Liz Adams is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Charleston Conundrum, the first novel in the Liz Adams mystery series.

Welcome, Liz. 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.

My name is Liz Adams. After my husband cheated on me, I moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina to pursue my dream of becoming a private investigator. When I visited Charleston, I fell in love with the city. After my divorce, I needed a change.

I met my best friend, Peg, shortly after I moved in. Actually, my Labrador retriever puppy, Duke, introduced us. She’d been sitting on the fountain’s ledge in the park, resting after a hard run. Duke, spotting another spot to swim and play, lunged forward, jerking his leash from my hand. He ran straight toward Peg and leaped into the water, spraying murky water all over her. When we exchanged contact information, we discovered I was the new neighbor in her townhome community.

Imagine my surprise when six years later, Peg’s dead, and I wind up being one of the prime suspects. With the help of Duke, who has the ability to detect when people are lying, we solve the case.

Charleston Conundrum is the first book in the series. The next book, Carmel Conundrum takes place in Carmel, California, and is currently set to release in early 2023.

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

My writer believes she has control of the story, but I’m chatting in her ear all the time telling her what to write. I even wake her up in the middle of the night.

How did you evolve as the main character?

Peg’s death shook me to my very core. Rushing to solve the case while grieving and trying to avoid being tossed in jail was an emotional roller coaster ride. How could someone so healthy die so early? I regretted loaning her my gun that night. I had to learn to let go of the guilt and the belief that everything has a reason. I also had to reconnect with my faith.

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

Well, of course, my dog, Duke.

I love all my neighbors. Lou’s a hoot, and our trip to Paris to meet Peg’s boyfriend (who she kept a secret) is memorable.

Jenny, Peg’s niece, has a special place in my heart.

A couple of love interests, Brad and JP. You have to read the book so you can meet everybody!

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

Here is an excerpt from the book describing Charleston:

She didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with a place, but Charleston gave her hope she hadn’t felt in a long while. Time for a fresh start. As she tucked a stray blonde hair behind her ear, she recalled the moment she decided to move. Walking down East Bay, her whole life upended, a soft salty breeze offered some relief from the sweltering heat. She could feel Charleston seeping into her skin. It was as if nothing mattered and everything mattered all in the same breath. The slight scent of hay and horse sweat coming from a nearby carriage beckoned her to rest her feet and take a ride. Facing a pending divorce and a career that kept her busy, yet not satisfied, she was not looking forward to returning to Atlanta. This place enchanted her. Homes, hundreds of years old, were painted the colors of Crayola crayons. The never-ending Southern porches were dotted with wooden swings and wicker rockers. The azalea and camellia bushes were in full bloom, and the scent of jasmine collided with the salt air. The clip-clop rhythm of horses’ hooves against the weathered street left her longing for a more natural rhythm in her own life. Every one of her senses was engaged; the backs of her thighs sticky with sweat against the hard brown leather carriage seat; the smell of salt, hay, and perspiration; the Caribbean green, periwinkle blue, carnation pink of the houses; the taste of salt as she licked her dry lips; the musical sound of birds singing. She sighed. It had been a long time since she had felt this alive. Perhaps it was time for a permanent change of scenery.

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

The book has recipes and a playlist. You can also find them on my writer’s website, http://www.storystacy.com.

In the next book, I travel to Carmel California to check out a piece of property that I inherited from Peg and continue the relationship with Brad. Of course, Duke tags along.

Thank you for answering my questions, Liz, and good luck to you and your author, Mary Stacy Wilder, with Charleston Conundrum, the first book in the Liz Adams mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Liz and her author, Stacy Wilder by visiting the author’s website, and her Facebook and Instagram pages. Readers can follow her on YouTube.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Google – Blue Willow Bookshop – Murder by the Book 

About Stacy Wilder: Stacy writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her debut novel, Charleston Conundrum, is the first in the Conundrum mystery series. Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that support wildlife conservation, and the homeless, both people and pets. A portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum are donated to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). As well as writing, Stacy is passionate about her faith, family, Labradors, the causes that she supports, the beach, art, and reading books. She and her husband live in Houston, Texas with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.