This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. GG Calpo will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!
When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?
Read an Excerpt:
The day was beautiful, with clear skies and a mild snap in the air. It was cold yet warm with the right amount of heat from the sun, making it the perfect spring day. Motorboats and sailboats dipped in and out of the water, out by Poet’s Bay. And at the edge of the harbor were the fishermen, alone or in groups of two or three, a rod in their hands and their tackle boxes opened beside them. We rounded the corner, almost done with our walk, when we saw mothers dragging their children away and fathers covering the eyes of the children in their arms. Pushing against the stream of parents scrambling away were others whose eyes were fixed on the man by the harbor’s edge. A man on whose fishing line dangled a catch with, what I thought were, red fins and a red tail swaying lazily around the hook.
Red? In the salt waters of Poet’s Bay? As I stood there trying to figure out what I was seeing, Barbara shoved her way into the crowd. I followed, my curiosity getting the better of me. Murmurs of “Good morning” and “Good to see you, Mrs. B” trailed behind me, changing to “You sure you want to see this, Mrs. B?” and “I wouldn’t go any further if I were you, Mrs. B.” We fetched up to the front and looked down on the ground before us while the fisherman beside us puked his guts out.
It wasn’t a fish he had caught
Instead, on the ground was a hand. Just a hand. Nothing else.
What
is your latest book about?
Hook,
Line, and Murder features retired grade school teachers as amateur sleuths
solving the murder of a former student. It is set in a fictional coastal
community inspired by Long Island’s North Shore and blends small-town
charm, close-knit friendships, and a puzzling mystery - with clean content and
a strong sense of family and community.
Taking the story from a concept to a published book is a long
and involved process. How does that usually work for you?
For me, the story starts with the “Who?” I like character
driven stories so it’s important for me to fully flesh out my amateur sleuths.
Next is “Who died?” Because that’s where the mystery unfolds. And the plot
twists and the red herrings. It’s the relationships between the sleuths and the
community, and between the victim and the community, and finally between the
sleuths and the victim that make the story wheel turn. Once I have the backbone
of the story, then I go ahead with revisions, then polishing and edits. Only
then is the story ready to head out into the wild — hopefully with a bit of
charm and a few surprises in tow.
Which of your books would you recommend for readers to choose
first if they’re new to you and your books?
Hook, Line and Murder is my debut cozy mystery, Book 1 of The
Sweet TOOTH Murder Mystery Series. Book 2 should be out by end of 2026. I also
write cozy mystery short stories featuring a retired detective. Readers can get
their free copy by visiting my website at https://www.ggcalpo.com
Do you have a favorite personal development or writing book
you would recommend?
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Highly
recommend. I use it to check that my beat sheets are on target.
Tell us something fun or interesting about you.
I love to travel, especially on a cruise ship. There’s
something magical about waking up somewhere new without the fuss of planes,
trains, or long car rides. You open the curtains to the window or balcony door
of your cabin to take in this new delightful destination – or you gaze into
that endless ocean and let the waves soothe you.
What have you learned throughout your writing process?
I’ve learned patience. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a
very patient person. But writing has taught me not to force a story before it’s
ready. To not be afraid of the blank page. To let ideas fully form. Playing
with storylines makes all the difference, for me, in whether my characters come
alive to readers or if they lie flat on the pages.
What has inspired you to become a writer?
I used to make up stories in my head when I was younger,
usually when I was doing nothing except look at the sky, waiting to get called
in for dinner. When I retired, with nothing to do again, I remembered my
stories and thought, why not?
How do you keep your ideas fresh and avoid traveling over
well-worn territory?
Cozy mysteries lean heavily on small-town vibes and
community, but readers still love a good plot twist. I like to take an ordinary
relationship — friend or family — and ask “what if?” then follow that question
from the familiar to the unexpected. Letting those ideas simmer often leads me
to storylines that feel both comforting and fresh.
What trope have you not written yet but want to?
I write urban fantasy and have been working on a trilogy for
some time. The first book is currently under revision, and the second has a
completed first draft. The third and final installment is still at the concept
stage.
Do you have a specific writing process?
I work intuitively. I let story ideas simmer in my mind. Stew
in their juices, so to speak. I let the characters talk, fight, and get into
trouble. It’s like waiting for an avocado to ripen. You buy an avocado when
it’s rock hard from the store, and it gradually ripens as it sits in a bowl on
top of your breakfast table while you wait for that right moment to cut the
avocado into slices. Too soon, and it’s inedible. Too late, and it’s brown and
mushy. Same thing with a story. I write when the story feels ready, not a
moment before.
Do you have a favorite author and/or favorite book?
I
adore Terry Pratchett who wrote Good Omens with Neil Gaiman, a comedic fantasy
about the end of the world, since serialized by Amazon. Pratchett is also
famously known for his Discworld series, about a flat world set on the backs of
four elephants standing on a giant turtle swimming through the void of the
universe. I love his dry wit and humor.
What
do you do when you’re not writing?
About the Author:
A retired CPA and lawyer, GG Calpo now writes cozy mysteries and urban fantasies. She blends her experiences as a Filipino American immigrant with the everyday stories of life around her. She spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She resides in Central New Jersey, with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.
Website: http://www.ggcalpo.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/gg.calpo
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gg.calpo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/194657776-gisella
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YT1P7B
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hook-line-and-murder-gg-calpo/1148773282
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hook-line-and-murder/id6755481320
2 comments:
Thank you for hosting.
Thank you for hosting Hook, Line and Murder. Excited to connect with your readers.
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