Daytona Dead - It Will Drive You to Death!

Karen Vaughan is, by her own description, a Canuck. She has an amazing imagination and a comic style that leaves you laughing even as the killer sneaks up behind you. Today, our Fantastic Blog Tour bus is stopping once again at her front door. This time, we're going to talk to Karen's character, Laura Hamilton-Fitz from Daytona Dead.

Interview with Laura Hamilton-Fitz

What is your biggest fear?

I fear that one day all my amateur sleuthing is going to catch up with me. Gerry or I could get really hurt or Gerry could get sick of me playing Nancy Drew and leave.

What would you give up everything to have?

Children

What is the biggest mistake you've ever made and are you going to be able to rectify it?

Hmm that’s a hard one but getting to involved in the Leena situation in OVER HER DEAD BODY. I could have been Killed and it nearly ended me and Gerry. I tried to lay off but again death found is in DAYTONA DEAD.

What food would you never eat?

Entrails- I don’t do liver, tripe, tongue or kidney –makes me want to yack

You've dressed to impress. What are you wearing?

Me a fashion maven? I am most comfortable in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.

What one thing have you found unattainable thus far in your life?

Motherhood and a winning lottery ticket.

What is about to change for you?

I am not sure but Gerry and I are trying for that all important baby. The clock is ticking.

Where do you live?

We live in the north end of Toronto in Canada. We just moved from Scarborough.

Who are you?

Building superintendent for a high rise building and amateur sleuth as it turns out. Some even call me a corpse magnet.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Some one who is trying to find herself and who is insecure.

Who do you hate and why?

Not really hate but I do have a few people I would be happy not to see again. Tiny Todd Crawford (DEAD ON ARRIVAL), Leena Dubois Brown (OVER HER DEAD BODY) and Killer T. Ford (DAYTONA DEAD)

Excerpt from Daytona Dead - Coming Soon!

Photo Kiosk Scene

Plans for the next day included getting some of our pictures saved on a CD, so I could clear the card in my camera. So I figured I might as well develop the ones from Lou’s camera.  I was at a Kodak kiosk doing just that, when I felt the hair on the back of my neck prick up, so I whipped around to find the creepy cop behind me.

“Ok, this is getting old really fast. Do you have an odd fixation with following tourists around? Or are you just being a jerk?”

“Mrs. Fitz, dear, no need for a meltdown. I just happen to be at the same photo kiosk as you “

“Ya, I bet!”

“Oh my, someone is paranoid.” he laughed, “Maybe you really are guilty of that guy’s murder and used the road kill scenario as a cover up. Maybe, you staged it to divert attention. I may have to take my thoughts on this to the detective on the case.”

People were staring at us and backing away out of the store. The police officer was in his civvies and couldn’t do anything at that point.  He was grinning evilly, thinking he was getting the better of me. 

I stood straight up, “Too late Fife, we’ve been cleared of all charges so don’t even go there.”

His weasel-like face turned bright red, “Quit calling me Fife, my first name isn’t even Barney! It’s Dave, Dave Meecham. With that he turned and stomped away from the kiosk.  

Okay, so now my would-be stalker had a name, should I need to use it?  I continued to copy the photos from my card and printed off the ones from Lou’s SIM card.  I went to pay for my pictures and the clerk looked at me oddly.

“What do I owe ya?” 

“Um, six dollars.” She was clearly rattled by clash with the creepazoid.

It’s okay, dear, I’m not going to rob or kill ya. There’s no need to be nervous. My friend who just left is highly delusional…thinks he’s a cop or something. Most people have a thing for FBI or the CIA. He just wants to be at home in Mayberry with Andy, Aunt Bea and Opie”