A chat with Toby, the Spellbound Hound !

Toby, the Spellbound Hound is a character created by Jeannie Wycherley

What a delight! You all know how much I love doggies, and today we are going to interview a talking whippetty-Schnauzer-terrier-thingie named Toby. It's not every day that you get to talk to a talking dog! How are you, Toby? 

Hello Grandma Bertha *wags tail politely* I brought you some treats in case you’re hungry. They’re cheesy ones. Cheesy treats are my favourite favourite. It would be nice if we could share.

Oh, that's so sweet of you! Tell me, Toby, what was the first investigation you ever did? What was the

last? Do you expect to do more investigations in the future?

To be honest, as intrepid as I am, I’ve only been involved in one investigation. It was long and involved and incredibly complicated, and I had to draft in reinforcements in the shape of a human called Clarissa (she’s a witch but don’t let that put you off) and some squizzels. I think you might know them as squirrels, but they call themselves squizzels. Honest. I speak squizzel.

I also made friends with a Chaos Wizard. Clarissa calls him ‘an original’. I think she means he’s crazy, but that’s just impolite. I like him a lot!

You see what happened was that The Pointy Woman came to my little house in Devon in England and killed my owner. His name was Old Joe and I loved him so much. And before I could say ‘who’ll feed me my din-dins now?’ she had given me a voice. “Speak to none but me,” she said. And then, horror of horrors, she sent me to the kennels.

I had to escape, which is when I bumped into Clarissa. Together we started to track The Pointy Woman down and find out why she’d killed Old Joe.

I have a feeling there is another adventure in my future. I’ve been seeing someone hanging around my house. I have a feeling she needs my help.

That's very courageous of you, Toby. That's one of the things I love the most about doggies, you're always willing to do good. Now tell me, what’s your major weakness while investigating a murder?

I get side-tracked by snacks, or smells, or other dogs, or interesting people. Or itches.

What can you do that the police can't?

Besides having an amazing sense of smell and incredible hearing, I can scratch behind my ear with my back foot. I bet DC Plum can’t do that. I can also squish myself into a tiny ball and sleep anywhere. I’ve also been known to polish off more than one dinner.

It must be tough doing all that by yourself. Do you have anyone helping you in your investigations? Tell us more about them.

Clarissa is my new human. She’s actually Old Joe’s granddaughter and can you believe she had never been owned by a dog before? The first thing she did was give me a barf. Yuck! She’s a journalist and a witch, but to be honest my magick is better than hers. Don’t tell her I said that, but it is true.

She’s never got any money. I blame The Pointy Woman for that. But she is a good journalist. She’s good at research. I’ve been learning to read but I don’t really like screens so I leave all the google-goggling to her. Also, she can drive, and because I’m quite short, I struggle to reach the pedals. I like to stick my face out of the window and smell the cow manure and foxes when we’re driving down the lanes. I’m not sure Clarissa is that good a driver. I have to cover my ears sometimes because she gets a bit shouty about other road users.

What was the most difficult period in your investigation, and how did you deal with it?

There have been a few difficult periods in my investigations.  Being incarcerated in Sun Valley Pet Sanctuary and on death row, that wasn’t pleasant. Being hurt by The Pointy Woman made me very sad (but I was a brave soldier, Clarissa said). Through it all, I’ve been able to rely on my friends; Clarissa, Dom the Chaos Wizard and his dog, Star, and the dogs at the kennel. They kept me going.

Together we are stronger!

That's what friends are for, am I right? Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know.

I hide my borlies under the Abelia bush in the back garden, but if you tell anyone I will have to magick you into a bee. Okay?

I need to repopulate the bushes in my local vicinity because I nearly caused bee-mageddon when I practised a disappearing spell last summer. Oopsie.

I apologised but, regrettably, I don’t think I’m seen as a friend to bees.

This makes me sad because I love all creatures!

Do you have a favourite quote?

When referring to sandwich fillings, because I like them all: “That’s my favourite favourite.”

Thank you, Toby, this was a great pleasure. Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? You're a good boy! See you all soon!

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Jeannie Wycherley has always been blessed with a wildly overactive imagination. Her formative years were spent inhabiting the glorious worlds that other writers had created, and even now she finds it a wrench to leave Narnia and Alderley Edge behind. As a child she loved history, and visited many sites of interest, with her family, in the UK and around Europe, and was a keen – and sorrowful – observer of the evil man perpetrates. No surprise therefore that she went on to study history at University, and left – or was eventually politely turfed out – with a PhD in modern and contemporary social history.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanniewycherley/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thecushionlady

Website: https://www.jeanniewycherley.co.uk/

Buy my books: http://author.to/jeanniewycherley

Thoughts on Murder #2 - Get a Clue (Board)!

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

I had a Clue board when I was a kid. Who didn't? The game was called Detetive in Brazil, and the names of the characters were a little different, but all in all, the game was the same. As a crime author, I'm always looking for inspiration, and, to me, the Clue board is an amazing tool to develop my writing skills. I'd go as far as to say that Clue is much more interesting for a writer than it is for a reader. Why is that?

A murder has happened, and there are six suspects: Miss Scarlett, Mr Green, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Mrs White and, of course, the infamous Colonel Mustard. The murder weapon could be a number of things, from a dagger to a pipe, and the body had to be found somewhere around a mansion. Each player had a pin that represented a character. They wandered the place trying to find the murderer, the weapon and the scene of the crime.

One of the most fascinating things about Clue is the fact that any player can be the murderer, even you. The game can be played for at least three players, but it's most fun when there are six participants, each representing one character.

The structure of the game isn't like any crime novel you find in a bookshop. Not only do you have to find out the killer's identity, but also the cause of death and the room in which the body lay. These are all things you know as soon as the crime is discovered in a novel or short story. Which such a strange premise, why is this game so popular? 

Playing Clue has much more to do with the process of outlining and writing a crime novel than

reading one. When you're writing a murder mystery, you first find figure all the details and solve the crime in your head. Then you sit down and put it on paper, adding twists and leads that will engage your reader. Outlining is like walking into a labyrinth leaving a thread behind you. Writing the novel is like following that thread all the way back. At some point, the thread can get broke, and it helps if you have the path in your mind. Clue is a great way of training your mind on that.

Some versions of the Clue come with a description of the suspects, which I never liked. In the classic game, you don't know much about these people and their relationship with Mr Boddy, the victim. Like an author who creates a character, you can give them personalities in your head (I know I never trusted Professor Plum). They are not going to be the same personalities your friends created, and that's great! It's part of the fun.

So, the next time you get writer's block, get the dust out of that Clue board and invite some friends for a game night. It becomes even more interesting if they're also mystery writers. You can all get some inspiration, all while having good laughs.

Cheers,

Matt Ferraz

PS: Grandma Bertha's next interview will be published by the end of the week

Thoughts on Murder #1: The Knives Out money issue

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

This is a spoiler-free essay about the movie Knives Out (2019). Please keep the comments spoiler-free as well

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the movie Knives Out was a pleasant surprise for mystery fans. The script for subverts the whodunit genre in many interesting ways and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The plot deals with the murder of crime writer Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer) and the investigation that ensues. With a great cast and clever twists, the movie is a treat and will keep you guessing till the end.

However, our goal here today isn't to discuss the mystery per se. Watching the movie for the first time, I was intrigued by Harlan Thrombey's career as a crime writer. Specifically, I was intrigued by the fact that he made such a big fortune by managing his books the way he does.

Harlan lives in a huge mansion and supports many of his younger relatives. His fortune is estimated at 60 million dollars at the time of his death. It's unlikely that a book author would make so much money. Unlikely, but not impossible. Remember the case of J.K. Rowling, who became richer than Queen Elizabeth through her Harry Potter books.

There lies the rub, though. The movie is very specific about Harlan's arguments with his son's Walt (Michael Shannon) who manages his publishing house. It's made clear that Harlan releases two books a year in the publisher that, apparently, only prints his own work. Meaning he's self-published and has been so since the beginning of his career, far before the advent of on-demand printing and ebooks. Speaking of ebooks, Harlan doesn't like them, neither does he allow any of his novels to be adapted into film or television.

By trying to make Harlan an old school author, Rian Johnson creates an uneven situation. It's established that the character is 86 years old at the time of his death and that the movie takes place in the year of its release, 2019.  One could argue Harlan started at a big publisher and then migrated to his own company, but that's pure speculation since it's never stated anywhere in the movie. If one considers the amount of resources it would take to make it that big as a self-published author around the time Harlan started releasing his work, it makes it hard to believe he would have done so without selling rights to film or TV or releasing other authors under his imprint. 

At a certain point, Harlan's son Walt complains about that attitude, saying that it's on movies and TV that the real money is. He also tries to convince his father to release his work on digital platforms. But Harlan remains adamant. He hates movies and is a brick and mortar author.

It's clear that Johnson wants to create an old fashioned crime author, who lives in a big mansion that resembles a Clue board and wants to do everything his own way. A mix of J.D. Salinger and Agatha Christie which, interesting as he may be as a character, doesn't make much sense for anyone who's familiar with the publishing business.

That doesn't spoil the movie, though. Not even Daniel Craig's attempt at a Southern American accent does. Knives Out remains an amazing movie that you should check out right now. Let me know your thoughts on the comments, and don't forget to check out Grandma Bertha's interviews! 

Yours,

Matt Ferraz

A chat with Pippa Parker after such a long time!

Pippa Parker was created by Liz Hedgecock

Greetings, my dear readers! It's been a while, I know. Last Christmas was crazy! I had to take a break after solving the murder of the girl with the missing toe (all about that here) and put my blog aside.

But now we are back, and better than ever! Apart from the usual interviews, we'll also have weekly posts from Matt talking about his craft. But now, let's have a chat with the lovely Pippa Parker, one of my favorite amateur detectives of all time. 

It's great having you here, Pippa. Tell us: what’s your major strength while investigating a murder?

Multitasking. I have to fit my investigations around the school run, nursery, making lunch for the kids, and doing my actual job. What is my actual job again?

Did you choose to become a detective? Or didn’t you have a choice? 

Becoming a detective was the last thing on my mind. As far as I was concerned I was just trying to fit into the weird village that I’d moved to against my will, and make some friends. It was only when the woman who runs our local playgroup got bashed on the back of the head that I had no choice but to get involved!

It happens more than you think. And what’s your daytime occupation? How does it relate to your investigations? 

By day I run events and manage bookings for Lady Higginbotham, owner of Higginbotham Hall, and Serendipity Jones, crafter extraordinaire. I also act as a brake on some of Lady H's wilder ideas. I combine this with being a director of operations, head cook and bottle washer, expert negotiator, activities coordinator and chauffeur. In other words, I’m a mum.

 

What do you like least about investigating a case? 

Generally I back away from a case until I get dragged into it. Then I complain about it to anyone who will listen (unless I’m undercover), and eventually I get so pulled into the case that I forget to do things like sleep.

And what do you know about investigating? How did you acquire that knowledge? 

I’ve probably learnt all that I know about investigating from reading Agatha Christie books. I’m a complete amateur, and I think that means that I pick up on the little things that intrigue me, which the police might miss. I’ve definitely got the nosiness and curiosity to make a good detective. Even if it gets me into trouble the rest of the time.

Who do you see yourself closest to: Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple or Sam Spade? 

I’d like to think that I am an intuitive genius and master of disguise like Sherlock Holmes. I'd certainly like to have a housekeeper to look after me, and a faithful companion to write all my adventures. However, I’m probably more like Miss Marple, poking my nose in where it often isn’t wanted, and relating things to my everyday life. I’m not sure I’d want to wear as much wool as she does though. Itchy.

How do you deal with the authorities while doing your investigation? 

If I can work with them, I do. Otherwise I pretend they’re not there and ignore them. I generally find that it’s easier to beg forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. Although again, sometimes that gets me into hot water. Can you see a pattern emerging here?

Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know.

I can actually cook quite well, but mostly I can't be bothered. 

Great having you here, Pippa. I'm a big fan of your work! And thank you to all my good readers. Remember: if you are a cozy mystery author, contact me using the form on the right side of this blog, and we'll arrange an interview. See you all later!

Books in the Pippa Parker Mysteries series:

Murder at the Playgroup

Murder in the Choir

A Fete Worse Than Death

Murder in the Meadow

The QWERTY Murders (just released!)

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Liz Hedgecock grew up in London, England, did an English degree, and then took forever to start writing. After several years working in the National Health Service, some short stories crept into the world. A few even won prizes. Then the stories started to grow longer... 

Now Liz travels between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, murdering people. To be fair, she does usually clean up after herself. 

Liz’s reimaginings of Sherlock Holmes, her Pippa Parker cozy mystery series, and the Caster & Fleet Victorian mystery series (with Paula Harmon) are available in ebook and paperback.

Liz lives in Cheshire with her husband and two sons, and when she’s not writing or child-wrangling you can usually find her reading, messing about on Twitter, or cooing over stuff in museums and art galleries. That's her story, anyway, and she's sticking to it. 

Website: http://lizhedgecock.wordpress.com

Amazon book page: http://Author.to/LizH

Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/lizhedgecockwrites

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lizhedgecock

A chat with Starla Cupp, a sweet detective!

Starla Cupp is a character created by Willow Monroe

Good morning, my cozy friends! Sorry for not posting in a while, but here we are today with a brand new interview. At the end of this post, there's a message from Matt, so make sure you read it. Today we're talking to my dear friend Starla Cup. Tell us, Starla, what was the first investigation you did?  What was the last?  Do you expect to do more investigations in the future?

My first investigation came completely out of the blue when hateful old Nadine Crump went and got herself killed--right behind the diner on the railroad tracks.  At first Poppy, my best friend was a suspect and then the police focused on her fiance, Tom Brown.  Well, there was no way I could stay out of that!  The last investigation was when one of our own, famous country music legend, Jimmy Bones died right on stage in front of the whole town.  Some said he was killed by his severe peanut allergy but I disagreed, hence, my own investigation.  And it turned out that I was right, even if I did have to jump out of a window to prove it.  I'm pretty sure there will be more investigations, especially if it might harm someone I care about.  Small towns like Sugar Hill hide many secrets and sometimes those secrets come to light causing people to react in ways they never dreamed they would.

Skeletons in the closet, like they use to say. What is your daytime occupation?  How does it relate to your investigations?

I own and run the Dixie Cupp Diner with my best friend Poppy Wendell (soon to be Brown if she has her way about it).  That's where we spend most of our days.  I live in an apartment over the diner so my commute consists of not falling down the stairs.  It relates to my investigations in a couple of ways.  First, I'm an upstanding businesswoman, turning the diner into pretty much the social hub of the community.  Secondly, people know and feel comfortable with me and that gives me the opportunity to talk to them and, sometimes, get information they didn't even know they had.

You grab them by the stomach, am I right?! And what can you do that the police can't?

I can talk to them as their friend and neighbor.  Yeah, Tucker has that ability, too, but he wears a uniform.  I don't.  And owning the Dixie Cupp Diner allows me to interact with most everyone in town on a daily basis.  You'd be surprised at the stories that play out right there in the diner.  Anyway, everyone has known me since I was a kid and, sometimes, I think they still see me like one so they trust me with information that I probably shouldn't have, if you know what I mean.

Yes, I do! People are keen to open themselves to people who know how to listen. What do you know about the psychology of a criminal?

What I know about people, period, is what I learned from my grandmother.  She taught me to respect everyone but take everything I hear with a grain of salt.  And, really, all you have to do is pay attention to what's going on, quietly watch people and how they interact with others.  Now, that hasn't helped me pick out a criminal until it's almost too late but it keeps me on my toes. 

And how do you deal with authorities during your investigation?

Well, since the authorities in question here just happens to be one of my best friends, it's pretty easy to deal with him.  And giving out free coffee to the rest of the officers on our small force is also a plus.  They'll willingly share information with me.  Is that bribery?  Tucker worries about me getting myself into trouble, of course, and sometimes those conversations get, um, loud, but generally, he's on my side.

Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know.

I am madly in love with Tucker Ash, our new chief of police.  Oh, Tucker and I have been best friends, buddies, since we were children but I've just come to realize my feelings for him go deeper than that.  Have I told him?  Nope.  I'm just now admitting it to myself.  You're the first person I've told although Poppy suspects it.

That's between the three of us. Do you have a favorite quote?  

"The secret is to live life on purpose." Starla Cupp in Pumpkin Spice and a Body on Ice.

Thank you for dropping by, Starla! I hope to see you again soon. 

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About Willow Monroe
I'm Willow Monroe, and I have a reading problem. And a scribbling problem. I spend my time reading, writing, dancing (sometimes by myself), and poking at the characters in my head to see if they have a story to tell. When they do, I write it down. Then I mess with it, because characters are terrible storytellers. They're too involved. Too close. Too profoundly damaged by their experience to get the story right. So I help:) 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Willow-Monroe/e/B00J3IIYAI/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Website: www.Pinwheel-books.com.
Pinterest: pinwheelbooks
Instagram: @pinwheelbooks.  

Hey, everyone, Matt here. Just a heads up: I'm going to Costa Rica for two months, with a scholarship to write a book about the endangered jaguar. This is a huge opportunity for me, and I'm going to focus 100% on it, so until I'm back, the blog won't be updated. If you're an author wishing to be interviewed, please wait until next year to contact me. Thanks a bunch!