Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day here. The Seven Sinister Sisters are on a blog tour and we're giving away books! We are seven authors with new books coming out this winter and spring, and we've been guest blogging all over cyberspace since January. You can see where we've been and where we're still scheduled on our Facebook page. Leave a comment here today to enter our grand giveaway!

In  addition, National Library Week is this month and we're celebrating libraries all month long, so I personally will send a copy of a Biscuits and Slashed Browns audio book to one lucky commenter's public library. Please add that info to your comment.


I asked each of their protagonists this question: Who helps you the most when you're trying to solve a murder, and how do they help? Here are our answers in no particular order:

Shawn McGuire's Jayne O’Shea from the Whispering Pines Mysteries:
Honestly, the victim helps me a lot. I try to put myself in the victim’s head and see the events just before the moment of death. Are these “visions” always accurate? No. They help me ask the right questions, though. Sometimes, if I get stuck, I’ll talk through things with my friends Tripp or Morgan. They’re help me when I’m not seeing the obvious signs or need to look at something differently. They tend to ask the questions I’m not asking. Also, there’s my canine partner in crime-solving. Meeka uncovers a lot!

Sue Star's Nell Letterly from the Nell Lettery Mysteries:
The kid, of course.  My daughter is fifteen and a half, going on thirty, you know the type?  She figures her growing is all done, and heck, what can I possibly teach her except the proper form for a reverse punch?  She reminds me constantly that I’m not as good with my head as I am on my feet, and I let her think she’s right.  Anyway, she’s read all the Sherlock books and watched all the shows on TV, and she’s a whiz on the computer, finding out stuff for me. The kid’s a goldmine of information.

Pat Hale's Britt Callahan from the Cole and Callahan PI series:
Durable Goods has me, Britt Callahan PI, working alone when I infiltrate a sex-trade organization to find a missing girl. Initially, I have my cell phone and can communicate with my partner, but after a vile night spent drowned in vodka, I lose my phone and my nerve. When I’m trafficked to Canada, I know there’s no way Griff will find me. My survival depends on maintaining my cover as one of “the girls.” I’m my only hope. I have to-outwit my captors, find Kira and get us both out.

Becky Clark's Charlemagne "Charlee" Russo from the Mystery Writer's Mysteries:
Geez, nobody ever helps me. I'm what Becky would call a "reluctant hero." I get dropped into bizarre situations like a hockey puck at face-off. I always have to go it alone. Although, come to think of it, AmyJo helped me go on that stake-out. And Ozzi my boyfriend stocks my fridge with healthy and junk food. And Lavar and Tuttle hardly ever charge me for coffee and my daily muffin. I couldn't investigate my way out of a kindergartner's backpack without caffeine. And my brother Lance the cop almost always takes my calls. But, nope, nobody ever helps me.

Leslie Karst's Sally Solari from the Sally Solari Mysteries:
Gosh, it’s varied somewhat over the past three murders I’ve helped solve (and how the heck have I ended up involved in three murders, I’d like to know). But if I had to pick one person, it would have to be my ex-boyfriend/current best pal, Eric. His skepticism keeps me honest with myself, and he’s a sharp analytical thinker. Oh yeah, and he’s also been known to slip me the occasional inside intel from the District Attorney’s office where he works as an assistant DA (but promise not to tell his boss, okay?).

Cathy Perkins's Holly Price from the Holly Price Mystery series: 
Being back in my hometown—even temporarily—still surprises me. I left this place years ago after hitting the big-leagues in Seattle. But here I am, helping out my family, keeping too many balls spinning.  When disaster strikes, I’m glad I reconnected with my best friend, Laurie Gordon. She’s my wingman, confident and sounding board for helping friends and family with whatever mess they’ve gotten into. I can tell you who doesn’t help me solve mysteries, though. JC Dimitrak. If that man tells me to keep my nose out of his investigation one more time, I’ll…I’ll…Well, I’ll think of something appropriate. Maybe something with a llama. I hear they spit.

Edith Maxwell's Rose Carroll from the Quaker Midwife Mysteries:
Detective Kevin Donovan helps me a great deal these days. He was more reluctant when I first met him, but now he's willing to share information as long as I tell him what I know, as well. My quirky delightful friend Bertie Winslow provides a constant sounding board, and sometimes good ideas, too. And she convinces me to go out and have fun with her to take my mind off the case.

Readers: Who helps you out when you're trying to solve a sticky problem?  (Please remember to include your coded email address so we can reach you, and the name of your local library, too.)



Our next stop on the tour is April 12 on the Midnight Ink blog. Here's where you can find each of us in the meantime:
http://www.patriciahale.org
http://www.edithmaxwell.com
http://www.lesliekarstauthor.com/
http://www.cperkinswrites.com
http://www.shawn-mcguire.com
http://www.rebeccawriter.blogspot.com
http://www.BeckyClarkBooks.com
Enter to win by leaving a comment. Our tour runs from January 6^th to April 30^th and we’re answering a different question at each blog. Leave a comment at each blog for more entries! We’ll draw the winner from all the combined comments at the end of our tour.