Monday, April 16, 2018

AGNES HOPPER BETS ON MURDER - Carol Guthrie Heilman - One Free Book


Welcome back, Carol. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I have always loved older people, and that’s a good thing because now I am one. In my Agnes Hopper books I work toward giving seniors a voice, as well as dreams and hopes. Too often, it seems in our hurry-up world, we don’t slow down long enough to listen to our elders.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Two days. When the Lord opened the doors for my husband and I to adopt our daughter, after we had been married for ten years and were told we could never have children. And then four years later I gave birth to our son! Two miracles!

I love miracle stories. How has being published changed your life?
Being published has opened up a new world of fellow authors, readers, publishers and editors. Each one has enriched my life.

What are you reading right now?
Hush Now, Baby by Angela W. Williams, a SC author. Excellent read. A quote by Kirkus reviews: “An adoring view of a childhood nanny . . . that does not disguise the ugly specter of 1950s segregation.”

What is your current work in progress?
Book three of the Agnes Hopper series. Working title: Agnes Hopper and the Arsonists. It’s a cozy mystery.

What would be your dream vacation?
I would love to visit Scotland, Ireland, and Wales and explore some of the small villages, castles, and countryside.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Agnes, inspired by my mother, had to be from a small, southern town. Sweetbriar is a fictional town somewhere in the southeast.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Steve Revis, missionary to the Haitian people for over twenty-five years. Because he has the most amazing stories of God at work.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love hiking mountain and costal trails, cooking up new or favorite recipes for family and friends, and playing cards.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Fear. Lots of prayer before taking the plunge. It takes a lot of courage to begin or to continue writing. I cannot do it under my own power.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Keep a writing journal of ideas, thoughts, and observations. Your many jewels will be there when you need them and God will open your eyes to his hand upon your writings.

Tell us about the featured book.
This is from the back cover.
When Agnes Hopper travels to Beulah Cemetery to inform her late husband, Charlie, of the dire financial pickle she’s in, she discovers the shoeless and quite dead body of Charlie’s best friend laid out on a concrete bench.

Despite the indifference of the local sheriff, Agnes’ nose for trouble smells something foul and she vows she won’t rest her aching knees until Josiah Goforth can rest in peace.

But as she and her sometimes-love-interest, Smiley Abenda, uncover a growing list of suspects and illegal activities in their small town, they must also rally the fellow residents of Sweetbriar Manor to help prevent the sale of their home to a halfway house for female inmates. The antics these senior citizens pull would surely make Charlie roll over in his grave!

Can Agnes curtail her spending and stop the sale while looking for a murderer?
Or will the murderer stop her first?

Please give us the first page of the book.
Agnes Hopper Bets on Murder

Always do right. It will gratify some people
and astonish the rest.
~ Mark Twain
Resolved to calm my jitters, I plunked myself onto Sweetbriar Manor’s porch swing to untangle my thoughts. It didn’t help one iota. Something was amiss. In all my seventy-something years, my intuition had never steered me wrong, like my big toe warned me when bad weather was coming.

No matter what was brewing, my life could stand a little excitement. After I witnessed our former administrator, Miss Johnson, get carted off to the clink—thanks to me—things had been as bland around this retirement home as tapioca pudding.

 Mama always said there’s no use fretting about trials or tragedies lurking around the corner. I took her advice, closed my eyes, and lifted my face to the October sun. A shimmering vision appeared—my dear friend, Smiley, and me waltzing across a shiny wood floor. My red hair, freshly permed and dyed, bounced as we swirled in a cloud of Old Spice. My matching blouse and skirt glimmered like an indigo bunting—a real garage sale find. A flash of red flats completed my outfit as we danced the night away, despite my gimpy knee.
 
The red shoes, modeled on a QVC channel, had not only caught my eye on the sitting room’s television, they had the power to melt my resolve to curtail all my frivolous spending. But what if they’ve been marked down? Surely then I could—

 My daydream vanished like steam from a teapot when the front door slammed. Its beveled glass rattled in protest, and the now-familiar tune of “Dixie” filled the air.
 
Mr. Lively, the new administrator of the Manor, planted himself in front of me, casting a dark shadow with his ample form. As always, he smelled like he had emerged from an old, musty basement. “Learn to carry your cell, Agnes. And turn it on. I don’t have time for these interruptions.”
           
I peered up at his pinched face. “But no one ever—”

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Thank you, Carol, for sharing this book with us. Many of my blog readers love cozy mysteries and humorous books.

Readers, here are links to the book.
Agnes Hopper Bets on Murder (The Adventures of Agnes Series) (Book 2) - Paperback
Agnes Hopper Bets on Murder (The Adventures of Agnes Series Book 2) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

17 comments:

Sandy Quandt said...

Carol, what a cute book. Love Agnes and the way you describe her through her thoughts.

Sandy Q TX

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you, Sandy! Agnes is spunky, much like my Mother. Writing about her adventures ( or misadventures) has been pure fun. Appreciate your kind words.

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like so much fun to read. Count me in.

Linda in CA

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Melanie Backus said...

What a fun book! Thank you for the opportunity. Melanie Backus, TX

Carol Heilman said...

Many thanks to Linda in CA! For some reason a comment box didn't show up underneath your name, but be assured your name is in the drawing for a free book. Thank you for taking the time to participate.

And thank you Melanie from TX! So glad you joined in with a comment. The Agnes series has been fun to write & there's more to come.

Vivian Furbay said...

Sounds like an interesting mystery. Vivian Furbay of CO

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you Vivian for your comment. Something interesting is always happening whenever Agnes is around. And if something is amiss, she is always trying to set things right. Hope you enjoy reading about Agnes and her friends.

Kay Garrett said...

Thank you for the wonderful interview with Carol Guthrie Heilman and for bringing "AGNES HOPPER BETS ON MURDER" to my attention.

Loved her response to the kind of books she writes and to her reasoning. The cover is adorable and the glimpse into the book assured me that this is a book that I'd love to read.

Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
Kay Garrett from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you Kay for your kind response. I hope you will enjoy reading about Agnes & her adventures as she steps in to set things right. I'm working on the third book now & having fun. Good luck on the drawing!

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I think that Agnes sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Blessings!
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you Connie! I love writing about Agnes and her friends. They continue to make me smile and sometimes surprise me. Enjoy!

rubynreba said...

I'd love to read about Agnes! How fun!
Beth from IA

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you Beth for your comment. It is fun to write about a spunky, senior lady who becomes the voice for her friends. Good luck in the drawing!

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me!!
Conway SC.

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you Sharon for leaving a comment. It's fun to write about Agnes' adventures & book 3 is in the works. Good luck in the drawing.

Pam said...

The Agnes Hopper series kind of reminds me of the old Mrs Pollifax series. Fun, quirky and good mystery. Would love to read this one!

Pam in OH

Carol Heilman said...

Thank you Pam! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Agnes has many qualities there were my mother's--spunky, outspoken, and always trying to set things right. I'm having fun with the third book in the series.