Interview with humorous women's fiction author Carrie Jo Howe

Author Carrie Jo Howe joins me today to chat about her new humorous women’s fiction, Island Life Sentence.

During her virtual book tour, Carrie Jo will be awarding a $10 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:

After raising three boys in the suburbs of Chicago, Carrie Jo Howe now lives in Key West, Florida with her husband and her dog. Her latest novel, Island Life Sentence, is a fictional account of an American Midwestern woman who feels like an alien in the “one human family” of Key West. Carrie Jo’s first book, Motherhood is NOT for Babies, received a rave review (thanks Mom), and works wonderfully as a form of contraception. Her blog Florida Keys Crime Report, tells of all the goings on in the Keys, where bank robbers get away on bicycles, and perps caught with undersized, pinched, out-of-season lobsters get more jail time than drug runners. She is currently working on the sequels to Island Life Sentence.

Please share a little bit about your current release.

Island Life Sentence is a product of the culture shock I experienced when we moved from Chicago to Key West. Three and a half hours south of mainland Florida creates it's own form of evolution...kind of like the Galapagos.

What inspired you to write this book?

Every day something out of (my) ordinary happens and I just have to write about it. Yes--my dog did almost die from a poisonous frog, yes-- my house is haunted, and no--I didn't "molest" a manatee (legal terminology for touching/riding one), but my friend did.

Yes, I did survive a hurricane (Irma 2017).

Excerpt from Island Life Sentence:

Trudy visits Peg in Key West...

“Let’s start at Captain Tony’s. It used to be Sloppy Joe’s but now Sloppy Joe’s is there.” Peg pointed across the street to the open windows filled to overflow with tourists screaming along with the band, “Why don’t we get drunk and screw?”

“Jimmy Buffett is a god here,” Peg whispered.

“Right. Some god. Get drunk and get screwed buying all of his crap,” Trudy said too loud.

“Shhh. You’ll start a riot.”

“I mean, look at those people. All dressed the same with their hands in the air. Probably how Hitler got started.”

Peg laughed. “Let’s go before you start another world war. I didn’t know you were so anti-Margaritaville.” She hugged Trudy to distract her. “On a history note, there’s a story about Hemingway taking the urinal from Captain Tony’s when they moved the bar. He said that he pissed away so much money into the urinal that he owned it.”

“I just hope he didn’t take the toilet in the ladies’ room, ’cause I gotta go.” Trudy quickened her step and crossed against the light on Duval Street. A scooter honked. She about-faced with both middle fingers flying. “Suck on these birds you parrot-headed mother fu–”

“Let’s go.” Peg grabbed one of Trudy’s obscene gestures, leaving the other one firmly in position. Trudy sidestepped in front of the scooter and stared down the double-chinned, large-bellied driver.

“Looks like he’s had too many cheeseburgers in paradise,” Trudy added.

“Okay, okay… I get it.” Peg dragged her friend toward the bar entrance.

“I’m just sayin’ – definitely not wasting away.”

Peg shoved her friend in the door of Captain Tony’s. “And… we’re here. You go pee and I’ll get us some drinks.”

Trudy jogged in the direction of the restroom sign. Peg found a couple of spots at the bar. The densely tattooed bartender slapped his hands down on the bar in front of her, “What’ll it be, miss? Margaritas are our specialty.”

“No. I mean… no thank you. Two rum and Cokes, please.”

He looked surprised. “Don’t like tequila?”

“Tequila’s fine, but don’t mention the word margarita to my best friend, Trudy. Take my word for it.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

Island Life Sentence is going to be a trilogy. I'm working on the sequel story for Peg and Trudy in Key West.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I know I should consider myself a writer, but I'd rather think of myself as an accidental story teller. A writer seems so formal and scary.

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

I like to tell stories about what I'm doing...especially if I'm terrible at it. That being said, I come up with a decent amount of material!

A significant amount of my time is spent on airplanes since I have family in Chicago, LA, and San Diego.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My (50 pound) Vizsla insists on squishing into my chair with me while I write. He's a hot tamale, but I love having him next to me. And, I use too many exclamation points!!!!!!!!

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

I wanted to be a jockey. I'm six feet tall. That didn't work out.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Links:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Blog | Amazon

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

Thanks for hosting me Lisa!!!

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