Interview with cozy mystery author Catherine C. Hall

Today’s special guest is cozy mystery author Catherine C. Hall and we’re chatting about Secrets Laid to Rest.

Catherine is currently touring with Wow! Writers on Writing. Check out her other tour stops (listed below) to learn more about her and her work!

Bio:
There’s a great song, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” made popular by Johnny Cash (and a couple commercials). If you put the song in Georgia, it would be about me, starting when I moved to the Peach State at eight-years-old.

I grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where you can’t throw a stick without hitting a ghost. Even when I was a little girl, Savannah was known for its haunted history and I was hooked!

Broadcast Journalism hooked me as well, so I studied at Valdosta State University way down in South Georgia where it is the heat and the humidity. I worked in a few radio stations but it was WNEX Radio in Macon that turned out to be life-changing. I met a cute deejay from Sandersville, Georgia, and married him a year later.

We moved above the Gnat Line (Oh, it’s real) to the Atlanta area, where we grew our family to two boys and a girl, and I took a turn in the teaching world. And then whoosh! I met the half-century mark wondering what to do? Maybe it was the merlot talking but after years of reading mysteries, I thought it was high time I write one. And I did; it was awful. (And way too short. Who knew readers expected 70, 000 words?)

So I learned my craft, starting with flash fiction, then moving on to short fiction, where I won a few awards. I wrote essays that ended up in books like Chicken Soup for the Soul. I penned assorted humor columns and continued to freelance. And then one day, I wrote another story that wasn’t exactly novel-length but it wasn’t a short story, either. It was a children’s book.

I joined SCBWI, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and had a wonderful career in children’s writing, including publishing six books. But in the midst of my last two book contracts, life changed unexpectedly when that favorite deejay of mine up and died.

When at last I wanted to write again, I heard four women of a certain age, each seeking purpose and joy in where they found themselves. Which for them was a small town in Georgia called Sutter. For me, it was at home, still in the Atlanta suburbs, revisiting the ghost stories of my youth, and finally getting that mystery written. All 70,000 words of it!

Welcome, Catherine. Please tell us about your current release.
The secrets of Sutter don’t stand a ghost of a chance against the Ladies of SPI.

It’s the Golden Girls meet the Ghostbusters in small-town Sutter, Georgia, when four women find themselves in an unlikely new business: Southeastern Paranormal Investigations. Ree Lane, a stylish widow, is more cynic than true believer, while her childhood chum Elle Harper has a knack for getting sensitive info with the help of her homemade pies. The preacher’s wife, Betsy Jones, can’t be seen with SPI unless she’s in her disguise as Nora, a psychic-in-training with a gift for Tarot. And the recently-returned-home Gillian Buchanan is a whiz at technology, especially of the supernatural sort.

Their first case lands on the doorstep when neighbor Doris Tucker is sure her prized vintage dolls are haunted. But there’s hardly time for ghost-hunting when the bank director’s wife mistakes SPI for a private eye venture. Now they’re also hot on the trail of a misbehaving husband. It’s a wild ride as the sixty-something sleuths start digging into the past. But have the Ladies of SPI gone too far? And how far will Sutter go to keep its secrets dead and buried?

What inspired you to write this book?
It sounds a little macabre, but this book began a couple years after my husband passed because…well, he was gone and life for me had changed. I’d started writing notes for a novel about a widow—and it was definitely cathartic—but it was a bit too dark so I put it aside. As it happened, the world shut down and I was watching A LOT of Golden Girls and thinking, gosh, that’s what I need, my own Golden Girls (but maybe not living in the same house). I’ve also had a lifelong interest in the paranormal and before you could say “Boo, y’all!” I had a character I kinda loved (the widow, Ree Lane from my previous notes) and a group of friends in a paranormal investigation business. The mystery practically wrote itself!

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m working on the second book in this cozy mystery series, tentatively titled Secrets at Cole House. Our Sutter sleuths are ready to enjoy the holidays but a young neighbor has a noisy ghost taking all the joy out of her inheritance. The Ladies of SPI are hard at work, trying to oust a stubborn spirit. But is there more to this haunting than meets the eye.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I graduated college, I worked in radio as both a news writer and copywriter. But it was twenty years later before I tried creative writing like essays and short fiction, and probably ten years more before I considered myself a writer. Getting paid to write certainly helped!

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Gosh, that’s a little tricky…I was a full-time writer before my husband up and died and honestly, it took a while for me to get my bearings after. Which for me, turned out to be changing directions (I’d been heavily involved in a children’s writing career). When I went back to writing, it was less business and more just enjoying the process. So I took my time writing Secrets Laid to Rest, in between…hmmm. I’d like to say I took up skydiving or goat yoga or some other cool and exciting pursuit in my semi-retirement, but really, Secrets Laid To Rest basically cut into my lunch dates and nap time!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
If I’m working on writing that’s novel-related, I have to have it absolutely quiet. But if I’m writing something more business-related—like this interview!—I keep something on the TV in the background. Usually a sitcom or a food show (though I’m a pretty lazy cook!). Though sometimes, if I’m writing something that’s kinda scary, I also keep the TV on!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I adored Julie Andrews! So I thought I could be a famous singer on Broadway. (I thought wrong, though I have been on the stage, singing. In the background.) I also wanted to be a teacher (and I eventually did teach preschoolers and middle schoolers and high schoolers, too. Crazy, right?)

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’d love for them to sign up for my Spirited Newsletter over at my website! I’ve got a few fun giveaways planned (and possibly pie!) but shhhh! It’s a secret, just for subscribers!

Links:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest

Blog Tour Calendar

October 13th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. Read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book for yourself. https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

October 13th @ Just Katherine
Join Katherine today as she shares an excerpt from Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com

October 15th @ Book Divas Reads
Join Vivian for a spotlight of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://thebookdivasreads.com/

October 20th @ The Forgotten Books
Join Heather as she features a review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://www.instagram.com/The_forgotten_books_/

October 20th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join Anthony for his review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/category/blog-tours/

October 21st @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog for her spotlight of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://www.astorybookworld.com/

October 25th @ Candid Canine
Join Chris for a review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://candidcanine.blogspot.com

October 26th @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://www.thefaeriereview.com/

October 27th @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer
Join Angela as she reviews Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. She shares an excerpt of the book as well! http://musingsofaliterarywanderer.blogspot.com/

October 30th @ Finished Pages
Join Renee as she reviews Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. https://finishedpages.com/

November 1st @ Chapter Break
Don’t miss a guest post by Catherine C. Hall about how to develop a cast of characters over at Julie’s blog today. She also reviews Catherine’s book Secrets Laid to Rest. https://chapterbreak.net/

November 2nd @ One Writer’s Journey
Join Sue for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. https://suebe.wordpress.com/

November 4th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

November 6th HERE!

November 7th @ Pick a Good Book
Join Debbie over her blog for a review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://instagram.com/pickagoodbook

November 8th @ A Lit Life
Join Stephanie for a guest post by Catherine C. Hall about the cozy mystery food connection. https://www.alitlife.com/

November 9th @ Deborah-Zenha Adams’ blog
Join Deborah as she features a guest post by Catherine C. Hall about why it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. http://www.deborah-adams.com/blog/

November 9th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest.https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/ http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/

November 10th @ StoreyBook Reviews
Visit Leslie’s blog for a review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://storeybookreviews.com/

November 12th @ Jill Sheets’ blog
Visit Jill’s blog for an interview with author, Catherine C. Hall. http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/

November 13th @ Word Magic
Join Fiona’s blog for a guest post by Catherine C. Hall about what’s a nice catholic like her writing paranormal like this. https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

November 15th @ Jamie Wong
Visit Jamie’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://lifeaccordingtojamie.com/

November 16th @ A Lit Life
Visit Stephanie’s blog for her review of Secrets Laid to Rest. https://www.alitlife.com/

November 17th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine’s blog again as she shares a guest post by Catherine C. Hall about why you need an editor and how to find one you can afford. https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com

November 17th @ Live, Love, and Laugh for a Healthy Lifestyle
Nicole shares her thoughts about Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall. https://liveloveandlaughforahealthylifestyle.wordpress.com/