T. C. LoTempio, author of Murder on the Books, the first novel in the Cozy Bookshop mysteries series, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today.

Welcome, Toni.

Tell us about your novel. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.

MURDER ON THE BOOKS is the first in the cozy bookshop mystery series.  It centers around Charley James, a thriller writer who’s suffering from writer’s block. She returns to her hometown of Austin,PA, and ends up opening a bookstore – after finding a dead body in the basement.

Where did the idea for the mystery that is central to the story come from?

My own twisted mind LOL.  I have read so many mysteries and watched so many detective shows over the years that these are second nature to me.

How do you create your characters? Do you have favourite ones? If so, why are you partial to them?

A lot of my characters are taken from real life people that I know – some I create as people I’d like to know (not the killers though).  Do I have favorite characters?  That’s like asking which one is your favorite child.  In this series I’d say Charley is my favorite. I made her feisty and strong and I hope a bit of me shines through.  Out of all my series, I’d say that my favorite would have to be Nick from the Nick and Nora series. He’s modelled after my beloved cat Rocco.

How do you bring to life the place you are writing about?

I try to visualize it as a movie, and take it from there.

What research do you do to provide background information to help you write the novel?

There is always a lot of research involved, particularly when I use poison as the weapon. Google gets a lot of screentime. I also have a very comprensive library at home that I refer to.

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

MURDER ON THE BOOKS is the first in a new series, and I hope that you will give it a try and like Charley and her friends as much as I do.  I’d hate to stop writing it after two books!  LOL.

Thank you for answering my questions, Toni, and good luck with Murder on the Books, the first book in the Cozy Bookshop mystery series.

Readers can learn more about T. C. LoTempio by visiting the author’s website and blog, and her Facebook page. You can also follow her on Twitter/X.

The novel is available at the following online retailers:

 Amazon – B & N – Bookshop.org – Kobo

About T. C. LoTempio: T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series!