Good morning! Please help me welcome author Roxanne Dunn to the blog today with her debut novel, MURDER UNREHEARSED! When I read through the information she sent me about the book, I was sold, and I think you will be, too. Roxanne brought along with her the hero of the story, hottie lawman, Matt McCrae, and her heroine, actress Heather Shelton. But before we meet them, let's hear a little bit about MURDER UNREHEARSED...
Blurb ~
When aspiring young actress Heather Shelton jumps in the car with her dog, Bear, and flees to her family’s mountain cabin to escape an untidy romance, all she wants is peace and time to study for auditions. What she gets is murder. The only witness of a savage killing – and squarely in the crosshairs of a ruthless assassin – she is injured and left for dead.
Heather knows handsome men are bad news, but hottie lawman Matt McCrae’s smile gets her every time, until he leaves her hanging out as bait to trap the killer. McCrae promises to protect her, but fails, and she faces killer alone, with only Bear to help.
I work for the government. I’m not going to explain what I do. Not yet. No one, not even my mother knows who signs my paychecks, and it’s better that way.
How did you meet Heather?
We met over a dead body, sort of. The body wasn’t actually present. It was at the bottom of the lake. Heather was the only one who knew it was there, and she wasn’t thrilled about it. In fact, she was pissed because it had the audacity to get killed in her secluded little cove.
What was your first impression of her?
My first impression of Heather came long before I met her. I
live in Seattle’s funky Fremont neighborhood. Among other great things, Fremont
is home to a little repertory theater where Heather volunteers and I have
season tickets. She also performs, and although she’s never had a leading role,
I always want to jump up and shout “brava!” when she’s there because she upstages
everybody. I don’t know how she does that, but I find it irresistible. Several
times, I made up my mind to invite her out for a glass of wine, but chickened
out. I couldn’t get up the nerve to go backstage and find her.
What do
you like about Heather?
I’d have to say what I like most is her spunk. She’s had some tough challenges, but she sticks to her principles, and fights her way through with everything she’s got. Secondly, I never have to wonder where I stand with her. She tells me right up front when she thinks I’m being a butt.
If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?
Bake. First thing in the morning I’d start some yeast
breads, maybe enough for a couple of baguettes and then a nice, round
pumpernickel loaf. I’d keep them cool so they rise slowly all day. That helps
develop the flavor. While they proof, I’d get going on my famous
chocolate-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, maybe a pie or two – peach pie in
the summer – and a rich, moist chocolate cake with raspberry cream filling,
frosted with ganache.
And now for Heather's turn...
What was your first impression of Matt and did it change over
time?
The first time I met him, I thought he was a professional scuba diver. He looked totally athletic, and I embarrassed myself by staring at his muscles. I probably drooled, too. The next time I saw him, he looked so different I didn’t recognize him. I was confused, and he wouldn’t explain, so I didn’t know if I could trust him. After all, he could have been one of the killers.
Is there anything about your hero that you would consider a flaw?
Yeah. He lies, for a good cause, he says. But he lies and he does dangerous things. I’d be a lot happier if he did something normal for a living. I worry that he might not come back some day.
Has life handed you any major disappointments?
My little sister died when I was eight, and my mom blamed
me. So, I developed a habit of running away from situations that felt
unpleasant or scary. Grandma Garnet used to warn me that if I kept running away
from my fears, I would run into something worse. She was right. I ran away from
a handsome man and right into a scene set for murder.
Yes, you did! Why don't we share an excerpt from MURDER UNREHEARSED...
Excerpt ~
Matt stopped. His mouth hung open for a few beats. “What are you doing here?”
The darkest parts of me, those that I kept stuffed way down inside surged to the surface. My face burned with indignation. I was Kate the Shrew at her best. “How dare you! You and your pretty little Disneyland fable. You kiss me and tell me you liked it. You say you are my biggest fan. You pretend to bare your soul. You think I can’t figure out what’s going on? All you want is for me to believe that you’re a good guy, so you can leave me hanging out for a pack of wolves. So I can end up as dead as Mariella. Well, damn you all to hell!”
Slick as spit, Matt reached out and took my hands. “It’s not like that.”
I wrenched away. “Keep away from me, you – you Judas!”
Author Bio ~
I am a physical therapist, a foodie, a fanatic about good chocolate, and a private pilot. I lived aboard an old wood motor yacht for seventeen years, and in my dreams, I’m a pianist of renown, an acceptable water color artist, and a globe-trotting yogini. Please visit me at www.roxannedunn.com or www.facebook.com/roxanne.dunn.127.
I love your picture! Thanks for joining us today and giving us the down low on MURDER UNREHEARSED! Come back any time!
Buy Murder Unrehearsed here ~
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DHJ6TG7/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-unrehearsed-roxanne-dunn/1137387167?ean=2940162985846
https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/murder-unrehearsed
and via my website: www.roxannedunn.com
Find Roxanne here ~
www.roxannedunn.com
https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.dunn.127
https://twitter.com/roxanne_dunn
Thanks for joining us today, Roxanne. And best wishes on all your writing endeavors!
