Allie Cobb first appeared in A Literal Mess and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Allie.

What is your name?
Alexandra Cobb. I usually go by Allie.

How old are you?
I just turned thirty. My bestie Sloane has been kidding me that I’m so old now, but we both know my best days are ahead of me!

What is your profession?
I’m a literary agent. I help authors find just the right publisher so they can share their books with the world. My clients write a wide variety of fiction, from mystery to romance to science fiction.

Do you have a significant other?
I don’t know that I’d call him a significant other, but I do have a man in my life.

What is his/her name and profession?
His name is Brent Reynolds. He has a degree in library science and is a genealogy expert. He travels the State of Indiana helping libraries install computer equipment and software so patrons can do genealogy research.

Any children?
None yet. I do have a niece and nephew I adore. They’re twins named Tristan and Theresa. I’m enjoying being Aunt Allie.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
Yes. I’m the youngest of three. My brother Luke is the oldest. He’s four years older than me. He also happens to be engaged to my best friend, Sloane. My sister Rachel is two years older than me. She owns the Rushing Creek Public House. She and I are opposites in pretty much every way, but we love each other.

Do your parents live near you?
My mom, my siblings and I all live in Rushing Creek. It’s a small town, so we’re all within fifteen minutes of each other. My father passed away eleven months ago after a battle with cancer. Mom still lives in the house where she and dad raised Luke, Rachel, and me. She’s a doctor in town.

Who is your best friend?
My all-time bestie is Sloane Winchester. Our dads worked together, so Sloane and I literally grew up together. After high school, I moved away, but Sloanie and I remained close. Since I’ve moved back to Rushing Creek, we get to see each other all the time!

Cats, dogs or other pets?
I have a kitty named Ursula after the author Ursula K. Le Guin. Ursi’s a rescue tortoiseshell who’s my best non-human buddy. We like to go for walks together.

What town do you live in?
I live in Rushing Creek, Indiana, population 3,216. It’s about an hour’s drive south of Indianapolis, the state capitol. It’s situated on the edge of a state park, so tourism drives a lot of the local economy. A variety of artists and craftsmen have made Rushing Creek home, which gives it a really cool, funky vibe.

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I live in an apartment on the second floor of a three-story building. Businesses are on the first floor. Living spaces are on the others. One of the major benefits of my apartment is that it’s right above a bookstore. As a literary agent and book lover, I spend a LOT of time and money there!

What is your favorite spot in your house?
This is tough, because I love the whole apartment! I really enjoy the fire escape landing outside by back window. I have a few potted plants that hang from the handrail, and when the weather’s nice, I’ll sit out there and enjoy the peace and quiet. The setting also takes me back to the years I lived in New York. I have a lot of great memories from that time.

Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
As far as I’m concerned, the best burgers on Earth are served at Big Al’s Diner in Rushing Creek. They’re thick, tender, and come on a perfectly toasted bun. A mound of the most delectable fries I’ve ever eaten is my favorite side dish. I walk and ride my bike a lot. That exercise lets me enjoy Big Al’s food guilt-free.

Favorite hobby?
I love kickboxing. It’s a great cardio workout and a fabulous stress reliever, too.

Favorite color?
I don’t have a favorite, though I do like greens and blues. I find them calming. Which comes in handy when you’re out trying to catch a murderer!

Favorite author?
How much time do you have? LOL This is a hard choice because I’ve been fortunate enough to read so, so many amazing authors. If I had to choose one, I’d go with Ursula K. LeGuin. She was a titan in literary circles. Her storytelling is unparalleled, and her influence on the world of fiction can’t be understated.

Favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere I can curl up with a good book and forget about the world for a while, preferably on the water.

Favorite sports team?
I’m not much of a fan of professional sports, to be honest. My niece and nephew play soccer, so whatever team they’re on is my favorite! I like auto racing, though, especially the Indianapolis 500.

Movies or Broadway?
I love movies, but nothing compares to a live stage performance. I especially love musicals. Waitress is my favorite.

Are you a morning or a night person?
Morning. There’s just something about being productive when the day is still young that appeals to me.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Since I have a day job as a literary agent, it’s fair to say I’m an amateur sleuth.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
When I’m sleuthing, I typically work alone. I do have a small circle of friends I turn to when I need to talk something out. I also know most of the members of the Rushing Creek Police Department. From time to time, a few of them have helped me in an unofficial capacity, shall we say.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
One of the great things about being a literary agent is that every day is different. In general, I try to do business-related tasks like email, website, financials, in the morning. After lunch, I try to focus on reading submissions and editing manuscripts. I also try to be available to my clients pretty much any time of the day. After all, I never know when a client wants to discuss an idea that might become a best seller!

What was the last book you read? Leave a comment below with your answer for your chance to win a signed copy of A Genuine Fix. Giveaway ends July 22, 2019 and is limited to U.S. residents. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!

You can read about Allie in A Genuine Fix, the second book in the “Allie Cobb” cozy mystery series, released July 16, 2019.

Murder takes a page out of a killer’s playbook when literary agent Allie Cobb becomes her Indiana town’s number-one bestselling suspect . . .

Running the family literary business while preparing for her best friend’s wedding, chairing a park planning committee, and getting her rescue cat to bond with her boyfriend’s golden retriever doesn’t leave Allie Cobb much time for crime-solving. But when the guy who stood her up the night of her high school senior prom is killed and dumped in a pile of mulch, Allie’s suddenly the prime suspect.

It’s insulting enough that gambler, drunk, and all-around lowlife Georgie Alonso was found on the site of the memorial park honoring Allie’s deceased father. Now she’s fighting to clear her name and hold off a rush to judgment. But politics, decades-old secrets, and a slew of high-profile suspects make dangerous bedfellows as the eve of the park’s grand opening draws nearer. She’ll have to nab a killer soon, before her storybook life gets a bad ending . . .

Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #

About the author
J.C. Kenney is the author of the Allie Cobb Mysteries, which are set in the fictional small town of Rushing Creek, Indiana. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a snuggly kitty cat. He loves motor sports, so when he’s not writing, you can probably find him checking in on the latest from IndyCar and other forms of racing.

J.C. is a member of Sisters in Crime. You can find him at jckenney.com, on Twitter, Facebook, and on Goodreads.

All comments are welcomed.