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Masked to Death
by Christina Freeburn
When you want a mystery that has some jumps, skips and twists that lead you to many different answers. This is the book for you.
~Bibliophile Reviews
Masked to Death is full of interesting plot turns…The whole story is my favorite of the series so far.
~The Girl with Book Lungs
This one had me laughing out loud sometimes, but it also kept me guessing. It was very well written and flowed well, making it a quick read.
~Melina’s Book Blog
Faith is a smart heroine and the stories are always fresh and interesting…I absolutely loved everything about this story…
~A Chick Who Reads
Masked to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery)
5th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Henery Press (January 24, 2017)
Paperback: 238 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635111378
E-Book ASIN: B01M7UT2CS
A Caribbean cruise is the perfect setting for a Roget wedding, and Faith meeting Ted’s family. She also hopes the vacation gets their stalled romance moving, but it doesn’t take long for that dream to capsize. Ted’s daughter hates her. The ex-wife is adored. Odessa Roget is surly. And the banned father of a groom, John Roget, requests Faith’s assistance in bringing down a jewel theft ring masterminded by his ex-wife.
Having had a man she loved accuse her of a crime, Faith won’t let Odessa travel down the same path and agrees to help. Faith sets her course on uncovering the true criminals—which might be a groom’s best friend. The romantic week turns disastrous as a wedding is interrupted, suspicious deaths point to murders, and Ted’s daughter schemes to reunite her parents. Instead of diamonds being a girl’s best friend, Faith finds they’re cruising toward Davy Jones’ Locker.
Interview With The Author –
What initially got you interested in writing?
I started writing when I was in high school, I didn’t have a good home life so writing was a way for me to create worlds I get away to and also one where life worked out the way I believed it should…everyone received a happy ending even if the beginning and the middle wasn’t so happy. It was a way for me to give myself some hope and think about wonderful possibilities in the future.
What genres do you write in?
Currently, I’ve been concentrating on writing books in the mystery (cozy) genre but have written inspirational romantic suspense books. I hope to find some time this year (between the cozies I’m working on) to edit/rewrite a romantic suspense novel I wrote a few years ago. There are some changes I’d like to make to that book.
What drew you to writing these specific genres?
I had enjoyed reading mysteries as a child, and my favorite TV shows in the eighties were the PI shows and even as an adult those were the shows and types of books that I always choose first. I first started writing when I was teen (poetry, ugly duckling/ “invisible” girl teen romance pieces) but those were mainly for me and creating worlds (especially the love stories) where I escaped. When I started writing with a goal of having my books published, I concentrated on the mystery genre as it seemed a natural genre fit and I wanted to write books where the good guys outwitted the bad so justice was served.
For the inspirational romantic suspense stories, I couldn’t find many stories featuring women of the Christian faith as being strong, independent, and capable in their own right and trying to put their life back together. Many books were about the heroine finding the hero and then her life turns around. Having daughter, I thought it was important for there to be Christian heroines in fiction who are active in creating a life they want on their own (as happens in real life), and find love along the way.
How did you break into the field?
I was living in Northern Virginia when I decided I wanted to write with a goal of being published rather than just for fun and I joined a critique group. I meet a lot of writers and started attending conferences and also online workshops and groups. At a local critique group, I met another writer who a few years later started a small press. My first book was published by this house (which closed about ten years ago) and I then joined professional writer organization.
I think the first step in breaking into the field is to take your writing seriously as in learning as much as you can not only about the writing process but the publishing business as well. Publishing is constantly changing and evolving and there are many different ways to break in.
What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?
Hope that things can turn out right. And sometimes, even when you believe you aren’t strong, capable, or good enough, you do what’s needed to be someone’s hero even as you wish you had someone championing you. Most of all I want readers to come away from the reading experience having enjoyed the book and feeling satisfied and as if they were a part of the world created.
What do you find most rewarding about writing?
The most rewarding thing about writing is getting to spend time with readers. I love spending time with others who love books. It’s great to be able to chat with others about what they are reading. I also love that writing is about exploring. There’s always something new I’m learning whether it’s a setting, a new character, or a new theme and I enjoy finding out new things and working some of them into the story.
What do you find most challenging about writing?
Right now for me the most challenging thing is finding a balance between time spent writing and time spent marketing/business side of writing. Time has to be dedicated to both but I struggle with maintaining a good balance, I always seem o be leaning more to one area or the other and it makes me feel like one part, either writing or business side, is being neglected.
What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?
Read in the genre you want to write in, especially books published by the houses you plan on submitting to. Read contemporary works, books written within the last decade, the last two decades, the ones that helped the shape the genre, and also the best-selling titles. But also read some books outside of the genre as there is much to learn and discover when we step out of our comfort zones.
What type of books do you enjoy reading?
I enjoy reading pretty much any type of book (well, except for horror as I get nightmares). I haven’t read much science fiction or fantasy but this year plan on reading more in that genre. This year I want to broaden my reading horizons more and plan on reading at least one non-fiction book in a topic I don’t know much about and in a genre I don’t normally lean toward. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.
Is there anything else besides writing you think people would find interesting about you?
This is a tough question for me as I don’t believe myself to be that interesting (unlike the heroines I create), which is not a good trait. (And as I wrote that there were two people who flashed in front of my eyes who gave me a gentle yet firm swat for allowing my brain to entertain the thought). Everyone is interesting. Yes, everyone. Sometimes we just have to push negative away and dig a bit.
So, interesting things about me—I marched in the Fiesta Bowl parade when I was a child. There was an afterschool activity in the elementary school I intended where students could make a piñata and have it judged to be selected to appear in the parade. I was in the second grade and decided to make one. I made a Pooh Bear and mine won first place so I was able to march in the parade carrying it. I was a tiny bit upset at the time because the students who placed second, third, and honorable were able to ride in a trolley cart type float and I had to walk. I wasn’t happy about walking all that way. And holding up a piñata is very tiring for little arms. Thankfully, one of the marshalls took pity on me and held it while he walked beside me and all I had to do was wave.
What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?
I love to chat and post on Facebook. My author page is https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Freeburn-245592138834150/. I also have a webpage www.christinafreeburn.com where I talk about what got me started in writing, and also lists of the books I’ve had published. Masked to Death is my thirteenth published novel.
About The Author –
The Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery series brings together Christina Freeburn’s love of mysteries, scrapbooking, and West Virginia. When not writing or reading, she can be found in her scrapbook room or at a crop. Alas, none of the real-life crops have had a sexy male prosecutor or a handsome police officer attending.
Christina served in the JAG Corps of the US Army and also worked as a paralegal, librarian, and church secretary. She lives in West Virginia with her husband, children, a dog, and a rarely seen cat except by those who are afraid or allergic to felines.
Author Links –
Webpage: www.christinafreeburn.com
Blog: www.theselfrescueprincess.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Freeburn-Author/245592138834150
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinaFreeb1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChristinaFreeburn
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – iTunes – kobo – Hen House
