Interview/Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering, Author of Murder at the Mikado

 by Jeff Reynolds

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO PATRICIA BRADLEY!!!
 

Does this author pictured here look familiar? Could it be that this is the third time I've interviewed her in the past twelve months? Would this be an indicator that a new installment of the critically acclaimed Drew Farthering Series? (Since I do book reviews on Amazon, I could be considered a critic, so the series is acclaimed by at least this critic.) And is there a possibility that we're giving away that new book? Of course -- details below.

I am going to assume that the majority of you have read the other interviews, so I'll be trying to ask new questions. For those who missed one or both previous interview, here are the links:

Sleuths and Suspects: Interview and Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering, August 28, 2013

Sleuths and Suspects: Interview and Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering, March 13, 2014

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome back, Julianna. Since this is your third interview here on this page in the past year, I'll try to make this more challenging. Let me start by asking you what three items you most want us to know about you.
 
Juliana Deering: Hmm . . . three things I haven't mentioned before? Number one, I deeply and utterly despise hot weather. It's expensive and tiresome and icky and there's no hockey. So, yeah, summer is not my favorite time of year. Number two, I want to have a little tuxedo kitten called Crazy Eddie. Number three, I very much would like to have an indoor swimming pool. I suppose I used up all the serious stuff already, though I am serious about not liking hot weather.

JR:  Of course, since this is your third interview, the third installment of the Drew Farthering Mysteries must be out. (One of my favorite mystery series, by the way). Would you like to give a brief summary of the series and tell us about the latest chapter -- well, technically twenty chapters.
 
JD: I'd love to! The series is about Drew Farthering, a rich young Englishman in the 1930s, and his perky American sweetheart, Madeline Parker, who solve mysteries. They are my take on the classic cozy mysteries of that era. The latest book, Murder at the Mikado, starts out with the murder of a well-known local actor. The chief suspect also happens to be a former flame a Drew's, the beautiful and irresistible Fleur Hargreaves. Madeline, of course, wants Drew to stay focused on their upcoming wedding and not on Fleur. It seems that, no matter what he does, he's going to be in hot water with someone, poor chap.

JR:  For those who are culturally challenged, the Mikado is the best known of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Were you a G&S fan before writing this? If not, how did you research it? If so (and even if not), what's your favorite of theirs?
 
JD: Oh, I love Gilbert and Sullivan! I've been a fan of theirs for decades. I think my favorite is the Pirates of Penzance, especially the amazing version with Kevin Kline, but there are so many others I enjoy, too.  The Mikado is probably my second favorite. It's also nice that their works are old enough to be in public domain, so I don't have to worry about when I reference them in my story.

JR:  There are times when a character meets the reaper in a mystery and I think, "Why did that nice person have to get killed off?" One of those times occurred in Murder at the Mikado. In a previous interview you mentioned you knew who did it when you get started, but how do you decide who the victims are? And while a lot of the murderees probably deserved it, is it hard knocking off one who deserves better?

JD:  Mostly I kill off the person whose death works for my story. For example, if I make it look like Mr. A is the killer and then I want to totally destroy that theory, how better to do that than have Mr. A be the next victim? Or perhaps I need to drive someone to do something he would not ordinarily consider, like take the law into his own hands. What's more likely to make him do that than for him to find the love of his life with a knife in her back and the police insisting it was suicide? Of course, I don't like having to dispatch the nice characters, but I usually know they won't be around long and don't let myself get too attached to them.

JR:  It's only been four months since your most recent book has been published, and the first one is less than a year old. I'm assuming Bethany House is a full service publishing company, but what activities do you do to promote your book besides answering my questions?
 
JD:  I'll admit right off I'm not a very good marketer. I'm too busy trying to write new books. But I do mention on Facebook and Twitter and my blog whenever I have news or special offers. For example, Bethany House sends me the most wonderful bookmarks and notepads for each of the books, and I'd love to send them out to readers.  All they have to do is write me at P. O. Box 375, Aubrey, Texas 76227 and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (one at least 7" long with one first-class stamp for a bookmark and one at least 6" x 4" with 70 cents postage). Besides that, I do a lot of online interviews and giveaways and even some book signings. Mostly though, the best way to promote your books is to keep writing the best ones you can. Nothing else will last.

JR:  As you mentioned in a previous interview, there's a lot of difference between Drew Farthering's home in England of the 1930's and your real-life residence of 2014 Dallas, Texas. I have a suspicion that the spiritual climates were quite different as well. Is it much of a challenge giving spiritual challenges in our post-modern, post Christian society from a time where the Judeo-Christian worldview was alive and well and served with tea and crumpets?
 
JD: Actually then, as now, there were a lot of social Christians, people who attended church because it was the expected, proper thing to do and not because of a genuine relationship with God. My hero, Drew Farthering, started off as just such a person. He had a nebulous belief in a God of some sort but didn't think He was interested in our day-to-day affairs. I think the main difference between then and now is that Christianity was considered expected and proper in the 1930s. Now, thanks in many ways to the influence of the secular media, it is something to be ridiculed or, at best, distrusted. Are Christians perfect? Not by any means, but the ones I know try their best to live in a way that pleases God and shows love to those around them. I guess that's one of the reasons I like writing historicals more than contemporary mysteries.

JR:  Has your evil twin DeAnna Dodson (or are you her evil twin) written anything recently? And what else can we expect from either of you?
 
JD:  Well, she doesn't commit nearly as many murders as I do, so I suspect I'm the evil twin, though she may be catching up now. She's working on a new book for a new series from Annie's Attic. It's called Annie's Secrets of the Quilt, and it's about a woman who inherits a quilt and a diary that talks about the fabrics in the quilt and how they're connected to famous people in history. I'm writing the second book in the series, Lies of Splendor, which focuses on a girl who was a lady-in-waiting for Marie Antoinette just before the French Revolution.

I am very excited to tell you that I just came to terms with Bethany House for three more Drew books. Dressed for Murder is due out in the Spring of 2016. I don't have titles for the other two, but they should follow in Fall 2016 and Summer 2017. That seems a long time off, but I have a lot of work to do before then.

And if you are clever with languages, you might want to check out the German version of Rules of Murder:  Mord mit Stil ist auch nicht Besser (Murder with Style is also not Better). I'm not sure exactly how they came up with that, but I'm really delighted to see my book in another language.  I just wish it was French or Spanish. I might be able to read a bit of it. I understand there will be a Norwegian version, too.  Then I'll be really lost.

JR:  Thanks again, Julianna Dodson  -- or is it DeAnna Deering? (Just joking.) Once again, in case we've forgotten, do you have any web-pages or blogs or upcoming interviews that you'd like to pass along?
 
JD: I just have to share this beautiful blog from New Zealand. I love how they have it set up. http://www.christianfictionsite.com/blog/featured-author-interview-deanna-julie-dodson#.U7HXCbEwLqz
And here are my other links:  www.deannajuliedodson.com  https://twitter.com/deannajuldodson  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering

Thank you, Jeff, for letting me visit again. If you or your readers have more questions or think of something we didn't talk about here, please comment.  I'd love to chat.

Jeff to readers: You've just seen the invitation from Julianna to ask any other questions. Also, it's time to enter the contest for Murder at the Mikado. You just have to follow these three easy steps:

1. Leave a comment. That's easy, isn't it?
2. Leave your e-mail address so we can contact you. You can spell it out, like AuntDotKahm(at)And(dot)com.
3. If you had used a setting for a story like Julianna used the Mikado, what would you use? For example, it could be a play/musical/operetta, a concert of a specific artist, or a sporting event (if they had hockey in '30's England, I'm sure Drew Farthering would be at a game).

Interview and Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering

by Jeff Reynolds

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFER SMITH!

 

Is there something not normal about a guy who enjoys cozy mysteries? Well, normal is not the normal adjective used to describe me, but I digress. While I like several genres, nothing beats a cozy, like Hercule Poirot or one of Donna Fletcher Crow's Monastary Murders or a Drew Farthering Mystery. To my delight, Julianna Deering has released Death By The Book, the follow-up to Rules Of Murder. So of course I had to bring her back for another interview.

After the interview, you can find out how to win a copy of Death By The Book.

Jeff Reynolds: Julianna, welcome back to Sleuths and Suspects. It's hard to believe it's just been six months since you've been here previously! Anything interesting happen in that time?

Julianna Deering: Pretty much business as usual. I've been pretty busy trying to keep up with everything involved with this new release and I've been working on the edits for Murder at the Mikado, the third book in the series.

JR: Death by the Book, the second installment of the Drew Farthering Mysteries, has just hit the shelves. What inspired the series and the main character?

JD: I've always loved the classic mysteries written in the 1920s and '30s, Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Dorothy L. Sayers especially. And I love the BBC adaptations of them, especially Poirot, Campion and Wimsey. And, being a writer, I couldn't help trying my hand at something in this genre. My main character, Drew Farthering, pretty much popped into my head and said, "Oh, I say, wouldn't it be smashing if you let me solve some cracking good mysteries?" I suppose he's the hero-sleuth I just wanted to read about. He's handsome and wealthy, stylish and very British. He's got just a touch of angst about his past, but not enough to keep him from being great fun.

JR: Please tell us about Death By The Book.

JD: It begins about two months after the end of Rules of Murder. Drew has solved that case and just wants to spend the end of the summer with his sweetheart Madeline. If he has his way about it, he'd like to convince her to marry him, too. Instead, he ends up with a fresh string of murders, a confounding American rival and Madeline's formidable maiden aunt who wants to whisk Madeline back to the States. Poor Drew.

JR: One thing I like is how light hearted this series is. How do you manage to keep it fun when dealing with heavy subjects like murder, infidelity, etc.?

JD: I think a lot of that has to do with the time period of the book. The 1930s saw a lot of social and financial upheaval, worldwide depression, and the events that would eventually lead up to WW II. But the entertainment of the time, movies and music especially, tended to be fast and funny and lighthearted, something people really needed at the time. One of the things that attracts Drew and Madeline to each other is their sense of humor and ability to deal with problems without falling apart.

JR: I'm curious. Are you familiar with an author named DeAnna Julie Dodson? The two of you look like you could be sisters, maybe even twins. Should you know her, how would you contrast your styles?

JD: Actually, yes, she is my evil twin. How would I contrast our styles? I write mysteries with lots of suspects and lots of victims and lots of red herrings. She prefers angsty historical romances with moody heroes, lots of pageantry and tragic family rifts. But she has written some contemporary mysteries that have no murders at all. Where's the fun in that?

JR: What do you have coming up? Anything due out under either of your names?

JD: Yes, Murder at the Mikado, the third Drew Farthering mystery, is due out on July 1st. I just turned in the galleys on it, so it's fairly much done besides final page proofs. It's so exciting to see a manuscript finally become a real book, and Bethany House is just fabulous to work with. In case you haven't noticed, the book covers for this series are fabulous, so perfect for the stories and for the period. The cover for Mikado is my absolute favorite. Drew in white tie? Be still my heart!

JR: It sounds like you're pretty busy. How do you handle the other priorities in your life, like hockey? More importantly, how does your spiritual life survive all the deadlines?

JD: Well, one must always make time for hockey. And, because I like to try to multi-task as much as possible, I always sew while I watch. That way I don't feel I've just frittered away three hours at a stretch, and I end up actually getting some projects finished. The deadlines for any working author can be pretty tough, especially for the things you don't usually consider when scheduling your time. Yes, you can usually count on X-amount of time to finish the book and turn it in, but then there's editing and other questions related to the book itself. Beyond that there are interviews and book signings and blog tours and all those little things that I enjoy doing, but which can add up to a big time investment. The only way I can survive those deadlines is with God. In fact, my favorite verse is Isaiah 41:13 which says: "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear. I will help you.'" And He has.

JR: Thank you for your time. How can we keep in touch with you?

JD: I'm on Facebook at Author Julianna Deering, Twitter @deannajuldodson, and my websites: www.juliannadeering.com, www.drewfarthering.com and www.deannajuliedodson.com. I love to chat with my readers. And Bethany House has printed up some wonderful bookmarks for each of the books and some great bookplates with Drew's hat logo on them, which I autograph for readers to put in their books. So if they would like bookmarks and/or bookplates, they just need to send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (at least 7" long for bookmarks) to me at P. O. Box 375, Aubrey, Texas 76223. I'd love to hear from you, readers! And thank you, Jeff, for letting me visit again. It's always a pleasure.

Jeff to reader: It's time to give away a copy of Death By The Book. All you have to do is follow three simple steps:

1. Leave a comment on this blog.
2. Leave your e-mail address. You can spell it out, like AuntDotKahm(at)Ant(dot)com.
3. Finally, a challenge for you: create your own mini-mystery. In a room, there's a sci-fi writer, a TV journalist, a women's basketball coach, a clergyman, a soccer-mom, a used car salesman, and a classical pianist. The lights go out for one minute, and when they come on someone has been murdered. Who died? Who's the killer and why? And who solves the crime?

Interview and Book Giveaway with Julianna Deering

by Jeff Reynolds

I enjoy several types of stories but if I had to choose one genre, it would be easy -- cozy mystery. I've been hooked on Hercule Poirot since seeing Murder On The Orient Express. The one I've read most recently is Rules For Murder, the first Drew Farthering mystery by DeAnna Dodson, writing as Julianna Deering. And a lucky reader will have the same opportunity -- PLEASE read the rules below.

Jeff Reynolds:  Welcome to Sleuths and Suspects. What got you interested in writing in general and in mysteries specifically?

Julianna Deering:  I have always been a reader, though I never thought I’d ever be a writer.  But when I was in school, I started writing dramatic scenes just to amuse myself.  The more boring the class, the more I wrote.  Those scenes eventually became my first book, In Honor Bound.

As far as mystery is concerned, I’ve been a fan of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers for a long time.  I think Masterpiece Mystery actually got me started, and then I wanted to read the real books behind the shows.  I had so much fun not only with the actual mysteries, but with the sets and the costumes and the period dialogue, I just had to try my hand at writing that type of story.

JR:  Tell us about your latest novel. Is this the beginning of a series?

JD:   Yes, Rules of Murder is the first of what I hope will be a long series of mystery novels.  Death by the Book is due out in March, and Murder at the Mikado should be out next summer.  I also write under my real name, DeAnna Julie Dodson, and have published seven books so far.  Three medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and four contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Attic (Letters in the Attic, The Key in the Attic, The Diary in the Attic and The Legacy in the Attic).

But let’s go back to Rules of Murder.  It is basically a throwback to Christie and other mystery writers of the 1920s and ’30 with a little of The Thin Man’s Nick and Nora Charles thrown in.  Drew Farthering is a rich young Englishman with little more to do than amuse himself with his society friends.  He meets American debutante Madeline Parker at his mother’s weekend party and they come across a body.  Soon there is a second death, and they decide to try to figure out whodunit based on what they’ve learned from their favorite murder mysteries.  It’s a lot of fun.

JR:  You have chosen to write the current series under a pen-name. What led you to do that? What are the pros and cons of using a fictitious name?

JD:  Having a pen name was the suggestion of my publisher, and I think it was a good one.  The Drew Farthering Mysteries are different from my Annie’s Attic Mysteries and my medieval romances.  They want readers to know this is something new to head up their line of historical mysteries.

JR:  Your story is set in England of the 1930's. I'm sure that setting has a lot of similarities to Dallas in the 2010's, but if I'm wrong, how did you do your research?

JD:  No, I’m afraid contemporary suburban North Texas and 1930s England don’t have much in common, but I much prefer writing and reading about something different from my usual life.  Most of my research came from reading the classic mysteries of the 1930s (which were contemporary at the time) and watching movies that were made in the 1930s.  I’m glad I’m writing during an era where there was film.  I realize that then as now, movies are a somewhat distorted view of real life, but they’re a wonderful glimpse into fashions and customs and technology and just life in general at that time.

JR:  I read a book that suggests mystery writers tend to be outliners and suspense writers opt for the blank page approach. However, my favorite suspense authors go more for an outline, and I was half way through writing my mystery before I realized who did it. What is your approach in developing your mystery?

JD:  I start with the end.  I know who did it and why and then build the rest of the story to support that.  Agatha Christie often simply made the murderer be the least likely person at the end, but that’s not me.  I need to know.

JR:  One of your hobbies is watching NHL, which I suspect is normal for female Dallas residents (better than the Cowboys, right?) How does this and your other hobbies (like quilting) fit with your writing? Is it inspiration, or more of a way to take a break?

JD:  No, hockey is still a niche sport here in Texas, though it is becoming more popular with the increased availability of ice rinks and public school hockey programs, so being a hockey fan, especially a female one, is rather unusual.  But I grew up with the Cowboys, so I love them too and have high hopes for the, year in and year out.  Hockey and football are definitely just a pastime for me though.  Everyone needs a break from work, no matter what the job is.  But sewing, whether it’s quilting or cross stitch or something else, feeds my creative brain.  It’s a different kind of creativity though.  Writing is purely mental.  Sewing is mental and physical and tactile.  There’s something about the feel and look of fabrics and threads and buttons and everything else that feeds me creatively.

JR:  I like the faith angle in Rules of Murder. How did that develop? And are you involved in ministry other than writing as well?

JD:  I write from a Christian worldview because I don’t have any other.  I have to write truth, and that is my truth.  I’m not currently in ministry, though I sang with my church’s music group for many years.  I miss it.

JR:  Besides the sequel for Rules of Murder, what's on your writing agenda?

JD:  I’m currently working on the edits for Murder at the Mikado, and that should keep me busy for a while.  After that, I will probably work on a fantasy story I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and I may even do more historical romance because I miss that, too.  But if readers like Drew and Madeline, then I’ll probably start working on Book Four.  They may have to go to America and listen to some of the Big Bands.

JR:  Thank you for your time. Could you share your website and other ways to get in touch with you?

JD:  Thank you so much for letting me visit.  I’ve enjoyed our chat..  Readers can find me at www.juliannadeering.com or https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering or www.deannajuliedodson.com or @deannajuldodson on Twitter.  You can also find out more about me and the book on Bethany House’s site here:  http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/rules-of-murder/343331.  They have an author interview, an excerpt from the book and discussion questions.

*   *   *   *   *

Now, it's time for the book giveaway. If you'd like a copy of Rules For Murder, here's Rules For Winning The Contest.

1. Leave a comment on the blog.
2. Include your e-mail. No, just because the web-site lets you know when there's new postings doesn't mean we have the e-mail. 
3. If you were to write a mystery from a different era and/or a different place, like Julianna doing England in the '30's, what time and place would you write it?