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Spiked Punch (Maddie Sparks Mystery Series)
by Lesley A Diehl
Spiked Punch (Maddie Sparks Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Upstate New York
Camel Press (November 14, 2023)
Paperback : 248 pages
ISBN-10 : 1684921252
ISBN-13 : 978-1684921256
Digital ASIN : B0C6NR8C3G
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On the other side of seventy, Maddie Sparks decides to spice up her life by changing her writing interests from cozy mysteries to romance. She also determines her appearance should reflect this transformation in her writing career. A sassy new haircut and more fashionable clothes complete the newer Maddie Sparks. Before she can begin this new chapter in her life, a stabbing death in the quiet country village she has made her home shocks the town’s residents.
When her son is accused of the murder, Maddie and the acting county sheriff come together to find the real killer. Their relationship soon blooms into more than one of shared determination to solve the murder. As they enjoy a hike in a nearby park, someone shoots the sheriff, barely missing Maddie. Another killer could be loose in the area, and the person may be closer to Maddie than she realizes. Maddie discovers parts of herself she didn’t know existed: real life romance with the sheriff, a talent for sleuthing and room in her life for a fuzzy, orange cat named “Spike.” This recent lease on life may be more exciting and more dangerous than Maddie expects.
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Interview with Author Leslie A. Diehl
Hello and Welcome back to the blog!
I am happy to have you here again and with a new book and series. Congratulations!
Before we get too far into the new book can you catch us up on how many series you have? I have lost count.
I’ve been busy since I retired to take up writing cozy mysteries. It has been a lot of fun, far better than my first career as a professor and college administrator, although I did love being in the classroom and working with college students.
My first series was only two books featuring a craft brewer; A Deadly Draught and Poisoned Pairings. I had a good time doing the research for the book, meeting brewers and sampling their product!
I followed this series with The Big Lake Murder mysteries set in rural Florida, the Laura Murphy murder mysteries based on my experiences as a college professor, and the Eve Appel mysteries which are set in rural Florida. I’ve moved my setting for the Maddie Sparks mysteries back to Upstate New York where I now live year round.
And, of course, I have numerous short stories published in various anthologies. To see all my work visit my website www.lesleyadiehl.com.
Now that we know what you’ve been up to lets chat about Maddie’s book.
From mystery writer to romance. Is there a little romance writer lurking in Lesley?
Well, the book is still a cozy mystery, but I have thrown in a bit of romance for my seventy plus protagonist. I have her fall for a younger man! He’s actually only a few years her junior (maybe seven or so), but I like the idea that age is of no consequence for them. The romance seemed to emerge organically for Maddie as she begins writing outside her genre (because she’s a cozy mystery writer also), but she’s grown bored with the genre and wants something a little more….racy. As for me, I will continue to write cozy mysteries. I’ve always included romance in all my series.
Can you share a bit of the process of developing a new series?
I looked back on my work and realized half my characters were much younger than me, some were of retirement age, but aside from some characters in a series of short stories, none of my protagonists were close to my age. I thought it was time I brought a smart, active, snoopy older woman to the page. It was a natural to use my own perspective on life at this age to create the character. I paired Maddie with the retired county sheriff (the younger man) and included Maddie’s family as important characters in the story lines.
The first book is really a path to discovery for Maddie. She finds she’s still interested in love even after a disastrous marriage, that her mind is sharp and curious, making solving a murder her new mission in life, and she adopts a cat although she’s never had a pet before. Finding new aspects of herself is what we all hope for when we age, so I’m certain this series will bring joy to those who find a role model in Maddie and those younger folks who hope to continue growing and changing in their lives.
Did the idea come from any part of a previous series?
No.
Maddie sounds like a strong leading lady. Can you share with us and introduce us to her fellow cast?
Maddie has two sons from her marriage. The eldest, Geoffrey, and his wife Abigail own a real estate and property management company in Maddie’s village. They are rather traditional people. They work hard and are devoted to their daughter, Sara. Maddie’s other son, Richard, is a defense attorney in the area. He’s handsome, urbane and single. Sara, Maddie’s only grandchild, is a beautiful young woman, tall, slender, unlike our tiny Maddie in physical appearance, but much to her parents’ consternation, Sara has the same curious mind that her grandmother has and the same interest in taking down criminals. Maddie worries Sara’s curiosity might put her in danger.
Zack Montgomery, a former county sheriff, has come out of retirement to investigate a local murder. He and Maddie meet at the crime scene and, like her name, sparks of passion fly between the two.
One supporting character which I will develop more in the next books in the series is a woman (Jane) around the same age as Maddie. Soon a friendship develops between the two, another signal that new friends are possible even at Maddie’s age.
I am curious about the cover and a few questions.
I am guessing there might be a clue or two hidden. Am I right?
The cat on the cover is meant to be Spike, the cat Maddie finds and adopts. He is located center stage on the cover because he is at the heart of finding the murderer. It was my intention to include a cat in this series as I’ve not done that in my previous work. However, I wanted the cat to be a partner in solving the murder and Spike, as readers will see, is certainly key in solving the mystery.
Maddie’s house is located on the creek that runs through her village, and because much of the action occurs in her home, the cottage on the stream pictured on the cover is important.
I love the title too. Can you tell us about it? Home much input did you have? Did the title come first or after you were into writing the story?
With this publisher, Camel Press, I determine the title. I cannot tell you everything about the tile except to say it makes reference to the cat’s name (Spike). Beyond that, you have to read the book to understand.
Tell us about Spike.
Maddie found Spike, a fluffy orange fella, at the scene of the murder, hiding in a closet in the bedroom of the murdered man. One of the detectives at the scene wants to take Spike off to the local rescue group, but, perhaps because Maddie dislikes the detective’s attitude about cats (and Spike seems to agree with her), she takes Spike home with her intending to see if the cat belongs to anyone in the neighborhood or is the cat an orphan because Spike’s owner had been murdered. Little does Maddie know that she is now a pet parent. She has a lot to learn about cats and especially about Spike. To her surprise, the two of them grow increasingly close and along with the county sheriff, they become a crime fighting trio.
One more question because I know you are busy and I think it is snack time.
What is your favorite snack?
Recently, I’ve found I love a chewy ginger cookie. I have one with my afternoon tea. Maddie loves tea also and, like me, she never finds time to bake anything to go with her afternoon cuppa, so she buys her cookies at the supermarket or the local bakery.
Opps I lied. Sorry.
What is your idea of a perfect date?
A good movie (is there any such thing anymore?) and movie popcorn. Yum! If not that, then a cuppa and a scone.
Would Maddie agree?
Maddie would prefer the tea. And a murder to solve with Spike and Zack.
Thanks for inviting me to talk with you. I enjoyed it. We should get together for tea some afternoon.
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About Lesley A. Diehl
Cows, Lesley learned growing up on a farm, have a twisted sense of humor. They chased her when she went to the field to herd them in for milking, and one ate the lovely red mitten her grandmother knitted for her. Determining that agriculture wasn’t a good career choice, instead she uses her country roots and her training as a psychologist to concoct stories designed to make people laugh in the face of murder. “A good chuckle,” says Lesley,” keeps us emotionally well-oiled long into our old age.” She is the author of the Eve Appel mysteries from Camel Press as well as several cozy mystery series and numerous short stories. Go to her webpage to find out more: www.lesleyadiehl.com.
Author Links: Website / Blog / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon
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