Special Guest Marla A. White – Author of Framed For Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery) #Author Interview / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour

Framed For Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
by Marla A. White

I am happy to welcome Marla A. White
to Escape With Dollycas today!

Hi Marla,

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

– I love musicals

– I’m a bit of a neat freak

– I give my cars names (currently Hugh Fitzcairn after the Roger Daltry character in the “Highlander” TV series.)

What books/authors have most inspired you?

So many different ones for so many reasons! Louise Penny for her personal story of overcoming obstacles in her life and creating amazing characters. Jim Butcher for introducing me to fantasy with snark. I’ve been a lifelong fan of Dick Francis, growing up loving mysteries and horses. Leslie Charteris, who in “The Saint” books gave me a charming rogue and (at least in the early ones) a strong female romantic interest who could hold her own.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I don’t do a lot before I begin a book, but I do a ton as I go along. The internet is a wonderful tool, but I also try to talk to people if I know of any who have hands on experience with whatever I’m trying to figure out. This morning I spent an hour Googling “hot male hockey players” to get a picture of how to describe my character. Best. Job. Ever!

Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?

I won’t say never, because I have so many projects going on right now there’s always something to write. But I have been guilty of neglecting a project in favor of writing something that’s easier.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

What’s the old joke about the best way to make a million dollars as an author is to start off with two million? Don’t get into it for the money!

My best advice is to write every day. I had been kicking around, trying to fit writing in with a full-time job and other responsibilities, and would use lack of time as an excuse. Then I had the honor of sitting in a meeting with Janet Evanovich, who talked about getting up at five in the morning to write. I realized that if I was serious about finishing a novel, I needed to drag my butt out of bed at five a.m. Schedule a time, form a writing habit, accept no excuses.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?

Reading is the first obvious one 😀  Seriously, to be a writer, you need to be a reader. I write in a few different genres so I immerse myself in books in whatever one I’m writing at the moment.

I also love jigsaw puzzles, but not those ridiculous all-one-color kind. I want to see the picture, that’s the fun part! Also, mystery puzzles where you get the clues to solve the murder from the picture.

Gardening is also a passion. It’s been cut back quite a bit since I’m in a condo now with no lawn, but I still have some fruits and veggies in pots. I’m so excited that my blood orange tree, Vlad, has several tiny green fruits!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

That’s such a tough question! Friends who have been to Italy make me want to go there for the wine, art, and food. But I loved the time I spent on horseback riding trips in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, so going back would be amazing. New Zealand would be like stepping into a “Lord of the Rings” movie and I would so nerd out over that! Yep, too many choices to make just one.

What is next on the horizon for you?

Well, now you’ve got me thinking about travelling… LOL

I’m working on a hockey romance series with a friend of mine. It’s my first foray into the romance genre and I’m having a blast!

I’ve been talking about writing a textbook about how to write script coverage, the course I teach at UCLA Extension so maybe this summer I’ll actually sit down and write the proposal.

And naturally, I’ve finished a draft of the next Pine Cove book and am very excited to see what my editor thinks!

Thank you Marla for visiting today!

Keep reading for more information about Marla and her new book, Framed for Murder.

About Framed for Murder

Framed For Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (June 17, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D18C415T

After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone. Good thing she’s a better detective than she is a cook as she sets out to prove Poppy’s innocence.

The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?

Great Escapes Praise for Framed For Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
by Marla A. White

I highly recommend Framed for Murder for its humor, well-written characters, cozy setting, and mystery!
~Christy’s Cozy Corners

Framed for Murder contains the essential number of suspects, motives, and red herrings to make it an appealing read. My curiosity has been piqued and I’ll be on the lookout for future installments of this mystery series.
~Book Club Librarian

With a lot of wit, engaging characters, and entangled relationships FRAMED FOR MURDER is a delightful start to a new series.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

Set in the small town of Pine Cove and featuring former police officer Mel, Framed For Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery) by Marla A. White was a fun read!
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading

More About Marla A. White

Marla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry.  She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s out in the garden, hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails.

Fun facts
Something readers might find interesting about this book:

The quirky Babbling Brook Bed-and-Breakfast is loosely inspired by the Silver Pines Lodge in Idyllwild. Highly recommend staying there if you’re even in that neck of the woods.

A fact about me that readers might find interesting:

I share Mel’s nearly debilitating fear of heights. Well, not to the same extent, I can climb a set of stairs, but looking down more than a few flights? No way 😀

There’s a scene where Mel does a singing bowl session. I’ve done that and honestly, it’s pretty cool!

I accomplished the dream of becoming a published writer in my late fifties after helping other writers craft their stories for thirty years.

Social Media Links
Twitter/X    Instagram    Facebook   TikTok   Goodreads    Bookbub   Amazon    Substack

Purchase Links

Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Apple Books 

Also written by Marla A. White

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 17 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT 
June 18 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 18 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 19 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 19 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
June 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
June 20 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 21 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
June 21 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 22 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
June 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 24 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW  
June 25 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 26 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
June 27 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
June 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 28 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

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