To Fetch a Killer, the latest anthology in the Mutt Mystery Series.
Author Interviews + Book & Author Info + Rafflecopter Giveaway
To Fetch a Killer
It’s a dog-meet-dog world as a pack of canines team up with their humans to solve mysteries and track down killers. Four mutt-loving authors join their talents in creating this collection of canine-themed novellas which will transport you into the chaotic world of hero dogs who have a nose for murder. Grab a leash and hang on tight…the mutts are on the loose again!
This anthology includes four novellas.
“Sandy Paws” by Maria Hudgins
The Sand Fiddler’s Writers Group has rented a beach house for its annual retreat, but the writers and their canine friends can’t get much done after murder rears its ugly head.
“A New Leash on Death” by Teresa Inge
Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers, has a knack for finding dead bodies, but when she and her pups are on the case, there’s no way the killer will get away with murder.
“Wags to Riches” by Heather Weidner
When a prickly guest ends up dead in his booth at the rummage sale, track owner, Cassidy Green and her Rottweiler Oliver have to sniff out clues and find the killer before another murder is forever linked to her business.
“Bone Appetit” by Jayne Ormerod
A dead guest at private chef Molly Perkins’s dinner party draws her and house dog Tater in a chaotic search for the secret ingredient to murder.
To purchase To Fetch a Killer, click the following links: Amazon (Print) & Books2Read (Multiple Platforms)
More information on the books/stories/authors at: muttmysteries.com
Author Interviews To Fetch a Killer
To Fetch a Killer is an anthology of four separate, but canine-inspired novellas. What’s it like writing stories to fit into a larger project?
In general, the authors are given the title and the parameters. All stories in the series must involve a dog, a murder, and one other element such as a scandal, a theft, etc.
For To Fetch a Killer, we asked for “chaos.” However, it’s a challenge to wrangle four authors into one mutt-focused pack. Especially in the summertime. Unfortunately, Maria Hudgins, author of “Sandy Paws”, couldn’t join us for this visit, but the other authors have lots to say.
Heather Weidner, author of “Wags to Riches”: Projects like these are a lot of fun. I get to explore new worlds and characters. I think writing short stories and novellas is harder than writing a novel. You have a smaller container and fewer characters through which to tell your story. Collaborations are fun.
Jayne Ormerod, author of “Bone Appétit”: The challenge of writing only one piece of a larger project is that it is a much lower word count, which means every word has to count in order to present a satisfying story. The benefit, of course, is many more authors are invested in the marketing and publicity.
Teresa Inge, author of “A New Leash on Death”: It’s great! The four authors work very well together and have worked on several other writing projects together. We also work from a theme and word count for each book so that keeps us better coordinated with each project.
What should readers know about each of your current novellas in To Fetch a Killer?
Jayne: Mollynda “Molly” Perkins is the amateur sleuth in my story “Bone Appétit”. She was named in honor of her mom’s two favorite bartenders at the Lord of the Wines bodega her parents frequented before, during, and after Molly’s arrival into the world.
Her first memories were sitting in a highchair at the wine bar as Molly and Lynda kept the juice boxes flowing. Goes a long way toward understanding her strong connection to all things grape. She combined her love of wine with her passion for food to become a personal chef. She now works for the Wade’s in their 5,000 square foot oceanfront “cottage”, and loves what she’s doing…until someone dies after ingesting something Molly cooked.
Teresa: I have the same protagonist in each book. Her name is Catt Ramsey and she owns the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers in Virginia Beach. She also manages to get involved in solving crimes and murder with her trusted sidekicks, Cagney and Lacey, two Yorkshire Terriers who dig up clues!
Heather: In “Wags to Riches,” Cassidy Green (owner of the Amelia Speedway) and her Rottweiler Oliver (Director of Security) are back for more adventures. In an attempt to expand her offerings at the racetrack, Cassidy sponsors a “Junk in Your Trunk” yard sale. All is going well until one of her prickly guests is found dead in his staff. Cassidy and Oliver need to find the killer before the flag drops and its lights out for her business.
This is the fourth Mutt Mystery. What should readers know about the previous novellas that your mutts appear in?
Teresa: Cagney and Lacey two Yorkshire Terriers appear in each book with Woof-Pack Dog Walkers owner Catt Ramsey. They help Catt solve crimes and right wrongs!
Heather: I’ve had three dogs star in the four Mutt Mysteries. The first features a Jack Russell Terrier who finds something interesting in her owner’s backyard. She’s based on my dog Disney. Oliver the Rottweiler stars in two of the novellas. He’s back for more sleuthing in TO FETCH A KILLER. And my characters from the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries with sidekick Margaret the English bulldog appear in TO FETCH A VILLAIN. I love having pets in my stories.
Jayne: This is Molly, best friend Becca, and canine companion Tater’s first appearance on the printed page. But what a fun trio of personalities. Don’t be surprised if you see more of them…soon!
Each of you also write outside of the Mutt Mysteries. Tell us a little about your other projects
Heather: I’m the author of the Delanie Fitzgerald series. There are three mysteries in the series, featuring sassy private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her computer hacker partner, Duncan. Duncan’s trusty sidekick is Margaret the Wonder Dog. The stories are set in and around Richmond, Virginia, and Delanie and the gang get in way more trouble than I do. They’ve tangled with a dead 80s rock star who faked his death, a tell-all author, an art thief, larpers, a boa constrictor, a gaggle of drag queens, and a bunch of roller derby gals. The fourth book in the series comes out next year.
Jayne: I take the “write what you know” advice to heart. My stories are all set in small towns (I grew up in a very small town in Ohio) and coastal settings (I currently live in a cottage by the Chesapeake Bay.) The dead bodies? No experience for me (thank goodness), but I have watched enough Murder, She Wrote to consider myself somewhat of an expert on that topic. My list of published credits include two Blonds at the Beach novels, the four Mutt Mysteries novellas plus two more independent novellas, and seven short stories, all with a small coastal town flavor.
Teresa: I coordinate several mystery anthologies with various authors. I generally think of a theme, invite authors to participate, and secure a publisher for each book. Virginia is for Mysteries books 1-3, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Murder by the Glass, and Coastal Crimes are among some of the anthologies I coordinate and also participate in. It brings great networking and recognition between authors.
What are you each working on now?
Jayne: Well, I have about a dozen plots sketched out, characters interviewed, methods of murder researched (that is the fun part!) I just need to write the dang stories! The one closest to being finished leans more toward women’s fiction, but of course includes undertones of mystery and murder, and seasoned lightly with humor. Working title is Buckethead. That came from the opening line, “Standing naked in a mudhole with a bucket on my head.”
Teresa: I am working on a novel series set in the Outerbanks of North Carolina about a wedding event planner/hotel owner series. It’s been fun to write this based in OBX which is my favorite place to be!
Heather: I am working on the fourth Delanie mystery, MALE REVUES AND SUBTERFUGE. I am also working on a new cozy series set in a beach town, the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. Nothing ruins a good walk on the beach like finding a mysterious suitcase full of damaged bones and a skull. The discovery rocks the peaceful community of Mermaid Bay, known for its historic beach cottages. The gruesome find is nothing like the usual summer ills of litterbugs and teens drinking under the pier for the idyllic seaside community, located a few miles from Virginia’s historic triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.
Ominous posters, followed by threatening notes and voodoo dolls, push the already-worried town’s business owners closer to the edge. Then while trying to cope with the onslaught of threats to their community, prickly, bookstore owner, Emory Jessup turns up dead, strangled with a string of holiday lights. Christmas shoppe owner, Jade Hicks has to connect the dots among all the strange occurrences before the summer tourist season is ruined and the spotlight of blame is focused on her store.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Teresa: Keep writing! You have to take time to write the book. It’s a big commitment but worth it. Also, join writer’s groups for networking and publishing opportunities and attend writing conferences. Many of these are virtual now so that helps with time. It all takes time but that’s how writers develop their craft and get published.
Jayne: Write the book you’d love to read!
Heather: Don’t give up. If you want to be a writer, you need to put in the time to build your network and hone your craft. Publishing is a business, and you need to treat it that way. It’s a lot of time, effort, sweat, tears, and cheers, but it’s worth it.
Thank you so much, Elena, for giving us opportunity to talk books and writing!
My pleasure! Great to have you all.
About the Authors of To Fetch a Killer
Maria Hudgins
MARIA HUDGINS is a mystery writer from coastal Virginia and a lover of animals. She writes the Dotsy Lamb Travel Mysteries and the Lacy Glass Archaeology Mysteries. Her short stories appear in such publications as Virginia is for Mysteries, Fifty Shades of Cabernet, Murder by the Glass, and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine.
The two dogs, Trey and Kim, featured in this story are based on Hudgins’s beloved Bichons, Holly and Hamilton, now gone but never forgotten.
To learn more about Maria, click on her name, photo, or either of the following links: GoodReads & Facebook
Teresa Inge
TERESA INGE grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Combining her love of reading mysteries and writing professional articles led to writing short fiction and novellas.
Today, she doesn’t carry a rod like her idol but she hot rods. She juggles assisting two busy executives at a financial firm and is president of the Sisters in Crime, Mystery by the Sea chapter. Teresa is a contributing author to the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Mutt Mysteries series, Coastal Crimes, and Murder by the Glass, Cocktail Mysteries.
She resides in Southeastern Virginia with her husband and two dogs. She can be reached on all social media or by posting a comment on her website.
Lena is the white Shepherd/Husky & Luke is the brown Shepherd/Lab. They are 7 years old and named after my husband’s grandparents Luke and Lena.
To learn more about Teresa, click on her name, photo, or any of the following links: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Heather Weidner
HEATHER WEIDNER has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series set in Virginia (Secret Lives and Private Eyes, The Tulip Shirt Murders, and Glitter, Glam, and Contraband). Her new cozy series with vintage trailers and tiny houses, the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, launches in October 2021.
Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series (To Fetch a Thief, To Fetch a Scoundrel, To Fetch a Villain, and To Fetch a Killer).
She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Sisters in Crime – Chessie, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
The Dynamic Duo will be eleven this year. Disney (the brunette) is the boss, and she keeps her brother Riley in line. They both can hear a cheese or candy wrapper a mile away. They like soft blankets (preferably right out of the dryer), cuddles, and snacks.
We moved near the reservoir two year ago, and the Pair of Jacks love long walks to the lake to see the ducks, squirrels, and geese. While Mom is working from home, Disney is Director of Human Resources. She loves people and never misses an opportunity to say hello or flirt. Riley is the Director of Security. He diligently patrols the yard and monitors the cul de sac for squirrels, joggers, walkers, or delivery drivers.
To learn more about Heather, click on her name, photo or any of the following links: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon Authors, Pinterest, LinkedIn, BookBub, AllAuthor & YouTube
Jayne Ormerod
JAYNE ORMEROD grew up in a small Ohio town then went on to a small-town Ohio college. Upon earning her degree in accountancy, she became a CIA (that’s not a sexy spy thing, but a Certified Internal Auditor.) She married a naval officer and off they sailed to see the world. After nineteen moves, they, along with their two rescue dogs Tiller and Scout, have settled into a cozy cottage by the Chesapeake Bay.
Jayne’s publishing credits include two novels, five novellas, and eight short mysteries, with more coming soon. A complete list can be found on her website.
Tiller came to us as an emergency rehome situation. Someone in a small apartment had adopted a fast growing and wildly playful puppy. We had a yard, were in a dog-less situation, we were ready for a new puppy. It was a win-win-win situation. Especially for Tiller. Upon adoption, we were told he was a Carolina Hound and would probably grow to about 40 pounds. Well, he passed that mark at his six-month checkup. He is now over 100 pounds, and has certain characteristics and mannerisms that favor Great Dane. But he is a loveable lap dog.
Tiller needed a playmate. When I dropped off leashes he’d outgrown and other items to our local rescue, they invited me in to see their latest pack of pups up for adoption. They had just received a plane load of potcake dogs rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico. How could I resist? Scout (nee Pedro) came home with me. He was four months old, never had much human interaction and didn’t speak English. Now a respectable forty-pounds, he’s the smallest member of the family but rules the roost!
To learn more about Jayne, click on her name, photo, or any of the following links: Jayne Ormerod’s Life’s a Beach blog & Facebook
Discover all the MUTT MYSTERIES
Mutt Mysteries. com, Twitter: @MuttMysteries1 and on Facebook: @MuttMysteries
Visit All The Stops on the To Fetch a Killer Book Tour!
August 18 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
August 18 – My Journey Back the Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 19 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 19 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
August 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
August 21 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
August 22 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 24 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST
August 25 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW
August 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
August 26 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 27 – Diane Reviews Books – GUEST POST
August 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
August 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
August 29 – 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 on-line retailers. And don’t forget many independent bookstores can order books for you and have them shipped to your home or for curbside pickup.
For more information on All We Buried, click on the link here to visit the home page.
Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery 2020
Elena, thanks for the fun interview and letting us stop by the blog! Missed seeing you at Malice. I hope we can get back soon.
So much fun to host all of you! I hope we are all back in person soon too.
Thanks so much Elena! I know it’s a challenge when multiple authors answer the questions but you gave a beautiful, colorful presentation. Thanks for sharing our love of writing with your blog followers. I’m going to check out All We Buried right now. Title is very intriguing!
You are so welcome! I’m so glad you like the layout. It was great to read all your responses. Thank you for checking out All We Bured!
Thank you so much for the great interview!! We really appreciate this for the Mutt Mysteries authors!
My pleasure! I’ve got you on my TBR!
These writers are great at collaborative books. Each is giving and knowledgeable and willing to advise newer mystery writers. Yes, mystery stories have necessary elements, and each of these writers uses interesting sidekick characters in their novellas and novels. The beach theme for each, and their backgrounds living near the ocean, lend authenticity to their works. The “To Catch a . . . ” novella collections are rich, and readers benefit from taking the extra step to really get to know these writers by delving into their novels and short stories. Good work, ladies!
Great comment! Thank you.
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