Good Morning, Booklovers!
Pull up a chair and join me in welcoming Rose Kerr, the author of the Brenna Flynn cozy mystery series.
Please set with us, Rose. What may I get you to drink?
RK: I can’t drink coffee anymore, so I’ve switched to black tea. I drink it with a big splash of Silk Vanilla Almond creamer.
Ally: Sounds delicious. While I pour, please introduce yourself to readers.
Author Bio:
Rose Kerr lived most of her adult life in small towns. She and her husband raised their family in a small town on the shores of Lake Superior, in Northern Ontario, Canada. The town and surrounding communities provided the scenic setting for Rose’s Brenna Flynn Mystery series. Rose is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Guppy Online Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Canada.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “In my last year of high school, I took a cake decorating class from one of the bakers in my village. I learned decorating techniques that I still use today.”
Author contact links:
Website: www.rosekerr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseKerrAuthor
Instagram: @r.m.kerr
Twitter: @rkerrwriter
Pinterest: @rosekerrauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/rosekerr
Rose Kerr lived most of her adult life in small towns. She and her husband raised their family in a small town on the shores of Lake Superior, in Northern Ontario, Canada. The town and surrounding communities provided the scenic setting for Rose’s Brenna Flynn Mystery series. Rose is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Guppy Online Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Canada.
Something unique/unusual that isn’t in your regular bio: “In my last year of high school, I took a cake decorating class from one of the bakers in my village. I learned decorating techniques that I still use today.”
Author contact links:
Website: www.rosekerr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseKerrAuthor
Instagram: @r.m.kerr
Twitter: @rkerrwriter
Pinterest: @rosekerrauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/rosekerr
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Do you write from an outline?
RK: Well, I start with an outline. I like to know who the victim is and who the suspects are. I use my outline like a roadmap, I know where I want to go, but I can take different ways to get there. I may start out thinking I know who the killer is, but along the way, that can change.
Ally: With your writing, do you still find time to read?
RK: I read between ten and twelve books a month. I stick to mystery and thrillers most of the time. I like discovering new to me authors in the cozy mystery world. This last month, I’ve been reading cozy authors Sarah E Burr, Michelle Hillen Klump, J.C.Kenney, and Essie Lang.
Ally: What are your most frequently used research sources for your writing?
RK: Google for general information. I narrow the focus of my search, or it gets overwhelming.
Google Earth has been helpful in scouting out locations as during the recent lockdowns it was impossible to travel.
YouTube to figure out how to do things. Let’s just say, there’s a lot of things you can learn on YouTube.
Ally: Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
RK: I have two critique partners who have different skill sets. Between the two of them, they provide me with great feedback. They are invaluable to me.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
RK: Book 2 in the Brenna Flynn series (Death in Academia) has been turned in and the tentative release is March 2023.
I’m writing book three now, due for submission to my editor in September 2022.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you select to answer?
RK: Short answer below:
Ally: Do you write from an outline?
RK: Well, I start with an outline. I like to know who the victim is and who the suspects are. I use my outline like a roadmap, I know where I want to go, but I can take different ways to get there. I may start out thinking I know who the killer is, but along the way, that can change.
Ally: With your writing, do you still find time to read?
RK: I read between ten and twelve books a month. I stick to mystery and thrillers most of the time. I like discovering new to me authors in the cozy mystery world. This last month, I’ve been reading cozy authors Sarah E Burr, Michelle Hillen Klump, J.C.Kenney, and Essie Lang.
Ally: What are your most frequently used research sources for your writing?
RK: Google for general information. I narrow the focus of my search, or it gets overwhelming.
Google Earth has been helpful in scouting out locations as during the recent lockdowns it was impossible to travel.
YouTube to figure out how to do things. Let’s just say, there’s a lot of things you can learn on YouTube.
Ally: Do you use critique groups or beta readers? Do you find them valuable?
RK: I have two critique partners who have different skill sets. Between the two of them, they provide me with great feedback. They are invaluable to me.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
RK: Book 2 in the Brenna Flynn series (Death in Academia) has been turned in and the tentative release is March 2023.
I’m writing book three now, due for submission to my editor in September 2022.
Ally: Which of the trivia questions did you select to answer?
RK: Short answer below:
- Memorable book: And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie.
- Have you written a book in NaNo? Yes, Death on the Set, A Brenna Flynn Mystery’s first draft was done in NaNo. It’s changed a lot since that first draft, but that’s what first drafts are for.
- Your pets: Jake, our female dog who is a Golden Retriever/Husky mix. She was a rescue from our local Humane Society. She’s featured in my books.
- Best place ever visited: South Korea. We were there for three weeks when our son and daughter-in-law got married. We travelled throughout the country, met some great people, and took home beautiful memories.
- Do you re-read books? Yes, I do. I’ve read most of Agatha Christie’s books several times and The Pelican Brief by John Grisham has been read at least eight times.
Ally: I’m afraid we’ve come to the end of our chat. It’s been a pleasure, Rose. Before you go, please show us your featured novel.
Death on the Set, A Brenna Flynn Mystery
Genre: cozy mystery
Former high school guidance counselor, Brenna Flynn, returns home to Bayview City after the sudden death of her husband. Unable to find work in her field, she signs up with a temp agency to find employment. Sent on an interview for a cooking reality show, she aces it and gets the job of a production assistant.
On her second day at work, Brenna discovers a body in the studio. She soon learns she’s the police’s primary suspect. Determined to clear her name, she uses some skills she’s honed as a guidance counselor to learn more about the victim. Drawing people out comes naturally to Brenna, and she becomes a confidante to cast and crew on the show.
The stakes are raised with threatening notes, poisonings, and blackmail. Can Brenna uncover who the killer is before someone else dies?
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/36VF6yn
Amazon.ca: https://amzn.to/35kSlIp
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3NvdsZS
Kobo: https://bit.ly/38471wp
Genre: cozy mystery
Former high school guidance counselor, Brenna Flynn, returns home to Bayview City after the sudden death of her husband. Unable to find work in her field, she signs up with a temp agency to find employment. Sent on an interview for a cooking reality show, she aces it and gets the job of a production assistant.
On her second day at work, Brenna discovers a body in the studio. She soon learns she’s the police’s primary suspect. Determined to clear her name, she uses some skills she’s honed as a guidance counselor to learn more about the victim. Drawing people out comes naturally to Brenna, and she becomes a confidante to cast and crew on the show.
The stakes are raised with threatening notes, poisonings, and blackmail. Can Brenna uncover who the killer is before someone else dies?
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/36VF6yn
Amazon.ca: https://amzn.to/35kSlIp
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3NvdsZS
Kobo: https://bit.ly/38471wp