Miranda Trent 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. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Miranda.

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What is your full name?
Miranda Dorothy Trent

How old are you?
I’m still a good bit under thirty, and my birthday is on January 13th.

What is your profession?
I am a small business owner in eastern Kentucky.

Do you have a significant other?
Yes, at least I think I do, but we haven’t actually agreed on that as yet.

What is their name and profession?
His name is Austin Morgan. He is a Forest Ranger.

Do you have any children?
No.

Do you have any siblings?
No.

Are your parents nearby?
My mom lives about 200 miles away in Dayton, Ohio. I’ve fixed up the attic for her to use when she visits. She certainly seems happy to be staying – might be that I’ve made her bedroom a little too cozy.

Who is your best friend?
My best friend from high school is Sarah. She lives not far away in Winchester, Ky. We haven’t gotten together yet because I’m so busy establishing my business.

Do you have any pets?
I have an adorable puppy named Sandy. He’s an energetic little ball of energy and also smart as a whip.

What town do you live in?
I don’t really live in a town at all. My corner of the rural countryside is called Pine Ridge.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I inherited my uncle’s farmhouse, a tobacco barn, outbuildings, about forty acres with a creek and a cave.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
In summer, I love the front porch swing, but in winter, I love snuggling up with Sandy on the couch in front of the fire.

Favorite meal and dessert?
Venison Stew is voted a guest favorite on the review sites, and my mom makes an out-of-this-world Lady Baltimore Cake.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Right now, I’m living in a tourist area surrounded by rustic woodland trails, fast-flowing spring-fed creeks, waterfalls, and cliff-top vistas. I’ve no desire to go anywhere else.

What music do you listen to?
I enjoy most well-played music styles, but I’m partial to Rockabilly, Easy Jazz, and Classical Opera.

Do you have a favorite book?
To Kill a Mockingbird.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
I love spending my spare time seeking new vistas for my clients to paint and creating new moonshine cocktail recipes.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Losing and Finding my Country Soul.

Amateur or professional sleuth, and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth and use my artistic observational skills to assist Sheriff Larson of Wolfe County, Kentucky.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
On a tour day, I prepare backpacks, hike to a trail vista, teach a painting class, serve a traditional Southern meal paired with home-brewed moonshine cocktails.

What is a typical day when you are on a case?
All of the above, plus sleuthing.

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Draw and Order, A Paint & Shine Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: June 2021
Purchase Link

Appalachian artist and local guide Miranda Trent opens a new murder investigation after her Paint & Shine tour group discovers the remains of a missing hiker along an ancient trail . . .

For her latest excursion, Miranda is thrilled to take a close-knit group of rock climbers, the Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. But the outing is cut short when they discover a skeleton near the trailhead. Even more startling, the bones belong to Howard Cable, Miranda’s cousin…and a former classmate of the Risky Business group.

The sheriff chalks it up to a hiking accident, but Miranda isn’t convinced that Howard, an experienced woodsman, died within sight of a well-marked trail. So, with the help of Ranger Austin Morgan, Miranda sets out on her own investigation and discovers that the Risky Business group is keeping plenty of secrets. But is one of them hiding the truth about Howard’s death?

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About the author
Cheryl Hollon writes full-time after an engineering career designing and installing military flight simulators in England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Living the dream, she combines a love of writing with a passion for creating art in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cheryl is Past President of the Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime, a member of Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She and her husband live in St. Petersburg, FL.

Sign up for her monthly newsletter when you visit her website at cherylhollon.com. You can also visit Cheryl and her books at Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, or Goodreads

All comments are welcomed.