MWW Day 7 - Earl Staggs

Today’s interview will be a little different than the last several. This one will wrap up lucky number seven in the Mystery We Write Blog Tour. Don't forget about the chance to win one of the award winning books featuring yours truly. Just leave a comment on any of my steller interviews and you will be entered to win. Now, lets get to the interview. W.S. didn’t get to pick the interview for today. It was all me, Mitch Malone. As a kid I roamed the woods with my friends playing cowboys and Indians in rural Michigan.  I have fond memories of those days. Today’s author is Earl Staggs, a real live Texan and cowboy enthusiast. Welcome, Earl. Earl you live in Texas now. When did you move to the land of round ups and cattle rustling?

Earl: Hi, Mitch.  I don’t mind telling you I’m a bit intimidated being interviewed by a tough, no-nonsense guy like you but I’ll give it my best shot.  Fire away.

You grew up in Ohio, in the same town as Roy Rogers. You even met him once. What was that like? Did that inspire your move to Texas?

 

Earl: Growing up in Portsmouth, Ohio, I was thrilled and proud that Roy had also grown up there.   Saturdays, we’d spend all day at the movie theater watching our cowboy heroes outwit, outride, and outshoot the bad guys. We had Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Rocky Lane, Lash LaRue and more. But when Roy came on the screen, it was special. He rode faster and shot straighter than all of them. He was King of the Cowboys and we idolized him. After all, he was one of us, almost like kinfolk.

When the opportunity came along to meet him in person many years later, I may have appeared to be a mature adult, but not really.  I was eight years old again and standing beside the hero of my youth who wore the white hat, rode the great golden stallion, and made the West safe for all of us.

When my wife and I moved to Texas, I thought it was because our daughter and our grandsons lived here. That may have been the main reason, but somewhere deep inside, there may have been some influence from that eight-year-old cowboy fan who wanted to live where Roy used to ride.

About a year after Roy passed away, I wrote a story called “White Hats and Happy Trails” about meeting him.  Anyone interested can saddle up, mosey over to my website at http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com and read it. There’s even a picture of my wife and me with Roy to prove it’s all true.

You are an expert in writing as I am being a Pulitzer-nominated reporter for a newspaper. What advice can you give to those just starting out in writing?

Earl: Very slick, Mitch, the way you slipped your own plug in there. I thought this interview was about me. Oh, well.

Beginning writers never have a shortage of advice offered to them, and it’s all good.  The line I like to toss out is this: “Always make sure the next thing you write is better than the last thing you wrote.” We should never stop learning and striving to be improve our skills. Being a good writer is not good enough. There are too many good writers ahead of you. To get to the front of the line, you always have to push yourself to be better.

In newspapers, the space is shrinking and we have to tell great stories in the fewest words. As an award winning short story writer how do you manage to get it all to fit?

Earl: I’ve been asked how long should a story be, and my answer is, “As long as it has to be to tell it well.”  Sometimes, though, an editor or publisher will state a maximum word length, and that’s when it gets tough. In addition to learning how to write, we also have to learn how to edit, tighten, and shorten. While it can be painful to cut or shorten something we’ve sweated over, it’s part of the job.

I write a column called “Write Tight” for the online magazine Apollo’s Lyre. In each issue, I offer tips and examples of ways to reduce word count without losing important elements of the story. Many times, tightening actually improves a story. That old “less is more” thing.

How many cowboy hats do you own and do you wear one all the time?

Earl: I own several and wear one most of the time, especially in the summer.  You learn to do that in Texas where the brutal sun doesn’t just beat down on you. It tramples you like a stampede of longhorns.

Great visual there Earl. Where can we get our hands on your latest prose and what is next for you?

Earl: Since we’re talking about cowboys and the old West, I have a story available at http://store.untreedreads.com called “Where Billy Died.” A modern day bounty hunter travels to Texas in search of an outlaw and finds himself entangled in a legend about a famous outlaw from the past.

You and your audience are also invited to visit my website at http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com and visit with my special guest for today.  While you're there, you can read Chapter One of MEMORY OF A MURDER, which earned thirteen Five Star reviews. You’ll also find information there about my recently published collection, SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS, containing sixteen of my best.

Also while you’re there, don't forget to sign up for the drawing on December 9. The first name drawn from those who leave a comment will receive a print copy of MEMORY OF A MURDER.  The second name drawn will have a choice of an ebook or print copy of SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS.

Thanks, Earl, for talking about all things cowboy today.

Derringer Award winning author Earl Staggs has seen many of his short stories published in magazines and anthologies. He served as Managing Editor of Futures Mystery Magazine and as President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. His novel MEMORY OF A MURDER earned thirteen Five Star reviews online at Amazon and B&N. His column “Write Tight” appears in the online magazine Apollo’s Lyre. He is also a contributing blog member of Murderous Musings and Make Mine Mystery. He hosts workshops for the Muse Online Writers Conference and the Catholic Writers Conference Online and is a frequent speaker at conferences and writers groups.  Email: earlstaggs@sbcglobal.net  Website:  http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com

MWW Day 6 - Anne K. Albert's Muriel

Today I’m interviewing Muriel of FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL. It’s appropriate because we are in the midst of the holidays and this book by Anne K. Albert is all about craziness during the holidays. I’m not much of a decking the hallway’s person or give a lot of presents. My list isn’t long unless they are a good source. But enough about me, let’s hear Muriel’s story. Tell me a bit about yourself. You were born and raised in New York state, right?

Muriel: Yes. I grew up in and around Niagara Falls.

We all have people from our growing up years that we just don’t like. I know I have a cousin who just couldn’t leave me alone. You have something similar don’t you? It is the season for forgiveness? Can you forgive and move forward?

Muriel: It’s not that I didn’t like Frankie, it’s just that he complicates things.

Got an example?

Muriel: It started in high school when he wrote me a note. I have no idea of its contents. Nor do I care. All I know is the teacher intercepted it, read it, raised an eyebrow, and zeroed in on me.

“I believe Frankie had you in mind when he wrote this,” she said, then began to read it aloud. She got as far as the salutation he’d printed on the outside of the folded sheet of three-ring notepaper. “To the Brian.”

The class erupted into hysterics. The teacher returned the note to Frankie and resumed her lesson. From that day forward, I was the girl named Brian, and Frankie became my sworn enemy.

Brian?

Muriel: He’s dyslexic.

I can see by the words you use that you have quite a bit of education. Some people might not find you too interesting. Oops, sorry, didn’t mean that the way it sounded. How does an intellectual type get involved in a missing person’s case?

Muriel: What is it with men who are intimidated by a few grey cells?

I’m not intimidated.
 Muriel: Right.

The missing woman?

Muriel:A very close friend asked for my help. I couldn’t say no.

My family, including that cousin, isn’t very close. I rarely return to my hometown. Your family is quite colorful. I can’t believe I heard this right, but they are going for some type of world record?
Muriel: I’d really rather not discuss it.


I would.

Muriel: (Long silence, and then Muriel sighs.) Okay. It’s a tradition that began with my parents. My father was a real live action figure. Always on the go. Always in search of that next adrenalin rush. My mother shared his sense of adventure, and in some ways was even more of a daredevil. My brothers went on their first adventure trip when they were still in diapers. Me? Riding the merry-go-round makes me nauseous. I’ve always held the conviction that if humans were meant to race down snow covered mountains, scuba dive on ocean floors, or jump out of airplanes, we’d have been born with skis for feet, gills for lungs and had wings attached to our backs.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the only time of year the family gets together is December. On Christmas Eve we vote for the family member who took the greatest risk during the past year and lived to tell the tale. The winner receives the D-DAY trophy. The letters stand for Death-Defying Act of the Year Award. Now, can we please talk about something else?


I’m not big on romance. Never have really dated. You find yourself in some sticky situations with this private investigator and it’s a bit cold? Any juicy parts?


Muriel: That is none of your business. Besides, there’s nothing going on between me and Frankie. We’re, um, just friends. Really.


Uh-huh. Thanks Muriel for the visit. If you ever leave New York, drop by Grand River, Michigan. Weather is about the same but maybe I could provide some warmth. (Muriel rolls her eyes.) FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL sounds like a great story. How can I find out more about it?


Muriel: Visit author Anne K. Albert online at her website http://www.AnneKAlbert.com/ She also blogs at http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com/ and http://muriel-reeves-mysteries.blogspot.com. Anne is also on Facebook www.facebook.com/annekalbert and Twitter www.twitter.com/AnneKAlbert.

Hi, Anne here! On Muriel’s behalf I’d like to say thanks for featuring her today on Day 6 of the second 2011 Mystery We Write Blog Tour. Click here: http://amzn.to/pg67sx to read a sample of Frank, Incense and Muriel. I’d also like to encourage readers to enter my comment to win contest.

CONTEST DETAILS: Comment to WIN! Three names will be selected at random from comments on all 14 of Anne’s Mystery We Write Blog Tour guest appearances. Winners will receive an e-copy of FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL, book one of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries. Visit http://tinyurl.com/3hzpqvv for her schedule and contest details. Good luck!

Mitch here. Just to let you know that W.S. is collecting names for a drawing for my adventures so let me know what you think!  To visit her today chec out Mike Orenduff's blog:

http://thepotthief.blogspot.com/. I

MWW Day 5 - Beth Anderson's Jack O'Banion

Today I’m welcoming someone who I can relate to although not his location. Today’s guest is Valdez Alaska’s Chief of Police Jack O’Banion. He must solve the murder in RAVEN TALKS BACK by Beth Anderson. He’s a bit crusty and one of those old school police chiefs – a man of few words. I’m going to see if I can get him to open up a bit with my superior interview skills. He may be tough. I think I just heard him mutter: “Another reporter. Just what I need.” I’m sure he didn’t mean me. Let’s get to the details. Tell me about the murder you have to solve.

All I can tell you so far is that a female body was discovered in the back yard of a family here in Valdez while their yard was being dug up in preparation for an addition to their house. The medical examiner has confirmed that she was a murder victim. Her identity is not known as of yet and we have no missing persons reports to go on. I’m heading over to the M.E.’s office right now so I’m sorry, I can’t give you any more details at the moment.

Now I know from personal experience that cops aren't real fond of amateurs intruding on their investigations. How do you feel about that and what about that Raven Morressey. She is one crazy chick. You gonna lock her up?

Mrs. Morressey is understandably stressed due to the victim having been buried in her yard. When I have more information I’ll call a press conference.

How did you come to be in Alaska? You were in Texas weren’t you?

I was. I rode up here on my Harley from Dallas for a vacation, dropped in and chatted with the chief at the time, who was thinking about retirement. A few months later he did retire and I was offered the chief’s position here in Valdez. After giving it a whole lot of thought I decided to take it.

What about a love interest? Those Alaskan nights get awfully long, dark and cold. What do you do when you are not working? Or are you one of those cops that never aren’t on the job?

I am one of those cops that never isn’t on the job, yes. Every chief of police is.

I understand you have bunch of media breathing down your neck. I know those TV people can be really bad. I’m a newspaper reporter. How about giving me a little inside scoop?

I’ll hold a press conference whenever I have any more information. At the moment, I have none and I’ll have to cut this short now because I have work to do. Thank you.

Chief, it’s been enlightening. If I ever have some free time I might look you up in Alaska. To find out more about Jack and Raven, you have to pick up this Kindle bestseller. Check it out here: http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com

Beth Anderson is a multi-published, award winning author in several genres including romance and mainstream crime fiction. A full time author, she now lives in Washington state. She has appeared on Chicago's WGN Morning Show, The ABC Evening News, as well as numerous other radio and cable television shows. She has guest lectured at Purdue University, Moraine Valley College, and many libraries and writers' conferences. She loves music, particularly jazz. Her website and blog are at http://www.bethanderson-hotclue.com

Note: Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win free books to be awarded at the end of the tour.  Visit W.S. today at  as she talks about setting at Marilyn Meredith's blog: http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

MMW Day 4 - Ron Benrey's Felicity "Flick" Adams

I’m feeling lucky today, if you get my drift. It’s day four of the Mystery We Write Blog Tour that I was hijacked into participating in by W.S. I’m still thinking of payback, but not today. Today’s victim is real easy on the eyes. I’m interviewing Felicity (Flick) Adams, the American-born curator of the fictional Royal Tunbridge Wells Tea Museum—the setting for Ron and Janet Benrey’s “Royal Tunbridge Wells Mysteries” Let’s see if Mitch can work his charm. For starters, you don’t look like a scientist with a PhD who’s an expert on tea. I’d have guessed you were a cheerleader for an NFL football team. What’s that all about?


Flick: I allow every interviewer one inane question—even if he intends it as a backhanded compliment. You’ve had your opportunity. Please ask me a question that makes sense.


(Long pause as Mitch gulps) Tea? Err, that’s something little old ladies drink with lemon and little sandwiches. Why does England need a museum to showcase tea?


Flick: Most American’s don’t realize that tea is the second most popular beverage in the world. (Water is the first.) Tea is big business—and it has had a fascinating history. The Royal Tunbridge Wells Tea Museum was established in 1964 to be a center of scholarship about tea history, tea chemistry, and tea tasting. The museum also honors Commodore Desmond Hawker, a 19th Century Master of the China Tea Trade. The institution is really a combination art and natural history museum dedicated to the art, geography, botany, and manufacturing related to Britain’s tea trade and its love affair with tea. Thousands of tourists visit us each year—which testifies to the wisdom of “building a museum to showcase tea.”

You keep saying “Royal Tunbridge Wells.” Where does the “Royal” come from? And what does it mean?


Flick: Tunbridge Wells is a small city about 40 miles southeast of London, in the County of Kent. In 1909, King Edward VII—who enjoyed visiting “the Wells”—bestowed the right to add the prefix “Royal” to the city’s name. Some residents use “Royal,” some don’t.


I understand you solved a murder that happened inside the tea museum. I’ve covered lots of murders for the Grand River Journal and they usually happen in dark places like back alleys, drug houses and such. What respectable murderer would kill someone amidst tea cozies, whatever those are?


Flick: That question is clearly based on another misconception about tea—the notion that selling tea is gentle and docile. The 19th century tea trade was a rough and tumble business—with more than its share of robber barons, seedy businessmen, and cutthroat tea purveyors. The museum had to cope with two murders. The first happened quite recently, but it was driven by events in the tea trade that occurred more than a century ago. The second took place more than forty years ago. I can say with confidence that both involved the usual motives for murder: greed, lust, and jealousy.


You sound like you know what you’re talking about. How did you become a double-barreled expert—on murder and tea?


Flick: I’m astonished—you can ask a sensible question that has an interesting answer. When I was in graduate school I wanted to become a forensic scientist—the kind of guru you see on TV, in the different CSI shows. Unfortunately, the advanced courses made me queasy. One professor told me I had too active an imagination—that I couldn’t disconnect my thoughts from the blood and gore, when real people were involved. In the end, I switched to food chemistry. I eventually focused on tea, wrote three books about tea, including the very popular “How to Host an English Tea.” The rest is history.


One woman even with your obvious skills, can’t run a museum by yourself and solve crimes. My research said your sidekick’s name was … something very British. Oh, yes, a guy named Nigel Owen. What’s his story?


Flick: Wow! If Nigel were here, you’d have a bloody snoot about now. Nigel is anything but a “sidekick.” He is currently the Managing Director—that’s equivalent to President—of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Tea Museum. I agree that Nigel can be a bit stuffy at times, but I expect him to change in the months ahead.


You expect him to change? Are you going to fire him? No, I got it. You weren’t interested in yours truly because it sounds like you two are an item. Do you plan to reel him in?


Flick: Ding! That’s your second dumb question. See you around.


Um… Can I call you in Tunbridge Wells? Er… Do you have a card with your cellphone number?


Flick: [Expletive Deleted]


I must apologize to my loyal readers. I’m not used to doors slamming in my face for these fluff interviews. To get a better idea of what “Dead as a Scone,” the first “Royal Tunbridge Wells Mystery” is about since the interviewee has taken flight:


Murder is afoot is the sedate English town of Royal Tunbridge Wells … and the crime may be brewing in a tea pot! Nigel Owen is having a rotten year. Downsized from a cushy management job at an insurance company in London, he is forced to accept a temporary post as managing director of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Tea Museum. Alas, he regrets living in a small town in Kent, he prefers drinking coffee (with a vengeance), and he roundly dislikes Flick Adams, PhD, an American scientist recently named the museum’s curator. But then, the wildly unexpected happens. Dame Elspeth Hawker, the museum’s chief benefactor, keels over a board meeting—the apparent victim of a fatal heart attack. With the Dame’s demise, the museum’s world-famous collection is up for grabs, her cats, dog, and parrot are living with Flick and Nigel—and the two prima donnas find themselves facing professional ruin. But Flick—who knows a thing or two about forensic science—is convinced that Dame Elspeth did not die a natural death. As Flick and Nigel follow the clues—including a cryptic Biblical citation—they discover that a crime perpetrated more than a century ago sowed the seeds for a contemporary murder.

Ron Benrey writes cozy mysteries with his wife Janet. Together, they have written nine novels in three series: “The Royal Tunbridge Wells Mysteries,” “The Pippa Hunnechurch Mysteries,” and “The Glory North Carolina Mysteries.” Ron has been a writer forever—initially on magazines (his first real job was Electronics Editor at Popular Science Magazine), then in corporations (he wrote speeches for senior executives), and then as a novelist. Over the years, Ron has also authored ten non-fiction books, including the recently published “Know Your Rights — a Survival Guide for Non-Lawyers” (published by Sterling). Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a juris doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law. He is a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


Today you can visit W.S. at Jean Henry Mead's blog at http://mysteriouspeople.blogspot.com

MWW Day 3 - Pat Browning's Penny Mackenzie

Day 3 of the Mystery We Write Blog Tour that W.S. has so graciously volunteered my expert interviewing skills. She also is offering a chance to win A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES to some lucky commenter. I should be more upset but today’s featured author is one that really gets around. I mean, when W.S. has me looking at things, I see Pat Browning’s posts on several blogs. I appreciate someone who says it like it is. Kind of like yours truly here. Today’s guest is from Pat’s ABSINTHE OF MALICE. Again, a book I’ve read many good reviews for and have a certain kinship with Penny Mackenzie who joins us today. Welcome Penny. You and I share a similar background at least we both are reporters for newspapers but I understand you cover more fluff pieces. Why did you become a reporter?

Penny: A reporter’s job on The Pearl Outrider was the only job open that sounded halfway interesting when I got out of college. Pearl, California is a very small town. My parents were part of the power structure, such as it was, and they put in a good word for me with the publisher, Walter Wynd.

Walter was a good man and his employees repaid him by referring to the paper as The Weekly Wind. It was mostly a good-natured jest. Walter’s only fault was that he never printed any bad news, just the local fluff, which was made to order for my job as Lifestyle Editor.

I cover the crime beat and have been known to solve a crime or two. I hear you tripped over an old murder? Can you tell me about it and maybe I can use my master reporting skills to help you solve it?

Penny: Sweaty business, murder. Ordinarily I would just look for the person who does the most sweating, but in this case … well, I shouldn’t tell you who the murderer turned out to be. I didn’t have to do much detecting, just a whole lot of snooping and putting two and two together and getting five. The best tool in a reporter’s tool box is curiosity. I had my share and then some.

Sorry about your friend Maxie. In A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES I had to solve the case of who killed the homecoming queen who was pretty sweet on me. I’d returned kicking and screaming to my hometown. Maybe you don’t want to know about that. Tell me about Pearl, California. I know at times it felt like the whole town was out to get me. Do you feel like that?

Penny: Nah. I went to school with half the people in town and knew all the gossip about the other half. I felt as if the whole town was looking over my shoulder, egging me on.

Penny, I can see you are a girl with some intelligence. Any chance you would want to have a drink with me and discuss reporting techniques? (Wink, wink)

Penny: Well, such invitations are scarcer than hen’s teeth in a town like Pearl, but I don’t drink and I’m spoken for – again. This time I think it may work out.

Penny, it has been a pleasure getting to know you and would really like to have that drink. Any plans for another adventure where we might cross paths?

Penny: Sorry about the drink, Mitch. Stop by the newsroom for a cup of coffee sometime. I’m in the middle of a really big adventure this time, working title METAPHOR FOR MURDER. Somebody’s been messing around in the old Chinese cemetery, especially around China John’s grave. China John’s been dead for 70 years so why all the interest now? And who was he anyway? He was a real mystery man. Stay tuned …

For more on ABSINTHE OF MALICE, read an extensive excerpt at Google Books http://tinyurl.com/23pojdm

Buy the book at
Barnes and Noble, print and Nook - http://tinyurl.com/43lgk5u
Amazon, print and Kindle - http://tinyurl.com/3ry9gya

Pat Browning was born and raised in Oklahoma. A longtime resident of California's San Joaquin Valley before moving back to Oklahoma in 2005, her professional writing credits go back to the 1960s, when she was a stringer for The Fresno Bee while working full time in a Hanford law office. Her globetrotting in the 1970s led her into the travel business, first as a travel agent, then as a correspondent for TravelAge West, a trade journal published in San Francisco. In the 1990s, she signed on fulltime as a newspaper reporter and columnist, first at The Selma Enterprise and then at The Hanford Sentinel.

MWW Day 2: John M. Daniel's Guy Mallon

Day two of the Mysery We Write Blog tour and W.S. Gager has me doing all the work. Not sure how that happened. Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win my latest escapade, A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES. Today I’m interviewing Guy Mallon, a man who knows a lot about words. He was in publishing for many years. I have the pleasure of getting it first here. BEHIND THE REDWOOD DOOR by John M. Daniel has only just been released. I do know how to get a scoop! Let’s start easy. Tell us a bit about yourself, Guy.

Guy: Thanks for taking the time to interview me, Mitch. It’s good to meet you at last. I’ve heard a lot about you. You seem to get into some tight scrapes as a crime reporter. How did you did you ever decide to get into such a risky business?

Don’t get me started. Besides, I’m the one asking the questions here, remember? So. Take two. Tell us a bit about you.

Guy: Okay. So, yes, I love words. I guess what I’m proudest of is my collection of Western American poetry, first editions. That’s what got me into the publishing business in the first place. And what got me out of it, eventually.

What happened? Got tired of publishing? Got tired of poetry?

Guy: I’ll never get tired of poetry—good poetry, that is. But I gave up publishing when I moved to Jefferson County back in the late 1990s. Publishing was too dangerous, believe me. I should have chosen something safe to do for a living, like crime reporting. Just kidding. But really, as a small-press publisher I was threatened and chased by thugs in Las Vegas and marched through a tropical jungle at gunpoint by a cocaine smuggler, I had a ton of books dropped on my body by a religious fanatic, and had my warehouse burned down by an arsonist. So I quit, and moved to Jefferson County, to help my wife run a used bookstore. Something gentle, right?

Well, from what it says in John Daniel’s new novel, BEHIND THE REDWOOD DOOR, you may have settled down, but you haven’t stayed out of trouble. How do you get drawn into another mess?

Guy: Well, a friend of mine, Pete Thayer, got killed, stabbed in the throat and left to bleed to death beside a dumpster out back of the Redwood Door Saloon, on Friday the thirteenth of August, 1999. You would have liked Pete, by the way. Investigative reporter, like you. Anyway, I got talked into taking over his job as editor of the weekly paper, and that turned out to be a dangerous job to have. Target of a lot of small-town grudges. Or maybe I’m just a trouble magnet. That’s what my wife says.

Now Guy, your bio and experience sound a lot like the man behind the pen, John M. Daniel. What makes you special?

Guy: A lot of people point out the similarities between John Daniel and yours truly. We both used to work in bookstores. We both admire formalist verse. We both are married to smart, kind, businesslike, beautiful women who happen to be partial to gin. And of course we were both small press publishers. But Daniel has kept his nose clean. He writes bloody murder, but he goes into a coward’s crouch at the slightest offense. Me special? I don’t think of myself that way, but damn it, sometimes you have to take a stand, right?

Now I don’t want to be offensive here, but trouble might follow you because people might make a bit of fun of your height. Hey, don’t get mad. Just wondering if that has anything to do with it?

Guy: Mitch, my friend, I’m glad you used the word “height,” because height is something I’m proud of. Whenever some jerk asks me, “How short are you?” I answer, “I’m not short. I’m five feet. Five feet tall.” I can spot a jerk by the way he looks down on me from above. Jerk…am I allowed to use stronger words here? No, I guess not. The word I would use if I could pinpoints where the sun don’t shine. Heightists, I call them, and they’re trouble. Let me tell you something—

Okay, on to safer subjects. Tell me about your wife? Was it love at first sight? Did you have to rescue her?

Guy: Carol is the best thing that ever happened to me. No, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight, but when she walked into my store and offered to help with the publishing business I knew she had something I needed in my life. Carol is five years older than I, eight inches taller, and a whole lot smarter. Rescue her? No, I’d say she’s the one who rescued me.

How did she do that?

Guy: I’m not proud of this, but I once made a bad business decision. I don’t mean bad for business. I mean unethical, bad for my soul. Carol left me for that. Left me stranded. She moved out and away from my life. I decided then I had to straighten up and fly right. Which I did, and she took me back. I consider her my grace and savior. Other than that, she has bitched at me ever since for having an addiction to trouble. I’d like to think that’s tamed me down a bit. But it’s the kind of cure that has to be practiced one day at a time.

Thanks, Guy, for stopping in. Maybe we can get together and do a little bourbon sipping some time soon. I’ve been thinking about putting my memoirs together. Would you be able to pull some strings to get them published?

Guy: I’m out of the publishing business, and have been for over ten years. In the meantime publishing has changed a lot. But I’ll tell you what. Talk to my friend Wendy Gager. She might be able to find a way for your tales to get into print. Meanwhile, Mitch, thanks again for chatting with me. I have a feeling you and I see eye to eye—so long as I’m standing on a chair.

To read more about Guy, check out John’s website at www.johnmdaniel.com Remember Behind the Redwood Curtain has only just been released. Be the first to read about it. Tell the bookstore your friend Mitch Malone recommended it.

John M. Daniel has worked as a bookseller, a free-lance writer, an editor, an entertainer, a model, an innkeeper, and a teacher. He and his wife, Susan, live in Humboldt County, California, where they are small-press book publishers. Susan enjoys gardening, John enjoys writing, and they both enjoy living with their wondercat, Warren. He now teaches creative writing for Humboldt State University Extended Education. His thirteen published books include four mysteries: Play Melancholy Baby, The Poet’s Funeral, Vanity Fire, and Behind the Redwood Door, recently published by Oak Tree Press.

MWW Day 1 - Alice Duncan's Daisy Gumm Majesty

First up today is Alice Duncan. She is my first victim, err guest, in the Mystery We Write Blog Tour. If you read yesterday’s blog announcing the tour, you know I wasn’t thrilled when W.S. approached me. I admit that I was a little less than enthusiastic and then she tempted me with the first author, Alice Duncan. Alice writes about Daisy Gumm Majesty who is my victim, err guest today. Daisy, so glad you could be with us. You live in a very unique time period filled with history. Tell us what is going on in the world.

Daisy: Yes, the world was a very different place after The Great War and the disastrous influenza pandemic that overlapped it. So many, many people lost loved ones that they’re happy to have me communicate with their dearly departed. So what if I have to pretend? My work honestly helps people, no matter what Billy and Sam think.

Now I understand you have a real honest to goodness babe who has hired you. Any chance you could fix her up with your new friend, Mitch Malone?

Daisy: Really, Mr. Malone! How terribly crude. Besides, Mrs. Pinkerton is much older than you. And she’s a married woman. I know *some* men wouldn’t find that a deterrent, but I must beg you not to bother Mrs. P. She’s my best and most faithful client. Even if she is a nitwit. Oh, dear. Please don’t tell her I said that.

Oh, maybe that wouldn’t work. You say your career is that of a spiritual advisor and you get paid to do that? What are the spirits advising in GENTEEL SPIRITS?

Daisy: Yes, I am a spiritualist medium. Mind you I’m *not* a fortune-teller, although according to my husband, Billy, and his best friend, Sam Rotondo, there’s not any difference. But there is. As for what the spirits are advising me in GENTEEL SPIRITS . . . if you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll admit to you that I’m a fraud. I can’t really communicate with dead people. However, there are lots and lots of people who would rather take advice from a phony spiritualist like me than from friends, neighbors, alienists or ministers, so I take their money and do my best. Unfortunately for me, my job in GENTEEL SPIRITS is that of personal spiritual advisor to a *very* temperamental and stupid silent-screen actress, Lola de la Monica, who claims to be from Spain. I’ve heard her when she wasn’t acting, though, and I can tell you she sounds awfully much like my Brooklyn-born party-line neighbor.

People pay you for that? Must be that World War I time period when people were different. I’m a man of sensitivity myself. Any chance you would want to advise me on some matters over a few drinks?

Daisy: Advise you over a few drinks? Really, Mr. Malone! Prohibition is the law of the land, and I don’t care how many people flaunt that law. I can’t afford to do anything so foolish. How many people do you think would hire me if they knew I drank? None. That’s how many. I have to protect my image, which is that of a pale-but-interesting, sober-clad spiritualist who’s an expert wafter. I tell you, I’m *good* at my job!


Oh, sorry, didn’t realize Prohibition was the law of your time and you're married. I don’t mess around with married women. I hear you have another story coming out in just a month or so called ANCIENT SPIRITS. What hare-brained, err adventure befalls you?

Daisy: Yes, indeed, I am married: to the love of my life, Billy Majesty. We had planned a long, happy and fruitful union, but the forever-damned Kaiser and his stinking mustard gas took care of that dream for us. Billy joined the army and went to France shortly after we were married. He wasn’t there for more than a month when he was gassed out of his foxhole and then shot when he tried to crawl to safety. He came back to me after months and months in various hospitals, a ruined man. Therefore, I have to earn a living for the both of us. Billy hates that he can’t work; worse, he hates that I have to. I’m afraid we live a rather fraught existence.
As for ANCIENT SPIRITS . . . well, you’ll just have to wait and find out, won’t you? Although I can tell you I get to ride a camel during the book. And a more evil-smelling, short-tempered beast I’ve never encountered.

Thank you Daisy. It’s been a blooming good time. Get it, Daisy, blooming? Oh, well maybe not so funny. Fine. We’ll just finish this up. For a strong read about a woman who is threatening me with a right hook, pick up GENTEEL SPIRITS or ANCIENT SPIRITS. Before I become ancient myself, check out http://www.aliceduncan.net for more information and where to find Daisy’s fascinating tale.

• GENTEEL SPIRITS (featuring Daisy Gumm Majesty, and set in Pasadena, CA, in 1922): http://tinyurl.com/3ndzcff
• PECOS VALLEY REVIVAL (featuring Annabelle Blue and set in Roswell, NM, in 1923): http://tinyurl.com/3uafvqg
• FALLEN ANGELS (featuring Mercedes Louise Allcutt and set in Los Angeles, CA, in 1926): http://tinyurl.com/3wh2a6t

Award-winning author Alice Duncan lives with a herd of wild dachshunds (enriched from time to time with fosterees from New Mexico Dachshund Rescue) in Roswell, New Mexico. She's not a UFO enthusiast; she's in Roswell because her mother's family settled there fifty years before the aliens crashed. Alice no longer longs to return to California, although she still misses the food, not to mention her children, one of whom is there and the other of whom is in Nevada. Alice would love to hear from you at alice@aliceduncan.net. And be sure to visit her Web site at http//www@aliceduncan.net