GIVEAWAY CONTEST!!! 

Win A Copy of The Puccini Connection by Sam Bond!!  One lucky commenter will receive their choice of e-book or hard copy!  Just enter a comment to win, and be sure to include a valid email address!  This contest will close at midnight on Saturday, 10/03/20; winner will be notified by email on Sunday, 10/04/20.

Me:     What led you to begin your writing career?

Sam:   I started writing about ten years ago on finding a lack of diversity in children’s books. I wanted my two girls (both adopted from China) to have characters that not only resembled them, but who were representative of their reality. There were plenty of books about adoption, but there didn’t seem to be too many books about regular American kids who happened to be adopted. This led me to write the CIA (Cousins in Action) books, an award-winning adventure series for readers aged eight to twelve set in various countries around the world.

Me:     Why did you want to write The Puccini Connection?

Sam:   I’ve always loved murder mysteries, especially English murder mysteries, but it wasn’t until a cozy murder mystery writer cornered me at a tailgate party about three years ago that I gave any serious consideration to writing this genre. Once my friend had suggested a change in direction I honestly wondered why I hadn’t thought of it before. It was almost as if I’d been preparing my entire life to write cozy murder mysteries. There is barely a British cozy crime show that I haven’t binge watched (Midsomer Murders, Rosemary & Thyme, Grantchester and Agatha Raisin to name just a few), plus I grew up immersed in Agatha Christie, PD James, Ruth Rendell and Colin Dexter. It seemed inevitable that I would finally turn my hand to English crime stories.

Me:     I assume you have a background in classical music?   Are you a music teacher like Josie in the Puccini Connection?  Was this theme important in writing this book?  Will classical music continue to be an element in future books? 

Sam:   I have been playing the piano since the age of five — so almost fifty years and play daily. My father was a self-taught pianist and organist and also had a fine voice — he sang for Queen Alexandra when he was a young choir boy. Therefore classical music was always part of my life. By sixteen I played not only the piano, but the clarinet, the violin and in my spare time I sang in local amateur dramatic performances and then later Gilbert & Sullivan productions, playing several leading roles including Yum Yum in the Mikado. Most of my favorite music is classical, therefore it seemed natural to have Josie be a musician — albeit a better one than me. They say write what you know, and so I did. I’m also on a bit of a crusade to introduce people to classical music, as it saddens me when people dismiss it as being too boring. Try listening to Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance and then tell me classical music is dull. As for the continuance of a theme, Josie’s love of classical music and her job as a piano teacher will definitely continue, and if I can make some classical music converts along the way — all the better!

Me:     What are some other things that you have in common with Josie?  What are some differences?

Sam:   When a friend first read an early version of The Puccini Connection she called to tell me that she loved it, but had one main issue. “In my head Josie is you,” she said, “but she’s just not as funny.” I took that as a great compliment both for Josie and myself. I didn’t set out to make Josie like me, but a lot of my voice is in The Puccini Connection and therefore I think it’s easy for readers who know me to see the similarities. So, other than being a musician, Josie is also terrified of blood and does not like egg whites — those traits are totally me and, of course, we are both English. Our differences are more subtle. I set out to try and make Josie something of a loner. Other than her summers with Aunt Rose her childhood was not particularly happy, and therefore Josie definitely has some trust issues that rise to the surface — I am incredibly open and trusting, so that’s not like me at all.

Me:     Is Milkwood a real place? 

Sam:   It is based on a real place, one that I actually mention within the book — Shere. My mother, my girls and I have been visiting for years, playing Pooh Sticks over the Tillingbourne (yes the river is real) and eating at The White Horse, which is the inspiration for The Dirty Duck. If you look at the map at the front of The Puccini Connection you will see that the compass is upside down! This is because whenever I drive into Shere I approach from the North and so when I drew the map I accidentally drew it upside down, because that’s how I see it in my head! Instead of going to the trouble of changing the entire map I decided to go for whimsy and turn the compass upside down!

Me:     You have a talent for creating immersive, richly-detailed settings as well as the nuances of colloquial speech patterns.  Why do you think this is? 

Sam:   Gosh, thank you. That’s a very kind compliment. My friend’s father and the man who the book is dedicated to, said he could tell I was extremely homesick after reading the book, so maybe that has something to do with it. As for the colloquial speech patterns, this turned into a bit of an issue with my editor. She’s American and therefore would often insert extra words to make it sound correct to her. To be honest, until I moved to the States I hadn’t realized how often the British leave out words — for instance Americans would say they are going to the hospital. British people say they are going to hospital. It was one of the reasons I made Josie an expat as she, like me, straddles this divide of language, sometimes using American English sometimes using British, I’ve been in the US so long that quite often I can’t remember which is which any more — and don’t even ask me to say the word schedule!

Me:     I understand that you also grew up in England like Josie – do you still have a British accent?  Do you visit often?  Do you plan to return one day?  How is Texas different, and what do you enjoy about both places?

Sam:   I was born in Surrey, where fictional Milkwood is located, and I do still have a British accent, although my mother would beg to differ, due to me using way more American terminology than she’s comfortable with. Up until two years ago my two daughters and I would spend each summer in London and I would return again during January (getting relief from the Cedar season here in Austin) to spend another month together. My mum and I were extremely close and it was important for me to spend time with her. My mum died in 2018 and the girls and I have been back a couple of times since, but have no plan to go back any time soon (especially with Covid). I’m so happy that my American girls have been so immersed in English culture over their lifetimes, and I love that the last dish my oldest requested before going off to college was roast lamb and roast potatoes! As for the differences between London and Texas, there are too many to mention, fish ‘n’ chips versus brisket, sun versus rain, but there are enjoyable things about both. While in England you will find me visiting stately homes and taking photos of the flowers (photography is my other occupation) and tramping  across the glorious countryside. In Texas I am more likely to be indoors because of the extreme heat for most of the year, but I do still love to hike when weather permits and we have a beautiful greenbelt here in Austin as well as some excellent state parks that I enjoy visiting.

Me:     Are you planning future books in this series?  Will they take place in Milkwood or in Texas?  (or both)? 

Sam:   I’m currently knee-deep in edits on The Unread Prophecy which is the second book in the Milkwood Murder series, and have started writing the third. I also have ideas for at least another three books — so yes, there will definitely be more books coming and they will be predominantly set in Milkwood.

Me:     Will Josie & Adam continue to be a couple?  Will readers see their romance develop, or will there be some complications along the way? 

Sam:   I’m not going to give anything away, so unfortunately you’re going to have to keep reading to find out. However I will say there are definitely some complications, as well as a bit of a surprise around book five or six that will come out of the blue, but in reality it’s something I’ve been planning since book one.

Me:     Will we see other characters featured in this book resurface in subsequent novels?  (ie. Lady Belle, Daisy, Finolla, etc.). Will we learn more about Josie’s family history? 

Sam:   I think they will all come back at some point, and more information about Josie’s past will be unveiled. Finolla is one of my favorite characters so she will definitely have to make future appearances — maybe with her latest Argentinian husband.

Me:     What are some of your favorite books and authors?  What is the current book on your nightstand? 

Sam:   If I had to pick just one book I would say My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, which is the only reason I managed to pass ‘O’ Level English. I will also read anything by the prolific Alexander McCall Smith as well as Elizabeth Peters and Kate Atkinson. I run three book clubs and I’m in four, so I read a lot of books. My favorite book from the last couple of years is the sublime A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles. As for my nightstand, the books are literally piled high, as well as having several that I am listening to on audio — I’m normally reading at least eight books at one time. I just reread James Herriott’s All Creatures Great and Small which is a total delight, but the book I’m currently enjoying most is Deanna Raybourne’s A Dangerous Collaboration featuring her Victorian heroine, Veronica Speedwell, who is an utter joy.

Photo of Sam Bond by Dave Wilson