BLOG TOUR – Hare Brained

AdminSeptember 12, 20171 Comment

Hair Brained (The Bad Hair Day Mysteries)
by Nancy J. Cohen

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Hair Brained (The Bad Hair Day Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
14th in Series
Orange Grove Press (September 12, 2017)
Print Length: 342 pages
E-Book ASIN: B072XVHPPH

Was the car crash an accident or a deliberate attempt to run Marla’s friends off the road?
When hairstylist Marla Vail’s best friend is hurt in a suspicious car accident, Marla assumes guardianship of her infant son. No sooner does Marla say, “Baby want a bottle?” than she’s embroiled in another murder investigation. Her husband, Detective Dalton Vail, determines the crash may not have been an accident after all. But then, who would want Tally–or Ken in the car with her–out of the way? As Marla digs deeper into her friends’ lives, she realizes she didn’t know them as well as she’d thought. Nonetheless, it’s her duty as their son’s guardian to ensure his safety, even if it means putting her own life at risk. Can she protect the baby and find the culprit before someone else ends up as roadkill?

Interview With The Author

What initially got you interested in writing?

I love reading, and I wanted to write stories in the same genres I read. I’d been writing poems, short stories, and travel journals. Then I bought a book that taught me step-by-step how to write a novel. That’s how I got started. I wrote six books before I sold one. This was number seven and my first scifi romance. I would say writing is in my blood. I’ve always had an interest in it and used to take notes wherever I went.

What genres do you write in?

I write cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and romance. My Bad Hair Day series has fourteen published titles to date. Earlier, I wrote scifi romance and have eight published books in this genre. As I’ve recently gotten my rights back, I will be revising and reissuing these backlist titles. Plus, I’ve written the instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. Currently, I’m working on number fifteen in my mystery series.

What drew you to writing these specific genres?

I write what I like to read. As a romance reader and a Star Trek fan, I blended the two genres to write scifi romance. Meanwhile, the funny titles on cozies attracted my attention and I began devouring these lighthearted mysteries. Soon I decided this was what I wanted to write. I’d been putting mysteries into the romance novels I wrote, so I switched to a straight mystery series. I like the plotting process where you line up the suspects and figure out their motives, then connect them to each other. It’s challenging to create a puzzle that the reader can solve along with the sleuth.

How did you break into the field?

My first mystery sold within six months of submission. But when I started writing, I wrote six books before I sold one. I credit the Florida Romance Writers and RWA with helping me get published. Once I joined, I got into a critique group and attended my first writers’ conference. That’s where I met my first agent. It’s critical for writers to get involved in the writing community. You learn so much from other authors.

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

I want readers to close the last page of my book with a smile on their face. I hope to give them an emotionally rewarding experience with a fast-paced story and a touch of humor that makes them chuckle. I always say if you want to read something serious, read the newspaper. My aim is to provide escape and entertainment. I also hope they’ll like my hairstylist sleuth, Marla, and will come to regard her as their virtual friend.

What do you find most challenging about writing?

No matter how many books you’ve written, it’s still hard to face that blank page every day. You wonder if anyone is out there reading your books, or if anyone cares. Marketing consumes a large portion of a writer’s time, and this can get wearying. Yet the old adage is true: Out of sight, out of mind. You have to keep up the pace on social media even when you don’t feel like it. Then there are bad reviews that cause self-doubt. The doubt demons are always sitting on our shoulders.

What do you find most rewarding about writing?

Fan feedback is uplifting. Positive reviews and encouragement from readers give me the motivation to keep writing. That’s why I continue to write. When a fan asks when my next book is coming out, I want to write that book for her. A rave review or a reader who can’t wait for my next title restores my confidence and gives me the impetus to keep going with this career. If we can give readers a few hours of respite from their daily cares, we’ve done our job.

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

Be prepared for the long haul. There’s no quick path to success. You have to train for a writing career like you do for any job. Learning is never-ending. Rejection and bad reviews are part of the game. Remember that you love storytelling, and that’s your main purpose. And act professional. Dress for success at conferences. Always be courteous to other industry personnel. Continue to practice your craft.

What type of books do you enjoy reading?

I like genre fiction, anything that provides a fast-paced escape from reality. So I’ll read historical romance, cozy mysteries, historical mysteries, scifi/fantasy, and some YA novels. If a book contains humor and romance along with the suspense, that’s even better.

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

I have a master’s degree in nursing and worked as a registered nurse for ten years. In my youth, I studied ballet, attended modeling school in Manhattan, worked as a nurse’s aide, and liked to ice skate on a local lake. I spent six weeks in Europe after college, travelled to the South Pacific on my honeymoon, and have visited the Orient. Now my travels are mainly Caribbean cruises and trips to Disney World.

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

Sign up for my Newsletter and get a free Book Sampler: http://nancyjcohen.com/newsletter/
Website: http://nancyjcohen.com
Blog: http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJCohenAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nancyjcohen
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91508.Nancy_J_Cohen
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/njcohen/
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+NancyJCohen/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nancyjcohen
Booklover’s Bench: http://bookloversbench.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nancy-j-cohen
Audible: http://adbl.co/2gMlVw1

About The Author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have made the IMBA bestseller list and been selected by Suspense Magazine as best cozy mystery. Nancy has also written the instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. Her imaginative romances, including the Drift Lords series, have proven popular with fans as well. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, Nancy is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets. When not busy writing, she enjoys fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping.

Author Links:

Website: http://nancyjcohen.com

Blog: http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJCohenAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nancyjcohen

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91508.Nancy_J_Cohen

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/njcohen/

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen

Booklover’s Bench: http://bookloversbench.com

Newsletter Sign-Up: http://nancyjcohen.com/newsletter/

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