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BLOG TOUR - A Different Kind of Reunion

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SHANNON MUIR’S THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF!

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A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery) by Joanne Guidoccio

About the Book

A Different Kind of Reunion (A Gilda Greco Mystery) Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 23, 2018) Paperback: 236 pages ISBN-10: 1509220380 ISBN-13: 978-1509220380 Digital ASIN: B07BSTTNS2

While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.

Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.

Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?

Interview with the Author

What initially got you interested in writing?

While sitting in high school English class (circa 1973), I dreamed of writing the great Canadian novel. Instead, I followed the conventional advice of the times and pursued a career in teaching, but in my heart of hearts, I knew that someday I would resurrect that writing dream. In 2008, I took advantage of early retirement and devoted my second act to writing.

What genres do you write in?

I write cozy mysteries and paranormal romances.

What drew you to writing these specific genres?

A certain fantasy element exists in all cozy mysteries: the sleuth always solves the case, justice is served, and all loose ends are tied. During my cancer journey, I needed and wanted a tidy ending, so I found myself devouring two to three cozies a week. Partway through chemotherapy, ideas started to percolate for my own cozy.

When I signed up for a series of workshops offered by science fiction author Sarah Totton, I toyed with the idea of writing fantasy for boomer women. Not wanting to feature witches, werewolves, zombies, or other dark creatures, I thought back to my childhood and recalled my favorite fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. I came up with a contemporary storyline featuring an older protagonist.

How did you break into the field?

I wrote the first draft of A Season for Killing Blondes during my “cancer” year. An integral part of my therapy, writing that novel helped me survive and thrive during the most challenging season of my life. When I retired three years later, I spent a year editing and polishing the manuscript.

While querying, I wrote the first draft of Between Land and Sea, a paranormal romance abut a middle-aged, ex-mermaid) in three months time. I was thrilled when Senior Editor Debby Gilbert of Soul Mate Publishing offered me a contract in 2013.

A year later, Rhonda Penders of The Wild Rose Press picked up A Season for Killing Blondes.

Three more books followed: The Coming of Arabella, Too Many Women in the Room, and A Different Kind of Reunion.

What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?

Reinvention is a core theme of my own life. A cancer diagnosis at age 49 and a decision to retire at age 53 prompted me to reassess my life goals. An avid reader, I searched for fiction and nonfiction literature that would help me navigate these uncertain waters. And then I decided to write the books I wanted to read. I’m hoping that readers will be inspired and motivated by the second acts of the older protagonists, who populate my novels.

What do you find most rewarding about writing?

I look forward to writing the first chapter and giving life to the characters. That initial spark of an idea may percolate for several days (sometimes weeks), but the real thrill occurs when I sit at my computer and start writing.

What do you find most challenging about writing?

A linear pantser, I write brief character sketches, plot the first three chapters and the last, and then let the words flow. At some point, usually around Page 80, I encounter the murky middle, that nebulous place where I find it difficult to continue or sustain the tension of the novel. In short, I’m lost with no clear trail or direction in sight.

In the early days of my writing career, I struggled to regain my motivation, wondering if I should abandon the novel. Thankfully, I have discovered several strategies that have lifted me out of the abyss.

What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?

Experiment with different genres while discovering your own unique voice. Sign up for a creative writing course—online or offline—that exposes you to short stories, children’s and adult writing, creative nonfiction and poetry. Search until you find a warm, supportive environment where your words can flow freely. And, most important of all, enjoy the journey.

What type of books do you enjoy reading?

I have eclectic tastes and love to curl up with women’s fiction, historical fiction, cozy mysteries, memoirs, psychological thrillers, and self-help books. I enjoy reading Louise Penny, Ann Patchett, Maeve Binchy, Julia Cameron, Joanna Trollope, Anna Quindlen and Adriana Trigiani. I’ve just finished reading and highly recommend The Wife by Meg Wolitzer.

Is there anything else besides writing you think people would find interesting about you?

I am controlled by a bird clock. Each hour, one of my feathered friends, among them the Downy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Horned Owl, chirp and remind me to pace myself.

What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?

I have a Twitter account and a Facebook profile. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Goodreads, and Pinterest, or you can get in touch via the Contact Form on my website. Feel free to connect – I’d love to hear from you.

About the Author

In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews have been published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Where to find Joanne…

Website: http://joanneguidoccio.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

Buy links:

Amazon (Canada) Amazon (United States) Kobo Indigo Barnes & Noble iTunes The Wild Rose Press

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 30 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 29 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 1 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 1 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 2 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW