Who, Me? Fog Bows, Fraud and Aphrodite
by Charlotte Stuart
I am so happy to have Charlotte Stuart drop by today!
Hi Charlotte,
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’ve done a variety of things to make a living, from being a flight attendant to commercial salmon fishing. The job I enjoyed the most was as a management consultant. I did individual and group assessments, leadership training, and strategic planning. I like to analyze and categorize and solve problems. That’s why I recently put together a matrix on the five sub-genres of humorous mysteries. You can check out the two-part sessions on YouTube: A Reader’s Guide to Choosing Humorous Mysteries.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I enjoy research. How much time I spend depends on the theme related to the motivation for murder. For Why Me? Chimeras, Conundrums and Dead Goldfish, the first book in the Macavity & Me Mysteries, I did a lot of reading about illegal trafficking in human organs, chimera research, and laws governing chimera research in different countries. It was both fascinating and a bit scary. I already had a lot of background about fraud in nonprofits, but I still did a fair amount of reading for Who Me? Also, I just completed a Police Academy course for civilians and have been attending webinars on all things sinister, like poison and weaponry and blood splatter patterns. I like to be as accurate as possible.
Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?
There are times when the ideas flow better than others. But I’ve always liked the process of writing. I even enjoyed working on my PhD dissertation. And I survived several years writing a column on leadership for a business journal. If I’m suffering from brain fog, I take a break, preferably going for a walk in the woods.
I know this sounds cliché, but don’t let rejection get you down. One of the things I’ve researched is authors writing about getting rejected. Some authors are blessed with quick and easy success, but most suffer from a string of rejections along the way. If you aren’t having luck finding an agent or a publisher, consider self-publishing. I self-published a book to use in my consulting business before self-publishing was popular. Currently, I know a number of successful authors who wouldn’t do it any other way. Just go for it.
When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I walk every day for exercise and pleasure, mostly on trails, sometimes on the beach. I also like kayaking and swimming. I’m a water and woods person. And I enjoy meeting with friends over coffee.
How has the COVID pandemic affected you and your writing?
I feel guilty for enjoying myself while others were going through difficult times. I was pleased to have plenty of time to write, places to walk, and a husband I like being with. And for me, Zooming was a good option, both professionally and personally. In some ways, it’s going to be hard to go back to dealing with ferry schedules, traffic and crowds.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
If I could be teleported to places instead of having to take public transportation, I would begin by visiting the ruins at Machu Picchu, stopping in the Australian outback for a quick look around, going for a hike in the Canary Islands, and having dinner in an Italian hill village with a view of a valley filled with olive trees. Seeing new places in person engages all five senses. You can touch the stone walls, smell the foliage, feel the ground underfoot. But sometimes returning to a place you’ve already been is worthwhile. I can almost taste the antipasto and smell the fettuccine con Carciofi we had in a tiny family restaurant in Italy—
What is next on the horizon for you?
I’ve started three series, so it’s mainly a question of which book to work on next. The third in my Discount Detective series will be coming out on November 2nd, so I’ll definitely be spending some time getting the word out about Shopping Can Be Deadly
Thank you, Charlotte for visiting today!
Keep reading to find out about Charlotte’s new book.
About Who, Me?
Fog Bows, Fraud and Aphrodite
Who, Me? Fog Bows, Fraud and Aphrodite
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Taylor & Seale Publishing
Paperback : 236 pages
ISBN-10 : 1950613704
ISBN-13 : 978-1950613700
Digital ASIN : B097D67XKS
A heated argument on a nearby boat followed by a loud splash . . .
Who, Me? Fog Bows, Fraud and Aphrodite is a mystery set in an urban boating community in Seattle. Bryn Baczek lives on a sailboat in a small marina with her cat, Macavity, and a series of short-lived goldfish. When a neighbor she doesn’t like becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, she reluctantly seeks evidence to prove him innocent. She ends up being threatened by the victim’s abusive boyfriend, betrayed by a close friend, and can’t resist using subterfuge to enter a secured building to search the victim’s office. Although she shares what she learns with a charming detective, she is one step ahead of the police in identifying the murderer . . . a step that puts her in a dangerous face-to-face confrontation.
More About Charlotte Stuart
In a world filled with uncertainty and too little chocolate, Charlotte Stuart, PhD, has taught college courses in speech communication, was a management consultant and a VP of HR, and has enjoyed time spent sailing and commercial salmon fishing in Alaska. Her current passion is for writing mysteries with a dollop of adventure and a smattering of humor. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching herons, eagles, seals and other sea life from her Vashon Island home office.
Author Links
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Purchase Links – Amazon –
Also by Charlotte Stuart
Coming November 2, 2021
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please check out every stop.
June 28 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
June 29 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 30 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 1 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
July 2 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 4 – OFF
July 5 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, GUEST POST
July 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 9 – Literary Gold – REVIEW
July 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 11 – Ebook addicts – REVIEW
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Thank you, Lori, for hosting this great virtual tour! I appreciate the opportunity to introduce readers to my Macavity & Me series.
Charlotte
Congrats on the new release! Great interview. Thanks for sharing.