Terrie Moran - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight, Interview and Giveaway

I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Terrie Moran

About the author:

Terrie Farley Moran is the author of the Read 'Em and Eat cozy mysteries. Well Read, Then Dead, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel has been followed by Caught Read-Handed and Read to Death.

Terrie’s short fiction has been published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine,Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and numerous anthologies.

Terrie co-writes the Scrapbooking Mystery series with Laura Childs. Together they wrote Parchment and Old Lace and Crepe Factor.

Where to follow the author:

Terrie's Website
Terrie's Pinterest
Terrie's Facebook

This author's books:

Interview:

When did your love of writing begin?
When I was a small child the magical day came when I learned to read on my own. That led to writing the stories I made up in my head. I wrote, nearly always mysteries, all through grammar school and then, although I never lost interest in reading, I drifted away from writing. By the time I thought I would like to try writing again, I had kids and a demanding job so I back-burnered it for decades. Finally, my writing time arrived!

What made you chose this genre?
It is not surprising that everything I have written is in the mystery genre, since I am a huge mystery fan. I especially love cozy mystery novels. My novels are all cozy but my short mystery fiction is all over the genre from noir to paranormal and everything in between.

Do you have a scheduled writing time, place and/or routine?
I have a very strict routine. I get up in the morning, walk or exercise, then I sit down at the computer and work. I am an extremely slow writer so I write all day to produce the amount of pages that some other writers can turn out in a few hours. I do take a quick lunch break and then go right back to the computer. Every hour I take a short break and either walk around the house or do something physical (change the sheets, scrub down the shower, etc) so I don’t atrophy in the computer chair.

What do you do to get over writer's block?
I don’t believe in writer’s block. My routine doesn’t allow for it. The words I write on any given day may not be the best words ever written but once they are on the page, they can always be fixed.

What was it like to get your first publishing contract?
My first contract was for a short story called “Strike Zone.” I was shocked when it was accepted for an anthology put together by the New York Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime. I got the email acceptance near midnight, so I couldn’t call the entire world to share my joy, instead I sang and danced around the house while drinking copious amounts of green tea.

How has the publishing/writing world changed since you first started writing?
There are a lot more ways to publish. When I started writing, Indie (self pub) was not as prevalent as it is now. With electronic devices becoming household staples, e-only books have become popular.

You write about strong female characters. Are they modeled after anyone?
No. I have a strict rule. I never model characters after anyone I know. That path can only lead to wrack and ruin.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?
My favorite activity is to hang out with any or all of my seven grandchildren. I let them decide what we actually do, and I follow along.

Do you have any advice for beginning authors?
Once you decide that you want to write—just do it. Trust your own judgement and write the story you want to tell.

Do you have a favorite author or book you would like to recommend to your readers?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Please tell us five random things about yourself
I am left handed.
I love water aerobics and bike riding.
I majored in Political Science in college.
I play Irish music all year long, not just on St. Patrick’s Day.
Because of my love for Irish music I tried to learn how to play the tin whistle but failed spectacularly.

What I learned about this author:

I learned that Terrie has been writing mysteries since she was young. She has always had a love of them. Also that she does not get writer's block. Another thing I learned is she is left handed and enjoys Irish music.

Giveaway:

Terrie as graciously offered to giveaway on Read to Death t-shirt. I would like to thank her for this. This giveaway is for the US only. The winner will be drawn randomly via rafflecopter. Once the winner has been drawn they will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen. It is mandatory that you leave a comment on this post. This will be verfied and if you do not leave a comment then your entry will be thrown out. Thank you and good luck.  ** I apologize for the troubles with rafflecopter. I believe I finally have it working. Thank you for your patience.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the books:

Well Read, Then Dead

Nestled in the barrier islands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers Beach is home to Mary “Sassy” Cabot and Bridget Mayfield—owners of the bookstore café, Read ’Em and Eat. But when they’re not dishing about books or serving up scones, Sassy and Bridgy are keeping tabs on hard-boiled murder.

Read ’Em and Eat is known for its delicious breakfast and lunch treats, along with quite a colorful clientele. If it’s not Rowena Gustavson loudly debating the merits of the current book club selection, it’s Miss Augusta Maddox lecturing tourists on rumors of sunken treasure among the islands. It’s no wonder Sassy’s favorite is Delia Batson, a regular at the Emily Dickinson table. Augusta’s cousin and best friend Delia is painfully shy—which makes the news of her murder all the more shocking.

No one is more distraught than Augusta, and Sassy wants to help any way she can. But Augusta doesn’t have time for sympathy. She wants Delia’s killer found—and she’s not taking no for an answer. Now Sassy is on the case, and she’d better act fast before there’s any more trouble in paradise.

Includes a buttermilk pie recipe!

Caught Read Handed

Happy to help her fellow bibliophiles, Sassy visits the local library with book donations for their annual fundraising sale. Unfortunately, the welcoming readers’ haven is in turmoil as an argument erupts between an ornery patron and new staff member, Tanya Lipscombe—also known as “Tanya Trouble.” She may lack people skills, but everyone is shocked when she’s later found murdered in her own hot tub.

The man last seen arguing with Tanya is soon arrested. But Alan Mersky, a veteran with PTSD, happens to be the brother of Sassy’s former boss—and he’s no murderer. Now it’s up to Sassy and Bridgy to clear Alan’s name and make sure the real killer gets booked.

Includes a recipe for Miss Marple scones!

Read to Death

At their seaside Read ‘Em and Eat bookstore café, Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield offer fresh scones, great books, and excellent detective work…

With their book club season wrapping up with The Florida Life of Thomas Edison, Sassy and Bridgy decide to take their group on a day trip to the beautiful Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Hiring driver Oscar Frieland, who’s known for his colorful stories and love of the café’s Robert Frost fruit tartlets, the bibliophiles set off for a day of sunshine and history.

After a lovely excursion, the club returns to the café for lunch and a book discussion, but the group falls silent after Oscar is found dead in his van. The sheriff’s deputies have some questions of their own for the group, and if the ladies don’t find some answers soon, the next book they read might be from a prison library.

Stay tuned for the next author to be spotlighted.