Title: SCHOOLED FOR
MURDER
Author: Cindy Muir
Genre: Mystery (cozy)
# of Pages: 200
Pub Date: July 11, 2014
Publisher:
Black Rose Writing
Laurel Franks is a dedicated mom, volunteer extraordinaire,
and active on the PTA Board. She is also, however, an enthusiastic Jimmy Buffet
fan and wanna-be Trop Rock singer. Laurel finds out through the local grapevine
that the despicable local school superintendent has been murdered, and the
sheriff’s office seems to be unusually mum about the investigation.
With her best friend and sidekick Sherry Sharp, Laurel
decides to hone her investigative skills and search out suspect possibilities
she comes up with in her volunteer and community world. Her husband, obsolete
in the thought processes of a modern woman, wants her to devote her time and
energy to her volunteer work and family only, but Laurel is spurred on with her
investigation.
Laurel and Sherry traverse the Hill Country north of San
Antonio, Texas and meet some wacky characters, many of whom seem to have a
motive for rubbing out the school superintendent. Fueled by Trop Rock music and
inspired by Jimmy Buffett lyrics, Laurel finally solves the crime, but at the
near cost of her own life.
I’m one of those who has always loved music. My earliest
performance memory was at age four at church and by age 8, I was studying
piano. The choral and solo road continued and I wound up with two music degrees
from Baylor University. I’m a former elementary music teacher and directed
church children’s choirs for 32 years.
Somewhere along the way, I expanded my musical horizons
and was listening to Jimmy Buffett by
the early 90s. When I attended my first concert back in 1991, I was hooked.
After several years of Buffett concerts, reading his books and learning about
him, I finally joined the San Antonio Parrot Head Club. It was through the club
that I began to learn about Trop Rock and the singers/ songwriters who make the
music.
A couple of years ago, I started writing a column about
Parrot Heads and Trop Rock for a now-defunct magazine. And I truly became
hooked on meeting and interviewing the musicians. One of my favorite parts of
going to MOTM, Pardi Gras, or other Trop Rock music events is to forge new
musical relationships. I also began to weave a story about an amateur sleuth
who also dreams of being a Trop Rock singer. After years of writing and
re-writing, "Schooled For Murder" is my first cozy mystery novel.
Black Rose Writing was extremely gracious to take the chance of being the
book's publisher.
I have a beautiful daughter, Lauren Bates, who lives in
Dallas and is an artist. And I’m newly married to wonderful Don Muir, whom I’ve
known for years through the San Antonio Parrot Head Club. Jerry Diaz was
gracious to let us be married on the stage erected for the Pardi Gras Street
Party and after the ceremony, a second line jazz band paraded us up to the top
of the Tropical Isle, where we had cake for whomever joined us.
I’m also caretaker for the “Jimmy Buffett Museum of Port
Aransas, TX,” which is my second home. Come see me if you’re ever on that part
of the Gulf Coast. We’ll share a cold libation and listen to . . . what else? Trop Rock!
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**NOTE FROM KRISTINE at HALL WAYS: This is a book promotion that I've agreed to post because this is a Texas author and the book sounds interesting
and like something I would enjoy reading. I have NOT read the book. The content of this promo post was provided by Lone Star Literary Life Blog Tours. If you're a Texas blogger interested in joining the ranks of Texas Book Blog Tours, contact Tabatha Pope
I've heard Texas authors have a wonderful support system. Terribly interesting concept!
ReplyDeleteIt's true! There are several blogger groups that support Texas authors, and there are also groups for Texas bloggers and Texas librarians to support each other. Can't ya just feel the love? :-)
DeleteThe one thing you can always count on in Texas...we support our own.
ReplyDelete