Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, where you can learn more about what makes them tick. Get to know Helen with her answers below.

And if you like her answers, Elaine has re-released the first thirteen books in the “Dead-End Job” series with new covers for new readers to enjoy and for long-term readers to fill the gaps in their collection.

What is your name?
– – Helen Hawthorne. I changed my last name when I was on the run from my greedy ex, and this is my legal name.

How old are you?
– – I’m 42 and proud of it. That’s a good age for a woman – old enough to know better, young enough to enjoy it.

What is your profession?
– – I’m a private eye and co-owner of Coronado Investigators. My partner is Phil Sagemont.

Do you have a significant other?
– – I’m married to Phil Sagemont, my PI partner – and that wasn’t easy. We had two wedding ceremonies before we tied the knot. In Killer Cuts, I had the white dress, hair and a make-up job by celebrity stylist Miguel Angel, but that wedding was halted by a surprise visitor. I was devastated. Phil and I finally married in Half-Price Homicide, at a wedding that was worth the wait.

Any children?
– – Nope. Lots of folks are pushing us to have children, but Phil and I agree we really aren’t cut out for kids, especially with our PI jobs. I adore my niece and nephew and enjoy being cool Aunt Helen.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
– – My sister Kathy lives in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves with her husband Tom and their two children. They have a cool old house with a white picket fence. Little Alison looks just like her mom, and Tommy Junior has a fearsome swing with his baseball bat.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
– – We have a six-toed cat named Thumbs because of his giant paws. Thumbs appeared in the first book, Shop Till You Drop, and his DNA helped solve a murder. I wound up adopting Thumbs.

What town do you live in?
– – Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Do you rent or own?
– – Rent.

House or building complex?
– – Phil and I live in the Coronado Tropic Apartments, a classic 1949 art moderne building. The Coronado is a two-story white stucco building with turquoise trim, built around a swimming pool. Phil and I kept our one-bedroom apartments after we married. We didn’t want to leave the Coronado. Both are small. My place is done in cool ’50s furniture, and Phil’s is furnished in classic bachelor with a big sound system and lots of black-and-chrome furniture. Sometimes we retreat to our own place when we need privacy. Phil likes to play his Clapton CDs, and I like to read. We always sleep together and take turns choosing bedrooms. Our marriage feels slightly illicit that way. Thumbs likes both apartments, but prefers staying at Phil’s, because he sneaks the cat shrimp. After a murder at the Coronado in Half-Price Homicide made one apartment unrentable, Phil and I use as the offices of Coronado Investigations.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
– – Outside by pool. That’s our meeting spot and we have sunset salutes with all the Coronado inhabitants and exchange the news of the day.

Who is your best friend?
– – Margery Flax is my friend, landlady and surrogate mother. She’s 76, wears purple and smokes Marlboros. She’s fun, smart, crafty and enjoys being an operative for Coronado Investigations.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
– – I started as an amateur sleuth in Shop till You Drop, but became a professional PI. My first case was in Pumped for Murder, where I worked at a health club to stake out a cheating husband. To keep my dead-end job at the health club, I had to work out.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
– – My partner, Phil Sagemont.

Favorite meal?
– – Fresh caught yellowtail snapper, black beans and rice.

Favorite dessert?
– – Anything chocolate.

Favorite hobby?
– – Reading and walking along the beach.

Favorite vacation spot?
– – The Florida Keys.

Favorite color?
– – Most shades of blue, from turquoise to cobalt.

Favorite author?
– – Too many to list, but I really admire Charlaine Harris and Ann Cleeves.

Favorite sports team?
– – St. Louis Cardinals.

Movies or Broadway?
– – Broadway.

Are you a morning or a night person?
– – Night owl. Getting up before eight is cruel and unusual punishment.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
– – Thumbs the cat will wake up either me or Phil for his breakfast, usually by walking on our head. Phil usually gives up first. He gets up and feeds the cat, then makes coffee and often breakfast. He makes a mean cheese omelet. I try to sleep as late as I can. If the weather’s nice, I’ll have breakfast out by the pool with Phil, if he’s home, or Margery. After breakfast, I’ll head upstairs to the Coronado Investigations office, check to see if we have new cases, or work on the ones we have. I’m out of the office a lot for my job, but if I’m not busy, I’ll head home about six for the sunset salute at the Coronado. We’ll sit by the pool and have white wine and popcorn (Phil makes the best popcorn) or appetizers by our newest member of the Coronado, Marco, the handsome Cuban-American who makes a mean mojito and delicious appetizers.

You can read about Helen in Shop Till You Drop, the first book in the “Dead-End Job” mystery series is being re-released by JABerwocky Literary Agency (Press Release for Elaine Viets), coming March 6, 2018.

From Anthony and Agatha Award-winning author Elaine Viets—the thrilling mystery series about one woman trying to make a living. . .while other people are making a killing.

Helen Hawthorne had a high-finance job, a beautiful home—and a good-for-nothing husband she caught in the act with their neighbor. But when she tried to divorce the bum, the judge decided that Helen had to pay—and Helen decided the only way to keep her dignity would be to defy the courts, refuse to pay, and run for it.

Now hiding out in Fort Lauderdale, Helen is working as a lowly sales clerk at a high-fashion boutique. But keeping out of trouble proves difficult when she discovers the manager is running her own side business stealing from the store and selling drugs to customers.

Helen’s discomfort is short lived when the felonious fashionista suddenly goes on vacation—and turns up dead in the water. In desperate need of cash, Helen decides to try and find out who killed the woman for an offered reward.

But she soon uncovers even more nefarious goings-on that put her new career—and her new life—in mortal danger. . .

Purchase Link
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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of Shop Till You Drop. The giveaway ends March 7, 2018. Good luck everyone!

About the author
Elaine viets has written 32 mysteries in four series: the bestselling Dead-End Job series, the cozy Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper mysteries, the dark Francesca Vierling mysteries, and the Angela Richman, Death Investigator series. With Angela Richman, Elaine returns to her hardboiled roots and uses her experience as a stroke survivor and her studies at the Medicolegal Death Investigators Training Course. Elaine was a director at large for the Mystery Writers of America. She’s a frequent contributor to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and anthologies edited by Charlaine Harris and Lawrence Block. Elaine won the Anthony, Agatha and Lefty Awards.

All comments are welcomed.