Sherry Harris and Barbara Ross are happy to be visiting the Jungle Reds today to celebrate the December 31, release of the eighth book in each of our series. The latest book in Sherry’s Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series is Sell Low, Sweet Harriet. The latest book in Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake Mystery series is Sealed Off.
We’re celebrating with Jungle Red readers by answering eight crazy questions about things that have happened on our publishing journeys. Leave a comment to be entered to win either Sell Low, Sweet Harriet or Sealed Off to be mailed out as soon as we get our hands on a copy!
1) How did your protagonist get her name?
Sherry: Is my editor going to read this? (Looks around, doesn’t see him.) I originally called Sarah -- Sarah Fiennes. I thought how fun would that be because Sarah finds things at garage sales. Unfortunately, my editor hated the name. It reminded him of those two British acting brothers. So Sarah Winston was born. How about you Barb? Where did Julia’s name come from?
Barb: I think Fiennes would have been a great name for Sarah. But then I like the acting brothers. My protagonist is Julia Morrow Snowden and my niece is Julia Morrow Ross. When I wrote the proposal for the Maine Clambake Mysteries I was trying to avoid my tendency to overthink so I grabbed a name that was at hand. The weird part is, my niece has never said a word about it.
Sherry: Very interesting. Are we going to talk about Sonny and your daughter-in-law Sunny? You can plead the fifth.
Barb: Ha, ha, ha. I didn’t even get that until my daughter-in-law pointed it out!
2) What’s the question readers ask you the most?
Barb: People what to know if the Snowden Family Clambake is real and if they can go there. I send them to the Cabbage Island Clambake, also run by a family and their private island--though there the resemblance stops!
Sherry: You deserve a commission. People ask me if I’ll do a garage sale for them. I’ve done a few and they are a lot of work. I’ll stick to writing about them!
3) What’s the most controversial thing in your series? Readers either love or hate…
Sherry: The love triangle in the first few books!!!! I swear I didn’t mean to do it when I set out writing the series. Seth was supposed to be an unnamed character, a one night stand, but then he called Sarah…
Barb: It’s funny how the romance is the thing that gets to people. The most controversial thing in my series is Julia’s boyfriend Chris. He was her middle school crush, but do they belong together now? People send me e-mails arguing both positions quite vehemently.
Sherry: Gulp. I may have been guilty of trying to influence you about that too. I make no apologies. I have opinions.
4) What did you THINK would be the most controversial thing?
Sherry: See the above question! I thought that someone would write me complaining about Sarah being a slut for having a one night stand. Not one person has ever mentioned it.
Barb: PETA has a big sign in the Portland Jetport about not eating lobster. I keep expecting the hate mail, but so far, crickets.
5) What is the weirdest name you ever gave a character?
Sherry: In The Longest Yard Sale I have an Air Force officer whose call sign (similar to a nickname) is Bubbles. You have to read the book to find out why.
Barb: My favorite character name is the victim in Musseled Out, David Thwing.
6) In mysteries, the mystery is the thing and the romance, if there is one, is there to round out the character. Eight books in, tell us the truth, is your protagonist going to get her HEA?
Sherry: Now this is something I get a lot of opinions about. My answer is: I don’t know. Does a woman have to be in a relationship to be happy? Book nine is set exactly two years after the first book. Sarah went through a traumatic divorce and an almost got back together with her ex in that period of time. She’s not ready to settle down and she’s not Cinderella that needs to be saved by the handsome prince. That said...I love a happy ever after. Love them!
Barb: I don’t know, either. I guess it depends on how many books end up in the series. Chris and Julia’s relationship has many complications and it would take a while to resolve them.
7) What’s your least favorite cover in the series and why?
Barb: I admit it’s the cover for book five, Iced Under. All the other Clambake covers feature very Maine-y scenes and this one always looks to me like a generic suburban street. It’s never hurt the book’s sales, though, and since the book came out I’ve noticed when the weather in a book is stormy, Kensington covers are always from the inside (cozy) looking out,
Sherry: We’ve never talked about this before but mine is also number five, I Know What You Bid Last Summer! I love my covers and there’s nothing wrong with this one. I’d sent my editor some pictures of an antique store I visited with all of these beautiful pink dresses. I just had such a strong picture in my head I expected it to look like that.
8) What is the craziest thing that ever happened to you at a book event?
Sherry: Oh, Barb. You have to know where I’m heading with this one. It was with you. I’m surprised you’ve ever agreed to do another event with me.
Barb: Sherry is referring to a signing we did where a man came up to our table and told us his entire life history including his broken marriage and the last time he had sex. And he didn’t even buy a book! Sherry is a lovely, friendly person. I am not and our different personalities played out in that situation.
Sherry: Barb you are a lovely, friendly person too -- just in a different way than me. I must have a face says tell me anything. You forgot to mention that he also told us he has a top secret clearance which worried us both considering what a blabbermouth he turned out to be.
Jungle Red Readers: Thanks for playing crazy eights with us. Ask us anything below or just leave a comment to be entered to win a new release. (No need to give us any details on your sex life! Thanks.)
Sherry Harris is the Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and upcoming Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mystery series. Her website is: https://sherryharrisauthor.com/
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Literary Award-winning Maine Clambake Mystery series and the Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody series. Her website is www.maineclambakemysteries.com
