If you were to compare Fiona Quinn Mysteries to a book or a TV mystery series, who would you compare it to?
I think Fiona is a unique individual being a kindergarten teacher from Pittsburgh, who possesses a huge heart—not to mention her ghostly grandmother who lives in the attic apartment. I’ve been asked (especially by parents) if I would compare her to Nancy Drew. The answer: No. The Fiona Quinn story lines are more exciting than a Nancy Drew mystery. If I had to compare to anyone it would be Jessica Fletcher/Murder she wrote—except for the fact that Fiona is much younger than Angela Landsbury’s famous character. Again, I believe the Fiona stories are more electrifying than Fletcher’s mysteries, but it is a better comparison.
What actress would you choose to portray Fiona Quinn?
Kaley Cuoco hands down! Every time I watch Big Bang Theory I think—Wow! She would make the perfect Fiona!
Did you write Waves of Murder specifically as a beach read?
chuckle No, not really, but I must admit that I’m hoping that it is very popular as a “beach read.” The stories are quick clean reads, so you could definitely read the entire book, or at least most of the book, while baking on the beach.
What is the difference between writing mystery and writing suspense?
When writing a mystery, the author holds their cards close to their chest, only feeding the reader clues as to whodunit bit by bit so as not to give away the murderer. In turn, the reader is trying to piece together the clues to try to figure it out before the last chapter.
When writing a suspense novel, the author reveals who killed the poor widow who lives on the hill, and then forces the reader to sweat it out as to whether the widow’s daughter who has come to clean out the house will be killed by the charming, helpful young man who lives next door—who, of course, killed her mother. Or will the detective working the case figure out who the killer is in time to rescue the widow’s beautiful daughter before she becomes the next victim? Yikes!
Which is easier for you to write mystery or suspense?
I love writing the Fiona Quinn Mystery series—really I do, that said, I truly enjoy and find it a tad bit easier to write the suspense novels. Yes, it takes me longer to write the suspense novels—as much as a year, but I do so love to make my readers sweat—and the characters too. Even though Fiona Quinn is a mystery series, I think I do manage to give that touch of suspense to her stories—I can’t help myself!
Book Title: Waves of Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 190 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: April 11, 2017
Tour dates: May 15 to 26, 2017
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
School’s out for the summer!
Kindergarten teacher, Fiona Quinn is looking forward to spending some quality time in her yard and with her boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry. However, Fiona’s plans get squelched when her mother volunteers her to edit a manuscript for famous romance author, Wyla Parkes.
What’s so bad about that? The author insists Fiona must work on the manuscript at her beach cottage on Presque Isle–three hours away from her yard and Nathan. Spending six weeks in an adorable cottage on a private beach doesn’t really seem all that bad until people start turning up dead—beginning with the author! Fiona’s summer of sun and sand is instantly transformed into a murder investigation. Can Fiona and Nathan crack the case or will the murderer get away on a wave of deceit?
Join Fiona and the gang for a hot whodunit on the sandy beaches of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania!
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. She was a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. Now she adds the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series for her young granddaughters, and has found that so many adults love them too.Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
~~~~~
BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR:
May 15 – Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 15 – Book Crazy Scrapbook Mama – book spotlight / giveaway
May 15 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
May 15 – Corinne Rodrigues – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 16 – Reviews in the City – book spotlight / giveaway
May 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 16 – Books, Dreams, Life – book spotlight / giveaway
May 16 – Blooming with Books – book spotlight / giveaway
May 17 – Rainy Day Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
May 17 – Sleuth Cafe – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 17 – Zerina Blossom’s Books – book spotlight / giveaway
May 17 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – book spotlight / guest post
May 18 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 18 – The Book Drealms – book spotlight / giveaway
May 18 – Laura’s Interests – book spotlight / giveaway
May 18 – #redhead.with.book – book spotlight / giveaway
May 19 – Babs Book Bistro – book spotlight / giveaway
May 19 – Brooke Blogs – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 19 –100 Pages a day – book spotlight / giveaway
May 19 – Puddletown Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
May 22 – Hall Ways Blog – book spotlight / giveaway
May 22 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
May 22 – Books for Books – book spotlight<br
May 22 – Bound 2 Escape – book spotlight / giveaway
May 23 – Kristin’s Novel Cafe – book spotlight / giveaway
May 23 – Katie’s Clean Book Collection – book spotlight / giveaway
May 23 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 23 – Travelling Through Words – book spotlight / giveaway
May 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 24 – Seasons of Opportunities – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 24 – Bookworm Cafe – book spotlight / giveaway
May 25 – JBronder Book Reviews – book spotlight
May 25 – Carole’s Book Corner – book spotlight /
May 25 – Deal Sharing Aunt – book spotlight / giveaway
May 26 – 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy + Sissy, Too! – spotlight / giveaway
May 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
May 26 – Jessica Cassidy – book spotlight
~~~~~
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways go HERE
Cute cover! Looks like a great book to get youngsters reading. 🙂
I know. I really like that cover. A good one for my summer reading list too.
Sounds like a fun mystery! 🙂
And we love those, don’t we!
Kaley as Fiona…makes me think I would love this character, seeing I watch Big Bang and all its reruns.
sherry @ fundinmental