The characters in the "Just Call Me Angel" series

S.R. Claridge

Lucia Maratinzano may not be the main character in the Just Call Me Angel series, but she is, by far, one of the most comical.  Sister to the Cappo Di Tuti Capi, Lucia ran from the Mafia lifestyle at a young age, changing her name to Olga.  Years later she became the beloved Aunt Olga, guardian to the main character in the series, Angel.  Now, in her mid-seventies, Aunt Olga is meddlesome, feisty and her taste in men hasn’t aged with the rest of her.  She likes them young and hot and isn’t afraid to verbalize what she’d like to do with them.  She eavesdrops and tries to play matchmaker, but the most dangerous thing about Aunt Olga is her Taser. She’s Tasered her brother one time, and doesn’t hide the fact that she’d like to do it again.  She calls her brother, Giovanni, an “old coot.” She’s a hot-headed, Italian woman who makes a mean manicotti and the best homemade Cannoli in all of Chicago.

I developed the character of Aunt Olga to provide comic relief in what can otherwise become an intense Mafia world.  In developing her, two people instantly came to mind.  First, my great aunt named Olga Rudanovich.  I used to call her “Aunt Olgs” when I was little.  I don’t remember a lot about her, other than she waddled a bit when she walked and she always gave me Strudel.  The second woman was a friend of my mother’s named Jan Neely.  I used to call her “Granny Janny,” and was she a hoot!  She always had advice to give, a witty phrase and a big smile.  These women combined became Angel’s Aunt Olga in the Just Call Me Angel series.

BIO

My name is Susan Claridge and I write under the name, S.R.Claridge. I'm a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a niece, an in-law and friend; but no matter what hat I wear, I’m always the same simply, complicated woman beneath. I love autumn,
moonlight and Grey Goose Vodka martinis with bleu cheese olives. I believe Friday nights were made for Mexican food and margaritas and Sunday mornings warrant an extra-spicy Bloody Mary. I love Jesus and know that any good in me comes from God. I believe in the power of prayer, in the freedom of forgiveness and that people can change. I have a terrible temper and a tender heart, and somehow they balance. At times I may appear teetering on the edge, but I'd rather walk dangerously where there's a view than let life pass me by. Relationships intrigue me and so does the loyalty of Mafia families, which is why I chose these topics for my novels.

BOOKS

No Easy Way  (debut novel; nominated for The Molly Award from the HODRW 2010) 

Tetterbaum’s Truth (book 1 in the Just Call Me Angel series) 

Traitors Among Us (book 2 in the Just Call Me Angel series) 

Russian Uprising (book 3 in the Just Call Me Angel series) 

Death Trap (book 4 in the Just Call Me Angel series) 

Petals of Blood (short story; Pushcart Prize Nomination 2013)

UPCOMING RELEASE

House of Lies (political/cult suspense, to be released October 2012)

LINKS

Website:  www.AuthorSRClaridge.com

Blog:  www.FeelingTheFiction.blogspot.com

Twitter:  www.Twitter.com/SRClaridgeWrite

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/AuthorSRClaridge

"I’d like to encourage readers to enter my giveaway contest. I will be giving away an ebook copy of TETTERBAUM'S TRUTH, book one in the Just Call Me Angel series; or if you've already read Tetterbaum's Truth, you may select another novel of your choice and receive that e-copy instead.  Leave a comment below and you're automatically entered. Include your email address in your comment so I can get in touch with you should your name be selected at random. The winner will be announced on my blog (http://www.FeelingTheFiction.blogspot.com ) on December 11, 2012. Good luck!"