LET'S GET COZY WITH LAURA CHILDS: AGONY OF THE LEAVES - AUTHOR INTERVIEW, REVIEW, AND GIVEAWAY

 

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
AGONY OF THE LEAVES

A Tea Shop Mystery

BY LAURA CHILDS

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Scones and Bones, Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning finds herself in hot water when a body surfaces at the grand opening of Charleston's Neptune Aquarium...

The opening of Charleston's Neptune Aquarium is a major event, and Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, has been hired to cater tea, scones, and finger foods for the private party of big buck donors. But when Theodosia slips away to view the Ocean Wall exhibit, she discovers the body of a man, tangled in a net, drowned in this state-of-the-art tank.

The EMTs on the scene say the man drowned, but Theodosia spots defensive wounds on his hands. Even though the police are not keen on her theory, Theodosia chases down a raft of suspects that include a shady lawyer, an extravagant lady restaurateur, and an aquarium board member. Complications ensue when Theodosia is also tapped to compete in a charity scavenger event, cater a tea luncheon at her Aunt Libby's plantation, and host a Chado ceremony at the Heritage Society.

Along with pulse-pounding action, there are plenty of tea tips and recipes for Charleston Pecan Brownie Bars, Honey Bee Scones, and Sweet Potato Butter.

A RECIPE FROM AGONY OF THE LEAVES (YUM!):

Charleston Pecan Brownie Bars

from Agony of the Leaves by Laura Childs 

INGREDIENTS:

1 stick butter, softened (4 oz.)

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg

1 cup flour

¼ tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. baking soda

Pinch of salt

¾ cup chopped pecans

1 cup semisweet chocolate bits (8 oz.)

DIRECTIONS:

Cream together butter and brown sugar, then beat in egg.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then stir together.  Stir in nuts and chocolate bits.  Spread batter in a 7 x 11” pan that has been greased and floured.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt, former owner/CEO/Creative Director of a marketing/advertising firm in Minneapolis. Laura Childs is the bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mystery series, the Scrapbook Mystery series and the Cackleberry Club Mystery series. She is a consummate tea drinker, scrapbooker, and dog lover, and travels frequently to China and Japan with Dr. Bob, her professor husband.

LET'S MEET THE AUTHOR:

An Interview with Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries.

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?

I started an advertising agency when I was 28 years old (the first woman in the Twin Cities area to head her own firm) and sold it after 20 successful years so I could jump into a brand new career and write mysteries.  So far I’ve written 27 mysteries and am working on 3 more.

Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this book?

Agony of the Leaves is actually the 13^th book in my Tea Shop Mystery series.  That series was successful from the get-go so it leapfrogged me into writing two more series.  But, really, the inspiration for all of my writing is fear.  Fear of being rejected, fear of not writing a compelling enough story, just fear that I can’t come up with a challenging storyline.  Really, fear is a very powerful motivator.

How did the title of your book come about?

All of the books in this particular series have titles based on types of tea (Jasmine Moon Murder, Oolong Dead, The Teaberry Strangler, etc.).  But I particularly like Agony of the Leaves because it’s got a bit of shock value.  Plus, it’s the terminology tea tasters use to describe the unfurling of tea leaves when plunged in hot water.  The tea leaves, in their “agony,” twist and turn and release their precious essence.  Very poetic, don’t you think?

In writing your novels, how are your characters created?  Does the inspiration for them come from real life?

As strange as it sounds, characters just seem to pop into my head.  People always ask if I do index cards or plan intricate bios.  I can’t imagine doing anything that studied.  To me writing is about intuition and gut instinct – you’ve got to sit back and let the characters speak to you.  My characters always seem to be buzzing around inside my head like people in a crowded elevator.  My job is to pry open the doors so they can elbow their way out.

Most of my characters are fictional, but a few come from life experiences – such as Drayton (in the Tea Shop Mysteries).  He’s a slightly more posh version of a very fussy art director I once worked with.

Why do you include recipes in all your mysteries?

I think recipes add authenticity.  When you read about Golden Monkey Yunnan Tea, Angel Biscuits, or Chicken Bog, you're just naturally curious and want to know more.  Plus, readers tell me there’s something very satisfying about reading the story, then making the chowder or scones.  There’s a kind of “interactivity” at work.

What books would you say have made the biggest impression on you, especially starting out? 

I started my writing career early on, in seventh grade, when I started winning Junior Scholastic poetry contests, so I was influenced by Gone With the Wind, Catcher in the Rye, and, in particular, Sayonara by James Michener.  Yeah, I stole Sayonara off my dad’s nightstand.

What is the current book you are working on?

I’m currently writing three books at once.  I’m working on Sweet Tea Revenge (the 14^th Tea Shop Mystery), Eggs in a Casket (the 5^th Cackleberry Club Mystery), and another (unnamed) hard-edge thriller.  I love to work on multiple books at once.  When you run dry on one you just skip to another.

What  is something about you that you want people to know - but they probably don’t know?

A few years ago, as a board member for a service dog organization, I raised something like three hundred thousand dollars.  When I joined the board, I discovered they had five hundred dollars in their bank account and were terrified they were going out of business.  I owned a good-sized ad agency at the time, so I whipped up a direct mail appeal letter and wrote thirty different grant requests.  It all paid off pretty fast and the group is still going strong, training service dogs for people with disabilities.

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?

My husband has an iPad, but I don’t think he’s downloaded any books yet.  But as far as ebooks go, I see them as yet another format.  Right now, my books are available in hardcover, paperback, large print, CDs, and foreign languages, so ebooks are just another convenient format for people.  I’m just thrilled people continue to read books – any books!

What is your advice to anyone, including young people, who want to be writers?

Write a lot and read a lot.  If you write constantly, you’re going to stretch that wonderful muscle that is your imagination.  If you read a lot, you’re going to start to picking up a few writing tricks.  It’s a win-win situation.

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
AGONY OF THE LEAVES is the latest in Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery series and one I found that grabbed me from the start and kept my interest throughout. All the familiar characters are back as well as some really exciting new characters.
 
When Theodoisa Browning’s Indigo Tea Shop is hired to cater a party at the Neptune Aquarium in Charleston, little does Theo realize she will be serving up more than tea and goodies. At the party, she is shocked to come upon a man floating dead in a tank but not as shocked as she is when she discovers it is her former love interest, Parker Scully! Theodoisa knew Parker would be there as his restaurant was also catering the party but this was not how she anticipated running into him. Nor did I since he was somewhat being phased out after the last book, but I never thought he would be killed off.

When Scully’s death is pronounced to be an accident, Theo disagrees and becomes set on finding the killer. Once again tea is served with a dash of detective work that keeps readers attention throughout AGONY OF THE LEAVES. The story is filled with surprises as well as characters that are so well written and interesting to read about. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor as well as the lovely detailed setting that Childs has these Tea Shop Mysteries set in. As a tea drinker myself, I enjoyed the bits of history and recipes, especially the Brownie Bars! AGONY OF LEAVES moves quickly and is served up with just the right amount of surprises to keep one guessing until the end. Another winner for Laura Childs!  

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KAYLEIGH AND THE GREAT

PEOPLE AT BERKLEY AND PENGUIN 

PUBLISHING, I HAVE TWO COPIES OF THIS

NEWEST TEA SHOP MYSTERY BY LAURA

CHILDS, AGONY OF THE LEAVES,  

FOR TWO VERY LUCKY READERS

 
--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 AGONY OF THE LEAVES THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK... 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: "LIKE" LAURA CHILDS' FACEBOOK PAGE HERE AND LEAVE A COMMENT THERE ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT LAURA CHILDS' WEBSITE HERE

+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, MARCH 25

 GOOD LUCK!