COMING ALIVE

One of my critique partners, a fellow writer and an editor, has the most endearing habit.  She speaks of my character as if they were alive.  She’ll say things like:  “Deva’s too strong to give in to that kind of bullying,” or “I think the new hairdo looks terrific on her, it emphasizes her cheekbones,” or “Green is definitely her color (Deva’s a redhead), but bronze tones are good too.” 

Stuff like that, girl talk you could call it.  I love it when she does that and my biggest hope is that readers who pick up one of my Murders by Design stories and get to meet Deva Dunne will relate to her in the same way.

Deva’s an interior designer plying her craft in Naples, Florida.  While her business is growing, and she’s gaining clients all over town, she also has a habit of running across dead bodies.  It’s kind of a talent of hers.

In the 5^th book in the series, The Design Is Murder, due for e-book release on November 17^th, Deva has help in solving the crime, studly Lt. Victor Rossi, of course--and a five pound Matlese puppy named Charlotte.  (The principle at play here is small car, big key; small dog, big name).  Anyway, with Charlotte’s cocktail dog walks and pythons slinking in from the Everglades, the book was fun to write. 

 

And oh yes, since the setting’s Florida, there’s a critical pool scene too.  Here’s an excerpt from the book:

Sprawled on her back in the center of an ultra-king lay a naked blonde, her hair fanned across a pillow, her legs spread apart in open invitation. I wanted to leave and give her some privacy but, fascinated, I stood and stared as Stew strode over to the bed and grabbed a handful of sheet.

“Look at that,” he said, gazing at the girl, whether in admiration or disapproval, I

couldn’t tell. He draped the sheet over her and, bending down, shook her shoulder.

“Come on, babe, rise and shine.”

Connie Rae didn’t move.

“Is everybody around here deaf?” he asked of no one in particular. He patted Connie Rae’s cheek, and no doubt would have patted more than that except for the designer looking on from the foot of the bed.

Pale all of a sudden, he glanced up, stricken. His eyes wide, he said, “You know

something? She’s cold. Ice cold. And she’s a funny color too. Kind of blue looking. I think she’s—”

He never did finish what he started to say, for without any warning at all, he passed out, falling belly first, right on top of Connie Rae’s breasts.

 

The Design Is Murder is now available on Amazon for pre-release ordering. 

And here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/Design-Murder-Murders-ebook/dp/B00M6G8MWY/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1411486572&sr=8-1&keywords=the+design+is+murder