Temporarily Employed by Vicki Batman ~ Interview ~ Giveaway

Temporarily Employed

By Vicki Batman

Giveaway:   Kate Spade Handbag

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Interview: 

Crystal: Today I have the opportunity to ask Vicki Batman a few questions. Welcome Vicki! I'm so happy to have you here today. Would you share a little bit about yourself with us today? 

Vicki: I’m Vicki Batman, yes, my real name.  Avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practicioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Funny writer. Cat fancier.

Crystal: Do you have a favorite scene you would like to share with us? 

Vicki: Sure. You know those guys who have the scary lines? Here’s some banter between Hattie and Allan:

No frisking and no arrests were—so far, in my book—a good thing. Knowing he was Sarah Anne’s older brother, I found eliminating him from the stalker, murderer, and rapist categories easy. The something in the truck line sounded similar to approaches used in past dating experiences. For instance: 
“Want to come up and look at my etchings?” 
Translated: A roll in the hay.
Or the ever popular “Would you like to meet Mr. Lizard?” 
Translated: Mr. Wiggly Worm.
“How about coming to my place for a drink?” 
Translated: To ply me with multiple drinks and the requisite roll in the hay.
I hadn’t fallen for those then and wouldn’t be a sucker now.
He stuck his hands on his hips. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m not a stalker, murderer, or rapist."  
Apparently, he could read minds. "Just a minute." I closed the door enough to release the chain, then re-opened it. “Why can’t you just tell me whatever it is?”
“No. I want to show you—-” 
“Not a Picasso?” I asked.
“No.” 
“Not an iguana?”
A perplexed expression crossed his face. “A what?”
“Not your pet worm?”
“What pet worm?”
“Not—” 
“Look, I don’t know what you’re thinking. The only worms I know about are for fishing.”

Crystal: Where did you come up with the idea for your current release? 

Vicki: My friend said to write the opening paragraph, using the word window. I did and kept going.

Crystal: What are you currently working on? 

Vicki:Temporarily Insane. I’m going insane. And my romantic comedy short story, Holiday Disaster, is in the Season of Magic anthology, available now!

Crystal: Do you have any special routine that you follow when you are writing? 

Vicki: Every morning, I work out. I clean up and after, sit and write. Usually, I do promo first which can be long or short time-wise, just depends. Then I write. 

Crystal: Did you have to do a lot of research for this book or any other? If so do you have a fascinating fact that you have learned you would like to share with us? 

Vicki: I once worked at an insurance claims adjusting firm. I did consult with my insurance agent. And I checked facts with my friend who was a former deputy sheriff. At the time this story was taking fruition, I went to a gym with an attached parking garage. One day, a story appeared in the paper about car parts being stolen off cars. Bingo! 
I’ve researched refrigerators, disposals, plumbing, baking, fruitcake-whatever the story needs. 

Crystal: Who are some of your favorite authors that you like to read?

Vicki: Until Dick Francis passed, him! Then his son, Felix, began writing mysteries and I’m all over those too. I like Sue Grafton, Elizabeth George, and works by my fellow Plotting Princesses. I have old favs too: Mary Stewart, Emilie Loring, Georgette Heyer. 

Crystal: Is there any genre you haven't written that you would like to try? 

Vicki: Not really, I’ve three very sexy novellas on the desktop, but they will have to wait for a while. 

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Blurb:

New Job. New Love. And Murder.
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite insurance company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. The last thing she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he makes her heart pound.

Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life.  He evolved from a pocket protector-wearing geek to a handsome police detective.  When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

Romantic Comedy/Cozy Mystery, 75k
Released October 17, 2014, The Wild Rose Press

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Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1628304979/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1628304979&link_code=as3&tag=revibycrys-20&linkId=BAKXCUTUMOWK4QZR

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Excerpt:
“Yuck.” 
Pretty much covered the whole freakin’ day.  
A blinding red-white, red-white strobe, reflected in my brand new Wrangler’s rearview mirror, seized my attention. The police. I tossed my hands skyward, ready to surrender. I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Like I'd commented this a.m. to my roommate, Jenny, “Today, anything’s possible.” 
My Bad Day checklist included: 
- Crappy job interview, one which might have provided desperately needed income. 
- Wore gut-busting panty hose on a hot day which had now worked past my waist and strangled my diaphragm. 
- A barely blowing air conditioner indicated something had malfunctioned in my new, fun car. 
I stole another glance in the mirror, and with great reluctance, flipped the right turn indicator. My vehicle coasted to a stop on the shoulder of Boston Avenue in my hometown of Sommerville, a nice suburb located between two large cities. Four lanes of cars and trucks zipped by as I sat there where every single one of my family, friends, friends’ friends, and their friends—including Rat Fink Suzanne—would see a police vehicle positioned right behind mine. Gleefully, drivers would chant the “Ha-ha, got you, not me” ditty. 
How embarrassing.
After killing the engine, I flopped back in the seat. Shooting the morons the finger was an idea. Nah. I'm too exhausted to care. 
A litany of:  "No, not hiring." "Just filled the position." "You're over qualified." "You're under qualified…" tornadoed through my head. Coupled with the intense job search through various outlets like the internet and completing numerous online employment applications, no wonder my body had been depleted of all life force.
Not even a breeze blew to take the edge off the unbearable summertime heat. Tangled wild trees and dry scrubby bushes banked the roadside. The grass had taken on a scorched look. Rolling down the driver’s window, I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing great. Nothing new.  
I stole a glance in the side mirror at the policeman who strode purposefully along the shoulder. The gravel crunched under his boots. He looked huge, probably because his uniform, which appeared to be bulked with a bullet-proof vest, made him resemble a buffed-up superhero in size. Exceedingly intimidating. 
Sigh. When things went wrong, they were really wrong. 

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Author bio:

Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless.
Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to TRUE LOVE, TRUE ROMANCE, TRUE CONFESSIONS, NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING, LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, MUSEITUP PUBLISHING, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.
Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"


Find Vicki at:

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman   
Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
Google+: bit.ly/1zUggDF 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vickibatman
Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/o1515093723
Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com

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