I’d like to welcome the fabulous Jackie Layton to the blog for #WriterWednesday. I love this series!

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: I love to hang out at the beach, and we now live withing five minutes of the beach. I enjoy walking, looking for shells, watching for dolphins, and just sitting and reading a good book.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: In my job as a pharmacist, I’ve spent hours on the phone. At home, I’ll put off making a phone call as long as possible (except to my family).

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: I write better if I’m showered and dressed for the day. I must have coffee or tea beside me.

Things that distract you from writing: Heinz, my Westie, likes to distract me. Social media is also distracting, especially if I’m stuck on a plot point.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Not getting your feelings hurt. You’ve got to be able to deal with rejection and criticism.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Brainstorming is the easiest and most fun thing about writing.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Rocky Road ice cream.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Jerky. I don’t even like the smell of it.

Favorite snacks: Pretzels or pecans.

Things that make you want to gag: It’s one of my husband’s favorite snacks, but Nacho Cheese Doritos make me want to gag.

Something you’re really good at: I feel like I’m a good encourager. I love to encourage people to follow their dreams, and I’ll cheer them on to victory.

Something you’re really bad at: Confrontation.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: My dad was a pharmacist, and he inspired me.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I always dreamed of being an author but didn’t believe I could write. Finally, I decided I’d regret not trying. It took years, but it has been a thrill to get published.

Last best thing you ate: A chocolate Parlor donut. It’s a layered croissant with chocolate glaze.

Last thing you regret eating: Beef stew. Don’t ask for details. Haha

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you on a vacation: I was in the ocean on another beach vacation and got a hooked stuck in my toe. It was a big hook with lots of weights hanging off it. The tide was coming in, and the weights got buried under the sand, and I couldn’t life my foot. Finally, another wave came and I could life my foot, but all the weights were dangling and pulling against my skin. Two people helped me get to the beach. Everyone walking by had a suggestion for how to get it out, and they all sounded painful. A beach cop came on his golf cart and drove me to the nearest exit from the beach. My husband drove me to the emergency room wearing my swimsuit and a coverup.

The funniest thing that happened to you on vacation: We ate at our favorite restaurant on vacation. You walk in, order, leave your name, and pay on the way out. Our young son said we should be creative and not leave our boring name. So, we said Superman. The lady taking our order laughed and wrote down Superman. Hours later, we were sitting on the beach, and my husband asked if I’d paid for lunch. We both forgot and had to drive back to the restaurant and pay for Superman’s lunch.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Signing with my wonderful agent Dawn Dowdle was the most exciting thing. She’s nice and down to earth, and she’s great at her job.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: Before meeting Dawn, I had another agent string me along for over two years. She had me change multiple stories and kept saying I needed to write more like one of her authors. I wasted a lot of time believing that agent would sign me.

About the Book:

When a scavenger hunt turns up a dead body, dog walker Andi Grace Scott will have to make a dogged effort to collar the culprit . . .

Setting out for a day of fun on her town’s first-ever scavenger hunt, Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott is dismayed to find an unattended dog wandering the streets—but that’s nothing compared to the shock she gets when she finds a dead man floating in the swimming pool of the dog’s owner. What’s more, she’d seen the very same man having a very public altercation with his wife just the night before. Despite being warned off the case by the local sheriff, Andi Grace can’t help nosing around to find out who’s behind the foul deed.

It turns out the victim was a well-known radio personality who focused on cold-case investigations and was rumored to be breaking a huge story on his next show. As Andi Grace digs deeper to learn who may have wanted him dead, she’s faced with a suspect list that includes a cold-hearted widow who stands to inherit a bundle, a local country star with family demons to hide, and any number of unknown criminals who may have been the focus of the victim’s big reveal. Whether the motive was love gone bad, a career under duress, or a killer’s deadly secret, Andi Grace knows she’ll have to act fast before she becomes the next cold case herself . . .

Praise for the Books of Jackie Layton

“Andi Grace is adorable, resilient, and has a doggedly curious need to solve a murder. A pleasure to read.” —C. Hope Clark, award-winning author of Edisto Tidings

“Completely charming—and exactly what a cozy mystery should be. Amateur sleuth (and dog whisperer) Andi Grace Scott is wonderfully endearing, and her devotion to her pooches—and to justice—will have you rooting for her from the absolutely irresistible page one. Bow wow—What a terrific debut!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, nationally best-selling and award-winning author of The Murder List

“I promptly fell head over heels for this cast of characters, and the dogs burrowed quickly into my heart. The plot of Bite the Dust was intriguing and complex, with plenty of surprising twists and turns. What impressed me the most, though, was the warm tone of the author’s writing voice . . . you just want to snuggle in and keep reading.” —MeezCarrie

About Jackie:

Former Kentuckian Jackie Layton loves her new life in the Low Country. She enjoys time on the beach, despite one vacation that ended with cracked ribs from riding her boogie board with the kids and another trip that ended with a fish hook in her foot and a trip to the emergency room. There’s nothing like time at the beach, although she tends to be a bit more cautious these days. Jackie is the author of four Low Country Dog Walker Mysteries, including Bite the Dust, Dog-Gone Dead, Bag of Bones, and Caught and Collared.

Let’s Be Social:

Jackie Layton Caught and Collared available Feb 15 (@Joyfuljel) / Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/JackieLaytonAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/Joyfuljel

https://www.instagram.com/jackielaytonauthor

https://amzn.to/2Z8VsMp

https://jackielaytoncozyauthor.com/

Book links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q97LD5M?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-and-collared-jackie-layton/1140871860?ean=2940161056226

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jackie_Layton_Caught_and_Collared?id=IdJYEAAAQBAJ&hl=en

Apple iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/caught-and-collared/id1604628619