I don’t know why Dru asked me to tell her readers about a day in my life. It’s nothing special. I’m just an ordinary, twenty-six-year-old female living in a cozy little bootleg unit near the beach in Southern California. I get up every morning like the rest of you, dress in office attire, and commute to work in a car about half my age. There is one small problem I’ve had lately: nervousness. I can’t think straight, I’m that jittery. How do you handle a bad case of nerves? Do you read? Listen to music? Exercise? Bake a coconut cream pie (let me know when you do and I’ll be right over)? Or maybe you have a more unique way of calming your nerves. Like me. I clean my collection of illegal weaponry.
Now, don’t go calling 9-1-1. I see you, Dru, phone in hand. Everyone relax. They’re not exactly my weapons. They’re my dad’s and I’m just taking care of them. Private investigators need a lot of different weaponry – any one of them might come in handy. Let’s just say a wide array of people have tangled with my dad. It’s true, I’ve tagged along and sort of helped on some of his murder cases, but I’m not a P.I. Besides, those days are behind me. I’m a lawyer now. With a new job. One that’s completely out of my league. And that explains my nervousness.
I just landed a dream job in a Hollywood movie studio with high level executives, and actors and directors that are household names. Which is fantastic. . .except, I have zero experience. So my weapon cleaning is a harmless distraction. But it doesn’t help much.
Since I’m feeling nervous, I usually end up arriving at work too early. When that happens, I park in the lot across the street from my building, and hideout in the shrubbery. Well, I’m not exactly hiding. I stand behind the bushes and wait and watch and collect my thoughts. I guess I’m stuck in surveillance mode from days spent trailing Dad on his cases. You learn a lot that way.
For instance, yesterday, I noticed the CEO of my company, Arthur Keith, park his Aston Martin by the studio entrance. He opened his trunk, removed a black backpack, and high-tailed it over to a clump of trees. Minutes later, a pickup pulled in and stopped by the same trees. Arthur popped out and over to the pickup and handed the driver the backpack. Backpacks are good for transporting all sorts of stuff – books, clothes, shoes, even pressure cooker bombs.
Dru, wait. No need to call Homeland Security. Not yet. I’m going to find out what was in that backpack. I really am. Even though I’m not a private investigator and never will be. I’m not my father. Plus, I just landed this dream job, remember? I don’t want to be fired. I need the dough. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation, don’t you think? It’s not like an ordinary backpack can have anything to do with a murder, right?
You can read more about Corrie and her adventures in Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters, the first in the NEW “Southern California” mystery series, published by The Wild Rose Press.
About Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters
Watch out Southern California! There’s a new entertainment attorney in town and she’s got game. Only problem is, it’s not the one she should be playing. Corrie Locke belongs behind a desk, not behind a Glock. She should be taking VIP calls, not nosing around a questionable suicide. Instead, she’s hot on the trail of a murderer. Luckily, she’s the daughter of a late, great private eye, and she’s inherited his love of sleuthing. . .and illegal weaponry. It doesn’t help matters that her gene for caution is a recessive one. Corrie finds herself in the center of a murder case, unearthing suspects in shocking places. With a cold-blooded killer on the loose, Corrie will have to up her game. . .or die trying.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern time on October 29 for the chance to win a print copy of Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters. (US entries only, please.)
Meet the author
Like her heroine, Corrie Locke, Lida Sideris hails from Los Angeles and worked as an entertainment attorney for a film studio. She has written numerous magazine and newspaper articles, a poem or two, and a teleplay. Lida resides in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, their rescue shepherds, Barbie (short for Barbarian) and Duncan, and a flock of uppity chickens. She was the recipient of the 2014 Helen McCloy/Mystery Writers of America scholarship. Lida gets her kicks from twisting and turning reality around. On the page, of course.
Please visit Lida at www.lidasideris.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter
Sounds fun! Keep calm Dru, let’s give her a chance to figure out what’s up! Thanks for the chance!
I think this book would be a great read. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love the premise of this book. I do wonder what’s in the backpack. Plus, that does sound like a dream job! Thanks, Dru & Lida Sideris for the chance of this giveaway.
This book sounds like so much fun. Can’t wait to read it.
Count me in for this giveaway!!!
Thanx for the chance…
Dru Ann you find some of the most interesting books to put on your blog. I can sympathize with the character in this book since I get the jitters when I get nervous and then can’t remember what the heck I was doing. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like a fun interesting book .
This book would be a great read. Thanks for the giveaway!
I want this book. Finances see related tighto right now, so I’ll just have to win it. Okay….
Sounds like a fun read to me…
Thanks for introducing us to this writer and series. I have added her to my TBR list. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds very appealing…. can definitely relate to the jitters. I’ll have to check out this new series. Thanks!
Sound very original and I would love to read it. Thank you for a chance to enter.
Quite the unusual approach to crime solving-and unique way to steady your nerves! 😮 Thanks for introducing a new author and series Dru~I can’t wait to read this. Thanks to you and Lida for the opportunity to win a copy. Someone is going to be thrilled! 🙂
Sounds like a good read. Great to get in on the initial story.
thanks.
This book sounds fun. I’d love to win it.
Sounds like such a fun read, Lida!
This sounds humorous and interesting. Would love to win a copy.
You find the best books and now I have a nother author to look up. Book sounds so cute and a different kind of cozy, hope I win, ty for the chance.
“It doesn’t help matters that her gene for caution is a recessive one. ”
Perfect!
What an intriguing post, I need to read this book now! Thanks!
This book is terrific. I had the good fortune to read an advance copy. Congratulations, Lida, on your recent publication.
Thanks for this great giveaway.
Lida, wow, what a imagination you have. I can’t wait to get down with Dru’s adventures! Best wishes for much success!
I can’t wait to read this. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds like a funny book.
Thank you everybody for taking the time to read my heroine’s typical day 🙂 and thank you kindly for the comments!
Grace – It was my good fortune to be the subject of your interview – thank you!
Dru – It’s my further good fortune to have the opportunity to feature my heroine on your wonderful blog!
Many thanks to all!
Aways looking for a new book to try. Thanks for the chance.
I’m looking forward to reading this. Sounds like such a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Looking forward to reading this one.
Loved it. The book has made it to the top of my read pile. Can’t wait to get started.
I’m anxious to find out about the contents of that backpack. Thanks for your giveaway—I’ve got my fingers crossed.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I would love to read this book, Not feeling good right now. Recovering from an operation but I am hoping to stay awake long enough to be able to read some!
contest is closed.