Saturday, February 13, 2016

Get Cozy With Your Valentine...

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and it's a great opportunity to introduce you to a delicious mystery author! Caroline Fardig's newest book My Funny Valentine is out and it's HOT! Fardig is the author of the popular Java Jive Mysteries series and the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series. Fardig's BAD MEDICINE was named one of the "Best Books of 2015" by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.
I asked Caroline to answer a few questions about her mystery novels:

Tell us about yourself and how you got interested in writing cozy mystery novels.
 I’ve had a lot of interesting and unrelated jobs over the years (including working at a funeral home and being a music teacher!), but nothing seemed to inspire me.  That is, until I started writing.  It was like I couldn’t get enough of it, and still sometimes my fingers can’t keep up with my crazy brain!  I’ve always liked mysteries, and I never was hugely into books that were too terribly serious, so cozies were a pretty good fit for me.  I honestly got into writing because I got irritated by how the books I was reading (and movie and TV shows I watched) would end.  I decided to write something and make it end how I wanted!  And so my Lizzie series was born.


How many books are in the Lizzie Hart series, and give us a description of Lizzie and her adventures.
 There are currently four books in the series (It’s Just a Little Crush, That Old Black Magic, Bad Medicine, and My Funny Valentine), with one more to be coming out in the summer (Wedding Bell Blues).  Lizzie Hart is a copy editor living in a sleepy small town where nothing interesting ever happens.  That is, until she starts tripping over dead bodies.  She’s got a super crush on the new investigative reporter, Blake Morgan, and she’s tried everything in her power to get him to notice her.  Once she decides he could be a killer and starts investigating him, he sits up and takes notice and their adventure really begins. 
 These books are fun and flirty, rated at about a PG-13 for language, violence, and adult situations (any sex is closed-door).  They’re for adults, but all the girls in my high school Sunday school class have read them!
  
Most novelists include a character in their writing that is their alter ego.... Is Lizzie your alter ego?  
 Yes, sort of.  She says the things I scream inside my head but don’t have the guts to say out loud.  Generally, she reacts to a situation the way I would.  She’s snarky and sarcastic, but loyal and always willing to help out a friend.  And she hates cats.


What other projects are you working on and what can we expect to see from you in 2016?
 I’m working on another cozy series.  This one is called the Java Jive series, and it’s published by Random House.  The series follows Juliet Langley, a down on her luck musician/coffeehouse manager who also starts tripping over dead bodies.  This one is set in Nashville, and music plays a big role.  I write a new original song for every book, and as an added bonus, I include the sheet music with every book!  You can see me performing my songs at one of Nashville’s coolest coffeehouses, CafĂ© Coco, on my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaBxQXmhgMcsLS4C1vMZYUg

Death Before Decaf (Java Jive #1) is out now and Mug Shot (Jave Jive #2) will be released on April 19th.


You can find a list of all my books, along with buy links for each one, here:  http://www.carolinefardig.com/books/



You're invited to my book signing for my newest release, MY FUNNY VALENTINE. Saturday, February 13, from 2-4 PM at the Evansville Barnes and Noble.  Hope to see you there--I'll have some fun Valentine's themed giveaways!






Purchase my latest release, My Funny Valentine, for only 99c! 









All Lizzie wants for Valentine's Day is for her fiancé NOT to be the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

Is that too much to ask?
Lizzie Hart is finally living the dream. She's engaged to the love of her life, Blake Morgan, and more importantly, she hasn't even given a thought to dead bodies or murder investigations for an entire year. The only hurdle in Lizzie and Blake's way to wedded bliss is introducing their polar opposite families to each other at their engagement party.
Blake's parents have thrown a lavish shindig, but the fun is quickly over when Blake's brother arrives with an unexpected guest, the woman who left Blake at the altar years ago. If that weren't enough drama for one evening, Lizzie and Blake find the town mayor dead and the detectives on the case put Blake at the top of their suspect list.
It's a race against the clock for Lizzie and Blake to find the real killer before the police decide to lock Blake up and throw away the key.

 Get in touch with Caroline Fardig at her Social Media:
Twitter:  @carolinefardig

Thank you for the interview Caroline and looking forward to reading more about Lizzie's adventures!



My Valentine Nugget For The Day (which I dedicate to My Valentine):



Peace & Love,

Lanea Stagg
www.reciperecordscookbook.com
blog:  www.rockblocks3.blogspot.com
radio:  www.blogtalkradio.com/reciperecords
reciperecordsml@aol.com
www.amazon.com/laneastagg

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Lanea! Readers, if you missed Lanea's post on my blog yesterday, you can find it here: http://www.carolinefardig.com/news/the-menu-for-lizzie-and-blakes-my-funny-valentine-engagement-party/

Lanea was kind enough to come up with a "menu" of her Recipe Records recipes for the engagement party my characters throw in My Funny Valentine.