Welcome, Booklovers!
Are you ready for our weekly book talk? Our guest is cozy mystery author, Jodi Rath, featuring book two in her Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series.
Good morning, Jodi! What may I get you to drink?
JR: I love hot tea with two sweet-n-lows and a few plunks of milk.
Ally: While I fill our mugs, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio. “Let’s see, I’ve driven race cars on Laguna Seca’s course in CA. I have a brown belt (one step away from a black belt) in Kenpo.”
Author Contacts:
Newsletter link to A Mystery A Month—sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive a free Mystery a Month and a chance to win prizes for those who guess the right answers! http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb
Website: www.jodirath.com
FB Author page: @authorjodirath or https://www.facebook.com/authorjodirath/
Twitter: @jodirath
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats.
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio. “Let’s see, I’ve driven race cars on Laguna Seca’s course in CA. I have a brown belt (one step away from a black belt) in Kenpo.”
Author Contacts:
Newsletter link to A Mystery A Month—sign up for my monthly newsletter to receive a free Mystery a Month and a chance to win prizes for those who guess the right answers! http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb
Website: www.jodirath.com
FB Author page: @authorjodirath or https://www.facebook.com/authorjodirath/
Twitter: @jodirath
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
JR: I taught HS English for close to two decades, so yes, I had a theme in mind for the arc of the entire fourteen book series before I began writing book one. I know the direction the entire series will go and how it will end. The themes vary from book to book, but I connect with readers on all my social media outlets and create themes based on the most popular posts. I do a lot of research on the themes by emailing back and forth with many of my readers that are or have experienced what the theme of the book is.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can give other writers?
JR: I took some marketing courses in college and then worked in Advertising for several years—so marketing is not difficult for me like it can be for some writers. My best advice is to plan your marketing strategy for anything you want to sell (books or anything) at LEAST six months in advance. It’s really the only way to make a profit as an indie author unless you get lucky—and maybe about 2% maximum will get lucky. One of many parts of my business is that I am a marketing consultant on an hourly basis for indie authors and authors with small publishing companies. I help them build foundational marketing skills and plans.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
JR: I related to ______ fill-in-the-blank—a character, a theme, a plot issue, anything, and it helped me reflect on my own situation.
I’ve had that happen several times so far and it makes my entire year. I had an autistic man message me saying he really appreciated the diversity and that book two had a disabled character in it. My previous editor told me she loved that the series was headed in a direction to have so much different culture, different religions, races, and different types of people in it. I’m thrilled that only at book two many people are not only recognizing that but reaching out to tell me they appreciate it. Not to mention, many of them are helping me shape the characters by communicating with me during the research period.
Ally: In keeping with the fantasy theme of this blog…if you could have a supernatural power or ability, what would it be?
JR: I want to be invisible. As far back as I can remember, I’ve used reading, writing, research, and art as escapes—and I’m talking back to age four or five. I imagine if I was currently in therapy that would be considered unhealthy, but I don’t care. I have preferred fictional stories and characters to many people most of my life. So being invisible would be a great thing for me. Plus, I’d love to spy on people and then write about it! BWAAAHAHAHAAA!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JR: A Thanksgiving holiday book called, Turkey Basted to Death, comes out November 15, 2019.
Ally: Which short answer questions did you choose to answer?
JR:
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
JR: I taught HS English for close to two decades, so yes, I had a theme in mind for the arc of the entire fourteen book series before I began writing book one. I know the direction the entire series will go and how it will end. The themes vary from book to book, but I connect with readers on all my social media outlets and create themes based on the most popular posts. I do a lot of research on the themes by emailing back and forth with many of my readers that are or have experienced what the theme of the book is.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can give other writers?
JR: I took some marketing courses in college and then worked in Advertising for several years—so marketing is not difficult for me like it can be for some writers. My best advice is to plan your marketing strategy for anything you want to sell (books or anything) at LEAST six months in advance. It’s really the only way to make a profit as an indie author unless you get lucky—and maybe about 2% maximum will get lucky. One of many parts of my business is that I am a marketing consultant on an hourly basis for indie authors and authors with small publishing companies. I help them build foundational marketing skills and plans.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
JR: I related to ______ fill-in-the-blank—a character, a theme, a plot issue, anything, and it helped me reflect on my own situation.
I’ve had that happen several times so far and it makes my entire year. I had an autistic man message me saying he really appreciated the diversity and that book two had a disabled character in it. My previous editor told me she loved that the series was headed in a direction to have so much different culture, different religions, races, and different types of people in it. I’m thrilled that only at book two many people are not only recognizing that but reaching out to tell me they appreciate it. Not to mention, many of them are helping me shape the characters by communicating with me during the research period.
Ally: In keeping with the fantasy theme of this blog…if you could have a supernatural power or ability, what would it be?
JR: I want to be invisible. As far back as I can remember, I’ve used reading, writing, research, and art as escapes—and I’m talking back to age four or five. I imagine if I was currently in therapy that would be considered unhealthy, but I don’t care. I have preferred fictional stories and characters to many people most of my life. So being invisible would be a great thing for me. Plus, I’d love to spy on people and then write about it! BWAAAHAHAHAAA!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
JR: A Thanksgiving holiday book called, Turkey Basted to Death, comes out November 15, 2019.
Ally: Which short answer questions did you choose to answer?
JR:
- favorite quote: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
- an item on your bucket list: See my favorite quote—that’s it and I feel I’m accomplishing that.
- Do you believe in love at first sight? Used to not, but then met my second husband, so yes!
- Your pets: Cats: Lucky Lou Rath; Murray Kinz Rath; Stewart Michael Rath; Sam Jr. Rath; Slinky Marie Rath; Lily Rose Rath; Lulu Bean Rath; and Luna Belle Rath—they all have middle names—of course, they are our kids after all!
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Murder
(The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Book #2)
Released: 6/21/2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rated by author: 15 +
Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!
Financial fraud of elderly villagers in Leavensport, an urban sprawl threat to the community, disastrous dates, cross-sell marketing gone wrong, and another murder?
Jolie Tucker is ready to try dating again. Well, she has no choice—since her family auctioned her off to the highest bidder. Her best friend, Ava, has agreed to a double date, but both friends find out hidden secrets about their partners as well as deception by one of the village’s own, who will soon be found dead. This plot is sure to be spicy!
Links to purchase book:
Amazon: http://authl.it/B07Q1K4DN3
All other e-platforms: https://books2read.com/u/bOAYyK
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