A Wicked Welcome to Zaida Alfaro!

by Julie, enjoying warmish weather

One of the best parts of my job with Sisters in Crime is that I interview writers for the SinC Writers’ Podcast. Recently I interviewed Zaida Alfaro, and am delighted that she agreed to be on the blog. Zaida is a musician and cozy author, a wonderful combination for her Miami Murder Mystery series. Welcome to the blog, Zaida!

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Many years ago, I became an avid reader of cozy mysteries. The story lines were intriguing, engaging, and funny at the same time. I was so inspired by the authors’ novels, that I then decided to take my musical experiences, and put it on paper. Because I write what I know, I would say that 80% of the plot and characters are drawn from real life experiences, except for the murders! Luckily, I have never been involved in a crime investigation. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, Grammy considered, independent artist, and I was the lead singer for a cover band in Miami. When I wrote my first book, The Last Note: A Miami Murder Mystery, the drummer of my band was a homicide detective, so when it came to the murders and the how to, he was the one I would go to with a list of questions. For my sequel, In the Key of Dead: A Miami Music Mystery, I am fortunate enough to be friends with a retired homicide detective that helped me with the murders, this time around. I had to do extensive research on the weight of an electric guitar, and how fatal the swing of the guitar had to be, to deem a person unconscious and possibly dead.

My friends and family inspire me, when it comes to writing a new character. No friend of mine is safe! I do get their permission to use that person, for a character in my book. I ask what they want their character to be named, and what they want to look like, etc. Surprisingly enough, many of my new supporting characters, want to use their birth-given name, and look exactly the way they do now, with the exception of a few wanting to be ten years younger. The same question is always asked by each one of them, “Are you going to kill me off?” I simply respond, “Don’t make me upset, and I will consider keeping your character alive.”

I have currently started the third novel to the series. I ended book two with what I have recently been told, “quite a cliffhanger.” I love keeping readers in suspense! I have also started writing a psychological thriller. That will be a stand-alone novel. As an author, I wanted to expand my writing into a more intense genre.

Bio:

The Miami Music Mystery series’ main backdrop, the amazing city of Miami, Florida, is beloved and well-known to me. I was born and raised in Miami, and like the novel’s main character Vy, I am a singer/songwriter, Grammy considered, independent artist. All things relating to music or literature are my passion. Five years ago, I published my first novel, The Last Note, a Miami Music Mystery. Now, I have brought my characters back to life, in the sequel, In the Key of Dead, a Miami Music Mystery. I hope that I was able to, once again, show the readers of my novels, the love I have for Miami, the Cuban culture, my family, and music.

Website: https://www.zaidamusic.com

About In the Key of Dead:

Killer songs and a killer voice land Vy Blanco in yet another melodic murder mystery. Interlude Records has signed Vy to a long-anticipated record deal after years of rejections, but she never thought that murder would be part of the deal. Now Vy finds herself, yet again, at the center of a murder investigation that may change the course of her music career.

It seems that someone doesn’t want Vy to record her album, and is doing everything to sabotage the release date, including murdering a key member of the production team. So Vy and her sister, Alexia, are back at it again—detecting in their own way. This time they’re using their quick-witted banter, and super sleuthing skills to ensure that Vy’s record makes it to the Billboard Top 100 list before the murderer makes it to the Miami Beach Police Department’s most wanted list.

They say the music industry is cutthroat, but Vy has never taken that statement literally. Could this be the strum of Vy’s guitar playing her last note IN THE KEY OF DEAD.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/zaidamiamimystery

Social Media Handles:
Instagram: zaidamusic
Twitter: zaidamusic
Facebook: zaidaauthor