DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

A Composition in Murder
by Larissa Reinhart

A Composition in Murder (A Cherry Tucker Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Henery Press (November 15, 2016)
Paperback: 266 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635111132
E-Book ASIN: B01KY3LERU

Synopsis

With a new art teaching gig at Halo House—Halo, Georgia’s posh independent living home—and Halo society scrutinizing her family and her love life, Cherry Tucker needs to stay out of trouble. However, her sleuthing skills are sought by Halo House’s most famous resident: Belvia Brakeman, the ninety-year-old, blind CEO and founder of Meemaw’s Tea. Belvia confides in Cherry that the family tea empire is in jeopardy. The CEO suspects her daughter, the COO, has been murdered and she might be next. Her offer is hard to refuse, but will have Cherry treading on Forks County Sheriff toes, namely her personal Deputy Heartache, Luke Harper.

Amid her town troubles, can Cherry put her reputation, romance, and life on the line for the final request of a sweet tea tycoon? While she juggles senior citizen shenanigans, small town politics, and corporate family scandals, Cherry finds the sweet tea business cutthroat in more ways than one.

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

What initially got you interested in writing?
Thanks for having me on your “shelf!”
I can’t remember not being interested in writing. I’ve been writing stories since childhood, won awards through high school, and even took creative writing in college, although that wasn’t my major. But I didn’t start writing novel-length pieces for publication until six or seven years ago. My family had moved to Japan, I wasn’t working, and my young daughters were in school. It was the perfect storm in time for writing. I began to see what I could do and in about eighteen months later, had two completed manuscripts on our return to the US. The first manuscript was put away and the second manuscript was my first published book, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY.

What genres do you write in?
My published books are all humorous mysteries (sometimes called cozy mysteries), but I hope to have some romantic comedy/chicklit/women’s fiction novels available in the near future. The first manuscript I wrote was actually Young Adult and I’d also like to get back to writing YA because my daughters are really urging me in that direction.

What drew you to writing these specific genres?
It’s what I read. Actually, I read all sorts of books, but those genres are my favorites and the ones I feel most comfortable dipping my pen in, so to speak. I’d love to write children’s books, particularly Middle Grade, but I haven’t been inspired to do that. I’d love to write thrillers, but I don’t feel knowledgable enough to do those either.

How did you break into the field?
I had a very easy break. I pitched my first Cherry Tucker book at one conference and was asked to submit by several agents. While I was waiting to hear back, I got impatient. When I heard Henery Press was taking submissions for full manuscripts, I submitted and heard back about a week later.

What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?
I really just want to entertain people. I’m hoping my books are a bit of escapism with some laughs.

What do you find most rewarding about writing?
Hearing back from readers. Readers are really wonderful and so thoughtful. I particularly love the stories of how my books carried them through some difficult times, like hospital stays or grief. It makes me really happy to know that I’m helping someone in that way.

What do you find most challenging about writing?
Making myself sit in a chair and do it. I’m easily distracted. I love social media. I like to get out and do things. I love research too much. If there’s other things going on in my life, it’s difficult to focus on story. I’m not even a good sitter. It takes some time to get me to fall into the story. Once that flow is going, I don’t like to stop, but getting to the flow is really difficult for me.

What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?
Take classes and read books on the craft. Join some writing groups where you’re physically meeting with other people. Networking is so helpful, because you’re going to find that no one understands what you’re doing unless they’re another writer. You need that support because it’s a lonely business. Go to conferences and be open and friendly (I know many of us are introverts). You’re going to love the people you meet.

What type of books do you enjoy reading?
All sorts! How’s that for an answer? I do binge read certain authors. Then I’ll get tired of the genre or voice and switch. In between, I like to read modern classics. I love Elmore Leonard, Ira Levin, Barbara Michaels, Daphne du Maurier, Mary Stewart—just to name a few. I think I’m mainly attracted to an author’s voice more than the genre. I don’t care if the book is science fiction, paranormal, western, young adult, etc. It really boils down to voice, then the characters, and story. And if the writing is particularly delicious, that just makes it all the better.

Is there anything else besides writing you think people would find interesting about you?
I live in Nagoya, Japan, so for some that’s pretty interesting. My family was on House Hunters International this year (the “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode). It’s our fourth time to live in Japan, but my first time writing professionally while living here. Also, we have a dog named Biscuit. You can see his adventures in Japan on my social media pages, too.

What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?
My website is LarissaReinhart.com and I have a newsletter which I send out quarterly with a giveaway drawing for subscribers, but also when I have book news. You can sign up for it here: http://smarturl.it/larissanewsletter. I’m on Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest, but really I spend most of my time on Facebook and Instagram. Instagram is mainly funny/interesting/unusual stuff I see in Japan and Facebook is where I chat.
For my fans, I have a private Facebook group called the Mystery Minions and we do all sorts of special contests, but mostly we just chat. 😉
http://www.facebook.com/RisWrites
http://instagram.com/larissareinhart
https://twitter.com/LarissaReinhart
http://pinterest.com/LarissaReinhart/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806614.Larissa_Reinhart
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mysteryminions/

ABOUT THE BOOK

A COMPOSITION IN MURDER, A Cherry Tucker Mystery #6
“Anytime artist Cherry Tucker has what she calls a Matlock moment, can investigating a murder be far behind? A Composition in Murder is a rollicking good time.” —
Terrie Farley Moran, Agatha Award winning author of the Read ’Em and Eat cozy mysteries

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/CompositioninMurder
Kobo: bit.ly/2ccf501
iTunes: apple.co/2byflaY
Barnes & Noble: http://smarturl.it/CompositionBN

A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery series. The first in the series, Portrait of a Dead Guy, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. The sixth mystery, A Composition in Murder, releases November 15th. Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, now live in Nagoya, Japan, but they still call Georgia home.

Author Links:

Website: http://larissareinhart.com/

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1qMwr29

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RisWrites

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RisWrites

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806614.Larissa_Reinhart

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/LarissaReinhart/

Join her Facebook street team, The Mystery Minions

Purchase Links:
Amazon  B&N

a Rafflecopter giveaway