THE DEVIL'S FLOOD
by Pearl R. Meaker
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
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Pearl R. Meaker will award a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Please visit GoddessFish.com to follow the tour, remember the more you comment better your chances on winning.
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BLURB:
Can a house vanish without a trace? What is the "super booze" that's available at clandestine drinking parties in Golden County? When mummified bodies show up at an archeological dig and a young man gets shot in a duel at a party, can Emory and Madison find the answers in the midst of a flood year?
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Excerpt:
“Okay.” Kate said, pulling her phone out of a pocket as Jairus and the crew gathered around me where I stood watching the rescue team go in after my husband. “Here’s a shot of Dr. Crawford.” She held the phone in front of me. “He’s still conscious and managed a little wave, but I’m glad the rescue team is heading in.”
I glanced at the photo. Jebbin lay in a pool of light on what looked like a pile of bedding heaped on a rough wooden floor. His glasses had fallen off. He never looks quite right without them, and
I could tell he was hurting. Probably feeling a bit nauseous as well. In spite of it all he wore a wan grin and had lifted a hand in greeting.
Kate swiped the screen.
In the sharp glare of her phone’s flash a mummified man sat on the floor, his back against a wall. There was a dark stain spilling down his chest from a hole near where his heart would be.
“There’s one part of the company Dr. Crawford mentioned he had.”
She swiped again. “Here’s the other.”
This mummy lay on its back. The flash showed a stain that flowed from his chest and down his side to form a hardened puddle on the floor.
“Which one’s my Grandpa?” Melva gasped.
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Q & A with Pearl R. Meaker
Thank you, Eskie Mama for hosting my book and me. (
What books/authors have influenced your writing?
I have to start with Agatha Christie. She was one of my first favorite authors and it was a long time before I realized there were other mystery writers who wrote stories similar to hers. I’ve been reading her mysteries since I was nine years old. When my editor read a synopsis of my first book, The Devil’s Music, she said Emory was a new Miss Marple. I couldn’t have been more pleased at the comparison.
Cozy mysteries are still my go-to genre when I want a relaxing, entertaining read.
Next would be J.R.R.Tolkien. Even though I adore mysteries, and cozies are my go-to read, my favorite book is The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien brought such depth to his Middle Earth and its many inhabitants. The first writing I did for the public to read was fan-fiction based on The Lord of the Rings.
Then there’s a lot of mixed genres of authors and styles that I’m sure my brain throws into the mix that has become my style.
What's your pet peeve?
Having to wear my hair short.
My hair has become quite fine in texture and it started to look scraggly when it was long. I didn’t like how I looked with it pulled back all the time either. The only option left was a shorter style.
It’s a peeve because I hate having to fuss with it to get it to look right and I hate having to find the time and money to keep getting it cut.
When you are in writer mode, music or no music? If music, do you have a playlist?
It’s a peeve because I hate having to fuss with it to get it to look right and I hate having to find the time and money to keep getting it cut.
When you are in writer mode, music or no music? If music, do you have a playlist?
Music. (
The music has to be instrumental or the words in the songs start to seep into the story.
I listened to bluegrass while writing The Devil’s Music since that style influences the story. For The Devil’s Hook it was a mix of bluegrass, Celtic and relaxation music.
I had a play list for The Devil’s Flood that was all nature sounds of rain and water. I even had some tracks that were recorded underwater.
When I wasn’t actually writing I listened to the song “Flood” by Jars of Clay. You can listen to it on my webpage: https://www.pearlrmeaker.com/the-devil-s-flood.html
I especially like the line, “Slowly I become one with the mud.”
Who was your favorite hero/heroine?
I don’t really have just one.
I love Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings. I loved that she ends up finding out that riding into battle isn’t the only kind of strength.
I love Pippin, also in The Lord of the Rings. He starts out so innocent about the world but grows into a fine, responsible, courageous hobbit.
And there are others. Most of them are pretty normal people who are strong in ways that aren’t showy.
Have you ever had one character you wanted to go one way with but after the book was done the character was totally different?
Yes, sort of, but it was in one of my fan-fiction short stories.
The music has to be instrumental or the words in the songs start to seep into the story.
I listened to bluegrass while writing The Devil’s Music since that style influences the story. For The Devil’s Hook it was a mix of bluegrass, Celtic and relaxation music.
I had a play list for The Devil’s Flood that was all nature sounds of rain and water. I even had some tracks that were recorded underwater.
When I wasn’t actually writing I listened to the song “Flood” by Jars of Clay. You can listen to it on my webpage: https://www.pearlrmeaker.com/the-devil-s-flood.html
I especially like the line, “Slowly I become one with the mud.”
Who was your favorite hero/heroine?
I don’t really have just one.
I love Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings. I loved that she ends up finding out that riding into battle isn’t the only kind of strength.
I love Pippin, also in The Lord of the Rings. He starts out so innocent about the world but grows into a fine, responsible, courageous hobbit.
And there are others. Most of them are pretty normal people who are strong in ways that aren’t showy.
Have you ever had one character you wanted to go one way with but after the book was done the character was totally different?
Yes, sort of, but it was in one of my fan-fiction short stories.
I had wanted Aragorn to be the person Merry, Pippin and Sam meet up with while riding off to meet Aragorn at his city in his northern kingdom. The hobbits get caught in a storm and he was supposed to have ridden out to save them, but I just couldn’t get the story moving with him there.
A character I’d never seen kept popping into my thoughts and saying, “I’m the one who saves them.” He introduced himself as Smirnin the Half Dwarven (half dwarf and half elf). So I finally gave in, took Aragorn out and wrote him into the story and he was perfect.
A character I’d never seen kept popping into my thoughts and saying, “I’m the one who saves them.” He introduced himself as Smirnin the Half Dwarven (half dwarf and half elf). So I finally gave in, took Aragorn out and wrote him into the story and he was perfect.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Slightly quirky, always creative, Pearl R. Meaker has been an artist, singer and craftsperson her whole life. Although she's always had stories in her head, they didn't come out to play with others until the advent of home computers with their ease of making corrections and moving bits around.
After several years of writing fanfiction in the world of Tolkien's Middle-Earth, she took a couple of writing courses and dove into writing original works of fiction, and The Emory Crawford Mysteries were born.
When not playing with story ideas you can find Pearl playing with yarn either knitting or crocheting, doing other arts and crafts, bird watching and photographing nature, playing bluegrass fiddle (her husband plays banjo) or relaxing with her hubby on the sofa watching mystery shows on Netflix.
Oh - and reading all sorts of books, but especially cozy and other types of mysteries!
The books in The Emory Crawford Mysteries Series are reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries, which is why Pearl has chosen to characterize her stories as "murder genteel."
Links:
Website: http://www.pearlrmeaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PearlRMeaker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PearlRMeaker
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/PearlRMeaker/
Buy Links:
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Thank you for hosting my book and me today! 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting today.
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita! 😊 So glad you liked the excerpt!
DeleteGreat synopsis. Book sounds like an intriguing read.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Dianne! 😊
Delete
ReplyDeleteHow did you come up with name of this book?
That's a good question, Teresa! 😊
DeleteAll three of my books are titled with a word that fits something important to the plot line. The Devil's Music somewhat deals with music, especially murder ballads. The Devil's Hook has Emory teaching a crochet class that includes people important to the plot. And events in The Devil's Flood are influenced by flood years in the past and the present.
This is the sort of novel I'd relish! Best of luck with it Pearl!
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll give it a try then, Kate! 😊 And thank you. 😀
DeleteMummified? That superbooze must be some good stuff.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. 😀 The mummies are not some of the party goers - but the booze could probably really pickle somebody. Thanks for commenting Richard! 😊
DeleteI love the cover and I enjoyed reading the post! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria! Glad you enjoyed the post.😊
DeleteThis sounds like a fantastic book!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Emily. 😊 I hope you'll give it a try!
DeleteCongrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! Good to see you again. Thanks for commenting. 😊
DeleteLove the cover.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, Thank you! 😊 My cover artist does fantastic work!
DeleteHope you have a great week. Stopped by to share the post.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great week as well, Emily! Thanks for sharing the post. 😊
DeleteDon't forget to vote tomorrow! Shared this post again. :)
ReplyDeleteWatching the votes come in. Go Hillary! Shared the post again. :)
ReplyDeleteStopped by to share the post. Have a nice holiday.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend. Shared the post again.
ReplyDeleteStopped by again to share the post. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the post so much, Emily. 😊
DeleteYou're welcome. :)
DeleteI'm interested in that "super booze."
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to check it out then. 😉
DeleteDropped by to quickly share the post. :)
ReplyDeleteMummies and super booze. This book's for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a successful tour. Thanks again for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emily, I have had a great tour! Glad you were part of it. 😀
DeleteHope you've been enjoying the promo Pearl :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been great fun as always, thank you Kate! 😀
DeleteI always smile when I see/hear/read the name Pearl. The name of my mother's one & only doll when she was little during the war was Pearl Marie!
DeleteI always smile when I see/hear/read the name Pearl. The name of my mother's one & only doll when she was little during the war was Pearl Marie!
DeleteThat is so sweet! Kind of like the two little dolls that are in The Devil's Music. 😊 I'm glad my name brings up fond memories for you.
Delete