Hi, my name is Tina Shaw. I live in the wonderful town of Newport, RI, where my typical day is filled with sunshine, the scent of the ocean, and old mansions. Plus some stunt kite flying at Brenton Point if the winds are just right.
I used to live by a schedule and most of my days were typical. But things changed when I moved back to my mother’s old Victorian house in Newport just before I turned thirty. I’d been away, except for visits, since I left for college back when I was eighteen. My mother’s a bit controlling and likes to keep secrets, but we generally get along okay. My great-uncle Bob also lives with us along with Princess, his golden Lab hearing assistance dog. He’s an old Navy guy, and so much fun to be around. He likes to use clichés a lot, both twisted and regular, and the biggest words he can think of.
The only drawback to living back home is the food. Neither my mother nor our uncle can cook (cliché alert) worth a hoot. So, unfortunately, since I never learned to wield a spatula, there are no recipes in my stories. And I’m often a big hungry.
However, since I came home, I’ve taken up a new profession—that of personal organizer and time management helper. Jan includes a few hints in her stories about me as problems dealing with those things pop up. It’s been interesting so far. You’d be amazed at the secrets you’ll find in people’s jumble. I mean, like a dead body in a perfect baby’s nursery in an otherwise badly cluttered home (Organized to Death). Or the secrets to her murder in the hoarder’s house next door (Buried Under Clutter). Or maybe a ghost in a friend’s old Victorian’s attic (upcoming next spring, Cluttered Attic Secrets).
I’m fortunate to have lots of help figuring out who the villains are from my old school chum who wants to be more than friends, Hank (called Hank the Hunk by my girlfriends). Like my mother, he has a few secrets, so I’m not quite sure what he does for a living, but he says he’s a police consultant. I’m pretty sure once you find out more about him, you’ll be as skeptical about that as I am. But he does hang out around the police station and seems to know a lot about police procedure. You can forgive a guy a lot of things when he’s as yummy as old Hank.
The downside to this new profession has been my mother’s dislike/disdain for the whole idea of “mucking around in other people’s messes,” plus, of course, the dead bodies. The upside is, I’m never bored.
Now that we’ve cleared up the whole ghost-in-the-attic thing, I’m looking for a new job. Lucky for me, it’s almost spring here on the island, so I’ll probably go kite flying while I wait. My uncle loves to tell me to “go fly a kite.” And I like making my uncle happy, so I’m off. ’Bye!
You can read more about Tina in Buried Under Clutter, the second book in the “Tina Tales” mystery series, published by Jan Christensen. The first book in the series is Organized to Death.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on September 3 for the chance to win a kindle version of BURIED UNDER CLUTTER. The giveaway is open to everyone.
About the author
Jan Christensen grew up in New Jersey and now resides in the Texas Coastal Bend. Published novels are: Sara’s Search, Revelations, Organized to Death, Perfect Victim, Blackout, and most recently, Buried Under Clutter. She’s had over sixty short stories appear in various places over the last dozen years. She also writes a series of short stories about Artie, a NY burglar who gets into some very strange situations while on the job. Visit Jan at her website, on Twitter or on Facebook.
Sounds like a fun read. I just added Corpse Pose to my very long library list.
thank you for the chance, looks great 🙂
Lol, I think I could use Tina’s help. Sounds like a fun book, would love to read it
Sounds like a good read—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
I hate clutter. I would love to read this! Thank you!
I think I can relate to this book! Seems like I’m always battling clutter. This sounds like a good read. Looking forward to it!
Clutter has always been a problem for me. Would love a copy of this book
I loved the first two books in the series and love Uncle Bob. Am so curious about Hank the Hunk.
I am buried under clutter and would like to read my way out.
A new author for me.sounds like my type of book.
Wow, thanks for all the comments so early (for me, anyway) in the morning. And huge thanks to Dru Ann for letting Tina tell about her life here. There are a few hints about decluttering in each book. Hope everyone will check them out!
Sounds like some good reading here! I wonder if passing along Buried Under Clutter to my almost-hoarder friend would be considered passive-aggressive…
It might be taken wrong, for sure. LOL But if you decide to do it, I don’t recommend the paperback–it would just add to the clutter.. Hopefully she can read the Kindle version using a Kindle if she has one, or using the Kindle app. Tina does explain a little bit about the psychology behind being a hoarder, though. It’s complicated and is most likely caused by something wrong in the frontal lobe. I’ve never heard of a happy hoarder, so I think they’d change if they could.
Another new to me series and I love the sound of it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I like the sound of your liking the sound of it, Debbie. Hope you’ll check out both Tina books.
I’ve read Jan’s books. They’re such fun! Especially Hank the Hunk 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful endorsement, Carol. Appreciate it!
I like to organize and be organized, but I fear I am slipping into the clutter category. Tina’s uncle Bob sounds like fun. Looks like a fun series. Thanks.
I could use some help organizing. For some reason by brain is not able to put it together. This is another series to add to my list of books by authors I’ve not yet read. Thanks.
Haven’t tried this series yet, but I will definitely add to my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks, Sally, Robin, and Linda for stopping by and commenting. I hope your TBR piles are too high. LOL
Mucking around in other people’s messes sounds like fun to me—but I’m afraid my mother would not approve either. I’d love to read this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I like the premise of this book. Old mansions and organizing sounds great. I want to read it.
I hope Tina will come help me get my craft room organized after I finish the remodel. thanks for the chance to win the book.
More great comments. Thanks again to everyone!
I like the setting of Newport, RI.
Oh, Judy, I love Newport, RI. I’ve spent a lot of time there and like to visit whenever I can. I would love to have a summer home there. LOL
This series is JUST what I need. I am not a hoarder (I know they all say that), but my reason for clutter is that I have to be in bed or off my feet with my leg elevated about 22-23 hours a day and those few minutes that I can spend standing and walking are reserved for personal care and having my meals although many are eaten in bed many times. Office clutter and papers just have taken over in just a short time and especially since the winter when I had to be so sedentary. This series may give me some hints and then I will need to hire a cleaning lady I imagine. 🙂 Being a native New Englander means that I want to read every book possible about the area. I love Newport and have spent a lot of time there, so this is added incentive to read this series for me. Thank you Jan for the fun and interesting sounding books. I will be waiting with fingers crossed until word is sent out for this drawing. Ordering online is the next step. 🙂
Cynthia B.
Massachusetts
Cynthia, I’m so sorry about your need to stay off your feet for most of the day. That certainly would impact anyone’s ability to stay on top of clutter! I hope you are soon able to become more active and can hire that cleaning lady. I do suggest that you try to deal with each day’s mail, in bed if necessary. Have a trash can next to you, and throw the junk away, at least, and the envelopes. It won’t be as overwhelming when all of that is gone. Then deal with what you can in bed–phone call needed? Write a check? It’s doable. Good luck with the contest. Dru is running that and probably has an automatic program that picks the winner. I wish you well.
I so value others’ organizational hints. Hope to gather one or two within these pages.
Judy, I admit there aren’t a lot of hints in each book because I thought going into that too strongly would slow down the story and that many readers wouldn’t be that interested. My plan is to put out a few non-fiction books about personal organization and time management, though, so sign up for my newsletter on my website in order to be alerted if/when that happens. (www.janchristensen.com)
Thank you for the chance to win!
You’re welcome, Dina. Good luck!
I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
Good luck, Sheila!
Would love to win this one!
And good luck to you, too, Alicia.
I love Tina and the characters around her, Jan, and the premise is unique and interesting. I’ve always said no one creates better female characters then you, and Tina is further proof of that. I think this is going to be a successful long-running series for you.
Earl, thanks so much. You’re no slouch as a writer, either. I hope to have at least three more in this series, then I will see if I should continue. Since I have another series with a female PI, it’s going to be interesting to see which one does the best.
Sounds like are at book to win.
Hi, Charlotte. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Hi Jan,
I remember you from my early days on the Guppy list, especially how supportive you were of my writing when we were both in a temporary “First Five Pages” group. Glad to know your writing is doing so well.
If you could see my house, you’d know that I could REALLY use Tina’s advice!
Hi, Nancy, how nice to see you here, and thanks for the kind words. Hope you enjoy the books about Tina. By the comments here, you can see you’re not alone with your struggle against clutter. Hope your writing is going well.
Going to read Organized to Death so I’m up to speed & ready for Buried under Clutter. Thanks for the heads up on series and the giveaway. Looking forward to reading & perhaps pick up organizational ideas as time for housekeeping chores is often crowded out by reading time! Couldn’t hurt!
Lindar, I’m so pleased you plan to read the Tina Tales series. I know how you feel–I’d much rather read than clean myself. Hope some of the tips prove helpful.
This sounds terrific! Being somewhat of a clutterer myself, I am totally drawn to this book! I’d love to win a copy!
Jan, this is Jan. LOL Thanks for commenting.
This sounds so great!
Thanks, Becky.
a new-to-me series/author……..
thanx for the intro!! & the giveaway!!
I wasn’t familiar with this series. I’m going to have to check it out. Thanks for the chance to win.
This sounds like a good read.
I think I am the queen of clutter!! Sounds like a great book.
Omg, the books sounds great, my kind of book.
Thanks Jan for interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.
Congrats to Robin for winning a copy of the book–it’s on its way to her. And huge thanks to Dru for having me here. It’s been so much fun!