Mel O’Rourke is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Framed for Murder, the first novel in the Pine Cove mystery series.

Welcome, Mel. 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.

“Framed for Murder” is the first full length novel in the series. If you are a cookie fan, you might have met me in the novella that kicked off the series, “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder”.

Technically, it could be called a “cozy” mystery, but that makes it sound so warm and fluffy. Personally, I prefer to think of it as an un-cozy mystery. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all G-rated stuff, but there’s no shortage of complications in the story. And as an ex-cop, I’d hardly call myself an “amateur” detective. 

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

I like to let her think she controls what happens, but between you and me it’s just an illusion. She never even thought enough about Poppy, my frenemy who was introduced in the first book, to give her a name. I let her call the shots as far as who dies and how, but everything else is open for discussion.

How did you evolve as the main character?

When my story began in Pine Cove, I was getting over losing the only job I ever wanted and trying to figure out what’s next. It was crazy for my family to help me buy a bed-and-breakfast as my next endeavor, but that’s the O’Rourkes for you. In “Framed” I have a good idea of where I’m going, but I’m not sure exactly how to get there. Then Poppy Phillips arrives unexpectedly at my door with the cops hot on her heels for a crime she didn’t commit, so there went the “figure out how to be an innkeeper” plan. Poppy is an excellent thief, but she’s no killer. However, learning to trust her is going to take some doing. Also, I still have to deal with a left over fear of heights issue. And an inability to cook, which is an issue when you run a bed-and-breakfast.

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

I like sharing a story with Jackson Thibodeaux. A lot. He was the first friend I made in Pine Cove after I moved here from Los Angeles. While we didn’t quite get along at first, I really enjoy his company. And his sparkling aquamarine eyes.

But Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks is a lot of fun to, just in a different way. He was so condescending when we first met with his, “You stick to running your inn, little lady, leave catching the bad guys to me” attitude. But I like to think we’ve come to have a mutual respect for each other. And those abs…

Honestly, I like all the characters I share this story with.  My grandmother was sent up to help me, but really it was a ploy to get her out of my mother’s hair. She scary, but also hilarious. My brother Liam can be a pain like any little brother can, but he’s got a heart of gold. 

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

Pine Cove is inspired by the real live small town of Idyllwild, California. It’s stunning, set up high in the mountains so the views are amazing. The people of Pine Cove tend to be a quirky mix of artists, small business owners, and of course Doc Hart. There are no chain coffeeshops or burger joints. Everything here is uniquely its own brand and I love it. Most of the time.

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

Anything else about me….nope, I don’t think so. My cousin has been bugging me to define my “brand” whatever the heck that means, so clearly I don’t like thinking or talking about myself too much.

This is the first in a series of books and while I can’t say too much about it, there’s even more intrigue and mystery to unravel in the next one!

Thank you for answering my questions, Mel, and good luck to you and your author, Marla A. White, with Framed for Murder, the first book in the Pine Cove mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Mel and her author, Marla A. White by visiting the author’s Amazon website and her Facebook, Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram and TikTok pages. You can also follow her on Twitter/X and Substack.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Apple Books

About Marla A. White: Martha is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry.  She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s out in the garden, hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails.