An Interview with Agatha Winner Kellye Garrett by E. B. Davis

“Forgive me, Ms. Anderson, but I find it had to believe that alleged lip syncing

is strong enough motive for a murder.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re looking at it from the point of view of a regular person. Being a celebrity is as much a brand as Coke or Pepsi. It’s a legitimate multi-million-dollar enterprise.”

Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Ending (Loc. 1462)

Tinseltown's awards season is in full swing, and everyone is obsessed with dressing up, scoring free swag, and getting invited to the biggest awards shows of the year. But when popular Silver Sphere Awards publicist Lyla Davis is killed during a botched ATM robbery, the celebratory mood comes to an abrupt halt.

Dayna Anderson—an actress turned apprentice private investigator—uncovers the killer almost immediately. Unfortunately, what starts as an open-and-shut case turns out to be anything but. Lyla's murder was no robbery-gone-wrong. Someone hired the gunman to kill her. Diving back into the investigation, Dayna gets a backstage look at the worlds of gossip blogging, Hollywood royalty, and one of entertainment's most respected awards shows—all while trying to avoid her own Hollywood ending.

Amazon.com

Reading Kellye Garrett’s A Detective By Day mystery series makes me aware that there is a fine line between fiction and promotion. One of Kellye’s characters in Hollywood Ending (Kitt) alludes to the fact that no one really cares for the truth—more important is the weaving of the good tale. And that’s what Kellye has done in this series.

In the first book, Hollywood Homicide, Kellye introduced main character, Dayna Anderson, and her best friends Sienna and Emme. The book won an Agatha Award for Best First. I interviewed Kellye on that book here. But I cast a critical eye on the second in the series to judge the strength of a writer.

Hollywood Ending combines fast-paced action with an intricate plot. Through Dayna’s eyes, readers get ring-side seats for the Hollywood show with commentary by an insider.

But Kellye also introduces a new character, who may turn into a client, but then again, he may give Omari, Dayna’s boyfriend, competition. Just guessing here, but then, I think that’s just what Kellye had in mind. I’ll definitely read the third book a soon as it is released!

Please welcome Kellye Garrett back to WWK.                                                                  E. B. Davis

How did Dayna meet her best buds, Sienna and Emme?

Sienna and Day met in the bathroom at a club when Sienna told her that she was her biggest fan. They later bonded over a mutual shoe size and the constant need to always go to the bathroom.

I’m honestly not sure how Emme and Day met though I’ve been thinking about it a lot since I’m focusing on Emme in the third book. Let me know if you have any suggestions in comments.

Is Dayna jaded after her two-year notoriety promoting Chubby’s Chicken?

Definitely! She expected it to be a stepping stone to becoming this big time actress but that didn’t quite work out how she expected. She essentially got “ghosted” as the cool kids say by her manager and agent after Chubby’s dropped her contract.

Why does Dayna like being a PI?

She likes that she’s helping people and she’s good at it—in her own way.

Sienna has almost twenty-five thousand Instagram followers. Does exposure in the social media really help artists secure stature in business? 

There’s a phrase called “Instagram famous” because there are literally people whose job it is to post on Instagram. They’ve amassed millions of followers because of content that can range from sexy photos to funny memes. A perfect example of someone using Instagram to secure stature in business is Cardi B. She started off just posting on Instagram, which led to her being cast on a reality show, which led to her being one of the biggest hip hop artists out right now. She was supposed to go on tour with Bruno Mars! Denzel Washington knows who she is.

Aubrey S. Adams-Parker, Dayna’s PI mentor, interacts strangely with Dayna. Is it Dayna or is it him? Is he autistic?

It’s him. Someone actually asked me in another interview if Aubrey was on the autism spectrum. I’ll admit that I didn’t set out to write a character with autism spectrum disorder. I just wanted someone who would be a foil for Dayna because she is very self-deprecating and never serious. So Aubrey was created to be the guy who doesn’t laugh at her jokes or find her charming. Their relationship is definitely explored more in Hollywood Ending. You learn more about his backstory, which I wanted to share in the first book but didn’t have room.

Although Aubrey is a fourth-generation Angeleno, he seems out of the Hollywood loop. Are there a few people in LA who don’t get involved in the Hollywood thing?

Yep. There are more than a few L.A. residents who aren’t involved in Hollywood at all. You just don’t think they exist because they’re busy minding their business. Their only brush with fame is standing behind a celeb at Whole Foods. Entertainment is just one industry out there. There’s also aerospace, tech, health care, etc.

Are the Academy Awards the only genuine, merit-based contest for actors? Are there awards celebrities can buy?

The Academy Awards and the Emmy’s are probably by far the most respected awards for actors. You can’t buy them but you definitely can campaign for them. If you open up Variety or the Hollywood Reporter, you’ll see full-page “for your consideration” ads for actors, directors, writers, and films. Actors will also hit up a lot of events to smooze with those in the Academy.

                 

  
 Although Dayna seems down-to-earth, she classifies people by the roles she’d cast them in. Does she come by this perspective as a former actress, and does this help her solve cases?

When it comes to casting, all actors have a “type.” Girl next door. Tough jock. Nerd. Stoner. You’ll see it listed in what they call casting breakdowns, which list all the different roles in an upcoming production. In Hollywood Ending, I have her describe every character based on how they’d be cast in a movie. I figured it’d be a fun way to bring in the Hollywood theme while also describing what someone looked like. Plus it helped me describe the different characters as well because I suck at writing character description!

Murder is scary. But in a way, Dayna seems more terrified of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Why?

I actually think her fear of being at the wrong place at the wrong time is related to being murdered. Here’s how she explains it in the book: Just the idea that you’d done your best in life to avoid marrying any sociopaths, accidentally dropping a radio in the tub, or crossing the street without looking in both directions, and then you happen to head to an ATM at the exact same time as a money-hungry psycho with a gun.

Define:

Venmo?

App that lets you instantly pay or request money from your friends. It’s similar to PayPal but not business-focused.

Whaling?

I have no idea! I only namedropped it in the book because I wanted a throwaway line about Day eavesdropping on a convo.

A Blind?

A blind item is a piece of gossip so juicy that the blogger can’t say who it is because they don’t want to get sued. I’m obsessed with them. It’s not a coincidence they play a big role in Hollywood Ending.

Swag Bag?

Think I describe it best in the book: To call it a gift bag would be an insult. Gift bags held sweet tarts and lollipop rings that kids took when they left and begged their parents to eat in the car. This was a gift bag on steroids and it was definitely not for children. In yet another attempt to make everything sound cooler than what it is, Hollywood had even given the bag its own name: Swag Bag, aka Stuff We All Get. It held products companies donated in hopes celebs would take them home and love them so much they’d not only use them all the time, but be photographed doing so. In Hollywood, even the gift bags had ulterior motives.

Crack Pie?

A place called Momofuku Milk Bar in Manhattan sells them. Very buttery. Very dense. Very, very, very good! I’m assuming it got its name because one bite and you’re hooked. If you aren’t near a Milk Bar, you can get the recipe here: https://milkbarstore.com/recipes/crack-pie-recipe/ (Just don’t forget to send me a piece!)

Twitter Impression?

Something else I don’t understand myself. I just know that Twitter is kind enough to share my impressions whenever I log into my account. Here’s what Quora says:  Impression is the total number of times tweets about the search term were delivered to Twitter streams, or the number of overall potential impressions generated. When we say "impression", we mean that a tweet has been delivered to the Twitter stream of a particular account.

Silk Press?

A silk press is a black girl term for straightening our naturally kinky hair. Normally, you start with a blow dryer then finish it up with either a hot comb or a ceramic flat iron. Don’t forget to use the heat protectant, ladies!

Here’s me with my hair pressed at Left Coast Crime:

 Why does Dayna think that fame is “more a Sugar Daddy than a Soulmate?” (Loc. 550)

A Sugar Daddy is someone who buys you things to make you feel good and usually is only with you because of your looks. You’re both getting something from each other. It can be fun but you know it’s not going to last. Soulmate on the other hand is the person you’re supposed to have your happily ever after with…

When Dayna feels guilty, she eats Snickers and marshmallows. What does she eat when she’s depressed?

Snickers and marshmallows! Those are good for any occasion. At least they are for me.

Why does Emme claim that “Google is the Internet equivalent of God?” (Loc. 1735)

Google is all seeing and all knowing.

The difference between LA residents and visitors is that the residents pretend they don’t see celebrities. True?

Definitely. You never bug them. You just take a note of everything they’re wearing or doing so that you can one day mention it in casual conversation whenever the person’s name comes up. For instance, I once saw Nicole Richie while getting crepes at the Farmers Market by the Grove. Whenever someone mentions Nicole Richie to me, I bring this up and then give my unsolicited opinion on what she looks like. (She looks great in person, by the way.)

A gossip blogger created Tomari, as if Toni, Emme’s sister, and Omari, Dayna’s boyfriend, were romantically involved. At first, Dayna ignores the situation, but at what point does Dayna start to care?

If we’re being honest, I think Day always cared about Tomari but just didn’t admit it. It starts to bug her more in the second book though when it looks like Omari’s publicist is using the fake relationship for publicity purposes and Omari doesn’t care because he’s a guy. Guys never care about stuff like that.

Is Lyft LA’s version of Uber?

Nope. They’re pretty much everywhere. I personally use Lyft over Uber so of course my main character does too. Write what you know. Or in this case what you ride in. J

Z defines himself as a “problem solver” not a “fixer.” What is the difference?

Day would say they’re one in the same. They’re both who big-time celebs call when they had a major problem like a baby on the way from someone who isn’t their wife, or being caught red-handed in a den of iniquity. In short, they fix problems and make them go away.

Emme has more virtual friends than in real life. Do you think this is a symptom of our times or has the definition of “friend” changed?

I don’t consider it a symptom as much as the internet has expanded our abilities to connect with people—in both good and bad ways. I’ve been lucky to build a huge, supportive writing community that includes people I’ve never met and people I literally only see in person at conferences. That’s why Malice Domestic feels like a family reunion to so many of us.

If given another role that would enable Dayna to continue her career as an actress, would she give up being a PI?

What a good question. I’m not going to answer that solely because I think it’s something I might want to explore in another book if given the opportunity to write more.

My biggest questions regarding the next book:  Will Dayna get a reward for solving the crime? Will she be able to buy a new car since her twelve-year-old, hot pink Infinity is definitely shot? So—what’s next for Dayna?

I’d prefer not to answer the first question because it’s kind of a spoiler. And yes, she does have a new car in the third book, which starts with Dayna trying to uncover the person who hacked a celeb’s iPhone for naked pics.

I just needed to figure out a way to do it without going in guns

blazing screaming bloody murderer. During my limited PI experience,

I’d quickly learned most people didn’t respond well to that.”

Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Ending (Loc. 2456)

An Interview with the 2018 Agatha Nominees for Best First Novel by Paula Gail Benson

Malice Domestic’s 2018 Agatha Nominations for Best First Novel:
Adrift: A Mer Cavallo Mystery by Micki Browning (Alibi-Random House)
The Plot is Murder: Mystery Bookshop by V.M. Burns (Kensington)
Hollywood Homicide: A Detective by Day Mystery by Kellye Garrett (Midnight Ink)
Daughters of Bad Men by Laura Oles (Red Adept Publishing)
Protocol: A Maggie O’Malley Mystery by Kathleen Valenti (Henery Press)

Micki Browning, V.M. Burns (Valerie), Kellye Garrett, Laura Oles, and Kathleen Valenti are enjoying having their debut novels celebrated this year at Malice Domestic. We are so pleased to welcome them to WRITERS WHO KILL to answer a few questions about their work. Thanks so much to Micki, Valerie, Kellye, Laura, and Kathleen, and best wishes!—Paula Gail Benson

For many debut novelists, their first published novel may not be the first one they have written. What was your path to your debut published novel?

MICKI: Like many writers I wrote a couple of practice novels. I learned structure by constructing a story that didn’t hold together. I joined Sisters In Crime and took classes through their Guppy chapter. My second novel was better, but still not quite there, and I returned to the classroom. Dialogue classes taught me how to flesh out characters. During a plotting course, I had a structural epiphany that I used while I wrote Adrift. The effort paid off. Adrift garnered both Daphne du Maurier and Royal Palm Literary Awards. I met my agent through the Daphne contest and signed with her shortly after winning.

 

VALERIE: I had two ideas for mystery series when I started my MFA at Seton Hill University. I chose the other idea for my thesis, but finished early and started writing the second one. After graduation, I queried my thesis project and then completed THE PLOT IS MURDER. 

KELLYE: Hollywood Homicide is actually the first novel I wrote. Before you hate me forever, I’ve been a professional writer for over 15 years and have a ton of screenplays in a drawer somewhere. I swear! I got the idea for the book around 2011 when I drove past a Los Angeles Police Department billboard offering a $15,000 for information on a murder. I was dead broke at the time so my first thought was, “I should solve that!” Not the smartest idea—at least in real life. It did turn out to be a pretty cool idea for a book though. I wrote it on and off for a few years before finally finishing a decent draft in 2014. That same year I was lucky enough to be selected for an amazing contest called Pitch Wars, where I found my agent Michelle Richter of Fuse Literary. We sold the book to Midnight Ink in early 2016.

LAURA: I was fortunate in that my day job involved writing for digital photography magazines and publications, so the writing practice and working with editors had been part of my regular routine.  That said, for me, learning to write fiction was very different.  Fiction proved to be a vast universe, so full of options and opportunities.

DAUGHTERS OF BAD MEN is my debut novel but it is my fourth book. I wrote the first three novels as practice, working on character development and structure, plotting and pacing, practicing to become a stronger storyteller. My earlier attempts were done mostly for my own enjoyment, to better understand how a mystery novel works and how I should approach my own vision of it.

KATHLEEN: My path to publication for Protocol started at mile marker forty-something: a mini-midlife crisis in which I woke up one morning and decided that I’d put off my dreams of writing a novel long enough. Armed with books on craft and informed by writing seminars, I dove right in, expecting a smooth journey from concept to manuscript to publication. How hard could it be? I reasoned. I wrote for a living and was an avid reader and former English major. I had this whole novel-writing/book-publishing thing down, right?

Umm…not so much.

Although I had a clear idea of the story I wanted to tell, it took me nearly four years to tell it. After a host of revisions and murdering enough of my darlings to be classified as a linguistic serial killer, I finally had a book I loved and began to shop it around to agents. That’s where the real education began. I had oodles of requests to read, but they all ended in close-but-not-there responses. So I narrowed the gap to “there” and edited again (and again). Finally, success. Jordan at Literary Counsel loved the book as much as I did, took me on as a client and put Protocol out on submission. I got bites right away and said yes to Henery Press, a publisher I not only admired and respected, but that had a team that I knew would be the perfect fit.

Two years—and two-and-a-half books—later and I feel like I’ve arrived at my dream destination. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m so fortunate to have made some great friends along the way, including my fellow nominees for the Agatha Best First. I can’t wait to see where the road leads next.

Do you consider your writing plot-driven, character-driven, neither, or a combination?

MICKI: My writing breakthrough occurred when I learned to plot from the point of view of the antagonist, but write from the perspective of my sleuth. I realize this sounds like I’m a plot-driven writer, the truth is that I find it impossible to suss out the story until I know who my characters are and what motivates them. I’m really a combination writer, because plot springs from the characters and characters drive the plot.

VALERIE: My writing is definitely character-driven. I spend a great deal of time working out my character’s personalities, faults, likes and dislikes and the story and plot flows from that.

KELLYE: Probably a combo. I come from a TV writing background so I live and die by the plot twist. At the same time, the story is driven by the personality of my main character Dayna and her unwavering desire to do anything to save her family’s house from foreclosure. As an amateur detective, she doesn’t make the same investigative decisions that a Kinsey Millhone or Elvis Cole would make—and that was one of my favorite things about writing it. Book Riot featured Hollywood Homicide in their Read or Dead podcast earlier this month and one of the things they said was that if you or I was trying to solve a crime, we’d be bumbling through it like Dayna—which was my goal.

LAURA: I would say it’s a combination, but I lean heavily towards character-driven mysteries. I’m attracted to dialogue and setting, and creating the world where my characters reside has been one of the most enjoyable parts of writing this book.  I’m particularly interested in exploring the dynamics between two characters and how they respond when one is under pressure.  How does that impact their relationship, their ability to work together?  The plot is also incredibly important.  I just believe that understanding the characters well helps me explore the storyline more deeply and make the stakes more personal. Jamie Rush and Cookie Hinojosa lived in my head for a long time before I understood which case they would choose--and why.

KATHLEEN: I’d consider Protocol a plot-driven, character-motivated story. Outside influences start a cascade of events for my protagonist, Maggie O’Malley, but it’s her responses and inner motivators that keep the action—and the energy—going. It’s a system of action and reaction in which the story’s events and Maggie’s responses propel the story (and hopefully the reader) forward. Ultimately, however, it’s Maggie’s story. If the crises had happened to anyone else, Protocol would be a very different book.

What would your protag’s Olympic sport be?

MICKI: Scuba diving isn’t yet an Olympic sport, so that’s out, plus it’s winter. I’m going to guess freestyle skiing. Mer’s never skied before, so anything before she crashed would definitely be freestyle!

VALERIE: If Samantha Washington was in the Olympics, she’d strap her grandmother, Nana Jo to her back and compete in the biathlon. That way Sam could do the cross country skiing and Nana Jo could shoot.

KELLYE: When chasing a suspect, Dayna says, “I always said I could run in four-inch heels. It was good to know I was right on that front.” So her Olympic sport would be the 100 meter dash…in stilettos. She’d get gold for sure.

LAURA: If Texas hold ‘em were an Olympic sport, Jamie Rush might medal.  She’d have a shot at the gold simply for her ability to bluff.

KATHLEEN: Maggie’s Olympic sport would be freestyle skiing. She’s athletic, all about doing her own thing, and ready to leap into action when the occasion calls for it.

Thanks to you all for joining us at WRITERS WHO KILL. Here’s some additional information about these talented writers:

Micki Browning

A retired police captain, Micki Browning writes the Mer Cavallo Mystery series set in the Florida Keys. In addition to the Agatha nomination for Best First Novel, Adrift, has won both the Daphne du Maurier and the Royal Palm Literary Awards. Beached, her second novel, launched January 2018. Micki’s work has appeared in dive magazines, anthologies, mystery magazines, and textbooks. She lives in South Florida with her partner in crime and a vast array of scuba equipment she uses for "research." Learn more about Micki at MickiBrowning.com

Summary of Adrift

Marine biologist-turned-divemaster Meredith Cavallo thought adjusting to a laid-back life in the Florida Keys would be a breeze. But when the host of a ghost-hunting documentary crew hires her as a safety diver and then vanishes during the midnight dive, Mer’s caught in a storm of supernatural intrigue.

Determined to find a rational explanation, Mer approaches the man’s disappearance as any scientist would—by asking questions, gathering data, and deducing the truth. But the victim’s life is as shrouded in mystery as his disappearance. Still, something happened under the water and before long, she’s in over her head. When someone tries to kill her, she knows the truth is about to surface. Maybe dead men do tell tales.

V.M. (Valerie) Burns

V.M. (Valerie) Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Receiving the Agatha nomination for Best First Novel has been a dream come true. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com.

Summary of The Plot is Murder

Samantha Washington has dreamed of owning a mystery bookstore for as long as she can remember. And as she prepares for the store’s grand opening, she’s also realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and fills the shelves with the latest mysteries, quick-witted Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling's charms. When one of Daphne's suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor. But as Samantha indulges her imagination, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in her backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of colorful retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?

Kellye Garrett

Kellye Garrett writes the Detective by Day mysteries about a semi-famous, mega-broke black actress who takes on the deadliest role of her life: Homicide Detective. The first, Hollywood Homicide, was recently nominated for Agatha, Lefty, and Barry awards. The second, Hollywood Ending, will be released on August 8, 2018 from Midnight Ink. Prior to writing novels, Kellye spent eight years working in Hollywood, including a stint writing for the TV drama Cold Case. The New Jersey native now works for a leading media company in New York City and serves on the national Board of Directors for Sisters in Crime. You can learn more about her at KellyeGarrett.com and ChicksontheCase.com.

Summary of Hollywood Homicide

Actress Dayna Anderson’s Deadly New Role: Homicide Detective

Dayna Anderson doesn’t set out to solve a murder. All the semifamous, mega-broke actress wants is to help her parents keep their house. So after witnessing a deadly hit-and-run, she pursues the fifteen grand reward. But Dayna soon finds herself doing a full-on investigation, wanting more than just money—she wants justice for the victim. She chases down leads at paparazzi hot spots, celeb homes, and movie premieres, loving every second of it—until someone tries to kill her. And there are no second takes in real life.

Laura Oles

Laura Oles is a photo industry journalist who spent twenty years covering tech and trends before turning to crime fiction. She served as a columnist for numerous photography magazines and publications. Laura’s short stories have appeared in several anthologies, including MURDER ON WHEELS, which won the Silver Falchion Award in 2016. Her debut mystery, DAUGHTERS OF BAD MEN, is a Claymore Award Finalist and an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. She is also a Writers’ League of Texas Award Finalist. Laura is a member of Austin Mystery Writers, Sisters in Crime and Writers’ League of Texas. Laura lives on the edge of the Texas Hill Country with her husband, daughter, and twin sons. Visit her online at lauraoles.com.

Summary of Daughters of Bad Men

Jamie Rush understands what it takes to disappear because her parents taught her that long ago. Leveraging her knowledge of why and how people run from their own lives, Jamie has built a business based on bringing those in hiding back to answer for their actions. She takes pride in using her skills to work both inside and outside the law.

When her estranged brother, Brian, calls and says his daughter is missing, Jamie initially turns down the case. Kristen has always been a bit wild, frequently dropping off the grid then showing up a few days later. But Brian swears this time is different, and even though Jamie vowed years ago to keep her conniving sibling at arm’s length, she can’t walk away if Kristen could be in real trouble.

As Jamie begins digging into Kristen’s life, she uncovers her niece’s most guarded secrets. Uncovering the truth will put a target on Jamie’s back and endanger the lives of those she loves.

Kathy Valenti

Kathleen Valenti is the author of the Maggie O’Malley mystery series. The series’ first book, Agatha- and Lefty-nominated Protocol, introduces us to Maggie, a pharmaceutical researcher with a new job, a used phone and a deadly problem. The series’ second book, 39 Winks, releases May 22. When Kathleen isn’t writing page-turning mysteries that combine humor and suspense, she works as a nationally award-winning advertising copywriter. She lives in Oregon with her family where she pretends to enjoy running. Learn more at www.kathleenvalenti.com.

Summary of Protocol

Freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. As a pharmaceutical researcher, she’s determined to save lives from the shelter of her lab. But on her very first day she’s pulled into a world of uncertainty. Reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.

With help from her best friend, Maggie discovers the victims on her phone are connected to each other and her new employer. She soon unearths a treacherous plot that threatens her mission—and her life. Maggie must unlock deadly secrets to stop horrific abuses of power before death comes calling for her.