FATAL FICTION by Kym Roberts Interview

FATAL FICTION
by Kym Roberts

Fatal Fiction by Kym Roberts is a fun new cozy mystery with a sassy southern flair, a most unique pet, very likable (and diverse) characters…
~Reading is my SuperPower

Kym Roberts debut book brings fresh new characters with southern charm and witty fun.
~Shelley’s Book Case

The pace was perfect, the twists are sharp, the hint of romance was just right and the humor was blended throughout the entire story with skilled precision.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

What a great start to a new series! I always love books set in small towns in Texas especially if the author gets the feel of the characters/town right, and Kym does that in this book.
~Storeybook Reviews

What a hoot this book turned out to be. The characters are over the top funny and kept me laughing throughout the book…
~Texas Book-aholic

Fatal Fiction sure did entertain me… Kym Roberts is a great writer, this book flowed so well and went so fast, there were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing.
~Melina’s Book Blog

Fatal Fiction provides readers with an opportunity to visit small town Texas, where girls love their daddies no matter what and the motto is always the higher the hair, the closer to God.
~The Girl with Book Lungs

The barn-as-a-bookstore setting and an armadillo named Princess with the run of the place would have been enough to pique my interest in this cozy, but in Charli I also got a believable, fallible, and perfectly human heroine.
~The Book’s the Thing

Fatal Fiction is a captivating and fast-paced cozy whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer.
~Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Fatal Fiction
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Lyrical Underground (December 6, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1601837325
E-Book ASIN: B01CWYTJVC

Synopsis

When kindergarten teacher Charli Rae Warren hightailed it out of Hazel Rock, Texas, as a teen, she vowed to leave her hometown in the dust. A decade later, she’s braving the frontier of big hair and bigger gossip once again . . . but this time, she’s saddled with murder!

Charli agrees to sell off the family bookstore, housed in a barn, and settle her estranged dad’s debt—if only so she can ride into the sunset and cut ties with Hazel Rock forever. But the trip is extended when Charli finds her realtor dead in the store, strangled by a bedazzled belt. And with daddy suspiciously MIA, father and daughter are topping the most wanted list . . .

Forging an unlikely alliance with the town beauty queen, the old beau who tore her family apart, and one ugly armadillo, Charli’s intent on protecting what’s left of her past . . . and wrangling the lone killer who’s fixin’ to destroy her future . . .

About The Author

Three career paths resonated for Kym Roberts during her early childhood: detective, investigative reporter, and . . .nun. Being a nun, however, dropped by the wayside when she became aware of boys—they were the spice of life she couldn’t deny. In high school her path was forged when she took her first job at a dry cleaners and met every cop in town, especially the lone female police officer in patrol. From that point on there was no stopping Kym’s pursuit of a career in law enforcement. Kym followed her dream and became a detective who fulfilled her desire to be an investigative reporter, with one extra perk—a badge. Promoted to sergeant, Kym spent the majority of her career in SVU. She retired from the job reluctantly when her husband dragged her kicking and screaming to another state, but writing continued to call her name, at least in her head. Visit her on the web at kymroberts.com.

http://www.kymroberts.com/

https://twitter.com/kymroberts911

http://www.ekensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31810

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N

Interview

Where are you from?

That’s a good question! My dad worked for the government, so even though he was out of the military by the time I came along, I’m what we called a ‘government brat.’ We moved every four or five years—which is nothing compared to military families but it still gave me an education about the cultural diversities in different parts of the country.It seems like I identify with every single place we’ve lived in one way or another, but my roots are in Portland, Oregon.

Tell us your latest news?

Let’s see—my son is coming home for Christmas?  ;)  Oh, you probably meant what’s my latest news in my writing career. I’m finishing up the third book in my Book Barn Mystery series, it’s currently titled Perilous Poetry.My editor came up with the title, and I’m kinda digging it. My second book in the series, A Reference to Murder is due out in May, 2017.

When and why did you begin writing?

I read a lot as a kid and when my family traveled, or moved, we would people watch. We’d make up stories about people we saw, or we’d run into characters who were larger than life. Like the time we were having breakfast at a Holiday Inn in the Mid-West. There was a drunk sitting in the corner booth with his arm around a woman.His voice was good, but gravely as it carried through the entire restaurant. My mom was more concerned about trying to block our view of the couple getting to know each other;) With four kids, it wasn’t an easy task. And when she said something to the waitress, we found out he wasn’t just any drunk, he was Johnnie Cash. That sent my sisters into a whining fest to get his autograph. My parents, however, insisted they leave him alone. So, with the aid of the waitress, my eldest sister settled for the spoon Johnny used to eat his grapefruit.

That’s a story I can’t make up, but I found I could make up who the woman was and how she came to eat breakfast with Johnnie Cash. I must tell you; my childhood version was much cleaner than what I would write today;)

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I didn’t ‘identified’ myself as a writer until my second book, Dead On Arrival, A Malia Fern Mystery. But even today, I hesitate when people asked what I do. I normally just say I’m retired. If my hubby is with me, he steps up and tells everyone who will listen.

What inspired you to write your first book?

A golfer? Yup, you heard it here. I didn’t play golf, or even watch golf, but back in the days of my teen years, you had to get up off the couch to change the channel. So, when Wide World of Sports changed over golfing, I sat in my chair and fell head over heels infatuated with Seve Ballesteros—and a romance was born.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I always try to adapt my style to the character’s point of view. When writing romantic suspense, I base the dialogue on my experience in law enforcement. When writing my Hawaiian mystery, I try to instill the island flavor and folklore into my novels. In Fatal Fiction, I had to adapt a southern flavor. I’ve used more turn of phrases in one book, than I have in my entire life. But it wasn’t easy. I take voice notes when I hear something unusual at the store, or when talking to some of my friends who arenative-born Texans. And sometimes I just talk to my character, Charli Rae, and ask her what she would say. Her favorite cuss wordis, “Fuzz buckets.” Where that came from—I have no idea. She said it, and I wrote it.

How did you come up with the title?

My wonderful editor Martin Biro;) The first title was Books to Die for… but that was over used and there were a few to die for’s that had already released in 2016. Martin’s choice was perfect! Again;)

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Talk to your loved ones. So much is lost because of pride and stubbornness. Communication is becoming a lost art in our society; we are happier if we talk to each other and forgive one another. And laugh at yourself and the stupid mistakes you make—we all make them—enjoy them.

What would you like my readers to know?

I write to make people smile, snicker, hopefully laugh out loud. I write because when I was going through the roughest time of my life, an author made me smile. I write because what else would I do at 3am, when my brain won’t shut up with that brilliant idea for a scene—sleep?

Please.Sleep is for the sane, not the writer. ;)

Thank you for having me on your blog, I’ve enjoyed spending time with you and your readers!