Showing posts with label linda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linda. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Fifteen Fun Facts Linda O Johnston
Fifteen Fun Facts Linda O Johnston
This week, Midnight Ink presents Fifteen Fun Facts about Linda O. Johnston, author of the Superstition mysteries. Her latest, Knock on Wood, was released earlier this month.
1. Im a cynophilist.
2. Im addicted to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
3. I met my first Cavalier on the London Underground on my first trip to London.
4. Unsurprisingly, my favorite mysteries to write, and to read, contain pets, particularly dogs.
5. I wrote two cozy mystery series starring dogs and other pets before I started the two series I write for Midnight Ink: the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter series, and its spinoff Pet Rescue Mysteries. The two series I write for Midnight Ink are the Superstition Mysteries and the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries.
6. I happily live in Los Angeles but considered myself a displaced Pittsburgher for years.
7. My current Midnight Ink release, KNOCK ON WOOD, is my forty-first published novel.
8. I also currently write romance novels--paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne and romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense.
9. Im a happy wife, mother, grandma and dog mom.
1o. Im a chocoholic. Dark chocolate? Yum!
11. Jai �tudi� le fran�ais pendant douze ans quand j�tais une jeune fille, mais I dont really speak French now. (I almost got that correct on my own, although I did double check it.)
12. I used to really enjoy writing and negotiating contracts when I was a practicing real estate attorney and consider contracts another form of fiction.
13. I love to do crossword puzzles.
14. My first published novels were time travel romances.
15. My first published fiction was a short story in Ellery Queens Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Award for best first mystery short story of the year.
Knock on Wood is available online and in bookstores now!
Midnight Ink | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Your local bookstore
Visit Linda online.
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Friday, August 25, 2017
Q A with Linda O Johnston
Q A with Linda O Johnston
This week, we sat down with Linda O. Johnston, author of Lost Under a Ladder.
Midnight Ink: How long have you been writing?
Linda O. Johnston: All my life! I recently remembered a high school Advanced English assignment I completed way back when in which I was supposed to do my own Chaucer-like verse form. I always collected ideas for assignments but this one was particularly special. If I kept it in written form I havent found it yet, but it began, "Five bodies in the morgue lie still."
MI: What influence have other authors had on your writing?
LOJ: I loved reading Mary Stuart, Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt as a child. Their stories enthralled me and made me want to try writing my own romantic suspense and mystery stories.
MI: If you weren�t a writer, what would you be doing?
LOJ: Lawyering. My law license is currently inactive since Im writing full-time, but I enjoyed writing and negotiating contracts. Theyre just another form of fiction, after all. And if not lawyering or writing, Id do more to help rescue endangered pets. But I really enjoy writing . . .
MI: If you have a job outside of writing, what is it?
LOJ: As I mentioned, I was a transactional lawyer for many years. I specialized in real estate. I havent practiced law for several years, though.
MI: What is/are your favorite thing/s to do when you�re not writing or working?
LOJ: Following my dogs orders. And when Im able, I visit with my grand-toddlers, who live in another state.
MI: Who is your favorite mystery sleuth and why?
LOJ: My favorites are always my own sleuths! I adore Rory Chasen from my Superstition Mysteries and her determination to come to terms with superstitions . . . and murders. I loved Lauren Vancouver from my Pet Rescue Mysteries because of her determination, too�to save animals. And then there was Kendra Ballantyne, from my Pet-Sitter mysteries. Kendra was a lawyer, like I was. She lived in the Hollywood Hills, like I do. And she had a tricolor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lexie, as I do! Of course, Ive fortunately never tripped over dead bodies like Kendra . . .
MI: Do you have a favorite murder case from a book (either yours or another author�s)?
LOJ: Nope, no favorites. Theyre usually whatever I happen to be reading . . . or writing.
MI: What was your inspiration for the Superstition Mysteries?LOJ: I happened to be knocking on wood one day in the hope that a wish Id just made would come true�that Id come up with an idea for yet another fun mystery series. It occurred to me nearly immediately: Id just come up with that idea!
MI: How does the Superstition Mystery series compare to your past works?
LOJ: The similarities to my past cozy mysteries (I also write romances) include the fact that I love having my mysteries feature pets, especially dogs. In this case, Rory Chasen winds up running the Lucky Dog Boutique, so there are plenty of dogs involved, as well as superstitions about them. Differences include the fact that, instead of setting this series in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, as my earlier mystery series were, I invented the enjoyable superstition-centered town of Destiny, California. But like the protagonists in my earlier series, Rory doesnt especially want to solve murders yet finds that she has to, because her friends and close acquaintances keep becoming primary suspects.
MI: Tell us about Rory Chasen (and Pluckie)!
LOJ: Rory is an avowed animal lover who used to be an assistant manager at a chain pet store in the Los Angeles area. Her world was rocked when her beloved fianc� Warren walked under a ladder and died a few minutes later when he was hit by a car. Rory doesnt really believe in superstitions, and yet she needs closure. Are superstitions real? She has to go to Destiny, California, a town thats all about superstitions, to find out.
Of course she takes her beloved black and white spaniel-terrier mix Pluckie along. And a short while after they reach Destiny Pluckie insists that Rory go into the Lucky Dog Boutique�where they find its owner, Martha, lying on the floor in a back room. Shes ill but well enough to know shell be fine since shed been on her way to a business meeting�and seeing a black and white dog on the way to a business meeting is good luck!
Rory and Pluckie run into a lot more superstitions in Destiny, yet Rory remains skeptical. She also remains in town, still seeking answers�and soon winds up helping to solve a murder where Martha is the main suspect.
MI: Do you have a favorite superstition?
LOJ: I do knock on wood, as well as crossing my fingers. Who doesnt? But its also a lot of fun to me if I happen to find a heads-up penny or even another coin on the ground.
MI: Do you have a pet? Tell us about him/her.
LOJ: I have two pets, Lexie and Mystie, both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Lexie, the older one, is a tricolor, and Mysties a Blenheim (auburn and white). They have me very well trained, and Im always at their bark and call. I obey them well�a lot better than they obey me.
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| Linda with Mystie (left) and Lexie (right) |
MI: If you don�t have a pet, do you have a favorite animal?
LOJ: I do have pets, and my favorite animals remain dogs. I love em all, although my very favorites for a very long time have been Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. In fact, Im addicted to Cavaliers.
MI: What food could you live off of for the rest of your life?
LOJ: Dark chocolate! They say these days that it has some qualities that are good for you . . .
MI: Do you have a favorite recipe?
LOJ: Im working on some for my Barkery and Biscuits series, but although I used to cook more I take easier routes these days, including using my Crock-Pot. My personal people favorites are entrees like casseroles that contain mushrooms.
MI: What�s your favorite part about being an Inker?
LOJ: So far Ive really loved the Inker community of other authors, who are all delightful and supportive and caring. Then there are my editor and publicist�also very friendly and supportive. Plus, I love the book covers. And the anticipation of starting this new series as well as a second series that will start next year: Barkery and Biscuits. In fact, theres a lot I enjoy about being an Inker!
Lost Under a Ladder, the first Superstition Mystery, is now available online and in bookstores!
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Saturday, August 12, 2017
Q A with Linda Joffe Hull
Q A with Linda Joffe Hull
This week, we sat down with Mrs. Frugalicious Shopping Mystery author Linda Joffe Hull, whose latest Black Thursday, was just released.
Midnight Ink: How long have you been writing?
Linda Joffe Hull: I dabbled from the day I got out of college (cough) years ago, but didn�t start writing seriously until my boys started school in 2001. They are both in college now.
MI: What influence have other authors had on your writing?
LJH: My mom claims she found me hiding under the covers with a flashlight and a book on a regular basis starting at three years old. I have been influenced by everything from the Nancy Drew series to David Sedaris.
MI: If you weren�t a writer, what would you be doing?
LJH: I often say that at this point I would be a stripper at a nursing home, but I would probably be in sales and advertising, which I did in a former life.
MI: If you have a job outside of writing, what is it?
LJH: I do freelance editing and ghostwriting and work on everything from self-help and memoirs to fiction projects.
MI: What is/are your favorite thing/s to do when you�re not writing or working?
LJH: My boys are collegiate divers, so I love travelling to watch them compete. Go Hoosiers and Hawkeyes!
MI: Who is your favorite mystery sleuth and why?
LJH: I change my mind every time I read a new mystery, but the first favorite that came to mind was Precious Ramotswe.
MI: Do you have a favorite murder case from a book (either yours or another author�s)?
LJH: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote really sticks with me.
MI: What was your inspiration for the Mrs. Frugalicious Mysteries?
LJH: I was flipping through the channels one night and found myself watching Extreme Couponing. I realized, almost immediately, that anyone with the math brain and the ability to think on the fly the way couponers do, would make a crack amateur sleuth. Mrs. Fruglicious was born soon after.MI: How does the Mrs. Frugalicious Mystery series compare to your past works?
LJH: I like to write about the suburbs�specifically, the unexpected dangers and pitfalls of suburban existence. I describe my first novel, The Big Bang, as a suburban satire/pregnancy whodunit. The Mrs. Frugalicious mysteries are far lighter and have a lot less, shall we say, dark blue subject matter.MI: Tell us about Maddie Michaels.
LJH: Maddie Michaels is the wife of local TV financial guru Frank FinanceMichaels. When he loses all their money in a ponzi scheme, she reinvents herself as bargain shopper and coupon clipper Mrs. Frugalicious to (surreptitiously) save the family from financial ruin. I enjoy writing her because she is plucky and is endlessly able to look at the increasingly dire situations she faces with humor and a sense of optimism that some people (I�m looking in the mirror here) can�t always summon up.
MI: Tell us your top 3 couponing tips.
LJH:
- Always, always go through your Sunday paper and clip coupons for things you will buy anyway. There�s no reason not to save money every time you shop.
- When you use coupons, grocery and discount stores recognize you as a coupon clipper and give you additional discounts and savings offers in the form of Catalinas, those printed coupons that come with your receipt.
- Never ever go shopping without going online to check for coupons or specials. Practically every national retailer offers discounts and/or specials simply by going to their website.
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| Linda and Hazel |
MI: Do you have a pet? Tell us about him/her.
LJH: I have two pets, Andi the gecko who currently resides in my oldest son�s room. She was named Andrew (after him) until we discovered she is a girl. As my second son, Evan was headed off to college we adopted Hazel. She is a four-month-old Lab/Blue Heeler mix. Adorable only begins to describe her. Coincidentally, her kennel name was Eliza, which happens to be my daughter�s name. Clearly, she was meant to be in my brood.
MI: If you don�t have a pet, do you have a favorite animal?
LJH: I love exotic animals, many of whom are unsuitable for domestic life. Luckily we have Andi and Hazel.
MI: What food could you live off of for the rest of your life?
LJH: Homemade chocolate chip cookies.
MI: Do you have a favorite recipe?
LJH: I�m not the best cook, but I do make an easy, incredible grilled salmon marinated in soy sauce, lemon wedges, sugar and garlic.
MI: What is your favorite part about being an Inker?
LJH: Aside from working with the amazing Terri Bischoff? I guess I�d have to say the camaraderie amongst the authors who write for Midnight Ink. I�ve made and continue to make very close friends. What a great group of people!
Black Thursday, the second Mrs. Frugalicious Shopping Mystery, is now available in bookstores and online!
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