AUTHOR DIANE A.S. STUCKART ON HER BIGGEST WRITERLY PET PEEVE

Today we welcome back New York Times bestselling author Diane A.S. Stuckart (AKA Ali Brandon for the Black Cat Bookshop Mysteries and AKA Anna Gerard for the Georgia B&B Mysteries.) Learn more about Diane/Ali/Anna at her website.

To Pee or Not to Pee

Every reader has their own pet peeves when it comes to books. You know what I mean -- those literary and stylistic conventions that make you grit your teeth when you read them. I’ve got a list that probably looks a lot like yours. In the top ten would be the obligatory “characters that are too stupid to live.” I also abhor the drop-dead gorgeous heroes and heroines who pretend not to know just how good-looking they are. Of course, I majorly roll my eyes at spunky female private-eye types who, ten or twelve books into a series, still haven’t figured out how to use a firearm.

 

However, most of these pet peeves pale before my very pettest of pet peeves…one that crosses all genres. Be it mystery or romance, thriller or horror, it seems you’ve always got folks wandering off to the bathroom to take steamy showers or perfumed bubble baths, with or without company. That, or they’re standing before the powder room mirror applying makeup to their cameo features or studying the manly bruises marring their rugged chin following a brawl. 

 

But why do we never seem to see a character slip off to the potty to, well, use the potty?

 

Okay, I’m sure I’m exaggerating…somewhat. Admittedly, my data is subjective, and based on my formative years as a fledgling historical romance writer. As I devoured historical romance after historical romance as fodder for my own first novel, I couldn’t help but notice this particular lack. Maybe it was an unspoken rule from the publishers that characters didn’t tinkle? 

 

And then I read a scene from one of Roberta Gellis’s novels which has stuck with me almost thirty years later. Not because it was exquisite prose (though I’m sure it was), but because her heroine casually used a chamber pot in front of her new lover! Ms. Gellis immediately became my writing idol, and I vowed right then that I’d put a potty scene in every one of my books. And so I have.

 

Peachy Scream, the second book in my Georgia B&B Mystery series (written as Anna Gerard), will be out in mass market paperback at the end of September. My innkeeper-turned-sleuth, Nina Fleet, plays host to a troupe of amateur actors in town for the annual Shakespeare festival. And, yep, I added my obligatory potty scene right there in the first chapter, with the troupe arriving from a road trip that did not include a bathroom break. Not only did this scene with everyone queuing up outside Nina’s downstairs washroom provide a bit of mild humor, it also gave me a chance to introduce new characters in an offbeat way. 

 

I hope Roberta would have been proud.

 

Peachy Scream

A Georgia B&B Mystery, Book 2

 

In Peachy Scream, innkeeper-turned-sleuth Nina Fleet plays host to a troupe of amateur actors in town for the annual Shakespeare festival. Unfortunately for Nina, their director is her occasional nemesis, the dashing if unemployed actor Harry Westcott. Grandnephew of the B&B’s former owner, Harry still accuses Nina of stealing the place out from under him. But the pair are forced to set aside their differences when murder ensues during rehearsals for one of the Bard’s best-known works of betrayal, Hamlet.

 

Pre-order (on sale 9/26)

AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR TERRY AMBROSE'S TWEEN AMATEUR SLEUTH ALEX ATWOOD

Today we sit down for a chat with tween amateur sleuth Alexandra (Alex) Atwood from author Terry Ambrose’s Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mysteries.

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?

My life was a total disaster before my author came along. He was like, I have this idea for a mystery series, but you and your dad have to move across the country. And I was like, seriously? All my friends are here. I’m in fifth grade and moving is gonna totally ruin my life. But after we got to Seaside Cove I realized he totally did me and my dad a huge favor ‘cause that’s how Daddy met Marquetta and I got to take on my first case.

 

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself? 

Everybody says I’m super precocious, and I think that’s an awesome trait to have.

 

What do you like least about yourself?

Seriously? I don’t know you very well, but my author says you’re really nice, so I guess it’s okay. What I like least is that some of the little things scare me—like spiders. Ewww. I hate spiders with their little spindly legs.

 

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you?

He totally had to be having a messed up day ‘cause he tried to kill me and Marquetta by having us drive off a cliff on a mountain road. It was super scary and I thought for sure we were gonna die, but Marquetta’s an awesome driver so we survived. Don’t tell my author, but I still haven’t forgiven him for that.

 

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?

Lady, I’m like eleven. When I try to argue with him, he grounds me and sends me to my room! It’s so totally unfair. 

 

What is your greatest fear?

Wow, lady. You ask some super personal questions. My real mom wanted to be a big actress on Broadway more than she wanted to be my mom. That’s why my dad divorced her and moved us to Seaside Cove. So my biggest fear was that I’d grow up without a mom. 

 

What makes you happy?

Having Marquetta in my life is what makes me the happiest. She’s the B&B’s cook, but now she’s also gonna marry my dad. The first time we met was like this super cool connection. She’d talked to my dad on the phone before we moved here and painted my room teal and purple ‘cause they’re my favorite colors. She’s always watching out for me and treats me the way I always wished my real mom would.

 

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?

That’s easy! I’d rewrite the first years of my life so that Marquetta would have been my mom. My dad’s so much happier with her than he ever was before he met her.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?

None of the other characters has ever been mean to me before like Adela Barone. She showed up in Treasure Most Deadly and I kinda liked her, but then she started lying and I realized she wasn’t trying to be my friend at all. I totally don’t like people like that.

 

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?

I’d love to trade places with Mayor Carter ‘cause she’s an adult and she owns an ice cream shop! I could eat ice cream all day long and never get grounded. It would also be a lot of fun to run the town. That would be pretty awesome!

 

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find his website/blog?

My author won’t tell me his age, but I kinda think he’s really old ‘cause he’s been writing for a super long time. Learn more about him and all his books at his website. 

 

What's next for you?

Right now, my author’s giving everybody in Seaside Cove a vacation while he works on the next Trouble in Paradise Mystery. I’m gonna totally enjoy my summer break and get ready for my dad and Marquetta’s wedding. 

 

Treasure Most Deadly

A Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast Mystery, Book 5

 

Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast owner Rick Atwood is again called on to assist his friend, Chief of Police Adam Cunningham, with a murder investigation. The case seems straightforward enough. Clive Crabbe, who has a quick temper and a strong jealous streak, was found hunched over the victim after the man made advances toward Clive’s ex-wife. 

 

A murder investigation is the last thing Rick wants right now. The B&B is booked solid. The town is inundated with tourists and news reporters chasing stories about treasure thieves. And Rick’s wedding to Marquetta Weiss is just weeks away. As if that wasn’t enough, Rick’s eleven-year-old daughter Alex is not only itching to help the cops solve another murder, but she’s forming an unhealthy friendship with a B&B guest.

 

As the murder investigation progresses, Rick realizes Alex’s new friend could be at the center of everything. The worst part is that Alex may be the one person capable of cracking the case.

 

Buy Links

paperback 

ebook