Killer Words by V.M. Burns, the latest Mystery Bookshop Mystery
Character Interview + Author & Book Info + Author Pet Corner + Rafflecopter Giveway
Killer Words by V.M. Burns
Bookstore owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington comes to the aid of the cop who once arrested her own grandmother . . .
Sam and Nana Jo are back in sleepy North Harbor, Michigan, where Sam is eagerly awaiting the publication of her first book. In search of more immediate excitement, Nana Jo hits the casino with her fellow Shady Acres Retirement Village gal pals—but they get more than they bargained for when they witness Detective Bradley Pitt decking mayoral candidate John Cloverton.
As Sam well knows, mystery novels are full of brilliant detectives, genius sleuths, and hero cops. Detective Bradley Pitt—aka “Stinky Pitt”—is another story. In the past, the dull-witted detective has mistakenly accused members of Sam’s family for crimes they didn’t commit.
Now, it’s his turn: when Cloverton turns up dead, he’s arrested. With his predilection for polyester, Pitt has been wanted by the fashion police for years, but Nana Jo knows her former elementary school math student would never commit murder—it doesn’t add up. Somebody’s framed the flatfoot to take a fall, and Sam and Nana Jo must step in to restore the reputation and good name of Detective Pitt.
To purchase Killer Words, click on any of the following links: Amazon APPLE Barnes&Noble Books-A-Million Bookshop.Org Google KOBO
Interview with Samantha Washington, the main character in Killer Words and the Mystery Bookshop Mysteries!
Hi Samantha,
Great to have you join me and my readers today. I’m looking forward to chatting with you about your latest adventure.
Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here.
Let’s start with letting readers know a little bit more about you. You are a writer and a bookstore owner, tell us about those two things:
I was a high school English teacher for years and my late husband, was a cook. We both loved mysteries and for more years than I can count, we used to dream of quitting our jobs and opening a mystery bookshop.
Sadly, Leon died and that’s when I realized that life was too short NOT to follow your dreams. So, I quit my job, sold my house and bought the building we used to dream about.
Owning a mystery bookshop was the dream we shared, but I had a private dream. I dreamed of writing British historic cozy mysteries. After Leon’s death, I found writing helped fill the empty hours at night. It gave me something to do and it also helped to organize my thoughts.
You live in North Harbor, Michigan, what’s that community like?
North Harbor is located in Southwestern Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan.
North Harbor had once been a thriving manufacturing community and a resort community built by the House of David. Large Victorian homes and amazing views of Lake Michigan made North Harbor a popular tourist destination.
Sadly, the majority of the manufacturers closed and moved south. The area was devastated by race riots and turmoil during the civil rights movement, and it has yet to fully recover. The large Victorian homes remain, but many are boarded up. Most of the businesses have moved out and the area is struggling to reinvent itself. However, the strength of North Harbor lies in its natural resources and its people.
North Harbor residents are committed to turning around the economy and helping the area to once again reach its fullest potential.
You certainly stumble over a lot of mysteries! How do you get caught up in this one?
Detective Bradley Pitt of the North Harbor Police Department hasn’t always appreciated my interference in his murder investigations, but I think he has developed a certain amount of respect for my ability to get to the truth.
In KILLER WORDS the tables are turned. This time Detective Pitt is the one accused and arrested for murder. The North Harbor Police believe they’ve found their killer and aren’t looking for anyone else. Despite the fact that Detective Pitt has accused me, my grandmother, my assistant, and my stepfather of murder, my grandmother, Nana Jo, refuses to accept that the person she once taught math in elementary school is a killer.
Nana Jo can be very forceful when she makes up her mind, so we went to work to find the real killer.
As a writer you also have a book coming out soon, what does it feel like to know you’re about to become a published author?
Honestly, it’s terrifying. I’m excited, but I’m afraid that readers won’t like my book. I wake up in a cold sweat when I realize the only copies of my book that have sold are the ones bought by my family and friends.
When I’m not imagining the worst, I pinch myself to make sure that I’m not dreaming. Writing a British historic cozy mystery has been a dream for such a long time, it feels strange to know that it’s finally coming to reality.
Tell us something your author doesn’t know about you.
There isn’t much my author doesn’t know about me, but I think because I’m surrounded by such great cooks, she may not remember that I enjoy baking too. In fact, I’m pretty good at it. Maybe she’ll let me demonstrate my skills in a future book.
What would you like us to know about your author?
V.M. (Valerie) shares a lot of my same dreams and ambitions, and we get along well. She is great at letting me tell my own story and documents without forcing the story in any direction. So far, our partnership has worked out well.
What is your author up to next?
She’s always got a lot of irons in the fire. She is working on my next adventure, Bookclubed to Death.
She’s also working on a new series that will take place down the road from North Harbor in a town called New Bison, Michigan. She’s actually going to bake and the new series will be called, the Baker Street Mystery series.
The first book, TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER is scheduled to release in August 2022.
Thanks for hanging out with us today Samantha! We look forward to hearing about your next adventure!
Author Pet Corner!
The black toy poodle is Kensington (Kenzie).
She is six-years-old and weighs about eight pounds.
Kenzie is a sweet dog who loves to cuddle.
She’s smart and hasn’t met a human she doesn’t like.
The blonde toy poodle is Chloe.
Chloe will be two-years-old in January.
Chloe likes to eat and is eleven pounds.
She is energetic and loves to play (especially with her big sister).
She is smart, but loves a bit of mischief.
VM Burns, Author of Killer Words
V.M. Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States.
She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers Association of America, Thriller Writers International, is on the national board for Sisters in Crime.
She currently resides in the warmer area of the U.S. with her two poodles.
To learn more about VM, click on her name, photo, or any of the following links: Bookbub, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram & Twitter
Visit all the stops on the Killer Words Great Escapes Book Tour!
November 29 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 30 – The Book Diva’s Reads – GUEST POST
November 30 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
December 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 2 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW
December 2 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 4 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
December 6 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
December 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 7 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 8 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 9 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
December 9 – Nellie’s Book Nook – REVIEW
December 10 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW
December 10 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
December 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
December 12 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
Elena Taylor is the author of All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio book format at all your favorite bookstores and on-line retailers.
For more information on All We Buried, click on the link here to visit the home page.
Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator 2020
Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery 2020
Thank you for sharing your character interview and book details, this sounds like an excellent book and series
Thanks for visiting!
Love this series! Very excited to read the latest.
It sounds terrific, doesn’t it!
Congrats on your upcoming release of Killer Words, V.M.! I enjoyed the interview and I think your new book is one mystery I can’t wait to solve and I like the cover! Thanks for sharing with me and good luck with your book and the tour! Have a wonderful holiday season!
I agree! Thanks for stopping by.
Elena, thank you so much for the interview. You had great questions and made me feel very comfortable.
So lovely to have you visit! Loved your answers. Looking forward to our next interview! Congrats on your latest book.