Monday, September 23, 2024

Guest Post - RUNNING ON EMPTY by Karin Fitz Sanford

 


RUNNING ON EMPTY


by Karin Fitz Sanford



September 16 - October 11, 2024 Virtual Book Tour



A WINE COUNTRY COLD CASE

An ex-FBI agent. A murder. And a Ponzi scheme that rocks the wine country.

Anne McCormack, a former FBI agent-turned-estate liquidator, must find out who murdered a beautiful socialite and dumped her body on a remote wine country road 16 years earlier. Could that killing be connected to a current-day Ponzi scheme that has bilked Santa Rosa residents? McCormack thinks so and sets out to solve the case—but she'll have to keep her wits about her if she plans on outracing thieves and solving the murder without become a victim herself, for dark forces are working against her and she’s running out of people to trust.

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery/Adventure/Detective
Published by: Level Best Books 
Publication Date: May 7, 2024 
Number of Pages: 294
ISBN: 9781685126155 (ISBN10: 1685126154)
Series: A Wine Country Cold Case, 2
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble  BookShop.org | Goodreads | Level Best Books



Author Bio:

Karin Fitz Sanford

Karin Fitz Sanford, a former advertising copywriter, was born in New York but grew up in Northern California's wine country, the setting for her Wine Country Cold Case series. Having run her own award-winning ad agency for over twenty-five years, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and lives in Northern California with her husband.

Catch Up With Karin Fitz Sanford:
www.FitzSanford.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @karin140
Instagram - @karinfitz8
Facebook - @karin.f.sanford

 


 

Q&A with the Author, Karin Fitz Sanford

 

 

 

1) Your protagonist, former FBI agent Anne McCormack, left the Bureau and started an estate liquidation business. Why that career?

When my mother passed a few years agothe family hired an estate liquidator to sell and auction off valuables so we couldsettle the estate. Watching her work, it occurred to me that she had incredible entrée into our lives. She could overhear private conversations, learn family secrets, find journals and money. It’sthe ideal career for a protagonist, I figuredBut I also wanted Anne to have real police powers so she could help with cold cases—which she acquired because she left the Bureau on good terms and is able to be hired on temp assignment with the police department. 

 

2) RUNNING ON EMPTY is the second in a series. Howdoes this book differ from the first?

This installment is more action-oriented and a bit darker. Anne’s business has taken offbut just when she’s feeling comfortableshe gets pulled into dangerous situations with unlikely foesThat said, many of my readers’ favorite characters—Jack, Chloe, and Krista—show up, and Anne is as feisty and flawed as ever.

 

3) Was it easy to transition to mystery writing after career as an advertising copywriter?

I thought it would be a breeze. After all, Id been a professional writer and had read thousands of novels. But as the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know. I didn’t know that using 14 different points of view would be a problem (five is usually the max). I didn’t know there were dozens of ways to say “said,” but that it was best to stick with “said,” or better yet, skip attributions altogether. I didn’t know that Scrivener is a godsend. There was a steep, steep learning curve.

 

4) Favorite part of writing?

Hands down, doing the research. Writing is often hard, but learning about guns, police procedures, drugs and wine makingis fun. I’ve found that if you want to know something, just ask. People will tell you anything—literally, anything—especially if you’re older, harmless-looking and tell them you’re a writer. I’ve been invited to tour wineries and gun ranges. I have a retired cop in the family who answers all my police-related emails. Neighbors are a great resource (So, Charles,” I asked my neighbor who has five classic vehicles lining the street, “if I were to hide money in your old truck, where...”). Another neighbor works at a winery. Ask away. Worst case scenario? They look at you funny.

 

5) Most helpful piece of advice?

“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story,” said author Terry Pratchett. Hearing that made me instantly relax. 

 

6) Finally, you’re having a dinner party for four. Whichauthors, dead or living, would you invite and why?

Truman Capote, because his story-telling skills amaze me and he’s endlessly fascinating. Irving Berlin, because his lyrics are timeless. Nora Ephron, because of her wit and originality. And Louise Penny, because of her warmth, wisdom, and luminouswriting. I’ll supply the take-out and keep quiet.

Giveaway:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

The giveaway is for:    1  $25 gift certificate to Amazon…plus a book


https://kingsumo.com/g/m4z0g01/running-on-empty-by-karin-fitz-sanford-gift-card-print-book📚 


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