Hey ya’ll, and thank you Miss Dru for having me on your literary blog. Which is a little strange, considering I’m an artist and all, but hey, book people like art, too, right?
If any of you readers are in the market, I’m a portraitist. I live in Halo, Georgia, but don’t let the small, Southern town fool you. I’m classically trained. Even went to school at SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design. Could have probably moved on to the big city lights of Atlanta and had a studio or something, but I choose to move back home. My family — minus the ones that are dead or run away — still lives there and somebody’s got to keep an eye on them. But selling art in a small town is as formidable as selling freezers to eskimos. Halo likes to buy their art from the guy hawking velvet paintings in front of the Piggly Wiggly. I do get some commissions. I did a nice portrait of Snug the Coonhound for Terrell. You might have seen that. I’ll paint most anything if it keeps me from working the night shift at the Waffle House. So if any of y’all are interested let me know.
Actually, I just heard through the prolific Halo grapevine that the Bransons (Not just a Branson. The Bransons. Like in JB, Central Georgia’s King of Ford Dealerships and catfish restaurants) wants a portrait of their son, Dustin. Actually it’s Miss Wanda, JB’s wife, who wants the portrait of her stepson. Which would make sense except Dustin’s dead. Murdered actually. No surprise to us locals who have known that thug-wannabe was destined for the county jail or an early grave since preschool. But a coffin portrait does make an odd choice for a memorial. Gives me the heebie-jeebies, but a commission is a commission, and it’s not like I’ll have to ask Dustin to sit still. Considering he’s dead and all.
However, word is that JB offered the commission to his niece, Shawna Branson. Yeah, that —, well, you know the type. An Amazonian, flame-haired, femme fatale who steals boyfriends, cupcakes, and reputations. That girl can’t paint her own nails, let alone a portrait. She just wants to prove she’s better than me. So I’m going to paint the best dang portrait of a dead guy I’ve ever done just to show the Bransons what qualifies as quality art. Of course, it’s the only portrait of a dead guy I’ve ever painted, but who’s counting?
And another little problem that popped up is dead Dustin’s stepbrother, Luke Harper, who just waltzed back into Halo after taking off for the military. You probably haven’t seen that tall, dark drink of water for seven or eight years. At least I haven’t, not since we broke up. Yeah, he’s hot enough to steam shrimp and acts the southern gentleman, but don’t let that business fool you. The man’s an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Particularly about his reasons for asking around about his murdered stepbrother. The man’s better at skulduggery than the Pentagon.
But what I’m dying to find out is what that foreigner, Mr. Max Avtaikin, is doing in Halo. Rumor has it — and in Halo, rumor is as close to fact as you’re gonna get — that he’s got something to do with the proliferation of gambling going on in town. And by gambling I mostly mean poker. Some may say I hold a grudge against the poker population because it ruined my near-miss marriage with my other ex, Todd McIntosh, but they’d be wrong. Todd’s poker addiction saved us from making the mistake of our lives, i.e. getting hitched in Vegas. I just wish I could convince Todd of that fact.
So what to do first today? Convince the Bransons to give me the commission to paint their murdered son? Dodge two ex-boyfriends in one small town? Head to my Grandpa’s farm where I’d have to run from a goat in order to get to my sister’s homemade fried chicken? Hunt down an illegal poker ring? Play hide and seek with Dustin’s killer? Or stay home and embellish some clothing with my Bedazzler?
Small towns have got more going on than you’d think.
You can read more about Cherry in Portrait Of A Dead Guy, the first book in the new “Cherry Tucker” mystery series.
** Thanks to the Larissa, I have one (1) copy of PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends August 30. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. Book will be shipped directly from the author. **
Meet the author
Larissa began her writing career in second grade when she sold her first publication to a neighbor for a nickel. After moving around the Midwest, Japan, and the South, she now lives in Georgia with her husband, daughters, and Biscuit, a Cairn Terrier. She loves small town characters with big attitudes, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. Portrait Of A Dead Guy is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. When she’s not writing about southern fried chicken, she writes about Asian fried chicken at her blog about life as an ex-expat at theexpatreturneth.blogspot.com.
She and her writing friends also chat weekly about books on their Little Read Hens Facebook page and www.littlereadhens.com. You can find Larissa on Facebook; Twitter; and Goodreads. She loves pinning on her Cherry Tucker and other boards at Pinterest. You can also find more information on her website at larissareinhart.com.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Sounds like a fun read. Definitely adding this to my TBR list.
Would love to win. sarah2323 at gmail dot com 🙂
Thanks so much for having me on Dru!
I love a man who’s hot enough to steam shrimp! PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY was fantastic. Witty with likable characters. Can’t wait for more Cherry Tucker. Congrats, Larissa!
Thanks Terri! I felt the same way about Diners, Dives, & Deadends!
Sounds terrific! It goes on my t-b-r list. Dee
Over the top characters and story line – sounds like fun to me!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
This sounds like quite a romp!
Portrait Of A Dead Guy_sounds_like_a_great_read!!!
What a great character, I bet the story is just as good. Please enter my name for the chance to win this copy. carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
Thanks for all the lovely compliments and good luck to all y’all!;)
Hi Cherry, I really would like for you to do a family portrait for us when you finish with that dead guy. Ugly mess, that–good luck. Would you consider out-of-town work? 🙂
Congratulations, Larissa! Portrait of a Dead Guy is such a fun read! I can’t wait to read more about Cherry and all the folks in Halo, GA!
Thanks Susan! I’m sure Cherry would love to have your business!
I love it. Actually having a portrait of a deceased loved one was very common years back. So do it all love and just don’t get killed. I would love a copy this story. It sounds like hoot!
Thanks Mary! And you are so right about the death portraits!
Now I’m even more excited to read this book — but don’t enter me in the drawing, since I already pre-ordered it!
Gigi, you are awesome. Can’t wait to get my hands on Jaya Jones’s newest adventure & eager to read about her day!
I have purchased a print copy of this book after reading it on your site. It looks wonderful. The cover is inventive also. I enjoyed this column. Both of you Ladies, Keep up your fine works!
Thanks so much Jeannie! I hope you enjoy Cherry’s adventure!
A portrait of a deat guy sounds a little creepy to me, too—but I bet it makes for a great story. I’d love to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
It’s a little creepy to Cherry, too, Sue! But she needs the commission. What’s a girl to do? Hope you enjoy!
Portrait of a Dead Man sounds like a good read. Just my cup of tea. I’d like my name entered in the giveaway for a copy.
6186pep (at) msn (dot) com
Good luck Darlene!
There seems to be a dead guy theme going on in newly discovered books (by me). Looking forward to owning a copy of yours, Larissa. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
Thanks Judy! Hope you like dead guys;) at least in books.
I think this book sounds FANTASTIC! I can’t wait to pick it up! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing, and for the opportunity to win! 🙂
What a FUN sounding book! Would love to win.
sounds like an interesting read!! i’ll give it a try!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Thanks so much & good luck to you both Marie & Nancy!
Hilarious! Would love to sit down and chat with a chick like that. Way to go, Larissa! 🙂
Thanks Misty!
Sounds like a fun read with great characters. Thanks for the post and the giveaway!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
Cherry sounds like a fun read. Another book added to my list.
Contest is closed.
Congratulations to Nancy R.!