I met Diane when we were both assigned to a “Four-Legged Friends” panel together at Bouchercon. – between my mysterious witch cats and Diane’s then-brand-new Tarot Cat series, it was a natural pairing. In fact, I was scheduled to moderate a panel after on supernatural cozies, and so it was easy to fit Diane into that, too! As a result, I got an advance copy of her latest cozy, and the inside story on the real-life littermate who help her spunky heroine solve crimes. And now, with pleasure, I share her with you!

How does a book start for you?

I start at the last minute possible based on my deadline, and always under great duress, kicking and screaming! Even when I’m writing the next book in a series, it takes me a bit to get going. I know my basic story premise and (when I’m writing a mystery) who the murder victim is, and how they die. And, of course, I have my protagonist in place. Beyond that, I’m as surprised as anyone else how things shake out as the story progresses.

Who in your latest book has surprised you most – and why?

In my latest published book, Fool’s Moon, I was most surprised by the street dog, Rally. He kind of showed up out of nowhere and stole the show in his few scenes…and, contrary to what I expected, he didn’t join the animal crew by the story’s end.  In the book I just finished writing, Peach Cobblered–first in my Georgia B&B Mystery series due out next May–I was surprised by my second-tier protagonist, Harry Westcott. He was supposed to be more of a co-sleuth to my protagonist, Nina Fleet, but he ended up being more of a pain in her rear throughout the story.

When and/or where is your latest book set and is there a story behind that setting?

Fool’s Moonis set in West Palm Beach, Florida, which is pretty much where I’ve been living the past dozen or more years. It was lots of fun to write a story set in my own backyard. And South Florida is its own character, for sure. From the diverse population to the summer-almost-all-year weather to the crazy flora and fauna you’ll find here, it’s the perfect place to set any sort of novel.

What are you working on now?

I’m on temporary hiatus between books, but I’ll be working on a series of cat fantasy novelettes that I intend to self-publish in the next couple of months. Keep an eye out for the Thomas Moonraker Chroniclesin 2019!

Which question didn’t I ask you that I should have?

Why Tarot…and why cats? I always answer, why not?

Of course!

DIANE A.S. STUCKART is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Bookshop Mystery series (written as Ali Brandon). She’s also the author of the award-winning Leonardo da Vinci historical mysteries, as well as several historical romances and numerous mystery, fantasy, and romance short stories. The first book in her new Tarot Cats cozy mystery series is FOOL’S MOON, on the shelves from Midnight Ink in early November 2018.

Diane is a member of Mystery Writers of America and has served as the 2018 Chapter President of the MWA Florida chapter. In addition to her mystery writing affiliations, she’s a member of the Cat Writers’ Association and belongs to the Palm Beach County Beekeepers Association. She’s a native Texan with a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, but has been living in the West Palm Beach FL area for the past dozen or so years. She shares her “almost in the Everglades” home with her husband, dogs, cats, and a few beehives. Find her on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/blackcatmysteries