I want to welcome P.J.
MacLayne. First I’d love you to introduce yourself.
I'm a geek by day and a writer by night. I fell in love with
the Rocky Mountains years ago, and although I've lived in various parts of the United
States, I've finally come back to them.
Tell us about your
latest release.
The Marquesa's Necklace started off as a romance but
quickly turned into a cozy mystery. I'm
better at writing adventure than emotions, but mixing the two is great fun.
It's set in an imaginary small town somewhere north of Pittsburgh and it feels
like home to me because I grew up in that area.
Now I have a few
questions for you – I have found readers do like to know fun things about us
writers.
1.) Who is your
favorite villain – it can be from a book (even one of yours), movie or TV show.
And why?
Favorite villain? That's a tough one. I really appreciate
some of the classic James Bond villains. If I had to pick one it would be Dr.
Julius No not only for his dastardly plan but for the manner in which he dies,
buried under a pile of guano.
2.) Who is your
favorite character out of your books? Why?
I think that my favorite book is whatever I'm in the middle
of writing, and my current favorite character is Harmony Duprie, the main
character in The Marquesa's Necklace as well as my work in progress. I
like her so much that her story has become a series. She's strong, independent,
smart and feisty but still capable of making bad decisions.
3.) What do genre do
you write? What made you pick that one?
I'm currently writing cozy mysteries. I wouldn't say I
picked that genre, but rather that it picked me. It gives me the chance to mix
adventure with real-life situations. Plus, I like figuring out both the mystery
as well as the solution.
4.) What are you
working on now?
My work in progress in tentatively titled Her Ladyship's
Ring, and is the second in the Oak Grove series. I get Harmony into even
more trouble than I did in the first book.
5.) What got you to
start writing?
In sixth grade I was recognized for an essay I wrote about
the Mafia. I got an award for a historical essay I wrote in eighth grade. In
high school I became more interested in poetry, and I've had some poetry
published over the years. A few years ago, I got the idea for a love story that
I just couldn't shape into poetry. That book got written, but it's not good
enough to publish, so it'll sit in a computer file until I decide whether or
not to revise it. In the meantime, each book I've written has improved my ability
to tell a story.
6.) Where do you get
your ideas from?
My mother would like to know the same thing. In truth, I
rarely remember my dreams, but when I do, they often hold the basis for a
story. And I like to observe people and
try and figure them out. Other than that, I have a very active imagination.
7.) What would people
who read your work be surprised to find out about you?
Which of my deep, dark secrets do I want to reveal? Although
I am currently employed in IT, I didn't touch my first computer until I was
over thirty years old.
8.) Do you have any
special talents?
I needlepoint and I'm pretty good at it. It isn't that hard,
but not very many people do it anymore.
9.) What was the one
piece of advice you received when you were an aspiring author that has stuck
with you? Why?
Write. Even if it's bad.
Why? Because you'll never get any better if you don't even try.
10.) If you could talk
to any famous figure (present, past or fictional) who would it be and what
would you talk about?
John Denver. I'd like to thank him. He's the reason I moved
from Pennsylvania to the West and met my husband.
11.) What song would
you say describes your life?
That's easy- Rocky Mountain High.
12.) If you could come
back as any animal – what would it be?
I'd have to pick between a wolf and a dragonfly. Now
technically, a dragonfly is not an animal, but I've always loved the way their
wings shimmer in the sunshine. I've been known to rescue them from inside a
building by getting them to land on me and taking them back outside. And the
wolf because the first book I published was a paranormal romance titled Wolves'
Pawn.
Blurb for The Marquesa's Neckace by P.J.
MacLayne
Harmony Duprie enjoyed her well-ordered life in the quiet
little town of Oak Grove—until her arrest for drug trafficking. Cleared of all
charges, she wants nothing more than to return to the uneventful lifestyle of a
historical researcher she once savored.
But when her beloved old car “George” is stolen and explodes
into a ball of flames, it sets off a series of events that throws her plans
into turmoil. Toss in a police detective that may or may not be interested in
her, an attractive but mysterious stranger on her trail, and an ex-boyfriend
doing time, and Harmony’s life freefalls into a downward spiral of chaos.
Now she has to use her research skills to figure out who is
behind the sinister incidents plaguing her, and why. And she better take it
seriously, like her life depends upon finding the right answers.
Because it might.
Buy Links:
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-marquesa-s-necklace
Media Links:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/pjmaclayne
Twitter https://twitter.com/pjmaclayne
Thanks for letting me drop by today, Barbara.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome - thanks for putting up with my questions!
ReplyDeleteHello P.J., I also love the mountains and John Denver. Good luck with the book.
ReplyDelete