How did you
come up with the idea for your Christmas themed book? Could you give a short
synopsis on the book for my readers?
Christmas is
my favorite time of the year and let it be known that I’m a six-year-old at
heart and love everything about the holidays. I wanted to write a book that
portrayed what is most important about the season to me while still writing
within my cozy mystery genre. I also wanted to depict scenes of
family and friends coming together in celebration of the magic of the season and
show readers what it really means. Not only from the aspect of sights and
sounds of the holidays but also to the aromas. Keep in mind that scents can
stir memories and create a link to our pasts.
In Murder
in the First Edition,
a story that is based around the discovery and mysterious disappearance of a
first edition copy of, A Christmas Carol. There is a moment when
Addie catches a whiff of a Christmas apple-spiced punch, similar to one her
grandmother used to make. The fragrance stirs warm memories and for a moment,
Addie is taken back, in her mind and heart, to Christmases past that were
filled by her loving family gathered together in celebration of the season.
If readers
love stories that are centered on bookstores and rare books, then they’re going
to enjoy following the adventures of Addie, Serena, her best friend and local
tea merchant, plus the other cast of colorful characters in the quaint seaside
town of Greyborne Harbor where murder and mystery are not … uncommon.
What are
some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
One of the
traditions I love in December is baking. I’m not a crafty person and stand in
awe of those who are, but I do love to create delicious treats for family and
friends. It’s my secret weapon after a busy December day, whether it was spent
open-air skating, sledding or perusing one of the many holiday craft markets.
What’s next?
Here’s a
sneak peek at the cover blurb for Proof of Murder, the fourth book in the
series which will be released in April 2020.
The seaside
New England town of Greyborne Harbor is home to many grand estates, including
the Queen Anne Victorian Addie inherited from her great aunt. Now one of those
mansions is holding an estate sale, which is just what the bookshop owner needs
to replenish her supply of rare editions—even if the house is rumored to be
haunted. Assisting an overwhelmed insurance appraiser with the inventory, Addie
discovers an 1887 magazine containing Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock
Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, which she estimates to be worth over one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
But when
Addie later finds the appraiser dead in the estate's private library, with the
door bolted from the inside, and the priceless edition missing, it's a mystery
worthy of the Great Detective himself. She's certain the death and the robbery
are connected—but who, other than a ghost who can walk through walls, could
have gotten in to do the deed? It's up to Addie to find the key to the
crime—before she's the next one cornered by a killer . . .
What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Read, write,
learn the craft of writing, read, write, listen, read, write, and to never give
up if it’s your passion.
What do you
know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
That
patience is a virtue and one I lacked. I am/was a very type “A” personality and
wanted everything done yesterday. I came from a strong management background
and was used to things happening clickity-clickity. The number-one lesson I’ve
learned about the publishing industry is that nothing happens in my timeline.
I have to take a deep breath and wait for everything.
It’s like a
world unto itself, and guess what? I’m no longer a type A and have learned to
breathe through the process of four to five rounds of edits, hashing out title
and cover ideas with my editor, building an advanced reading team, pre-release
marketing and promotion and then all the commotion around release day and the
book promotion following that—but most of all. I’ve learned to love
letting the control go and enjoy the ride.
Any last
words or tips?
If you
aspire to be a writer, remember that it is a learned craft and an evolving
process. Don’t ever give up. It’s your passion and to also remember very few
writers have the success of JK Rowling or Stephen King. It took them over
twenty years to reach the success levels they enjoy today. At the beginning
of their writing careers, they too received enough rejection letters from
agents and publishers to wallpaper their home offices with before someone took
a chance on them. Be prepared for the long haul, a lot of hard work, and the
ability to develop a thick skin, but always remember why you are persevering
and keep writing because if you don’t, a part of you will shrivel up and die.
Are there
any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
I write the Beyond
the Page Bookstore Mystery series and to date, there have been six books
contracted by Kensington Publishing in the series. Although each book can be
read as a standalone, I highly recommend that readers begin with book one, Murder
by the Book and then read the second, Prologue to Murder before
jumping into book three, Murder in the First Edition. I think that
starting at the beginning of any series helps in learning the back-story and
seeing character development and growth throughout the course of a series.
If you’re
ready to start reading Lauren’s books and what’s coming next, here’s how you
can get connected:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ author/
Website: http://laurenelliottauthor.com/
Kensington
Authors: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/32031
No comments:
Post a Comment