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Interview with Nikki Andrews

1/4/2014

14 Comments

 
Picture
January is crime month here on my blog. I’m interviewing two authors of novels with crime themes each week. Today I’ve got Nikki Andrews, author of Framed, a cozy mystery set in a New Hampshire art gallery, to stop by. Thanks for being my guest today, Nikki!

~Thanks for hosting me, Audra. It’s a pleasure to be here. 

How do you get in the mood to write a cozy mystery? Any special music, snacks or other rituals?

~Ooh, I like that idea. A bag of dark chocolate M&Ms, please, and a pot of that yummy chocolate black tea from The Cozy Tea Cart. No, I don’t put on any music, as I prefer to write in silence. For my cozy mysteries, I need to find that special blend of anger at injustice and a hint of lightheartedness. Murder is the ultimate injustice, of course, and silliness is everywhere. Come on--a man terrified of frogs? A clue hidden under a pile of bear poop? To help with technique, I usually read a little Evanovich and/or Agatha Christie before I get started.  

What’s the most challenging part about writing a mystery?

~Knowing the outcome yet not letting my characters--or the reader--know it until the end. I usually start out with a good idea of what will happen and I write toward that conclusion. Then I have to rewrite backwards, hiding the clues and adding red herrings. 

What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

~Sitting down and doing it. No, wait, that’s my least favorite part, judging by how hard it is to get me in the chair and writing. Once I do apply the bum gum, however, I really love watching the ideas and scenes in my head become words on paper that I can share with others.  

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

~When the staff at Brush & Bevel follow clues in a long lost painting, they learn art is not the only thing that can be Framed. 

THIS or THAT:

Agatha Christie or James Patterson?

~Christie, of course

New Year’s Resolutions or Bucket List?

~Bucket List. Dreams are way more fun than objectives.

Perry Mason or Matlock?

~Jim Chee (Tony Hillerman’s Navajo Tribal Police novels)

Dexter or Hannibal Lector?

~For pure evil, The Master in Doctor Who. Okay, that’s TV. I cheated.

Where can we learn more about your books?

~My website: www.nikkiandrewsbooks.com

~My blog: www.scrivenersriver.blogspot.com. 

Framed is available on Amazon in ebook and print, and you can also buy it through The Wild Rose Press.  

A Thousand Words, a sequel to Framed, is in the works.


14 Comments
Nikki Andrews link
1/4/2014 08:53:02 pm

I'm thrilled to be here, Audra. Thanks for hosting me.

Reply
Jacqueline Seewald link
1/4/2014 09:08:50 pm

Very interesting interview, Nikki! Your new novel sounds like one I really want to read. Congrats!

Reply
Nikki Andrews link
1/4/2014 10:49:18 pm

Thanks, Jacqui. Audra asked great questions.

Reply
Graeme Brown link
1/5/2014 01:47:20 am

Hi Nikki,

So good to see the launch of your cozy mystery now out, and I LOVE the title of the sequel ;)

Reply
Elizabeth Delisi link
1/5/2014 04:10:57 am

Terrific interview, Nikki, and a wonderful book. Though I'd have to vote for Perry Mason. ;-)

Reply
Nancy Means Wright link
1/5/2014 06:26:42 am

Great interview Nikki. The new cozy sounds wonderful--just right for a cold winter's read in New England!

Reply
Nikki Andrews link
1/5/2014 08:12:14 pm

Thanks for stopping in, Graeme, Liz, and Nancy. It's good to have you join the party.
Graeme, we'll have to have a joint launch one of these days; A Thousand Words, A Thousand Roads.
Liz, I love Perry Mason, too, but the stark beauty of Hillerman tips the scales for me.
Nancy, these long New England nights are perfect for curling up with a book or two.

Reply
Ashantay Peters link
1/5/2014 09:28:15 pm

I enjoyed the interview and wish you much success with your release! Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. My vote's for Matlock, though Mason is good, too! And Christie is always a go to -

Reply
Nikki Andrews link
1/5/2014 11:52:08 pm

Thanks, Ashantay! I like Matlock and Mason, but Jim Chee is a guy I could go for. I like cozies because they don't keep me awake at night. <g>

Reply
Peter H. Green link
1/5/2014 11:32:30 pm

Good questions, Audra, giving us real insight into Nikki's technique. Nikki, I'm looking forward to reading it. Judging by our current Midwest deep freeze, it will probably be very soon.

Peter Green
Crimes of Design
Dad's War withthe United States Mariens

Reply
Nikki Andrews link
1/5/2014 11:56:19 pm

I hope you're warm and snug, Peter. I'm just glad I'm not crossing Temple Pass in the next couple days--the cold snap is headed our way.

Reply
Audra Middleton link
1/6/2014 08:43:39 am

So glad you all stopped by! I think Framed sounds like a good read as well!

Reply
Kathy McIntosh link
1/7/2014 04:46:23 am

Framed sounds like a fun read! Your approach, mixing murder with a little whimsy, sounds like mine, and I love your explanation.
Audra, I like the either/or questions! Fun.

Reply
Nikki Andrews link
1/7/2014 04:57:43 am

Framed was a hoot to write, based on my 9 years as a picture framer. Although I dealt with a lot of artists, none of them ever turned up murdered...yet.

Reply



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    Audra Middleton is a somewhat neurotic and terminally sarcastic author and mother of three from Washington State.

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