Amy Metz published her book Murder & Mayhem in 2012. The mystery crime novel became a big hit. Now she is relaunching the book as a self-publisher. For the quality of her writings speaks 125 reviews in Amazon with average rating of 4.3!

– What is your book Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction about?
– Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction is based on a murder from the 1930s that was never solved, so Tess, my main character in the present day, tries to solve it. Most chapters in the book start in the 1930s time frame and segue to the present day, where Tess has moved into the former house of the murder victim (who, coincidentally, was her boss’s father), and she finds a mysterious key. Murder & mayhem ensue as she investigates the unsolved murder. There’s a mystery, a little bit of romance, and a lot of southern humor.

– How did you decide to write the story?
I’d always wanted to write about the murders in my family’s history (there were actually two that happened in the 1930s—both are in the book), because I found them fascinating and because one of them was never solved. But I wanted to laugh, so I decided to make the murder mystery humorous. At the time, I was reading a lot of chick lit, so I threw in a little bit of romance too. And what came out was a cozy mystery. I liked the town and characters so much that I decided to make it a series.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Honestly, my biggest challenge was getting myself to stop editing. I changed things every time I read through the manuscript.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– The main characters in the 1930s are based on my family members – loosely based. The present day mc is a figment of my imagination.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I began writing it in the fall of 2009, and it was first published in August 2012. I think it took me a little over a year to write.
– What about your previous book I’m not Crazy, I’m on Lupron: a Journey Thorough Infertility?
– That book is not one I actually wrote, but one to which I contributed. The author, Stacey Rourke, put out a call on Facebook for short stories on the topic of infertility. She wanted women who had experienced infertility to share their stories. I’m lucky to be able to say mine had a happy ending. She included several of the short stories as bonus material and she calls them “Morsels of Hope.” Since my name is listed as a contributing author, it’s listed on my amazon.com author page.
– Who are you?
– Well … I’m a mom to two grown sons and one daughter-in-law. I’m a shy, quiet person who prefers to have a laptop or camera in front of me instead of a party. I’m a former first grade teacher. I’m a baker, a gardener, a neatnik, a dog lover. And I’m an about-to-be-divorced fifty-three-year-old woman on my own for the first time … ever. I’m a little scared.
– What are your writing habits?
– I write the rough draft as fast as I can, then I go back and start layering. I add personalities, richer dialogue, scenery, thoughts, anything that will make the story come alive. I do this over and over and over until I’m sick of reading it. Then I have some beta readers read that draft. I go back with their comments and edit and re-write. And then I send it on to a professional editor.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– I was satisfied when the book was on Kindle best-seller lists, but my book was taken off the market so the publisher could fix formatting problems, and it lost its momentum after that. I’m now self-publishing the book and hoping to get it back on those top 100 lists. And yes, more books in the series are in the works. I hope to publish Heroes & Hooligans in Goose Pimple Junction before Christmas.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– I think word of mouth is the strongest promotional tool, so doing an interview such as this is extremely helpful to get the book in front of readers. For more of my promotional ideas, check out the Marketing for Dummies (And Authors) on my blog: http://abluemillionbooks.blogspot.com/p/marketing.html
– How came your love of tea?
– The sweet tea in the South is truly wonderful. Sweet tea with a lemon wedge will make any day of the year better.
– You are living in Muhammad Ali’s city. What is the impact of this great athlete in Louisville?
– Everyone loves Muhammad Ali. We have the Muhammad Ali Center, and if you drive by it on I-64, you’ll see a giant poster of his face. We also have the Muhammad Ali Center for Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville. Did you know that before he was called the Greatest, he was known as the Louisville Lip? It’s true. I hear he’s moving back to town, and that will only make the city better. People find him inspirational. Ali has said that Louisville has produced the greatest of all time.
– As a former first grade teacher, please rate by importance for the kids the following things: To read books, to do sports for a healthy body or to be educated by their parents?
– I don’t think I could choose one over another. They’re all equally important. I’ve always loved to read, and reading in the classroom was one of my favorite things to do as a teacher. To watch a child learn to read is a joy. But healthy bodies are important too, as is having various interests. All work and no play and all that …
When I taught first grade, the importance of parents’ involvement became so apparent to me. Every child has the capacity to learn. But children who have the support, encouragement, and involvement from their parents simply do better in school. I’ve seen it first hand.

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Take a look out at Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction (Goose Pimple Junction mysteries Book 1)