A Taste of Texas with Rebecca Adler

I've been waiting for this book for a long time…but that's impossible. It's a new series. A new author. How could I have possibly been waiting for this book?

The answer is simple. I know the author. I know her journey to this remarkable series. I know how she struggled to get it write—and she didn't disappoint. ;) HERE TODAY, GONE TAMALE, A Taste of Texas Mystery, gives you more than just a hint of the lone star state—the novel is boiling over with southern charm and characters that will have you falling in love with the small town of Broken Boot, Texas. It's a recipe for the perfect cozy series.

Kym: It is my pleasure to welcome Rebecca Adler to the Cozy Corner.

Rebecca: Howdy, Kym! Thanks for that sweet introduction. Believe you me, I've been waiting for this book forever too!

Kym: I know the answer, but for our readers can you tell us if HERE TODAY, GONE TAMALE is your very first novel?

Rebecca: My first novel, PLAY IT LOUD, was a sweet romance for The Wild Rose Press under the name Gina Lee Nelson set in my former stomping ground of New York City. It was actually similar to this series in that the heroine was also an aspiring reporter; but in Claire's case, she saves the life of a popular singer, infiltrates his band, and earns her happily ever after admitting her selfish intentions.

Under the name Gina Lee Nelson, I've also written short stories in two Texas romance anthologies: LOVE TEXAS STYLE and DEEP IN THE HEARTS OF TEXAS.

Kym: I love the town, Broken Boot, Texas! How did you come up with such an awesome name?

Rebecca: Thanks! I love it too. The name Broken Boot flew out of the mouth of a friend during a brainstorming session. I think her exact words were,

"You need a town with a name like, Broken Boot." I don't think she expected me to keep it; but it was too late. I'd fallen in love with it!

Kym: What town inspired you to write Broken Boot?

Rebecca: That's easy. My family vacationed in Big Bend National Park several years ago. When it was time to choose a West Texas town for the series, I remembered with great fondness the desert towns along the Chisos Mountains. My favorites? Alpine, Marfa, Fort Davis.

Kym: In your series, you have a great heroine, Josie Callahan, who's had a rocky past, from being orphaned at the tender age of twelve, to being dumped by her fiancé and losing her dream job before her career could even get off the ground. You've thrown a lot at her, yet she's feisty and full of fire. What helped you develop her inner spark that readers love so much?

Rebecca: Josie's like so many of us. She's faced heartbreak, disappointment, and loss; but she still gets up every day determined to make the day better than the one before. What I love about her is that she doesn't think she's feisty and full of fire. She thinks she eats too many tamales. She thinks she's doing what you're supposed to be doing...living life without complaining too much. Her inner spark comes from her need to help her family and those around her. She's feisty when it comes to protecting those she loves.

Kym: Josie has a past with the sexy Ryan Prescott, who isn't your ordinary volunteer bartender for the family tamalada, he's the football coach at the university who still has the ability to turn her nerves inside out. Why did you choose to make Ryan a football coach?

Rebecca: There's no two ways about it, Texans love football. If I wanted the series to have an authentic Texas flavor, I knew football had to be represented. Creating Ryan was a lot of fun. He's an awesome mix of the typical alpha head coach and the sweetheart best friend from her college days. There's still a spark between Josie and Ryan; but his devotion to football and her broken heart are standing in the way.

Kym: Can you introduce our readers to what a tamalada actually is and background behind it?

Rebecca: When one of my Latina friends learned I was writing a Tex- Mex book, she insisted I include a tamalada to add a truly authentic Latin flavor to my story. Tamales are the quintessential holiday comfort food to many Latinos. A tamalada is an occasion for Latino women of multiple generations to gather in the kitchen to make dozens if not hundreds of tamales to be shared with family and friends during the holidays. Picture it as a party of women cooking and passing on their special recipes to their daughters and granddaughters, and even great granddaughters. It's like a family reunion, a chance for the adults to catch up on all the family gossip while the children play. A key element to maintaining their family traditions is the role of the mama or grandma. Just like Senora Mari in my book, she takes control of the ingredients and dictates who does what task during the evening.

Kym: Since this friend happens to be mutual, I've actually had the opportunity to attend a tamalada! It was an awesome experience. Have you ever attended a real tamalada, and if so what was your experience like?

Rebecca: Unfortunately, no. I hope to be invited to one in the near future.

Kym: I have no doubt you will be attending one soon! Josie has an adorable long-hair Chihuahua named Lenny who isn't just her best-friend, but a hero as well. What made you choose Lenny for her best friend? Rebecca: The first cozy mysteries I ever read were Lilian Jackson Braun's the Cat Who series. I fell in love with James Qwilleran's two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, who seemed to always know who committed the murders. In my own series I wanted Josie to basically figure out the mystery on her own with some helpful yips from Lenny. As the story grew, his role expanded beyond what I'd planned. He turned into quite the hero.

Kym: The Wild West Festival of Broken Boot sounds a little bit like the Texas State Fair. Are the similarities real or was the festival modeled after a smaller celebration you hold dear?

Rebecca: I definitely based The Wild West Festival on smaller celebrations. Don't get me wrong. I love the Texas State Fair; but one year I lost one of my children for a good hour and another year we were almost trampled by a stampede of rowdy teenagers! The Wild West Festival was created from my memories of different Texas celebrations like our neighborhood Fourth of July parade, the Wild Flower Music Festival, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Rally Round Greenville, and just a taste of the Texas State Fair.

Kym: During the festival, one of the contestants in the tamale eating contests begins to choke on a tamale. It's the classic scene of what will happen if you don't listen to your momma's advice and eat your food too fast. Have you ever attended/participated in a real food eating contest? Rebecca: Nah, can't say that I have. Well, I take that back. I seem to remember my hands behind my back and whipped cream all over my face.

Kym: LOL, I need a pic of that! You've truly captured the spirit of Texas throughout the book, yet I know you're not a native Texan. How were you able to do it?

Rebecca: Since I've lived here almost twenty years now, I don't think I could avoid acting like a native Texan if I tried! Plus, my family comes from a tiny Southern town. Many of the things I share in this book come from those memories that all Southerners share: good food, sassy comebacks, and wacky relatives.

Kym: What has been your biggest challenge in writing the Taste of Texas Mystery series? Your biggest reward?

Rebecca: My biggest challenge was creating a town and characters that readers would want to revisit over and over. My biggest reward is sharing my writing journey with other aspiring writers. If I can do it with my crazy schedule, other people can as well. All of us have a story to tell and we're the only ones qualified to tell it.

Kym: What do you have in store for Josie in the future?

Rebecca: Having finally won over the editor of the Broken Boot Bugle, Josie will be dipping her big toe into journalism again. She'll be helping Lenny with his spelling and syntax now that his blog is gaining followers. And most of all, she will do her darndest to keep her friend Patti Perez from falling for a sexy country singer.

Kym: Can you tell our readers where they can find you on social media?

Rebecca: Sure, on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads:

- www.facebook.com/Author-Gina-Lee- NelsonRebecca-Adler
- @GinaLeeNelson
- www.goodreads.com/author/show/3162024.Rebecca_Adler

Kym: Congratulations on the release of your first in a great new series and thank you for stopping by the Cozy Corner, Rebecca! We look forward to more of Josie and your Taste of Texas Mysteries!

Rebecca: Thank you, for having me. I'd love to give away a copy of HERE TODAY, GONE TAMALE to one of your readers that leaves a comment!

Kym: Until next time, get cozy and read on!

Giveaway

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About Kym Roberts

Kym Roberts is a retired detective sergeant who looks for passion, mystery and suspense in every book she reads and writes. She can be found on the web at kymroberts.com, on Facebook at Kym Roberts (author) and on Twitter @kymroberts911. Look for her newest release, FLIRTING WITH THE DEVIL, A Noble Pass Affaire Novella available now.

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