Good Morning, Booklovers!
This week’s guest author is Judy Murray with her featured cozy mystery Chesapeake Bay series.
Welcome, Judy. How do you take your coffee?
JM: With half & half and lots of stevia in the morning. Evening would be tea.
Ally: While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Judy L. Murray is an Independent Publisher IPPY Silver Medalist, a Silver Falchion Award Attendee Winner for Best Cozy, and an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel with her debut Murder in the Master – A Chesapeake Bay Mystery published by Level Best Books. Killer in the Kitchen is second in the series due for release September 2022. A Philadelphia real estate broker and restoration addict, Judy has worked with enough delusional sellers, jittery buyers, testy contractors, and diva agents to fill her head with back-office insight and truth versus gossip.
She began her professional writing career, after graduating in newspaper journalism from the S.I. Newhouse at Syracuse University as a reporter and magazine columnist. She holds a Master’s in Business from Penn State University. She lives atop a cliff on the Chesapeake Bay with her husband. They’re buffeted by winds in winter and invaded by family and dogs in summer. Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime Chesapeake Chapter and Mystery Writers of America.
Murder in the Master – A Chesapeake Bay Mystery introduced Helen Morrisey, a quick-tongued, gutsy, and mature woman long on loyalty and short on romance. A mystery story addict, Helen’s approach to solving problems was to call on the talents of her favorite, strong-minded female detectives within her own Detection Club, much like Agatha Christie formed in 1930.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “My maiden name is Casanova, like the famous Spanish lover. My grandparents came from Madrid.”
Follow her at www.judylmurraymysteries.com to receive her newsletter. Friend her at Judy L Murray Author on Facebook. Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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Ally: Why did you choose writing as a career? Is it your only career, or do you have a “day” job?
JM: Always wanted to write mysteries since my Nancy Drew days. I was a full-time, sixty hours plus commuting real estate broker and a vice president in charge of marketing, coaching, recruiting, sales, for over thirty years. I began writing my first in this series, Murder in the Master, ten years ago. I decided to devote evenings to finishing it about four years ago, and sought out a literary agent through querying. In 2020, I signed a three-book contract with Level Best Books. In 2021, I left the real estate business to write full-time.
Ally: What book/author has influenced your writing the most?
JM: There is a range of styles and genres. Agatha Christie and Dick Francis for mysteries. I’ve always loved Rosamunde Pilcher and Jane Austen. Really so many. I probably have at least six different sets of all Jane Austen’s novels.
Ally: Who or what inspired your featured book?
JM: Always wanted to write mysteries centered around the real estate industry in a more accurate light. Dick Francis inspired me with his keen ability to build mysteries around horse-racing. I always admired his writing style. Killer in the Kitchen, my second in this series, was inspired by the idea of celebrity chefs and the inner workings of home shopping networks. I thought these two elements could be weaved together with Helen’s career as a real estate agent.
Ally: You told us earlier that you are traditionally published with Level Best Books. How did you decide whether to go that route or to self-publish?
JM: I felt going through the process of querying and re-writing and accepting feedback was a huge help in producing quality, well written manuscripts. My experience in marketing and “knocking on doors” helped me persevere.
Ally: How important do you think writing and reading are in today’s world?
JM: We have a critical need for journalists to report the news, not opine from their personal viewpoints. It’s how I was trained in newspaper reporting. “Just the facts, Ma-am.” I also think children need to learn how to enjoy books from infancy. It’s mind building.
Ally: What book or movie character would you like to be? Why?
JM: Nancy Drew. Love her tenacity and her lack of fear for authority. Helen drives a Mini-Cooper because it reminds me of Nancy’s coupe.
Ally: Do you read reviews of your own books?
JM: Absolutely! Do I respond to them? When I have access to their contact information. Are you affected by them? Yes. My readers’ opinions are very important to me. What my readers enjoy helps decide the direction of future stories and characters.
Ally: Have you co-authored a story or novel? How did it work? Would you do it again?
JM: I did co-author one mystery, A Map for Murder published by Cozy Cat Press, with 23 other authors, each writing one chapter. I probably wouldn’t participate again. You have no control over the entire storyline. Level Best Books produced a cookbook with 16 authors entitled The Secret Ingredient. That was fun.
Ally: What is your next writing project?
JM: My third in The Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series, Peril in the Pool House is in first draft stage. It’s due to be released in September 2023. If I could only decide who will be the murderer, I’d be further along!
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you select?
JM:
- Memorable book you’ve read: Where are the Children? By Mary Higgins Clark
- Ebook or print? I always prefer print. I love holding a book in my hand and getting away from an electronic screen. If I’m feeling out of sorts, glancing over my bookshelves always makes me feel better.
- Favorite quote: I’ve so many. As a rehabber, I’d probably say… “Just four little flagstones.” from Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse. As a Jane Austenite… “My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation,” from Persuasion. As a mystery writer, ““It’s important, you know, that wickedness shouldn’t triumph.” Agatha Christie’s Jane Marple, A Pocket Full of Rye
- Your pets: Two shelter cats, Dr. Watson and Agatha
- Favorite sport – sailing
- What book setting/location have you never forgotten? Pemberly in England – “Of all this I could have been mistress!”
Ally: So nice to meet you, Judy. Good luck with your series. Before we finish for today, please show us your featured mystery.
Genre: cozy mystery
Rating: PG-13
Murder is on the menu –
A celebrity chef poisoned
A bay town reeling
A sleuth pursued
Real estate rule #2: How to sell a house fast – offer a drop-dead kitchen.
When real estate pro Helen Morrisey’s bombshell daughter, Lizzie, a popular home shopping network host, invites her to meet an internationally famous chef, Helen jumps at the chance. What woman doesn’t want to shake hands with a celebrity and do a little shopping at the same time? Even more intriguing, this culinary superstar is about to sell his waterfront mansion and it’s her opportunity to talk business. After all, he couldn’t choose a sharper agent than Helen, could he?
That’s a job that comes to a dead halt when she walks onto the TV kitchen of Cooking with Roberto to find his blood dripping bright red into his signature dish and her daughter collapsed beside him.
Detective Joe McAllister arrives to take charge and is none too pleased to find Helen asking his questions. Their on again, off again, romance might sour when she ignores his warnings.
Undaunted, Helen calls on the personalities and special skills of her Detection Club of famous sleuths to stir this investigation pot. It doesn’t take long before the explosive ingredients of off-camera jealousy, competition, and nasty rumors create a recipe for disaster. Helen has to solve Roberto’s murder before more tempers boil over and they all get burned.
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