Author Interview with Vicki Batman

Today I have another fabulous rose from The Wild Rose Press. Vicki Batman is here to tell us all about her newest romantic-comedy Temporarily Employed, and to share an excerpt.

Please tell us about your current release, Vicki.

Thank you, Chrys, for hostessing me today. My latest book is a romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily Employed. Here’s a bit about it:

New Job. New Love. And Murder. Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. 

Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

Title: Temporarily Employed

Author: Vicki Batman

Genre: Romantic-Comedy (Mystery)

Formats: Paperback and eBook

Page Count: 314

Published: The Wild Rose Press

Book Links:

Amazon eBook / Amazon Paperback

The Wild Rose Press eBook

The Wild Rose Press Paperback

1.    What books would you compare to Temporarily Employed?

Temporarily Employed is a funny mystery with some romance tossed it to heat it up. I’d say Janet E.

2.     I enjoy reading books by Janet Evanovich. Why did you choose the setting for Temporarily Employed?

They say write what you know and I know my town. Many areas operate like a community of its own.

3.    Did you do special research for Temporarily Employed?

      Lots of police and detective research. My friend is a former deputy sheriff and she read it for details.

4. How lucky! What would women find irresistible about your hero?

      Detective Allan Charles Wellborn is a gentleman. Great manners. Nothing icky about him anymore. He improved greatly from high school. There’s that twinkle in his eye...

5.  Gotta love a twinkle in a man's eye. ;) Are any of your characters based on real people? 

      Yes, some resemble people I have known because life is strange and why not use it?

6.  Is the hero a bad boy or a gentleman?

      My hero is a gentleman; however, because he is so dedicated to his job, he hurts the one he loves.

7.    If you have a pen name, can you explain how you came up with it?

My name really is Vicki Batman. I married a superhero.

8.    I bet many people love your last name. How old were you when you read your first romance book? What was it?

I was nearly fourteen, bored to death and my mom didn’t have time to take us to the library. I whined a bit and she handed me an Emilie Loring romance. I love them so much, I have all in hardback.

9.    What’s on your bucket list?

I’d like to go to Machu Pichu, do more ziplining, raft down the Grand Canyon, go on a Rhine River Cruise.

10.  Share three random facts about you.

     I am the oldest of four girls and don’t resemble the other 3 at all. I love cats. My favorite writing tool is a Papermate #2 sharpwriter.

***

Excerpt:

“Yuck.”

Pretty much covered the whole freakin’ day.

A blinding red-white, red-white strobe, reflected in my brand new Wrangler’s rearview mirror, seized my attention. The police. I tossed my hands skyward, ready to surrender. I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Like I'd commented this a.m. to my roommate, Jenny, “Today, anything’s possible.”

My Bad Day checklist included:

- Crappy job interview, one which might have provided desperately needed income.

- Wore gut-busting panty hose on a hot day which had now worked past my waist and strangled my diaphragm.

- A barely blowing air conditioner indicated something had malfunctioned in my new, fun car.

I stole another glance in the mirror, and with great reluctance, flipped the right turn indicator. My vehicle coasted to a stop on the shoulder of Boston Avenue in my hometown of Sommerville, a nice suburb located between two large cities. Four lanes of cars and trucks zipped by as I sat there where every single one of my family, friends, friends’ friends, and their friends—including Rat Fink Suzanne—would see a police vehicle positioned right behind mine. Gleefully, drivers would chant the “Ha-ha, got you, not me” ditty.

How embarrassing.

After killing the engine, I flopped back in the seat. Shooting the morons the finger was an idea. Nah. I'm too exhausted to care.

A litany of:  "No, not hiring." "Just filled the position." "You're over qualified." "You're under qualified…" tornadoed through my head. Coupled with the intense job search through various outlets like the internet and completing numerous online employment applications, no wonder my body had been depleted of all life force.

Not even a breeze blew to take the edge off the unbearable summertime heat. Tangled wild trees and dry scrubby bushes banked the roadside. The grass had taken on a scorched look. Rolling down the driver’s window, I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing great. Nothing new.

I stole a glance in the side mirror at the policeman who strode purposefully along the shoulder. The gravel crunched under his boots. He looked huge, probably because his uniform, which appeared to be bulked with a bullet-proof vest, made him resemble a buffed-up superhero in size. Exceedingly intimidating.

Sigh. When things went wrong, they were really wrong.

Author Bio:

Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless, giving her plenty of crazy material for her writing.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Blog / Goodreads / Google +

Thank you for stopping by Write with Fey, Vicki! I hope you’ll come here again! :)

Please show Vicki some comment love.