THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING GHOST - an interview with Michele Pariza Wacek

Welcome, Michele!  What prompted you to first start writing? What was the first thing you wrote?

I taught myself to read when I was three years old because I wanted to write stories so badly. Honestly I can’t remember the first thing I wrote. My earliest memory is before I could read or write, I would “tell” my stories by drawing dreadful little pictures, and the pictures would prompt me so I could verbally explain my stories to my parents. That method used to frustrate the heck out of me, because I knew I wasn’t telling the story the same way each time, which is why I was so driven to learn to read and write.

 

Can you summarise your latest work in just a few words?

 

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost is Book 3 of The Redemption Detective Agency, which is a romcom cozy mystery series. Emily and the rest of the gang at the Redemption Detective Agency are trying to help an elderly widow from losing her home, and in the process they must locate a missing ghost.

 

Sounds fascinating!  What was the inspiration for this book?

 

The inspiration for the book is similar to the inspiration for the whole series. I wanted to try my hand writing a light, funny, romance-heavy cozy mystery. My other cozy mystery series, The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries (The Redemption Detective Agency is a spin-off from the Charlie Kingsley Mysteries) is a much more mystery-forward series. While it still has the small town, quirky characters, pets, tea/baking and humor of a cozy, the mysteries are far twistier. By contrast, this is a much lighter series with far more emphasis on the humor and romance. 

 

Did you do any research for the book?

 

Not really, other than to make sure I’m not too far off with the facts. It takes place in the 1990s, so I will check to make sure it fits the time frame.

 

How do you decide on the names for your characters?

 

The characters more or less tell me. If the character doesn’t outright tell me, I go to one of those baby name sites, and mess around trying out names until the character tells me that’s the one.

 

 

Do you plot your novels in advance, or allow them to develop as you write?

 

I’m more of a develop-them-as-you-write kind of gal, although I do need rough outlines to at least get me started.

 

 

Now the book is published and ‘out there’ how do you feel?

 

It’s always a mix of excitement and relief to release a book. It’s also good to celebrate publication days as well. I think sometimes as authors we don’t stop and celebrate the milestones more, and it’s important to do that.

 

 

Is there a message for the reader?

 

If you’re looking for a light, fun and funny book to brighten your day, I hope you give The Redemption Detective Agency a try.

 

Do you have any advice for new writers?

 

Write a lot and read a lot (which I know is the same advice Stephen King gave, but as he is the master it’s probably a good idea to listen to him). Also if you want to be a published author, then be a published author. Hit Publish on your book. Don’t be like me and keep procrastinating the way I did. I believe there’s no mistake you can’t come back from, you just need to do it.

 

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

 

I’m going to be writing a Christmas crossover cozy mystery. It’s two novellas, one from The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries and the second from The Redemption Detective Agency, and they both take place during the same Christmas season. That will be out in November, 2025.

More about Michele:

A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she so badly wanted to write stories. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr PW is in charge of the cooking.)

 

More about The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost:

Emily Hildebrandt is learning to settle into some of the very strange cases that come through The Redemption Detective Agency’s door.

Like Aunt Tilde’s friend Ruth who claims she’s lost a ghost.

How does one lose a ghost? Apparently when the ghost decides to walk out the door.

But, to make matters more complicated, it’s not just any ghost but the ghost of Ruth’s dead husband. Who was murdered decades ago under very suspicious circumstances.

Emily has no choice but to go back in time and figure out what really happened to Ruth’s husband, in order for everyone to rest in peace.

 

Links:

Website: MPWNovels.com

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ7WTMS2

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/michelepw

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/michelepw

Facebook: https://facebook.com/michelepwauthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/themichelepw

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelePW

Huge thanks to Bittersweet Book Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour.

SECRETS UNDERGROUND - an interview with Jenna Maeson

My blog guest today is Jenna Maeson, who is here to talk about her latest book, Secrets Underground.

Welcome, Jenna!  What prompted you to first start writing? What was the first thing you wrote?

I've been telling stories to myself for as long as I can remember.  

I like to say I've been writing stories since before I could write words. At about four, I would draw stacks of pictures and give them to my mom, then I would dictate a story to her about them and she would write them down.  I've always loved stories and had an active imagination.  I learned to print my name legibly when I was four because I wanted a library card so badly.  And I know from kindergarten on I would tell people I wanted to be an author when I grew up.

Can you summarise your latest work in just a few words?

Small town secrets, pets, and quirky locals.

My main character, Olivia Morgan, takes on a new mystery with her canine sidekick Elmer, this time uncovering some hidden tunnels under a rich architect's estate, and uncovering town lore that some locals would like to keep hidden.

What was the inspiration for this book?

Good question.  Most of my books don't have inspiration so much as a random thought that pops up.  Or I see something somewhere and my brain starts spinning with the what-ifs.  I think I had seen something about a secret society somewhere, and this book spun out from that.

Did you do any research for the book?

Not really.  I like to write things I don't have to do much research for, which is why I have avoided anything police procedural or medical, even though I love the topics.

How do you decide on the names for your characters?

 

A lot of the time I use online name generators if I’m stuck. Or just whatever pops into my head first. Elmer got his name because I was thinking of how my dogs are glued to me wherever I go, then I thought of Elmer’s glue, and that’s that.

 

 

Do you plot your novels in advance, or allow them to develop as you write?

A bit of both, actually. I try to have a basic outline so I can kind of keep track of where I’m going and what needs to happen between the beginning and then end. But ideas usually expand and wander as I write.

 

 

Now the book is published and ‘out there how do you feel?

I always feel relieved when a book gets published. That i actually finished it on time. Then i get nervous to see how people react to it. And go through the usual spiral of self-doubt wondering if its good enough.

 

 

Is there a message for the reader?

Not from the book exactly but from me in general - all of my books are written to give people an escape from the day-to-day of our crazy world. I give you the opportunity to stay within our reality but in a cleaner version - probably the one we’d all prefer to live in. My only goal is to make people laugh and make them wonder what if.

 

 

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Just do it. It seems silly but just write the book. Write the story that is in your heart. Publish it or don’t, but get it out. With the publishing world as it is right now, everyone has a chance for their story to be seen. Perfection is not a real thing.  Don’t strive for it, or you won’t do anything.

 

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

I have a fourth book in my current series coming out in mid-October and I have a non-cozy mystery - let’s call it a speculative rom-com - that I will be sending out on query early in 2026.  

Here is the link for my Amazon author page, which has buy links for all of my books: 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jenna-Maeson/author/B0DXRQCWWP

 

Thanks to Bittersweet Book Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour.