Mystery of the Month by J.R. Lindermuth

It’s the summer of 1898. The nation, just coming out of an economic slump, has been at war with Spain since April. And Sylvester Tilghman, sheriff of Arahpot, Jordan County, Pennsylvania, has a murder victim with too many enemies.

There’s Claude Kessler, who is found standing with a knife in his hand over the body of Willis Petry.

There’s Rachel Webber, Petry’s surly teen-aged stepdaughter, who admits an act intended to cause him harm.

Then there’s the band of gypsies who claim Petry is the goryo who stole one of their young women.

If this isn’t enough to complicate Tilghman’s life, add in threats to his job by McClean Ruppenthal, former town burgess; a run-in with a female horse thief; scary predictions by a gypsy fortuneteller, and the theft of Doc Mariner’s new motorcar.

There’s plenty of good eating, church-going and socializing along the way. And, before all is over, Sylvester solves the crime and even comes a little closer to his goal of finally marrying longtime girlfriend Lydia Longlow.

A couple early review snippets:

“A sneaky, twisty murder mystery filled with colorful and intriguing characters and enriched by precise period detail.” W.D. Dundee, author of Dismal River and Reckoning at Rainrock.

“Welcome to Arahpot where Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman keeps the peace in his little town…you’ll appreciate his wry humor and keen intelligence.” Carol Crigger, author of Two Feet Below and Three Seconds to Thunder.

Buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/Sooner-than-Gold-J-Lindermuth/dp/1610090837/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_GKB3

http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Wild%20Oak-Westerns.htm

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J.R. Lindermuth is the author of 12 novels, including two in the Tilghman series and five in his Sticks Hetrick mystery series. J.R. is a retired newspaper editor and currently serves as librarian for his county historical society where he assists patrons with genealogy and research. His short stories and articles have been published in a variety of magazines. He is the father of two children and has four grandsons. He is a member of International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Society and EPIC.

Mystery Author of the Month, Rosemary Gard

Patricia: Welcome, Rosemary! Tell us, where did you grow up? Did your childhood contribute to your desire to be a writer?

Rosemary: I was born and raised in Gary, Indiana.  My siblings were 17 and 18 years older than I, so I spent a good amount of alone time in the Library where I devoured books and magazines.  Being in the Croatian community, I was different, so I spent a good deal of time day dreaming.

Patricia: Where do you live now? Do you use that locale for settings in your novels?

Rosemary: I live in Crown Point, IN.  The settings of my first two Destiny books take place in Croatia and Trieste, Italy.  I lived in Italy for a year and spent three months in a primitive Croatian Village.  

Patricia: What inspired you to write your most recent novel?

Rosemary: The Destiny series came about because my adult children wanted to know more about their grandparents and their heritage.  The Dowry part in the first title came about because the dress on the cover of “Destiny's Dowry” was actually part of my own dowry.  I am now working on the last of Destiny Series which will take place in Gary, Indiana in 1910 when the largest ethnic population was Croatian.  

Patricia: When did you “know” that you wanted to be a writer?

Rosemary: I believe I always knew it.  On my twelfth birthday, when a Croatian girl is considered on her way to being a woman, my mother wanted to gift me with a sewing machine.  I cried until my father agreed to buy me a portable Royal typewriter.  It started there!

Patricia: Name three of your favorite authors in the mystery/suspense genre. What makes them your favorites?

Rosemary: John Grisham, David Baldacci, and Clive Custler - I like a story that is not predictable and has good strong writing.

Biography:

Rosemary Gard was born and raised in Gary, IN. Her first language was Croatian. She grew up in what was the melting pot of cultures in Gary during the mid-20^th century. Within the Croatian community she heard the stories of the ‘Old Country’ and in time was sent to stay with relatives in a village outside of Zagreb, Croatia for a period of three months where she learned more stories and the villagers’ way of life.

Links to purchase books:

Booklocker.com

Destiny’s Dowry: http://booklocker.com/books/3719.html

Destiny Denied: http://booklocker.com/books/6462.html

Amazon.com

Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Gard/e/B002RT3W66/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1361321136&sr=8-3

BarnesAndNoble.com

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/rosemary-gard

Link to YouTube video trailer of Destiny’s Dowry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Je3y0LxNc

Naming Characters

When I choose names for the characters in my novels, I want to use names that suit the image I have of them in my mind. I’m not talking about physical characteristics, although they’re important too. I’m talking about personality traits, including the little idiosyncrasies that make each character a unique person. 

The process is interesting. Lots of times, I’ll use a name that I associate with someone I’ve known. That can be a positive or a negative thing. For example, when I chose the name for the main character in my Malone mystery series, I decided on “Ann” because the personality and qualities of that character reminded me of my Aunt Ann, a kind and gracious woman. On the other hand, when I decided to name Ann’s mother-in-law “Louise,” I did so because someone from my past had that name and, let’s just say, she was “difficult” to deal with. 

Sometimes, I want to use a name simply because I like it. I have a third cousin named “Marnie.” I liked the name the minute I heard it. Although I’ve known her mother all my life, I didn’t meet Marnie until a few years ago, long after I decided to use her name. In my series, Marnie is Ann’s older sister, an attorney who lives in South Carolina. Here’s an excerpt about her from Mixed Messages: “Marnie said that the ocean gave her something nothing else could: a sense of peace and serenity; that she felt closer to God there than anywhere else.” 

I often look up names in my “Name Your Baby” book to see if the meaning of the name accurately describes the character. I'm not sure what I'd do if the name didn’t “fit” but, fortunately, the names I chose for my series have worked out so far. Here are some of the names I used in Mixed Messages and Unfinished Business. (Check out the definitions for Ann, Louise and Marnie in particular.)

Ann – Graceful one or Gracious one

David – Beloved one or Friend

Marnie – From the sea

Olivia – Olive tree or olive branch; symbolic of peace

Lawrence - Laurel-crowned

Bernard (Bernie) – Bold as a bear

Louise – Famous warrior-maid; famous in battle

See what I mean? 

How do you decide on names for your characters?

Getting to know Suspense Author, Bill Schweigart

Patricia: Bill, I’m so glad you could be with us today. Please tell us, what are your favorite things to do when you’re not reading or writing?

Bill: With a busy work schedule, an active family, and a new puppy, there’s barely even time to read or write. When I can carve out some time, I usually put the earbuds in and get a little exercise on the wooded trails of Arlington. I’m also a massive comic book fan, so whatever I’m doing, there’s a good chance I’m doing it while secretly pretending I’m Batman. 

Patricia: What’s your favorite color? Why?

Bill: Any shade of blue. It’s calm and serene and life is anything but.

Patricia: How would you describe yourself, personality wise?

Bill: I once took the Myers-Briggs personality test and the results stated, “You are an introvert, but no one will believe you when you tell them.” I was also voted my high school’s “Most Organized” senior, a category they created just for me. In other words, sorry ladies – I’m married. 

Patricia: Do you like to travel? If so, what are some of your favorite places to go and/or what was your favorite vacation?

Bill: There are a couple of places in particular I’ve always been enamored with and my thriller, Slipping The Cable, makes good use of both of them. The first is Ocean City, the perfect Jersey Shore resort town. I’ve been vacationing there since I was a little boy and no matter how old I get, it still retains its childhood, summertime magic for me. Key West also has a strong pull on me. When I was in the Coast Guard, we sailed into the rowdy little island and I was immediately enchanted by it. My novel hinges on the tense dynamic between Kelly Sensor, the youngest officer aboard the Coast Guard Sentinel, and his vengeful captain, Aregood. When I needed an idyllic home town for Kelly to hail from to contrast the danger and claustrophobia of his shipboard life, I naturally chose Ocean City. And when Kelly and Aregood’s battle of wills explodes into disaster, the young officer hopes to escape to Key West, but paradise becomes a dead end when his captain pursues him. And I just completed the first draft of my latest novel, The Beast of Barcroft, in which something unnatural emerges from – you guessed it – the woods of Arlington, Virginia to stalk its residents. So if I love a place, I mythologize it. It’s a good excuse to spend time in my favorite places in my head when I can’t be there in person. 

Patricia: How would you complete this sentence? If I won a million dollars, I would …

Bill: say, “No more questions, don’t you people know I’m a MILLIONAIRE?” Then I would jump into my custom-made Batmobile and floor it, leaving everyone choking on a cloud of dust. The universe will never grant me a million dollars, Pat. I would abuse it.

http://tinyurl.com/bxosf3q