Cozy mystery author Marcia Rosen joins me today to chat about the newest book in her An Agatha, Raymond Sherlock and Me Mystery series, Murder at the Zoo.
During her virtual book tour, Marcia will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen), award winning author of eleven books including her newest one, An Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock and Me Mystery: Murder at the Zoo, plus The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus (Menus by her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award winning My Memoir Workbook. For 25 years she was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency,
Marcia has frequently been a speaker and/or program moderator at organization meetings and conferences, bookstores, libraries and Zoom Programs. Topics she has taught and presented over the past twenty years include: Encouraging the Writer Within You, Marketing for Authors, Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery, Writing Your Memoir and recently “Anatomy of Writing A Murder.”
Many articles on these topics have been published on mystery reader blogs and in newsletters and magazines and her newest articles relating include, Location, Location, Location: Murders Have Their Places, Hearing Voices of Past Famous Detectives: Their Impact and Influences and Writing Mysteries at a Zoo: With Caution.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime National and New Mexico (Croak & Dagger), Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Women Writing the West, Public Safety Writer’s Association, Women’s National book Association and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors—for which she is also a board member. www.MarciaRosen.com
“Marcia Rosen’s new book is hard to put down! The characters are engaging and you enjoy getting to know them as you read this mystery. I enjoyed discovering the world and people in Murder at the Zoo and can’t wait to read more from this author!” —Cat Harper, National Steinbeck Center
Welcome, Marcia. Please tell us about your current release.
A body is tossed into the lion’s habitat at the zoo where Miranda Scott is the senior vet. These authors often seem to live in her head telling her what to do…and not do. So does her gangster father.
When she was a young girl, Miranda Scott read dozens of mystery books by authors such as Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler, and she loved characters like Sherlock Holmes. She was equally obsessed with watching old black and white crime movies. She began hearing their voices in her head suggesting what she should and should not do. Sometimes, she even answered them.
After a body is tossed into the lions’ habitat at the zoo where she is the senior veterinarian, Miranda Scott and Detective Bryan Anderson find themselves investigating several murders. There is a group of bad guys seeking revenge as well as other possible suspects. Miranda must also deal with a scheming would-be boyfriend, her badly-behaved mother, her co-workers, and gangster friends of her father, who she has loved and known since childhood. The good guys do their best to protect her. So do the voices in her head. All the while, Miranda and Bryan alternate between flirting and fighting off romantic feelings. Well, Miranda does; Bryan is ready for love. Murder seems to keep getting in the way!
What inspired you to write this book?
I love writing mysteries and decided I wanted to write one based in New Mexico where I now live. Plus I loved ideas of bringing together famous characters voices, thinking what would they have to say throughout the book! They could be very demanding.
Excerpt from Murder at the Zoo:
The Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock…and Me Mystery Series has zoo veterinarian, Miranda Scott all too frequently involved in murders in Murder At The Zoo. The murderers are all too glad to offer deadly consequences for her and others pursuing them.
Detective Bryan Anderson shows up whenever a dead body is found. And like in any good mystery, dead bodies show up often and in unusual places. Anderson has quite a crush on the attractive veterinarian. He admires how her mind works: analytical, clever, insightful, devious, and determined as she helps the detective solve the mysteries surrounding the murders. Their budding romance provides charm and humor amidst the danger surrounding them. At some point she might admit to him her analytical strategy. Maybe!
Miranda talks to mystery writers and sleuths Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and Sherlock Holmes. That’s not all. Many times, this trio of brilliant mystery minds interrupts her thoughts and gives her advice, even while arguing with each other. Her long-time interest in mystery books and movies has her turning to these famous sleuths to help solve the crime. They are all, of course, in her very active mind; their voices and suggestions are hers. But the perspective in the series with all the sleuths’ comments and conversations in italics make for a well-paced, fun, intriguing, and interesting read. Humor is important when finding bodies.
Other characters besides the smitten detective and his always disagreeable partner are the people who work closely with Miranda when she is at the Zoo, including a security guard who she likes and has known since high school, the zoo curator who is a good friend, and a handful of other employees. Then there is her very annoying and pathological liar mother and an obnoxious political figure who demands quick results of any investigation in what he calls, “my city”.
Hang on. There’s also a couple gangsters (Joseph and Fish) Miranda met through her father when she was a teenager. They are her father’s friends and business associates. These gangster characters help Miranda in surprising ways. After all, they do know a few things about crime!
And let’s not forget the many beautiful and dangerous animals at the zoo.
What else could possibly happen in Murder At The Zoo? Plenty!
What exciting project are you working on next?
The next book in this series, “The Cinderella and Podcast Murders,” working title for now
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Over 20 years ago, first book published, The Woman’s Business Therapist, but I wanted to be a writer since I was 14!
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I write usually many mornings, or early evenings.
In between lunch with friends, family, walking!
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Taking chocolate breaks!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer, or a lawyer.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Everyone has a right to fulfill their dreams and ambitions…everyone!!!
Links:
Website
Thanks for hosting!
Appreciate your featuring me on your blog. Looks so nice,
Marcia
I enjoyed the excerpt.
Was fun to write:)
The book sounds intriguing.
Kinda different, loved writing all the characters voices, thanks.
Wonderful concept for an engaging mystery. I can’t imagine keeping Agatha, Raymond, and Sherlock’s voices all the way through the story, but if anyone can do it, you can. Can’t wait to buy my copy when you do your Barnes & Nobel launch later this month. All your stories keep me entertained.
How wonderful to have such a positive comment from a truly excellent writer and best selling author. Thank you, now if only the voices would leave me alone the middle of the night.
Did you put any of yourself into any of the characters in Murder at the Zoo?
I love the book cover!! Very intriguing and eye-catching!!
Thanks so much to all of your responses, love them, Marcia
Wow, so nice to hear from all of you.
I really enjoyed reading the excerpt!! Sounds like an intriguing book!!