Books A Plenty Guest Post by Teresa Trent
I belong to a book club. One thing that I find with consistency in the yearly selections is at least one historical novel takes place in World War II. These are beautifully written books and well worth reading, but there are so many of them out there. I wanted to write something different.
When I decided to write my first historical mystery, I chose the early sixties. Part of my reasoning was, I'm a cozy mystery writer, so I tend to keep things... cozy. I needed to write within my own comfort zone and that is how I created Dot Morgan, a secretarial student from Camden, Texas, in the year 1962. I wanted to replace cell phones with rotary phones, the internet with the daily newspaper, social media with actual face to face social events. There was a time when people dressed up to go out and didn't wear their pajamas to Walmart, remember?
This is not to say 1962 was a better time. The rights of women were limited, and the treatment of minorities was terrible. These are the characters I wanted to write about in my story. My main character, Dot, goes into secretarial school because she can get employed easily, but it seems none of them think about her majoring in business in college. Her friend Mary Oliva joins the police force to investigate crimes, including one that happened in her own family. She spends more time filing paperwork than pounding the beat.
I love the idea that my characters are on the cusp of so much about to happen! The Twist and Shout Murder is seen through a slightly nostalgic lens that reminds us of simpler times. I hope you enjoy the book and remember, if it's raining, you'd better take an umbrella. It sure came in handy for one of my characters!
About Twist and Shout Murder
In 1962, Dot Morgan was told the best thing she could do besides being a nurse or teacher was to learn to type. While attending secretarial school, she decides to rub elbows with an elite ladies' club to help her father with a struggling campaign for city council. Instead of getting the help she sought, Dot is thrown into a world of adultery, deceit, and murder when one of the town's sons is found dead.
Time to put that 45 on the record player and bring out your best dance moves in The Twist and Shout Murder.
About Teresa Trent
Teresa Trent writes historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, romance, and short stories. She lives in South Texas with her husband and son with Down syndrome and splits her time between writing and caretaking.
Thanks for hosting me today!
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