Today, I have my good friend Gina Lee Nelson who writes Cozy Texas Mysteries as Rebecca Adler.
Gina and I go way back. And it's awesome that she's also writing about one of my favorite places in Texas...Marfa. She's here today to chat about her upcoming release, the second in her Taste of Texas series.
REBECCA ADLER grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. Drawn to the Big Apple by the sweet smell of wishful thinking, she studied acting on Broadway until a dark-eyed cowboy flung her over his saddle and high-tailed it to the Southwest.
Prior to writing, she always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to her life from dinner theatre in Mississippi to playing a giant Furskin in the New York Toy Fair, plus plays and musicals.
She's currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing the Taste of Texas cozy culinary mystery series set in far West Texas filled with sweet, Southern-fried flavor, delicious suspense, and scrumptious Tex-Mex recipes. Rebecca's alter ego, Gina Lee Nelson writes sweet contemporary romance.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE
Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan is about to serve up some Lone Star justice in this spicy Taste of Texas Mystery.Tourists are pouring into the town of Broken Boot for the annual Homestead Days Music Festival. Opening the celebration at Two Boots dance hall is smooth-talking country singer Jeff Clark, the ex-boyfriend of Josie’s best friend, Patti Perez. When the charming Clark woos Patti onstage in an attempt to rekindle some sparks with his old flame, Josie fears her friend will end up as just one more notch on the singer’s guitar strap.
To impress her editor at the Broken Boot Bugle, Josie and her Chihuahua, Lenny, pursue the singer to Patti’s house, hoping for an interview. Instead, they discover Clark facedown in a bowl of guacamole with a bloodied guitar at his side. With Patti suddenly a murder suspect, Josie must use her reporter skills to find out who had a chip on their shoulder—before the killer double dips....
HERE TODAY, GONE TAMALE
Read a little, Buy the book
In this all-new culinary cozy mystery series, reporter turned Tex-Mex waitress Josie Callahan is about to go from serving queso to solving cases…
After losing her newspaper job in Austin and having her former fiancé unfriend her on Facebook, Josie Callahan scoops up her Chihuahua, Lenny, and slinks back to Broken Boot, Texas. Maybe working as head waitress at Milagro—her aunt and uncle’s Tex-Mex restaurant—isn’t exactly living the dream, but it is a fresh start.
And business is booming as tourists pour into Broken Boot for its famous Wild West Festival. But when a local jewelry designer is found strangled outside Milagro after a tamale-making party, Josie’s reporter instincts kick in. As suspects pile up and alibis crack faster than taco shells, Josie needs to wrap up this case tighter than her tía’s tortillas—before another victim calls for the check…
After losing her newspaper job in Austin and having her former fiancé unfriend her on Facebook, Josie Callahan scoops up her Chihuahua, Lenny, and slinks back to Broken Boot, Texas. Maybe working as head waitress at Milagro—her aunt and uncle’s Tex-Mex restaurant—isn’t exactly living the dream, but it is a fresh start.
And business is booming as tourists pour into Broken Boot for its famous Wild West Festival. But when a local jewelry designer is found strangled outside Milagro after a tamale-making party, Josie’s reporter instincts kick in. As suspects pile up and alibis crack faster than taco shells, Josie needs to wrap up this case tighter than her tía’s tortillas—before another victim calls for the check…
GETTING TO KNOW THE AUTHOR
ANGI: How often to you get lost in a story?
REBECCA: When I’m on a deadline—like now—I get lost in a story about six days a week. I teach theatre during the day, but I’ll often work on my book an hour or two after work. The bulk of my writing is done on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
ANGI: Hugh Jackman or Chris Pine?
REBECCA: Depends on the role. Usually Chris Pine because of the whole James T. Kirk thing.
ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?
REBECCA: Whoa, I had to really think about that one. I would say a couple of the men, young and old, who teach as well as coach at my school. They go out of their way to engage with their students, listen to their problems, give them second chances, and make them laugh at themselves. If the hero can be a woman, I think of Jackie. She’s a young mom, recently separated from her husband due to his addiction. Yet she continues to reach out to the homeless in our huge city, doing their laundry, bringing them healthy food, and sharing the gift of love that still resides in her heart.
ANGI: What's your most favorite thing to do in your state?
REBECCA: Easy one. Eat Tex Mex and visit the mountains and high desert of the Big Bend Country of Texas. It’s so easy to incorporate these things in my series because I truly enjoy them. The cheesy goodness of enchiladas and the big open sky. Both put that spring in my step.
ANGI: What’s your favorite meal?
REBECCA: If I had to pick one, which would be cruel and unusual punishment, I would pick a combo platter of chicken, shrimp, and beef fajitas with a side of seven layer queso dip.
ANGI: What do you like about the heroine of your book?
REBECCA: Of course, all heroines are plucky, but Josie’s got her own mojo. Left at the altar and laid off from her dream job at the Austin Gazette, she’s returned home to Broken Boot determined to make the best of her new circumstances. Instead of hiding under a rock, she’s embracing her small town neighbors, pursuing a job at the local paper, and learning to recognize the right man when he comes along.
ANGI: Sand or Snow?
REBECCA: Sand. I grew up in Florida, so sand’s in my blood. And I love the high desert. As long as I have on a good pair of hiking boots—and it’s not August—I prefer to hike along a rocky ridge in pursuit of a breathtaking vista.
ANGI: What might we find in your heroine's purse?
REBECCA: She’s carrying the smallest purse known to man. Inside you’ll find lipstick, comb, breath mints, and driver’s license.
ANGI: Superman or Batman?
REBECCA: Superman, duh. He doesn’t cover his face or live in a cave full of bats, and he wears those sexy glasses.
ANGI: Would you rather be in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
REBECCA: Hmm. I love fairy tales and I use them to teach drama throughout the year. But I can’t say I find the poor, downtrodden miller’s daughter much to my liking. I would prefer to be fighting for my life or someone else’s instead of being a wicked witch or pampered princess.
ANGI: What’s your favorite rerun on television?
REBECCA: If Big Bang Theory’s on when I walk through the room, I have to stop.
ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
REBECCA: I do have favorite movie experiences. I remember the spectacular rush I felt when I first saw The Matrix, The Bourne Identity, and the new Star Trek with Chris Pine. I was so moved by Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis, I think I saw it three times at the box office, which is rare for me.
ANGI: What drinks or snacks are always on your desk when you’re writing?
REBECCA: Gobstoppers. Tea. Coffee. Baby carrots.
ANGI: Hiking Boots or Dancing Heels?
REBECCA: Hiking boots.
ANGI: Are you a Star Wars fan? Favorite thing about the reboot?
REBECCA: I’m more a fan of the original three Star Wars movies. I think Rey, the new heroine, is the best part of the reboot.
ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What’s one thing from your bucket list?
REBECCA’S GOTTA ANSWER: Visit Italy and sail around the isles of Greece.
UP NEXT for REBECCA
Taste of Texas, book 3
REBECCA is giving away one free paperback copy of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE (North America Readers)
REBECCA WANTS TO KNOW: Is Tex Mex popular in your neck of the woods? And what is your neck of the woods?
Welcome back to GLIAS, my friend !
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angi, for having me today! Seeing those pictures makes me long for Marfa!
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