I’m pleased to interview Ellen E. Withers for Sleuths and Suspects for a second time. Last time, Ellen shared about her latest nonfiction release. Today, I am spotlighting the latest book in Ellen’s Show Me Mysteries series.
.jpg "photo of author Ellen E. Withers")
Interview:
·
What advice do
you have for aspiring writers?
o Learn everything you can and never give up. One of
the many things I love about writing is that there is always something to
learn. I attend writing conferences, both in person and online. I also take
writing classes on zoom. The “never give up” part comes from the time (over
twenty years) I spent learning the craft of writing. Then God placed a
Christian publisher in my path and my dream became a reality.
·
How many books
have you written?
o Scrivenings Press has published three mystery
novels, one Christmas novella, and one nonfiction book about how to win writing
contests. I’m in the process of writing a new mystery series set in Hot
Springs, Arkansas, and a romantic comedy novella, all to be published by
Scrivenings Press within the year.
·
What do you
enjoy most about writing books?
o I love the process (in my head) of developing the
storyline. This starts before I even begin to list my ideas. It’s fun to roll
ideas around in my head and see if I like where they go.
·
What
other hobbies do you enjoy besides writing?
o
For
twenty-five years, I’ve been a member of Top of the Rock Chorus, a Sweet
Adeline affiliate chorus. I also sing in a competitive quartet, too.
·
How much time do you spend in research before you
write a story?
o
With this book, I spent many more hours than the
previous books. Because the focus of this book was on the local area (and world
famous) Saddlebred horse trainers spanning over 100 years, I had a lot of
research to do. I enjoyed every moment of it.
·
What is the most interesting thing you have learned
from your research?
o
Even though I grew up in a town filled with
Saddlebred horse trainers, I didn’t know any of the processes to actually train
the horses besides riding them. For example, some horses have a sway in their
walk or trot. Trainers use carts to train the horses to keep their body
straight. I found these things so fascinating and included a lot in my first
draft. One of my editors had to tell me to remove some details because they
were slowing down the storyline. She did it in a humorous way. She said,
“You’ve done your homework. Good girl. Now take it out.”
Bio:
Ellen E. Withers is a
fiction writer, freelance writer, and retired insurance fraud investigator. Her
award-winning mystery dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, published by
Scrivenings Press, is set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri. The
third book in the series, Show Me Skulduggery, debuts May
2025.
Her nonfiction book about
winning writing contests is Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges &
Conjure Contest Wins, inspired by her writing contest column in the
digital writing magazine Writers Monthly PDF.
Coming in 2026, Ellen
will have a dual-time mystery series, Spa City Mysteries, set in Hot Springs,
Arkansas. Contact her at www.ellenewithers.com.
Book Blurb:
Death comes knocking once
again in Show Me Skulduggery, the captivating third book in the
award-winning Show Me Mysteries series. These mysteries involve two eras, early
1900s, and contemporary times, featuring a famous Saddlebred horse stable in
Mexico, Missouri. Intrigue, deception, underhanded behavior, and murder will
keep you turning pages.
Present
day:
Because of her behavior, the disregard of the needs of her tenants, and her
penny-pinching ways, everyone despises slumlord Katherine Mull. When a killer
emerges and acts upon their desire to end Katherine’s life, Liesl, Kurt, and
Nicole must race against time to identify the killer before this madman kills
again. Can they track down the killer before someone else dies? Do they have
the skills necessary to identify the killer before they become the target?
1920
through 1953: Mexico, Missouri is famous for being the
“Saddlehorse Capital of the World” thanks to world-famous owner/trainers Tom
Bass, C.F. Clark, Joseph Potts, George and William Lee, Robert Stewart, and Art
Simmons. Each has built upon the solid, respected reputation of the previous
trainer at these beloved stables until now. Who can discover and stop sabotage
at the stables? Will the Saddlebred trainers be bankrupt if the breed’s
sterling reputation is destroyed? Is murder the ultimate act of an evil man
seeking revenge?
Social Media Links:
Website: https://ellenewithers.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071728886831
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BWZ1G7JS
Instagram profile: https://instagram.com/lnwithers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/33215146.Ellen_E_Withers
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-e-withers?list=about
