Fresh Fiction Blog | Rochelle Staab

A series of wild research adventures began the day I created my fictional sleuth Liz Cooper. I find my characters' experiences more fun to write when I do hands-on fieldwork (excluding personal encounters with dead bodies and confrontations with murderers.) Liz's salsa lesson in the opening chapter of BRUJA BROUHAHA was based on a Salsa class I took. The sanctuary she visited in WHO DO, VOODOO? was modeled after a voodoo den I discovered in New Orleans. Her interviews at police stations? Been there courtesy of my new detective friends in the LAPD.

BRUJA BROUHAHA, Liz's second Mind For Murder Mystery adventure is set in Westlake, the area surrounding MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. During the plotting stage I spent days driving the streets around the park, taking photos, scouting locations, and eating carnes asada from the food truck Liz and her new boyfriend Nick stopped at for lunch. Frequent trips to Westlake, developing a sense of the culture and exploring buildings, brought the story and characters to life for me.

One of my favorite BRUJA BROUHAHA scenes is based on a research outing near the park on a sunny Saturday morning. I entered a dark, tiny storefront on 7^th Street featuring an image of a colorful fortuneteller painted on the front door. The shop—a local botanica—sold the herbs, oils, statuary, and candles used in Santeria rituals. The Latina clerk inside didn't speak English; I don't speak Spanish. I held up my camera and mimicked taking photos—questioning for permission. She shook her head. No go. We tried clumsy sign language. Didn't work. Finally she dialed an English-speaking friend and, by passing the phone back and forth between us, I explained I was an author doing research and would be happy to purchase something if they let me look around the shop.

"What do you want to buy?" our phone interpreter asked.

"A spell?" I said. (Why not go for it?) More phone passing then a nod from the clerk in front of me.

"What kind of spell?" my phone friend said.

Yikes. I tried to think of something harmless and helpful. "Protection."

The shopkeeper led me through a curtain and into a windowless, candlelit, closet-sized sanctuary. My experience in that small dark room—one of my oddest to date complete with the woman circling me chanting—is described via supernatural-averse Liz taking the hot seat in a Bruja Brouhaha scene.

What's next? I'm thinking about signing up for a martial arts class. After Liz's run-ins with criminals and encounters with thugs, she (we) could use some lessons in self-defense.

ABOUT BRUJA BROUHAHA—Mind For Murder Mystery #2:

A mid-city clinic assignment near historic MacArthur Park puts psychologist Liz Cooper in the midst of local mayhem, a puzzling disappearance, and a vindictive Santeria hex. Liz and her new love, Religious Philosophy Professor Nick Garfield, help an elderly Santera through a heart-breaking tragedy with repercussions that test their relationship and Liz's professional ethics.

ABOUT WHO DO, VOODOO?—Mind For Murder Mystery #1:

Psychologist Liz Cooper dismisses the supernatural until her best friend discovers mysterious tarot cards tacked to her front door—the same cards drawn in a tarot reading the night before a death two years ago. Liz teams up with occult expert Nick Garfield to track the harasser, a journey leading them to murder and a voodoo curse. Liz must question logic and set aside her doubts to unravel otherworldly secrets—or risk being outwitted by a cunning killer.

The first in the Mind for Murder mystery series set in Los Angeles grabs your attention from the start with creepy tarot cards, voodoo priestesses and cursed spell books. A fresh and entertaining premise for a new series that is cleverly plotted and executed."  —RT Reviews (4 stars)

Who Do, Voodoo?
Mind For Murder
#1.0
November 2011

Bruja Brouhaha
Mind For Murder
#2.0
August 2012

ABOUT ROCHELLE:

A former award-winning Top 40 radio programmer and music industry marketing executive, Rochelle blends her fascination with the supernatural and her love for mystery in the bestselling Mind for Murder Mystery series featuring Los Angeles psychologist Liz Cooper. BRUJA BROUHAHA the second novel in the series follows WHO DO, VOODOO? an Agatha and Anthony nominee for Best First Mystery Novel. Read the first chapters of both novels or listen to Rochelle's live read of the opening scene of Bruja Brouhaha at www.rochellestaab.com

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Comments

Hi Rochelle, I've not read your Liz Cooper books but they
sound great & I'd love to win a copy of Bruja Brouhaha!
(Kay Martinez 10:56am August 24, 2012)

I'm sure that writing these books have been quite the experience for you!! These books are something that are so different, so interesting, and so right up my alley!! I'm so glad that you took the time to write them!! I can't wait to get my hands on the first one and start reading it, and then start on the second one!! I have a Girlfriend that lives in New Orleans, and it's going to be a blast reading the book!! I also have a Cousin who lives outside of Los Angeles, and she dabbles in Tarot cards. She's actually quite good at it. This is really going to be a great way to wind up my Summer!! Thank you for giving me something to look forward to!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:59am August 24, 2012)

Thanks for the opportunity, I think you just need to do things that make you happy and look at each day as an adventure vs just going through the motions.
(Darci Paice 11:22am August 24, 2012)

Sounds like a good book, I'd love to read it.
(Wilma Frana 11:44am August 24, 2012)

These books look brilliant! Its hard to find good reading
material these days. I cant wait to get my hands on a copy.
(Candice Duffey 12:02pm August 24, 2012)

Hi Rochelle,

I have not read any of your Liz Cooper books either but they definitely sound facinating and I would love to read one.
(Lori Yost 12:07pm August 24, 2012)

I am so looking forward to your new book & would love to win a copy. Thank you very much., Linda Riffe
(Linda Riffe 12:10pm August 24, 2012)

Interesting 'story behind the story'! I love it! I appreciate when authors make things as authentic as possible in their stories.

Please enter me in the contest. Thanks!
(Susan Davco 12:16pm August 24, 2012)

This sounds really good and I love the occult angle it deals with! Thanks for the chance to win!
(Angie Lilly 12:24pm August 24, 2012)

Great post! Sounds like a great story...can't wait to read it!
(Michele Hayes 12:47pm August 24, 2012)

I think Liz's new adventure sounds great! And what great research you've done! I imagine salsa lessons would be kind of fun!
(Julie Holden 12:47pm August 24, 2012)

Thank you so much for giving away such a fantastic book. I know it is stellar!
(Velma Greene 12:49pm August 24, 2012)

Interesting!Please enter me in your contest.
(Anna Speed 1:14pm August 24, 2012)

I love your writing and would love to be able to win this book to add to my collection. Your investigations into the practices and stuff sounds like fun.

I just have to call some friends upstate and I get invited to visit on Wiccan holy days. I've learned a lot from them.
(Nora-Adrienne Deret 1:14pm August 24, 2012)

Sounds like a good one to curl up with after dark and read!
(MaryEllen Hanneman 1:32pm August 24, 2012)

Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful comments! I truly hope you enjoy
reading Liz's adventures as much as I enjoy writing them :)
~Rochelle
(Rochelle Staab 1:47pm August 24, 2012)

The book covers caught my attention immediately. I'm like these look interesting. Reading your research details cinched it; I will be reading both books. Thank you for this opportunity.
(Julie Polton 1:52pm August 24, 2012)

This sounds like quite an intriguing series- I hope that if I
don't win I'm able to find a copy at my library to begin
reading!
(Ashley Kemp 1:55pm August 24, 2012)

Enjoyed your blog. Book sound like a great read.
(Sheila True 2:26pm August 24, 2012)

I've been eying this one. I would love to be the lucky winner of your book. I enjoy relaxing with this type of mystery, it gives me a break from the intense stuff.
(Karen Appleby 2:36pm August 24, 2012)

Wow!! It sounds like some of your research for your books could get dangerous. I hope that you will never have to use the things that you learned in your martial arts class.
(Kathleen Yohanna 3:36pm August 24, 2012)

I Love The Title!! I would love to win this book!!
(Charlotte Zimmerman 3:50pm August 24, 2012)

Sounds great! I just love cozy mysteries.
(MaryAnne Banks 4:02pm August 24, 2012)

I always enjoy hearing about the research authors do for their books. It makes the book that much more fun to read!

Thanks for the contest!

Later,

Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 4:21pm August 24, 2012)

I love the combination of the spooky and the mundane world. Sounds like a fund read!
(Lisa Elwood 5:17pm August 24, 2012)

Love it when authors mix real locations with their fictional people- gives such a sense of 'being there' for me. These sound like a lot of fun for reades.
(Nancy Gilliland 5:31pm August 24, 2012)

Loved reading how your own experiences are some of your research incorporated into your mysteries. Can't wait to read about Liz's adventures! These sound like fun books I'd really enjoy reading! Covers are breathtaking and very intriguing--love them!
(Linda Luinstra 5:37pm August 24, 2012)

Sounds really good!! I can't wait to start this series! Thanks for the chance to win!
(Natasha Donohoo 5:42pm August 24, 2012)

Sounds like an interesting series! Would love to try it.
(Debbie Burdeen 6:20pm August 24, 2012)

I've not read any of your books, but this looks like one I would not be able to put down!!
(Joyce Bruner 7:23pm August 24, 2012)

Both books sound wonderful - adding them to my list!
(Mary C 7:49pm August 24, 2012)

i would love too win please put my name in!!
(Jennifer Beck 8:31pm August 24, 2012)

I read Who Do, Voodoo----and can hardly wait to read this next installment of Liz's adventures.
(Sue Farrell 8:46pm August 24, 2012)

love your covers they get catch your eye and the excerpt draws you in
(Patricia Kasner 9:19pm August 24, 2012)

These sound like my kind of books. Can't wait to read them. =]
(Katie Wurn 9:26pm August 24, 2012)

Sounds great! Would love to read them. Have a great weekend everyone!
(Vicki Hancock 9:58pm August 24, 2012)

I like the "she(we)" experiences! Makes you sound a bit schizophrenic....which I think many authors must be, LOL.
(Catherine Lee 10:05pm August 24, 2012)

Thanks for giving me a chance to win your books. Sounds great.
(Linda Hall 11:48pm August 24, 2012)

These books look very interesting. Would love to win it.
(Amy Milne 11:52pm August 24, 2012)

Seriously, you went into a Fortune Telling shop all by
yourself and they didn't speck English! Weren't you afraid
that you would wake up hours later sold to a white slaver?
We are so thankful you survived to tell (write)the tale!
(Lisa Richards 7:04pm August 25, 2012)

Fascinating. The books all look so amazing.
(Mary Preston 9:04pm August 25, 2012)

Well you have to reasearch to get the best writing done! I am sure your descriptions are so much better for it; you know the feel, the scent and the sound of a fortune telling shop as well as just the sight.
(Clare O'Beara 5:23am August 26, 2012)

Sending big hugs to all who commented, thank you for this warm welcome!

I keep safety in mind while I'm exploring for research. I visited the botanica
early that Saturday morning, before 11am, with the (silly?) assumption criminals
and psychos sleep until noon. And I pay attention to my instincts. If a situation
feels fishy or 'off', I back away.
(Rochelle Staab 1:51pm August 26, 2012)

Hi Rochelle. True story: I downloaded the Amazon Kindle sample for Who
do. Voodoo? And thought it was excellent! I ordered the paperback and
should have it in about 2 days. Brouhaha!!!
I love finding talented new-to-me authors!
(Susan S 5:46pm August 31, 2012)

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