Heya Dabbers, here’s another great interview and giveaway! Check out this entertaining interview with mystery genre author Kathleen Valenti. Then go check out the paperbook giveaway of As Directed at the bottom of the post.
A toy company makes a replica action figure of your likeness. What 2 accessories do they include?
“Action Figure Kathleen” would come complete with a cup of coffee that rivals the size of her head and a stack of books that she can’t wait to read. Unless, of course, the Kathleen doll is like one of those giant Barbie heads. Then it would have unkempt hair and spinach between the incisors.
What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?
Fortunately—or unfortunately—I’ve experienced a number of mystery novel-worthy events in my life. In fact, my first two books feature ripped-from-Kathleen’s-life happenings. PROTOCOL, my debut novel, was partly inspired by a computer snafu in which my computer’s hard drive was swapped for someone else’s. 39 WINKS, the series’ second book, was informed by my chronic sleepwalking and the notion of sleep-crime.
Recently, I’ve been receiving packages containing items I never ordered. The packages typically contain no packing slip or receipt, and most don’t list a return address. The items have ranged from bubble making machines to phone cases to a sweatshirt with the statement I’M A CAT emblazoned across the front. The most eerie to arrive was a suitcase. After all of these mysterious packages, I was afraid to open it. What would be inside? Stolen jewels? Smuggled drugs? A body? Turned out it was empty, but STILL. It was pretty creepy.
I later found out that these packages were sent by overseas companies who had stolen our identity through Amazon. It’s a scheme called “brushing,” and evidently it’s a way for companies to build positive reviews by showing that their items were received by verified buyers. I don’t quite see how it pencils out for these companies, but they do it.
I think the idea of strange packages coming from unknown sources could make a great premise for a book. *scuttles off to write the first chapter*
If warning labels and safety features didn’t exist, what would be the likely thing you’d die from?
Okay, I’m not sure what I’d die from, but I did see a warning label that made me die with laughter. It was on the cord of my rarely used clothing iron, warning me against ironing clothes on my body. Good tip.
Is there a genre or literary niche that you feel hasn’t gotten its deserved amount of attention?
I’d also love to see more humor books à la Dave Barry and David Sedaris. The world needs more laughter.
What has been your worst or most difficult job? How does it compare to writing?
Customer service is ROUGH. I think my toughest—or maybe strangest— gig was at a lingerie shop. People tell you all kinds of very personal stuff when buying underthings. All I really wanted to know was whether they had a coupon.
Writing presents its own challenges, of course. It’s a lot of juggling to keep the plot, character, and good writing balls in the air, and it can be a solitary and lonely pursuit. It’s a job for which I’m very grateful. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Who are some of your favorite book villains?
I love villains! In some ways, I find them more interesting than heroes.
I think my favorite villain is Annie Wilkes from Stephen King’s Misery. She’s a stealth-villain. She doesn’t come on the scene with a bomb strapped to her chest or turn her friends into appetizers like Hannibal Lecter (although he’s a great villain, as well). Her villainy—and her mission—come on slowly, like a poisonous fog. King did a fantastic job of humanizing her and giving her a reason for her actions. When I create villains and antagonists for my books, I try to take a page from King’s works. He knows how to build bad guys and gals.
If you could sit down and have dinner with 5 dead authors, who would you invite to the table? What would they order?
I’d invite Agatha Christie (natch), who would order a traditional English tea and share her cucumber sandwich with me. (She’s kind and generous like that.) I’d also have J.D. Salinger who would order ham on rye (ha ha), Sylvia Plath who likely wouldn’t eat anything, Ernest Hemingway who would drink his meal, and William Saroyan who would dine on dolma. I hope all of us could break bread together. I’m sure we’d have much to talk about.
Care to share an awkward fangirl/fanboy moment, either one where someone was gushing over your work…..or one where you were gushing over another author’s work?
Just ONE awkward story? I got a million of ‘em.
A memorable one was when I met the fabulous and talented Hank Phillippi Ryan, whose work I greatly admire and who blurbed my first book. She was making her way from one panel presentation to another when I stepped into her path and said, “I love you. I mean…I love your books. And I loved that you blurbed mine.” I think it went downhill from there. I don’t know. I basically blacked out in an embarrassment-induced psychogenic fugue. I do know that Hank was gracious and wonderful as always.
You have to run an obstacle course. Who do you invite along (living or dead, real or fictional)?
I think I’d invite Lara Croft. I have a feeling she’d be equipped to handle whatever came our way.
Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?
I’m suuuuuper excited to share my latest book, As Directed. It’s the third book in the Agatha Award-nominated Maggie O’Malley Mystery Series. Here’s the skinny:
Book Blurb for As Directed
In the shadow of a past fraught with danger and tainted by loss, former pharmaceutical researcher Maggie O’Malley is rebuilding her life, trading test tubes for pill bottles as she embarks on a new career at the corner drugstore. But as she spreads her wings, things begin to go terribly wrong. A customer falls ill in the store. Followed by another. And then more. The specter of poisoning arises, conjuring old grudges, past sins, buried secrets and new suspicions from which no one is immune. As Maggie and her best friend Constantine begin to investigate, they discover that some of the deadliest doses come from the most unexpected places.
About the Author
KATHLEEN VALENTI is a nationally award-winning copywriter who pens for agencies in Oregon and North Carolina. Known as an adept storyteller who flexes her writing muscles with evocative description, compelling concepts, and emotional connections, Valenti has written for her supper for more than twenty years. She lives in Oregon where she says she pretends to enjoy running. For more information, visit Kathleen at www.kathleenvalenti.com.
Giveaway!!!
Kathleen Valenti and JKS Publicity are offering up 1 paperbook copy of As Directed. US only due to shipping. Do the Rafflecopter thing below or answer these questions in the comments: 1) What villain would you give a happy ending if you could? 2) Do you live in the US? 3) Leave a way to contact you (email, twitter, etc.) should you win. Giveaway ends April 10, 2019, midnight.
Thank you so much for having me! I had a blast!!
It was great having you on the blog! I really enjoyed your answers!