It’s been nearly a year since I posted anything on this page. I’ve been rather busy with promotion of the books, writing new ones and writing guest blog posts. I wish I had time to do more, but that would be a fantasy novel, wouldn’t it?

Since last April, I’ve released a fourth novel in the Circle City Mystery Series entitled, Purged. It went a little darker than the other three. Although, homicide is dark in its own right, I took a chance and went into the mind of a delusional serial killer. Believe it or not, this takes a lot of time and energy.

To research the mindset of such a human being, is essential to making sure he/she is depicted properly. In my college days, I studied human behavior; however, psychiatrists and psychologists have redefined mental illnesses since that time. In addition, as my readers know, I want to make sure my novels are as accurate as possible.

Then, I needed to know about the religions that were “butting heads” for lack of a better term. I was raised a Christian, so I felt well versed in that religion. I knew about the Wicca religion and had read about it, but needed to become entrenched in it to show my audience exactly what the Wiccans believe and why. I also wanted everyone to understand the similarities in these religions and to do both sides justice. As we all know, there is good and bad in every circle, whether religious, political, or familial.

My hope is that readers will see that I’m not bashing religion, but am showing how sometimes humans can take a beautiful thing and distort it to bend to their needs. I also hope readers will see that, in this country at least, we have the freedom to believe as we choose and our liberty and pursuit of happiness should not be marred because of this choice. I’ve always contended that it’s easier to sway someone to your beliefs by gentle persuasion. Beating them over the head, literally or figuratively, might make them say they yield, but it won’t change their minds. It will only make them hate and look for a way to get the upper hand one day.

That said I hope you will read Purged and let me know what you think. Thus far, it has been getting rave reviews and I’ve been told it’s my best work yet. It’s available on Amazon in print ($14.95 retail, but could be less) as well as Kindle eBook ($2.99). Of course, any bookstore can order this novel in print for you upon request.

I hope you don't fault me for the shameless plug, but I am an author and in order to continue to do what I love, I need to sell books. Of course, my greatest joy is to hear from readers and to know they hunger for more. Your satisfaction inspires me.  Thank you!

Until next time...

Tag, I'm it!  Members of our fabulous Mystery Writers of America Midwest group started a blog hop and author, J. Michael Major (One Man's Castle), tagged me.   So here I go answering his questions.

What are you working on?
I'm working on the fourth novel in the Circle City Mystery Series, which I hope to release in late October.  The working title is Purged, so go ahead and let your imaginations go wild trying to guess what this one is all about.  The featured detective in this story will be Homicide Detective Chennelle Kendall. 

I've also started writing a book for teens and young adults which is a mystery, but has a supernatural element to it. I haven't quite decided whether this will be a series or if I will make it a stand alone, but it is a bit different and fun.

How does your work differ from others in its genre?
As in the previous question when I mentioned the featured detective, those of you who have read the Circle City Mystery Series know it takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana and centers around the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Instead of choosing one police officer to be the main protagonist of all the books in the series, I have chosen to use a different main character in each. Of course, you see the same characters throughout the series and can watch how their relationships grow, but you'll get to know them more intimately when you read the book in which they are featured.

Why do you write what you do?
I have always enjoyed a good puzzle, whether a crossword puzzle or a jigsaw puzzle. What better puzzle is there than a good mystery? I love the challenge of creating the twists and turns, the clues and discoveries, which will guide my readers to the solution.

How does your writing process work?
Every which way it can. This question has always been a difficult one for me as each book has taken on a life of its own and seems to have come out of me in a different manner. Perfidy was a much longer process because I had a lot to learn while creating it. I wrote the beginning and the climax first, then filled in the rest. Of course, I changed the beginning and the end several times and it took me about two years to come up with the final draft, but the time and effort was well worth it in when I saw the end product.

Inconspicuous just flowed out of me from beginning to end in about nine months. That's not to say I didn't go back and add characters or plot twists I thought would work better. It was just quicker and easier.

Then there was book three, Ensconced.  I was riding the Metra train into Chicago, pulled out my notebook and created an outline for it. Not something I generally do, but I didn't want to lose the concept or how I thought it should progress. This one is loosley based on a cold case from 1997 where a woman in Indianapolis went missing and neither she nor her vehicle have ever been located. I basically dreamed up a story of what could have happened.

Now I'm writing the fourth book and the process for this one seems to be a mutation between Perfidy and Inconspicuous.  I started out flowing from beginning to end, but then came up with ideas about the antagonist's plight which made me stop and write chapters that included the plot twists I felt were necessary. Now I'm back to jumping all around again.

I suppose to summarize, I come up with an idea and I let it take me where I need to go.

Thank you J. Michael Major for tagging me.

I know I promised an interview with fictional character, Tyrone Mayhew in March, but Ensconced, in which he plays a starring role, was launched early that month. Detective Mayhew found himself very busy with his premier as the star of Ensconced; however, I was finally able to pin him down and here is my interview with him.

Detective Tyrone Mayhew is thirty-eight years old. He began his work with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit ten years ago. His first case went cold, but in Ensconced new evidence comes to light and he gets a second chance at it. 
  
Michele: Welcome to my blog, Tyrone. I’m sure those in our audience who’ve seen you in Perfidy and Inconspicuous are excited to get to know you better as the star of Ensconced.
Tyrone: I’m happy to be here Miss May, and thank you for the opportunity to headline one of your novels.
 
Michele: It was my pleasure and you may call me Michele. 
Tyrone: All right, Miss Michele.

Michele: I noticed you use Miss in front of women’s names. Did you grow up in the
south?
Tyrone: We lived in South Carolina until my father died. My mother’s family was in Indianapolis, so we moved there when I was five. My mother always taught us boys to respect women and our elders. I still have some of my accent and don't always finish my 'ing' words, but Hoosiers don't even do that.
 
Michele: So you have brothers and sisters?
Tyrone: I  have three brothers. James, who was named after my father, is twelve years older
than I am, Darius is ten years older, and Michael is eight years older. Then there’s our baby sister, Ophelia. She’s two years younger than I am and is married to Judge Norman Jackson.
 
Michele: That’s quite a large family.
Tyrone: Yeah, and back in the mid-seventies it was pretty tough. My brothers all got part-time jobs to help Mama out. She always taught us that if we stick together we could do anything. She never let any of us quit school either. My brother Michael was the first of us to go to college, mostly because James and Darius went to work in factories after high school and helped Mama save for it. Michael's a lawyer in Chicago
 
Michele: It sounds like you had a great family life even though things were tough.
Tyrone: That’s because our mama was so supportive and encouragin’. Of course, she was real
strict, too. The others may not admit it, but we never wanted to cross Mama.
 
Michele: So, what made you decide to become a police officer?
Tyrone: I guess I always wanted to help people. When I was growin’ up, it just seemed like
the neighborhood was fallin’ apart. Drugs were creepin’ in and people were shootin’ each other. And, of course, there were plenty of complaints about how the police weren’t doin’ enough.
 
Michele: So you wanted to become a police officer to make sure things were getting
done?
Tyrone: That was definitely part of it. I was twenty-three and pretty naïve when I took that
first ride in a squad car with my nice new uniform and shiny badge. That day we were called out to two robberies and a domestic and I got my first taste of how things weren’t as simple as people think. 
 
Michele: What happened?
Tyrone: I guess the biggest thing that got to me was the lack of cooperation of witnesses. How are we supposed to catch the bad guys if no one will tell us anything? I’m sure some of them were afraid they’d be next if they said anything, but this sure makes the job harder. From that time forward, I started defending the force and tryin’ to get people to understand what it takes to be a cop.
 
Michele:  It’s not a job that I want. I’m very much in awe of those who do.
Tyrone: Thank you, Miss Michele.

Michele:  As I understand it, you took your detective exam and decided to try for a
post in the Missing Persons Department, which is where you work now. Why Missing
Persons?

Tyrone: I guess being man who loves his family, I couldn’t imagine the pain people must
feel when someone they love goes missing. It would tear my heart out if one of my children disappeared.

Michele: In Ensconced, you and I delve into a story of your first case in Missing Persons. Were you excited to get another chance to solve this case?
Tyrone: Yes. Anyone would. New evidence shows up in Chapter 1 and I’m lucky enough to have a fabulous new partner in Sergeant Benjamin Jacobs to help me go through our case
files and see what was missed the first time around.
 
Michele: Have you and Sergeant Jacobs been partners for a while?
Tyrone: I believe it’s been about four years now. He’s a bit too serious sometimes, but
he’s really sharp. That’s why he not only made sergeant, but he’s now a shift supervisor. (He leans towards me and whispers.) ‘Course, don’t tell him I said he was really sharp. I don’t want it goin’ to his head.

Michele: He won’t hear it from me. Tell us a little more about your wife and
children.
Tyrone: (His smile widens and there’s a twinkle in his eyes.) My family means the world to me. In Ensconced, my fourth, and last, child is born. I really don’t want to tell fans if it’s a
girl or boy and spoil the surprise. Those who read Inconspicuous know that Jada went into labor at the end of the novel.
 
Michele: I’m not going to insist that you spoil it either. Tell us about your other three
children.
Tyrone: Darryl is nine and gettin’ a little sassy, but he shows respect and I think he’ll do
great. He gets A’s and B’s in school and loves to read.

Reggie is six and a typical middle child. He torments his brothers and excels in sports, especially baseball. We have to have a little talk now and then about his grades, but he’s a great kid.

Malcolm just turned three so he’s still as cute as a button and not quite to the stage of showing us what he’s got. Of course, his mama teaches him manners, corrects his grammar, and has taught him how to read a few words. Pretty great for a three-year-old.
 
Michele: That’s wonderful. They sound like fine young men. Now tell us a little about your wife, Jada.
Tyrone:  (Leans back and closes his eyes for a moment with a dreamy look on his face.) Jada Clayton Mayhew is one of the finest people I have ever met. She’s a registered nurse and has taken off for a stretch to raise our kids. She loves the nursing profession, so she’ll
probably go back to it sometime. I’ve been married to that woman for ten years now and it’s been the happiest times of my life.
 
Michele: It sounds perfect.
Tyrone: Oh, don’t get me wrong. We’ve had some pretty nasty arguments now and then, but we never go to bed mad. We always take time to cool off and then talk it through. Of course, those who read Ensconced will see us go through a pretty tough time. I hope they will buy the book to find out how it all works out.
 
Michele:  I do, too. (I smile.) You played a pretty significant part in my first novel, Perfidy. 
Tyrone: When Mandy Stevenson came to our boss, Lieutenant Melrose, for help finding her
mother, he assigned us to the case. We had to question a lot of pretty strange characters and had to ask for assistance from Homicide. In the end, it was Mandy who had to confront the antagonist and the identity of this person was a complete shock to all of us.
 
Michele: I’ll stop you there. We don’t want to give away too much in case there are those who
haven’t had a chance to read Perfidy.
Tyrone: I don’t blame you. We wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone.
 
Michele:  Well, Tyrone, that’s all the time I have today. I want to thank you for sharing your life both personal and professional with us. 
Tyrone: Oh, there’s one more thing I should point out before we go. The Indiana K-9 Search
and Rescue non-profit organization helped you significantly in getting the facts correct in the use of recovery dogs. In gratitude for this assistance, a portion of the net profits from all sales of Ensconcedwill be donated to this organization.
 
Michele: Thank you for mentioning the donations, Tyrone. The Indiana K-9 SAR and others like them across the nation do not get payment for their services. The only way they can survive is through donations. This group and other SAR groups travel all over the nation assisting in rescue and recovery efforts during disasters such as the 9-11 attacks, tornadoes, hurricanes, and most recently the mudslides in Washington state to name a few.
Tyrone: Right, the only dogs the police departments keep are dogs that look for drugs and
bombs, so they depend on these organizations when they are looking for missing children and adults, alive or dead, under the ground or in the water. They are amazing and a much-needed resource.
 
Michele: That’s right, Tyrone. If you love a good mystery, you’ll love Ensconced, but know that you aren’t just getting the pleasure of reading it but you are helping to keep this Search and Recover team in business. 
 
If you want to make a donation to this or a SAR organization in your area you can simply search for Search and Rescue in the US. The Indiana K-9 SAR website is http://www.indianak9sar.org/  Check the Donating and Volunteering section to find out how to donate directly.

Thank you again, Tyrone. 

Tyrone: I  had a great time.
 

To find out more about Tyrone and how he solves homicides with the help of his colleagues in The Circle City Mystery Series, go to www.amazon.com to purchase your print or eBook copy. Print copies can also be purchased online from your favorite bookstores.  For signed copies, go to my website www.memay-mysteries.comand click on Order Books and I will send a signed copy to you at no charge for shipping. 

Until next time.

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing fictional character, Brent Freeman, who plays a significant role in all of the Circle City Mysteries. Brent is twenty-eight-years-old in Perfidy and is a Homicide Detective for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. His commander is Captain Robert Stevenson. Let’s get started.
 
Michele: Readers and future readers of the Circle City Mystery Series are anxious to get to know you better. I hope you’re up for a few personal questions.
Brent: I’d love to answer any questions that will bring me closer to our readers.

 Michele: It is my understanding that you opted to go straight to the police academy rather
than college. What or who inspired you to take that path?
 Brent: To be honest, television. I watched Law and Order from the beginning. I was only six, but it fascinated me. Then in 2000, CSI came to television.
 
Michele: Did you get caught up in the CSI affect? 
Brent: I’m afraid I did. Now that I’m actually doing the job, I understand how a program
like that can mislead the public. Not to say that the equipment they use isn’t real, it’s just that not all jurisdictions can afford it. Also, you’ll not find a CSI in the field actually doing the testing in the lab—at least not in Indianapolis. 
 
Michele: Interesting. How do your parents feel about your choice of occupation? 
Brent: My mother was upset at first. She thought I’d be killed by some robbery suspect or
something. I’m her only son and she’s a little over protective.
 
Michele: And your father?
Brent: By the time I graduated high school, my father had passed away from liver
disease.
 
Michele: Oh, I’m sorry.
Brent: No big deal. He was a drunk and not much of a father. 

Michele: Well, then, let’s go back to the fact you are the only son. I take it you have a
sister.
Brent: Actually, I have three sisters. My eldest sister, Janell, is married with two daughters
living in Swayzee, Indiana. Sister number two, Patty, married and divorced young, then met a super guy and married a second time. Now she has two boys and a girl. Then, there’s my twin sister, Brenda.
 
Michele: A twin, how fun.
Brent: You think growing up with three sisters was fun?
 
Michele: Are you saying it wasn’t?
Brent: Let’s just say that when someone tells you boys are rotten and girls are sweethearts,
don’t believe them. Of course, Brenda wasn’t as bad as the other two, but got caught up in the torture every now and then. 

Michele: Oh dear, what did they do to you?
Brent: When I was five, Jan was supposed to be watching me while Mom went to the store. One of her friends came over and she locked me in the basement so I wouldn’t bother
them. Then one time Patty threw my homework in the fire and told Mom I hadn’t
done it yet. I was grounded for a week.
 
Michele: Do your sisters work outside the home?
Brent: Jan is a “stay-at-home” mom, which has always worked for her since her husband has a great paying job at Chrysler. Patty works as a receptionist at a doctor’s office. The only one of us who decided to go to college was Brenda.
 
Michele:  Where did she study and what was her major?
Brent: She went to the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine and now has her own veterinary
clinic in Kokomo.
 
Michele: Impressive. Now that we know a little about early home life, let’s move on to your days in the academy. I understand that you met Captain Stevenson’s son, Charlie, while
there.
Brent: Yes, I did. We became fast friends. Charlie was very friendly and enthusiastic. I
think he would have gone far in the department if he hadn’t been killed in the line of duty.
 
Michele: That was a horrible tragedy.
Brent: Yes, it was. Everyone at IMPD loved Charlie. From what I understand, Captain
Stevenson took it really hard.
 
Michele: So you weren’t really involved with the Stevensons?
Brent: Charlie had me over a couple of times for dinner, but I didn’t really get to know the
captain until I made detective. His sister, Mandy, seemed really nice, but she went off to college a year after it happened.
 
Michele: What’s it like working for Captain Stevenson?
Brent: Captain Stevenson is a by-the-book kind of guy. He’s strict, but fair. I’ve never seen
him lose his temper with anyone who didn’t deserve it. I just heard his wife went missing. Actually, he and Mandy had quite an argument the other morning.
 
Michele: What were they arguing about?
Brent:  I’m not sure what started it, but she was yelling at him on her way out. I wouldn’t have wanted him to look at me the way he was looking at her when she left.
 
Michele: So, you are twenty-eight years old and one of the youngest officers to make
detective. How did that make you feel?
Brent: I made detective when I was twenty-three. It happened just before Charlie died.
He’d been the one to push me into taking the detective’s exam. I thought I was way too young to even try, but I was wrong. Sometimes I think he had more confidence in me that I did.
 
Michele:  It’s great to have a friend who will encourage us to accomplish our goals.
Brent: Yeah. I really miss the guy.
 
Michele: So, how’s your love life?
Brent: I had a feeling you’d bring that up.
 
Michele:  Are you telling me a handsome young man such as yourself doesn’t have lady love?
Brent: Not at the moment. I’ve dated a few women, and have been in love, but it didn’t work
out. 
 
Michele: That’s too bad.
Brent: My partner, Erica Barnes, will tell you I fall in love much too quickly. She cringes every time I tell her I’m going out with someone.
 
Michele: Okay, I’ll let you off the hook. Have you been partnered with Detective Barnes for a
long time?
Brent: Our homicide department mixes it up quite a bit, but she’s been with me on the
majority of the cases I’ve worked. She’s got a sharp sense of humor. It’s almost like having another sister.
 
Michele: Do you think you’ll stay in homicide or do you have your eyes set on another department?
Brent: I love working homicide because it’s like working a jigsaw puzzle. You have to
pick up clues and put them all together to see the whole picture. It’s very challenging and I’d probably stay there forever if I could. However, the IMPD encourages us to move around. I think Robbery or Missing Persons would be challenging for me as well. 
 
Michele: 
What about Vice or the Gang Unit?
Brent:  It’s not that those are very challenging divisions. I’m not sure I’d want to go under cover. 
 
Michele: That's all the time we have today. Good luck with all your future endeavors and thank you for being our guest today.
Brent: It was my pleasure.
 
To find out more about Brent and how he solves homicides with the help of his colleagues in The Circle City Mystery Series, go to www.amazon.com to purchase your print or eBook copy. For signed copies, go to my website www.memay-mysteries.com and click on Order Books. 
 
In March, we will be interviewing Missing Persons Detective Tyrone Mayhew. The Circle City Mystery in which Detective Mayhew is the star is entitled Ensconced and will be av


 

    It's been almost a year since the last Love is Murder Mystery Writer's Conference and that wonderful night when Perfidy won the Lovey Award for Best First Novel. What a thrill it was to be recognized for my work by my peers. This year I'm thrilled to say, Inconspicuous has been nominated for Best Suspence Novel.
    The Love is Murder Conference is held in Rosemont at the Intercontinental Hotel near the Chicago O'Hare Airport. The full conference package includes meals and hotel rooms can be reserved at a substantial discount (hotel stay is not included in the price of the conference).  
    It doesn't matter if you are a published author, writer aspiring to be published, or a reader, this conference has something for everyone. If you take a look at the Love is Murder website (http://www.loveismurder.net/) under the About the Conference tab, you will find a Conference Schedule. You can also see that there are several options under the 2014 Registration tab (then Continue to Registration) to choose from in regards to full conference packages and partial packages. If you are an author looking for a publisher or agent, you can sign up for that opportunity as well.
    It's not too late to register for this fun filled, educational conference. I'll be there, I hope you will be, too.

Until next time.
    

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Mandy Stevenson, from Perfidy: A Circle City Mystery. Mandy is twenty-two years old and a recent graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She is the daughter of Captain Robert Stevenson (Commander of the Homicide & Robbery Division) and Cassandra Stevenson (real estate agent). Let’s get to know her.  

 
Michele: Mandy, it’s so good to talk to you outside of my head.
Mandy: It’s good to be out and about. 
 
Michele: Readers and future readers of the Circle City Mystery Series are anxious to get to know you better. I hope you’re up for a few personal questions.
Mandy: I don’t think there’s much I can hide from you M. E. You know me all too well.

Michele: Then let’s get started. We understand you recently graduated from Indiana University. What was your field of study?
Mandy: I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. IU has a wonderful Social Work program. Of course, to accomplish more in the field, I will be attending the campus in Indianapolis to work on my Master’s in Social Work soon.

Michele: Interesting choice of careers. Did your father’s occupation as a public servant have anything to do with your career choice?
Mandy: I hadn’t really thought of his job being an influence. It was actually my Aunt Karen who inspired me to look into Social Work. She’s told me stories about how satisfying it is to help others who are in dire circumstances. Of course, she also warned me that not all
cases come out positively. 

Michele: I could see where that could be depressing.
Mandy: It could, but Aunt Karen always says to stay focused on the cases with good outcomes and it makes the job easier. 

Michele: So by your tone of voice, I’m getting the impression that you and your aunt are very
close.
Mandy: Oh, yes. Aunt Karen is always there for me no matter what’s going on. She’s a rock. I don’t know how I would have made it through my brother’s death without her.

Michele: Aw, yes. How old were you when Charlie died?
Mandy: I was seventeen. It happened in August, just before I started my senior year in high
school. 

Michele: I know it’s difficult, Mandy, but would you be willing to tell our readers what happened to Charlie? 
Mandy: I guess. It’s still hard to talk about sometimes. He wasn’t just my brother; he was my best friend and protector. 

Michele: A protector in what way? 
Mandy: He did all of the normal brotherly stuff, like keeping other kids from picking on me and making sure I got home after school okay. Then there was mother. She always seemed to be angry with me about something. Charlie was obviously her favorite, so if he thought she was going to come down on me, he’d step in and diffuse the situation. 
 Michele: I’m so sorry. 
Mandy: Oh, it’s okay. I hardly noticed until after Charlie was gone. 
 
Michele: Tell us what happened the day Charlie died. 
Mandy: I’d had a good day that day. I’d gone shopping with some friends and was showing Mom and Dad my purchases when the doorbell rang. My dad answered it. It was a police officer I’d never seen before. My brother had gone on a domestic violence call and was shot in the face. He never stood a chance. That was the worst day of my life.
 
Michele: How did things change? 
Mandy: Mom became more distant and she totally blamed Dad for Charlie’s death. She claimed it was his fault Charlie decided to join the police force instead of going to
college. 
 
Michele: Was it? 
Mandy: No! My dad tried to talk him out of it. Charlie was determined to carry on the family
tradition. 
 
Michele: So there were others in your family who were police officers. 
Mandy: Yes, my paternal grandfather was a lieutenant in the sex crimes unit when he retired. He passed away of a heart attack just before Charlie graduated from the academy. My
great-grandfather was a patrol officer most of his career. He was struck and killed by a car while he was trying to help a stranded motorist. 
 
Michele: Back to your mother…did she every work through her grief? 
Mandy: To be honest, I don’t think she ever will. It’s been five years since Charlie died and she still blames my father for it. It’s as though she’s hanging onto the pain so she can continue to be angry with him.  
 
Michele: Sometimes that happens.  
Mandy: I would think she’d be tired of being so angry. Again, if it weren’t for Aunt Karen, my last year of high school would have been a disaster and I might not have completed all the
paperwork to get into IU.  
 
Michele: Then it must be pretty rough being home with your parents at such odds. 
Mandy: Yes, it is. I was hoping my return would make things better, but I haven’t seen any sign of it. I don’t know why they don’t get a divorce instead of making one another so
miserable. 
 
Michele: How are things between you and your father? 
Mandy: Okay. We have our moments, like the way he held me close at Charlie’s funeral. I just wish he’d been around more afterwards. I’m hoping to get closer to him again now that I’m
home. 
 
Michele: Do you have anyone you can talk to about these damaged relationships? 
Mandy: Oh, yes. I met a guy at college, Alex, who has been wonderful. Don’t get the wrong idea, he and I are just friends. He lost his mother when he was six-years-old, so he knows what
it’s like to lose someone you love. His father remarried someone a lot younger and that’s been a bit of a sore spot for Alex.  
 
Michele:Do you have any childhood friends with whom you keep in touch? 
Mandy: Nobody but Marie. She and I have been best friends since third grade. She went off to college in Illinois, but we kept in touch and I know she’d do anything for me. Marie’s working in a quaint dress shop on the northwest side of town. She wants to design clothes
some day. 
 
Michele: We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for her fashions. Is there anyone else you’d like to tell us who’s had an influence on your life? 
Mandy: I can’t forget Uncle Mel. He’s not really my uncle, that’s what Charlie and I called him. His real name is Thomas Melrose. He was assigned to work with my father when he was a rookie. Dad saved Uncle Mel’s life during a bank robbery once and they’ve been like brothers
ever since. Dad even asked him to be my godfather.

Michele: What does your Uncle Mel do now? 
Mandy: He’s the head of the Missing Person Department for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police. Dad says he’s done wonders with that department and could be police chief some
day.
  
Michele: You must be very proud. 
Mandy: I am. Uncle Mel is kind and generous. I’ll never understand why his wife divorced
him.
  
Michele: Are you dating anyone?
Mandy: I haven’t given that much thought. With my parents’ marriage such a mess, I wanted to concentrate on graduating college before I get serious about anyone. 
   
Michele: That’s too bad. I’m sure there are men lined up around the block waiting for the
chance.
 Mandy: You’re making me blush. It’s just that it takes so much work and I don’t have the energy to do it right now. 

Michele: Fair enough. Well, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have today. I want to thank our guest character, Mandy Stevenson, for being with us today.
Mandy: It was my pleasure. 
 
To find out more about Mandy and the perfidy she will face in Perfidy: A Circle City Mystery, go to www.amazon.com to purchase your print or eBook copy. For signed copies, go to my website www.memay-mysteries.com and click on Order Books. You can still purchase the old printed version of Perfidy from my website for only $8.00 
 
Until next time when we will be interviewing Homicide Detective Brent Freeman. 

    It's December 23rd already. How did this year fly by so quickly?  It's been a good year for me. My first novel, Perfidy, won the 2013 Lovey Award for Best First Novel at the Love is Murder Conference in February. The second novel in the Circle City Mystery Series, Inconspicuous, was launched in July and my third novel, Ensconced, is all set to launch on March 7, 2014.  I was also blessed this year with the opportunity to be published in the anthology, Hoosier Hoops and Hijinx, which was put together by the Speed City Sisters in Crime in Indianapolis. This fun anthology was edited by Brenda Stewart and Tony Perona.

    I've also seen some of my friends enjoy the thrill of launching their first mystery novel. 
J. Michael Major's One Man's Castle not only came out, but went into a second printing.  Jeanne Meeks recently launched Rim to Rim, and Sue Myers first novel, Deception, came out in ebook this month and will be available in print soon.  All three of these novels have been nominated for a 2014 Lovey Award for Best First Novel.

    In 2014, I will attend more bookfests in the Midwest.  I want to meet readers and find out what they enjoy. I also plan to blog more. I'll be interviewing Sue Myers in January and plan to do something special for you all involving my Circle City characters. And of course, above all, I will write. I'm still working on a YA fantasy and developing the idea of a private investigator series.  I also want to get book four of the Circle City Mystery Series put to bed and have it out by Halloween.  

    Watch my schedule.  It will start to fill up soon.  I hope to see you sometime this year.  Have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Until next time.

    Today it is  my pleasure to introduce you to author J. Michael Major. Michael has written several stories in the horror genre which have been published in such anthologies as Death Grip 3: It Came From the Cinema, New Traditions in Terror, Tales of Masks and Mayhem, Vol. III and the upcoming Splatterlands.
He has also had stories published in magazines such as Hardboiled, Bare Bone and Pirate Writings.
    Michael’s first mystery novel, One Man’s Castle, was released in March of this year. In a Publishers Weekly review they said “Major’s crime thriller debut displays…genuine talent… Major makes his complex lead a plausible character, and the investigating officers are fully realized as well.”
    Why switch to mystery and why go from short stories to a novel? Let’s ask him. Without further adieu, I present J. Michael Major.
 

Michele: Let’s get right to it, Michael. Why did you switch to the mystery genre and decide to write a full-length novel?
 
Michael: Actually, it wasn’t a switch at all. Several of my short stories have been mystery or crime–themed, including the original version of “One Man’s Castle,” and one of the main subplots of the novel One Man’s Castle, the one about the grieving puppeteer, was a horror story. I’d put off writing a novel for the longest time because I was afraid I would just end up writing a longer, padded version of the original short story. But the characters had stayed very
real to me, and the more I thought about them and their situations, the more I wanted to explore what happened. And the novel grew from there.
 
Michele: Then what makes you decide if you are going to write horror or mystery? And does that affect the length of what you write?
 
Michael: For me, stories are often separate ideas combined with a What if? I never know where they are going to come from. But I would have to say that my horror ideas come from something I fear, so they become short stories because I don’t want to spend a lot of time dealing with that fear; while mystery is often something that confuses or angers me and I want to spend the time figuring out why.
  
Michele: Was there anything in particular such as a person, place or event, which inspired you to write One Man’s Castle?
 
Michael: The inspiration came from an observation someone made about Robert Bloch’s Psycho. Before the novel (and movie), the killer was always someone obvious: a gangster, the town nutcase, the evil genius or mad scientist. But Psycho, based upon the real-life crimes of Ed Gein, showed how a serial killer could be your neighbor or friend, someone you would never expect. And I thought that the next logical step would be: What could make me a serial killer? Well, I knew that could never happen, so then next step was to wonder what might make me appear to look like a serial killer. And that’s when all the ideas and possibilities started forming.
 
Michele: I’ve read One Man’s Castle and thoroughly enjoyed it. Walter is a very interesting protagonist. Could you tell us a little about how you developed his character?
 
Michael:  Walter is an Everyman, a former victim who feels that our current society is
more concerned about the rights of the criminals than those of victims and their families. Much of Walter’s attitude and motivation comes from things that infuriated me on the news. One example was a time several years ago when a criminal stole a family’s car, then used their keys to return to the house to burglarize them while the family was home. The homeowner shot the criminal, and the police were more upset that the homeowner defended himself than they were that the criminal had returned to their house. Instead of saying what the criminal could have done (ie: In Cold Blood), they criticized the homeowner’s actions by saying things like “The homeowner could have accidently shot a family member or made the burglar mad.”
Really?  What’s wrong with this picture? It was that type of frustration that I used to create Walter’s character. 
 
Michele: Did you find any of your characters particularly difficult to create?
 
Michael: I wouldn’t say difficult, but the scenes with Larry Jensen, the puppeteer, were very hard. Watching a man (whose wife and newborn daughter were killed by a drunk driver) slowly descending into madness because of overpowering grief was emotionally draining to write.
 
Michele: If you could be any of the characters in your novel, who would you be and why?
 
Michael: I most closely resemble Riehle because he’s a husband and father who loves his family, however, I’d have to say that if I had to be someone different, I’d be the medical examiner, Dr. Thomas Griskle. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to work dressed like a rock star?   

Michele: Why did you choose suburban Chicago as your setting?
 
Michael: Except for the time I attended the University of Arizona, I’ve lived around Chicago all of my life. It’s what I know, and I feel that helps me make the setting and concerns of the
characters more real. Not that I’m comparing myself to him, but look how well Harlan Coben proved that suburban thrillers could captivate readers.
 
Michele: One Man’s Castle is a standalone novel. Have you considered doing a mystery series?
 
Michael: Actually, I’ve always felt One Man’s Castle was the start of a series. Though Walter’s story is done, there are a lot more crimes for Detectives Riehle and Capparelli to solve.
 
Michele: Excellent. So we can look forward to seeing more of your detectives in the future. Michael, writing is neither an easy occupation nor one where most people can even make a living. I know I’ve been told by other authors to keep my day job. What is it about writing that
motivates you to continue despite the odds?
 
Michael: I do it because I can’t stop thinking about storylines and characters and thinking What would happen if …? Whenever I get too overwhelmed with my regular job or family obligations or the reality of how hard it is to promote yourself in a world filled with tons of full-time authors and I feel like giving up. However, the words suddenly start flowing again as soon as I remove the stress of the business side of writing. The stories are just there and the thrill of creating never goes away. For which I’m very grateful.
 
Michele: I know exactly what you mean. Many of the authors I speak with don’t necessarily enjoy reading the same type of novel as those they write. What types of stories or books do you enjoy reading in your leisure time?

Michael: Honestly, I mostly read crime novels, though I occasionally throw in science fiction / fantasy, mainstream, horror and biographies just to help keep things interesting. Reading other styles exposes you to different ways to keep your prose fresh and spark new ideas.
 
Michele: Are there any books or authors that have inspired you in your writing? 
 
Michael: There are simply too many books to list that have blown me away and made me say: “I want to do that!” But the three authors who had the most impact on my writing style are: Joe R. Lansdale, whose stark, harsh realism exposes the dangers and horrors of the world; James Lee Burke, who writes the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read; and Ian Rankin, who still keeps his main character, John Rebus, interesting and changing and complex and evolving and dynamic after all these years (when so many other writers just go on auto-pilot). And a little Carl Hiaasen humor thrown into the mix never hurts any either.
 
Michele: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
 
Michael: Don’t procrastinate, sit your butt in the chair, and write the book you want to read. Trends come and go, so don’t try to capitalize on something that is currently popular, because it won’t be by the time your book is published. And you’ll only end up looking like a copycat anyway. Write the book you believe in, and your passion will always shine through.
 
Michele: What can we look forward to seeing from you next?

Michael: I have a horror story coming out soon in the anthology Splatterlands, and, of course, the next Riehle and Capparelli mystery!


    I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know J. Michael Major. If you want to learn more about Michael, please visit his website at www.jmichaelmajor.com. If you are interested in reading One Man’s Castle, and you should be, you may purchase it as follows: 
www.brnsncks.com (Brain Snacks Bookstore. Signed and personalized copies can be ordered here, and they ship worldwide!) 
www.amazon.com 
www.barnesandnoble.com


 
 

     I believe I’m finally rested from my fantastic trip to Nashville, Tennessee, last week to attend the Killer Nashville Mystery Writers’ Conference with my friend, Sue Myers. What a fabulous experience! The incomparable Anne Perry and Dr. D. P. Lyle were the guests of honor at this year’s conference. It was a thrill to meet them both. Dr. Lyle has assisted me with many a forensic question through his articles in the MWA 3rd Degree newsletter and his Howdunit book, Forensics. 
     Starting on Friday morning, it was a non-stop learning fest. Subjects covered just about every aspect of being an author. There were several workshops on writing skills, the business side of writing, and self-publishing. One of my personal favorites was the panel on short stories with Phil Bowie, Kay George, Chris Holm, Robert Mangeot, and Suzanne Berube Rorhus. As many of you may know, I’ve never felt as comfortable writing short stories as I do a full novel. However, after this great panel discussion, I’m more confident than ever that I can conquer this beast. 
     As has been their annual custom, conference planners asked TBI Special Agent Mike Breedlove to set up another crime scene for participants to work. The person coming closest to solving the case won a registration for the 2014 conference. This was not only fun for conference participants, the staff of the hotel went out on their breaks to try to solve it. Of course, they weren’t eligible for the prize, they just wanted in on the fun. Nevertheless, we have a winner—Lisa Anderson won the distinctive 2013 Dupin Detective Award and will be returning to the conference next year for free.
    I personally was honored to serve on a panel of authors including Annamaria Alfieri, Jon Jefferson (one-half of the Jefferson Bass writing team), Marie Moore, and Paul Parsons on the topic of back-story. It was so exciting to have this experience. There was standing room during the session and afterwards so many people stopped me in the hallway to say how much they enjoyed our panel and to ask me more questions. It certainly was a thrill for me to share my knowledge with others and to see new writers who are so anxious to learn.
    I want to thank Sisters in Crime for the fantastic party on Friday evening. It was great to meet members from all over the U. S. there and the food was great. I also enjoyed the Mystery Writers of America party on Saturday night before the Guests of Honor and Awards Banquet. Another wonderful way to meet members from other groups, however, I met people from the Midwest MWA who live in other states in our region. I will be taking some of their comments back to our group.
    Speaking of the awards banquet, there were several awards given besides the Dupin Detective Award. The SEMWA Magnolia Award is given each year to a member who has given exemplary service to the Southeast Mystery Writers of America. The winner of this award is Mary Saums. 
     The Claymore Award is given to an author of an unpublished work. They must send in the first fifty pages of their manuscript and if they are lucky, they will make the top ten. This award has given authors the opportunity for notoriety that has provided the opportunity to meet publishers and agents. The winner of the 2013 Claymore Award is Terri Coop for her work Dial 1-Pro-Hac-Vice. 
     Last, but not least, is the Silver Falchion Award. The Silver Falchion Award is bestowed upon the author of the best book published for the first time in the current or previous conference year. They had so many entries this year that they had to choose a top ten for this award from which participants voted. The winner of the 2013 Silver Falchion Award was, Sara J. Henry for A Cold and Lonely Place.
    Congratulations to all of those honored with wins this year.
    In addition, I want to give kudos to the booksellers. The Barnes & Noble from Franklin, Tennessee, did a great job. There was also an independent bookstore, Mysteries and More, there who handled some of my books. The owner consented to put a couple of my books in his store. Now I’m in a bookstore in the south! 
     Overall, this was a fabulous experience for me. It was great to connect with people I've met at other conferences like Molly MacRae, Nancy Nagle, and David Ciambrone. I met so many wonderful people and Nashville itself is a wonderful place to visit. If you ever get a chance to attend this conference, you won’t regret it.

Until next time!

This was my first Printers Row Lit Fest and what an exciting and tiring event! 
    Sue Myers and I were in charge of the Love is Murder table in the tent we shared with Echelon Press. We had the task of selling all of our overstock of sweatshirts and tee shirts and by Sunday at 4 pm we'd done it!!! We also handed out almost 900 Love is Murder cards and had at least a dozen people say they were excited and would try to come. 
    Sue and I stayed in downtown Chicago and had a wonderful dinner at the Italian Village with the contingent from the midwest chapter of Mystery Writers of America. The food was delicious and the company superb.
    As you can see by the photo above, Sue and I were out bright and early for a nice Starbucks breakfast before the tents were even opened up. There was a threat of rain for Sunday, but it didn't come. For the most part both days were absolutely perfect. Not too hot or too cold, but pleasant and dry. 
    I had the opportunity to have two time slots at the Mystery Writers of America tent on Sunday for signing books and talking to potential readers. It was so great to sit between J. Michael Major (One Man's Castle) and Clare O'Donohue (Someday Quilts Mysteries and Kate Conway Mysteries). The three of us worked together to make sure people were aware of one another's work. Clare along with MWAMW President, Tim Broderick, encouraged me to get in front of the microphone for a short interview. Like I told the audience, "I'm a shy girl, with a great book." I made it through without fainting and am grateful to Clare and Tim for their encouragement.
    All-in-all, this was a wonderful experience. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with many mystery readers and to get to know my fellow mystery writers better. I'm worn out, but can't wait to do it again!

Until next time.