Today several characters from To Fetch A Killer are visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about these four fun ‘tails’ of chaos and murder.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Greetings Diane. Thank you so much for inviting the Mutt Mysteries authors to share the exciting news of their latest release, To Fetch a Killer—Four Fun “Tails” of Chaos and Murder.  We appreciate all you do to support writers, especially those with a cozy flavor. We realize it gets unwieldly with all four of us answering all the questions, so we’ve tag-teamed on the interview questions, letting everyone have a chance.

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

To Fetch a Killer, Four Fun “Tails” of Chaos and Murder is the fourth installment in the Mutt Mysteries series. Each of the books is comprised of four novellas by four experienced cozy mystery authors. Three of the stories have continuing characters, but not continuing stories…in other words they do not need to be read in order. All feature a dead body and an amateur sleuth, assisted by their trusty canine companion(s) of course! In order to give you a little taste of each of the stories, the contributing authors (Maria Hudgins, Teresa Inge, Heather Weidner and Jayne Ormerod) have taken turns answering the questions.

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

MARIA HUDGINS, author of “Sandy Paws”: As for who is in control of our story, my writer, Maria, (I like to think of her as my secretary) and I have a tenuous relationship. Since I cannot hear, she answers the phone and deals with pesky people like editors and agents. I craft the stories. She complains that I don’t listen to her.  And it’s a good thing because Maria has no imagination at all and she’s probably the most boring person I’ve ever met. So the answer is, I control the story and Maria checks my grammar.

TERESA INGE, author of “A New Leash on Death”: I definitely get a say. Sometimes the author takes me and Cagney and Lacey in different directions like the Outerbanks of North Carolina and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, but I jump off the page and reel her back in to not go on wild goose chases. But I love going to different places. 

How did you evolve as the main character?

TERESA: Since each story revolves around my life, I am the main character and have grown throughout each book with my business the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers and my personal life.

HEATHER WEIDNER, author of “Wags to Riches”: Hi, I’m Oliver, and I’m in charge of security at the Amelia Speedway in Central Virginia. So far, I’ve helped my pal Cassidy solve two murders. One in To Fetch a Scoundrel and this one in To Fetch a Killer. Cassidy owns the racetrack, and I love that I get to live and work there every day.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them?

HEATHER: The Cassidy and Oliver stories are fun to write. Cassidy inherits the track when her father dies, and she leaves her full-time job to manage the day-to-day operations. Her dog, Oliver is the Rottweiler, who she affectionately calls the Director of Security. Years ago, my dad used to race his MG at small tracks in Virginia, so it’s fun to set these stories at a made-up track in rural Virginia.

JAYNE ORMEROD, author of “Bone Appétit”: When a guest drops dead at a dinner party with food prepared by personal chef Molly Perkins, she needs help trying to clear her name. Enter best friend Becca Kilpatrick, who is her sounding board and partner-in-crime-solving. And of course, no Mutt Mysteries story would be complete without a mutt. Tater, a large Newfoundland dog, is with them every step of the way.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?

JAYNE: I am a personal chef for a very wealthy family, and have full control of the ultra-gourmet kitchen in the Wade’s 5,000-square-foot beachfront “cottage.” After my work is done, the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean are a few steps away. The perfect place to relax, unwind, and observe the many moods of the sea.

MARIA: We are staying at a six-bedroom house on the Atlantic coast of Virginia. The house is only five years old and it’s right on the beach. Walking takes you past a long row of very similar houses, all rental properties.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?

First, thank you Dianne for allowing us to introduce our characters. You do such a great service promoting writers, and we appreciate the opportunity to share our stories with your followers.

When it comes to the Mutt Mysteries stories, each sleuth/dog partnership is unique, but all ascribe to the mantra, “You’re never fully dressed without dog fur on your clothes.” We hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as we enjoyed writing them!

Thank you for answering my questions, everyone, and good luck to with To Fetch a Killer—Four Fun “Tails” of Chaos and Murder.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – Apple Books – Nook – Kobo

For more information about the authors and their stories, please check out the website at www.MuttMysteries.com