Pish Lincoln sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to twenty or more questions so that we can learn more about him. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Pish.
What is your full name?
Percival ‘Pish’ Hargrove Lincoln
How old are you?
Prefer not to say; I am a gentleman of a certain age.
What is your profession?
Semi-Retired Investment Counsellor (I still manage some of my clients’ portfolios) and now co-developer of Wynter Woods Performing Arts Center.
Do you have a significant other?
Not at the present, but a fellow can hope.
Do you have any children?
No
Do you have any siblings?
I have a darling sister who is a Tony award winning costume designer; not many people know that about me. She has lived in Italy and France, mostly, but I do hope she’ll visit Wynter Castle soon.
Are your parents nearby?
My dear mother is alive and well and living in New York City, but my father has been gone many years.
Who is your best friend?
Merry Grace Wynter. . . like the daughter I never had. I don’t think she realizes what a wonder she is; she’s lost so much in her life. . . her beloved grandmother, then her mother 6 months later, and then, after she found love with our friend, photographer Miguel Paradiso, she lost him in a tragic accident two years after their marriage. And yet she has marched forward and found love again. She’s my inspiration.
Do you have any pets?
I share a cat with Merry; Becket is a giant ginger tabby.
What town do you live in?
I live in Wynter Castle, near Autumn Vale, NY. (Western New York, halfway between Buffalo and Rochester.
Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Though I now live most of the time at Wynter Castle, I keep my condo in New York City (in the same building as my mother) as a pied-à-terre.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I own my New York City condo, but live at the castle ‘free’, though I’ve invested a lot in the castle’s improvements and upkeep. Merry keeps trying to give me partial ownership, but I see the money I have spent at the castle as an investment.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
My castle suite, I suppose. So very grand. . . a bedchamber and a sitting room where I have a desk and do my best work. I write books on financial crimes, cons and scams; fascinating work. My suite gives me the solitude I need sometimes.
Favorite meal and dessert?
I once ate heavier meals, but lately I find myself favoring smaller meals more perfectly cooked. Mushroom risotto, or a nice ravioli in a brown butter and sage sauce, with wine. Dessert? I’m not much into desserts but will eat something light, like a tiramisu. I adore anything coffee flavoured, as long as it’s made with a good coffee, preferably my own Kenyan blend.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am passionate about opera and classical music but I don’t consider that a hobby, more of an avocation. I suppose I draw a line between hobby and avocation even though they can be used interchangeably. A hobby indicates a lightness of purpose; avocation, for me, is stronger and indicates how vital music is to me in my life. With our performing arts center project it is even more than an avocation, becoming a vocation.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I’ve been around the world and seen wondrous sites. I’ve been around our country, and seen wondrous sites. But I’m never happier than in New York City, or at Wynter Castle. I think my travel lust has expired, to be replaced by the contentment of being with the people I love.
What music do you listen to?
Classical and Broadway.
Do you have a favorite book?
I love everything George Eliot ever wrote. Her writing is subtle, emotionally charged, truthful. Middlemarch is a miracle of taut character driven prose.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
A glass of wine, good friends, and me at the piano, playing Broadway tunes. . . and drinking more wine. Or a night at the opera. Or standing at the sink in the kitchen of Wynter Castle late at night doing dishes with Merry talking about the day. Every fun time has its season.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
‘I Slept in Lincoln’s Bed’, perhaps? Or ‘Confessions of a New York City Lad’.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m no sleuth. I let Merry and the others handle that. She’s a dedicated amateur, but her husband, Virgil, was sheriff and is now a private detective, so he gives us advice and oft-times helps us in our little problems. (Like finding dead bodies in half baths and faux coffins and holes in the ground!)
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Busy! I start the day with a big mug of my special blend Kenyan coffee and then, depending on the day, work on the plan for our performance center or write. I also find time most days to visit with Merry, especially now that she and Virgil have a house away from the castle.
What is a typical day when you are on a case?
There is no typical day even when we have a murder or attack to solve. It’s usually so urgent – someone is in danger, or trouble erupts – I just go with the flow, helping where and when I can. I see myself as support team and chief cheerleader for my beloved friend, Merry, who has a special knack for figuring out whodunnit.
Double or Muffin, A Merry Muffin Mystery #7
Genre: Cozy
Release: February 2021
Purchase Link
When a reality TV show for aspiring opera singers descends on Wynter Castle, Merry’s got her hands full catering to the endless demands of the distinguished judges and ambitious contestants. Then mysterious rumors about the cast and crew begin to surface, suggesting that some of their performances may be filled with false notes. When a dogged reporter with an eye for scandal who’s been covering the competition is attacked and left for dead, Merry’s determined to discover who orchestrated the heinous deed.
Her long list of suspects is filled with eccentric personalities, including a promiscuous tenor known for making unwanted overtures, a pampered young prodigy and her meddlesome mother, and a quiet up-and-comer whose shadowy uncle may have ties to the underworld. As the musical contest and Merry’s investigation near their finale, she’ll have to act fast to keep a conniving contestant from plotting out her final act . . .
About the Author 
Victoria Hamilton is the bestselling author of several mystery series including the national bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries. She does, indeed, collect vintage kitchenware and bake muffins. She drinks tea and coffee on writing days, and wine other times. It doesn’t do to confuse days. She crochets (a little), paints (a little) and reads (a lot). A solitary being, she can be coaxed out of her writing cave for brownies and cat videos.
She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.
You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at victoriahamiltonmysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!), on Facebook, and on Twitter at @MysteryVictoria.
All comments are welcomed.
I enjoyed Getting to Know Pish Lincoln – he sounds like a great character ~
It is a catchy title.