Heart of Murder
by Edale Lane
Released: Feb 01, 2023
Genre: Mystery
Why this book and why now?
After the initial success of the first three books in my Lessons in Murder Series, I knew I didn’t want to stop anytime soon. I have ideas for many more crime mysteries to solve and where Jenna and Randi’s relationship may go. The right time for this one, of course, was Valentine’s Day. Which makes me think every month has a holiday, and I already have a Christmas murder and a New Years murder, so should there be one for St. Patricks’ Day, April Fools, Cinco de Mayo? Gee – I could have a new one every month! Maybe too ambitious… And since it is a Valentine’s murder, might someone be ready to say “I love you”? You’ll have to read it and find out.
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
While Heart of Murder ended up exactly the way it was planned from the onset, the first book of the series, Meeting over Murder, morphed through a ton of changes. When Anne Hagen mentioned she was planning a group promo for new, never-before-published mystery and crime books, I jumped at the chance to get in on it. However, the deadline was only a month away and I didn’t have anything to fit the description… except this old short story I wrote before Heart of Sherwood, my first published novel. When I started driving over the road, I embarked on a story about Jenna and Randi, who I based on my partner, Johanna, and myself, so I could shoot her a few pages every day while I was away from home. Jenna was a cop and Randi was a teacher and the story had lots of cheesy sex scenes (which I could never, ever release to the public to laugh at!) But I could rewrite the murder case and how the two characters met. Since then, each installment moves their relationship along while giving Jenna a new (or more than one) case to solve.
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Jenna loves action shows and movies, good guys vs bad guys, with battles and things that go “boom”. Randi is into science fiction and fantasy, but enjoys present day action if its done well and not absurdly contrived. Together, I could see them binge watching Star Trek Discovery. Sci-fi for Randi, lots of action and mysteries to solve for Jenna, and some hot, strong women leading the charge.
One of your main characters is planning a romantic night. Tell us about it.
Jenna wants to plan a romantic evening for Randi which touches on some of her favorite interests. The date begins at Medieval Times, a dinner theater presentation with a knights and wenches theme. (Lots of fun if you’ve never been to one!) Afterward, they are full from the feast and take a leisurely stroll along the River Walk at Wasena Park arm in arm, chatting about the cool jousting and which serving wenches flirted with them. Still worked up from live simulated battle action, they retreat to Randi’s house where she has just set up her spare bedroom as a mini dojo to practice her karate, complete with padded mats on the floor. Changing into gym clothes, they decide it would be fun to get some sparring in. After getting a little sweaty and blood pumping, a takedown lands them on top of each other on the mat, where the emphasis shifts to a different kind of physical activity. Somewhere between heated kisses, my scene fades to black.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Neither Jenna or Randi are big drinkers, but they like to relax with a glass after a long day. Jenna’s tastes are simple – a light beer. Randi doesn’t care for beer, but would love a fruity wine cooler. Could they afford something more exotic? Probably, but why waste the money on alcohol when they could spend it on something for their beloved fur-babies?
