Karen A. Phillips enjoys writing mysteries, MG/YA fantasy, and poetry. She resides in northern California and is a proud member of Sisters In Crime and Willamette Writers.. . . and yes, she does take boxing lessons.
Thank you for having me on your blog, George. I’m excited to be here!
A DEADLY COMBO – What do boxing and vintage trailers have in common? Meet Raquel (AKA Rocky) Nelson, a retired single woman with an attitude and love for boxing.
Sisters Rocky and Bridget enjoy each other’s company at a vintage trailer fest until they stumble over a corpse. The dead guy is none other than the local trailer restorer Bridget was overheard threatening to kill. Mounting evidence leads police to focus on Bridget as a person of interest. Desperate to prove her sister innocent of murder, Rocky dons her deerstalker cap and goes sleuthing until she runs into police detective Thompson who warns her off his case in no uncertain terms. But Rocky is tenacious, if not stubborn. Combined with a 78-year-old father who becomes her sidekick, Rocky uses her courage and skills learned in boxing lessons to protect her family and keep from becoming the killer’s next victim.
My debut mystery is A DEADLY COMBO – a blend of traditional and cozy genres. The inspiration for my story came from attending my first vintage
trailer fest at a winery. About fifteen trailers in all colors and styles were spread out over a carpet of green grass. The owners, known as “trailerites,” invited the public inside their vintage trailers. They loved to talk about how they found their trailer (typically abandoned in a field somewhere) and how they restored the trailer to its former glory. Stepping into each trailer was like stepping back in time. It was so much fun, and then the thought occurred to me, “Wouldn’t this be a great place to find a dead body?” And thus, A DEADLY COMBO was born!
I must admit I caught the vintage trailer bug and did purchase my own trailer. I needed to have first-hand knowledge for my book, right? I bought what I could afford, a square Aristocrat Starliner. However, I quickly learned how much of a money pit owning a vintage trailer can be. Alas, I sold my trailer after a couple of years. If I ever get rich, I will buy an Airstream Bambi. The Airstream is a classic, and the Bambi is a compact model, so easier to haul.
The title of my book, A DEADLY COMBO, is a shorter version of A Deadly Combination. The title hints at how the victim dies and is a nod to the sport of
boxing. My protagonist takes boxing lessons. I thought it would be a unique hobby for an amateur sleuth and would come in handy in several ways. Believe it or not, I take boxing lessons. The trainer in my story is patterned after my own coach. Boxing is a great way to stay in shape, and I highly recommend it.
Have you ever been to a vintage trailer fest or owned a vintage trailer? Have you ever taken boxing lessons?
Karen is a member of:
California Writers Club
Sisters in Crime
Willamette Writers
Visit her at https://karenaphillips.com/
Facebook: KarenAPhillips/Author
Instagram: kannphillips
Twitter: @phillips_writes
Hi George – thank you so much for having me on your blog! I appreciate all you do in support of writers.
A Deadly Combo is a fantastic read. It’s hard to believe that it’s Karen’s debut novel. Rocky Nelson is an intriguing and relatable protagonist and her father is a real kick. The twists and turns of Rocky’s investigation kept me engrossed until the knockout ending.
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting, Cindy!
A Deadly Combo is such a fun read! It makes me almost want to take boxing lessons. Almost.
Ha ha! Chris Dreith, I assure you, if you take boxing lessons you will enjoy it. Maybe too much!
Hey, Karen, you certainly have come up with a winning combination-boxing and mystery. Your novel sounds like a real hoot. Keep on punching and best of luck with your writing.
Thank you, Michael. I hope you read the story. I’m honored to say I’m getting great reviews!
I’ve always wanted to take boxing lessons. 🙂
Hi Michelle – if you do take boxing lessons, let me know if you enjoy the workout as much as I do!
What an interesting combo.
Karen, my spouse and I owned a vintage trailer so long ago that I forgot the manufacturer. Then we switched to an older Class C motorhome. A money sucker for sure. But things got worse after we moved up to a Class A. Now that I’m alone, no more trailer travels.
An airstream sounds awesome. Loved Deadly Combo!
So original, Karen! I’m buying your book today! Love the ideas all around. An amateur sleuth boxer along with her father sidekick, and those refurbished trailers, you’ve shot fresh out of the box! Congrats!
Karen, you show us all the magic of creativity, mixing what we know with what we imagine. CONGRATULATIONS!
And George, you continue to bring unique and fun writers to your blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I must talk to you about trailer
Life. I’m not ready for boxing, but I’m sure ready to hit the road! I look forward to the book. Congratulations Karen. I love the cover!