Friday, March 4, 2011

Yvonne Walus Is Here Today!

Yvonne Walus stops by today. The blurb for her book snagged me and I just had to host part of her tour. Check out her book, Murder @Play. Now, her tour only lasts one day, but it's a doozy! She's giving away a $10 Gift Certificate to Amazon.com. So comment to your heart's content!! I want you to!!
Welcome, Yvonne. How about a few questions?


What was the inspiration behind this story?

“Mom! MOM!!!!!”
It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and my daughter's had a bad dream. I drag myself out of the warm and cozy bed (almost as cozy as my murder mysteries) to cuddle and kiss away the nightmares.
7.20: “Honey, wake up. I’m going now.” That’s my husband on his way to work. I’m half-sitting, half-lying down, all-shivering on my son’s bed. Huh? How did I get there? The last place I remember is my daughter's bed.
8.00: I'm ready to go. The children are playing, still in their PJs.
8.01-8.30: A lot of yelling happens.
8.50: We make it to school before the 8.55 bell.
9.15: I switch on the computer and begin my day job, which has nothing to do with mystery novels.
3 p.m.: Collect the kids, drive them to piano, or ballet, or swimming, or art, or a play date.
5 p.m.: Return home exhausted to an evening of homework, dinner, making
costumes for the school play and other family activities.
9 p.m.: Open my Murder Mystery folder. Record as much of the day as I can remember, from “Mommy, why did God make bad people?” all the way to “If I knew what I was signing up for, I would never have become a father”.

That's where I get my inspiration for any story. Although most characters in MURDER @ PLAY are child-free, Elizabeth and Roger have children, and reading their scenes makes me smile in fond memory... particularly the bit when they get to go away for a weekend without the children.
Yes, now that I think about it, that's what inspired me to write the story: this idea of a mansion full of old friends and no chores! Time to kick off your shoes, let down your hair and reconnect with your loved one.

Favourite Part?

MURDER @ PLAY is structured like a music piece: with a prelude, a finale, and three
movements in-between. The melody that keeps haunting my amateur detective, brilliant
mathematician Christine Chamberlain, is interwoven into the novel and becomes a crucial piece of the murder puzzle.
The words that helped put the criminal behind bars?

Though I have all faith so that I could move mountains, if I have not love, I am nothing. Though I speak with the tongues of angels, if I have not love, I have nothing.

Favourite Character?
Christine Chamberlain. Anybody who decides to get married on the basis of a painting her future husband created, is just crazy enough to get my vote!

Want a blurb for MURDER @PLAY?
EVERY MARRIAGE NEEDS A TOUCH OF MYSTERY. OR DOES IT?
In the new free South Africa of 1994, men are still boss, women carry handguns for self-protection and some mistakes can change your life forever.

When a body is found during their weekend away with friends, Christine Chamberlain must use her brilliant mathematical mind to prove her husband’s innocence...

... whether he’s innocent or not.

When it comes to your loved ones, is it possible to know too much?

I can even give you an excerpt!
Daniel punched in Christine's number as soon as he got off the aeroplane at
Johannesburg International Airport. He was aware of the looks he drew. Admiration from the women, envy from the men. All because of his cellular phone, the latest technological trump in the game of Show Off Your Business Status.

"Hi, Tom," he said into the brick-sized phone.

Damn it! He didn't want to speak to Christine's husband, not today of all days.
"Daniel." It was an acknowledgement, not an invitation. "I'll get Christine for you."
One of his fellow passengers bumped into Daniel's briefcase.

"Hello, Christine. Are we still on for lunch today?"

"You're back? I thought you'd still be in Hong Kong."

"I managed to get an earlier flight." He didn't mention he cut the trip short in order to make it to their regular lunch date. "I tried to call–"
Please don't say you have other plans.

"No problem. Same time, same place?"

Yes!

He refused to have his good mood spoilt by the you're-on-my-time look of the passport
control officer.

"Your passport, please? Thank you." The official stamp fell in a sausage-machine
gesture. "Welcome home. Next!"

Daniel jammed the passport into his pocket and headed towards the green customs exit.
With more nonchalance than needed, he swung his overnight bag past the crowd gathered
around the conveyor belt. One of the customs officials stifled a yawn, rubbed his eyes, and signalled for Daniel to stop.

"You've just arrived from…?"

"Hong Kong," Daniel kept his face calm and relaxed. It was easy, because his whole
body felt awake, not only because his internal clock showed midday even though it was six A.M. South African time.

"You don't have much luggage." It was a question, even if it didn't sound like one.
"It was a business trip. No time for shopping. But you know, whenever I take a girlfriend along–"

The official laughed and waved him through.

Daniel waited until he was in the parking lot before he exhaled. His phone rang just as he was loading the suitcase, with the contraband, into his car. Alice's number. He sent it straight into voicemail.

"Hi," he heard the throaty voice. "I hope you've had a wonderful trip." The words
sounded artificial somehow, as though she had rehearsed in front of the mirror. "Please call me back when you get this." A pause, then a quick, "It's important."

Important, sure. Important to her. In her world, it was always Alice, Alice, Alice. She was the axel–what she thought, what she felt, what she wanted–and everything else revolved around her needs.

The Porsche yielded to his touch like a loving woman should. A loving woman…. It had
been a while. Nobody since Alice, in fact. Why was that? Was he losing his charm? Getting old? Twenty-six already. Even without glancing in the rear-view mirror he knew his face was still that of a naughty boy, with smooth skin and sharp cheekbones. He tensed his abdomen muscles with satisfaction.

So, what is it?

Deep down, though, he knew well enough. He'd had a loving woman, once, long ago,
and he had let her walk out on him. Today, though, today he was going to tell her. During their regular lunch date.

Want to know more about Yvonne? Here's the vital stats:
• website: http://yewalus.kiwiwebhost.net.nz/
• blog: http://yewalus.blogspot.com/
• facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yvonne.walus
• book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJpbOiFkPkU
• buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Play-ebook/dp/B003CT30GC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3QI763M62X7GQ&s=books&qid=1274234575&sr=1-2
• publisher: http://www.echelonpress.com/

4 comments:

Yvonne Eve Walus said...

It's so great to be here, Wendi! Thank you for having me. :-)

Wendi Zwaduk and Megan Slayer said...

You're so welcome. Look around and get comfy. :-) Questions? Comments?

Unknown said...

Thanks for the brief interview! It's always interesting to know where authors get their inspiration from.

chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

Wendi Zwaduk and Megan Slayer said...

Hi Winnie! Glad you made it. Isn't it cool? Yvonne has the best stories.