Emmeline first appeared in An Act of Murder and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Em.
What is your name?
My name is Emmeline Prather, but you can call me Em.
How old are you?
I’m 29.
What is your profession?
I’m an English professor—assistant English professor, that is.
Do you have a significant other?
No, but I do have a close friend. Does that count?
What is his/her name and profession?
Lenny Jenkins is an American literature professor. P.S. his full name is Leonard. Just don’t tell him I told you.
Any children?
No.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
No again. I’m an only child.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
I have a tabby cat, named Dickinson after my favorite poet, Emily Dickinson. Dickinson likes sparring with my neighbor’s white dog, Darling. Their quarreling is a constant topic of discussion between the neighbor and me.
What town do you live in?
I live in Copper Bluff, South Dakota. Don’t worry. I hadn’t heard of it either until I moved here. It’s a pretty little college town atop a bluff in the middle of the prairie. The campus is a mix of old buildings, worn paths, and a secret passage or two. You have to visit sometime.
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I own a yellow bungalow on Oxford Street. How fitting for a teacher, right?
What is your favorite spot in your house?
I adore my front porch. It’s where I take my coffee, tea, or wine–depending on the time of day.
Who is your best friend?
My best friend is Claudia Swift, a creative writing professor and poet. Like most creative writers, she can spin a heck of a yarn. But most of her tales of woe are nonfiction, I’m afraid. Her husband is constantly providing her with new material.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Amateur.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Lenny is my partner in crime. He’s never afraid to sneak around after office hours. Then again, he rarely keeps office hours. I can’t completely blame him. His office is right next to our secretary Barb’s. Last time he spent time in there, she cornered him about the missing copy paper for twenty minutes.
Favorite meal?
Pasta and red wine. Vinny’s restaurant is my go-to spot for Italian.
Favorite dessert?
Red velvet cake. My department chair’s wife makes a rocket red velvet cake for our holiday faculty party. Not that it’s necessary for the evening to end in fireworks. With passionate poets, serious scholars, overworked graduate students, and plenty of vino, the cake might be the least dangerous thing in the room.
Favorite hobby?
Reading—and not just for class. I’m a big fan of mysteries, historical romances, and the occasional biography.
Favorite vacation spot?
France. Even though I haven’t been there, I know I would love it. My great-great grandmother was French, my name is French, and my specialty is French literature. All vacation roads lead to France!
Favorite color?
I love bright, bold colors. Purple is perfect this time of year.
Favorite author?
Agatha Christie. Nobody creates better puzzles than the grande dame of mystery.
Favorite sports team?
I’m from Detroit. Go Tigers!
Movies or Broadway?
Broadway. But you don’t have to go to New York to enjoy good theater. Our campus has a thriving community of emerging thespians. A Christmas Carol is playing this semester.
Are you a morning or a night person?
I’m a night person—but not by choice. I suffer from insomnia, so I take long walks in the evening. It gets me away from my neighbor’s house and her insufferable floodlights. She has more lights than a maximum-security prison.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
My day starts with several cups of coffee and a to-go mug (remember the insomnia?). After printing handouts—I’m a little old school—I’m off to class. This semester, I’m teaching Crimes and Passion, a class that might very well help me solve the latest murder in town.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of A Very Merry Murder. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends October 5, 2018. Good luck everyone! Bonus question: Would you like to live in a small college town?
You can read about Em in A Very Merry Murder, the third book in the “Professor Prather” mystery series.
It’s December in Copper Bluff, and from hillside to hallowed hall, everyone is merry—or will be as soon as semester break arrives. Students are studying, professors are grading, and Emmeline Prather is anticipating the university-sponsored holiday concert. Friend and colleague Lenny Jenkins will be accompanying the visiting quartet, Jazz Underground, and Em can’t think of a better way to kick-start the holiday season.
But before she can say “Jingle Bell Rock,” trouble arrives at Candlelight Inn, the bed and breakfast where the quartet is staying. One of the band members dies unexpectedly, and suspicion falls on Em, whose altercation with the man ends with him on the floor. He never recovers, and now she’s worried her reputation might not either. When Emmeline starts to see parallels between an Agatha Christie novel she’s teaching and the victim, Lenny claims she’s read one too many mysteries.
As the clues unravel, so does the murderer’s patience. Em is close to finding the truth, but will the truth—or the murderer—push her over the edge? It will take a Christmas miracle to solve this case, but if there’s one thing in surplus this time of year, it’s faith.
Purchase Link
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About the author
Mary Angela is the author of the Professor Prather academic mystery series, which has been called “enjoyable” and “clever” by Publishers Weekly. She is also an educator and has taught English and humanities at South Dakota’s public and private universities for over ten years. When Mary isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. For more information about Mary or the series, go to MaryAngelaBooks.com, on Facebook or on Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
another new to me author/series…….
thank you for the giveaway…
I would love to live in a small college town! It would be fun to own or work in a bookstore there. Think of all the people you would meet!
I would love to take a class called Crimes and Passion. What a great topic!
Thank you for the giveaway!
Sounds like a fun series.
I think it would be nice to live in a Small town with a college. I think it would offer more things to do. I love t
Looks Good and like a Fun Read.
Thanks for sharing this book with us
😍🍯🐝😍
Shared on Twitter 😍
https://mobile.twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/1047456461788467200
Sounds like a good series to start reading. Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love to live in a small college town. Sounds like fun!
Merry & murder would only appear in a cozy title. I’d love to owin it.
This is a new author for me
I did live in a small college town years ago when I attended college at a state university (which has now doubled in size.) I had the time of my life, and there was always something to do (football games, parties, concerts) and lots of friends to hang out with.
Another series added to my to-read list…. since I joined this group that list has grown tremendously! I live in a town with a university that when I was a kid was just a college. When I was younger, town was so much smaller but in the last 30 years or so it has grown quite a bit. I still think of us as having not much to do here, because unless you are directly involved at a college you don’t usually go to a lot of activities there.
I would love to live in a small college town – if there was theater and a good independent bookstore. Would love to win this – thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for having me on your blog, Dru! I’m honored to be here.
This sounds like a delightful book for the holiday murder mystery lover! I can’t wait to read it.🙂
I do live in a college town about 4 blocks from campus. The town isn’t tiny, but it isn’t that big either. Living so close is both a blessing and a curse. Close to cultural activities, but boy some of the campus and off campus living gets a little loud and disgusting for the neighbors! 😒
I lived in a small college town for years. It had its good and bad times, mostly the small town part of it was good. The college mostly stayed to itself.
What a fun post! Thanks for offering this giveaway!
I’d love to live in some of the small college towns I’ve visited. I’m on the lookout now!
Nice to “meet” you, Em – I hope you make it to France soon – perhaps avec M. Jenkins!
I think a small town college in my area would be nice. It might give more choices on things to do for our younger generation.
Ohhhh, sounds great! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Living in a small college town would be interesting. Ms. Angela is a new-to-me author–thanks for introducing her to us, Dru! Would love to give this series a try. Thanks for the chance to win a print copy of A Very Merry Murder. Now I’m off to find the first book.
I am new to this series. Love the concept and can’t wait to start reading the stories. Em and I both love reading and coffee. Living in a college town would be cozy and comfortable because you’re in a big family that loves to learn things.
What a great idea for post! I love it. And now I know more about the books! Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
I love this idea for a post! What a great way to learn more about the books. Thanks for the chance to win a copu.
This book sounds intriguing and interests me very much. Living in a small town would be a new life and adjustment. This series sounds fascinating.
Sounds like a very good read. My husband and I love visiting South Dakota! I grew up and live in the same small college town here in Wisconsin.
I enjoyed getting to know more about Emmeline Prather because I really enjoy this series and its academic setting. I look forward to reading A VERY MERRY MURDER and appreciate your featuring it on your blog, Dru Ann ~
I love the setting and charters in this series. I am so looking forward to reading A Very Merry Murder. What a great way to talk about a book on your blog – love it.
Forgot to answer the question – I have lived in small town and would prefer it over even small cities. There is always a closeness in them.
When I first saw the cover of this book, I thought it was a book written by Kathi Daley but was surprised to see Mary Angela was the author. Since A Very Merry Murder is getting near that time of year, I am anxious to read books set during that time. Thanks for including Mary’s book on your blog.
I live in SD and will have to look up Copper Bluffs. I, too, love mysteries and enjoyed hearing about your life and interests.
I think it would be nice to live in a small college town. Everything would probably be within walking distance; there would be plenty of restaurants and cheap diners to eat at; the townspeople would be intelligent, and; there would be lots of theater, concerts, and other artsy events. It sounds heavenly, tbh.
I love Christmas…and Cozy mysteries that include Christmas!
I would like to live in a small town, but not a small college town. New author to me, would like to read the book.
Enjoyed the Q&A.
Congratulations, Mary! Looking forward to reading your new book which just arrived today!
I guess I have lived in a small college town…back in college. 😉 Would I again? Maybe under the right circumstances. I enjoy where we live now though.
I think it would be fun to live in a small college town.
We lived in Dekalb Illinois, home of Northern Illinois University way back when. It was great! No I wasn’t in college there. Small enough to get around easily, great restaurants. Friendly people.
what a fun sounding series!! I already live in a small college town AND My Mother and I own and operated an independent bookstore she started 42 yrs ago. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else
I would love to live in a small college town as it would remind me of my own college days. It would be fun to attend events at the college and I love people watching. Thank you for this chance at this giveaway.
I love small college towns–I live in a town of about 24,000. It’s the county seat and has two small private colleges and a jr. college. legallyblonde1961 @yahoo.com
This sounds like a great series. We have a somewhat small college where I live now.I went to a university in a beautiful city. The four years wepre great.
Thanks for the chance to win a book by a new to me author.
And, yes, I think I’d enjoy living in a small college town. I make jewelry & sell beads, so I think it’d be a good fit for me.
**** WINNER ****
A Very Merry Murder is Renee Wiswell
Congratulations!