Please help me welcome Jamie Lee Scott. She's feeling
generous today.
Jamie, kick off your shoes and relax.
Would you like a cup of cocoa, coffee, or hot tea?
N0w, about your title, inquiring minds want to know how you decided on that one.
DINNER CONVERSATION
Whether it’s a family function, or dinner with friends, once someone realizes I’m an author who writes mysteries, the conversation always turns to murder. Not just murder, but how to get away with it.
I find this strange, since the bad guys in my novels always get caught. I mean if they get caught, how would I know how to kill someone and get away with it? Oh, but the thing is, I do.
Long before I ever sat at the computer to write my own prose, I was a reader, and a voracious one at that. My genre of choice was mysteries, romantic suspense, and thrillers. I was ecstatic when I realized there were conferences you could attend and meet mystery authors and learn about writing. So I promptly booked my ticket and went to a Bouchercon Convention.
Knowing, someday I’d write a novel, I attended the workshops for writers. One of the workshops I attended had a pharmacist as the guest speaker. She offered up tidbits I still use in conversations. Like the fact that overdosing on aspirin will only get your stomach pumped, or at the very least give you a crappy stomach ache. If you really wanted to kill someone, use Tylenol. I won’t go into the specifics, but suffice it to say, that one is in my bag of tricks for a future novel.
Then there are the things we never think of, like mercury. We put those poisonous sticks of glass in our mouths to check our temperature, before anyone knew any better. Well, mercury is a slow and painful death. The pharmacist offered up a method of killing with mercury poisoning. Again, no specifics because I don’t want to be liable for aiding and abetting, this method includes one of those old thermometers, a light bulb with a divot, and someone who burns the midnight oil. Mercury vapor is also deadly. Just sayin’.
My dinner companions usually have a few ideas of their own, and once in awhile I find on creative enough to jot down the details. Oh, the life of a mystery author.
Website: www.jamieleescott.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Jamie.JLD
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamie_ld
LET US PREY, excerpt
When you work as a private detective, there are two things that are certain; you’ll be bored nearly to death by a long stakeout, and you’ll have to pee at some time during that stakeout. I was approaching the “have to pee” stage when my cell phone rang.
“Speak to me.”
“Nice, very professional,” Charles said.
“I try. What’s up?”
“I’ve got Jackie coming to relieve you. I have sort of an emergency at the office. The client is on her way now.” There was an undertone to Charles’s voice that put me on alert.
Before I could respond he hung up.
I’m Mimi Capurro, and I own Gotcha Detective Agency. We’re a fledgling agency on the Central Coast of California. I’m a former Secret Service agent. I left the job to start a family with my husband, Dominic, but the family plans hit a major road block when Dominic died in a plane crash a year after we married. Gotcha is my way of trying to move on, and I’ve put all of my time and energy into growing the business. Some days are easier than others.
Charles Parks is my right-hand man. He’s from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. I met him while I was protecting a former first lady. Charles is not only one of my best friends, but he’s a genius with computers, business, and defense.
Jackie Baccarin, who was coming to relieve me, was my best friend. Normally I would never recommend going into business with friends, but these were friends with talent. Jackie could pee in a freaking coffee can without ever leaving her stakeout post. Now that’s talent. And like me, she needed an outlet. She’d lost her husband too. Only she’d killed hers. Not literally, it’s just that as far as she was concerned, he was dead.
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Website: www.jamieleescott.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Jamie.JLD
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamie_ld
Did you know Jamie likes poker, is from California, and lives on a farm in Iowa?
Jamie, I can imagine the conflict your story will have, because while friends with talents would normally be the first choice for a business partner, they're also the most difficult to work with. Jackie's baggage make her a very interesting character and peeing in a can, wow! I was in the military and had to pee in a hole more times than I'd like to admit, but my aim was never so accurate!!! LOL
Hi, Jamie! Glad you could join us... Loved reading your excerpt. Great set-up. Laughed when I read about the dinner conversation. The knowledge involved in your craft makes you a little scary,huh! LOL
Hello Jamie and welcome to the Fuzzies. What an interesting post. How about stabbing someone with a sharp icesicle and then the evidence melts away. This was actually the idea of a neighbor kicking around possibilities when really ticked off with her boss.
Very interesting about the mercury and tylenol! Wonder if it would kill vampires. Hum. Interestin excerpt, Jamie.
Beth is wicked!
I love those murderous tid-bits! Sounds like you write my kind of stories--mystery, suspense, thriller. I'll be buying your books at the Book Lover's Buffet!
Great hook, Jamie. Now I need to know how she killed her husband but didn't. Fun friends are the best. Sometimes I read true crime and it's amazing the number of people who get away with murders. Usually they're caught because they keep on doing it.
Sorry I'm checking in so late. I also have a jewelry business and time got away from me while working on orders.
Mary, no more poker for me, it's a time suck, but I miss it.
Pamela, there are few people who can relate to this. I remembered it from when I used to rodeo and we'd only stop if we needed gas. Had to use it in my novel.
Judy, yes, several people have said they'd hate to by my enemy. TG I only kill between the pages.
Beth, ha, I've heard that one. Should we test it to see if it works? Kidding, just kidding.
Hi Nightingale, the vampire and mercury could be a fun combination in a novel.
Stephanie, thanks for popping in. I can't wait until the Book Lover's Buffet goes live on December 1.
Carly, Mimi's husband gets a whole book to himself in book 4.
Jamie, good job mentioning The Book Lover's Buffet!
I do my best, Mary. I'm excited to see how it turns out. So many people worked so hard for us.
Welcome Jamie, we're pleased to have you visit the pink fuzzies. Thanks for sharing an excerpt of your book, it sounds like a just got to read story.
Hi Scarlet, it's been great fun. What a terrific blog you have here. And thanks for having me.
LOL. The last line of your excerpt certainly hooked me!
Hi Barbara, I had to go back and read it. lol This gives me an idea for another novel.
Fun excerpt, Jamie. Your Mimmi is some special one. BTW I was a pharmacist. I can tell you a thing or two about poisons and side effects of drugs. LOL
Mona, I may need your expertise with my current novel. I've chosen several gruesome deaths, but haven't decided on one yet. Glad you like Mimi.
Hi Jamie,
Like you I love to read suspense too, but decided romance might be easier to write since I can't plot. But one day...
Good luck with your book. Sounds terrific.
Thanks Patrice. I love plotting murders. Wow, that sounded bad. But plotting is great for stress relief. When I plot, the real world disappears. There is just as much plotting in romance, only different. Romantic suspense is my favorite.
What a great post and Beth you have an evil mind!
Jamie you are just adorable and very very talented! Like Pam said about the can. Amazing!
Thank you so much Mary. I'm blushing.
I just wanted to say thank you ladies for inviting me to be your guest today. It was so much fun.
Welcome, Jamie, to the Pink Fuzzies and thanks to MM for hosting her.
I love your except, Jamie. Funny, witty, and very interesting. Thanks for joining us.
Hey Josie, thanks for having me. It was so nice of Mary to invite me.