Blog Tour & Giveaway - Tillie's Tale by Mindy Mymudes

Tour Page

Tillie's Tale
Author: Mindy Mymudes
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Genre: Fantasy / Mystery
Publication Date: March 24, 2015

Book Description:
Who is the mysterious ghosty haunting puppygirl Tillie? And why? George, the magical basset hound familiar is on the trail.

It’s not often a basset hound puppy is haunted by an unhappy ghost, but George’s packmate, Tillie, manages to attract one. George and Tillie need to find out how to help the ghost before she turns into a poultry-ghost.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Author Interview

1. Tell a little about yourself. What you do when you’re not writing? What are your aspirations for the future?

Mindy: If I’m not writing I’m working with my plants, training my dogs, reading, ignoring housework and my husband. No, kidding about the housework. I mean, husband. If possible, I’d love to travel and add to my collection of myths I could borrow from.

George: <Housework? Yeah, just clean my corner, secret-ary. You don’t write, you use a computer, I tell the story.> When I‘m not sharing my story with my secret-ary,I love to sleep and eat. My aspiration is to train Karly to be a proper greenwitch. There’s so much for her to learn, but she’s a Girlpup and is easily distracted.

2. When and why did you start writing?

Mindy: I know I did a lot of angsty poetry when I was younger. A few years ago, my foster child died and I wanted to do something in his memory. He was very involved with my dog, Quark, and there were a lot of stories I thought I could share. It was too hard to write an actually memoir, so I take the best scenes and tie them together with fantasy. Yes, Quark did find human bones, which was the catalyst for George Knows. His climbing up ladders led to a scene in Tillie’s Tale. I also know he saw ghosts. We lived in two houses that abutted cemeteries and he was always curious about them.

George: She’s dill-luted. My secret-ary didn’t even realize that I hired her until page three of my story. She thought the book was about some lame dog that owned her years ago. I started writing because it was obvious Peeps need to learn more about their environment and the dogs that allowed them to crawl over the planet. Besides, my story is mesmerizing, a must read for everyone.

3. Have any particular novels or writers influenced your writing?

Mindy: Oh my gosh. So many. I think I fell in love with midgrade books when I read Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series is the first that I read with a realistic animal shapeshifter. I recognized that she’d read Temple Grandin’s work about animal point of view and animal behavior. Kim Harrison illustrated how comedy could be worked into darker plots…

George: <Rolls eyes> Puh-leez, stop taking credit for my work, or I’ll have to fire you. Peeps, can’t live without them, can’t bite them. As a brilliant basset, I don’t need to read. I have instincts to do anything important. My story is exactly how it happens.

4. Give us some backstory behind Tillie’s Tale. Where and when did you write it?

Mindy: Tillie’s Tale is the second story in the Magical Drool Mystery. Most of it was written at either Starbuck’s or the library. I have to put SelfControl on to block out Facebook or I’d get nothing done. Tillie took about a year and a half to finish, including edits. I’m not the fastest writer, but unfortunately I have to work within a disability.

George: I met my secret-ary at Starbucks out on the patio. There is still discrimination against dogs in most restaurants. They let me sit outside next to the tables and I decided that the redheaded lady with three other dogs (stupid English Springer Spaniels) might work as my secret-ary. At least she spoke a little dog.

5. What was your favourite part of writing Tillie’s Tale.

Mindy: I think recognizing the different scenes from real life were one thing. The other was why the ghost was still there. I never expected that. It made me very sad, but it was very interesting.

George: Treat breaks and checking my pee-mail.

6. What does your writing schedule look like?

Mindy: It’s very random. Sometimes, I’ll get up early and go to the library or Starbuck’s. Sometimes I try to stick it in between appointments. Other days, it’s impossible. Sometimes I have to let things bake. I recently realized that in the next book, Phoebe’s Pause, the mystery was the fact there wasn’t a mystery.

George: <Snort> That’s because I’m still living the story.

7. Which fictional character would you like to take to dinner and why?

Mindy: Bugs Bunny. He’s brilliant. Not only does he always outwit hunters and Daffy Duck, he does quickly. There isn’t anyone else that thinks like he does.

George: Bunny? RABBITRABBITRABBIT <sniffsnuffle>. You are the meanest secret-ary in the world. I don’t smelltaste a rabbit. Just dustcomputerfarts.

8. Besides your lead, do you have a favourite character in the story?

Mindy: No doubt Auntie Heather. She knows and understands so many things. Healing, plants, animals. She’s also a very patient teacher.

George: My Girlpup, Karly. For a Peep, she’s really learning her craft. Of course, I am her instructor. With a little help from Auntie Heather.

9. What is one of the most surprising things you've learned as a writer?

Mindy: Understanding that an outline is fluid. My background is in the biology and science writing; outlines don’t generally change a whole lot. Most of the time something happens that totally surprises me, but it makes total sense. Sometimes, I wonder where the idea came from.

George: That my secret-ary isn’t very smart. Of course you know where the ideas come from. Me. <Looks at interviewer> Do you know where I can find a new Peep with computer experience, hands, and a brain? This one needs a new light bulb. She’s a bit dim.

10. Any advice for aspiring authors?

Mindy: <Shakes head> Don’t get a muse that is nasty? If you want it bad enough, you can do it. Butt in chair, write, rewrite, rerewrite, find someone to read it critically. Write what you love, not what you think will sell because by the time you’re done it may no longer be fashionable.

George: <Glares at his secret-ary> Choose your hands well, they can ruin your story if they make inappropriate edits. Also, have plenty of treats and get plenty of sniffy walks or else your tail will get flabby.

About the Author

I've worked in a hazardous waste lab, where under the sign for the Right To Know law, was added: if you can figure it out. I've been a metals tech, a bakery clerk, a professional gardener, taught human anatomy and ran two university greenhouses. Along the way I picked up my Master's Degree in Biology, specializing in the population genetics of an endangered plant. I am also a top breeder, handler, trainer of English springer spaniels, with three in the equivalent of the National Club's (ESSFTA) hall of fame. Every time I think I know dogs, another dog comes along and proves my beliefs are totally wrong.

Author Links:

Facebook ¦ Goodreads ¦ Website ¦ Blog

***GIVEAWAY***

$25 Amazon / B&N Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Organised by: