Welcome to this week’s Coffee Chat!
My guest today is Sally Carpenter, an author of humorous cozy mysteries.
Thank you for visiting, Sally. What may I get you to drink?
SC: I’m a hot tea drinker, no sugar or cream but lemon’s OK. Love most herbal and green teas. Can’t stand Lipton brand.
Ally: Lol. I think my magic pot blends her own coffees and teas, so you should be safe from Lipton. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
My guest today is Sally Carpenter, an author of humorous cozy mysteries.
Thank you for visiting, Sally. What may I get you to drink?
SC: I’m a hot tea drinker, no sugar or cream but lemon’s OK. Love most herbal and green teas. Can’t stand Lipton brand.
Ally: Lol. I think my magic pot blends her own coffees and teas, so you should be safe from Lipton. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
I’m a native Hoosier living in Moorpark, Calif.
I have a master’s degree in theater, a Master of Divinity and a black belt in tae kwon do.
I’ve written four books in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series.
Flower Power Fatality is my first book in the Psychedelic Spy series.
I have short stories in three anthologies and penned a chapter in a group mystery novel.
I’m a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles.
I also write a faith column for a community newspaper.
Something unique: All the cats that I’ve had over the years have been black, black tuxedo or gray. No other colors.
Author Contacts:
My website is http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com and my email is scwriter@earthlink.net.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54
I’m a native Hoosier living in Moorpark, Calif.
I have a master’s degree in theater, a Master of Divinity and a black belt in tae kwon do.
I’ve written four books in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series.
Flower Power Fatality is my first book in the Psychedelic Spy series.
I have short stories in three anthologies and penned a chapter in a group mystery novel.
I’m a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles.
I also write a faith column for a community newspaper.
Something unique: All the cats that I’ve had over the years have been black, black tuxedo or gray. No other colors.
Author Contacts:
My website is http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com and my email is scwriter@earthlink.net.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Where do you get your story ideas?
SC: My first cozy series, Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol (for adults), was inspired by my love for The Monkees and an interest in the lives and careers of teen idols. The new series, Psychedelic Spy, came about when I attended a concert of old ‘60s rockers and thought that era would make interesting stories. Writing a spy thriller was sparked by the Doris Day movie “The Glass Bottomed Boat” in which she’s caught up in spy business.
Ally: How did you get that first book or story published?
SC: I sent off a bunch of queries and received a bunch of rejections. Two editors told me what they didn’t like about the book, so I revised the story accordingly and the second editor published it. However, that book soon went out of print. I researched other publishers on the Internet and found Cozy Cat Press. I loved the name and the CCP editor has published all my books since.
Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
SC: I don’t use a paid editor. I revised my books like crazy. Just when I think I’m finished, I read it one more time and still find changes to make. In my day job I proofread a newspaper, so my self-editing skills are pretty strong.
Ally: Do fans influence your writing? If so, in what way?
SC: I was getting discouraged about continuing the Sandy Fairfax series until some people said they wanted to read more. Some expressed interest in my out-of-print book, so I’m working to get that back in print. If I have an audience, I’ll keep writing. But so far nobody has told me what to write, not even my publisher. I put down the words and hope for the best.
Ally: Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? Why or why not.
SC: I started out writing plays, but unless one is connected with a theater company or college drama department, it’s impossible to get a play produced. Theaters lose money on new plays.
Short stories have a short shelf life. It’s hard for an author to build a career or reputation off short stories unless one writes hundreds of them. One is paid a one-time flat rate for short stories and that’s it. With books, royalties can be earned continually. Publishing short stories is easy—just post it online—but few paying markets exist.
Ally: Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
SC: Yes. Sometimes I go overboard and keep researching because it’s interesting and I like learning new things. My new series needs research because it’s set in 1967 and all the products, songs, movies, clothing and hairstyles, etc. must be accurate for the time period. For my Sandy Fairfax series, I used what I learned working at a movie studio to create a fictional work place for my hero.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
SC: The story cheered them up after having a bad day.
Ally: What is your next writing project?
SC: I’m putting my first book, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, back in print. I’m writing a brand new short story to go with it, and I want to re-edit the book itself. My goal is to have it ready before the end of the year. Next is the second Psychedelic Spy novel, followed by a new Sandy Fairfax book. I’d like to alternative the two series.
Ally: Try a few short answer questions.
Ally: Where do you get your story ideas?
SC: My first cozy series, Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol (for adults), was inspired by my love for The Monkees and an interest in the lives and careers of teen idols. The new series, Psychedelic Spy, came about when I attended a concert of old ‘60s rockers and thought that era would make interesting stories. Writing a spy thriller was sparked by the Doris Day movie “The Glass Bottomed Boat” in which she’s caught up in spy business.
Ally: How did you get that first book or story published?
SC: I sent off a bunch of queries and received a bunch of rejections. Two editors told me what they didn’t like about the book, so I revised the story accordingly and the second editor published it. However, that book soon went out of print. I researched other publishers on the Internet and found Cozy Cat Press. I loved the name and the CCP editor has published all my books since.
Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
SC: I don’t use a paid editor. I revised my books like crazy. Just when I think I’m finished, I read it one more time and still find changes to make. In my day job I proofread a newspaper, so my self-editing skills are pretty strong.
Ally: Do fans influence your writing? If so, in what way?
SC: I was getting discouraged about continuing the Sandy Fairfax series until some people said they wanted to read more. Some expressed interest in my out-of-print book, so I’m working to get that back in print. If I have an audience, I’ll keep writing. But so far nobody has told me what to write, not even my publisher. I put down the words and hope for the best.
Ally: Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? Why or why not.
SC: I started out writing plays, but unless one is connected with a theater company or college drama department, it’s impossible to get a play produced. Theaters lose money on new plays.
Short stories have a short shelf life. It’s hard for an author to build a career or reputation off short stories unless one writes hundreds of them. One is paid a one-time flat rate for short stories and that’s it. With books, royalties can be earned continually. Publishing short stories is easy—just post it online—but few paying markets exist.
Ally: Do you enjoy research? Does your genre require it?
SC: Yes. Sometimes I go overboard and keep researching because it’s interesting and I like learning new things. My new series needs research because it’s set in 1967 and all the products, songs, movies, clothing and hairstyles, etc. must be accurate for the time period. For my Sandy Fairfax series, I used what I learned working at a movie studio to create a fictional work place for my hero.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a fan could say about your book?
SC: The story cheered them up after having a bad day.
Ally: What is your next writing project?
SC: I’m putting my first book, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, back in print. I’m writing a brand new short story to go with it, and I want to re-edit the book itself. My goal is to have it ready before the end of the year. Next is the second Psychedelic Spy novel, followed by a new Sandy Fairfax book. I’d like to alternative the two series.
Ally: Try a few short answer questions.
- a. Book you're currently reading: The Columbo Collection by William Link
- b. An author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Rod Serling (but he can’t smoke at the table)
- c. Favorite TV show: The Monkees
- d. Last book that made you laugh: Schlock Homes: The Complete Bagel Street Saga
- e. Your pets: Boots. Previous cats were PK, Snuggles, Gabby, Felix and Outdoor Kitty.
Flower Power Fatality (A Psychedelic Spy Mystery)
Genre: humorous cozy mystery
Rating: PG/no romance
The Cold War gets cozy in this retro-cozy spy caper set in 1967, a year of music, miniskirts—and murder! Actress Noelle McNabb works at the Country Christmas Family Fun Park in Yuletide, Indiana, but she longs for the bright lights of Hollywood. Real-life drama comes her way when a stranger with a fatal gunshot wound stumbles across her doorstep.
When she attempts to finds the man’s murderer, Noelle encounters a super-secret spy agency, SIAMESE (Special Intelligence Apparatus for Midwest Enemy Surveillance and Espionage). SIAMESE recruits Noelle on a quest to find missing microdots under the guidance of a street-wise agent, Destiny King. As Noelle goes undercover in a cheesy nightclub and faces the enemy in late-night chases, she uncovers family secrets and finds her moral values put to the test. Along with her pet cat, Ceebee, and the kooky residents of Yuletide, Noelle discovers it takes a village to catch a killer.
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLJS6FF/
https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Power-Fatality-Psychedelic-Mystery/dp/1946063541
RSS Feed
