Q & A & Giveaway: Pamela Grandstaff, author of Rose Hill Mysteries

Today it is my pleasure to welcome Pamela Grandstaff to Pudgy Penguin Perusals. Pamela has been kind enough to answer a few questions about her new series, The Rose Hill mysteries.

Pamela has also been most generous in agreeing to give away 8 books. You read that right. EIGHT! Are you pumped yet? Good. Me too! Lets visit with Pamela for a bit and then we'll get to the giveaway.

Kaye: When you started writing, did you intend to write a series?

Pamela: After I finished the first book the second one immediately started writing itself in my head. I had the same experience when I finished the second one, so I guess I’ll keep going as long as that happens.

Kaye: What made you decide to self-publish?

Pamela: I tried the traditional route for a year but couldn’t get an agent to look at Rose Hill. I’m not a Buddhist, but this has definitely been an exercise in letting go of the attachment to outcomes. As soon as I quit defining success in traditional publishing terms I found I could enjoy the process for what it was: fun creative stuff I got to do. I designed the covers and created a blog, a web site, and a book trailer. I had a blast learning to do those things.

Kaye: Your web site and the photos on your blog are gorgeous. I've included links so people can visit. Now in your book, Police Chief Scott Gordon is not a typical macho cop. Tell us a bit more about this character.

Pamela: When the series begins Scott’s just been promoted to the position of chief and is not at all prepared to deal with the kind of criminal element that emerges in Rose Hill. His instinct is to protect the people he cares most about, but they have a tendency to break the very laws he is supposed to uphold.

Kaye: So Maggie gives him a really hard time?

Pamela: Maggie Fitzpatrick’s kind of a mess, and I love that about her. She continually embarrasses herself and lashes out, but she genuinely cares about her family and friends. As a bookstore manager I was a very repressed, polite person who was obsessed with good customer service. Bookstore owner Maggie, on the other hand, throws teapots and has a banned customer dry erase board of shame. Living vicariously through her character is very satisfying.

Kaye: I laughed out loud at Maggie's encounter with Gwyneth when she put her on the "board of shame". Too funny! Maggie’s close relationship to her cousin Hannah is fun. I liked their interactions with each other.

Pamela: Hannah keeps Maggie from taking herself too seriously. Hannah’s always there for her but she’s not afraid to call her on her bad behavior.

Kaye: Do you have a favorite character to write?

Pamela: Gwyneth and Caroline Eldridge are the most fun. Gwyneth is a snobby, pretentious pill and her sister Caroline is an obnoxious new age dabbler. I’ve known plenty of each, but writing them also allows me to make fun of those aspects in myself. It’s easy to get carried away with a new belief or a certain way of doing things and then want or expect everyone else to do the same.

Kaye: Rose Hill is very much a typical small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Did that come from personal experience?

Pamela: Let me put it this way: where I grew up I never had to spell my last name when I ordered pizza. My father’s family was a large one of nine brothers and a sister and most of their families lived nearby. There was always someone around who loved and cared about me, but I also had a large, devoted audience for every mistake I ever made. Now I realize how lucky I was, but I couldn’t wait to escape it when I was a kid.

Kaye: I know what you mean. I grew up in a small town too and couldn't wait to escape. What do you hope readers enjoy about Rose Hill?

Pamela: I’ve met the nicest people through these books. When people get excited about what you write it’s very encouraging. My favorite books are like places that I want to visit again and again. I hope that readers enjoy visiting Rose Hill and want to come back for a visit.

Kaye: When will the next book be out?

Pamela: I hope to publish one every fall, so Iris Avenue should be out in September 2010. I’ll tinker with it for the next several months and then hopefully I’ll reach a point where it feels done.

Kaye: One book every fall! Wow, that should keep you busy. Thank you Pamela for sharing your thoughts with us today. We wish you much success with your series. Pamela's website can be found here. You can read an except of the book and get a good feel for the characters. Pamela's blog is here. You can find some of the most gorgeous pics on her blog. I kept scrolling through older posts to see them all.

Now for the giveaway details: Pamela is being most generous in giving away 4 autographed copies of Rose Hill and 4 autographed copies of Morning Glory Circle to 4 lucky winners. Each winner will get a copy of both books.

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Deadline to enter is Feb. 23rd at 5 PM. Good luck!