1–What is the title of your latest release?
CRUISING INTO DANGER, A Sunny Meadows & Kalli Ballas Crossover
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Fortune teller Sunny Meadows and mind reader Kalli Ballas meet on a cruise ship to Bermuda with their hunky detectives, never imagining they will be cruising into the Devil’s Triangle …Will the couples be able to salvage their two tickets to paradise, or will they end up at destination disaster permanently?
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
My husband and I love cruising, but I wanted to do something different. Being from the northeast, I decided Bermuda with the infamous Bermuda Triangle would be so much fun to explore. The ship sails out of NYC which is close to where both of my series take place, so it was the perfect choice.
4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Yes. Sunny would keep me on my toes, and Kalli would keep me grounded, but both are fun in their own way.
5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Sunny is spontaneous, bubbly, and clever. Kalli is cautious, realistic, and smart.
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
All the facts about the Bermuda Triangle. The history and current beliefs about the Devil’s Triangle are fascinating.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go along. Usually, I write a chunk and then polish that chunk before moving on. I can’t seem to help myself.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Ice cream!!!
9–Describe your writing space/office!
We have four children. They’re all grown now, but I was used to writing on a laptop wherever and whenever I could. Now that they’re all grown, I have an actual office. It’s one of the extra bedrooms in our new house, but I still write wherever and whenever my mood inspires me.
10–Who is an author you admire?
Tonya Kappes. She works extremely hard and really gives back to her readers. She’s also really funny, and I love humor in books.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
The Bridges of Madison County. It’s the first book that made me sob.
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Years ago, I got “the call” while visiting my parents in Florida. I was at the pool with my kids, and my mother came racing over in her golf cart to bring my phone to me. I’d left it at her house, and my agent stayed on the line until she brought it to me. It was the best feeling ever!
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
That’s a tough one. I love to laugh so I love a good rom com or fun cozy mystery. But the older I get, the more I really like emotional, moving women’s fiction.
14–What’s your favorite movie?
I adore any romantic comedy. I hate horror and don’t like movies that make me sad. I want to laugh, and I’m a sucker for romance.
15–What is your favorite season?
Fall! I live in central NY and love the four seasons, but especially fall. The gorgeous colors and crisp air, not to mention apple season! That’s why I include so many festivals in my books. Every season has a festival which keeps life interesting and fun.
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Spending time with my family! My children all have significant others so that means 8 of them plus my husband of 34 years and myself, so that’s 10 of us. It’s pretty special when we can all get together.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I just love reality TV, especially ones that involve romance like The Bachelor and the Bachelorette. I also find it fascinating studying how different personalities interact with each other in shows like Big Brother, Survivor, and Amazing Race.
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Mexican is my favorite, followed closely by Italian.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
I love to travel with my husband, go wine tasting, take a walk in nature, read a good book in front of a fire, spend time with my best friends.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
Next up is MAYHEM ON THE MIND (Kalli Ballas book 5) and after that, I’ll be writing the first book, STONE COLD MURDER, in my spin off from my Sunny Meadows Mysteries. It’s Mitch and Sunny’s grown son and daughter who form a PI team called Stone Investigations in the same town of Divinity. All the same character people know and love from the fortune teller series will still be around…they’ll just be older. To find out about me and all my books, check out my website.
CRUISING INTO DANGER by Kari Lee Townsend
Fortune teller Sunny Meadows and mind reader Kalli Ballas meet on a cruise ship, never imagining they will be cruising into danger…
The cruise starts out with so much potential until a fellow passenger is found dead at sea. Murder on the Palace of the Seas forces the captain to put the ship on lockdown so the killer can’t escape while the investigation ensues. Detectives Mitch Stone and Nik Stevens offer their services, while Sunny and Kalli team up and use their gifts to do a little investigating of the clairvoyant kind.
Mitch and Sunny just want some adult time away from their daughter and son, who are back in Divinity, New York in good hands. While Nik and Kalli are taking their first romantic trip alone together away from their meddling Greek families in Clearview, Connecticut. Chaos ensues, putting the women in crazy situations and the detectives solving more than a murder if they wish to save their relationships.
Will the couples be able to salvage their two tickets to paradise, or will they end up at destination disaster permanently?
Mystery Cozy [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: October 24, 2023, e-Book, ISBN: 9781648395130 / ]
Buy CRUISING INTO DANGER: Kindle | BN.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Kari Lee Townsend
Kari Lee Townsend is a National Bestselling Author of mysteries & a tween superhero series. She also writes romance and women’s fiction as Kari Lee Harmon. With a background in English education, she’s now a full-time writer, wife to her own superhero, mom of 3 sons, 1 darling diva, 1 daughter-in-law & 2 lovable fur babies. These days you’ll find her walking her dogs or hard at work on her next story, living a blessed life.
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