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WORK TITLE: Fiction Can Be Murder
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1961
WEBSITE: https://beckyclarkbooks.com/
CITY:
STATE: CO
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1961; married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Mystery writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
The seventh of eight kids, mystery writer Becky Clark says she needs attention. She began her “Mystery Writer’s Mystery” series with her 2018 book, Fiction Can Be Murder. She also writes the “So Seldom It’s Shameful” newsletter. As a kid, she loved reading Nancy Drew and was shocked to learn that Carolyn Keene was not a real person. Clark is involved in both the Pikes Peak Writers Conference and Left Coast Crime where she gets to meet fascinating and delightful mystery authors.
In 2018, Clark published the humorous Fiction Can Be Murder, in which life imitates art. The much hated literary agent Melinda Walter has died in a car accident, but it looks like murder. In fact, it looks exactly like a death scene Melinda’s client, Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo, wrote in her newest, unpublished mystery novel. The police and even her boyfriend think Charlee killed Melinda. Charlee knows that only the people in her writer’s group and some beta readers have read the book and could know of the death scene, so she compiles a list of suspects from them. While she’s doing that, she has to dodge the police who are curious about her financial problems and her flimsy alibi, and from the real killer who is targeting her next. Seeing Charlee as a likeable, poor-man’s version of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, with the “cute antics but without the cursing grannies or assault weapons,” Booklist reviewer Karen Keefe called the book a promising series debut.
In an interview online at Mysteristas, Clark explained why she wanted to write the book: “I’m drawn to stories where people are just going on about their lives then BLAMMO, they get tossed into some kind of chaos. They’re the ultimate reluctant heroes and want nothing more than to return to their previous, boring lives. I like the idea of ‘what ifs’ in real life as well as fiction.”
“Clark does a good job of grounding the story in place and detail,” said a reviewer in Publishers Weekly. The reviewer added that despite the large cast of characters and too-neat resolution, cozy fans will enjoy the humorous view into a mystery writer’s life. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews commented: “The charming heroine and the supporting cast shine in Clark’s fun and funny solo mystery debut …which doesn’t take anyone too seriously in the best way possible.” Online at Carrie’s Book Reviews, a writer noted: “There are quite a few funny moments in here that I caught myself laughing out loud. There were also plenty of suspects to not make the murderer obvious.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2018, Karen Keefe, review of Fiction Can Be Murder, p. 27.
Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2018, review of Fiction Can Be Murder.
Publishers Weekly, February 19, 2018, review of Fiction Can Be Murder, p. 60.
ONLINE
Carries Book Reviews, https://carriesbookreviews.com/ (April 4, 2018), review of Fiction Can Be Murder.
Mysteristas, https://mysteristas.wordpress.com/(January 6, 2016), author interview.
Becky Clark is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them too. She surrounds herself with quirky people and pets who end up as characters in her books. Her stout-hearted dog keeps her safe from menacing squirrels, leaves, and deer, but not plastic bags. Those things are terrifying.
Readers say her books are “fast and thoroughly entertaining” with “witty humor and tight writing” and “humor laced with engaging characters” so you should “grab a cocktail and enjoy the ride.” They also say “Warning: You will laugh out loud. I’m not kidding,” and “If you like Janet Evanovich, you will like Becky Clark.”
She is wiggly with excitement over the release of FICTION CAN BE MURDER, the first in the Mystery Writer's Mystery series.
Visit www.BeckyClarkBooks.com for all kinds of fun. While you're there, be sure to subscribe to her "So Seldom It's Shameful" newsletter. You'll hear about new releases, maybe win some prizes, find out about book promotions from her and others, read interviews from new-to-you authors, and more. Oh, and do you like haikus? (As you might have gleaned from the title, she won't inundate your inbox, either.)
Follow Becky Clark here on Amazon, on Facebook at Becky Clark Author, and at Goodreads. If you enjoy her books, she’d swoon if you left a review. Yes, swoon.
About Becky
• I’m usually pretty funny. Sometimes clever. Often silly.
• I try to write entertaining, easy and escapist reads.
• People say nice things about me and my writing. Mostly.
• I blog to connect with readers who like my style and to hear interesting, eclectic things from them.
• I won’t overwhelm you with big words or good nutrition. Like a doughnut of delicious words.
• I’m #7 in a long line of eight siblings. My cousins, nieces, nephews and I could populate an entire town. It would, of course, be Lord-of-the-Flies chaotic. We’d forget to organize trash collection and none of us would want to be in charge of wastewater. We’d have a majestic and enviable library, though.
• When I was a kid and we’d get together with our enormous extended family, our parents would plaster nametags on us. There was nothing more hysterical to my 8-year-old self than switching nametags with one of my more exotic cousins. It rendered me unrecognizable to my own father. To this day I’m not sure if he was joking or not.
• Hubs and I are loving our Colorado empty nest, feathered with many delightful memories of raising our kids — a daughter living in Oregon, a son in the Navy, and one in college.
• I love fried chicken, chocolate cake, and Chinese food and think there should be enormous cash prizes for the discoverers of same.
• I hate lima beans, plain yogurt, and liver and think it should be a crime to produce them.
• Love these words: edumacation, truthiness, newsertainment.
• Hate these: moist (too gross), lull (bad mouth-feel), arguably (too stupid).
• Love Broadway. Hate opera.
• Got bitten by a dog in college but I’m not afraid of dogs. Except dogs named Bruno, even though he (and his insurance company) bought me my first car.
• I’m an expert on exactly one topic — me.
• I don’t know much about welding, the water cycle or being a millionaire, but I bet I could learn.
Interview: Becky Clark
Please welcome new Mysterista Becky Clark, author of Banana Bamboozle, Marshmallow Mayhem, and other books.
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
One where the dog doesn’t barf, the phone doesn’t ring, and I magically fulfill all the tasks on my to-do list early enough in the day so that I can create a thrilling dinner for my husband which fricasees (or simmers or bakes or does whatever a thrilling dinner might do) while we open an expensive bottle of wine and carry on a scintillating and wide-ranging conversation that has nothing to do with children, bills, or dog barf. A girl can dream, can’t she?
Do you have a signature accessory, color, fragrance, phrase/expression, or meal?
Hmm. I have this vertical line on my forehead my three children know as my “what the hell were you thinking” wrinkle. Does that count?
Which books/authors inspired or influenced you the most?
Nancy Drew books turned me into an avid mystery reader and I was crushed —crushed— to learn that Carolyn Keene wasn’t a real person. Now, as an author, I would kill for a gig like that. My, how the worm turns, eh?
Do you listen to music when you write?
No, I need absolute silence when I write. But I do stop every hour or so and flail around to my “Becky’s Dance Party” playlist. Often while I hula hoop. It’s a sight to behold, I’m sure.
If your latest book were chocolate, what kind would it be and why?
This question is kind of a ringer, because my latest book is Marshmallow Mayhem where s’mores play a part. So I must say it would be a full-size Hershey bar. Solid until you dig into it, at which time it becomes soft and gooey and your very best friend. And you crave more. But it never makes you fat. And the price is appealing.
What made you interested in writing this particular story?
I’m drawn to stories where people are just going on about their lives then BLAMMO, they get tossed into some kind of chaos. They’re the ultimate reluctant heroes and want nothing more than to return to their previous, boring lives. I like the idea of “what ifs” in real life as well as fiction.
What themes do you regularly (re)visit in your writing?
Themes?? What is this, school?
Tell us about your main character.
In both Banana Bamboozle and Marshmallow Mayhem, 50-something Cassidy Dunne takes center stage. She’s a secret sugar addict who still has booty calls with her ex-husband even though they were only married for about ten minutes way back when. (It’s just so much easier than dating!) She’s joined in her escapades and witty repartee by her best friend from college, Dan Diehl, hence the “Dunne Diehl Novels.”
Describe your protagonist as a mash-up of three famous people or characters.
Well, I’m not famous, but Cass certainly has a liberal dose of The Becky. She’s perhaps sprinkled with a soupçon of Stephanie Plum, and maybe a squeeze of Jamie Lee Curtis.
If you could host a mystery-author dinner party, who are the six writers (living or otherwise) you’d include?
Janet Evanovich, Gretchen Archer who I just discovered, GK Chesterton, Dorothy Parker, and Carl Hiaasen, because they all seem like they’d be a hoot, and Richard Castle because c’mon.
I’m actually quite lucky in that I’m involved in both the Pikes Peak Writers Conference and Left Coast Crime so I get to meet fascinating and delightful mystery authors on a regular basis. It makes up for the low pay writers are subjected to. Mostly.
What’s next for you?
I just finished the first draft of the first book of a new series. Charlemagne Russo is, coincidentally, a mid-list mystery writer surrounded by quirky characters who finds her life thrust into chaos … but you might already have gleaned that!
I’m also plotting some mysteries for young readers that will have some fun, adventure, and perhaps a bit of magic and crossword puzzles.
***
Becky Clark is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them, too. Her newest titles are Banana Bamboozle and Marshmallow Mayhem. She surrounds herself with quirky people and pets who end up as characters in her books. Ordinary people who are thrust into chaos, usually involving murder, are her favorite characters to write. Find out Becky’s least favorite words and subscribe to her newsletter to win cool stuff, at http://beckyclarkbooks.com/
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Author
Mysteristas
Posted on
January 6, 2016
Fiction Can Be Murder
Karen Keefe
Booklist. 114.13 (Mar. 1, 2018): p27.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Fiction Can Be Murder. By Becky Clark. Apr. 2018. 312p. Midnight Ink, paper, $15.99 (9780737853324).
Charlemagne "Charlee" Russo was pleased to have her agent describe her unpublished manuscript as inspiring, until the agent is murdered in a manner that exactly parallels the plot of the book. In order to prove to the police that she didn't "write what you know," she must figure out which of her close circle of first readers could have done the deed. Was it a jealous member of her writers' group? Her boyfriend? Neighbor? Best friend? Charlee is a likable, poor-man's version of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum--with the cute antics but without the cursing grannies or assault weapons. There is, however, plenty of asking for forgiveness, rather than permission. A promising series debut.--Karen Keefe
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Keefe, Karen. "Fiction Can Be Murder." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2018, p. 27. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A532250856/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3c255c8f. Accessed 27 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A532250856
Fiction Can Be Murder: A Mystery Writer's Mystery
Publishers Weekly. 265.8 (Feb. 19, 2018): p60.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Fiction Can Be Murder: A Mystery Writer's Mystery
Becky Clark. Midnight Ink, $15.99 trade paper
(312p) ISBN 978-0-7387-5332-4
Set in Denver, this promising series launch from Clark (Banana Bamboozle with Ted Hardwick) introduces mystery writer Charlemagne "Charlee" Russo. When Melinda Walter, Charlee 's agent, dies an untimely death that bears a striking resemblance to a murder in her latest unpublished novel, suspicion falls on Charlee, given her growing dispute with Melinda over royalty payments, and she sets out to clear her name. Since only a handful of people have had access to the manuscript--including, most notably, the quirky members of Charlees writing group--she works through the suspects while fending off the police investigation. On the personal side, Charlee and her police officer brother, Lance, struggle with memories of their father, also a cop, who left the force in disgrace over a murky scandal. Clark does a good job of grounding the story in place and detail. Despite the overly large cast of characters and the too-neat finale, cozy fans should enjoy this funny and affecting view into a mystery writer's life. Agent, Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Fiction Can Be Murder: A Mystery Writer's Mystery." Publishers Weekly, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 60. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357532/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d3a43a0f. Accessed 27 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357532
Clark, Becky: FICTION CAN BE MURDER
Kirkus Reviews. (Feb. 1, 2018):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Clark, Becky FICTION CAN BE MURDER Midnight Ink/Llewellyn (Adult Fiction) $15.99 4, 8 ISBN: 978-0-7387-5332-4
A murder mystery comes to life when a literary agent is killed in the manner of her author's latest book.
Beloved by none, Melinda Walter dies suddenly when her car careens off the road and into a tree. She's killed not by the impact but by the mercury gas someone's pumped into her car. While Charlemagne Russo naturally mourns her longtime agent (though her grieving is mixed with the same relief everyone in Melinda's life seems to feel), she has special reasons for being concerned with the manner of Melinda's death. It just so happens that Melinda was killed in the same way as the victim in Charlee's latest novel, and Charlee worries that the connection may spell danger for her. The police see it another way, a way that puts Charlee at the top of their suspect list. Charlee tries to get her cop brother, Lance, to vouch for her, but to no avail. Instead, she launches her own investigation into the people who read her latest novel: her writing critique group and volunteer beta readers. Armed with a list of potential suspects, she interviews those who could have had the means to implement the death sentence Charlee imagined, since Melinda was so unpleasant that Charlee thinks she's got motive covered. As she learns more about those she thought were closest to her, Charlee is surprised at some of the secrets they've been hiding in their daily lives. Nothing shocks her more than the revelation that her own boyfriend, Ozzi Rabbinowitz, believes she may be the one who killed Melinda. Now finding the killer isn't just her mission, but a matter of pride.
The charming heroine and the supporting cast shine in Clark's fun and funny solo mystery debut (co-author: Marshmallow Mayhem, 2015, etc.), which doesn't take anyone too seriously in the best way possible.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Clark, Becky: FICTION CAN BE MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2018. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A525461374/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f92e3e6a. Accessed 27 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A525461374
Book Review: Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark
Posted on April 23, 2018 by Darinda
Fiction Can Be Murder
by Becky Clark
Charlee’s agent is killed in the same manner as a character in her new, unpublished novel. So, clearly, Charlee is suspect #1. Also on the list of suspects are her beta readers and critique group. The suspect field is small, but Charlee must look at her friends as suspects to find the killer.
Entertaining and fun. Charlee knows she is innocent, but everyone, even her friends, think she’s guilty. A quick read with some humor. I especially enjoyed the interactions Charlee had with her critique group.
The 1st book in the Mystery Writer’s series. I enjoy mysteries and books about books, so this one was right up my alley. I look forward to reading more of this series.
I received a digital copy of this book from Midnight Ink and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Apr
4
Fiction Can Be Murder (Mystery Writer’s Mystery #1) by Becky Clark @midnightinkbook #bookreview #mystery
Posted on April 4, 2018 by Carrie
Standard
Title: Fiction Can Be Murder
Author: Becky Clark
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Publication Date: April 8, 2018
Page Count: 288
My rating: 3 1/2 stars
About the book:
LIFE BECOMES STRANGER THAN FICTION WHEN CHARLEE’S LATEST NOVEL INSPIRES A REAL MURDER
Mystery author Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo thinks the twisty plots and peculiar murders in her books are only the product of her imagination—until her agent is found dead exactly as described in Charlee’s new, unpublished manuscript. Suspicion now swirls around her and her critique group, making her confidence drop as severely and unexpectedly as her royalty payments.
The police care more about Charlee’s feeble alibi and financial problems than they do her panicky claims of innocence. To clear her name and revive her career, she must figure out which of her friends is a murderer. Easier said than done, even for an author who’s skilled at creating tidy endings for her mysteries. And as her sleuthing grows dangerous, Charlee’s imagination starts working overtime. Is she being targeted, too?
Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark is the first book in the new Mystery Writer’s Mystery series. As the series titles suggests this new series centers around Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo who is an author who writes murder mysteries.
While Charlee is at her book group meeting her phone begins ringing like crazy and when she finally answers she gets the news that her agent has been found murdered and the police are on the way to talk with her. It seems that Charlee’s agent was killed in the exact same way as her latest manuscript that she had just sent over the week before.
Now Charlee knows that she isn’t the killer but isn’t sure the police believe she’s innocent. She also thinks that the killer is either after her and her friends or trying to set her up for murder so Charlee decides to look into the murder herself starting with those that had access to her book.
First I would say I loved that this one jumps right into the murder in the opening pages after having done a few very slow movers lately it was nice to get going quickly. And I would also note that there are quite a few funny moments in here that I caught myself laughing out loud. There were also plenty of suspects to not make the murderer obvious.
However, as much as I liked following an author on her quest to find out who could have used her work to kill there were times in this one I just didn’t find events going on to be believable, mostly with her questioning really. When finished with Fiction Can Be Murder there were some things that I liked and some that I didn’t leaving me to rate this one at 3.5 stars for a solid beginning but room to improve in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.