Liz here, wondering where the heck the summer is going so fast.
Today I’m delighted to welcome Marian Lanouette, a fellow Connecticut author, to the blog. Marian writes the Jake Carrington Mystery Series. Here’s the blurb for the latest:
A botched missing person’s case.
A nervous mob boss.
Lt. Jake Carrington’s gut tells him Phil Lucci is being cagey-with good reason. Jake can see this case has been mishandled from the beginning. Sloppy police work? Or does Lucci’s hand reach as far as the WPD? It’s Jake’s job to find the answers.
Jake meets Kyra Russell, a woman with an unusual job-she runs the local crematory. Despite the heated attraction between them, Jake becomes more and more suspicious of Kyra. Her gambling problem has already cost her a marriage and custody of her son. More than that, she also happens to be friends with Phil Lucci. Kyra assures Jake that it’s just coincidence, but Jake’s experience and his instincts warn him not to believe in chance. Can Kyra be burning bodies for the mob? If she is, what will Jake do about it?
Marian spent some time answering a few questions for us here at Wicked Cozy Authors. Thanks, Marian, and welcome!
Tell our readers about your work.
Jake Carrington is so intriguing. Where did his character come from? I was working on another book when Jake popped into my head and wouldn’t shut up until he wrote down his story. Once I started, I knew he’d take more than one book. Thus, the Jake Carrington Series was born.
What’s the inspiration behind these books?
I love mysteries, and wanted a strong, compassionate character who was flawed. Jake is that character. I also wanted this series to match the single Jake with a married partner. I thought the contrast strengthened the storyline and the characters.
Tell us about your path to publication.
I was lucky within six months of finishing the final draft, I found a small press publisher who wanted the first two stories in my series. I’m working on the third one now.
The Wickeds are all influenced by New England, and write books set here. You moved to New England as a teenager and stayed. What was it about the area that drew you in?
As you stated, my father was transferred here in my senior year of high school. After graduation I started working and going to school at night, unsure where I’d settle. Well, I met my husband and knew that this was where I wanted to be. Thirty-five years later, I think I made the right decision. I based the Jake Carrington Series town on a Connecticut town and took liberties with it. I like the people and the area.
Do you write in any other genres?
I write romantic suspense as well as mysteries. I’ve also started a cozy series. It’s in the beginning stages so we’ll see where it goes.
What do you love to read?
I love to read mysteries, romantic suspense and biographies, inspirational self-help books…come to think of it. I like to read everything, but mostly mysteries ((wink, wink.))
What’s your next project?
I have three in progress. The third book in the Jake Carrington Series, Mated of Life is a few thousand words away from the completed first draft. I also have romantic suspense Heat Brokers I’m re-writing. I’m also re-writing my very first novel Loss of Power. This year time has been a commodity that I had little of, but I’m back to writing like a crazy woman and hope soon that they will see the light of day.
Marian, thanks so much for visiting! Readers, feel free to ask a question in the comments.
Welcome, Marian! So wonderful to have you here.
Thanks, Barbara, it’s wonderful visiting all you talented ladies. In fact, you all can count me a fan of your works.
Marian, it is always such a pleasure to see you–welcome to the blog! Can’t wait to hear more about the cozy series…
Thank you, Julie. I can’t wait for your debut book to hit the shelves.
Thanks for visiting, Marian. It sounds like you have a lot of projects underway. I am particularly interested in the romantic suspense one!
I wrote it as a short story, but LOL, it fell short. I’m now expanding it into a full length novel and loving the results.
I’ll be looking forward to that one too, Marian… curious what prompted you to expand it to full-length. I’m doing the same thing with a short story I wrote. I wrote it. I liked it. But it was too complicated and needed to be a book. It would be interesting to hear your experience with that.
Hi, Marian! Thanks for joining us today! Your writing schedule must be crazy! I hope I get to see you at Crime Bake in November!
It is, Sherry, I write four days and work my accounting job three days a week. A little hectic, yes, though I love it. I can’t wait to catch up with you again at Crime Bake.
Reblogged this on F4l ~ FLECK and commented:
Marian Lanouette, a Connecticut author, who writes the Jake Carrington Mystery Series.
Thank you F4fleck for sharing re-blogging this post.
Great interview. Don’t you love it when characters refuse to go away?
Thank you, Edith. I do love when they haunt me. The trouble right now, is I have six sets fighting to be put down on paper first. We’ll see who wins.
Thank you so much, Liz for hosting me today. As you can see I overslept. 🙂 I was up until the wee hours writing last night.
Nice interview, Marian. I have read both books in the series and love, love, love them (especially Jake). Can hardly wait for the third book.
Thank you, Gerri. I’m working on it.
Hi Marian, Nice to see you are so busy and have lots more stories in the works. 🙂
As do you, Katy. Thanks for stopping by.
Nice interview Marian, interesting. Sounds like you have become a writing demon.
I love the Jake Carrington Series, can’t wait for the next Jake.
Thank you, Scribblerinkblog. I hope to have Jake out there soon.