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Saturday, October 1, 2016

GRACIE ELLIOTT IS BACK IN A NEW MYSTERY

Today is the official release day for Literally Dead, the second book in author Lois Winston's Empty Nest Mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Gracie Elliott and her college professor husband Blake. The series was inspired by my love for the classic Thin Man movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, but my take on the husband/wife duo employs a modern spin.

Gracie and Blake were first introduced in Definitely Dead. Gracie is a textile designer whose career has been outsourced to a Third World nation. She’s also lost her pension, and she’s desperate to find a new career that will not only prevent her and Blake from spending their retirement years living above an auto repair shop but allow her time to pen her future bestselling romances—not that she’s actually finished a book yet.

Fast-forward to Literally Dead, and Gracie has indeed completed her first contemporary romance. She’s even won a writing competition that awards her with attendance at a weekend writing conference in New York. The book opens with Gracie experiencing the ultimate fan girl moment as she enters the lobby of the hotel and finds it swarming with many of her favorite authors.

However, Gracie soon realizes she’s stepped into a romance vipers’ den of backstabbing, deceit, and plagiarism. Luckily, she finds a friend and mentor in bestselling author Paisley Prentiss.

Hours later, when Gracie discovers the body of Lovinia Darling, the Queen of Romance, in the hotel stairwell, she’s not convinced her death is an accident. Too many other authors had reason to want Lovinia dead. Ignoring Blake’s advice to “let the police handle it,” Gracie, aided by Paisley, begins her own investigation into the death and quickly discovers romance has never been so deadly.

Literally Dead is now available as both a paperback and an ebook.

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9 comments:

Angela Adams said...

I'm getting vibes like Gracie is a female Columbo. Best wishes with your release!

Lois Winston said...

Thanks, Angela! Gracie is a fun character to write.

Susan Oleksiw said...

This sounds like a very fun series. I'm looking forward to Gracie's vibes. I also remember and enjoyed the Thin Man series. Good luck with your series.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Clever idea for a series. Gracie sounds like she would fit in fine with fellow romantic mystery writers. Congrats on the new novel and best wishes.

Lois Winston said...

Thanks so much, Susan and Jacqueline!

vinnie/www.vinniehansen.com said...

I've always wanted to set a mystery at a mystery writers' conference. Great premise! Congrats on the new release, Lois.

Lois Winston said...

Thanks, Vinnie! I had a blast setting the book at a writers' conference.

Becky Michael said...

Everything about your series sounds like fun! I like the idea of husband-and-wife teams, like found in "The Thin Man." I watched an old episode of "Mr. and Mrs. North" just last night...corny, but the main idea is excellent. Good luck with the book!

Lois Winston said...

Thanks so much, Becky!