Chloe sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can learn more about what makes her tick. Let’s see what she has to say.
What is your full name?
I’m Chloe Abbington.
How old are you?
I’m 26 and soon to be 27.
What is your profession?
I’m an artist who co-owns a paint party business with my sister Izzie, who also is a very talented artist.
Do you have a significant other?
I do have a boyfriend.
What is their name and profession?
Hunter Barrett is a homicide detective.
Do you have any children?
No.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, my younger sister Izzie. We’re only a year apart and very close.
Are your parents nearby?
Yes. Kate and Joe Abbington. Izzie and I still live with them.
Who is your best friend?
Truthfully? Izzie is my best friend. We tell each other just about everything and totally trust one another.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
Yes! My furry dog friend Max, a twelve pound bundle of energy who keeps me sane and gives me unconditional love.
What town do you live in?
The small, touristy town of Whisper Cove. It sits along the shore of Chautauqua Lake in western New York.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
Izzie and I live with our parents, but plan to move out as soon as our paint party business becomes more successful and we can afford to get a place of our own.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
I’d have to say the kitchen. As a family, we spend lots of time there and share such great moments.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
Anything from Bob’s Barbecue, especially BBQ sandwiches, curly fries, and his famous Fizzy Orange soda. For dessert, nothing beats sweets from For Sweet’s Sake.
Do you have any hobbies?
The paint business takes up so much of my time, but being an artist gives me lots of inspiration to take on a personal project or two on occasion.
What music do you listen to?
Any pop music, or rock music, or I guess just about any music!
What is your favorite color?
As an artist, I can’t choose just one. The color palette is full of wonderful shades.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Here in Whisper Cove. I guess that would be my first choice. The lake is so peaceful, the people are so friendly…well, most of them are. But of course I’d love to return to Paris. My time there studying art was so exciting and inspiring.
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m high energy so morning has me up and running.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Can I say sleuthing? LOL Honestly, it may be dangerous to stick my nose into murder cases, but it’s too exciting not to! Really though, a night out with Hunter is an absolute fun time.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Hmm… maybe The Different Shades of Chloe. That would work!
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Definitely amateur. Izzie and I make a great team. Add our friend and employee Willow to the mix, and we can crack the case. Maybe even before Detective Hunter Barrett does!
What is a typical day in your life like?
Usually having breakfast with the family, followed by a walk with Max. Then heading to work at the shop where we prepare for events coming up and then hosting them, mostly in the evening. Though we do on occasion take to the road and run events at special locations, like the wineries in Finger Lakes or at someone’s birthday bash. Anything is game! Then of course, we must save time for snooping to catch a killer or two and get justice for their victims.
Easier Dead Than Drawn, A Paint by Murder Mystery Book #3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
The Paint by Murder series continues…
When the town council hires Chloe Abbington’s close friend, famous wall muralist Lana Easton, to paint a mural advertising the return of the floating amphitheater, not everyone in Whisper Cove is happy about the theater or Lana. Naysayers think the noise from concerts and visitors will disrupt their quiet community. It doesn’t help that a lot of money taken from the town’s budget is being used to pay the muralist for her services. The mood turns even more grim when Lana is found dead, and since Chloe was there alone to discover her body, that makes her the prime suspect.
Before Chloe finds herself painted into a corner as the killer, she and sister Izzie hurry to solve the case and find the real criminal. The suspect list grows to include Lana’s boyfriend and her intern, as well as a couple of local residents. The task is a tall order for the sisters, and it doesn’t help that the detective on the case is someone who doesn’t seem to care for Chloe or her interference. Clues about Lana’s past surface and point to more than one suspect. The challenge will be to decide which one is the real killer.
About the author
Bailee Abbott is a native Ohioan who spends her days plotting murder and writing mysteries. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. Bailee lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. Visits to Bemus Point, a town along the Chautauqua Lake in southwest New York inspired the setting for the PAINT BY MURDER mystery series. Bailee also writes the SIERRA PINES B&B MYSTERIES and the MACKENZIE BLUE MYSTERIES under the name Kathryn Long.