Hattie sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we, the readers, can get to know her better.

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What is your full name?
Hattie Hayes

How old are you?
I’m in my late twenties.

What is your profession?
I’m a moonshiner.

Do you have a significant other?
Kinda-sorta. It’s slowly developing. We’re at that fun, getting-to-know-you-and-liking-what-I’m-learning-so-far stage.

If so, what is his name and profession?
His name is Marlon Landers and he’s a mounted officer with the Chattanooga Police Department. His horse’s name is Charlotte. She’s a beautiful chestnut mare.

Do you have any children?
Not yet, but I hope to have kids someday. I’d love for them to enjoy the mountain cabin and chase fireflies up here like I did as a kid. Plus, I need someone to pass down the family’s moonshine recipe! Haha!

Do you have any siblings?
Yes, one sister and one brother, but they’ve moved away so we don’t see each other much.

Are your parents nearby?
Yes, they live in Chattanooga, too. My dad is supportive of my moonshine career, but my mom’s still on the fence.

Who is your best friend?
Kiki Nakamura. She’s a unique, creative person, and a great sounding board. She’s always honest with me. She’s a professional artist with a penchant for punk rock style.

Do you have any pets?
I have a gray cat named Smoky after the Smoky Mountains. He’s an aloof floof, but I love him with all my heart anyway.

What town do you live in?
I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Such a beautiful place to call home!

Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Chattanooga is a medium-sized city. Plenty of things to do, but not too hard to get around.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I own a small, no-frills cabin in the foothills. My grandparents lived in it for decades. When Granddaddy decided to move into a retirement home, I bought it from him. I had so many happy memories there as a child. I couldn’t bear to see it be sold outside the family.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
Lounging on a rocker on the front porch with a glass of moonshine-laced lemonade in one hand and a good book in the other.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
Nothing beats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a side of potato chips. Oatmeal cookies are my favorite dessert. Simple but so yummy!

Do you have any hobbies?
Making moonshine started as a hobby but evolved into a business. I love to read and play with my cat. I’ve recently discovered an affinity for model trains, too. The displays are so fun and cute! I’m a sucker for nostalgic things.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I love spending time in the Great Smoky Mountains. The air is clear and cool, and the mountains are so beautiful. Gatlinburg is also a Mecca for singer-songwriters so there’s always great live music to listen to.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
A relaxing hike or trail ride out in nature, away from the hustle and bustle and everyday worries. I love spending time outdoors.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Shine On.

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur. I work with Officer Marlon Landers and Detective Candace “Ace” Pearce. I tend to stumble across clues and notice odd things, and I always share what I discover with them. They can’t always tell me everything they know, but they treat me respectfully and share what they can without jeopardizing the investigation.

What is a typical day in your life like in general and when you are on a case?
Most days I wake up, feed myself and my cat, and dawdle around the cabin for a bit before donning my overalls and heading down to my moonshine shop. The store is open from noon to 9:00 pm every day except Sunday. While I’m at the shop, I tend to customers, stock shelves, and work on new ideas to market and promote my moonshine. I’d love to expand my business. Smoky hangs out at the shop with me, usually lying in the front window so he can watch the street. My granddaddy often comes to the shop with me, too. He likes to sit out front and whittle. I sell the little critters he makes in my shop to supplement his social security checks. I wouldn’t trade this life for anything!

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The Proof Is in the Poison, A Southern Homebrew Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: June 2022
Purchase Link

Moonshine shop owner Hattie Hayes is ready to lend a hand when a mystery starts brewing at a train convention in Chattanooga, TN, in this charming cozy mystery series.

Now that her moonshine shop is up and running, Hattie Hayes can focus her efforts on expanding her fledgling business to events in the area, like the Chattanooga Choo Choo Model Train Convention, which is running full steam ahead at the convention center down the block. Hattie is all aboard, seizing this perfect opportunity to promote her Southern homebrew to the folks who have come to the city for the annual event.

But when an attendee dies after drinking some of Hattie’s moonshine, she’ll need to prove her innocence. Between tight-lipped train hobbyists and competitors for a coveted convention prize, Hattie has a wide array of suspects to choose from, and she’ll need to use all the tricks up her sleeve to make sure her moonshine business can survive a murderer and stay on track.

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About the author
Diane Kelly is a fan of furry, four-footed creatures and creatively concocted whodunnits, and combines the two interests in her mystery series. Diane has published over 40 novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes white-collar crime series, the Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the House Flipper cozy mystery series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. Find Diane online at dianekelly.com, on her Author Diane Kelly page on Facebook, and on Twitter and Instagram at @DianeKellyBooks.

All comments are welcomed.