Tying the Knot: A Guest Post

Today I turn my wee little blog over to one of the niftiest people I know: E.C. Bell. She’s here to talk about the penultimate book in her wonderful Marie Jenner mystery series (the first one is “Seeing the Light” if you are someone who has to read a series in order; you won’t be too lost if you start here or elsewhere…)

Marie Jenner just wants a Vegas holiday.

When psychic Crystal Demoines tells James Lavall that his uncle’s spirit is trapped in Las Vegas, Marie is thrilled. All she’ll have to do is help Jimmy “anything for a buck” Lavall move on to the next plane of existence, and then she and James can have the holiday of her dreams.

But she never dreamed that a lieutenant of the drug kingpin from Edmonton would be staying at the same hotel as her and James, and that James would become his new best friend. Or that she’d have to find Jimmy’s girlfriend Rita—who disappeared the same night Jimmy died—before he would finally move on. Or that the most powerful man in the hotel would be looking for Rita too. To find the money she stole.

And Marie never dreamed that she’d be planning a Vegas wedding in the middle of it all. But she is.

Looks like her dream vacation is about to become a nightmare.

I love these books. They are fun, interesting, and keep the action moving along. Without further ado, here’s the author herself, discussing Marie’s journey to date, and what our lass can look forward to. It’s not necessarily going to be a smooth landing…

So, what’s it like to write the second last book in a series?

I started writing the Marie Jenner Mystery series more than a decade ago. When I wrote the first book, I felt it had the potential to be a series, but didn’t have a clear idea what it would look like. Then, I wrote the second book, and the series arc crystallized for me. I knew it would be a series, that it would end, and how. I just needed to get Marie Jenner, my main character, where I needed her to be, to have the ending I wanted.

That was before I really got to know Marie. And before I realized that in order for me to tell a good story, I was going to have to put her through some of the worst days of her life. I did it, but with every book it got harder and harder. I liked this girl I’d invented, and I wished I could treat her better. But a girl happily living her life makes a boring story, so that never happened.

And now, I’m here. Near the end. Tying up some loose ends in the second last book, so I can finish the series. Which is why Marie had to go to Las Vegas.

In Seeing the Light, the first book in the series, Jimmy “Anything for a buck” Lavall died in Vegas, and I knew his spirit would eventually have to come home, and Marie would be the one to help him.

Besides, a holiday in Vegas sounded like fun. But it wasn’t for Marie. It couldn’t be, because  I had to tell an entertaining story. And honestly? I feel badly about that. She deserved a holiday, because I’d put her through hell in the first six books. And I know what’s coming.

In the final book, Marie’s life is going to change forever. She doesn’t know that yet, because I haven’t written it, but I know. And all I can say is, “I’m sorry, Marie. From the bottom of my heart.”

She’s like a real person in my life, and I don’t know what it’s going to be like without her stories in my head. I’ll meet new people, of course, as I write new books and stories, but I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for her. Which is why writing this second last book was so hard. I’m saying good-bye, and I don’t want to.

As a new writer, I really enjoy learning from my more seasoned colleagues but most important, I am a reader first and foremost; and love a cracking good mystery series. Give this one a try – you won’t be disappointed!

If you want to know more, links are below (impolite commentary: order directly through Tyche Books or request via your local independent bookseller if you can. Amazon may be a necessary evil but an evil nonetheless):

Tying the Knot on Goodreads –> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57730599-tying-the-knot

Tying the Knot on Tyche Books –> http://tychebooks.com/tying-the-knot

Tying the Knot on Amazon –> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZSX5T13

Tying the Knot on Kobo –> https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/tying-the-knot-14

For anyone who wishes to connect, access points follow:

Join Eileen’s mailing list via her website at http://www.eileenbell.com/for news about new books, upcoming appearances and, occasionally, recipes.

Follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ecbellmystery/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/ECBell6

Thanks for reading. This has been a year, and supporting small press publishers, independent bookstores and all authors is more important than ever. Now go visit Las Vegas with Marie – it’s a COVID-friendly trip!