Mystery We Write Blog Tour with Jean Henry Mead

Jean Henry Mead--Mystery/Suspense Author

Jean Henry Mead is a mystery/suspense and historical fiction writer. She’s also an award winning photojournalist. One of her fortes is interviewing writers, actors, politicians and artists and ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things. I’m delighted that today I’ll be interviewing Jean as today’s Mystery We Write Blog Tour author.

Jackie: Jean, welcome to Cozy Mysteries and Other Madness. Would you tell us a little about your latest mystery?

Jean: Murder on the Interstate is the third novel in my Logan & Cafferty mystery/suspense series. The series features Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty, 60-year-old widows traveling in their motorhome along I-40 in northern Arizona. On the mountainous highway west of Flagstaff they find a murdered young woman in her Mercedes convertible. The killer returns while they’re investigating and shoots out their RV tires, leaving them stranded until a woman trucker arrives, prompting the killer to leave. They pile into the eighteen wheeler and follow him to get his license number, but he winds up pursuing them. In the process they wreck their motorhome, are caught in a flash flood and are kidnapped by his gang of homegrown terrorists who plan to destroy the country.

Jackie: This is the kind of mystery I love to read, feisty old ladies doing just as they please. (Old ladies and cats always do as they please!) And surprisingly enough, those of us who have reached a certain age, actually do have a few special perceptions. J

Next Question: Do you have any work in progress? We’d love to hear all about your upcoming plans.

Jean: I’m currently working on three novels: the fourth in my Logan & Cafferty mystery series, titled Murder Magnets; my second children’s novel, The Ghost of Crimson Dawn, and No Escape: The Sweetwater Tragedy, an historical western.

Jackie: I’ll be looking forward to those books, too.

Question: Have you always wanted to be a writer, or did you just sort of stumble into this occupation?

Jean: I wrote my first novel when I was nine, so I guess you could say I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I’ve written and published 14 books, both novels and nonfiction.

Jackie: Very impressive! You seem to have writing in your blood.

Question: Sounds as if you spend most of your time writing; do you have any hobbies?

Jean: Reading, photography, travel, art, social networking, playing with my dog, and four wheel riding with my husband.

Jackie: Could it be possible that some those fun things might blend in well with your writing? Perhaps incorporating some of them into your research?

Jean: I drove my 36 ft. motorhome along I-40 in northern Arizona, the route taken by my two protagonists, in the rain while listening to truckers talk on their CB radios. I also contacted a chemical engineer about sulfuric acid spills, which the terrorists use in my novel. And I researched Phoenix, the kidnap capital of the nation where an average five murders are committed every week. My Murderous Musings blog team mate, Ben Small, who lives near Tucson, provided me with information about the terrorists who are coming across the border with Mexican nationals. And I watched the hidden camera shots of them sneaking in with drugs and weapons on an internet site. Pretty scary stuff. I also lived in Arizona during the 1990s.

Jackie: Exciting stuff. I expect you spend a lot of time thinking about your stories. Do you ever find yourself zoning into the world you have created when you’re supposed to be listening to something else such as church services, friends talking, or during a class of some sort?

Jean: I’m often in la la land with my characters, listening to them and planning what’s going to happen next.

Jackie: Have you ever found yourself growing too fond of a villain? If so, does this affect your story?

Jean: Actually, I did once while writing my first historical novel, Escape on the Wind. One of the outlaws, Tom “Peep” O’Day, was such a bungling horsethief that he endeared himself to me and was fun to write about. He wasn’t mean spirited in real life, as some of his cohorts were, and the only thing he did right was to train and communicate with horses. He had a lot of horse sense. J

Jackie: Now that you’ve segued into speaking of animals, do you have a pet? If so, we’d love to hear about this special relationship.

Jean: I have a beautiful Australian Shepherd named Mariah, who is so loving and crazy that I wrote about her in my children’s novel, Mystery of Spider Mountain. Mariah looks like a fantasy wolf and we had to buy her a wide orange collar because the legislature passed a law that wolves can be shot on sight by anyone with a gun. So we’re very protective of her here on the ranch.

Jackie: Mariah sounds lovely, and we'll all keep our fingers crossed for her safety.
Question: If you could travel anywhere in the world to research a book, and if someone else pays expenses, where would you pick?

Jean: Italy, Scotland and Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Fiji, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Japan, New Zealand and Australia for starters. I enjoy travel.

Jean Henry Mead

Jackie: Are you ever troubled by the infamous “writer’s block?”

Jean: My first job while in college was as a cub reporter for the local daily newspaper, so I’ve been trained to write on demand. You research your subject, sit down and start writing. You don’t stare at the screen and wonder where to start or how much longer to continue, you just automatically write. And, if you’re lucky, you have time to briefly polish your piece before you go on to the next story. So writing fiction for me is usually automatic, not unlike breathing. My quota of words for the day is 1,500 and I rarely write less, but I enjoy the act of writing and am fortunate that I was born to write.

Jackie: Sounds as if you’re a very disciplined writer. And I love it that you say that you were born to write. I just attended a writer’s conference where Steve Berry spoke. His theory is that writers have a voice in their head telling them they must write. That is true of me, and it’s interesting to know that you listen to your own voice. Humm….What’s with us writers, anyway? For sure, we’re different.

It’s been wonderful chatting with you Jean. Thanks for your time.

Readers, Jean’s blog is Mysterious Writers.

Blog url: http://mysteriouspeople.blogspot.com/

Her website:

www.jeanhenrmead.com

Readers: If you have questions or comments for Jean, post away!

Hugs,

Jackie