10th
May
May
Today I’m excited to have author J. A. Whiting on the
Sunday’s Authors Spotlight. J.A. Whiting is the author of the Olivia Miller
Mystery series and The Sweet Cove Cozy Mystery series. Her books received
some great ratings and they all look and sound great. There are more books by
J.A. Whiting coming this year so keep your eyes open.
About ‘The Killing’ (An Olivia Miller Mystery series, Prequel):
This story takes place during the fall of Olivia’s senior
year of college. Arriving at a Halloween party with her friend Melissa,
Olivia discovers a gruesome crime scene in the hosts’ living room. Trying
to uncover clues that will lead to the serial killer may end up putting
Olivia’s life in danger.
year of college. Arriving at a Halloween party with her friend Melissa,
Olivia discovers a gruesome crime scene in the hosts’ living room. Trying
to uncover clues that will lead to the serial killer may end up putting
Olivia’s life in danger.
This book is available at Amazon.
About ‘Red Julie’ (Olivia Miller Mystery #1):
Olivia Miller was raised by her aunt Aggie from the timeshe was a year old. Several weeks before Olivia graduates from college in
Massachusetts, Aggie dies suddenly and unexpectedly, riding a bicycle at night
near her home in Ogunquit, Maine. The death certificate lists the cause of
death as a massive heart attack, but Olivia doesn’t believe it.
Soon after her graduation, Olivia is on the highway, late
at night, heading home to Ogunquit when she comes upon an accident. A man is on
his back, in the middle of the road, his legs caught in the wreckage of his
overturned Mercedes. He grabs at Olivia’s jacket and frantically mumbles to her
something that sounds like, ‘red Julie’. The man dies at the scene, but not
before he slips something into Olivia’s jacket pocket. Olivia is determined to
figure out what ‘red Julie’ means, and how her aunt really died that night.
at night, heading home to Ogunquit when she comes upon an accident. A man is on
his back, in the middle of the road, his legs caught in the wreckage of his
overturned Mercedes. He grabs at Olivia’s jacket and frantically mumbles to her
something that sounds like, ‘red Julie’. The man dies at the scene, but not
before he slips something into Olivia’s jacket pocket. Olivia is determined to
figure out what ‘red Julie’ means, and how her aunt really died that night.
This book is available at Amazon.
About ‘The Stone of Sadness’ (Olivia Miller Mystery #2):
Olivia Miller has just finished her first year of law
school. She is staying at her cousin John’s house in Howland, MA to
dog-sit his chocolate Lab while John goes on a business trip. Olivia
promises to clean out the attic and she finds a stack of old newspapers that
John’s dad had saved. The articles recount the grisly murders of a young
mother and her 4 year old daughter in the state park in Howland forty years
ago. John tells Olivia that the mother and daughter were their cousins
and that the murderer was never brought to justice. Olivia decides to research
the deaths and find out why no one was ever accused of the crime.
school. She is staying at her cousin John’s house in Howland, MA to
dog-sit his chocolate Lab while John goes on a business trip. Olivia
promises to clean out the attic and she finds a stack of old newspapers that
John’s dad had saved. The articles recount the grisly murders of a young
mother and her 4 year old daughter in the state park in Howland forty years
ago. John tells Olivia that the mother and daughter were their cousins
and that the murderer was never brought to justice. Olivia decides to research
the deaths and find out why no one was ever accused of the crime.
(This is a fictional story loosely based on the unsolved murders of
my distant cousins in Rutland MA, on June 5, 1973).
This book is available at Amazon.
About ‘The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop’ (A Sweet Cove Mystery #1):
Angie Roseland runs The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop in the
seacoast town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. The building’s new owners are not
renewing the bake shop’s lease and Angie is running out of time to find a new
location. When one of the town’s long-time residents is murdered, Angie finds
herself on the suspect list. With the help of her three sisters and a huge
orange cat, Angie works to uncover the killer’s identity.
seacoast town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. The building’s new owners are not
renewing the bake shop’s lease and Angie is running out of time to find a new
location. When one of the town’s long-time residents is murdered, Angie finds
herself on the suspect list. With the help of her three sisters and a huge
orange cat, Angie works to uncover the killer’s identity.
This book is available at Amazon.
About ‘Murder So Sweet’ (A Sweet Cove Mystery #2):
Angie Roseland has closed her Sweet Dreams Bake Shop fora few months until she can move the shop to its new location. Her sister,
Ellie, has just opened a bed and breakfast in Sweet Cove and Angie is helping
her run it. Their youngest sister, Courtney, has a part time job at Finch
Confectioners where the owner is known around town for being nasty and mean.
When Finch is found murdered in his shop, the Roseland sisters, with the help
of two fine felines, are drawn into the search for the killer.
This book is available at Amazon.
Interview with J.A. Whiting:
Tell us a little more about who J.A. Whiting is?
My husband and I live in Massachusetts USA with our
family. I work full time in education as
a speech-language pathologist. Before I
had my children, I worked for about ten years as a computer programmer/systems
analyst and then decided to make the career change. We have two grown daughters who are both
doing their PhDs at Harvard University and it is very nice to have them nearby. We are lucky to spend a lot of time together! We love to travel and have been fortunate to
visit many parts of the United States and different countries in Europe. We like to be outside, biking or
swimming. What we love most is just
being with family and friends.
family. I work full time in education as
a speech-language pathologist. Before I
had my children, I worked for about ten years as a computer programmer/systems
analyst and then decided to make the career change. We have two grown daughters who are both
doing their PhDs at Harvard University and it is very nice to have them nearby. We are lucky to spend a lot of time together! We love to travel and have been fortunate to
visit many parts of the United States and different countries in Europe. We like to be outside, biking or
swimming. What we love most is just
being with family and friends.
Did you always wanted to become an author?
I have loved reading since I was a little girl. It was a life-long dream for me to write
stories and have people enjoy them.
stories and have people enjoy them.
What do you love most about being an author?
I love crafting a tale and immersing myself into the
characters’ stories. I also enjoy
hearing from readers and getting their feedback. I really appreciate my readers and I’m very
thankful that they take the time to read my stories.
characters’ stories. I also enjoy
hearing from readers and getting their feedback. I really appreciate my readers and I’m very
thankful that they take the time to read my stories.
Where do you go to write your books? And where do you get
the inspiration?
the inspiration?
I write at home in our den. It doesn’t need to be particularly quiet as I
am able to pretty much tune out any distractions when I write. I sometimes will do some editing during my
lunch time at work.
am able to pretty much tune out any distractions when I write. I sometimes will do some editing during my
lunch time at work.
Inspiration comes from life experiences and sometimes an
idea for a story might come from something I’ve read in newspapers that gets me
thinking, what if…
idea for a story might come from something I’ve read in newspapers that gets me
thinking, what if…
How did you come to the idea of writing the Olivia Miller
Mystery Series?
Mystery Series?
The two opening scenes of Red Julie had been rolling
around in my head for several years, so I started writing those chapters and
sort of let the story unfold as I went. The Stone of Sadness came about from the
events of my distant cousins’ murders of forty years ago. We’ve always wondered why no one was arrested
and brought to justice for this crime and I decided to put Olivia Miller into
the role of someone who had distant cousins who had been killed and see what
happened if she started to investigate the cold case.
around in my head for several years, so I started writing those chapters and
sort of let the story unfold as I went. The Stone of Sadness came about from the
events of my distant cousins’ murders of forty years ago. We’ve always wondered why no one was arrested
and brought to justice for this crime and I decided to put Olivia Miller into
the role of someone who had distant cousins who had been killed and see what
happened if she started to investigate the cold case.
Your write mystery novels. How did you come to write
mystery and which books in this genre are your favorite?
mystery and which books in this genre are your favorite?
I’ve always enjoyed the mystery/suspense genre even as a
young reader. I like trying to figure
out who the villain is. I also like to
try to understand the human psyche – why people do what they do. What is the motivation for peoples’ actions
and choices?
young reader. I like trying to figure
out who the villain is. I also like to
try to understand the human psyche – why people do what they do. What is the motivation for peoples’ actions
and choices?
I’ve enjoyed books by Lee Child, Sue Grafton, Dennis
Lehane. Recently, I’ve been enjoying novels
by Celina Grace, Melinda Leigh, Russell Blake, and Rachel Abbott.
Lehane. Recently, I’ve been enjoying novels
by Celina Grace, Melinda Leigh, Russell Blake, and Rachel Abbott.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is A Very Long Engagement by French
author Sebastien Japrisot. It is a mix
of love story and mystery, set during and after World War I. I love the main character’s spunk and
determination.
author Sebastien Japrisot. It is a mix
of love story and mystery, set during and after World War I. I love the main character’s spunk and
determination.
If you wouldn’t be an author, what would you love to do?
If I wasn’t writing and working in education, I would
like to study law and work as an immigration attorney to help those people who
wish to make their home in the United States.
like to study law and work as an immigration attorney to help those people who
wish to make their home in the United States.
What are your future plans in writing?
I would like to add more installments to the Olivia
Miller Mystery series. I am currently
outlining a romantic suspense series, as well as a cozy mystery series which
will take place in the fictional seacoast town of Sweet Cove,
Massachusetts. I hope to have two
novels in each series published before the end of the year. My goal is to write novels that people will
find entertaining and enjoyable.
Miller Mystery series. I am currently
outlining a romantic suspense series, as well as a cozy mystery series which
will take place in the fictional seacoast town of Sweet Cove,
Massachusetts. I hope to have two
novels in each series published before the end of the year. My goal is to write novels that people will
find entertaining and enjoyable.
About the Author:
J.A. Whiting lives with her family in Massachusetts where
she works full time in education. Whiting loves reading, traveling, following
New England sports teams, exercising, and being outdoors.
she works full time in education. Whiting loves reading, traveling, following
New England sports teams, exercising, and being outdoors.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
