Since I’ve been out promoting and talking about my new series, the Minivan Mom Mystery Series, I’ve been asked about being a man and writing mystery for women.
There was a saying I’ve heard dozens of times about how behind every great man is a greater woman. Well, I’m the proof in that one, especially in this series. Without my wife, this series would not have seen the light of day. In fact, my wife is actually getting interview requests of her own. I guess my job is to just write and hush up.
When my wife was pregnant with our kids, I often read What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It’s a great, big book of the worst case scenarios of what could happen when having a child. In fact, by the time you’re done reading it, you’re terrified.
I’m going to write today about what to expect when you expecting the second book in the Minivan Mom Mystery Series.
In the first book, we introduced Eve Bailey and her family.
Ben, her husband.
Delaney, her oldest daughter.
Cody, her only son.
Penny, her youngest daughter.
Then, of course, is the cast of characters from Eve’s enemy, Karen Corothers, to the gossip queen of Marysville, Charlotte Williams.
When I started writing this story, I told myself and my wife that when we got to the second book and there on, I refuse to rewrite the same story.
I wanted each one to be new, different, and fresh.
So, what to expect in the second book (which is titled A Mess to Die For) –
There will be murder. This is a give in. It’s a mystery book. I need to kill someone. The fun part in the second book is that it’s an interesting murder…
Eve will be involved. Without Eve getting involved, there’s no story! In the first book, Eve doesn’t believe what the police are saying. In the second book, it’s Eve’s memory that keeps her involved. She just can’t let it go. She feels tied to the murder and her mind won’t let her rest.
There will be suspense. In the first book, the suspense came directly to Eve, pulling her along within the story. In the second book, the suspense is layered throughout the book in small sets. The suspense hooks all the characters, and the readers.
Kids will be kids. One of my favorite parts of writing this series is writing about the kids. In the first book, Delaney prepared for her big soccer game while Penny learned to speak goldfish, and Cody learned that skipping school isn’t such a good idea. In the second book, the kids are always there, keeping Eve on her toes. Delaney has some troubles with her favorite soccer medal, Penny has a boy picking on her, and Cody just can’t stop fighting with his enemy, Max Corothers.
Messes all around! The title was created from the story. When writing the first book, we had the title from day one. With the second, we were without title until a quarter way through the book when I realized all Eve is doing is cleaning up messes. The messes could be a spilled glass of orange juice all the way to a murder. It’s the true cycle of Eve Bailey and how strong she is as a stay-at-home and how big her heart can be… even though it gets a little dangerous sometimes.
The good news is that A Mess to Die For is slated for a Mother’s Day release. The even better news is that the first book, If Errands Could Kill, is out now and is sitting exclusively on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback form.
Thanks for stopping by and if you enjoy a fast paced mystery, then check out the Minivan Mom Mystery Series.
If Errands Could Kill
by Jim Bronyaur
Up at sunrise to enjoy the quiet of a sleeping household, Eve Bailey gets her coffee, prepares breakfast for her three children, and has a spare tie ready knowing that her husband, Ben, will definitely spill something on the one he is wearing. Their oldest daughter, Delaney, is one game away from moving onto the soccer championships, their son, Cody, skipped school yesterday, and innocent 7 year old Penny is trying to communicate with her goldfish. Eve’s days are that of a typical stay at home mom.
Her typical day changes drastically after she drives Cody to school as part of his punishment for skipping school. Cody’s creepy science teacher, Mr. Jackson, approaches Eve to let her know that her check for Cody’s field trip had bounced. Knowing it had to be an error, Eve heads to the bank to figure it out. While in line, she chats with her mother in law who works at the bank. Then she notices Janet, another bank employee and self-made town outcast, acting very strange at the back counter.
Eve’s concern grows when she is leaving the bank and sees Janet open the gas tank door and then drives away. Against her better judgment, Eve follows Janet. What happens next is something unheard of in quiet Marysville, Pennsylvania.
Janet is murdered in front of Eve’s eyes, and the police find drugs in her car.
Murder and drugs? It doesn’t make sense. Eve is now a witness and determined to disprove the “drug deal gone wrong” theory.
Can she convince the police that she knows who the killer is, save her family, and make it to Delaney’s big soccer game in time?
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I love mystery series and the gender of the author really doesn't matter to me as long as the story is good and I like the characters. This sounds like an interesting series and I'll add it to my list to check out. Good post!
Maria – thanks for reading and leaving a comment!
And thanks to Book n' Kisses for hosting me today. 🙂
-Jim