Thursday, January 12, 2012

THIRD BLOGIVERSARY WEEK: DAY FOUR! MURDER IN A BASKET: INTERVIEW, REVIEW, AND GIVEAWAY

 THIRD BLOGIVERSARY
 
For this year's BLOGIVERSARY I decided to highlight different  kinds of books/prizes each day of this week, and today I am highlighting a wonderful mystery in THREE ways: About MURDER IN A BASKET and the Author; An Interview with the Author of MURDER IN A BASKET; and My Review and Thoughts on MURDER IN A BASKET!
 
GIVEAWAY ENDED
MURDER IN A BASKET
An India Hayes Mystery
BY AMANDA FLOWER

ABOUT THE BOOK:
College librarian India Hayes thought the worst thing about the Stripling Founders’ Festival was her pink gingham pioneer dress until she discovered the body of a free-spirited basket weaver on the festival grounds. The basket weaver leaves behind an angry blacksmith husband, a confused adopted son, greedy siblings, a dysfunctional artists’ co-op, and a labradoodle with a two-million-dollar trust in his name. 

Despite the wrath of her college’s provost and protests by handsome police detective Rick Mains, India finds herself playing sleuth as well as foster-owner to the two-million-dollar dog. With her own eccentric family commenting from the sidelines and her Irish-centric landlady as volunteer sidekick, India must discover the truth before she has a permanent canine house guest or ends up the next victim in the basket weaver’s murder.
PRAISE FOR MURDER IN A BASKET:
"Fans of Donna Andrews’ humorous Meg Langslow mysteries will enjoy India and her quirky extended family." - Booklist

“In Flower’s delightful, clean-as-a-whistle second India Hayes mystery, India, the librarian at Ohio’s Martin College, intends to retrieve the items she left in her face-painting booth at the founders’ festival, but discovers more than she bargained for . . . The satisfying conclusion will leave cozy fans eager for India’s next adventure.”- Publishers Weekly

"More fun than a raucous game of Clue, Amanda Flower's clever new puzzler, Murder in a Basket, is a well-written, well-plotted joy. India Hayes is my kind of librarian. One of the best new cozy series going."
-Julia Spencer-Fleming, New York Times best-selling author of ONE WAS A SOLDIER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Flower writes the India Hayes Mystery Series. The first novel in the series, MAID OF MURDER, was nominated for an Agatha Award. The sequel, MURDER IN A BASKET, releases February 2012. First in a new series, A PLAIN DEATH, coming July 2012. 
To learn more visit Amanda online at http://www.amandaflower.com/.
You can also follow Amanda at https://www.facebook.com/authoramandaflower 

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR AMANDA FLOWER:
1. Welcome back, and thank you for agreeing to an interview for BOOKIN‘ WITH BINGO. Is there any personal information you would like to start out with today?
Thank you for inviting me back to Bookin’ with Bingo. I enjoyed being here last time with my debut mystery, Maid of Murder, in 2010. Since the release of that novel, my writing life has completely changed. Maid of Murder was nominated for the Agatha Award for best first mystery novel, I signed with a stellar literary agent, and I have three mystery series in the works. It’s been an amazing year, and I’m truly blessed and so grateful to all my wonderful readers!

2.  Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this book?
My idea to write the book came from my experience of working in a living history museum when I was in college. When I worked there, I was a crafter and spent my days weaving Shaker-style baskets and telling visitors about Ohio history. Being an aspiring mystery writer, I was amazed how many dangerous items there were at the museum that could be used as weapons, including the heavy basket molds. I used a basket mold as the murder weapon in Murder in a Basket.

3. How did the title of your book come about?
The title of my first India Hayes Mystery is Maid of Murder, so I knew that I wanted the word “murder” in the title. I also I wanted the word “basket” because the victim in the story is an eccentric basket weaver. Knowing that I wanted those two words, I thought about how they could work in a title and in what order. When I had a couple of title candidates, I checked Amazon to make sure there wasn’t another book out there with the same title. As a result, Murder in a Basket was the winner.

4. Do you see yourself in your characters? Which characters are easiest or more difficult to write? 
I definitely see myself in my protagonist India Hayes. India is a college librarian; I’m a college librarian. She’s the daughter of a Presbyterian minister; I’m the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. However, India is much braver than I am. I won’t be out there trying to solve a murder. I’ll let the police do that.

5. What books would you say have made the biggest impression on you, especially starting out? What are you currently reading?
Currently, I am reading a lot of Amish history and fiction. Over the summer, my super agent sold two three-book Amish mysteries series for me. The first is the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series for B&H Publishing, which is an inspirational publisher. The first novel in that series is called A Plain Death and will be released in July 2012. The second is the Amish Quilt Mystery Series for New American Library. The first novel in that series Murder, Plain and Simple will be released late 2013. I will be writing under the pen name Isabella Alan for New American Library. I’m so excited to have three mystery series running at the same time. It’s much more than I ever expected when I was starting out.

6. What is something about you that you would want people to know about you that we probably don’t know?
Well, my Facebook Fans know this about me because I say it all the time on my Facebook Page, but I love to organize things. It must be the librarian in me. Many times, I will reward myself for a good writing day by cleaning out my closet. I know that sounds lame, but I think it’s fun. Like my characters, I’m quirky, so this is just one of my many quirks. When I post organizing projects on my FB page, my readers think it’s hysterical.

7. Do you own an eReader of any kind and how do you feel about their impact on books, as well as you as an author?
I love technology. I have a Kindle and an iPad. I love them both. I read more on the Kindle because it’s great use on the treadmill. I’m a little afraid to read my iPad on the treadmill. It might fall off and break. I’ve knocked the Kindle off a couple of times, and it survived.

I think ebooks are great. I find myself buying more and more of them. In fact for my own reading, I’m starting to read them more than print books. However, I love the fact my books are both in print and e-version. As an author, there is a particular satisfaction of holding your real print book in your hands. I think print and ebooks will run concurrently for years to come.

8. What is your advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?
My advice to any aspiring writer is to not give up. If your query isn’t getting agents’ attention, stop submitting it and rewrite it. If agents or editors give you feedback in your rejections, pay attention to it. You don’t have to do everything that they advise, but there might be something helpful in their comments. Most importantly, believe in yourself and your story and love what you’re writing. If you are forcing yourself to write something because you think it will sell, agents and editors will pick up on that. 
 
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
Author Amanda Flower returns with her second “India Hayes” mystery in MURDER IN A BASKET.  You do not have to have read the first book to enjoy MURDER IN A BASKET as Flower uses wonderful description and background to bring readers up to date on India. As a college librarian who is also trying to make it as an artist, India’s story starts off when she is reluctantly participating in the local Founder’s Day Festival. Running the face painting booth while dressed in her period pioneer costume, India, at least, does make friends with a nearby basket weaver, Tess, and one would think this would make for an enjoyable day after all. However, things don’t often go as normally as they should when India is involved. Upon returning to her booth to retrieve an item later on, India becomes involved in a murder mystery when she is the one to find that Tess is lying there dead!

Once the news gets out about the murder, there are naturally many sad , angry, and frightened people  Having been the one to find Tess, puts India at the top of the list of those people and yet, she is somehow talked into  becoming more involved by helping to find the killer. Far be it from India to say no to anyone or to listen to Detective Rick Mains, who also was in the first book. (Could Mains reappearance mean a long time relationship is in the works?) Although Mains warns India to not get involved any more than she is, she fails to heed his warning. You see, Tess Ross, married with an adopted son and a pet labradoodle is of interest to many, including the killer for sure. Along with India helping to find the killer, she also finds herself agreeing to care for the dog temporarily. An interesting labradoodle to say the least as the pup has a very wealthy trust fund, but then again, don’t they all? Would someone kill over that? With odd stories like this in the news daily, it isn‘t a leap to find India woven into every fiber of this "basket case".

While India, along with her pal Ina, try to figure out what could have happened to Tess, they keep coming up against road blocks. Tess’s sister, the head of the college, and Tess’s husband alone give India a hard enough time trying to piece things together. India has a good heart and if she listened to it when Detective Mains advised her to stay clear, she would have been better off. Her desire to help does not exactly match her ability. With Amanda Flower’s chapters having that little cliff hanger that begs you to read “just one more”, you find it hard to put this one down. Although it is a murder mystery, the characters, and author’s talent to immerse the reader in the story, make MURDER IN A BASKET an enjoyable and entertaining story. I see India Hayes on her way to being a very successful series, and would imagine many fans hope for the same. 
 GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO AMANDA FLOWER, I HAVE
ONE COPY OF THIS SOON TO BE RELEASED
INDIA HAYES MYSTERY, MURDER IN A BASKET,
TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY READER 
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
 

COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT MURDER IN A BASKET  THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT AMANDA FLOWER'S WEBSITE HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY TO RECEIVE EXTRA ENTRIES
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JANUARY 21
    GOOD LUCK!

116 comments:

misskallie2000 said...

Hope being the first to comment is lucky. lol
I loved the interview with Amanda and can't wait to read this book. I love mysteries with women sleuths and this one sounds great.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

tweeted giveawawy
https://twitter.com/#!/misskallie2000/status/157347009563598849

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I love Amish stories and cozy mysteries and Amanda writes both. That is awesome. She has 3 series she is working on and I look forward to reading them all.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I am old GFC follower

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debbie said...

I would like to see how a dog has come into so much money. This sounds like a great cozy.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

holdenj said...

I read Amanda's debut, Maid of Murder, and am so happy to see another releasing soon! Great interview, thanks for the chance to win.!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Amanda also writes an Amish Quilt mystery series as Isabella Alan.
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Margie said...

This looks like a fun series. The murder mystery and the crafting background sound intriguing. Thanks for all the fun giveaways on your blogiversary. Hope you get a chance to relax after all this excitement!
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eyeballlucy said...

Wow love to win...the mystery sounds very good...love Amanda Flowers books.......babyruthmac16@yahoo.com

mamabunny13 said...

I'd love to find out why the victim left all that money to her Labradoodle instead of her husband.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow via gfc - mamabunny13
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mamabunny13 said...

Something I found interesting is her book MURDER, PLAIN AND SIMPLE will be coming out in late 2013 under the name Isabella Alan.
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Karen B said...

A new author and series (to me) that sounds wonderful! Great interview.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Anonymous said...

The interview with Amanda was amazing. I cna't wait to read her newest book!!

dellagnesem at yahoo dot com

Karen B said...

She has 2 new Amish Mystery Series in the works - one each in 2012 and 2013.
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petite said...

A woman detective is always appealing and lovely. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I learned about the author's series. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

What a great giveaway. Mystery which intrigues me. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

She is working on three series. very talented. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Sue Farrell said...

I want to see not only who is is murderer, but also how the rich dog ends up and how the greedy siblings are involved. This just sounds like a real interesting cozy.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

From the author's website, I found her blog and signed up to receive it so I can be updated on her book releases--The Amish ones should be interesting.
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Sue Farrell said...

I am an email subscriber.
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Unknown said...

I love murder mysteries. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Carol N Wong said...

So glad that you said it was a stand alone in your review and that it hard to put down. I love librarian cozies too! Great interview.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

On her website, I read about "Murder Plain and Simple".

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Jayne Ormerod said...

So impressed with the fabulous reviews. I definately want to read this second book in Amanda's series.

jo(at)jayneormerod(dot)com

samantha35 said...

I read the first one in the series and it was really cute!
great giveaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@g,ail.com

samantha35 said...

great giveaway
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samantha35 said...

Love to see that she has 3 new series coming out soon
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ann said...

Why would someone leave their money to a dog?
well guess we will see if I win this book
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ann said...

Amanda also writes Amish Quilt mysteries as Isabella Alan. I love Amish stories to
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Reading said...

This looks like a really good mystery.

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lag123 said...

India sounds like a very interesting character and I would like to read more of her story.

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lag123 said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/157789354994053120

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lag123 said...

I enjoyed Amanda's you tube video on how she researched for the Amish mysteries.

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Linda Kish said...

This sounds quite interesting. I always wanted to be a librarian.

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Linda Kish said...

She also writes Amish Quilt mysteries.

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rubynreba said...

Great interview and review of the book. I enjoy murder mysteries.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Jolee said...

Both the Shaker tie in and the college library tie in (I'm a librarian :-) ) have appeal to me. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

Learned about the author's upcoming Amish series. Yes! joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

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