Okay, I love mommy lit, and I love a good murder mystery. So does this book sound perfect, or what? Moving Is Murder by Sara Rosett



Here's a bit more about the book:

Air Force wife Ellie Avery is an ace at moving. A professional organizer, she plans ahead, packs efficiently, and even color-codes the boxes. But nothing in her bag of tricks could prepare her for the secrets that shadow her new neighborhood…secrets that drive one of her neighbors to murder.

Moving four times in five years has honed Ellie’s considerable skills. But moving with a newborn daughter and husband Mitch in tow, a record-breaking heat wave, and the realization that their dream neighborhood is known as Base Housing East is enough to make her turn to chocolate for comfort. Now half of their neighbors are with the 52nd Air Refueling Squadron. Forget privacy.

Forget peace of mind, too. Driving home from her first squadron barbecue, Ellie finds neighborhood environmental activist Cass Vincent dead on the side of the road. The police call it an accident—Cass, fatally allergic, was stung by wasps—but Ellie’s not so sure. And when it looks like Mitch’s best friend might be a suspect in the murder, Ellie starts snooping in earnest. What she finds shocks her—and when suspicious “accidents” start happening in her own backyard, Ellie realizes she’s getting closer to the killer…maybe too close!

QUOTES:
Publishers Weekly: Packed with helpful moving tips, Rosett’s cute cozy debut introduces perky Ellie Avery…an appealing heroine, an intriguing insider peek into Air Force life.

Romantic Times: Ellie’s intelligent investigation highlights this mystery. There are plenty of red herrings along her path to solving the murderous puzzle—along with expert tips on organizing a move. The stunning conclusion should delight readers. (Four stars out of five.)

Library Journal: Rosett knows the ins and outs of living on a military base—she also knows a lot about moving and includes tips at the end of each chapter.

MY QUESTIONS ...

Sara was kind enough to answer my questionnaire ... so here are her answers:

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL “WRITING DAY”?
After I drop my kids off at school, I go home and do publicity in the morning for an hour or two. I take a break for lunch, errands, and a walk, then in the afternoon I work on my writing and/or revisions for a couple of hours until my kids come home from school. I also print out my drafts and take them with me when I’m running errands so I can work on them while I’m in the waiting room at the doctor’s office or in the car pool line.
DO YOU RECALL THE KERNEL OF INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
A friend invited me over for a barbeque. She was wearing a shirt with a huge sunflower on it. She said, “I really shouldn’t be wearing this.” When I asked her why not, she said she was allergic to bee stings and her doctor had told her not to wear anything floral or with bright colors because that could increase her chance of being stung. She even had to carry an epipen with her. In case she was stung she could give herself an injection to counteract the allergic reaction. Being a potential mystery writer, I thought, “What a great way to kill someone!”

PICK A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK AND TELL US WHAT TRAIT YOU SHARE (OR COME CLOSEST TO SHARING) WITH THAT CHARACTER.
My main character, Ellie Avery, and I share mommy angst. Moms, especially new moms, worry about everything. Am I giving my baby the right foods? Why is she crying? Why won’t she quit crying? And what’s that rash? In MOVING IS MURDER, Ellie has to figure out how to get her daughter to sleep through the night, a task I’ve had to deal with myself. I’ve tried to take those new mom worries and use them as a counterpoint to Ellie’s organized, efficient side.   

IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MAGICAL TRUNK THAT GAVE YOU LIMITLESS BOOKS TO READ, OR A LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF PAPER ON WHICH TO WRITE?
I’d have to go with the paper because I have these thoughts and ideas that won’t go away and I have to get them down on paper. Actually, a desert island sounds like it could be a very productive place, but then there would be that little detail of publication—that could be hard from a deserted island!

CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Is there any choice? Chocolate, of course.


WHAT’S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK? THE SECRET GARDEN.


You can visit Sara's blog at http://www.rosettwrites.bravejournal.com