An Interview with Sherry Harris by E. B. Davis

 

I worked my way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a drink.

I didn’t believe in going into a place and not ordering anything.

It was almost as bad as leaving a library without a book.

Sherry Harris, Rum and Choke, Kindle Loc. 1065

 

The Florida Panhandle Barback Games are coming up and Chloe’s been drafted to represent the Sea Glass Saloon—competing in various obstacle-course events that conclude with rolling an empty keg up a hill. The rivalries are so fierce that some of the participating bars even stoop to bringing in ringers.
 
Meanwhile, Chloe’s friend Ann—a descendant of the famed pirate Jean Lafitte—asks her to come along for a boat ride as Ann dives into the Gulf of Mexico. She’s found some old papers that may identify the location of sunken treasure. Instead, she finds a sunken body—of one of the ringers hired for the Barback Games.  Now that murder is in the mix, Chloe has to figure out whether one of the competitors went overboard . . .

Amazon.com

 

Rum and Choke is the fourth book in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mystery series by Sherry Harris. Just like writing those stagnant middle chapters, books mid-series can be fraught by few character arcs and not enough series arc. Not to worry with this book. Sherry reveals Chloe and Ann’s characters in surprising ways. Ann is less of a mystery and a much more vulnerable. Chloe is bolder and braver than we’ve ever seen her before. This was a fun read and the book surprised me with its candor and insight.

 

However, what I learned about electronic security was enough to make anyone paranoid. Radio waves and modems are too easy to use by criminals. Replicating key fobs?

 

Please welcome Sherry Harris back to WWK.         E. B. Davis

Thanks so much for having me back to talk about Rum and Choke!

I never heard the term Barback before. Is this a common term in the bar industry? What does it mean? Do restaurants have Barbacks as well or just bars? It is a common term. Barbacks work hard in the background making sure the bartender has everything they need to make a great drink. They carry heavy boxes full of glasses or alcohol. They clean and cut fruit and restock items. I’m not sure if restaurants have them or not.

 

There’s a yearly competition among the various Panhandle bars. Are the competitions real? What events do Barbacks compete in? When I first came up with the idea, I did a search online and yes there are competitions for barbacks. I made up most of my events but there is a race through tires although it’s different than the one in my books. I have the barbacks fixing drinks with mystery ingredients, running through tires with steins full of beer, and pushing an empty keg up a hill among other events.

 

Is winning the competition good PR? Why is it so competitive, enough so that ringers are brought in? People love winning competitions. I’m not sure if it’s bragging rights or just human nature. It’s funny that I didn’t think of this when I was writing the book, but your question made me think of an old Cheers episode. Cheers is playing Gary’s Olde Town Tavern in a three-on-three basketball game. Gary’s brings in ringers so Cheers gets a Boston Celtics player to come.

 

When Chloe goes to the other bars to check out the competition, she drinks Bushwackers. What are they, and why did she choose them to drink? A Bushwacker is like a milkshake for adults. Chloe thinks the milk/cream in them will coat her stomach so she doesn’t get tipsy.

Is a Panhandle, Florida accent unique or just Southern? The part of the Panhandle where the book is set is right below Alabama. The area is not only called the Emerald Coast, but often called LA or Lower Alabama. So the accent is mostly like an Alabama accent.

 

Everyone suspects Chloe’s drinks were drugged. Is there really a coaster that can be used to discover drugs in drinks? There really are. There are also straws and fingernail polish that will change color if certain drugs are present.

 

Ann is related to the pirate and war hero John Lafitte. How could he be both a pirate and a war hero? Which war? While John Lafitte wasn’t a good guy, he did help fight the British during the War of 1812. After the war President Madison pardoned him for the smuggling charges against him.

 

Ann asks Chloe to accompany her while she dives. How has Chloe demonstrated to Ann that she is trustworthy? This is such an interesting question. Over the series Ann has had a chance to help Chloe out and observe her interactions with people. Ann realizes that people talk to Chloe a lot and that Chloe doesn’t gossip.

 

Is the Shipwreck Trail real? Yes. Some of the wrecks are vessels that have deliberately been sunk to make reefs for divers. However, there are over 600 shipwrecks in the Northern Gulf. Some sources say even more—up to 2000.

 

Back home in New Orleans, Ann finds an old treasure map of John Lafitte. She dives to find the treasure, but instead comes up with a Barback competitor’s body. Ann doesn’t want anyone to know about the treasure. Why does Chloe decide to omit the truth for Ann? Ann has helped Chloe out of sticky situations several times in the past so Chloe decides to return the favor. Chloe initially believes that keeping this secret won’t impact the search for the murderer. She does tell Ann that she will tell if it becomes necessary to find the killer.

 

Do you have any good Brussel sprout recipes? My favorite way to prepare Brussel sprouts is to trim them, toss them in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them in a 400-degree oven for about 40 minutes until they are lightly browned. They also are good on the grill.

 

Why does a life change entail a hair change in Chloe? It’s just one of her quirks. She wants to feel differently physically and mentally.

 

What is a Faraday Bag? Faraday bags block EMF signals. If you keep your electronic car keys in one, no one can clone your car keys. It’s the modern way to steal cars. Some people also keep phones and computers in them.

 

Chloe reveals that Ann is a bit naïve when it comes to technology and relatives. I’m surprised. Why isn’t Ann more savvy in both? Ann is a badass in most things. She’s smart and resourceful, but like all good characters she has flaws and those are two of hers.

 

What’s an angel martini and how does it work? There are all kinds of angel drinks. They signal to the bartender that the person ordering it feels unsafe for some reason and needs help.

 

What are beanbag rounds? Police use them sometimes because they are less lethal than bullets. They are lead shotgun pellets in small cloth bags. The intent is to stop the criminal but not kill them. However, they can cause serious injury and even death.

 

An average tire is twelve and a half inches? Do you mean the open center’s diameter is that size? Yes!

 

When they decide to hire more help, Chloe keeps finding better jobs for the applicants. Why? It’s a good way to show an aspect of Chloe’s personality. She’s kind and has a tender heart, but I don’t have to say that, I can show it through her interactions with the job applicants. Chloe realizes most of the applicants really need a job, but they aren’t right for the position at the Sea Glass Saloon. She decides to help them out by asking what they love to do and being that it’s a small town, it’s easy to find jobs for some of them.

 

Battle ready for women means putting on a whole lot of makeup. Do you think most women feel like that? I think that when you feel good about yourself you are battle ready. It could be makeup. It could be clothes, or it could be a mindset. On one particular day, Chloe decides more makeup and well-styled hair will make her feel more confident as she has to face down Deputy Biffle.

 

What drink would Joaquin make to pair with this book? A Buried Treasure cocktail!

 

Pear, gorgonzola, walnut, and prosciutto pizza? Are you kidding? It is so delicious! You can substitute figs for pears and that’s delicious too. 

 

 

An Interview with Sherry Harris by E. B. Davis

 

Just because you were in law enforcement didn’t mean you

couldn’t be a psychopath too.

Sherry Harris, Absence of Alice, Kindle Loc. 318

 

Sarah’s latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she has a fortune in antiques on her hands. She’s already gotten a generous offer for the whole lot before her garage sale has even begun, but she thinks she can earn more with Sarah’s expert help. The problem is that while Sarah’s sorting through items from decades past, her landlady, Stella, faces a clear and present danger.
 
Stella’s kidnapper has contacted Sarah with a set of instructions, and “Don’t call the police” is at the top of the list.  But they didn’t say anything about Sarah’s friend Harriet—who happens to be a former FBI hostage negotiator . . .

Amazon.com

Absence of Alice, the ninth book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries, was released on December 29^th by Kensington Press. It continues Sarah’s adventures after two years in the garage sale business, but also her misadventures as the plot centers around a hate crime, namely, crimes of people who hate Sarah! The Sarah haters try taking her down by going after her friends and loved ones.

 

There were disturbing and realistic elements in this book—like the media-created images of Sarah as a hero, which escalated pro and con feelings toward her and over which she has no control. Blaming the victim is another realistic element, one that angered me. But perhaps the most disturbing—it takes a village to foster positivity or negativity, leaving Sarah very much alone unable to trust anyone.

 

In the midst of cozy, Sherry Harris brings real life to the pages. Please welcome her back to WWK.                                                        E. B. Davis  

 

The new guy in town is the nephew of Angelo and Rosalie, owners of DiNapoli’s restaurant. His name is Emil Kowalski. How did he end up with that last name considering the family’s ethnic makeup? Angelo is Italian but Rosalie’s side of the family is actually Polish.

 

Stella’s kidnapper gives Sarah rules she must follow and a timeline for getting tasks done if she hopes to get Stella back alive. The kidnapper said that she knows him, and that she makes life hard. He repeats that she makes life hard twice. What does he mean by that? Sarah isn’t sure what he means by that. She is racking her brain trying to figure out whose life she might have made harder and can’t come up with anyone. In fact, Sarah firmly believes that she makes people’s lives easier. Although through the course of the book she finds out that more people than she’d like agree with the kidnapper.

Sarah doesn’t know whom she can trust. On top of that, the police in her town of Ellington don’t investigate murders. The state police are called in to do that—cops she doesn’t know. Are there only three towns in Massachusetts that have their own homicide units? Great question and I double checked this as it has changed a bit since the first book. The Pittsfield Police department also has a homicide division. State police are in charge of investigations in all other towns (except Boston, Lowell, and Worchester) and work with local police departments to solve homicides.

Sarah’s boyfriend, the town’s DA Seth, eluded someone kidnapping him. Then her sometimes neighbor, Mike “Big Cheese” Titone is threatened and heads to Ellington to investigate. No one seems safe. What does Sarah do to comfort herself and keep sane? Sarah does a couple of things. She plunges ahead trying to figure out what is going on and who is doing it. But she also lets herself be distracted by pricing things for a garage sale. A group of spouses from nearby Fitch Air Force Base ask her for help with a fund raiser. All of the spouses belong to a group who have a family member with special needs. Working with the women helps Sarah realize that her life isn’t as difficult as it sometime seems.

 

Sarah knows a few people who don’t like her. One—Zoey, a former employee, who now is her competition. Does Zoey have psychological problems? Zoey certainly has a problem with Sarah if nothing else. After Sarah taught Zoey almost everything she knew about the garage sale business, Zoey starts her own company. While Sarah wants to coexist, Zoey wants to put Sarah out of business and seems willing to stop at nothing to do it.

 

What is Tramp Art? Tramp Art is a type of American folk art. Boxes, frames, and other items were carved out of cigar boxes or packing crates. My mom has a beautiful piece of tramp art that we found in my grandparent’s basement years ago. I felt compelled to buy some frames on eBay for “research.” Here’s a great article with more detail about tramp art and some pictures: https://www.oldhouseonline.com/interiors-and-decor/tramp-art

 

Where are Bob Ross’s paintings? (He taught me how to paint birds in the sky—basically little “v”s.) Is there a “new” Bob Ross in New England now? Most of his paintings are stored near Herndon, Virginia at the headquarters of Bob Ross, Inc. He painted and filmed his show in Indiana. The new Bob Ross in Absence of Alice is just a fictional creation for the story.

 

I was surprised that Angelo didn’t insist on hearing Sarah’s secret, which she blurts out without thinking. Why wasn’t he more curious? Knowing Angelo, he was really curious! Over the course of the two years that the series takes place, Sarah and Angelo have developed a great, trusting relationship. Because of that Angelo knows that when Sarah is ready to talk she will. He views his role in their relationship as being there for her when she needs him.

 

Sarah is allergic to cats, but is she allergic to dogs? Not that I know of, but she does know how time consuming having a dog is and Sarah isn’t ready to take on that responsibility.

 

Why does Seth’s mom dislike Sarah so much? Is Seth’s mom’s opinion important? Seth’s mom is the elite of the elite in Boston society and Sarah—isn’t. Seth’s mom had picked out a bride for Seth early on and until Sarah showed up thought he would marry her pick. While Sarah won’t let Seth’s mom rule her life, she doesn’t want to cause trouble between Seth and her.

 

Sarah seems to favor pencil skirts—in her life—don’t they inhibit her ability to run? Does she? It always amazes me the things you pick up on that I don’t. A pencil skirt is terrible for running or for working at a garage sale. I know a few books back she went through a sundress phase. But she wears a lot of leggings and jeans too. 

 

Does bereavement and loss change people, like Elmer Norman? I think bereavement changes everyone, but it also impacts everyone differently.

I knew that the Parker House Hotel’s chefs created Parker House rolls, but I didn’t know they also invented Boston Cream Pie. What’s the story? This is from the Omni Parker House website: The Boston Cream Pie is a timeless, culinary creation dating back to 1856. The dessert was first created and served at the grand opening of Boston’s Parker House. Today, it’s distinguished as Massachusetts’ official state dessert over Toll House Cookies and the Fig Newton.

Back in the 1800s, chocolate was mainly consumed at home as a beverage or in puddings. With this inventive use of chocolate, the dessert was originally named “Chocolate Cream Pie.” Over time, the name changed, and in 1958, the Boston Cream Pie became so popular it was fashioned into a Betty Crocker boxed mix.

The website includes a recipe or if you don’t like to bake, a link to buy one. https://www.omnihotels.com/blog/boston-cream-pie-recipe-original/

Sarah worries about having withheld evidence in two murders that were probably perpetrated by the kidnapper, but the kidnapper also seems to know everything she does. Although Sarah feels guilty, does she really have anything to feel guilty about, especially after finding Stella? I think she does have to feel guilty. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be the kind of person she is – a kind, caring woman who is deeply loyal to the people she cares about.

 

Are Pellner and Awesome more caught up in themselves and their resources than in understanding Sarah’s position? Could they have done a better job than Sarah did? I’m not sure they could have done a better job than Sarah, but I can understand how they feel betrayed by her.

 

Is Harriet becoming Sarah’s partner in crime fighting? As a former FBI hostage negotiator Harriet has skills and connections that Sarah doesn’t. Sarah can keep Harriet busy at a time in her life when Harriet needs distractions. So they make a good team.

 

What’s next for Sarah? I have a plot and a subplot for the next Sarah book, but first I have to write two books in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mystery series. Thanks so much to you and the other WWK for having me today!

 

Sherry Harris

 

And her dog, Lily

Sherry Harris Interview by E. B. Davis

The biggest literary find in years had slipped through my fingers three times in a

few short hours. I’d failed to protect it. Hemingway must be rolling in his grave.

Sherry Harris, The Gun Also Rises, Kindle Loc. 707

TO RECOVER A PRICELESS MANUSCRIPT . . .

A wealthy widow has asked Sarah Winston to sell her massive collection of mysteries through her garage sale business. While sorting through piles of books stashed in the woman’s attic, Sarah is amazed to discover a case of lost Hemingway stories, stolen from a train in Paris back in 1922. How did they end up in Belle Winthrop Granville’s attic in Ellington, Massachusetts, almost one hundred years later?

WILL SARAH HAVE TO PAY WITH HER LIFE?

Before Sarah can get any answers, Belle is assaulted, the case is stolen, a maid is killed, and Sarah herself is dodging bullets. And when rumors spread that Belle has a limited edition of The Sun Also Rises in her house, Sarah is soon mixed up with a mobster, the fanatical League of Literary Treasure Hunters, and a hard-to-read rare book dealer. With someone willing to kill for the Hemingway, Sarah has to race to catch the culprit—or the bell may toll for her. . .

https://sherryharrisauthor.com/

The Gun Also Rises, Sherry Harris’s sixth book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series was released yesterday. Sarah multitasks with aplomb as she’s on the run from reporters and literary treasure hunters, all the while pricing Belle’s mystery books for a charity sale, organizing a fundraiser for a serviceman suffering from PTSD to bring his dog from Afghanistan to the States, and preparing to testify in the trial against a stalker. But she’s not superwoman. While she’s finding clues to solve the murder of a thief, she’s also second-guessing her decision to end her relationship to her ex, CJ, and wondering what to do about DA Seth Anderson, who still is pursuing her. And then, after successfully dodging reporters, her brother shows up to help her, but he also happens to be a reporter.

Sherry weaves an interesting tale around the legend of Earnest Hemingway’s lost manuscripts, a wonderful premise for bibliophiles. She knows her readers well.

Please welcome Sherry Harris back to WWK.                                                   E. B. Davis

Hadley and Earnest

I’m not a true Hemingway fan so I wasn’t aware of Hemingway’s lost manuscripts. Was it something youalready knew? Tell our readers how the manuscripts became lost. I didn’t know about the story until I ran across it while I was doing some research for the novel. As soon as I read it, I knew I had to use it. In 1922 Hadley Hemingway was taking the train from Paris to meet Ernest in Lausanne, Switzerland. She thought he might want to show the manuscripts he’d been working on to a friend so she packed them along with the carbon copies in an overnight bag. When she got on the train, Hadley stowed her luggage and went to buy a bottle of water. When she came back the piece of luggage was gone. The conductor helped her search the train, but the overnight case was never seen again. Back then Ernest Hemingway was known as a war correspondent and hero but not as a novelist. I pictured someone throwing the manuscripts in the trash and taking their nice new piece

of luggage.

Belle was a wonderful character. After the little old Southern belle wielded a shotgun to ward off an armed intruder in her house, I was surprised that Sarah was still suspicious of her. Why? I’m so glad you liked Belle because I do too. Sarah doesn’t know Belle well—only as her employer. And while she wants to trust Belle, there is a nagging doubt about her that Sarah can’t shake. Who doesn’t know they have Hemingway manuscripts in their house?

Belle married into an old wealthy Boston Brahmin family. What does the term Brahmin mean and why is it applied to those early Boston settlers? The term was first used by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1861 to describe a group of wealthy Boston families—many of them descendants of the Puritans. Even though they were wealthy, the Brahmin’s believed in Puritan values of hard work, education, thrift, and culture. They thought you only should be in the newspaper when you were born, married, or died.

Belle was not well received by her husband’s parents, especially her mother-in-law, Winnie, which was the reason they settled in Ellington, not Boston. I was surprised that Belle was charitable toward Winnie. Why, when her husband has died and she can be free of personal contact, would she choose to bring Winnie into her home? Belle has a generous heart and she knew taking Winnie in was something her late husband would want her to do. Thankfully, she lives in a large house and can afford fulltime help for Winnie. That makes it easier for Belle.

Why is Sarah questioning her decision about CJ? Is it due to her looming thirty-ninth birthday? In my mind it’s because of how young Sarah was when they got married and how long they were together. She was with him half of her life and will always have feelings for him.

Sarah’s transparent. She lacks the guile of the poker face. How does this actually help her sleuth? Sarah cares deeply about other people and that authenticity makes her trustworthy. She’s likable and a good listener, which means people will open up to her when they might not to someone else. Sarah wishes every thought that flickers through her head wouldn’t show on her face. But so far, any attempts to conceal her thoughts have failed.

Sarah’s military friend James, who served under CJ for a time, is trying to help a friend, after his fourth tour in Afghanistan, bring home a dog he befriended there. She agrees to help with a fundraiser to bring the dog to the U.S. Why does it take up to five thousand dollars to do so? There are a lot of costs associated with bringing a dog back to the US from a worn-torn country. One of the highest is the cost of the flights. But there is often also medical care, boarding, and food needed along the way. Here is the link to an organization that helps reunite dogs with military members: https://pawsofwar.org/worn-torn-pups/

Belle mentions to Sarah some people are negatively judgmental about mystery books, which I’ve heard before and never understood. Why are people condescending about mysteries? I have no idea although I’ve heard people say it isn’t “real” fiction. I remember a class I took in college called “Teaching Reading in Secondary School” where the professor said it doesn’t matter what you read just get people to read. She even recommended reading comic books if it was a reluctant reader. So, I don’t care what anyone reads – just read!

Sarah doesn’t like rare book dealer Roger Mervine, although she’s just met him. Why? Right after they meet Roger makes a snooty comment about Sarah working with the lesser books and that if she finds anything valuable to let him know. His attitude put her off from the start.

Having been military spouse, you know that for spouses “there’s an unspoken rule about keeping a stiff upper lip when things are tough.” (Kindle Loc. 333) But that’s changing somewhat. Do all bases have a Military and Family Life Center? Most bases would have one or something very similar. It provides free short-term, non-medical, and most importantly, confidential counseling. If they don’t have a center on base help can be accessed online. Here’s a link: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/non-medical-counseling/military-and-family-life-counseling

Can kleptomania be inherited? Yes, according to the research I did. Sources like the Mayo Clinic say if you have a first degree (parent or sibling) relative that has kleptomania it is a risk factor for the family member to have it.

I was surprised to find that Winnie had an embarrassing fault. Is her self-righteousness a defensive maneuver or is she caught up in her own rhetoric without a thought of her own behavior? Winnie is a prideful, snooty woman. She has moved through life thinking she is always right. Part of it is her upbringing and part of it has worsened with age.  

Carol, Sarah’s friend, reveals her bitterness about having been a military wife. But Sarah doesn’t seem bitter. Was the difference due to Carol having children or that it took time from her own artistic pursuits? Overall, Carol isn’t a bitter person and for the most part she liked being a military spouse. It was interesting to me that after her husband’s retired that some leftover resentment spilled out in this book.

Is Sarah finally good and well over CJ? I have had so many fans write asking me if I would bring CJ back and hoping that he was off for some important secret mission. Stay tuned!

What’s next for Sarah? Thank you for asking! Book seven, Let’s Fake A Deal, comes out July 30, 2019. Sarah is opening a garage sale when the police come racing up. Sarah finds out everything she’s selling is stolen and her employers have run off.

Thank you for having me on your wonderful blog!

         

Sherry's dog Lily

                   

                                                                                                                     

An Interview with Sherry Harris by E. B. Davis

When it comes to running a successful garage sale, Sarah Winston believes in doing her homework. She also believes in giving back. But when she agrees to manage an athletic equipment swap, she doesn’t bargain on an uncharitable killer. The day of the event, the school superintendent is found dead in the gymnasium.
 
Suddenly the murder suspects are the school board members—including the husband of a very difficult client who’s hired Sarah to run a high-end sale and demands she do her bidding. In between tagging and haggling, Sarah studies the clues to see who wanted to teach the superintendent a lesson. But as she closes in on the truth, the killer intends to give her a crash course on minding her own business . . .

https://sherryharrisauthor.com/

Although Sherry Harris’s title of the fifth book in the Sarah Winston series, I Know What You Bid Last Summer, is a humorous take off of a movie title, I’m also reminded that the movie was a horror film. No one would think something as mundane as a school sponsored athletic equipment swap would result in murder, but then horror is unexpected, which is why this cozy mystery strengthens Sherry’s series.

Another reason I liked this book? It’s a departure for the main character, who is in transition from a long-term relationship, which Sarah simultaneously finds freeing but mindboggling. She’s always possessed self-reliance, but now that asset is put to the test without having an old relationship to fall back on for protection.

Another reason? Sherry pinpoints a problem in our youth sports programs that can result in serious injuries—something I’ll only mention for spoiler fear, but having had children who played sports, I appreciate her focus.

Please welcome Sherry Harris back to WWK.                                                                          E. B. Davis

Thank you so much for having me back! You always ask questions that make me think about my books in different ways.

The murder takes place at an athletic equipment swap. It sounds like a great idea, but I’ve never heard of one—really. Are they common in New England? Yes, and I believe they are popular across the country. Kids outgrow things so quickly that it saves everyone money.

Having grown up in CA, I was surprised Sarah decided not to go to Florida with CJ. She knew it would cause a breakup—why did she decide not to go? There are many reasons. Sarah and CJ married young so when their marriage initially broke up twenty years later, Sarah had to stand on her own for the first time ever. She supported CJ during his military career, sacrificing the chance to have her own. When Sarah set up her business in Ellington it was because she loved it there, and she was ready to have some roots. While she and CJ tried to patch things up, CJ wanted the old Sarah back and not the woman she’d become. Sarah wanted to CJ to choose her and not a job.

What does Pellner think of CJ leaving for Florida and leaving Sarah behind? Interesting question! Pellner was sorry CJ left. He respected him as chief of police. His first loyalty was always to CJ. However, he also sees Sarah’s value – that she is smart, resilient, and resourceful. Pellner is a happily married man and wished the two of them could have worked things out.

Although Sarah’s parents are in CA, Rosalie and Angelo, owners of the local Italian restaurant, become Sarah’s surrogate parents, worrying about her. How does Sarah feel about that given Angelo’s emotional, tomato-sauce-flying temperament? Sarah loves the DiNapolis. She knows that Angelo’s gruff exterior and temper come from a place of love and concern for those around him.

Perhaps to keep Sarah busy and her mind off CJ, Angelo asks Sarah to shop the competition when he enters a lasagna contest. But the job is hard since the competition always seems to know of her presence. How do they know? Sarah is well-known in the area not only because of her garage sale business, but also because of her ability to solve crimes. Her picture has been in the paper and on the news so she isn’t exactly a low profile person. Her connection to Angelo is also well know. At the first restaurant she went to the owner recognizes her and suspects she’s up to something. He warns the other competitors.

Sarah got to know the victim, Melba, the School Board Superintendent, when they attended the same sales and auctions. Does continually bidding against someone reveal their character? I based this relationship on one I observed in a friend. We used to go to auctions together, but we usually didn’t bid against each other. She had a knack for letting people bid while she laid low. Then she’d swoop in at the end at outbid them. People didn’t like that. I pictured Melba doing that to Sarah, only Sarah wasn’t as upset about it as the people I observed. Sarah knew it’s part of the game when you go to an auction. And she was good at setting budgetary limits for herself and sticking to them. It doesn’t mean she wasn’t ever disappointed with the outcome. And yes, I think it does reveal character – good or bad.

Have you figured out why people get so passionate about teams and brands? My family all likes different footballs teams. There must be something deep down in us that likes to root for one team being pitted against another. Maybe it boils down to good versus evil on some level. Or maybe it’s more like I’m better than you if my team wins.

Seth, the DA and Sarah’s old flame, wants to keep their relationship professional even though CJ is now gone and Sarah saves his life. Does he protest too much? My lips are sealed.

I was surprised Sarah bought the food and drinks for the Long’s sale. Does she trust that they will reimburse her? She did. She’s had very good luck with her clients paying her when they said they would. The Longs have a lot of resources so it’s not a concern for Sarah.

Why don’t they sell nut grinders anymore? Food processors over-process nuts. I based this on at nut grinder my mom had. It was so cute and I was so fascinated with it when I was little. I would drop a few nuts in, crank the handle, and watch the nuts drop into the little glass jar. However, food processors are amazing too – not that I know how to work ours, but I love to watch my husband whip stuff up in it.

Was the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Sarah passes by the same one connected (sorry) to the Headless Horseman or am I confused? The Sleepy Hollow cemetery associated with the headless horseman is in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Washington Irving is buried there. He also helped establish the cemetery.  The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord is famous because of its age and the famous authors who are buried there including Louisa May Alcott, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Emerson. It is a beautiful, peaceful place.

“Military life was about relationships and helping others.”

Kindle Loc. 580

I never would have characterized military life in that way. Of course, I have no experience. How is it so? It’s one of those “everyone is in the same boat” things. You get sent to a base in a place you’ve never been before and perhaps it’s a place you didn’t want to move to. You don’t know anyone. But if you live on base or a neighborhood with lots of military your neighbors become your family. Things always seemed to go wrong when the military person is away. You lean on your neighbors for support. You have people over Christmas or a big group of women and children will spend Valentine’s Day together. A military spouse has to make the best of what life hands her. It’s a wonderful and tough life.

At what point does “protection” become “control?” It’s a very fine line. All of us want to protect our loved one, but when someone wants to isolate them it becomes control. I think the lines are more blurred now than ever before. We can track people with apps or stick something on their car. There’s things you can put in cars so it will tell you how fast it’s gone and where it’s gone. I wonder if we are losing our ability to trust someone.  

What did Ryne do before he moved to Ellington to help with his uncle’s antique store? Sarah doesn’t know.

Sarah’s favorite Dunkin Donuts are coconut and chocolate glazed (same as mine). What are yours? I admit to being partial to the coconut donuts at Dunkin Donuts. Other than that I would choose a cinnamon roll.

When Lance asks Sarah if she intends to sue the school board due to the attack, she feels “slimed.” I haven’t heard that slang for years—but it was perfect for the situation. Do idioms come easily for you? I’ve picked up different bits of language from all of the different places we’ve lived. I used the term “goat rope” in one of the Sarah books and didn’t realize it wasn’t familiar to people until my editor questioned its use. I found out it is common in the military but not so much anywhere else.

Sarah admits one of her biggest faults is doing something just because someone tells her not to do it. What’s her greatest asset? Sarah is tenacious especially if it involves a loved one. If she sees an injustice she wants to right it, even if it costs her personally – and it has.

Have you plotted the arcs of your major characters throughout the series? To some extent. It’s not always easy because of how many books I’ve had for each contract. It’s been three, two, two, two. I have always thought I would have ended the third book, All Murders Final, differently if I’d known there would be more. But as the series has continued I realize maybe it was the right choice after all.

What’s next for Sarah? Book six – The Gun Also Rises – comes out in January 2019 followed by Let’s Fake a Deal in July of 2019. I’m writing the eighth and will write book nine as soon as it’s finished. I feel very, very lucky!