by Linda O. Johnston
October is a fun time to have my Superstition Mysteries published. Of course I’d be happy with getting them published at other times of the year, too, but the month of Halloween, with all its extraordinary traditions, seems very appropriate.
My second Superstition Mystery, KNOCK ON WOOD, came out this month. Here’s what KNOCK ON WOOD is about:
Rory Chasen, now the manager of the Lucky Dog Boutique in Destiny, California, is delighted when her best friend Gemma arrives a day early for her visit. Gemma’s just broken up with her boyfriend in Los Angeles, so Rory is especially eager to cheer her up. But before they get a chance to talk, two of the town’s most eligible bachelors sidle in. Their amorous advances—and an unexpected job offer—seem to take Gemma’s mind off her ex . . . until he arrives in Destiny.
As Gemma tries to sort out what to do, one of her suitors is murdered, leaving Rory to wonder if a black cat has crossed Gemma’s path. Is Rory’s friend guilty of murder—or is she just having a run of bad luck?
And you know what? I’ve always considered myself as much of a superstition agnostic as Rory, but like her I sometimes wonder.
For example, last week I happened to find a heads-up penny on the ground in a parking lot just before I attended the NoHo (North Hollywood) Lit Crawl near me. I participated in a smackdown between writers of cozy mysteries versus writers of noir. It was very enjoyable, and the whole event was wrapped up at a late party. Some friends left earlier than I did and gave me their raffle tickets–and darned if the moderator didn’t keep calling winning numbers from the three sets (including mine)! Of course I’m sharing the loot with the others.
Coincidence? Probably… right?
KNOCK ON WOOD can be purchased in trade paperback format for/from: