Mystery We Write: M.M. Gornell

It’s day one of the 2012 Mystery We Write blog tour and I’m thrilled and excited to kick off the campaign with my very special guest, Madeline (M.M.) Gornell. Madeline has three published mystery novels--PSWA awarding winning Uncle Si’s Secret (2008), Death of a Perfect Man (2009), and Reticence of Ravens (2010--and her first Route 66 mystery. Reticence of Ravens is a 2011 Eric Hoffer Fiction finalist and Honorary Mention winner, the da Vinci Eye finalist, and a Montaigne Medalist finalist.

In 2012 Lies of Convenience--Book One of a Margot Madison-Cross Route 66 Trilogy, and Pronouncements of Ravens--a sequel to Reticence of Ravens are being released. Lies of Convenience is a tale that fictionally connects murder, truths untold, and Chicago’s Lake Michigan with California’s high desert on the opposite end of The Mother Road. Pronouncements of Ravens takes Hubert James Champion III one step forward in his quest for peace and solitude in the Mojave. But before Hugh can come to terms with himself and his desert home, new obstacles rear their ugly heads—one being a heart wrenching murder. No, there is no easy path for Hugh in the Mojave.

Madeline is also a potter with a fondness for stoneware and reduction firing. She lives with her husband and assorted canines in the Mojave in a town on internationally revered Route 66.

Welcome to my little corner of cyberspace, Madeline. It’s a joy to chat with you again. 

Thank you, Anne, for hosting me today. This is my second tour, and so far the experience has been very rewarding! Also, thanks for providing such thought provoking questions for me to pick from.

You mentioned, “I often write while sitting in my car. Parked. In my driveway! Do you have a unique place to write?” That question really caught my interest because I’ve been trying for several months or so--not to just write at my desk. “They” say sitting too long, especially in the same position isn’t that good, health wise--so, I’ve been trying new places to write. Have a laptop and a notebook, so tools are available, but somehow, my “creative juices” only seem to bubble in front of my desktop monitor--albeit dusty (which is another interesting issue you’ve brought up) Evidently, I’m turning out to be a dinosaur when it comes to my writing habits and preferences. Of course, I think of myself as open to change, and an embracer or new things. Ha!

Back to the dusty monitor, you’ve asked, “What does the current state of your home office say about you?” To begin, the Mojave is very dusty--a fine sandy dust--and even though I like a clean environment, housework is on the bottom of my to-do list. Consequently, you’d have to be a connoisseur of various types of dust and dirt to appreciate the environment of my writing area--which we call a “library”! I do have a lot of bookcases and a library stool, but “library” is a little too grand for the area. It’s on the back of the house and also contains the doggie-door which our canine-herd are continually using when going from naptime to barking and protecting us from invaders. So, they’re always bringing in dust and dirt. They never seem to take any out with them! Bottom line, my monitor, my CPU, my printer, my keyboard, even the small TV I keep going as company (usually classical music, but sometimes news) next to my monitor--are statements to the amazing amount of dust I can tolerate before cleaning my writing space. Whenever the choice comes up to write, nap, eat, or clean house. Cleaning always loses.

To answer what book are you the most proud of?--so far, it’s always been my latest. In this case, Lies of Convenience, my latest will be released after our tour. So instead of talking about Reticence of Ravens, thought I’d offer a little prequel to Lies of Convenience:

A brother’s call for her immediate presence in Palm Springs draws Margot Madison-Cross from her beloved Chicago waterfront--to California’s uncompromising Mojave Desert. The only possible bright spot is the opportunity to see her niece Camille. Still, even before she leaves the comfort of her penthouse, Margot senses inexplicable danger, and fears the worst for her brother.

Indeed, Margot quickly realizes she is ill-prepared for Graham’s actual news, Camille’s medical world, and the Mojave--including its inhabitants. And before she can deal with her brother and unpleasant family secrets, murder rears its ugly head in wind-battered Mojave County--putting her niece’s safety and future in peril. Margot needs to think and act fast. But a monumental sand storm, a cave-like Quonset hut, repercussions from past events, and a torrential rain storm conspire against her. All the while, Graham's horrible secret hangs over all their futures.

And though Margot’s enviable panorama of Lake Michigan’s waterfront is worlds apart from her niece’s kitchen-window desert view, the two women are inexorably bound by genealogy, medical connections, and most importantly--love. Nonetheless, so much of their worlds, relationships, and what Margot must do, is based upon Lies of Convenience…

Madeline’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Smashwords, in paper and e-book formats. You can visit her online at her website, or her blog, or email her directly at mmgornell@earthlink.net.

She will be giving away 3 copies of her latest book to commenters, and announce the winners on her blog on April 28.

Thank you, Madeline. I can’t wait for the release of Lies of Convenience! 

Just a reminder to readers… Anne K. Albert is visiting Marilyn Meredith’s blog today. 

Leave a comment to win an ecopy of Frank, Incense and Muriel, book one of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries. 

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