Sunday, February 17, 2013

Getting to know W.S. Gager



I’d like to welcome mystery author, W.S. Gager. Wendy’s most recent addition to her Mitch Malone Mystery Series, A Case of Volatile Deeds, will be released this month. 

Patricia: Wendy, I’ve read the first three novels in your series and I’m looking forward to reading the fourth. But, tell us, what are your favorite things to do when you’re not reading or writing?
Wendy: I love photography and scrap-booking.  I’ve always like to take photos and last Christmas I received a new camera and I’m still learning all the unique features of it. We are renting a home on a lake temporarily and I have been taking the same view in all different weather and am excited to put them together and see what they look like. I have summer, fall, rainy and winter. Now I just need to wait for spring’s new green. The home faces southeast and there are some awesome sunrises.
Patricia: What’s your favorite color? Why?
Wendy: Purple. I have always liked purple. When I was in the fifth grade I was able to shop for my own school clothes. I picked out a pair of purple jeans and a matching print shirt. They were my favorites and I couldn’t wait for the start of school. It was like ninety degrees that day but I wore my long purple pants because I couldn’t wait.  I roasted but I looked good!
Patricia: How would you describe yourself, personality wise?
Wendy: I am an eternal optimist and adventurous. There are always second chances and if things don’t work out right, it is because something better will be coming along. My dad still rolls his eyes when he remembers the people I brought home in high school. It was the late seventies and my friends were some pretty scruffy characters. He was sure I would end up dead in a ditch dead from one of my adventures.
Patricia: Do you like to travel? If so, what are some of your favorite places to go and/or what was your favorite vacation?
Wendy: I love to travel and have been able to go to some wonderful places. Two years after I received my bachelor’s degree I was in a job and going nowhere. I got a second job, moved in with a friend to save every dime and then quit. I went to Europe for the summer with my roommate from college. We went to England, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and France on the dollar a day plan. A dark, warm beer counted as a meal on so many of those days. I fell in love with Paris and the southwestern Irish coast. Paris was eclectic and romantic and years of history to peak my imagination. Ireland was so many shades of green and the friendliest of all people. Each was so beautiful. I’m saving my pennies to visit our exchange student from last year in Germany so she can show us the sights. We also traveled to Ecuador for a week to visit another exchange student and that trip was incredible. This wild part of the world is so very different from everything I was used to.
Patricia: How would you complete this sentence? If I won a million dollars, I would
Wendy: write mystery books every morning and then sightsee the rest of the day in different parts of the world. (I would pay people to clean and to promote my books.) I would be poor again very quickly but it would be a grand time for as long as it lasted.

Bio:  In the past three years I have moved three times and have one more coming up in the next couple of months. In between unpacking and repacking, I write the award winning Mitch Malone Mystery Series. During the last move this summer, I was a finalist in the 2012 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense for A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES. I figure the next move will be during the launch of A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS in February. Prior to writing mystery books and teaching college English classes, I was a reporter for a newspaper for a dozen years. My crime beat reporter Mitch gets to really say some of the things I wish I could have. For more information, on me or Mitch, check out my revamped website or blog: http://wsgager.com, http://wsgager.blogspot.com

Buy Links

A Case of Infatuation: http://www.amazon.com/Case-Infatuation-W-S-Gager/dp/1892343584


A Case of Accidental Intersection: http://www.amazon.com/Case-Accidental-Intersection-W-Gager/dp/1892343703/ref=la_B003U5OADU_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356107704&sr=1-2 


Blurb: A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS: Mitch finally got a date on a weekend instead of chasing crime, but an explosion in a high rise office building makes him stand up his date as he goes running for an exclusive.  When he investigates he learns his date is the only casualty in a botched attempt to steal from the real estate office where she works. The clues lead to city hall politics Mitch has always avoided. When city employees are killed, Mitch must unravel the local politics or a cute dog with a knack for finding dead bodies will be sniffing out his corpse--the next casualty of murder and governmental corruption.

13 comments:

  1. Good getting to know you better, Wendy. Give Mitch my regards and tell him I'm rooting for him to get the Pulitzer he deserves.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Traveling with an eye on the pen and paper is a definite dream of mine. Figuring out how to get as much as I'd like done is another. Photography and scrapbooking seem like good ways to keep balance. I love to needlepoint and crochet. Funny how all the activities we involve ourselves in help to create new stories. Nice getting to 'know' you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was fortunate enough to pre-read A Case of Volatile Deeds, and it's a terrific story. You won't want to miss it.

    Love learning more about you, Wendy, and I share your enjoyment of photography. Thank you for sharing some interesting part of your life.
    Marja McGraw

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice getting to know more about you, Wendy. I'll second your motion of how to use a million. That plan would be ideal.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Like Pat, I've read your first three novels and I'm looking forward to reading Volatile Deeds. You really have led an interesting life, makes mine look very dull in comparison.

    ReplyDelete
  6. First off, thank you, Pat, for letting me come and visit. It was so fun answering your questions. I had to think a bit about the million dollars but I would love to travel more.

    John: I'm so glad you stopped by. Mitch says to say hello. He's hoping to met another of your characters real soon.

    Theresa: Being creative, we need to balance it. The writing takes a lot of thought and some frustration. The other pursuits are more visual. They still feed the spirit but in different ways. Thanks for the insight. I also use to do crewel work. My Grandma taught me but I don't have the patience for it anymore.

    JR: Maybe we should form a lottery company and buy tickets every week and split our winnings? I should warn you that I'm not very lucky and am a horrible gambler.

    Evelyn: Your life is not dull. You have some great friends that would do anything for you! Also, those adventures were all before my children. When they came along, I became very boring! It was great to see you at Love is Murder!

    Wendy
    W.S. Gager on Writing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a pleasure to have you here, Wendy! Did you happen to notice the background color of my blog? :)

      Delete
  7. I like taking pictures with my iPhone, which usually produces some great pics, except in the evening. It's not the latest version. About that million dollars - I'm afraid it would be half gone as soon as the IRS would get wind of it!

    Morgan Mandel
    http://www.morganmandel.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Morgan: I've been using my I phone when I see something. I don't carry my big camera unless I will need it because it is very heavy. Having spent the morning with my accountant, I can guarantee the tax man will taketh!
    Thanks for stopping by!
    Wendy
    W.S. Gager on Writing

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Wendy,

    Nice knowing some new things about you. I would love to see all those different season/weather lake views! Great places to travel! Good luck with the next move!

    Monti

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Monti. Maybe I will do a post about them. I want to do some kind of collage/frame with them for the couple who let us use their summer home.
    Wendy
    W.S. Gager on Writing

    ReplyDelete
  11. Pat: Thanks for letting me guest on your blog. It was a lot of fun!
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you had fun, Wendy! Thanks for contributing and best of luck with your series.

      Delete