Author Mary Ann Jacobs is joining us today for an interview. Her latest novel, Peril in Pittman Book 2 in the Berkshire Mystery Series, is sure to delight fans of cozy mysteries.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Peril in Pittman Book 2 in the Berkshire Mystery Series
Author: Mary Ann Jacobs
Genre: Cozy Mystery
BLURB:
Fear has invaded the small town of Pittman. In this cozy mystery, join the Super Sleuths as they unmask a thief and not one, but three hitmen. Sadie, an immigrant from Lebanon, arms herself to protect her adopted family in her new home. Meanwhile, a journalist is producing a documentary on the allure of small towns in New England. Will the locals see tourists avoid their crime-ridden town leaving the merchants with financial ruin?
Meet the members of the Geezer Book Club and look into the future plans of the characters you first met and loved in Don’t Mess with Me, #1 in The Berkshire Mystery Series.
INTERVIEW:
Welcome! It is my pleasure to feature your novel.
What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
My father’s side of the family was Lebanese. I modeled Sadie after my aunt who I loved. She was a main figure in Don’t Mess with Me Book 1 in the Berkshire Mystery Series, but I wanted more intrigue surrounding her character. Also, at the time that I was writing this, there was much conflict in the news surrounding gun control and ownership, so I thought I would incorporate this political controversy into my book.
Where do you get your ideas?
I am a dreamer and have lived a full life, living in many towns throughout the country and having many jobs, mostly in education. I base my plots on people and places I have experienced.
Do ideas for plot or characters appear first?
The characters always appear first and nag at me to get going on the plot.
A funny thing happened with one of the villains in this book. I had made him the assassin, but one night he appeared to me and refused to be the villain because I had made him too nice. It was so real that I returned to the draft the next day, and sure enough, he was right. He was too nice to be an assassin. I had to completely revise that section. That was weird.
When did you begin writing?
I have written all my life, but never had enough time to finalize my writings because I was so busy. When I retired, I had published only a poem and an essay. I had many children’s books in draft form and pages of poems in a notebook. I also found scraps of ideas for all genres of writing in the many piles on my desk that I finally had to clean up.
How many hours do you dedicate each day towards writing?
Not enough. My free time has become filled with many interesting, but time-consuming activities.
What has been your biggest challenge?
When I retired, I promised myself that I would polish some of my writings and finally get them published. I published several poems and essays, but by the time I polished my children’s books, Covid hit, and publishers weren’t publishing new writers.
During the isolation of Covid, I finally had time to write. After watching many Hallmark movies and reading escapist mysteries, I decided to try my hand at a cozy mystery. Thus, was born The Berkshire Mystery Series.
What project are you currently working on?
Book 3 in the Berkshire Mystery Series is at the brainstorming stage. I am researching agents for children’s books.
AUTHOR BIO:
Ms. Jacobs is a writer, a teacher of Creative Writing, and a writing coach. She has published essays in various publications including Moida Quarterly Magazine, Kentucky Monthly Magazine, Motherwell online, KRTA News, and Teachers of Vision Magazine. She has published poems in various publications including Elephants Never online, SOS Art Cincinnati, and The Kentucky English Bulletin. The Wild Rose Press published her first cozy mystery, Don’t Mess with Me in the Berkshire Mystery Series in 2023. Book 2 in the Berkshire Mystery Series, Peril in Pittman will be published September 23, 2024.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Jill Piscitello 
Sounds like a good read. Much luck with it!
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I love that retirement was really just an opening for lifetime goals for Jacobs. Congrats!
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