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Mary Ellis | Research โ The Best Part of Being an Author
 Peabody Fountain
Personally, I love to travel. As my husband and I investigate spots where we
may someday
retire, I find plenty of settings for my books. My newest series, Secrets
of the South
Mysteries, involves a variety of locations south of the Mason Dixon
line. My
current release, MIDNIGHT ON THE MISSISSIPPI, takes place in New Orleans
and in the
backwaters of Terrebonne, Lafayette, and St. Landry Parishes, Louisiana. In
preparation we
stayed in the French Quarter at least a dozen times, taking in the sights
and sounds both
pre and post-Katrina, and sampling every Cajun and Creole dish on the menu.
Despite several
hurricanes and bad-behaving partygoers, the French Quarter retains its age-
old dignity.
Utterly charming is the only way I can describe our favorite hotel, The
Provincial. In my
story, a New Orleans securities broker is accused of murder when his
business partner turns
up dead. Danger swirls like the mysterious dark water of the bayou as my
stockbroker and
his greenhorn P.I. encounter sophisticated shell games, blackmail and death
threats in
Midnight on the Mississippi.
The second of my mystery series takes place in Memphis, Tennessee, home of
the blues and
plenty of tasty barbeque. I enjoyed plenty of both during my trips to study
the after-hours
life of a saxophone player and stage his untimely murder. People in both the
clubs and in
the Mississippi Blues Trail museums were eager to help another music lover.
The landmark
Peabody Hotel turned out to be so amazing, I wrote the subplot around a
fictionalized
version of the hotel. It fit well in with the romantic intrigue of What
Happened on Beale
Street, which will release in February.
The third in the series, yet unnamed, takes place in the sleepy town of
Natchez,
Mississippi. Perched high on a bluff above the Mississippi River, Natchez
becomes the
vortex of a murder veiled as a suicide and an elaborate scam to dupe
unsuspecting non-
profits of every dime they have. Two new private detectives, both burned
badly in previous
relationships, discover friendship can often be the first step to true love.
In a couple of
weeks my husband and I will return to Natchez for another go-round of
research. So nice to
stay in a town too small to get lost in, yet large enough to have friendly
people willing
to answer a writerโs nosy questions. Then weโll travel down to Bay St. Louis
on
Mississippiโs Gulf Coast, perfect for the subplot of my mystery. Bay St.
Louis has been
almost totally rebuilt since that devastating Katrina, ten years ago this
month.
Ahhh researchโฆwhere itโs warm and sunny and a soft breeze blows in from the
water to cool a
writerโs weary brow. What a lovely way for a Midwest country girl to see the
U.S. and be
able to deduct part of her expenses along the way.
GIVEAWAY
What lovely city or town would you consider retiring to? Leave a comment
below and be
entered for a chance to win a copy of MIDNIGHT ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
Mary Ellis has written twelve award-winning novels set in the Amish
community and
several historical romances set during the Civil War. Her latest, THE LAST
HEIRESS,
released in 2015. MIDNIGHT ON THE MISSISSIPPI set in New Orleans is the
first of a new
contemporary mystery series, Secrets of the South. Before "retiring" to
write full-time,
Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate, a job
with amazingly
sweet fringe benefits. Mary enjoys traveling, gardening, bicycling and
swimming, and lives
in Ohio with her husband, dog and cat.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads
MIDNIGHT ON THE MISSISSIPPI begins the new Secrets of the South Mysteries
from
bestselling author Mary Ellis. These complex crime dramas follow an
investigator's quest to
make the world a better place...solving one case at a time.
New Orleans--Hunter Galen, a stock and securities broker, suspects
his business
partner, James Nowak, may be involved in embezzling their clients' money,
but he's
reluctant to jeopardize their friendship based on suspicion alone. After
James turns up
dead, Hunter realizes his unwillingness to confront a problem may have cost
James his life.
Nicki Price, a newly minted PI, intends to solve the stockbroker's murder,
recover the
missing millions from the client accounts, and establish herself in the
career she adores.
As she ferrets out fraud and deception at Galen Investments, Hunter's
fiancee, Ashley
Menard, rubs Nicki the wrong way. Nicki doesn't trust the ostentatious woman
with an agenda
longer than the Mississippi River. Ashley seems to be hiding something, but
is Nicki's
growing attraction to Hunter--a suspected murderer--her true reason for
disliking Ashley?
As they encounter sophisticated shell games, blackmail, and murder, Nicki
and Hunter's only
option is to turn to God as they search for answers, elude lethal danger,
and perhaps
discover love along the way.
Comments
26 comments posted.
Re: Mary Ellis | Research โ The Best Part of Being an Author
It would have to be along the coast somewhere. I love the
sea.
(Mary Preston 5:50am August 3, 2015)
Well, since I've already done it and retired - it would have to be home, but it is
along the water since we have a beautiful pond!
(Sally Schmidt 1:06pm August 3, 2015)
I love finding new authors. I would to win.
(Cindy Davenport 2:59pm August 3, 2015)
I would love to retire in Europe. I am not sure that will happen.
(Cindy Davenport 3:00pm August 3, 2015)
I actually plan to retire here in Iowa but I think somewhere in Hawaii would
be nice if I had that kind of money.
(Virginia Winfield 5:01pm August 3, 2015)
I'd love a chance to read your books. I love fiction and romance books.
(Elizabeth Deyoung 6:49pm August 3, 2015)
I love where I have always lived in Arkansas ,but I would like to have a condo to visit whenever I wanted in Branson , MO. I don't like to get far from home . Thanks for this giveaway.
(Joan Thrasher 10:24am August 4, 2015)
Would love to win this book. Your books are always terrific reads/ Always left 5 star reviews on your books. Have read most of them. I would love to live in the Smoky Mtns. near Gaitlandinburg, TN or near the beach in Pennsacola, Fl.
(Pat Moore 12:54pm August 4, 2015)
If money were no object, I would love to retire to Vienna, Austria, or somewhere
in Switzerland. However, I am partial to the South, so Georgia, Louisiana, or
Texas (my current residence) would be great options for me as well.
(Alice Hunter 1:41pm August 4, 2015)
I want to retire to Nashville, TN. I've been there on vacation & love it. It's big enough to be fun but small enough to be comfortable.
(Kristine Murphy 1:46pm August 4, 2015)
I really love where we live in Texas (and my house only has
a few more years till it's paid off) but if we did have to
move for some reason I have no idea where we'd go since I'm
terrible with geography and I've barely traveled.
(Maria Smith 3:25pm August 4, 2015)
We are both retired and we really like this community which is
Madison, Indiana.
(Nancy Luebke 3:26pm August 4, 2015)
Almost every time my Husband and I went camping, there was a certain area that I was attracted to. I kept telling my Husband how much I loved the area, and would love to live there. Little did I know that within the decade, we would be moving there for good!! Without giving the city away on line, I am out in the country, yet a mile away from a major lake, so you could say I pretty much have the best of both worlds. I also have the 4 seasons, and even if some people move to escape Winter, I love to watch it snow, and don't mind being out in it that much, although out here we seem to get blizzards!! lol My Best Friend lives out in New Orleans, and I can't wait to read your latest book!! It sounds like such a good book, that I wish I had it to read tonight!! I also have a good friend who lives in Mississippi, so that book will have special meaning, too!! Congratulations on your latest book, and I'm sure it's going to do well!!
(Peggy Roberson 4:42pm August 4, 2015)
I would probably love Aiken, SC or another place that
doesn't have frigid winters and where I can have horses.
(Irene Menge 8:29pm August 4, 2015)
We retired to our small lake home to be near the kids and
grandkids. It was our weekend place when the kids were little.
(Leona Olson 9:31am August 5, 2015)
I would retire right where I am in Dallas, Texas
(Sarah Bauman 2:52pm August 5, 2015)
Myster Murder? Uncovered secrets? Strong, investigative female character? Yes, yes, and yes! Sounds like an amazing read, I would love to read this book! :D
(R H 8:17pm August 5, 2015)
As I live in Australia somewhere on the coast would be
amazing though not sure quite where yet.
(Trish Wakeman 9:14pm August 5, 2015)
I would love to retire to the island of Oahu, outside
Honalulu of course. Warm breezes, year round flowers so
much better than the snows of Canada
(Janis Milford 9:40pm August 5, 2015)
I haven't really given this much thought...I can't really think of a specific town
name. I would have to say I'd prefer somewhere down south where it is warm
year round (no snow, and no shoveling!!). I'd also probably enjoy somewhere
close to the beach, even if it isn't walking distance atleast in a reasonable driving
distance.
(Lily Shah 12:57pm August 6, 2015)
Hilton Head
(Pam Howell 8:26am August 6, 2015)
I think where I already live is a lovely place to retire! :)
(Jennifer Clayton 9:06am August 6, 2015)
I would like to live in Thailand! Warm and sunny! I'd also love to win your book. It sounds right up my alley!
(Patricia Simpkin 10:05am August 6, 2015)
I've already retired in my hometown, but, if I had an opportunity, I would love to spend the summers in a beautiful mountainous region.
(Anna Speed 1:05pm August 6, 2015)
Austoria Oregon. It is on the coast, it is historic, and
the climate is just right!
(LaCinda Jameson 5:43pm August 6, 2015)
I would retire to a place near water whether a lake,river, gulf or ocean. Since we are dreams , I would like the winter at the beach and the summer at the mountains
(Melinda Marks 11:50pm August 6, 2015)
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