Gail Pallota is the kind of author who not only has published many books (her latest, “Cooking Up a Mystery,” comes out Friday, April 24) but finds time to promote fellow authors. That kind of selfless commitment to others makes her one of my favorite people I’ve never met.

I cooked up some nosy questions for Gail to answer, to get to know her better. I think you’ll enjoy her responses. Here we go!

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How did you choose the setting for Cooking Up a Mystery (and earlier, Hair Calamities and Hot Cash)?

I grew up at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains and went to college north of Asheville. I gave Triville the ambiance of my small hometown, but set the book in the mountains because I wanted to use the beautiful breath-taking views.
Do you love to cook as much as Laney in “Cooking Up a Mystery” does?

Oh my goodness, no. I learned to cook when I was ten. According to my father I needed to know how when I got married. I didn’t marry until I was thirty, so I’d learned to prepare some pretty tasty dishes. After we married my husband said, “You could open a restaurant.” I was interested in other things, such as writing. However, I decided to open one in this book.

How hard was it for you to work out the details of the mystery?

I used to write freelance articles and had learned some of the details I used when preparing them. However, I did more research. I tend to write what I know and stop when I see something that needs further investigation. Even though the technique is an interruption, I enjoy doing it that way. I often get so fascinated by what I’ve found it takes me a while to get back to the book.

If you could live in any region of the United States, what would it be?

I’d live in Destin, Florida.

If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Ordinarily, I’d name somewhere exotic like Hawaii or Italy, but right now after being sheltered in, I really want to go to Destin.

AND NOW!!!!! We’re going to learn even more about you now, in a sort of back-handed way.

Oh fun!

You are going to share some favorites with us, but because we don’t want scammers to get hold of info that might help them to guess your passwords,
all answers have to start with the letter “P.” You know, for “Pallotta.”

Okay.

Remember, these don’t have to be your absolute favorites of all time. Just favorites limited to the category of the letter “P” for Pallotta:

-favorite flower – Phlox

–favorite food – Potato

–favorite animal – Puppy

–favorite color – Purple

–favorite movie/TV show – Pirates of the Caribbean

–favorite “P” recipe – Pineapple rice

Well done, Gail! I might have to try the letter challenge myself!

Favorite part of writing? (it doesn’t need to start with a “P”) 🙂

I love making up the story.

Least favorite part?

Marketing. That doesn’t sound like a part of writing, but I’m told it is.

Finally, what do you want your readers take away from your books?

First, I hope they enjoy the book and it brings them a bit of an escape. If they also find a message that enhances their lives, or gives them an “Oh yeah” moment so much the better.

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I knew I liked this woman! Here’s the blurb on her upcoming book “Cooking Up a Mystery”

Laney Eskridge worked to put her husband through dental school. Then he left with another woman. She’s on edge from the emotional scars and her parents’ deaths. Then she hears unexplained noises in her new tea house, and her anxiety is tripled. Add a budding romance with Eric—a guy with a fear of commitment—and it’s all too much to handle. She cuts ties with Eric and plunges into making her business pay off.

 When Eric discovers that Laney’s in danger, he vows to protect her. But can he make a lasting promise? Will she trust him? . . .and when they overhear a threat that could cause national turmoil, will anyone believe them? There’s more brewing than herbal tea in Cooking up a Mystery.

Here’s where you can buy it:

Amazon long link:(she ain’t kiddin’ folks!) https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-up-Mystery-Gail-Pallotta-ebook/dp/B085LJMH5V/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Cooking+up+a+Mystery+by+gail+pallotta&qid=1584746377&s=books&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cooking-up-a-mystery-gail-pallotta/1136612098?ean=9781522398806
Pelican Book Group – https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1468

A little more about Gail and where to sign up for her newsletter:

Gail Pallotta is a wife, Mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A 2013 Grace Awards finalist, she’s a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner and a TopShelf 2020 Book Awards Nominee. She’s published six books, poems, short stories and several hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums. She loves to connect with readers. Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.gailpallotta.com/mainphp.html and visit her website at https://www.gailpallotta.com
Thank you Gail, for the visit. I hope you can go to Destin soon!

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And just because this has to be about the cutest book cover ever, I thought I’d share one of Gail’s previous books. Is that not fun?

Stay safe and healthy and strong in the Lord, friends!