“Cherry Blossom Capers,” is a collection of four stories about four women who encounter love, danger, and mystery beyond their neighborhood near Washington, DC. There’s a White House chef and FBI agent who unmask a state-dinner saboteur. Two opposing attorneys who investigate a judge’s murder. A coffee-shop owner and builder who encounter danger in an inherited mansion. And my novella, Buried Deception which is about an archeologist intern and security guard who uncover a forgery at Mount Vernon.
It’s a fun collection of novellas where characters from previous stories have cameos appearances in the others! So if you’re someone who hates to say goodbye to a “friend,” then you’ll enjoy the reunions in “Cherry Blossom Capers.”
Where did you get your inspiration for your novella, Buried Deception?Back in 2005, I was homeschooling and our family took an east coast tour, hitting all the historical spots. Mount Vernon was one of them and as I was walking through the mansion, especially George Washington’s office, I kept thinking about the antiques and if they were real or replicas. Later, when I wanted to write a mystery I kept coming back to Mount Vernon. We were also studying Egypt and archaeology at the time, so I thought it would be fun to explore the “What if someone discovered that an artifact at the Mount Vernon mansion was a fake?” The characters, story and plot just grew from there.
Most authors have book signings to launch their new releases, but you have something a little different planned. Tell us about that.Instead of sitting behind a table waiting for people to buy my book, I wanted to do something a little more fun. A mystery writing friend of mine hosted a Murder Mystery party for her book launch and even before I sold my mystery I knew that one day I would do the same thing. So on Sunday afternoon I’m hosting a free “Mystery and Mayhem” party where guests will play detective while surrounded by suspicious characters from my novella. It’s an original script I wrote for this book launch and suspects will be played by local theatre company Encore! Theatre Arts and my detective will be played by Ron Terrell.
This Mystery party is free and open to the public for adults only, but attendance is limited, so you need to reserve your spot by emailing gina@ginaconroy.com. If you can’t attend the party, you can always stop by and say hello at the book signing at 4 p.m. where copies of "Cherry Blossom Capers" can be purchased.
You have a website called Writer…Interrupted. What is that about?About five years ago, after ten years off from writing to raise my kids, I started writing again. My youngest was two. This was about the same time I started homeschooling and let’s just say my priorities became so messed up that I felt impressed by God to quit writing for a season. So to deal with my “not writing” I started a blog to figure out how all the other successful writing, homeschooling moms did it. I started out interviewing a few writing moms, and then when my first writing dad who just happened to be an editor at a publishing house started visiting the blog, I thought that maybe this thing was bigger. I opened up the group to anyone who felt that their writing was interrupted by life and now I have a blog where busy writers can come and learn the craft of writing from experts or find encouragement from others struggling to balance their personal and writing lives.
You’ve homeschooled your four children, you teach creative writing, and keep up your website, Writer…Interrupted, how do you balance it all?I have an entire blog and six years of my life devoted to trying to figure this out. I’ve interviewed over a hundred writing moms and dads and the one thing I’ve learned about balancing writing with family is that it looks different for everyone. For me, the amount of writing I do goes in seasons. There was a time in the beginning my priorities were skewed. I put writing before a lot of things, and I got out of balance to the point that I had to lay down my writing for a season. After seven years of struggling, I’ve finally found freedom in the seasons of life. I don’t sweat not writing when I can’t and I try to focus on what’s in front of me. Of course, it’s still a struggle, but I try to keep things in perspective. There will be a time when my kids will be gone and I will have the time to write. For now, I’m embracing this season of life and the time I have with my kids.
Where viewers can get your product (Business name, address/location, phone # and/or website) Please double check for accuracy.
Local Barnes and Noble, Mardel stores and Steve’s Sundry Books at 2612 S. Harvard will have some as well.
Online book stores like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book , Mardel. It’s even available in Kindle and Nook.
Please indicate any events or promotions you would like to mention (this will be the final question the hosts asks)
The interactive “Mystery and Mayhem” party on Sunday, January 8th from 2 – 4 p.m. at 3024 S. Sheridan, Tulsa 74114 (next to Sherwin-Williams.) This original mystery, based on the characters in "Cherry Blossom Capers," will include special guests Ron Terrell of Fox 23 and Encore! Theatre Arts.
Book signing to follow at 4 p.m.
Contact to attend the Mystery Party gina@ginaconroy.com
http://writerinterrupted.comFacebook: Author Gina Conroy
twitter@ GinaConroy
