Guest Author Kim Cox

Please help me welcome guest blogger, author Kim Cox. Kim’s book, GET OUT OR DIE, is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, etc. Here’s the blurb:

Since the news of her first case, Lana Malloy's Private Investigating/Mediator business is booming. At one pro-bono job, Lana helps a widow communicate with her late husband and learns of a frightening new ability she wasn't aware she possessed--an ability that could give the spirit the upper hand if she's not careful.

Lana struggles for control when she encounters the angry ghost who doesn't want to leave, and who doesn't want the occupants of the house to stay. Will Lana be able to control the situation, or will the ghost sense he can overtake her? Does she have other abilities she can rely on to save her?

Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?

I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with my husband, who is a chainsaw artist. We have three dogs, two Westies (West Highland White Terriers): Scooter (Male) and Harley (Female), and one Yorkie/Maltese mix: Candi (also Female). I have two sons and two grandsons.

I think many things have inspired my writing, from my dad always telling his stories when I was a child, to my love of reading in my late teens to early twenties. Whatever I'm doing, there are circumstances, what-ifs and characters popping into my head, vying for my attention. Writing is an outlet for my odd and sometimes morbid imagination.

Tell us what GET OUT OR DIE is about?

GET OUT OR DIE is the second novella in the LANA MALLOY PARANORMAL MYSTERY series. Lana Malloy is a psychic private investigator who is on a mission to help the dearly departed, even when they don’t realize they need help.

In the first novella, HAUNTED HEARTS, Lana sets out to solve her first case—the twenty-year old cold-case and double murder of her great aunt and her great aunt’s fiancé. If she succeeds, they’ll spend eternity together; if she can’t, they’ll be stuck as Haunted Hearts. With the help of the ghosts and a new love interest, she is able to find the murderer.

In GET OUT OR DIE, the success of Lana’s first case has spread throughout the local Charleston area and her business is booming. At one pro-bono job, Lana helps a widow communicate with her late husband where she learns of a frightening new ability—an ability that could give the spirit the upper hand if she’s not careful.

Soon after, she encounters an angry ghost who doesn’t want to leave, and who doesn’t want the new occupants of the house to stay. Will Lana be able to control the situation, or will the ghost sense he can overtake her? And if that isn’t stressful enough, Tony is pressuring her to set a wedding date. Will she marry Tony, or will this dangerous case make the decision unnecessary? Will other abilities surface to save her?

Find out with the release of GET OUT OR DIE on July 1st.

There will be four more books in this series: The Wedding Crasher (September 2015), Christmas Cruise (November 2015 tentative release date), Demi's Serial Case and Haunted by Her Past (both are planned for a 2016 release, starting in May).

If you were casting the movie version of GET OUT OR DIE who would you choose for the leading roles?

I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately.

For Lana Malloy, I would choose Angie Harmon - Detective Jane Rizzoli from Rizzoli & Ilse television. I also have a picture of Madolyn Smith Osborne (as she appeared on Urban Cowboy, portraying the other woman with John Travolta) is on my characterization notes for her.

For Tony Calabria, I would choose a young Andy Garcia.

For Great Aunt Lucy (plays a small part in this book) – a younger Betty White. Lucy has a recurring role in the books.

For Ellie Ramsey – younger Sally Field.

For Dan Ramsey – young Ryan O'Neal.

For Adam Kelley – Patrick Dempsey (one of my favorite actors).

For Dave, the accountant – I see a comedian, perhaps Jim Gaffigan, although overweight with beard and mustache.

For Demi Lancaster (Lana's best friend and police detective) - Gabrielle Union. Demi Lancaster is a recurring character.

Are you an outliner or do you write by the seat of your pants?

I'm a little of both. I started out as a seat of my pants writer, but as I've gotten older, I have a hard time remember the simplest things such as eye or hair color. Plus, I'm a visual person, so images help me see what they look like.

Generally, I start with an idea of the story and the characters and I write two to three chapters, sometimes more. Then I go back and map it out by writing a little about each chapter or a synopsis, and I do a Characterization sheet where I list appearance (along with photos), traits and characteristics, and family and background. I also research things that I need for the book such as location, medical information, psychic information, ghosts, serial killers, etc.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I've always been a type of Jane of All Trades, Master of None. I've held jobs as a textile worker in different capacities (knitter, spinner, quality control, dye house tech, sewing machine operator, scheduler and production planner), a waitress, a cashier at a convenience store and fast food restaurant, maid, and my very first job was in an ice cream parlor. I've taken courses in cosmetology, nursing, accounting, teaching, medical office, office systems, and web technologies. I would have to say I would be either a teacher or a technology geek in a field such as Web Design. I need some type of creative outlet. I can't see myself as doing one thing forever, but can do multiple things at once. Right now, I dabble in Web Design and I create cover art for my books. I have created the four completed covers for the LANA MALLOY PARANORMAL MYSTERY series.

Tell us about a hidden talent you have that most people don’t know about?

I guess my hidden talent is being able to adjust, adapt and learn any job set before me. I catch on easily.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Lemon pepper chicken wings or pizza. Oh, and strawberry ice cream if it has bits of strawberry in it. I also love spaghetti and lasagna, almost anything Italian.

What’s your favorite non-writer-related website?

I can't think of any off the top of my head, but probably somewhere to shop. I hate shopping and do as much as I can online.

To find out more about Kim Cox and her book, visit these links:

Kim Cox Author's Site

Two blogs: Kim's Musings (includes book reviews) & Kim's Author Support Page (page dedicated to supporting other authors, some original posts and some reblogged)

Find Kim at the following Social Sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Google

Goodreads

Pinterest

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