Author Interview and Spotlight: Mary Keliikoa

Good morning everyone. Today I have an author interview with Mary Keliikoa to share.  First a bit about her latest book, Derailed. How cool is the cover? I have not read this one yet but it sounds like a great start to a new series.

DERAILED:

A P.I. KELLY PRUETT MYSTERY

By Mary Keliikoa

Camel Press; May 12, 2020

Trade paperback: $15.95

Pages: 236

You haven’t heard of private detective Kelly Pruett yet, but she’s about to join ranks of

mystery’s most clever and crafty female sleuths, such as Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum or Alexander McCall Smith’s Precious Ramotswe.

Pruett reflects the real dilemmas of modern women in DERAILED: A P.I. Kelly Pruett

Mystery (Camel Press; May 12, 2020). Pruett must balance between being a single mother to her deaf daughter and following in her father’s footsteps as a private investigator.

After years of being her father’s apprentice, Pruett has inherited the family private detective agency. Dad never trained her for a major murder investigation; serving divorce papers and long stakeouts with her basset hound are more her speed. Her ex-husband—and his mother—think her work is too risky. But detective work is in her blood; puzzles are her passion. When a grieving mother begs her to investigate her daughter’s death, how can she refuse?

As Kelly sets out to prove herself, and find something to call her own outside of marriage and motherhood, she realizes she’s being stalked. Taking a frying pan to the face jars her into the realization that she’s stronger than anyone believes—even herself. Dad wasn’t the only Pruett with pit bull tendencies when it comes to solving a case, including one with ties to Portland’s BDSM subculture. As sordid secrets emerge, she must decide: is justice worth it?

Here’s what readers are saying:

“It’s that perfect blend of personal and professional that makes Derailed a welcome addition to the genre. I can’t wait to follow both Kelly and Keliikoa’s careers.”—Kellye Garrett, Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty Award-winning author, Hollywood Homicide

“Derailed has it all: an engaging heroine, a twisty, twisted crime, and plenty of food for thought about families and their secrets. I loved this debut and can’t wait to read about Kelly Pruett’s next case.”— Kristen Lepionka, Shamus Award-winning author, the Roxane Weary mystery series

“Mary Keliikoa’s debut novel is an important addition to the PI genre – strong with voice, a compelling protagonist in KellyPruett, and unforgettable family secrets. Derailed was hard to put down – and I can’t wait to read the next book in this crackling new series.” — Alex Segura, author, Blackout and Miami Midnight

Onto the author interview….(these questions were provided by the publisher for this post, I have not read the book yet myself) 

Q. You have owned several businesses in the past. Do you keep a finger in business or is writing now your full-time occupation?
A. I am the VP of a distribution company my husband and I have owned for 19 years, and I continue to work a few hours most week days. I enjoy the connection with our staff, we employ nearly 40 people. But I’m also very blessed to set my own schedule and writing is a big part of every day.

Interview with Nancy Warren author of The Vampire Knitting Club

Hello everyone, please join me in welcoming Nancy Warren to my blog today as she stops by to answers a few interview questions. I am thrilled to have her! I read her book The Vampire Knitting Club and enjoyed it very much. It is the start of a paranormal cozy series set around a knitting store in Oxford.

Book Details:
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Published by: Ambleside Publishing
Publication Date: September 2018
Number of Pages: 250

Purchase Links: Amazon Goodreads

Please read on for the interview….

Welcome to my blog Nancy and thank you for stopping by. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thank you for having me! I’m a Canadian, originally from Vancouver, though I’ve lived mainly in the UK for the past few years. Last year I got my MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa university. Our classes were held in Corsham Court, a Tudor manor house with peacocks on the lawn. It was magical. (Also the setting for Rafe Crosyer’s home, which we visit in book 2, Stitches and Witches.) I’ve always been an avid reader and I love to travel.

Author Spotlight and Interview: Drake Vaughn

Hello all. I have author Drake Vaughn stopping in today for an interview. It is always interesting to find out about the author behind the work.

Drake’s latest book is called When the Devil Climbs. Please read on for the interview…

BW: Welcome to my blog Drake, please tell us about yourself.

DV: I’m a horror author whose “crinkled fiction” is a blend of the thrilling macabre, dark humor, and supernatural madness with a heavy psychological bent. I enjoy writing about the shadowy, gruesome corners of the human experience and eerie tales of the occult.

 

BW: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

DV: I started as a passionate reader, which helped cement an interest in telling my own stories. As a child, I created a book in the second grade about the death of a crayon, so I guess I always had a morbid curiosity. I also enjoyed cartooning in school where I’d draw caricatures of the teachers in goofy situations. I’d pass them around to get laughs, mostly from the girls, so I guess that was a strong motivation as well. Mostly, I enjoy the exploring of ideas that speculative fiction offers.

Author Interview and Spotlight Denise K Rago

Hello everyone. Today I would like to welcome author Denise K. Rago to my blog. Denise is one of the authors I am happy to have met via book blogging, not only does she pen intriguing paranormal romance, she is a sweet person as well.

Denise is the author of the Immortal Obsession series. I have read Immortal Obsession and Blood Tears and enjoyed both. I recommend the Immortal Obsession reads to fans of vampires, romance and paranormal intrigue. These are books that take you from 18th century Paris to modern-day New York and I was happily swept away as I read them.
Please join me in welcoming Denise here today as she answers my nosey questions.

BW: Welcome back to my blog Denise and thank you for taking the time to stop by and chat. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
DKR: I have worked in Special Education for 25 years as well as receiving a Master’s Degree in Museum Professions. I am passionate about art history, reading, the French Revolution and of course, vampires. I have kept journals since high school and have always wanted to write novels.