Delanie Fitzgerald first appeared in Secret Lives and Private Eyes and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Delanie.

What is your name?
Thanks so much for letting me visit the blog. My name is Delanie Fitzgerald.

How old are you?
I’m thirty-eight.

What is your profession?
I am a private investigator in Richmond, Virginia.

Do you have a significant other?
It’s complicated. I started seeing someone I was investigating, and when he found out that I was trying to figure out if he was living a secret life in rural Virginia, he hightailed it out of town, leaving me bruised in the process. Then I met an FBI agent when our paths intersected on another case. He’s nice and interesting, but he works all the time. I’m not sure how serious it is.

What is his name and profession?
His name is Eric Ellington, and he’s an FBI agent based in Richmond.

Any children?
No.

Do you have any siblings?
I have two older brothers. Steve is a lieutenant with the Chesterfield County Police Department, and he thinks I need to find a new job. My other brother is Robbie Fitzgerald. He’s a bouncer in a club in downtown. Prior to that he played minor league baseball until an injury sidelined him.

Do your parents live near you?
They are both deceased.

Who is your best friend?
Hair stylist, Paisley Ford, is my best friend. She is funny and creative, and she’s a social butterfly. And she has a major crush on my brother Robbie.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
I don’t have any pets, but my partner at Falcon Investigations, Duncan Reynolds, has an English bulldog named Margaret. She has two speeds, slow and napping. But recently, she saved us from something really creepy, so she’s my hero.

What town do you live in?
I live in Chesterfield County, Virginia which is a suburb of Richmond, the state capital.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I own a 1939 Sears Catalog house. It’s quirky, but it fits my style. Years ago, folks ordered these homes through the catalog, and all the parts arrived by railroad. The homes were assembled on the buyer’s lot. Mine is the Yates model. Some of the boards in the house are stamped with the part numbers. I like that my home has history and character.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My kitchen is probably my favorite spot because it doubles as my home office. I’m not much of a cook, and there’s rarely food in my house. I am known as the queen of take-out.

Favorite meal and dessert?
Pizza is my favorite food, and I love anything chocolate.

Favorite hobby?
When I’m not working, I like to read. My friend Paisley gets me involved in all kinds of crafty things like paint parties.

Favorite color?
Red is my favorite color.

Favorite author?
There are too many to name. I love classic mysteries by Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, and Alfred Hitchcock.

Favorite vacation spot?
I love to visit the Outerbanks (OBX) of North Carolina when I’m not working.

Favorite sports team?
I grew up in a family of Washington Redskins fans. I like football and baseball. I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), so I’m a huge college basketball fan. #RamNation

Movies or live theater?
Movies. I love to binge watch Netflix.

Are you a morning or a night person?
I’m a morning person, but I do stay up late. A lot of investigations take place late at night.

Amateur or professional and whom do you work with?
I am a professional private investigator. I used my portion of my inheritance from my father to create Falcon Investigations, named for Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. I have a partner, Duncan Reynolds, and he as a sidekick, Margaret the Wonder Dog.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
My days vary depending on the type of case that I’m investigating. I’m lucky that I often get to set my own schedule. I do a lot of research and interviews. My partner, Duncan Reynolds, is a computer guru (hacker) and whiz at getting computers to cough up information. He also likes gadgets, so he always has the latest gizmo for spy work. The worst part of my job is stakeouts. My mind wanders, and I get bored. The best part of my job is that I get to help people and bring the bad guys to justice.

Glitter, Glam, and Contraband is the third book in the “Delanie Fitzgerald” cozy mystery series, released November 19, 2019.

Private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her computer hacker partner, Duncan Reynolds, are back for more sleuthing in Glitter, Glam and Contraband. In this fast-paced mystery, the Falcon Investigations team is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show. Delanie gets more than she bargains for and a few makeup tips in the process. Meanwhile, a mysterious sound in the ceiling of her office vexes Delanie. She uses her sleuthing skills to track down the source and uncover a creepy contraband operation.

Glitter, Glam, and Contraband features a strong female sleuth with a knack for getting herself in and out of humorous situations like helping sleezy strip club owner, Chaz Smith on his quest to become Richmond’s next mayor, tracking down missing reptiles, and uncovering hidden valuables from a 100-year-old crime with a Poe connection.

Purchase Link
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About the author
Glitter, Glam, and Contraband is Heather Weidner’s third novel in the Delanie Fitzgerald series. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Heather earned her BA in English from Virginia Wesleyan University and her MA in American literature from the University of Richmond. Through the years, she has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager.

Connect with Heather: Website and Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Authors | Pinterest | LinkedIn

All comments are welcomed.