The original post can be found here on World of Stories.

The Questions:

Where did the idea for the story come from?

When I set out to write the book, since it is the third in the Mauzzy & Me Series, I wanted to continue with maturing Sara, and by the end of the book, position her for life after the University of Alabama, where she is currently a student. I also wanted to do the same with the plot—put Sara into a new, extremely high-risk situation where she is dealing directly with dubious people and the stakes are the highest ever for her. With those goals in mind, I went through my voluminous files full of articles about interesting true crimes and mysterious happenings until I hit on 3-4 stories that showed promise. Then I spent several months researching these angles, which led me down various rabbit holes and put me onto even more intriguing stories. Then I let my imagination take over with a “What if…” question.

Give me a quote from the book, one that says little but speaks volumes.

Winston forced a smile. “The founder imparted to me that every contestant was personally selected because each of you has a secret that absolutely must remain—a secret. Especially from law enforcement.” He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. “Since the winner of the contest will become fabulously wealthy, it would seem, everyone is here because of a potentially—lucky secret.”

Give a short summary of what the book is about.

Lucky Secrets is my most ambitious and complicated plot yet. As Kirkus Reviews noted in its review (“Our Verdict – Get It.”), the book is “An enjoyable, complexly plotted series installment that promises more mysteries and thrills to come.” The story, set outside Birmingham, Alabama, at an extravagant estate called El Sueño, pits college student and amateur sleuth, Sara Donovan, up against eight formidable opponents with questionable pasts in an exclusive two-week contest. As the contestants quickly find out, hidden throughout El Sueño are seven cryptic riddles that must all be solved to win. The stakes are high because the winner-take-all contest promises a mind-boggling payout that will drastically change the winner’s life for the good. However, when a contestant’s body turns up, suspicions and urgency explode as the remaining contestants race to solve the puzzles without getting themselves dead.

I will leave you with this: the book is very multi-layered and there is more than what meets the eye.

What genre is it?

YA Mystery, Cozy Mystery

How many pages is it?

398

Why do you think the readers will want to read it?

I wrote Lucky Secrets to appeal to both readers looking for an entertaining lighthearted story and those looking for a puzzle or mystery to solve. In this case, there are many puzzles to solve, and one big mystery, but only if the reader chooses to engage. As the US Review of Books writes about Lucky Secrets, “Fans of escape rooms, the board game Clue, and the Netflix murder mystery franchise Knives Out will enjoy attempting to solve the riddles and clues alongside the characters.”

However, if a reader just wants to sit back and be entertained, the story will do the heavy lifting and carry the reader on a fun ride full of twists and colorful characters. As Kirkus Reviews states, “There are lots of unnerving, shady characters…even better than Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, and their cohorts.”

In the end, readers will want to read Lucky Secrets for a lighthearted entertaining ride.

Where are you located?

Chattanooga, TN

Lucky Secrets' Blurb:

College student Sara Donovan is in the homestretch of graduating when a mysterious package arrives with an invitation to an exclusive contest. One that will drastically change the winner’s life. Included are unsettling photographs from forgettable chapters in her life and a threatening note strongly suggesting she participate.

With no good options, Sara enters the contest and finds herself at a fabulous mansion up against eight formidable opponents, each with a dark secret and all racing to solve seven levels of riddles and puzzles.

After a contestant’s body is discovered, Sara contemplates dropping out when another package arrives, its chilling contents making clear she’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what it doesn’t say is—what happens if she wins? 

Lucky Secrets Excerpt:

The white-haired man, holding a blue folder, addressed everybody from the same open end of the seating arrangement as Percy had ten minutes earlier. “Thank you for coming. I am Creighton Winston, attorney for the contest’s founder, whose name shall remain confidential. However, rest assured, this person is a generous philanthropist, scholar, and respected citizen.” The attorney’s gaze traveled along the occupied sofas and chairs. “Has everybody brought their envelopes per the instructions?”

Some nodded their assent, others held up letter and manila envelopes, all looking daggers at the man. I pulled my envelopes out and held them up.

“Very good,” Winston said. “Full disclosure, my firm only prepared the invitation. The founder provided me with the sealed envelopes to go with each specific invite. Only you and the founder know the contents of your second envelope.”

That statement confirmed the so-called founder was the blackmailer. And assuming he owned El Sueño, he was also extremely wealthy. It made sense. With wealth comes power. I studied the attorney. The man oozed money. Could he be the person behind all this? Was he just pretending to be the founder’s attorney and in fact, I was staring at my blackmailer?

A smallish middle-aged woman with toned arms and perfect makeup raised a manila envelope like the one I received. Small dark-brown eyes that appeared even smaller behind oversized black-framed glasses glared at the attorney. “Are you telling me you had nothing to do with this sordid envelope and the despicable allegations it contains?”

“That is correct, Ms. Fantucci. All I know is, the founder believed some of you might have needed a little—push—to attend this meeting. And hence, your second envelopes.”

“More like a swift kick in the britches,” Scooter complained.

Mumbles and grumbles rolled through the room.

Winston forced a smile. “The founder imparted to me that every contestant was personally selected because each of you has a secret that absolutely must remain—a secret. Especially from law enforcement.” He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. “Since the winner of the contest will become fabulously wealthy, it would seem, everyone is here because of a potentially—lucky secret.”

Zoe’s head whipped toward me. With eyes wide, she mouthed law enforcement. I threw her a little headshake, even as my body exploded in tingles. I have no such secrets—anymore. I think. A picture popped in my head of the open safe-deposit box with the gold artifact, gold bar, and emeralds. With my name on the signature card. Somebody obviously manufactured a secret for me. But why? And is it the same for all the contestants? Were they also blackmailed into coming for something they didn’t do? Or were they…