Jude Dillane sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to twenty or more questions so that we can learn more about her. So, let’s get to know Jude.

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What is your full name?
My name is Jude Marie Dillane. My Italian Catholic mother chose Jude in honor of St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes. I suspect she and my dad had been trying for a while before they had me, and she was grateful. But, wouldn’t Judith have been just as nice? She was beautiful and smart. Okay, she did cut off someone’s head, but still.

How old are you?
I’m 34 years old.

What is your profession?
I’m the co-owner of The Corner Lounge on 10th Street and Avenue B on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I manage the bar and my partner, chef extraordinaire, Pete Angel runs the kitchen.

Do you have a significant other?
Yes. Finally, as my good friend and landlord, Thomas ‘Sully’ Sullivan, would say. He used to call my old boyfriend ‘the boy’ but refers to Eric as ‘the guy.’ We’re making progress.

What is their name and profession?
His name is Eric Ramirez. He’s handsome, smart and very understanding. Well, almost all of the time. And, he has his own accounting firm, which means he helps with all the financial paperwork for The Lounge, which is one more reason to love him.

Do you have any children?
No.

Do you have any siblings?
My younger brother Aiden died in a boating accident along with my mom a long time ago.

Are your parents nearby?
As I said, my mom is gone and so is my dad, who couldn’t deal with the loss of his wife and son and sadly took his own life.

Who is your best friend?
My best friend is Sully, who’s always there for me and has helped me out more times than I can remember. He’s more like a surrogate father figure to me, even though he’d say he’s not old enough to be my dad. Right now, he and I are working with the FBI to find the person who killed a young man on New Year’s Eve and left his body in the dumpster in back of The Lounge. As we started investigating, we discovered he started killing nearly twenty years ago and is known as the New Year’s Eve Killer.

Do you have any pets?
No. I love animals but with my schedule I really couldn’t take care of a pet.

What town do you live in?
I live in New York City in the building above The Lounge on 10th Street. It makes it convenient to get to work.

Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Well, New York is one of the biggest cities in the country and there’s always something going on, which makes every day exciting.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live in an apartment on the sixth floor, which I rent.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My closet. It’s where I keep all my beautiful vintage clothes from designers like Yves St. Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Pucci and Courrèges. For work I usually wear a black tee shirt, black jeans and black boots. So when it’s time to go somewhere special, I head for the closet and dress up.

Favorite meal and dessert?
I love to eat. Comfort food like mac ‘n cheese, mashed potatoes and juicy burgers usually do the trick. My favorite dessert is Mixed Up Ice Cream, a combo of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, nuts and chocolate syrup that I created. Pete added it to our menu and it’s very popular.

Do you have any hobbies?
Collecting vintage clothing and solving murders. A little eclectic, I know.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Barcelona. It’s so beautiful, The art, the people and the restaurants are so amazing. I wish we could open a Corner Lounge there on the Ramblas.

What music do you listen to?
I’m a throwback when it comes to music. I love The Beatles, Cyndi Lauper and Hall and Oates. I also enjoy opera but don’t get to go to a performance very often.

Do you have a favorite book?
Not necessarily a favorite book, but several favorite authors. I enjoy reading contemporary mystery authors as well as Agatha Christie and the spy novels of Terry Hayes, John le Carré and Daniel Silva.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Going out for an intimate dinner with Eric on a Saturday night, my night off from The Lounge.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
*** Why I’m Like This ***

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth and right now I’m working with Elaine Garlinger, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s BAU unit in New York City. We’re determined to find the New Year’s Eve Killer.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
I usually wake up around ten am. After a cup of coffee, I shower an get ready for the day. If I don’t have a lot of ordering and scheduling to do for The Lounge, I’ll go out for a big breakfast at one of the neighborhood diners. Then, I’ll either take a long walk, or go to a yoga class. By then it’s time to head to work to set up the bar before we open at five. We have a Social Hour every evening, which gets especially busy from Wednesday through Friday. Other nights, if we aren’t too busy, I’ll have my head bartender Dean, stay until last call and leave for home—upstairs—around eleven, where Eric is waiting.

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Last Call is the second book in the “Murder On The Rocks” traditional mystery series, released November 18, 2020.

When Jude Dillane, owner of The Corner Lounge on New York’s Lower East Side, gives Last Call, she has no idea everything’s about to change. It’s New Year’s Day and Jude is cleaning up after last night’s celebration when she discovers the body of a man with a knife through his heart in the dumpster out back.

She recognizes the victim immediately—it’s Michael Bevins, younger brother of her customer and neighbor, Art Bevins. Devastated, Jude becomes even more horrified when she learns that Michael is the latest victim of the New Year’s Eve Serial Killer whose horrible crimes stretch back more than twenty years.

Determined to find this monster, Jude risks her life as she gathers evidence that leads her closer and closer to the killer and the staggering truth that he may be someone very close to home.

Purchase Link

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About the author
Cathi Stoler’s Murder On The Rocks Mystery series features The Corner Lounge owner, Jude Dillane and includes, Bar None, Last Call and Straight Up. She’s also written the suspense novels, Nick Of Time and Out Of Time. Cathi lives in New York City, which she loves. She is a board member of Sisters in Crime New York/Tri-State, MWA and ITW. You can reach her at cathistoler.com.

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Cathi has generously offered to give away one digital copy of Last Call. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Giveaway ends November 21, 2020. Good luck everyone!

All comments are welcomed.