Interview: R.J. Blain (Booked for Murder) ~ #BookTour

 

Hello and Welcome All!

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing RJ Blain author of Booked for Murder. 

Hi RJ, thank you for agreeing to this interview. 

You’re welcome. Thanks so much for having me!

For those readers not familiar with you, would you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a thirty-something human owned by two cats, Princess and Zazzle. Princess is a diluted tortoiseshell, and Zazzle is a calico. I have a spouse, we enjoy going fishing and camping, and we both enjoy sleeping in more than we should.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Currently, I’m playing Pokemon Sword on my Switch, which I just got in July 2020. I’m a little behind… I expect I’ll be playing Sword for at least another year before I finish my pokedex…

Who are your favorite authors? Why?

Faith Hunter and Ilona Andrews are my current top-two favorites. I like Faith’s books for when I need a dark edge, and Ilona Andrews has a bit of an edge but is a little ‘safer’ as far as reads go.

When I need light and fluffy, I did out a semi-sweet romantic comedy at random. (I try to avoid the books that are about the characters getting to the sex scenes rather than them going on various adventures with a lot of laughs along the way.)

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?

Honestly, I like the scenes where characters have to work together to solve a problem. It’s a challenge each and every time. Action scenes can be fun, but they usually lack the heavy development of characters meaningfully engaging with each other. So for me, the action is second to the relationships.

How much research do you do?

So. Much. Research. To write this book, I had to do a lot of medical sciences research, library sciences research, location research on certain parts of New York City, and a whole shebang of generic stuff here and there.

I probably spent a solid 20-30 hours on general research while writing this book, often working 20 to 30 minutes so I could make certain one sentence was accurate and realistic.

Booked for Murder

Please tell us about the characters in your book?

The main character is a woman named Janette, who was crippled following a car accident. She’s a bundle of stubborn pride, and while she had wanted to become a nurse, thanks to the nature of her magic, she had to abandon her dream. To keep her old life safely distant, she opted to become a librarian instead.

Trouble comes calling at the steps of her library, which is when the real fun begins.

Please share the opening lines of this book:

Once upon a time, I had lived on the edge, but I’d fallen off somehow, emerging scarred and broken. Once upon a time, I’d lived in the ivory tower, looking down on the streets below in search of threats and fortune. I’d found both to a frightening degree. Once upon a time, I’d been the lethal shadow of a man who wanted to change the world to his liking.

I assumed he still did. Bradley Hampton wasn’t the kind to quit once he decided to do something.

A sports car roared by, and it surprised me to discover I missed my once upon a time.

How did you come up with the title?

The titles are puns about books and a type of crime, and the crime is a major part of the specific title in question.

Did any scene have you crying or laughing while writing it?

I giggled like a maniac while writing the scene involving milk. You’ll get it when you reach that part of the book.

Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

You’re very welcome! Thank you so much for having me.

 

Booked for Murder
by R.J. Blain
(Vigilante Magical Librarians #1)
Publication date: August 18th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:
Life as a bodyguard and driver for the rich, famous, and powerful is dangerous on a good day, and after sustaining a crippling injury while on duty, Janette’s left with few options. Having signed a ‘for life’ contract but unable to work, she uses her skills to disappear.

Her new life as a librarian suits her. Nobody cares she limps and sometimes requires a cane to walk. She’s wanted for her knowledge, not her lethal magic. She’s surrounded by books, a woman’s best friend.

But when her former employer’s best friend is murdered on the steps of her library, old loyalties and secrets might destroy her—or set her free.

Teaming up with her co-workers to find the killer might keep her from being booked for murder, but unless she’s careful, she’ll find out exactly how far her ex-boss will go to reclaim what is rightfully his.

Her. For life.

Purchase: Amazon – B & N – iBooks – Kobo – Google Play

 

Follow the Tour Here
Tour-wide giveaway (INT): $50 Amazon gift card – Ends Sept. 3rd

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until satisfied.

Author links: Website – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – Goodreads