Giveaway and Interview with Traci Hilton

I have the pleasure of introducing Traci Hilton. Traci writes cozies like I do. We both write for www.cozymysterymagazine.com where all things are cozy. So if you like cozie mysteries come on over and visit us. Today we'll be talking about Traci's new book "Good, Clean, Murder." She has graciously offered a free ebook to one person. The book is will not be released until March 2nd so the winner will have to wait a few days for their copy. Without furthur ado let's learn more about Traci.

Interview Questions/Sleuths and Suspects Blog

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

When I was a kid I had the totally ambitious dual goals of being an author (I specifically wanted to write books like Beverly Clary’s or the Sweet Valley High series) and a missionary. As far as missionary-ing goes my sole vision was of a hut on stilts in the jungle where I sat at a desk writing update letters by the light of a camp lantern.
I’ve never lived in a hut on stilts, and I don’t write middle grade novels, but I feel like God has really given me both of my dreams come true, first the missions dream through time I spent overseas in high school and at Bible School, and now my dream to be a novelist.

2. Tell us about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on.

March 2nd is the official release date for my newest book Good, Clean, Murder. I channeled quite a lot of my missions zeal and a little of my Bible School era into it. Jane Adler is the main character and she is a sold out Christian whose one goal is to get herself to the 10/40 window to be a missionary. Unfortunately, she faces a series of hard-to-swallow realities shortly before her graduation, including that she might not be ready yet for the big time. And, of course, there is the little matter of the murder she finds herself in a position to help solve.

3. What are a couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now?

I’ve been devouring the Reboot Series by C. L. Ragsdale. For complete disclosure, C L accepted a review copy of Good, Clean, Murder, so I decided to check out her books. The first in her series was so great—a character driven story with a mystery that harkens to Scooby Doo stories, while offering a deeper, longer running mystery that flows through all of the books. The series was such a delightful surprise that I contacted C. L. again and offered to make her new book covers.

I am sure all of that breaks some arms-length rules about reviews and recommendations etc. But the Reboot Files are charming, and the freedom of the indy writer is to make decisions based on their heart instead of worrying about what their publisher might think.

As for favorite books, that list is so long! I’ll just say that right now my favorite mysteries are The Rumpole stories by John Mortimore. If I can be half of the writer he is by the time I retire my keyboard I’ll retire with a glad heart!

4. What are you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it?

I’d love to give you a sneak peak of Good, Clean, Murder! And this is the first sneak peak I’ve posted, so you all are very lucky.

Jane tucked her lemon-Pledge-soaked dust rag back in her apron pocket and moved on to the laundry room, the chemical citrus wafting away with her. She needed to strip the beds and get the laundry going if she was going to get out to her next house on time. On her way past the laundry room, she grabbed a hamper.

Then she stopped. Monday was laundry day. Laundry day and payday. The envelope full of cash was always pinned to the bulletin board with her directions. That envelope was supposed to buy her books today. Standing still with the hamper on her hip she debated. Stop now, call Pam, and ask for directions and money, or just keep working? The laundry would take two hours, whether she was paid or not, so she moved to the master bedroom. She could call Pamela after she had the first load in the machine.

Jane pushed open the bedroom door with her hip.

In a smooth set of motions perfected over her two years as a housekeeper, she set the hamper down, grabbed the end of the comforter and pulled all of the bedding off the bed. Then she looked up to grab the pillows.

Bob was still in bed.

“I am so sorry!” she whispered. She backed away from the bed.

Bob hadn’t seemed to notice her.

Heat rose to Jane’s face. What a complete moron! She should have knocked. She could have given him the chance to wake up a little. She looked away from the bed, waiting for him to speak.

He didn’t say anything.

In fact, Bob hadn’t moved a muscle when his covers had come flying off him. Surely, if a big guy like him had moved, she would have noticed.

She stepped back to the bed.

Bob was very still, and his face was pasty.

Jane’s heart thumped against her ribs, like a small, hard fist.

Bob was not well.

5. What advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?

To paraphrase everyone’s favorite blue fish: Just keep writing! No matter who you want to publish with, or what type of stories you write, the only way to have a full and satisfying career as a writer is to write, write, write! Sometimes I feel like an “overnight success” because I had a lot of luck a couple of years ago with my first book, but the hundreds of pages of unpublishable drivel I had created before that book are a reminder to me that I got here the same way every other writer does: by writing a lot!

6. Do you have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you could share with us?

I have such a great slew of mentors in my life…if I were to link to everyone you guys would never have time to write! So for today, I’ll say check out Randy Ingermanson’s site http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/ to grow as a writer and Rusell Blake’s site http://russellblake.com/ for everything production and promotion related.

7. Please let us know where we can find you on the web.

I would love to have all of you join me for the Good, Clean, Murder Launch Party! You can sign up for it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/534590179908800/ I’ll be giving away prizes like really good coffee, cute coffee mugs, and books, books, books! You can also catch me at http://www.tracihilton.com

Traci Tyne Hilton is the author of The Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery Series, and one of the authors in the The Tangle Saga series of science fiction novellas. She was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and has a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. Traci serves as the Vice President of the Portland chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.

Traci earned a degree in History from Portland State University and still lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, their two daughters, and their dog, Dr. Watson.
More of Traci's work can be found at http://www.tracihilton.com

HOW TO ENTER FOR A COPY OF TRACI'S BOOK:

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2)FOLLOW BY EMAIL

3)TELL US IF YOU'VE READ A COZY BEFORE OR/ASK TRACI A QUESTION.

HAPPY READING!