Dorothy Featherling talks about her books...

What book(s) are you sharing this time?

I’m actually covering two books in the same series today. They are romantic comedies – one of the genres I love to write. I developed the “Second Time Around” series several years ago, believing there is an interest in stories about folks who have had a broken relationship due to death, divorce, or other circumstances. Many men and women have this happen today – in fact, we’ve probably all been there at one time or another.

Even though the series does not continue with the same characters in each book, the premise is applied to all the books – either through a female or male character.

Book 1 is “Sauce for the Goose” – Here’s the back cover copy:

“The girl has got to go!

 To save her son from a romantic mistake, Laurel Edmonds renews some former relationships of her own. Complications abound when new beau Mike Hudson is added to the mix.

 Her romantic dilemmas, her plot to save her son, and worries about her mother, aka the Bus Queen, force Laurel to cope with a fake engagement gone real, a surprise wedding, and a confession she never imagined she’d have to make.”

 Book 2 in the series is “Kissing Frogs” – Back cover copy:

“Until she decides to look for a husband, Em Snider is so-o-o-o in control of her life. But her trip on the internet matchmaking highway soon shows her that she can’t control the journey.

 Her first encounter is a warning. There are toads out there! A Christian internet matchmaking service provides Em a chance to discover Prince Charming, if she can survive the shocks.

Em is soon ready to quit, or will true love still come about in a way she never dreamed if she’ll quit stepping on the brakes and let God be in control?”

Both books have a surprise ending (at least I hope it’s a surprise) that readers will hopefully enjoy.

 What are you working on now?

At the moment, I have a manuscript out for critique for Book 1 of a new mystery series I’m writing – the “Staged for Murder” series. The series takes home stager Ari Ames and places her in precarious circumstances, complete with dead bodies, as she pursues her staging career. Book 1 is “Murder Outside the Box.”

I’m also editing two other books – Book 3 in the “Second Time Around” series – “Double Trouble”, and Book 1 of the “Out of Time” series (a futuristic suspense series) entitled “Time Out.”

 What do you do in your spare time?

What spare time?  Seriously, there isn’t a whole lot of it…but my first choice for a pastime is always reading! (No surprise there?) I try to read in my genres and also re-read some of the classics I’ve enjoyed over the years. Some of those bygone authors told a great story so I can learn from them as well as be entertained.

 I also like to spend time with my going-on-9-year-old grandson when possible and with my sisters who all live fairly close by.

 How can fans find you on the Internet?

I have a website:  www.dafeatherling.com and it will keep fans abreast of what I’m working on and what’s published and when.

 I’m also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/D.A.Featherling - please ‘like’ my author page for continuing up-to-date info about what’s going on.

Dorothy Featherling's "It Adds Up to Murder"

Title: It Adds Up to Murder (Book 1 of series “It’s Murder at the Office”)

Cover blurb: Abigail Newhouse is forced to work temporary jobs to make ends meet. She discovers that while the jobs can be murderous, there aren’t usually dead bodies involved. Abby isn’t expecting crime at her first long term assignment, but when it occurs, she wants to help. Will Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn believe that – or is she his main suspect? Abby soon finds sleuthing has placed her in deadly peril when she finally confronts a merciless killer face-to-face.

How did this story come to you?
My last ‘real’ job was as the administrator of a physics research center at a major university. I was trying to come up with an idea for a mystery (I just wanted to see if I could write one – I write in multiple genres and had never tried a mystery) so the thought came to me…what would happen if someone had a supposedly secure job, but then lost it through no fault of her own? I couldn’t remember ever reading a book of any kind that featured a temporary worker so I thought that was an original twist and left the door wide open for sequels. I decided to make Abby take temporary jobs and then have to face the issue of every time she changed jobs, she got involved in another murder? I decided a logical hero was a police detective and Nick Vaughn was created. Their relationship would develop throughout the series as well. Book 2 will be started soon and I’ve found I LOVE writing mysteries!

Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My journey to publication has taken a while. I began writing about 10-12 years ago and at first went through all the throes that a beginning writer does. I read, attended seminars and conferences, etc., essentially tried to learn the craft. Some family issues and health issues intervened after a couple of years and the writing went on the back burner. Several years ago I decided to have my own home staging business and I’ve done that for more than four years. Just recently, I decided to go back more to the writing since that’s always been my passion and have been working on that since. For me self-publishing seemed the most logical way to go due to having limited time available and I’ve done that and am pleased to have two books published and a third ready for publication.

Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
 I’ve written seven novels and am publishing them one at a time, in multiple genres.
I won a national award for writing in a mystery suspense category in 2007.
I still enjoy re-reading some of my favorite “children’s” books like “The Lost Prince,” “The Little Princess,” “Swiss Family Robinson and have copies on my bookshelves.”

What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Right now, I’m about ¾ through with my second mystery series “Staged for Murder.” I hope to have it published in the fall. It’s about a home stager who keeps running into murder in houses she stages. Working title is: “Murder Outside the Box.”

Parting comments?
Since I love writing humor (several of my romantic comedies and a novella are humorous in nature), I hope to incorporate that at some point more in a mystery series. I strive to do things differently…not give readers the same plots, twists, and expectations as everyone else in a genre. Hopefully, I can keep that up.

Where can fans find you on the internet?
My author website is: www.dafeatherling.com
I also have a Facebook author page”  https://www.facebook.com/D.A.Featherling