Anne from Sweet Karoline

Good evening and welcome to Nighthawk Talks. Tonight we have Anne Williams direct from Los Angeles and the pages of Sweet Karoline by Catherine Astolfo.

Anne, you've been described as the Ice Queen. How would you describe yourself?

I’m very smart. I worked hard at becoming the Executive Assistant at Grace Productions here in Los Angeles. I’m also loyal, a trait that is a rare commodity it seems.
 
My worst trait is that I trust too easily.


Like when you partnered with Catherine Astolfo to tell your story? At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?

Oh, my, right from the first sentence. Talk about spilling your guts and misleading the reader!

Misdirection is the prerogative of crime writers. They can be damned twisty sometimes. I should know.

The title of the book is Sweet Karoline. I know that you trusted and loved your friend, but was there any point in your life you thought that Karoline was sweet? What was your first clue that she wasn’t?

All my life I was grateful to Karoline for rescuing me and befriending me. She kept all those crazy stalkers away. She was smart and generous and friendly. I thought she was wonderful. We lived this amazing, hedonistic, self-absorbed life. I really liked that life! It was Karoline who was responsible for most of our lifestyle. Then suddenly she went crazy and turned on me. I mean…Just realized I never said she was "sweet" here. That word could be replaced with nice or lovely or pleasant or  fresh - but I don't think any of those apply to Karoline. She was more like a little bull dog.

A dog that turned rabid? Never mind. Forget I asked. Tell us about Ethan Byrne. He’s right there with you, from the opening line of the book.

Ethan is the kind of man who doesn't judge by appearances. I mean, certainly I'm a beautiful woman and he couldn't help but get turned on. However, my beauty isn't the only reason he was interested in me. He could see through all the layers to the real me - the loveable, intelligent, but flawed person behind the perfection. Ethan's not very good-looking but he's tall and smart and confident and strong. Anyone would be happy to have him, but fortunately for me, he's mine! Oh, did I mention that he's terribly rich, too?

Interesting about him being rich. When Ethan Byrne showed up at your door to investigate Karoline's murder and then just happened to be around when you had your breakdown, I had to wonder if you contrived to have that last event happen just so you could get to know him better. Was that just good luck or did you manipulate events?

You are ridiculous. It was fate that brought us together.

Fate?

I think this interview is over.

I'm afraid if you want to know more about Anne Williams, you'll have to read Sweet Karoline by Catherine Astolfo. Be warned, once you start, you won't want to stop.

Emily Taylor from The Bridgeman

Tonight we welcome Emily Taylor from Burchill. Ms Taylor is the principal of a small school in, what she describes as, “a sleepy little village.” More like the stuff of nightmares by what I've read in Catherine Astolfo's The Bridgeman. The sleepy village is rocked when the body of the school caretaker is found in the basement. He has been shot and has left behind a diary. Inside these pages, Ms Taylor discovers a very different character from the person she thought Nathaniel Ryeburn was: the writer is angry, cruel, and perverted.

You look uncomfortable Mrs. Taylor. Is there anything wrong?

This brings back memories of a time I'd rather forget. When the police questioned me about Nathaniel and his diary, I was reminded of the tragedy that befell my husband and me in Vancouver in 1980. I was plunged back into the terror, the disbelief, the injustice of it all. My poor husband languished in jail for years. We were deprived of children.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Taylor.

Bad things can happen to good people. Trust me, I know.

Sometimes good people go through more because they get involved more -- as you involved yourself in the investigation of Nathaniel Ryeburn's murder. How did that sit with the police?

Chief Superintendent Edgar Brennan of the OPP is not very happy with me, but it's not my fault. How could I explain my desire to chase down the truth? I'd have to reveal my husband's real name. You can imagine the response!

I'm not sure I can, but I see that you put yourself at risk.

I know I put myself in danger, but I certainly didn't plan on that. After all, something good did come out of my meddling. I am still quite nervous about the media presence in our village, but my husband has made me promise not to get involved any more, so I won't.

So, nothing bad happened to you...?

I thought I had gotten out of harm's way. It's not my fault that there was another nasty surprise awaiting me.

So who is your husband really, Mrs. Taylor?

You know I can't answer that. Not yet, anyway. We're not ready for the notoriety. We had enough of that in Vancouver. I'm developing a wonderful friendship with May. Langford, my husband, has a career in art that's taking off. We don't want to jeopardize any of that. We have no reason to open that Pandora's box.

Fair enough, but... well, you know things like that rarely stay buried.

I know. I have the feeling it ain't over yet. I am nervous and afraid. I like my life here in peaceful Burchill, surrounded by wonderful people and beautiful scenery. But it seems to me that the universe is conspiring against me. Events have caused me to feel restless, dissatisfied and suspicious. What's going to happen next? How will I cope? Will I ever be happy again?

Not for a few books, anyway. 

Find out more about the Emily Taylor Mystery series at Imajin Books or www.catherineastolfo.com. Better still, go buy The Bridgeman. Available in Kindle eBook and trade paperback.