Interview with MG mystery/fantasy author Mindy Mymudes

Mystery/fantasy author Mindy Mymudes is in the house today, chatting a bit about her newest dog tale, Tillie’s Tale with MuseItUp Publishing.

During her virtual book tour, Mindy will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Mindy Mymudes sort of hobbles after the English Springer spaniels that make up the Muddy Paws Pack. They live in a small den in Milwaukee, WI. She insists she is alpha, even as the dogs walk all over her. She hunts, cleans the den and keeps them entertained. When she can escape the pack, she enjoys digging in dirt, listening to audiobooks, and weaving the antics of the pack into stories. The pack has been top ranked in many areas, just proving how smart they are, she tends to get in their way. The alpha male, Tall Dude, just shakes his head and stays out of the way. She somehow managed to get a Bachelor’s Degree in horticulture and a Master’s Degree in population genetics. She can’t balance her checkbook.

Welcome, Mindy. Please tell us about your current release.

George is back, telling the world about the hazards of poultry ghosts, a bit of history from the early 20^th century, and how even bullies can learn to be kind. This is in addition to his duties as the world’s best basset hound familiar, teaching his Girlpup Karly about the in’s and out’s of being a green witch. This time, though, his newest packmate, the puppygirl basset, Tillie, is helping him. Sort of.

What inspired you to write this book?

This is really a continuation of true stories collected from the Muddy Paws Pack over the last 20 years. I had a dog that climbed trees. Another climbed a ladder to the roof to steal a roofer’s sandwich. I just needed a way to hook the scenes together. While I started the book, I assumed it was about English Springers. Instead, about three pages in, a basset hound stuck his nose in my face and told me that Springers were too stupid to teach a witch-in-training. Obviously it was a perfectly designed basset hound. In fact, it was himself. He then introduced himself as George. He’s been a thorn in my side ever since.

Excerpt from Tillie’s Tale:

“Wrrrrttttle.”

Tillie’s tail is spinning in circles. She’s staring at a filmy thing sitting on the steps of an old, rough-brick building. I know it’s really a large Peeps’ den, but since it’s bad to be in the dog house, I assume it’s bad to be in a house. Why don’t they just call it a den if houses are so bad? From the smelltaste of cooking, Peeps, dust, skin, and the other stuff Peeps like, there are many small dens inside. Tillie “wrrrrrtttles” again and adds a soft “wuff.” Her front goes down into a play bow. The thing she’s trying to get to play is shimmery and clear, with thick and thin spots swimming on the surface.

“Snoof. Snuffle” I lick my lips. There’s a disturbing smelltaste of dustmoldlightningozone.

Oh mousefleas.

It’s a ghosty.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The next story in the Magical Drool Mysteries is Phoebe’s Pause (you might notice a trend here: George Knows, Tillie’s Tale, Phoebe’s Pause. I’m running out of body parts). George is trying to get his girlfriend, a basset having a bad hair lifetime, and is put on a diet.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

If you talk to George, he’ll tell you I’m his secretary, and not writer. Sometimes, I think he’s right.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I can’t work anymore, so you’d think I could write all day. Unfortunately, I’m disabled, and sitting at the computer for any length of time hurts. I do my physical therapy, take care of 300 some odd plants (yeah, still a horticulturist), and of course, there are the dogs. I help to do PR for my friend Faith Hunter, of Jane Yellowrock fame. She helped launch Let’s Talk Promotions. My partner, Audrey Salick (Drey’s Library), has a very busy life, so we’re more of a niche for urban fantasy.

On good days, I write. It means I’m the slowest writer ever, and the mysteries aren’t even that long. At least they are quality. George Knows won a gold medal for Children’s books, grades 4^th thru 6^th.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I prefer to listen to hard rock when the scene is tense, otherwise I listen to alternative. Sometimes I’ll switch to classical.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I thought for sure I’d be a geologist. Jeweler. Hmm, no, a mining engineer. Ended up with a Bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a Master’s in population genetics. It was close.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

George really isn’t just a kid’s book. He appeals to everyone who has had a pet. Of course our pets are smarter than us. After all, who does the cleanup, hunting, and grooming? Hint: it isn’t them. They’re curled up, sleeping.

Links:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | MuseItUp 

Thanks, Mindy!

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