Mitch Malone Mondays - JQ Rose

Today I'm interviewing JQ Rose. Her debut book, "Sunshine Boulevard," was just released.

Thanks so much, Mitch, if I may call you Mitch, for taking your time to interview me. You have a reputation as a hard-hitting journalist with your byline on the front page nowadays. It is a pleasure to be here with you.

"Sunshine Boulevard" is a strange name for a mystery. Why would you name it that?

Think sunny Florida, the location of the story. The action takes place on Sunshine Boulevard, the main boulevard circling the Citrus Ridge Senior Golf and Retirement Resort.

In your book, there is a TV reporter. I'm not a big fan of TV reporters. Does this one get the story or is she scooped by a newspaper reporter like myself?

Oh yes, Heather is a TV reporter who is right on the scene of every death reporting all the information about the decomposing yellow bodies and the acrid odor. She tries to help her viewers understand what is going on, but of course, there is no explanation. A killer? An environmental problem? A new virus? Nobody knows for sure what is killing the seniors on Sunshine Boulevard. It is a mystery…of course. Sorry, there’s no way she’s letting a newspaper reporter get in on the information first…nope, no way, Mitch.

This book takes place in Citrus Ridge Senior Golf and Retirement Resort? I can't believe there was a big mystery there? Aren't they just boring places where people drive around in golf carts all day?

To the contrary, Mr. Malone. The people living in these retirement communities aren’t in God’s waiting room. It’s an active, vital group of seniors and boomers who know how to enjoy their retirement. Dances, golf, bowling, well, alright there is shuffleboard, bocce ball, and horseshoes, but very competitive. The golf cart drag races are exciting…no, I’m kidding there!

Jim and Gloria Hart are snowbirds who annually migrate to Florida for warm sunshine, fun, and golf with friends in snow-free winters. However this season, Jim Hart, a volunteer First Responder in his retirement community of Citrus Ridge, is drawn into the investigation of the mysterious deaths. Even in the midst of the unfortunate demise of the residents on Sunshine Boulevard, the Harts try to enjoy get-togethers with friends. They don't realize that their friends are getting together for their own kinds of affairs with each other. The neighbors are in a dither over the deaths, but perhaps more intrigued by the gossip about the affairs and why the naked lady was found lying in the geranium bed.

Now that you got your first book out there, what are you working on next? Something happening in a cemetery maybe? Will they all be about retired people?

A cemetery sounds intriguing. Hmm I wonder if that would work in my next story. I am working on a mystery/romance this time with a professional woman and a cop. No, not a woman from the oldest profession. I wrote a short story with the same characters as in Sunshine Boulevard. It’ll probably show up at Muse It Up Publishing as a free read sometime. I am polishing a non-fiction book for girls and will submit it to a publisher soon. I am researching a story for girls about the first woman to drive cross country before there were any roads. It’s fun having all kinds of writing projects.

Where can my readers find out more about you and your book?

"Sunshine Boulevard" is available through my publisher’s bookstore at http://tinyurl.com/2c53noz

Please visit me at my website http://www.jqrose.webs.com
And drop in at my blog to keep up with current news and topics at http://www.jqroseauthor.blogspot.com

For a fun scare go to the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ttwC03EkcE

You heard it here first. Check out Sunshine Boulevard for no other reason than the creative use of flamingos. Yup, I said flamingos! Okay, there is another reason. Seems she is giving away a book to the lucky person who comments on one of her blogs this week. Leave a comment and it could be you. (Leave an email so she can notify you.)