What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?
My estate is in Manhattan, and my husband is an accountant and partner at Markus, Alexander, Richards, and Chesterton, that is, he was. He is currently a resident at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. The truth is, I pulled Mary Vee’s strings. I needed Detective Carhill’s help and had no other way to ask him without her writing my story. You see, my family’s name was at stake, and the gossipers refused to believe my husband is innocent! I had no other choice. She had to stop all her projects and write this story.
What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?
I have four friends who are very special to me. We’ve formed a group back in high school French class and called it Cinq Amis. Although we’ve lived all over the world since graduating, we’ve kept in touch, met in Paris several times, and speak only French to each other. Hah. The stories I could tell about Paris. Mmm. Yes. What a delightful city. One of my friends, Sylvia, went missing last Christmas. Her daughter called Detective Carhill to solve the case. He’s such a dear. I feel I could call no one else to help my Phillip.
What do you like least about yourself?
I can’t imagine anything not to like about myself. I’m charitable, run my household, organize parties and teas. I’ve raised a high society daughter to carry on the family and employ a large staff. I hardly understand why the question was asked.
What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you? There was the time the maid was murdered in the kitchen. The whole event was quite frightening and ghastly. I don’t recall it helping us solve Phillip’s case. If anything, it complicated things. She’d only worked in the mansion a few days. I suppose I wonder why it couldn’t have happened elsewhere. Like in the woods beyond the grounds where it wouldn’t have created such a mess.
Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?
We debated whether I should attend the fundraiser or not. I missed Phillip terribly that day, and a few gossipers had dug their claws into our name. I simply didn’t want to go. I was tired and didn’t want to deal with any person. Mary Vee, though, felt I should attend since I had organized the event. She suggested the gossipers would have more to say if I had stayed home. We compromised. I went but left early.
What is your greatest fear?
That I’ll lose my husband. If he is found guilty and sent to prison, I don’t know what I’d do. Can you imagine the children’s hospital calling on a convict’s wife to organize a fundraiser? As it is, my hairdresser says several of her clients will change hairdressers if she continues doing my hair. I’ll have nothing to do. My life will be over.
What makes you happy?
Before page one of this story, I wanted nothing more than to have every event I organize turn out perfectly, my house in perfect order, and our name spoken highly of. After the last page? To be kissed by Phillip.
If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?
Naturally, I would prefer my husband had never been set up for a crime he didn’t commit. With him in prison, I can’t attend events. A married woman of my stature should not make an appearance without an escort. Think of all the social obligations I’ve missed. I haven’t bought a new pair of shoes in days. The judge froze our assets. I explained what would happen if Mary Vee forced us to endure this travesty. We’d lose everything. Most importantly our good name. We’d reach the bitter end. But she insisted readers would want to walk this journey with me.
Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?
Lincoln Chesterton. Definitely. I truly am sorry his wife passed and can understand his feelings of loneliness. But I’m married. All right, so my husband Phillip is in prison during the trial leaving me alone in this huge estate. This doesn’t mean I want to renew a relationship with a man I dated in high school. From the moment he first asked to spend time with me, I knew he was the one who set up my Phillip. He has always disliked my husband.
Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?
Well, I hardly think I would delight in trading places with any other character. No one could run my household or live up to the expectations placed on a woman in my class, much less know which fork to use for the dessert. It’s not their fault. They haven’t been raised in high society as I have.
Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?
Mary Vee writes Never Give Up Stories (her brand). She was homeless for a time then earned an MA in Counseling and became a caseworker for low income and homeless people. She has worked with villagers living in the drug cartel mountains in Honduras and Native Americans living in tribal areas in Montana. She married an Air Force veteran and settled in Michigan. Mary writes for her King.
Mary attends one to two writing conferences every year, reads books on writing annually, and has completed years of writing courses. She uses what she has learned when writing articles posted on her website: TodaysWritersWorld.com where easy solutions for busy writers and readers can be found.
Mary tutors young writers including international students, some she has met through her Instagram account. She speaks in schools as well as adult classes on writing topics. Her articles have been published in Horizon, Faces (distributed to schools across the nation), Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., ACSI Exemplary Programs, and others.
Learn more about Mary and her books at her website. https://TodaysWritersWorld.com
What's next for you?
With the case solved by the last page of my story, Justice for Elizabeth, Phillip and I have made plans to take a cruise. We need to talk. Far away from here. Get to know each other. Do you know he kissed me this morning and said he liked my dress! Oh, and we’ve decided to adopt the maid’s son. I simply couldn’t send him off to an orphanage.
As for Mary Vee, she is working on her next book, reading, and writing articles for her website when not traveling. I hear she is planning a trip to Greece this fall.
A Detective Carhill Mystery, Book 2
High society woman, Elizabeth Alexander, can’t possibly fulfill her societal obligations with her husband locked away in prison.
The gossipers won’t believe he is innocent. Her family’s name is at stake unless she finds the person who set up her husband.
Detective Carhill recently helped one of the Cinq Amis, Elizabeth’s dearest friends. The man kept the entire ordeal from inking the papers and solved the case quickly, as he promised.
Elizabeth is running out of time. Unless Carhill solves the case, and soon, the Alexander family name will forever be worthless.
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