Sunday, December 4, 2016

Mystery Author of the Month: Maggie King




Maggie King is the author of the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries, including the recently-released Murder at the Moonshine Inn. She contributed the stories “A Not So Genteel Murder” and “Reunion at Shockoe Slip” to the Virginia is for Mysteries anthologies.
Maggie is a member of Sisters in Crime, James River Writers, and the American Association of University Women. She has worked as a software developer, retail sales manager, and customer service supervisor. Maggie graduated from Elizabeth Seton College and earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has called New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California home. These days she lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, Glen, and cats, Morris and Olive. She enjoys reading, walking, movies, traveling, theatre, and museums.
Website: http://www.maggieking.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaggieKingAuthr


Patricia: Maggie, when did you know that you wanted to be a writer? 
Maggie: In sixth grade I wrote a mystery and read chapters to my friends (my first fans!) on the way home from school. Then I moved on to another activity—probably boys—and my writing went dormant until the nineties. During the last year I lived in Los Angeles, three of my co-workers took creative writing classes at UCLA Extension. I read their work and was impressed. My competitive nature emerged and I thought, “I could do that.” But it wasn’t until I moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1996 that I put my bold thought into action. I took writing classes at the University of Virginia and the Charlottesville Writing Center. I grew to despise those pesky writing prompts but I did get started on writing a mystery, my genre of choice. To answer your question, I’d reached the point where I knew I wanted to write. “I could do that” had become “I do that.” 
Patricia: If, for some reason, you couldn’t be a writer, what profession would you choose?
Maggie: If I wasn’t retired from a day job, I’d return to the IT world. But I am retired and would likely a) volunteer in the community; b) teach people how to use their desktop computers and mobile devices; or c) become a student of just about any subject. A combination of the three options creates a fourth possibility.
Patricia: Do you have a bucket list, things you still want to do and/or places you want to visit?
Maggie: For travel, my bucket list includes Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand. I’d love to return to Greece and Italy. And I have about fifteen US states left to visit. For activities, there’s ziplining, baking authentic German bread by hand, learning to play bridge and mah-jongg. Walking across America has a place on the list, but after seeing the movie Wild I’m not as enthused. Still, I’d like to do something really, well, wild.



WHEN HIGH-POWERED EXECUTIVE Roxanne Howard dies in a pool of blood outside the Moonshine Inn, Richmond, Virginia’s premiere redneck bar, the victim’s sister enlists Hazel Rose to ferret out the killer. At first Hazel balks—she’s a romance writer, not a detective. But Brad Jones, Rox’s husband, is the prime suspect. He’s also Hazel’s cousin, and Hazel believes in doing anything to help family. Never mind that Brad won’t give her the time of day—he’s still family.

Hazel recruits her book group members to help with the investigation. It’s not long before they discover any number of people who feel that a world without Rox Howard is just fine with them: Brad’s son believes that Rox and Brad were behind his mother’s death; Rox’s former young lover holds Rox responsible for a tragedy in his family; and one of Rox’s employees filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against her. The killer could be an angry regular from the Moonshine Inn—or just about anyone who ever crossed paths with the willful and manipulative Rox.

When a second murder ups the ante Hazel must find out who is behind the killings. And fast. Or she may be victim #3.



  
Leave a comment for a chance to win an Amazon gift card.

Congratulations, Judy Grogan!!!

 

29 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting me, Patricia. It's a honor to be here.

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    1. I'm thrilled to have you visiting this week.
      I loved "Murder at the Moonshine Inn."

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  2. This one sounds like a great book, Maggie. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to come see you in person so I can get one and have it signed. I am so happy for you! Great work, keep it up!

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    1. Susan, I'd love to see you. Try to get to the Brew Ho Ho next Sunday. I'll be posting on FB.

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  3. Moonshine Inn is a good read. Liked the comment about your desire to write going dormant over another interest. Ha, ha. Glad you decided to get back to writing.

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    1. Yes, I'm glad as well, John. Those boys got to be too much after a while!

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  4. I love your bucket list as mine includes Antarctica, Australia plus Greece and Italy. And I especially love your title Murder at the Moonshine Inn! Sounds like a fun and intriguing read.

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  5. Loved learning even more about you, Maggie. I've got to work on my TBR list so I can start one of your books. I'd love to go back to Australia. Wonderful place! And someday I'd love to take a long train trip. I've never done that before. Think of all the material you might come up with on your travels.

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    1. I'd love to tour Canada by train.

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  6. You've got my curiosity up. The book sounds like a riot!

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    1. Cozycrazy, I had a reading at my launch party, and got lots of laughs. Let me know if you agree.

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  7. Hey Maggie I finally got your new book murder at the moonshiner inn!!I would like to also get any of youyr other books!love your bucket list! I have so much to do on my bucket list lol do you have extra copies of youyr other books??

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    1. Mary, I don't have copies at this time, but all of my books are available on Amazon, or you can order them from your local bookstore. The title of my first book is Murder at the Book Group. I also have stories in two anthologies titled Virginia is for Mysteries and Virginia is for Mysteries, Vol. 2. Enjoy!

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  8. I enjoy finding out information about authors that I would not have known otherwise. Thanks for sharing with us on Pat's blog. I've added your latest to my list. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Robin, thanks for adding me to your list. If it's anything like mine, you'll need to live about 200 years to make a dent!

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  9. Enjoyed the interview! The book sounds interesting; I'm always on the lookout for new authors. 😊

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    1. Let me know what you think of Murder at the Moonshine Inn!

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  10. Thanks for the interview, and congrats on your newest release. You're a new-to-me author. mbradeen@yahoo.com

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  11. Wow, I don't know how you get it all done. Thank you. janngrogan@yahoo.com

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    1. I don't either, Judy ;-)

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    2. Judy, I'm so glad you left your email address because YOU ARE THE WINNER! Maggie will be getting in touch with you.

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  12. Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing on Facebook, Sharon. I hope you're enjoying your trip.

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  13. I'm intrigued by the description. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  14. Murder at the Moonshine Inn is a terrific mystery and a really fun read. Write faster -- I can't wait for #3!

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