Book Title: DEAD, WHITE, AND BLUE - Northwoods Mysteries Book Two
Character Name: Emmy Cooper
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
My family is pretty great. My parents, Paul and Claire Cooper, raised my younger brother, Noah, and me right here on the lake resort we own and operate. Until I was about five years old, we lived in what we call “the apartment,” which is connected to the lodge. Then, they built a private home set apart from the cottages, so we didn’t feel like we had to share our entire lives with guests. Considering my brother and I are both adopted, we’re both so thankful that these are the parents who chose to love us. I guess you can say I had a wonderful, loving childhood. Plus, look at all the fun things to do in our own backyard!
What was your greatest talent?
I wish I could say singing, but no one would agree with that. My bestie, Whitney, is the one with the pipes! Well, Whitney and our buddy Marcus. I suppose my talent is finding an old piece of furniture or something someone has donated to a thrift store and giving it new life. You know the old saying about one man’s trash is another man’s treasure? It’s so true! It’s amazing what a little elbow grease, paint, and imagination can do. I also am pretty good at taking vintage pieces and repurposing them for a totally different use. It’s almost like a game for me. I’m also pretty handy with a nail gun and miter saw. Look out, HGTV!
Significant other?
Possibly… I’m reconnecting with someone I had a crush on since I was a kid. We hadn’t seen each other for a few years, and now we’re both actually living here in Covington. Slow and steady wins the race, right?
Biggest challenge in relationships? I’ve never really had a super serious romantic relationship, but I know with professional and some personal relationships I’ve had, trust has been an issue. People have broken my trust and it’s hard to get over it.
Where do you live?
I recently moved back to Lake Covington from Chicago, where I’d been living for about five years. In fact, I’m living in the apartment I spoke about earlier! I’ve slowly started redecorating and making it feel like my own space. Usually, the only people who use it are snowbird grandparents when they come up during the summer. But they decided to spend the summer traveling and told me it’s mine if I want it!
Do you have any enemies?
I would love to say no, but I would consider my former manager in Chicago my enemy. She made up false claims about me and fired me. I had no recourse to fight it, and honestly, I didn’t want to after the way I was treated. I still don’t know why they got rid of me. But it ended up being a blessing in disguise. Then there’s Vanessa Vernor. I don’t know if she’d be considered my enemy as much as my nemesis. She grew up here with Whitney and me and made our lives miserable. She was the epitome of a “mean girl.” Thank goodness she now lives in New York City.
How do you feel about the place where you are now?
I’m so happy to be back in the Northwoods! Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place? After college, I got a job at an architecture and design firm in Chicago. I thought I was meant to experience more than what our tiny little town had to offer. Yes, I did experience a lot, and I traveled… but it wasn’t with people I loved and it wasn’t for pleasure; always work. When I came home to figure out my next step after losing my job, I felt peace being back amongst my family and friends. The nature, fresh air, and beauty instantly calmed me. I knew I was meant to stay here.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
No children… hopefully someday! But our family does consist of two fur babies. Our golden retriever, Spooner, is a loveable sweetheart who thinks he’s a lapdog. Then there’s our yorkie, Chappy. The little kleptomaniac is a cuddler but is convinced he’s in charge of Cooper’s Cove Resort security.
What do you do for a living?
I’m an Interior Designer. At least, that’s what I was doing in Chicago. Now that I’m back in Covington, I’m working at our lake cottage resort. But I’m also working with a local home builder, helping families design their new homes. I’m loving it! I’ve also been asked by a few of the area resorts and B &B owners to help them with their remodeling.
Greatest source of joy?
It’s so hard to pick just one, but I have to say anything that I can do that makes my family happy. Who knows what kind of life I’d have or what childhood I would’ve had without them? When I know I’ve made them proud or have brought them joy… my heart swells!
What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun?
I love old movies, especially musicals or Doris Day comedies. Spending time with my lifelong best friend Whitney is also at the top of my list. We never know what kind of shenanigans we’ll get into. Of course, I have at least three books going at one time. Cozy mysteries are my jam!
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
I still feel like losing my job was a personal failure.
What keeps you awake at night?
At the moment, I can’t stop thinking about the dead body I found the other day. I promised Detective Tom I wouldn’t get involved, but seriously? How can I just go about my daily life like nothing happened?
If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be?
I wish I could be bolder when it comes to me. I have no problem standing up for my loved ones or the underdog, but when someone treats me poorly, ugh… I turn into a bumbling, blushing wimp. I’m definitely better than I used to be, but I still have a long way to go.
Northwoods Mysteries #2
It's the 4th of July in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and no one is more excited than Emmy Cooper. She's happy to be back in her hometown, settling once again into small-town living and helping her family run Cooper’s Cove, their lake cottage resort. Emmy and her teen crush, police officer Dean Erickson, are enjoying getting reacquainted, while she and bestie Whitney are closer than ever.
Lake Covington and its quaint namesake town are bustling with visitors celebrating during the annual three-day Independence Day Freedom Fest. Everything is Yankee Doodle Dandy until a local man with a reputation for trouble starts fireworks of his own. And the explosions just keep on coming when Emmy stumbles over a dead body at the celebrations!
The dead man is Jordan James, and as Emmy soon finds out, there are no shortage of people who might want him dead. From a jealous jerk to a conniving cousin and even a former friend from his past, suspects are more plentiful than ants at a July picnic! Despite promises to stay out of the investigation, Emmy finds herself smack in the middle of it. Can she and Whitney figure out the truth and find liberty and justice for all?
Mystery Woman Sleuth [Gemma Halliday Publishing, On Sale: July 2, 2024, e-Book, ISBN: 2940167706675 / eISBN: 9798215455579]
Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy (storyline idea!), she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her.
Annie and her husband are empty nesters—their son is married to his high-school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies.
When Annie isn’t writing or playing with her grandsons, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones...you can’t hide much from her! Writing, though, is her first love.
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