Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, so let’s meet Izzy.
What is your name?
While I lived in Manhattan, everyone called me Isabella or Mrs. Fleming. But since I got divorced and relocated to Iowa, I morphed into Izzy Lewis. I’ve never had a nickname before but now it seems to suit me.
How old are you?
I’ll be officially over-the-hill in a few short months as I’ll be turning 31.
What is your profession?
My former profession was Manhattan socialite–both pretentious and boring. Now I’m an artist and amateur sleuth along with my BFFs the Qs.
Note from Dru: The Qs are her Jessica Fletcher–wannabe surrogate grandmothers
Do you have a significant other?
Sure do, and he’s amazing. But when we first met, I thought he was pretty darn obnoxious.
What is his name?
Gabe Carnes
What is his profession?
Yeah, there’s a little question still about that. Technically, he went to law school, but doesn’t practice law. Instead, he does carpentry/handyman work and dabbles in some top-secret mysterious and potentially dangerous stuff that he hasn’t clarified so far.
Any children?
Zero children, but I’d like some eventually. Gabe would make a great father. And the Qs would be amazing great-grandmothers.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
No siblings, although there’s always the possibility one might turn up since my father was known to be, and still is, quite the ladies’ man if you know what I mean.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
None so far, but I’m definitely open to the possibility.
What town do you live in?
Inez, Iowa
House or building complex?
I live in an amazing industrial loft apartment over a commercial space in downtown Inez. Although the word downtown might be a misnomer for most folks. The whole downtown area consists of a hardware store, Betty’s Cut and Curl–a place where no woman my age should step foot in unless they want their hair to be teased and sprayed within a inch of its life–and Otis’–the local bar. That’s about it. I’m hoping for a little revitalization, but nothing so far.
Do you own or rent?
Own.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
Every inch of it. Gabe renovated the place for me and it has the most amazing floor to ceiling windows that allow the light in. It’s absolutely perfect for painting.
Who is your best friend?
Believe it or not, my BFF is Viola who is Gabe’s grandmother. Between her and the other Qs–Dolly, Alice and Ramona–they helped me find myself after my nasty divorce.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Amateur–and like it that way. The Qs and I can do things that we might not be able to do if we had to follow rules
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
The Qs–a rambunctious group of senior citizens who are bigger risk takers than I could ever imagine, let alone ever be. Plus they always keep me knee deep in sweets and laughter.
Favorite meal?
Anything Gabe cooks for me. He’s an amazing cook. Without him I’d live on junk food and sweets. (see below)
Favorite dessert?
I’m not going to lie, the Qs have turned me into a sugar junkie. Anything from pies of any variety–except for rhubarb–yuk, to cakes–from chocolate to strawberry and everything in-between, to cookies of every variety, brownies, and some local delicacies such as scotcheroo which is sort of like a rice crispy treat on steroids. Positively yummy!
Favorite hobby?
Besides painting, I solve crimes, hang with the Qs and try to keep them out of trouble.
Favorite vacation spot?
In my prior life in Manhattan, I probably would have said something exotic like Tahiti or expensive like the French Riviera, but now I feel more alive when I’m with Gabe exploring some of the trails and rivers of Iowa. And while he’d prefer to camp under the stars, he defers to my preference of a nice soft bed in a hotel.
Favorite color?
Red. I love the vibrancy of it.
Favorite author?
I go with the classics like Agatha Christie.
Favorite sports team?
I’m not a big fan, but I’m learning. Gabe played football at Iowa in college and we plan to go to a game this fall. Evidently there’s a big rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State and he’s already gotten the tickets. We’ll see how that goes.
Movies or Broadway?
It used to be Broadway, but now it’s definitely movies–preferably at home with Gabe.
Are you a morning or a night person?
Definitely morning. I like to go on a run first thing.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
As hard as I try to have a typical day of going for a run and then doing some painting, it never seems to turn out how I planned it. Most days I get distracted by a call from Viola enticing me to come to her home for some kind of decadent breakfast that I’m powerless to resist. By the time I get there, the other Qs have arrived. In-between watching Monk or Murder She Wrote, they delve into the latest gossip they got from a friend who works in the sheriff’s office. Before you know it, I’m off on a investigative tangent I never expected.
You can read about Izzy in Shady Shenanigans in Iowa, the third book in the “Izzy Lewis” mystery series. The first book in the series is Nearly Dead in Iowa.
From USA Today bestselling author Wendy Byrne comes another small-town cozy mystery that will leave you laughing till it hurts. . .
Former Manhattanite Izzy Lewis is finally settling into small town life in Inez, Iowa—she’s got her adventurous surrogate grandmothers, the Q’s, her hot boyfriend, Gabe, and the rest of the small town’s characters to make sure her days are never boring. But when her good friend Sheriff Nate Crowder’s ex-wife goes missing, right after having a loud argument with him, things go from interesting to downright dangerous.
When a vengeful DA sets his sites on Nate as the prime suspect in his ex’s disappearance, Izzy and the Qs jump into action. But between leads that go nowhere, mysterious strangers, enemies becoming friends, and an Izzy double stirring up trouble, they have their hands full trying to figure out what happened to Nate’s ex. With the sheriff suspended, the clock ticking, and the danger closing in, can Izzy find out the truth. . . before she and the Q’s are the next victims?
Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
USA Today bestselling author Wendy has a Masters in Social Work and worked in the child welfare field for twelve years before she decided to pursue her dream of writing. Her first two books, Fractured and Mama Said were published in 2011 and 2012. Mama Said was a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Contest. She self-published The Christmas Curse in 2012.
Between teaching college classes, trying to get her morbidly obese cat to slim down, and tempering the will of her five-year-old granddaughter, who’s determined to become a witch when she turns six so she can fly on her broom to see the Eiffel Tower and put hexes on people—not necessarily in that order—somehow Wendy still manages to fit in writing. She spends the remainder of her days inflicting mayhem on her hero and heroine until they beg for mercy.
All comments are welcomed.