Patricia:
Dana,
where did you grow up and where do you live now?
Dana:
I
grew up in a small town in Northern California called Blossom Valley, which is
just over the hill from Mendocino. I moved down to the Bay Area to attend college
and stayed there several years to work at a software company. But when my
father passed away a couple of years ago, I started to worry about how my mom was
coping and decided to return home to Blossom Valley so I could keep an eye on
her.
Patricia:
What’s
your occupation and how did you come to choose it?
Dana:
I’m
the marketing person for the O’Connell Organic Farm and Spa. I’ve always loved
marketing because it gives me a chance to tell the world about a fantastic new product
or service. Now, instead of touting the latest software, I’m trying to inspire
people to visit Esther’s farm for a relaxing vacation among the vegetable
gardens and farm animals. Of course, it was hard for anyone to relax on opening
weekend after one of the guests was murdered. Then, only a few months later, my
younger sister Ashlee broke up with her boyfriend and someone killed him that
very night! Now, I’ve helped organize a green living festival and one of the
booth owners has died. I’m not sure how I keep getting myself involved in these
messes. When I signed on as Esther’s marketing person, I certainly didn’t
expect to be solving murders in my spare time!
Patricia:
Tell
us about one of your most memorable “adventures.” What drew you into the
mystery?
Dana:
Almost
any day with Ashlee is an adventure, but when the police considered her a
suspect in her boyfriend’s death, I knew I had to help. As I worked to keep my
sister from being wrongly accused, I met some interesting people along the way
and learned a little about the world of monster truck driving, which I knew practically
nothing about.
Patricia:
What
are your favorite things to do when you’re not working?
Dana:
I
love to spend time with my boyfriend, Jason. We don’t need to go anywhere
fancy, which is probably a good thing, since Blossom Valley has only a movie
theater and a bowling alley in the way of night life. And I even like hanging
out with my sister, when she’s not on a date with her latest love interest.
Patricia:
What
are your favorite TV shows and/or movies? What kind of music do you enjoy
listening to?
Dana:
I
could watch old sitcom reruns, like Seinfeld
or Roseanne, all day long. I’m not
sure if it’s because the show writers made the characters so likeable, or I
connect these shows with a happy childhood, but nothing relaxes me faster than
watching Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor glue something to his forehead. As for
music, I like tunes that are peppy and upbeat, unless I’ve had a long day at
work, and then I like something more soothing.
Patricia:
Are
you married or involved in a serious relationship? Tell us about that.
Dana:
Jason
and I have been dating for almost a year now. We met when he was covering the
murder at the farm for his job as a reporter at the Blossom Valley Herald. We didn’t get along in the beginning, since
he was trying to pry information from me while I was trying to protect Esther
and the farm, but now I feel like I’ve known him forever. We have so much fun
together. He’s smart and witty and such a gentleman. He even opens the car door
for me!
Patricia:
How
would you describe yourself, physically and personality wise? How do you think
others see you?
Dana:
I
tend to be an optimist. When that guest was killed at Esther’s farm the first weekend,
Esther was convinced her business was ruined before it really got started. I
kept telling her she needed to stay positive, that everything would work itself
out. Others, like the farm’s manager Gordon, probably think I’m naïve, but I
disagree. There’s no reason to throw up your hands and quit when there’s still
a chance you can get yourself out of a mess. I also try to be honest and do
what’s right, which is probably how I keep finding myself mixed up in these
murder investigations.
Patricia:
What’s
your favorite color and why?
Dana:
I
love yellow. It’s not only the color of my favorite flower, which is a
daffodil, but seeing a bright yellow shirt or the yellow walls of a kitchen
always makes me think of sunny days.
Patricia:
Do
you like to travel? If so, what are some of your favorite places to go and/or
what was your favorite vacation? Have any of your travels involved solving a
mystery?
Dana:
My
favorite vacation was when I went on a cruise with my parents and sister to Mexico.
I loved stopping at the different ports and experiencing the culture of the
area. Also, shortly after I graduated from college, my friends and I went to
Hawaii for a few days, which was a total blast. I like vacations that involve warm
weather and the ocean. Fortunately, none of these vacations have been
interrupted by a mystery. At least not yet…
Patricia:
What
are your plans for the future?
Dana:
Right
now, I’m taking life one day at a time. When I first moved back to Blossom
Valley, I really struggled with living at home again and taking a job that paid
so much less than what I’d been making when I was out on my own. I felt like I
was taking a step back in life. But now I love working with Esther and Zennia
at the farm, and I can’t imagine life any other way. Plus, if I hadn’t moved
back home, I never would have met Jason. I definitely see a future with him.
Here's the link to the latest book in the Blossom Valley Mystery series:
Author Bio:
In my former life, I was a technical
writer. Now, I've traded in my cubicle and coworkers for diapers and carpool
duty. You can find me online at www.stacimclaughlin.com and at the LadyKillers
blog, where a group of fellow mystery and crime writers post their thoughts on
writing, reading, and life in general at http://www.theladykillers.typepad.com/. I currently live with my husband, two
kids, and various pets in the San Francisco Bay Area.
One lucky person who has left a comment will win a
copy of Green Living Can Be Deadly.
The winner will be announced on Saturday.
And the winner is Chris Swinney! Congratulations! Staci will be contacting you for your mailing address.
