Danita Minnis

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. GG Calpo will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

 

Author Interview: GG Calpo

1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book?

I’m a voracious reader. Have been since my teens, but the cozy mystery genre is one that I keep coming back to, especially in times of stress. When I finally took the plunge and put pen to paper, it felt natural and right for my debut book to be in the genre that had provided me the most comfort and entertainment through the years.

2. Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a first born, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world?

My parents had five children and I was the second child, which allowed me distance to observe people and the lives they lead. There was not as much pressure on me to succeed as there was on my older sister, and this lack of expectations freed me to forge my own path.

3. Where is your favorite place to write?

Gazing out at the ocean, seeing the waves and the limitless horizon from a cruise ship is simply the best place to be when writing. The ocean is like the blank page of the paper in front of me and the story flows easily.

4. How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains?

I absolutely abhor killing my darlings, and it takes a lot of waffling and arguing with myself before I can do it. Only when I am utterly convinced that they do not move the story forward and serve no purpose but add noise to the story do I hack them out. And when I do, I move them to what I call “excerpts” hoping I’d find them a home in the next book or two.

5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them?

I would have loved to meet Terry Pratchett and ask him why he left Nanny Ogg without Granny Weatherwax.

6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows.

I am amazed at how a photograph can capture the essence of things or of people. But I am lousy at taking pictures. They come out flat and lifeless. So I don’t take photographs but I would dearly love to learn how.

7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack?

A knife is self-explanatory, a water purifier because lack of water can kill faster than lack of food, and I’d hate to depend on rain for my water, and a tarp for shelter.

8. If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be?

Time travel. Imagine all the stories I could write if I could travel back and forth through time.

9. Favorite snack?

Bread pudding with rum laced sauce. I used to make it until my waistline insisted I stop.

10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit?

I’m a bit too controlled for my own good, so I don’t drive anywhere without knowing how I’m getting there (I check the iPhone GPS for broad directions before plugging it in) and I keep pace with traffic, as safely as possible.

What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!

When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?

Read an Excerpt:

The day was beautiful, with clear skies and a mild snap in the air. It was cold yet warm with the right amount of heat from the sun, making it the perfect spring day. Motorboats and sailboats dipped in and out of the water, out by Poet’s Bay. And at the edge of the harbor were the fishermen, alone or in groups of two or three, a rod in their hands and their tackle boxes opened beside them. We rounded the corner, almost done with our walk, when we saw mothers dragging their children away and fathers covering the eyes of the children in their arms. Pushing against the stream of parents scrambling away were others whose eyes were fixed on the man by the harbor’s edge. A man on whose fishing line dangled a catch with, what I thought were, red fins and a red tail swaying lazily around the hook.

Red? In the salt waters of Poet’s Bay? As I stood there trying to figure out what I was seeing, Barbara shoved her way into the crowd. I followed, my curiosity getting the better of me. Murmurs of “Good morning” and “Good to see you, Mrs. B” trailed behind me, changing to “You sure you want to see this, Mrs. B?” and “I wouldn’t go any further if I were you, Mrs. B.” We fetched up to the front and looked down on the ground before us while the fisherman beside us puked his guts out.

It wasn’t a fish he had caught.

Instead, on the ground was a hand. Just a hand. Nothing else.

About the Author:

A retired CPA and lawyer, GG Calpo now writes cozy mysteries and urban fantasies. She blends her experiences as a Filipino American immigrant with the everyday stories of life around her. She spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She resides in Central New Jersey, with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

Website: http://www.ggcalpo.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/gg.calpo
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gg.calpo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/194657776-gisella

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YT1P7B
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hook-line-and-murder-gg-calpo/1148773282
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hook-line-and-murder/id6755481320