Chili Con Carnage Blog Tour Interview and Giveaway

 Today I have Kylie Logan here with us to discuss her new book, Chili Con Carnage, which is the first in a brand new series.  Kylie Logan also writes as Casey Daniels for the Pepper Martin series, which is one of my favorite characters.  I enjoyed her new character, Maxie, and I know this is a great start to the series.

1. Tell me about your new release.

Chili Con Carnage is book #1 of the new Chili Cook-Off mysteries.  It features heroine Maxie Pierce who (thanks to a no-good, two-timin’ creep of a rock guitarist boyfriend) decides that she’s done, done, done with relationships.  Besides, Maxie has more important things to think about.  Her dad, famous chili spice purveyor Texas Jack Pierce, is missing, and Maxie and her half-sister, Sylvia, have been called in to run his Hot-Cha Chili Seasoning Palace as it makes the rounds on the chili cook-off circuit.

In a perfect world and a perfect family, that might not be a bad thing. But Maxie and Sylvia have hated each other since the day Maxie’s mother stole Jack from Sylvia’s mom.  Now, Sylvia handles the day-to-day business of the Palace while Maxie dons a gigantic red chili pepper costume and dances out front as the Chili Chick.

Things get even more complicated when Maxie finds the body of a roadie and Sylvia is arrested for murder.  Truth? Maxie actually thinks about letting her half-sister languish in prison.  That is, until her better self kicks in and she decides to investigate and find the real killer.  Then she can get back to finding her father.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?

I credit my agent, Gail Fortune, for sparking this idea.  We were talking and I mentioned to her that my husband had just won a chili cook-off (he’s a great chili cook!). Gail’s reaction was immediate.  “Chili?’ she said. “That would be a great idea for a mystery series!”

3. Did you have to do any research for this compared to your other books?

No matter how easy any idea looks to me from the outside, I always have to do plenty of research once I’m writing a book. Chili Con Carnage is set in Taos, New Mexico and I’ve been there so that part was simple.  But of course, there’s the whole cooking part of the book and how real chili cook-offs work figured into it, too.  A celebrity chef makes an appearance…and I needed to know how cable cooking shows work.  And then there are RVs.  Maxie and Sylvia have one so they can travel from cook-off to cook-off and I’ll tell you what, I didn’t know a thing about RVs!

4. Which authors do you feel have been a big influence on you as a writer?

There are so many! I’ve always loved the writing of the late, great Elizabeth Peters (and her alter-ego Barbara Michaels). I also enjoy the books of Alan Bradley who writes the Flavia de Luce mysteries.  The first-person voice of those books is astonishing and always reminds me how important characterization is to any book.  Then, of course, there is the influence of so many writing friends who’ve shared their time and their talents discussing ideas and brainstorming plots.  Too many to name!

5. What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m finishing up book #2 in the Chili Cook-Off series. It’s called “Death by Devil’s Breath” and is about a contest for the world’s hottest chili.  That sounds easy but of course in Maxie’s world, nothing is, especially when the cook-off is in Las Vegas and the suspects in a murder are a cast of characters that include a magician, a jazz musician, a diva and a wedding chapel owner!

That’s what I’m working on, but there are other books coming out. In December, “Buttoned Up,” book #4 of my Button Box mystery series and in February, “A Tale of Two Biddies,” book #2 of my League of Literary Ladies mysteries.

6. What was the first book you ever wrote?

I started my career writing historical romance and my first book was “Twilight Secrets,” written under the name of Constance Laux.  It’s out of print, but readers can find it on Kindle along with 7 others of my historical romance.

Lightning Round:

Favorite Food?

You know, I actually had to stop and think! I love couscous and veggies of all kinds and really good ribs.  Ice cream…yum!

Morning person or Night Owl?

In between! I don’t stay up really late, but I don’t jump out of bed at dawn, either!

Favorite Candy?

Snickers

The one TV show you have to watch every week?

Have to? Not a one! But I do DVR a few and try to keep up: “Bones,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Downton Abbey” of course!

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Thank you for inviting me, Jennifer! Let me also mention that readers can check out both my websites: www.kylielogan.com and www.caseydaniels.com

About the Author:

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin Mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box Mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (Mayhem at the Orient Express) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Jennifer’s Review of Chili Con Carnage

 TITLE: Chili Con Carnage

SERIES #: A Chili Cook-Off Mystery

CHARACTERS: Maxie Pierce, Sylvia and Nick

AUTHOR:  Kylie Logan

PUBLICATION DATE:  10/1/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Romance is supposed to be the spice of life.  But Maxie Pierce is so done with bad relationships–well, almost.  She just has to get rid of the latest loser, Roberto.  Besides, she has more important things to worry about.  Her daddy, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for nearly six weeks now.  In his place, she must team up with her irritating half sister, Sylvia, to promote the family business at the Taos Chili Showdown, to be judged by celebrity chef Carter Donnelly.

But when Maxie discovers Roberto’s body in the chef’s trailer–only hours after publicly breaking up with him while wearing a giant red chili pepper costume–she suddenly finds she’s the one in the spotlight as the police pepper her with questions. Now this Chili Chick needs to kick up the search to catch the real killer and get back to finding her father……

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I’m a big fan of Kylie’s other series, the Pepper Martin mysteries and Chili Con Carnage is off to a great start.  Maxie Pierce is a cute heroine with a lot of attitude and has had her share of bad relationships.  She is working on the chili cook-off circuit with her half-sister, Sylvia, when she discovers the body of Roberto who just happened to fall out of the celebrity chef’s RV.  Maxie had one miserable date with Roberto but now she is determined to find the killer because her sister, Sylvia, has been arrested for his murder.

I thought this was a great little mystery and I enjoyed learning about the chili cook-off circuit.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to like to Maxie in the beginning but she definitely started to grow on me and I can’t wait to read more about her in future books.  There is a possible love interest for Maxie with Nick, the security guard for the chili cook-off so it will be fun to see where that goes.  Fun mystery and a great start to the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Chili Con Carnage. This giveaway is for US Residents only.  To be entered in the drawing by September 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite spicy food?