An Interview With Lida Sideris

by Grace Topping

This past year has been an exciting one for Lida Sideris. She released a third book in her Southern California Mystery series, Murder Double or Nothing, and published a children’s book, The Cookie Eating Fire Dog. It’s a pleasure to welcome Lida back to WWK to tell us about her latest books.

Murder Double or Nothing

Corrie Locke, newbie lawyer, and daughter of a late, great PI, is learning the ropes at the Hollywood movie studio where she works—and where things are never what they seem. Life imitates art when a fictional murder attempt turns real—right before her very eyes. With more than a little help from friends and a crazy movie legend, Corrie trips down a trail littered with wisecracks, mysterious messages, and marginally legal maneuvers to track down the killer. Meanwhile, clues keep disappearing and Corrie makes an enemy whose deadly tactics keep escalating. Will her impromptu sleuthing skills be enough to catch the mysterious assailant before he takes her down?

Welcome to Writers Who Kill, Lida. 

Thank you so much for hosting me.

This has been a busy year for you with two books published. How does it feel to have launched a children’s book and the third book in your Southern California Mystery series?

Lida Sideris

Wonderful! It’s been action-packed. I really enjoy having a wider audience to connect with. The children are lovely and such rapt listeners, and the mystery fans are fantastic as well. I usually throw in a plug for each book, no matter what the event.

What’s it been like promoting books with two completely different audiences?

Having books in different genres and age groups is kind of like juggling balls, knives, and crayons at the same time. What’s most interesting is that people seem to get excited when they learn that you’ve written different genres. That was an unexpected, pleasant surprise.

Corrie Locke has had a number of adventures over the course of your series. How has she grown or changed since you first created her?

She’s more aware of her flaws and trying to curb her tendency to lie, break laws, and fall for the wrong guy. Case-cracking has become her priority. She's become more confident at taking down the bad guys/girls, which means she’s taking more risks. She's also maturing, I hope. As her sidekick, Veera says to her, "You're growing up right before my eyes."

Murder Double or Nothing is set on a major movie lot. How did you make the setting sound so authentic?

I once worked at a suspiciously similar movie studio and, rather than visit the revamped version, which is now Sony Studios, I relied on my memory. Corrie's office is in the Producers' Building, where my own office was located. I used to visit the studio commissary, backlot, and sound stages, just like Corrie. Only my visits were without incident. It's all from memory, and then some. That’s the fun of writing fiction.

Your series has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Did you set out to write a humorous mystery?

I sure did. I really appreciate books that at least make me smile - they're my favorites. Like your book, Staging is Murder. I want readers to have fun, and humor helps take the edge off potentially dangerous situations. I don’t want anyone to feel down after reading my books. Happy endings are a must. 

The mystery of Corrie Locke’s father’s death haunts her. Why won’t she, like her mother, accept that he is dead?

Corrie is suffering from a bit of guilt because she wasn’t able to solve his murder. If he were alive, that would explain the lack of viable clues, and her inability to figure out who killed him. It’s the only case she’s not been able to crack.

Lacy Halloway, an old-time actress, works at the studio as the voice of a moth in an animated series. How is it that she wields such power on the lot and is able to coerce Corrie into trying to solve the murder of a young actor?

Think Shirley Maclaine or Jane Fonda or any other Oscar-winning actresses in that age group. They've still got some power or at least they can make people think that they do. Corrie may not be intimidated by criminals, cops, or weapons, but she is intimidated by studio brass and big wigs.  

Corrie seems to have conflicting feelings about the two men in her life—friends Michael Parris and James Zachary. Although they’ve called a truce, what accounts for the mutual dislike (or secret attraction) Corrie and James have for each other?

Corrie and James have a lot in common: both are lawyers, fearless, and find it thrilling to get bad guys/girls off the street. And both are besties with Michael, which makes the somewhat secret attraction less than optimal. Since Corrie is trying to curb her former weaknesses, she’s going for the one she believes is the better man for her. 

Veera Bankhead, Corrie’s friend and assistant, seems to have her back. Veera is an interesting character. Please tell us a bit about Veera.

Veera is good-natured, steady, and ready to lend a hand, all qualities Corrie needs. Veera also harbors a not so secret ambition for the two of them to open their own PI agency. In Book #1, Murder & Other Unnatural Disasters, Corrie wanted nothing to do with Veera when they first met, but Veera's convinced they'll be good friends. Turned out, she was right. Corrie's come to appreciate Veera and count her as a good friend.

In the midst of writing your mystery series, you wrote a children’s picture book, The Cookie Eating Fire Dog. Where did the idea for this book come?

Twenty years ago, my four-year-old had a toy Dalmatian named Dan. Dan had all sorts of troubles. He was either in the hospital, digging up the neighbor's yard or involved in some other mischief, according to my son. One day my son told me that Dan wouldn't help the firefighters. He said all Dan wanted to do was eat cookies. The Cookie Eating Fire Dog was born. Interest was almost immediate from a big publisher, but that waned. I put the book aside until recently, and that's when I finally found a publisher.

What’s next for Corrie?

In Book Four, Slightly Murderous Intent, Corrie's at a dinner with Michael, James and a few others at a Santa Monica restaurant to celebrate James’ big win in court. As Corrie’s hunting down the manager to lodge a complaint, a man walks in, fires a gun, and takes off, with Corrie at his heels. She ultimately loses him and returns to the restaurant only to discover the shooter was aiming for someone at her table. Who was the target and why?

Thank you, Lida.

To learn more about Lida Sideris and her books, visit https://www.lidasideris.com or follow her on Facebook.