Tag Archives: Mystery

Episode #55: MJ Williams Murder on the Road

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Books and Brews meets the writing duo, MJ Williams. They are Peggy Joque Williams and Mary Joy Johnson. Peggy is a freelance writer and book editor. 
 
A retired elementary school teacher, Peggy has taught creative writing classes and workshops for Madison College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Continuing Studies. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and the Wisconsin Writers Association.

She will be debuting her first solo historical novel, Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, next May (2024), to be published by Black Rose Writing.

Mary Joy is a retired professor of writing. 

Together they co-wrote and independently published two mystery novels centering on Emily and Stan Remington who travel the country in their RV — On the Road to Death’s Door, a Wisconsin Library Association award winner, and On the Road to Where the Bells Toll.

MJ’s Readings:

  • Surprise in the Rug – 11:29
  • An Explosive Fourth of July – 27:26
  • Calamity at Storrow Bridge – 43:10

Chris’s Cocktail Pairings:

  • When the Kids are Away (paired to Surprise in the Rug) – 8:39
  • Blue Independence (paired to An Explosive Fourth of July) – 24:10
  • The Boston (paired to Calamity at Storrow Bridge) – 39:43

Interview Highlights:

  • How Non-RVers came to write about RVing – 16:45
  • Writing as a team – 19:50
  • Is Pelltier based on…? – 23:10
  • Using a historic event in fiction – 34:02
  • RV horror stories – 50:30
  • Daughters of the King – 53:10

COMING NEXT MONTH: MB Zucker, author of political and historical fiction

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology NEW THEME: MUSIC

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

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Episode #36: Marian McCarthy

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Marian McCarthy is a novelist with a long career as a freelancer, corporate communications consultant, technical copywriter, columnist, ghostwriter, editor, and writing teacher. Murder and the Mortician is the first in the Last Responder mystery series, featuring psychic mortician Perrie Spock. When she discovers the body of a young woman on the driveway of her funeral home, Perrie begins to hear stories only the dead can tell. It’s “The Medium” meets “Six Feet Under.”
marionmccarthy.com

Marian’s Readings:

  • Murder and the Mortician: a body in the driveway! – 15:02
  • Murder and the Mortician: Aunt Azalea – 28:48
  • Beneath the Wild Blue – 41:55

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Interview Highlights:

  • Suspension of disbelief – 19:22
  • Talking with morticians – 23:19
  • Does Perri know she can hear from the dead? – 33:23
  • Short story awards – 35:38
  • From Air Force child to writing the Air Force wife – 48:05
  • The Quintessential Air Force Wife – 50:18

COMING NEXT MONTH: Allison Mann, true crime and publisher.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #30: Christine Husom

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Christine Husom is a national best-selling author from Minnesota. She pens the suspenseful Winnebago County Mysteries and the cozy, but not too cozy, Snow Globe Shop Mysteries where bad guys demonstrate not everyone is “Minnesota Nice.” She also has stories in many anthologies. Husom served with the Wright County Sheriff, is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime and is active with the Twin Cities chapter. She loves meeting readers at a variety of venues and events.
www.christinehusom.com

Christine’s Readings:

  • Death in Lionel’s Woods – 33:47
  • Secret in Whitetail Lake – 26:11
  • Frosty the Dead Man – 41:36

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Interview Highlights:

  • From Sheriff’s Office to Author – 16:21
  • Writing from things seen at the sheriff’s office – 18:23
  • Researching for a crime novel – 19:35
  • Character-driven vs plot driven – 34:29
  • Readers’ views of Minnesota – 36:12
  • Writing mysteries vs writing other fiction – 50:18

COMING NEXT MONTH: Sandy Hanna, Memoirs of military life

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #14: John Gaspard and Jim Cunningham

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John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as two other stand-alone novels, “The Greyhound of the Baskervilles” and “The Ripperologists.” He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He’s also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films.
Those books (“Fast, Cheap and Under Control” and “Fast, Cheap and Written That Way”) are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.
elimarksmysteries.com
Free Eli Marks Short Story – The Invisible Assistant
Ebook version:  https://BookHip.com/RLJQGX
Audiobook version:  https://BookHip.com/GGHJVS
Free Eli Marks Short Story – The Last Customer
Ebook version:  https://BookHip.com/TXSQS
Audiobook version:  https://BookHip.com/NCPKGD

Jim Cunningham is an actor, writer, producer, and director. He spent three years in Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop’s Resident Improv Company and has done numerous television commercials—including the Carsoup Guy—and voiceovers for TV and animated series.​ He hosted Mall of America, the Show, Explore Minnesota, Golf Nut for WCCO TV, “Minnesota Fun” for the Twins and Minnesota Wild, and has been the host of the Renaissance Festival’s Feast of Fantasy for almost 30 years.​ Last but not least, Jim spent three years hosting his own radio show on sports and entertainment.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

John’s Readings:

  • The Ambitious Card (Eli Marks Mysteries) – 10:11
  • Acting Can Be Murder (Como Lake Players) – 21:57
  • Greyhound of the Baskervilles – 38:10

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Schell’s Hefeweizen, August Schell Brewing Company (paired to The Ambitious Card) – 7:15
  • Triumphant Session IPA, Summit Brewing Company (paired to Acting Can Be Murder) – 19:51
  • Ellie’s Brown Ale, Avery Brewing Company, Boulder Colorado (paired to Greyhound of the Baskervilles) – 7:04

Interview Highlights:

  • Writing novels vs. writing screenplays – 15:38
  • Writing novels inspired by magic tricks – 18:08   
  • On planting clues and red herrings – 26:06
  • Murder mystery theater – 28:54
  • Making audio books – 29:56
  • Sunday Night Magic! – 32:10
  • Jim’s years doing voice-overs and narration – 47:39

COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet and boxer Mark Connor.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.