Charlie Mack first appeared in Bury Me When I’m Dead and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Charlie.
What is your name?
Charlene Mack, but friends call me Charlie.
How old are you?
I’m 33, but my birthday is approaching fast.
What is your profession?
I’m the principal partner in a private investigations firm-The Mack Agency.
Do you have a significant other?
Yes
What is her name and profession?
Mandy Porter. She’s an officer on a suburban Detroit police force.
Any children?
No
Do you have any sibling(s)?
I’m an only child.
Do your parents live near you?
Yes. My mother, Ernestine, lives in an assisted-living apartment. Mom has early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Who is your best friend?
That’s an issue for me; never had a BFF. My business partners are the closest friends I have.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Not yet. Probably not a cat because I’m allergic to their dander.
What town do you live in?
Detroit, Michigan
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I own a high-rise apartment.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
My bedroom, which has floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the Detroit river.
Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
Buddy’s pizza or a Greektown spanakopita; Chocolate (cake, pie, ice cream). Anything chocolate really.
Favorite hobby?
I’m a black belt in a couple of martial arts disciplines.
Favorite author?
Walter Mosley or Sue Grafton
Favorite vacation spot?
Upper peninsula of Michigan. The U.P. has great dunes, waterfalls, and beaches.
Favorite sports team?
Red Wings. That’s Detroit’s hockey team.
Movies or Broadway?
The Great White Way, without a doubt. Ask me to give you a few lines from any musical. Go on, ask me.
Are you a morning or a night person?
I function best in the a.m. In my most recent investigation, I’ve had to be up all night, and steal a few hours of sleep during the day.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
I’m a licensed P.I.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
My partners: Don Rutkowski, Gil Acosta, and Judy Novak. My mom’s helping out on my current case.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
We do a lot of domestic surveillance cases. I call it the ‘cheating spouse’ work. I hate those investigations, but it’s the life-blood of a PI firm.
You can read about Cheryl in Catch Me When I’m Falling, the third book in the “Charlie Mack Motown” private investigator series, released March 19, 2019.
Someone is murdering the homeless in Detroit’s Cass Corridor―by immolation. These horrific crimes wouldn’t require an investigation by Charlie Mack and her crack team investigators, except one of the burned bodies is her mother’s friend. There’s a lot wrong with this case: the police won’t admit a serial killer is on the loose, drug trafficking intersects with the deaths, and a rogue cop is involved. The timing also couldn’t be worse―Charlie and Mandy are finally moving in together. This case becomes the most difficult of Charlie’s career when she transforms herself into a street person, and mixes with the corridor’s gangs, do-gooders, and the down-and-out to uncover evidence the police can’t continue to ignore.
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About the author
A Detroit native, Cheryl A. Head now lives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, where she navigated a successful career as a writer, television producer, filmmaker, broadcast executive, and media funder. Her debut novel, Long Way Home: A World War II Novel, was a 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist in both the African American Literature and Historical Fiction categories. Her novel, Bury Me When I’m Dead, Book #1 of the Charlie Mack Motown Mystery Series was a 2017 Lambda Literary Award finalist. She serves as the Director of Inclusion for the Golden Crown Literary Society, and regularly consults on a wide range of diversity issues. Visit Cheryl at cherylhead.com.
All comments are welcomed.