Guest Author Day with Carol Preflatish: Murder in Mystic Hollow

 

Welcome author Carol Preflatish as we chat about her latest book, Murder in Mystic Hollow.

Tell us about your latest book, who are the main character’s and what can we expect when we pick it up?

Murder in Mystic Hollow is a modern-day retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. If you read closely, you can see many elements of Washington Irving's original short story. You'll also find it has all the characters you loved in the first three Nathan Perry books, and you'll meet newly hired librarian, Isaac Caine, who came to Mystic for a new start and ends up falling for the lovely Katina Van Allen. When Isaac finds a dead body at the bottom of his staircase, his world is turned upside down, and Detective Nathan Perry is called upon to find the killer.

So many people are on the list of suspects that Nathan becomes frustrated at not being able to sort it all out. Throw in a thirty-five-year-old bank robbery cold case, not to mention the mysterious motorcycle rider that keeps taunting Isaac, and the officers from the Mystic Police Department have their hands full. It all comes down to Nathan figuring out, 'who done it.' 

Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook?

Since my books are a series, I already have most of the characters. With Murder in Mystic Hollow being loosely based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, all I did was change the characters names and start writing. 

Which of your own characters would you like to have lunch with?

Definitely, Detective Nathan Perry. I’d love to pick his brain about police procedures. 

Tell us about what you are reading at the moment or anticipate reading in the future? Any favorite authors you enjoy reading in your spare time?

Currently, I’m reading Tiger, Tiger by James Patterson. It’s more or less a biography about golfer, Tiger Woods. Before that, I just finished The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly. In addition to Connelly, I also enjoy reading books by Lisa Gardner and Jeffrey Deaver. 

Which of your own books would you like to live in?

Any of the Nathan Perry Mystery series books. I loved creating the town of Mystic, Massachusetts. 

What do you do when you have free time?

Obviously, I love to read mysteries. I also enjoy photography and watching classic movies. 

How do you approach character development in your stories? Do you have any specific techniques or methods that you find particularly effective?

I usually know what my characters look like. That gives me a start, then I work from there on a character chart about their likes, dislikes, and background. Once I start writing, the characters develop on their own. 

What do you believe sets your writing apart from others in your genre, and why should readers choose to read your books?

I’m big on writing about the location of my books like it’s a character in the story. The towns are well involved in the story. I think any readers who like murder mysteries, or police stories would love my books.

Can you discuss any upcoming projects or books that you're currently working on? What can readers expect from your future works?

I’m working on a new contemporary series that takes place in a mountain town in Colorado. The main character is the sheriff in the county. He’s young and inexperienced, but very conscientious and soon learns his new job well. The first book is finished and I’m hoping to get it released in 2025. I’m currently writing the second book.

I may have one more Nathan Perry book in me and actually have a couple chapters already written, but we’ll see how the new series goes first.

Lastly, I have started outlining a romantic mystery screenplay that I’m hoping to work on, too. 

Title: Murder in Mystic Hollow

Series name: The Nathan Perry Mystery Series, book four

Genre: mystery

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cw9QSW

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4dcLuhH

Apple: https://apple.co/3WUvOtR

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3LZ7Zek

Murder in Mystic Hollow is a modern-day retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

If you read closely, you can see elements of Washington Irving’s original short story. You’ll find it has all the characters you loved in the first three Nathan Perry books. You’ll also meet the newly hired librarian, Isaac Caine, who comes to Mystic for a new start and ends up falling for the lovely Katina Van Allen.

When Isaac finds a dead body at the bottom of his staircase, his world is turned upside down, and Detective Nathan Perry is called upon to find the killer.

So many people are on the list of suspects that Nathan becomes frustrated at not being able to sort it all out. Throw in a thirty-five-year-old bank robbery cold case, not to mention the mysterious motorcycle rider that keeps taunting Isaac, and the officers from the Mystic Police Department have their hands full.

It all comes down to Nathan figuring out, “who done it.”

Murder in Mystic Hollow t is a stand-alone novel that is part of the Nathan Perry Mystery Series.

Series Reading Order:

Book 1: Homecoming to Murder

Book 2: The Coin Collector

Book 3: Witch HUnt

Book 4: Murder in Mystic Hollow