Today Gia Morelli is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Whole Latte Murder, the latest novel in the All-day Breakfast Cafe mystery series.

Welcome, Gia. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

I’m Gia Morelli, and I live inside the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. I used to live in New York City and work the breakfast shift in a busy delicatessen, until my ex-husband turned out to be a liar who swindled his clients out of millions of dollars. After the divorce and his trial, I moved to Boggy Creek, Florida to be close to my best friend, Savannah, who helped me open my café and buy a small house in a rural area just outside the Ocala National Forest. Now, I live there with my dog, Thor, my kitten, Klondike, and Savannah, though she hasn’t officially moved in.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

I definitely control what happens in the story. When my writer tries to deviate from my plan, she doesn’t get very far and usually ends up deleting everything she’s written.

How did you evolve as the main character?

In the first All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery, Scone Cold Killer, I was kind of a mess. I had just gone through a nasty divorce, and I didn’t really trust anyone. That’s what happens when you find out your ex is not only cheating on you, but cheating all of his clients out of millions of dollars. Having lived most of my life in New York City, I had no clue about all the wildlife in Florida, and I was pretty much afraid of everything. Now, I’ve made amazing friends in Boggy Creek and was reminded that there are still good, trustworthy people out there. And I’m growing used to the wildlife, mostly, though snakes and spiders are still a problem.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them? I love sharing the story with Savannah. She is my best friend in the world, and I would do anything for her. I also enjoy sharing the story with my new friend, Trevor, who has introduced me to the joys of kayaking in the Florida wilderness. And, of course, Savannah’s cousin, Detective Hunter Quinn, who has become much more than just a friend.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?  The All-Day Breakfast Café sits on Main Street in Boggy Creek, a small town in Central Florida. I have grown to love Boggy Creek, and its residents. In Whole Latte Murder, Savannah disappears while showing a house, and her client is found dead, and everyone in Boggy Creek steps up to search for her.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book? Whole Latte Murder is the fifth book in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. The sixth book, Mistletoe Cake Murder, when Savannah and Leo are supposed to get married if we can solve a murder in time for the wedding, is due to release in October.

Thank you so much for having me! I’ve enjoyed visiting.

You’re welcome, Gia. Thank you for answering my questions and good luck to you and your author, Lena Gregory, with Whole Latte Murder, the latest book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Gia and her author, Lena Gregory by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram and Pinterest pages. You can also follow her on Twitter.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon    Barnes & Noble      Kobo    Kensington     Apple    Google Play

About Lena Gregory: Lena is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.