A Dead Guy Talks About You
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by Peg Herring
Thanks to the Stiletto Gang for inviting me to stop by for
Post #2! Peg Herring’s Blog Tour for May (and one post in June) consists of a
mix of interviews with Seamus, the Dead Detective, and a few posts on the writing
process. Yesterday’s post was “Keeping It Straight,” which can be found at the
Murder Must Advertise blog http://murdermustadvertise.blogspot.com/. The next stop on
the tour will be tomorrow, May 4th, at Kaye George’s blog http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com.
The full schedule is on my blog, It’s A Mystery to Me: http://itsamysterytomepegherring.blogspot.com
Post #2! Peg Herring’s Blog Tour for May (and one post in June) consists of a
mix of interviews with Seamus, the Dead Detective, and a few posts on the writing
process. Yesterday’s post was “Keeping It Straight,” which can be found at the
Murder Must Advertise blog http://murdermustadvertise.blogspot.com/. The next stop on
the tour will be tomorrow, May 4th, at Kaye George’s blog http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com.
The full schedule is on my blog, It’s A Mystery to Me: http://itsamysterytomepegherring.blogspot.com
After the tour is
over (June 11th), the complete Seamus interview will be posted on my blog, so
you don’t have to wonder what the dead guy said about you.
over (June 11th), the complete Seamus interview will be posted on my blog, so
you don’t have to wonder what the dead guy said about you.
Prizes: People who comment on any blog post on the tour will
be entered in drawings for several prizes: Dead Detective T-shirts, copies of
THE DEAD DETECTIVE AGENCY and DEAD FOR THE MONEY (paperback or e-books
available), and the chance to be a character in the third of the series, DEAD
FOR THE SHOW. Multiple winners will be drawn.
be entered in drawings for several prizes: Dead Detective T-shirts, copies of
THE DEAD DETECTIVE AGENCY and DEAD FOR THE MONEY (paperback or e-books
available), and the chance to be a character in the third of the series, DEAD
FOR THE SHOW. Multiple winners will be drawn.
Bio: Peg Herring lives in Michigan and writes two series,
the critically acclaimed Simon & Elizabeth (Tudor) Mysteries (Five Star
Publishing) and the award-winning Dead Detective Mysteries (LL-Publications).
The first book of the series, THE DEAD DETECTIVE AGENCY, was chosen EPIC’s Best
Mystery for 2012. When not writing, Peg enjoys directing musical groups,
gardening, and talking about writing with anyone who will listen.
DEAD FOR THE MONEY – ebook
THE DEAD DETECTIVE AGENCY
Peg’s website: http://pegherring.com
__________________
A Dead Guy Talks about You
Interviewer: Today we’re talking to Seamus, a man who tells
me he’s a cross-back detective. First, Seamus, please explain to our readers
what that is.
me he’s a cross-back detective. First, Seamus, please explain to our readers
what that is.
Seamus: Cross-backs return from the Other Side to investigate
for the dead who don’t know why they died.
for the dead who don’t know why they died.
Interviewer: Then you’re dead?
Seamus: Most sincerely.
Interviewer: Can you tell us—
Seamus: (Holds up a hand) Nothing about the Other Side. It’s
in the books, if you want to read ‘em. Peg did okay telling what it’s like over
there. I’m here to talk about the problems cross-backs face here on earth.
in the books, if you want to read ‘em. Peg did okay telling what it’s like over
there. I’m here to talk about the problems cross-backs face here on earth.
Interviewer: All right. You come back to discover how someone
died. That must mean the dead can remember their lives on earth, right?
died. That must mean the dead can remember their lives on earth, right?
Seamus: For a while. Memories usually fade over time.
Interviewer: I see. What do you remember about your life?
Seamus: (Frowns) Everything.
Interviewer: How do you manage that? If you’ll forgive me for
saying so, you appear to have died some time ago.
saying so, you appear to have died some time ago.
Seamus: You can remember if you work at it.
Interviewer: And you work at it?
Seamus: (Sighs) Can we get back to the job?
Interviewer: (Makes a note) Of course. How do you make the
journey?
journey?
Seamus: Uh, I don’t know how. They just send us.
Interviewer: Well, do you float down from above, climb up from
below, or what?
below, or what?
Seamus: Nothing like that. We travel through something, maybe
space. It hurts.
space. It hurts.
Interviewer: And when you arrive?
Seamus: I need a host first thing, a living person I can travel
with. We don’t belong anymore, you know?
with. We don’t belong anymore, you know?
Interviewer: So you must exist inside another person.
Seamus: Yeah. We need your life force, because ours is gone.
Interviewer: What does that feel like for the cross-backs?
Seamus: It’s kinda weird, especially at first. Everybody’s
different. I see through their eyes, feel through their skin, and hear through
their ears. Things smell different. Colors look different.
different. I see through their eyes, feel through their skin, and hear through
their ears. Things smell different. Colors look different.
Interviewer: What do you mean, different?
Seamus: It’s like this. You have an idea in your head what
blue looks like, but you don’t know what it looks like to somebody else. We can
agree that something is blue, maybe a robin’s egg, but that doesn’t mean we all
see it the same way. When I’m inside someone’s head, I can see that his blue
isn’t my blue.
blue looks like, but you don’t know what it looks like to somebody else. We can
agree that something is blue, maybe a robin’s egg, but that doesn’t mean we all
see it the same way. When I’m inside someone’s head, I can see that his blue
isn’t my blue.
Interviewer: They do say that women see more shades of color
than men do.
than men do.
Seamus: Yeah. I never could tell the difference between lilac
and lavender, but my wife sure could. Not sure if that’s a lack of perception
or a lack of interest, though.
and lavender, but my wife sure could. Not sure if that’s a lack of perception
or a lack of interest, though.
Interviewer: What else about being inside a host is strange
for you?
for you?
Seamus: Hmm. I’ve been in people whose personal habits didn’t
exactly please me.
exactly please me.
Interviewer: Oh. I hadn’t thought of that!
Seamus: Being inside the mind of a murderer or an alcoholic
or a pervert is uncomfortable.
or a pervert is uncomfortable.
Interviewer: It must be interesting to understand how they
think, though.
think, though.
Seamus: Yeah, but you can’t get away from it. It’s like being
in a sandstorm—you’ve got nowhere to go, no way to avoid the experience.
in a sandstorm—you’ve got nowhere to go, no way to avoid the experience.
Interviewer: What do you do in such cases?
Seamus: I get what I can and then jump to someone else as soon
as possible. (Smiles) Then I have to start getting used to everything all over
again. Maybe blue looks kinda pink this time, and daffodils smell like burnt
toast.
as possible. (Smiles) Then I have to start getting used to everything all over
again. Maybe blue looks kinda pink this time, and daffodils smell like burnt
toast.
Interviewer: Oh, my. I’m not sure I’d like that.
Seamus: That’s the job, lady. It’s what being a cross-back
is all about.
is all about.
Sounds interesting. I look forward to reading it 🙂
Maybe you could help with Book #3, which is being troublesome! I've vowed to conquer it today, though!
What I love about mystery bogs is the chance to learn about authors I haven't read. Your books sound like great reads. I'm going to check them out.
Thanks! I try to produce mysteries that are challenging, characters readers will like, and something that's unique and fun.
Gotta love Seamus, like so many guys he hates to communicate. Waiting for #3 so he and I can renew our friendship.
Thanks, Kay. When I finish a book, I go back and take out at least 1/3 of the dialog spoken by men. (It makes them much happier!)
Very fun interview. The character sounds intriguing.
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