Wednesday, June 19, 2013

IT ADDS UP TO MURDER - D A Featherling - One Free Book

Today's book is a debut novel for author D A Featherling. Remember, Readers, you must follow all the instructions at the bottom of the post to be included in the drawing.

Welcome, Dorothy. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I think all authors, whether consciously or unconsciously, put bits of themselves into their characters. You use things that have happened to you as part of the plot and that’s deliberate. The character traits though tend to creep in and many times you don’t realize you’ve let that happen until after the book is done.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
Hmmm. I’m not a very quirky person physically – I tend to be more quirky mentally and it shows in some of the situations my characters find themselves in – guess it’s that subconscious kicking in!

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I started writing creatively in junior high – I’ve done journalism, technical writing, and business writing for years, too.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love mysteries and suspense, I enjoy humor in romances. I read a lot – sometimes as much as one book a day (I read fast). Fiction, of course.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Oh, some days I think we all feel like a hamster in a cage. If it weren’t for the time I spend daily in Bible reading and prayers, first thing in the morning, I’d never survive. Plus I’m a big “to do list” maker.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
Depends. Sometimes a name will just pop into my mind. When that doesn’t happen, I go to the Social Security website and, based on the age of my character, I go down the list of popular names in that birth year until one “clicks.” When I named Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn in It Adds Up to Murder, I used that method for his first name. I knew he was of Irish descent, so I looked up a list of Irish surnames on the web and searched until I found the right one.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
A lady in my Bible study class several years ago was going through a very rough time in her life. She’d been wanting to ready one of my manuscripts. I printed off a copy of a romantic comedy and gave it to her to read. She must have read continuously, because a few days later she called me and gushed about how good a writer I was and how much she enjoyed the book. She said it gave her a chance to escape her troubles for a while and it had meant everything to do that. To me, that was my first major writing accomplishment.

I so agree that touching a reader deeply is a real high. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
Wow! Never really thought about it -- but probably a cat. I love cats. They are so independent, yet give so much enjoyment to their owners (on the cat’s timetable, of course.)

What is your favorite food?
Not sure I can zero in on a single dish, but I love Mexican food and Chinese food – things with flavor and spice.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Initially it was finding the time to write (which I think challenges most writers). The past few years it’s been trying to spend the needed time at the computer without aggravating my body. With fibromyalgia, as I have, you don’t overdo or you pay for it.

Tell us about the featured book.
It Adds Up to Murder is book one in a series entitled It’s Murder at the Office. Abigail Newhouse’s longtime job has ended due to loss of funding. To pay the bills, Abby begins working as a temporary. Her first long-term assignment at a management company lands her in the middle of murder. She wants to help solve the crime, but isn’t sure if handsome Homicide Detective Nick Vaughn just wants her out of the way to keep her safe, or if she’s a prime suspect. Abby finds her life at risk when she confronts a merciless killer.

Please give us the first page of the book.
The CFO’s expression twisted into a sneer. “You’re a temporary necessity, Ms. Newhouse. Don’t expect much of a welcome.”

I fought the urge to make a face at Viola Grimes. What a horrible woman. How dare she be so rude? I clamped my lower lip between my teeth and tried not to chew.

After ten minutes of exposure to her abrasive personality, I wanted to jump up and walk out of the office, but leaving was a luxury a temp couldn’t afford. Not one with a house payment due in two more weeks.

So, I, a recently laid off university employee, put on my best stoic mask and slightly inclined my head to acknowledge her words.

There’s little else I recall about the interview, which came across more like an inquisition. If I were as mindless and incompetent as she insinuated, I ought to be sitting in a corner babbling and drooling.

I paid polite attention to the do’s and don’ts that spewed from between her thin lips and tried not to focus on her frizzy perm, flabby face, and beady brown eyes.

If her list of rules were an example of what working for Viola Grimes would be like, I was in for a major challenge.

Sounds interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is www.dafeatherling.com  It contains information about my books (my second book, a romantic comedy named Sauce for the Goose, is just out) and more about me by browsing my “Fiction a la carte” menu on the site.

Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing your new book with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
It Adds Up to Murder (It's Murder at the Office) (Volume 1) - Amazon.com
It Adds Up to Murder (It's Murder at the Office) - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

would love to win Angela from KY

Linda Kish said...

I don't think I could work for a boss like that. The book sounds great. I hope I get lucky.

California

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Mary Preston said...

This is a book, & series, I am going to thoroughly enjoy. Fabulous!!

Mary P

QLD AUSTRALIA

holdenj said...

I would love to win this murder mystery set in an office. Thanks for the chance!
Julie in MN

Kandra said...

Sign me up!
kandrajane at bell south dot net

Library Lady said...

I would love to win this book for my Church Library.
Thanks!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida

apple blossom said...

thanks for the chance to win
live in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Sharon Richmond said...

Enter me!!
Sharon Richmond
Blanch,NC.
sharonruth126@gmail.com

D. A. Featherling said...

Hey, Angela,

Here's hoping you have the "luck of the draw!"

Best,

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling

D. A. Featherling said...

Linda,

I think I DID work for someone like that...once...and only for a short time!

Best,

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling

D. A. Featherling said...

Mary,

I hope to have book 2 started soon!
Working on Book 1 of a new series right now.

Best,

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling

D. A. Featherling said...

Julie,

Hope you'll experience the book...NOT the office!!

Best,

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling

D. A. Featherling said...

Kandra,

Enjoy if you win!

Best,

D.A. (Dorothy) Featherling

D. A. Featherling said...

Janet,

If you win, hope it will be your most checked out book!

Best,

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling

D. A. Featherling said...

Dear Apple Blossom,

Love your 'handle'...I may have to use it one of these days!

Best,

D.A. (Dorothy) Featherling

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I enjoy this type of story so very much and would love to read it.

I live in Canada

cenya2 at Hotmail dot com

Pam K. said...

I enjoy mysteries. This one sounds like it has some humor in it as well, so it would be perfect for me. Thanks for the chance to win and for introducing us to D. A. Featherling.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Kansas

KayM said...

I enjoyed the interview. Thank you for introducing a new author to me. I love a bit of humor in mysteries, so this one sounds like a book that I'd enjoy. Thank you for offering a copy.
Tennessee

D. A. Featherling said...

Thanks to all those who've entered. We'll see who wins!

And for those who like humor with their mysteries, I just can't help it (note Series title!). I suppose it really flourishes in my romantic
comedies...but my new mystery series seems to be adding some humor elements as well!

Keep up with me at my website: dafeatherling.com

D.A. (Dorothy) Featherling

Mama Cat said...

Would love to read this! Have worked as a temp in the past, and caregiving is kind of like temping, also - clients can change from day to day. Being a lover of suspense, my mind often wanders to the 'what if's' when in a new environment...blessings! Jeanie in Phoenix AZ

Lourdes said...

Book sounds great even with the intro of that horrible boss.

Lourdes in Long Island

Shopgirl said...

I love mysteries! This looks great! I'm in MN.

Unknown said...

First, I just have to say that I love series books. Second, I love a good mystery. Thank you so much for the giveaway, I can't wait to read it.

Val P
Las Vegas, Nevada

rubynreba said...

Congrats on the debut novel! I wish you much success as a writer. I would love to read this.
Beth from Iowa

Vera Godley said...

Another great opportunity to read a new author's work. Congratulations on the courage to get started! May your pen flow with floods of word-ink and fill the coffers of your purse.

In North Carolina

D. A. Featherling said...

I'm in the process of writing Book 1 in a second series..."Staged for Murder." Hope to have "Murder Outside the Box" out by fall. You can keep up with releaseson my website:
dafeatherling.com

Best,

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling

Unknown said...

Sounds interesting

Tonja in Virginia