Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2013

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”





Friday, April 05, 2013

Karen Vaughan - Woman of Mystery!

Welcome to the next stop on our Fantastic Blog Hop Tour. The bus is pulling into Canada next and stops at the home of Karen Vaughan.


Karen Vaughan is one of my favorite authors. No doubt about it, she's got a flair! Her mystery novels not only have well paced action, they have wonderfully funny moments as well. 


Karen lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a four legged off spring named Sugar. She is the mom of a 22 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 2 1/2 year old grandson named Ike. 

DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers. She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her latest book is called OVER HER DEAD BODY is the second book to DEAD ON ARRIVAL. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series which is soon to be released.


Where are you from?
I live in Peterborough Ontario Canada
What sparked your interest in writing?
I always liked creative writing in school and it just carried on in my  
adult life. I did it to keep myself amused and I ended up with a
published book DEAD ON ARRIVAL

What components, in your opinion, makes a great story?
Loveable/hateable characters, amazing fast past plots and its gotta have some humor.

How would you generally categorize the books/stories you write?
Light mystery, some people even call them cozies.

Do you set your books/stories in your home town, or do you prefer more exotic locations?
Most of the books I write take place in the Toronto area but I did place DEAD COMIC STANDING in Edmonton Alberta. I want to keep it Canadian. I also sent Laura and Gerry to Daytona Beach for their honeymoon in DAYTONA DEAD.

How much of your writing is based on people or events familiar to you?
I based Laura on me. It might sound egotistical but hey “write what you know.” I have used some of my friends as shells of characters and I am currently killing off a former boss in my work in progress.

What inspired you to write Dead comic standing?
I had the opportunity to perform stand up comedy. I used this in a plot concerning a serial killer who hates comedians and starts slashing.

How did you come up with the title? I thought of Last Comic Standing and substituted dead.

    What was the hardest part of the story to write?
    Getting inside the head of a psychopath was rough. I am nuts but that
   was over the top.

What was the easiest part of the story to write?
The Comedy acts were a riot.

Was there much research involved?
I watched a lot of comedy showcases and researched serial killers

Is there a message in your story you want readers to grasp?
Not really I just want to entertain people.

What do you feel is your biggest strength as a writer?
I feel I do dialogue well and that I can incorporate comedy into the story.

When your first started writing, did anything about the writing process surprise you?
Editing sucks but it’s a necessary evil.

Do you celebrate when you finish a story, and if so, how?
I usually wait till the book is released.

Do you have a set writing routine?
No I am too lazy. I just write when an idea hits me.

Do you listen to music when you write?
Yep classic rock from the 70s

What do you like least about writing?
Editing

Give us a mini-tour of your writing space.
My kitchen table. I use a laptop but the tabletop is cluttered.

Which authors do you feel have influenced your writing most?
Janet Evanovich, Charlotte Hughes and Leslie Langtry. Name a few titles I’d find if I browsed through
your personal home library. The Thornbirds, The Stephanie plum collection and Beach Road by James
Patterson.

If you could go back in time, what author would you most like to invite to share a chat and a bottle of wine?
Charles Dickens

Have any new authors caught your interest?
I have discovered a lot of new talented writers since being on facebook.


COMING SOON! Look for an excerpt and interview with Laura Hamilton-Fitz Friday, April 12th

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