Author Interview- Misty Simon

Happy Monday readers.

I am so excited about today's guest and was beyond thrilled 

when she agreed to be guest, because I truly LOVE her writing. 

Please join me in welcoming author Misty Simon to the blog and be sure to read on as I give a review of her Ivy Morris Mysteries at the end.

It's so nice having you here Misty, 

tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.  

Affable, Banter-y, Chipper

What are your three favorite things? 

Thunderstorms, Reading and Writing

Are you self- published or with a publishing company (if so, which one?)? 

I publish with The Wild Rose Press and have two novellas out with Harlequin

Is there a process you stick to, or do you just write as it hits you? 

HA! Don’t let any of my friends read this! I do try to stick to a process. It doesn’t always work but I make the effort J I mind map the concept of the book first, then longhand scene ideas. I then try to put them into some order, usually on note cards and from there I create a timeline of sorts. It gives me a place to look to see if there are plot holes. There usually are and then I have to go back and fix them. At this point I usually put it aside, write the last book I mapped out and then come back fresh to fix things. I plot the next one, write the one I fixed and rinse and repeat.

How much is your character like you? 

More than anyone will ever know…

Music is a big influence on my writing. I have certain songs that inspire each chapter, or the whole book. What helps to inspire you? 

I also listen to music when I write. I don’t tend to look for certain songs as I try not to pay attention to the lyrics or I end up writing them. Believe me, it’s happened and then I only found them in editing. But I have certain genres or bands I listen to depending on the mood of the scene I’m working on.

Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books? 

There will be more books! This is the third in the previously published Ivy Morris Mysteries series and I have five total that will come out and then it’s on to new ones! I’m very excited to bring Ivy back. The first is tentatively called Hoedown Showdown and I’m having a blast with it!

(This author is doing her happy dance. I will be first in line to get my copy!!!!!)

When writing, which do you prefer to write with, computer or paper and pen? 

Depending on which stage I’m at I use them all and highlighters and colored pencils and markers and notecards. Really I’m just a terror in any stationery store.

Bio:

Misty Simon loves a good story and decided one day that she would try her hand at it. Eventually she got it right. There’s nothing better in the world than making someone laugh, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband, daughter and three insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at misty@mistysimon.com

Links:

www.mistysimon.com

facebook: www.facebook.com/misty.simon.18

Twitter: @MistySimon

Blurb:

Ivy Morris never thought she'd be walking her new stepmother down the aisle to her father. Not a flawless event, because, really, when is anything in Ivy's life flawless? At least she avoids tripping. It's the reception that has the flaw.  The wedding singer nearly chokes to death on a glass of water, and then Ivy's sister finds something unexpected in the parking lot.

And that's not all. Something odd is going on in the sleepy little town of Martha's Point — for some reason, no female under the age of fifty can keep her hands off Ivy's boyfriend. Ivy's little shop enjoys a tremendous increase in business as those women keep running in to buy more new sexy lingerie, but her heart is anything but happy.

What will it take to solve these mysteries? Is Ivy up to it? Well, she's about to find out.

Excerpt:

“I wonder what’s up with Shelley.” Bella freshened her lipstick, which looked like it had been chewed off. Had she done that herself, or had her new squeeze, Officer Jared, done it for her? I really envied her freedom to do whatever she wanted whenever the mood struck her.

“It’s like an epidemic today,” I said. “Some woman at the dress shop sewed up most of my dress wrong and I could barely fit into it. When Sarah, the owner, finally got hold of me, she gave it a couple of tugs and, voila, it fit like a dream. I don’t get it.”

“I wouldn’t worry. Let’s get you taken care of as best we can and get back out there. I left Jared with a very strained expression on his face, and I don’t want it to go away before I’m good and ready.”

Bella, the eternal sexpot. I wished I could call myself the kettle.

Instead, we went back out to the table with my hair pulled into a messy but chic ponytail. Thank goodness Bella had a pair of earrings in her purse that hung almost to my shoulder. They made the stubby ponytail look a little less fourth grade and more fancy college co-ed. I hadn’t done anything with the degree I had received other than be an admin assistant, but I could look the part, I guessed.

When we arrived back at the table, Ben rose from his chair and helped me into mine. He could be a gentleman when he wanted to be. Not that he was a complete jerk at other times, but he did have his moments of over-the-top arrogance.

Buy Link: Misty Simon : The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Review for Ivy Morris Mysteries

                First, let me start by saying I am a tremendously HUGE fan of Misty Simon’s, Ivy Morris Mysteries Books. (As if you already couldn’t tell by my excitement). Don’t get me wrong, her other books-Making Room at the Inn and What’s Life Without the Sprinkles?- are all equally fabulous, but there is something special about Ivy Morris.

                Misty has crafted such a wonderfully vibrant character, that while I’m reading, I find myself many times wanting to jump up and yell, “You go girl! That’s my Ivy!”

            

    We first meet Ivy in Book One, Poison Ivy where she’s been given a chance to find herself. I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t read it yet, but I will say Ivy moves to a new town, where she’s not well received. Finding a supportive new friend in hairstylist Bella, who bring a little color into Ivy’s brown life and catching the attention of town stud, Ben, Ivy’s life is looking up. Until one of her new friends is murdered, thrusting Ivy into the role of detective.

                A logophile (that means lover of words- I had to look it up), Ivy has a grand appreciation for seldom used words and I literally feel like every time I open one of her books, that my vocabulary expands by leaps and bounds.

               

                Book Two, The Wrong Drawers keeps the ball rolling when Ivy is framed in the murder of Bella’s high school friend and things between the besties become a little rocky. To make matters worse, Ivy’s dad is playing interference where her romantic life is concerned.

                Now, not only does Ivy have to prove her innocence, she has to contend with a raging case of the bedroom blues!

                Something’s fishy in Martha’s Point, VA in Book Three, Something old, Something dead, and once again Ivy Morris finds herself smack in the middle of it.

                A dead wedding singer, a covert town plan to sabotage her relationship with Ben, and a gorgeous stranger who makes Ivy think twice all make for a fast-paced and fun read that will leave you wanting more. And I am so glad there are more to come.

Side note: I read Book Two and Three in one sitting!!!!!

Each book gets a rousing 5 hearts. Do yourself a favor and grab your copies today.