GUEST POST BY DEBORAH MALONE: A Cozy Mystery, “Death in Dahlonega”

When I offered to host Deborah Malone on my blog and she told me her novel was a “cozy mystery,” I wondered if I was the only person who had never heard that phrase. It reminded me of the Star Trek episode from “The Trouble With Tribbles,” where it seemed everyone knew what a tribble was but Captain Kirk.

If it’s a new term for you also, here is a definition from  http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Definition-of-a-Cozy-Mystery.html:

“The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Almost always, she has a college degree, whether she is using it or not. Her education and life’s experiences have provided her with certain skills that she will utilize in order to solve all the crimes that are “thrown her way.” The cozy mystery heroine is usually a very intuitive, bright woman….”

Well, I guess that “intuitive” part means I will never make it as an amateur sleuth – I am not very observant. But at least in books, you can become who you aren’t in real life and enjoy being someone else. Is that not part of the joy of reading good books?

Here is a short interview with Debbie about her new book, Death in Dahlonega.

LORILYN: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

DEBBIE: Death in Dahlonega is my debut cozy mystery. It is based on two friends who find themselves in a bit of a scrape. Trixie is a magazine writer and she is on assignment in Dahlonega, Georgia, and her friend Dee Dee has tagged along. Dee Dee owns an antique shop and this will be the perfect place for her to shop for antiques and other goodies. The girls are watching a film at the gold museum when Dee Dee has to go to the bathroom - this is not unusual for Dee Dee. While she is nosing around in the rooms she happens upon a dead body. She automatically pulls out the pickaxe and winds up being the main person of interest. The handsome sheriff is ready to retire and run for mayor, so Trixie doesn't think he's trying very hard to find the real killer. So she and Dee Dee take matters in their own hands. The question is will they find the real killer before Dee Dee ends up in the slammer?

I am working on my next two releases with Trixie and Dee Dee. The first one is Murder in Marietta and the second one is Terror in Tybee Island.

LORILYN: HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

DEBBIE: I like to visit the area and take lots of pictures as well as interview people that are familiar with the area. Then I continue to do research throughout the whole book to keep it fresh in my mind. I don't really know how much time, but it is a good bit. Research is imperative.

LORILYN: WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

Well, I don't know about what I learned, but I do have a funny story. When I went to the gold museum and talked with the real ranger about taking pics/interviewing them etc. for the book she hurriedly called her boss and then preceded to tell me I couldn't write about their security system. Of course, I didn't know about their security system so it was funny for me. I really don't think she knew what a cozy mystery was.

DEBBIE: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

Now that I've been published, I don't have as much time to do other things, but I like to take photographs. I'm enjoying meeting people through my marketing of Death in Dahlonega.

LORILYN: HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

DEBBIE: You can contact me by going to my website deborah-malone.com. I would love to hear from my readers and if anyone wants a signed copy I’d be glad to do that, and my email is debbiejeanm@gmail.com.  Thank you for having me on your blog!