After recently diving into a new suspense series, I was thrilled to get the chance to sit down with the author to chat about her books.
Multi-published author, Brenda Whiteside is sharing the inside scoop on her Love and Murder series where you’ll find suspense, mystery, a western mountain town/ranch life, second chance love, and spicy contemporary romances.
Published through The Wild Rose Press, Brenda’s Love and Murder series consists of five books:
The Art of Love and Murder 2/5/2014
Southwest of Love and Murder 1/7/2015
A Legacy of Love and Murder 3/30/2016
The Power of Love and Murder 12/21/2016
The Deep Well of Love and Murder 6/18/2018
Brenda found the inspiration for this series from her life in Arizona combined with her Native American heritage, her love of coffee, and people in her real-life world.
Brenda said the title for her first book was easy. “The heroine discovers her birth mother was involved in the art world. There is a sinister side to the death of her birth parents. So…The Art of Love and Murder fit. I wanted the phrase Love and Murder in each of the titles. I posted a call out for help to my Facebook friends and from all of their suggestions, the rest of the titles were born.”
The main concept of the Love and Murder series is that in each book someone is searching for a new life to overcome their past. The journey is dangerous and will most certainly lead to love and a new self-awareness.
Four of the books in Brenda’s Love and Murder series take place in northern Arizona. Book three takes a European excursion to Austria in order for the heroine to track down the great grandfather she’s never met.
I asked Brenda to place us in the setting. “Small town, northern Arizona isn’t what most people envision when they think of the western state. Flagstaff, elevation 6,909, is nestled at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks. It’s a college town with snow and cobbled downtown streets,” Brenda said. “The hotel is reportedly haunted. The other major location is Chino Valley. This is a ranching town with plenty of golden prairie and purple mountains. You can see the tips of the San Francisco Peaks in the distance. You have to like small town living for sure. Flagstaff has lots of fun outdoor activities from hiking trails through pine tree country to skiing down rugged slopes. The feel is layback thanks to the college scene and the mountain loving locals. In Chino Valley, if you’re fond of open spaces and clean air, you’ll fall in love with the setting. And the stars that fill the skies in both locations will knock your socks off if you’re a city dweller.”
In this series, each book has its own plot and can stand alone. “The connections are found in the settings and that all of the characters know each other,” Brenda said.
Here’s a peek at some of the main characters in the Love and Murder series:
The Art of Love and Murder
Lacy Dahl/heroine - Lacy is widowed and the second of her adoptive parents has just died. She goes on a quest to find out who her birth parents were. Sheriff Chance Meadowlark/hero - Chance is the sheriff of Flagstaff and is a widower. When he meets Lacy, he discovers his wife’s murder and the vengeance he unleashed are tied to the past Lacy is searching out.
Southwest of Love and Murder
Phoebe Anderson/heroine - Phoebe is divorced and a murder mystery writer. The novel that made her famous—she killed off her ex-husband on paper. Mason Meadowlark/hero - Mason’s marriage ended years ago when his daughter died from crib death. He’s been living the playboy life, hiding his hurt.
A Legacy of Lover and Murder
August Myer/heroine - August owns an art gallery and is excited to comb the castle of her newly found great grandfather in Austria. Inspector Tobias Wolf/hero - In addition to keeping law and order in his Austrian city, the inspector fights an underground resurgence of Neo-Nazism.
The Power of Love and Murder
Penny Sparks/heroine - Penny has been living under an assumed name for thirteen years in order to hide from the murderer that killed her family. Jake Winters/hero - Jake is an ex-drug addict ex-rocker who is keeping his demons at bay although he’s broke and looking for his next life.
The Deep Well of Love and Murder
Laura Jane Katz/heroine - Laura is running from a criminal ex-husband and the belief she doesn’t deserve happiness. Randy Silva/hero - Randy is half-Argentine. His father was a Gaucho. Since losing his love years ago, his land is his family and his lover.
With so many great secondary characters, I asked Brenda if they would receive their own spotlight. “In book one, Lacy’s best friend is Phoebe, the heroine in book two and her daughter is August, the heroine in book three,” Brenda said. “The characters roam in and out of all the books as primary, secondary or minor characters.”
And every good book must have a villain! “Oh, I love villains,” Brenda added. “There is usually more than one villain in each story. There is a major villain, but those supporting villains help create the havoc for the main characters.”
Brenda explained the key elements in her Love and Murder series. “All of the characters are finding love, solving murders, and self-discovery. Although the love and murder are heart-tugging, sexy, and suspenseful, I don’t do graphic.” She then added, “Open the book, immerse yourself in the setting, and be prepared to be entertained. You’ll chuckle now and then, bite your nails often, and for at least one of the books you might shed tears. Readers will have fun, entertainment, and satisfaction of a good story.”
Here’s a little more to entice you into the Love and Murder series by Brenda Whiteside…
The Art of Love and Murder 2/5/2014
Southwest of Love and Murder 1/7/2015
A Legacy of Love and Murder 3/30/2016
The Power of Love and Murder 12/21/2016
The Deep Well of Love and Murder 6/18/2018
Brenda found the inspiration for this series from her life in Arizona combined with her Native American heritage, her love of coffee, and people in her real-life world.
Brenda said the title for her first book was easy. “The heroine discovers her birth mother was involved in the art world. There is a sinister side to the death of her birth parents. So…The Art of Love and Murder fit. I wanted the phrase Love and Murder in each of the titles. I posted a call out for help to my Facebook friends and from all of their suggestions, the rest of the titles were born.”
The main concept of the Love and Murder series is that in each book someone is searching for a new life to overcome their past. The journey is dangerous and will most certainly lead to love and a new self-awareness.
Four of the books in Brenda’s Love and Murder series take place in northern Arizona. Book three takes a European excursion to Austria in order for the heroine to track down the great grandfather she’s never met.
I asked Brenda to place us in the setting. “Small town, northern Arizona isn’t what most people envision when they think of the western state. Flagstaff, elevation 6,909, is nestled at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks. It’s a college town with snow and cobbled downtown streets,” Brenda said. “The hotel is reportedly haunted. The other major location is Chino Valley. This is a ranching town with plenty of golden prairie and purple mountains. You can see the tips of the San Francisco Peaks in the distance. You have to like small town living for sure. Flagstaff has lots of fun outdoor activities from hiking trails through pine tree country to skiing down rugged slopes. The feel is layback thanks to the college scene and the mountain loving locals. In Chino Valley, if you’re fond of open spaces and clean air, you’ll fall in love with the setting. And the stars that fill the skies in both locations will knock your socks off if you’re a city dweller.”
In this series, each book has its own plot and can stand alone. “The connections are found in the settings and that all of the characters know each other,” Brenda said.
Here’s a peek at some of the main characters in the Love and Murder series:
The Art of Love and Murder
Lacy Dahl/heroine - Lacy is widowed and the second of her adoptive parents has just died. She goes on a quest to find out who her birth parents were. Sheriff Chance Meadowlark/hero - Chance is the sheriff of Flagstaff and is a widower. When he meets Lacy, he discovers his wife’s murder and the vengeance he unleashed are tied to the past Lacy is searching out.
Southwest of Love and Murder
Phoebe Anderson/heroine - Phoebe is divorced and a murder mystery writer. The novel that made her famous—she killed off her ex-husband on paper. Mason Meadowlark/hero - Mason’s marriage ended years ago when his daughter died from crib death. He’s been living the playboy life, hiding his hurt.
A Legacy of Lover and Murder
August Myer/heroine - August owns an art gallery and is excited to comb the castle of her newly found great grandfather in Austria. Inspector Tobias Wolf/hero - In addition to keeping law and order in his Austrian city, the inspector fights an underground resurgence of Neo-Nazism.
The Power of Love and Murder
Penny Sparks/heroine - Penny has been living under an assumed name for thirteen years in order to hide from the murderer that killed her family. Jake Winters/hero - Jake is an ex-drug addict ex-rocker who is keeping his demons at bay although he’s broke and looking for his next life.
The Deep Well of Love and Murder
Laura Jane Katz/heroine - Laura is running from a criminal ex-husband and the belief she doesn’t deserve happiness. Randy Silva/hero - Randy is half-Argentine. His father was a Gaucho. Since losing his love years ago, his land is his family and his lover.
With so many great secondary characters, I asked Brenda if they would receive their own spotlight. “In book one, Lacy’s best friend is Phoebe, the heroine in book two and her daughter is August, the heroine in book three,” Brenda said. “The characters roam in and out of all the books as primary, secondary or minor characters.”
And every good book must have a villain! “Oh, I love villains,” Brenda added. “There is usually more than one villain in each story. There is a major villain, but those supporting villains help create the havoc for the main characters.”
Brenda explained the key elements in her Love and Murder series. “All of the characters are finding love, solving murders, and self-discovery. Although the love and murder are heart-tugging, sexy, and suspenseful, I don’t do graphic.” She then added, “Open the book, immerse yourself in the setting, and be prepared to be entertained. You’ll chuckle now and then, bite your nails often, and for at least one of the books you might shed tears. Readers will have fun, entertainment, and satisfaction of a good story.”
Here’s a little more to entice you into the Love and Murder series by Brenda Whiteside…
The Art: When the past and present collide, Lacy discovers her future mired in secrets, threats and murder.
Southwest: Writing murder mysteries is all in a day's work until an obsessed fan brings Phoebe's stories to life.
Legacy: Inheriting an Austrian Castle is an Alpine fairytale for August, until someone begins killing the heirs.
Power: Penny Sparks has secrets that can ruin a presidential contender, got her family murdered…and mark her as the next hit.
Deep Well: A vengeful ex-husband isn’t the only obstacle for Laura Katz and Randy Silva…a high stake, bloody fight for his land threatens not only their happiness, but their lives.
Is there more Love and Murder? “Not that I know of,” Brenda said. “I’m in the midst of writing another series set in Arizona; this time in a town called Joshua that sounds remarkably like Jerome. I’m on book two. Not sure how I’m publishing book one since I’m toying with the idea of self-publishing.”
To learn more about Brenda visit:
http://www.brendawhiteside.com
https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @brendawhitesid2
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Whiteside/e/B003V15WF8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Check out Brenda’s books:
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TRFYV4?searchxofy=true&ref_=dbs_s_aps_series_rwt
Barnes & Noble Page https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Brenda%20Whiteside%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall
Google Play Page https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Brenda+Whiteside
Audible US https://www.audible.com/author/Brenda-Whiteside/B003V15WF8
Audible UK https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Brenda+Whiteside
The fifth book will be in audio before the end of the year.
1 comment:
Love being on your blog! Thanks for the spotlight.
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