by: V.M. Burns
Series: Mystery Bookshop
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: November 28, 2023
Publisher: Kensington Books
Bookstore owner and Michigander Samantha Washington is thrilled to see her debut historical mystery finally on the shelves, but a killer seems determined to steal away the spotlight...
While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana Jo has kept Market Street Mysteries running smoothly. The last stop is a prestigious book festival in Sam’s hometown of North Harbor, Michigan. But not everyone thinks the guest of honor, bestselling author Judith Hunter, deserves stellar reviews. Sam witnesses nasty arguments between Judith and two different authors—who accuse her of plagiarism and sabotage...
When a publicist is poisoned during a cocktail reception, Sam wonders if the killer missed the intended target. It’s a twist that echoes the plot of Sam’s mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. But fact can be stranger—and deadlier—than fiction. How much collateral damage is the killer willing to risk? With feisty Nana Jo and the girls from Shady Acres Retirement Village lending a hand, Sam tries to solve the case before the festival delivers another fatality...
Good morning. I’m doing well.
I’ve never met you before or visited your bookshop. Could you please introduce yourself to readers and me?
My name is Samantha Washington. I live in North Harbor, Michigan. I’m a former high school English teacher. A few years ago my husband, Leon, died. We were both avid mystery readers and we used to dream of one day (when our ship came in) quitting our jobs, buying a building, and opening a mystery bookshop. When Leon died, I realized that life is too short not to follow your dreams. So, I sold the house we lived in together, took the insurance money, and bought the building we used to dream would be home to our mystery bookshop. That was the start of Market Street Mysteries.
Owning a bookstore that specialized in mysteries was our shared dream, but I had another more personal dream. I dreamed of writing British historical cozy mysteries. So, to fill in the time after Leon was gone, I started writing. It’s taken some time, but I’ve finally published my first mystery and I’m doing a regional book tour. I have two toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo. I’ve even discovered that my heart is big enough to love again. I have been fortunate to meet and fall in love with a wonderful man, Frank Patterson and we are engaged to be married. As far as interests, I love to read. Of course, I read a lot of mysteries.
Can you please tell us about some of the people we’ll meet in your story?
I am very close to my family. My sister, Jenna Rutherford, and her husband, Tony, are both attorneys in North Harbor. Leon and I were never blessed with children, but my sister has twin boys, Christopher and Zaq who often help me out at the bookstore. My fiancé, Frank Patterson owns a restaurant down the street from my bookstore. Frank retired from the military, although he can’t talk about what he did. However, he’s got connections that come in handy whenever I find myself investigating a murder and I need intel. You’ll also get to know my grandmother, Nana Jo, and some of her closest friends from Shady Acres Retirement Village. These ladies are very helpful when it comes to getting information or when a little protection is needed.
What’s your most prized possession?
My most prized possessions are my poodles, Snickers and Oreo. They’re great company and they keep me entertained.
Why do you feel the need to put on your sleuthing hat and investigate murders?
Honestly, I would prefer not to get involved in investigating murders. It’s dangerous. But, when I was accused of committing a murder that I didn’t do, I learned that our local police don’t always get it right. To be honest, it’s not always their fault. Most people don’t want to get involved and reading a lot of mysteries has given me a unique perspective.
When you aren’t investigating murders, what do you like to do?
I love to read and write British historical cozy mysteries. I’m fascinated with the time period right before World War II. I’ve found that writing is helpful when I’m investigating. Nana Jo says writing helps my subconscious piece together the clues to solve the murder that we’re investigating. I notice similarities between the mystery I’m trying to solve and the mystery I’m writing, so I think Nana Jo might be right.
How do you go about finding the right book for someone who comes into your bookstore?
My Nana Jo has gotten selecting the right book for a customer down to a science. She asks a few questions like, “What’s your favorite television show?” “What are your favorite hobbies?” “Favorite ride at the carnival?” The answers to those questions help her figure out the right subgenre and usually the right book. She’s rarely wrong.
What do you think about your creator V.M. Burns? Is she hard to work with?
V.M. (Valerie) is actually very easy to work with. She doesn’t try to force me to do things her way. She recognizes my personality and what works for me, and she goes with that. She even includes my British historical cozy mysteries inside the book she’s writing for me. So, that’s been great.
What’s next for you?
Now that my first book tour is under my belt, I’ve really got to buckle down and start planning my wedding. I have yet to meet my fiancé’s mother, and she wants to come to North Harbor for a visit. Now, that’s scary.
Samantha, thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. I enjoyed myself.
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Can you please tell us about some of the people we’ll meet in your story?
I am very close to my family. My sister, Jenna Rutherford, and her husband, Tony, are both attorneys in North Harbor. Leon and I were never blessed with children, but my sister has twin boys, Christopher and Zaq who often help me out at the bookstore. My fiancé, Frank Patterson owns a restaurant down the street from my bookstore. Frank retired from the military, although he can’t talk about what he did. However, he’s got connections that come in handy whenever I find myself investigating a murder and I need intel. You’ll also get to know my grandmother, Nana Jo, and some of her closest friends from Shady Acres Retirement Village. These ladies are very helpful when it comes to getting information or when a little protection is needed.
What’s your most prized possession?
My most prized possessions are my poodles, Snickers and Oreo. They’re great company and they keep me entertained.
Why do you feel the need to put on your sleuthing hat and investigate murders?
Honestly, I would prefer not to get involved in investigating murders. It’s dangerous. But, when I was accused of committing a murder that I didn’t do, I learned that our local police don’t always get it right. To be honest, it’s not always their fault. Most people don’t want to get involved and reading a lot of mysteries has given me a unique perspective.
When you aren’t investigating murders, what do you like to do?
I love to read and write British historical cozy mysteries. I’m fascinated with the time period right before World War II. I’ve found that writing is helpful when I’m investigating. Nana Jo says writing helps my subconscious piece together the clues to solve the murder that we’re investigating. I notice similarities between the mystery I’m trying to solve and the mystery I’m writing, so I think Nana Jo might be right.
How do you go about finding the right book for someone who comes into your bookstore?
My Nana Jo has gotten selecting the right book for a customer down to a science. She asks a few questions like, “What’s your favorite television show?” “What are your favorite hobbies?” “Favorite ride at the carnival?” The answers to those questions help her figure out the right subgenre and usually the right book. She’s rarely wrong.
What do you think about your creator V.M. Burns? Is she hard to work with?
V.M. (Valerie) is actually very easy to work with. She doesn’t try to force me to do things her way. She recognizes my personality and what works for me, and she goes with that. She even includes my British historical cozy mysteries inside the book she’s writing for me. So, that’s been great.
What’s next for you?
Now that my first book tour is under my belt, I’ve really got to buckle down and start planning my wedding. I have yet to meet my fiancé’s mother, and she wants to come to North Harbor for a visit. Now, that’s scary.
Samantha, thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. I enjoyed myself.
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Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Award Finalist. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. Valerie is a member of Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, and Thriller Writers International. Valerie has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Fine Arts from Seton Hill University. In addition to writing, Valerie works as a manager at a call center, and is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwest Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles.
Places to find Valerie Burns:
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ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview with Samantha Washington. Can't wait for the opportunity to read this book. This author's books never disappoints me.
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