Love on the Rocks (Cobble Cove Mystery)
by Debbie De Louise

Welcome, Debbie!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a librarian at a public library. I’m married with a teenage daughter and have three cats (two kittens were just added to our home) and a fish.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

Before I became a librarian and author, I was a secretary. 2. I’ve lost 65 pounds on Jenny Craig and by exercising daily. 3. I own and manage a pet memorial Center in the virtual world of Second Life.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Although it wasn’t the first book I read, the first book that made a big impression on me was The Winter People by Phyllis Whitney. I was around 11 or 12, and it was a Christmas gift from my older brother. It started my love of gothic romances that lasted throughout my teens in which I devoured books my Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Barbara Michaels.

What are you reading now?

I just finished Mitch Albom’s The Next Person you Meet in Heaven, and then I’m starting Christmas at the Cat Café by Melissa Daley for a little holiday reading.

What made you decide you want to write?

I’d always loved reading from a young age and also loved telling stories. My teachers and family encouraged me when I showed a talent for writing. In college, I wrote for the student newspaper and then I joined the Cat Writer’s Association to which I still belong and wrote articles for pet magazines. My first novel was published in 2008. I took a break from writing and then started again in 2015 and now have six published books, a novella, and a dozen or so short stories.

Do you have a special place you like to write?

I write at the computer in my living room, but some of the ideas for my writing come to me when I wake up in the morning or when I’m doing other things and are struck with inspiration. I have a notebook where I jot these ideas down to return to later.

Where do the ideas for your books come from?

Pretty much everywhere – other books (not that I copy anything, but I read a variety of genres and learn a lot from other authors; TV shows and movies; everyday life; my past and present experiences; my imagination).

What books have most inspired you?

As I mentioned above, I was entranced by gothic romances as a teen. I also went through a period of reading cozy mystery series featuring cats by such authors at Carole Nelson Douglas (Midnight Louie); Rita Mae Brown (Sneaky Pie); Shirley Murphy (Joe Grey), etc. I also love to read time-travel tales. Some of my favorite books have included The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger; Time and Again by Jack Finney; and The Eight by Katherine Neville.

Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?

Finding the time to do it. The more I publish, the more I need to promote, and the less time I can devote to writing. It’s a big challenge, and one I know most authors who work full-time share.

What do you think makes a good story?

The plot, of course, but I feel the characters are the most important aspect of any story. Readers need to relate to, empathize, and identify with characters to enjoy a book. I also feel that a few subplots and twists enhance novels, especially if they’re mysteries.

Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you?

Most of my main characters are like me, especially Alicia, the librarian and author in my Cobble Cove mystery series.

Why did you pick your particular genre?

I actually write several genres, but my favorite are my cozy mysteries and my general mysteries. I like them because they’re also the types of books I like to read most. I enjoy creating and solving puzzles and giving “birth” to characters and watching them grow from book to book or from the beginning of the story to the end. I also like staging murders and introducing clues that are not always obvious but can be explained at the end.

What makes your books different from others out there in this genre?

I feel my cozy mysteries aren’t traditional in the sense that they are more complex and multi-layered than your usual cozy. There are often serious themes, although they also feature some humor. The first book, A Stone’s Throw, is very much like a romantic suspense novel.

What’s next on the horizon for you?

I’m looking for an agent because I’d like to publish my books in a wider format than eBook and paperback and have them reviewed in popular journals that I, as a librarian, order from at work so that they reach a wider audience. I have two unpublished titles, the first of a new cozy series and a psychological thriller that I’m seeking representation for. I’m also hoping to finish a gothic-type novel that I’m halfway through. Of course, I want to continue my Cobble Cove mysteries with Solstice Publishing who are absolutely wonderful and have been so supportive of my work. My fourth title in that series, Love on the Rocks, was recently released, and some themes introduced in it open the door for future books.

Thank you, Debbie, for stopping by today. 

Keep reading to find out about Debbie’s new book, Love on the Rocks.

About the Book

Love on the Rocks (Cobble Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Solstice Publishing (October 17, 2018)
Paperback: 241 pages
ISBN-10: 1625268505
ISBN-13: 978-1625268501
Digital ASIN: B07JHV9FJC

It’s February in the small town of Cobble Cove. Love is in the air . . . but so is murder!

When Alicia helps plan a Valentine’s Day Party at the Cobble Cove library that also includes a surprise for her newlywed friend, Gilly, things go wrong when a mysterious box of chocolates addressed to the director turns out laced with poison.

Clues Lead to A Dead Suspect

Although Alicia promised John she’ll no longer meddle in crime investigations, she and Gilly set out to find the person threatening Sheila who murdered the courier of the deadly candy. The three people they suspect include the professor from California who’s been romancing Sheila while she assists him with research for his book; the obnoxious patron Rhonda Kleisman who threw coffee at the director after refusing to pay for a damaged book; and a visiting widow staying at Gilly’s inn who’s unnaturally curious about Sheila and earns the nickname of Madame Defarge for her interest in knitting.

New Cat in Town

While Alicia and Gilly are trying to solve this new Cobble Cove mystery, Sneaky is introduced to Gilly’s new kitten, Kittykai, a calico she brought home from her honeymoon in Hawaii. It’s not like at first sight, but the two cats eventually become friends. They also both play a part in foiling the killer’s murder attempts, but will Alicia and Sheila survive unscathed?

About the Author

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, Long Island Authors Group, and the Cat Writer’s Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Her novels include the three books of the Cobble Cove mystery series: A Stone’s Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, and Written in Stone. Debbie has also written a romantic comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, a standalone mystery thriller, Reason to Die, and a paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow. She lives on Long Island with her husband, Anthony; daughter, Holly; and cat Stripey.

Author Links

Facebook    Twitter     Goodreads    Amazon Author Page    Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up

Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog    Debbie’s Character’s Chat Facebook Group

Purchase Links: eBook & Kindle Unlimited: mybook.to/cc4
Paperback: mybook.to/cc4pap
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Free Offer from Debbie DeLouise

The characters from Debbie De Louise’s Cobble Cove cozy mysteries gather in the Cobble Cove library to celebrate the holidays. Each character receives a gift from the author, and Alicia, the main character, reads some excerpts from the first book, A Stone’s Throw, and the new release, Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

It will be free from Thursday, December 13 to Monday, December 17!

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Purchase Links

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 10 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
December 10 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 12 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
December 13 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 14 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 15 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
December 16 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 16 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 17 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
December 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 18 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 19 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

 

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