Friday, March 27, 2015

Blog Tour: Murder, Mystery, & Dating Mayhem by @denaehaggerty #interview & #giveaway


Humorous Chick Lit with a Dash of Murder/Mystery
Date Published: March 1, 2015


My name is Izzy. I drink too much, am clumsier than a newborn foal, and my brain-to-mouth filter often malfunctions. My daredevil husband killed himself in a parachuting accident five years ago and my best friend Jack has decided it’s time I jump back in the dating pool. He’s perfectly happy to throw me in if I don’t listen. Just when things in the dating world start to heat up, my grandma dies. Only her knitting group of Jessica Fletcher wannabes is sure it’s murder. I’m not convinced but I’m always up for a bit of excitement as long as it doesn’t lead to a night in jail. Well, more than one night anyway. Will I miss my chance at love because I’m chasing imaginary killers? Did someone really kill grandma or am I and my merry band of geriatric thieves imagining things?


Purchase Links



Interview




What is the hardest part of writing your books?
There comes a point in each novel when I think – I can’t do this! I can’t finish. OMG! What are the characters doing? Unfortunately, the only solution to this stage of writing is to just keep going. Eventually, the characters will let me know what they want to do.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?
In Murder, Mystery & Dating Mayhem I decided to make the chapter titles songs, which related to the content of the chapter. From the chapter list, a very eclectic playlist emerges.
“Middle of the Road” – The Pretenders, "Let’s Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "Grandma" by Pam Feather, "That’s What Friends are For” by Dionne Warwick, "Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Friends Will be Friends” by Queen, "Lightening Crashes” by Live, "Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton, "Listen” by Beyoncé, "Call the Police” by James Morrison, "With a Little Help from my Friends” by Joe Cocker, "Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves, "I Fought the Law” by The Clash, "Please Read The Letter” by Robert Plant, "Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright, "Price Tag” by Jesse J, "I Knew You were Trouble” by Taylor Swift, "Land of Confusion” by Genesis, "Building a Mystery” by Sarah McLachlan, "I’ve been Searching” by Chicago, "Ice Cream” by Sarah McClachlan, "Contagious” by Avril Lavigne, "Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis, "I Never Knew You” by Jason Mraz, "I’m a Mess” by Ed Sheeran, "I’ll be Your Man” by James Blunt, "Barbie Girl” by Aqua, "I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar, "Do You Want to Know a Secret?” by The Beatles, "Thieves in the Temple” by Prince, "Enter Sandman” by Metallica, "Why Can’t This Be Love” by Van Halen, “Guilty” by Joe Cocker, “The End” by The Doors, "Happy” by Natasha Bedingfield

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I have a few friends that have volunteered – or perhaps I’ve blackmailed them – to be beta readers. For Murder, Mystery & Dating Mayhem it’s just possible I went overboard and had too many beta readers. The responses were so varied, I was a bit lost – or at least more lost than usual.  

What book are you reading now?
I’m never just reading one book! I always have at least one book I’m reading to review on behalf of the author, a book for fun, and a more serious book. Today I’m reading Shattered by Valerie Davisson.

How did you start your writing career?
After switching careers several times and still being a grumpy Gus about work and career, my husband suggested that I bring out my first completed novel, Unforeseen Consequences, as an eBook. I was like, why the heck not?


I’m working on two books at the moment. The first is a bit of a follow-up to Murder, Mystery & Dating Mayhem in which the heroine’s best friend Jack gets his own story. The second is a historical thriller set in Istanbul during the Second World War. This one is taking me a lot of time to research as there aren’t many research materials available in English.




I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but think I’m a European. After spending my senior year of high school in Germany, I developed a bad case of wanderlust that is yet to be cured. My flying Dutch husband and I have lived in Ohio, Virginia, the Netherlands, Germany and now Istanbul. We still haven’t decided if we want to settle down somewhere – let alone where. Although I’ve been a military policewoman, a commercial lawyer, and a B&B owner, I think with writing I may have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. That’s assuming I ever grow up, of course. Between tennis, running, traveling, singing off tune, drinking entirely too many adult beverages, and reading books like they are going out of style, I write articles for a local expat magazine and various websites, review other indie authors’ books, write a blog about whatever comes to mind and am working on my fifth book.



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