1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Molly Madison’s barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But when a body is found at Playtime Academy where Molly has brought her dogs to train, she puts her ex-police skills to use tracking down the killer.
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I wanted to move the story beyond the borders of the fictional town of Pier Point where A DEADLY BONE TO PICK took place. I also wanted this story to include other dog sports in addition to agility and introduce Noodle—the Saint Berdoodle with the amazing nose—to Barn Hunt. To make that happen, I set a dog sports business in the inland area of the county. Molly brings her dogs there to train, and a good portion of the action takes place on site.
4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life?
Yes! Half the fun of writing these Molly Madison mysteries is spending time with her and her dogs.
5–What are three words that describe your sleuth?
Smart, loyal, dogged.
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I’ve never been all that coordinated and didn’t take part in gymnastics past the basics. When I delved into that world for PLAYING DEAD, I learned about how hard these athletes train, plus a lot of new terminology—such as kip, salto, tuck, and flic-flac. It’s truly a gravity-defying sport.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go. I find rereading the previous chapter helps propel me forward in the story, and I can’t help tweaking things. That said, I still need to edit the whole thing a few times once the manuscript is complete. Fortunately, I’m one of those people who love revising.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Like Molly, I microwave rather than use the stove, so my food favorites tend toward the simple. Mine is dark chocolate while Molly’s is any of the meals her neighbor J. D. is willing to share with her.
9–Describe your writing space/office!
It’s kind of non-traditional. We have a wonderful view of the bay from our living room, so I set up my desk there. Fortunately, I’m really good at tuning out distractions, so the space works for me.
10–Who is an author you admire?
That’s tough. I admire the work of so many. For years, I’ve loved the work of Sue Grafton and am impressed by how she got all the way from A to Y in her Kinsey Millhone books. Of the people writing today, I adore the work of S. A. Cosby, Lorie Rader Day, Michael Connelly, Rachell Howzell Hall, Paul Doiron, and Margaret Mizushima.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
It wasn’t so much a particular book that changed my life; the pure joy of reading did. Books transported me to different worlds and time periods, both real and imagined.
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
I received an email from my agent, Melissa Jeglinski, saying my (future) editor at Berkley/PRH wanted to talk to me about A DEADLY BONE TO PICK. I did a happy dance then sent back my available times. We talked on a Tuesday (she was lovely!) and I received an offer via my agent the following Monday. After years of honing my craft, writing, and hoping, the actual book deal was very fast.
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
Mystery! I used to read more widely, but I seem to have less and less time to read these days and have been mostly focused on my own genre.
14–What’s your favorite movie?
I don’t have a single favorite, but I do love good con artist and caper movies. Some of my favorites are: A Simple Favor, Ocean’s 8—and all the preceding Ocean’s movies, The Good Thief, Snatch, Out of Sight, and Quick Change.
15–What is your favorite season?
Fall. Yes, there are a lot of oak leaves to pick up, but that’s true all year long. When autumn rolls around, the fog lifts and the sky clears, and the evenings are crisp and cool. Pretty much perfect!
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
My husband and I usually go out for a meal and a movie. But around my birthday, we also get together with a dear friend whose birthday is a week after mine. Pre-Covid we would all take a trip together. Now we’re more likely to hit the miniature golf course, or go to a car show, then out for drinks and dinner.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
My current favorite podcast is #SistersinLaw featuring four lawyers talking about legal issues. I love the rapport between them—plus they do a great job breaking down topics in a way that makes me feel like I understand more than I probably do!
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Vegetarian Thai—but Korean food is a very close second.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
I walk, listen to podcasts, work in the yard, ride my stationary bike, and read. I also like to visit nature artist John Muir Laws’s website and draw along with his archived lessons.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
I’m working on a third Molly Madison manuscript. In addition to tackling a new mystery, it also wraps up the crime that drove Molly from her old home in Massachusetts to her new one in California. Since the story ends on December 18, it’s a bit of a holiday tale, too.
PLAYING DEAD by Peggy Rothschild
Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of A Deadly Bone to Pick.
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.
Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?
Mystery Cozy | Mystery Private Eye [Berkley, On Sale: February 7, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593437117 / eISBN: 9780593437124]
Buy PLAYING DEAD: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow | Walmart.com | Book Depository | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Peggy Rothschild
I grew up in Los Angeles and have been a lifelong mystery fan. After losing our home during a California wildfire, we moved to the beach community of Los Osos along the central coast in 2021 and love all the mist and fog. I’m an avid gardener and am learning which California natives thrive here. I’m a member of Sisters in Crime National and Sisters in Crime Los Angeles.
No Comments
Comments are closed.