Day 10: Mystery We Write Tour with Alice Duncan

It’s day 10 of the second 2011 Mystery We Write Blog Tour. We’re fifteen mystery authors on a virtual two-week tour of interviews, excerpts and of course, giveaways. (Rules may vary author to author. Details posted on our blogs.) About those giveaways - sixty (yes, 60!) free books are up for grabs, so let’s get started and talk writing!

My guest today is Alice Duncan. Welcome, Alice! When did you first realize you were destined to be an author? 

Alice - The only thing I ever wanted to do in my life was write novels. When I was a little girl and someone would ask me what I wanted to “be” when I grew up, I’d say, “an author.”

Mind you, the question itself seems stupid to me now. What a child will be when he or she grows up is an adult human being, a condition that comes with its own limitations. Puppies grow up to be dogs, just like kittens grow up to be cats. Personally, I prefer puppies to kittens and dogs to cats, but that’s bias on my part. Both dogs and cats are easier to get along with than your average adult human being. I think, although I’m not sure, that we’re each born with certain talents.

I wish I’d been born with a gift for making money, which sounds a whole lot more useful than being born possessed of a way with words.

Anne – LOL! I honestly believe there are people like that. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. What activity (cause, charity, organization) consumes your time when you’re away from the keyboard?

Alice – The New Mexico Dachshund Rescue. We rescue wiener dogs who need homes and people to love them. At the moment, I’m caring for (gasp) eight dogs. No, I’m not a pet-hoarder. I have so many dogs because so many dogs need foster homes. It’s a horrible problem. If there are this many purebred dachshunds in dire need, you can probably imagine the extent of the overall dog problem. Breeders hate me when I say this, but I really wish people would just STOP BREEDING THEIR PETS for a year or two. Or ten. That includes cats.

Anne – You won’t get any argument from me. I’ve always neutered my pets. It just seemed like the responsible thing to do. Tell us about your most recent release.

Alice - Actually, I had three releases in 2011, all historical cozy mysteries. They are:

PECOS VALLEY REVIVAL: It’s early October 1923, and three interesting things are going on in the generally dull town of Rosedale, New Mexico: the fall cattle drive, the fall rodeo, and a tent revival.

Annabelle Blue is excited about the first two events. The last one might be okay if it weren’t for the Reverend Milo Strickland’s sister, Esther, whose ethereal loveliness has captivated all the men in town, including Annabelle’s long-time beau, Phil Gunderson.

Although Phil seems to hang around with Esther a lot more than Annabelle deems proper, she enjoys the rodeo with her best friend, Myrtle Howell—until one of the stars of the rodeo, Kenny Sawyer, falls ill and later dies.

Shocked to learn that Kenny was poisoned, Annabelle begins to do some snooping. There are a plethora of suspects to choose from. Unfortunately, those suspects include her own brother-in-law, who appears to be enamored of a woman other than Annabelle’s sister; Kenny Sawyer’s erstwhile lady love; the husband of her brother-in-law’s assumed lover; and even Annabelle’s horrid twelve-year-old brother, Jack.

When Hazel Fish, the worst gossip in Rosedale, is killed after Annabelle gives in to her friend Myrtle’s wheedling and goes to a revival meeting, life in Rosedale becomes downright frightening.

Next is FALLEN ANGELS: Transplanted Boston Brahmin, Mercy Allcutt, has had some very exciting times as secretary to private investigator, Ernie Templeton. While it’s true she’s been in what she considers a wee bit of trouble (and Ernie considers out-and-out danger) a time or two, she’s determined to continue learning the ways of the “real” world.

However, when she sets out to find her wandering boss, Ernie, one hot September afternoon, she not only discovers a corpse, but she also finds Ernie, bound and gagged. Worse, when the police arrive to investigate the crime, they peg Ernie as the killer.

Well, Mercy isn’t about to let them get away with that, no matter how many times Ernie tells her to butt out of the police inquiry. The only question is whether she’ll survive her investigatorial efforts once again, or if she’ll become one more “Fallen Angel.”

Last but not least, GENTEEL SPIRITS. Daisy Gumm Majesty is back, and she’s up to her ears again. Not only does she have to deal with her husband Billy’s declining health and her dog Spike’s obedience training, but she’s been hired by Lola de la Monica, a fabulously spoiled silent-screen beauty, to be her spiritual advisor on the set of her next picture. As if this wasn’t already enough, a friend asks her to find out who’s been sending him poison-pen letters. Her problems only multiply when Sam Rotondo, Billy’s best friend and Daisy’s worst nightmare, is stationed on the same picture set as she!

Anne – Three books in one year. That is impressive! Of all the characters you’ve created, does one hold a special place in your heart? Why?

Alice - Daisy Gumm Majesty, phony spiritualist extraordinaire in post-Great War Pasadena, California. Daisy has a host of burdens to bear (she supports her war-injured husband and helps support the rest of her family), but she just carries on. In an odd way, Daisy reminds me of me, only without the crippling neuroses and with a supportive family. I reared two daughters alone with no goodies like child support or welfare, but I didn’t think anything of it at the time, except I wished we had more money. Now I look back and wonder how in the name of God I did it.

Anne - Any words of advice for struggling, unpublished writers?

Alice - Never give up. If you persist in writing and submitting, there are no guarantees you’ll get published, but if you quit, you’ll DEFINITELY never be published!

Anne – Where can readers reach you online?

Alice - On my website, Facebook, and my blog. They can also e-mail me: alice@aliceduncan.net

Anne – Tell us how to enter the draw for your giveaway.

Alice – I’ll select a winner from all comments at the end of the tour.

Anne – Thank you, Alice. It’s been a joy chatting with you today.

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AKA Update: I’m visiting Jean Henry Mead today. Please drop by her blog, and leave a comment to win one of three e-copies of Frank, Incense and Muriel, book one of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries. The winners will be announced December 9.

Tomorrow on Day 11 of the Mystery We Write Blog Tour my guest will be John M. Daniel.

Comments are always appreciated and welcome, have a super day, and happy reading!

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