Author Interview
Welcome to Jersey Girl Book Reviews, Amy!
Before we get to the interview,
can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Kathleen, thank you for having me
here. Eons ago, I taught first grade for three years. I quit when I had my
first baby. I was a stay-at-home mom/volunteer while my two sons grew up. After
my first son went to college, I developed a sixteen-hour-a-day reading habit
that morphed into a sixteen-hour-a-day writing habit. Now I write the Goose
Pimple Junction cozy mystery series. My oldest son is married and my youngest
son is in college. And I have a really cute boyfriend.
How long have you been a
writer?
Since 2009. Soon after I started
writing, I joined an online writer’s group, and in 2012 I published my first
novel with a small press—an experience that turned into a nightmare. Since
2014, I have self-published my books.
Do you have a day job, or is
being an author your career?
I am happy to say I devote all my
time to the business of writing.
What inspired you to become a
writer? Describe your journey as a writer.
I started writing as a stress
reliever when I was taking care of my mother who had dementia. Writing about it
was good therapy, but I soon discovered that I needed an escape from real life
(and from writing about real life), so I started writing a murder mystery. That
book turned out to be Murder & Mayhem
in Goose Pimple Junction, book 1 in my series.
Please give a brief
description/storyline about Rogues &
Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction.
Rogues & Rascals is book 4 in the series and features Caledonia Culpepper as the main
character. As Caledonia faces a divorce, she also finds her life in danger. Wynona
Baxter has come to Goose Pimple Junction to carry out her first job as a hit
woman. But Wynona, bless her heart, is a few peas short of a casserole, and she
has a little trouble with her new career move. Even though both women face
trying times, any rogues and rascals that cross them will discover how hard it
is to keep a good woman down.
What was the inspiration for
this story?
Life! I recently got divorced,
and let’s just say my ex-husband’s lawyer got my creative juices flowing.
How
did it feel to have your first book published?
It felt great. It was like giving
birth a third time. Almost.
Do you write books for a
specific genre?
Yes, so far I’ve stuck with cozy
mysteries.
What genres are your
favorite(s)? What are some of your favorite books that you have read and
why?
I like mysteries best, and I
love, love, love Robert B. Parker. His Spenser, Sonny Randall, and Jesse Stone
series’ are my favorites, probably because he does such a good job developing
his main characters.
Do you have a special
spot/area where you like to do your writing?
I write on a laptop, so I can
write anywhere I want, but it’s usually in my bedroom in a comfy chair or on my
bed.
How do you come up with the
ideas that become the storyline for your books?
My characters tell me what to
write. Seriously. Occasionally I get an idea from real life.
When you write, do you adhere
to a strict work schedule, or do you work whenever the inspiration
strikes?
I work whenever I can. Writing, editing, marketing: I’m fortunate to be able to
do it in the middle of the day or in the middle of the night, with breaks for
Facebook and Pinterest.
What aspects of storytelling
do you like the best, and what aspects do you struggle with the most?
Once I have the first draft down,
my favorite part of the process is going back and adding the details, texture,
and layers to the story. I usually struggle with the ending. I’ll be humming
right along and then hit a wall. I have a hard time figuring out how the story
should end.
What are your favorite things
to do when you are not writing?
I love to bake. Cakes, cookies,
brownies, cupcakes, pies . . . I love
to bake. I also love photography, going to my son’s concerts, spending time
with my family, and hanging out with my cute boyfriend. Reading and Netflix fill
in the cracks.
What is/was the best piece of
writing advice that you have received?
After you’re done writing a book,
put it down for a while and walk away. Then go back with fresh eyes to edit and
revise.
What is the most gratifying
thing you feel or get as a writer?
I occasionally get messages from
readers telling me how much they liked a book or how one of my books
entertained them or helped them through a trying time. That’s a wonderful
feeling!
How do you usually
communicate with your readers/fans?
I get an occasional email, but I
would say the majority of communication is on Facebook. Any form of
communication is appreciated!
Is there anything in your
book based on real life experiences or are they purely all from your
imagination?
Yes, there are, and no, I’m not telling which are real and which are from my imagination!
What authors have been your
inspiration or influenced you to become a writer?
So many! Like I said earlier, I once had an addictive reading habit. I think that lasted for about two years. I mean, I read all the time. I’m sure the combination of all those authors’ works influenced and inspired me to write.
What is your definition of
success as a writer?
Ooh. That’s a hard one. I think if a writer is able to develop an idea and make it into a story with a beginning, middle, and end, and that person has written to their very best ability, and completed an entire novel, I’d say he or she has succeeded.
Are you currently writing a
new book? If yes, would you care to share a bit of it with us?
Right now, I’m getting Rogues & Rascals ready to publish,
and marketing and promoting it is taking most of my time. But I’m beginning to
think about GPJ5, and a tiny seed is starting to germinate.
Thanks again, Kathleen!
Thank you Amy for visiting Jersey Girl Book Reviews, and sharing with us a bit about yourself and your novels.
About The Author
Amy Metz is the author of the Goose Pimple Junction mystery series. She is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two sons. When not writing, enjoying her family, or surfing Pinterest, Amy can usually be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky and loves a good Southern phrase.
Author Website
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Book Review
Rogues & Rascals In Goose Pimple Junction by Amy Metz
Book 4: Goose Pimple Junction Mystery Series
Publisher: Southern Ink Press, division of Blue Productions
Publication Date: Paperback - May 5, 2016 / eBook - May 15, 2016
Format: Paperback - 244 pages
Kindle - 3483 KB
ISBN: 978-0989714082
ASIN: B01EGOZKSW
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Southern Fiction
Buy The Book:
Amazon
Goodreads
Buy The Series: Goose Pimple Junction Mystery Series
Book 1: Murder & Mayhem In Goose Pimple Junction
Book 2: Heroes & Hooligans In Goose Pimple Junction
Book 3: Short & Tall Tales In Goose Pimple Junction
Book 4: Rogues & Rascals In Goose Pimple Junction
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Book Description:
Like any good Southern belle, Caledonia Culpepper was raised by her mama to be gracious, charming, witty, and above all, a devoted mother and loving wife. So she's baffled when her marriage falls apart.
Wynona Baxter is a master of disguise but is often a ditzy airhead. A hit woman wannabe, when she's hired for her first job in Goose Pimple Junction and things don't go as planned, she's forced to resort to Plan B. She'll also need Plan C and D.
Crooked lawyers, restless husbands, a teenaged hoodlum – it seems there are rogues and rascals everywhere you look in Goose Pimple Junction.
When Caledonia and Wynona's paths cross, they prove there isn't a rogue or a rascal who can keep a good woman down. Mama always said there would be days like this . . .
My Book Review:
Welcome back to Goose Pimple Junction, Tennessee!
Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction is an entertaining whodunit story with a southern twist! The author weaves an intriguing southern cozy murder mystery tale told in the third person narrative that immediately draws the reader in with its quirky humor and fast-paced action. This captivating tale has enough twists and turns that will leave your head spinning! Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the story takes place in Goose Pimple Junction, Tennessee, a picturesque southern town with a lot of heart and charm. The description of the town and surrounding area was wonderful, there's nothing better than down home country charm and living. I loved how the author masterfully interwove Caledonia Culpepper and Wynona Baxter's trials and tribulations into a suspenseful and riveting story. This laugh-out-loud cozy mystery tale will keep you in stitches as you turn the pages following along with the townsfolks' southern charm, quirky "goosepimpleisms," and the sassy "Mama always says ..." quotes at the start of every chapter. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and mayhem that follows Caledonia and Wynona, but like the author says, there isn't a rogue or a rascal who can keep a good woman down. Mama always said there would be days like this . . .
The author has created a wonderful series that has a cast of characters with some pretty funny names/nicknames, and who are quirky and lovable, their southern charm, crazy antics, hysterical local dialect and dialogue will keep you in stitches. The reader is transported to the lovely southern town of Goose Pimple Junction, Tennessee, where the friendly townsfolk welcome you with open arms and sweet tea! I really enjoyed all of the characters, and I couldn't help but enjoy following how Caledonia, Wynona, and the little teenage troublemaker Jimmy Dean Howe's story unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more.
Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction is a riveting southern cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the crazy adventures and trials and tribulations that occur, while providing you with a dose of good ol' southern charm and humor. So pull up a rocking chair and set down for a spell with some sweet tea while the townsfolk of Goose Pimple Junction tell y'all their story!
Rogues & Rascals in Goose Pimple Junction is the fourth book in the Goose Pimple Junction Mystery Series.
RATING: 5 STARS
Kathleen, thank you so much for hosting me and for your awesome review!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! Thank you for the opportunity to host your book on my blog. I really enjoy reading this series, keep em coming. :)
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