This book opens in a small town in
Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her
Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation
until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the
ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers
investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death.
Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize
their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own
fact-finding mission. The Super Spies
can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they
start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty
years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to
bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in
the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also
struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal
loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police
don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies
realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer, or die trying…
*****
Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. She was hooked on
mysteries by the fifth grade and even wrote a few of her own. She knew she
wanted to be a writer even then. “The
Super Spies and the High School Bomber” is the second book in the “Super Spies”
series. Her first book was published in March of 2012 and it has received rave
reviews.
After graduating
from Central Michigan University with a Marketing Degree she spent many years
in the insurance industry, pining to express her creative side. The decision to stay home with her children
gave her the opportunity to follow her dream and become a writer. She currently
resides in Rockford Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys.
Currently, she’s working on the third novel that stars the same quirky teens.
When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running,
hiking, and reading.
*****
Author interview
1. Where did the inspiration for The Super Spies and the Cat Lady
Killer come from?
The inspiration
came from my own teen exploits. Of course, they’re greatly embellished in the
book. When I was young I wanted to be a detective just like Nancy Drew. So, my
friends and I formed our own detective squad and we investigated an act of
vandalism that occurred in our neighborhood. Of course, we never solved the
mystery, but our imaginations ran wild that summer and we had a blast! That
summer is one of my best memories of my childhood. I wanted to bring that same
sense of joy and anticipation to readers that I had experienced so long ago.
(But I’m not going to say how long ago! LOL!)
2. At what age were you when you decided that you wanted to be a
writer?
I was in fifth
grade. I had become an avid reader, even sneaking into the bathroom to read at
night when everyone else was in bed. J (I hope my
mother doesn’t read this one! J I don’t want her to know ALL my secrets!) Then I just started writing my
own mysteries and human drama stories.
3. Do you have any writing quirks or things you do to get in the
writing mood?
Hmmm…well,
I eat chocolate when I write. Usually tootsie rolls or Junior mints. J Not always but it’s kind of a
treat I give myself when I finish a chapter or a difficult scene.
4. Do you ever get writer’s block?
Sometimes. I’ll
get stuck in a scene and I have to take a step back and think about it. When
that happens I usually go for a run or a hike and the exercise helps me think
out the scene until I get it to work.
5. Are you working on anything at the moment?
Yes, I’m working
on the third Super Spies novel and a coming of age Young Adult novel.
6. Is there any good advice you've been given or advice you would
give a budding writer?
The best advice
that I can give an aspiring writer is don’t get bogged down with the rejection
letters. When I got one from an agent, I always asked them what they didn’t
like about my story. Most of them ignored my questions. But one was kind enough
to respond and she gave me the best advice. I followed it even though it meant
rewriting the whole story, and the first publisher that I sent my story to
accepted it.
7. What is the best thing about being a writer?
I
would say the writing process. I love writing stories.
8. What are you reading at the moment?
I don’t have a lot of time to read with
writing and then promoting, plus I’ve also got two little boys that keep me
hopping. But when I do find time I’ve started a romantic suspense story called
“Catalpa Hall” by Lori Lapekes. It’s very good.
9. Who inspires you?
My kids do. They
are so proud of their mom and they’re always trying to give me ideas for
titles. It’s really cute. When “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer” first
came out my first grader went to school and told his class that he wanted to be
a published author like his mom. Yeah, when his teacher told me that I got a
little teary eyed. J
10. Describe in a few sentences why someone should pick up and read “The
Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”?
Well…let’s see,
because it’s a great thriller with a lot of twists and turns that the reader
won’t see coming, but it’s also a story about friendships. It goes much deeper
than the reader expects. It has received great reviews!
11. Any last words you would like to leave us with?
Yes.
The second book in The Super Spies series is now available! It stars the same
quirky teens and it’s titled “The Super Spies and the High School Bomber”.
Buy Links: Amazon l Barnes & Noble l Astraea Press
You can check out the rest of the tour stops at Reading Away the Days
Thanks for having me here today and being a part of my blog tour! It is greatly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteIt was awesome to be included!! :)
Delete