Swindler’s Revenge: A Karina Cardinal Mystery
by Ellen Butler
I am happy to welcome Ellen Butler to Escape With Dollycas today!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I write in a couple of genres—Mystery, romance, and historical fiction. My first novel was published in 2014, and Swindler’s Revenge will be my 11th book. I’m a book junkie, probably like many of you, and have far too many in my TBR list. I was able to whittle that list a bit during COVID but replenished and am again overwhelmed by all the books on my Kindle and lying around my house.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
There is always a fair amount of research, because each of my novels tends to be inspired by something in real life. For instance, Isabella’s Painting was inspired by the 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Swindler’s Revenge was inspired by a case that an FBI agent told me about. At the end of all my Karina Cardinal novels, I tell the reader a little about the real-life inspiration in my Author’s Note. Probably the longest amount of time I spent researching for a book was for The Brass Compass, my WWII spy novel.
Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?
Yes. I have to step away from a project when that happens and eventually my subconscious figures it out.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Join a writer’s club! Here is why:
- To meet like-minded people. Writing is a very solitary profession, meeting other writers is invaluable.
- You will gain perspectives from other published writers and learn the pitfalls and advantages to different writing and publishing options.
- You can find a mentor or critique group that will help you be the best writer you can be.
When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and traveling.
How has the COVID pandemic affected you and your writing?
Initially, when the world shut down, I was very stressed and dealing with the anxiety of uncertainty, and not thinking creatively. I was in edits for Pharaoh’s Forgery and had just finished a short story, which was for the best, because I wasn’t ready to begin a new book. The kids were home ALL THE TIME, and I simply couldn’t get my head into the game. It really took me awhile to get Swindler’s Revenge going.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
My husband and I had a 2-week anniversary trip planned to Ireland which we had to cancel due to COVID. I am ready to go, and I think I’d like to place a novel there.
What is next on the horizon for you?
I’m working on a sequel to my historical spy fiction, The Brass Compass. The first novel took place during WWII, and I’m placing the second one in the 50s during the Cold War.
Thank you Ellen for visiting today.
Keep reading to learn all about Ellen’s new book.
About Swindler’s Revenge
Swindler’s Revenge: A Karina Cardinal Mystery
Cozy Mystery/Women’s Adventure Fiction
5th in Series
Publisher : Power to the Pen (September 1, 2021)
Print length : 228 pages
ASIN : B0924YKM7H
There are no softball cases in the FBI…especially when an agent gets dirty.
Karina Cardinal’s Saturday starts out with a bang, and it’s not the home renovation marathon she’s watching on HGTV. It’s the FBI banging on her door, hunting for a fugitive. As if she could easily hide one in her modest condo. Especially one named Mike Finnegan.
The two of them called it splitsville a couple months ago, but Mike? Take a $1.2 million bribe? No and no and no. No matter how much damning evidence the feds claim to have. When a mysterious burner phone shows up in her pocket, Karina has no doubt who dropped it there. Mike is deep undercover and so far off-grid, he needs help to figure out who’s framing him—and why.
Classic Karina, she jumps in with both feet, ignoring the dangers. The trouble with leaping before you look? You can land in a world of dirt. And when an old enemy starts playing hardball, you can end up six feet under it.
—–
International bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Butler presents book five in the Karina Cardinal mystery series! Fans of Elizabeth Peters and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will adore this gripping mystery adventure.
About Ellen Butler
Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series and award-winning historical suspense, The Brass Compass. Fans who enjoy the suspense of Melinda Leigh and the humor of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will fall in love with Butler’s Karina Cardinal. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction and is compared to such bestselling novels as Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale. Ellen lives with her family in the suburbs of Washington, DC.
You can find Ellen at:
Website ~ www.EllenButler.net
Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks
Twitter ~ @EButlerBooks
Instagram~@ebutlerbooks
Goodreads ~ www.goodreads.com/EllenButlerBooks
Purchase Links – Amazon iBooks Barnes & Noble Kobo
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