Murder, Mystery, Time, Space and Antique Magic

I'm a guest on Murder by 4 today (but I didn't murder anyone; honest; it was one of my characters...) Meanwhile Eileen Harris, author of Antique Magic, is a guest on my blog, courtesy of b00k r3vi3w Tours. I suspect it was one of her characters who committed murder in Alicia Trent's home town, but we promise neither of us will hurt you. The coffee's guaranteed not to be poisoned, so please grab a cup, sit down, and join us while we chat.




Hi Eileen. So... From Arizona to Upstate New York (see, I read your author bio)?  What's the same?  What's different?  What do you like best about where you live or have lived?

That is a lot of questions in one. 

Sorry. I'll stop to drink some coffee while you reply :)

Arizona to Upstate New York is a massive change in almost everything.  I spent some time trying to think of what is the same.  In the end I couldn't come up with a thing.  Different was easy.  Everything is different.  Here in New York everyone worries about keeping warm.  In Arizona it is keeping cool.  The food, weather, seasons, people, scenery, you name it and it is different.  I have lived in the north, south, and southwest, and I like things about all of them.  The different scenery and architecture are wonderful.  None of them are perfect, but given a chance all are interesting.

How does where you live feed into your writing?

Big time!  Things and places I see spark my imagination so where I live plays a big part in what my characters see.
Your book involves an antique dealer.  Did you grow up around ancient things?

Actually just the opposite is true.  I grew up in Arizona which has much less past than some of the eastern states.  I think I have always liked the idea of treasures, and hunting through old possessions to find just the right item seems a bit like treasure hunting.

Did you grow up around big old houses?  Do they even have big old houses in Arizona?

Arizona is all about big open spaces.  Most of the original homes there are one story because that makes them easier to cool.  So no, I didn't grow up around big old houses.  When I was small I visited relatives in Pennsylvania.  They had huge three story houses and I was fascinated.  Attics and basements were a thing of wonder.  I think some of that youthful fascination remains.  Arizona does have a few big old houses, but there are a lot more big new houses.

What attracts you to reading/writing mystery?  Do you read a lot of mysteries?  If so, is there a series you particularly enjoy? (And am I asking too many questions at once again. Must drink more coffee!)

I read a lot.  Do I read a lot of mysteries?  I suppose I do, but as with most things I like variety so I read books in a wide variety of genres.  I don't know for sure why it's what I write.  When I put my butt in the chair and my hands on the keyboard it is just what appears on the page.

What attracts you to the characters you write about?

The good ones please me because they are logical and intelligent.

That kind of begs the question about the not-so-good ones :) But what's next for you?

Easy answer, more writing.  Right now I am working on two new books.  I usually write more than one book at a time, and right now I am working on a mystery that is somewhat darker than I've tried before.  I am also working on the next book in the Alicia Trent Series.    


It's oddly comforting to meet someone else who is usually working on more than one book at a time, though I find my mind slightly boggled by the idea of keeping more than one mystery in mind at once. Another Alicia Trent book sounds great fun, and I'll wish you the best of luck with all your novels. Thank you for visiting my blog.

About the Book:


Antique dealer Alicia Trent is hired to appraise a huge collection of treasures hoarded by a woman who has recently died in the town where Alicia grew up.

The huge old house poses mystery after mystery from the moment she arrives, but the stakes become deadly when murder is added to the mix. The question then becomes, can she stay alive long enough to unmask the killer?






Buy Links:


About the Author:

From living off the grid in the Arizona desert, Eileen has moved to the woods of upstate New York. She has authored a standalone adventure novel called Desert Shadow. She is also the author of Alicia Trent Series. The Black Cane : Dowager Diaries Book 1 is her latest release.







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Find out more: Follow the tour!

1st December
Sauvik Pal - Spotlight
Elizabeth McKenna - Spotlight
Cristina Georgescu - Book Review
Cindy - Spotlight
Andrea Buginsky - Spotlight
Kristy F. Gillespie  - Spotlight

2nd December
Marilou George - Spotlight
Catalina Egan - Spotlight

3rd December
Barbie Herrera - Interview
Literary Chanteuse - Spotlight

4th December
Ericka - Spotlight
Jacquel Chrissy May - Spotlight

5th December
Lori - Spotlight
Lynn Thompson - Book Review

6th December
Christa Nardi - Book Review
Cinta - Spotlight
M.J. Austin - Spotlight

8th December
Kathryn Svendsen - Book Review
Claudia Burgoa - Interview
Kym - Book Review

9th December
Lynn Worton - Spotlight
Caris McRae/Carla Hamilton - Book Review
Julie Hawkins - Spotlight
Kay - Spotlight
Gayathri Jayakumar - Book Review

10th December
Armand Rosamilia - Spotlight
Mindy Wall - Book Review
Victoria Brinius - Spotlight

11th December
Annamaria Bazzi - Spotlight
Teresa Bowen - Book Review

12th December
Elizabeth - Book Review
Sheila Deeth - Interview

13th December
Heather - Book Review
Melissa - Book Review
Beth - Book Review
Kathleen Kelly - Spotlight
Leslie Storey - Book Revie

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