Thanks for asking me to visit today, Alicia. I’m offering a $25.00 gift certificate to Kat’s Kustom Karry Alls and/or Aprons With Attitude to one person who leaves a comment AND an email address to contact them. 🙂
Thank you for being here, and for giving away such a fabulous prize!
Do you have another occupation, other than writer?
I am a retired nurse, currently a raging empty nester as a result of my youngest grandchild going off to all day kindergarten last month. It has not given me any more time to write but I now have a lot more time to sew and I like that a lot.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
I am also a retired victim advocate, a profession which causes many people to develop a wicked gleam in their eye [the tell me all the gory details sort of reaction] or turn away in horror. I loved that job; it made me a better person, a better woman.
What’s your favorite book of all time and why?
Too many to count but “Shanna” and “Ashes in the Wind” by Kathleen Woodiwiss, “Carolina Moon” and “Carnal Innocence” by Nora Roberts make me laugh out loud.
What’s your favorite childhood book?
Mila 18 by Leon Uris. I started reading things well beyond my grade level at a young age—something that caused great consternation among my parents and uncles after I started asking questions about anti-Semitism and genocide.
What is your favorite quote?
Any Ouiza Boudreau dialogue line in Steel Magnolias. Rather, any Ouiza Boudreau line out of the mouth of Shirley MacLaine. I loved that movie. Adored it.
Your favorite…
Movies: Steel Magnolias and The Stoning of Soraya M.
Music: anything by the Bee Gees, George Gershwin and the Four Seasons.
Place you’ve visited: Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State.
Place you’d like to visit: I’d love to take a Viking River Cruise through eastern Europe
TV show from childhood: 77 Sunset Strip
TV show from adulthood: Right now it’s Longmire and Justified
Food: anything except raw fish.
Sports team: Now that Moe Rivera and Derek Jeter have retired I have no favorite team.
Caper Madness…
This attraction: Complete madness or—sheer magic?
P.I. Nick Forrester comes to Cape Brendan ostensibly to assist with Caper Madness, a month long celebration of everything Halloween. In reality he is tracking a woman on the run. Within days he is confronted by Annunciata Doyle, a vivid reminder of a pain-filled past.
After retreating to Cape Brendan in defeat and humiliation, Nunie Doyle’s only hope was to make the best of forced retirement. There, in this quaint tourist town on the shores of Lake Ontario, she earned the love and respect of new friends and neighbors—and put her talent for helping women to good use.
With the mutual goal of making Caper Madness the best ever, Nick and Nunie fight tooth and nail on the personal level, each discovering a new side to the other, sides that make them consider making drastic changes for the rest of their lives.
Excerpt:
Hank let out a holler just before a huge toothy grin spanned the borders of his gaunt cheeks. “Top o’ the marnin’ to ye, Missus!” he cackled to someone exiting the front door of the stone cottage next door.
Taking the concrete steps to the sidewalk in two lithe moves, a woman in a slinky dress the color of ripe tomatoes glanced their way and responded in a distinct Irish brogue. “And the ass end of the day to ye, Mistur Pierpont.”
Intrigued by rich tone of her voice, Nick craned his neck and found one of the witches from yesterday’s parade—minus the droopy velvet hat—passing within steps of Hank’s porch. A bulging garment bag hung over one arm; she looked headed in the direction of the pier at the end of Vincentian Lane. Damned if right then a wind didn’t jump up off the lake and mold the filmy length of scarlet against each curve of her body. Long black hair—and there seemed to be a good ten pounds of it—flowed over her shoulders, caressing her body like a lover as she marched toward Dingle Pier. As his heart bumped into a trip hammer beat, Nick reminded himself to breathe.
“Ferget yer broom, Missus?” Hank called out to her retreating back.
“In the repair shop,” she replied over one shoulder, winging that glorious onyx hair away from lips painted to match her dress. “Gettin’ fitted with a couple of those fancy turbo boosters, it is.”
Hank chuckled, then went back to his coffee. “Turbo boosters. That Nunie Doyle; sure is a pistol.”
An invisible fist reached down to grab Nick’s gut in a vise. As recognition flared, long buried rage took a slow crawling path up his spine.
Five years had evoked more than a few changes in Annunciata Doyle. Much thinner, he noted, but as far as he was concerned she’d always been a bit on the hippy side. Back then her weight was something she’d thrown around with ease—or when the mood suited. When it came to cops, it suited her often. The hair was another matter. Who knew when she freed the ruthlessly tight bun she’d always sported, her hair would fall past her waist in a curtain of black velvet curls?
In the costume of a Witchy Poo—and wasn’t that appropriate considering what she’d done to several of his fellow officers—her current manner of dress was looser, certainly more feminine than the severe straight-jacket type suits she wore back when reporters hung on her every word and judges clamored for her to speak as an expert during the sentencing portion of criminal trials. Counselors and advocates proclaimed her the patron saint of victims and survivors.
Which, in his opinion, was complete bullshit.
“You hear me, boy?”
“What? Sorry, Uncle Hank. I got—distracted.”
“Easy to do with that one. Be careful though.”
She took the first step leading into the gazebo. As she moved the thigh high split on the dress opened to expose a slender silk covered leg. “Why is that?”
“Folks around here call her the Black Mamba. Dangerous for any man who shows much of an interest.”
No big secret there, Nick mused sourly.
The Crone his brother officers had called the Director of Crime Victim Services back then. A woman who proved herself fully capable of destroying a man’s career with one carefully placed phone call to the police brass—or worse—the local media. Or, as she accomplished with one blow, dropping a name during during a notorious child sex abuse trial.
The ensuing scandal ended badly for all concerned, including the loss of several careers and, in the case of Nick’s best friend, suicide.
To purchase Caper Magic or any other book by Veronica Lynch or Kat Henry Doran, go to: www.thewildrosepress.com, click on author search
BIO:
Writing under the names Kat Henry Doran and Veronica Lynch, author Kathy Cottrell uses her experience as a nurse, victim advocate and insurance investigator for background in her award winning novels and novellas. Her stories are set in her favorite places to visit: the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains as well as the Saint Lawrence River in the historic Thousand Islands region of Upstate and Northern New York State.
When not writing, or chasing grandchildren, Kathy spends her time designing and making tote bags and aprons to custom order.
To contact Veronica Lynch, go to: VlynchAuthor@Yahoo.com or WildWomenAuthors@Yahoo.com
Visit her at: www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com and www.ApronsWithAttitude2.blogspot.com
Author Alicia Dean 
Terrific excerpt, Veronica! Love the way you incorporated the Irish accent without making it cheesy. (And I definitely want to read more!) I’m with you on Derek Jeter, but I’m glad he retired on a (really) high note! I think we’re about the same generation because I remember 77 Sunset Strip (especially the theme song). I really enjoy Longmire too (hope it comes back!) and love, love, love Justified. I hope there’s more of the Raylen/Boyd interaction this year. That’s when it’s best, I think. And of course the romantic in me would love to see winona and baby make an appearance.
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Leah I think we might be long lost twins, separated at birth. I can still hear the theme song from 77 Sunset Strip in my head–and Boyd Crowder is the best part of Justified. He makes me smile.
Now for Derek: when I filled out the questionaire I answered truthfully, now that Derek and Moe have retired I don’t care for the Yankees any more. Then as I carried out my usual morning ritual the other day: the daily crossword, a gallon of iced coffee and ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning, I saw . . . Mark Texeira [yankees first baseman] up close and personal. Ohhhhh myyyy. A cutie with a whippy sense of humor. Can’t ask for anything more, can we?
thanks for stopping by!
veronica
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You got me hooked!! Though, you always do. 🙂
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Hey there, pal. Hope all is well with you. Missed you at critique tonight.
see you soon.
V
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Enjoyed your excerpt–I can picture the slinky dress the “color of ripe tomatoes” perfectly! I imagine your advocacy role was also ripe for writing ideas. Thanks for an intriguing post.
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Thanks, Susan
I’ve put some advocates in my stories but they’ve usually been in supporting roles. It’s a career ripe for the picking, and matching up with alpha heroes–either in uniform or a three piece suit–but a touchy one for me in terms of avoiding the bleeding heart liberal overtones. Someday.
Veronica
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Great post! I still like me some Bee Gee’s now and then.
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Hi, Maureen
thanks for stopping by. Several years ago, while ‘vacationing/playing companion to three retired priests’ in Florida in the middle of February, I put on my head phones and took a walk while listening to the BeeGees. I can’t help but dance when I hear their music. The neighbors are still talking about the crazy lady who chauffeured the priests around dancing as she walked the neighborhood, listening to music no one else but she could hear. Oh well, it worked for me. I think a Bee Gees tune is part of a movie popular with the little ones. Maybe Despicable Me? My grandchildren get a kick out me singing to You Should Be Dancing . . . yeah
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Absolutely blew me away with that excerpt. Another one I have to get my hands on. Four Seasons, yes, yes, but what about the Beach Boys? Ain’t it great to be a raging empty nester? Never slow down.
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Hi my friend. The excerpt was one of the best parts of this story. Such fun to write. Wait till you see who has a supporting role.
yep empty nests–there’s nothing like them.
the Beach Boys? Blew me away with Kokomo.
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I agree, this excerpt is fabulous. Makes you want to dig right in. And, the cover…spectacular. Fun, fun answers, too. I cut my teeth on Kathleen Woodiwiss as well. I absolutely adore Justified! I would also like to see more Raylan/Boyd interaction, but Winona, Leah? Seriously? UGH…I can’t stand her! She really, really gets on my nerves. I think she’s a horrible match for Raylan. A man like him needs to be a loner, an island…unless I get to hook up with him. 😉
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Sorry, Ali. I’ve got first dibs on him. Though I think Karen Cisco, another of Elmore Leonard’s more colorful female characters could give Raylen a ride for his money.
thanks for having me visit. I really liked the questions. They made me think–dangerous occupation for this woman.
V
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Loved the post and the excerpt, Veronica! You sound like the same age as myself. Only my granddaughter is now in college.
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Ilona, thanks for stopping by. A grandchild in college. Yeah . . . it could work. Sort of.
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Great interview. I love Steel Magnolias too. Hope you have great sales.
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Ah, Steel Magnolias. I watch it whenever I need a good cry–or a great laugh. Such wonderful dialogue–such talented actors. thanks for stopping by Katherine.
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Carnal Innocence is my favorite Nora book, too! Your story sounds wonderful, Kathy. About time you had a new one out! Best of luck with sales.
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Man, this is like a reunion for the Class of ’85!!
Hey, Jannine. Thanks for stopping by. great to hear from you!!!
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Lots of great info and what a tease, I need to read Caper Magic now!
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Hey, Ally–thanks for taking time to stop by. You’re awful busy with your first book out, it means a lot to me to have you visit the blog. Good luck to you, too!!
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Your life experiences have certainly provided you with understanding for your stories and characters! Best of luck with the book!
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Thanks, Barbara. It means a lot to have a visitor recognize my underlying motivation.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
Veronica Lynch
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I learned so much more about you in this interview! We need to talk! 🙂 Looking forward to Caper Magic…
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Hi, Kate
learned so much? Like my penchant for men in tight white pants, the kind who don’t have MD after their names? Oh yeah. Never could understand why anyone would give a hero the profession of physician. If I don’t know where they last had their hands, I don’t want those hands on me. No way.
thanks for stopping by.
V
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Enjoyed the interview and excerpt! I popped over to your apron page. Love your work! I’m sure your job as a victim’s advocate was interesting and heartbreaking at times but I bet it felt good to help people at their lowest. Thank you for doing that! Best wishes with “Caper Magic!”
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Hi, MJ with the bright smile. I look back on those days as an advocate and can truthfully say it was the best of times and the worst of times. But it contributed to the woman I am today. Not that I ever watch Law and Order SVU. That show makes me cringe. But so did ER and House and Grey’s Anatomy.
thanks for stopping by!
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Great post, Veronica. Looking forward to reading your latest caper! 😉
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Another classmate heard from!! This is turning into old home week.
thanks Shar. Looking forward to visiting your blog next week with Nunie.
V
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Great post. Loved the excerpt. Good luck with sales and promos.
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Thanks Judy. Appreciate the support–and the comments
Veronica Lynch
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Sounds good. Thanks.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
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Hello, joy
thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate the support
Veronica
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