Book: CHAMPAGNE TOAST, MURDER CHASER
Subject: Interview with Elise Beckett Landry and Sheriff’s Deputy Jackson Landry
Delphine Chronicle Interviewer, Candice Grover: Good afternoon, Elise … Jackson. Thanks so much for sitting down with me today for a bit of a chat. I’m working on an upcoming article for the Chronicle’s Society Page, and you two just got hitched, so I’d like to get some background to go with the wedding spread I’ve got planned.
Jackson: (Narrowing his eyes and looking a tad uncomfortable) Uh … wedding spread?
Candice: (Grinning at his obvious discomfort) Of course. Not everyone in Bastrop County was invited to the event of the season. Though I was lucky enough to be invited—thank you very much, Elise.
Elise: (Nodding) You’re very kind. Glad you could make it.
Candice: Anyway, my readers will be salivating to see the photos, hear the details, get some background about the two of you. The Beckett family have been a big part of Bastrop County for a very long time, and River Bend Winery and Vineyard has always been a staple. Why don’t we start there? Tell my readers how you two met. I understand that you basically grew up together. Is that true?
Elise: We did. Jackson here has been my brother’s best friend since we were kids. (Glancing at Jackson) I don’t remember a time when he wasn’t with us out at the vineyard.
Candice: What was your childhood like?
Elise: We had a good childhood, didn’t we, Jax? (Throwing a smile at Jackson before winking at Candice) We were all kinds of wild back then, which was great fun and a lovely way for kids to grow up. However, he and Ross were completely annoying most of the time.
Jackson: Now, darlin’, I would tend to disagree with that last statement, as it’s just your opinion and highly subjective.
Elise: Spoken like a true lawman, but I bet Maddy would agree with me. (Turning to Candice) Most of the time it was my sister, Madison and me against Ross and Jackson. You get the picture.
Candice: (Laughing) You bet. Kind of a brother / sister rivalry.
Elise: Exactly.
Jackson: My parents are archeologists and were always on a dig somewhere around the globe when I was young—still are for that matter. Elise’s maternal grandmother, Miss Abby, basically raised me alongside her own grandkids out on that vineyard.
Candice: You’re talking about Abigail DeVries, right?
Jackson: (His face softening, a smile touching his lips) Yep. The first love of my life.
Elise: Oh, brother.
Jackson: Don’t mind her, Candice. She’s just jealous that Miss Abby likes me best of all.
Elise: Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, pal.
(They grin at each other like fools)
Candice: So, you two grew up together but did you have any idea of what your future held? That you would someday tie the knot?
Elise: Good lord, no!
Jackson: (Frowning) Hey, now. No need to make it sound like the thought was a fate worse than death.
Elise: Oh, come on, you know what I mean. It’s just that growing up, I never thought of you that way. Wait— Did you think of me that way?
Jackson: (Smiling)Off and on, to be honest. Of course, that was mostly much later … when we were adults and you’d … filled out some and weren’t a gangly teenager anymore.
Elise: (Rolling her eyes)
Jackson: (Looking over at Candice) It became real clear to me several years back when El was contemplatin’ a move to Dallas that she was the one. They say you always know … well, at that point, I just knew.
Elise: (Putting her hand over her heart)Aw, Jax. Same here—and about the same time … but I was terrified.
Candice: Terrified? Why?
Elise: Because we had grown up together. Jackson is part of the Beckett family … always will be. I kept thinking, ‘What if it doesn’t work out? What if I screw this up?’ I mean, how awkward would that be? And not only for us but for the entire family. Sunday dinners would be excruciating.
Jackson: And there she is, ladies and gents. My little over-thinker.
Elise: (Swatting at him playfully)
Candice: So, you didn’t have any worries, Jackson? No second thoughts?
Jackson: Not a one. (Shrugging) Like I said, when you know … you know. I realized that I’d loved her for most of my adult life, so I trusted in that.
Candice: (Sighing) Oh, man! Aren’t you two just the cutest thing. My readers will just eat this up with a spoon. And by the way, I hope you’re right, Jackson. I haven’t found Mr. Right yet, but I’m still looking. So, now that you’ve tied the knot, are we going to hear about any kiddos in your near future?
(Jackson and Elise look at each other before Elise turns to her)
Elise: Not in the near future. We already have a fur-baby, a Snowshoe Siamese named Chunk who’s really quite a handful.
Jackson: Yeah, Chunk is probably enough for now, but that doesn’t mean that kids are off the table. Just not right at the moment.
Candice: Fair enough. So, what’s your biggest challenge in the relationship so far? Any road blocks?
Elise: (Shooting another quick look at Jackson) Well, there have been a few bumps.
Jackson: Ha! I’ll say. Mostly, surrounding my investigations and your pretty little nose.
Elise: That’s not fair (She makes a face) Well, maybe a little.
Jackson: (Laughing out loud)A little? (Turning to Candice) This one has a morbid fascination with murder and hasn’t run across a mystery—that I’m aware of—that she didn’t want to solve, whether it’s safe to do so or not. Always buttin’ into my cases. (Shaking his head) I have to watch her like a hawk.
Elise: Yeah, yeah. Okay, deputy.
Candice: Right. Let’s dig into that a bit. Jackson, you’re a Bastrop County Sheriff’s Deputy. And Elise, you have a degree in horticulture and biology. You’re in charge of the grapes, right? It must be quite busy out at the vineyard, yet you find time to do a little sleuthing? Is that what you’re alluding to, Jackson?
Jackson: I wouldn’t call it sleuthin’. More like nosin’ around where she shouldn’t.
Elise: (Rolling her eyes again) Jax is very persnickety about his homicide investigations.
Jackson: Well, it is my job, darlin’.
Elise: Whatever. (Turning the Candice) I really do try to steer clear.
(Jackson clears his throat)
Elise: I do! It’s just that sometimes information falls into my lap and it’s impossible to ignore. Information that you have benefitted from in several investigations, I might add.
Jackson: Falls into your lap? (He laughs out loud again) Right. How about you dig it out after you poke around with a stick until all hell breaks loose?
Elise: Well, sometimes it takes some prompting. I’ll give you that. I mean, you never know where important information is gonna pop up.
Jackson: Oh, for the love of—
Candice: That does sound kind of dangerous, Elise. Especially when we’re talking about murder.
Jackson: Thank you! Welcome to my world. That’s what I keep tryin’ to telling her.
Candice: My next question was going to be what keeps you up at night, but it sounds like we’ve stumbled onto it with you, Jackson.
Jackson: Yes, ma’am. It has given me some bad moments over the last few years.
Elise: Oh, stop. I try to be careful.
Jackson: (Snorting) And how’s that workin’ out, darlin’? Shall we tell Candice and her readers about all the times you were ‘bein’ careful’ and how those scenarios went … awry, shall we say?
Elise: Okay, yes, point taken. But you do have to admit that I was very helpful with this last investigation. Sheriff Masters up in Shiloh County in Oregon even said so.
Jackson: (Shaking his head) Yes, and my heart just about stopped beatin’ during that case when you and Miranda were—
Elise: Alright, alright, Candice’s readers don’t need to hear about that. However, you have to admit that it wasn’t my fault … this time.
Jackson: (Staring at her with a look of disbelief) So not the point, pal, and you know it.
Candice: Okay, not to stir the pot or anything but it sounds like the honeymoon was quite exciting. Want to tell us a little about that? I think the readers would actually love to hear about your adventures, Elise. So, what was this all about up in Oregon.
Elise: Well, our honeymoon started of just lovely. We spent two fabulous weeks in Napa Valley wine country touring vineyards, drinking great wine, and just enjoying our time together. Our friend Miranda Rollins is the major shareholder in Bella Luna Winery and Vineyard in Oregon, so she flew the wedding party in and we met up with them for a week up there after our two weeks in Napa.
Candice: Wow, must be nice to have friends with the means to pamper other friends that way.
Elise: It really is.Well, anyway, it was supposed to be a trip specifically to tour Bella Luna’s castle winery—which, I’m telling you is so amazing—and then visit some friends who had moved to the Oregon coast several years ago. But there were … complications.
Candice: Complications? What kind of complications?
Jackson: Homicide complications.
Candice: (Looking a bit uncomfortable) I beg your pardon? Homicide? On your honeymoon?
Elise: I’ll say, and in quite the spectacular fashion.
Candice: Really? How so? Or do I even want to know?
Jackson: (sighing) Probably not. The wedding party found the body … in a very unusual place. And that’s probably where we should leave that part of the story. What my lovely wife is referring to is all the sleuthin’ she did during that investigation, which led to some very tense moments for me in the end.
Elise: Again, not my fault this time. I was just ridin’ along with Miranda. It was all just bad timing.
Jackson: (Giving Elise a bland stare) Bad timing. Right.
Elise: Anyway, I ended up getting quite a bit of information for the investigative team—information that they probably wouldn’t have been able to get through normal channels, shall we say.
Jackson: (Shaking his head with another beleaguered sigh)
Candice: (Looking back and forth between them) Okay, maybe we should just move on. How about this. What’s your greatest source of joy?
(Elise and Jackson look at each other and the tension dissolves)
Elise: Family.
Jackson: Family.
(They grin at each other)
Elise: I’ve known this man all my life. He’s part of my family. He is my joy. And he’s a dang good law enforcement officer.
Jackson: (Reaching out to take her hand) Ditto, pal. Well, except for that last part. Although, I guess you’re not too bad in that area, either.
Candice: (With a heavy sigh) Aw … that’s so sweet. I hate to follow that with the opposite side of the coin, but in contrast, what is your greatest disappointment?
Elise: My dad passed away over a decade ago. I guess my greatest disappointment is that he didn’t get to see his grandchildren—my brother’s kids—and that he wasn’t here to walk me down the aisle, to see me and Jax wed.
Jackson: Right there with you, darlin’. Jacob was a good man. It left a hole when he passed. Though I believe that he’s still with us in spirit, it would’ve been good to have him here for our wedding. He would’ve been so proud of you and what you’ve accomplished with the vineyard.
Elise: (Squeezing his hand) He would’ve been proud of us both, Jax.
Candice: (Blinking back her emotions) Well, I do believe that’s a perfect way to end our interview. On behalf of the Delphine Chronicle and its readers, I can’t thank you both enough for making time in your busy schedules for us.
Elise: It was our pleasure, Candice. Right, Jax?
Jackson: (Giving Candice a wry look) I had my doubts about this but it wasn’t half as bad as I was afraid it would be. Thanks.
Candice: (Laughing) I’m so glad. Take care, you two. And stay out of trouble.
Jackson: I suppose that’s easier said than done for someone. (Giving Elise a sideways glance)
Elise: Oooh, you’re so funny. Take care, Candice.
Candice: If you want to know more about Jackson and Elise’s latest adventure, pick up a copy of Champagne Toast, Murder Chaser by Joni Folger, up for presale now and releases on May 6, 2025.
My thanks to Fresh Fiction for posting my Delphine Chronicle interview with Elise Beckett Landry and Sheriff’s Deputy Jackson Landry.
River Bend Vineyard Cozy #4
The splashy wedding for Elise Beckett and Sheriff's Deputy Jackson Landry was the event of the season at River Bend Vineyard in Delphine, Texas, and the first ten days of their honeymoon in Napa Valley wine country was just as lovely. Yet when the happy couple meets up with the rest of the wedding party at Bella Luna Castle Winery and Vineyard in Oregon, the end of their fabulous honeymoon trip takes a disturbing turn when the group tours the winery and discovers a body in a most bizarre setting.
Jackson and his partner, Jim Stockton are way out of their jurisdiction but are pulled into the investigation by the Shiloh County Sheriff. However, not to be sidelined, Elise starts digging. The mysterious death seems to have a connection to the original sale of the vineyard. It's a history steeped in underlying land schemes, sabotage, and unsettled scores where secrets are plentiful and everyone is a suspect—even their good friend and majority shareholder, Miranda Rollins.
Mystery Amateur Sleuth | Mystery Cozy | Mystery Culinary [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: May 6, 2025, e-Book , ISBN: 2940184496917 / eISBN: 1230008875525]
Writing Paranormal Romance and Romantic Suspense under the name J.G. Sauer and mysteries under the name Joni Folger
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