Today, I’m interviewing Maggie DeLuca, Father Frank’s sister.

JIM:       Hi, Maggie. First, just to get everything in order, are you Father Frank’s younger sister or older sister?

MAGGIE     Thank you for that question. I am his older sister.  Of course, sometimes I act like his kid sister.

JIM:       Okay, an older sister, but young at heart.

MAGGIE     You got it.

JIM:       But, sometimes you, ah, … well, as Father Frank says, let your mouth take control.

MAGGIE     (laughs) Yes, he does say that. And that my mouth precedes my brain. But, I’m an upfront person. I let you know who I am, what I do, what’s on my mind. He thinks I should be more private.

JIM:       But it does get you in trouble sometimes; at least, that’s what I’ve heard.

MAGGIE     True. But I probably would have gotten in that trouble anyway, so why wait? Let’s get this show on the road.

JIM:       The last time, or at least the last one I’ve heard about, had to do with the murder of that best selling writer, Rod Granet. That was pretty serious.

MAGGIE     It was. And I have to admit, I regretted some of the things I said, and the people that heard it.

JIM:       Got the sheriff on your case, right? He arrested you and I understand, he truly wanted to convict you.

MAGGIE     That is true. And to be perfectly honest, I was scared. I told Frank he had to get busy and find the real killer.

JIM:       But the sheriff told him if he investigated, he’d throw him in jail. Didn’t that worry you?

MAGGIE     Not as much as a murder conviction worried me. The sheriff wasn’t looking for anybody else. I mean, Rod was dead. The sheriff wanted someone in jail. And he was only looking at me.

JIM:       In the end, Father Frank did come through for you, right?

MAGGIE     He did. But between you and me – do not tell Frank this – I don’t think I’d be here today if it weren’t for that Texas Ranger, Dick Richards.

JIM:       He and Father Frank seemed to work well together.

MAGGIE     Yeah. Richards was smart enough to know what a great asset Frank is. He gets a bunch of pieces of information that don’t look like they go together. And Frank finds the way they fit, and what they mean.

JIM:       Okay. You aren’t going to jail. What’s your next adventure?

MAGGIE     Actually, two adventures. First, I’m going to finish a book I’m writing. And Rod won’t be here to steal this one. I now know I can be a USA Today best seller. I’ve earned an Austin B award for best plot, even though it had Granet’s name on it. So, this is going to be a great book.

JIM:       Sounds like an important goal.

MAGGIE     No, the important goal, and adventure is a new baby. In five months, I’ll be a Mom! That’s even better than being a USA Today best seller. (Maggie gets up.) Got to run. Doctor wants to check out the baby, and the mom.

JIM:       And she was gone in a second. I think she’s gotten a bad rap. It isn’t that her mouth is so fast. She’s fast about everything. But it was a pleasure visiting with her. And I’m glad I got to share it with you.

“From the first sentence, it captures your attention and carries you on an intriguing mystery-solving adventure.” From a review by Sharon S.

“I’ve read so many mysteries/suspense stories that all sound alike. A Plot for Murder is very distinctively and enjoyably different.” R. Bruner, Amazon review.

Rod Granet, award-winning novelist and womanizer, is the main speaker at a writers conference. But after the opening session and in front of a crowd, Maggie DeLuca, Father Frank’s sister, accuses Granet of stealing her story and says he will pay.

That night, Granet is killed.

The sheriff quickly zeros in on Maggie and she is hauled off in handcuffs. When Father Frank comes to her aid, the sheriff threatens him with jail if he interferes.

A Texas Ranger is assigned to the investigation. He sees Father Frank as a valuable asset. Even as the sheriff continues to harass Father Frank and interrogate Maggie, the Ranger pushes Father Frank to get more involved, telling him the sheriff considers Maggie his only  suspect. Father Frank is faced not only with his sister being the prime suspect in a murder case, but also threatening letters, a rifle shot through his car as he drives across a bridge, and the sheriff’s promise to put him in jail if he investigates the murder.

Can Father Frank stay out of jail and alive, and find the real killer?

If you’d like to order a copy of A Plot for Murder: Murder at the Writers Conference, use this link which will offer you a choice of formats and retailers.    https:books2read.com/u/mYAW2P