Character Interview
Interview with Louetta Stafford (Murder & Mayhem In Goose Pimple
Junction)
Who is your favorite author?
You mean besides
Amy Metz? And besides Tricia Drammeh? Well, I reckon it would be Mark Twain. I
wish he were alive today. I think he’d be fun to date.
What do you think makes a good story?
Oh, I’d say
interesting people doing interesting things in an interesting way. And it
doesn’t hurt to make you laugh. I don’t like to cry, but I love to laugh. And I
love a good mystery with a nice little love story.
Tell us about your family.
Well, I’m the
youngest of four children, the mother of Martha Maye, and the grandmother of
Butterbean. My husband has moved into upper management, God rest his soul.
I’m guessing you don’t mean he got a
promotion at work.
No, I mean he
passed on. But we were married for fifty-two wonderful years.
What was the scariest moment of your life?
Without a doubt
it was in 1935 when they told me my daddy had been murdered. I wasn’t even
knee-high to a duck, but I knew what murdered meant. I remember the look on
Mama’s face. And all the people runnin’ around like chickens with their heads
cut off. It was a terrible time.
I’m so sorry. Let’s talk about some happy things. Are you reading any good books right now?
I swan, I’m
always readin’ somethin’. I own the town bookstore, don’t ya know. Right now
I’m readin’ a right good mystery called A
Leprechaun’s Lament, by Wayne Zurl. You’d like it. You come on by the
store, and I’ll give you a discount.
What songs are most played on your Ipod?
My what?
What is your favorite meal?
Ooh, law, I love
fried chicken with mashed taters and gravy, corn puddin’, and hot rolls or corn
sticks. It doesn’t get any better than that. And for dessert, peach pie. Mmm
mmm. Now you’ve gone and made me hungry.
What would we find under your bed?
Under my bed?
Hmmm. I ‘spect you might find some books, some dust bunnies, and my late
husband’s slippers. They belong there. The slippers, not the dust bunnies. I
can’t ever seem to keep up with those thangs.
Tell us about your favorite restaurant.
My favorite
restaurant is absolutely Slick & Junebug’s Diner. Slick does the cookin’,
and Junebug does the servin’. Outside of my kitchen, you can’t get a better
home cooked mill.
Mill?
You’re not from
around here, are ya? M-e-a-l. Mill.
What makes you happy?
My family, talkin’ to God, a flower garden, the town’s Fourth of July celebration, sittin' under a shade tree. Lawzy, there are lots of things that make me happy. It don’t do anybody any good to be sad.
What is the next big thing?
Oh, it’s got to
be that new book, Murder & Mayhem In
Goose Pimple Junction. I’ll sell ya that’n too, when you come by the
bookstore.
What one word best describes you?
Young at heart.
Well, that’s three words, but I think it counts as one.
What is something people would be
surprised to know about you?
I was Miss Goose
Pimple Junction 1948. You never woulda guessed that, would ya? Yeppie, those
were the days.
You just won a huge lottery what is the
first thing you'll buy?
Books for
everybody in town. Murder & Mayhem In
Goose Pimple Junction and A
Leprechaun’s Lament for the adults, and The
Claiming Words for the youngins, although adults would like that’n too.
Do you have a favorite quote, quip, or
saying?
Sure. Doesn’t
everybody?
What is it?
“Outside of a
dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” Groucho Marx said that. Come to think of it, I
wish he were still alive too.
Thank you, Louetta for talking to us
today. It’s been a pleasure.
Aw, thank you, hon. I ‘preshade it.
About The Author:
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Book Trailer
Book Review
Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction by Amy Metz
Published By: Iconic Publishing, LLC
Release Date: July 26, 2012
Format: Paperback - 288 pages
ISBN: 0985138874
Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery / Mystery - Suspense - Thriller
BUY THE BOOK: Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review, and for hosting a virtual book event on my book review blog site.
Book Description:
Starting a new life in the colorful town of Goose Pimple Junction, Tess Tremaine tries to learn the foreign language of southern speak and to resist her attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright, while dealing with the strange things that happen to her when she begins looking into a seventy-five-year-old murder. A bank robbery, murder, and family tragedy are the background of the mystery which Tess and Jack attempt to solve. As Tess gets close to the truth, she encounters danger, mystery, and a lot of southern charm. Her quest to find answers brings her friends, enemies, and a new temptation for which she’s not sure she’s ready.
Combining mystery, a little romance, and a lot of southern humor, Murder And Mayhem In Goose Pimple Junction is the first in a series set in the zany fictional town of Goose Pimple Junction.
Book Excerpt:
Chapter 6
(Tess is telling Louetta, the owner of the bookstore, about finding an old key)
Lou turned to Tess. “I thought he’d never quit bumpin’ his gums. Now what was it you were sayin'?”
“Oh. Yes. Well, last night I was peeling the wallpaper off of the master bedroom walls, and I found a key that had fallen into the floor register. It had a label attached that said, 'trunk,' and I wondered if it might belong to your family. It's a thin, copper key, and looks pretty old.”
Lou’s face went white underneath her bright rouge. “Ya don’t say,” she mumbled, pulling Tess behind the counter. Tess noticed she suddenly wouldn’tlook her in the eye and began to shuffle papers around on the desk.
“Seeing that it was your family's house, I thought maybe you'd have an idea of what it belonged to...”
Tess let her sentence taper off when she saw the strained look on Lou's face.
“Lou, is everything all right?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, honey, everythin’s just fine and dandy. There was actually an old trunk in our attic that we could never find the key to. But we were able to get another one. I 'preshade you tellin' me 'bout it, but why don't you keep it? Make it yer good luck charm or sumpthin'. I’d just as soon not think about that trunk."
(Tess is telling Louetta, the owner of the bookstore, about finding an old key)
Lou turned to Tess. “I thought he’d never quit bumpin’ his gums. Now what was it you were sayin'?”
“Oh. Yes. Well, last night I was peeling the wallpaper off of the master bedroom walls, and I found a key that had fallen into the floor register. It had a label attached that said, 'trunk,' and I wondered if it might belong to your family. It's a thin, copper key, and looks pretty old.”
Lou’s face went white underneath her bright rouge. “Ya don’t say,” she mumbled, pulling Tess behind the counter. Tess noticed she suddenly wouldn’tlook her in the eye and began to shuffle papers around on the desk.
“Seeing that it was your family's house, I thought maybe you'd have an idea of what it belonged to...”
Tess let her sentence taper off when she saw the strained look on Lou's face.
“Lou, is everything all right?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, honey, everythin’s just fine and dandy. There was actually an old trunk in our attic that we could never find the key to. But we were able to get another one. I 'preshade you tellin' me 'bout it, but why don't you keep it? Make it yer good luck charm or sumpthin'. I’d just as soon not think about that trunk."
My Book Review:
Welcome to Goose Pimple Junction, Tennessee!
When Tess Tremaine, recently divorced and looking to start over in a new town settles into Goose Pimple Junction, she has no idea what she's in for! Meeting the townsfolk, learning "southern speak" and "goosepimpleisms," working in a bookstore, and an attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright is enough to keep her busy ... or is it?
A 1935 bank robbery leads to the 1937 unsolved murder of witness John Hobbs. Seventy-five years later, Tess is living in John's old house, and while renovating the house, she finds an old key and decides to look into the unsolved murder mystery case. But someone doesn't want the past to be stirred up ... with Tess and Jack investigating ... murder, mayhem and a little bit of southern romance is sure to follow!
Murder & Mayhem 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 that 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 weaved the two time periods, the 1930s murder mystery and the present day, into a suspenseful and riveting story. This laugh-out-loud mystery story will keep you in stitches as you turn the pages following along with the townsfolks' southern charm, quirky "goosepimpleisms," and the drama and mayhem that follows Tess and Jack on their quest to solve the old murder case.
The author has created a cast of characters that are quirky and lovable, their southern charm, crazy antics and hysterical dialogue will keep you in stitches. The reader is transported to 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, but my favorites were Tess, Jack, Lou and Pickle. I loved how the author balanced the murder mystery with romance, while the drama and suspense kept me guessing, it was Tess and Jack's lighthearted romance that kept me smiling.
Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction is a riveting southern cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the investigation of the decades old murder mystery, 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!
RATING: 4 STARS ****
I loved this book interview. It made me laugh as when she said she remembers being told her Dad had been murdered in 1935,I looked at her photo and thought "she looks way too young to have been around in 1935!". Then I read it again and saw it said "Character interview". Very clever and very amusing.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Think I might get this as it sounds interesting, and amusing!
Hi Lisa! Thank you for stopping by and commenting. It's a fun book, hope you get a chance to read it. :)
ReplyDelete