An Interview With Lida Sideris

by Grace Topping

I have been following Lida’s Southern California Mystery series ever since her first book was published.  She just launched book six in the series, Murderous Means, and I’m happy to report that the series gets better with each book. It has been a pleasure seeing Lida’s career blossom and her characters grow. 

 

Murderous Means

 

When resting in peace isn't an option. 

 

Corrie Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in town, but when it comes to catching a killer, she's got enough skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed suspects to their knees. 

 

When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep, the family is convinced her death was anything but peaceful. They hire Corrie to prove it, but the only evidence they have to go on is a psychic’s half-baked vision that it was murder. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on proving the psychic is a fraud. But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something a little more...deadly. 

                                                                                                www.amazon.com

 

 

Welcome back to Writers Who Kill, Lida.

 

Corrie Locke is a lawyer with one of the Hollywood film studios, but she wants to work as a private investigator. What is driving her to give up her job and become a P.I.?

 

A typical day for a junior movie studio lawyer involves drafting contracts, all of which kind of look the same. For a newbie lawyer like Corrie, who spent her teen years shadowing her P.I dad on his cases, legal work is mundane in comparison. There are studio perks like eating in the commissary among big talent, and attending screenings of yet-to-be-released films, but those perks are overshadowed by the thrill of hunting down criminals and cracking cases. Corrie may not be an exceptional lawyer, but she feels right at home in a criminal investigation.

You have worked as an entertainment attorney with a movie studio. Did any of your experiences working there contribute to your Southern California Mystery Series?

My lawyerly experiences informed the first (Murder & Other Unnatural Disasters) and third (Murder: Double or Nothing) books, in particular, because they both centered around shady activities at the movie studio. At the film production arm where I worked, there was a small scandal, but, in Corrie’s case (in book #1), it exploded into a murder case. Just like Corrie, in book #3, I watched movies being filmed on the backlot…except Corrie can’t just quietly watch. She gets directly involved and discovers, what else? A crime scene.

 

In Murderous Means, Corrie has been hired to prove that her client’s deceased sister was murdered, based solely on the word of a psychic. Why does Corrie take on the case? 

Since she’s only unofficially a PI at this point, with no office or staff (not counting her mother), and there’s nothing exciting happening at the studio, she welcomes a new investigation. She expects it to be an open and shut case since everyone knows psychics are crackpots. All she needs to do is prove the psychic is a fraud and she’s done. But it doesn’t exactly go as Corrie planned…

Veera, Corrie’s friend and co-worker, and her boyfriend, Michael, who is a technical wizard, assist her in her investigations. Recently, Corrie’s mother has become involved. What does her mother bring to the team?

 

Corrie’s lucky to have three highly motivated sidekicks; eager, ready and willing. Their enthusiasm is catchy and even though Mom plainly voiced her opposition to Corrie’s PI work in the first four books, she changes her mind and joins in, in Gambling with Murder.  She is the voice of maturity and the cook of delicious food, which makes her popular with everyone, even Corrie, with a few reservations. Mom views situations differently than the rest of the gang, and tends to do things her own way. But she brings enough to the table to make Corrie admit that she is an asset… sometimes.

 

Some of Corrie’s investigative activities at times are less than legal. For example, she searches homes without permission and passes Michael off as her firm’s psychic. How does she justify taking steps that the police would not be able to get away with?

When a former client believed Michael was psychic, Corrie didn’t argue because that belief is what got them the gig at Means Well Ranch. Michael, being honest and sincere by nature, tries to explain to the Means client that he uses logic and facts to make his so-called predictions, but the client just views him as a different kind of psychic. As for justifying Corrie’s bending the rules to the point where she could end up in jail, it’s a habit she can’t break. That’s where the thrill comes in for her—taking risks. Which leads me to think, maybe she should be tossed in jail one of these days. But in Murderous Means, she does turn over a slightly new leaf by trying to be somewhat more upstanding. She’s a work in progress.

 

Corrie is fit and, on occasion, engages in physical combat and carries a shuriken to defend herself.  Are you into physical fitness? What is a shuriken, and have you ever used one?

 

I like to stay fit, Grace, so I walk daily, which I hope promotes my fitness. Corrie and I both have sweet tooths that require some heavy-handed, disciplinary management and for me, lots of walks. Shuriken are Japanese throwing stars used by ninja warriors back in the day. They are illegal in California. I have never seen or held one in-person (as you can tell, I’m not Corrie). But I like the concept of a weapon that’s used to distract potential criminals rather than harming them.

 

Murder is a very serious affair, but you inject a lot of humor into your books. How do you use humor without appearing to make light of someone’s murder?

I need humor in my daily life to take the edge off unpleasantries and, in Corrie’s case, to soften the gloom from serious situations. All I know when I’m writing is that if I can make light of a situation so that it blends into everything else going on, I will. It deflects a serious matter, and puts a smile on my face. I hope it does the same for my readers. It’s a break from life’s upsets and worries.

 

Promotion is one of the biggest challenges a writer faces. You’ve taken a large step forward on that by working with other writers to form Sleuths and Sidekicks. Please tell us about that. 

 

I am so grateful to have banded together with lovely, talented authors: Jen Collins Moore, Tina deBellegarde, and Carol Pouliot. I can’t believe my good fortune. It was the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was in full swing (pre-vaccines), and I had a book release that fall. As we know, in-person book events weren’t happening. I put out a call on my publisher’s (Level Best Books) listserv for authors with release dates around the same time as mine, so we could promote together. Only three authors responded, and we hit it off immediately. We had a ball promoting virtually from coast-to-coast, and last year, we launched the Sleuths & Sidekicks website, geared mostly for readers. We also teach writing workshops, virtually, and just finished up a panel in London. It’s amazing how everything came together for us.  

 

What’s next for Corrie and her team?

That’s a great question, Grace. I’m working on Book #7 in the series, which opens with Corrie and Michael on a long-postponed date that doesn’t exactly unfold as planned because…a case drops into Corrie’s lap. A young girl needs help in determining what happened to her father, who disappeared years ago. Corrie can’t turn down the case because someone strong-arms her into taking it: her mother. Mom has her reasons, as readers will see.

 

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned since you started writing fiction?

 

About 50,000 words into writing Murderous Means, I came to a halt. My fingers were clunky, the word flow dried up, and my frustration was mounting. So, I stopped writing that manuscript and started writing another in a different genre. It was so liberating. After about 30,000 words in my new draft, I had a strong hankering to return to Murderous Means, which went a lot more smoothly. That never happened to me before, but now I know what to do should it occur again.

 

Thank you so much, Grace, for hosting me today.

 

Thank you, Lida.

 

 

To learn more about Lida Sideris and her mystery series, follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Lida%20Sideris.

 

 

Grace Topping is the author of the Laura Bishop Mystery Series.

 

 

An Interview With Lida Sideris

by Grace Topping

Finding a suspenseful private eye mystery with a good dose of humor and a sense of fun is always a pleasure. Lida Sideris, in Gambling with Murder, the latest in her Southern California Mystery Series, delivers on all counts. Corrie Locke, a Hollywood lawyer and P.I. wannabe, takes readers on a merry romp—this time to a luxurious retirement community, where the residents get up to more shenanigans than people half their age.  

 

Gambling with Murder

A late-night call is all it takes for rookie lawyer Corrie Locke to kiss her day job at the movie studio goodbye and do what she does best: flex her sweet P.I. skills and go undercover to find a senior who’s missing from a posh retirement community. One small stumbling block: skirting past security to gain inside access to the exclusive Villa Sunset. Time to call in the heavy artillery. Besides former security guard turned legal assistant—now wannabe P.I.—Veera, Corrie relies on a secret weapon: her mother, a surprisingly eager addition to Corrie’s team. Armed with enough pepper spray to take down a band of Navy Seals, Mom impersonates a senior to infiltrate the Villa, Corrie and Veera in tow. Turns out the job’s not as easy as they’d thought. These seniors have tricks tucked up their sleeves and aren’t afraid of using them.

The action gets dicey when the missing senior case turns into attempted murder by a criminal mind who’s always one step ahead. Corrie’s hot on the trail, but finds more than she bargained for…when her mother becomes a target.

                                                                                                www.amazon.com

 

 

Welcome, Lida, to Writers Who Kill.

 

In Gambling with Murder, Corrie Locke is a Hollywood studio lawyer who frequently moonlights as an unlicensed private investigator. Why the desire to work as a P.I.?

 

Corrie’s day job as a movie studio attorney is not nearly as exciting as P.I. work. After all, sitting behind a desk and drafting legal contracts hardly measures up to tracking down a missing person or investigating covert criminal activity. Plus, investigative work is in her genes. Corrie’s dad was a well-known Los Angeles private investigator, and together they cracked a few high-profile cases. Let’s just say that Corrie learned a thing or two from Dad. In the SoCal Mystery series, Corrie is investigating on her own…and without supervision.

 

Corrie and her assistant, Veera, find themselves at Villa Sunset investigating the disappearance of a resident. How does she get time away from her studio job to take on an adventure like this?

 

Corrie’s boss, a legendary film actress, has been overseas on a movie shoot for a while now, which give Corrie plenty of down time. Also, she’s adept at giving the head of the legal department the slip…most of the time. She does a lot of P.I. work after hours (kind of like us writers with full-time jobs). And fortunately, the weekend is always just around the corner.  

 

Corrie’s mother says she wishes they could spend more quality time together—but working undercover at a retirement community may not be what she had in mind, or was it? Please tell us more about Corrie’s mom. 

 

You’re so right. Working undercover was not what Mom had in mind, but she snaps up the chance to spend time with her daughter. Mom is currently jobless and has long harbored a secret desire to see what P.I. work was like, up close (Mom says she actually taught Corrie’s dad a thing or two about investigations). Add to this a posh retirement community in one of the loveliest locations in Southern California, Santa Barbara, and it’s a done deal.

Veera says the wild and wooly seniors at Villa Sunset are like out-of-control teenagers. Corrie describes the place as high school all over again. Bullies, jealousy, and all the alcohol you could drink without supervision. What accounts for their behavior? Is it typical for a retirement community?

 

Over the past few years, I’ve spent a lot of time visiting seniors who were either family or friends. One even lived in a swanky Santa Barbara retirement community. I discovered that although seniors may appear a bit frail or slow to act, when given the opportunity, they rise to the occasion and then some. They’re all about having fun. Although most seniors in retirement communities seem content in engaging in the usual pleasures of gardening or bingo, the thrill-seeking seniors at Villa Sunset are out to experience the time of their lives. 

Veera, who worked as a security guard when Corrie met her, shows occasional glimmers of useful insight. Is there more to Veera than meets the eye? 

 

Veera is a highly motivated wannabe P.I., whose objective is to get villainous types off the street and out of the way of decent folks. She views P.I. work as a type of community service; it gives her purpose in life. Veera’s often the voice of reason, ever loyal and ever ready to assist Corrie. It helps that Veera is enthusiastic and has an excellent attitude. She’s a very willing participant in getting the job done. Yes, there’s a lot more to Veera than meets the eye.

Veera wants them to start their own P.I. firm with the motto: We keep everything under control so you don’t have to. In Gambling with Murder, Corrie allows her to take the lead when they face a certain challenge. Why?

 

By book five, the two have become fast friends. Plus, Corrie is maturing in her views on life. She truly appreciates and values the people around her. When she realizes how badly Veera wants to learn the P.I. ropes, Corrie gives her the lead in one particular scene. She provides Veera tasks with room to learn and grow, and by extension, Corrie herself is growing right before our very eyes. 

Corrie has become quite the expert at picking locks and getting into places she shouldn’t, saying that, “Nothing is illegal unless you get caught.” If she becomes a licensed P.I., will she be governed by more restrictions?

 

I’d like to say yes, but I’ll be surprised if that happens. She’s already walking a tightrope with no safety net in sight because she’s a licensed attorney who bends the law regularly. She’s continually pushing the boundaries and thrives on risks. She’s good at what she does. But something occurs in the next installment that will reel her in…a bit.

 

I read several chapters before I realized that each chapter has a song title heading. How did you select the song titles for each chapter? Are the songs from a specific era?

 

I had great fun naming the chapters with songs (almost all chapters are song titles). It sets the mood and tone for whatever action or scene unfolds. In this book, the songs are from the fifties (for instance, “Catch a Falling Star”) and sixties (“Devil in Disguise”), a time when the senior citizens in the story were teens. I’m a fan of old movies and songs (kind of like Corrie) and enjoyed picking them out. Though it was little hard getting them out of my head afterward. 😊

The residents of Villa Sunset play combat croquet. Is that an actual thing?

 

Oh yes, it is. It’s also known as “Extreme Croquet.” It’s a battle of the mallets, where rules are thrown out and anything goes. Kind of sounds like something Corrie would excel at. Wikipedia describes it as “…a close relative of the croquet played in backyards…but expanded for more adventurous enthusiasts....” Play can take place deep in the woods or on unmanicured lawns. The more obstacles the better. For instance, if an interloper runs off with the ball, it’s played from wherever it’s dropped. I couldn’t make this stuff up. It’s also a good way to let off some steam.

Corrie keeps a burner phone locked in her car trunk. What does a burner phone provide her?

 

A burner phone (aka, a prepaid cell phone or “dumb phone” since burners lack smart phone features) isn’t all that Corrie keeps locked in her trunk. She has all sorts of tools, gadgets, and weapons. In Gambling with Murder, her mother forgot to bring her cell phone, so Corrie pulled out the burner for ease of communication. Burners are disposable, necessary in case of emergencies, and to ensure privacy. All essential elements needed for P.I. work…even by the not-yet-licensed P.I.

Corrie tells Michael, her friend and accomplice, that most cynics don’t realize they have the power to improve the lives of others and their own lives in the process. Is Corrie always so upbeat?

 

Definitely. To get any job well done, enthusiasm and an upbeat attitude are necessary attributes. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Plus, how can one not feel upbeat when pursuing one’s passion? P.I. work is Corrie’s passion.

What’s next for Corrie, Veera, and Michael? 

 

Something happens at the end of this book that makes someone think that Michael is a psychic. In the next installment, word gets around that Corrie has a psychic on staff. And that’s how she and her team secure their next gig.

 

Now that you’ve written several books in your Southern California Mystery series, what is the most important thing you’ve learned since beginning your mystery writing journey?

I’ve learned that I can actually finish a first draft. Every time I start that dreaded first draft, those two small words, “The End,” seem impossible to reach. I keep reminding myself that I CAN do it!  P.S. I recently discovered that the word “can’t” doesn’t appear anywhere in Gambling with Murder. 

 

Thank you, Lida. Gambling with Murder was a delight.

 

For more information about Lida and her Southern California Mystery series, visit her at www.lidasideris.com

 

Grace Topping is the author of the Agatha nominated and USA Today Bestselling Laura Bishop Mystery Series.

An Interview With Lida Sideris

by Grace Topping

 

Slightly Murderous Intent

A Southern California Mystery

 

There's a shooter on the loose who keeps missing his target. But that doesn't stop him from trying again…and again. It's up to Corrie Locke, rookie lawyer and spunky sleuth, to find the gunman before he hits his mark, Assistant Deputy D.A. James Zachary, Corrie's hunky and complicated frenemy.

When Corrie is stuck with more questions than answers, she enlists a team with various strengths, from weapons to cooking skills, to help her find the shooter. Her computer whiz boyfriend Michael is onboard. So is former security guard Veera. Toss in an over-the-hill informant and a couple of feuding celebrity chefs and Corrie's got her very own A-Team. Okay, maybe it's more like a B-Team.

Can Team Corrie hunt down the shooter before he scores a bulls-eye?

                                                                                                            www.amazon.com

 

Launching and promoting a new book is a challenge for any author. For Lida Sideris, it was even more challenging trying to do it during a pandemic. It was a pleasure talking to Lida about her new book, Slightly Murderous Intent, and learning about the method she used to promote it.

 

 

Welcome back to Writers Who Kill, Lida.

 

Thank you, Grace. I’m so glad to be back. 

 

What is it about Southern California that makes it the perfect setting for your series?

 

I really enjoy inserting my heroine, Corrie Locke, into uneventful, but enjoyable places that I’ve personally visited or imagined visiting, and watch her turn those settings upside down. She goes to one of my favorite restaurants, and instead of being served her meal, she’s served crime a la mode. She’s a passenger aboard a small ferry chugging across a small bay, which I’ve done plenty of times with my family, but she’s nearly drowned and threatened. What is it about her? SoCal is where I grew up, and it’s a setting that offers me plenty of opportunities for criminal activity to pop up.

 

With each book, Corrie Locke’s activities become even more physical and she seems to be fearless—chasing down and tackling suspects. What accounts for Corrie’s spunk and physical bravery?

 

With every case she solves as a quasi-professional sleuth, she gains confidence; she becomes bolder and more daring and, since she’s a thrill seeker/risk-taker by nature, it’s not hard for her to push the envelope. If I did A before, then I can definitely tackle B – that’s the way she thinks. As the series progresses, she’s less reluctant, more willing to utilize skills she learned under the tutelage of her PI dad. For Corrie, there’s no satisfaction quite like bringing a criminal to justice.

 

Your books have also become more suspenseful. The last chapters especially had me sitting on the edge of my chair. At this point, how do you categorize your series?

 

I view the series as a mystery-adventure with a sprinkling of suspense and humor throughout. 

 

In the past, Corrie had been attracted to two men, who are entirely different from one another. In Slightly Murderous Intent, without giving anything away, she appears to be favoring one more than the other—at least for the time being. What accounted for her escaping the love triangle?

 

It’s no fun for me as a writer to have a static heroine. In the past, she’s been attracted to men like herself – risk-takers and danger seekers. But sometimes the very thing we need the most is right in front of us (or on our feet, as in the case of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz). How’s that for a vague explanation? Let’s just say, she’s beginning to figure out what’s missing in her life.

 

There are so many great characters in this book. I especially enjoy feisty Veera. Please tell us about her.

 

Thank you yet again. Before Veera, Corrie didn’t have any girlfriends. Good-natured, hard-working, loyal, and trustworthy, Veera offers common sense when needed and often gives Corrie a push in the right direction. Plus, Veera does what all real-life and fictional sidekicks do: she fills in gaps for Corrie. As a former security guard, Veera’s well connected, which comes in handy. The underlying theme in each book is friendship, which plays a big role in Corrie’s escapades.

 

One intriguing aspect of your series was the mysterious disappearance or passing of Corrie’s father. Will we be learning more about that in future books in the series? 

 

Yes, I see it progressing in that direction. I’m curious how Corrie would react to her father in real-time rather than via memory or hearing his voice in her head. I see him playing a bigger role in the future. Shhhh! That’s all I’m saying.

 

I’d also like to hear more about her mother and her wonderful wardrobe. Do you find it a challenge to write a new book in the series and include characters and situations from previous books?

 

The second book was most challenging because a series has a backstory that may be relevant in each succeeding book. How much to include? The sidekicks are welcome because I know them well and they’re each so eager and enthusiastic to assist; I like having them around. They just kind of weave in and out on their own. In my upcoming #5, Gambling with Murder, the sidekicks will shift around a bit with a different one in the mix, aka Mom.

 

Now that you’ve written four mysteries and a children’s book, what are the most valuable things you’ve learned along the way? Things you wished you’d known when you started out.

 

I beg myself each time to just pound out that first draft without editing, without looking back, without caring about the clunky fingers or the words that don’t fit right. Just get to The End and worry about fixing it later. Easier said than done because I really enjoy editing while writing. 

 

Book promotion during a pandemic has been harder than ever, especially for authors like you who launched a new book this past year. What are you doing to promote your series while staying at home?

 

It was challenging at first. I really enjoy meeting readers and writers in person, but I was so fortunate to connect with three mystery authors with my same publisher (Level Best Books). Our publisher has monthly Zoom meetings and after a meeting, I did a call-out for authors with release dates around mine. Three responded! The timing was perfect and we meshed so well to create the Sleuths & Sidekicks Virtual Tour. It enabled us to travel from coast to coast without leaving the comfort of our homes. It’s been a blast and a blessing to have found them in the midst of everything. Writers are very generous in supporting each other.

 

You’ve posted gorgeous photos of your farm or ranch with miles of countryside around you. Do you find living far from the madding crowd helpful to your writing? Or do you yearn for a coffee shop as a place to write?

 

Thank you. I live in a rural area with picturesque scenery. I relish my alone time when I write and a comfortable setting. That said, pre-pandemic, I’d visit the central public library near my day job during lunch breaks to write. With deadlines, you gotta grab time wherever you can.

 

With so many authors branching out into additional series, are there new things you are looking at? Any more children’s books in the works?

 

I’d love to do another children’s book, another series, and more short stories, but for now, I’ve got the next book in my Southern California Mysteries to complete. 

 

What’s next for Corrie, Michael, and James?

 

Corrie’s currently investigating the disappearance of a resident in a ritzy retirement community in the northern tip of Southern California, not far from my own home, in Santa Barbara. I’m just trying to stay out of her way. 

 

Thank you, Lida. It’s always a pleasure to have you here at WWK.

 

 

BIO - Lida Sideris' first stint after law school was a newbie lawyer's dream: working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio...kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke, except without the homicides. Lida was one of two national winners of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award for her first book. She lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity chickens. To learn more, please visit her website: www.LidaSideris.com

 

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.

An Interview With Lida Sideris

by Grace Topping

A few years ago, Lida Sideris introduced her character, Corrie Locke, to readers in her book Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters, the first in her Southern California Mystery Series. In April, the second book in the series, Murder Gone Missing, came out, and not a day too soon for readers who have been anxious to read more about Corrie and her madcap adventures. 

I met Lida online when I interviewed her about her debut mystery, and I liked her a lot. Imagine my pleasure in getting to meet her in person at the recent Malice Domestic conference and discovering that she is just as sweet in person as she is online. It was a pleasure interviewing her again, this time about Murder Gone Missing.

Welcome back, Lida, to Writers Who Kill.    

Jacket Text for Murder Gone Missing

Book 2: Southern California Mystery Series

A girl, a guy, and a missing body. What could go wrong?

Newly minted lawyer Corrie Locke has taken a vow of abstinence. From PI work, that is. Until her best friend Michael finds his bully of a boss stabbed in the back after confronting him earlier that day. Michael panics, accidentally tampering with the crime scene…which could lead the cops to Michael instead of the real culprit. He turns to Corrie to track down the killer. She doesn’t need much coaxing. Her late great PI dad taught her the ropes…and left her his cache of illegal weaponry.

They return to the scene of the crime, but the body’s gone missing. Racing against time, Corrie dredges a prestigious Los Angeles college in pursuit of clues. All she finds are false leads.  Armed with attitude and romantic feelings toward Michael, Corrie dives into a school of suspects to find the slippery fugitive. Will she clear Michael’s name before he’s arrested for murder?                                                          www.lidasideris.com

Congratulations on the publication of Murder Gone Missing.

Thank you very much, Grace. 

After you published Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters, did you find it easier or harder to write the second book in your series? 

Lida Sideris

I’d love to say it was easier, but it wasn’t. There was a lot of hand wringing and foot dragging. I got stuck on what backstory to include, how to work the regular characters in and so forth. So I studied the #2 series books of more seasoned authors, took notes, and carried on.

It was a pleasure catching up with Corrie Locke, Michael, James, and the other characters you created in Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters. Once you’ve given your characters personality and traits that your readers become familiar with, do you feel constrained to keep them the same or comfortable allowing them to evolve?

A little of both. I enjoy placing my characters in uncomfortable situations and watching how they grow, interact and react, but there’s also bit of comfort in knowing their capabilities and weaknesses. For instance, Corrie doesn’t do well around bodies of water…big or small, and she proves it again in Murder Gone Missing.

As an attorney in the entertainment industry and surrounded by some zany people, you had lots to draw on for your writing, especially adding lots of humor. Do you find the job you have and the people you work with influence the book you are writing?

Definitely. I listen and take notes all the time. Recently, my first short story (“The Nut Job”) was published in Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories. I’d met the inspiration for one of the characters during my day job. An elderly gentleman with big, black, space invader style sunglasses, hobbled in with a cane and a crew cut needing legal help. While we chatted, I was thinking he could be ex-CIA, now retired, and butting in where he shouldn’t. Little did he know… 

Corrie is a licensed attorney, yet she isn’t adverse to possessing some, ahem, illegal weaponry or gaining entry into places without a key. What accounts for this bit of rebellious streak on her part?

Blame it on the PI gene she inherited from her late, great private investigator dad. Half of Corrie longs for a tamer, fairly normal life, okay, maybe a quarter of her is doing the longing, but she is, at heart, a thrill seeker. She thrives on catching bad guys, and she’s good at it. So far it’s been fun; she’s not been caught law-breaking. She’ll probably keep on pushing the boundaries, until she’s busted, which is bound to happen sooner or later.

In her bag of weapons, Corrie carries a six-pointed shuriken. What is a shuriken? Is it legal to possess one, and could you use one if the situation warranted it? 

It’s a Japanese, or ninja, throwing star, traditionally used to distract or misdirect an opponent. But before you run out and buy your own, Grace, I’d check with local law enforcement to determine if it’s legal in your state. It’s illegal in most states, including California, where I (and Corrie) live. So it’s not likely I could use one. That’s my story and I'm sticking to it.

Pacing is so important to a good book. You start Murder Gone Missing with a real bang and keep the pace moving throughout. No soggy middle in this book. What is the greatest challenge to keeping the pace moving?

Thank you so much for that. I work hard to eliminate sogginess. I like chapters crisp. I try to conjure up as many action scenes as I can, which can be a challenge. 

Writers are becoming aware of the importance of having diversity in their books. You started your series featuring diverse characters. Was that a given in that your series is set in southern California, or were you were aware of the importance earlier than some writers?

Yes, exactly, it was a given, thanks to my being a So Cal native. Diversity is what I’ve always known. I’ve been fortunate to be exposed to many cultures and a very diverse group of individuals, so it’s really writing what I know.

Veera, Corrie’s African-American friend and assistant (or should we say “accomplice”) is a fun character. When writing about characters of various backgrounds and ethnic groups, how do you protect against using stereotypes to describe them?

Friend and accomplice is more like it! Veera is smart, logical, loyal, and a hard-worker. She can also be quite creative and confidant. I think in terms of individual character traits, so that should steer me away from stereotyping.  

When reading your books and the situations you put Corrie in, I find myself shouting at her, “Don’t go there!” Corrie is one gutsy woman. Are you as brave or foolhardy, or is she your alter ego? 

Me too, Grace. I am so not brave or foolhardy. I’m the cautious, law abider. I wanted to create a heroine that is my polar opposite (except we both have a soft spot for a nice wardrobe and desserts). I’m hoping some of Corrie’s courage, though not necessarily her foolhardiness, may rub off on me! 

Corrie can’t remember a single hug or normal father-daughter time with her father, but his mysterious disappearance haunts her. Please explain their unusual relationship. 

Corrie thinks of what wasn’t (normal father-daughter relationship) and what might have unfolded if her dad had still been around. Perhaps they might have become close one day. Maybe he would have put his seal of approval on her solo PI work, unlike her mother. Also, a big reason why it haunts her is because it’s an unsolved crime, a mystery that eludes her.

In the series, Corrie deals with her inability to forgive James for his treatment of her when they were younger, which complicates their relationship. Why is that, especially when she admits that she can barely remember why? 

Some of us, especially the very stubborn among us, might hold onto a grudge out of habit, or because it’s easier than admitting the truth. In this case, the truth might be something Corrie doesn’t want to face. So even though she’s fearless when it comes to crime scenes and bad guys, she’s not so fearless when it comes to personal relationships.

With promotion now being primarily on the writer, what promotional activities do you enjoy the most, or least?

I really enjoy meeting readers, and inspiring other writers (or wannabe writers). I love visiting bookstores and libraries (book people are the absolute best)! I’m happy to admit I’ve not come across a promo activity that I’ve not enjoyed. I’m so grateful to have a novel or two to promote that I can’t help but enjoy it all.

Now that you officially have a series with book two out, what things have you learned that you wish you had known when you started out? 

Spend more time writing, and less time worrying about whether it’s any good. 

When you have time to read, what authors do you enjoy the most? 

Oh, Grace, there are so many authors I enjoy. Everyone from Donna Andrews to Tina Whittle. I also like reading the Stephanie Plum and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. 

What’s next for Corrie Locke? I hope we’ll be seeing more of her. 

In book three, Corrie’s working at the movie studio when life imitates art and a fictional murder mystery turns real. 

Thank you, Lida. I look forward to book three.

To learn more about Lida and her books, visit her at www.lidasideris.com

Look for her books at your favorite independent bookstore or from the following:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBook, or through links on her web page.