We are most pleasedto have Gianetta back with us today.

Her latest novel isnow available and she’s going to share the good news with you.

She’s been a guestbefore and if you missed her previous visit, please go HERE.

Read on, myfriends.

 

 

Gianetta has spent most of her life, like her protagonist Vivien, as atechnical writer and librarian. She grew up in the heady tech boom of SiliconValley, but for the last twenty years has lived a more peaceful existence inSouth Yorkshire, England with her British husband and two or more cats. Sheplays various musical instruments and enjoys watching Hollywood musicals aswell as doing an annual rewatch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and she hopes oneday to be able to afford a seat close enough to the stage to be spit on byJonathan Groff.

 

Title: : A Vivien Brandt Mystery

 

 

Synopsis:

“Wicked stepmother” wasn’t something Vivien wanted on her resume (orher CV).

But six months after moving from California to join her Britishhusband in a quiet Yorkshire village, Vivien and her cat Sydney are confrontedwith a volatile 24-year-old stepdaughter and the sparks start to fly.

It certainly doesn’t help when they join a local protest and a deadbody turns up.

Once again Vivien must work with her enterprising neighbors to solve amurder and clear her family’s name, which isn’t easy when you’re surrounded bythose who “’ear all, see all, and say nought”!

 

The Story Behind the Story:

This sequel to Moved to Murder was already outlined before I finishedthe first Vivien Brandt mystery, Moved to Murder, and was inspired byvarious events in the local press (although not the murder or the corruption parts).While the first book is about Vivien’s culture shock directly after moving toYorkshire, this one is more about adjusting to her new family situation and herburgeoning career.

Because I was fictionalizing actual events, it was also an adventurein what could and couldn’t be said without alienating my local audience, sowe’ll see how that goes!

The writing itself flowed better this second time around, but it alsorequired more research into the functioning of local British politics, thearcheology of South Yorkshire, and issues related to step-families; researchwhich I enjoyed immensely. You can take the librarian out of the library, but…

I hope everyone enjoys the result.

Website: Please go HERE.




A question before you go, Gianetta:

Scribbler: What has been the most enjoyable about your writing journey? The least enjoyable?

Gianetta: I love love love the plot creation and the writing, working out the puzzle of how the murder happens, how it is solved, and where there are red herrings (and how the story will involve the cat, of course!). This is why I decided to spent my retirement not really retiring, because I enjoy what I’m doing so much.

But as with most of us introverted author types, the marketing isn’t something I look forward to (except when people like Allan make it so easy and I don’t have to put makeup on or comb my hair). Going to book fairs and working out ads and effective keywords, etc., are just not what floats my particular boat. It would be ever so lovely if people the world over would simply recognize my genius and wait with bated breath to purchase my next work of art. 😉





An Excerpt from : Dug to Death: AVivien Brandt Mystery

 

“Waituntil you hear what I learned today from the archeologists,” Sara said.

“Ah,yes,” said Geoffrey. “You had lunch with the young man leading the dig, eh?”

“Keith,”she confirmed.

“Andhe was helpful?”

“Notso much, to tell the truth. But I also got to talk to two of the women workingwith him, Lucy and Phoebe, when we went back to the dig after lunch, and theywere more forthcoming, especially after Keith left to run an errand.”

Vivienquirked an eyebrow at her stepdaughter. “What was wrong with Keith?” she wantedto know.

“Frankly,I think Keith is hiding something. When it came down to it, he didn’t reallywant to talk about the dig at all. He avoided my questions, claiming he wantedto know more about me instead.”

“Maybehe was just being polite? Trying to put you at ease?”

“No,it was definitely avoidance. I don’t think it was about getting into myknickers. At least, not entirely.”

“Sara!”her father protested, but his daughter just grinned.

“So,what did the other two tell you?” Vivien wanted to know.

“Theyconfirmed my doubts about Keith, as a matter of fact. They said he’s been verysecretive about his findings in that one trench, he won’t allow anyone else towork it, and that he’s always still there when they leave. He’s logged someminor pot shards in the official record, but nothing major, nothing to justifyhis suspicious behavior.”

“Maybehe’s on the developer’s payroll and wants to hide some important find so theproject isn’t delayed, or cancelled, even,” Vivien hypothesized.

Saranodded. “It could be that. But he doesn’t seem worried about the rest of themfinding anything, which you’d think he would be if that’s his concern.”

“Hmm,true,” Geoffrey added. “So maybe it’s something he’s already found and wants tokeep to himself?”

“Alsopossible. Although any ambitious archeologist would be happy to be associatedwith a major find. But one thing’s for sure, if he’s found something that wouldstop the dig, he doesn’t seem inclined to give it up.”

“Wellthen,” said Vivien, “we may have to have another talk with Mr. Myers tomorrowto try and find out what’s going on.”

“Leaveit to me,” Sara responded. “I think I know how to make him talk.”

“Nothinginvolving torture, Sara. Or the sacrifice of your good name,” her fathercautioned.

Shelooked at him with wide eyes and fluttered her lashes for emphasis. “Why,Daddy, how could you think I’d stoop to such levels?” she teased.

“Hmph,”Geoffrey responded. “Just be careful, please.”

Sararose and started to clear the dishes from the table. “I’ll clean up, and thenI’m going to the coven meeting with Tabitha. I told her I was interested in therituals from an anthropological point of view, and she said she’d let meobserve.”

“Areyou thinking of becoming a Wiccan practitioner?” asked Vivien.

Sarashrugged. “It’s more about being a good anthropologist than ablessed-wanna-be.”

Vivienlaughed as they all cleared the table together before Sara waved goodbye andleft her father and stepmother to an evening of rewatching The X-Files.Geoffrey had a thing for Scully, and Vivien occasionally indulged him withoutadmitting she found a young Fox Mulder equally easy on the eyes. After threeepisodes they found themselves exhausted from trusting no one and retired.

Whenthe phone rang just after midnight and Sara told them she was being held at thepolice station under suspicion of murder, Vivien was glad her stepdaughtercouldn’t see the “I told her so!” look on Geoffrey’s face.

 

 

This novel soundslike a winner, Gianetta. Thanks for being our guest this week. We wish youcontinued success with your stories. 

 

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