Welcome to this week’s Coffee Chat!
Our guest is Grace Topping, author of Staging is Murder.
Good morning, Grace. What may I get you to drink?
GT: I love coffee with lots of half and half—but only after dinner. The rest of the time, I am a tea drinker. Being married to an Englishman, we have tea (in a tea pot covered with a tea cozy) readily available all day.
Ally: Tea drinkers are welcome too. :) Please introduce yourself to readers while I pour our drinks.
Our guest is Grace Topping, author of Staging is Murder.
Good morning, Grace. What may I get you to drink?
GT: I love coffee with lots of half and half—but only after dinner. The rest of the time, I am a tea drinker. Being married to an Englishman, we have tea (in a tea pot covered with a tea cozy) readily available all day.
Ally: Tea drinkers are welcome too. :) Please introduce yourself to readers while I pour our drinks.
Bio:
Grace Topping is a recovering technical writer and IT project manager, accustomed to writing lean, boring documents. Let loose to write fiction, she is now creating murder mysteries and killing off characters who remind her of some of the people she dealt with during her career. Fictional revenge is sweet. She’s using her experience helping friends stage their homes as inspiration for her Laura Bishop mystery series. The first book in the series, Staging is Murder, is about a woman starting a new career midlife as a home stager. Grace is the current vice president of the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and a member of the SINC Guppies and Mystery Writers of America. She lives with her husband in Northern Virginia.
Something unique about me: “I spent seven years in the Navy, which enabled me to travel all over the world. Four of those years I spent in London, England, where I met my British husband.”
Contact the Author:
http://www.gracetopping.com
https://www.facebook.com/gracetoppingauthor
https://twitter.com/gtoppingauthor
Grace Topping is a recovering technical writer and IT project manager, accustomed to writing lean, boring documents. Let loose to write fiction, she is now creating murder mysteries and killing off characters who remind her of some of the people she dealt with during her career. Fictional revenge is sweet. She’s using her experience helping friends stage their homes as inspiration for her Laura Bishop mystery series. The first book in the series, Staging is Murder, is about a woman starting a new career midlife as a home stager. Grace is the current vice president of the Chesapeake Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and a member of the SINC Guppies and Mystery Writers of America. She lives with her husband in Northern Virginia.
Something unique about me: “I spent seven years in the Navy, which enabled me to travel all over the world. Four of those years I spent in London, England, where I met my British husband.”
Contact the Author:
http://www.gracetopping.com
https://www.facebook.com/gracetoppingauthor
https://twitter.com/gtoppingauthor
INTERVIEW:
Ally: What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
GT: One of the most rewarding things about having a writing career is the camaraderie you develop with other writers, editors, agents, audiobook narrators, and readers. I’ve had the good fortunate to make friends throughout the country and abroad with people who share an interest in mystery writing and production. The mystery writing community is a very supportive one. I probably wouldn’t be published if it hadn’t been for the friendship, support, and help I received from other writers, particularly from members of Sisters in Crime, a national organization that helps promote women crime writers.
The most negative aspect of having a writing career—most definitely sitting too much. I’ve tried standing to write and recording while I walk, but there is something about seat in the chair and fingers on the keyboard that makes me the most productive. And if I could overcome my addiction to Facebook, I would be even more productive. I get some exercise from walking downstairs to the microwave to reheat my cup of tea—several times a day.
Ally: Tell us about your main characters. Are they likable? Do they have off-putting flaws or beliefs? Are they “good” people? Is it important for them to be real or relatable?
GT: It was important to me to have a main character that was realistic and one people could relate to. I don’t know anyone who, finding a body, would immediately set off to find the killer. In Staging is Murder, my main character, Laura Bishop, only becomes involved in an investigation because the grandmother of the young man accused of the murder virtually begs her to find the killer. To say she is a reluctant sleuth is an understatement. She readily admits that she has no skill in solving crimes, but since the police are convinced they have the murderer, she gives into the grandmother’s pleas to at least help.
Laura has a big flaw—she dislikes and tries to steer clear of good-looking men. Every time someone hurt her, took credit for her work, embarrassed her, etc., it seemed a handsome man was involved, including her father who deserted the family and her deceased husband who was a womanizer. That really complicates her dealings with an attractive police detective assigned to the case and a local real estate agent with movie star good looks who is trying to sell the house she is staging before the bank can take it over.
Ally: Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? Why or why not. Would they be easier, harder, or just different?
GT: Before I started my mystery, I wrote a children’s picture book. My daughter loved it, but not so much agents or publishers. Everyone thinks they can write for children, but it is a lot harder than it sounds. Then I wrote a short play for middle school kids, which is also in a drawer somewhere. The experience gained from writing a play was invaluable. It gave me a good grasp of writing scenes and dialogue. In a play, other than the setting, the dialogue has to carry everything. As a result, I wrote my mystery with scenes in mind with very little description, emotion, and everything else that adds to a book. As I learned more about writing, I added characterization, emotion, etc., and I’m having an easier time with my second book. If Hollywood comes calling, I would enjoy trying my hand at writing a screenplay of my book.
Ally: What is your favorite social media?
GT: I am so addicted to Facebook that if there were a Facebook Anonymous group, I would have to join. I tweet occasionally and have one posting on Instagram, but the majority of time I favor Facebook. It enables me to belong to a number of mystery writing and mystery reader Facebook groups. I learn a lot from the writing groups and enjoy interacting with readers. If I don’t control my addiction, I’m never going to get the next book in my series finished.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a reader could say about your book?
GT: That my book made them laugh and gave them comfort during a trying time.
I have particular authors that I turn to during times of stress—like waiting for medical test results. Their books can totally take my mind off whatever is driving me crazy. I would be thrilled if someone wrote and said that my book helped get them through a rough time.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
GT: I have a contract with Henery Press for two more books in the Laura Bishop mystery series. The next one is due to Henery September 1, which is why I’m in a panic and need to stay off Facebook. It should be out, hopefully, April 2020.
Ally: Which quick answer questions did you choose to finish your interview?
GT:
Ally: What do you find most rewarding about a writing career? Most negative or frustrating?
GT: One of the most rewarding things about having a writing career is the camaraderie you develop with other writers, editors, agents, audiobook narrators, and readers. I’ve had the good fortunate to make friends throughout the country and abroad with people who share an interest in mystery writing and production. The mystery writing community is a very supportive one. I probably wouldn’t be published if it hadn’t been for the friendship, support, and help I received from other writers, particularly from members of Sisters in Crime, a national organization that helps promote women crime writers.
The most negative aspect of having a writing career—most definitely sitting too much. I’ve tried standing to write and recording while I walk, but there is something about seat in the chair and fingers on the keyboard that makes me the most productive. And if I could overcome my addiction to Facebook, I would be even more productive. I get some exercise from walking downstairs to the microwave to reheat my cup of tea—several times a day.
Ally: Tell us about your main characters. Are they likable? Do they have off-putting flaws or beliefs? Are they “good” people? Is it important for them to be real or relatable?
GT: It was important to me to have a main character that was realistic and one people could relate to. I don’t know anyone who, finding a body, would immediately set off to find the killer. In Staging is Murder, my main character, Laura Bishop, only becomes involved in an investigation because the grandmother of the young man accused of the murder virtually begs her to find the killer. To say she is a reluctant sleuth is an understatement. She readily admits that she has no skill in solving crimes, but since the police are convinced they have the murderer, she gives into the grandmother’s pleas to at least help.
Laura has a big flaw—she dislikes and tries to steer clear of good-looking men. Every time someone hurt her, took credit for her work, embarrassed her, etc., it seemed a handsome man was involved, including her father who deserted the family and her deceased husband who was a womanizer. That really complicates her dealings with an attractive police detective assigned to the case and a local real estate agent with movie star good looks who is trying to sell the house she is staging before the bank can take it over.
Ally: Have you written or considered writing in other genres or other forms, such as short stories or screenplays? Why or why not. Would they be easier, harder, or just different?
GT: Before I started my mystery, I wrote a children’s picture book. My daughter loved it, but not so much agents or publishers. Everyone thinks they can write for children, but it is a lot harder than it sounds. Then I wrote a short play for middle school kids, which is also in a drawer somewhere. The experience gained from writing a play was invaluable. It gave me a good grasp of writing scenes and dialogue. In a play, other than the setting, the dialogue has to carry everything. As a result, I wrote my mystery with scenes in mind with very little description, emotion, and everything else that adds to a book. As I learned more about writing, I added characterization, emotion, etc., and I’m having an easier time with my second book. If Hollywood comes calling, I would enjoy trying my hand at writing a screenplay of my book.
Ally: What is your favorite social media?
GT: I am so addicted to Facebook that if there were a Facebook Anonymous group, I would have to join. I tweet occasionally and have one posting on Instagram, but the majority of time I favor Facebook. It enables me to belong to a number of mystery writing and mystery reader Facebook groups. I learn a lot from the writing groups and enjoy interacting with readers. If I don’t control my addiction, I’m never going to get the next book in my series finished.
Ally: What’s the most meaningful thing a reader could say about your book?
GT: That my book made them laugh and gave them comfort during a trying time.
I have particular authors that I turn to during times of stress—like waiting for medical test results. Their books can totally take my mind off whatever is driving me crazy. I would be thrilled if someone wrote and said that my book helped get them through a rough time.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
GT: I have a contract with Henery Press for two more books in the Laura Bishop mystery series. The next one is due to Henery September 1, which is why I’m in a panic and need to stay off Facebook. It should be out, hopefully, April 2020.
Ally: Which quick answer questions did you choose to finish your interview?
GT:
- a. Do you believe in love at first sight? “Absolutely, because it happened to my husband and me. I was living in England at the time and had been invited to a Royal Navy dance on Valentine’s Day. My husband walked into the room, and I said to my friend, “Judy, I’m in love.” She laughed, but he felt the same way and proposed within three weeks. We may have fallen in love at first sight, but I’m not insane—we got engaged months later and married a year after that. So Valentine’s Day is super special to us. If a romance writer put that in a novel, it would sound contrived, but it happens.”
- b. Favorite movie? “Can I please name more than one? For warm fuzzy feelings, I love movies with Meg Ryan. You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and Kate and Leopold. For a really good laugh, Galaxy Quest.”
- c. Favorite song? “Proud Mary by Credence Clearwater Revival. If I were on my deathbed and heard it, I would have to get up and dance.”
- d. Favorite Quote? We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. -- Sir Winston Churchill.
- e. If you couldn’t write anymore, what would you want to do? “It has taken me ten years to get published, so I’ve learned a lot along the way. If I couldn’t write anymore, I would enjoy teaching others what I learned to help them get published.”
Staging is Murder
Genre: Cozy mystery
When a body falls from a laundry chute and lands at her feet, flowered wallpaper becomes the least of Laura Bishop’s home staging duties.
Laura Bishop just nabbed her first decorating commission—staging for sale a 19th century mansion that hasn’t been updated for decades. But when a body falls from a laundry chute and lands at Laura’s feet, removing flowered wallpaper becomes the least of her duties.
To clear her young assistant of the murder and save her fledgling business, Laura’s determined to find the killer. Turns out it’s not as easy as renovating a manor home, especially with two handsome men complicating her mission: the police detective assigned to the case and the real estate agent trying to save the manse from foreclosure.
Worse still, the meddling of a horoscope-guided friend, a determined grandmother, and the local funeral director could get them all killed before Laura props the first pillow.
Buy Links:
Amazon: Here
Barnes and Noble: Here
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