Interview with Nancy Haddock

Welcome, today we are talking with Nancy Haddock! I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to answer a few questions.

First, I think it’s important for readers to get a little insight on an author that they don’t necessarily get from your professional bio. You’d be surprised at what readers connect to, and sometimes the simplest ‘I can relate to that’ grabs their interest where nothing else can.

Can you share a little something about Nancy Haddock that’s not mentioned in your bio on your website?  

First, thank you for hosting me! It’s a treat to be with you!

I have a fairly large collection of rocks in the raw – specimens of amethyst, rose quartz, and the like. Most of my rocks aren’t very large, but I have so many of all sizes that I have to store some and rotate them in and out of my décor.

I do the same with the vintage pieces and antiques I still have, and with gifts very special people have given me. I also love classic and antique cars, but don’t have one. Bummer.

 What is your favorite:

 Animal – Oh, dear, I have many! Dogs, cats, dolphins, wolves, whales, panthers … that’s a good start to my list.

 Food – I’m not a big foodie, but lasagna is a fav. And yes, garlic bread with that, please. I’ll eat almost anything that’s chocolate, caramel, or maple!

 Movie – I enjoy many, but What’s Up, Doc? may be the winner.

 TV show – Again, narrowing the field to one fav is nearly impossible. I loved Warehouse 13 and miss it!  

 Actor – Cary Grant

 Singer – Another head scratcher. Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin are two I’ve always liked.

 Author – Far, far and away too many to name!

 What are your pet peeves? 

Rudeness, snobbery, and people who think they are entitled. Grrr!

 Who is your hero? 

My ancestors. If it weren’t for them, I would not be.

Give us one thing on your bucket list. 

An extended trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland. And Greece. And Tahiti.

What would readers find surprising about you? 

I can be extremely focused, but I can also be extremely distractible. Squirrel! I can have fun as distracted me, but I like focused me better. She gets things done. I like checking things off my list, so I like getting things done!

If you could go to heaven, who would you visit?  

Sherry and my parents.

Any bad habits?  

I can procrastinate till the cows come home … which is apparently a long time. Huh, squirrel! I need to find the origin of that phrase.

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

I can’t tell the whole story here, but it involved:

• being in an Eastern European country
• taking about five sips of homemade plum wine (because I would offend our hosts if I didn’t partake)
• singing and generally being goofy on the walk back to our lodgings while being followed by the police (possibly the secret police)

The kicker: I’m allergic to almost every kind of alcohol. As in break out in hives allergic. I didn’t have a great weekend, but I didn’t get arrested for disturbing the peace either. That was a win. 

Now that our readers know a little bit more about Nancy Haddock, let’s get down to the business of your newest book, A Crime of Poison, another Silver Six Mystery.  How long did it take you from beginning to end before your novel was completely finished, and how did you decide on the topic and title? 

It took about a month to write the first chapters, and then wrote like a mad woman to finish A Crime of Poison in four months. (And was so glad to meet that deadline because Hurricane Irma hit us shortly thereafter. Eek!)

The plot was born from my curiosity about Eleanor – specifically how she knew Sherry and came to be a Silver Six. A hint of her past had come up in the first books, and I wanted to know more. Oh, and the title wasn’t mine. The amazing brain trust at Berkley came up with it! 

Please tell us a little bit about A Crime of Poison.

What was your hardest challenge writing this book? 

Selecting a poison might have been the most difficult aspect. I had several options in mind, but my editor suggested a simpler toxin. Although she was right, that set up other challenges that one of my critique partners helped me meet and beat.

A Crime of Poison centers on the murder of a bully from Eleanor’s past. The man claims to have changed and wants to make amends, but no one believes him except Nixy. When there’s a second murder and members of the Silver Six are under even more suspicion, Nixy and Eleanor team up to find the killer. 

How many books do you plan to write for your highly successful A Silver Six Mystery series, and what are the titles so far? 

Sadly, A Crime of Poison is the last in the series … for now. I hope to get my rights back at some point and continue the series, but it’s up for grabs when that would happen. The previous titles are Basket Case and Paint the Town Dead.

Can you tell us something about Nixy and each of the Silver Six characters? 

Nixy is a go-getter and problem solver, but she has nothing on her Aunt Sherry and Sherry’s housemates – collectively known as the Silver Six. The Six – four women and two men – are dynamic seniors in their 60s and early 70s, and several are crafters. Sherry, a basket weaver and Nixy’s only living relative, owns the ancestral farmhouse where the seniors live. Maise is the head cook of the group and a former nurse while her sister, Aster, is an herbalist who holds onto some of her hippie past and creates lotions and potions. Eleanor is a former mechanical engineer and currently whittles intricate art pieces. Dab was a chemical engineer who now distills herbs for Aster’s products. Fix-It Fred is a retired mechanic who fixes everything from appliances to squeaky hinges. The pockets of his overalls are stuffed tools.          

Any other works in progress? 

I’m working on a paranormal cozy, and a beach-set cozy, but have a few other projects up my sleeve, too, so I must stop the aforementioned procrastination. Now!

Any advice for aspiring authors? 

Keep at it! The more you write, the better you become, and the more defined your unique voice! Besides, you’re doing what you love, right? Writing!

Final words? 

Like most writers, I’m also a reader. I know how deeply I’ve been touched by characters, how books have taken me away when I needed escape. So, thank you to readers everywhere! Authors love great reviews but hearing that one of my books helped someone get through a chemo treatment or another difficult time, that’s the ultimate gift.

Website:  http://www.nancyhaddock.com

Email: nancy@nancyhaddock.com or nancyhaddockbooks@gmail.com