The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer-- Lisa Orchard

Help me welcome Lisa Orchard, fellow YA writer and all around nice gal. She's here to tell us a little about herself and her recent release, The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer.

1)      Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I started reading mysteries like The Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew at a young age. By fifth grade I was writing my own stories, and I knew then that I wanted to be a writer. But it wasn’t until I decided to stay home with my kids that I was able to pursue this dream.

2)      What inspired you to write the story, “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”?

When I was younger I wanted to be a detective like Nancy Drew. Yep, I even formed my own detective squad, and although we never solved our mystery. The summer I became a detective is one of my best memories. So when I started thinking about writing my story I remembered that summer and all the fun I had with my friends. I decided that I wanted to write a story that reflected those times. That’s how my story evolved. J

3)      What do you hope readers get out of your story?

I hope they get that same feeling of joy and anticipation that I got on those long summer days long ago when everything was possible. I also want them to learn something from my book.

4)      Who is your favorite character in the story?

Oh, this one’s tough because I have two favorites.  I would have to say my favorites are Sarah and Jackie. I love how strong and brave Sarah is, and I love Jackie’s loyalty and spontaneity. Their friendship is easy and they compliment each other. I love how they interact with each other.

5)      Tell us something that no one knows about you.

Hmmm…well there is one person who knows this, and that’s my hubby. He claims that I snore. I, of course, deny this emphatically. J I will never admit this to him…but I have on occasion woken myself up with my snoring. LOL! My poor hubby! 

6)      What is your favorite time of day?

I would have to say the first thing in the morning. I usually wake up before everyone else, and we sleep with the windows open. I’ll walk through the house and it’s so peaceful to hear the birds singing and see the day beginning. Then my kids wake up and it’s run…run…run for the rest of the day. But that early morning peacefulness is something I really enjoy.

  

7)      If you had the power to change anything you wanted in the world what would it be?

I would find a way to stop child abuse.

8)      Who is one person you admire?

I really admire Oprah Winfrey. She has overcome so much and achieved so much, she is truly an inspiration.

9)      What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Som-mores! I love campfires and roasting marshmallow, and my kids love it too. It’s a great way to spend an evening.

 Awesome! Us too. My son doesn't like marshmallows, so we just give him graham crackers and chocolate and call it a Sm. :) Then, the ones my hubby makes only using one marshmallow are called Smos.

10)  What is one of your favorite hobbies?

Hiking. I love to hike in the woods, especially in the fall when the leaves are turning color. It’s really beautiful and it’s a great way to relieve stress. J

Here's a little more about The Super Spies: 

This book opens in a small town in Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own fact-finding mission.  The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer, or die trying…

You can check it out on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lady-Killer-ebook/dp/B007JZH61K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341594735&sr=1-1&keywords=the+super+spies+and+the+cat+lady+killer

On Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-super-spies-and-the-cat-lady-killer-lisa-orchard/1109518725?ean=2940014338202

 or at Astraea Press:  http://astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=10078468

Thanks, Lisa, for being here today. Readers, before you go, be sure to leave Lisa a comment. We authors love to chat with our readers.