Why do you write the genre that you write?
I could say that as a young person, I read a lot of mystery fiction, from “Freddy the Detective” and The Hardy Boys to Agatha Christie, Ellis Peters and Dick Francis. But the honest truth is that I struggled for a long time to understand how to create a plot, and reading and analyzing the traditional mystery crystallized that understanding.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Living in Miami, I often hear Spanish-speaking people answer the phone with “Digame,” which means “Speak to me” in Spanish. I have a minor character named Dee Gamay, and when she answers a cell call with her name, she’s continually baffled by people who speak Spanish to her.

Tell us how you got into writing?
In tenth grade English class, Mr. Haider assigned us to read A Separate Peace by John Knowles, and then rewrite the book from the other protagonist’s point of view. That unleashed emotions I previously didn’t know how to express, and I got hooking on writing.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
University administrator, construction project manager, computer game producer, web developer, and finally the last twenty years (man, where did the time go?) as a college English professor, up to my retirement last year.

Where do you write?
Before Covid hit, you could find me nearly every morning at my local Starbucks, sipping a raspberry mocha and typing for an hour or so before heading to the college. The forced isolation made me into my own barista, and now I sit at my kitchen table, with two golden retrievers sprawled on the floor around me.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Anything that combines chocolate and peanut butter. Candy, cookies, ice cream.

Who is an author you admire?
I was fortunate to serve on the MWA national board with Craig Johnson. I love his books and have learned from them, and he’s also a heck of a nice guy.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
I like to alternate between traditional mystery and gay romance, two genres I write in. And since I spent my teen years reading Tolkien and high fantasy, I’ll throw in a few dragons now and then.

What are you reading now?
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann. It’s the latest in a trend of senior sleuths who encounter some memory troubles while investigating, but still have a few tricks under their belts.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
At home, I’ll usually stick to water. But if I’m at a conference I love a good chocolate martini

What is next for you?
The seventeenth in my golden retriever mysteries, In Dog’s Image, will be out October 10.

Where can we find you?
mahubooks.com

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate or vanilla
Chocolate, hands down!

Cake or ice cream
When I was a kid, I had an ice cream cake for my birthday each year. Still love me some Carvel!

Fruits or vegetables
Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
I write during the morning, so I don’t give enough attention to breakfast, but I do love lox and eggs.

Dining in or dining out
Dining out. I want someone to do the cooking, the serving and the cleaning up.

City life or country living
I love the convenience of city life.

Beach or mountain
I have lived in South Florida for 37 years, so beach should be pretty evident!

Summer or winter
See above. Summer.

Short story or full-length novel
Though I’ve written lots of stories, a novel gives my imagination free rein.

Extrovert or introvert
As a professor, I was able to turn on my extrovert side when necessary, but in truth I’m more introverted.

Early bird or night owl
Early bird (though not too early!)

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
With Six You Get Eggroll, with Brian Keith, Doris Day and George Carlin.

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
A Kindle with internet access, a dog, and food for both of us.

My bio:
Neil Plakcy has written or edited over fifty novels and short stories in mystery, romance and erotica. His golden retriever mystery series was inspired by his first golden, Samwise. Long walks with his current goldens give him plenty of time to think up new crimes and solutions—and Brody and Griffin provide love, entertainment, and endless piles of fur on the floor.