3/20/2015

Get Lost in a Story has a special guest- author Maggie Toussaint #romanticsuspense


Get Lost in a Story welcomes writer 
Maggie Toussaint to our blog!

Let's get to know Maggie a little more: Southern author and Low Country native Maggie Toussaint is published in mystery and romantic suspense, with six titles in each genre. She also writes science fiction under the pen name Rigel Carson, and her first book, G-1, has just released. Dime If I Know, a Cleopatra Jones mystery, won the Silver Falchion Award for Best Mystery, while her romances claimed top honors in the National Readers’ Choice Award and the EPIC eBook Award. 
It’s 2065 and Earth is beset by locusts, plagues, and earthquakes. Tensions escalate as food and water shortages destabilize governments. A secret society poised for world domination hunts for the keystone, an object of great power. The Chameleons have already murdered in their quest to acquire the keystone, and now they believe brilliant and reclusive scientist Zeke Landry has it.
Zeke’s Institute bosses want answers ASAP on the water crisis, so they supply Zeke with a souped-up robot named Forman. Zeke knows water can’t disappear, but the data suggest that improbability. When Zeke’s uncle drops off the grid, Zeke and Forman suspend the water analyses to find the missing man. A routing snafu sends Zeke’s travel pod into the clutches of his enemies.
If Zeke doesn’t rise to the challenge and assume his late father’s mantle as Guardian, chaos will reign. The clock is ticking, for Zeke and the world...
Read an excerpt from G - 1 here: EXCERPT

Find G - 1 at: AMAZON

Vicki is scrubbing palms in anticipation of the Q&A: 
Vicki:  I’m a huge handbag girl. What is your favorite accessory? 

Maggie: I have a thing for handbags and shoes, but my favorite accessory is a scarf. I just don’t feel dressed without one. I hope people see someone with a scarf and think, oh, is that Maggie? I’m a sucker for bright colors and a variety of fabrics. You would be surprised at how much room scarves can take up in a closet!
Vicki: I love scarves too, but probably don't have as many as you!

Vicki: How often do you get lost in a story?
Maggie: I get lost in every story I read, that’s the cost of doing business. If I’m not getting lost in it, I don’t finish the book. I love being an armchair traveler and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. It’s safe and entertaining, and generally a heck of a lot cheaper than travel.

Vicki: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Maggie: I really enjoyed The Three Little Pigs because I liked to read aloud the part of the Big Bad Wolf: “I’ll HUFF and PUFF and BLOWWWWWWW your house down.”

Vicki: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Maggie: Snoopy. Is there any character cooler than the original Joe Cool? I also wish I had cool aviator goggles like Snoopy.
Vicki: I have three large Snoopy prints. I love Snoopy!

Vicki: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
Maggie: My venture into science fiction is merely the same style of writing as is in my mysteries and romantic suspense novels. The biggest difference is that the timeline occurs 50 years from now. We keep hearing today about global warming and drought and who’s in charge of the world, among other issues. I don’t consider myself political or a-political, but I wanted to solve the current day mysteries of our weather and authority. To do that, I set my eco-mystery in the future where I would have a little more influence over the course of events. You won’t find heavy duty explanations and weird sounding words in my science fiction, and there are a few laughs embedded in the story for good measure.

Vicki: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
Maggie: I wander around my house in a stupor. There’s the rush of euphoria that the first draft is done, but I know my books are far from finished at that point. A lot more elbow grease is needed. But THE END means coming up for air, noticing that the housework has been waiting for my attention and that the laundry is seriously reproducing. Once I treat myself to something special (a walk, a boat ride, lunch out on the town), then I read a few books because even though my characters are fresh in my mind, I want to divorce them for a short while. But not for long! Within a few days, I’m back at the task of polishing and looking forward to the joy of submitting to my editor.

Vicki: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children? Maggie: My mom really emphasized reading when I was a child. Maybe it was a good way to keep me occupied. I would plug into a book and literally not move until the story was finished. (Gosh, I still do that!) Anyway, I developed a strong love of books, and as I stated earlier, I loved reading fairy tales aloud. When my kids came along, we piled up in bed and read books every night just before bedtime. I let the kids pick out their favorites, and it became such a treasured part of our lives. I’m happy to report that all of my grandkids have a library of books at their fingertips and they enjoy the adventures found in the pages. I’d love to take credit for that, but truthfully, I passed on my mom’s love of reading to my kids, and they are sharing with their kids. Reading is important for so many reasons, not the least of which is allowing yourself to dream and imagine.

Contact Maggie/Rigel at: email for maggie and email for rigel   
Find Maggie/Rigel at: Maggie's website and Rigel's website  


UP NEXT: My next book, Bubba Done It, Book 2 in my Dreamwalker Mystery series, will release in ebook on May 20 and in hardcover on June 10 


PREVIOUS RELEASES: Got covers of your previous releases you’d like to promote? Don’t forget to send the jpeg if available.

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS or do you have a promotion you'd like us to link to?

Maggie: I would love to give away three copies of G-1 to commenters. It’s available in Kindle format only at this time. Please leave your email in the comments to be eligible for the drawing.

IF MAILING: I’d like to specify US only for the e-book. 


GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS? Do you fall in love with a book because of the story or the characters?


16 comments:

  1. Vicki,

    I'm so pleased to have this opportunity to return to Get Lost in a Story Blog. I love talking about writing and sharing this huge adventure with friends and readers. Writing is the most demanding and enjoyable profession I've undertaken, but it's also in my blood. No matter what type of book I write, my goal is to entertain the reader and hopefully keep them guessing until the end.

    Looking forward to spending the day here fielding questions.

    Maggie Toussaint
    writing science fiction as Rigel Carson

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Maggie! I'm so happy to hostess you today, too. Hugs!

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  2. I love this blog. The questions are entertaining and different..well done.
    Maggie T. has a sense of humor that has always attracted me. My sense of humor borders on sarcasm, but hers is just downright funny. I hesitated about her venture into science fiction (I learned these authors don't like the term Sci-Fi, so I always write it out)--but G-1 still has her stamp on it, her brand of writing. Everyone can enjoy this story...and definitely get lost in a futuristic world. Anyone named Zeke, you know will be our kind of hero.

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  3. Hi Celia,

    Thanks for your endorsement! I loved answering the questions here because they were not in the same vein as many interviews. The name Zeke sounds like it could belong to a gunslinger in one of your western romances, LOL! Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment.

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  4. Maggie, I love snoopy, too. He's so cute. Lately, I've taken to Grumpy Cat. She's so grumpy, she's cute. At least to me. :) I'm looking forward to reading your story. I love a good sci-fi and I love the blurb for G-1.

    Smiles
    Steph

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  5. Hi Stephanie!

    You are no Grumpy Cat! With all you manage to wring out of each day, you're more like a Wonder Woman, LOL. But I bet to your boys you are Joe Cool since you active in their lives. I appreciate your comment, and I'm so glad you came over to Get Lost in a Story. I'd forgotten that you wrote science fiction, along with your other genres. Now that I think about it, I'm sure I read something of yours with a spaceship. Have a great weekend!
    Maggie

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  6. mainly the characters

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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    1. Hi bn100,

      I enjoy stories with rich characters as well. Who can ever forget Scarlet O'Hara, Sookie Stackhouse, or Hannibal Lector? People remember richly layered characters long after the story is done, sometimes even long after they've forgotten the author's name.

      Thanks for commenting! You are entered in the giveaway.
      Maggie

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  7. Great questions and great answers. Maggie is such a versatile writer, and if anyone doubts that, pick up a copy of Rigel Carson's debut novel. It's worth traveling fifty years into the future. Great job, Maggie.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Polly. Versatile. I haven't been called that in years. But I like characterizing my flighty Muse as versatile. It sounds so together and ... upscale. What a boost to my spirits to have such a compliment. Thanks for taking the time to drop by!
      Maggie

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  8. I really do not like blogs - find them hard to navigate - the questions on this one were great and I loved learning more about Maggie - I too am a handbag girl - looking for the perfect new bag for spring/summer - I love to read

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    Replies
    1. Hi Vickie,

      I share your frustration with technology. Forums are my kryptonite. I rarely can find where I should be on a forum. And how cool that we are handbag aficionados! (and thank goodness for spell check fixing that spelling for me.) I hope our paths cross again soon. Thanks for your interest in my writing. If you'd like to be entered in the giveaway, please make sure we have a way of getting in touch with you.
      Maggie

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    2. Hi, Vickie Dailey: I'm with Maggie on this one-forums. Ick. And fyi, I blog about handbags every Monday. Maggie is sharing on April 13!

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  9. Hey! There's still time to enter this contest. Winners will be announced on Monday, March 23. So speak up! I'd love to hear from you.
    Maggie w/a Rigel Carson

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  10. Chiming back in on Monday to announce the winners of the giveaway!

    bn100 is a winner! yay!
    Stephanie Burkhart is a winner! yay!
    Vickie Dailey is a winner! yay!

    I already have emails for bn 100 and Steph. Vickie Dailey, I need your email so that I can gift you a kindle copy of the book!

    Thanks, everyone for the interest in my mystery set in the future!

    Maggie Toussaint
    writing science fiction as Rigel Carson

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