sits
down to interview protagonist Enid
Blackwell.
JJ: Enid, first tell us a little
about yourself.
EB:
I’m a reporter for The Tri-County Gazette, a weekly newspaper where you
are the editor. I report on local news but only on crime in the three counties.
As a result, I’ve investigated several cold cases—murder cases.
JJ: I must add that you’re
being modest. You didn’t just report on these stories, you solved several
cases that had stumped the police. You started out in journalism and then left
it for a while, returning several years ago. What was your life like before your
author started pulling your strings?
EB: When I first met author Raegan Teller, I was
going through a rough patch. My husband and I were having problems, and I hated
my bank job. I was looking for a drastic change, and I sure got one. After
being introduced to Raegan, she changed my life. Little did I know I would end
up solving murder mysteries. Sadly, in doing so, I’ve had to put myself and
others in the path of danger. People have been killed in the pursuit of truth.
JJ: What’s
the one trait you like most about yourself?
EB: I’d have to say it’s my tenacity. My ex would
call it stubbornness. I’ve faced danger and risks that most people would walk
away from. (Laughing) Jack, even you’ve told me I’m hardheaded.
JJ: (Laughing)
That’s true, I have. What do you like least about yourself?
EB: I have a hard time opening up to people. It’s not
that I don’t trust anyone, I’m just afraid of the commitment—and of the
potential of losing that relationship down the road. As a result, I’ve always
thrown myself into my work. I guess that’s where my tenacity comes from.
JJ: What is
the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you?
EB: She moved me to Madden, South Carolina. I had
said I would never live in a small town, where everyone knows your business and
there are secrets everywhere. But here I am, in Madden.
JJ: Do you
argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?
EB: We argue sometimes, mostly about how I should
investigate a murder or who we think the killer is. Right now, we’re having a
serious discussion about my love life. We don’t always agree on what’s best for
me, and sometimes the story takes precedent over what I’d like to have happen.
Raegan is fair, though. I knew what I was signing up for.
JJ: What is
your greatest fear?
EB: That’s easy. What I fear most, to steal from Plato,
is living an unexamined life. For years, I went through the motions of living
but not really being fulfilled or doing what I wanted to. I put everyone else’s
needs ahead of my own, but I then returned to journalism and put myself first.
I think a lot of people can relate to my story.
JJ: What
makes you happy?
EB: Doing what I’m doing right now. I love being a
reporter, especially investigating cold cases where the police haven’t done all
they could. When a family member or friend of the victim says I’m their last
hope, I know I’m doing what I should—pursuing the truth.
JJ: If you
could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?
EB: Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but
there’s a tragedy in Murder in Madden that
I wish I could change. It was devastating to me, and I’m still not over it. Raegan
said this event was integral to the story. After we talked about it for a long
time, I finally agreed with her, painful as it was. Tragedy and loss are part
of life, I suppose.
JJ: Of the other characters
in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?
EB: (Laughing) Well, you drive me crazy at times.
You’re my boss, my confidant, and my best friend. But sometimes, you’re overly
protective and you have that male gene that makes you want to fix everything
instead of just listening. But I know you’re just worried about me. On a more
serious note, there was a police chief in Madden that was really irritating,
and he kept trying to stop me from investigating an old murder case. Oh, and my
mother-in-law. But I probably don’t need to say more about that. Raegan not
only writes about murder, she also writes about family secrets and drama,
because we can all relate to it.
JJ: Of the other characters
in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?
EB: Hmmm. That’s a more difficult question. At
times, I wish I were more like Madelyn Jensen. She’s a member of one the most
prominent families in Madden, and an attorney. She seems to be so sure of
herself, and she’s successful. But honestly, I love being an investigative
reporter. That’s what I always wanted to do.
JJ: Tell our readers a little
something about Raegan Teller, our author. Where can readers find her
website/blog?
EB: Raegan Teller is like me in many ways. We both
have red hair, and we have similar values. She can be pretty stubborn too. I’ll
always be grateful to her for creating me, you, and the other characters. You
can read more about Raegan on her website and blog at http://RaeganTeller.com She loves to hear from readers, so email her and
ask her anything you want to know about us.
JJ: So, let’s wrap this
interview up. What's next for you?
EB: You know I can’t give away anything about the next
story. Raegan’s third book in our series is Secrets Never Told, which
just came out last week. In it, I investigate a grisly discovery at the Glitter
Lake Inn, and as I try to expose the truth, a high-profile murder stuns our
community. When the killer threatens to strike again, I dig deeper to uncover
secrets never told.
JJ: That sounds intriguing.
Thanks, Enid, for sharing your story with our readers.
EB: My pleasure.
The
Enid Blackwell Series, Book 3
In
the third volume of the Enid Blackwell series, the small-town newspaper
reporter investigates a grisly discovery at the Glitter Lake Inn. As Enid
pushes to expose the truth, a high-profile murder stuns the community. When the
killer threatens to strike again, Enid digs deeper to uncover secrets never told.
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