A Wicked Welcome to J.C. Kenney!

by Julie, with her umbrella in Somerville

J.C. is a regular commenter on the blog, and has visited us in the past. I had a chance to meet him last November in Chicago, at the Murder in the Midwest conference, which was a ton of fun. He’s got a new series launching later this year, and agreed to come on the blog to talk about it.

The Power of Optimism

Happy Friday, friends! I’m so happy to be back visiting with you and The Wickeds again. We’ve almost made it to the weekend, something most definitely worth celebrating.
This month, we’re talking about looking forward. I’m fortunate in that category because this year, I have a lot to look forward to writing-wise. I have two books coming out. The first, Magic Box Murder, is scheduled to arrive February 27. It’s the third book in my Record Store Mysteries series and I have had a ball writing about the adventures of my amateur sleuth, Darcy Gaughan, and her friends.. The other book, Panic in the Panhandle, drops September 26. It’s the debut of my new Elmo Simpson Mysteries. Isn’t that a fun cover!

I’m also set to attend two bookish conventions. I’ll be in Orlando, Florida in late February for the Coastal Magic Book Convention. Here’s a link if you want to check it out. As if that isn’t exciting enough for this kid from Indiana, I’ll also be at the Bouchercon Mystery Convention in Nashville, Tennessee at the end of August. You can get more deets about it here. Exciting things to look forward to, indeed!

The thing is, none of this fun stuff happened with the snap of a finger. It took a lot of time, a lot of hard work, and some good luck for me to be in this position. Shoot, I wrote the first words of Panic in the Panhandle in February of 2020. By the time it arrives on shelves, four and a half years will have passed from that day I first started writing about Elmo and the oddball denizens of Paradise Springs, Florida.

While that’s a long time, it’s nothing unique in the writing world. Shepherding a book from an idea to a finished, published work takes a lot of things. One of those things is optimism, which can be defined as hopefulness about the future or the successful outcome of something.

For the longest time, I thought I was a pessimist, or a realist at best. Since I started writing stories, though, I’ve come to realize that, deep down, I’m an optimist. I mean, what other kind of person would take on a project like writing a novel with the full knowledge that nothing may come of it, yet they keep at it anyway? Someone with belief in their story and themselves. That the story is good enough. That someone will like it enough to read it.

Someone with hope for good things to come.

That’s a powerful thought. Am empowering one, too. Of course, I have my tough days where I’m convinced I’ll never sell another book again. I know those moments will pass, though. Writing taught me that, despite the gloom that comes with cold and dreary Indiana days in January, better times are ahead. Like sunny days in Daytona or music filled nights in Nashville.

Writing taught me that, at heart, I’m an optimist. I truly believe that if you hang on and keep trying, there will be good times ahead. Not just in writing. In life, too. So, don’t give up, friends. Not on yourself and not on your passions. As we begin another new year, let’s try our best to keep hope alive and to be optimistic about things to come.

Who’s with me? Tell me something you’re looking forward to this year or something that you’re hopeful for. One randomly drawn commenter will receive a $5 Amazon gift card. Until next time, believe in the power of optimism, friends!

About the book:

In the sleepy panhandle of Florida, Benjamin “Elmo” Simpson has carved out a comfortable niche as the go-to wild animal removal specialist. Life is sweet until a peculiar service request takes him to a local condo and an unexpected scene. Retired lawyer Fran Cohen is missing and in his apartment is a well-fed alligator that appears to have enjoyed a nice breakfast with…or rather, of…Fran.

All evidence points toward murder, and local alligator farmer, Waldo “Rambo” Quigley has the motive and the means. When Rambo pleads for help to clear his name, old debts and a history of friendship leave Elmo no choice but to investigate. With his girlfriend, Nicola, by his side, and Rambo’s freedom on the line, Elmo’s on the hunt for the real killer, but don’t panic…Elmo’s got a plan…sort of. Maybe.

Reptilian clues lead to unexpected allies, and the call of danger is addictive. Can Elmo uncover the identity of Fran’s killer before becoming the next victim, removed from the scene like an unwanted pest?

About the author:

J.C. Kenney is the bestselling author of The Allie Cobb Mysteries, The Darcy Gaughan Mysteries, and The Elmo Simpson Mysteries. He’s also the co-host of The Bookish Hour and The Bookish Moment webcasts. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He has two grown children and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and a cat. You can find him at www.jckenney.com.

You can pre-order your copy of Panic in the Panhandle by clicking here: https://tulepublishing.com/books/panic-in-the-panhandle/