BooksChatter: ℚ Murder Run

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Shelly Frome to talk about Murder Run (29 August 2015, Sunbury Press, Inc., 244 pages), a Mystery.

Synopsis | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Shelly Frome; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Murder Run?

"Someone very close to me passed away suddenly for no apparent reason. And so I turned to crime and mystery fiction as a way to come to terms with the randomness of life."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Carrying on from your first question, the quest to take on an impossible task and caring that much, is reflected in this book along with my first-hand knowledge of every setting—the hills of Connecticut, the streets of New York, the ambiance of Miami Lakes, and the Florida Keys."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Murder Run - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I don’t know who the cover artist is (she was chosen by the publisher). I do know that my request for a dark, moonlit, cobblestone street in Greenwich Village from a certain vantage point is reflected in terms of the mood and the critical moment that serves as a catalyst for the tale."

Why should we read Murder Run and what sets it apart from the rest?

"Judging from the reviews on Amazon so far, readers are taken by a percolating sense of immediacy and drive almost to the point where they feel they’re watching a good movie. In contrast, though I like her wry wit, a novelist like Kate Atkinson (see her Jackson Brodie crime series including Case Histories) is given to so many deflections and reminiscences, the experience becomes almost casual."

Can you tell us something quirky about Murder Run, its story and characters?

"All things being equal, Jed Cooper would still be an Indiana farm boy and never find himself, embattled, a fish out of water, scouring the mean streets of Manhattan, unwittingly going up against elements of organized crime to right a great wrong.

By the same token, a character like the unhinged ex capo Sal Palmiero, would normally be deep sea fishing in the Gulf Stream waters, enjoying his retirement instead of racing back to his old stamping grounds."

If you could / wished to turn Murder Run into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"At the outset, Jed would be played by James Dean, Laura (his love interest) would be played by Eva Marie Saint, Sal by Ben Kingsley, and the director ideally would be Elia Kazan. "

Now, that is what I call a dream team! I have been meaning to show my partner East of Eden... I think this might be the perfect opportunity ;-)

What is your writing process?

"I wait until some haunting set of circumstances begins to work on my imagination. When I reach a point that it all begins to proliferate and seems almost self-generating, I make a cursory outline, begin writing and go with where the story and the characters take me. Then go back, discover all the holes and discrepancies, and begin to polish."

What is in store next?

"I’m in the process of working with an assigned editor to eliminate any glitches re: my transatlantic cozy mystery entitled Murder Crosses the Pond to be released in the fall.

At the same time, I’m polishing a draft of Moon Games, a mystery that takes place in my newly adopted home town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western Carolina."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"My golden doodle Baxter goes everywhere with me and tries to put up with my incessant daydreaming."

Hello Baxter! What a gorgeous lad you are! Lots of cuddles to you :-)

Thank you for sharing Baxter with us. I did spot another picture that illustrates beautifully what you said above... plus you are both in a green sport-convertible, and I had to share! ;-)