Monday, March 23, 2015

Interview: Moving Violation by Melanie Jackson @melaniejaxn

Melanie has been writing her entire life. In fact, one of her earliest fond memories is receiving an IBM Selectric typewriter for her birthday. After publishing romance novels (Scottish historical and paranormal) for New York based publisher Dorchester Publishing from 1999 to 2010, Melanie chose to begin self-publishing cozy mysteries. Since then she has released the Chloe Boston, Butterscotch Jones, Miss Henry, Wendover House, Kenneth Mayhew and Jane Blackthorn Mystery series.

Melanie Jackson is the award-winning author of more than one hundred novels and novellas published in various languages. She lives with her writer husband and her bossy cat in the Sonoma wine country. Besides gardening, she is involved with animal charities.

Get “Moving Violation”, the first book in Melanie’s Chloe Boston Cozy Mystery Series, absolutely free by visiting your favorite online bookstore or by selecting from these links:

Website
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1. At any given time do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are there many ideas racing around your head?
The head is always full of ideas, but you can’t let them out. Trying to organize more than one project at a time is like herding cats. There is also the danger of mental whiplash because I write both contemporary and historical novels. One doesn’t jaunt between 15th century Scotland and 21st century Maine. Or I don’t. My characters begin speaking in some pretty peculiar dialects when I try.

2. Is there a genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write in?
Horror. But it would need to be period horror. There are wonderful writers like Richard Laymon who can wallow in blood and guts, but I’m not one of them. I need slow-building moody horror and eldritch winds scratching at the doors and windows. And, to a degree, writing paranormal romance and urban fantasy has allowed me to do this so the urge has been kept at bay.

3. Do you add an element of romantic suspense in your stories?
In most of the series, yes. I like a bit of heart of darkness stuff. Sleuths are people too and in a well-rounded life a little romantic rain must fall. It can also add to the tension to discover that there is something sinister about the love interest.

4. Say you have unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for yourself?
Have you seen Alexandre Dumas’ cottage, Monte Cristo? I think that pocket castle in a secret garden would suit me. But since I started off writing in a coat closet—quiet, no windows or other distractions—having an actual office for writing seems the height of spacious elegance. And I still keep the drapes closed to limit my distractions.

5. If you could turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do? Where would it be set? Network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS), Cable (AMC, BBC, Lifetime) or Premium Cable (HBO, Showtime, Starz)?
Cable. There is more freedom. The T.V. network censors would probably not deal well with certain aspects of my stories—whether paranormal and violent or intensely sweet. In my greatest fantasy Adam Ball (True Blood, Six Feet Under) would direct.

6. Finally, tell us about your latest release!
There are two. Carved in Stone (A Miss Henry Cozy Mystery) and the Spanish translation of Moving Violation (A Chloe Boston Cozy Mystery).
Carved in Stone follows the continuing adventures of artist and retired NSA agent, Juliet Henry. This time she is in San Francisco where a mansion restoration uncovers the body of a murdered woman who disappeared in the 1950’s.
Moving Violation is the first book in my most popular mystery series. Many of my romances have been translated into foreign languages and done well so I thought it was time to expand Chloe Boston’s horizons. There are so many Spanish speaking people in the world that this seemed a good place to start. It is a bit of risk but we shall see if the life of a small town meter-maid in Hope Falls, Washington will resonate with other cultures.
Where to Buy:
Smashwords

This book is on sale for only $0.99, as are the first books of Melanie's most popular other series:
Moving Violation (Chloe Boston Cozy Mysteries 1)
Kindle
Nook

Due North (Butterscotch Jones Cozy Mysteries 1)
Kindle
Nook

Portrait of a Gossip (Miss Henry Cozy Mysteries 1)
Kindle
Nook
 
The Secret Staircase (Wendover House Gothic Mysteries 1)
Kindle
Nook
 
Welcome to Hope Falls, home of the world's smallest but smartest detective...

"Moving Violation" is the first book in author Melanie Jackson's bestselling Chloe Boston Cozy Mystery Series. Within it's covers we meet the diminutive sleuth Chloe Boston, a member of the Hope Falls Police Department who is stuck in parking enforcement because at 98 pounds, 5 foot nothing, she will never be able to pass the department's physical entrance exam to become an officer.

In the first installment of this light-hearted cozy mystery series Chloe investigates the death of a local industrialist. Of course, her efforts are hampered by her lack of official status within the department. But there may be another way to achieve her goal of someday becoming a detective. With the aid of her dog, Blue, and her writer's group, Chloe may just be able to solve Hope Fall's recent homicide and by so doing impress the new chief of police.

The Chloe Boston cozy mysteries are light airy reads filled with plenty of quirky characters and fast moving plot elements. And the best part is that if you become hooked on the books, as I'm sure you will, there are 21 more of them in the series for you to enjoy.

Fourth Anniversary Illustrated Edition

The fourth anniversary rerelease of this classic series opener includes illustrations by author Lisa Cach as well as bonus material originally released separately under the title the "Chloe Boston Files".

If you're looking to spend a pleasant evening snuggled up in a chair by the fire reading a good book then you need look no further -- this is the book for you.

Let's stay in touch...

---Melanie

Melanie will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble during the tour!

9 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

Mai T. said...

An intriguing cover and story line!

MJaxn said...

Hello! Thank you for playing host and making Chloe so at home.

Rita Wray said...

Great interview.

MJaxn said...

Thanks, Rita. And thanks for visiting.

MJaxn said...

BTW, Moving Violation is available on Amazon in Spanish under the title Infracción de Transito.

MJaxn said...

I'm unplugging from the machine now. Thank you so much for playing host and to everyone who stopped by.

Nikolina said...

Enjoyed reading the interview, thank you!

Unknown said...

Thanks

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