Thank you for being here today Lynn!
S.G. Tell us about yourself.
L.C.The official bit?
USA Today and New York Times, best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and four fur babies.
Basically I’m a small town girl who loves to make up stories and have fun. I have a grown son who’s a lot smarter than me and my own bad boy romance hero who has made my life interesting for the last few years we’ve been together.
S.G.Who or what inspired you to write?
L.C. I’ve always wanted to be a novelist. But when I was making college choices, no one had a degree for a writer. And I didn’t want to be a journalist. So I went practical and got a political science degree. Working and raising my family didn’t leave time for dreams, but when I was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, I realized someday may never come. I started writing essays, then short stories, and in 2012, published my first full length romance. I’ve never looked back.
S.G. What was the best thing about writing this series?
L.C. I adore South Cove. Building the town from scratch, I can make up people and businesses on a whim. But the returning characters are becoming more and more real with each passing book. And I so want to have Jill’s life.
S.G. What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of research?
L.C. I went out to the desert with two guys I met in a bar the night before and shot a variety of guns. I’m glad they were good old boys and not like the crazy killers I write about. Of course, one day, one of my victims will have to die this way.
S.G. Who are your favorite authors?
L.C. Anyone who tells a good story. I’m in love with Robyn Carr’s Thunder Point series, but then I’ve always wanted to live on the Oregon Coast. I love old Stephen King, including his sequel to The Shining. And I’m loving the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Oh, and Harlan Coben. Yep, I’m all over the map here.
S.G. When you are not writing these great books what hobby do you have?
L.C. My husband and I are 4 wheel and camping fanatics. We just bought a lot and camper on a small lake in Central Missouri where we can ride trails and next summer, swim and boat. We love sitting next to the campfire with friends telling stories and drinking adult beverages.
S.G. Can you give us a peek of what you are working on now?
L.C. Book #5 of The Tourist Trap Mysteries… Working Title – Killer Run –
Desperate to be seen as a contributing soon to be member of the California Mission Society, Jill talks South Cove’s business community into sponsoring a 5k on the Mission Walk. The greenbelt runs parallel with Highway One and is a hot spot for runners and walkers alike. Until one of the run’s sponsors is found dead at the scene. Can Jill outrun the killer and help Greg solve the crime?
S.G. What are the five books on your to be read pile?
L.C. The Book of Life – Deborah Harkness
The Chance – Robyn Carr
Taken In – Elizabeth Lynn Casey
The Enemy – Lee Childs
One Book in the Grave – Kate Carlisle
S.G. What is one book you think everyone should read and why?
L. C. Illusions by Richard Bach. It’s new age and irreverent and funny and short and a great handbook for a positive life. The book has come into my life a couple different times. Once when I was a teenager, looking for direction. And then I lost the book in a move. Years later, in 2011, I was in NYC for a writer’s conference and stopped at a street side book vendor. They had a used copy with an inscription from one lover to another. I bought it and took it home to read. Someday, I’ll write the story about the two lovers who lost each other and the book. Of course you know in my version, they’ll have a second chance.
S.G. What are two things that you want your readers to know?
L.C. Small town life can be either really in a small town, or in an urban setting. It’s all about community. And that can happen in an apartment building or in a tourist town like South Cove. It’s a state of mind, and, my favorite way to live.
Reading is fundamental. (To steal a phrase.) Whether you love cozy mysteries, thrillers, romance, or non-fiction historical, take a chance and get lost in a good book. No matter what your preferred format, digital, paper, or audio, read to enhance your life. I love traveling to places I’ve never been through the pages of a good book. I hope my readers do too.
S.G. If you could have a dinner party for five authors living or dead who would they be and what would be on the menu?
L.C. On the menu? Something yummy but not fancy… good pizza or Italian.. so we don’t have to worry about the trappings of the meal, just enjoy the company. My husband does a mean prime rib, so maybe that…
Who would I invite? My BFF, Laura Bradford, Stephen King, of course, Ridley Pearson (because I hear he’s funny and he writes about Sun Valley Idaho) Robyn Carr (for the Oregon connection) and Kate Carlisle.
Thanks for having me over today.
If the Shoe Kills
The tourist town of South Cove, California, is a lovely place to spend the holidays. But this year, shop owner Jill Gardner discovers there’s no place like home for homicide. . .
As owner of Coffee, Books, and More, Jill Gardner looks forward to the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers. But when the mayor ropes her into being liaison for a new work program, 'tis the season to be wary. Local businesses are afraid the interns will be delinquents, punks, or worse. For Jill, nothing’s worse than Ted Hendricks--the jerk who runs the program. After a few run-ins, Jill’s ready to kill the guy. That, however, turns out to be unnecessary when she finds Ted in his car--dead as a doornail. Officer Greg assumes it’s a suicide. Jill thinks it’s murder. And if the holidays weren’t stressful enough, a spoiled blonde wants to sue the city for breaking her heel. Jill has to act fast to solve this mess--before the other shoe drops. . .
"Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true." --Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries
Links –
Thanks for having me over Shelley!
ReplyDeleteOkay, this was a GREAT interview, Shelley! Love the questions--very different. And Lynn, loved the answers!
ReplyDeleteOh, and Italian works. So does prime rib... :)
Maybe both... LOL
DeleteLynn and Shelley - what a great interview! I recently read my first Cahoon and loved it!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you have Italian at that dinner, may I PLEASE come?
Thanks Julie, glad you enjoyed your trip to South Cove.
DeleteGreat interview!! I'm glad I stopped by and checked it out. And I can't wait to check out this series.
ReplyDeleteItalian food for dinner sounds right up my ally Lynn. It's my favorite type of food ever!
Hi Angie - thanks for stopping in...
DeleteEnjoyed the interview, Lynn. Robin Carr is one of my favorites, too. Every so often I have to take a trip to Virgin River and re-read all my books!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! I'm partial to the Thunder Point series...
DeleteNice interview and beautiful cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Anne!
Delete