​Hi! I’m Joyce Proell, and I write historical romance and mystery.
 
I’m delighted to be here today. Thanks, Audra, for hosting.
 
Joining me today is one of the lead characters of my ‘Truth’ series. My hunky hero is Doyle Flanagan, a self-made millionaire living in Chicago of 1881. While solving the odd murder caper, he doggedly pursues his love interest, the spirited Cady Delafield. 
 
Just to set the record straight, the word hunk or hunky wasn’t used in the 1880’s to portray a sexy, attractive man. More often hunk denoted a side of beef—literally. In those times, a woman might say a man was striking or devilishly handsome. He might be bold and fierce. Or seductive. Tempting. Desirable. All these labels fit Doyle.
 
As I say this, he’s frowning. In spite of all his achievements—his success in business and his generosity to those less fortunate, he’s terribly humble. But please, let’s allow him to speak for himself. Here are a few questions.
 
Doyle, what’s your idea of a perfect man? 
 
Personal perfection doesn’t exist. I recognized this early on, and didn’t spin my wheels trying to attain the unachievable. What’s important is integrity. Give a man character, and he will go far, exceeding the bounds of mediocrity and petty society.   
 
What would you give your love for Valentine’s Day? 
 
I regret to say, I’ve only known Cady Delafield for six months. February was not one of those months. However, my love is a woman who inspires romance. I couldn’t help but surprise her with small tokens of affection. A book of poems by Keats, a silk scarf, chocolates, cookies—yes, she has a sweet tooth. A sapphire and diamond engagement ring brought her to tears. Ha! She didn’t see that one coming! Yet by far, she says her favorite gifts were all the personally written love notes included with each present. She’s kept each one, locked away in a box tied with a ribbon, treasures to be cherished forever.     
 
What’s your greatest flaw? 
 
Flaw? Pardon me while I smile. It’s been suggested I spend too many hours at work. My reply: One never gets to the top of the mountain without great sacrifice and work.
 
What’s your greatest strength?
 
Confidence. Though my detractors call it arrogance. Living without fear of failure allows me to forge ahead, sometimes recklessly, but always with the belief that I can succeed so long as I try and keep striving.
 
Thank you, Doyle, for your candid answers. And thank you readers for joining us today.
 
If you want to read more about Cady and Doyle, you can find them here:
 
Amazon: 
http://preview.tinyurl.com/hw6focb
 
Champagne Books: http://champagnebooks.com/store/index.php?controller=search&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=Joyce+Proell
 
Connect with me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook/JoyceProellAuthor
 
http://www.twitter.com @jproell1 

The villains are taking over - and they're giving away books! Be sure to enter the giveaway. But first, let's hear from Joyce Proell's John Grover Gilbert, from her books:  A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth, and A Wicked Truth.
               
Tell us, John, what is your ultimate goal?

My name is John Gilbert. Some say I’m a villain, and I wouldn’t argue the point too strongly. I prefer to call myself a businessman. Deal-brokering, blackmail, gambling, procurement of women for the sex trade, it all falls under the category of business. Making money, any way I can, is what I do.

What do you see as your greatest obstacle?

It’s not what but who. Doyle Flanagan, the bugger who sold me the railroad shares that went belly up weeks later, is always sticking his nose into my affairs. Seems I just get something good going, and he ruins it. Life would be ideal if Flanagan would pack his bags and get out of town, taking his snoopy girlfriend, Cady Delafield along with him.  

Pick an historical figure and compare yourself to him. How are you alike and different?

Anyone who knows me will see the immediate similarities to Ulysses S. Grant, the eighteenth president of this great country. As a child, people thought he was slow and called him Useless. But like me, he showed them he had the brains and fortitude to be great. He was a military genius and never lost a battle. Don’t pay any mind to his detractors who claim his administration was riddled with scandal, corruption and drinking. We all have enemies. Mine is that bastard Flanagan. He destroyed everything and bankrupted me, same as a business associate did to Grant in the end.

Name a song that would be played in the soundtrack of your life?

“Camptown Races” by Stephan Foster. It’s an old minstrel tune. You’ve probably heard it. It’s a catchy song that goes something like this…
‘Camptown ladies won’t you come out tonight, come out tonight…’
The racetrack, gambling and loose women. Life couldn’t get much finer. It’s what I live for.

Here’s a blurb from A Wicked Truth—the last reckoning between me and Flanagan. And if you’re ever in the vicinity of the Illinois State Penitentiary, stop in and say hello.

The wedding date is set, and life is magical for Doyle Flanagan and Cady Delafield. Yet trouble has a way of finding these two. Honor bound to repay an old debt, Doyle agrees to help a friend find her sister. As he searches for the girl, painful memories surface, stunning Cady when she discovers facts about Doyle’s hidden past.

In spite of incredible odds, Cady and Doyle’s love has flourished. Now mired in tragedy and secrets, their happiness is in jeopardy. Their wits are put to the test when catastrophe strikes close to home threatening those Cady loves the most. Can they overcome the turmoil with a fateful decision that will change their future forever? 

For more information about Joyce and her books:
www.joyceproell.com/
www.facebook.com/JoyceProellAuthor
www.twitter.com/jproell1
 
To buy A Wicked Truth:
www.amazon.com
www.champagnebooks.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.kobo.com
www.ibookstore.com
www.allromanceebooks.com

It’s crime month here on my blog. I’m interviewing authors of crime novels twice a week, so be sure to catch them all! Today I’ve asked Joyce Proell, author of A Deadly Truth and A Burning Truth to be my guest star. Thanks for stopping by, Joyce!

Thanks for inviting me. It’s always fun to talk about books, especially mysteries. 

Tell us a little about your writing process. Are you more of a planner or a pantser?

With a mystery, I find plotting essential. I start with the crime and work backwards. I ask what does the criminal want enough that he or she is willing to kill to get it. I plot out the steps taken to achieve the goal. Just when it seems the murderer might get away with his plan, everything goes horribly wrong and he’s in jeopardy of being found out. In the Truth series, Cady and Doyle stumble upon crimes that threaten their livelihoods as well as them both personally. In order to remain safe and keep their lives on track, they must solve the caper as they can’t rely on the police to do the job.  

If you could have dinner with any detective, fictional or otherwise, who would you choose and why?

That’s a tough question for somebody who reads a lot of mysteries. I’d probably have dinner with Lucas Davenport, the detective from John Sandford’s Prey series as he’s well read, sarcastic and outrageous and lots of fun. If I want a little class Simon St. Cyr would do. And Maisie Dobbs is so terribly insightful and grounded.   

Where did you draw inspiration for your latest crime novel?

For some reason, I love the Victorian era. It’s so atmospheric.  

What’s your latest novel about, in 25 words or less?

A couple struggles to keep their upcoming nuptials on track while trying to stop a nefarious enemy bent on destroying their livelihood and reputation. 

THIS or THAT?

CSI or Law & Order?

Law and Order

In Cold Blood or Helter Skelter?

In Cold Blood

Psycho or Silence of the Lambs?

Both 

Murder by Poison or by Weapon?

Poison as it’s much more devious and requires some knowledge and skill if the murder is to go undetected.

Where can we find out more about your books?

I’d love to have people visit my website: http://www.joyceproell.com or my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JoyceProellAuthor.