Exclusive Interview with Vicki Batman

Today’s exclusive interview is with Vicki Batman, who writes in a genre close to my heart, romantic comedy/mystery. Her latest book is titled, Temporarily Insane. True to her love of mystery, she reveals that she lives “in a big state.”
 
Here’s a blurb of her book, available as an ebook and paperback:

Bad job. Wrong love. And Murder.  Hattie Cooks takes a job at an accounting firm where mishaps and murders are definitely fishy.
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Tell us something(s) about the book that the blurb doesn’t reveal:
The heroine is gifted with her favorite chocolate as birthday gifts. A lot of chocolate.
 

What was your favorite or most surprising comment/review about the book?
I received this review: “Temporarily Insane,” is an unpredictable combination of humor, romance, and mystery. Hattie Cooks is smart and sharp-witted. The author takes the reader right into Hattie’s head from the very first page and readers are with her every step of the way.

Because I fell into writing through reading, I have always wondered how I measure up against writers who studied writing. "Smart and sharp-witted" definitely are nice to hear.

If given a chance, which author (living or dead) would you like to meet (have met)?
Dick Francis-whom I did meet at a book signing, however, has since passed. The novels are fast-paced and have a good glimpse into the horse-racing business in England.

If your book was made into a movie, who would you cast as which characters?
This question always floors me. I don't know. Right now, a favorite actor is Tom Hardy; however, he isn't my hero. I'm just clueless.
 
When and why did you decide to become a writer?
Actually, I'd secretly harbored the desire, but didn't act on it until a friend challenged me. She read what I'd done, solemnly handed back the draft, and said, "Keep going." So I did and am forever grateful.

What books influenced you growing up?
My reading has always gravitated toward mysteries. Just like a lot of readers, I began with Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, to Rebecca. Then my mom introduced me to Emilie Loring romances. I found Mary Stewart's romantic suspense books in my twenties and regularly reread them.
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What are you working on next and when do you expect it to be on the shelves?
I cut my teeth in writing a lot of romantic comedy short stories. The latest is in the Season of Promises holiday anthology, "The Littlest Angel."
 
Are you traditionally published or self-published and why?
I'm what is called hybrid. I am traditionally published and indie pubbed. Kinda like the stock market – "don't put all your eggs in one basket."

Do you belong to any writer’s groups?
I belong to RWA and several of their online chapters. I also belong to the Plotting Princesses, Sisterhood of Suspense, and Guppies. RWA helped me become a writer. The Princesses supports me in the process.

If you were going to dabble in a different genre, what would it be and why?
I dabbled with a very sexy romance, however, truly my voice is in humor. Therefore, I'm best stuck in romantic comedy.
 
Where can readers find you?
Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html
Facebook: http://bit.ly/293iZIz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/   
Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman
LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top/
Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com
 
Giveaway at:  https://sisterhoodofsuspense.com/giveaways

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Vicki was kind enough to share an excerpt from Temporarily Insane:

Trixie had some nerve.

“Stop it, Hattie!”

Her reprimand, the one which had shot a stabbing pain to my right eye, sounded terribly out of character, like she had little patience for me. Ordinarily, she was the nicest person I knew, didn’t have a mean bone in her body. The kind who rescued animals, picked up trash at Sommerville Park, and prepared food for the elderly.     

Not today. I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms across my chest in a school girl flaunt.

Trixie tilted forward in her desk chair, her bosom almost resting on her desk. “This nonsense has to end. Your moan sounded like an obscure breed of a bizarre...untamed...wounded animal.” She returned to an upright and seated position and in tiny increments, rotated her chair from side-to-side, waiting for me to say something not stupid.

In truth, Trixie had pounded the nail on the head. I had nothing to add. My whole life had turned into an obscure, bizarre, bad reflection of itself, thus wounding me to my core. I sighed and pouted an if only.

Don’t go there.

My fun sister friend owned the employment agency Jobs Inc., and on occasion, she’d happily assisted me in finding temporary work since my dream job had been flushed down the proverbial toilet a few months back, thus soiling my picture-perfect life. For this newest assignment she’d located, I’d be employed as an administrative assistant for the managing partner at Northside, Lancaster, and Brookside, Certified Public Accountants, headquartered in my hometown of Sommerville.  

At first, she’d sounded oh-so pleasant when we began our yak about the opportunity. “Think accounting,” she’d teased, followed by a small chuckle.

Her laugh had spoken volumes of Encyclopedia Britannica proportions.

​Copyright 2016 Vicki Batman. Reprinted with Permission.