Monday, January 5, 2015

Interview with Mystery Writer Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

Kathryn Elizabeth Jones has been a reader even before she could read. She has always loved books and would pretend to read even before the skill to read sunk in. She has loved to write for almost the same amount of time. Kathryn has published 7 books to date. Two mysteries, two Christian fiction books, two nonfiction books and one middle reader. She has also published short stories and articles for newspapers and magazines throughout her 20+ years as an author.

Welcome to my blog, Kathryn. This is a Susan Cramer Mystery. Where did you get your inspiration for this series?

I grew up on Nancy Drew Mysteries, so it was only a matter of time before I delved into the genre of mystery writing myself. Susan is a regular sort of woman with the same hang-ups and desires for a better life; something we all want.

I’m a mystery fan, too. Please tell us about book one: Scrambled.

Susan decides to leave her long-time husband hoping for a better life. Problem is, things only get worse as she is the first person to discover the collapsed man in the cellar of the Hotel Camaro. With all of the strange people who rent rooms at the old hotel, plus the fact that she has been blamed for the murder, Susan is also concerned about keeping where she is staying under wraps. The last thing she wants is to be persuaded to come home. Can she find the killer before her true identity is discovered?

This series sounds intriguing. Tell us about book two: Sunny Side-Up.

In Sunny Side-Up, Susan is finally able to take that well-needed vacation. Problem is, the first night out on the cruise ship, Aloha, an old man falls dead at her feet. Once again she is at the wrong place at the wrong time. How will she be able to clear her name this time? And how will she deal with Henry, Mr. non-romance himself?

It’s fun to see a character grow and develop in each book. When you fall in love with your characters, it is hard to leave a series. Please tell us what the third book is about: Hard Boiled.

In Hard Boiled, Susan returns home only to be told that someone within her family has been murdered. Though she isn't blamed, (she was on a cruise after all) there are some pretty strange clues floating through the air within the outreaches of her very own family. Is someone within it to be blamed?

Though this is not the last book in the series, (expect at least one more book in the series and a teen mystery series that will begin soon thereafter) I will have a hard time leaving the book and going on to something else. Expect Hard Boiled in 2016.

Who is one of your favorite characters in this series and what do you love about him or her?

My favorite character is Susan. She is so like me and so unlike me it's funny. What's not so funny is how easily she fumbles, how easily she is taken in. Susan is every woman who wants a better life for herself, but is sometimes unsure of how to get it.

Thank you for this wonderful interview. In January, Kathryn’s newly updated Marketing Your Book on a Budget will be released. I’m sure that many authors will be interested in this book. Watch out for her new Christian series called Heaven 24/7, also.

12 comments:

Anne said...

I was wondering why/how the author came up with the egg themed titles/covers? Does it have anything to do with the main character/settings?

acm05atjuno.com

Nancy said...

I really enjoy these kind of mysteries. I kind of like the egg theme too.

clenna said...

I love mysteries and now I have to read this to see where the egg theme is connected. Ahh…. another mystery.

Robin in NC said...

I love mysteries! Curious as to why The Susan Cramer Series is based on eggs. Thanks Linda & Kathryn!
Happy New Year!!
Robin in NC
rw620{at}aol{dot}com

LAWonder said...

As you know, I love mysteries!
This sounds quite good. Thank you both for the Giveaway.

Library Lady said...

I love the titles of your books. Looking forward to seeing if the inside is as good as the outside.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

Sage said...

Food and mysteries is a really unique idea. I love Nancy Drew myself.

Sonja said...

Love mysteries. Can't say I have ever seen such a unique cover! Love it!
sonja dot nishimoto at gmail dot com

Shirley said...

This sounds like a fun series. Love the egg theme.
straitfromthehive(at) gmail(dot) com

Kathryn Elizabeth Jones said...

Egg theme: Susan cooks scrambled eggs every time she's stressed out. But scrambled eggs aren't the only eggs she deals with and the eggs used in each of the books has to do as much with the eggs themselves as the characters and settings in the stories :)

Unknown said...

I love a good mystery... one of my favourite genres.

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations, Sonja! You are the winner of this sun mystery.