Tragic Tuesday: A Tabitha Chase Days of the Week Mystery
by Denise Jaden
It is my pleasure to welcome Denise Jaden to
Escape With Dollycas today!
Hi Denise,
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Thanks so much for asking! I live just outside Vancouver, Canada with my personal-trainer husband and filmmaker son. I have been a Polynesian dancer since I was eight, and love everything to do with the dancing and culture of the Polynesian islands. I also act in the background of many TV shows and movies that are produced around the area where I live, and while sitting around waiting to go to set I usually find lots of time to write. I’ve been writing for young adults, writers, and cozy mystery readers since 2003.
What is the first book you remember reading?
The first book I recall reading was Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. I didn’t grow up as much of a reader, and I was in my thirties when I was working at a church and one of the pastors was raving about this book. I told him I didn’t really read much, and he made me promise to at least give this book a try. I did, and I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been an avid reader ever since.
What are you reading now?
At the moment, I’m reading a couple of cruise ship mysteries, as I hope to set my next series on a cruise ship. I am especially enjoying A Cruise to Murder by Dawn Brookes.
What books have most inspired you?
Kane and Abel was really inspiring to me. I also really loved The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton. While reading, I found myself stopping and rereading sentences many times, just to admire the beauty of them.
What made you decide you wanted to write mysteries?
I love the puzzle of mysteries, but to be honest, I don’t know that I ever would have attempted writing one if it weren’t for an author friend of mine who was looking for a co-author for her series. I ended up co-writing two historical mysteries with Lee Strauss and it taught me a lot about plotting and writing mysteries.
Do you have a special place where you like to write?
While I’m at home, I write at my kitchen table, more out of necessity than anything. I would love to eventually have an office in my home, but so far that hasn’t worked out. From time to time, I will go to a coffee shop to write, but I get my best writing done while working on film sets. I often spend hours waiting to film, and working on my books helps pass the time beautifully, plus I love being surrounded by other creative minds.
Where do the ideas for your books come from?
My ideas come from all over the place. This latest one, Tragic Tuesday, was born out of a love for gardening that I discovered early on in the pandemic. More than once, I’ve been in a grocery store and overheard a conversation that gave me the seed of a new idea. I also spend time talking about story with other actors and many of my ideas are born out of those conversations.
Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?
I find whatever I’m not doing at that moment challenging. Let me explain: If I’m writing a first draft, I quickly get into the swing of things and could write first drafts for days, but the thought of editing exhausts me. On the other hand, once I get into the swing of editing, I can’t get my head around writing a first draft from a blank page. It’s all hard! But I love it, too.
What do you think makes a good story?
I’m a big fan of well-developed characters with past wounds and complexity. In my opinion, every great story has some memorable and complex characters at the heart of it.
Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you?
I think Tabby’s sister Pepper is quite a bit like me. She can be impulsive, but she goes after what she wants and she makes a good help-mate to her sister. I’m also a lot like Mallory from my Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Capers. Mallory loves to experiment in the kitchen, and cooking helps her think things through, just like me.
What makes your books different from others out there in this genre?
There are a lot of paranormal cozy mysteries around these days, but mine comes from the perspective of a character who is skeptical of all things magical and otherworldly. I can relate to her in this way and I think it makes the supernatural a little more accessible to readers who usually read fiction that is more contemporary and real-world based. I also love the setting—the seaside town of Crystal Cove—where Tabby and her cat Sherlock live on a magical houseboat.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
Tragic Tuesday officially ties up the Tabitha Chase Days of the Week Mysteries, so I’m ready to embark upon a new cozy mystery series. I’ve been researching cruise-ship cozies and I’m really looking forward to this traveling setting!
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog! Your interview questions were a lot of fun!
Thank you, Denise, for visiting today!
Keep reading to learn about Denise’s new book.
About Tragic Tuesday
Tragic Tuesday: A Tabitha Chase Days of the Week Mystery
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Oregon
Independently Published (March 14, 2024)
Number of Pages – 250
Digital ASIN : B0CNG892WH
It’s springtime, and Tabby figures what better way to unite the town of Crystal Cove than creating a community garden! The problem is, she knows nothing about tending the earth. However, there are several folks in town who have strong beliefs in how to start a garden right—unfortunately, all of these strong beliefs seem to disagree with one another.
Tabby thinks she has it handled when she comes up with a system that makes each group of gardeners feel valued in their plans and opinions, but when one of the most opinionated women turns up dead in the middle of the fresh soil, it seems she has another murder on her hands—and one she feels at least partially responsible for.
Join Tabby, Jay, Aaron, and Sherlock as they investigate and try to get to the bottom of this garden tragedy.
More About Denise Jaden
For a limited time, stop by Denise’s website at www.denisejaden.com, sign up for her newsletter, and get a bonus mystery just for signing up! Get freebies, exclusive content, and book news – you can unsubscribe at any time!
Denise Jaden is a co-writer for the Rosa Reed Mystery Series by Lee Strauss. The Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Capers will be released throughout the year. Her young adult novels have received critical acclaim and her non-fiction books are touted as staples for any writers’ bookshelf.
In her spare time, she acts with the Vancouver film industry and dances with a Polynesian dance troupe. She lives just outside Vancouver, Canada with her husband, her son (a budding filmmaker), and one very spoiled cat.
Author Links
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Also written by Denise Jaden
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops.
March 7 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST
March 8 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 13 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 14 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
March 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
March 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
March 17 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
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Thank you so much for having me! This blog tour has been so much fun and it’s only day 3!
Tragic Tuesday sounds intriguing. Great interview. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Bonnie! I hope you will give the series a try. 🙂