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
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" 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!
