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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Spotlight on Candice Speare and Kitty Litter Killer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CANDICE MILLER SPEARE lives with Mr. Winston Churchill the African Gray Parrot and Jack Pup in the countryside of Maryland. She writes for Heartsong Presents--Mysteries! Her first two books, Murder in the Milk Case and Band Room Bash, were released earlier this year. Her third, Kitty Litter Killer, will be released in December. Candice is a freelance content reviewer for Heartsong's cozy mystery line, working closely with associate editor Susan Downs. Please visit Candice at www.candicemillerspeare.com where you can read her blog and learn more about her.

KITTY LITTER KILLER
by Candice Miller Speare
Published by Heartsong Presents Mysteries/Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Amateur sleuth Trish Cunningham has retired from her short-lived foray into crime solving. No more walking deliberately into danger. Her short-term goal is to see her best friend Abbie marry fiancĂ© Eric Scott in three weeks. But the brutal murder of Abbie's ex-husband could ruin the nuptials, especially since Abbie was the last one seen with him—when they had a hostile argument at a local convenience store. With evidence pointing at Abbie and the possibility of jail instead of a walk down the aisle, Trish comes out of self-imposed sleuth retirement. And as the clock ticks down to the wedding date, Trish once again puts herself in reach of the claws of a murderer—this time to protect her best friend.

Buy Your Copy of Kitty Litter Killer by contacting Candice at her web site today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Now there's a good question. And I don't really have a good answer for you. This is the third in a three-book series, so I had to follow up on relationship threads I'd started in the previous books. I also wanted to end with a bang. Make it a bit more emotional. As far as the name, I was just goofing around one day and thought of it and decided it would be cool to build a story around it. I'm not rational. I'm a writer.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Probably a bit of me influenced most of my characters. Everything I put down on paper comes through me from my own experiences or what I've observed in other people. The farm stuff is part of my life—my folks raise beef cattle. One of my minor characters is a writer. She's probably more like me than any other character in the book. Although, this is funny...I've had some people tell me my heroine isn't anything like me, and others have said she reminds them of me. Go figure.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what he/she be and why?

Rocky Road. Because she's hard and soft at the same time. She's also a little bit nuts.

4. Are there any themes in Kitty Litter Killer that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The overall theme of the book is forgiveness. I've tried to represent that in a number of the characters and their conflicts and relationships. I didn't purposely add any other themes to the book, so if they're there, I haven't seen them.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The emotional scenes with the heroine's best friend. I had to dig inside of me for the pain. My favourite parts to write, just like in the first two Trish Cunningham books, were the scenes between Trish and her mother. It's full of conflict and just fun create. People have asked me if that relationship has any basis in fact—me and my own mother. It doesn't. My mom and I never bicker. But I've seen other people act this way.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I am scheduled for another cozy next year with a new heroine and new characters. This heroine is retired Navy, so I'll be exploring a totally new character.

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Thank you, Candice, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Kitty Litter Killer.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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6 comments:

windycindy said...

The "Heartsong Presents Mysteries" are some of my favorites. I would enjoy reading her new mystery. Please enter my name in your drawing. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com


"Happy Thanksgiving!"

No Name said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Cindi. Thank you for reading about my book and for entering the contest. Candice

Carole said...

I think it's wonderful to have cozy mysteries with Christian themes and I wish Candice much success. Thank you for the giveaway!

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Karin said...

Would love to be entered...thank you.

Hard to resist that title!

Pamela J said...

WOW! The third in a series?? I wonder if I need to read the first two before this one? And then to have this one end with a bang with more emotion. Sounds like my kind of book. Forgiveness is a theme the Lord is bringing to our Fellowship BIG TIME and I keep seeing it as a theme in books coming out. I know there are many angles to look at in that one very important subject and many ways to apply the different scriptures in our lives daily. I'm always glad for the reminder to forgive. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks.
Pam Williams
cepjwms at yahoo dot com

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

We have a winner from this drawing and that is:

CAROLE!

Congratulations! I've sent your mailing information to Candice so she can send out your book.

Everyone else, check out interviews with Dennis Bates and Nancy Moser to see if you've won.

As always, thanks for your continued support.