Welcome to the Coffee Chat!
Today’s guest author is Nupur Tustin with her featured psychic amateur sleuth Celine Skye book #1.
Good Morning, Nupur. How do you take your coffee?
NT: Thanks for the offer. I’d love a cup with a dash of creamer.
Ally: That’s a simple request. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
A former journalist, Nupur Tustin misuses a Ph.D. in Communication and an M.A. in English to paint intrigue. She also orchestrates mayhem in composer Joseph Haydn’s Europe. Along the way she trained as a journalist, worked for CNBC and Reuters, and did some freelance writing, selling travel articles and short stories as an English grad at UConn.
Something unique/unusual about yourself: “While researching the Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries, I realized I might be a “bit psychic,” to quote Daphne Moon from Frasier, the comedy show. To be honest, we all are. I have something called claircognizance—meaning, I just know stuff. I knew both my kids’ kindergarten teachers were pregnant before they made the announcement. When a friend told us she was leaving her job, I knew—before she confided the reason to my husband—exactly what prompted that decision.
But with a little bit of practice I can do more. One time I texted my husband asking if a colleague of his had dropped by to see him.
“He hasn’t and I wasn’t expecting him to,” was my husband’s puzzled reply.
“Well, when he does,” I texted back, “could you let me know if he’s wearing blue?”
A few minutes later, my husband texted to confirm what I’d already seen in my mind’s eye.”
Author Contacts:
Website: https://ntustin.com
Giveaway: https://ntustin.com/giveaway/ (Two Books for the Price of One)
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ntustinauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nupur-tustin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nupurtustin
A former journalist, Nupur Tustin misuses a Ph.D. in Communication and an M.A. in English to paint intrigue. She also orchestrates mayhem in composer Joseph Haydn’s Europe. Along the way she trained as a journalist, worked for CNBC and Reuters, and did some freelance writing, selling travel articles and short stories as an English grad at UConn.
Something unique/unusual about yourself: “While researching the Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries, I realized I might be a “bit psychic,” to quote Daphne Moon from Frasier, the comedy show. To be honest, we all are. I have something called claircognizance—meaning, I just know stuff. I knew both my kids’ kindergarten teachers were pregnant before they made the announcement. When a friend told us she was leaving her job, I knew—before she confided the reason to my husband—exactly what prompted that decision.
But with a little bit of practice I can do more. One time I texted my husband asking if a colleague of his had dropped by to see him.
“He hasn’t and I wasn’t expecting him to,” was my husband’s puzzled reply.
“Well, when he does,” I texted back, “could you let me know if he’s wearing blue?”
A few minutes later, my husband texted to confirm what I’d already seen in my mind’s eye.”
Author Contacts:
Website: https://ntustin.com
Giveaway: https://ntustin.com/giveaway/ (Two Books for the Price of One)
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ntustinauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nupur-tustin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/nupurtustin
INTERVIEW:
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book?
NT: Shortly after my parents died, I began meditating, and I recalled a book that my father had enjoyed very much. It was Jose Silva’s The Silva Mind Control Method. I ordered a copy and began re-reading it and noticed that the protagonist of the television series, Psych, uses many of the same methods Silva advocates. I also began to pay more attention to my intuition and to realize that we do best when we pay attention to that inner voice within us—even when it contradicts logic or what friends and family say.
So, I knew I wanted a psychic protagonist and I knew that she gets involved in solving crimes because her boss was murdered. But I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he’d been murdered. Something to do with his past, of course. But what exactly?
Then, as luck would have it, we visited the Getty and I fell in love with Canaletto, an Italian view painter. And I learned about the Gardner Museum heist.
Voila, I had my story! Why not have a psychic take on the Gardner Museum heist? The theft’s eluded experts for decades. Maybe a psychic could help understand what happened and recover the art.
Ally: What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
NT: What’s lovely about this career is that reading mysteries and watching them on television can be construed as research. The actual writing and concocting a plot is always enjoyable. And it’s wonderful to be able to stay home with my three kids and to help them with their education. The kids and I write stories together, too!
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
NT: No, but that’s not to say that a theme doesn’t emerge as I start writing. Often the theme will be voiced in my title. I can’t elaborate very much on the title, Master of Illusion, but when you read the book you’ll notice the title is very apt and it speaks to both a specific artistic issue as well as a broader theme.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a fan has said about your book?
NT: Because of the pandemic and homeschooling, I wasn’t planning on having a new release this year. I figured with all the worry the pandemic has engendered, no one wanted to read. Meanwhile, I was reading: Iain Pears’ art history mystery books, Aaron Elkins’ art mystery series, Murder, She Wrote, and some romantic suspense authors, Jayne Anne Krentz and Heather Graham.
Then a fan wrote asking me when my next title would be released. He and his wife had devoured the first three books I’ve written. Would there be any more? And I realized that we writers help enormously by taking people’s minds off the stressful times that beset them. Now, during the pandemic, good books are more relevant than ever before.
So, I’m releasing not one, but two books in the Celine Skye series: the bestselling new release, Master of Illusion and the prequel, Visions of Murder.
(Ally NOTE: Readers can get both books for $2.99 until July 27, 2020. The details are here: https://ntustin.com/giveaway/)
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
NY: I’m starting work on the next title in the Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries. I haven’t thought of a title yet. It’ll come to me, though. And then it’s back to the Joseph Haydn Series for The Mozart Connection where Leopold Mozart is accused of murder and Haydn is roped in to find the truth.
Ally: Which of the quick questions did you choose to answer?
NT:
Ally: What inspired you to write your featured book?
NT: Shortly after my parents died, I began meditating, and I recalled a book that my father had enjoyed very much. It was Jose Silva’s The Silva Mind Control Method. I ordered a copy and began re-reading it and noticed that the protagonist of the television series, Psych, uses many of the same methods Silva advocates. I also began to pay more attention to my intuition and to realize that we do best when we pay attention to that inner voice within us—even when it contradicts logic or what friends and family say.
So, I knew I wanted a psychic protagonist and I knew that she gets involved in solving crimes because her boss was murdered. But I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he’d been murdered. Something to do with his past, of course. But what exactly?
Then, as luck would have it, we visited the Getty and I fell in love with Canaletto, an Italian view painter. And I learned about the Gardner Museum heist.
Voila, I had my story! Why not have a psychic take on the Gardner Museum heist? The theft’s eluded experts for decades. Maybe a psychic could help understand what happened and recover the art.
Ally: What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
NT: What’s lovely about this career is that reading mysteries and watching them on television can be construed as research. The actual writing and concocting a plot is always enjoyable. And it’s wonderful to be able to stay home with my three kids and to help them with their education. The kids and I write stories together, too!
Ally: Do you write with a theme or message in mind?
NT: No, but that’s not to say that a theme doesn’t emerge as I start writing. Often the theme will be voiced in my title. I can’t elaborate very much on the title, Master of Illusion, but when you read the book you’ll notice the title is very apt and it speaks to both a specific artistic issue as well as a broader theme.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a fan has said about your book?
NT: Because of the pandemic and homeschooling, I wasn’t planning on having a new release this year. I figured with all the worry the pandemic has engendered, no one wanted to read. Meanwhile, I was reading: Iain Pears’ art history mystery books, Aaron Elkins’ art mystery series, Murder, She Wrote, and some romantic suspense authors, Jayne Anne Krentz and Heather Graham.
Then a fan wrote asking me when my next title would be released. He and his wife had devoured the first three books I’ve written. Would there be any more? And I realized that we writers help enormously by taking people’s minds off the stressful times that beset them. Now, during the pandemic, good books are more relevant than ever before.
So, I’m releasing not one, but two books in the Celine Skye series: the bestselling new release, Master of Illusion and the prequel, Visions of Murder.
(Ally NOTE: Readers can get both books for $2.99 until July 27, 2020. The details are here: https://ntustin.com/giveaway/)
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
NY: I’m starting work on the next title in the Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries. I haven’t thought of a title yet. It’ll come to me, though. And then it’s back to the Joseph Haydn Series for The Mozart Connection where Leopold Mozart is accused of murder and Haydn is roped in to find the truth.
Ally: Which of the quick questions did you choose to answer?
NT:
- memorable book you’ve read: Iain Pear’s Raphael Affair is simply fantastic!
- ebook or print? Definitely print! I love having my books on hand wherever I go, and staring at a screen for most of the day while I’m writing means I’m less likely to want to do it when I’m reading.
- most watched tv show: We’ve binge-watched Bosch and we’ve just started on the Mentalist.
- a movie you’ll always remember: The Man Who Invented Christmas—it’s about Dickens’ writing process. If you’re a writer, the movie will truly resonate with you. If you’re not, you’ll get a very accurate glimpse into the writing process.
- a supernatural ability you’d love to have: Eyes in the back of my head so my children don’t get into mischief. The boys especially have a tendency to get into things they’re not supposed to—cupcakes, muffins, chocolate milk!
Master of Illusion (Celine Skye series)
Genre: amateur sleuth psychic mystery
When death arrives in Paso Robles, so do clues to an infamous art heist in Boston. . .
For seven years, psychic Celine Skye has led a life free of visions in quiet Paso Robles. But now the visions are back. Along with a dubious customer from Boston.
Celine has always been able to sense death. But not even she can foresee her employer Dirck’s murder. Finding his corpse in the wine bar he owns is bad enough.
Grappling with the suspicion that Dirck’s death could be connected with the Gardner Museum heist is even worse.
As Celine struggles to make sense of the psychic clues she receives, there’s just one question in her mind: What exactly did Dirck know about the Gardner Museum heist to get himself killed?
Buy Links:
Kindle: https://ntustin.com/Master-Kindle
Apple: https://ntustin.com/Master-Apple
Nook: https://ntustin.com/Master-Nook
Kobo https://ntustin.com/Master-Kobo
Master of Illusion (Celine Skye series)
Genre: amateur sleuth psychic mystery
When death arrives in Paso Robles, so do clues to an infamous art heist in Boston. . .
For seven years, psychic Celine Skye has led a life free of visions in quiet Paso Robles. But now the visions are back. Along with a dubious customer from Boston.
Celine has always been able to sense death. But not even she can foresee her employer Dirck’s murder. Finding his corpse in the wine bar he owns is bad enough.
Grappling with the suspicion that Dirck’s death could be connected with the Gardner Museum heist is even worse.
As Celine struggles to make sense of the psychic clues she receives, there’s just one question in her mind: What exactly did Dirck know about the Gardner Museum heist to get himself killed?
Buy Links:
Kindle: https://ntustin.com/Master-Kindle
Apple: https://ntustin.com/Master-Apple
Nook: https://ntustin.com/Master-Nook
Kobo https://ntustin.com/Master-Kobo
Prequel to the Celine Skye series
Get both books for $2.99 until July 27, 2020. Check here: https://ntustin.com/giveaway/)
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