Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!
I'm turning over the blog today to cozy mystery writer Lois Winston and the main character of her crafting mystery series, Anatasia Pollack.
Welcome, Lois! Take it away....
Ask Me Some Questions, I’ll Tell You No Lies…Maybe
By Lois Winston
By Lois Winston
I’m currently on a blog tour to promote the release of Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, the eighth book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series. As such, I’ve been doing quite a few interviews. Author interviews are usually pretty standard. Most focus on questions about why the author decided to become an author, where she gets her ideas, why she chose a certain genre, and whether she’s a “pantser” or a “plotter.” Every now and then, though, an interviewer asks some unique questions.
My most unique interview was back in 2013 for a UK blog by RLL. Who is RLL? Beats me. The person seems to want to remain anonymous and only goes by those three initials. He or she was promoting something called Read Tuesday, and I was invited to take part. I have no recollection of how we connected. However, while cleaning out some old computer files, I recently came across my answers to the twenty questions the interviewer asked and thought I’d share five of them with you.
RLL: Fire rages in your house. Everyone is safe, but you. You decide to smash through the window, shielding your face with a book. What is the book?
Lois: Fahrenheit 451 (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
RLL: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, you were writing that scene.
Lois: Personally, I don’t care who would win. I have no “stake” in this fight.
RLL: You must introduce a plot-twist. Evil twin or luggage mix-up?
Lois: Evil twin who mixes up the luggage.
RLL: You are at sea in a lifeboat, with the barest chance of surviving the raging storm. There’s one opportunity to save a character, drifting by this scene. Do you save the idealistic hero or the tragic villain?
Lois: Neither. I’d save the plucky heroine.
RLL: You build a secret passage into your story. Where?
Lois: Behind the refrigerator. No one ever looks there.
After reading through these questions and my answers to them, I began to wonder how Anastasia might think I’d answer them. So I asked her. Here are her answers:
Lois: Fire rages through my house. Everyone is safe, but me. I smash through the window, shielding my face with a book. What book did I grab?
Anastasia: Book? Forget it. You’d grab your laptop. The two of you are joined at the hip.
Lois: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, I was writing that scene.
Anastasia: I think you should ask me who wins in a fight between my mother and mother-in-law. You always have them exchanging barbs. Why not put them in an MMA arena?
Lois: Really? You’d have me subject your mother to that?
Anastasia: I’m kidding! But if you ever do write Mama and Lucille into a knock-down/drag-out battle, you’d better make sure Mama wins.
Lois: Duly noted. Perhaps we should move on to the next question.
Anastasia: Go for it.
Lois: I have to introduce a plot-twist. Let’s forget the evil twin and luggage mix-up. Any ideas?
Anastasia: You could have me win the lottery.
Lois: You do realize that would mean the end of the series, don’t you?
Anastasia: Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?
Lois: I’m going to skip the raging storm at sea question. I know which character you’d gladly sacrifice.
Anastasia: You know I’d never act on one of my mother-in-law fantasies. You’ve written me to be too nice—or too much the martyr—I’m still trying to figure out your motivation for permanently sticking me with Lucille.
Lois: It’s called character conflict.
Anastasia: I could do with a little less conflict in my life, no thanks to you.
Lois: I’m changing up the secret passage question as well. Instead of where I’d place it, where do you think it should lead?
Anastasia: Anywhere that wouldn’t include dead bodies and killers.
Lois: I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t write paranormal or time-travel mysteries, then. You’d walk through that passage and never come back.
Anastasia: Of course I would! You didn’t write a clueless dummy of a sleuth, just a reluctant one.
My most unique interview was back in 2013 for a UK blog by RLL. Who is RLL? Beats me. The person seems to want to remain anonymous and only goes by those three initials. He or she was promoting something called Read Tuesday, and I was invited to take part. I have no recollection of how we connected. However, while cleaning out some old computer files, I recently came across my answers to the twenty questions the interviewer asked and thought I’d share five of them with you.
RLL: Fire rages in your house. Everyone is safe, but you. You decide to smash through the window, shielding your face with a book. What is the book?
Lois: Fahrenheit 451 (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
RLL: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, you were writing that scene.
Lois: Personally, I don’t care who would win. I have no “stake” in this fight.
RLL: You must introduce a plot-twist. Evil twin or luggage mix-up?
Lois: Evil twin who mixes up the luggage.
RLL: You are at sea in a lifeboat, with the barest chance of surviving the raging storm. There’s one opportunity to save a character, drifting by this scene. Do you save the idealistic hero or the tragic villain?
Lois: Neither. I’d save the plucky heroine.
RLL: You build a secret passage into your story. Where?
Lois: Behind the refrigerator. No one ever looks there.
After reading through these questions and my answers to them, I began to wonder how Anastasia might think I’d answer them. So I asked her. Here are her answers:
Lois: Fire rages through my house. Everyone is safe, but me. I smash through the window, shielding my face with a book. What book did I grab?
Anastasia: Book? Forget it. You’d grab your laptop. The two of you are joined at the hip.
Lois: Who’d win in a fight between Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster? If, you know, I was writing that scene.
Anastasia: I think you should ask me who wins in a fight between my mother and mother-in-law. You always have them exchanging barbs. Why not put them in an MMA arena?
Lois: Really? You’d have me subject your mother to that?
Anastasia: I’m kidding! But if you ever do write Mama and Lucille into a knock-down/drag-out battle, you’d better make sure Mama wins.
Lois: Duly noted. Perhaps we should move on to the next question.
Anastasia: Go for it.
Lois: I have to introduce a plot-twist. Let’s forget the evil twin and luggage mix-up. Any ideas?
Anastasia: You could have me win the lottery.
Lois: You do realize that would mean the end of the series, don’t you?
Anastasia: Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?
Lois: I’m going to skip the raging storm at sea question. I know which character you’d gladly sacrifice.
Anastasia: You know I’d never act on one of my mother-in-law fantasies. You’ve written me to be too nice—or too much the martyr—I’m still trying to figure out your motivation for permanently sticking me with Lucille.
Lois: It’s called character conflict.
Anastasia: I could do with a little less conflict in my life, no thanks to you.
Lois: I’m changing up the secret passage question as well. Instead of where I’d place it, where do you think it should lead?
Anastasia: Anywhere that wouldn’t include dead bodies and killers.
Lois: I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t write paranormal or time-travel mysteries, then. You’d walk through that passage and never come back.
Anastasia: Of course I would! You didn’t write a clueless dummy of a sleuth, just a reluctant one.
Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide
An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8
Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend and possible spy Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.
In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VG2QZXV/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Handmade+Ho-Ho+Homicide&qid=1563673299&s=gateway&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=loiswins-20&linkId=cbd92af3c45b1134cb5408cc8450e3b4&language=en_US
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/handmade-ho-ho-homicide
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handmade-ho-ho-homicide-lois-winston/1132607263?ean=2940163093748
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/handmade-ho-ho-homicide/id1473711082
An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8
Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend and possible spy Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.
In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VG2QZXV/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=Handmade+Ho-Ho+Homicide&qid=1563673299&s=gateway&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=loiswins-20&linkId=cbd92af3c45b1134cb5408cc8450e3b4&language=en_US
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/handmade-ho-ho-homicide
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handmade-ho-ho-homicide-lois-winston/1132607263?ean=2940163093748
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/handmade-ho-ho-homicide/id1473711082
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.
Author Contacts:
Website: www.loiswinston.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston
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