Wild Women Authors feature author Wendy Kendall and her cozy mystery, Kat Out of the Bag. With Wendy is fashion designer Katherine Watson who will go first.
Good
morning, Katherine. Thank you for spending time with us. Let’s begin with you
telling us a bit about the book: As a
fashion designer I host many exciting events. When I hosted a unique purse gala,
I never expected the headlines to read: Murder At The Gala Premiere. That’s
exactly what happened. A dead body discovered during the event turns out to be
my friend Brenda. She is also Bayside’s Mayor.
I am compelled to work on solving this
murder, matching wits with local cop Jason Holmes and his K-9 partner Hobbs.
Although Holmes and I disagree often, I can’t deny a building attraction
between us. Yes, with so much at stake we have to put those feelings on hold
and focus on solving the murder. Otherwise, I’m concerned who may become the
killer’s next knock off.
What
made you choose designing fashion purses for a career? Looking
back, it seems inevitable. I was sewing and making purses and bags from
elementary school years. I played with them in dress up with friends and made my
playmates their own too. I reveled in a passion for purses for many years. I
enjoy all kinds. You name it and I'll claim it. My curiosity and wildly growing
personal collection led me to further investigate the world of purses.
Why do you think so many women love purses? I
had my suspicions, of course. I followed many clues. I devoured everything
there was to read about designers. I researched art appreciation. But it was
when I interviewed everyday women about their favorite purse and learned about
their incredible lives and families that I knew I was hot on the trail to
uncovering the mystery of a passion for purses. I met with a variety of women
who enjoyed purses. Their favorite purse, the one they told me all about, was
often a special gift, maybe a family member, loved one, friend, or mentor.
Sometimes their purse was a style similar to another woman's who they'd known.
Often it evoked a cherished memory, like an aunt who had a purse pocket with
surprise candy treats for kids. There was a sisterhood here.
For
some women their favorite purse represented a cause that they supported
wholeheartedly. They were wearing their heart on their arm, or sometimes
crossbody. No matter how contemporary, these stories
had roots in history. Yes, a woman's purse tells a story, that's unique and at
the same time shared.
Knowing
what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with designing
purses or do something different? I love designing. I
imagine the fashion and functionality women will appreciate, adhere to the
demanding attention to details, and dive into other opportunities this
profession offers. For example, I created a purse
museum in my hometown of Bayside, Washington.
Because purses had been a
passion that my great grandmother shared with me when I was a young child, I
realized inside every purse there's a treasured story of the woman who carried
it. Those stories are important. After successfully building my business
headquarters on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, I decided the time had arrived to
create a purse museum in honor of my great grandmother, and all the women whose
stories would be told in the exhibits. Never did I imagine that the Mayor, my
dear friend Brenda, would be murdered at the gala opening.
What
is your biggest fear? Claustrophobia.
Who
is your favorite fictional character and why? I’m
a dedicated Nancy Drew fan since childhood. What an inspiring sleuth.
What
is the best piece of advice you ever received? At some point in life my mother decided to give herself a new name,
Moonjava. I call her MJ. She lives as a long-ago flower child/hippie. You’ve
heard of them from the 1960's? She hasn’t let the spirit of it go. She's also
the museum historian. She loves showcasing history in creative exhibits. And
Moonjava shares her daily meditation with anyone who will listen, often with
interesting repercussions. One of her meditations resonates for me as an
excellent caution: All that glitters is
not Judith Leiber
Thank you for taking time away from
your busy schedule to speak with us. Now, we’d like to chat with Wendy.
Which writer or
character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on
your writing? Author Laura Childs
books from all three of her cozy mystery series. Her characters are memorable,
and her plots are great puzzles to solve along with the sleuth. Imagine my
delight when Laura endorsed my book: “Captivating characters and a tight,
tricky plot, Kat Out of the Bag is a curl up under a blanket, grab a cup
of tea cozy mystery that you’ll be reading – and enjoying – into the wee hours
of the morning.”
With regard to research,
where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths,
thereby changing the original concept? At
the time I started this book there were three purse museums in the world. Now
there are only two and one is in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is the Esse Purse
Museum. What an incredible research trip I took from Seattle to Little Rock to
learn all about this museum and have the pleasure of meeting the staff as well
as the creative, energetic business owner Anita Davis.
My visit cemented the concept for my
book series. I learned a lot about women’s history from the museum and enjoyed
the vintage purses that told the stories, The staff members were all very nice
and artistic. Anita Davis is an incredible phenomenon and getting to know her
brought to life some aspects of Katherine Watson’s personality.
It was so gratifying when Esse Museum
endorsed my book: “Inside every handbag are artifacts – pieces of personality,
glimpses of the past and often the deepest secrets. Vintage purses have a story
to tell and for Wendy Kendall’s mystery these stories unveil more than just
purse-onal history; they’re the clues to catch a killer.”
Tell us a bit about your
publisher. My wonderful publisher is
The Wild Rose Press. What a world of opportunities they’ve opened up for me and
my stories. I’ll always be grateful for their belief in me, for their support
in publishing the best books from talented and skillful editors, cover artists,
and management team. The Wild Rose Press owners are personable and absolutely
inspiring.
How did you hear about
them? I pitched my book to one of the
editors at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association’s conference. I was asked
to submit a copy, and how exciting when they offered to publish! The turnaround
from signing the contract to book release was an awesome 6 months. The Wild
Rose Press makes dreams come true!
What are you reading right
now? Murder and Matrimony in the
Castello by Tessa Floreana
What's next for you? I’m working on final edits for the 6th book
of my In Purse-Suit mysteries series. It’s an exciting new cozy mystery to
solve.
To purchase Kat Out of the Bag, go to: Amazon - Kat Out of the Bag (In Purse-Suit Mystery): Kendall, Wendy: 9781509230716: Amazon.com: Books
To learn more about Wendy Kendall and the stories she creates, go to:
Website – WendyWritesBooks.com
Facebook – WendyKendallMysteries
Twitter - @wendywrites1
Instagram - wendyekendall
