Greetings, Noters!
I am so happy to announce that I have completed writing Trending Topic Mystery Book 3! Coco’s next mystery is now in the hands of my trustworthy editor. It’s definitely Coco’s most wild and outrageous mystery to date, but goodness, I had such a blast writing it. After the roller coaster of emotions Coco and her friends experienced in #TagMe for Murder, I hope readers are up for some light-hearted fun…and murder, of course!
As one adventure concludes, another commences. I am officially kicking off publication prep for Over My Dead Blog, Book 1 in the Book Blogger Mysteries. This series has been in the works for a long time, and my lovely readers have been so patient with me. I’m fortunate to get a second chance to edit book blogger Arwen Lark’s story. This manuscript was once ready to go to print, but since so much time has passed, I’m able to revisit Copper Bay, Massachusetts, to really make this book shine. I’ve learned so much about writing and storytelling since this novel was first written, and I’m (hopefully) applying all those lessons now. Be sure to stay connected for all the exciting updates that lie ahead!
My guest this week understands the hurdles writers encounter when working on their book babies.
Without further ado…
A Bit About the Author: Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as a fiction author. Christine currently narrates books for the visually impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston. To learn more about Christine Knapp, visit her online at thoughtfulmidwife.com.
Christine, it’s so wonderful to welcome you to Noteworthy. I’m excited to learn more about you, your books, and your writing. What book made you first fall in love with reading?
I loved reading from a very young age, but I especially remember being totally captivated by the Cherry Ames mystery novels. They were a series of twenty-seven books initially written to encourage young women to become nurses. They featured Cherry Ames, a nurse who practices in various settings but always manages to capture the criminals. I am proud to say that I own a complete set.
Wow! Cherry Ames sounds like a great role model. How did your love of reading evolve into a love of writing? How did you begin your writing journey?
I ultimately became a nurse-midwife and I remember years ago reading an op-ed piece in the American Journal of Nursing asking who would update Cherry Ames. Although I wrote textbooks rather than fiction at that time, I remember thinking it was something I very much wanted to do. On top of that, I was often disillusioned with how nurses and nurse midwives are portrayed in books and film. I had read many stories about historical midwives but these left me wanting to demystify modern midwifery. Since I loved mysteries, I found myself thinking out a plot for a modern midwife mystery.
So, not only did Cherry Ames foster your love of reading when you were young, but she helped shape you as a writer. How cool! So, you’re gearing up for a new entry in your Modern Midwife Mysteries. How was it returning to Langford? What can readers expect in this latest mystery?
I love spending time in Langford. It is the quintessential New England coastal town. Although it's small, murderers seem to thrive there. Murder on the Books finds Maeve discovering the body of Langford's well-loved librarian just before Christmas, and just as she is entering the last weeks of her own pregnancy. As the story progresses, these become increasingly entwined—much to Maeve's discomfort.
Your amateur sleuth, Maeve O'Reilly Kensington, is a modern-day nurse midwife. How did you “meet” Maeve? Why is she the right woman for the mystery-solving job?
Maeve is a combination of some of the finest midwives I have ever known. It was a pleasure to get to know her more fully through these books. Midwives have a keen sense of observation making them perfect crime solvers. They are brilliant in emergencies—remember…Keep Calm and Call the Midwife!
What is Maeve’s best character trait? Her worst?
Maeve is extremely compassionate. Midwife means "with women," and midwives are with women during times of both incredible joy and unbelievable sadness. Sometime's though, her deep compassion makes Maeve too trusting. She needs some of her older sister's skepticism.
What drew you to the cozy mystery genre?
I read anything and everything but there is something about a cozy that always feels like coming home. I especially love small town settings, a woman sleuth, and red herrings. I wanted a modern nurse-midwife to be seen as a valuable professional in that world.
What does your workspace look like? Is there anything you need for a successful day of writing?
An overstuffed chair overlooking a yard of blue hydrangeas is where I write. A side table contains paper, pens, and a cup of tea. After a day of writing…even if not entirely successful, chocolate is always the answer.
What is your favorite, can’t-live-without writing tool?
I found Swallowed by a Whale: How to Survive the Writing Life, edited by Huw Lewis-Jones, to be a real font of inspiration and comfort. It is an anthology of the methods and secrets of sixty writers. My road to being a mystery writer was long and often I would randomly open this book and find exactly what I needed to keep plugging.
I’ll have to check this book out. It sounds invaluable to a writer in need of guidance. All right, for our final question: It’s vacation time. What literary hero do you enlist to be your travel companion? Why?
I would love to travel with Hercule Poirot. I know we would be transported to elegant five-star accommodations in exotic locales. Amazing vistas, art to explore, and delightful dinners. If any trouble arose, Hercule and his "little grey cells" would carry us through—even on a speeding train.
A fine travel companion, indeed. Christine, it was delightful learning more about you and the world of midwives. Noters, check out Christine’s latest release, Murder on the Widow’s Walk, below!
Murder on the Widow's Walk:
Keep Calm and Call the Midwife…
Maeve O'Reilly Kensington is still shaking off last year's shocking events in the quiet New England coastal town of Langford, where she is a modern-day nurse midwife. Her husband Will's catering company, A Thyme for All Seasons, is back on an even keel, and they are now actively pursuing fertility treatment and adoption in the hopes of becoming parents.
Meg, Maeve's older sister and Langford's premier real estate agent, introduces her to Montgomery Livingstone, a Manhattan business tycoon commonly known as the Takeover King. Livingstone is anxious to move his base of operations and his home to Langford, but some community members have grave misgivings about whether his presence will be a boon for the town.
Misgivings that come to fruition when Monty is pushed off a Widow's Walk and falls to his death! Suddenly Maeve and Meg are again thrust into a murder investigation as they attempt to help a seemingly innocent young woman accused of the crime. But it turns out there are many secrets to be uncovered, and once again, Maeve, Meg, and their savvy Boston Irish mother must band together to solve the murder. Maeve races against the clock to bring the killer to justice while caring for her patients and pursuing her goal of motherhood.