Reading the World by Miranda James

I discovered juvenile mystery series when I was ten or eleven. My introduction to them was The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene. I was immediately entranced. I eagerly looked for more Nancy Drew books, and I discovered many other series like the Hardy Boys, the Dana Girls, Judy Bolton, Biff Brewster, and another favorite, Trixie Belden. Not only did I get to enjoy exciting adventures vicariously, I began to learn in a number of the books about foreign countries and new (to me) parts of the United States (like Hawaii and Alaska). I believe that reading about these countries, along with studying them in geography classes, ignited my interest in travel.

My first international trip was to Mexico the spring of my junior year in high school. My Spanish teacher and her husband, an anthropologist who had been a part of important archaeological digs in Mexico, put together a trip, and I was lucky enough to get to go. I loved my Spanish classes, and I ended up getting a minor in Spanish in college. After that, I never looked back.

There are so many countries I would love to visit, given the money, good health, and time. The two destinations dearest to my heart are the United Kingdom and Ireland, perhaps because much of my ancestry is English, with some Irish and Swedish thrown in, as well as Norman French (the Conquest, you know). But I have also traveled to Mexico, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, the Bahamas, Colombia, and Costa Rica in the Americas, and in Europe, France, Greece, and Turkey.

That brings me to my new book, Something Whiskered, which is set entirely in Ireland, chiefly in County Clare, where I have visited twice. I was nervous about setting a book in a foreign country, but I felt so at home in Ireland, I decided to give it a go. My series character, Charlie Harris, is on his honeymoon (spoiler alert) with his wife Helen Louise Brady (originally O’Bradaigh). Diesel, thanks to a relaxation in the laws about bringing in cats and dogs, accompanies them. They are visiting Helen Louise’s Irish family, her grandfather’s cousin Finn, Baron O’Bradaigh, along with his grandson Lorcan and his family.

Charlie, Helen Louise, and Diesel get a rough welcome to Castle O’Bradaigh, however, because when they drive up to the castle, a body falls from the roof right in front of them. This scene came to me immediately when I started thinking about the book. Then I had to decide, of course, who dies. Then I had to figure out the rest of the story.

I did a fair amount of research, including diving into Irish slang and common phrases. Among my favorites are gombeen, eejit, and craic. I use these words throughout the book, because I wanted my Irish characters to sound Irish. I don’t think I overdid it, but I had fun with it. The Irish are a colorful people, and I hope I managed to portray that. I don’t know that I’ll ever set another book in a foreign country, but I hope my readers will enjoy the one I did.

Miranda James is the pseudonym of retired medical librarian Dean James. His books have made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. He currently resides in the Jackson, MS, area along with three cats and thousands of books.

Website: www.catinthestacks.com 

Buy links:

Murder by the Book: https://www.murderbooks.com/book/9780593199558  (signed copies) 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-whiskered-miranda-james/1146487399?ean=9780593199565 

Indie Bound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/something-whiskered-miranda-james/00ced5f0bc5ab3c9?ean=9780593199565&next=t 

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