I am pleased to welcome author,
Lisa Deckert to my blog!
"I live in a split entry house. From the front door, a short flight of stairs leads up to the main floor and another leads down to a hallway lined with overstuffed bookshelves. One Halloween, I opened the door to two trick-or-treaters, about nine years old. As I offered them candy, one of the boys asked in an awed voice, "Are you rich?" Laughing I asked him why he thought so, and he said, "All of those books!" Afterward, I looked at the paperback mysteries, the old encyclopedia we'd acquired one volume a week at a grocery store, the assorted hardbacks from bargain tables and secondhand stores, and I realized that he's right, I am rich."
Q: Tell us something unusual about you.
A: For 21 years I’ve lived in Alaska. We really do have moose in our yard. Last Christmas, my neighbor hung a fresh
evergreen wreath on her door and a moose ate it, completely ignoring her while
she banged on the window to try and scare it off.
Q: What gave you your start as a writer?
A: I grew in the country with no siblings close in age, so
I spent a lot of time by myself, reading and making up stories. I’ve been an avid reader all my life and
eventually I decided to try writing down the stories in my head.
Q: Have you always known you wanted to write for young
adults?
A: No. When I was
playing with the concept of “They Called it Moosicide” a fictional teenage
character introduced herself to me and offered to star in my book. What could I say?
What has been the biggest inspiration behind your
stories? The thousands of pages of
enjoyment that mystery writers have given to me. I hope create some of that joy for others.
Q: Is Denali’s character based off of anyone one in
particular?
A: Denali is a composite of many young women I have known
over the years, plus a little of just herself.
Q: What has been your favorite part of writing mysteries
?
A: I like working out the puzzle and planting the
clues. The puzzle-solving part of the
mystery has always been my favorite, although I certainly had fun taking the
Hawaiian cruise before I wrote “Trouble Aboard the Hawaiian Paradise.”
Q: What has been your greatest challenge while writing?
A: I’m not mean enough!
When my characters get in trouble, I want to rescue them, not get them
into more trouble. Unfortunately, that
wouldn’t be much of a story.
Q: Where is your favorite place to write; what do you snack
on?
A: I have a nice study with a view of the park and
mountains, although I work through sticky plot twists and dialogue when I’m
soaking in the tub. I sip a LOT of tea.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
A: Write, rewrite, polish.
Make it the best story you can before you send it out into the world.
Q: If you had to pick one author or book that has been the
most influential to you who/what would it be?
A: Agatha Christie, the ultimate puzzle-maker.
Q: What can you tell us about your works in progress?
A: Actually, I’m currently trying my hand at a romance
under another pen name. Afterward, I
have an idea for a murder mystery that takes place in a fictional bed and
breakfast here in Anchorage. I’m
thinking of calling it “Murder at Miss Viola’s.” What do you think?
This collection includes three complete Denali Hawthorne mysteries (also available separately) plus four short stories including never-before-published Where's Emma?
They Called it Moosicide - First a moose in the front yard and now a frozen body. Everyone seems to be writing off Jake's death as a moose attack, but Denali isn't so sure. As she learns more about Jake, she finds that there were a number of people with far better motives for his death than the moose. Can Denali find the real killer?
Trouble Aboard the Hawaiian Paradise - Denali Hawthorne is a lucky girl. Thanks to a generous aunt, she gets to travel far from the icy Alaska winter to spend spring break on a Hawaiian cruise ship, the Hawaiian Paradise. Denali and her aunt have a wonderful time exploring the islands, and on the ship Denali even runs into an old friend, Gwen. But when Gwen is accused of a crime, Denali is driven to investigate. While most of the passengers relax by the pool, Denali uncovers some strange and suspicious activities. Will Gwen drown under the accusation, or can Denali throw her a life preserver before the end of the cruise?
Kidnapped at the Midnight Sun - Things are looking up for Denali's team at the Midnight Sun soccer tournament, but their talented guest player, Tori, has a secret. When Tori is kidnapped, Denali's focus shifts from reaching the winner's bracket to saving her new friend from single elimination.
~ MY REVIEW ~
Reading this mystery collection reminded me of reading The Boxcar Children when I was younger. Lisa Deckert has done a wonderful job of creating a set of charming stories with a classic mystery feel. Her main character, Denali, is your typical teenager with 'insatiable curiosity'. She has a knack for running into strange circumstances. Luckily for her, she also has a knack for deduction. Denali, with the help of her friends, finds the answers to several bizarre happenings, including a murder involving a moose. They Called it Moosicide was definitely my favorite out of the three full length stories included in this collection.
It was a great beginning to the series and allowed the reader to get to know the characters they will be seeing in future books. The collection also includes some short stories and mini-mysteries that were great additions as well.
Each one of these stories was captivating and perfect for a mid-grade or young adult audience. The author has created both situations and characters that are believable and quite enjoyable. It was great that the author was able to keep a lighthearted tone and still portray an intriguing mystery. These stories are ones i'm sure I would have read numerous times when I was younger. I highly recommend these for young teens who like a quirky mystery.
Denali's Mysteries are available on:
Lisa Deckert can be reached at:
LHDeckert@gmail.com
Hi -new follower from Bookblogs. Enjoyed your site. Great interview here. Particularly liked the comment about being rich with her many books -reading certainly does enrich your life, or at least I think so. I love the escapism aspect.
ReplyDeleteSuzy Henderson
http://lowfellwritersplace.blogspot.co.uk/