My name is Vicky Joyce. I’m an American actor, the star of the hit TV show, Undaunted. Thank you, Dru Ann, for inviting me to share a few moments from my daily routine. As you might imagine, I get so many requests that I could fill my days and nights doing media interviews. So, I decline many of them. But I told my publicist we’d make an exception in this case. I may have several million followers on Instagram and Twitter, but the hustle is real and the job everlasting. It’s no accident I placed among Forbes’ top 200 Black influencers last year. And remember, Personality Magazine voted me “Sexiest Woman on the Planet.” Celebrity is not a fluke, I assure you. I work hard for the fame.

This week we’re in Harlem filming the final episode of season two of Undaunted, and if you haven’t heard of us yet, stay tuned. We are nominated for five Emmy awards this season (yours truly for Lead Actress in a Drama Series), so you’ll hear plenty more from Undaunted in the coming months.

I play Kit Arden, a hard-nosed attorney and private investigator whose life mission is defending the voiceless and underserved in New York City. Don’t let Kit’s glam looks fool you: she is smart and relentless. A lot like me. I’ve climbed the thorny rungs to success in Hollywood over fifteen years of constant effort. And I’ve got the scarred hands, sliced knees, and knife wounds in the back to prove it.

It’s seven thirty on the next-to-last day of filming this week. I’ve been in this chair since six a.m. prepping for the day’s shooting. Dressing for my role is quick: how hard is it to slip into black denims, charcoal t-shirt, and Kit’s signature black leather moto jacket? But I arrive on location at dawn to give hair and make-up the two hours they need to prep me for first call at eight a.m. Albie Moran, the episode director, is a shrieking lizard; no need to provoke him by arriving late. Some might call me a diva, but I’m not dumb. Keeping Albie and the other big shots happy is part of the job.

Lots of goo, glue, spackle, paint, and powder are required to achieve the natural look that is Kit Arden’s trademark. Audrey (make-up) and Evan (hair) are geniuses, so I can relax while they work their magic, using the time to review this stack of cards with my lines and notes for each scene we’ll film today. Let me scan these last two cards, then I’ll give you the signal to start recording our interview. Thirty minutes is enough, right?

That was the location manager, Opal Cunningham, sticking her head in our trailer to see if I need another cup of coffee. I’ve had two lattes already, so I turned down her offer. Don’t be fooled, Opal isn’t really generous, just checking up on me. As always. I’ve known Opal since our early days in Hollywood; our careers tracking in tandem, me in front of the camera, her in various jobs on the production side.

Turning down the caffeine offer now, I want to avoid seeming rude, so when Opal pops in again I’ll compliment her spot-on hiring choices this week. Flattery smooths Opal’s fur and keeps her off my back. So, I pile on the praise. I’ll tell her I like the local Harlem boy she found to drive for me: Spencer something-or-other is quick and competent, keeps his mouth shut and his eyes on the road. If it was up to me, I’d give Spencer a shave and some Xanax to chill out – his fidgeting sets my teeth on edge – but overall, he’s okay as a chauffeur.

I’m also impressed with the man Opal hired as location security officer. This Rook is tough to read. Tall, hard-jawed, no slickness, swagger, or self-absorption. I wonder what Rook wants and what skills he brings to the pursuit? All week, he’s observed me along the slant of his eyes, like he’s afraid to assess me straight up. I don’t feel Rook’s reticence comes from hunger or desperation, like most men who meet me. I think his reserve is innate, honed by years of disappointment. Or maybe Rook’s just playing hard to get. His assignment is done tomorrow. If I want answers to the puzzle that is Rook, I’d better make my move now.

Well, that’s way more information than I planned to share with you this morning. So, let’s consider all the preceding to be on deep background. Not for attribution, you know. You may start recording our interview now. Here’s the money quote for your article: “Vicky Joyce says the female victim trope is tired, played out in Hollywood. Why does the woman always get kidnapped, assaulted, or killed on TV and in films? Our industry must move with the times. It’s tough, but some of us are pushing for change. In front of the camera and behind it, female agency counts now.” Got it? Good. Now, what are your questions?

Murder Take Two, A Ross Agency Mystery #6
Genre: Private Investigator
Release: February 22, 2022
Purchase Link

Two bitter friends. Two hustling brothers. Two killers in love. One detective in pursuit

When cynical private eye SJ Rook is hired to guard the set of a hot new television show filming on the streets of Harlem, he expects his toughest challenge to be corralling star-struck fans. The task is simple: keep peace between fancy Hollywood invaders, loudmouth tourists, and rowdy neighborhood regulars. The sultry presence of an A-list star lights up the set and enflames Rook’s imagination.

But the detective’s brush with Hollywood glamour quickly turns dark. All week, a TV big shot bids for Rook’s attention with outlandish claims of murder threats. Rook dismisses these fears as dramatic excess spiced with Left Coast dazzle. But on the last night of filming, murder writes a grim finale to the production.

With his client dead, Rook’s pursuit of the truth begins. Hampered by remorse, he battles a secretive killer whose motives are hidden in plain sight. After a second murder, Rook’s hopes for solving the case are dashed. He must reset for take two of the investigation. But the tragic past of an alluring actress and Rook’s own unspoken desires complicate his hunt. Distracted by stardust, the detective’s struggle to sort fact from fantasy takes on deadly urgency when the killer makes Rook the last target.

About the author
Born and raised in Chicago, Delia graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor’s degree in history. After working as a journalist, she earned a Ph.D. in African history from the University of Chicago. She is a former university administrator and U.S. diplomat. Murder My Past is the fifth book in her contemporary noir mystery series. The next entry, Murder Take Two, was recently published in 2022. Her short story, “The Killer,” was published in The Chicago Quarterly Review, #31. It was selected for inclusion in Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. Another story, “A Deadly First,” was published in the 2020 holiday crime anthology, Festive Mayhem. Her short story, “Talladega 1925,” was published in The Chicago Quarterly Review, #33. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime and Crime Writers of Color.

Delia and her husband live in central New Jersey and have twin sons living in Texas. To learn more about Delia and her books visit her website at deliapitts.com.

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Delia has generously offered to give away one print copy of Murder Take Two. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends February 25, 2022. Good luck everyone!

All comments are welcomed.