TBR welcomes Lorrie Unites-Struiff

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Lorrie. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Lorrie: Well, I hail from Pittsburgh, Pa. I’m an, ahem, older broad that finally found time for writing after retirement and the empty nest syndrome. I have one daughter—my other daughter passed away—and seven grandchildren I’m very proud of. I stay young by hanging out with them and my young author friends.

TBR: Tell us about GYPSY BLOOD and where it's available.
Lorrie: My latest release is Gypsy Blood, available at BookWeLove and Amazon.

Available  on Amazon.

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt.
Lorrie: I’d like to introduce you to Homicide Detective Rita Muldova.

This book is for you mystery, thriller, paranormal, romance lovers out there. I included a little gypsy lore I’m sure you’ll find interesting..

I’ve had quite a few tell me they couldn’t put the book down. Try it. Lol. It’s very inexpensive. I write to entertain readers.

Homicide Detective Rita Moldova has a secret, a crystal amulet from her Roma bloodline that allows her to see the last image a victim had seen in their eyes before they died. Now, a ritual killer is terrorizing her town and the crystal’s magic has suddenly stopped doing its job.

FBI agent, Matt Boulet, is sent to lead the task force and gives the group strange orders. Worse, Rita senses he is holding back a deep, dark secret about the killer.

When she confronts her seer mother’s advice, she learns another secret about their clan that she finds impossible to swallow.

Rita swims through a whirlpool of confusion as the investigation continues. Can Rita deny the lore of the ancients? Can she deny her growing feelings for Matt Boulet?

TBR: What inspired you to write about the theme?
Lorrie: I’ve always been interested in gypsy/Roma lore. I found the research absolutely fascinating. I’ve learned so much that I had to include customs and such into the book.

TBR: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Lorrie: Definitely a punster. I’m what you would call a “layerer”. Ha, I just made up a new word. I write the bones, then I go back and layer. On every rewrite, I layer more. I’ve tried working with outlines but most times my characters want to take off in a different direction. So I go with the flow.

TBR: How do you develop your characters?
Lorrie: Strictly from my imagination. Most times, I like to throw odd characters together and see what trouble they will get into. I have a book being released in the fall where I threw an old west sheriff together with a cute monkey. Talk about trouble, it’s there.

TBR: Any tips or tricks for world building you’d care to share?
Lorrie: I’d love to learn how to world build and admire authors that do it well. Moi? I’ll stick to the one I know, lol, this one.

TBR: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Lorrie: I’d invite Della from Gypsy Blood. She is a detective, Rita’s best friend, but most of all, she tells it like it is. A straight shooter, loyal, and fun. One day I may write a book with Della as the main character.

TBR: While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
Lorrie: All the fascinating lore of the Romany people. Some quite scary and some beautiful. Their customs and beliefs are truly wonderful. To me, anyway.

TBR: Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others.
Lorrie: My setting takes place in today’s world. I used many places of where I live, although I gave some fictional names. I did build a theme mall. I think what really makes it different is how close knit the Roma community is, and of course Rita’s magic heirloom that has been passed down through the maternal generations.

TBR: What's next for you?
Lorrie: I have a series due out, and another book in the fall, the sheriff and the monkey, titled “A Heap of Trouble.”

Let me share a bit about them with your readers if you have room on the blog

Being released within the next two weeks,The COD club series with BTGN.

Story 1&2 will be included in the first book.

Come and meet Winnie Krapski who hugged a cherry tree during a lightning storm. The bolt slammed her, splitting the tree in half. The near-death experience bestowed her with a gift–one she’d rather not have.

Drafted into the C.O.D. Club (Call on the Dead) by Fat Phil Phillips, her mission is to grant the newly deceased’s ghost one last reasonable request. Can Winnie honor her oath?

Well, she tries, but not before she lands in humorous situations that almost get her killed. She’s one spunky broad.

I hope you try a copy and look forward to more of Winnie’s adventures.

I’ll put the real cover up and release date soon.

Also coming this fall from MuseItUp, A  Heap of Trouble.

      Cole Walker, Sheriff of Cold Creek, has more woes than he can handle.  He thought chasing rustlers would be the worst of his problems, until the newly arrived, Mattie Wells, jingles his spurs with a smile, and he falls head over heels for her.

 Cole's fear of critters comes to light when a runaway monkey named Beggar takes a liking to him. He remembers when his pa's hound dog left teeth marks on his butt when he was just a tyke.

         But, Mattie thinks Beggar’s adorable, so what’s a man supposed to do? Now, he’s forced to put up with the little fur ball...uh...ringtail monkey even when the furry thief starts stealing the townsfolk’s trinkets.

          The rustlers roaming the hills, stealing the Double J’s cattle are a mighty puzzling crew. JJ blames the farmers and an all out war is in the making.

      Trying to keep the peace between the farmers and the cattleman, Cole and his deputies, Wade and Sully, have their hands full. Mayor Farley gives them a month to find the thieves before calling for outside help.

Mattie has a dark secret and vows never to marry. While harboring a secret of his own, Cole pushes to pry out her secret in hopes of changing her mind.

       Cole chases Mattie, the rustlers, and Beggar in a town full of fun characters and chaos.         

Can he bring the rustlers to justice, peace and order to Cold Creek, the townsfolk’s loot back to their rightful owners, and win Mattie’s heart?

      Yep. Cole has a heap of trouble on his hands.

TBR: Any other published works?
Lorrie: Yes, many short stories that you can see on my website.

TBR: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Lorrie: Challanging—the promoting.

Most rewarding is when someone tells me, “Hey, you can really write good books.”  That one still surprises me because all I do is write to entertain readers.

TBR: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Lorrie: “You have to write a sequel.”

TBR: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Lorrie: Why, Cate, you are one of my favorite authors. I’ve read all your novellas. Plus Ginger Simpson, she does have a way with words I envy. And of course Marva Dasef. Really too many favorites to name or we’d have this whole blog covered.

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Lorrie:  http://struiff.wordpress.com/

Come on over and see what’s cooking.

TBR: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Lorrie: I write across the board with genres. I guess it depends on what mood I’m in. What do you think is the biggest selling genre today?

TBR: Readers, Lorrie will give away a PDF copy of Gypsy Blood, or one of the short stories I have listed on my website, whichever they prefer, to one lucky commenter. She'll pick a winner next week and announce the winner here. Be sure to leave your email address so she can contact you.

Thanks so much for visiting TBR, Lorrie. All the best to you!