenty-four! We’d love to learn more about the nominees we’ve chosen. But whether the following bloggers accept it or not, they are very deserving of the Liebster Award and also very deserving of readers, so check out their blogs, y’all!

1. Tracy James Jones
2. CP Bialois
3. Mae Clair
4. Tracey Baptiste
5. Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers
6. Anne Kramer and Mike Hendricks
7. Ann Mullen
8. Melissa Foster
9. Anne Chaconas
10. Em LaBonte
11. Jen Blood