Thursday, November 5, 2009

Meet Lorna Barrett

JR: New York Times best-selling author Lorna Barrett (aka Lorraine Bartlett and LL Bartlett, just to make things nice and confusing!) is off promoting her brand new book, Bookplate Special, the latest installment of her Booktown Mystery series, but we caught up with her and got her to take one of JR's deep and probing questionnaires. So, are you ready, Lorna?

LB: Do I get extra Brownie points for the right answers?

JR: We'll see....John, Paul, George or Ringo?

LB: It depends. From about 1964-1977, I would've had to say George, but since then, it's been Paul all the say. (Unlike most of the rest of the world, I was a big fan of Linda, too. I thought she got a raw deal from his fans. I got my first SLR camera because of her. I love her cookbooks and still use them.)

JR: Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett (as Sherlock Holmes)?

LB: Jeremy Brett all the way. JR: Blackberry or Iphone? LB: Neither! I only have a Tracphone and only use it to call my husband when I'm at the grocery store. ("Do we need 2% or skim milk?") I'm not even sure what an MP3 player is.

JR: Ginger or MaryAnne? LB: Oh, MaryAnne for sure. I mean, did anyone else bother to try to find food on that godforsaken island? (Although I always did wonder where she got the cream for all those coconut cream pies. I mean, were they hiding a cow or some goats somewhere on the island?)

JR: Mac or PC LB: I have both! (Doesn't everyone?) Okay, I use the Mac for graphics, photos, brochures, etc. I use the PC and laptop for writing. (I hate that Mac keyboard!)

(JR: That makes sense..I wonder if Lorna uses an MAC and Lorraine uses a PC, or vice versa.)

JR: Rachael Ray or Julia Child LB: Julia Child. (Didn't you just love the movie Julie & Julia?)

JR: And I think I know the answer to this one. Crocs or Jimmy Choos?

LB: Crocs. I'm so shoe clueless (and clothes, for that matter) I don't even know who Jimmy Choose is.

JR:and one last...since you are extremely profilic and write under many names..which do you prefer Lorna or Lorraine???

LB: Lorraine
JR: Here's a taste of Lorna's latest...
Tricia Miles, owner of Haven’t a Clue mystery bookstore, is still settling into Stoneham, New Hampshire, the kind of town where everybody knows your name—and where everyone’s quick to lend a hand, even when murder is afoot . . .
The kinder folks of Stoneham might call Pammy Fredericks a free spirit. The less kind, a freeloading thief. Tricia has put up—and put up with—her uninvited college roommate for weeks. In return, Pammy, has stolen $100, among other things. But the day she’s kicked out, Pammy’s found dead in a dumpster, leaving loads of questions unanswered. Like what was she foraging for? Did her killer want it too? To piece the case together, Tricia will have to dive in head-first.…
To learn more check out Lorna's website http://www.lornabarrett.com/

9 comments:

  1. Great interview!

    I don't think I've ever heard anyone pick George before, Lorraine! I liked Linda, too.

    Can't wait to read your latest.

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

    ReplyDelete
  2. I felt sorry for George because everyone loved John and Paul. I've always been for the underdog (still am). But then I had to admit I like Paul's post-Beatles music better.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd like to drive up to Stoneham, NH. I wouldn't want to fly and buy all those books, what with all the airline luggage fees these days.

    You make the town sound so real, Lorraine/Lorna.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks, Rhonda. It's a pretty drive, even when it's not "leaf-peeping" season!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Lorraine! It's such fun to chat with someone else who has a "name situation."

    (All my personal ID cards have my legal name, all my profesional stuff has my professional name, and my mom calls me Hank, but my Dad calls me Ann.)

    What's going to happen if you have a booksigning with books by all the names? Has that happened yet?

    xoox and congratulations..you're such an inspiration in so many ways..

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've only signed a book with the wrong name (Lorna Bartlett) once. Luckily, my Mom bought it. (I was prepared to.) When I'm signing under both names it can get confusing remembering which persona I am at the time. But if that's my worst problem, I have NO problems.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey there, Lorna/Lorraine:
    The new book sounds great.

    I used to like John--he had the sexiest voice.

    But not knowing poor Jimmy Choo--we really will have to educate you, dahlng! (Actually I no longer wear high heels. I've given up elegance for comfort)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great interview. Cool books. And fun to learn how you cope with more than one name.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This was a fun interview. I've always wondered how authors handle situations when they writing under multiple names.

    ReplyDelete