Olivia sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings.

What is your full name?
Olivia Watson

How old are you?
I turned 34 on September 15th, the same day as Agatha Christie’s birthday. How cool is that!

What is your profession?
I’m a journalist. I worked at the Syracuse Post Standard for several years, then I opened my own business. The Watson Agency does research for writers and professors. I also write freelance for several travel magazines. My two jobs allow me to do what I’m most passionate about—learning things and traveling.

Do you have a significant other?
Maybe…Steven Blackwell and I have recently grown much closer but I don’t know where it’s going. How could it go anywhere when he lives in 1934 and I live in 2014? It’s an impossible situation.

What is their name and profession?
Steven is a detective with the Knightsbridge Police Department.

Do you have any children?
No.

Do you have any siblings?
I’m an only child.

Are your parents nearby?
They’re in California living the dream. We talk on the phone a lot.

Who is your best friend?
My two best friends are Liz Smithson and Sophie Talbot. We’ve been like sisters since we were six. Liz works at the local history museum and Sophie owns a Pâtisserie-Café.

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
Mr. Moto is my sleek black, emerald-eyed cat. He’s very independent and feels as comfortable in Steven’s house in 1934 as in my house in 2014.

What town do you live in?
Knightsbridge, New York. It’s in the Mohawk Valley at the foothills of the gorgeous Adirondack Mountains in Central New York. It’s a lovely small town where everybody knows each other. And I can walk into Bailey’s Diner and they already know just how I like my coffee.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I own a beautiful old house built in the 1920s. And there’s an added bonus—a doorway on the second floor that’s a time-travel portal. Imagine our shock when Steven and I discovered that!

What is your favorite spot in your home?
My workout room. I redid an extra bedroom with pale green walls, several tall plants, and my mat and exercise equipment. I spend time there every day and I love it. It’s very relaxing.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
A Greek salad, pita, and tzatziki. My Mom’s homemade apple pie.

Do you have any hobbies?
Like I mentioned earlier, I love traveling, especially overseas. I practice kickboxing and I run.

What music do you listen to?
Probably not what you’d expect for a 34-year-old. My friends keep trying to get me into Taylor Swift but I like the 1940s crooners, and singers like Michael Bublé who are a throwback to that style.

What is your favorite color?
Red.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere in Europe.

Are you a morning or night person?
Morning. I like to be out running early.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Driving around the countryside anywhere in Europe.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Woman

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m the amateur in our partnership. Steven is a talented and experienced detective.

What is a typical day in your life like?
If Steven and I are having breakfast together, I’ll get my run in at 5:30 so he can get to the station early. If not, I’ll go out around 6:30. I usually spend the morning working for my clients, doing whatever research they need. Depending on the project, that might spill over into the afternoon. I also write my travel articles later in the day. Normally, I’m working on two or three pieces at a time. Twice a week I go to the YMCA for my kickboxing class. I get together with Liz and Sophie for breakfast, drinks, or dinner once or twice every week.

But…if I’m involved in an investigation with Steven, all that gets thrown out the window. Working on a case with Steven means time-traveling to 1934, and I usually stay there for a while. I’ve made friends and I’m even writing freelance for the Knightsbridge Gazette. Of course, no one knows our secret, and Steven and I want to keep it that way for now. Spending time in 1934 requires all kinds of planning and attention to detail. I have a closet filled with clothes of that era in both versions of our house. I have to remember to leave my cell and my laptop in 2014 when I travel into the past. I use paper notebooks, pens, and pencils. It’s been a thrilling experience and a fun challenge. I hope it never ends!!

RSVP To Murder, A Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery Book #4
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release: September 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

A new twist on the English country house mystery.

Embarking on their most daring time-travel experiment to date, Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell and his 21st-century partner-in-crime, Olivia Watson, travel to the Adirondack Mountains for a Christmas party at one of the legendary Great Camps. Their host, a wealthy New York publisher, has planned a weekend filled with holiday activities, but, as the last guest arrives, temperatures plummet and a blizzard hits. Before long, the area is buried in snow, the roads are impassable, and the publisher is poisoned.

Unwilling to wait until the local police arrive, the victim’s widow convinces Steven to launch an unofficial investigation. Soon, a family member goes missing and Steven and Olivia discover a second victim. Trapped with a killer, Steven and Olivia race against the clock before the murderer strikes again.

About the author
Carol Pouliot writes the acclaimed Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a time-travel twist and a seemingly impossible relationship between a Depression-era cop and a 21st-century journalist. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books have earned praise from readers and mystery authors alike. Carol is a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks, Co-chair of the Murderous March Mystery Conference, and President of her Sisters in Crime chapter. Sign up for Carol’s newsletter at carolpouliot.com.