You just can’t keep murder a secret.
A
formal declaration of love scares the bejesus out of small-town Detective Rory
Naysmith. As Valentine’s Day approaches, he evaluates his relationship with
bookkeeper Esther Mullins, and decides to take her on a romantic date that ends
with a poet’s murder. Assigned to the case, Rory pushes his private life aside.
Things gets tricky after Esther is appointed Executrix for the estate—then
rumors start that place a priceless item among the poet’s many possessions.
The
race is on to unearth the treasure and solve the murder, but it leaves Rory
wondering if Esther will live long enough to become his Valentine—or end up as
the murderer’s next victim.
Good
morning, Esther; thank you for taking time away from your schedule to speak
with us. Let’s begin with you telling us a bit about Gone Crazy. I’ve been doing taxes and keeping financial records
for individuals for years. It’s a dignified and quiet profession, usually. But
in Gone Crazy, I unexpectedly end up as the Executor of a client’s
estate. We weren’t friends, and the appointment came as a genuine surprise.
Then, it quickly became a catastrophe after the autopsy revealed she’d been poisoned.
An unknown nephew showed up to claim the inheritance. A cranky, live-in dog
sitter complicated the situation. There was talk that I might even be
responsible for this client’s demise. I wouldn’t say I am stubborn, but I
do dig in when necessary. And, of course, I am always willing to help my friend,
Detective Rory Naysmith, solve a problem.
What
made you choose bookkeeping for a profession? I have a talent for numbers and excel at
puzzle-solving. It was a natural fit. Professional opportunities in Winterset have
always been limited. Besides, at a time when I might have done something more
adventurous, I was caregiver for my ailing grandmother and kept books at a
local construction office. Leaving Winterset was never on my radar.
Knowing
what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being an
independent bookkeeper or do something different? I’m happy with my lot. I have free time to help
others, yet I have tasks that engage my intellect and require mathematical
precision.
What
is your biggest fear? Oh, my, you are
getting personal. Well, I’m not a frivolous person, so, I’d say my biggest fear
is being regarded as silly or foolish.
Who
is your favorite fictional character and why? If you mean anyone, then I would say Alicia Florrick from
the CBS legal drama series The Good Wife.
Alicia’s intelligence and
conflicted emotions shine, and I thought the character’s quiet reserve spoke
volumes.
What
is the best piece of advice you ever received? This wasn’t advice given to me, but I’ve always liked
this quotation from Maya Angelou. “One isn't necessarily born with courage, but
one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other
virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or
honest.”
Thank you for that,
Esther and for speaking with us. Now we’d like to chat with Terry.
Which writer or
character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on
your writing?
I love the Dick Francis crime novels
written between 1970-2010. His writing includes unusual professions and
unfamiliar situations, which he rendered utterly relatable to his readers. I
also enjoy Louise Penny and her character, Armand Gamache. Then, who doesn’t
love Craig Johnson’s Walt Whitmire? There is much craft to learn from these
artists.
With regard to research,
where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths,
thereby changing the original concept? Because
this novel is part of a series, most of the original concept had already been
determined. However, poison is always interesting to investigate, and including
the character of Nina Mahala, who is a Native American, the live-in dog sitter,
and Officer Thacker’s love interest, required research. Nina is a member of the
Winnebago Tribe and the Ho-Chunk Nation. Fortunately, I know the area where
Winterset is set—Northeast Nebraska—and have been to the tribal casino. In
addition, I found a plethora of YouTube videos, websites, and articles about
the Ho-Chunk Nation. I love Nina’s spunky, earthy character—and spent much time
getting to know her.
Tell us a bit about your
publisher. Gone Crazy is Book 3 of the Rory Naysmith Mystery series. The
Wild Rose Press published the entire series. I couldn’t have asked for a more
supportive, responsive, or dedicated team.
What are you reading right
now? I recently read The Midnight
Library by Matt Haig. This book had been on my TBR pile for some time, but
I was reluctant to read it for many reasons, death and contemplating the same
among them. What I discovered is that this novel is as advertised: “A dazzling
novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived.”
What's next for you? I am currently writing a cozy mystery, Heads Up, Ruby
Bleu. The story takes place in a small town in East Texas during the 1950s.
Ruby takes on the job of secretary at the Lutheran church after the previous
employee’s mysterious death. Aided by a young musician and her best friend, she
stumbles over clues, tries to avoid disaster, and races head-down into peril. I
hope to have it ready for publication this fall.
To learn more about Terry and
the stories she creates go to:
Website: https://terrykorthfischer.com
X(Twitter):
https://twitter.com/terryiswriting
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TerryIsWriting
Amazon
Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/terrykorthfischer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14349440.Terry_Korth_Fischer
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/terry-korth-fischer
Newsletter: https://terrykorthfischer.com/newsletter-signup
To purchase Gone Crazy, go to:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4aq2VcC
Indie Bound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/gone-crazy-terry-korth-fischer/21506890?ean=9781509255979&ref=&source=IndieBound&title=
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/gone-crazy/id6502704194
Thank you, Kat!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great series, and Esther seems like the kind of heroine I want to read about! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! The book sounds amazing.
ReplyDelete