Friday, November 30, 2012

LET'S GET COZY! MURDER ON THE HOUSE: AUTHOR INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 

GIVEAWAY ENDED
MURDER ON THE HOUSE
A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery
BY JULIET BLACKWELL

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Juliet Blackwell is back with the third in her national bestselling paranormal mystery series about a woman who owns a construction company and also specializes in ridding homes of unwanted ghosts.  

Mel Turner’s secret is out: having successfully “dealt with” ghosts in two haunted San Francisco homes, the Haunted House Quarterly publishes an article labeling her a ghost buster.  Turner Construction’s office is flooded with requests for her services.  

Ignoring her new-found fame, Mel is called in to consult on the renovation of a beautiful old gothic home.  The prospective buyers insist that the home is haunted; they plan to market it as “San Francisco’s Most Haunted Bed and Breakfast.” But they need Mel to convince the house’s unfriendly ghosts to go along with their plan. Soon the house has another ghost – that of the recently murdered, and very confused, owner. And Mel must find out who wanted the house badly enough to kill.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Juliet Blackwell is the NYT bestselling author of the Haunted Home Renovation mystery series (If Walls Could Talk, Dead Bolt, Murder on the House) and the Witchcraft mystery series (Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, In a Witch’s Wardrobe). As Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover’s Mystery series, including Agatha-nominated Feint of Art. A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked and studied in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France. She now lives in a happily haunted house in Oakland, California, where she is a muralist and portrait painter. She was a two-term president of Northern California Sisters in Crime.   Visit Juliet at www.julietblackwell.net; http://www.facebook.com/JulietBlackwellAuthor; and Twitter @JulietBlackwell

AN INTERVIEW WITH JULIET BLACKWELL:

Welcome, 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?
1. Thank you for having me! I’m a former anthropologist, so when I set out to write paranormal mysteries I wanted to base the tales in traditions and folktales from all over the world.  I don’t adhere to any one tradition; rather, I have fun picking and choosing the parts I want to include as I write my stories. And one of the best aspects of being a writer is that I get to spend so much time researching, reading about history and talking to people about their beliefs.

2.  Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this book?
Murder on the House takes place in a neglected historic house in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. The building is based on a home I visited when I was working as a decorative painter—back then, I spent a lot of time on renovation job sites. The new owners of the building wanted us to play up the idea that the house might be haunted, because they were going to open a Bed & Breakfast and wanted it to have a special appeal. The “haunting” in the book is based on a true story from the early 1900s, when a prominent San Francisco family was found, deceased, in their beds.  That story began to blend in my mind with the idea of a B&B full of ghosts. 

3. How did the title of your book come about?
Oh, that’s a tough one!  I’m actually terrible at titles.  But with the Haunted Home Renovation series, I keep thinking of titles that include a reference to the building arts, or homes or houses.  One day I heard someone say a drink was “on the house” and I thought to myself—great title! The next in the series will be called “Home for the Haunting,” which I also love :)

4. Do you see yourself in your characters? Which characters are easiest or more difficult to write?

I see a lot of myself in Mel Turner, protagonist in the Haunted Home Renovation series.  She’s a former anthropologist, went through a difficult divorce, and her father is essentially my father!  Of course, there are differences as well…I don’t spend a lot of my time with ghosts, for example. And my romantic life is very different from Mel’s.  But I can relate to her feelings of insecurity and the yearning for escape, even while she is coping with her work, her family, and the burden of too many obligations.

5. What books would you say have made the biggest impression on you, especially starting out? What are you currently reading? 

Before I started writing, I read Janet Evanovich’s first few books in her Stephanie Plum series and I realized I could be funny, and base a semi “cozy” novel in an urban setting.  So she was wonderfully motivating! When I was much younger, Elizabeth Peters was my first introduction to smart, fun adventure mysteries.  The stack of books-to-read by my bed is always high, but at the moment I’m reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – it’s a great novel so far.

6. What is the next or current book/project you are working on?
Currently I’m writing the fourth Haunted Home Renovation book, Home for the Haunting.  It takes up Mel’s story after Murder on the House, which will be released December 4th .  The fifth Witchcraft Mystery, Tarnished and Torn, is already with my publishers and will come out in July of next year.  So after I finish Home for the Haunting, I will start on the sixth Witchcraft mystery…after spending six months with Mel and the gang, it’s always fun to check in with the characters from the other series!

7. What is something about you that you would want people to know about you that we probably don’t know?
I have a weakness for potato chips and good scotch.  Wait…maybe you *did* know that!  It’s not exactly a secret amongst my colleagues:)

8. 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 feel good about anything that encourages people to read!  Personally, I like paper – I spend more than enough time sitting in front of electronic devices during my work day!  I also like reading in the bath, and I’d be afraid of dropping an ereader.  Plus, I like to keep my favorite books on the shelf, where they sit like good friends….even just seeing their covers reminds me of their stories, and makes me happy.  However – ereaders are great for people who travel, people with vision problems, and people who find paper books hard to hold…or just people who enjoy gadgets more than I do.  So I don’t have any judgment around the use of ereaders – as long as people keep reading!  


9. What is your advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?
Don’t stop.  It’s really as simple as that.  A lot of people have a story they want to tell, but only a fraction of those people sit in a chair and work at their novel for as long as it takes.  If you want to write, WRITE. Don’t read books on writing, or go to workshops on writing, or take creative writing in school, unless those things help motivate you to sit down and write your own story.  Too many people procrastinate by trying to figure out a “trick” to writing, when the only thing you really need to do is sit down and write, and by writing, you will find your voice.  Martha Graham once said: “there is only one of you in all time.  This expression is unique and if you block it, it will never exist…it will be lost.” Know that your voice is worth fighting for, and that it should be heard.  Then get to work!
 


GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO KAYLEIGH AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT OBSIDIAN AND PENGUIN BOOKS,
I HAVE ONE COPY OF MURDER ON THE HOUSE,
TO GIVE AWAY TO A 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 WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT MURDER ON THE HOUSE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: READ THE INTERVIEW ABOVE AND WRITE A QUESTION YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO ASK AUTHOR JULIET BLACKWELL

+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 JULIET BLACKWELL'S WEBSITE HERE 

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU CAN COMMENT SEPARATELY AND EACH WILL COUNT AS AN ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, DECEMBER 12
   GOOD LUCK!

100 comments:

debbie said...

I really liked the idea of adding paranormal to a cozy mystery. I like the ghosts residing in older homes.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Karen B said...

A woman construction company owner who is a "ghost buster" sounds like fun to me - as long as the ghosts are friendly!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...

Entered DOUBLE HOLIDAY MYSTERIES.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

traveler said...

A unique cozy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber.saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Double holiday. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Behind the Seams. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered Let it Sew. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I entered The Mythology. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

The art series look fascinating. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I would ask her if her travels contributed to her talent in writing and artistry. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am interested in this special cozy. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a follower. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

The author is extremely talented. Many series that look wonderful. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I would ask Juliet about her series and how they became so successful. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

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Katreader said...

I was pleased to discover someone else who loves to read in the bathtub...and I prefer paper as well, as I don't want to drop my iPad in the tub!
Katreader (at) hotmail (dot) com

cmgren said...

I love this series so am thrilled that there is another one coming. I would love to win a copy of MURDER ON THE HOUSE. thanks for having this contest.

Devon Ellington said...

I'm a big fan of both series! I'm looking forward to MURDER ON THE HOUSE -- that's my upcoming treat to myself. Would love to win a copy.

I'm a big fan of the paranormal cozy myself, and Juliet does it beautifully.

My question: Do you find that, in addition to the essence of those who lived in an old house, the house itself evolves its own character?

Carol N Wong said...

I am more interested in house renovations than ghosts so that's what attracts me to this cozy. Also I like the idea that she is an anthropologist, that should add to her writing.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

On her site, she had a great link to art forgery mysteries.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with
Facebook.

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I follow your blog with
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Carol N Wong said...

I follow your blog with a RSS feed on my IGoogle Page.


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I follow your blog with Twitter.


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I follow your blog with Google Friends Connect.


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Carol N Wong said...

I entered the Double Holiday Mystery giveaway.

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Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Behind the Seams'.


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Carol N Wong said...

I entered the giveaway for
'Holiday Buzz'.


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I entered the giveaway for
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samantha35 said...

this is a great series

follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com

Tina said...

We had an auntie who lived in that area of San Francisco many years ago. Those houses are really cool so this one really looks interesting to me. Would love to win.

tbranco24 AT gmail DOT com

Tina said...

I follow via email

tbranco24 AT gmail DOT com

Tina said...

I also follow via Google reader

tbranco24 AT gmail DOT com

Kimberlee said...

Oh I would love to win this and read it. I've been seeing this series around and thought it looked interesting.

I follow by GFC (Kimberlee Gibbs)

Kimberlee
http://girllostinabook.blogspot.com
girllostinabook@hotmail.com

lag123 said...

I love paranormal cozy mysteries!

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Kaye said...

Sounds like an interesting combo- construction and ghost busting! Lol, I'd love to read this one.

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Kaye said...



Also entered for Cleo Coyle's new holiday mystery.

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

justpeachy36 said...

I love Juliet Blackwell and cozies are some of my favorite reading. I'd love to win this book.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Linda Kish said...

A ghost-buster house-rehabber. She would certainly be kept busy in San Francisco with all of those great old houses. I'm not too sure about the ghosts though. There may not be as many of them. This book sounds fun.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

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I am a GFC follower

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Sue Farrell said...

I love old houses and their quirky rooms---so I think I'd like this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I'd ask the author if it's harder to develop a personality of a ghost or a person in her books.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Sue Farrell said...

I learned that the author picked her major in college for the department that had the best parties.
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Sue Farrell said...

I am an email subscriber.
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Sue Farrell said...

I follow on twitter as @Suekey12.
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I follow on Networked Blogs as Suzan Morrow Farrell.
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I entered Let It Sew.
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rubynreba said...

I'd enjoy reading about the ghost buster!
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Entered Let It Sew
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holdenj said...

I really liked Juliet's interview and how she likes to use traditions and folktales in her writing
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

GFC follower.
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holdenj said...

RSS subscriber
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