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.
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.ABOUT THE BOOK
Cat Got Your Diamonds: A Kitty Couture Mystery
A Kitty Couture MysteryPublisher: Crooked Lane Books (November 15, 2016)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1629538426
E-Book ASIN: B01H082DOU
Synopsis
Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker’s dream come true–until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1.
Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk?
Early Praise:
“In all that New Orleans heat and glitter, there’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A fun read.”
—Rita Mae Brown, New York Times bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie mystery series
“Everyone needs a Furry Godmother! A delightful new series steeped in the flavor of New Orleans and its old families. Julie Chase’s clever characters are guaranteed to make you smile.”
—Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Paws & Claws mysteries
“A stunning debut… Julie Chase’s new series is a cross between Laura Childs’ Scrapbooking series and Ali Brandon’s Black Cat Bookshop. A fantastic start to what looks like a promising cozy series. Even if you are not a cat/dog lover, you will love this one!”
—T. C. LoTempio, author of the national bestselling Nick and Nora mystery series.
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
What initially got you interested in writing? I was a grubby, worn-out mother of three. Nursing a newborn. Potty training a toddler, and home schooling a wild kindergartener. I hadn’t slept in two days or showered properly in three. I hadn’t used the bathroom alone in five years, and I needed a break. Then, by happenchance, I read a novel that gave me exactly that, and I realized I wanted to return the favor for someone else.
What genres do you write in? I write cozy mysteries, but have also published sweet romances and young adult novels. Beginning in January 2018, I will write romantic suspense as part of the Harlequin Intrigue team as well.
What drew you to writing these specific genres? I think I write these genres because they’re what I read. I deeply appreciate my favorite authors for what they do, and I think I probably got into writing those same genres as a way to emulate the authors. I definitely want to give back a piece of what their books have given me.
How did you break into the field? I’m not sure I have. It certainly feels more like doggy paddling across the Atlantic than breaking in anywhere. I’ve compared writing to climbing a sand dune. Authors get a great review and move a little higher, then the next person who talks about them thinks their books are pure amateur trash, and the author slides back down. You get a bigger publisher and inch up, but the resulting dismal sales pull you down. And so on. So, I just keep paddling forward because I can’t imagine doing anything else, and I hope one day I’ll make it onto dry land.
What do you want readers to take away from reading your works? I just want to make people smile. I want to give readers a break from the frantic, demanding, stressfulness of life. If I can make someone laugh, or forget their troubles for just a few minutes of their otherwise overwhelming day, then I’ve won at authoring. At life, really.
What do you find most rewarding about writing? I love the idea that I can reach people through my books that I couldn’t reach otherwise. I recently received an email from a friend of a friend via facebook who said my Geek Girl Mysteries were the first stories to hold her attention during chemotherapy, and she was grateful for the distraction during an otherwise miserable time. I mean…would I have gone to sit with this stranger and try to make her laugh if I could? Absolutely. Could I have? No. She lives across the country, and I’d never heard of her before that email. This is why I’m so thankful for writing. I believe we’re all here to be a light in someone else’s day. Now, I can do it across the globe.
What do you find most challenging about writing? The rejection is extra tough for me. I feel everything very deeply, for everyone, and I take criticism to heart. I try to use it to grow and improve my craft, but people can be unnecessarily cruel and that’s tough for me. That said, I’m growing as a person from those dings as well.
What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field? Don’t give up. Most people don’t become overnight successes. We only hear about those because they’re so unusual. The vast majority of authors write for years before they get published or garner any sort of recognition for their efforts. We’re a bit like icebergs. By the time you see an author’s tiny little head rise above the water, they’ve already accumulated a mountain of unseen experience, small victories and scars of perseverance.
What type of books do you enjoy reading? I really like reading books that make me laugh. I enjoy cozy mystery, young adult and romance. I like strong, smart female characters and leading men worthy of the heroine’s time.
Is there anything else besides writing you think people would find interesting about you? Probably not. I’m your average introvert. Awkward. Clumsy. Afraid of absolutely everything, including but not limited to my shadow and those creepy Oompa Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I watch a lot of television. I’m a dedicated viewer of a number of shows. But I think the things I’m most proud of are my children. They’re 8, 10, & 13, and they are kind-hearted, fun-loving, easy going brainiacs who take their grades, their faith and their community seriously. I’m certain they’re going to change the world, and I’m honored to have a front row seat.
What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work? I have websites that stay on top of my new releases: juliechasebooks.com and julieannelindsey.com but I do all my interactions on facebook and twitter. I love social media for the fact that I can talk to anyone, anywhere in the world, anytime I want. Isn’t that fabulous? Definitely look me up! @juliealindsey on twitter and Julie Anne Lindsey or Julie Chase on Facebook.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieChaseAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliechasebooks
Website: http://juliechasebooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14957369.Julie_Chase?from_search=true
