Sunday, May 25, 2014

Interview and Giveaway 
with author Camille Minichino

Under her own name, Camille wrote the Periodic Table Mysteries. Using the pen name Margaret Grace she writes the Miniature Mysteries. And using her pen name Ada Madison she writes the Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries.

UPDATE
Camille is having so much fun with this giveaway 
and reading all your comments, 
she has added another book to giveaway...
MIX-UP IN MINIATURE!!!
Now there will be two winners!!!




Camille is giving away a copy of her book 
THE QUOTIENT OF MURDER 
the latest book in her 3rd series (Prof. Sophie Knowles)
Please enter using RaffleCopter at the end of the interview


LKBR: Thank you so much for stopping by, Camille. I know you’re a busy lady!

CM: Like you, I wouldn't have it any other way! I love getting up in the morning with many options in front of me. Thanks for adding to my fun today!


LKBR: I was fascinated to find you have a Ph.D. in physics. That explains your incredible knowledge when writing the Periodic Table and Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries. How did you come to be interested in physics? 

CM: I was lucky enough to have two female math teachers in high school – in the fifties, no less, in a public school. By the time I realized that girls weren't supposed to do well in math or science, it was too late – those women had given me the great gift of their confidence in me and the belief that I could do anything I wanted to. From there on, it was an easy and natural path!

LKBR: You also make amazing miniatures which also led into a series. Where did you develop your love for the craft?



CM: Another legacy from childhood. My father was a laborer, very good with his hands. He built me a dollhouse. There was no other competition from a roomful of other toys as today's kids enjoy, so I spent a lot of time with a favorite cousin furnishing and decorating the house. 



LKBR: What led you to wanting to use your knowledge in these subjects to write mysteries?

CM: I loved to read mysteries, especially the whodunits, which were as much fun as algebra! Once I saw what Sue Grafton was doing with the A, B, C's, it was clear what I needed to do. I couldn't believe no one had already latched onto the periodic table, where there were more than 100 possibilities for a crime. Once I started, of course, it was hard to stop. Why shouldn't every aspect of my life be turned into a mystery?



LKBR: Do you have a favorite among your series?

CM: I know many authors feel this way: that the first series will always have a special place. But for many of us also, the latest book is a favorite. We like to assume that we get better with each book! At least, I hope I do.



LKBR: Would you share a little bit about your current work in progress?

CM: I'm starting a new series, the Post Office Mysteries, working on the first one now. Unlike the other three series, it's not based on one of my careers, except that I did spend Christmas vacations working at our local post office. It seemed to me that very few other jobs can claim to be such a crossroads of the lives of a town's citizens. Who's writing to whom? Who's getting mail from prison? From the IRS? Who's shipping packages to . . .  well, you see. Ideal for an amateur sleuth!



LKBR: Do you have any plans or ideas for a new series or maybe a standalone title?

CM: I did publish a standalone on amazon Kindle a couple of months ago. KILLER IN THE CLOISTER is based on another part of my life – 18 years as a nun. On the other hand, a second CLOISTER mystery is starting to brew . . . 



I'm also working on a book of short stories with a friend, which will contain some of our flash fiction as well as novella.
When you've lived a long time, there's a lot to write about!



LKBR: Please share three things about yourself that you would like your readers to know.

CM: 1.  I'm a teacher, even more than a physicist, mathematician, crafter . . . I love to teach and still do so.   

2. I'm a survivor of some nasty things as a kid. The dollhouse above was my refuge when things got rough. So were books. And teachers. I was very lucky to have all those options. I mention this only to encourage younger people especially those who might be having a hard time right now.

3. I LOVE television crime dramas. Guilty pleasure that I justify by claiming I'm doing research on story structure. No one believes me.


LKBR: Thank you, Camille for stopping by.

CM: Thank you very much, LKBR!


You can learn more about Camille at the following links.

Website: http://www.minichino.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Camille-Minichino/264074600273010
Twitter: https://twitter.com/minichino


Good Luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

35 comments:

  1. Thank you Lisa for another great interview & a chance to win a book.

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  2. Another series that I've missed, I love miniatures, I find them fascinating, all that detail work. I am definitely adding this series to my tbr list. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  3. Thank you for bringing this author to my attention! I have finally found one that my sister (a math major too) will read and enjoy! I know I will. Going to Amazon right now to like but will pick up a couple of this series!

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  4. Thanks, Lisa, for all the work on this blog! I don't know where you found some of the photos; I hardly recognize some! And Melanie, Debbie, and Marcy, thanks for stopping by.

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    1. Camille,thank you for being here! For the photos, just type your name into Google and click on images. ;-)

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  5. this is a new author to me. I'm going to try the miniature series. I have several miniature houses that were my mother's. I'll enjoy reading about other miniatures.

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  6. Great interview Lisa! This is a new author for me, thanks for the chance to win!

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  7. Great interview. Fascinating life story. I look forward to reading her books.

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  8. I have read a few of the books and love them. Thanks for a chance to win.

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  9. I loved math and science in high school back when it wasn't popular for women to take those classes. Unfortunately, in college, I became "practical" and took business classes instead. I think I'd enjoy your mysteries. Thanks for the chance to win one.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  10. Enjoyed the interview, plus a new author to me. The book sounds fantastic.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. She sounds like my kind of lady!! Both my husband and my daughter in law have taught math. My daughter in law still teaches at a Virginia college . When they get together to talk math, we're all intrigued until we get completely lost. I was a teacher too, but of little ones.

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  12. Great interview, would love win and am entering the rafflecopter!
    masoncml3 at yahoo dot com

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  13. OK, I wasn't finished!! I am also into tiny things as my daughter and I are fixing up a dollhouse for my granddaughter. It always amazes me to think of the 1inch to 1 foot ratio that dollhouses represent. I would have thought it would be much greater. It's things like this that my daughter in law can explain to me that let's me know she.'so an expert at her craft!!!! Now, I adore cozies, so would love to read and review these books everywhere!!! Ronnalord(at)msn(dot)com

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  14. Thank you everyone for stopping by. You keep me going!

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  15. Is it too late to add a giveaway? I'd like to add a Miniature series book also -- two winners and they can choose. I have a feeling I'm messing up Lisa's routine, but I know she's amazingly flexible!

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  16. Would love to win one of Camille's books! I have not yet read any of her series, so I'm looking forward to it! Thank you, Lisa, and Camille for the great interview and giveaway!

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  17. It has been great "meeting" everyone! I hope your weekend was good.

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  18. I enjoyed the interview, your books all sound interesting.

    kaye.killgore@comcast.net

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  19. Camille, looks like everyone is enjoying your interview and giveaway! Thank you for adding another book and giving someone else a chance to win!

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  20. I totally enjoyed the interview. I enjoyed learning about the book series (and the new one). I have added to my TBR list! Thank you for the opportunity to win one and get an early start. I too have always LOVED murder mystery shows! :)

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  21. Every time I read Lisa's blog I find another author to add to my "have got to check out" list! These books seem very interesting and I look forward to working my way through the series. Would love to get it started by winning a book! Win or not, I will be looking for you in the library, bookstores and on Amazon!

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  22. Lisa is amazing, keeping up with all of us, especially disorganized authors who keep changing their plans!

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  23. I would LOVE to add this book to my Goodreads Book Challenge !!!!

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  24. Hi Camille! Reading your interview with Lisa was a delightful experience. My goodness you've had quite a diverse life. Interesting to say the least! Your energy certainly is contagious. Thanks to you and Lisa for a chance to win one of your cozies. Sandy in So. Cali

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  25. I have enjoyed everything I've read of yours. So far I haven't tried the Miniatures series, but I want to start. Here's a coincidence, (for me) my oldest daughter's name is Margret Grace. Slightly different spelling.

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  26. Thank you so much for the kind words everyone! I love doing my blog and have met some amzing people through it. Authors and readers!

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  27. Thanks for the great giveaway! This sounds like a great series.

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  28. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  29. What an amazing woman—I simply MUST read her work; thanks for the opportunity to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  30. The Periodic Table Series sounds like a lot of fun to write and to read. I also have a doll house that my father made for me. He also made most of the furniture. AND the teacher part reminds me of what my daughter says to me: "Mum, when I ask you a question, just answer the question, don't teach me a lesson!"

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  31. Great post, great books,great lady. And the minis only make it that much better! Good luck, Camille!

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  32. Thanks for a chance to win, and try new authors and books!

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  33. I wish there were a way to "Like" all these comments!

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