Saturday 6 July 2013

It's Christmmmaaaasssss!

Well, that got your attention, didn't it? Here's Jay Mims to explain why it's Christmmmaaasssss!



Hello Gentle Readers,

I'm doing a special Christmas in July tour, and Annalisa was kind enough to let me stop in for a chat. So, brew up a cuppa tea, and let’s sit down to talk about characters.

See, I write books. Specifically, I write light-hearted murder mysteries, which are traditionally called cozies. I have two books out The Five Santas and Cult of Koo Kway, and it’s because of the Santa book, a Christmas murder mystery, that I’m doing this Christmas in July extravaganza. That book is ostensibly about a sarcastic, lovable and cynical private investigator Dan Landis, and his quest to save Christmas.

Actually it’s more to keep someone from killing Santa Claus, but somehow I like that saving Christmas angle better. But, here’s the thing: He’s not an island. See, what I feel works about Dan as a character is that he has other people to play off of.

If you've ever read old school noir, classic detective mysteries like The Maltese Falcon or The Thin Man then you’ll know the stoic detective, with his monologuing and inability to commit. Dames are nothing but trouble, and the next person you meet is trying to kill you.

Well, Dan takes that concept, and sets it on its ear. He has a girl Friday, sure, her name is Abbey. She’s also
an Art History Doctoral student, who wears her heart on her sleeve, is kind to animals, and whose pop culture acumen begins and ends with Disney movies.

If you ever want to see a slow burn romance, meaning that the “Will They/Won’t They” relationship is built more along the lines of Moonlighting  or Cheers rather than 50 Shades of Gray, then you should check out my books. Dan and Abbey are a fun pair, and I can promise their relationship is going to have ups, downs, and spin-arounds.

And the really fun part, the part that I enjoy, is that Dan and Abbey are only two characters out of a dozen or so in The Five Santas. You've got smarmy cops, a French floozy, an anal-retentive bureaucratic nightmare, and a six foot tall cowboy named Mortimer. Except everyone calls him Tex. Because when you’re a gun-toting six foot tall cowboy, you can get people to call you whatever you want.

Basically this is a great big fun sandbox that I'm having the time of my life playing in. And you, gentle reader, have an open and standing invitation to come on in. There’s murder, romance, intrigue and your daily recommended dose of heart.

Jay Mims recently got to pet a llama, and it was truly a magical experience. He lives with a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve, and when not writing is learning the mandolin. He writes books and is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter. His next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free to email him here






LINKS:
Goodreads / Smashwords / Facebook / Blog / Twitter

The Five Santas on Amazon and Barnes and Noble
The Cult of Koo Kway on Amazon and Barnes and Noble



a Rafflecopter giveaway

25 comments:

  1. You are so awesome! Thank you so much for the opportunity!

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  2. I refuse to read anything that starts off by telling me it's Christmas in July, For Heaven's sake. Oh all right, seeing as its you - but I'm only glanding through, you understand.

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  3. Why don't comments allow you to edit? I meant glancing. :)

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  4. Sounds like a couple of fun books to read - CONGRATS Jay :)

    And, dare I say it.... Merry Christmas (x 5 :)

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  5. Congrats... really like the sound of your books.

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  6. Thanks for the comments. Apologies for the title of the post, Lizy, I hope you've returned to your summer bliss :-)

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  7. I had a pet llama once - only for about half an hour though as my dad refused to transport it home for me. Can't think why, I'm sure I could have persuaded it to sit still for the drive.

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  8. very fun and I did feel a bit of a chill (though it's over 100 F in Texas). Tough to think Christmas when we are celebrating July 4th (sorry - the colonies did escape but we still love you). Cheers on a fun post and the books sound really good.

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  9. This sounds great!

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  10. Congrats, Jay, and nice to spotlight him, Annalisa!

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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  11. Congrats Jay and best wishes for.your continued success. And as far as I'm concerned, every day is Christmas!

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  12. Aha, Jay,

    Indeed, this seems intriguing how you approach doing your books. Ho ho and what do you know. I wont mention I affectionately refer to Christmas as Boxing Day Eve.

    Good of you to bring this awareness of Jay, Annalisa.

    Gary :)

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  13. Those titles are fun. Christmas in July? Why not?

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  14. Congrats to Jay!!

    And, only 168 more days until Christmas!! :-)

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  15. Great to see more people at my Christmas party! Only 168 days O.E - better get shopping :-)

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  16. Congrats Jay! Wow. This got me all nervous. I like to do my christmas shopping early as well. Thank goodness I still have a few more months.
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  17. Congrats, Jay! Moonlighting was one of my all time favorites!

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  18. so awesome! i'm an author too, love the giveaway!

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  19. Congratulations on the cozies, they sound great, and so does the pet llama, wow !

    Annalisa you host some cool authors!

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  20. Congratulations! Your book sounds fantastic. I love that quirkiness and slow burning romances.

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  21. I could use a blast of cool. Sounds like a great collection of stories. Congrats!

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  22. These look awesome :) Definitely worth checking out!

    Sarah Allen
    (From Sarah, With Joy)

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  23. love jay's descriptions. especially his bio! must check out!

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