Cleveland Real Estate News

Native Clevelander Casey Daniels and I have been friends since we were five years old.  She is (and has always been) excited to try new and creative ways to express herself.  She began weaving and created my favorite felted winter briefcase.  She now raises bees (if that’s the correct terminology!) I enjoyed  listening to the animation in her voice when she and her husband began their journey to their first bee colony. Casey sounds just as animated when she is talking about her geneological research, or exploring cemeteries in and around NE Ohio. Let’s just say she is the curious, investigative sort, which of course are great qualities to have for a mystery writer.

She is however, first and foremost,  one delightful mystery writer. Casey also writes under other nom de plumes and frequently has more than one book going at the same time. Currently, she is working on Button Book mysteries (as Kylie Logan), a new series of Chili mysteries and the Pepper books.   How does anyone do that ??

I asked her a few questions, and wanted to share her answers with you.

What has been the most fun or interesting  research you’ve been able to do for your Pepper Martin series ?   

Casey:  Since Pepper works in a cemetery and investigates mysteries for the ghosts there, I’ve been able to go on a couple paranormal investigations.  That’s been great fun.  For one of the investigations, I was invited to join a ghost hunting group at a historic cemetery.  It was the night after Halloween, the moon was full, and we got some amazing pictures, mists that were there in one photo and completely gone in the next, strange lights.  Very interesting!  And cold! 
 
Some of my “regular” research involves exploring cemeteries and since that’s one of my favorite things to do, I’ve enjoyed that, too.  Cemeteries–especially old cemeteries–are filled with art, architecture and history.  I find stories everywhere I look!

 Didn’t you just win an Ohio author award?   

Casey: I’m one of the featured authors at this year’s Ohioana Book Festival.  That takes place on Saturday, May 12 in Columbus.  For more information:
 
http://ohioanabookfestival.org/

How many books  have you written?
 
Casey: You know, someone just asked me that and I tried to do a count.  As near as I can figure, the number is currently 40.  That includes historical and contemporary romances, YA (Young Adult) and even one children’s book.  These days, I write the Pepper Martin mysteries and the Button Box mysteries and I have two new series starting.  One will take place up at the Lake Erie islands. The other is all about food!

Where can readers buy your Pepper books locally?
 
Casey: The books are available at bookstores everywhere.  If they’re not on the shelf  (all 8 of them!) ask the clerk, and be sure to mention that the author lives here in northeast Ohio and the books are set in Cleveland.

Tell me about the new book, and upcoming book signings. 
 
Casey: The new book is “Wild, Wild Death,” #8 in the series.  Pepper travels to New Mexico when a friend of hers is kidnapped.  Of course, in Pepper’s world, nothing is that simple.  In order to ransom her friend, she’s got to dig up the remains of a long-dead Wild West star and his ghost comes along for the ride! 
 
There is a book launch party coming up this Saturday, February 11, from noon until 5 at:
 
Something Different Gallery
1899 West 25th Street
Cleveland  (Just North of the West Side Market, on the same side of the Street).
 
Stop in and say hello.  The more the merrier!  And if you can’t make it and would like a signed copy of any of my books, call:
 
216-696-5226
 
My next signing after that is scheduled on March 4 at Aunt Agatha’s in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Great bookstore that specializes in mysteries, great staff.  Should be a fun adventure!

Has Pepper changed over the course of time?
 
Casey: Absolutely!  And I think that’s one of the most fun parts of writing the series.  In a stand-alone book, an author has about 80,000 words to tell a story, develop characters, make them change.  So far, I’ve had 80,000 times 8 (and the ninth book in the series will be out in September).  The first Pepper book (“Don of the Dead”) was published six years ago.  So I’ve had plenty of time and plenty of words to play with.  Pepper has certainly become a better investigator, and a better person, too, I think.  She’s got a big heart, and she’s finally not afraid to show it.

For more information about Casey and her books, go the The Casey Daniels Website.