Madison first appeared in Pillow Stalk and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Madison.

What is your name?
Madison Night.

How old are you?
I just turned fifty on April 3rd.

What is your profession?
I own Mad for Mod, a mid-century modern decorating studio.

Do you have a significant other?
Yes. My shih-tzu. Oh, you meant men? How much time do you have? Forget I said that. Let’s go with: it’s complicated.

What is his name and profession?
Well, technically there are two men. Tex Allen, captain of the Lakewood Police Department, and Hudson James, independent contractor.

Any children?
No.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
No.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
My Shih Tzu, Rock. He fills all of the other roles nicely.

What town do you live in?
Dallas, Texas, in the Lakewood/WhiteRock Lake area.

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I live in a house that was once owned by a murder victim. I just realized that makes me sound a little peculiar, doesn’t it? Let me explain. In order to accumulate inventory for my business, I often make bids on the estates of women of a certain age and take everything. I made an offer on Thelma Johnson’s estate before I knew—well, before I knew a lot of things—and when the dust settled on the investigation, her son was left with a house that he didn’t particularly want. He gave it to me for the low price of the annual tax payment.

At first it was simply a place to go to get away from the drama in my life, but last year I moved out of the apartment building that I managed and into Thelma Johnson’s house. And yes, I still call it that. It just seems respectful, you know?

What is your favorite spot in your house?
That would have to be my recently renovated kitchen! It’s yellow. Yellow cabinets, floor, counters, and refrigerator. [Author’s Note: there’s a wonderful description of it in Lover Come Hack!]

Who is your best friend?
This is an interesting question. When I first moved to Dallas a few years ago, I had no interest in expanding my social circle and didn’t have a lot of friends. Since then, I’ve gotten to know Connie Duncan, a former client who worked part time for me before starting her own Etsy business, and Joanie Higa, who owns Joanie Loves Tchotchkes, a thrift store that I frequent.

But even more recently than that, I’ve become fast friends with Jane Strong, another local designer who specializes in the same era that I do. After getting used to being the oddball resident who dresses like Doris Day, it’s refreshing to have someone just like me.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Amateur, and somewhat reluctant. I would be perfectly happy if the police handled the criminal investigations around town, but Captain Allen and I don’t always see things the same way and on occasion, I’ve been driven to nose around to find answers on my own.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
My Shih Tzu. He makes a very good secret agent.

Favorite meal?
Chinese takeout. It’s a habit I started when Captain Allen was—[Author’s note: You can read about Madison’s Chinese food habit in With Vics You Get Eggroll!]

Favorite dessert?
Cold Italian Ice.

Favorite hobby?
Watching Doris Day movies.

Favorite vacation spot?
To be honest, I haven’t been particularly lucky when it comes to getting out of town. In the past few years I’ve vacationed in both Palm Springs and Carmel-By-the-Sea, and both times things went a little off course! I do think it would be fun to visit the English countryside like in Do Not Disturb.

Favorite color?
Yellow.

Favorite author?
Frances Hogston Burnett. I just love The Secret Garden!

Favorite sports team?
Philadelphia Phillies.

Movies or Broadway?
Movies, though I will narrow down and say classic movies. I share a birthday with Doris Day, and my parents used to gift me with one of her movies every year until they died. Those movies not only brought me comfort, but they helped me refine my eye for mid-century decorating styles, which I use daily in my business.

Are you a morning or a night person?
Morning. Most days I’m up by five and in the pool to swim laps by six. (I sustained an injury to my knee a few years ago and traded baseball for swimming.)

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
On a typical day I am at the pool by six, spend an hour swimming laps with the senior citizens (other people my age tend not to arrive until much later), drive around town looking for treasures left out on the side of the road, and then to my studio. Open for business by nine and work until six or seven, then home. If I have client appointments, I leave the business in the capable hands of an employee and work in the field.

As you can see, owning my own business gives me a fair amount of autonomy, which tends to come in handy when situations of the criminal sort come into play!

You can read about Madison in Lover Come Hack, the sixth book in the “Madison Night” mystery series, coming October 30, 2018 from Henery Press.

It’s a retro reboot!

After a falling out with a friend flips interior decorator Madison Night’s world inside out, she’s determined to revamp her life. Jane Strong, fellow mid-century modern enthusiast, encourages Madison’s entry in an upcoming design competition, but their rift makes collaboration no longer an option.

When Jane is found dead, Madison tops the suspect list. And when anonymous computer hackings interfere with both the investigation and the competition, Jane’s murder no longer seems random.

With a mess of a love life, an angry client, and a looming deadline on her contest entry, Madison turns to an unlikely ally to decode a motive before a crash becomes imminent.

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About the author
After two decades working for a top luxury retailer, Diane Vallere traded fashion accessories for accessories to murder. She is a three-time Lefty Award nominee for best humorous mystery, and Lover Come Hack is the 6th book in her Madison Night Mystery Series. Diane started her own detective agency at age ten and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since.

All comments are welcomed.