Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, so let’s meet Virginia.
What is your name?
Virginia Eugena Frankowski
How old are you?
Do I come to your house and insult you? Let’s just say I’m somewhere between sixty and dead.
What is your profession?
I’m full time do-whatever-the-heck-I-want. Poppy would say I’m co-innkeeper of the Butterfly Wings Bed and Breakfast because that makes her feel like she’s including me. I help make breakfast for the guests, but then I’m on coffee break until tomorrow.
Do you have a significant other?
I’ve had five and that was six too many.
What were their names?
Let’s see. There was Lovell, Virgil, Gush, Danny then Cecil. Or was it Cecil then Danny? I can never remember. One of them left with the Lottery Ball Bimbo and the other went out for a Baby Ruth and never came back. So as far as I’m concerned, their names are Milksop and Skinflint.
What is their profession?
What’s with all these questions? Are you with Social Security or something?
Any children?
Dear God, I hope not. The 60’s were a blur, but I think I’d remember that.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
Not anymore. My sister Emmy died a few years ago. I’m the last of the McAllisters except for my grandniece Poppy. She’ll inherit everything when I’m gone.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Poppy brought a giant dust mop named Figaro with her. Now there’s gray cat fur all over my house and I can’t eat a tuna sandwich without being harassed.
What town do you live in?
I’ve lived my whole life in the same house in Cape May, NJ. It’s a beautiful grand Victorian that my grandfather bought in the late 1800s as a summer beach cottage.
Do you rent or own?
I own it, but I almost lost it once. Poppy was shrewd enough to figure out what was going on and she saved us.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
In the spring and fall I love to sit in my rocker on the front porch and throw peanuts at the squirrels. Once I beaned two squirrels with one nut! Personal best! The rest of the year I like the sunroom in the back of the house. I have my recliner and the TV and Figaro likes to curl up on the window seat next to me where he can keep an eye on the kitchen. We get a good view of Mr. Murillo’s back yard from here. He likes to sunbathe in the nude sometimes. I don’t know how I feel about that.
Who is your best friend?
I have a crew I run around with. Poppy calls Ethel, Lila and Thelma my “ride or die” girls, whatever that means. They’ve welcomed Poppy into our group since she came home. We’ve made her our designated driver since she’s the only one without cataracts. Plus, it makes her get out of the house once in a while to blow the bad attitude off of her.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Neither one. I’ve just helped Poppy solve a couple of crimes. She’s not exactly a professional sleuth either. She’s just terminally unlucky, but she makes up for it by being wonderfully clever.
Who helps Poppy with sleuthing?
Ethel is a professional busybody, and Thelma has contacts all over the Senior Center, so they always know what’s going on. Lila infiltrates the women’s prayer network when we need to do some fact checking. There are perks to living this long in the same small town.
Favorite meal?
Sunday Dinner. Mmm mmm. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans smothered with fatback, and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert. I’m getting so hungry. Of course, I’ll take a fiber one bar over some of those green smoothies Poppy has tried to pass off as food. I don’t want to have to chew anything that’s coming out of a straw.
Favorite dessert?
Anything Chocolate. Or Peanut Butter. Or Cake. Did I say Ice Cream yet?
Favorite hobby?
My first rule about hobbies, is never talk about hobbies.
Favorite vacation spot?
I used to love Higbee’s Beach, but you have to keep your clothes on now. Machu Pichu is on my bucket list. Don’t tell Poppy.
Favorite color?
Polka Dots
Favorite author?
Can I say Libby Klein? I hear she’s very funny. I also like that guy who writes the interviews for the TV guide. He asks the hard questions.
Favorite sports team?
The Kalamazoo Lassies
Movies or Broadway?
Bingo
Are you a morning or a night person?
Yes. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
My eyes pop open around six every morning. I take the next couple of minutes to look around and see if I’m in a casket. If I’m still in my bedroom and not at the pearly gates I start warming up. It takes a lot of effort to get all my parts moving in the same direction. After I wash and cream my face and take care of my morning toilette I ask myself what mood I’m in for the day. I always dress according to mood and not the weather or climate. Life is too short, and I might not make it to the next season.
I try to get to the kitchen before Poppy does so I can get into my stash of pop tarts I hide in a Metamucil box before she catches me. Then I make us a Paleo approved breakfast while Poppy makes coffee. She’s really good at coffee. I wish she was on a Danish diet. Life would be a lot more interesting around here if we had some Entenmann’s.
Then, depending on the day of the week, I have my different clubs and activities. If I hear the waves calling me I go wakeboarding. If I need to relax I might go to the boxing ring. Of course, I tell Poppy I have a knitting bee. I’m surprised she hasn’t noticed that nothing around here is made of yarn yet. I meet the girls for lunch at one of our favorite secret haunts that the tourists don’t know about. No, I won’t tell you where it is. Besides, you have to know the secret knock on the mermaid to get in.
In the afternoon I catch up on my stories while texting Ethel my running commentary on what I think Marlena should do about Roman and who’s Lani’s baby daddy. I want Poppy to teach me how to Twitter because I think more people would benefit from my guidance about the important things. Like what color of nail polish is acceptable after the age of seventy and shaming the repeat offenders of the 15 items or less lane at the Acme.
In the evenings I like to see what activities are being offered at the Senior Center and who else would be going. As long as it’s not some lame sing along in the piano room I’ll get dressed in my evening attire and head out. If I don’t feel too sorry for Poppy sitting at home alone with Figaro I go out dancing. If I feel extra sorry for her, I make her come with me. Some people think they have all the time in the world to live their lives. I prefer to enjoy every minute as if its my last.
XXOO Ginny
Giveaway: What is your favorite snack? Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Midnight Snacks Are Murder. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends August 1, 2018. Good luck everyone!
You can read about Ginny in Midnight Snacks Are Murder, the second book in the “Poppy McAllister” mystery series, coming July 31, 2018. The first book in the series is Class Reunions Are Murder.
When her sleepwalking aunt is accused of committing murder, Poppy McAllister finds out there’s no rest for the weary . . .
Between trying to get her gluten-free baking business off the ground and helping her aunt remodel her old Victorian into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, Poppy is ready to call, “Mayday!” And now Aunt Ginny—who’s a handful wide-awake—is sleepwalking on her new sleeping pill prescription and helping herself to neighbors’ snacks and knickknacks.
Even more alarming, a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens is found murdered, and the police suspect the “Snack Bandit.” Other than a bad case of midnight munchies and some mild knickknack kleptomania, Aunt Ginny is harmless. Someone’s trying to frame her. Poppy will need to work tirelessly to uncover the killer and put the case to rest—before Aunt Ginny has to trade in her B & B for a bunk bed behind bars . . .
Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!
Purchase Link
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About the author
Libby Klein graduated Lower Cape May Regional High School in the ’80s. Her classes revolved mostly around the culinary sciences and theater, with the occasional nap in Chemistry. She has worked as a stay at home mom, climbing the ranks to the coveted position of Grandma. She also dabbles in the position of Vice President of a technology company which mostly involves bossing other people around, making spreadsheets, and taking out the trash. She writes culinary cozy mysteries from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard. Most of her hobbies revolve around eating, and travel, and eating while traveling. Visit Libby at libbykleinbooks.com
All comments are welcomed.
This series sounds good. My favorite snack is chocolate Hostess Ding Dongs. I hate that embarrassing name but I love the snack. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I love Raspberry Coconut Zingers! They were my favorite road trip snack before i had to cut out gluten. I miss those.
Really looking forward to this book! Loved Class Reunions, and am very ready to be back in Cape May!
Thank you so much Vida! I’ll be in Cape May in two weeks on Saturday the 4th for a book signing at the Inn of Cape May. If you’re in the neighborhood you should stop by!
I loved the first book in this series and can’t wait to read Book 2! My favorite snack is kettle corn.
Thank you Christi! Kettle corn is so yummy!
Chips, chips, & more chips!!!!
So how do you feel about chips? LOL. When i was little my mother had girlfriends over to play cards and they ate Ruffles and Bugles with onion dip. I still crave them when i play cards.
My favorite snack in the summer is Kimball’s ice cream.
I’ve never had Kimball’s, but I love me some ice cream! And it doesn’t have to be summer. I’ll eat an ice cream cone in the dead of winter.
Aunt Ginny sounds like a spunky character. I used to have more of a sweet tooth, but now my favorite snack is probably crackers and cheese.
Aunt Ginny is a hot mess! I could live on bread and cheese! They are by far my favorite foods.
Favorite snack would have to be ice cream. This book soundsHilarious
Thank you Mari. I hope you get a chance to read it. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? I’ve found that i really don’t like chunks of stuff in my ice cream. I like it smooth. Peanut butter swirl is one of my favorites!
My favorite snack would have to be ice cream. I can’t wait to read this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series.
Ashley, if you enjoyed Class Reunions Are Murder, you’re going to love Midnight Snacks! Ice cream is locking this survey down! What is your favorite flavor? As much as I love chocolate in candy bar form, I’m not a huge fan of chocolate ice cream. I think my absolute favorite is vanilla! Can you believe that!
What a fun interview! My favorite snack is grapes or cheese and crackers.
Thank you Daniele! My favorite picnic is grapes and cheese! I’m not sure I’ve ever had a cheese I didn’t like.
Love the cover and the series sounds great. I am going to have to catch up!
My favorite snack is cookies! I like most kinds of cookies and would be hard pressed to have a favorite!
My cover is a lot of fun! It’s my favorite so far. I love chocolate chip cookies, and those Pepperidge Farm people really know what they’re doing with that whole Milano category, but I’ve never been a huge fan of oreos. Please don’t hate me! Oh, and I like Oatmeal cookies, but no raisins. Eww.
I can eat or leave an Oreo, and I agree with raisins in oatmeal cookies! Way to ruin a wonderful cookie. Now you can add nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, or dates and I am a happy camper. P Farm has it covered, don’t they? Chocolate chip cookies are at the bottom of my list unless homemade with a recipe that is called the World’s best. I’d rather have shortbread! (Lorna Doones work!)
I got a copy of Class Reunions Are Murder to start the series at the beginning.
Thanks for a fun post!
Thank you so much! I hope you love Class Reunions Are Murder as much as I love Lorna Doones!
It’s a good thing I set my tea down before reading this interview! Thanks Dru Ann and Libby for brightening my morning!
Thank you, Micki! I hope you have a great day.
Oh snacks! Let’s see that is a hard one, pita chips and salsa, those wonderful new hostess bakery petites white fudge vanilla, candy, slim jims, gardettos, the list goes on. Love this series and cannot wait for my copy to get here!! Thanks for the chance to win
Pita chips and salsa sounds delicious. I’ve only ever had pita chips with that artichoke dip. (which is amazing btw!) Thank you for the kind words.
My favorite snack is honey roasted peanuts. I eat wayyyyy too many of them!
I have a serious problem with peanut butter. It’s one of the things I can still have because its gluten and dairy free so i have to pace myself.
This sounds like a good series. Even though I keep trying to break the habit, chips are still my favorite snack. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you Sally! I love potato chips (except barbecue) and Doritos (omg-yum) but i am not a fan of corn chips like Frito’s. The only time i want corn chips is when I’m eating an unholy amount of guacamole. Then it’s on!
Sounds like a great series. Thanks for the chance to win. I like fresh fruit to snack on.
What is your favorite fruit Doward? I really like apples and peanut butter (but that’s really more about the peanut butter) and berries. I’m not a fan of bananas at all!
Anything crunchy and salty. I could OD on Cheezits. I have ODed on Fritos so I’m a little more careful around those!
If I’m going crunchy and salty I want Cheetos!
I love crackers, pretzels and corn chips! Salty and crunchy for me!Thank you for the giveaway.
I really like that salty sweet combo like chocolate covered pretzels or kettle corn.
Healthy snack: frozen mangoes Not so healthy: any kind of bar cookie/brownie ~
Good Choices!
Wow, I don’t know if I can choose just one.
But I LOVE ice cream.
Me too Sheila! Especially on top of some hot fruit dessert.
I knew when I first met Libby Klein in an author event online that she had some fun books, but I didn’t realize how much fun until I read this interview !!!!! Now I have to meet Poppy !!!!!! My favorite desert is tiramisu, gelato,cheesey crunchy stuff in bags..did I mention ice cream yet ? Lol
All your dessert choices are delish! All you’re missing is something chocolate!!
My favorite snack is sliced apples and cheddar cheese. The sharper the better (the cheese,that is). Thanks for the giveaway – I LOVED Class Reunions are Murder and can’t wait for this one!
Thank you so much Autumn! I “invented” apples and cheese as a kid and my family thought i was nuts!
Hard to choose a favorite snack. I guess I would choose potato chips. Great choice right. Any kind of chips. Always been my favorite snack. Next would be peanut butter ice cream. Yum! Thanks for a chance to win.
I would try vanilla ice cream with crushed potato chips and peanut butter sauce. Did i mention yet that i was fasting today because of a medical cleanse? I’m starving!
My favorite snack is frozen yogurt any flavor.
Do you have any of those yogurt places with the make your own toppings bar? I love those.
I love fresh fruit…such as melon or peaches as a snack….I give thanks daily that we live in a time that it is even possible all year around although the absolute best time is summer. That’s my favorites…otherwise it’s unhealty reality…a bit of chocolate..or something salty….
I agree Renee. And i love fresh pineapple and papaya. I can’t believe we can get that on the east coast.
unhealthy snacks i enjoy are reeses peanut butter cups and plain hershey bars. Healthy snacks i enjoy are fresh pineapple. Recently went
on a cruise where one night, one of the dessert choices were fresh pineapple skewered and dipped in melted chocolate…..oh my my!!!
That sounds so yummy! We need a Cozy Mystery fan cruise!
My favorite snack is popcorn, especially kettle corn. This series sounds awesome.
Thank you Dianne! Mmm, kettle corn. I like salty and sweet too. Like pretzels in chocolate chip cookies.
My favorite snack is peanut butter M and Ms. Simple but good.
That’s the one candy I can’t have in the house! I will not stay out!
Peanut butter!
ice cream and potato chips!
Great choices Mary! You got salty and sweet!
This sounds like a fun series to add to my list. My absolute favorite snack at the movies is popcorn with Hot Tamale candy. At home it’s cherries in cherry season, red seedless grapes in red seedless grape season.
Looking at my goodreads page…I already have book one on my Nook! Book lover problems…forget what I have on the Nook and on the shelf…but what a problem to have….
I’m so glad that you added me to your goodreads page! Thank you. I hope you love Class Reunions Are Murder!
Thank you Vickie! That popcorn hot tamale mixture sounds interesting!
That cover is gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Meg! Kensington Publishing did a great job!
I love M&M’s.
I would love those ones with the pretzels in them if I could have them!
I bet hanging out all day with Virginia is good for a bunch of laughs. I’m a fan of peanut M&Ms.
Better make sure your blood pressure is in the normal range first! I have no self control around peanut M&ms.