Clark Thomas sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can learn more about what makes him tick. Let’s see what Clark has to say.
What is your full name?
Clark Beauregard Thomas (My middle name comes from my mom’s favorite Muppet)
How old are you?
Early 40s. A gentleman never reveals his true age.
What is your profession?
Bookstore owner/author/occasional murder mystery solver
Do you have a significant other?
Yes
What is their name and profession?
Gina Gomez-Thomas. She’s in between careers right now after being shot in the shoulder during a case and getting a full retirement from the Myrtle Beach Police Department. I’m urging her to hang her shingle as a private investigator, but she’s loath to do so because she doesn’t want to spend her nights trying to find someone’s cheating spouse.
Do you have any children?
Not yet.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes. I have an older brother named Bo (My mom must have liked the “Bo” sound when she named us). He earned and blew a fortune after helping Uber code their original app. He took a massive buyout and proceeded to blow millions of dollars over the next three years, leading to him filing for bankruptcy. He now lives with our parents.
Are your parents nearby?
Yes. They live within walking distance of my house.
Who is your best friend?
Chris MacInally. A Yale business school graduate from Scotland. He’s done hard time in the past, but is one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
Not at present. Two of the people who work at my bookstore are urging me to get a shop cat. I’m thinking about it.
What town do you live in?
Surfside Beach, within a stone’s throw of Myrtle Beach.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
Own. Some bad people burnt down my home to try to intimidate me, but we rebuilt it.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
The back deck overlooking a lake.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
I love a good burger. King Street Grill in Market Common has become my go-to. My favorite dessert is peach cobbler.
Do you have any hobbies?
I do some woodworking in my spare time. I actually built all the bookcases in my store by hand.
What music do you listen to?
Outside the bookstore, I listen to 90’s Grunge like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, etc. In the store, I tune it to a Frank Sinatra station on Pandora and enjoy every minute of it.
What is your favorite color?
Emerald Green
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Destin, FL
Are you a morning or night person?
Definitely a morning person.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Reading a great book while sitting in a beach chair with the waves tickling my toes and a drink in the cupholder.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Life Beyond Autumn (Autumn was my wife who I thought died of a heart attack at her desk at the courthouse until I learned that she was murdered)
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth working alongside Detective Gina Gomez.
What is a typical day in your life like?
I get up, stretch, put on a pot of coffee, and go sit on the beach with a travel mug in my hand, before going to open my bookstore. Once there, I run the coffee bar while my workers take care of the book side of things. When I’m not busy slinging coffee, I’ll have a seat at a table and write on a book or start up discussions with tourists enjoying Myrtle Beach. Occasionally, I stumble across dead bodies, and that usually sends my life sideways.
Death of a Legend – A Myrtle Beach Mystery, Book 8
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release: May 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
Clark Thomas returns, ready to embark on a new chapter in Myrtle Beach. But everything is not as normal as he hoped.
Clark takes his visiting friend, a huge country music fan, to the Legends Theater to watch her favorite musician perform – Dolly Parton. Except, this Dolly isn’t the real Dolly. She’s an incredible impersonator who travels the country, entertaining legions of fans who believe she’s the next best thing.
The theater is hosting a special concert series featuring fan-favorite celebrity impersonators, such as Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, The Blues Brothers, and Elvis Presley. What starts out as a great evening goes awry when one performer collapses on stage during the concert. In the aftermath, rumors of foul play arise, throwing Clark into an investigation to uncover if the collapse wasn’t driven by natural causes.
As Clark’s search for answers unfolds, he questions the other performers and discovers that deceased had enemies. When the police get involved Clark must navigate an insular cast and a police investigation, while trying to entertain his friend and her son.
Once more, the case leads to Clark facing a life-changing moment where he must figure out what happened and what to do next to protect the ones he loves.
About the author
Caleb Wygal, an award-winning author of the Myrtle Beach Mystery Series, discovered his love for storytelling after overcoming a life-altering brain injury that forced him to relearn basic skills. His journey began while working at his uncle’s hearing aid business, where writing became his passion. His books have been featured in Women’s World Magazine and Grand Strand Magazine. When he’s not writing, Caleb enjoys time at the beach with his wife and son, drawing inspiration in the sands of Myrtle Beach.