Background Checks on Some of My Characters

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Here are some of the backstories and fun things you may not know about my sleuths and key characters in my four series.

Delanie Fitzgerald – Delanie floundered a bit after college, and she couldn’t find a job that she liked. Much to the chagrin of her police officer father and brother, she decided to become a private investigator. She works with her partner and sometimes-computer hacker, Duncan Reynolds to keep her fledging business solvent.

Charles “Chaz” Wellington Smith, III was only supposed to appear as the sleazy strip club owner in book one, but my critique group and readers loved him as a foil for Delanie. So he appears in all the books in the series. He is gross, slimy, and has bad table manners, but he’s Delanie’s best cash-paying client. (And he’s not all bad, he cat-sits for his elderly neighbor.)

Jules Keene – She left Fern Valley to attend James Madison University, where she earned a degree in interior design. And that’s where she met her friend and computer guru, Gwen “Pixel” Pierce. After college, she moved to Washington, D. C. for a marketing job, and she married the Idiot, Rick Benson. (Rick shows up in book 6, Hazardous Links and Hijinks and needs Jules’s help to clear him from murder charges.)

Jade Hicks – Her parents died in a horrible car crash when she was in the seventh grade, and she moved to Mermaid Bay to live with her grandmother who ran the town’s Christmas Shoppe. After college and her grandmother’s passing, Jade returned to the cozy beach town to take over the shop, and she moved into her grandmother’s bungalow. Jade knew Nick in school, and they briefly dated. They reunited when they both returned to town (and he became the sheriff).

The Pearly Girls - These are some of my favorite characters to write. They are the four gals who were friends with event-planner Cassidy James’s grandmother, Evelyn Jamison. The five gals were fast friend since elementary school, and they survived the generations, marriage, and rearing kids. Some of their best memories were hanging out at Evelyn’s family’s infamous honky-tonk.

The Pearly Girls are Ruthann Charmichael (former bookkeeper), Kate Carlson (a former nurse), Aileen Roberts (former elementary school teacher), and Roxie Matthews (the cougar of the group). The four band together to help Cassidy run the event business after Evelyn passed away. Ruthanne is the nervous Nelly and goodie-two-shoes of the group, but she’s always ready for a good time. Kate is stoic and pragmatic, and she’s the voice of reason for the four. Aileen likes to tint her hair to match her favorite colors. She always wants everyone to have a good time and to enjoy the moment. Roxie is the wild one of the bunch, and she has quite the active social life. These four are fearless, and they often get themselves in sticky situations.

#WriterWednesday Interview with Michelle Lazurek

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I’d like to welcome Michelle Lazurek to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer:

The number of rejections to be published I receive (and have received). It is also hardest the entire process of publishing—it is a lot of waiting!

Easiest thing about being a writer:
Creating something from nothing. When I receive new revelations on a Scripture, or give hope or peace to someone struggling, it makes it all worth it.

Things you need for your writing sessions:

It depends. I almost always need a TV or radio playing in the background to write.

Things that hamper your writing:

Complete silence when I’m writing. Having other media playing helps me not to be tempted to multitask.

Words that describe you:

I’m honest, hard-working and genuine.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t:

Controlling, bossy, and harsh.

Something you’re really good at:

I can sing well.

Something you’re really bad at:

I have a terrible sense of direction.

Last best thing you ate:

I love seafood, so the last time I had crab legs, which was probably for my anniversary.

Last thing you regret eating:

High carb or fried foods. I had a sandwich from Burger King, and it was terrible!

Favorite music or song:

My favorite song of all time is “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel. I also love 80s music. It was the last decade of good music-prove me wrong;)

Music that drives you crazy:

Country music. I didn’t grow up around it so I just don’t get it.

The last thing you ordered online:

I often reorder protein bars because they are cheaper online.

The last thing you regret buying:

Any piece of clothing that looked bigger than it actually was when I tried it on.

Things to say to an author:

I love your book-it changed my life!

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

I want to write a book, too. It’s pretty easy, right?

Favorite places you’ve been:

For our 25th wedding anniversary, we took a trip and drove through 10 states in 14 days. Colorado was my favorite. We also saw Mount Rushmore, Las Vegas and ended it by going to Dollywood in Tennessee.

Places you never want to go to again:

The Wisconsin Dells. We stopped to get a cheap hotel and found a bat in the room. Needless to stay, we hightailed it out of there.

Your favorite movie as a child:

I loved The Princess Bride as a kid.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult):

I can’t think of one, but when I was in kjndergarten, MTV had just been launched. One Saturday, my dad was watching me at home. The phone rang as my dad was flipping through the tv channels. He landed on MTV for the world premiere of the Thriller video. As he chatted on the phone, I watched the video. After being scared to death of the zombies in the video, my dad then had to put me down for a nap. Needless to say, my eyes stared at the ceiling in my bedroom. I don’t think I slept for a week.

About Michelle:

Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award winning author, speaker, pastor's wife and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com and crosswalk.com,  a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services, and an Acquisitions Editor for CLC Publications.  When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia and spending time with her family and her crazy dog, Cookie. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Instagram: @michellelspeaks Instagram

What Are You Reading? And What's Next?

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This summer and fall, I was trying to make a dent in my TBR pile. I made a little progress, but not as much as I would have liked. I went to a library sale, and it tripled my pile. This is what I’ve read recently:

  • Death and Dinguan by Mia Manansala - This is such a fun series with some great, quirky characters.

  • Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano - What a funny series. Finlay and her gang get themselves in some pickles.

  • Metro Girl - This was an early mystery from Janet Evanovich. It was a good beach or pool read.

  • Essentials of Homicide by Kim Davis - I love this series. Great characters and a wonderful cozy vibe.

  • Murder Past Due by Miranda James - I had never read one of James’s books. A fun start to this series.

Currently, I am reading Ellen Byron’s A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras. This is such a fun series, and Byron is an amazing and funny mystery writer.

What have you been reading lately and what’s next?

#ThisorThat Thursday Author Interview with Rosalie Spielman

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The amazing Rosalie Spielman is my guest today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Now that it's Fall, I am starting up cross stitching again. I do it mostly when my husband is watching football or anything else I don't pay strict attention to. I like to sit under my quilt with the COL (cat on lap), despite his interest in the threads.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Cleaning the basement.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: My white board, my sit/stand desk, and copious amounts of coffee!

Things that distract you from writing: My phone. Occasionally, my offspring.

Things you will run to the store for at midnight: Creamer for my coffee.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Eggplant. It will always, always be eggplant.

Something you’re really good at: Apparently I'm a good baker. So says the people eating, at least.

Something you’re really bad at: Deciding when an avocado is ready.

Something you wish you could do: Dance. I mean…not a lot of rhythm in these old bones.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Download mobile games.

Last best thing you ate: I made grilled cheese last night, and it was so good. I used gouda cheese from Aldi, and the cheese pull was amazing.

Last thing you regret eating: I tried to make an online video version of potato duchesse, and for one, it was tasteless and for two, hurt my gut! Blah.

Things to say to an author: "I love your books!"

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Criticize their book while also making it clear you didn't actually read it…

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Probably join the Army. My mother was surprised, to say the least.

Something you chickened out from doing: For several years, I chickened out of doing "speed dating" at reader cons. I did it at Malice last year and realized my mistake. 😉

The funniest thing that happened to you on vacation: It wasn't technically a vacation because we lived there, but my husband and some friends and I went to Oktoberfest in Munich. It was a lot of fun, and I do remember most of it. One thing I clearly remember was a guy asking my husband if I believed in "free love." Um, no I do not. No thank you.

The most embarrassing thing that happened to you on a vacation: I hesitate to share this, but my family and I visited Barcelona, Spain, for Spring Break one year when we were stationed in Germany. We went to the beach, where a lot of the women were topless. I figured, hey, when in Rome, right? But that's not the most embarrassing part. That would be when a local worker cleaning up the beach walked by and said something to her partner about La Blanca. Yep, that's me. La Blanca.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Being named the Writer of the Year for 2026 by the Military Writers Society of America. I go to Orlando later this month to receive the award.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I had slowed down the pace of my book schedule. I've had 13 books published in five years, plus six short stories. I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities presented but should have taken more time to enjoy the process and not be stressed out all the time. I've learned the importance of passing on some things.

Best piece of advice you received from another writer: The most recent piece of advice that rocked me wasn't from a writer, but they asked me why I was stressing myself out so much for what almost amounts to a volunteer position. 😉 Don't get me wrong – I love writing and I love giving readers an escape from the real world, but I often found myself working more than a 40-hour work week, which would make my "hourly" payrate literal fractions of pennies. I love my readers, but that work rate is unreasonable to sustain.

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: Make your health a priority so you can write for many years to come!

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: Step away from the story that isn't wanting to come out and "play." Maybe write a short story with completely new characters and setting. Get back to what you love about writing.

Things you do to avoid writing: "Research" for a story that will likely never be written. (AKA just surfing the web.)

 About Rosalie:

Rosalie Spielman is an author, mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She strives to provide you an escape…one page at a time. In addition to short stories, she has written for two cozy mystery series, including books in her award-winning Hometown Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Military Writers Society of America, the latter of which has named her the Writer of the Year for 2026. Rosalie lives near Annapolis, Maryland, with her family. 

#WriterWednesday Interview with Nicole Asselin

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I’d like to welcome the wonderful Nicole Asselin to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Finding time to write. Between the day job, being current President of Sisters in Crime New England, and wanting to read all the books on my TBR, it seems there is never enough time!

Easiest thing about being a writer: Having conversations with my characters. With a series, I feel like they’ve become my best friends and I never have a problem chatting with them. The problem comes when putting those conversations on paper.

Things you need for your writing sessions: A CRISPY Diet Coke, my 90s/2000s playlists (sometimes a baseball game if during the correct season). Oh, and Scrivner, which I currently draft in.

Things that hamper your writing: TV. So many shows to watch an oh so distracting.

Favorite music or song: I’m a pop girlie all the way. Britney Spears was my jam for so long, and obvi all the boy bands of a certain time. TSwift, Noah Kahan, Alessia Cara, Brandi Carlile, etc.

Music that drives you crazy: I wouldn’t say ‘crazy’ but current country is not really for me.

The last thing you ordered online: The Booknook LEGO set that just came out Oct. 1.

The last thing you regret buying: I try not to regret buying things, but it was probably something dumb for the cats.

Things you’d walk a mile for: A good book sale. Library book sales, used bookstores, new bookstores, anything books really.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Bugs. Any sort of bugs. I’m out.

Things you always put in your books: Cats. obviously. And a good baseball reference if possible.

Things you never put in your books: Spice. It’s just not my thing, since I know my brother and dad might read the books.

Favorite places you’ve been: Ireland. In heartbeat. I only went for like 10 days and now it’s my dream to purchase a cottage on the west coast and move.

Places you never want to go to again: Okay, this might be controversial, but New Orleans. Love the history, hate the heat. I’m not a foodie, I don’t drink, and I wilt in even the slightest heat. So, one and done for me.

Favorite books (or genre): Obviously mystery. But within mystery (outside of my own genre of cozy), I love a good historical mystery. Especially if that historical mystery features a strong woman, usually in the Victorian or Edwardian time period. In London. Usually.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I’m not usually a ‘not’ buy type of person, but I don’t gravitate towards Essay collections or short stories. I’m amazed at people who can write them, but they aren’t my favorite to pick up.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I’m a big fan of starting crafts. Every winter I do a book wreath that I love so much. I try to do bookish crafts as much as possible.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: That said, I tried making a book clutch purse out of an old book, and it’s now just hiding in a box of failed crafts. It involved sewing. I should’ve known it wasn’t going to work.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: In book one, I talk about a minor league team that would offer people a free hot dog if they turned in any foul balls or home runs. I took that directly from a book called THE ONLY RULE IS YOU HAVE TO WIN, which is a book about two numbers people who bought a minor league team. It was a way to save money when you are a small-market team.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Well, my mom always said that Madeline in my books reminds her of me. I always say, “But mom, we don’t own a baseball team and I’m not dating a hot security guy who looks like Captain America.” I won’t deny there might be traits we share, but it’s not me.

My favorite book as a child: Any and all Nancy Drew books. Wildly obsessed. If we’re going even younger? I have a book of Hawaiian words that I’ve had since the late 80’s when my dad was stationed there.

A book I’ve read more than once: Pride and Prejudice. *sigh* To Kill a Mockingbird. And here is a curve ball, Gene Kelly: A Life of Dance and Dreams By Alvin Yudkoff. I just love Gene Kelly.

About Nicole:

Nicole Asselin graduated from Curry College in Milton Mass with a degree in English/Creative Writing, minoring in Dance in 2004. She also attended George Mason University and received a Master’s in Arts Management. She currently lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with her three cats Madeline, The Captain, and Cooper Maye 

She is the current President of Sisters in Crime New England and on the committee of the NE Crime Bake held every November.

The Minor League Mystery series is her first series. Inspired by her Grandpa and Grandma Asselin, the book combines her two loves, mystery and baseball (Go Red Sox) into a new cozy genre.

Let’s Be Social:

https://linktr.ee/nicoleasselin

Make Your Event Table Fun!

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Take a minute to look at your table display that you set up at events. Is it interesting? Does it make people want to stop and see what you’ve written?

Here are some ideas to jazz it up:

  • Get a colorful tablecloth. There are some nice spandex ones in all colors, and you don’t have to iron them.

  • If you’re going to invest in a banner, get one that you can use as a drape on your table. The stand-up ones are nice, but in crowded rooms, they take up too much floorspace.

  • Have some sort of give-away. Everybody does candy. I’ve also had candy melt in the summer. Now, I think of the themes in my books, and find small items that all ages will like. (I have sparkly beaded bracelets for the glamping series, sparkly mermaid pens for the Christmas shop series, and plastic marine critters that kids can sort through a bowl to find their favorite.) You can find all kinds of inexpensive party favors online.

  • I write mysteries, so I add some props to my table. These include plastic police evidence markers, handcuffs, a magnifying glass, and crime scene tape. These are always conversation starters.

  • Invest in some book stands. It helps readers see your covers as they approach. Be careful of the large ones that hold multiple books. Sometimes, these don’t fit on the table if you have to share the space.

  • Don’t stack all of your books on the table. Create a sense of urgency by only putting a few out.

  • Be flexible so that you can use some or all of your props on any size table. Sometimes, there is a lot of space, and other times, you have to share.

  • After you set up your table, make sure to take pictures!

What would you add to my list? What works for you at your event table?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Angela Haas

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I’d like to welcome Angela Haas to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: The imposter syndrome
Easiest thing about being a writer:  Getting to create the worlds I want. Want to have a fun sci-fi planet with dinosaurs? Done!

Things you need for your writing sessions: Time and peace. The ability to shut out the day and just write.

Things that hamper your writing: My overthinking and perfectionitis

Something you’re really good at: Understanding what makes people tick
Something you’re really bad at: Over explaining myself/thinking I have to justify my existence

The last thing you ordered online: Melatonin for my bulldogs

The last thing you regret buying: A shirt from Free People. It was sooo expensive and the dye just absolutely faded after one gentle cold wash.

Things you’d walk a mile for: I’d walk 10,000 miles for my husband and my furbabies and my parents and friends.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Barrel Leg Jeans. Like, why?

Things you always put in your books: Dogs, real restaurants I love, emotional wounds
Things you never put in your books: Politics or religion or anything else polarizing. Not because they aren’t important, but I want my readers (and myself to escape)

Favorite places you’ve been: The Florida Keys, Gross Ile, Michigan. Scottsdale, AZ 
Places you never want to go to again: Jamaica

Favorite books (or genre): I love action/adventure books like Clive Cussler, Emily Henry romances and Douglas Adams’ books.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Not a fan of historical fiction.

Favorite things to do: Writing, learning about new things, hanging with friends and family.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: The dentist. I know it’s necessary, but I would rather eat bugs than have someone try to talk to me while a metal bar scrapes my teeth.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The story of the worst first kiss I’ve ever had. I kissed a boy who had just eaten Doritos and I didn’t know it and then there were Doritos in my mouth.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: The bad parents in my books

My favorite book as a child: The Island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

A book I’ve read more than once: Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams

Your favorite movie as a child: Pretty In Pink

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Dark Crystal

About Angela

Angela Haas was a buyer of art, books and gifts for fifteen years before moving on to teach communication, public speaking and mass media classes at University of Colorado Colorado Springs for eight years. She now works with her husband who owns and operates the Garden of the Gods Trading Post and their other seven retail stores. In addition to writing superhero fiction and romance novels, she works with local businesses as a communication training consultant. She loves NOT camping, salty snacks, and soft blankets. Her series Keepers of the Universe features older women as the superheroes because she was tired of the standard entertainment tropes of older women being the evil queen, jilted first wife, or wise grandmother. She and her husband live with an English bulldog, French bulldog and English Shepard mix in Colorado Springs and Rio Verde, Arizona.

#WriterWednesday Interview with Jared Grace

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Jared Grace is my guest for #WriterWednesday — Just in time for the spooky season.

Something you’re really good at: Trivia, overthinking, and creating stories (humble brag)

Something you’re really bad at: Filtering out the things that I shouldn’t say to people who ask me dumb questions. Not the best trait when you currently work in customer service.

Favorite music or song: Coheed and Cambria. Hail, Claudio Sanchez!

Music that drives you crazy: Modern rap music. What happened to the amazing rap of the ‘90s and early 2000s?

Things you always put in your books: All of my books have a connection. Not to say they are all in the same world; they are not. But all of them reference the others in some brief way. It’s a fun little “Easter Egg” I like to do for my fans.

Things you never put in your books: I’d like to believe that I never put in an expected ending. There's usually a twist you hopefully don't see coming.

Things to say to an author: Keep writing. The world wants your stories.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Stop writing. You bore me.

Favorite places you’ve been: My favorite trip was to New Orleans. I wasn’t there nearly long enough. Ghosts, supernatural happenings, history, and don’t forget the food. How can you not love it?

Places you never want to go to again: This is such a cop out, but honestly I can’t think of anywhere I’d never want to go again. I believe you can find something interesting or culturally significant in most places. I also haven’t had the chance to travel nearly as much as I’d like, so beggars can’t be choosers.

Favorite books (or genre): My favorite book is The Stand, and in that vein, I’d buy anything by Stephen King. He’s my writing inspiration. And Matt Dinniman. If you haven’t read the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, you really need to ask yourself what you’re waiting for.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Generally speaking, I wouldn’t buy a romance novel. Not to take anything away from the great romance writers of the world, it’s just not my cup of tea.

Favorite things to do: My favorite things to do are go hiking, day trips where I just get in the car and drive to wherever my heart takes me, concerts, local fairs, any fall activities, museums, video games, and, of course, writing.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to avoid doing: In fairness, I have eaten bugs before. You know, those little packages some candy stores sell of crickets. They aren’t that bad. But, if I have to get an IV again, I probably wouldn’t run through the fire; I’d just stop and let it consume me. Needles and I are not friends, but IVs are the literal worst.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The first “Parental Advisory” CD I ever received was Montell Jordan. You know, the “This is how we do it” guy. My mother actually bought it for me, and I was stunned. She didn’t allow that sort of thing when I was younger. The first one I ever bought for myself might have been LL Cool J’s Mr. Smith album.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: I’m all for some harder rock music, but if it just sounds like you're burping loudly into the mic for 4 minutes because you’re doing your best caveman impression…miss me with that.

My favorite book as a child: I don’t know that I can identify a specific book that was my favorite, but I grew up loving those abridged classics that are for kids. I remember loving Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Tom Sawyer. But I would be remiss to not mention Goosebumps and Fear Street. They shaped my love of horror and the stories I love to this day.

A book I’ve read more than once: I was a high school history teacher for almost a decade, so I’ve read many books more than once. But I will say Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a favorite along with Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, and The Epic of Gilgamesh. I have to mention Stephen King again here, as well: Pet Semetary, Carrie, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon are some of the rereads in my collection.

Your favorite movie as a child: A favorite movie as a child would have to be The Great Outdoors, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, or Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. When I was a slightly older child, give me Grumpy Old Men. That movie is absolutely hilarious.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): A friend of mine, Adam, showed me this movie Night Breed when I was way too young to deal with that nonsense. If you know the movie, you know the scene with a man cutting his face in the psychiatric hospital. I literally left his house and walked home.

About Jared

Jared Grace is the author of Isolation, his well-received debut horror novel that's already making waves as a finalist for the Indie Ink Awards 2024 in various categories. Born just south of Boston, Massachusetts, Jared now calls the scenic White Mountains of New Hampshire home, where he spends his days hiking trails, chasing his muse, researching paranormal events, and devouring books from his favorite authors across a wide range of genres. When he's not working on his next spine-tingling tale, Jared is a proud dad to his two incredible kids, Jordan and Wyatt, who keep him equally terrified and inspired (but in the best way). After a brief pit stop at Boston College, Jared earned not one but two bachelor's degrees-English and history-from Southern New Hampshire University in 2014. Jared's love for history, nature, travel, and the supernatural seeps into his stories, making them equal parts eerie, thought-provoking, and unputdownable. Whether he's digging into spooky folklore or climbing a mountain, Jared finds inspiration everywhere-especially in the things that go bump in the night.